Emory Magazine - Summer 2024

WILD AT HEART

Alumna Rae Wynn-Grant breaks barriers to land her dream job with “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.”

UP FOR DEBATE

There’s no argument: the Barkley Forum shines as one of the nation’s best debate programs.

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP

Emory researchers take a multidisciplinary approach to solving patients’ sleep problems.

NOBODY’S PERFECT

A new campaign promotes the reframing of life’s setbacks and discourages chasing perfection.

Editor-in-Chief

Roger Slavens

Assistant Vice President, Content and Brand Story

Laura Douglas-Brown 95C 95G

Contributors

Susan Carini 04G, Jennifer Carlile, Anna Chapman, Carol Clark, Ashlee Gardner, Elaine Justice, Tony Rehagen, Michelle Ricker, Sylvie Estelle Wages, Tony Van Witsen

Copy Editor

Susan Carini 04G

Production Manager

Matilda Redfern

Art Director

Elizabeth Hautau Karp

Designers

Cole Gabriel, Peta Westmaas

Creative Director, Publications

Amanda C. Qubty

Photography Kay Hinton, Sarah Woods

Advertising Manager Jarrett Epps

Vice President, Communications and Marketing

Luke Anderson

University President

Gregory L. Fenves

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THE REFRAMES CAMPAIGN SEE VIDEOS THAT TELL STORIES of Emory community resilience. MORE ONLINE AT EMORY.EDU/MAGAZINE

2024 COMMENCEMENT WATCH THE CEREMONIES  and learn more about traditions.

Dear Emory alumni and friends of the university,

Summer is here and our campuses in Atlanta and Oxford are quiet, but as always, this apparent stillness is deceptive. Instead of classes, students are taking on impressive internships, gaining valuable work experience and traveling the globe through study abroad programs. Instead of teaching, our faculty are largely focused on their research, writing and creative projects. And many of our staff have already turned their attention to planning for the fall semester, developing strategic projects and programs for a new academic year.

In May, we hosted an amazing Commencement for the Class of 2024. Although it did not take place on the Quad, the weekend’s events still showcased the excitement and exuberance that Emory Commencement is known for, paying tribute to a resilient and talented class of students, many of whom had their high school graduations interrupted by the pandemic.

Since then, I have spent time meeting with Emory alumni and supporters in Atlanta and on both coasts. The 2O36 campaign is entering its final year and we have made impressive progress since the public launch in 2021. Thanks to Emory’s generous donors and benefactors, we are more than 91% of the way toward reaching the campaign goal of $4 billion. We are closing in on this recordshattering amount because of the vision of more than 115,000 Emory alumni, community members and friends who have stepped up to support all of our schools, departments, programs and initiatives in education, research and health care.

One of our major focuses has been establishing endowments to support student flourishing and faculty eminence at Emory. In the latter category, 90 endowed professorships have been created as part of the 2O36 campaign. To put this number in perspective, Emory’s last comprehensive campaign produced 40 such professorships. This dramatic growth in new faculty endowments will make it possible for Emory to retain and recruit world-class professors who will undertake innovative scholarship while mentoring and teaching our talented students.

If you are reading this, you have likely contributed to 2O36 in some form. I want to thank you for your philanthropy, for which I am very grateful.

The campaign concludes in August 2025, giving us one year to set a course for the future of Emory. During these final months, we are focused on achieving the fundraising goals set by every school and program, and that likely includes the Emory school or college that you graduated from! Now is the time to go above and beyond for Emory, and I urge you to get involved and find meaningful ways to contribute.

Thank you for all that you do for your university. I hope you have a wonderful summer and please come visit us on campus this fall.

Sincerely,

Gregory L. Fenves President Emory University

THANKING OUR GENEROUS ALUMNI President Gregory L. Fenves

>> COMMENCEMENT

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2024

Accomplishment, joy and abundant gratitude took center stage as thousands of Emory graduates and their loved ones came together this past May to mark the university’s 179th Commencement.

PROUD GRADUATES CELEBRATED THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AT DIPLOMA CEREMONIES FOR EACH OF THE UNIVERSITY’S NINE SCHOOLS AND MULTIPLE DEGREE PROGRAMS, while undergraduates in the Class of 2024 gathered on Monday morning, May 13, for the university ceremony.

From the moment families and friends began filing into their seats in the Gas South Arena until the final chorus of the alma mater, with blue and gold streamers drifting down upon the newest group of Emory alumni, the ceremony was a celebration of remarkable achievements and perseverance.

Robert Franklin, the James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor in Moral Leadership at Candler School of Theology, welcomed attendees and offered the first of many pieces of advice graduates would receive throughout the day, encouraging each of them to “strive to be timeless — in your ambitions, in your actions, in your treatment of others.”

Franklin reflected on the unique challenges faced by this undergraduate class, who graduated high school amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the courage they demonstrated through it all.

“When the history books are written, those headlines will tell only a part of the story, but they will not capture the depth of your resilience, your humanity, your thoughtfulness, your countless daily efforts to lift others up and, even when it’s painful, to hear the perspectives of others, especially those with whom you disagree,” Franklin said.

Georgia,

to receive their hardearned diplomas. In total, there were 5,145 graduates who earned 2,471 undergraduate, 1,872 master's and 834 doctoral degrees.

“But that is precisely what it takes to be timeless, to tap into the eternal essence of what it means to share a community and, indeed, a planet, to give of yourselves in those small, mundane moments, so that you and others can excel, thrive, heal and understand.”

With the official conferral of degrees, Emory welcomed 5,165 new alumni across the university’s nine schools, who earned a total of 5,260 degrees and hailed from 55 U.S. states and territories along with 58 other nations.

Emory President Gregory L. Fenves encouraged graduates to take a moment to bask in the glow of their achievements, surrounded by

those they love the most. “Enjoy this moment of accomplishment. In the years ahead, you will strive to achieve new goals. But right now, take one more look around at your friends and your family. Appreciate this experience,” Fenves said. “You have reached a milestone in your life. You did this. You made it happen. Savor it, enjoy it, celebrate it.”

Physician-scientist and health equity advocate Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of the Morehouse School of Medicine, delivered the keynote address. A renowned infertility specialist and researcher, she began her remarks by reflecting on her experience as a resident at the Emory School of Medicine, where she trained at both Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital — two facilities with quite different patient populations. Seeing her professor treat patients at both hospitals with the same expertise and respect helped set

the foundation for her commitment to health equity.

Montgomery Rice told the new graduates that while their time as Emory students ended that morning, their time in the “school of life” was just beginning.

“Getting here is a great accomplishment. But having traveled this road, I can only imagine that for some of you, it wasn’t easy. Maybe you had to work two or three jobs, struggle to get passing grades or change directions when you figured out the career path you thought you wanted no longer fit for your future,” she said. “The world may not be ready for you, but I am confident you are ready for the world.”

Before speaking, Montgomery Rice was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. During the ceremony, Emory also awarded honorary degrees to acclaimed violinist Robert McDuffie and Dr. Victor Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine.

