COLLEGE O F
ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES 2018-2020 DONOR IMPACT REPORT
MESSAGE FROM
THE DE ANS UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
The College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities presents the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. The Series showcases scholars of outstanding prominence who promote the value and role of the Liberal Arts in building and sustaining contemporary culture.
UWF has a long-standing tradition of educating civic and professional leaders, who are advancing knowledge within their fields. Each year, the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities’ faculty engage students in studies and application of the liberal arts. Our students prepare for success as persons and professionals. They learn to question big ideas, to think critically, to communicate effectively and to see themselves as citizens building vibrant communities and celebrating to the richness of cultural and artistic life. This publication highlights three landmark initiatives of our college.
Boundaries, and the Beyond,” hearing from artists about their work as an expression of border poetics and a vehicle for speaking to currrent political issues. We considered African tourist art on exhibition at TAG, welcoming dialogue among faculty experts on the meaning of sacred tribal objects sold in various African cultural markets. And, we ended the 2018-2019 lecture season with a look at the contested borders of La Florida and Pensacola, our city of five flags, over the last five centuries.
Established in August, 2018, our inaugural Argo Athletic Band has continued to bring the sounds of Argo pride to University athletic events.
The 2019-2020 season began by fostering dialogue about First Amendment issues during the Seligman First Amendment Lecture Series, in partnership with the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture series has been sponsored by the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; UWF Office of Equity and Diversity; the John C. Pace Symposium Series.
Our Division of Anthropology and Archaeology has received recognition and a distinguished award, while making great advancements in its work with the Luna settlement and maritime investigations. The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series has championed the role of the liberal arts in sustaining contemporary culture. In 2019, we focused on cultural borders and boundaries. The series brought crowds to Old Christ Church to hear music and poetry tell the story of the Siege of Leningrad. We explored the exhibition spaces of the Pensacola Museum of Art in “Stone’s Throw: Borders,
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Our alumni and faithful community partners and donors have continued to be our best advocates for advancing our mission within classrooms and throughout the region. For that, we are grateful.
THANK YOU. Your support makes an impact. In the last few years, individuals and organizations have
memory of Kahn, a UWF alumna and music enthusiast.
made impactful gifts to improve programs, support ongoing
The Division of Anthropology and Archaeology was very
initiatives and provide scholarships to deserving students in
fortunate to receive donated platforms from Frank Patti,
our college.
Jr. of Patti Marine Enterprises for archaeological and other research studies which allow students to investigate
In February 2018, Terryl “T. Bubba” Bechtol gifted $25,000 in honor of Robert Clayton “Carter” Bechtol, his son, who
shipwrecks in the Pensacola Bay.
graduated from the UWF theatre program in 1998. This
Your Gift Matters
donation established an endowed scholarship for juniors
Each gift to the University of West Florida and the College
and seniors in the Department of Theatre.
of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities changes the lives and education of students in Northwest Florida and beyond.
The Robert H. Kahn Foundation gave $166,000 to establish
We hope you will continue your support in years to come.
the Doris Jean Kahn Music Scholarship Endowment for the UWF Department of Music. The endowment was created in
Visit uwf.edu/givetocassh to make your donation today.
Dr. Steve Brown, Dean
Dr. Jocelyn Evans, Associate Dean
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
The inaugural UWF Argo Athletic Band featured 58 members, all UWF students from a variety of academic studies. While all members bring a background of musical knowledge, approximately 25% of students were music majors.
2018-2020 Initiatives
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ANTHROPOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Students participate in excavations on the Luna settlement site during UWF’s Archaeology Field School, Summer 2018.
