2009, Fall

The University of New Mexico Alumni Association

Permit No. 222

MSC 01-1160

Burl., Vt. 05401

1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-0001

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CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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he 2009 UNM Alumni Association Homecoming poster features PEAK APRIL, by artist Angus Macpherson, ’74 BBA. The acrylic-on-canvas painting will be in the permanent collection at Hodgin Hall. Angus writes about this work: PEAK APRIL is part of a continuing series of paintings studying our magnificent New Mexico stormy skies. While I painted it in my studio here in Albuquerque, it was inspired by the foothills in Glorieta, New Mexico. The storm was happening just a bit farther north in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The time of year was April. We all were ready for some rain, and to witness the storm was a peak experience – the idea for the title.

Just around the mountain from the painting’s inspirational setting, 35 years earlier, Angus met Roy Johnson while both worked at Brush Ranch. Roy now owns Sumner & Dene Gallery in Albuquerque, where Angus’ work will be exhibited in a one-person-show, “Paintings from a Wet Planet,” September 1-26.

Angus has been named a 2009 Local Treasure by the Albuquerque Art Business Association. Watch for the awards presentation at the Albuquerque Museum in September.

For more information about Angus Macpherson’s work, go to angusmacpherson.com.

2009

US Postage Paid

FALL

Nonprofit Org

GaBI’S DaNCING DReaM

+Remembering Alea +Defining fitness +Chile Q&A +Gifted coach +Homecoming 2009: Lobo Knights!

PEAK APRIL by Angus Macpherson Signed limited edition $50 Unsigned limited edition $35 Order using the form in the enclosed homecoming brochure or online at unmalumni.com/homecoming.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO | A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N

LOOK AT THIS! ON THE COVER:

This issue of Mirage includes a special pull-out schedule for UNM Homecoming 2009. Save it and join us!

D A N C I N G W I T H H E A RT:

L O O K I N G AT:

Gabi Rojas, ’08 BA, made her

12

on FOX-TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.

Christian Horstmann

16

3

m a g a z i n e

ALBUM Catch up with your friends through the years.

4

A Year of Challenges and Change A message from UNM President David J. Schmidly.

Defining Principals

Bobby Tamayo

34

12

5

in 1978. Since that time, the title was

continues to publish vignettes of UNM graduates.

Send your news to: Margaret Weinrod The University of New Mexico Alumni Association MSC 01-1160 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-0001 Better yet, email your news to: mweinrod@unm.edu.

Please include your middle name or initial!

Fall (August) deadline: May 1 Winter (December) deadline: September 1 Spring (April) deadline: January 1

UNM LINKS

Extraordinary Life, Extraordinary Gift

by Michelle G. McRuiz E. Gerald Meyer, ‘50 PhD, will give his wondrous art collection to the University Art Museum.

32

A Sign of Respect

by Jim Belshaw Daily Lobo alumni create a scholarship in memory of their esteemed professor, the late Hank Trewhitt.

adopted by the alumni magazine which

Keep us posted!

30 D E V E L O P M E N T:

of the University of

until its last edition

Look for a friend on every page!

Happenings around campus.

Mirage was the title

New Mexico yearbook

MIRAGE is published three times a year, in April, August, and December, by the University of New Mexico Alumni Association for the University’s alumni and friends.

Address all correspondence to UNM Alumni Relations Office, MSC 01-1160, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001. Send all Album information to the attention of Margaret Weinrod. Send all changes of address to the attention of Records. Send all other correspondence to the attention of Mary Conrad. To comply with the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, UNM provides this publication in alternative formats. If you have special needs and require an auxiliary aid or service, please contact Mary Conrad. Phone: 800-258-6866 (800-ALUM-UNM) or 505-277-5808. E-mail to Mary Conrad: mconrad@unm.edu or alumni@unm.edu. Web address: www.unmalumni.com

M I R A G E

Red or Green?

LOOKING AROUND:

Dancing with a Tiger by the Tail

Fall 2009, Volume 28, Number 1, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO: David J. Schmidly, President; Karen A. Abraham, Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations; Mary Conrad, Editor; Kelly Ketner, Echo Creative, Art Director.

UNM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Ruth M. Schifani, President, Albuquerque; Steve Chreist, President Elect, Albuquerque; Gene Baca, Treasurer, Corrales; Judy Zanotti, Past President, Albuquerque; Monica Armenta, Albuquerque; Randy Royster, Albuquerque; Waneta Tuttle, Albuquerque; Kathie Winograd, Albuquerque.

2

by Sari Krosinsky In Mexico, Nathan Campbell explores the use of jatropha as a profitable plant for farmers and green fuel producers.

The Child Not Forgotten

by Alexis Kerschner Two leaders of New Mexico’s Defined Fitness gym say their business changes lives.

20

Going Verde

edited by Mary Conrad So you thought all Hatch chile came from Hatch.

Not so. But Gene Baca thinks it should.

by Mara Kerkez Gabi Rojas, ‘08 BA, doesn’t let disease curtail her dancing career.

24

26

28

by Steve Carr When Alea Nadeem was a child, her father held her against her will in Iraq.

Freed after four years, she joined the Air Force to protect the United States.

20

compiled by Margaret Weinrod.

Quirky Questions

edited by Mary Conrad Four favorite profs answer questions with no textbook answers.

alma mater proud as a contestant

aLBUm Bobby Tamayo

Alfredo Moreno

CONTeNTS

34 AT H L E T I C S :

Gridiron Gift

by Carolyn Gonzales Mike Locksley has a gift for coaching Lobo football.

36

Aumni Outlook

GEORGE FISHBECK George Fischbeck, ’49 BA, ’55 MA, Woodland Hills, California, now devotes himself to volunteering at the LA Zoo (he brings animals to cheer rest-home patients), as well as LAPD’s Volunteer Surveillance Team. He also raises money for firefighter charities.

Paul Miller Wighaman, ’53 BSIE, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, taught at Menaul School in Albuquerque; Cumberland Valley School District, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania; and was industrial advisor, Pennsylvania Department of Education for 11 years.

The final 10 years of his career were spent at Millersville University, Pennsylvania.

f a l l

2 0 0 9

3

LOOK AT THIS! ON THE COVER:

This issue of Mirage includes a special pull-out schedule for UNM Homecoming 2009. Save it and join us!

D A N C I N G W I T H H E A RT:

L O O K I N G AT:

Gabi Rojas, ’08 BA, made her

12

on FOX-TV’s So You Think You Can Dance.

Christian Horstmann

16

3

m a g a z i n e

ALBUM Catch up with your friends through the years.

4

A Year of Challenges and Change A message from UNM President David J. Schmidly.

Defining Principals

Bobby Tamayo

34

12

5

in 1978. Since that time, the title was

continues to publish vignettes of UNM graduates.

Send your news to: Margaret Weinrod The University of New Mexico Alumni Association MSC 01-1160 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-0001 Better yet, email your news to: mweinrod@unm.edu.

Please include your middle name or initial!

Fall (August) deadline: May 1 Winter (December) deadline: September 1 Spring (April) deadline: January 1

UNM LINKS

Extraordinary Life, Extraordinary Gift

by Michelle G. McRuiz E. Gerald Meyer, ‘50 PhD, will give his wondrous art collection to the University Art Museum.

32

A Sign of Respect

by Jim Belshaw Daily Lobo alumni create a scholarship in memory of their esteemed professor, the late Hank Trewhitt.

adopted by the alumni magazine which

Keep us posted!

30 D E V E L O P M E N T:

of the University of

until its last edition

Look for a friend on every page!

Happenings around campus.

Mirage was the title

New Mexico yearbook

MIRAGE is published three times a year, in April, August, and December, by the University of New Mexico Alumni Association for the University’s alumni and friends.

Address all correspondence to UNM Alumni Relations Office, MSC 01-1160, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001. Send all Album information to the attention of Margaret Weinrod. Send all changes of address to the attention of Records. Send all other correspondence to the attention of Mary Conrad. To comply with the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, UNM provides this publication in alternative formats. If you have special needs and require an auxiliary aid or service, please contact Mary Conrad. Phone: 800-258-6866 (800-ALUM-UNM) or 505-277-5808. E-mail to Mary Conrad: mconrad@unm.edu or alumni@unm.edu. Web address: www.unmalumni.com

M I R A G E

Red or Green?

LOOKING AROUND:

Dancing with a Tiger by the Tail

Fall 2009, Volume 28, Number 1, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO: David J. Schmidly, President; Karen A. Abraham, Associate Vice President, Alumni Relations; Mary Conrad, Editor; Kelly Ketner, Echo Creative, Art Director.

UNM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Ruth M. Schifani, President, Albuquerque; Steve Chreist, President Elect, Albuquerque; Gene Baca, Treasurer, Corrales; Judy Zanotti, Past President, Albuquerque; Monica Armenta, Albuquerque; Randy Royster, Albuquerque; Waneta Tuttle, Albuquerque; Kathie Winograd, Albuquerque.

2

by Sari Krosinsky In Mexico, Nathan Campbell explores the use of jatropha as a profitable plant for farmers and green fuel producers.

The Child Not Forgotten

by Alexis Kerschner Two leaders of New Mexico’s Defined Fitness gym say their business changes lives.

20

Going Verde

edited by Mary Conrad So you thought all Hatch chile came from Hatch.

Not so. But Gene Baca thinks it should.

by Mara Kerkez Gabi Rojas, ‘08 BA, doesn’t let disease curtail her dancing career.

24

26

28

by Steve Carr When Alea Nadeem was a child, her father held her against her will in Iraq.

Freed after four years, she joined the Air Force to protect the United States.

20

compiled by Margaret Weinrod.

Quirky Questions

edited by Mary Conrad Four favorite profs answer questions with no textbook answers.

alma mater proud as a contestant

aLBUm Bobby Tamayo

Alfredo Moreno

CONTeNTS

34 AT H L E T I C S :

Gridiron Gift

by Carolyn Gonzales Mike Locksley has a gift for coaching Lobo football.

36

Aumni Outlook

GEORGE FISHBECK George Fischbeck, ’49 BA, ’55 MA, Woodland Hills, California, now devotes himself to volunteering at the LA Zoo (he brings animals to cheer rest-home patients), as well as LAPD’s Volunteer Surveillance Team. He also raises money for firefighter charities.

Paul Miller Wighaman, ’53 BSIE, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, taught at Menaul School in Albuquerque; Cumberland Valley School District, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania; and was industrial advisor, Pennsylvania Department of Education for 11 years.

The final 10 years of his career were spent at Millersville University, Pennsylvania.

f a l l

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3

aCH YeaR OF aLLeNGeS aND CHaNGe BY

DAVID

J.

S C H M I D LY

President, The University of New Mexico

This has been a year of enormous challenges, not just for UNM but for a nation coping even now with the ripple effects of a deep and prolonged recession that is perhaps the most serious economic

Christian Horstmann

ordeal our country has faced since the Great Depression.

TRIO OF PRESIDENTS: UNM President David J. Schmidly enjoys the company of Alumni Association presidents current and past, Ruth Schifani, left, and Judy Zanotti, as the Association thanked its donors and volunteers at a summer reception.

4

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

They say that universities are “Ivory Towers,” distant and somehow removed from the tumult of the outside world. That was certainly not the case with the economic downturn, as UNM, like other public universities across the country, was forced to accommodate it.

We were relatively lucky. While our sister public institutions across the Southwest were forced to lay off faculty and staff, cancel classes, and, in one case, eliminate an entire college, we at UNM were able to adjust by pausing hiring and salary increases and by reducing administrative costs. I’m especially proud of some of our employees, who took voluntary furloughs to support our academic mission.

As with any period of economic challenge, this one produced enormous stresses within our institution, but the result has been what I hope will be a much better dialogue between my office and administration and the faculty, staff, and students. For a long time now, there’s been much “talking” at UNM but not enough “listening,” and the trials we faced during this academic year have hopefully set us on a new course.

Our students, parents, and recent graduates told us that applying to UNM was too cumbersome, that we were too slow in processing applications for admissions and financial aid, and that it was too difficult for them to add and drop classes. In addition to streamlining and modernizing the entire process, we’ve opened two “one-stop” student service centers and drastically cut the time it takes to evaluate and respond to applications.

We’re already seeing greater numbers of applicants, with increases in the numbers of National Scholars and graduate students in particular.

We’ve made progress, too, on the athletic field, thanks to the talents and discipline of our players, coaches, and staff. While I’m always proud of our victories, I’m even more impressed with the improvements we’ve seen in the grades and graduation rates of our student-athletes. We must never forget that the primary responsibility of our athletic program is to educate our students.

All in all, it was a satisfying if challenging year, and we’re on a positive trajectory for the future.

UNMLINKS RESEARCH CONNECTIONS chaco cocoa? Inhabitants of Chaco

Canyon apparently drank chocolate from cylinders about a thousand years ago. That’s the finding of Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Patricia L. Crown and her collaborator at the Hershey Center of Health and Nutrition, W. Jeffrey Hurst, published in PNAS, the National Academy of Science journal. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003593.html#more risky business: After years of

research studying teens and risky behavior, associate professor of psychology Angela Bryan knows all too well the dangers facing adolescents.

Even more danger lurks when alcohol becomes part of the mix.

Bryan’s research into alcohol and the role it plays in sexual risk-taking among detained adolescents is featured in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003606.html#more humidity in hawaii: Hawaii is much

more than a tourist hotspot – it’s a researcher’s dream, even if you have to get up at 2 in the morning to gather data. Just ask climate change researchers from UNM and the University of Colorado who have taken to the Big Island looking for an ideal low-humidity location to help decipher the distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003705.html#more

never underestimate: Results from

the first-ever, independent disability survey of over 33,000 households show that substantially more Americans live with paralysis and/or spinal cord injury than formerly estimated. The UNM Center for Development and Disability, with Anthony Cahill as principal investigator and project director, initiated the survey in conjunction with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

aLBUm Bill Kaiser, ’54 BSED, Tucson, Arizona, has been inducted into the LPO Illinois Valley Community College Hall of Fame. He played baseball and football for two years at UNM. Bob Lee, ’55 BSHP, appeared in the spring issue of Mirage as having a show of his paintings. Instead, the Los Lunas (New Mexico) Museum of Heritage and Art show was a memorial exhibit. Our records were incomplete regarding Bill’s death in 1993. We apologize for the confusion.

Daniel J. O’Brien, ’56 BSME, has been elected 2009 president of the Western State Bar Conference, a forum for the interchange of ideas among bar association leaders in 17 states. He is with O’Brien & Ulibarri in Albuquerque.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003894.html

Herb Wimberly, ’57 BAED, Las Cruces, has received an honorary doctorate from New Mexico State University where he was the men’s golf coach for 31 years.

STUDENT CONNECTIONS

Grace Hernandez Fink, ’58 BSHP, Bob Fink ’59 BSCE, Lakewood, Colorado, and Jim Johnson, ’69 BSCE, Corrales, attended a reception for host families at the Mountain Ranch Club in Coors Field last winter celebrating the completion of the Colorado Rockies development program for their 21 top prospects.

new alumni: About 2,450 students

received degrees in May from UNM’s Albuquerque and Extended University campuses, as follows: 1,632 bachelor’s degrees, 477 master’s degrees, 75 doctorates, 95 juris doctorates, 75 medical doctorates, 85 pharmacy doctorates, five graduate certificates, and nine education specialists. Nearly 160 additional students received associate degrees and certificates from the Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia branches.

Approximately 750 students participated in commencement exercises, held in Tingley Coliseum at Expo New Mexico (State Fairgrounds) because of renovations to The Pit. Antonio Flores, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, delivered the keynote address. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003960.html

Laurens C. Hammack, ’59 BS, ’64 MA, and his wife, Nancy Stopper Hammack, ’64 BA, own Complete Archaeological Service Associates (CASA) in Cortez, Colorado, which provides archaeological surveys for area business and public entities, required when new construction is planned on tribal lands. Laurens attended a New Mexico Archaeological Society anniversary celebration of Frank Hibben’s first Pottery Mound field school, of which Laurens is one of three surviving alumni.

F. Chris Garcia, ’61 BA, ’64 MA, Albuquerque, has been inducted into the Silver Horizons New Mexico 2009 Senior Hall of Fame. Chris is a former UNM president and distinguished professor emeritus of political science.

Joy Mason Campbell, ’62 BAED, has become a successful book artist after retiring as a teacher. She is a partner in Artistas de Santa Fe. Her book art pieces have been accepted into shows in Portland, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. Her work can be seen at ww.joymcampbellbookartist.com.

Linden M. Knighten, ’62 BS, Paso Robles, California, has retired as chief technology officer of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo and president of the Associated Students.

f a l l

2 0 0 9

5

aCH YeaR OF aLLeNGeS aND CHaNGe BY

DAVID

J.

S C H M I D LY

President, The University of New Mexico

This has been a year of enormous challenges, not just for UNM but for a nation coping even now with the ripple effects of a deep and prolonged recession that is perhaps the most serious economic

Christian Horstmann

ordeal our country has faced since the Great Depression.

TRIO OF PRESIDENTS: UNM President David J. Schmidly enjoys the company of Alumni Association presidents current and past, Ruth Schifani, left, and Judy Zanotti, as the Association thanked its donors and volunteers at a summer reception.

4

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

They say that universities are “Ivory Towers,” distant and somehow removed from the tumult of the outside world. That was certainly not the case with the economic downturn, as UNM, like other public universities across the country, was forced to accommodate it.

We were relatively lucky. While our sister public institutions across the Southwest were forced to lay off faculty and staff, cancel classes, and, in one case, eliminate an entire college, we at UNM were able to adjust by pausing hiring and salary increases and by reducing administrative costs. I’m especially proud of some of our employees, who took voluntary furloughs to support our academic mission.

As with any period of economic challenge, this one produced enormous stresses within our institution, but the result has been what I hope will be a much better dialogue between my office and administration and the faculty, staff, and students. For a long time now, there’s been much “talking” at UNM but not enough “listening,” and the trials we faced during this academic year have hopefully set us on a new course.

Our students, parents, and recent graduates told us that applying to UNM was too cumbersome, that we were too slow in processing applications for admissions and financial aid, and that it was too difficult for them to add and drop classes. In addition to streamlining and modernizing the entire process, we’ve opened two “one-stop” student service centers and drastically cut the time it takes to evaluate and respond to applications.

We’re already seeing greater numbers of applicants, with increases in the numbers of National Scholars and graduate students in particular.

We’ve made progress, too, on the athletic field, thanks to the talents and discipline of our players, coaches, and staff. While I’m always proud of our victories, I’m even more impressed with the improvements we’ve seen in the grades and graduation rates of our student-athletes. We must never forget that the primary responsibility of our athletic program is to educate our students.

All in all, it was a satisfying if challenging year, and we’re on a positive trajectory for the future.

UNMLINKS RESEARCH CONNECTIONS chaco cocoa? Inhabitants of Chaco

Canyon apparently drank chocolate from cylinders about a thousand years ago. That’s the finding of Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Patricia L. Crown and her collaborator at the Hershey Center of Health and Nutrition, W. Jeffrey Hurst, published in PNAS, the National Academy of Science journal. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003593.html#more risky business: After years of

research studying teens and risky behavior, associate professor of psychology Angela Bryan knows all too well the dangers facing adolescents.

Even more danger lurks when alcohol becomes part of the mix.

Bryan’s research into alcohol and the role it plays in sexual risk-taking among detained adolescents is featured in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003606.html#more humidity in hawaii: Hawaii is much

more than a tourist hotspot – it’s a researcher’s dream, even if you have to get up at 2 in the morning to gather data. Just ask climate change researchers from UNM and the University of Colorado who have taken to the Big Island looking for an ideal low-humidity location to help decipher the distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003705.html#more

never underestimate: Results from

the first-ever, independent disability survey of over 33,000 households show that substantially more Americans live with paralysis and/or spinal cord injury than formerly estimated. The UNM Center for Development and Disability, with Anthony Cahill as principal investigator and project director, initiated the survey in conjunction with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

aLBUm Bill Kaiser, ’54 BSED, Tucson, Arizona, has been inducted into the LPO Illinois Valley Community College Hall of Fame. He played baseball and football for two years at UNM. Bob Lee, ’55 BSHP, appeared in the spring issue of Mirage as having a show of his paintings. Instead, the Los Lunas (New Mexico) Museum of Heritage and Art show was a memorial exhibit. Our records were incomplete regarding Bill’s death in 1993. We apologize for the confusion.

Daniel J. O’Brien, ’56 BSME, has been elected 2009 president of the Western State Bar Conference, a forum for the interchange of ideas among bar association leaders in 17 states. He is with O’Brien & Ulibarri in Albuquerque.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003894.html

Herb Wimberly, ’57 BAED, Las Cruces, has received an honorary doctorate from New Mexico State University where he was the men’s golf coach for 31 years.

STUDENT CONNECTIONS

Grace Hernandez Fink, ’58 BSHP, Bob Fink ’59 BSCE, Lakewood, Colorado, and Jim Johnson, ’69 BSCE, Corrales, attended a reception for host families at the Mountain Ranch Club in Coors Field last winter celebrating the completion of the Colorado Rockies development program for their 21 top prospects.

new alumni: About 2,450 students

received degrees in May from UNM’s Albuquerque and Extended University campuses, as follows: 1,632 bachelor’s degrees, 477 master’s degrees, 75 doctorates, 95 juris doctorates, 75 medical doctorates, 85 pharmacy doctorates, five graduate certificates, and nine education specialists. Nearly 160 additional students received associate degrees and certificates from the Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, and Valencia branches.

Approximately 750 students participated in commencement exercises, held in Tingley Coliseum at Expo New Mexico (State Fairgrounds) because of renovations to The Pit. Antonio Flores, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, delivered the keynote address. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003960.html

Laurens C. Hammack, ’59 BS, ’64 MA, and his wife, Nancy Stopper Hammack, ’64 BA, own Complete Archaeological Service Associates (CASA) in Cortez, Colorado, which provides archaeological surveys for area business and public entities, required when new construction is planned on tribal lands. Laurens attended a New Mexico Archaeological Society anniversary celebration of Frank Hibben’s first Pottery Mound field school, of which Laurens is one of three surviving alumni.

F. Chris Garcia, ’61 BA, ’64 MA, Albuquerque, has been inducted into the Silver Horizons New Mexico 2009 Senior Hall of Fame. Chris is a former UNM president and distinguished professor emeritus of political science.

Joy Mason Campbell, ’62 BAED, has become a successful book artist after retiring as a teacher. She is a partner in Artistas de Santa Fe. Her book art pieces have been accepted into shows in Portland, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. Her work can be seen at ww.joymcampbellbookartist.com.

Linden M. Knighten, ’62 BS, Paso Robles, California, has retired as chief technology officer of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo and president of the Associated Students.

f a l l

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5

+MORe UNMLINKS good as goldwater: After tough

national competition, Jessica Martin, a senior pursuing her BS in biology, and Anna Vestling, also a senior pursuing a BS in biochemistry, will receive Goldwater Scholarships.

Junior Abdullah Feroze, working on a BS in biology, received an honorable mention. The program seeks outstanding students who plan to pursue a career in the sciences.

Architecture and Planning – the Design Planning Assistance Center – “staffed” by UNM students. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003768.html#more pharmacy pride: For the first

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003860.html#more

time in the College of Pharmacy’s 64-year history, one of its students, Adriane Irwin, was installed as the national president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, a 33,000member organization.

build it and they will come:

I AM: Students in the advertising

Communities across New Mexico struggle with decline in city centers and a need to reestablish their identities and forge plans for future development. Enter the community outreach arm of the UNM School of

campaigns course at UNM’s Anderson School of Management had a rare opportunity to work with the Central Intelligence Agency. UNM was one of only three universities in the nation selected by the CIA and EdVenture Partners

aLBUm to participate in the CIA Collegiate Marketing Program. As part of this semester-long program, students formed their own marketing agency, Inspire Anderson Marketing (I AM). http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003718.html#more got game: assistant professor for electrical and computer engineering Pradeep Sen and five of his students who conceived and developed simple versions of computer games received awards from STC.UNM. Sen and STC.UNM helped them navigate the legal hurdles and copyright their games, one of which is now in Beta testing with Xbox, while development is proceeding with the others. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003743.html#more

Ring in the new!

Trade in the old! how off the Lobo, Hodgin Hall, the Sandias, and UNM with every handshake. The official UNM ring – designed by students and alumni – is now available.

Trade in your old UNM ring for a discount on the new style.

In a variety of sizes, styles, and prices. You’ll find the perfect fit at Jostens.com

S

Jostens.com 6

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

MISCELLANEOUS CONNECTIONS to our credit: A Site Visit Team from

the Higher Learning Commission spent several days on campus in the spring and recommended that UNM be reaccredited in good standing for another 10 years.

The team was complimentary of UNM’s student learning, teaching, discovery and application of knowledge, and commitment to engagement and service, as well as its being positioned to take on future challenges. The team asked for reports on shared governance issues and on ongoing efforts to improve undergraduate advising. summer reading: UNM Provost

says Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream by acclaimed Los Angeles Times journalist Sam Quinones will be the inaugural work of the Lobo Reading Experience, a summer reading program for UNM Freshmen.

Suzanne Ortega

http://www.unm.edu/news/09AprNews Releases/09-04-28Reading.html

Read it for yourself and tell us what you think at www.unmalumni.com. be a lobo: UNM’s animated

institutional spot – Be a Lobo. Be Yourself. – has won the National Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) Circle of Excellence Gold Medal.

This is the highest award that CASE gives for televised commercial spots. Take a look at the spot at http://beyourself.unm.edu new mexico to hollywood:

Dreamworks Animation and Cerelink DMG are partnering

to render its cg 3D films in New Mexico. UNM and the State of New Mexico have made this possible with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003654.html#more

BUILDING CONNECTIONS going west! UNM has broken

ground for its UNM-West Phase I building, northeast of the Rio Rancho City Hall. The 42,000 square foot, two-story building will provide space for classrooms, a learning commons, a small bookstore, a food service area, and offices. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003598.html#more galluping forward: Because

McKinley County voters said “yes” to UNM-Gallup’s $8 million General Obligation bond issue, the college is rehabilitating and replacing some of its aging structures. Improvements include rehabilitation of Gurley Hall, razing and replacing Lions’ Hall, building a new childcare facility, and building a new maintenance facility. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003597.html#more long-wave go-ahead: UNM and

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Patrick Lyons have signed an agreement to commence construction of the first two sites of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) on state trust lands in Catron and Socorro counties. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003792.html#more

Rudolfo Anaya, ’63 BAED, ’69 MA, ’72 MA, Albuquerque, has published a new installment in his Sonny Baca mystery series, Shaman Winter (UNM Press). His latest children’s book, Juan and the Jackalope, is expected out this fall.