OUR NEWEST ALUMNI Students and their loved ones gathered at Gas South Arena in Duluth,

in mid-May

Regalia, Relics and Rituals

A guide to Emory’s ever-evolving Commencement traditions

AtEmory University, Commencement isn’t merely a ceremony of pomp and circumstance; it's a cherished set of meaningful traditions that have evolved over nearly two centuries of history. From the specialized caps and gowns worn to signify unique academic achievements to the playing of the bagpipes and singing of the alma mater — and so much more — these regalia, relics and rituals celebrate knowledge, community and the enduring spirit of Emory. Here is a guide to the university’s Commencement traditions, both old and new, that showcases little-known history and many surprising facts.

Story by Susan Carini 04G

Photos by Kay Hinton and Emory Photo/Video

This article is the first in a new series about Emory traditions.

THE REGALIA

Academic dress got its start with the founding of European universities beginning in the 12th century and then saw changes introduced in the 16th century by Protestant reformers. In the U.S., a convention of representatives from schools across the country voted in 1901 to standardize academic costume. Eager to embrace the use of academic dress, which did not exist for graduations at Emory during the 1800s, the Class of 1902 was the first to don the garb that is so familiar today. They include:

• The BACHELOR’S GOWN features an embroidered Emory University seal in gold thread and long, pointed, open sleeves.

of the Atlanta Pipe Band. The chief marshal of the university steps out in stately time, followed by the bagpipers, then university trustees, officers and honorary degree recipients.” (From Emory historian emeritus Gary S. Hauk’s essay “The Feast of Reason and the Flow of Soul.”)

How did this tradition start?

• The MASTER’S GOWN has longer sleeves, which are closed at the bottom with openings about midway for the hands.

• The DOCTOR’S GOWN has full-length lapels of velvet and bell-shaped sleeves with three hori zontal velvet bars.

• THE HOOD varies for the respective degrees, the doctor’s hood being longer and fuller than the master’s. Each field of study has a corre sponding color scheme. The hood is lined with silk in the colors of the degree-granting institution. For Emory graduates, the lining is blue with a chevron of gold.

• THE CAP, which features a square top, became the norm at Oxford University dating all the way back to 1565, but something known as the Tudor bonnet is still worn by doctoral candidates. For TASSELS, black is the color for bachelor’s and master’s caps at Emory; gold thread may be worn by doctors.

THE BAGPIPES

Emory’s Commencement begins with an iconic sound that calls everyone to order:

“From the back of the gathered crowd, a single bagpipe wails its first martial notes, followed by a roll of drums and a crashing skirl from the rest

In 1967, the Atlanta JournalConstitution photographed Emory student Henry D. Frantz 71C 74L playing the bagpipes. A couple of other pipers saw the article and reached out. Word began to spread in Atlanta’s Scottish community that there was a new band forming. Others joined in, and by 1970, the Atlanta Pipe Band was established.

These days the mellow tones of the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet alternate with the stir of the Atlanta Pipe Band, still led by Frantz. The pipers carry the colors of both Emory University and the University of St Andrews, Emory’s sister university in Scotland. In recognition of the significant relationship between the two institutions, Pipe Major Frantz composed “The Emory and Old St Andrews March” used in the processional.

THE MACE

FUN FACT

BEGINNING IN 2014, THE BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S GOWNS HAVE BEEN MADE OF FABRIC SPUN FROM THE MOLTEN PLASTIC PELLETS OF RECYCLED WATER BOTTLES. AS A SYMBOL OF THE UNIVERSITY’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, AN AVERAGE OF 23 POSTCONSUMER PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE USED TO CREATE EACH GOWN.

The university mace is carried in the procession by the immediate past president of the Student Government Association in a role known as the bedel. The mace symbolizes a university as a corporate body of scholars possessing its own jurisdiction and legally constituted authority. Traditionally, the

bachelor’s

master’s doctor’s

FUN FACT

EMORY’S ALMA MATER IS SET TO “ANNIE LISLE,” WHICH IS THE TUNE OF HUNDREDS OF ALMA MATERS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY — AND EVEN IN CHINA.

mace is borne in procession immediately before the chief officer of a university — in Emory’s case, the president — and is placed before them during formal academic ceremonies.

Emory’s mace was a gift from D.V.S. Senior Honor Society in 1965. It was designed by Eric Clements and executed in silver and gold by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. In the teardrop at the apex of the mace, against a background of oxidized silver, is a freestanding representation in gold of a human skeleton. This is Dooley, the “spirit” of Emory, who traditionally “rises” once each spring and for a week rules campus.

Immediately below the skeleton, in an open teardrop, is a gold sphere divided (by stippling) into eight segments. Topping the sphere is a simple cross, symbolizing the relationship of Emory University to the Methodist Church. The seal of the university is sculptured in gold within the circular base.

In addition to Commencement, the mace makes appearances at Convocation to mark the start of a new academic year. In between these events, the mace makes its home at the Rose Library, “quietly awaiting,” as an Emory Magazine article attested, “its next opportunity to shine.”

THE ALMA MATER

“Hail we now our alma mater, hail the gold and blue!”

Marvin Rast 1918C 29T sang in the Emory Glee Club and was elected to membership in D.V.S. Senior Honor Society. He is also the author of Emory’s alma mater — a project he undertook when, in the spring of Rast’s senior year, the glee club director was lamenting the absence of a song about Emory for the season’s final concert.

In 1945, the original line “Loyal sons and true” was wholly out of place as women were graduating from every school of the university. Two weeks after Commencement that year, once female graduates lodged complaints, the line was emended to “Sons and daughters true.”

During the presidency of James T. Laney (1977-1993) and for a decade afterward, the alma mater was not performed. It was Jason Hardy 95C,

LONG-RUNNING TRADITIONS The university mace (pictured above) has been part of Emory ceremonies since 1965, while the alma mater, now sung by a capella group No Strings Attached, was created by student Marvin Rast in 1918.

who founded Emory’s first a cappella singing group, No Strings Attached, who approached the administration about reviving the tradition. Another needed update was made to the language — replacing the line “In the heart of dear old Dixie” with “In the heart of dear old Emory” — and No Strings Attached began performing it. The alma mater came back into the Commencement lineup in 2005.

THE SOCIETY OF CORPUS CORDIS AUREUM

Society of Corpus Cordis Aureum (Latin for “Golden Core of the Heart”), established in 2004, honors Emory alumni who have graduated 50 or more years ago. At Commencement, these “Golden Eagles” are invited to don their gold robes for the Commencement procession, leading the candidates for graduation into the ceremony.

Members of the society number 14,000 worldwide. With the understanding that not everyone can come to Atlanta to receive their medallions, Emory has begun conducting regional medallion ceremonies.

A Golden Alumni Brunch takes place in fall, associated with Homecoming, and events

throughout the year offer members educational, cultural and social enrichment.

HONORARY DEGREES

The awarding of honorary degrees has been a tradition at Emory since 1846, when the Rev. William H. Ellison received a doctor of divinity. Ellison was a Methodist minister and a leader in establishing higher education in Virginia, Alabama and Georgia. He typified the sort of selection the university made in the 19th century — namely, to honor individuals for their contributions to the church and education.