UNEARTHING LUNA By Brandy Gottlieb
The University of West Florida Division of Anthropology and Archaeology has been making landmark contributions both at home and abroad. In January 2018, the division received the Society for Historical Archaeology’s 2018 Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology. The society granted the award for the division’s work with the Tristan de Luna y Arellano project. UWF’s Luna Project team has been working since the early 1990’s, first on the shipwrecks, and most recently on Luna’s settlement. The award recognizes outstanding, sustained accomplishments in public historical archaeology by individuals, educational institutions, for-profit or non-profit firms or organizations, museums, government agencies and private sponsors. Formed in 1967, the Society for Historical Archaeology is the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400-present). Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, director of the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Archaeology Institute said of the work, “From the beginning, we have reached out to Pensacolians to share our findings through lectures, websites, tours, and hands on opportunities, as we piece together this important story. We 3
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
are indebted to the support and interest from the community, and especially the Luna neighbors who have allowed us to excavate in their yards. We are very honored to receive this prestigious award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology from the Society for Historical Archaeology.” In the summer of 2018, UWF anthropology students participated in both terrestrial and maritime field schools. During their time, they continued research in both the historical Luna Settlement and the Emanuel Point III shipwreck. Frank Patti, Jr., of Frank Patti Marine Enterprises, donated a new dive platform for staging research and continued investigation of the Emmanual Point I, II, and III shipwrecks. Students continued investigations duirng the summer of 2019. Through a generous gift made by Barbara Goggins, UWF has secured property on the original Luna site, which will continue preservation for current and future Luna investigations. For more information about the Luna Expedition, visit uwf. edu/luna. Or, for FPAN, visit fpan.us.
STUDENT FEATURES By Brandy Gottlieb
Christina Bolte
Meghan Mumford, ‘19
Christina Bolte is a graduate student in UWF’s historical and maritime archaeology program. She has been a part of excavations on the Luna settlement site since its discovery in 2015 and acted as field director of UWF’s summer field schools at the site for two years. Christina’s thesis research focuses on the Aztec component of the Luna expedition. As field director last summer, Christina managed field school students’ daily activities while herself participating in digs and gathering her own research.
Meghan Mumford is a 2019 graduate with an MA in Anthropology and focus in maritime archaeology. She worked in maritime field schools at UWF for six years and was part of the team that uncovered the Emanuel Point III shipwreck in 2016. During her last summer field school, Meghan worked as a senior supervisor. She said she spent so much time at the Emanuel Point sites over the years that she felt at home there.
Anthropology/Archaeology
Anthropology/Archaeology
“My favorite moments are when we find an exposed structure and I think, ‘wow, I’m the first person to see or touch this in 450 years.’ It gives me chills every time.” —Meghan Mumford, Archaeology Graduate Student Alumna, ‘19
PATTI MARINE ENTERPRISE GIFT
In 2018, Frank Patti, Jr. of Patti Marine Enterprises, donated a new dive platform for the purpose of staging archaeological and additional scientific research. Two rebuilt barges replaced the previous, 20-year-old platforms, which were rebuilt in 2002 with the assistance of the Patti family. Students, faculty and staff have utilized the dive platform for investigating shipwrecks in Pensacola Bay. These three shipwrecks from the Spanish fleet link Tristán de Luna y Arellano’s 16th century expedition to modern-day Pensacola.
Christina Bolte has acted as field director of UWF’s summer field schools at the Luna settlement site for two years.
“A gift such as this is really essential when we are excavating a shipwreck over a long period of time.” —Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, Director of the UWF Division of Anthropology and Archaeology
Frank Patti, Jr. of Patti Marine Enterprises, donated a new dive platform, in June 2018, for the purpose of staging archaeological and additional scientific research. 2018-2020 Initiatives
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ARGO ATHLETIC BAND
Established in 2018, the UWF Argo Athletic Band has become UWF’s performing ensemble for athletic events.
THE UWF ARGO ATHLETIC BAND By Brandy Gottlieb
UWF welcomed a new University tradition during the first football home game of the 2018 season. On August 30, the inaugural Argo Athletic Band brought the sounds of UWF’s spirit and pride to the field.
powerful and courageous. Argo Band members are students from all areas of the university. Beyond this, they have unselfishly dedicated themselves to giving back to, and supporting the Argo community by ‘lifting their voices in praise and song.’”
Founded in summer of 2018, the Argo Athletic Band, presented by the UWF Department of Music, has become UWF’s performing ensemble for athletic events.
The inaugural band featured 58 members, all UWF students who represent a variety of academic studies. While all members bring a background of musical experience, only 25% of students in the inaugural band were music majors, with half of the members majoring in scientific fields of study. Students each received an average of $250 stipend per semester, or $50 per game.