Charles Atkinson, ’63 BAMU, Columbus, Ohio, recently completed his term as president of the American Musicological Society and celebrated the appearance of his book, The Critical Nexus: Tone-System, Mode, and Notation in Early Medieval Music, in the series AMS Studies in Music (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Robert E. Whelan, San Antonio, ’67 BA ’76 MA, having retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1993, is now a Texas licensed nursing home administrator.

Robert E. Callary, ’68 MA, is author of Place Names of Illinois (University of Illinois Press, 2008). He is professor of linguistics at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and can be contacted at ecallary@niu.edu.

Sharon Weichman Crocker, ’68 BA, San Diego, recently retired after 10 years with Edward Jones Investments. She plans to pursue her musical interests as a pianist and work with artists in galleries. She would like to hear from old friends at scroker@yahoo.com.

Amado M. Padilla, ’69 PhD, is the chairman of psychological studies in education at Stanford University. He has been elected an inaugural fellow in the American Education Research Association, and is editor of the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.

Marilyn K. Price, ’69 BAED, ’78 MA, has had paintings juried into the New Mexico Watercolor Society spring show. She retired as deputy director of the New Mexico Department of Health in 2006 and now lives in Embudo, raising produce for Farmers’ Markets. She continues to be an analyst for the New Mexico State Legislature.

Roy Rummler, ’69 MMED, Nampa, Idaho, was guest conductor with the Meridian (Idaho) Symphony Orchestra at the premier of his “Petite Concerto for Two Harps and Orchestra.” Roy has over 100 published arrangements and compositions to his credit and is author of The Wrong Bottom Line and How to Change It, a book for business and education. He can be contacted at rummler@appliedfocus.com.

Lenny Miele, ’70 BA, East Falmouth, Massachusetts, is the author of Voice of the Tide: the Cape Cod Heritage of Katherine Lee Bates (Spinner Publications, 2009).

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+MORe UNMLINKS good as goldwater: After tough

national competition, Jessica Martin, a senior pursuing her BS in biology, and Anna Vestling, also a senior pursuing a BS in biochemistry, will receive Goldwater Scholarships.

Junior Abdullah Feroze, working on a BS in biology, received an honorable mention. The program seeks outstanding students who plan to pursue a career in the sciences.

Architecture and Planning – the Design Planning Assistance Center – “staffed” by UNM students. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003768.html#more pharmacy pride: For the first

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003860.html#more

time in the College of Pharmacy’s 64-year history, one of its students, Adriane Irwin, was installed as the national president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, a 33,000member organization.

build it and they will come:

I AM: Students in the advertising

Communities across New Mexico struggle with decline in city centers and a need to reestablish their identities and forge plans for future development. Enter the community outreach arm of the UNM School of

campaigns course at UNM’s Anderson School of Management had a rare opportunity to work with the Central Intelligence Agency. UNM was one of only three universities in the nation selected by the CIA and EdVenture Partners

aLBUm to participate in the CIA Collegiate Marketing Program. As part of this semester-long program, students formed their own marketing agency, Inspire Anderson Marketing (I AM). http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003718.html#more got game: assistant professor for electrical and computer engineering Pradeep Sen and five of his students who conceived and developed simple versions of computer games received awards from STC.UNM. Sen and STC.UNM helped them navigate the legal hurdles and copyright their games, one of which is now in Beta testing with Xbox, while development is proceeding with the others. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003743.html#more

Ring in the new!

Trade in the old! how off the Lobo, Hodgin Hall, the Sandias, and UNM with every handshake. The official UNM ring – designed by students and alumni – is now available.

Trade in your old UNM ring for a discount on the new style.

In a variety of sizes, styles, and prices. You’ll find the perfect fit at Jostens.com

S

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MISCELLANEOUS CONNECTIONS to our credit: A Site Visit Team from

the Higher Learning Commission spent several days on campus in the spring and recommended that UNM be reaccredited in good standing for another 10 years.

The team was complimentary of UNM’s student learning, teaching, discovery and application of knowledge, and commitment to engagement and service, as well as its being positioned to take on future challenges. The team asked for reports on shared governance issues and on ongoing efforts to improve undergraduate advising. summer reading: UNM Provost

says Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream by acclaimed Los Angeles Times journalist Sam Quinones will be the inaugural work of the Lobo Reading Experience, a summer reading program for UNM Freshmen.

Suzanne Ortega

http://www.unm.edu/news/09AprNews Releases/09-04-28Reading.html

Read it for yourself and tell us what you think at www.unmalumni.com. be a lobo: UNM’s animated

institutional spot – Be a Lobo. Be Yourself. – has won the National Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) Circle of Excellence Gold Medal.

This is the highest award that CASE gives for televised commercial spots. Take a look at the spot at http://beyourself.unm.edu new mexico to hollywood:

Dreamworks Animation and Cerelink DMG are partnering

to render its cg 3D films in New Mexico. UNM and the State of New Mexico have made this possible with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003654.html#more

BUILDING CONNECTIONS going west! UNM has broken

ground for its UNM-West Phase I building, northeast of the Rio Rancho City Hall. The 42,000 square foot, two-story building will provide space for classrooms, a learning commons, a small bookstore, a food service area, and offices. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003598.html#more galluping forward: Because

McKinley County voters said “yes” to UNM-Gallup’s $8 million General Obligation bond issue, the college is rehabilitating and replacing some of its aging structures. Improvements include rehabilitation of Gurley Hall, razing and replacing Lions’ Hall, building a new childcare facility, and building a new maintenance facility. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003597.html#more long-wave go-ahead: UNM and

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Patrick Lyons have signed an agreement to commence construction of the first two sites of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) on state trust lands in Catron and Socorro counties. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003792.html#more

Rudolfo Anaya, ’63 BAED, ’69 MA, ’72 MA, Albuquerque, has published a new installment in his Sonny Baca mystery series, Shaman Winter (UNM Press). His latest children’s book, Juan and the Jackalope, is expected out this fall.

Charles Atkinson, ’63 BAMU, Columbus, Ohio, recently completed his term as president of the American Musicological Society and celebrated the appearance of his book, The Critical Nexus: Tone-System, Mode, and Notation in Early Medieval Music, in the series AMS Studies in Music (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Robert E. Whelan, San Antonio, ’67 BA ’76 MA, having retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1993, is now a Texas licensed nursing home administrator.

Robert E. Callary, ’68 MA, is author of Place Names of Illinois (University of Illinois Press, 2008). He is professor of linguistics at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and can be contacted at ecallary@niu.edu.

Sharon Weichman Crocker, ’68 BA, San Diego, recently retired after 10 years with Edward Jones Investments. She plans to pursue her musical interests as a pianist and work with artists in galleries. She would like to hear from old friends at scroker@yahoo.com.

Amado M. Padilla, ’69 PhD, is the chairman of psychological studies in education at Stanford University. He has been elected an inaugural fellow in the American Education Research Association, and is editor of the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.

Marilyn K. Price, ’69 BAED, ’78 MA, has had paintings juried into the New Mexico Watercolor Society spring show. She retired as deputy director of the New Mexico Department of Health in 2006 and now lives in Embudo, raising produce for Farmers’ Markets. She continues to be an analyst for the New Mexico State Legislature.

Roy Rummler, ’69 MMED, Nampa, Idaho, was guest conductor with the Meridian (Idaho) Symphony Orchestra at the premier of his “Petite Concerto for Two Harps and Orchestra.” Roy has over 100 published arrangements and compositions to his credit and is author of The Wrong Bottom Line and How to Change It, a book for business and education. He can be contacted at rummler@appliedfocus.com.

Lenny Miele, ’70 BA, East Falmouth, Massachusetts, is the author of Voice of the Tide: the Cape Cod Heritage of Katherine Lee Bates (Spinner Publications, 2009).

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+MORe UNMLINKS art advances: The UNM Art Museum

has closed for renovations. The temporary loss to art lovers will bring a big long-term gain, adding 8,000 square feet of gallery space, an updated print study room, storage space and administrative offices. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003796.html#more

NEW CONNECTIONS recent regents: Santa Fe attorney JE “Gene” Gallegos,

’56 BA, ’60 LLB, and undergraduate Emily “Cate” Wisdom, a junior biology and chemical engineering major, have joined the UNM Board of Regents. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004012.html

connected campus: A new UNM

Student Recreation Center will bring the campus community together, engage students, and support student life on campus, according to Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president for student affairs.

Architects have come up with a three-story building that will attach to Johnson Center with a bridge.

Construction could begin in a year. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003946.html#more

law dean: Kevin Washburn has been selected to lead the UNM School of Law as its newest dean and full professor of law. Washburn began his tenure at UNM in June. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003697.html#more ed dean: Richard Howell, ’72 BS,

’73 MA, ’83 PhD, has been selected to lead the UNM College of Education as its newest dean.

aLBUm Howell, who is also a faculty member in the department of educational leadership and organizational learning, had served previously as interim dean.

T

he UNM Parent Association is offering its second holiday ornament, designed by artist Jana Fothergill, featuring a favorite UNM location, the Duck Pond. At $18.89 each, the 3"x 3" metal ornament can be purchased exclusively at the UNM Bookstore (http://bookstore.unm.edu beginning in late August). All proceeds support the Parent Association. Call 505-277-5915 or email parent@unm.edu for more information.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003702.html#more engineering dean: Arup Maji,

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004001.html#more

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003823.html#more art dean: James Linnell has been

appointed acting dean of the College of Fine Arts. Previously, Jim served as CFA senior associate dean. Linnell, a writer and director, has taught at UNM since 1975.

chair of the department of civil engineering, has been appointed interim dean of the School of Engineering at UNM. Maji has served as chair of civil engineering since 2005. He has been a professor at UNM since 1988.

gallup gains: Sylvia Rodriguez Andrew

began her service as director of the UNM-Gallup campus this summer. She previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Antioch University in Los Angeles, and as dean and professor in the College of Social Work at San Jose State University. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004005.html#more ¡felicitaciones! Susan Tiano, professor

of sociology, has been appointed director of the UNM Latin American & Iberian Institute. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003728.html#more

8

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maximizing minorities in medicine:

A four-year, $2.94 million grant from the National Institutes of Health of General Medical Sciences, aimed to enable minority students to reach their goals, has been awarded to the Initiatives to Maximize Student Diversity. The student research program is led by nationally recognized faculty and program co-PI’s Maggie Werner-Washburne, professor, biology, and Steve Phillips, associate program director.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003996.html#more

Hang a Duck Pond on Your Tree!

GIVING CONNECTIONS

more minority success: The National

Institutes of Health has awarded UNM a four-year, $1.39 million grant to help train and develop under-represented minority graduate students – to assist them to perform successfully in the biomedical science/engineering doctoral programs. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003740.html#more biology across disciplines: UNM’s

Program in Interdisciplinary Biological & Biomedical Sciences (PiBBs) has received a five-year, $970,000 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health for a second phase of its interdisciplinary biological research endeavors. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003924.html virtual lab: A $185,000 donation from

Dell in hardware, software, and services has helped the Anderson School of Management create a pilot

for the next generation of virtual laboratory, which enables students to complete course specific homework from anywhere, at anytime with a broadband connection. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003975.html#more golden plans: The Tamarind

Institutue, UNM’s world-renowned lithography studio and gallery, has been awarded $100,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to support its 50th anniversary exhibition and catalogue.

“Impressive Impressions: Fifty Years of Tamarind Lithographs” (working title) will be organized

by Tamarind in collaboration with the UNM Art Museum. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003988.html#more kids and cancer: St. Baldrick’s

Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, awarded a grant of $85,000 to the UNM department of pediatrics to help treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure) or for further research. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003595.html#more gift with soul: UNM’s Comadre a

Comadre program in the College of Education has been awarded a $54,000 grant from Con Alma Health Foundation. Comadre a Comadre serves Hispanic/Latina women and their loved ones through advocacy, education, information, resources, and support about breast health and breast cancer.

Ruth M. Schifani, ’70 BA, ’76 JD, has been named “New Mexico Best Lawyers Banking Lawyer of the Year” in 2008 by Best Lawyers. The Albuquerque resident is a shareholder and member of the executive committee at Modrall Sperling. Ruth is also president of the UNM Alumni Association.

Dennis Bierner, ’71 BAED, Phoenix, is a reading intervention specialist at the Abraham Lincoln Traditional School.

Virginia R. Dugan, ’71 MA, ’75 EDSP, ’92 DED, ’95 JD, Albuquerque, has been designated a 2009 “Southwest Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine for the third consecutive year. She practices at Atkinson & Kelsey.

Ted Baca, ’72 BS, ’76 JD, Albuquerque, has begun a three-year term as presiding judge of the 2nd Judicial Court.

Mark B. McFeeley, ’72 JD, Albuquerque, has retired from the US Bankruptcy Court in the District of New Mexico with the rank of chief judge.

Patricia George, ’73 BSNU, has taken early retirement from Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque after a 25-year career as a nurse, and moved to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos where she is opening a luxury bed and breakfast.

Maria Elena Schacknies, ’73 BAED, ’74 MA, is currently involved in a project called “Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance.” Maria Elena is president of Cultura International, and can be reached at cultura@att.net or www.culturainternational.net. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Suleiman “Sul” Kassicieh, ’74 BS, ’75 MBA, was recently named Distinguished Professor of Management at UNM’s Anderson School. He holds the Anderson School of Management Endowed Chair in Economic Development and Regents’ Professor of Management of Technology.

Gary Martinez, ’75 BBA, is now senior vice president/business banking group manager at the Albuquerque office of Century Bank.

Brian Levant, ’74 BUS, Van Nuys, California, was in Albuquerque for several months last winter directing Jackie Chan’s new action-comedy, The Spy Next Door.

Daniel J. O’Brien, Albuquerque, ’75 BA, ’80 MBA, ’83 JD, is 2009 president of the Western States Bar Conference. His law firm is O’Brien & Ulibarri.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003646.html#more

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+MORe UNMLINKS art advances: The UNM Art Museum

has closed for renovations. The temporary loss to art lovers will bring a big long-term gain, adding 8,000 square feet of gallery space, an updated print study room, storage space and administrative offices. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003796.html#more

NEW CONNECTIONS recent regents: Santa Fe attorney JE “Gene” Gallegos,

’56 BA, ’60 LLB, and undergraduate Emily “Cate” Wisdom, a junior biology and chemical engineering major, have joined the UNM Board of Regents. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004012.html

connected campus: A new UNM

Student Recreation Center will bring the campus community together, engage students, and support student life on campus, according to Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president for student affairs.

Architects have come up with a three-story building that will attach to Johnson Center with a bridge.

Construction could begin in a year. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003946.html#more

law dean: Kevin Washburn has been selected to lead the UNM School of Law as its newest dean and full professor of law. Washburn began his tenure at UNM in June. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003697.html#more ed dean: Richard Howell, ’72 BS,

’73 MA, ’83 PhD, has been selected to lead the UNM College of Education as its newest dean.

aLBUm Howell, who is also a faculty member in the department of educational leadership and organizational learning, had served previously as interim dean.

T

he UNM Parent Association is offering its second holiday ornament, designed by artist Jana Fothergill, featuring a favorite UNM location, the Duck Pond. At $18.89 each, the 3"x 3" metal ornament can be purchased exclusively at the UNM Bookstore (http://bookstore.unm.edu beginning in late August). All proceeds support the Parent Association. Call 505-277-5915 or email parent@unm.edu for more information.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003702.html#more engineering dean: Arup Maji,

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004001.html#more

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003823.html#more art dean: James Linnell has been

appointed acting dean of the College of Fine Arts. Previously, Jim served as CFA senior associate dean. Linnell, a writer and director, has taught at UNM since 1975.

chair of the department of civil engineering, has been appointed interim dean of the School of Engineering at UNM. Maji has served as chair of civil engineering since 2005. He has been a professor at UNM since 1988.

gallup gains: Sylvia Rodriguez Andrew

began her service as director of the UNM-Gallup campus this summer. She previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Antioch University in Los Angeles, and as dean and professor in the College of Social Work at San Jose State University. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004005.html#more ¡felicitaciones! Susan Tiano, professor

of sociology, has been appointed director of the UNM Latin American & Iberian Institute. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003728.html#more

8

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maximizing minorities in medicine:

A four-year, $2.94 million grant from the National Institutes of Health of General Medical Sciences, aimed to enable minority students to reach their goals, has been awarded to the Initiatives to Maximize Student Diversity. The student research program is led by nationally recognized faculty and program co-PI’s Maggie Werner-Washburne, professor, biology, and Steve Phillips, associate program director.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003996.html#more

Hang a Duck Pond on Your Tree!

GIVING CONNECTIONS

more minority success: The National

Institutes of Health has awarded UNM a four-year, $1.39 million grant to help train and develop under-represented minority graduate students – to assist them to perform successfully in the biomedical science/engineering doctoral programs. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003740.html#more biology across disciplines: UNM’s

Program in Interdisciplinary Biological & Biomedical Sciences (PiBBs) has received a five-year, $970,000 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health for a second phase of its interdisciplinary biological research endeavors. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003924.html virtual lab: A $185,000 donation from

Dell in hardware, software, and services has helped the Anderson School of Management create a pilot

for the next generation of virtual laboratory, which enables students to complete course specific homework from anywhere, at anytime with a broadband connection. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003975.html#more golden plans: The Tamarind

Institutue, UNM’s world-renowned lithography studio and gallery, has been awarded $100,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts to support its 50th anniversary exhibition and catalogue.

“Impressive Impressions: Fifty Years of Tamarind Lithographs” (working title) will be organized

by Tamarind in collaboration with the UNM Art Museum. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003988.html#more kids and cancer: St. Baldrick’s

Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, awarded a grant of $85,000 to the UNM department of pediatrics to help treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure) or for further research. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003595.html#more gift with soul: UNM’s Comadre a

Comadre program in the College of Education has been awarded a $54,000 grant from Con Alma Health Foundation. Comadre a Comadre serves Hispanic/Latina women and their loved ones through advocacy, education, information, resources, and support about breast health and breast cancer.

Ruth M. Schifani, ’70 BA, ’76 JD, has been named “New Mexico Best Lawyers Banking Lawyer of the Year” in 2008 by Best Lawyers. The Albuquerque resident is a shareholder and member of the executive committee at Modrall Sperling. Ruth is also president of the UNM Alumni Association.

Dennis Bierner, ’71 BAED, Phoenix, is a reading intervention specialist at the Abraham Lincoln Traditional School.

Virginia R. Dugan, ’71 MA, ’75 EDSP, ’92 DED, ’95 JD, Albuquerque, has been designated a 2009 “Southwest Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine for the third consecutive year. She practices at Atkinson & Kelsey.

Ted Baca, ’72 BS, ’76 JD, Albuquerque, has begun a three-year term as presiding judge of the 2nd Judicial Court.

Mark B. McFeeley, ’72 JD, Albuquerque, has retired from the US Bankruptcy Court in the District of New Mexico with the rank of chief judge.

Patricia George, ’73 BSNU, has taken early retirement from Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque after a 25-year career as a nurse, and moved to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos where she is opening a luxury bed and breakfast.

Maria Elena Schacknies, ’73 BAED, ’74 MA, is currently involved in a project called “Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance.” Maria Elena is president of Cultura International, and can be reached at cultura@att.net or www.culturainternational.net. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Suleiman “Sul” Kassicieh, ’74 BS, ’75 MBA, was recently named Distinguished Professor of Management at UNM’s Anderson School. He holds the Anderson School of Management Endowed Chair in Economic Development and Regents’ Professor of Management of Technology.

Gary Martinez, ’75 BBA, is now senior vice president/business banking group manager at the Albuquerque office of Century Bank.

Brian Levant, ’74 BUS, Van Nuys, California, was in Albuquerque for several months last winter directing Jackie Chan’s new action-comedy, The Spy Next Door.

Daniel J. O’Brien, Albuquerque, ’75 BA, ’80 MBA, ’83 JD, is 2009 president of the Western States Bar Conference. His law firm is O’Brien & Ulibarri.

http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003646.html#more

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+MORe UNMLINKS HONORABLE CONNECTIONS good fellow: Distinguished Professor of Biology Eric Charnov has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Charnov’s research combines ideas from ecology, economics, and evolution to understand the life history, reproductive, and foraging decisions of plants and animals, including humans. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003897.html#more top honor: Regents’ Professor of

History Ferenc Szasz is UNM’s 54th Annual Research Lecturer. He presented a public lecture entitled “Abraham Lincoln and Robert Burns: Connected Lives and Legends” in the spring. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003712.html#more regents profs: College of Arts and

Sciences professors Linda Hall, history, Zachary Sharp, earth & planetary sciences, and Margaret Werner-Washburne, biology, have been named Regents Professors for 2009-2012 – a title that acknowledges senior faculty for their accomplishments as teachers, scholars, and leaders in university affairs, as well as their work in their national and international scholarly communities. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004008.html#more top teachers I: Margaret Connell-Szasz,

professor of history, and Mary Domski, assistant professor of philosophy, received the 2009 Awards for Teaching Excellence 10

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in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Additionally, Jennifer Richter, American Studies, and Leigh Johnson, English, were the graduate student recipients. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003902.html#more top teachers II: The Faculty Senate

Teaching Enhancement Committee and the Office of Support for Effective Teaching annually honor faculty with campus-wide teaching awards. Ursula Shepherd (honors) was named the 2009-2011 Presidential Teaching Fellow. Outstanding Teachers of the Year are Sudhakar Prasad (physics and astronomy), Christine Sauer (economics), and Elizabeth Yeater (psychology). http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003957.html#more society president: Ziarat Hossain, associate professor of family studies in the department of individual, family, and community education, has been elected president of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003691.html#more

PUBLISHING CONNECTIONS mainly twain: Distinguished

Professor of English Gary Scharnhorst edited Mainly the Truth: Interviews with Mark Twain, published by the University of Alabama Press and featured in the press’ spring/summer catalog. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003722.html#more

aLBUm a couple of books: Barbara McCrady,

director of the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA) and Distinguished Professor of Psychology, and Rutgers University professor Elizabeth Epstein wrote Overcoming Alcohol Problems, A Couples-Focused Program Therapist Guide and the Workbook for Couples. The two books have been published as part of Oxford University Press’ “Treatments That Work.” http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003725.html#more playwright writes: Elaine Avila,

theatre associate professor, premiered Naked Singularity, a piece about black holes and animal bridegrooms, at Richard Foreman’s Ontological-Hysterical Theater in New York City. She also published an article in the Canadian Theatre Review about her collaboration with award-winning writer Paul Yee, Pangaea Arts, and Cantonese Opera performers. magnifique maxine: Maxine Thévenot,

associate organist and choir director, recently released a new CD, L’Orgue Magnifique. The album, recorded in Philadelphia on the 1933 Skinner organ at Girard College Chapel, includes work

by John Burge, Jeanne Landry, Martin Stacey, and Louis Vierne. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003797.html#more

Richard L. Speegle, ’75 BA, ’77 MA, has retired after 33 years with the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Taos and Durango, Colorado. He developed early river-management practices on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama Wild and Scenic Rivers. He was also federal project manager for the Durango Mountain Resort and Silverton Ski Areas environmental impact statements. He is now involved in real estate, construction, and property management in Durango.

Ilene Strizver, ’75 BAFA, is founder of The Type Studio in Westport, Connecticut.

She is a noted typographic educator, consultant, designer, and writer, specializing in all aspects of visual communication, from the aesthetic to the technical.

Linda Vozar Sweet, ’76 BA, is chair of the college success department at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso. Her gallery in Jemez Springs, Jemez Mountain Pottery, remains open in summer.

Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA, ’97 PhD, is coauthor with Jean-Luc E. Cartron, ’95 PhD, David C. Lightfoot, Jane E. Mygatt, ’84 BS, ’98 MS, and Timothy K. Lowrey of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). The guide covers the area from Cochiti Dam to Elephant Butte Reservoir with 800 color photographs and descriptions of more than 700 plants and animals.

Stephen Ciepiela, ’77 BA, ’80 MAPA, received the Harry E. Kinney “Good Neighbor” Award as part of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizenship Awards. Steve is president and founder of Charles Stephens and Company, a financial consulting firm.

Janis Keene, ’77 MS, Albuquerque, has been appointed president of Junior Achievement of New Mexico. Janis spent 27 years with APS before joining Junior Achievement.

Bruce McMaster, ’77 BA (History/Art), Albuquerque, says he started two local companies, Zephyr Wagon Works (greenhouses, bicycle wagons) and Mountain Sun Foods (dehydrated southwest food and cuisine).

Joseph A. Sholtis, ’77 MSNE, Tijeras, was appointed to serve as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Radioisotope Power Systems Committee to review NASA’s space use as well as DOE’s and NASA’s development of RPSs in the future.

f a l l

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+MORe UNMLINKS HONORABLE CONNECTIONS good fellow: Distinguished Professor of Biology Eric Charnov has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Charnov’s research combines ideas from ecology, economics, and evolution to understand the life history, reproductive, and foraging decisions of plants and animals, including humans. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003897.html#more top honor: Regents’ Professor of

History Ferenc Szasz is UNM’s 54th Annual Research Lecturer. He presented a public lecture entitled “Abraham Lincoln and Robert Burns: Connected Lives and Legends” in the spring. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003712.html#more regents profs: College of Arts and

Sciences professors Linda Hall, history, Zachary Sharp, earth & planetary sciences, and Margaret Werner-Washburne, biology, have been named Regents Professors for 2009-2012 – a title that acknowledges senior faculty for their accomplishments as teachers, scholars, and leaders in university affairs, as well as their work in their national and international scholarly communities. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/004008.html#more top teachers I: Margaret Connell-Szasz,

professor of history, and Mary Domski, assistant professor of philosophy, received the 2009 Awards for Teaching Excellence 10

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Additionally, Jennifer Richter, American Studies, and Leigh Johnson, English, were the graduate student recipients. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003902.html#more top teachers II: The Faculty Senate

Teaching Enhancement Committee and the Office of Support for Effective Teaching annually honor faculty with campus-wide teaching awards. Ursula Shepherd (honors) was named the 2009-2011 Presidential Teaching Fellow. Outstanding Teachers of the Year are Sudhakar Prasad (physics and astronomy), Christine Sauer (economics), and Elizabeth Yeater (psychology). http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003957.html#more society president: Ziarat Hossain, associate professor of family studies in the department of individual, family, and community education, has been elected president of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003691.html#more

PUBLISHING CONNECTIONS mainly twain: Distinguished

Professor of English Gary Scharnhorst edited Mainly the Truth: Interviews with Mark Twain, published by the University of Alabama Press and featured in the press’ spring/summer catalog. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003722.html#more

aLBUm a couple of books: Barbara McCrady,

director of the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA) and Distinguished Professor of Psychology, and Rutgers University professor Elizabeth Epstein wrote Overcoming Alcohol Problems, A Couples-Focused Program Therapist Guide and the Workbook for Couples. The two books have been published as part of Oxford University Press’ “Treatments That Work.” http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003725.html#more playwright writes: Elaine Avila,

theatre associate professor, premiered Naked Singularity, a piece about black holes and animal bridegrooms, at Richard Foreman’s Ontological-Hysterical Theater in New York City. She also published an article in the Canadian Theatre Review about her collaboration with award-winning writer Paul Yee, Pangaea Arts, and Cantonese Opera performers. magnifique maxine: Maxine Thévenot,

associate organist and choir director, recently released a new CD, L’Orgue Magnifique. The album, recorded in Philadelphia on the 1933 Skinner organ at Girard College Chapel, includes work

by John Burge, Jeanne Landry, Martin Stacey, and Louis Vierne. http://www.unm.edu/~market/ cgi-bin/archives/003797.html#more

Richard L. Speegle, ’75 BA, ’77 MA, has retired after 33 years with the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Taos and Durango, Colorado. He developed early river-management practices on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama Wild and Scenic Rivers. He was also federal project manager for the Durango Mountain Resort and Silverton Ski Areas environmental impact statements. He is now involved in real estate, construction, and property management in Durango.