More recent honorees include Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, who has dedicated his career to helping the incarcerated; Temple Grandin, animal behaviorist and autism expert; former Georgia congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis; and Natasha Trethewey, two-term U.S. poet laureate and former Emory faculty member.

Emory honorary degree recipients have achieved the highest distinction in a field of scholarship — the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, health, business, law and all the professions — or in public service. Among them are 14 Nobel Peace Prize winners. Public servants, philanthropists and business leaders abound among the honored, as well as many noted writers — appropriate for a university with a topranked undergraduate creative writing program.

FUN FACT

UNTIL 1880, COMMENCEMENT WEEK FELL IN MID-JULY AND SENIOR EXERCISES CONSUMED AN ENTIRE DAY.

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE Members of the Society

to start the processional for Emory Commencement. During the ceremony, the university typically bestows a number of honorary degrees (top right).

of Corpus Cordis Aureum (top left) follow the Atlanta Pipe Band (second from top, left) bagpipers

MOLLY MCGEHEE

Exemplary Teacher Award

STRIVING EVERY DAY TO BE A ROLE MODEL, MENTOR AND EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING

IN A DECADE OF SERVICE TO OXFORD COLLEGE AS A TEACHER, SCHOLAR AND ADMINISTRATOR,

MOLLY MCGEHEE 07G uniquely models the profound impact that a dedicated teacher-scholar can have both institutionally and individually. Central to her approach is a desire to enhance student and faculty flourishing.

As senior associate dean of teaching, scholarship and strategic initiatives at Oxford, she is everyone’s first choice when forming a new working group or planning an initiative. She leads through inclusion, thoughtfully drawing others in and reminding them that — whatever their role — they are valued.

Known as a “doer,” and a tireless one, McGehee was instrumental in helping faculty navigate the challenges of the pandemic and the transition to remote learning. Fellow faculty members consider her “the teacher of teachers,” drawing valuable lessons from her pedagogy. Building on Oxford’s reputation for outstanding teaching, McGehee is a peerless mentor to junior faculty and a champion of faculty diversity.

American studies is palpable, both for them personally and as evolving scholars. Fostering a classroom environment that encourages creative expression and rigorous inquiry, McGehee routinely sees in her evaluations what one-to-one engagement with students can mean. As one student wrote, “Her leadership, mentorship, and most of all her unwavering humanity have continued to make me a better person.”

One of her courses — Monuments, Memorials, Meanings — both reflects an expertise of hers and led to her co-chairing the Twin Memorials Working Group, which inaugurated an ongoing project to honor the contributions enslaved individuals and their descendants have made to Emory. She helped lead two Global Connections trips, one of which took students to Japan while the other was a trip through the U.S. South focused on civil rights and social justice.

McGehee has served as president of the Southern American Studies Association and as an elected member of the Society for the Study of Southern Literature; she currently serves on the board of the Southern American Studies Association. Her current book manuscript is “Atlanta Fictions: Women Writers’ Urban Imaginaries.”

“Molly embodies the values of caring, inclusivity and a passion for exploration and discovery that we hold dear at Oxford, and we are lucky to have her.”

— BADIA AHAD DEAN OF OXFORD COLLEGE

Oxford Dean Badia Ahad describes her this way: “Dr. McGehee is a beloved professor and role model; a valued mentor to students, staff and other faculty; and an extraordinary human being. She understands that learning doesn't just happen in the classroom and challenges her students to think beyond boundaries and borders. Molly embodies the values of caring, inclusivity and a passion for exploration and discovery that we hold dear at Oxford, and we are lucky to have her.”

For students, the care McGehee exudes as a professor of English and

A potent symbol of what makes Oxford an incomparable place to learn and teach, McGehee is proud of her work and advocates for programs and people while balancing the needs of the college and the university as a whole. She says: “Oxford offers what I valued most in my own educational journey — a student-centered environment, excellent teaching and mentoring, liberal arts learning, opportunities to travel, a commitment to acknowledging its history along with a strong sense of community and deep friendships. For me, that is home.”

— Susan Carini 04G

FEW HAVE DONE AS MUCH TO BUILD TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AND BRING POSITIVE INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO EMORY AS LOBSANG TENZIN NEGI, the winner of this year’s Jefferson Award, which “honors faculty and staff who have significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of the Emory community through personal activities, influence and leadership, usually over the course of many years.”

Through his tireless dedication to integrating Tibetan monastic tradition with Western science, Negi has significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of Emory, embodying the university’s mission to shape young minds. “One of Emory’s founding principles of education is not just to mold intellect but to mold character,” says Negi, who serves as a teaching professor of religion in Emory College and as executive director of the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics. “That’s why Emory resonated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, because of that dedication to the education of the heart.”

Negi, originally trained as a Tibetan

LOBSANG TENZIN NEGI

Jefferson Award Winner

BRIDGING TIBETAN TRADITION AND WESTERN SCIENCE FOR ONE HUMANITY

“One of Emory’s founding principles of education is not just to mold intellect but to mold character.”

monk, holds a Geshe Lharampa degree from Drepung Monastic University in India. In 1991, he came to Georgia to develop a meditation center, under the guidance of the Dalai Lama, who advised him to study Western philosophy and the science of the mind. Negi found a mentor in Emory’s Robert Paul, who helped him establish a scholarship to study at Emory. Together, they envisioned a partnership between Emory and Drepung Loseling Monastery, which began to materialize during the Dalai Lama’s 1995 visit to Emory.

From this partnership, the EmoryTibet Science Initiative emerged, introducing a six-year science curriculum to monasteries and nunneries. This initiative reflects Negi's vision of merging Eastern and Western traditions to benefit humanity.

Negi also developed Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT) in 2004, a meditation protocol derived from Tibetan techniques, aimed at reducing stress and enhancing emotional well-being. CBCT has been widely adopted, with over 150 certified teachers in 19 countries. The

— LOBSANG TENZIN NEGI

success of CBCT led to the creation of SEE Learning (Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning), launched globally in 2019. This program has reached more than 10 million students in more than 70,000 schools across 40 countries.

Negi's contributions extend beyond Emory, making the university a global leader in compassion meditation and ethical education. His humble approach emphasizes collective effort and the vision of the Dalai Lama. The Compassion Center at Emory, which began with a small team, now has 30 full-time staff and continues to grow, impacting countless lives worldwide.

Negi remains dedicated to expanding these initiatives, recognizing the vast potential to serve humanity. His work exemplifies the Jefferson Award’s spirit, highlighting his commitment to bridging traditions for the greater good of society. — Michelle Ricker

KHEGAN MEYERS

Undergraduate Brittain Award Winner

DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

Reflecting on his impact, Meyers hopes his legacy at Emory is one of inspiration and perseverance.

RAISED BY A FATHER WHO PRACTICED EMPLOYMENT LAW FROM THEIR HOME, KHEGAN MEYERS 24B 24C WAS INSTILLED WITH A STRONG SENSE OF JUSTICE AND CIVIC DUTY. His father’s advocacy for individuals facing discrimination deeply influenced him. “Hearing my dad support his clients and encourage them to share their stories profoundly impacted me,” Meyers reflects. This early exposure to advocacy shaped his commitment to service and community engagement, and at Emory, his significant contributions to the university and the broader Atlanta community culminated in his recognition as the recipient of the 2024 undergraduate Marion Luther Brittain Award.