Dave Scott, director of UWF athletics, said the band has created a better game atmosphere and stronger collegiate feel to the athletic events. He said, “The students involved in the band bring another element to the game that, with the addition of live music, creates experiences which stir campus pride. The addition of a UWF Fight Song along with new traditions involving the alma mater will connect students to each other and to the University. The band has representatives from all over the State of Florida and continues to mature as they grow in size. It is great to see the students perform while bringing excitement to campus events.” The UWF Fight Song is the band’s anthem. Dr. Joseph Spaniola, UWF professor of music, authored and composed the song’s music and lyrics. Spaniola’s work is award-winning. He brings 37 years of experience as an active composer, arranger, conductor and producer. Of the song, Spaniola said, “The Argo Athletic Band embodies the virtues celebrated in the Argo Fight Song. First and foremost, each band member is an Argo. They are bold,
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During the 2019 season, the band welcomed supporters to serve as guest conductors. Thank you to our guest conductors Ray Russenberger, Hal Marcus, Tom Vaughn, and Karen Jurkowich of Levin Rinke Realty, whose support, along with that of all of our donors has contributed to the band’s first two years of success. In December, 2019, the band accompanied the UWF Argonauts to their Division II Football Championship win. Thank you to our donors who have made these victories possible. Follow the band on social media and online at uwf.edu/ argoathleticband.
SYDNEY MOORE
FUNDING NEEDS
UWF Argo Athletic Band Member, 2018-2020
“The band creates the atmosphere to cheer on the Argos that we haven’t had before...[and] is able to uplight the environment we’re in and make the crowd excited.” Sydney Moore is a Kugelman Honors student at UWF who is majoring in biomedical sciences. For seven years, she has been playing the mellophone. As a UWF student, she has continued her love for music as a member of the UWF Argo Athletic Band.
The Argo Athletic Band’s current operating budget allows the band to perform at home football and basketball games from the stands. The university’s goal is for the Argo Athletic Band to march during upcoming football seasons. With the support of generous donations, we can make that happen. The figure below compares one-time and recurring costs to both maintain the current and future state of the band. Cost Comparison: To March or Not
For Moore, her band membership has been a hallmark of her UWF experience. She said that because of a shared passion for music, she has had the opportunity to connect with students of various majors. Moore describes herself as —Sydney Moore a “more rounded” student and attributes that to the balance her participation offers her between her music and her pursuit of the sciences.
“By supporting the band, we are creating the new traditions and a sense of pride for our school.”
Moore says, “The Argo Athletic Band is continuing to make new traditions and ways to celebrate our school. Many other universities have the advantage of long-held traditions, but our football team doesn’t have that. By supporting the band, we are creating new traditions and a sense of pride for our school.”
A GENEROUS GIFT
Ray and Valerie Russenberger, grantors of the Russenberger Foundation, presented a check for $50,000 to UWF on behalf of the UWF Argo Athletic Band. Dr. Martha Saunders (second from right), UWF president, and Dr. Sheila Dunn (left), chair of the UWF Department of Music, received the gift on behalf of the band.
2018-2020 Initiatives
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EXPERIENCE UWF DOWNTOWN LECTURE SERIES
EXPLORING THE ROLES OF PUBLIC ART, BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES By Brandy Gottlieb
For the past two seasons, UWF and guest scholars, from varying disciplines, have collaborated to facilitate intellectual dialogue. Their goal has been to explore the relevance of the arts, humanities and social sciences to contemporary cultures and societies. From city murals to monuments, and from collective poetry to theater, public art speaks to the current social and political movements. Every expression, through form, whether welcomed or contested, invites the public to engage with the art. They have offered insights into the representative community’s collective values and ways in which those values are shaped. These values have been reflected within public town squares, inside gallery spaces and on performing arts stages.
“Piano Trio No. 2” by UWF music faculty Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy, violin; Blake Riley, piano; and Aleksandra Pereverzeva, cello, with original sonnets about the siege of Leningrad by Jonathan Fink, UWF professor of English and director of creative writing. “Poetry can help contemporary readers access the recreated lives, experiences, and points-of-view of individuals from the past,” said Fink. “Poetry also is beneficial to today’s society by its nuance, aesthetic beauty and structure, relevance, and impact, as well as poetry’s ability as an art form to embrace a layered and multi-faceted understanding of human emotion and experience.” The 2019-2020 series presented conversations at the intersection of the arts and sciences. It included visits from artist in residence and a partnership with the STEAM 2020 Colloquium.