Ilene Strizver, ’75 BAFA, is founder of The Type Studio in Westport, Connecticut.

She is a noted typographic educator, consultant, designer, and writer, specializing in all aspects of visual communication, from the aesthetic to the technical.

Linda Vozar Sweet, ’76 BA, is chair of the college success department at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso. Her gallery in Jemez Springs, Jemez Mountain Pottery, remains open in summer.

Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA, ’97 PhD, is coauthor with Jean-Luc E. Cartron, ’95 PhD, David C. Lightfoot, Jane E. Mygatt, ’84 BS, ’98 MS, and Timothy K. Lowrey of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). The guide covers the area from Cochiti Dam to Elephant Butte Reservoir with 800 color photographs and descriptions of more than 700 plants and animals.

Stephen Ciepiela, ’77 BA, ’80 MAPA, received the Harry E. Kinney “Good Neighbor” Award as part of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizenship Awards. Steve is president and founder of Charles Stephens and Company, a financial consulting firm.

Janis Keene, ’77 MS, Albuquerque, has been appointed president of Junior Achievement of New Mexico. Janis spent 27 years with APS before joining Junior Achievement.

Bruce McMaster, ’77 BA (History/Art), Albuquerque, says he started two local companies, Zephyr Wagon Works (greenhouses, bicycle wagons) and Mountain Sun Foods (dehydrated southwest food and cuisine).

Joseph A. Sholtis, ’77 MSNE, Tijeras, was appointed to serve as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Radioisotope Power Systems Committee to review NASA’s space use as well as DOE’s and NASA’s development of RPSs in the future.

f a l l

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11

FACULTY PROFIL e S QUIRKY QUeSTIONS F O R 4 FA V O R I T E P R O F S

EDITED

BY

MARY

CONRAD

M A RY P O W E R SHE WHO FINDS LOST DOGS

E

nglish professor Mary Power received her BA from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, and her MA and PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She drove to UNM from Madison in her “new Bermuda-blue Volkswagen convertible,” straight out of graduate school. She’d interviewed for a job and was “advised by profs at Wisconsin that UNM treated its people well.”

Hometown:

Mirage asks the questions that have nothing to do with your grade.

DIRK C. GIBSON

First job: Assistant

produce clerk at McQuade’s Market in Riverside, Rhode Island.

A

Bobby Tamayo

S E R I A L LY S P E A K I N G

ssociate professor of communication Dirk C. Gibson is an expert source for print and broadcast media on serial killers and mass communication, and has published two recent books on serial murderers. He received a BS in communication from Southern Illinois University and an MS and PhD in communication from Indiana University.

Hometown:

Barrington, Rhode Island

Chicago

First job: Janitor

on the Illinois tollway. I was lucky to have it and learned a lot.

I’m finishing a book on outer-space public relations.

It’s my first e-book, published by Bentham Science Publishers. I’m also writing about the commercial causes of for-profit serial murder.

I was asked by a group representing the West Mesa victims to write a book about them. It would be a dramatically different book, with the victims and their families making up a third of it. My brain says don’t do it; my heart says do.

Current project:

12

overslept and missed most of the first exam I was supposed to give here in Mitchell Hall. Students had to phone to wake me up, and it was a large class. In my defense, I can only say it was a 7:30 a.m. exam.

Jack the Ripper Ted Bundy

Night Stalker

X other: The Mad Butcher of Cleveland

m a g a z i n e

Favorite place to visit in England:

London, most certainly. I taught there for UNM one semester. Armed with a guide book, I took long walks from one end of the city to the other, and read all the blue plaques on the houses of famous people. In that way I got to know the city and some of its layers of history fairly well. I am looking forward to teaching UNM students in London either next summer or some summer soon.

Brian Burnett, ’78 BSCE, ’80 MSCE, now serves on the Presbyterian Healthcare Services board of directors. He is also chair for the boards of Quality New Mexico and the Association of Commerce and Industry.

Brian is president of Bohannan Huston in Albuquerque.

Fairlee Winfield Carroll, ’78 PhD, of Scottsdale, professor emerita of linguistics and cultural studies at Northern Arizona University, is author of BUFFALOed, a novel, available at amazon.com. Her interest was sparked by her grandmother’s stories of working in the Montana home of renowned artist Charles M. Russell.

Antoinette Sedillo López, ’79 BUS, is a coauthor, with Barbara L. Shapiro and Merri Rudd, of the second edition of Family Law in New Mexico (Abogada Press), written to help the ordinary person understand how the system operates.

Hidden talent: Not

music – I’m always one beat off the real beat. I’m a gentle and kind person who has a hard time in the world full of mean people. I’m a reader and writer.

Have you ever wanted to be a detective rather than write about killers? No, I

would pass out when I saw blood.

If you didn’t write about the criminal world, what would you write about?

I actually used to write about product safety, product recalls.

But publishers are much more interested in serial murderers.

What music do you listen to in order to clear your mind? It’s strange in that

I leave [the gory] stuff behind. It doesn’t stay with me. But I have gone through a dozen research associates! I don’t watch shows like CSI – I’m scared by them.

I love reggae, especially UB40.

Dream job: Teaching and researching in a place where decisions are based totally on students’ needs.

Which would you read for fun (pick one):

Xmystery science fiction biography Mysteries most certainly—I really enjoy PD James, Elizabeth George, and Donna Leon especially among contemporary writers and Sherlock Homes, Wilkie Collins, and Sheridan Le Fanu among earlier writers.

romance

Best teaching story: I’m

delighted when I know I’ve taught students literature that has made a difference for them. I’m happy when students send me postcards from Ireland, and even more so when they go on and receive advanced degrees in Irish literature.

Best sabbatical experience: Working

with turn-of-the-century manuscripts and newspapers at the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street in Dublin, and making some key discoveries about Joyce’s works and their contexts.

Hidden talent: Hmmmm…

If you weren’t teaching, what would you do?

I’d be a lawyer specializing in human or civil rights.

M I R A G E

like asking about one’s left arm or one’s right arm. Ulysses, probably, but I also love Dubliners and Portrait and yearn to know more about Finnegans Wake.

George Stanfield, ’77 BBA, Albuquerque, has been named to the UNM Anderson School of Management’s Hall of Fame.

He is responsible for all Bank of the West operations in 72 retail locations and four commercial banking centers in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

Most complex serial killer case (pick one):

Favorite detective series (fiction):

That’s easy – Sherlock Holmes.

Worst teaching story: I

Favorite Joyce book: That’s

aLBUm

DEBRA LEVY MARTINELLI Debra Levy Martinelli, ’79 BA, is the principal and owner of LevyMart Public Relations in Norman, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband, Johnny, ’77 BUS. Her firm offers a full range of PR services.

Marsha Bol, ’80 MA, ’89 PhD, is now director of the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Formerly, she was director of the New Mexico Museum.

probably

finding lost dogs. f a l l

2 0 0 9

13

FACULTY PROFIL e S QUIRKY QUeSTIONS F O R 4 FA V O R I T E P R O F S

EDITED

BY

MARY

CONRAD

M A RY P O W E R SHE WHO FINDS LOST DOGS

E

nglish professor Mary Power received her BA from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, and her MA and PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She drove to UNM from Madison in her “new Bermuda-blue Volkswagen convertible,” straight out of graduate school. She’d interviewed for a job and was “advised by profs at Wisconsin that UNM treated its people well.”

Hometown:

Mirage asks the questions that have nothing to do with your grade.

DIRK C. GIBSON

First job: Assistant

produce clerk at McQuade’s Market in Riverside, Rhode Island.

A

Bobby Tamayo

S E R I A L LY S P E A K I N G

ssociate professor of communication Dirk C. Gibson is an expert source for print and broadcast media on serial killers and mass communication, and has published two recent books on serial murderers. He received a BS in communication from Southern Illinois University and an MS and PhD in communication from Indiana University.

Hometown:

Barrington, Rhode Island

Chicago

First job: Janitor

on the Illinois tollway. I was lucky to have it and learned a lot.

I’m finishing a book on outer-space public relations.

It’s my first e-book, published by Bentham Science Publishers. I’m also writing about the commercial causes of for-profit serial murder.

I was asked by a group representing the West Mesa victims to write a book about them. It would be a dramatically different book, with the victims and their families making up a third of it. My brain says don’t do it; my heart says do.

Current project:

12

overslept and missed most of the first exam I was supposed to give here in Mitchell Hall. Students had to phone to wake me up, and it was a large class. In my defense, I can only say it was a 7:30 a.m. exam.

Jack the Ripper Ted Bundy

Night Stalker

X other: The Mad Butcher of Cleveland

m a g a z i n e

Favorite place to visit in England:

London, most certainly. I taught there for UNM one semester. Armed with a guide book, I took long walks from one end of the city to the other, and read all the blue plaques on the houses of famous people. In that way I got to know the city and some of its layers of history fairly well. I am looking forward to teaching UNM students in London either next summer or some summer soon.

Brian Burnett, ’78 BSCE, ’80 MSCE, now serves on the Presbyterian Healthcare Services board of directors. He is also chair for the boards of Quality New Mexico and the Association of Commerce and Industry.

Brian is president of Bohannan Huston in Albuquerque.

Fairlee Winfield Carroll, ’78 PhD, of Scottsdale, professor emerita of linguistics and cultural studies at Northern Arizona University, is author of BUFFALOed, a novel, available at amazon.com. Her interest was sparked by her grandmother’s stories of working in the Montana home of renowned artist Charles M. Russell.

Antoinette Sedillo López, ’79 BUS, is a coauthor, with Barbara L. Shapiro and Merri Rudd, of the second edition of Family Law in New Mexico (Abogada Press), written to help the ordinary person understand how the system operates.

Hidden talent: Not

music – I’m always one beat off the real beat. I’m a gentle and kind person who has a hard time in the world full of mean people. I’m a reader and writer.

Have you ever wanted to be a detective rather than write about killers? No, I

would pass out when I saw blood.

If you didn’t write about the criminal world, what would you write about?

I actually used to write about product safety, product recalls.

But publishers are much more interested in serial murderers.

What music do you listen to in order to clear your mind? It’s strange in that

I leave [the gory] stuff behind. It doesn’t stay with me. But I have gone through a dozen research associates! I don’t watch shows like CSI – I’m scared by them.

I love reggae, especially UB40.

Dream job: Teaching and researching in a place where decisions are based totally on students’ needs.

Which would you read for fun (pick one):

Xmystery science fiction biography Mysteries most certainly—I really enjoy PD James, Elizabeth George, and Donna Leon especially among contemporary writers and Sherlock Homes, Wilkie Collins, and Sheridan Le Fanu among earlier writers.

romance

Best teaching story: I’m

delighted when I know I’ve taught students literature that has made a difference for them. I’m happy when students send me postcards from Ireland, and even more so when they go on and receive advanced degrees in Irish literature.

Best sabbatical experience: Working

with turn-of-the-century manuscripts and newspapers at the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street in Dublin, and making some key discoveries about Joyce’s works and their contexts.

Hidden talent: Hmmmm…

If you weren’t teaching, what would you do?

I’d be a lawyer specializing in human or civil rights.

M I R A G E

like asking about one’s left arm or one’s right arm. Ulysses, probably, but I also love Dubliners and Portrait and yearn to know more about Finnegans Wake.

George Stanfield, ’77 BBA, Albuquerque, has been named to the UNM Anderson School of Management’s Hall of Fame.

He is responsible for all Bank of the West operations in 72 retail locations and four commercial banking centers in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

Most complex serial killer case (pick one):

Favorite detective series (fiction):

That’s easy – Sherlock Holmes.

Worst teaching story: I

Favorite Joyce book: That’s

aLBUm

DEBRA LEVY MARTINELLI Debra Levy Martinelli, ’79 BA, is the principal and owner of LevyMart Public Relations in Norman, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband, Johnny, ’77 BUS. Her firm offers a full range of PR services.

Marsha Bol, ’80 MA, ’89 PhD, is now director of the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe. Formerly, she was director of the New Mexico Museum.

probably

finding lost dogs. f a l l

2 0 0 9

13

aLBUm PA U L R O T H FROM ET TO ER

P

aul Roth is executive vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. He received his BS and MS in biology from Farleigh Dickinson University and his MD from George Washington University. He enrolled in the UNM family medicine residency program in 1976.

Hometown:

CEREBRAL GARDNER

S

usan B. Tiano is director of the UNM Latin American and Iberian Institute and professor of sociology. She earned a BA and an MA in sociology from Colorado State University, and a PhD in sociology from Brown. She received the UNM Alumni Association 2009 Faculty Teaching Award.

was born in Santa Fe, and raised in Los Alamos. At 11 I moved to Honolulu with my mom.

First job: I

worked for my father at our sporting goods store in Los Alamos after graduating from high school. I did everything but sell guns.

sociology 101 class with 700 students, all expecting a beloved faculty member, Pat McNamara, to teach the class. Their first reaction was “You’re not Pat McNamara!” Once, a singing telegram, complete with balloons and strip dancers, was delivered in the middle of class.

There was a place in Woodward to

Most interesting Latin American leader (pick one): Hugo Chávez Michelle Bachelet Felipe Calderón Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner X other: Fidel Castro

Why?

While he didn’t do great things for human rights, he did more for the status of women and families, education, access to healthcare, among other things, to empower and strengthen the population.

First trip out of the country: My family had

a cabin in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. As little kids my brother and I would go with our parents across the border to Juarez, Mexico.

Worst teaching story: My first semester at UNM (1989), I was assigned to a 14

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

project visuals to the entire audience.

Someone got up there and started doing obscene hand gestures in shadow over my head where I couldn’t see. The class was cracking up. Finally a police officer who was in the class said, “Dr. Tiano, I’m going to fix your problem,” and escorted the student out. But by

house-painting, and construction work over the summers of high school and college.

Most rewarding case: When a neighbor’s child came rushing to my home saying her mother was choking

the end of the semester, they clapped for me, gave me a standing ovation. After that I could teach most anything.

Best teaching story: My first semester at Michigan State University, I was very strict about tests, time, etc.

I was kind of mean. One day a student comes to me and says, “I flunked my test because I didn’t have time to finish it.” He was a jock, on the football team, kind of the stereotype of a lazy student.

I was very skeptical, but said, “Okay, you can take it right now.”

He sat down and took it right then and made a perfect score! After that my tendency has been to believe students and to make sure they have a chance to show what they know.

What different career would you pursue if you could? I’d probably be a

horticulturist or botanist. I love plants. I love to plant. The planet needs growing things. I try hard to balance my too cerebral life with gardening.

Hidden talent: Dancing. All kinds.

Ball room. Country. Nightclub.

Swing. Competition.

on something. It turned out she was in a full cardiac arrest and I performed CPR on her until EMS arrived and helped run the code at the scene. She left the hospital several weeks later in good condition.

Most important advancement in health worldwide: Broadly, it would have

to be modern water sanitation systems. As far as cutting edge scientific discoveries go, I believe advances in stem cell research hold the greatest promise for massive medical applications.

If you weren’t a physician, what would you do? I was on track to work

for NASA as an exobiologist – a scientist who tries to discover/ study life extra-terrestrially.

Administration or patient care?

My heart and my self-image are as an emergency physician.

Favorite stress-reliever: Playing

with

my kids and Tai Chi Favorite healthy food: Chicken Bobby Tamayo

Hometown: I

First job: Landscaping, Bobby Tamayo

SUSAN B. TIANO

Parsippany, New Jersey

Favorite junk food: Chocolate Hidden talent: I

Which would you read for fun (pick one): mystery

science fiction

biography

like to do carpentry.

PATTI WATSON Patti R. Watson, ’80 BA, has been elected chair and chief executive officer of Cooney, Watson & Associates, a full-service advertising, marketing, public relations, and video production firm in Albuquerque.

Cynthia Fry, ’81 JD, Corrales, is now chief judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

She has served on the court for eight years.

Daniel P. Gmyrek, ’81 BSPH, Weber City, Virginia, has been named the Hospital Preceptor of the Year for the East Tennessee State University College of Pharmacy.

Teresa L. Knott, ’81 BUS, Elliott City, Maryland, has been appointed director of the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences and associate university librarian for the VCU Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sarah D. Smith, ’81 JD, formerly director of ethics and compliance for PNM Resources, now teaches full time as the Rust Professor for Business Ethics at UNM’s Anderson School.

Pete Maggiore, ’82 MS, was recently recognized for his contributions to environmental remediation by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Pete is senior vice president of North Wind, an environmental engineering business, in its Los Alamos office.

Joseph F. Medina, ’82 BSHE, has been CEO and manager of Home Clean Home residential cleaning services in Española since 2001.

Carol June Rogers, ’82 BSED, Youngstown, New York, is president-elect of the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children. She is professor and coordinator of human services/early childhood education programs at Niagara County Community College.

Charles V. Garcia, ’83 BBA, has joined Miller Stratvert law firm in Albuquerque.

X other: I’m a Dean Koontz fan. f a l l

2 0 0 9

15

aLBUm PA U L R O T H FROM ET TO ER

P

aul Roth is executive vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. He received his BS and MS in biology from Farleigh Dickinson University and his MD from George Washington University. He enrolled in the UNM family medicine residency program in 1976.

Hometown:

CEREBRAL GARDNER

S

usan B. Tiano is director of the UNM Latin American and Iberian Institute and professor of sociology. She earned a BA and an MA in sociology from Colorado State University, and a PhD in sociology from Brown. She received the UNM Alumni Association 2009 Faculty Teaching Award.

was born in Santa Fe, and raised in Los Alamos. At 11 I moved to Honolulu with my mom.

First job: I

worked for my father at our sporting goods store in Los Alamos after graduating from high school. I did everything but sell guns.

sociology 101 class with 700 students, all expecting a beloved faculty member, Pat McNamara, to teach the class. Their first reaction was “You’re not Pat McNamara!” Once, a singing telegram, complete with balloons and strip dancers, was delivered in the middle of class.

There was a place in Woodward to

Most interesting Latin American leader (pick one): Hugo Chávez Michelle Bachelet Felipe Calderón Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner X other: Fidel Castro

Why?

While he didn’t do great things for human rights, he did more for the status of women and families, education, access to healthcare, among other things, to empower and strengthen the population.

First trip out of the country: My family had

a cabin in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. As little kids my brother and I would go with our parents across the border to Juarez, Mexico.

Worst teaching story: My first semester at UNM (1989), I was assigned to a 14

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

project visuals to the entire audience.

Someone got up there and started doing obscene hand gestures in shadow over my head where I couldn’t see. The class was cracking up. Finally a police officer who was in the class said, “Dr. Tiano, I’m going to fix your problem,” and escorted the student out. But by

house-painting, and construction work over the summers of high school and college.

Most rewarding case: When a neighbor’s child came rushing to my home saying her mother was choking

the end of the semester, they clapped for me, gave me a standing ovation. After that I could teach most anything.

Best teaching story: My first semester at Michigan State University, I was very strict about tests, time, etc.

I was kind of mean. One day a student comes to me and says, “I flunked my test because I didn’t have time to finish it.” He was a jock, on the football team, kind of the stereotype of a lazy student.

I was very skeptical, but said, “Okay, you can take it right now.”

He sat down and took it right then and made a perfect score! After that my tendency has been to believe students and to make sure they have a chance to show what they know.

What different career would you pursue if you could? I’d probably be a

horticulturist or botanist. I love plants. I love to plant. The planet needs growing things. I try hard to balance my too cerebral life with gardening.

Hidden talent: Dancing. All kinds.

Ball room. Country. Nightclub.

Swing. Competition.

on something. It turned out she was in a full cardiac arrest and I performed CPR on her until EMS arrived and helped run the code at the scene. She left the hospital several weeks later in good condition.

Most important advancement in health worldwide: Broadly, it would have

to be modern water sanitation systems. As far as cutting edge scientific discoveries go, I believe advances in stem cell research hold the greatest promise for massive medical applications.

If you weren’t a physician, what would you do? I was on track to work

for NASA as an exobiologist – a scientist who tries to discover/ study life extra-terrestrially.

Administration or patient care?

My heart and my self-image are as an emergency physician.

Favorite stress-reliever: Playing

with

my kids and Tai Chi Favorite healthy food: Chicken Bobby Tamayo

Hometown: I

First job: Landscaping, Bobby Tamayo

SUSAN B. TIANO

Parsippany, New Jersey

Favorite junk food: Chocolate Hidden talent: I

Which would you read for fun (pick one): mystery

science fiction

biography

like to do carpentry.

PATTI WATSON Patti R. Watson, ’80 BA, has been elected chair and chief executive officer of Cooney, Watson & Associates, a full-service advertising, marketing, public relations, and video production firm in Albuquerque.

Cynthia Fry, ’81 JD, Corrales, is now chief judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

She has served on the court for eight years.

Daniel P. Gmyrek, ’81 BSPH, Weber City, Virginia, has been named the Hospital Preceptor of the Year for the East Tennessee State University College of Pharmacy.

Teresa L. Knott, ’81 BUS, Elliott City, Maryland, has been appointed director of the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences and associate university librarian for the VCU Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sarah D. Smith, ’81 JD, formerly director of ethics and compliance for PNM Resources, now teaches full time as the Rust Professor for Business Ethics at UNM’s Anderson School.

Pete Maggiore, ’82 MS, was recently recognized for his contributions to environmental remediation by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Pete is senior vice president of North Wind, an environmental engineering business, in its Los Alamos office.

Joseph F. Medina, ’82 BSHE, has been CEO and manager of Home Clean Home residential cleaning services in Española since 2001.

Carol June Rogers, ’82 BSED, Youngstown, New York, is president-elect of the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children. She is professor and coordinator of human services/early childhood education programs at Niagara County Community College.

Charles V. Garcia, ’83 BBA, has joined Miller Stratvert law firm in Albuquerque.

X other: I’m a Dean Koontz fan. f a l l

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15

aTHLUMNI PROFIL e e CHILD NeVeR FORGOTTeN B Y

S T E V E

c

C A R R

Courage, strength, determination, and patriotism motivate all who join the United States military.

While some follow in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps,

others, such as US Air Force Lieutenant Alea Nadeem, ’08 BA, are motivated by unique life experiences.

After her rescue as a child from Iraq and her homecoming

with her mother in America, Alea Nadeem knew she wanted to serve the country that “never forgot its child.”

The US remembered the child kidnapped by her

IN THE BEGINNING Born in Toledo, Ohio, to a Catholic mother, Cindy, and a Muslim father, Saddam, Alea and her sister, Ayesha, seemed to have a normal American childhood made unique only by their Catholic-Muslim upbringing.

But their life changed as their father, once a loose-practicing Muslim, changed. “The older he got, the more extreme he became with his Islamic beliefs,” Alea says.

As a result, her parents separated when Alea was 7 and Ayesha, 2. “But I was still in a very happy home,” with her father coming over for dinner and spending time with the girls on weekends, Alea recalls.

Then, one day in 1991, while in the second grade, Alea learned that she and Ayesha and their parents were going to a land they knew only as their father’s homeland.

father in Iraq; now Alea Nadeem serves her country

16

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Christian Horstmann

in the US Air Force.

“He told my mom that his mother was sick and that he wanted to take my sister and I to visit her before she died,” Alea says. “I just remember telling the teacher I was going to be gone for two weeks. She gave me a pile of homework. I was excited! It was like two weeks off!”

A WORLD AWAY… Unbeknownst to Alea, Ayesha, and their mother, the girls were headed for an odyssey they would never forget.

They arrived in Mosul, Iraq, to spend time with their grandmother, Adeba, then in her 60s. But she wasn’t sick.

Her “illness” had been a ruse to take the girls away from their mother.

“We visited my sick grandmother, who wasn’t really sick,” says Alea.

“She had a knee injury and was not on her deathbed at all.”

Curiosity and suspicion began to arise. Still, the children didn’t know what their father was planning.

S P E C I A L A G E N T , M A ’ A M : Alea Nadeem returned to UNM to take part in a US Air Force commissioning ceremony associated with spring commencement. Alea credits UNM and the Air Force ROTC with starting her on the path to becoming a special agent.

aLBUm Karin Pogna Johnson, ’83 MEd, Austin, is in her 6th year as principal at Running Brushy Middle School in Leander, Texas.

She is currently working on her PhD in school improvement at Texas State University. She is coauthor of “What Makes an Effective Principal?” in Leadership in Focus: The Journal of Australasian School Leaders (Winter 2008).

Kathleen Romero, ’83 BA, has joined Hearing Health Care Centers in its audiology practice in Albuquerque.

Julie Downs Goodnight, ’84 BAR, near Salida, Colorado, is in the second season of her horse-training TV show, Horse Master with Julie Goodnight. She travels the country to work with horses and riders in her clinics while shooting the TV makeover show. Her web address is www.juliegoodnight.com.

Tom Arms, ’84 BSEE, St. Louis, Missouri, is an energy engineer at Tetra Tech.

David W. Dallas, ’84 BAED, Albuquerque, has received the Master Teacher-Elementary Subject Matter Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Jones Institute of Educational Excellence and the Teachers College at Emporia State University in Kansas where he has earned his MA. He also received the Graduate Student Research Award for his research in elementary science instruction in New Mexico. David has been teaching in APS. Jane E. Mygatt, ’84 BS, ’98 MS, is coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). See more at the entry for Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA. Steve McKee, ’85 BBA, Albuquerque, has a new book, When Growth Stalls: How It Happens, Why You’re Stuck, and What to Do About It. He is president of the McKee Wallwork Cleveland agency, which offers planning, creative, and media services.

Eddie Tafoya, ’85 BA, ’92 MA, is author of The Legacy of the Wisecrack: Stand-up Comedy as the Great American Literary Form (BrownWalker Press, 2009). Eddie is an associate professor of American literature and creative writing at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.