Meyers’ journey in leadership began in elementary school and continued through high school, where he was active in debate and student government, eventually serving as senior class president. At Emory, his involvement only deepened. Double majoring in business administration at Goizueta Business School and political science at Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Meyers took on multiple leadership roles, including president of the Student Government Association (SGA).

During his time with SGA, Meyers initiated significant projects focused on health access and equity. Collaborating with Sharon Rabinovitz, executive director of student health services, he championed the installation of health-access vending machines providing emergency contraception and other care items. Additionally, he advocated for expanded insurance

coverage for underinsured students and those with out-of-state Medicaid, striving to alleviate the financial burdens of medical costs for his peers.

Beyond student government, Meyers served as treasurer and president of his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, and was the Interfraternity Council vice president. He also organized with Emory Students for Students, facilitating a mutual-aid mission that raised $10,000 and supported a campaign for a $15 campus minimum wage.

His civic engagement extended into policy research and community service. As a legislative aide for Rep. David Wilkerson in the Georgia House of Representatives, Meyers conducted policy research and reviewed committee hearings. On campus, he boosted voter registration and staffed voting locations through the Emory Center for Civic and Community Engagement and Young Democrats of Emory. His role as a fellow with Emory’s Community Building and Social Change program saw him advising on policy expansions for immigrant-owned small businesses along Buford Highway.

Reflecting on his impact, Meyers hopes his legacy at Emory is one of inspiration and perseverance. “I hope it’s a legacy of recognizing that hard things are possible,” he says. As he steps into a full-time role at McKinsey & Company, Meyers credits his successes to the support of his community.

“These efforts had me as the face, but I’m just one part of the team,” he acknowledges. — Anna Chapman

DURING HIS TIME IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, ALAN AMEDI 24M PRIORITIZED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP WHILE MAINTAINING A DEMANDING ACADEMIC LOAD AND ENGAGING IN RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP. Now, he’s been named the graduate student recipient of the Marion Luther Brittain Award, considered the highest honor presented to an Emory University student.

“I’m so grateful for everyone who has taken a chance on me. I want to pay it forward and give others the opportunities that I was given,” says Amedi. “I love seeing other students succeed and reach their goals.”

Raised in Clarkston, Georgia, after his parents fled the Kurdish region in 1996, Amedi’s commitment to his roots is unwavering. Inspired by his uncle’s wartime medical service and mentorship from Heval Kelli, a former Emory resident physician and refugee, Amedi pursued his dream of becoming a doctor despite financial and personal challenges. After graduating from Georgia State University, he worked for two years to support his family and fund his medical school applications.

Drawn to Emory for its diverse patient base, Amedi has worked tirelessly to make health information accessible to underserved communities and mentor pre-med students in Atlanta.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked to ensure the Kurdish population received vital health information and vaccinations. Amedi continues to serve as a medical translator and is executive vice president of the Kurdish American Medical Assoc-

“I’m excited to see what the future holds and to keep giving back to the community that has supported me.”

iation, mentoring Kurdish medical students nationwide. He also volunteers with the Young Physicians Initiative, providing guidance to underserved students aspiring to enter the medical field.

Amedi’s role in the Clarkston Community Health Center (CCHC) has been particularly impactful. As clinic coordinator, he oversees provider

ALAN AMEDI

Graduate Brittain Award Winner

PAYING IT FORWARD WHILE EARNING A DEMANDING MEDICAL DEGREE

schedules, manages follow-ups, and collaborates with the pharmacy to ensure prescription coverage. His work at CCHC honors his community, offering vital health care services to uninsured individuals.

One of Amedi’s most cherished experiences was traveling to the Yantalo Clinic in Peru with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to provide pediatric surgical care. This trip, the first since the pandemic, offered free surgeries to children facing barriers to healthcare access.

He plans to begin his residency in general surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, aiming to specialize in cardiac surgery and continue global health initiatives. He is grateful for the support from Emory’s faculty and mentors who helped him navigate his journey.

Reflecting on his unexpected award, Amedi says, “I never thought I could become a doctor, and a few months from now, I’m going to be starting a surgical residency. I’m excited to see what the future holds and to keep giving back to the community that has supported me.”

— Michelle Ricker

COUNTING WORMS, ANALYZING ART AND BUILDING CHATBOTS

HOW EMORY STUDENTS ARE LEVERAGING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING >> STUDENT FLOURISHING

By Ashlee Gardner

If junior Alisha Morejon was told when she became a student fellow for Emory’s Center for AI Learning that, in less than a year, she would be co-authoring a research paper that would be presented at an international conference, she never would have believed it.

“I’m still surprised at all the new experiences I’ve been exposed to as a student fellow. It really has taken me to places I never imagined and taught me so much about myself in the process,” says Morejon, who is a joint computer science and mathematics major.

The paper she co-authored — “Using Machine Learning to Explore Ugandan Children’s School Readiness” — was presented at the Annual International Meeting for the Society for Psychotherapy Research in Ottawa this summer. It's a rare opportunity for an undergraduate student to have her work showcased to leading experts in the field.

The Center for AI Learning, which opened its doors in fall 2023, is a key component of Emory’s AI.Humanity initiative — an enterprise-wide commitment to shaping the future of ethical AI to serve humanity. As part of its programming

to build AI literacy and community at Emory, the center offers experiential learning opportunities to Emory students, providing them with practical experience applying AI concepts to real-world projects.

When hired, student fellows sign up for a paid position of 10-15 hours per week. A certain number of hours are spent in the center’s physical location in Woodruff Library where they greet visitors and answer questions about the center and its offerings. Each

HOW THE STORY GROWS Emory collected more than 40,000 drawings from children in Uganda in the hopes that AI could categorize them to find development patterns.

student is assigned to experiential learning projects in which they work directly with sponsors to solve a problem using AI. They are also required to teach an in-person workshop on a chosen subject each semester.

The center’s senior program coordinator, Tommy Ottolin, matched Morejon with project sponsors Valeda F. Dent, vice provost of libraries and museum, and Geoff Goodman, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in Emory University School of Medicine and associate professor of psychology and spiritual care in Candler School of Theology.

Dent and Goodman approached the center to help with a project that grew out of their long-term research collaboration in early literacy intervention. Their project, “A Story Grows in Uganda,” has generated more than 40,000 drawings from children in rural Uganda aged three to five. They wanted to use AI to help them categorize the vast trove of artwork and come up with patterns that could give them insight into the children’s development and readiness for school.

“I think Tommy chose to have me work on this project specifically because of my interest in the humanities,” says Morejon, who is a religion minor. “I tend to look at the big picture and strategy over the super technical aspects. I’m the one who analyzed all the existing research, looked at different angles and said, ‘Hey, did we think about this?’”

Each drawing requires feature-based coding, an extremely time-consuming prospect. The objective was to automate the process of coding these pictures using deep learning models.

Morejon and her partner, another student fellow who had more programming experience, did encounter several roadblocks along the way.