Our 2017-2018 series welcomed UWF artists, gallery curators, historians, archaeologists, writers and philosophers to explore how public art has continued to find meaning among these cultural contexts. During the 2018-2019 season, we investigated meanings ascribed to borders and boundaries. The multivalent dynamics of borders have been expressed, in part, as physical, geographical, political, spiritual and cultural. The backdrop for these conversations have included art exhibits of nationally and internationally recognized artists and donated cultural artifact exhibits. One of these conversations featured pieces from UWF English and music faculty. “Art as Grit: The Siege of Leningrad in Poetry and Music combined a performance of Soviet composer Dimitri Shostakovich’s
“The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series enriches our community’s downtown life by encouraging conversation around compelling issues. The liberal arts are critical to keeping contemporary culture alive. The series is working to sustain that.”— Jerry Maygarden, Alumnus and former Mayor of Pensacola
“Art as Grit: The Siege of Leningrad in Music and Poetry” explored the tenacity of the citizens and artists of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia) during the Second World War. The event was a collaboration between UWF English and music faculty, with a performance of Soviet composer Dimitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2.
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The April 21, 2019 installment, “La Florida: The Coastal Borderland of the New World” featured the work of K. Yoland, UWF artist in residence. In collaboration with UWF faculty, Yoland investigated Florida’s coastal environments and the relationships that communities and individuals have with beaches. Yoland’s work was in response to Florida House Bill 631, which limits access to public beaches. Image: K. Yoland, Private Beach, Carrabelle, Florida, 2019
CURATING TRANSFORMATION By Brandy Gottlieb
Samantha Poirier, ‘19, is an MA graduate from the public history program.Sarah Huckabee, ‘19, is a BA graduate, who studied art history and studio art. Poirier and Huckabee curated “Cultural Commodities: The Transformation of African Spiritual Objects.”
OUR SPONORS The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series is presented by the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; sponsored by the UWF Office of Equity and Diversity; and the John C. Pace Symposium Series. Additional partners have included the UWF Askew Institute of Multidisciplinary Studies, Pensacola Museum of Art, The Art Gallery at UWF, and Blues Angel Music.
Through the exhibition, the curators examined authenticity within the African tourist art market. Their work considered how commodification of spiritual and cultural objects have influenced the objects’ value and aesthetic significance. “This exhibition epitomizes how partnerships across campus, as well as downtown, can create meaningful educational experiences that are beneficial to students, faculty, staff and the Northwest Florida community” said Croghan, director of Pensacola Museum of Art and former director of The Art Gallery at UWF, or TAG. The exhibit served as the backdrop for the October 18, 2018 series installment, “Authenticity and African Aesthetics.” The Pensacola Museum of Art loaned the collection, which was on exhibition at The Art Gallery at UWF from Oct. 4 through Oct. 27.
Alumna Samantha Poirier, ‘19, was a public history graduate student and the exhibition chief curator, for “Cultural Commodities: The Transformation of African Spiritual Objects.” 2018-2020 Initiatives
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ALUMNI
PATRICIA IZBICKI, ‘14 By Brandy Gottlieb
At the intersection of music and health, Dr. Patricia Izbicki, a 2014 UWF graduate, has become recognized in her field. She is working to expand knowledge and understanding of music performance and intricate brain circuitry. During Izbicki’s studies at UWF as a piano music performance major, she was fascinated with the interconnectivity of music and brain activity. As an undergraduate honors student with UWF’s Kugelman Honors Program, Izbicki also pursued studies in genetics and medicinal chemistry. At the intersection of music and health, Dr. Patricia Izbicki, a 2014 UWF graduate, has become recognized in her field. She is working to expand knowledge and understanding of music performance and intricate brain circuitry.
“The arts are enabling and empowering scientists to make that human connection.” —Patricia Izbicki, ‘14
During her honors work at UWF, Izbicki researched the life and mental illness of Robert Schumann, an influential German composer and music critic during the Romantic Era of the 1800’s. Through the encouragement of Dr. Hedi Salanki-Rubardt, UWF Distinguished University Professor and director of piano, Izbicki chose Schumann as the subject of her honor’s thesis. Izbicki credits both her thesis work and faculty support for fueling her current scholarship. Izbicki’s love for music and passion for the brain has resulted in numerous published papers, a fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University, recognition in this field and a series of awards, as well as national and international speaking and lecture opportunities.