Art DeLaCruz, ’87 BUS, has been elected to a four-year term as Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 2.

Joline Gutierrez-Krueger, ’87 BUS, Tijeras, New Mexico, last year received a first place award from the Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies journalism competition for her personal columns in the Albuquerque Journal.

f a l l

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17

aTHLUMNI PROFIL e e CHILD NeVeR FORGOTTeN B Y

S T E V E

c

C A R R

Courage, strength, determination, and patriotism motivate all who join the United States military.

While some follow in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps,

others, such as US Air Force Lieutenant Alea Nadeem, ’08 BA, are motivated by unique life experiences.

After her rescue as a child from Iraq and her homecoming

with her mother in America, Alea Nadeem knew she wanted to serve the country that “never forgot its child.”

The US remembered the child kidnapped by her

IN THE BEGINNING Born in Toledo, Ohio, to a Catholic mother, Cindy, and a Muslim father, Saddam, Alea and her sister, Ayesha, seemed to have a normal American childhood made unique only by their Catholic-Muslim upbringing.

But their life changed as their father, once a loose-practicing Muslim, changed. “The older he got, the more extreme he became with his Islamic beliefs,” Alea says.

As a result, her parents separated when Alea was 7 and Ayesha, 2. “But I was still in a very happy home,” with her father coming over for dinner and spending time with the girls on weekends, Alea recalls.

Then, one day in 1991, while in the second grade, Alea learned that she and Ayesha and their parents were going to a land they knew only as their father’s homeland.

father in Iraq; now Alea Nadeem serves her country

16

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Christian Horstmann

in the US Air Force.

“He told my mom that his mother was sick and that he wanted to take my sister and I to visit her before she died,” Alea says. “I just remember telling the teacher I was going to be gone for two weeks. She gave me a pile of homework. I was excited! It was like two weeks off!”

A WORLD AWAY… Unbeknownst to Alea, Ayesha, and their mother, the girls were headed for an odyssey they would never forget.

They arrived in Mosul, Iraq, to spend time with their grandmother, Adeba, then in her 60s. But she wasn’t sick.

Her “illness” had been a ruse to take the girls away from their mother.

“We visited my sick grandmother, who wasn’t really sick,” says Alea.

“She had a knee injury and was not on her deathbed at all.”

Curiosity and suspicion began to arise. Still, the children didn’t know what their father was planning.

S P E C I A L A G E N T , M A ’ A M : Alea Nadeem returned to UNM to take part in a US Air Force commissioning ceremony associated with spring commencement. Alea credits UNM and the Air Force ROTC with starting her on the path to becoming a special agent.

aLBUm Karin Pogna Johnson, ’83 MEd, Austin, is in her 6th year as principal at Running Brushy Middle School in Leander, Texas.

She is currently working on her PhD in school improvement at Texas State University. She is coauthor of “What Makes an Effective Principal?” in Leadership in Focus: The Journal of Australasian School Leaders (Winter 2008).

Kathleen Romero, ’83 BA, has joined Hearing Health Care Centers in its audiology practice in Albuquerque.

Julie Downs Goodnight, ’84 BAR, near Salida, Colorado, is in the second season of her horse-training TV show, Horse Master with Julie Goodnight. She travels the country to work with horses and riders in her clinics while shooting the TV makeover show. Her web address is www.juliegoodnight.com.

Tom Arms, ’84 BSEE, St. Louis, Missouri, is an energy engineer at Tetra Tech.

David W. Dallas, ’84 BAED, Albuquerque, has received the Master Teacher-Elementary Subject Matter Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Jones Institute of Educational Excellence and the Teachers College at Emporia State University in Kansas where he has earned his MA. He also received the Graduate Student Research Award for his research in elementary science instruction in New Mexico. David has been teaching in APS. Jane E. Mygatt, ’84 BS, ’98 MS, is coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). See more at the entry for Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA. Steve McKee, ’85 BBA, Albuquerque, has a new book, When Growth Stalls: How It Happens, Why You’re Stuck, and What to Do About It. He is president of the McKee Wallwork Cleveland agency, which offers planning, creative, and media services.

Eddie Tafoya, ’85 BA, ’92 MA, is author of The Legacy of the Wisecrack: Stand-up Comedy as the Great American Literary Form (BrownWalker Press, 2009). Eddie is an associate professor of American literature and creative writing at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.

Art DeLaCruz, ’87 BUS, has been elected to a four-year term as Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 2.

Joline Gutierrez-Krueger, ’87 BUS, Tijeras, New Mexico, last year received a first place award from the Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies journalism competition for her personal columns in the Albuquerque Journal.

f a l l

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18

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

“They cared enough about me to come and get me.

No other country in the world does that.” —Alea Nadeem

which is what she called him, “How can you make me do this?”

He put a gun to her head and said, “Choose.”

Cindy looked at her oldest daughter and said, “I’m so sorry, Alea. I have to take your sister. You know she’s just a kid.”

Alea was numb. She knew her sister was going back to the United States and she was staying in Iraq against her will.

“It’s very difficult to see your mother and sister walk away,” Alea says. “That’s one scenario in my life I’ve dealt with over and over again.”

Cindy left with Ayesha, and Alea began her new life in the Middle East, going to school and trying to accept that she didn’t have a mother – at least not one she was able to see daily. Her dad had multiple wives and they tried to take on a motherly role, but it was always different for Alea.

THE GULF WAR… In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait.

The American presence initiated with Operation Desert Storm would lead to Alea’s ticket home.

“When the (first) Gulf War started, America came to Iraq,” she remembers.

“I don’t care what people say about that war because it freed me out of that country.”

She vividly recalls the day in 1994 when an American helicopter landed in Mosul on a humanitarian mission.

“I was still young, 10 years old, but I remembered the American flag. When they landed, all these kids, mostly males, were surrounding the helicopter.

The troops were dropping candy and the

Christian Horstmann

“On the last night we were supposed to be there, my dad came to get us and said, ‘hey, we’re going to go visit the family,’” Alea recalls. He took the girls to their aunt’s house, where they “played, and had a good time. We started getting tired and sleepy. Then, our father just leaves. He just left us there.”

The girls were scared. Everyone was talking in Arabic. They knew they were with family, but they had just met them a little over a week before. They cried themselves to sleep.

Alea and Ayesha stayed at their aunt’s house for more than a week.

They were brought food, but didn’t see their family otherwise. They had no idea what was going on. Then one day, they heard someone screaming in English. “’Oh my God! It’s my mom!’” Alea recalls saying. “I can hear her cussing and I’m trying to race downstairs. My mom had somehow found us. They were holding her back and not letting her get to me and my sister. Then, my dad shows up and it just got chaotic.”

Unfortunately for the girls, their mother was powerless in a land where women had no rights. “My mom, she couldn’t really do anything,” Alea says.

Frightened, the girls would not let go of their mother. They got into the car and drove back to their grandmother’s house where they had been staying.

“My dad’s trying to tell us that ’your mother left you. She didn’t want you and that’s why I took you girls,’” Alea says.

“He was saying really horrible things that an 8-year-old should probably never hear a father say about their mother.”

It soon became clear to Alea that something was terribly wrong as her mother started packing her sister’s bags, but not hers.

“It was one of those moment’s in your life where you are like, ‘What?’ I was only 8, but I just had this awful feeling,” Alea recalls. “My mom finishes packing my sister’s bags and takes the suitcases down to the car.”

According to Alea, Cindy turns to look at their father and says, “Sam,”

kids were all grabbing it. I remember thinking, ’I’ve got to get to the front and tell them to take me home.’”

Determined, Alea somehow made it to the helicopter. Speaking Arabic and English, Alea said, “Hi. My name is Alea. I’m from Toledo, Ohio. I need to go see my mom. Can you take me?”

The soldier replied, “Where’s your passport?”

“I’m 10 years old and wondering, ‘What’s a passport?’” Alea recalls. “‘I just told you I’m missing my mom. I need to go back home. Take me!’” she pleaded. “And, well, he didn’t,” Alea says. “I was heartbroken.”

But they didn’t forget about her.

BACK IN THE STATES… Back in the United States, Cindy was talking to the police and the FBI, trying to convince authorities of her daughter’s case. She worked countless hours fighting for her daughter’s freedom.

Cindy had trouble convincing the authorities because she and Saddam had joint custody of the girls, and she had accompanied the girls willingly to the Middle East. But once the Air Force corroborated, the FBI finally believed her… and took action.

“Sam” had business in Ohio. The FBI froze his assets and the money he was living off of in the Middle East. He had to fly back to figure out what was going on. He flew into Canada where he was tracked, but he couldn’t be arrested there – no jurisdiction. The FBI tricked him to cross the border, to Detroit.

“My mom told him she couldn’t cross into Canada, but that if he met

her at the border point, she [could],” says Alea. “As soon as he touched the ground (on the American side), the FBI arrested him, and told him he wasn’t getting out of jail until he told them where I was.”

Saddam made a call back to the Middle East and told his brother to drive Alea to the Jordanian border, since the US didn’t have diplomatic relations with Iraq at the time.

“It was like something out of a movie,” Alea says. “We met at the border. The FBI came and got me out.

My mom was there and I came back to the United States.”

TO SERVE HER COUNTRY… It was engraved in Alea’s mind that “the United States of America never forgot their child,” she says. She was motivated to serve her country in order to preserve what the US had given back to her – freedom.

“I wanted to be a special agent (so I could) to be a part of the same organization that helped get me out of Iraq,” she says. “They cared enough about me to come and get me. No other country in the world does that.

It’s something I don’t take for granted.

America cares.”

On September 11, 2001, Alea was a junior at a Catholic high school when terrorists struck the US. As soon as she graduated, she went to a local US Air Force recruiter and said, “What deploys? Send me over there so I can help. I thought I was going to be on a plane in a week.”

Instead, she ended up in basic training at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB), where she became a cop in the security forces, with plans still to become a special agent in the FBI.

AT UNM… While in training at KAFB, she met Judy Ortiz-Aragon, a civilian admissions officer with the AFROTC at UNM.

“She asked me if I wanted to commission and be an officer,” Alea says. “I told her I wanted to be an FBI agent.” Ortiz-Aragon told Alea about the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, a very demanding path.

“My first impression of this young lady was that she was bright and enthusiastic with a desire to serve her country,” Ortiz-Aragon says.

In the fall of 2004, Alea went by the AFROTC office to inquire about the program, its requirements, and how it would affect her status in the New Mexico Air National Guard.

Alea became a cadet and started at UNM in spring 2005.

“Lt. Nadeem’s natural desire and obvious potential left no question in my mind that she would be a tremendous asset to our program and UNM,” Ortiz-Aragon says.

During her senior year, Alea learned she would become a special agent in the Air Force upon her commissioning. In training now, she is scheduled to deploy in 2010.

“It was a dream come true. I got to be in the Air Force and to have the opportunity to serve my country. And, I was going to get to be a special agent for the same organization that saved me,” Lt. Nadeem says, smiling. “I really owe a lot to Judy and UNM because I was on a whole different path before I met her.”

She completed her degree at UNM in criminology with a minor in aerospace studies and was commissioned as an officer in 2008.

“Lt. Nadeem has encountered many obstacles in her life and always faced them with courage, an outstanding attitude, and a sense of respect,” says Ortiz-Aragon. “Lieutenant Nadeem is a hero in my book!”

“If I could say one thing to UNM, my teachers, and of course, Judy,” Alea says, “it would be ’Shukran,’ which means ’thank you’ in Arabic.”

aLBUm Bryce Rumbles, ’87 BA, Middle River, Maryland, has a full-time position at the Catonsville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

Lucretia M. Tippit, ’87 PhD, of Albuquerque, is a winner in the 2008 New Mexico Book Awards for her book The Pageant Unveiled. The Christian novel explores the life of a woman pastor as she responds to her calling and struggles with her temptations.

Alan Dils, ’89 BBA, UNM head men’s tennis coach, was voted the 2009 Mountain West Conference coach of the year, a distinction he also received in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

He holds the highest winning record in program history at 184-117.

Lillian Montoya-Rael, ’89 BA, ’98 MBA, Santa Fe, has returned to designing, developing, and implementing community programs. She helps corporate and non-profit leaders navigate through strategic and organizational challenges.

DENISE M. TORRES Denise M. Torres, ’89 BBA, ’93 JD, Las Cruces, is a member of the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. She is president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors and was selected for inclusion in the 25th anniversary edition of The Best Lawyers in America. She is a partner of the Saenz & Torres law firm.

AJ Salazar, ’89 BA, ’93 JD, Alcalde, New Mexico, is the director of the New Mexico Bureau of Elections. He oversees elections and voter issues.

Marjorie Bond, ’90 BS, ’92 MA, has been promoted to full professor at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Her area of interest is statistics education, and she works with the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics, developed at UNM.

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18

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

“They cared enough about me to come and get me.

No other country in the world does that.” —Alea Nadeem

which is what she called him, “How can you make me do this?”

He put a gun to her head and said, “Choose.”

Cindy looked at her oldest daughter and said, “I’m so sorry, Alea. I have to take your sister. You know she’s just a kid.”

Alea was numb. She knew her sister was going back to the United States and she was staying in Iraq against her will.

“It’s very difficult to see your mother and sister walk away,” Alea says. “That’s one scenario in my life I’ve dealt with over and over again.”

Cindy left with Ayesha, and Alea began her new life in the Middle East, going to school and trying to accept that she didn’t have a mother – at least not one she was able to see daily. Her dad had multiple wives and they tried to take on a motherly role, but it was always different for Alea.

THE GULF WAR… In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait.

The American presence initiated with Operation Desert Storm would lead to Alea’s ticket home.

“When the (first) Gulf War started, America came to Iraq,” she remembers.

“I don’t care what people say about that war because it freed me out of that country.”

She vividly recalls the day in 1994 when an American helicopter landed in Mosul on a humanitarian mission.

“I was still young, 10 years old, but I remembered the American flag. When they landed, all these kids, mostly males, were surrounding the helicopter.

The troops were dropping candy and the

Christian Horstmann

“On the last night we were supposed to be there, my dad came to get us and said, ‘hey, we’re going to go visit the family,’” Alea recalls. He took the girls to their aunt’s house, where they “played, and had a good time. We started getting tired and sleepy. Then, our father just leaves. He just left us there.”

The girls were scared. Everyone was talking in Arabic. They knew they were with family, but they had just met them a little over a week before. They cried themselves to sleep.

Alea and Ayesha stayed at their aunt’s house for more than a week.

They were brought food, but didn’t see their family otherwise. They had no idea what was going on. Then one day, they heard someone screaming in English. “’Oh my God! It’s my mom!’” Alea recalls saying. “I can hear her cussing and I’m trying to race downstairs. My mom had somehow found us. They were holding her back and not letting her get to me and my sister. Then, my dad shows up and it just got chaotic.”

Unfortunately for the girls, their mother was powerless in a land where women had no rights. “My mom, she couldn’t really do anything,” Alea says.

Frightened, the girls would not let go of their mother. They got into the car and drove back to their grandmother’s house where they had been staying.

“My dad’s trying to tell us that ’your mother left you. She didn’t want you and that’s why I took you girls,’” Alea says.

“He was saying really horrible things that an 8-year-old should probably never hear a father say about their mother.”

It soon became clear to Alea that something was terribly wrong as her mother started packing her sister’s bags, but not hers.

“It was one of those moment’s in your life where you are like, ‘What?’ I was only 8, but I just had this awful feeling,” Alea recalls. “My mom finishes packing my sister’s bags and takes the suitcases down to the car.”

According to Alea, Cindy turns to look at their father and says, “Sam,”

kids were all grabbing it. I remember thinking, ’I’ve got to get to the front and tell them to take me home.’”

Determined, Alea somehow made it to the helicopter. Speaking Arabic and English, Alea said, “Hi. My name is Alea. I’m from Toledo, Ohio. I need to go see my mom. Can you take me?”

The soldier replied, “Where’s your passport?”

“I’m 10 years old and wondering, ‘What’s a passport?’” Alea recalls. “‘I just told you I’m missing my mom. I need to go back home. Take me!’” she pleaded. “And, well, he didn’t,” Alea says. “I was heartbroken.”

But they didn’t forget about her.

BACK IN THE STATES… Back in the United States, Cindy was talking to the police and the FBI, trying to convince authorities of her daughter’s case. She worked countless hours fighting for her daughter’s freedom.

Cindy had trouble convincing the authorities because she and Saddam had joint custody of the girls, and she had accompanied the girls willingly to the Middle East. But once the Air Force corroborated, the FBI finally believed her… and took action.

“Sam” had business in Ohio. The FBI froze his assets and the money he was living off of in the Middle East. He had to fly back to figure out what was going on. He flew into Canada where he was tracked, but he couldn’t be arrested there – no jurisdiction. The FBI tricked him to cross the border, to Detroit.

“My mom told him she couldn’t cross into Canada, but that if he met

her at the border point, she [could],” says Alea. “As soon as he touched the ground (on the American side), the FBI arrested him, and told him he wasn’t getting out of jail until he told them where I was.”

Saddam made a call back to the Middle East and told his brother to drive Alea to the Jordanian border, since the US didn’t have diplomatic relations with Iraq at the time.

“It was like something out of a movie,” Alea says. “We met at the border. The FBI came and got me out.

My mom was there and I came back to the United States.”

TO SERVE HER COUNTRY… It was engraved in Alea’s mind that “the United States of America never forgot their child,” she says. She was motivated to serve her country in order to preserve what the US had given back to her – freedom.

“I wanted to be a special agent (so I could) to be a part of the same organization that helped get me out of Iraq,” she says. “They cared enough about me to come and get me. No other country in the world does that.

It’s something I don’t take for granted.

America cares.”

On September 11, 2001, Alea was a junior at a Catholic high school when terrorists struck the US. As soon as she graduated, she went to a local US Air Force recruiter and said, “What deploys? Send me over there so I can help. I thought I was going to be on a plane in a week.”

Instead, she ended up in basic training at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB), where she became a cop in the security forces, with plans still to become a special agent in the FBI.

AT UNM… While in training at KAFB, she met Judy Ortiz-Aragon, a civilian admissions officer with the AFROTC at UNM.

“She asked me if I wanted to commission and be an officer,” Alea says. “I told her I wanted to be an FBI agent.” Ortiz-Aragon told Alea about the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, a very demanding path.

“My first impression of this young lady was that she was bright and enthusiastic with a desire to serve her country,” Ortiz-Aragon says.

In the fall of 2004, Alea went by the AFROTC office to inquire about the program, its requirements, and how it would affect her status in the New Mexico Air National Guard.

Alea became a cadet and started at UNM in spring 2005.

“Lt. Nadeem’s natural desire and obvious potential left no question in my mind that she would be a tremendous asset to our program and UNM,” Ortiz-Aragon says.

During her senior year, Alea learned she would become a special agent in the Air Force upon her commissioning. In training now, she is scheduled to deploy in 2010.

“It was a dream come true. I got to be in the Air Force and to have the opportunity to serve my country. And, I was going to get to be a special agent for the same organization that saved me,” Lt. Nadeem says, smiling. “I really owe a lot to Judy and UNM because I was on a whole different path before I met her.”

She completed her degree at UNM in criminology with a minor in aerospace studies and was commissioned as an officer in 2008.

“Lt. Nadeem has encountered many obstacles in her life and always faced them with courage, an outstanding attitude, and a sense of respect,” says Ortiz-Aragon. “Lieutenant Nadeem is a hero in my book!”

“If I could say one thing to UNM, my teachers, and of course, Judy,” Alea says, “it would be ’Shukran,’ which means ’thank you’ in Arabic.”

aLBUm Bryce Rumbles, ’87 BA, Middle River, Maryland, has a full-time position at the Catonsville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

Lucretia M. Tippit, ’87 PhD, of Albuquerque, is a winner in the 2008 New Mexico Book Awards for her book The Pageant Unveiled. The Christian novel explores the life of a woman pastor as she responds to her calling and struggles with her temptations.

Alan Dils, ’89 BBA, UNM head men’s tennis coach, was voted the 2009 Mountain West Conference coach of the year, a distinction he also received in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

He holds the highest winning record in program history at 184-117.

Lillian Montoya-Rael, ’89 BA, ’98 MBA, Santa Fe, has returned to designing, developing, and implementing community programs. She helps corporate and non-profit leaders navigate through strategic and organizational challenges.

DENISE M. TORRES Denise M. Torres, ’89 BBA, ’93 JD, Las Cruces, is a member of the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. She is president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors and was selected for inclusion in the 25th anniversary edition of The Best Lawyers in America. She is a partner of the Saenz & Torres law firm.

AJ Salazar, ’89 BA, ’93 JD, Alcalde, New Mexico, is the director of the New Mexico Bureau of Elections. He oversees elections and voter issues.

Marjorie Bond, ’90 BS, ’92 MA, has been promoted to full professor at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Her area of interest is statistics education, and she works with the Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics, developed at UNM.

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aDLUMNI PROFIL e aNCING a TIGeR BY THe TaIL WITH

B Y

M A R A

h

K E R K E Z

Hello, Gabrielle Rojas. I understand why you once

surrendered your dream. By all outward appearances

it seemed the logical thing to do. But you were born to

dance. And, anyway, the fates just love messing with logic.

Despite her rheumatoid arthritis, Gabi Rojas, ’08 BA, dances her

20

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Christian Horstmann

way into the nation’s heart.

Gabrielle Rojas was on her way to UNM Student Services to speak with an advisor regarding her chosen field of marine biology, when her mom suggested a slight detour to look into dance classes. Among the postings on the callboard that day was an open audition for a four-year dance scholarship. That notice awakened a sleeping giant within Gabi, which surprised the 19-year-old because she thought she’d killed it long ago.

a thing in a miliskin leotard, the dance faculty was speechless,” says Judith Chazin-Benahum, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Dance. “We sighed after her presentation. Her choreography was original and flawless, raw and beautiful at the same time.”

Marine biology was not Gabi’s first passion. She had chosen it only because all hopes of dancing had been crushed the day she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

CHUCKING LEMONS

DIAGNOSIS

That life threw Gabi lemons early on is an understatement. But did she make lemonade? Nope. She chucked ’em back.

The first lemon whizzed by when she found the courage to try out for the dance scholarship… and got it.

“It would be an understatement to say that when Gabi came to our audition just out of high school, a young slip of

We interview at Carlisle Gym in a room that measures no more than 300 square feet. The floors are gray, the walls worn white. Long-paned mirrors slightly reduce the amount of floor space but provide reflections of an ethereal New Mexico sky.

I hold the sight and my tongue in order to allow the sinewy dancer, now 24, time to nourish and recharge on

aLBUm Kenneth W. Miller, ’90 BA, ’92 MA, has coauthored with David Niven, Death Justice: Rehnquist, Scalia, Thomas, and the Contradictions of the Death Penalty (LBJ Scholarly). He is a faculty associate in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona State University in Phoenix.

Jeannete Otero V. Baca, ’91 DED, is an associate professor of counseling at New Mexico Highlands University in Rio Rancho. She assumes the role of president of the New Mexico Counseling Association this summer for 2009-2010.

Cmdr. Raymond Gabriel, ’91 BAE, Gales Ferry, Connecticut, has become the 11th commanding officer of the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine US Providence. He assumed command from Michael Holland, ’89 BS, of San Diego.

Lori Renee Ostlund, ’91 MA, San Francisco, received the 2008 Flannery O’Connor Award for her short story collection, The Bigness of the World (University of Georgia Press, October, 2009). The award encourages gifted emerging writers by bringing their work to a national readership.

Linda Torres, ’91 EDSP, has been named principal at Albuquerque’s Rio Grande High School.

Sam S. Kassem, ’92 BSEE, is a federal program manager/engineer in Washington, DC. He lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Michael Stockham, ’92 BA, has been named to the Texas Rising Stars 2009 list of attorneys. He practices at Thompson & Knight in Dallas.

Lisa Arciniega, ’93 MS, ’01 PhD, Albuquerque, has coordinated the multidiscipline addictive behaviors program for the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System for three years.

Nicholas, ’93 MA, ’05 PhD, and Kristin Henry Chapin, ’93 BS, San Francisco, founded the non-profit GalaxyGoo in 2005.

It promotes science literacy by bringing together scientists, teachers, programmers, web developers, artists, and writers to collaborate on educational software and curriculum materials.

Robert H. Davidson, ’93 BA, Phoenix, owns the advertising design firm Davidson & Belluso, recognized for its healthcare design work on two recent campaigns. It received gold and bronze 2009 National Aster Awards, as well as silver and merit awards from the 26th National Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards.

S H E C A N D E F I N I T E L Y D A N C E ! After leading a dance workshop in Carlisle gym, Gabi Rojas walks through her choreography for FOX-TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. f a l l

2 0 0 9

21

aDLUMNI PROFIL e aNCING a TIGeR BY THe TaIL WITH

B Y

M A R A

h

K E R K E Z

Hello, Gabrielle Rojas. I understand why you once

surrendered your dream. By all outward appearances

it seemed the logical thing to do. But you were born to

dance. And, anyway, the fates just love messing with logic.

Despite her rheumatoid arthritis, Gabi Rojas, ’08 BA, dances her

20

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Christian Horstmann

way into the nation’s heart.

Gabrielle Rojas was on her way to UNM Student Services to speak with an advisor regarding her chosen field of marine biology, when her mom suggested a slight detour to look into dance classes. Among the postings on the callboard that day was an open audition for a four-year dance scholarship. That notice awakened a sleeping giant within Gabi, which surprised the 19-year-old because she thought she’d killed it long ago.

a thing in a miliskin leotard, the dance faculty was speechless,” says Judith Chazin-Benahum, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Dance. “We sighed after her presentation. Her choreography was original and flawless, raw and beautiful at the same time.”

Marine biology was not Gabi’s first passion. She had chosen it only because all hopes of dancing had been crushed the day she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

CHUCKING LEMONS

DIAGNOSIS

That life threw Gabi lemons early on is an understatement. But did she make lemonade? Nope. She chucked ’em back.

The first lemon whizzed by when she found the courage to try out for the dance scholarship… and got it.

“It would be an understatement to say that when Gabi came to our audition just out of high school, a young slip of

We interview at Carlisle Gym in a room that measures no more than 300 square feet. The floors are gray, the walls worn white. Long-paned mirrors slightly reduce the amount of floor space but provide reflections of an ethereal New Mexico sky.

I hold the sight and my tongue in order to allow the sinewy dancer, now 24, time to nourish and recharge on

aLBUm Kenneth W. Miller, ’90 BA, ’92 MA, has coauthored with David Niven, Death Justice: Rehnquist, Scalia, Thomas, and the Contradictions of the Death Penalty (LBJ Scholarly). He is a faculty associate in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona State University in Phoenix.