Around 200 drawings came to them already analyzed and coded by researchers on Dent and Goodman’s team — a relatively small sample of training data. The process they designed involves using supervised learning in which the model is fed 70% of the training data with labels and then given 30% of uncoded drawings to test for accuracy. The results so far have been less than perfect.

“We are still in the trial-and-error phase,” says Morejon.

But the potential short- and long-term impacts are worth their persistence. Once realized, this project will make the herculean task of coding thousands of drawings achievable. In addition, storing the data of each drawing digitally will be a great resource as the team continues tweaking the model to detect novel patterns. If meaningful patterns are extracted, an intervention could be designed to increase literacy outcomes and school readiness in the developing world — and that’s the kind of real-world challenge that AI.Humanity was designed to address.

Morejon learned not only about machine learning methodology but also about herself. “I was having a lot of fun. Finding the intersectionality in this project has been really interesting,” she says.

A MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS

The beauty of the center’s student fellows program is that the learning goes far beyond the projects themselves. Ottolin, who calls the projects “real-world adventures,” explains that built into each is the expectation that the students actively participate in brokering relationships, managing the evolution of the project, communicating with clients and troubleshooting. These nontechnical skills are equally important in preparing students to

flourish in a rapidly changing world — a key tenet of the Student Flourishing initiative.

Project requests are fielded in many ways: emails, calls, walk-ins. Once a project has been evaluated by the center staff for feasibility as a student-led project, a project proposal document is completed. The document includes details on the project sponsor, which student fellows will be assigned to the project and what their roles will be, project objectives and measures of success.

Given that the center and its student fellows program are relatively new, there are constant adjustments being made to how projects are set up and carried out.

“I tell every student we interview that we are learning as we go. This is a really cool place to work. If you can be nimble and transparent and be ready to incite change, then this would be a good fit for you,” says Ottolin.

Ottolin adds that project sponsors understand that this is a learning opportunity for students — and that sometimes includes setbacks and failures.

“We’re working with new technologies and answering new questions. Sometimes things aren’t as straightforward as we originally thought,” says Ottolin. “I have to hand it to our sponsors. They’ve been great partners and have been very cognizant of the environment we want to build for these students. Lessons learned can be lessons about what not to do, too.”

MAKING THE THEORETICAL TANGIBLE

Another undeniable benefit of the center’s experiential learning projects is the prospect of turning the theoretical into something tangible.

With the prevalence of technologies that are part of our everyday life, it’s important to stay ahead of the times. I appreciate Emory’s initiative to push forward AI education.

— DYLAN PARKER

Student fellows Dylan Parker and Raphael Palacio, both computer science majors, are working on a chatbot project for the Emory Ombuds Office. Palacio and Parker have both taken CS 329: Computational Linguistics. While one of the major projects in that course involves designing and building a chatbot, Parker says he appreciates the opportunity to apply his technical skills outside of the classroom.

“The Ombuds chatbot project is a good complement to what I’m learning in class. In the fall, I took Intro to AI, so I get to learn the theoretical side of AI and then get to apply that knowledge,” says Palacio.

Adds Parker: “At the center, I wanted to apply my skills but I also wanted to immerse myself in the world of AI. With the prevalence of technologies

that are part of our everyday life, it’s important to stay ahead of the times. I appreciate Emory’s initiative to push forward AI education.”

SOLVING PROBLEMS, SAVING RESOURCES

Beyond applying learned skills, students also have the chance to make a lasting impact by solving an authentic problem.

That is just what student fellow Iris Zheng did in her work for Emory’s Morran Lab and its Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution Program. Researchers in the Morran Lab use c. elegans worms for coevolution and mating systems research.

Researchers must manually count and classify thousands of worms under a microscope each week. This tedious process can take hours or even days and has a highly variable rate of error.

Zheng, a double major in biology and computer science, was given the task of creating a deep learning model that automates the process of counting and classifying the worms while minimizing errors.

Zheng says she faced two big hurdles during the project. The first was lack of adequate training data, a common theme in AI model building. In this instance, existing data would train the model to analyze patterns, features and thresholds. Zheng and her partner, another AI student fellow, had to mitigate the data shortfall by finding accessible datasets from other sources.

Another challenge was the self-guided learning process in object detection and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Zheng had little experience in these areas, so she and

her partner had to learn about the underlying logic, math and implementation from the ground up.

“The self-education process was arduous and, at times, frustrating. It required a great deal of patience and persistence, as we had to digest complex concepts and apply them to our work,” says Zheng. “There wasn’t an easy solution to this problem, but I did learn through grinding and now I have a totally new skill set that will serve me in the future.”

The result is a tool that saves the research team four hours of counting each week, freeing them up to spend time on other aspects of their research. Since c. elegans are one of the most common organisms used in lab science, the new tool could potentially be used by other researchers to save time, eyesight and eliminate human error.

FROM

“The project was an intensive learning experience in artificial intelligence, coding, professional communication and teamwork,” Zheng says. “It expanded my understanding of machine learning's limitations, practical applications and impact. I enjoyed building a solution from scratch, and blending theory with practice was valuable and gratifying.”

THE FUTURE OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

This summer, the center’s experiential learning opportunities are expanding. The center has partnered with academic units like the Department of Quantitative Theory and Methods and courses like CS 370: Computer Science Practicum Course – LLM, Data Analytics and Visualization to offer co-curricular and classroom experiential learning. There are also external

Machine-learning

opportunities through the City of Atlanta’s Office of Technology and Innovation and more partnerships on the way.

“When we think about the AI.Humanity initiative, we are trying to shape our students into the most well-rounded AI professionals,” says Ottolin. “So that’s not just writing code in a room by yourself — we want to expose them to the full gamut of working on a team, nurturing a client relationship, managing a project, solving problems.”

Ottolin adds: “And while solving these problems, they are looking at the process through a lens of ethics and fairness. That’s what Emory and the center’s experiential learning projects bring to the table — a chance to learn, grow and make a difference to humanity.”

AI TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS

analysis of children's drawings could be turned into an intervention designed to increase literacy outcomes and school readiness in developing countries like Uganda.

YOUR NEXT SUMMER LISTEN

Tune into 10 Emory podcasts meant to inspire, entertain and teach you something new.

By Anna Chapman

Whether you’re driving cross-country on a road trip or simply relaxing in your favorite summer spot, slip on some headphones and expand your horizons while you listen to a wide range of fascinating topics — brought to your ears by some of Emory’s leading experts in their fields. From sports analytics and food pharmacology to the ins and outs of scientific research, there's a podcast sure to satisfy your intellectual curiosity and provide valuable insights.

1. “2O36: THE PODCAST”

Exploring what the year 2O36 — Emory’s bicentennial — will look like and how we will get there, “2O36: The Podcast” brings together experts from across the university. Now in its third season, the show is led by Ken Carter, director of Emory’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement and Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College. On the podcast, Carter discusses how to create a better tomorrow with experts in arts, law, medicine and business.