ALYSSA LEE, ‘18 AND ‘20 By Brandy Gottlieb
Alyssa Lee, 2018 and 2020 University of West Florida graduate experienced opportunities that were out of this world. In Fall 2018, Lee began the NASA Pathways Program with the Armstrong Flight Research Center, which provides opportunities for students and recent graduates to be considered for federal employment upon program completion. The Armstrong Flight Research Center primarily focuses on advancement in aeronautics. As the lead public affairs officer for the center’s STEM engagement, Lee supported NASA’s publicity and engagement efforts. As part of her work, Lee created a virtual tour for the center. Lee began her NASA journey with an internship in 2017, when she served as the public affairs assistant to the director for the NASA Centennial Challenges. Initiated in 2005, the NASA challenges were designed to engage the public in the process of advanced technology development. Lee said that both UWF and NASA have given her opportunities that she never thought she would have received. Lee said she believes that communication professionals are vital to the growth of STEM fields and argues that it’s essential to combine communication skills and STEM disciplines. During her undergraduate studies, Alyssa Lee interned with NASA as a public affairs assistant to the director for the NASA Centennial Challenges. In her graduate program, she participated in the NASA Pathways Program with the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Lee graduated with a M.A. in Strategic Communication and Leadership from UWF in the summer of 2020.
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She said, “NASA has a great need for communication professionals to better educate the public on what NASA’s missions are and how they are impacting the future of space travel. The rocket scientists are really smart, no doubt. However, when it comes to communicating their ideas to the public, they aren’t as successful. I feel that communication professionals are vital to growth in STEM fields. We should have greater emphasis on STEAM.”
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING A GIFT TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES We are stronger because of your investments. Since 1963, the University of West Florida has been shaped, refined and molded by gifts from alumni, friends and community members. Within the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Downtown Lecture Series, the Argo Athletic Band and the Luna Settlement and Shipwreck programs are all reliant on private donor support. Without funding, each of these programs would cease to exist along with their impact on our students’ experience and faculty members’ work.
serve the world and change the future. Gifts of all sizes help to ensure our ability to sustain quality academics, robust scholarships programs, improvements to our programming and the capacity to meet emerging needs and opportunities. To learn more about giving opportunities in the College of Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, email Robin Zimmern, rzimmern@uwf.edu. Visit uwf.edu/give to give online today.
Because of our donors, our students are better prepared to
Please visit uwf.edu/give to support the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.
Dr. Gregory Cook, associate professor of anthropology, is the co-principal investigator of Emanuel Point II, the second vessel from Tristan de Luna’s 1559 colonization fleet. During the UWF Summer Maritime Archaeology Field School, Cook leads a team of students in an investigation of artifacts from the fleet. 2018-2020 Initiatives
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MARK JAY JIMENEZ UWF ARGO ATHLETIC BAND “There are a lot of irreplaceable experience points to add on to my life score from joining the band. It has opened new friend groups and tons of great memories.” Mark Jay Jimenez, computer engineering major, is an active member of the Argo Athletic Band. He has played the trombone for 10 years and the baritone for four. Playing in the band at his high school, Jimenez wanted to continue his passion for music into university life. “It is hard to leave my instrument behind as a memory. I believe it is good to carry out music throughout your whole life, and I thought that joining the band is a great way to continue that. Also, I wanted to be a part of UWF, other than being a student. What better way of doing that than being in the band?” Jimenez reflected. Jimenez says the band is a symbol of UWF and can’t wait to continue his journey with the Argo Athletic Band into next season. He is hoping word of the band will spread and gain more support. “I would definitely encourage others to support the band! It would certainly raise school spirit and hype at all our activities we go to!” Before rehearsals and during breaks at games, Jimenez can often be seen with a deck of cards. He said he has a collection of cards that he has accumulated over time. Along with playing cards with family and friends, he also likes to perform magic tricks. “I sometimes make new buddies teaching them or playing a card game that we both know,” said Jimenez. As a sophomore, Jimenez is learning how to balance life, school, and band, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. “Nothing beats having fun with friends as a band all while involved with our University. Attending UWF wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t in the band.” To learn more about the UWF Argo Athletic Band and how to support. visit uwf.edu/argoathleticband.
11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514 850.474.3340 uwf.edu/cassh