Jeannete Otero V. Baca, ’91 DED, is an associate professor of counseling at New Mexico Highlands University in Rio Rancho. She assumes the role of president of the New Mexico Counseling Association this summer for 2009-2010.

Cmdr. Raymond Gabriel, ’91 BAE, Gales Ferry, Connecticut, has become the 11th commanding officer of the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine US Providence. He assumed command from Michael Holland, ’89 BS, of San Diego.

Lori Renee Ostlund, ’91 MA, San Francisco, received the 2008 Flannery O’Connor Award for her short story collection, The Bigness of the World (University of Georgia Press, October, 2009). The award encourages gifted emerging writers by bringing their work to a national readership.

Linda Torres, ’91 EDSP, has been named principal at Albuquerque’s Rio Grande High School.

Sam S. Kassem, ’92 BSEE, is a federal program manager/engineer in Washington, DC. He lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Michael Stockham, ’92 BA, has been named to the Texas Rising Stars 2009 list of attorneys. He practices at Thompson & Knight in Dallas.

Lisa Arciniega, ’93 MS, ’01 PhD, Albuquerque, has coordinated the multidiscipline addictive behaviors program for the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System for three years.

Nicholas, ’93 MA, ’05 PhD, and Kristin Henry Chapin, ’93 BS, San Francisco, founded the non-profit GalaxyGoo in 2005.

It promotes science literacy by bringing together scientists, teachers, programmers, web developers, artists, and writers to collaborate on educational software and curriculum materials.

Robert H. Davidson, ’93 BA, Phoenix, owns the advertising design firm Davidson & Belluso, recognized for its healthcare design work on two recent campaigns. It received gold and bronze 2009 National Aster Awards, as well as silver and merit awards from the 26th National Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards.

S H E C A N D E F I N I T E L Y D A N C E ! After leading a dance workshop in Carlisle gym, Gabi Rojas walks through her choreography for FOX-TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. f a l l

2 0 0 9

21

Christian Horstmann

Wok chicken and vegetables. At 5’4" and all muscle, with a tiny bit of fat, the girl looks terrific. Since she had just performed an electrifying modern dance routine for a dance history class, she easily gutted a couple hundred calories – in five minutes!

at Albuquerque Academy, where she attended 6th through 12th grade.

Hard though she tried, her knees gave out and she fell.

“My mom was there that day,” Gabi recalls in a whisper. “She came to me and held me. We were both shaking.

That’s when I started to cry…because I realized there was nothing I could do.

I just couldn’t work through the pain.”

For the next three years, actions that most people take for granted – like eating, sleeping, bathing, and getting dressed – became extremely challenging for Gabi, but none more so than the rethinking of dance, the object of her affection that she’d identified with going back to the womb.

CIRCUS START Gabi talks to me between bites. “I was 13 when I got diagnosed. I went to the doctor because my body started feeling achy and my index finger swelled up and stayed that way.”

When the doctor told Gabi she had rheumatoid arthritis her first thought was, “Isn’t that something old people get?”

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic disease and age of onset can be anywhere from childhood (Juvenile RA) to the 50s. It produces inflammation in the joints, causing swelling, stiffness, and pain. It eventually leads to bone destruction and damage to ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.

“It was weird,” Gabi continues, “but when somebody put a name to what I had, it came on full force. Just like that all my joints – fingers, wrists, hips, knees, shoulders – stiffened up.”

The occasional aspirin for a boo-boo turned into a pharmacopeia of intense prescriptions. But living with pain 24/7 relegated their myriad side effects to second place. Relief was the all-consuming focus and it would be slow in coming.

Soon after being diagnosed, Gabi was performing a dance solo 22

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

During gestation, a place where most budding babies hear the external sounds of music or voices, Gabi heard the internal rhythms of her mother. “My mom was doing splits and somersaults when I was in there,” she muses.

Rosalinda Rojas is trained in ballet, modern dance, gymnastics, and many forms of circus art. She began her career with the Puerto Rican Ballet Company and went on to apprentice with the Dance Theater of Harlem. But wait a minute. Did I hear circus art?

In 1989, Rosalinda packed up her daughter and let go the daily routine of New York for circus dreams, screams, and loud roars. Little Gabi didn’t seem to mind. No kidding!

She was off to the join the circus, the Big Apple Circus, no less.

Life under the big top was the perfect venue for Rosalinda to be both performer and teacher of platform acrobatics, an art form Gabi quickly absorbed and began performing herself. When Rosalinda saw her daughter’s inherited talent and love for dance, she taught her everything about the art she knew.

“I was performing in an off-Broadway circus rendition of A Comedy of Errors,” Rosalinda recalls. “During a break outside, Gabi, just about 2, began dancing in a puddle, Gene Kelly style! A man with white hair and a groomed beard walked by and said, ’That kid can dance.’ I knew he was right before I heard the words. The man was (film director/choreographer) Jerome Robbins.”

After Gabi’s diagnosis, Rosalinda decided it was time to settle down. She had felt a connection with New Mexico when passing through the state years before, and chose it for their new home.

TIGER’S TAIL I listen to Gabi recount the five stages of grief she went through: denial, anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance, the last being the most difficult. While many children with Juvenile RA eventually grow out of it, Gabi did not.

She has lived with the disease for 11 years now, but I hear no traces of bitterness or resentment in Gabi’s voice any more than I see visible signs of deterioration on her body.

On her 18th birthday, when she saw that the state of her disease was unchanged, Gabi began to rethink her attitude toward it. If RA was going to be with her for the duration of her life, she was going to make a conscious effort to redirect the energy.

Shortly after adopting this new attitude, Gabi found a new “rheumy” – hip lingo for rheumatologist. He prescribed new medication, Enbrel, a shot she self-administers once a week, which promptly and effectively reduced her symptoms. A renewed zeal for life ensued.

“I became more involved in how I took care of myself, from stretching and working out to new eating habits and positive thinking,” she says. “When

I made the decision to own my disease is when I began to grow as a person and as a dancer.”

These days, Gabi no longer views the disease as a handicap but more a tiger that she has by the tail. It’s not a thing to be ignored, but she has learned to keep it at bay.

“I have a disease,” she continues, “but it does not have me.”

I sense the ghost of a lemon gone by.

JOINING THE PROS Earlier, I had the privilege of watching Gabi perform an acro-contemporary dance. Acro is defined by its athletic character and its unique choreographic combining of classical dance with precision acrobatic elements. Think Cirque du Soleil. You know: Up in the

suspect that even the most seasoned dancer would have difficulty wrapping a leg around his or her head.

Nonetheless, Gabi is in Cirque’s database pending a part that is the right fit. And it will happen, because the girl has dance and circus in her blood.

The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, forerunner of Cirque du Soleil, is among the best-regarded dance companies in the world. As she had with Cirque, Gabi went through a round of grueling, intense auditions for entry into Alvin Ailey’s BFA program, after graduating from UNM. Alvin Ailey required a routine in three forms: ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Yet again, Gabi made the grade. But to her great disappointment, she could

Mind, body, and soul, Gabrielle Rojas is a dancer. sky. It’s a ballerina! It’s an acrobat!

It’s a contortionist! No, wait. It’s an acro-dancer!

Cirque du Soleil is definitely not your grandma’s circus. It’s a kaleidoscope of dazzling costumes, original music, and supremely talented, creative dancers who swing, spin, hang, and fly, and come together to create magic and mystery.

Gabrielle Rojas auditioned for and earned a spot on the Cirque du Soleil team while a freshman at UNM. The requirements to be part of the Cirque family? Suffice it to say, Cirque scouting agents show up at the Olympics and world championships searching for talent.

While Gabi may have been perfect en pointe, she was a nonstarter for the company’s current show. The part for which she auditioned required a contortionist move she was unable to execute. The RA notwithstanding, I

not come up with the tuition required for the program.

One man’s devastation is another man’s discovery, and what Gabi discovered then was a new level of confidence and a much needed boost to her self-esteem. Two of the greatest dance companies in the world had given her a thumbs-up. Fly lemon, flyyyyy!

However, self-esteem alone would not put food on the table. So Gabi grabbed the classifieds and before anyone could say “one tall, skinny vanilla soy, double shot, no foam, extra hot, caramel macchiato,” she landed a gig at a trendy New York City coffeehouse as barista. Sound move … except the fates showed up again.

Dang if they don’t have a way of getting into Gabi’s face – this time in the form of her good friend Jesse. He was off to try out for the reality TV

aLBUm Jerinda Schell, ’93 BS, is practicing family medicine at ABQ Health Partners Juan Tabo Healthcare Center.

Patricia Jaramillo Avila, ’95 BA, Albuquerque, started a new company, Sportsmix, in 2008. She organizes adult sports leagues and social activities.

Jean-Luc E. Cartron, ’95 PhD, is coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). See more at the entry for Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA. De Haven Solimon Chaffins, Paguate, New Mexico, ’95 BAFA, had a show of her paintings last winter at the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum Store in Santa Fe. Traditional pueblo (Laguna) motifs play an important part in her imagery.

Liz E. Davenport, ’95 MA, Albuquerque, is a chaos consultant. Her business is “Order From Chaos,” focusing on how to make people’s lives simpler. Her first book was Order From Chaos: A Six Step Plan for Organizing Yourself, Your Office, and Your Life. Her websites are lizdavenport@att.net and www.orderfromchaos.com. We apologize for erroneously listing Liz as Elizabeth Davenport, ’75 BA, in the spring Mirage.

James Lujan, ’95 BSED, ’98 MA, ’00 EDSP, Albuquerque, is now principal of Ernie Pyle Middle School.

Melanie Romero, ’95 BSME, Belen, New Mexico, has invented the “Snapbagger” to make bagging one’s leaves a “snap.” To see what she achieved, visit www.snapbagger.com.

Angela Adams, ’96 BS, recently spent time in Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Scholar. Angela has been in education, most recently as Vista Grande Elementary librarian in Rio Rancho.

Adrian Chernoff, ’96 BSME, ’99 MEME, ’99 MBA, was featured on MIT’s site as the Inventor of the Week. Adrian is chief innovation officer at Ideation Genesis in Boulder, Colorado.

Zachary J. Cook, ’96 BA, ’03 JD, Ruidoso, has been appointed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to serve as State Representative in House District 56. He is an attorney with the H. John Underwood firm.

Michelle Linn-Gust, ’96 MS, ’08 PhD, Albuquerque, is president-elect of the American Association of Suicidology and chair of the survivor division.

Diana Luce, ’96 JD, Lovington, New Mexico, is chief deputy assistant district attorney for Lea County.

Find out what happened on page 38. f a l l

2 0 0 9

23

Christian Horstmann

Wok chicken and vegetables. At 5’4" and all muscle, with a tiny bit of fat, the girl looks terrific. Since she had just performed an electrifying modern dance routine for a dance history class, she easily gutted a couple hundred calories – in five minutes!

at Albuquerque Academy, where she attended 6th through 12th grade.

Hard though she tried, her knees gave out and she fell.

“My mom was there that day,” Gabi recalls in a whisper. “She came to me and held me. We were both shaking.

That’s when I started to cry…because I realized there was nothing I could do.

I just couldn’t work through the pain.”

For the next three years, actions that most people take for granted – like eating, sleeping, bathing, and getting dressed – became extremely challenging for Gabi, but none more so than the rethinking of dance, the object of her affection that she’d identified with going back to the womb.

CIRCUS START Gabi talks to me between bites. “I was 13 when I got diagnosed. I went to the doctor because my body started feeling achy and my index finger swelled up and stayed that way.”

When the doctor told Gabi she had rheumatoid arthritis her first thought was, “Isn’t that something old people get?”

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic disease and age of onset can be anywhere from childhood (Juvenile RA) to the 50s. It produces inflammation in the joints, causing swelling, stiffness, and pain. It eventually leads to bone destruction and damage to ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.

“It was weird,” Gabi continues, “but when somebody put a name to what I had, it came on full force. Just like that all my joints – fingers, wrists, hips, knees, shoulders – stiffened up.”

The occasional aspirin for a boo-boo turned into a pharmacopeia of intense prescriptions. But living with pain 24/7 relegated their myriad side effects to second place. Relief was the all-consuming focus and it would be slow in coming.

Soon after being diagnosed, Gabi was performing a dance solo 22

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

During gestation, a place where most budding babies hear the external sounds of music or voices, Gabi heard the internal rhythms of her mother. “My mom was doing splits and somersaults when I was in there,” she muses.

Rosalinda Rojas is trained in ballet, modern dance, gymnastics, and many forms of circus art. She began her career with the Puerto Rican Ballet Company and went on to apprentice with the Dance Theater of Harlem. But wait a minute. Did I hear circus art?

In 1989, Rosalinda packed up her daughter and let go the daily routine of New York for circus dreams, screams, and loud roars. Little Gabi didn’t seem to mind. No kidding!

She was off to the join the circus, the Big Apple Circus, no less.

Life under the big top was the perfect venue for Rosalinda to be both performer and teacher of platform acrobatics, an art form Gabi quickly absorbed and began performing herself. When Rosalinda saw her daughter’s inherited talent and love for dance, she taught her everything about the art she knew.

“I was performing in an off-Broadway circus rendition of A Comedy of Errors,” Rosalinda recalls. “During a break outside, Gabi, just about 2, began dancing in a puddle, Gene Kelly style! A man with white hair and a groomed beard walked by and said, ’That kid can dance.’ I knew he was right before I heard the words. The man was (film director/choreographer) Jerome Robbins.”

After Gabi’s diagnosis, Rosalinda decided it was time to settle down. She had felt a connection with New Mexico when passing through the state years before, and chose it for their new home.

TIGER’S TAIL I listen to Gabi recount the five stages of grief she went through: denial, anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance, the last being the most difficult. While many children with Juvenile RA eventually grow out of it, Gabi did not.

She has lived with the disease for 11 years now, but I hear no traces of bitterness or resentment in Gabi’s voice any more than I see visible signs of deterioration on her body.

On her 18th birthday, when she saw that the state of her disease was unchanged, Gabi began to rethink her attitude toward it. If RA was going to be with her for the duration of her life, she was going to make a conscious effort to redirect the energy.

Shortly after adopting this new attitude, Gabi found a new “rheumy” – hip lingo for rheumatologist. He prescribed new medication, Enbrel, a shot she self-administers once a week, which promptly and effectively reduced her symptoms. A renewed zeal for life ensued.

“I became more involved in how I took care of myself, from stretching and working out to new eating habits and positive thinking,” she says. “When

I made the decision to own my disease is when I began to grow as a person and as a dancer.”

These days, Gabi no longer views the disease as a handicap but more a tiger that she has by the tail. It’s not a thing to be ignored, but she has learned to keep it at bay.

“I have a disease,” she continues, “but it does not have me.”

I sense the ghost of a lemon gone by.

JOINING THE PROS Earlier, I had the privilege of watching Gabi perform an acro-contemporary dance. Acro is defined by its athletic character and its unique choreographic combining of classical dance with precision acrobatic elements. Think Cirque du Soleil. You know: Up in the

suspect that even the most seasoned dancer would have difficulty wrapping a leg around his or her head.

Nonetheless, Gabi is in Cirque’s database pending a part that is the right fit. And it will happen, because the girl has dance and circus in her blood.

The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, forerunner of Cirque du Soleil, is among the best-regarded dance companies in the world. As she had with Cirque, Gabi went through a round of grueling, intense auditions for entry into Alvin Ailey’s BFA program, after graduating from UNM. Alvin Ailey required a routine in three forms: ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Yet again, Gabi made the grade. But to her great disappointment, she could

Mind, body, and soul, Gabrielle Rojas is a dancer. sky. It’s a ballerina! It’s an acrobat!

It’s a contortionist! No, wait. It’s an acro-dancer!

Cirque du Soleil is definitely not your grandma’s circus. It’s a kaleidoscope of dazzling costumes, original music, and supremely talented, creative dancers who swing, spin, hang, and fly, and come together to create magic and mystery.

Gabrielle Rojas auditioned for and earned a spot on the Cirque du Soleil team while a freshman at UNM. The requirements to be part of the Cirque family? Suffice it to say, Cirque scouting agents show up at the Olympics and world championships searching for talent.

While Gabi may have been perfect en pointe, she was a nonstarter for the company’s current show. The part for which she auditioned required a contortionist move she was unable to execute. The RA notwithstanding, I

not come up with the tuition required for the program.

One man’s devastation is another man’s discovery, and what Gabi discovered then was a new level of confidence and a much needed boost to her self-esteem. Two of the greatest dance companies in the world had given her a thumbs-up. Fly lemon, flyyyyy!

However, self-esteem alone would not put food on the table. So Gabi grabbed the classifieds and before anyone could say “one tall, skinny vanilla soy, double shot, no foam, extra hot, caramel macchiato,” she landed a gig at a trendy New York City coffeehouse as barista. Sound move … except the fates showed up again.

Dang if they don’t have a way of getting into Gabi’s face – this time in the form of her good friend Jesse. He was off to try out for the reality TV

aLBUm Jerinda Schell, ’93 BS, is practicing family medicine at ABQ Health Partners Juan Tabo Healthcare Center.

Patricia Jaramillo Avila, ’95 BA, Albuquerque, started a new company, Sportsmix, in 2008. She organizes adult sports leagues and social activities.

Jean-Luc E. Cartron, ’95 PhD, is coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (UNM Press, 2008). See more at the entry for Sandra L. Brantley, ’77 BA. De Haven Solimon Chaffins, Paguate, New Mexico, ’95 BAFA, had a show of her paintings last winter at the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum Store in Santa Fe. Traditional pueblo (Laguna) motifs play an important part in her imagery.

Liz E. Davenport, ’95 MA, Albuquerque, is a chaos consultant. Her business is “Order From Chaos,” focusing on how to make people’s lives simpler. Her first book was Order From Chaos: A Six Step Plan for Organizing Yourself, Your Office, and Your Life. Her websites are lizdavenport@att.net and www.orderfromchaos.com. We apologize for erroneously listing Liz as Elizabeth Davenport, ’75 BA, in the spring Mirage.

James Lujan, ’95 BSED, ’98 MA, ’00 EDSP, Albuquerque, is now principal of Ernie Pyle Middle School.

Melanie Romero, ’95 BSME, Belen, New Mexico, has invented the “Snapbagger” to make bagging one’s leaves a “snap.” To see what she achieved, visit www.snapbagger.com.

Angela Adams, ’96 BS, recently spent time in Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Scholar. Angela has been in education, most recently as Vista Grande Elementary librarian in Rio Rancho.

Adrian Chernoff, ’96 BSME, ’99 MEME, ’99 MBA, was featured on MIT’s site as the Inventor of the Week. Adrian is chief innovation officer at Ideation Genesis in Boulder, Colorado.

Zachary J. Cook, ’96 BA, ’03 JD, Ruidoso, has been appointed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to serve as State Representative in House District 56. He is an attorney with the H. John Underwood firm.

Michelle Linn-Gust, ’96 MS, ’08 PhD, Albuquerque, is president-elect of the American Association of Suicidology and chair of the survivor division.

Diana Luce, ’96 JD, Lovington, New Mexico, is chief deputy assistant district attorney for Lea County.

Find out what happened on page 38. f a l l

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23

PRINCIPaLS B Y

A L E X I S

K E R S C H N E R

Two leaders of a premier New Mexico gym say their business is all about health, fitness, and changing lives.

n

New Mexico’s gym and fitness powerhouse, Defined Fitness, begins each month with no customers. But by the end of each month, and every month, it has thousands, at five

FEELING GOOD! THEY SHOULD! Traci Wolf, left, and Andee

Wright Brown are president and CEO, respectively, of Defined Fitness, a thriving New Mexico gym and fitness business.

24

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

locations throughout the state.

Two of Defined’s leaders, Anndee Wright Brown, ’92 BAA, and Traci Wolf, ’84 BA, ’88 JD, spend their days helping people transform their lives and, along the way, helping build Defined into a community-minded fitness empire.

Anndee, the CEO, is a striking brunette with an athletic build, hearkening back to her days as a gymnast at UNM. Traci, the president, is blonde and slim, with intense eyes and delivery. They’ve been working together for a long time, often finishing

each other’s sentences or looking to each other for clarification.

Their eyes shine with pride as they describe a gym that builds it business every month on customer loyalty, health and wellness, and the belief that a gym should keep its membership by providing the best product at the best price, not by year-long contracts. A one-time fee for joining lasts a lifetime, even if the member leaves for years.

The membership fee has been raised only three times in 30 years.

Norman Johnson Photography

aDLUMNI PROFIL e eFINING “People in the industry think we’re crazy,” says Anndee. “And they always ask us why it works. It’s because we’re not just about selling membership.

We’re about health, fitness, and changing lives.” Customers will pay for those, even in a down economy.

“People will give up a Starbucks for what we offer,” Andee says.

DEFINING MOMENTS Anndee and Traci met more than 20 years ago, when Defined was just beginning.

Traci had been hired as legal counsel for Defined and was working with owners Bo and Trish Fowler who had acquired the gym as part of a legal settlement. Today Traci’s law firm, Wolf and Fox, works on contracts, development, and acquisition for Defined.

“It’s pretty amazing that this formerly small business now keeps two-and-a-half attorneys busy full time,” she says.

Anndee’s history with Defined began while teaching in an after-school gymnastics program for kids. One of the children in the class was the Fowlers’ daughter.

One day after the children’s class, Anndee went out into the rain to sell candy bars for the program. Trish bought her whole box of 20.

“Trish said I was crying out in the pouring rain – I don’t quite remember that,” says Andee, chuckling.

A week later, the UNM weight room closed for the summer and Anndee needed a place to work out to stay in shape for the upcoming gymnastics season. She asked Trish for a job at Defined, where she could work out for free. Trish handed her a key

and told her to open the gym at 4:30 the next morning.

COMMUNITY MUSCLE Many years later, Defined is succeeding in a notoriously tough industry.

Among Defined’s precepts is meeting customer expectations for new equipment and the latest offerings.

While there is a typical schedule for replacing equipment, Anndee and Traci exceed it. The old equipment is often donated to various entities, including UNM. When the cardio equipment at the Defined location in Albuquerque’s far north heights was replaced early in its life cycle, Defined contacted the new strength and conditioning coach for the UNM football team; all the slightly used equipment is now going to the UNM athletics complex.

Next up for Traci and Anndee is the launch and expansion of “Community Muscle,” the non-profit arm of Defined that is responsible for philanthropic endeavors, including support for UNM, the Lobos, the Lobo Club, and much more.

DEFINING SATISFACTION At the end of the day, Defined is about fitness and life changes.

“What I love is that you really change and affect people’s lives,” says Anndee. “I can’t tell you how many times a member says, ’I’ve lost 30 pounds and I feel great.’ You’re a place and an environment to induce positive change in people’s lives.

That feels good.”

aLBUm Holly Shumas, ’96 BA, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California.

Her second novel, Love and Other Natural Disasters (2009), was recommended by Working Mother and Parenting magazines.

Her website is http://www.hollyshumas.com.

Onesimo C. Vigil, ’96 ASDH, ’97 BSDH, Albuquerque, is CEO for Inteli-Care, and owns an investment company, MJRC Holdings. He has written Chicano Millionaires, published this spring by Authorhouse.

Wryan Capps, ’97 BBA, of Moss Adams in Albuquerque, has received the Institute of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals designation.

Margret Carde, ’97 JD, Santa Fe, a professional artist for 40 years, had an exhibit of her work, called “Sky Paintings,” at the Coady Contemporary Gallery last winter.

Mike Prinzo, ’97 BBA, ’99 MBA, Albuquerque, recently joined Meyners + Company as manager of the business and tax services department.

Jason C. Bousliman, ’98 BA, ’01 JD, Albuquerque, has been promoted to shareholder in the Modrall Sperling law firm.

Julia Chacon, ’98 BAFA, ’98 BS, Santa Fe, has a new flamenco company, Inspiración Flamenca, which was featured on the Travel Channel. She was featured on Santa Fe Public Radio’s Gotta Dance.

Patrick Conlon, ’98 MS, Downers Grove, Illinois, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice: Distinguished Practitioner of the Nursing Academy. The NAP advises public policymakers on healthcare issues from the perspective of expert practitioners and scholars.

Jessica M. Hernandez, ’99 BA, ’02 JD, Albuquerque, has been elected to the Rodey Law Firm’s board of directors. She practices in the areas of product liability, employment, and general civil litigation.

Sara R. Traub, ’99 BS, ’02 MA, ’08 JD, Albuquerque, has joined the law firm of Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale as an associate. She practices in the areas of estate planning, taxation, estate administration, and elder law.

Joshua K. Conaway, ’00 BA, Albuquerque, has been promoted to shareholder at the law firm of Hatch, Allen & Shepherd.

Christopher J. DeLara, ’00 JD, ’00 MPA, Albuquerque, is a partner and shareholder of Guebert Bruckner where he practices in the areas of insurance bad faith, professional liability, medical negligence, and complex litigation. f a l l

2 0 0 9

25

PRINCIPaLS B Y

A L E X I S

K E R S C H N E R

Two leaders of a premier New Mexico gym say their business is all about health, fitness, and changing lives.

n

New Mexico’s gym and fitness powerhouse, Defined Fitness, begins each month with no customers. But by the end of each month, and every month, it has thousands, at five

FEELING GOOD! THEY SHOULD! Traci Wolf, left, and Andee

Wright Brown are president and CEO, respectively, of Defined Fitness, a thriving New Mexico gym and fitness business.

24

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

locations throughout the state.

Two of Defined’s leaders, Anndee Wright Brown, ’92 BAA, and Traci Wolf, ’84 BA, ’88 JD, spend their days helping people transform their lives and, along the way, helping build Defined into a community-minded fitness empire.

Anndee, the CEO, is a striking brunette with an athletic build, hearkening back to her days as a gymnast at UNM. Traci, the president, is blonde and slim, with intense eyes and delivery. They’ve been working together for a long time, often finishing

each other’s sentences or looking to each other for clarification.

Their eyes shine with pride as they describe a gym that builds it business every month on customer loyalty, health and wellness, and the belief that a gym should keep its membership by providing the best product at the best price, not by year-long contracts. A one-time fee for joining lasts a lifetime, even if the member leaves for years.

The membership fee has been raised only three times in 30 years.

Norman Johnson Photography

aDLUMNI PROFIL e eFINING “People in the industry think we’re crazy,” says Anndee. “And they always ask us why it works. It’s because we’re not just about selling membership.

We’re about health, fitness, and changing lives.” Customers will pay for those, even in a down economy.

“People will give up a Starbucks for what we offer,” Andee says.

DEFINING MOMENTS Anndee and Traci met more than 20 years ago, when Defined was just beginning.

Traci had been hired as legal counsel for Defined and was working with owners Bo and Trish Fowler who had acquired the gym as part of a legal settlement. Today Traci’s law firm, Wolf and Fox, works on contracts, development, and acquisition for Defined.