>> 2O36.EMORY.EDU/THE-PODCAST

2. “THE AFRICANIST PODCAST”

Bamba Ndiaye, assistant professor of African studies at Oxford College, investigates the political, socio-economic and cultural issues in contemporary Africa and the African Diasporas on “The Africanist Podcast.” Through speaking with a variety of guests, including scholars, artists, activists, athletes, opinion leaders, business people and ordinary citizens, Ndiaye provides in-depth analysis on current events and cultivates conversation about the challenges facing Africans and people of African descent. “The Africanist Podcast” has become one of the most downloaded podcasts in the field of African studies.

>> THEAFRICANISTPODCAST.COM

3. “BEHIND THE MICROSCOPE”

Hosts Bejan Saeedi, Joe Behnke, Carey Jansen and Michael Sayegh are on a mission to discover the how and why behind some of the most successful scientists on “Behind the Microscope.” The four physician-scientists focus on the process of research, speaking with experts in the field about topics including scientific philosophy, obstacles to entering the U.S. medical training system and finding your niche within the field.

>> BEHINDTHEMICROSCOPE.COM

4. “BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP

PODCAST”

At Emory Law, Andrew Jennings researches corporate governance, securities regulation and corporate crime and compliance. He also hosts “Business Scholarship Podcast,” where he is joined by experts for interdisciplinary conversations about new works in the broad world of business research. Recent topics include corporate activism, white collar myths and economic sanctions on Russia.

>> ANDREWKJENNINGS.COM/PODCAST

5. “CANDLER IN CONVERSATION”

Dive into the world of Emory’s Candler School of Theology with “Candler in Conversation,” created and produced by the school’s public theological education initiative, The Candler Foundry. This podcast brings conversations about faith, theology and vocation to the forefront with Candler staff, faculty, alumni and students. Three series — the first focused on ministry and entrepreneurship, the second focused on spiritual well-being and the third on womanist discourse — are available now. This fall, a series of episodes will launch focusing on the chaplaincy track at Candler.

>> CANDLERFOUNDRY.EMORY.EDU/PODCAST

6. “THE DAVINCI HOUR”

Emory physician Max D. Cooper, a researcher and professor in Emory School of Medicine, interviews physicians, executives, medical innovators and entrepreneurs making an impact on

health care in “The DaVinci Hour.” Notable guests have included entrepreneur Mark Cuban, spine surgeon and philanthropist Gary Michelson and co-founder of Proactiv and Rodan + Fields Kathy Fields.

>> DVIACADEMY.COM/THE-DAVINCI-HOUR.COM

7. “FANALYTICS”

On “Fanalytics,” Mike Lewis, marketing professor at Goizueta Business School and faculty director for the Emory Marketing Analytics Center, delves into the world of sports analytics. Through interviews with front-office professionals, professors, business executives and sports reporters, the series pairs expertise and academic research with leaders in the field. From Caitlin Clark’s effect on the WNBA to the impact of college athletes being able to profit from their name, image and likeness, Lewis offers a fresh take on the hottest sports topics of the season. >> FANDOMANALYTICS.COM

8. “FOODIE PHARMACOLOGY”

Emory ethnobotanist Cassandra Quave hosts “Foodie Pharmacology,” a science podcast for the food curious. Quave, an author, curator of the Emory Herbarium, Thomas J. Lawley Professor of Dermatology, assistant dean of research cores at Emory’s School of Medicine and researcher with Winship Cancer Center’s Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics program, speaks with industry experts about crops, sustainable farming, medicinal plants and the health impact of what we eat. >> FOODIEPHARMACOLOGY.PODBEAN.COM

9. “GOIZUETA EFFECT”

Created and produced by Goizueta Business School, the “Goizueta Effect” podcast focuses on reimagining business for the better. Leading faculty discuss the latest trends, research and innovations in business. With a new topic and guest each episode, the conversations range from the U.S. health care system and the importance of bringing balance into our lives to the impact of microbusinesses. Each episode helps listeners stay ahead in today’s ever-changing marketplace.

>> GOIZUETA-EFFECT.EMORY.EDU

10. “THE LOUNGE AT THE CWE”

Listen in to the ideas, perspectives and thoughts of professional and student staff members of Emory’s Center for Women in “The Lounge at the CWE.” Living rooms have been transformative spaces in feminist history, and the lounge in the Identity Space that houses the Center for Women is no different, offering a space for friendship and conversation.

>> WOMENSCENTER.EMORY.EDU/PROGRAMS/ PODCASTS

Jonathan Strom, professor of church history at Emory University and a renowned theological scholar and respected leader, has been appointed the next Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean of Candler School of Theology. He will step into the role on Aug. 1, after current Dean Jan Love concludes her 17-year tenure.

“Since 1997, Jonathan Strom has contributed to Candler School of Theology in profound ways,” says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. “He is respected for his research and teaching as well as his impressive leadership within Candler, which I witnessed firsthand during his time as acting dean. He is poised to carry the torch from Dean Love and keep Candler on its extraordinary trajectory.”

Strom’s two-year appointment was announced June 25, 2024, by Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, following a national search launched after Love’s previously announced plans to step down and return to the faculty.

“Following Dean Love’s incredible term of almost 18 years, we believe Jonathan Strom is the right person to enable Candler to continue fully pursuing the many ambitious efforts underway,” says Bellamkonda. “He has been a longtime leader within the school, including acting as dean from 2019 to 2021 while Dean Love served as interim provost, and has the deep knowledge and support of the Candler community that will serve Emory well as he takes on the full leadership role of the dean.”

As dean, Strom will focus on efforts that advance Candler’s mission to educate faithful and creative leaders for the church’s ministries worldwide. He will drive initiatives

Strom Named Dean of Candler School of Theology

to further the school’s academic impact, develop innovative offerings, support faculty in their scholarship, increase enrollment and student support and nurture the school’s vital ties with The United Methodist Church (UMC) as one of its 13 seminaries.

“Not only a leader at Emory, Jonathan is also well known nationally and internationally among theological educators,” says UMC Bishop William T. McAlilly 81T, a member of the Candler dean search advisory committee. “As a faithful Christian and very active layperson in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — with which The United Methodist Church is in full communion — Jonathan will deepen our ecumenical relationships. He has a profound grasp of the ethos of Candler and the UMC and I am excited to see Candler continue its commitment to forming leaders for the church and to academic excellence.”

Strom currently serves as the director of international initiatives at Candler, where he actively promotes student flourishing and provides students with experiential learning offerings. In recent years, he has significantly expanded opportunities for study abroad, enabling students to gain diverse global perspectives while in seminary.

His unique understanding of the academic, administrative and philanthropic facets of the role and deep knowledge of Candler will aid in sustaining the school’s transformative momentum of recent years.

“I love Candler,” Strom says. “I have spent the overwhelming majority of my career here and care deeply about the school and its people. I am committed to doing everything I can to continue moving the school forward.” —Elaine Justice

>> LEADERSHIP

GOOD FELLOWS, PART 1

The John Simon Memorial Guggenheim Foundation recently named Emory University ethnobotanist Cassandra Quave a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow. Quave joins 188 distinguished and diverse trailblazers working across 52 disciplines in the class of 2024 Guggenheim Fellows.