“It’s pretty amazing that this formerly small business now keeps two-and-a-half attorneys busy full time,” she says.

Anndee’s history with Defined began while teaching in an after-school gymnastics program for kids. One of the children in the class was the Fowlers’ daughter.

One day after the children’s class, Anndee went out into the rain to sell candy bars for the program. Trish bought her whole box of 20.

“Trish said I was crying out in the pouring rain – I don’t quite remember that,” says Andee, chuckling.

A week later, the UNM weight room closed for the summer and Anndee needed a place to work out to stay in shape for the upcoming gymnastics season. She asked Trish for a job at Defined, where she could work out for free. Trish handed her a key

and told her to open the gym at 4:30 the next morning.

COMMUNITY MUSCLE Many years later, Defined is succeeding in a notoriously tough industry.

Among Defined’s precepts is meeting customer expectations for new equipment and the latest offerings.

While there is a typical schedule for replacing equipment, Anndee and Traci exceed it. The old equipment is often donated to various entities, including UNM. When the cardio equipment at the Defined location in Albuquerque’s far north heights was replaced early in its life cycle, Defined contacted the new strength and conditioning coach for the UNM football team; all the slightly used equipment is now going to the UNM athletics complex.

Next up for Traci and Anndee is the launch and expansion of “Community Muscle,” the non-profit arm of Defined that is responsible for philanthropic endeavors, including support for UNM, the Lobos, the Lobo Club, and much more.

DEFINING SATISFACTION At the end of the day, Defined is about fitness and life changes.

“What I love is that you really change and affect people’s lives,” says Anndee. “I can’t tell you how many times a member says, ’I’ve lost 30 pounds and I feel great.’ You’re a place and an environment to induce positive change in people’s lives.

That feels good.”

aLBUm Holly Shumas, ’96 BA, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California.

Her second novel, Love and Other Natural Disasters (2009), was recommended by Working Mother and Parenting magazines.

Her website is http://www.hollyshumas.com.

Onesimo C. Vigil, ’96 ASDH, ’97 BSDH, Albuquerque, is CEO for Inteli-Care, and owns an investment company, MJRC Holdings. He has written Chicano Millionaires, published this spring by Authorhouse.

Wryan Capps, ’97 BBA, of Moss Adams in Albuquerque, has received the Institute of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals designation.

Margret Carde, ’97 JD, Santa Fe, a professional artist for 40 years, had an exhibit of her work, called “Sky Paintings,” at the Coady Contemporary Gallery last winter.

Mike Prinzo, ’97 BBA, ’99 MBA, Albuquerque, recently joined Meyners + Company as manager of the business and tax services department.

Jason C. Bousliman, ’98 BA, ’01 JD, Albuquerque, has been promoted to shareholder in the Modrall Sperling law firm.

Julia Chacon, ’98 BAFA, ’98 BS, Santa Fe, has a new flamenco company, Inspiración Flamenca, which was featured on the Travel Channel. She was featured on Santa Fe Public Radio’s Gotta Dance.

Patrick Conlon, ’98 MS, Downers Grove, Illinois, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice: Distinguished Practitioner of the Nursing Academy. The NAP advises public policymakers on healthcare issues from the perspective of expert practitioners and scholars.

Jessica M. Hernandez, ’99 BA, ’02 JD, Albuquerque, has been elected to the Rodey Law Firm’s board of directors. She practices in the areas of product liability, employment, and general civil litigation.

Sara R. Traub, ’99 BS, ’02 MA, ’08 JD, Albuquerque, has joined the law firm of Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale as an associate. She practices in the areas of estate planning, taxation, estate administration, and elder law.

Joshua K. Conaway, ’00 BA, Albuquerque, has been promoted to shareholder at the law firm of Hatch, Allen & Shepherd.

Christopher J. DeLara, ’00 JD, ’00 MPA, Albuquerque, is a partner and shareholder of Guebert Bruckner where he practices in the areas of insurance bad faith, professional liability, medical negligence, and complex litigation. f a l l

2 0 0 9

25

aGOING LUMNI PROFILe VeRDe A rugged Mexican plant holds potential as a clean biodiesel fuel — and as a career-maker for Nathan Campbell.

T

Two years ago in Xalapa, Mexico, pollution impelled Nathan Campbell, ’08 BUS, to search for a sustainable, biodiesel fuel that wouldn’t compete with food supplies or

Michael Wilsher

deforest the countryside—or pollute the air. But what?

MEXICAN SUNSETS: Concerned about pollution in Mexico, Nathan Campbell set out to find a clean, sustainable source of fuel.

26

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Nathan’s answer: Jatropha.

According to Nathan, jatropha is a rugged perennial plant that can grow on marginal land without irrigation, so it doesn’t have to supplant land that’s viable for food crops. It yields 10 times more fuel than soy-based oil and can be grown at a lower cost than food-based oils. Jatropha even aids in rejuvenating land by putting nitrogen back in the soil and preventing erosion.

To top it all off, jatropha already grows wild in the region. “You’ll find

that wherever the Portuguese and Spanish have been, it’s used as a hedge crop,” Nathan says.

He’s working to develop a local strain into a higher yield strain.

Lack of awareness has prevented the biofuel industry from reaching its potential in Mexico. Nathan hopes to change that.

Starting in “land-rich and money-poor” rural areas in Veracruz, Nathan and fellow alum David Kiston, ’07 BA, spent the past year reaching out to communal

farmers, trying to persuade them to grow jatropha and demonstrating the practicality and simplicity of the process. The farmers are often already familiar with the plant, but they know it by other names, such as piñon.

According to Nathan, biodiesel producers want to contract with local farms. (Separate, small farms are a safer bet than one large farm, because blights are less likely to affect all crops.) But the farms often operate as ejidos – combining communal ownership and individual use – with strict regulations that the producers don’t want to deal with.

Nathan and David have put together a proposal to act as middlemen between the farmer and the large biodiesel producers, facilitating both parties’ goals.

Nathan hopes the model will support farmers’ needs, combine profit and philanthropy, and ultimately produce enough fuel both for local use and for export to the US. He emphasizes the “three pillars of sustainability” – society, economy, and environment.

That outlook reflect’s Nathan’s background in UNM’s Sustainability Studies Program, directed by biology professor Bruce Milne.

“Nate’s project reverberates with everything we learned about in those early sustainability courses… He has folded it into bold, creative practices that are authentically sustainable,” Milne says.

Nathan helped to build the program’s signature biodiesel van and solar trailer. He still experiments with designs. He says biodiesel technology is simple and largely open source – available to the public. In Mexico, it can be built using local plumbing parts.

“My dad has been in the natural gas business for a long time,” he says.

“I guess I’m the next generation of energy entrepreneurs.”

Postscript: Nate came home to New Mexico in May after working about 60 miles from “swine flu ground zero.” His plans to return are in flux.

FOR FURTHER READING: Michael Wilsher

BY SARI KROSINSKY

“Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power,” New York Times, September 9, 2007. www.nytimes.com “Could jatropha be a biofuel panacea?”

BBC News, July 8, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk

aLBUm Maura Lewiecki, ’00 MLA, Albuquerque, is the fourth recipient of the School of Architecture and Planning’s Maureen Walter Alumni of the Year Award, given in recognition of service to the school and the community.

Seddah Moya, ’00 BS, ’05 MD, completed her residency at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando and then joined La Clínica de Familia in Las Cruces, where she is the clinic’s first staff obstetrician/gynecologist.

Kenneth Brooks, ’01 BUS, Roswell, New Mexico, has retired after a long career in the mental health field, most recently as a case-manager. He now does volunteer work.

David Chavez, ’01 BBA, Albuquerque, has been promoted to senior advisor at Maestas & Ward Commercial Real Estate. He specializes in project leasing and investment sales.

Edward J. Potthoff Jr., ’01 BSCE, Albuquerque, has been promoted to transportation business group leader at HDR Engineering.

JENNIFER E. REINHART Jennifer E. Reinhart, ’01 BS, Albuquerque, now works as a senior tax accountant at Pulakos & Alongi, preparing and reviewing tax returns for the firm’s private sector, nonprofit clients, and government contractors.

Ryley Webb-Hendry, ’01 BBA, ’03 MS, was promoted to chief operating officer of Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Davis Begay, ’02 BUS, has been appointed Honorary Consul General of Japan. His official appointment by the government of Japan was approved by the US State Department in April.

Barbara Oakland, ’02 BS, is now on the staff of ABQ Health Partners as a physician assistant.

Kristin Martinez, ’03 BBA, Rio Rancho, has joined New Mexico Community Capital (www.nmccap.org) as its first Entrepreneur-in-Residence. She was founder and CEO of Sound Point, a venture f a l l

2 0 0 9

27

aGOING LUMNI PROFILe VeRDe A rugged Mexican plant holds potential as a clean biodiesel fuel — and as a career-maker for Nathan Campbell.

T

Two years ago in Xalapa, Mexico, pollution impelled Nathan Campbell, ’08 BUS, to search for a sustainable, biodiesel fuel that wouldn’t compete with food supplies or

Michael Wilsher

deforest the countryside—or pollute the air. But what?

MEXICAN SUNSETS: Concerned about pollution in Mexico, Nathan Campbell set out to find a clean, sustainable source of fuel.

26

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Nathan’s answer: Jatropha.

According to Nathan, jatropha is a rugged perennial plant that can grow on marginal land without irrigation, so it doesn’t have to supplant land that’s viable for food crops. It yields 10 times more fuel than soy-based oil and can be grown at a lower cost than food-based oils. Jatropha even aids in rejuvenating land by putting nitrogen back in the soil and preventing erosion.

To top it all off, jatropha already grows wild in the region. “You’ll find

that wherever the Portuguese and Spanish have been, it’s used as a hedge crop,” Nathan says.

He’s working to develop a local strain into a higher yield strain.

Lack of awareness has prevented the biofuel industry from reaching its potential in Mexico. Nathan hopes to change that.

Starting in “land-rich and money-poor” rural areas in Veracruz, Nathan and fellow alum David Kiston, ’07 BA, spent the past year reaching out to communal

farmers, trying to persuade them to grow jatropha and demonstrating the practicality and simplicity of the process. The farmers are often already familiar with the plant, but they know it by other names, such as piñon.

According to Nathan, biodiesel producers want to contract with local farms. (Separate, small farms are a safer bet than one large farm, because blights are less likely to affect all crops.) But the farms often operate as ejidos – combining communal ownership and individual use – with strict regulations that the producers don’t want to deal with.

Nathan and David have put together a proposal to act as middlemen between the farmer and the large biodiesel producers, facilitating both parties’ goals.

Nathan hopes the model will support farmers’ needs, combine profit and philanthropy, and ultimately produce enough fuel both for local use and for export to the US. He emphasizes the “three pillars of sustainability” – society, economy, and environment.

That outlook reflect’s Nathan’s background in UNM’s Sustainability Studies Program, directed by biology professor Bruce Milne.

“Nate’s project reverberates with everything we learned about in those early sustainability courses… He has folded it into bold, creative practices that are authentically sustainable,” Milne says.

Nathan helped to build the program’s signature biodiesel van and solar trailer. He still experiments with designs. He says biodiesel technology is simple and largely open source – available to the public. In Mexico, it can be built using local plumbing parts.

“My dad has been in the natural gas business for a long time,” he says.

“I guess I’m the next generation of energy entrepreneurs.”

Postscript: Nate came home to New Mexico in May after working about 60 miles from “swine flu ground zero.” His plans to return are in flux.

FOR FURTHER READING: Michael Wilsher

BY SARI KROSINSKY

“Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power,” New York Times, September 9, 2007. www.nytimes.com “Could jatropha be a biofuel panacea?”

BBC News, July 8, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk

aLBUm Maura Lewiecki, ’00 MLA, Albuquerque, is the fourth recipient of the School of Architecture and Planning’s Maureen Walter Alumni of the Year Award, given in recognition of service to the school and the community.

Seddah Moya, ’00 BS, ’05 MD, completed her residency at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando and then joined La Clínica de Familia in Las Cruces, where she is the clinic’s first staff obstetrician/gynecologist.

Kenneth Brooks, ’01 BUS, Roswell, New Mexico, has retired after a long career in the mental health field, most recently as a case-manager. He now does volunteer work.

David Chavez, ’01 BBA, Albuquerque, has been promoted to senior advisor at Maestas & Ward Commercial Real Estate. He specializes in project leasing and investment sales.

Edward J. Potthoff Jr., ’01 BSCE, Albuquerque, has been promoted to transportation business group leader at HDR Engineering.

JENNIFER E. REINHART Jennifer E. Reinhart, ’01 BS, Albuquerque, now works as a senior tax accountant at Pulakos & Alongi, preparing and reviewing tax returns for the firm’s private sector, nonprofit clients, and government contractors.

Ryley Webb-Hendry, ’01 BBA, ’03 MS, was promoted to chief operating officer of Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Davis Begay, ’02 BUS, has been appointed Honorary Consul General of Japan. His official appointment by the government of Japan was approved by the US State Department in April.

Barbara Oakland, ’02 BS, is now on the staff of ABQ Health Partners as a physician assistant.

Kristin Martinez, ’03 BBA, Rio Rancho, has joined New Mexico Community Capital (www.nmccap.org) as its first Entrepreneur-in-Residence. She was founder and CEO of Sound Point, a venture f a l l

2 0 0 9

27

aRLUMNI PROFIL e eD OR EDITED

BY

MARY

GReeN? CONRAD

Norman Johnson Photography

Gene Baca’s family has been in the chile business for decades.

Mirage: Many

of our readers may not know that New Mexico has an official state question. Would you tell them what it is?

Now Gene is working to keep New Mexico chile authentic.

The question is “Red or green?” If you’re a Lobo and/or a New Mexican, you know that we’re not talking about stop lights!

Gene Baca:

Why is chile so important in New Mexico that it warrants an official question?

Mirage:

We New Mexicans love our chile.

It’s more important to us even than oranges are to Florida or potatoes to Idaho. In many respects, it defines our

Gene:

28

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

culture and heritage. My family is like many New Mexican families: we eat chile at virtually every meal. At Thanksgiving, we serve red chile instead of gravy with our mashed potatoes. Chile is a huge party of family traditions and celebrations.

My kids started eating it at age 2.

How important is the growth and harvesting of chile to our state?

Mirage:

It’s extremely important. The chile industry contributes $250 million to the state’s economy. It provides 3,000 full-time jobs and 10,000 part-time jobs. And it comprises primarily long-term,

Gene:

All of this is happening at the same time that consumption is skyrocketing.

Mirage:

I understand that the industry has changed in recent years. How?

Mirage:

The main change is the growth of chile production in foreign countries – Mexico, Peru, and China in particular.

Labor costs in those countries are just a fraction of ours, and regulation is much less stringent. Consequently, our costs have increased, and it’s hard to keep prices competitive.

New Mexico acres planted in chile have declined from 35,000 acres in the mid 90’s to just over 10,000 acres last year. Long-term farmers are getting out of the industry; many will no longer grow chile because of plant disease and labor shortages. Chile crops have gone unpicked because very few people want to work picking chile (the average age of a chile picker is in their 60’s). Changes in immigration policy have created a critical labor shortage in the industry for farmers and processors.

Gene:

Gene:

“Bred on red and weaned on green,” Gene Baca answers questions about our state’s beloved plant.

THE REAL THING:

family-owned farmers and companies who are committed to New Mexico.

What can be done to give the chile advantage back to New Mexico?

Mechanical harvesters and automatic de-stemmers would make a huge difference. Until they become available, all the work has to be done by hand. The New Mexico Chile Association is working on automation as well as on establishing New Mexico chile certification so consumers can be sure they’re getting the real thing.

As it stands now, Hatch green chile doesn’t even have to come Hatch!

development and business advisory company. Most recently, she was founder, director, and CFO of a biotech startup, Acoustic Cytometry Systems, in Los Alamos.

Cecilia Travick-Jackson, ’03 PhD, has been granted tenure and advanced to the rank of associate professor at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

Jordan Bell, ’04 MS, ’07 PhD, works in inpatient psychiatry at New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Albuquerque where he provides group and individual psychotherapy, assessment, training, and consultation.

Jeff Fisher, ’04 BSCS, has graduated from Baylor University School of Law. After taking the Texas Bar Exam, he will return to Albuquerque to spend one year as a judicial clerk for Federal District Judge James O. Browning.

Kelly Bee, ’05 BA, Albuquerque, is the chief financial officer at Holistic Management International.

What can Mirage readers do to help safeguard New Mexico chile?

Lindsey Blessing, ’05 BS, graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic and has returned to Albuquerque to join Life Source Chiropractic.

The main thing they can do is request and make certain they’re buying real New Mexican chile! If you see “Hatch green chile” available on the market before it’s been harvested in New Mexico, chances are pretty good it’s not from Hatch! We want to keep New Mexico the chile capital of the US!

Adabel Allen, ’06 BFA, is pursuing a second bachelor’s degree and is involved with the new arts management program at the UNM College of Fine Arts. She is employed part-time as the arts facilitator/ educator for Art for Health through the UNM Employee Health Promotion Program.

A show of her work, “Convergence, mixed media prints,” will be part of Albuquerque’s artscrawl in August.

Mirage:

Gene:

GeNe BaCa

G

aLBUm

ene Baca, ’82 BS, is senior vice president of Bueno Foods in Albuquerque, and president and one of the founders of the New Mexico Chile Association. He says he has been “associated with Bueno since birth” but began making it his career after graduating from Harvard Law school in 1986. Bueno Foods was started in 1951 by Gene’s father and uncles. Today, Gene shares the company’s operation with his four sisters – Jackie Baca, ’79 BA, ’83 MBA, is president – and his mother – all UNM alumnae. Bueno developed the first commercial roasting and freezing process for chile. Gene is treasurer of the UNM Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Barber, ’06 BBA, Englewood, Colorado, started working with Moss Codilis as an XML template specialist and help-desk support for SQL and JAVA. She also does public relations, marketing, and event planning with RedElephantMediaGroup.com and RemixCulture.com.

Maralyn M. Beck, ’06 BA, Los Angeles, is the marketing communications coordinator for American Honda Motor Company in Torrance, California. She works in the campaign management department, overseeing all national marketing campaigns for the North American Honda enterprise.

James Bloom, 06 BBA, Albuquerque, is sales executive in the commercial sales department of Lovelace Health Plan.

Adriane Irwin, ’06 MS, has been elected president of the American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists. She is a third-year pharmacy student at UNM.

f a l l

2 0 0 9

29

aRLUMNI PROFIL e eD OR EDITED

BY

MARY

GReeN? CONRAD

Norman Johnson Photography

Gene Baca’s family has been in the chile business for decades.

Mirage: Many

of our readers may not know that New Mexico has an official state question. Would you tell them what it is?

Now Gene is working to keep New Mexico chile authentic.

The question is “Red or green?” If you’re a Lobo and/or a New Mexican, you know that we’re not talking about stop lights!

Gene Baca:

Why is chile so important in New Mexico that it warrants an official question?

Mirage:

We New Mexicans love our chile.

It’s more important to us even than oranges are to Florida or potatoes to Idaho. In many respects, it defines our

Gene:

28

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

culture and heritage. My family is like many New Mexican families: we eat chile at virtually every meal. At Thanksgiving, we serve red chile instead of gravy with our mashed potatoes. Chile is a huge party of family traditions and celebrations.

My kids started eating it at age 2.

How important is the growth and harvesting of chile to our state?

Mirage:

It’s extremely important. The chile industry contributes $250 million to the state’s economy. It provides 3,000 full-time jobs and 10,000 part-time jobs. And it comprises primarily long-term,

Gene:

All of this is happening at the same time that consumption is skyrocketing.

Mirage:

I understand that the industry has changed in recent years. How?

Mirage:

The main change is the growth of chile production in foreign countries – Mexico, Peru, and China in particular.

Labor costs in those countries are just a fraction of ours, and regulation is much less stringent. Consequently, our costs have increased, and it’s hard to keep prices competitive.

New Mexico acres planted in chile have declined from 35,000 acres in the mid 90’s to just over 10,000 acres last year. Long-term farmers are getting out of the industry; many will no longer grow chile because of plant disease and labor shortages. Chile crops have gone unpicked because very few people want to work picking chile (the average age of a chile picker is in their 60’s). Changes in immigration policy have created a critical labor shortage in the industry for farmers and processors.

Gene:

Gene:

“Bred on red and weaned on green,” Gene Baca answers questions about our state’s beloved plant.

THE REAL THING:

family-owned farmers and companies who are committed to New Mexico.

What can be done to give the chile advantage back to New Mexico?

Mechanical harvesters and automatic de-stemmers would make a huge difference. Until they become available, all the work has to be done by hand. The New Mexico Chile Association is working on automation as well as on establishing New Mexico chile certification so consumers can be sure they’re getting the real thing.

As it stands now, Hatch green chile doesn’t even have to come Hatch!

development and business advisory company. Most recently, she was founder, director, and CFO of a biotech startup, Acoustic Cytometry Systems, in Los Alamos.

Cecilia Travick-Jackson, ’03 PhD, has been granted tenure and advanced to the rank of associate professor at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

Jordan Bell, ’04 MS, ’07 PhD, works in inpatient psychiatry at New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Albuquerque where he provides group and individual psychotherapy, assessment, training, and consultation.

Jeff Fisher, ’04 BSCS, has graduated from Baylor University School of Law. After taking the Texas Bar Exam, he will return to Albuquerque to spend one year as a judicial clerk for Federal District Judge James O. Browning.

Kelly Bee, ’05 BA, Albuquerque, is the chief financial officer at Holistic Management International.

What can Mirage readers do to help safeguard New Mexico chile?

Lindsey Blessing, ’05 BS, graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic and has returned to Albuquerque to join Life Source Chiropractic.

The main thing they can do is request and make certain they’re buying real New Mexican chile! If you see “Hatch green chile” available on the market before it’s been harvested in New Mexico, chances are pretty good it’s not from Hatch! We want to keep New Mexico the chile capital of the US!

Adabel Allen, ’06 BFA, is pursuing a second bachelor’s degree and is involved with the new arts management program at the UNM College of Fine Arts. She is employed part-time as the arts facilitator/ educator for Art for Health through the UNM Employee Health Promotion Program.

A show of her work, “Convergence, mixed media prints,” will be part of Albuquerque’s artscrawl in August.

Mirage:

Gene:

GeNe BaCa

G

aLBUm

ene Baca, ’82 BS, is senior vice president of Bueno Foods in Albuquerque, and president and one of the founders of the New Mexico Chile Association. He says he has been “associated with Bueno since birth” but began making it his career after graduating from Harvard Law school in 1986. Bueno Foods was started in 1951 by Gene’s father and uncles. Today, Gene shares the company’s operation with his four sisters – Jackie Baca, ’79 BA, ’83 MBA, is president – and his mother – all UNM alumnae. Bueno developed the first commercial roasting and freezing process for chile. Gene is treasurer of the UNM Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Barber, ’06 BBA, Englewood, Colorado, started working with Moss Codilis as an XML template specialist and help-desk support for SQL and JAVA. She also does public relations, marketing, and event planning with RedElephantMediaGroup.com and RemixCulture.com.

Maralyn M. Beck, ’06 BA, Los Angeles, is the marketing communications coordinator for American Honda Motor Company in Torrance, California. She works in the campaign management department, overseeing all national marketing campaigns for the North American Honda enterprise.

James Bloom, 06 BBA, Albuquerque, is sales executive in the commercial sales department of Lovelace Health Plan.

Adriane Irwin, ’06 MS, has been elected president of the American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists. She is a third-year pharmacy student at UNM.

f a l l

2 0 0 9

29

Dee Ve LOPM eLIF NT XTR aORDIN aRY e BY

eXTRaORDINaRY MICHELLE

G.

McRUIZ

AN EYE FOR QUALITY

c

Chemistry. Engineering. Western art. You don’t need a

postgraduate degree to figure out which item in this set doesn’t fit.

E. Gerald Meyer, ’50 PhD, has spent six decades working as an

instructor, chemist, chemical engineer, and dean, and he admits that these occupations are “a long, long way from art.” But this accidental art collector turned an inheritance from his grandparents

Andrew Carpeneam

E. Gerald Meyer, ’50 PhD, will give his wondrous art collection to the University Art Museum.

In the late 1800s, Gerry’s grandparents, Louis and Anna Ilfeld, owned a prosperous general merchandise store in Albuquerque.

While Louis focused on sheep and wool, Anna turned her gaze to fine art.

“My grandmother bought paintings directly from the Taos artists,” Gerry says. “One of them is by Bert Phillips [founder, in 1898, of the Taos Art Colony]. On the back he wrote, ‘This is a painting of an Indian chief, painted especially for Mrs. Louis Ilfeld.’”

Gerry and his sister eventually inherited the collection, at which point Gerry became serious about expanding it. “I realized they were fantastic,” he says of the works. “Over the years I’ve learned a lot about American art. I’ve been acquiring works by the Cowboy Artists of America, which was founded in the 1950s by Charlie Dye, Joe Beeler, and John Hampton.”

Gerry’s collection would make any Western art buff salivate. However, he also has etchings and lithographs by modern masters such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, James Whistler, Grant Wood, John Steuart Curry, and Norman Rockwell.

Gerry’s three sons haven’t shown particular interest in the collection, and Gerry naturally began to wonder what would happen to it. “I got to thinking about where would be a good place for this art,” he says. “UNM

into a world-class collection, and UNM stands to benefit from it.

Gerry recently decided to make a planned gift-in-kind of the entire

collection, which is worth millions of dollars, to the UNM Art Museum.

30

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

W H AT I T ’ S A L L A B O U T: From the perspective of 90 years and a Harley seat, University of Wyoming professor and dean emeritus Gerry Meyer says life is about giving.

GIFT

seemed to be the best place because the collection would be viewed by lots of people, much is New Mexico art, and I was born in Albuquerque.”

CHEMISTRY ALL OVER THE MAP After graduating from Roswell’s New Mexico Military Institute, Gerry earned bachelor's and master’s of science degrees at Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University in 1940 and 1942 respectively. He worked for the Bureau of Mines as a chemical engineer and then joined the US Navy, serving in World War II. After the war Gerry returned to Albuquerque to work for the New Mexico School of Mines (now New Mexico Tech) in its research laboratory. When the lab relocated to Socorro, Gerry’s wife balked at the idea of moving, so Gerry instead matriculated at UNM in the new PhD program in chemistry.

He completed his work in 1950 (the degree was awarded in 1951) after doing dissertation research at Los Alamos. From 1950 to 1963, he was a professor, research director, and graduate school dean at the University of Albuquerque, and then New Mexico Highlands University.

In 1963, Gerry became professor of chemistry and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie. After 12 years as dean, he spent another six as vice president of research and graduate studies and professor of energy and natural resources.