“This recognition is a testament to Cassandra Quave’s extraordinary contributions as an ethnobotanist and her unwavering commitment to advancing human health through the discovery of medicinal compounds in plants,” says Emory Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Cassandra is an inspiring scholar whose work embodies the transformative impact of research on humanity and underscores the eminent scholarship of our faculty.”

AMONG THE GREENEST ON EARTH

Emory was recently ranked among the 10 greenest universities in the world according to a new article from Study International — one of only two universities in the U.S. to receive this recognition. The university has received a gold rating from the internationally recognized Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) for more than a decade. In particular, Emory was recognized for its 20-year partner ship with Cherry Street Solar, which will create 5.5 megawatts of solar power generation across campus, as well as its innovative WaterHub system, which reduces nonpotable water usage on campus by 40% annually.

GOOD FELLOWS, PART 2

Emory University political scientist Bernard Fraga has been named a 2024 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, one of 28 scholars nationwide who will explore political polarization as well as what might help tackle division and strengthen American democracy. The prestigious recognition includes a $200,000 stipend that will allow Fraga, an associate professor of political science at Emory College of Arts and Sciences, to devote significant time to researching and writing a new book in time for the 2026 election. Tentatively titled “Why We Won’t Vote: Polarization, Non-Voting and the Future of American Democracy,” the proposed book will lay out Fraga’s research showing the link between rising polarization and the alienation that keeps potential voters from the polls. “Dr. Fraga’s research reminds us that a healthy democracy depends on engaged citizens,” says Emory College Dean Barbara Krauthamer.

MAPPING LUNG DAMAGE

A new study led by researchers at Emory AI.Health and published in the Journal of Computers in Medicine and Biology, reveals how severe COVID-19 can cause significant lung damage. Using AI to analyze more than 3,400 CT scans, researchers found that patients with severe COVID-19 had notable lung deformities, especially in the mediastinal and basal areas. These deformities can impair lung function, affect quality of life and increase mortality. The ability to identify and quantify lung damage through AI not only helps researchers to understand the immediate impact of severe COVID-19, but also offers insight into the potential lingering effects, such as scarring and chronic breathing issues.

BY ROGER SLAVENS

Emory alumna Rae Wynn-Grant, co-host of the rebooted " Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild ″ on NBC, has blazed trails and broken barriers to achieve her childhood dream. A large-carnivore ecologist, she’s using her new platform to teach millions about how humans can coexist with lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) while inspiring future generations of scientists — as they finally see a wildlife expert who looks like them on TV.

rowing up in California’s Bay Area, Rae WynnGrant 07C lived in one of those households where watching TV was frowned upon. Her father was an architect and a college professor; her mother, a writer. “Both placed a premium on education for me and my younger brother,” Wynn-Grant says. “They thought TV would rot our brains.”

She says she felt like she was the only kid in her friend group for whom TV was off limits. “At recess, I’d hear them talk about their favorite shows, like ‘Rugrats’ and the ‘Power Rangers,’ and I had never seen them,” she says. “I felt out of touch.”

Her family did own a TV, but it only came out of the cabinet for NBA games. Her father was a huge fan of the local Golden State Warriors and the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. “We were allowed to watch basketball with my dad, but we had to leave the room during commercial breaks,” Wynn-Grant remembers.

As she and her brother grew older, they begged their parents for permission to watch some TV until they finally relented. But there was one condition: they could only watch educational programming, such as shows on PBS and Animal Planet.

It was better than nothing — far better. In fact, Wynn-Grant soon found herself infatuated with animal and nature shows, the ones hosted by Steve Irwin, David Attenborough and Marlin Perkins. “These hosts showed me a completely different part of the world that I had never seen,” she recalls, “and I immediately fell in love with all the fauna and flora across far-flung locales on the globe.”

One night at the dinner table — when she was around seven years old — she announced that when she grew up, she was going to host a nature show of her own. “I was going to live in the jungle and tell people about all the animals,” Wynn-Grant writes in her recently published memoir, “Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World.”

Starting Her Life's Journey

She doubled down on that declaration in 2003, some 10 years later, during preorientation at Emory. She chose the university for its expertise in the sciences and its proximity to Atlanta, which she calls “the Black mecca of the South.” In that preorientation session, she was encouraged to write down the dream she most desired and, from there, to sketch out a five-year plan to achieve it.

At Emory, I finally realized that working collaboratively with peers, teachers and tutors was a legitimate way of mastering the material.

At the urging of a student mentor, who jotted down the simple-yet-momentous prompt “Rae’s Life” for her at the top of a yellow legal pad, Wynn-Grant followed up by listing her singular goal: “Host a nature show.”

She then created a rough timeline that included classes she needed to take — environmental sciences seemed to be the best major — as well as the first job she thought she’d have after graduating from Emory and any other degrees she’d need along the way.

“It’s what I wanted most in the world,” Wynn-Grant says. “But deep down, I didn’t know if it was possible.”

While her heart was set on fulfilling her dream, her mind kept ticking off some serious doubts. For one, she hadn’t fared particularly well in her STEM classes in high school. Doing well in math and biology seemed important to studying ecology, she surmised.

Second, she’d spent very little time in or around nature through her first 17 years. Virtually all her exposure to wildlife had come through TV and textbooks. “We’d never gone camping, and I had zero experience with hiking, pitching a tent, cooking over a fire or anything else that could be remotely construed as roughing it,” Wynn-Grant writes in her memoir.

Her biggest doubt came from the stark fact that she had never seen someone like herself — Black or female — host a major nature TV program. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved Steve, David, Marlin and the other hosts, but

all of them were scruffy, roguish white men, most of them British or Australian,” she says. “There was no one at the time doing this job who looked or sounded like me.”

Of all the obstacles she’d face in pursuing her dream of being a TV nature show host, this would be the one that she’d struggle repeatedly to overcome.

Nevertheless, she persisted. And prevailed. A little less than 20 years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Emory, followed by two master’s degrees, a doctorate and numerous years working as a large-carnivore ecologist and researcher, Wynn-Grant made her dream come true.

In 2023, she debuted as the co-host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild,” an NBC reboot of the long-running nature show originally hosted by one of her idols, Marlin Perkins. In doing so, she not only reached her long-held dream, but blazed new trails as the first Black woman ever to host a major wildlife program. This new version of “Wild Kingdom” has been so successful — with an average of more than 1.1 million weekly viewers, it ranks as the most-watched weekend wildlife show across broadcast and cable television in the U.S. — that it was renewed for a second season before the first ended.

But the journey to get this moment wasn’t easy. In fact, she almost completely gave up on her dream.

Finding Her Way at Emory

Wynn-Grant thrived at Emory despite what she perceived as poor STEM skills. It turned out that, up until now, she simply hadn’t been taught the right way. A host of supportive and kind faculty members helped her regain confidence.

“I was scared that I was going to fail my first math class, so I did something unusual for me — I asked for help,” she says. “My professor was so patient and so accommodating in helping me to better understand everything that I had learned wrong.”

She didn’t earn an A, but she passed the class. “It gave me a lot of confidence and taught me that success wasn’t something that had to be achieved alone,” she says. “At Emory, I finally realized that working collaboratively with peers, teachers and tutors was a legitimate way of mastering the material.”