AN ANTI-RETIREMENT PLAN Gerry claims to have semi-retired in 1990, but what this emeritus professor and dean considers semi-retirement would be full-time employment to many. He still goes to UW daily to work on committees, “help the dean do some things, and try to support the college in various and sundry ways.”

He’s been a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) for 70 years and is past ACS national councilor and chair of the ACS Wyoming section. He also has close ties with the American Institute of Chemists – he is past president and a current director – as well as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Gerry’s company, Advanced Clean Coal Technology, works on proprietary coal technology that treats coal as a raw material for producing clean fuel and chemicals.

He holds 18 US and foreign patents, mostly on coal refining technologies.

The fact that Gerry will turn 90 in November doesn’t slow him down much.

He rides a Harley and has participated in the Senior Olympic Games for years, in runs from 1.5K to 10K. His wife of nearly 65 years, Betty, died three years ago. Today, his companion, Barbara, enjoys traveling with him but passes on the Harley rides.

For Gerry, life is not about what one takes, but what one leaves behind.

“What I am most proud of is having the opportunity to leave some type of legacy,” he says. “For me, that’s my kids, my students, and the art collection.”

aLBUm Kwaku Sraha, ’06 BBA, Albuquerque, is an accountant with New Mexico Voices for Children.

Michelle Brito, ’08 BBA, Albuquerque, has joined Meyners+Company as a staff accountant in the business and tax services department.

Erik J. Coleman, ’07 BA, recently graduated from the US Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey, with the rank of Coast Guard Seaman.

Jessica L. Daniels, ’08 BBA, Albuquerque, has been hired by KPMG as an audit associate.

Nick Grieco, ’08 BBA, has joined the Albuquerque office of Grant Thornton as a tax associate, responsible for tax support.

Chad A. Itokazu, ’08 BBA, has settled in as a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services in Honolulu.

Josie Jaramillo, ’08 BBA, has joined Grant Thornton in Albuquerque as an audit associate, responsible for inventory testing and observations, as well as managing cash and fixed assets accounts.

Ryan Jones, ’08 BBA, is a staff accountant in the assurance department at Meyners + Company in Albuquerque.

Karin Vandergaarden-Jayne, ’08 BS, Albuquerque, has joined the staff of Health Care ABQ Health Partners where she will specialize in gastroenterology.

Lauren Vaughn, ’08 BBA, Redondo Beach, California, was recently hired by American Honda Motor Company in Torrance, California, as a regional case manager in the customer relations department.

MaR R IaGeS Ed Snow, ’81 BA, ’83 JD, and Amy McGrane Rachael Ferranti, ’95 BA, and Jason Leffler Kerry Akin, ’99 BBA, and Roy M. Stickler Martha Pino, ’99 BA, and Eric Jewell, ’85 BBA Felecia Thomason, ’99 AALA, ’03 BUS, and Kristian Kluzinski Emily A. Finnan, ’00 BA, and Christopher Quaka Elena Sanchez, ’02 BA, and Ajay Shashikant Rao Jonathan Blaich, ’03 BBA, and Margaret Radigan

For information on making gifts to UNM, please visit the UNM Foundation Website at www.unmfund.org or call 1-800-UNM FUND (866-3863).

Dominic Gachupin, ’04 BUS, and Sandy Bromley

f a l l

2 0 0 9

31

Dee Ve LOPM eLIF NT XTR aORDIN aRY e BY

eXTRaORDINaRY MICHELLE

G.

McRUIZ

AN EYE FOR QUALITY

c

Chemistry. Engineering. Western art. You don’t need a

postgraduate degree to figure out which item in this set doesn’t fit.

E. Gerald Meyer, ’50 PhD, has spent six decades working as an

instructor, chemist, chemical engineer, and dean, and he admits that these occupations are “a long, long way from art.” But this accidental art collector turned an inheritance from his grandparents

Andrew Carpeneam

E. Gerald Meyer, ’50 PhD, will give his wondrous art collection to the University Art Museum.

In the late 1800s, Gerry’s grandparents, Louis and Anna Ilfeld, owned a prosperous general merchandise store in Albuquerque.

While Louis focused on sheep and wool, Anna turned her gaze to fine art.

“My grandmother bought paintings directly from the Taos artists,” Gerry says. “One of them is by Bert Phillips [founder, in 1898, of the Taos Art Colony]. On the back he wrote, ‘This is a painting of an Indian chief, painted especially for Mrs. Louis Ilfeld.’”

Gerry and his sister eventually inherited the collection, at which point Gerry became serious about expanding it. “I realized they were fantastic,” he says of the works. “Over the years I’ve learned a lot about American art. I’ve been acquiring works by the Cowboy Artists of America, which was founded in the 1950s by Charlie Dye, Joe Beeler, and John Hampton.”

Gerry’s collection would make any Western art buff salivate. However, he also has etchings and lithographs by modern masters such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, James Whistler, Grant Wood, John Steuart Curry, and Norman Rockwell.

Gerry’s three sons haven’t shown particular interest in the collection, and Gerry naturally began to wonder what would happen to it. “I got to thinking about where would be a good place for this art,” he says. “UNM

into a world-class collection, and UNM stands to benefit from it.

Gerry recently decided to make a planned gift-in-kind of the entire

collection, which is worth millions of dollars, to the UNM Art Museum.

30

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

W H AT I T ’ S A L L A B O U T: From the perspective of 90 years and a Harley seat, University of Wyoming professor and dean emeritus Gerry Meyer says life is about giving.

GIFT

seemed to be the best place because the collection would be viewed by lots of people, much is New Mexico art, and I was born in Albuquerque.”

CHEMISTRY ALL OVER THE MAP After graduating from Roswell’s New Mexico Military Institute, Gerry earned bachelor's and master’s of science degrees at Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University in 1940 and 1942 respectively. He worked for the Bureau of Mines as a chemical engineer and then joined the US Navy, serving in World War II. After the war Gerry returned to Albuquerque to work for the New Mexico School of Mines (now New Mexico Tech) in its research laboratory. When the lab relocated to Socorro, Gerry’s wife balked at the idea of moving, so Gerry instead matriculated at UNM in the new PhD program in chemistry.

He completed his work in 1950 (the degree was awarded in 1951) after doing dissertation research at Los Alamos. From 1950 to 1963, he was a professor, research director, and graduate school dean at the University of Albuquerque, and then New Mexico Highlands University.

In 1963, Gerry became professor of chemistry and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie. After 12 years as dean, he spent another six as vice president of research and graduate studies and professor of energy and natural resources.

AN ANTI-RETIREMENT PLAN Gerry claims to have semi-retired in 1990, but what this emeritus professor and dean considers semi-retirement would be full-time employment to many. He still goes to UW daily to work on committees, “help the dean do some things, and try to support the college in various and sundry ways.”

He’s been a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) for 70 years and is past ACS national councilor and chair of the ACS Wyoming section. He also has close ties with the American Institute of Chemists – he is past president and a current director – as well as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Gerry’s company, Advanced Clean Coal Technology, works on proprietary coal technology that treats coal as a raw material for producing clean fuel and chemicals.

He holds 18 US and foreign patents, mostly on coal refining technologies.

The fact that Gerry will turn 90 in November doesn’t slow him down much.

He rides a Harley and has participated in the Senior Olympic Games for years, in runs from 1.5K to 10K. His wife of nearly 65 years, Betty, died three years ago. Today, his companion, Barbara, enjoys traveling with him but passes on the Harley rides.

For Gerry, life is not about what one takes, but what one leaves behind.

“What I am most proud of is having the opportunity to leave some type of legacy,” he says. “For me, that’s my kids, my students, and the art collection.”

aLBUm Kwaku Sraha, ’06 BBA, Albuquerque, is an accountant with New Mexico Voices for Children.

Michelle Brito, ’08 BBA, Albuquerque, has joined Meyners+Company as a staff accountant in the business and tax services department.

Erik J. Coleman, ’07 BA, recently graduated from the US Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey, with the rank of Coast Guard Seaman.

Jessica L. Daniels, ’08 BBA, Albuquerque, has been hired by KPMG as an audit associate.

Nick Grieco, ’08 BBA, has joined the Albuquerque office of Grant Thornton as a tax associate, responsible for tax support.

Chad A. Itokazu, ’08 BBA, has settled in as a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services in Honolulu.

Josie Jaramillo, ’08 BBA, has joined Grant Thornton in Albuquerque as an audit associate, responsible for inventory testing and observations, as well as managing cash and fixed assets accounts.

Ryan Jones, ’08 BBA, is a staff accountant in the assurance department at Meyners + Company in Albuquerque.

Karin Vandergaarden-Jayne, ’08 BS, Albuquerque, has joined the staff of Health Care ABQ Health Partners where she will specialize in gastroenterology.

Lauren Vaughn, ’08 BBA, Redondo Beach, California, was recently hired by American Honda Motor Company in Torrance, California, as a regional case manager in the customer relations department.

MaR R IaGeS Ed Snow, ’81 BA, ’83 JD, and Amy McGrane Rachael Ferranti, ’95 BA, and Jason Leffler Kerry Akin, ’99 BBA, and Roy M. Stickler Martha Pino, ’99 BA, and Eric Jewell, ’85 BBA Felecia Thomason, ’99 AALA, ’03 BUS, and Kristian Kluzinski Emily A. Finnan, ’00 BA, and Christopher Quaka Elena Sanchez, ’02 BA, and Ajay Shashikant Rao Jonathan Blaich, ’03 BBA, and Margaret Radigan

For information on making gifts to UNM, please visit the UNM Foundation Website at www.unmfund.org or call 1-800-UNM FUND (866-3863).

Dominic Gachupin, ’04 BUS, and Sandy Bromley

f a l l

2 0 0 9

31

+MORe DeVeLOPMeNT

a SIGN OF ReSPeCT JIM

BELSHAW

Journalism alumni remember their

Mirage file photo: Mary Conrad

BY

Trewhitt accepted the honor in spirit, but declined the offer to put his name on it.

Albuquerque Journal reporter Dan McKay remembers what Trewhitt said: “His exact words were: ‘I’m not dead yet.’”

So the handful of new reporters – Andy Lenderman, Dan McKay, Kate Nash, and Martin Salazar – began their

command high salaries. Nonetheless, they chose to give.

“For me the money wasn’t much of a concern,” says Albuquerque Journal reporter Martin Salazar. “The Daily Lobo gave me so much more than I ever could give back anyway. It taught me how to be a reporter, to work under deadline pressure. It gave me confidence,

mentor with the Hank Trewhitt Daily Lobo Alumni Award.

w

When a handful of Hank Trewhitt’s former journalism students told him they were digging into their own shallow pockets to provide

W O R D S T H AT H E L D S W A Y : A star diplomatic

correspondent for US News & World Report and a

former Daily Lobo reporter,

money for a scholarship to be named in his honor, the distinguished former diplomatic correspondent and UNM journalism professor was moved to tears. But he was still Hank Trewhitt, still the tough,

Hank Trewhitt shared his

experience with his UNM journalism students – who listened well.

clear-eyed reporter who was in the first UNM journalism class to graduate (1949). He was a man who looked at the world stripped bare of its dazzling sideshows until all that was left was the clarity a reporter of Trewhitt’s caliber sought.

32

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

“He taught us the best way to change the world was to understand it.”

—Alexis Kerschner award without their mentor’s name on it. But it would be only two years before that sad change came.

Trewhitt, 75, died in 2003. He had been teaching at UNM since 1989 and coached writers at the student newspaper, the Daily Lobo. It was a group of those Daily Lobo veterans who wanted not only to honor their mentor, but also to honor their experience at the student newspaper.

After graduating from UNM, Trewhitt joined the Santa Fe New Mexican and covered Los Alamos during the dawn of the nuclear age.

He went on to the Chattanooga Times, the Baltimore Sun and US News & World Report, where he became one of the shining stars of the diplomatic news field.

Despite that impressive and intimidating resume, Trewhitt’s office was a place for students to come and shoot the breeze about the world with the man who was at once their demanding editor and their good friend.

“He had a profound effect on all of us,” Alexis Kerschner says. “He taught us the best way to change the world was to understand it. He was the kind of mentor who changed your relationship with the world. He never held himself above us. You kind of sat in his cruddy office and talked about the world.”

The award comes with $500, all of it from the pockets of young reporters, a group of people not known to

too. After working for the Lobo, when I walked through the door of the Albuquerque Journal, it wasn’t as scary as it might otherwise have been.

I knew what deadlines were. I knew what it took to put a story together.

That’s what the Lobo gave me.”

Five hundred dollars may not sound like a lot of money, unless you’re a student scratching out a living while scratching out an education at the same time.

“It could help you do several things,” Leslie Hoffman says. “It could help you buy books; it could help you make rent; it could help put gas in your car. You could use it for a lot of things.”

Along the way, the original four founders picked up more members.

Some stayed in journalism; others now work in different fields. All maintain the Hank Trewhitt Daily Lobo Alumni Award, just as they all maintain an unflagging admiration for the man whose name is affixed to it.

“We were all so impressed with Hank because he was such a good demonstration to us that you didn’t need an Ivy League education to cover the White House,” Dan McKay says.

“He covered it and he worked for the same Daily Lobo we had. He was such a smart guy and he was so encouraging to us all that we believe his name needs to be connected to the Daily Lobo in a permanent way.”

aLBUm Renee Ortiz, ’04 BSEE, and Brett Rodriguez Christopher Wilcox, ’05 MS, and Jennifer Berlin Melissa Lopez, ’06 BSNU, and Favian Sedillo Kimberly Saunders, ’07 BAED, and Guy Gemmer Emmanuel R. Flores, ’08 BSCS, and Jennifer Ortiz Angelica Garcia, ’08 BA, and Kyle Zink Iphigeniz Kerfoot, ’08 MA, and Keith Carey, ’07 BSME Beverly Valencia, ’08 BSED, and Christopher Gene Armijo

I N Me M O R I aM Randolph Victor Seligman, ’36 William B. Castetter, ’37 Eloisa Loeb, ’38 Kitty Flint Livingston, ’40 Ray A. Thompson, ’41 Leo R. Harmon, ’42 Frances Tyler, ’42 Doris Ann Boyes, ’45 Richard G. Orcutt, ’45 Lupe P. Gutierrez, ’46 Billirene E. Lloyd, ’46 Willis A. Smith, ’46 Mable Price Alexander McMahan Rogers, ’47 Sara Louise Drypolcher Vogel, ’48 Albert O. Bemiss, ’49 Rex Chambers Jr., ’49 LeRoy H. Huenefeld Jr., ’49 Leonard Maynard, ’49 Ismael V. Sanchez, ’49 Victor H. Zabel, ’49 Eric I. Baca, ’50 Eloy D. Chavez, ’50, ’56 Armen M. Donian, ’50 David A. Salazar, ’50 George L. Zimmerman, ’50 James L. Breese, ’51 Wilhelmina Burns, ’51 Milton R. Handly, ’51 James Hudgins, ’51 Ferdinand H. Kruse, ’51 Jerome Levy, ’51 Jim Matthews, ’51 Walter Perkowski, ’51 Catherine Broome Thorsen, ’51 LeRoy Edwin DeSoto, ’52 Edwin J. Gignac, ’52 Billy W. McLaughlin, ’52 Eugene Joseph Casella, ’53 Russell M. Ervin, ’53 Mary Ann Gonzales, ’53 Betty Jean Wiley, ’53

f a l l

2 0 0 9

33

+MORe DeVeLOPMeNT

a SIGN OF ReSPeCT JIM

BELSHAW

Journalism alumni remember their

Mirage file photo: Mary Conrad

BY

Trewhitt accepted the honor in spirit, but declined the offer to put his name on it.

Albuquerque Journal reporter Dan McKay remembers what Trewhitt said: “His exact words were: ‘I’m not dead yet.’”

So the handful of new reporters – Andy Lenderman, Dan McKay, Kate Nash, and Martin Salazar – began their

command high salaries. Nonetheless, they chose to give.

“For me the money wasn’t much of a concern,” says Albuquerque Journal reporter Martin Salazar. “The Daily Lobo gave me so much more than I ever could give back anyway. It taught me how to be a reporter, to work under deadline pressure. It gave me confidence,

mentor with the Hank Trewhitt Daily Lobo Alumni Award.

w

When a handful of Hank Trewhitt’s former journalism students told him they were digging into their own shallow pockets to provide

W O R D S T H AT H E L D S W A Y : A star diplomatic

correspondent for US News & World Report and a

former Daily Lobo reporter,

money for a scholarship to be named in his honor, the distinguished former diplomatic correspondent and UNM journalism professor was moved to tears. But he was still Hank Trewhitt, still the tough,

Hank Trewhitt shared his

experience with his UNM journalism students – who listened well.

clear-eyed reporter who was in the first UNM journalism class to graduate (1949). He was a man who looked at the world stripped bare of its dazzling sideshows until all that was left was the clarity a reporter of Trewhitt’s caliber sought.

32

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

“He taught us the best way to change the world was to understand it.”

—Alexis Kerschner award without their mentor’s name on it. But it would be only two years before that sad change came.

Trewhitt, 75, died in 2003. He had been teaching at UNM since 1989 and coached writers at the student newspaper, the Daily Lobo. It was a group of those Daily Lobo veterans who wanted not only to honor their mentor, but also to honor their experience at the student newspaper.

After graduating from UNM, Trewhitt joined the Santa Fe New Mexican and covered Los Alamos during the dawn of the nuclear age.

He went on to the Chattanooga Times, the Baltimore Sun and US News & World Report, where he became one of the shining stars of the diplomatic news field.

Despite that impressive and intimidating resume, Trewhitt’s office was a place for students to come and shoot the breeze about the world with the man who was at once their demanding editor and their good friend.

“He had a profound effect on all of us,” Alexis Kerschner says. “He taught us the best way to change the world was to understand it. He was the kind of mentor who changed your relationship with the world. He never held himself above us. You kind of sat in his cruddy office and talked about the world.”

The award comes with $500, all of it from the pockets of young reporters, a group of people not known to

too. After working for the Lobo, when I walked through the door of the Albuquerque Journal, it wasn’t as scary as it might otherwise have been.

I knew what deadlines were. I knew what it took to put a story together.

That’s what the Lobo gave me.”

Five hundred dollars may not sound like a lot of money, unless you’re a student scratching out a living while scratching out an education at the same time.

“It could help you do several things,” Leslie Hoffman says. “It could help you buy books; it could help you make rent; it could help put gas in your car. You could use it for a lot of things.”

Along the way, the original four founders picked up more members.

Some stayed in journalism; others now work in different fields. All maintain the Hank Trewhitt Daily Lobo Alumni Award, just as they all maintain an unflagging admiration for the man whose name is affixed to it.

“We were all so impressed with Hank because he was such a good demonstration to us that you didn’t need an Ivy League education to cover the White House,” Dan McKay says.

“He covered it and he worked for the same Daily Lobo we had. He was such a smart guy and he was so encouraging to us all that we believe his name needs to be connected to the Daily Lobo in a permanent way.”

aLBUm Renee Ortiz, ’04 BSEE, and Brett Rodriguez Christopher Wilcox, ’05 MS, and Jennifer Berlin Melissa Lopez, ’06 BSNU, and Favian Sedillo Kimberly Saunders, ’07 BAED, and Guy Gemmer Emmanuel R. Flores, ’08 BSCS, and Jennifer Ortiz Angelica Garcia, ’08 BA, and Kyle Zink Iphigeniz Kerfoot, ’08 MA, and Keith Carey, ’07 BSME Beverly Valencia, ’08 BSED, and Christopher Gene Armijo

I N Me M O R I aM Randolph Victor Seligman, ’36 William B. Castetter, ’37 Eloisa Loeb, ’38 Kitty Flint Livingston, ’40 Ray A. Thompson, ’41 Leo R. Harmon, ’42 Frances Tyler, ’42 Doris Ann Boyes, ’45 Richard G. Orcutt, ’45 Lupe P. Gutierrez, ’46 Billirene E. Lloyd, ’46 Willis A. Smith, ’46 Mable Price Alexander McMahan Rogers, ’47 Sara Louise Drypolcher Vogel, ’48 Albert O. Bemiss, ’49 Rex Chambers Jr., ’49 LeRoy H. Huenefeld Jr., ’49 Leonard Maynard, ’49 Ismael V. Sanchez, ’49 Victor H. Zabel, ’49 Eric I. Baca, ’50 Eloy D. Chavez, ’50, ’56 Armen M. Donian, ’50 David A. Salazar, ’50 George L. Zimmerman, ’50 James L. Breese, ’51 Wilhelmina Burns, ’51 Milton R. Handly, ’51 James Hudgins, ’51 Ferdinand H. Kruse, ’51 Jerome Levy, ’51 Jim Matthews, ’51 Walter Perkowski, ’51 Catherine Broome Thorsen, ’51 LeRoy Edwin DeSoto, ’52 Edwin J. Gignac, ’52 Billy W. McLaughlin, ’52 Eugene Joseph Casella, ’53 Russell M. Ervin, ’53 Mary Ann Gonzales, ’53 Betty Jean Wiley, ’53

f a l l

2 0 0 9

33

aGRIDIRON THLeTICS GIFT BY

C A R O LY N

GONZALES

UNM's new head football coach, Mike Locksley, gives his best to Lobo football.

L

Lobo Head Football Coach Mike Locksley was born in Washington, DC on Christmas Day in 1969. His mother got the tax deduction for the year. College football got the makings of

a gifted coach. And now Lobo fans hope they got the man who can make the Lobos a leader in the Mountain West Conference

and take a bite out of a big dog in a bowl game of repute.

(He says he’s a Washington Redskins fan. There’s the

Alfredo Moreno

bow on my present.)

WAT C H A N D S E E : Lobo Head Football Coach Mike Locksley observed a lot about his new team at the spring Cherry-Silver game.

34

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

Locksley came to UNM after a successful tenure at the University of Illinois under Head Coach Ron Zook.

There Locksley started out as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, then moved to offensive coordinator coaching tight ends, and finally, in addition to calling plays for the Illini offense, he coached quarterbacks.

In 2007, under Locksley’s tutelage, the Illinois offense led the Big Ten for the second straight year, finishing fifth in rushing nationally. Locksley led Illinois

recruiting and was named the No. 5 recruiter in the Big Ten and among the top-20 nationally by Sports Illustrated.

Zook is confident in Locksley’s ability to lead the Lobos. “He’ll be a success as a coach, recruiter, and ambassador for the UNM program,” Zook says. “He’s in the business for the right reason – to help young men reach their goals. It’s all about the players.”

Before Illinois, Locksley worked for Zook at the University of Florida for two seasons, earning recognition

as a Top-25 recruiter when the 2003 class was rated seventh nationally

by Rivals.com.

Former University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak recalls, “Coach Locksley instills confidence in all his players and has the courage to make tough decisions. At the same time, he is a compassionate man who will listen to his players and coaching staff.”

At the University of Maryland, where he spent the prior six years, Locksley was running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In 1999, the Terps led the ACC in rushing yards and ranked 12th in the nation behind the running of All-American Lamont Jordan.

LOCKSLEY LORE Football wasn’t Locksley’s lone sport as a youth. At the Boys and Girls Club he played whatever sport was going on. At Washington DC’s Ballou High School he played basketball and football, which he then pursued at Towson University in Maryland, eventually dropping basketball in favor of football.

Locksley received a bachelor’s in business marketing in 1992, making him the first in his family to earn a college degree. Pursuing a business degree was a natural course of action for Locksley, who says, “I was always selling popsicles or buying candy in bulk and selling it out of a book bag when I was a kid.” The lessons he learned still apply to his coaching career.

“Recruiting is similar to sales. If they like you, they’ll buy from you.

Football, athletics, is a people-driven business. If you’re selling a product you believe in, they will buy,” he says.

While at Towson, Locksley interned summers at the US House

aLBUm I N Me M O R I aM of Representatives for New York Congressman Major Owens.

“I had no intentions of playing football until my third year in college,” Locksley says, adding that he had been a team leader. “I had two kids when I was still playing, which made me more mature.”

Those two little kids are now young men. Mike, Jr., 20, is a UNM sophomore, looking perhaps to play Lobo basketball. Meiko is 17 and a senior at La Cueva High School.

Locksley and his wife, Kia, have two other children, Kai, 11, and Kori, 9.

LOBO LOCKSLEY Locksley bought into Albuquerque and UNM. “The location is great. We have big blue skies every day and no Florida humidity… and UNM has ranked academic programs in business, law, and medicine,” he says.

Locksley credits athletic leadership under UNM Vice President Paul Krebs and institutional leadership under UNM President David Schmidly as instrumental to his decision to take the job.

“They are big-picture people with a vision for athletics… I was enticed to come here because of the possibilities,” he says. “We are in it to compete for the Mountain West, go on to a championship, and graduate players.”

The Mountain West Conference isn’t an up and comer, Locksley says.

“It is already there.” Three MWC teams were in the top 15 last year.

Locksley says he wants the UNM students to get involved: “Students are the ones – not professors, not coaches, but students – who are invested in the university.”

Check out golobos.com for fall athletic schedules.

Sonia B. Haas, ’54 Harriet Riebe Kircher, ’54 John R. Mitchell, ’54 Robert H. Hannifin, ’55 Robert L. Hurd, ’55 John B. Johnson, ’56 Keith Charles Wilson, ’56 Katheryn E. Lawson, ’57 Esequiel Kelly Montoya, ’57 James M. Windsor, ’57 Lucy Zartman Dobkins, ’58, ’64 Gordon S. Stevens, ’58 Gloria H. Trujillo, ’58 Silas Vialquin “Billy” Barela, ’59 Perry Jay Hollifield, ’59 Richard E. Panzer, ’59 Gretchen Lemm House, ’60 Harry Richard Larsen, ’61 Roy E. Smith Jr., ’61 Russell Allan Bowren, ’62 Robert A. Cooper, ’62 Helen Marie Fahs, ’62 Jerry Donald Nesbitt, ’62, ’73 Arie Poldervaart, ’62 Margaret (Marnie) Spiegel Collister, ’63 Henry M. Holle, ’63 Albert Wayne Johnson, ’63 William E. Perret, ’63, ’81 John P. Scarbrough, ’63 Annette Goldberg Weintraub, ’63 Ida M. Wood, ’63 John E. Breden, ’64 Jane V. Burrows, ’64 Douglas E. Jackson, ’64, ’69 Richard H. Cravens III, ’65 Henry J. Pyzik, ’65 Kathleen M. Bostetter, ’66 Patricia “Trish” Robison Fernandez, ’66 Robert Neil Horton, ’66 Rosaline Mogg, ’66 Paul Henry Wiater, ’66 Allan R. Wilson, ’66, ’70 Arthur A. York, ’66 Diane Marie Iverson, ’67 Darrel E. Newell, ’67 Frances Eileen Cozzens Parsons, ’67 GP “Duke” Duquette, ’68 Anna Jane Fair, ’68 Connie M. Sanchez, ’68, ’76 Elizabeth A. Annulis, ’69 Ricardo R. Barros, ’69, ’73 John J. Bittner, ’69 Laura S. Hall, ’69 Pete J. Lucero, ’69 Michael Lee Olives, ’69 Linda Claire Thompson, ’69 Richard A. Wortman, ’69, 72 Marjorie Johnson Cooper, ’71 Malcolm “Mack” A. Edwards Jr., ’71 Jocelyn James, ’71, ’75, ’85 Larry A. Perez, ’71, ’81 f a l l

2 0 0 9

35

aGRIDIRON THLeTICS GIFT BY

C A R O LY N

GONZALES

UNM's new head football coach, Mike Locksley, gives his best to Lobo football.

L

Lobo Head Football Coach Mike Locksley was born in Washington, DC on Christmas Day in 1969. His mother got the tax deduction for the year. College football got the makings of

a gifted coach. And now Lobo fans hope they got the man who can make the Lobos a leader in the Mountain West Conference

and take a bite out of a big dog in a bowl game of repute.

(He says he’s a Washington Redskins fan. There’s the

Alfredo Moreno

bow on my present.)

WAT C H A N D S E E : Lobo Head Football Coach Mike Locksley observed a lot about his new team at the spring Cherry-Silver game.

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m a g a z i n e

Locksley came to UNM after a successful tenure at the University of Illinois under Head Coach Ron Zook.

There Locksley started out as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, then moved to offensive coordinator coaching tight ends, and finally, in addition to calling plays for the Illini offense, he coached quarterbacks.

In 2007, under Locksley’s tutelage, the Illinois offense led the Big Ten for the second straight year, finishing fifth in rushing nationally. Locksley led Illinois

recruiting and was named the No. 5 recruiter in the Big Ten and among the top-20 nationally by Sports Illustrated.

Zook is confident in Locksley’s ability to lead the Lobos. “He’ll be a success as a coach, recruiter, and ambassador for the UNM program,” Zook says. “He’s in the business for the right reason – to help young men reach their goals. It’s all about the players.”

Before Illinois, Locksley worked for Zook at the University of Florida for two seasons, earning recognition

as a Top-25 recruiter when the 2003 class was rated seventh nationally

by Rivals.com.

Former University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak recalls, “Coach Locksley instills confidence in all his players and has the courage to make tough decisions. At the same time, he is a compassionate man who will listen to his players and coaching staff.”

At the University of Maryland, where he spent the prior six years, Locksley was running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In 1999, the Terps led the ACC in rushing yards and ranked 12th in the nation behind the running of All-American Lamont Jordan.

LOCKSLEY LORE Football wasn’t Locksley’s lone sport as a youth. At the Boys and Girls Club he played whatever sport was going on. At Washington DC’s Ballou High School he played basketball and football, which he then pursued at Towson University in Maryland, eventually dropping basketball in favor of football.

Locksley received a bachelor’s in business marketing in 1992, making him the first in his family to earn a college degree. Pursuing a business degree was a natural course of action for Locksley, who says, “I was always selling popsicles or buying candy in bulk and selling it out of a book bag when I was a kid.” The lessons he learned still apply to his coaching career.

“Recruiting is similar to sales. If they like you, they’ll buy from you.

Football, athletics, is a people-driven business. If you’re selling a product you believe in, they will buy,” he says.

While at Towson, Locksley interned summers at the US House

aLBUm I N Me M O R I aM of Representatives for New York Congressman Major Owens.

“I had no intentions of playing football until my third year in college,” Locksley says, adding that he had been a team leader. “I had two kids when I was still playing, which made me more mature.”

Those two little kids are now young men. Mike, Jr., 20, is a UNM sophomore, looking perhaps to play Lobo basketball. Meiko is 17 and a senior at La Cueva High School.

Locksley and his wife, Kia, have two other children, Kai, 11, and Kori, 9.

LOBO LOCKSLEY Locksley bought into Albuquerque and UNM. “The location is great. We have big blue skies every day and no Florida humidity… and UNM has ranked academic programs in business, law, and medicine,” he says.

Locksley credits athletic leadership under UNM Vice President Paul Krebs and institutional leadership under UNM President David Schmidly as instrumental to his decision to take the job.

“They are big-picture people with a vision for athletics… I was enticed to come here because of the possibilities,” he says. “We are in it to compete for the Mountain West, go on to a championship, and graduate players.”

The Mountain West Conference isn’t an up and comer, Locksley says.

“It is already there.” Three MWC teams were in the top 15 last year.

Locksley says he wants the UNM students to get involved: “Students are the ones – not professors, not coaches, but students – who are invested in the university.”

Check out golobos.com for fall athletic schedules.

Sonia B. Haas, ’54 Harriet Riebe Kircher, ’54 John R. Mitchell, ’54 Robert H. Hannifin, ’55 Robert L. Hurd, ’55 John B. Johnson, ’56 Keith Charles Wilson, ’56 Katheryn E. Lawson, ’57 Esequiel Kelly Montoya, ’57 James M. Windsor, ’57 Lucy Zartman Dobkins, ’58, ’64 Gordon S. Stevens, ’58 Gloria H. Trujillo, ’58 Silas Vialquin “Billy” Barela, ’59 Perry Jay Hollifield, ’59 Richard E. Panzer, ’59 Gretchen Lemm House, ’60 Harry Richard Larsen, ’61 Roy E. Smith Jr., ’61 Russell Allan Bowren, ’62 Robert A. Cooper, ’62 Helen Marie Fahs, ’62 Jerry Donald Nesbitt, ’62, ’73 Arie Poldervaart, ’62 Margaret (Marnie) Spiegel Collister, ’63 Henry M. Holle, ’63 Albert Wayne Johnson, ’63 William E. Perret, ’63, ’81 John P. Scarbrough, ’63 Annette Goldberg Weintraub, ’63 Ida M. Wood, ’63 John E. Breden, ’64 Jane V. Burrows, ’64 Douglas E. Jackson, ’64, ’69 Richard H. Cravens III, ’65 Henry J. Pyzik, ’65 Kathleen M. Bostetter, ’66 Patricia “Trish” Robison Fernandez, ’66 Robert Neil Horton, ’66 Rosaline Mogg, ’66 Paul Henry Wiater, ’66 Allan R. Wilson, ’66, ’70 Arthur A. York, ’66 Diane Marie Iverson, ’67 Darrel E. Newell, ’67 Frances Eileen Cozzens Parsons, ’67 GP “Duke” Duquette, ’68 Anna Jane Fair, ’68 Connie M. Sanchez, ’68, ’76 Elizabeth A. Annulis, ’69 Ricardo R. Barros, ’69, ’73 John J. Bittner, ’69 Laura S. Hall, ’69 Pete J. Lucero, ’69 Michael Lee Olives, ’69 Linda Claire Thompson, ’69 Richard A. Wortman, ’69, 72 Marjorie Johnson Cooper, ’71 Malcolm “Mack” A. Edwards Jr., ’71 Jocelyn James, ’71, ’75, ’85 Larry A. Perez, ’71, ’81 f a l l

2 0 0 9

35

aLUMNI OUTLOOK C H A P T E R C H O I C E S

2009 Homecoming(s)!

Ruth Schifani, ’70 BA, ’76 JD | President, UNM Alumni Association

H

omecoming takes on various meanings for the Alumni Association this fall.

First, there’s the traditional meaning of coming home to your alma mater to celebrate friendship, connection,

memories, fall, and football! We hope you’ll do just that and join us for “Lobo Knights,” Homecoming 2009, October 20-24. Knights, damsels, kings, queens, and jesters, all are welcome!

If you can’t be here in person, we know you’ll want to visit us online.

Soon our re-energized and redesigned website will make you feel like you’ve set foot on campus and in Hodgin Hall.

Please send us your email address (to alumni@unm.edu) so we can “howl” out our web news to you!

For even more interaction with us and with your fellow alums, check out our UNM Alumni Association fan page

on facebook.com. For the most current updates, sign up at Twitter to follow UNM Alumni Association news.

Homecoming may turn temporarily into home-moving for the Alumni staff in Hodgin Hall this fall. (All contact information will stay the same.) Shortly after the “Lobo Knights” have put away their armor, demolition will begin. We’ll be turning Hodgin Hall into a veritable castle, renovating its floors, outfitting meeting rooms, creating interactive displays, and generally spiffing up!

It’s going to be an interesting and exciting year! I look forward to sharing it with you.

Yes! to Young Alumni!

July 30

Graduate School Planning Workshop, Hodgin Hall

August 20-21 Welcome Back Days 21 St. Clair Crush and Wine Tasting

September TBD

“How to NET from WORKING It” Workshop, Hodgin Hall

October 3 23

YA Migration to UNM vs. Texas Tech Football Game, Lubbock, TX UNM Homecoming Reception, SUB

Maria Wolfe

Events, dates, and times are subject to change.

Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866 or go to www.unmalumni.com for additional information.

36

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

THE CALM BEFORE T H E R A P I D S : Rafters prepare to go through the Pilar raceway on a Young Alumni adventure in northern New Mexico in June.

7 22

Salt Lake City 1st Friday Happy Hour at Iggy’s Los Angeles College Fair/Recruiting Training

12 12 12 13 13 13 14-18 19 21-25 26 29 thru Nov.

Norcal Green Chile Roast & Picnic Las Vegas Green Chile Roast Chicago Chapter Green Chile Fiesta Washington, DC 40th Annual Taco Picnic/Chile Roast Los Angeles 17th Annual Green Chile Roast New York Area Fall Business Meeting & Dinner Atlanta College Fair Participation Atlanta Green Chile Roast Atlanta College Fair Participation Austin “Absolute Ambience” Annual Green Chile Roast Washington, DC College Fair Participation NorCal, Los Angeles, San Diego California College Fair Participation

3 9 9 27-28 31 tbd tbd

Los Angeles TV Viewing Party: Lobos vs. Texas Tech Chicago College Fair Participation Seattle College Fair Participation Las Vegas College Fair Participation Lobos at SDSU: Tailgate & Game Sacramento Area Potluck Chile Picnic New York Area Fall Event

21 28

Austin “From Grape to Lips” Hill Country Wine Tasting Tour Lobos at TCU: Tailgate & Game

5

Austin “Food, Friends, Frolic”: Annual New Mexican Potluck Gathering & Gifting San Diego Holiday Dinner & Social San Diego & LA Pre-Game Party and Game: Lobo Men’s Basketball at University of San Diego

6 9

Events, dates, and times are subject to change. Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866 or go to www.unmalumni.com for additional information.

TRAVELING

IN

2010

T

he 2010 UNM Alumni Association travel program is in development, but we’re anticipating still more exciting trips to wonderful destinations.

Check back with us at www.unmalumni.com for more destinations and dates.

April June August October

Tulip Time in Holland & Belgium – Avalon Waterways Vikings, Kings & Castles Ocean Cruise – GoNext Travel Flavors of Burgundy & Provence – Avalon Waterways Mediterranean Tapestry Ocean Cruise – GoNext Travel

Trips, dates, and prices are subject to change. For additional information, contact Charlene Chavez Tunney at the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866.

aLBUm I N Me M O R I aM Robert Edward Perryman Sr., ’71 Lansing A. Wallace, ’71 John Knox Wooten Jr., ’71 Madeline Ammons, ’72 Albert S. Gonzales, ’72 Ernest Evans Kilker, ’72 Richard William Skeean, ’72 Marlene C. Bradshaw, ’73 Harold Ettinger, ’73 Marjorie Ann Kendall, ’73 Lynne Wonderlin Rehder, ’73 Leopoldo S. Calanche, ’74 Harrell Jennings Day, ’74, ’82 Carol Jean Vigil, ’74, ’78 David Cavan Bruer, ’75 Douglas Richard Franklin, ’75, ’79 Paul Richard Kruse, ’75, ’81 Dorothy F. Verkuilen, ’75 Douglas Allison Carmichael, ’76, ’84 Anita Johnson, ’76 Richard Matthews, ’76 Holly Lynn Anlian, ’78, ’87 Michael Thomas Lynch, ’78 Elizabeth A. Wilkins, ’78 Sara Margaret Carlton Cochran, ’79 Patrick Jude Raymond, ’79 Shauna I. Steele, ’80 Doreen M. Mehs, ’81 John Patrick Andrews, ’82 Athena Lorraine McDivitt, ’82, ’99 Eugene Crabtree, ’84 Roy William Ankerry, ’86, ’87 Stephen Joseph Ley, ’86 Matthew Laurin Porter, ’87 Erica Marie Armer, ’88 Sidney L. Conner, ’88 Elizabeth Ann Daniels, ’89 Michael Brett Johnson, 89 Lewis Lee Peshlakai, ’89 Linda Bell Foster, ’90. ’99 Jeanette Norwood Baca, ’91 John Rodney Woodrow II, ’91 Sandra Lynn Ottomeyer, ’92 Mela Eve Mondragon, ’93, ’96 Scott William Barz, ’94, ’95 Neal Wade Martinez, ’95 Russell Eugene Kinderdine, ’97 Roman Antonio Archuleta, ’98 Donna Gayle Farnell Bianchetti, ’98 Schanna Lynn Griego, ’99 Christine Susan Fellows, ’00 Greg Philip Martin, ’01 Rebekah Ann Strunk, ’01, ’02 Deborah K. LaPointe, ’03 Sheila D. Gorman, ’04, ’05 Rose Wilson Ebaugh, ’07 Kendra Lipinski, ’08 William H. Huber, emeritus faculty Muriel Edwards Lowrance, staff Cecil L. Poppe, staff f a l l

2 0 0 9

37

aLUMNI OUTLOOK C H A P T E R C H O I C E S

2009 Homecoming(s)!

Ruth Schifani, ’70 BA, ’76 JD | President, UNM Alumni Association

H

omecoming takes on various meanings for the Alumni Association this fall.

First, there’s the traditional meaning of coming home to your alma mater to celebrate friendship, connection,

memories, fall, and football! We hope you’ll do just that and join us for “Lobo Knights,” Homecoming 2009, October 20-24. Knights, damsels, kings, queens, and jesters, all are welcome!

If you can’t be here in person, we know you’ll want to visit us online.

Soon our re-energized and redesigned website will make you feel like you’ve set foot on campus and in Hodgin Hall.

Please send us your email address (to alumni@unm.edu) so we can “howl” out our web news to you!

For even more interaction with us and with your fellow alums, check out our UNM Alumni Association fan page

on facebook.com. For the most current updates, sign up at Twitter to follow UNM Alumni Association news.

Homecoming may turn temporarily into home-moving for the Alumni staff in Hodgin Hall this fall. (All contact information will stay the same.) Shortly after the “Lobo Knights” have put away their armor, demolition will begin. We’ll be turning Hodgin Hall into a veritable castle, renovating its floors, outfitting meeting rooms, creating interactive displays, and generally spiffing up!

It’s going to be an interesting and exciting year! I look forward to sharing it with you.

Yes! to Young Alumni!

July 30

Graduate School Planning Workshop, Hodgin Hall

August 20-21 Welcome Back Days 21 St. Clair Crush and Wine Tasting

September TBD

“How to NET from WORKING It” Workshop, Hodgin Hall

October 3 23

YA Migration to UNM vs. Texas Tech Football Game, Lubbock, TX UNM Homecoming Reception, SUB

Maria Wolfe

Events, dates, and times are subject to change.

Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866 or go to www.unmalumni.com for additional information.

36

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

THE CALM BEFORE T H E R A P I D S : Rafters prepare to go through the Pilar raceway on a Young Alumni adventure in northern New Mexico in June.

7 22

Salt Lake City 1st Friday Happy Hour at Iggy’s Los Angeles College Fair/Recruiting Training

12 12 12 13 13 13 14-18 19 21-25 26 29 thru Nov.

Norcal Green Chile Roast & Picnic Las Vegas Green Chile Roast Chicago Chapter Green Chile Fiesta Washington, DC 40th Annual Taco Picnic/Chile Roast Los Angeles 17th Annual Green Chile Roast New York Area Fall Business Meeting & Dinner Atlanta College Fair Participation Atlanta Green Chile Roast Atlanta College Fair Participation Austin “Absolute Ambience” Annual Green Chile Roast Washington, DC College Fair Participation NorCal, Los Angeles, San Diego California College Fair Participation

3 9 9 27-28 31 tbd tbd

Los Angeles TV Viewing Party: Lobos vs. Texas Tech Chicago College Fair Participation Seattle College Fair Participation Las Vegas College Fair Participation Lobos at SDSU: Tailgate & Game Sacramento Area Potluck Chile Picnic New York Area Fall Event

21 28

Austin “From Grape to Lips” Hill Country Wine Tasting Tour Lobos at TCU: Tailgate & Game

5

Austin “Food, Friends, Frolic”: Annual New Mexican Potluck Gathering & Gifting San Diego Holiday Dinner & Social San Diego & LA Pre-Game Party and Game: Lobo Men’s Basketball at University of San Diego

6 9

Events, dates, and times are subject to change. Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866 or go to www.unmalumni.com for additional information.

TRAVELING

IN

2010

T

he 2010 UNM Alumni Association travel program is in development, but we’re anticipating still more exciting trips to wonderful destinations.

Check back with us at www.unmalumni.com for more destinations and dates.

April June August October

Tulip Time in Holland & Belgium – Avalon Waterways Vikings, Kings & Castles Ocean Cruise – GoNext Travel Flavors of Burgundy & Provence – Avalon Waterways Mediterranean Tapestry Ocean Cruise – GoNext Travel

Trips, dates, and prices are subject to change. For additional information, contact Charlene Chavez Tunney at the Alumni Relations Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866.

aLBUm I N Me M O R I aM Robert Edward Perryman Sr., ’71 Lansing A. Wallace, ’71 John Knox Wooten Jr., ’71 Madeline Ammons, ’72 Albert S. Gonzales, ’72 Ernest Evans Kilker, ’72 Richard William Skeean, ’72 Marlene C. Bradshaw, ’73 Harold Ettinger, ’73 Marjorie Ann Kendall, ’73 Lynne Wonderlin Rehder, ’73 Leopoldo S. Calanche, ’74 Harrell Jennings Day, ’74, ’82 Carol Jean Vigil, ’74, ’78 David Cavan Bruer, ’75 Douglas Richard Franklin, ’75, ’79 Paul Richard Kruse, ’75, ’81 Dorothy F. Verkuilen, ’75 Douglas Allison Carmichael, ’76, ’84 Anita Johnson, ’76 Richard Matthews, ’76 Holly Lynn Anlian, ’78, ’87 Michael Thomas Lynch, ’78 Elizabeth A. Wilkins, ’78 Sara Margaret Carlton Cochran, ’79 Patrick Jude Raymond, ’79 Shauna I. Steele, ’80 Doreen M. Mehs, ’81 John Patrick Andrews, ’82 Athena Lorraine McDivitt, ’82, ’99 Eugene Crabtree, ’84 Roy William Ankerry, ’86, ’87 Stephen Joseph Ley, ’86 Matthew Laurin Porter, ’87 Erica Marie Armer, ’88 Sidney L. Conner, ’88 Elizabeth Ann Daniels, ’89 Michael Brett Johnson, 89 Lewis Lee Peshlakai, ’89 Linda Bell Foster, ’90. ’99 Jeanette Norwood Baca, ’91 John Rodney Woodrow II, ’91 Sandra Lynn Ottomeyer, ’92 Mela Eve Mondragon, ’93, ’96 Scott William Barz, ’94, ’95 Neal Wade Martinez, ’95 Russell Eugene Kinderdine, ’97 Roman Antonio Archuleta, ’98 Donna Gayle Farnell Bianchetti, ’98 Schanna Lynn Griego, ’99 Christine Susan Fellows, ’00 Greg Philip Martin, ’01 Rebekah Ann Strunk, ’01, ’02 Deborah K. LaPointe, ’03 Sheila D. Gorman, ’04, ’05 Rose Wilson Ebaugh, ’07 Kendra Lipinski, ’08 William H. Huber, emeritus faculty Muriel Edwards Lowrance, staff Cecil L. Poppe, staff f a l l

2 0 0 9

37

+MORe

aLUMNI

PROFILe

Dancing with a Tiger, from page 23… waited for nearly 12 hours before getting her turn.

Gabi regales me with details about the experience, but beyond her having chosen a modern dance routine, and making it through the first round of auditions, I can say no more.

Contestants are contractually prohibited from publically speaking about the event until a contestant is eliminated or until, well, they say so.

THE COMPLEAT DANCER Mind, body, and soul, Gabrielle Rojas is a dancer. Inner self and outer self have integrated and now speak with one voice, and that voice both expresses and heals through form and movement. What the fates have in store for her is anyone’s guess, but they do seem to favor her. Besides, it’s obvious that resistance is futile.

AWESOME!

THE REST OF THE STORY

Dancer Gabi Rojas

O

awed a master class at UNM on a visit home

Christian Horstmann

between national performances.

SOMeTHING NeW to Howl About!

h, the agony of defeat. Or is it? Gabi made it to the top 20 on So You Think You Can Dance, out of thousands of contestants, and even got a patented, “Woo-hooooooo!” from judge Mary Murphy.

Her strength throughout lay in her solo performances, all of which unfortunately were not aired on the show, but fortunately still run and receive many hits on You Tube.

Temporarily not in the best of spirits, Gabi remains gracious as ever. “It was such an honor to dance beside such incredibly gifted dancers who share love for dance like myself. I made some really wonderful friends in the process and continue to root for them.”

We’re still rooting for you, too, Gabi.

Watch Gabi’s So You Think You Can Dance audition on youtube.com.

H

onor a new graduate or commemorate your own or a loved one’s days at UNM with a personalized brick in front of Hodgin Hall, the UNM Alumni Center.

Each $100 purchase of a brick supports Hodgin Hall’s maintenance and renovation as well as UNM Alumni Association projects.

New Grad Special! $75 per brick for graduates within the past 5 years!

To purchase a brick, contact the UNM Alumni Association Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866.

Find out more at www.unmalumni.com/ makegift/bricks.htm.

Coming This Fall: The All-New Redesigned UNMAlumni.com.

Send your email address to alumni@unm.edu to be among the first sneak-peek visitors to the site.

38

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

UNMaLUMNI.COM

show So You Think You Can Dance and wanted to know if she was interested? Get out!

And there went our future diva, tooling down Broadway at 3 a.m., lugging a suitcase full of food and her favorite blankie, while diverting the rain with her trusty purple umbrella.

You’d think she would have been relatively alone at that hour, but 100 fellow contestants were already waiting in line when Gabi showed up. She

+MORe

aLUMNI

PROFILe

Dancing with a Tiger, from page 23… waited for nearly 12 hours before getting her turn.

Gabi regales me with details about the experience, but beyond her having chosen a modern dance routine, and making it through the first round of auditions, I can say no more.

Contestants are contractually prohibited from publically speaking about the event until a contestant is eliminated or until, well, they say so.

THE COMPLEAT DANCER Mind, body, and soul, Gabrielle Rojas is a dancer. Inner self and outer self have integrated and now speak with one voice, and that voice both expresses and heals through form and movement. What the fates have in store for her is anyone’s guess, but they do seem to favor her. Besides, it’s obvious that resistance is futile.

AWESOME!

THE REST OF THE STORY

Dancer Gabi Rojas

O

awed a master class at UNM on a visit home

Christian Horstmann

between national performances.

SOMeTHING NeW to Howl About!

h, the agony of defeat. Or is it? Gabi made it to the top 20 on So You Think You Can Dance, out of thousands of contestants, and even got a patented, “Woo-hooooooo!” from judge Mary Murphy.

Her strength throughout lay in her solo performances, all of which unfortunately were not aired on the show, but fortunately still run and receive many hits on You Tube.

Temporarily not in the best of spirits, Gabi remains gracious as ever. “It was such an honor to dance beside such incredibly gifted dancers who share love for dance like myself. I made some really wonderful friends in the process and continue to root for them.”

We’re still rooting for you, too, Gabi.

Watch Gabi’s So You Think You Can Dance audition on youtube.com.

H

onor a new graduate or commemorate your own or a loved one’s days at UNM with a personalized brick in front of Hodgin Hall, the UNM Alumni Center.

Each $100 purchase of a brick supports Hodgin Hall’s maintenance and renovation as well as UNM Alumni Association projects.

New Grad Special! $75 per brick for graduates within the past 5 years!

To purchase a brick, contact the UNM Alumni Association Office at 505-277-5808 or 800-258-6866.

Find out more at www.unmalumni.com/ makegift/bricks.htm.

Coming This Fall: The All-New Redesigned UNMAlumni.com.

Send your email address to alumni@unm.edu to be among the first sneak-peek visitors to the site.

38

M I R A G E

m a g a z i n e

UNMaLUMNI.COM

show So You Think You Can Dance and wanted to know if she was interested? Get out!

And there went our future diva, tooling down Broadway at 3 a.m., lugging a suitcase full of food and her favorite blankie, while diverting the rain with her trusty purple umbrella.

You’d think she would have been relatively alone at that hour, but 100 fellow contestants were already waiting in line when Gabi showed up. She

The University of New Mexico Alumni Association

Permit No. 222

MSC 01-1160

Burl., Vt. 05401

1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM 87131-0001

M

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

P

O

S

T

E

A

G

A

Z

I

N

E

R

T

he 2009 UNM Alumni Association Homecoming poster features PEAK APRIL, by artist Angus Macpherson, ’74 BBA. The acrylic-on-canvas painting will be in the permanent collection at Hodgin Hall. Angus writes about this work: PEAK APRIL is part of a continuing series of paintings studying our magnificent New Mexico stormy skies. While I painted it in my studio here in Albuquerque, it was inspired by the foothills in Glorieta, New Mexico. The storm was happening just a bit farther north in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The time of year was April. We all were ready for some rain, and to witness the storm was a peak experience – the idea for the title.

Just around the mountain from the painting’s inspirational setting, 35 years earlier, Angus met Roy Johnson while both worked at Brush Ranch. Roy now owns Sumner & Dene Gallery in Albuquerque, where Angus’ work will be exhibited in a one-person-show, “Paintings from a Wet Planet,” September 1-26.

Angus has been named a 2009 Local Treasure by the Albuquerque Art Business Association. Watch for the awards presentation at the Albuquerque Museum in September.

For more information about Angus Macpherson’s work, go to angusmacpherson.com.

2009

US Postage Paid

FALL

Nonprofit Org

GaBI’S DaNCING DReaM

+Remembering Alea +Defining fitness +Chile Q&A +Gifted coach +Homecoming 2009: Lobo Knights!

PEAK APRIL by Angus Macpherson Signed limited edition $50 Unsigned limited edition $35 Order using the form in the enclosed homecoming brochure or online at unmalumni.com/homecoming.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO | A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N