After two years of courses, including a number of classes in environmental science, Wynn-Grant

An excerpt from Rae Wynn-Grant’s

“Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World”

Getting into Nature

As a student at Emory, Rae Wynn-Grant 07C realized that what was missing from her journey to becoming a wildlife ecologist — and, eventually, a TV show host — were real-life, up-close experiences with nature. Through Emory, she found a study abroad program in Kenya that fit the bill and forever changed her path. The following excerpt from “Wild Life” captures a few transcendent moments during Wynn-Grant’s first immersion into nature.

Early in the semester, I was recovering from a devastating E.coli infection that had completely wiped me out for a couple of days, and the high fever had made me delirious. Thankfully, I’d been prescribed some antibiotics and was soon on the mend — just in time for the class to complete the first activity on our syllabus: a hike into the Chyulu Hills, which would grant us an unparalleled view of the Great Rift Valley. This geographic feature inspired the scene in “The Lion King” where Rafiki the monkey holds up Simba, the future king, to be honored by the other animals.

Even though I’d never been hiking before, I wasn’t nervous. I figured that I had all the gear — brand-new hiking boots, backpack, binoculars, water bottles — so I was prepared. Plus, it wasn’t like we’d be climbing any mountains. At most, the incline we arrived at after an hour-and-a-half drive could be described as a hill. It had a trail that spiraled around and around, all the way to the top, which we could see from where we stood at the base.

Oh, this won’t be too bad, I thought. We began our ascent in a single-file line, and I snagged a spot in the middle of the pack.

About 10 minutes into the hike, I’d already dropped back to the end of the line because I had to keep taking breaks. I would’ve thought my asthma would do me in, or maybe even blisters from my hiking boots that hadn’t been broken in yet. But it

was my burning thigh muscles that forced my slower pace. It was a painful reminder that I never exercised. My asthma had gotten me excused from gym class during my public-school years, and as a typical college student, physical fitness wasn’t a priority for me.

Imposter syndrome made me want to give up. I wanted someone else to see my struggle and tell me I didn’t have to keep going. I almost wanted my asthma to kick in so I had a legitimate excuse to stop.

But something in me knew that if I gave up now, I would keep giving up. And my dreams of becoming an ecologist and a nature host would never come to fruition.

It took me 30 minutes longer than everyone else to reach the top of the hill, and I hated every step. I had to continually give myself pep talks along the way. By the time I reached the top, I felt a mixture of triumph and humiliation.

From the top of the Chyulu Hills, we gazed across the vast Great Rift Valley, a place biologists note as the location of early human evolution. Our professors didn’t rush us, and we stayed for over an hour. I understood why they’d brought us there so early in the program. The location not only gave us an incredible view of East African landscapes but also rooted us in time and place and purpose.

If my early human ancestors could evolve in Kenya, then so could I.

On the descent, I gave myself the credit that I’d denied myself just hours beforehand. This was a big deal for me. I’d pushed myself and did something physically

realized her lack of firsthand knowledge about nature was holding her back from connecting all the dots through her classroom and textbook learning. “So I signed up for the most intense study abroad program I could find that also fit within my financial aid package,” Wynn-Grant says.

She spent a semester in Kenya and while on the African continent quickly found what she was missing — experiences living in the bush, interacting up close with wild animals like lions and elephants, conducting real fieldwork — and learned a lot about herself in the process. (See “Getting into Nature” on page 25.)

“The experience was thrilling, it was educational, it was immersive and it absolutely reaffirmed that I was on the right path toward a career in environmental science and ecology and eventually hosting a nature TV show,” she says.

After graduating from Emory in 2006, WynnGrant landed her first job at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — albeit as an administrative assistant. “I thought this was OK because I was getting my foot in the door with an organization I admired so much,” she says. “I was going to be surrounded by scientists, my real-life heroes working to make the world a better place.”

But while she loved the WWF, she hated her job. “It was a job anyone could have done, and it wasn’t a good use of my efforts or my education,” she says. “I wanted to work on solving environmental problems and instead I was making coffee and filing receipts.”

Years later, she would return to the WWF to give

a speech during a Black History event. “I told them that no one really looked at me as a future scientist, even with my degree from a top university and all the initiative and interest I showed. No one took the time to talk to me about my goals. No one took me under their wing. And I firmly believe it was because I was Black.”

The WWF not only took her words to heart, but also invited her to take a seat on their National Council. “Because I come from a historically repressed identity group, today I use my experiences to enlighten organizations like the WWF about the barriers to entry into the environmental movement for young Black scientists and work with them to be more inclusive with all groups,” she says.

Putting Herself Back on the Right Path

During her frustrating year languishing as a WWF administrative staffer, Wynn-Grant started applying to graduate schools. She got into a master’s program, complete with full scholarship, at the Yale School of the Environment, where she knew she could refocus her energies directly on wildlife conservation.

“When I got to Yale, my advisor asked me what I wanted to study,” she says. “I didn’t know I could choose.”

It took only a matter of seconds for her to pick: She wanted to study lions in Africa. “As a kid watching nature shows, I always got excited when they featured big, dangerous, ferocious, charismatic

BABIES AND RATTLES Wynn-Grant may specialize in studying large carnivores like black bears, but she’s intrigued by all sorts of animals, even snakes.

Book excerpt continued from page 25

rigorous for the first time. Something that people in my family didn’t do.

For my entire life, I’d felt that I didn’t have a place in nature, in the wilderness, that it was unavailable to me. I didn’t see people who looked like me — whether a Black person, a woman, or a Black woman — represented as being stewards of the environment, being confident in and down and dirty with nature. The hiking experience was new and satisfying and made me feel proud of what I’d accomplished, and excited for what I could do in the future. Every step I’d taken up the hill that day was me taking one step closer to becoming the person I am today.

The day after that first hike, our professors took us on our first game drive. Our camp was in close proximity to one of Kenya’s most notable parks, Amboseli National Park, which was well-known for its large elephant population. Although we were headed to a national park, we weren’t going as tourists. We piled into four Land Cruisers, armed with our cameras, as well as clipboards, notebooks and an assignment to practice estimating distance and number of animals. Our professors said that by the end of the program, we should be able to eye a group of herbivores and jot down how many were present and at what distance from us — for example, 30 wildebeests one hundred meters away. Developing these skills would help us with the data collection we’d eventually do for our independent research projects midway through the semester.

We drove away from camp and down the dirt road that snaked through the Maasai village, called

Kimana, that neighbored our camp. The drive was about 40 minutes, and I peered out of the vehicle’s dusty windows, watching the landscape turn from campsite to village to bush. Soon, not a shred of evidence of human life was within sight, and acacia trees dotted the landscape.

“The majority of wild animals live outside of national parks,” one of our professors, Dr. Moses Okello, reminded us from the front seat. “You’ll begin to see animals before we enter the park.”

His timing was impeccable. As we rounded a turn, my classmate sitting next to me gasped.

“Elephants!” she yelled.

I stood up to get a better view, and that’s when I saw them: a herd of elephants, about eight or 10 of them, eating from an acacia tree. I couldn’t believe how enormous they were.

“We will stop for more animals once we’re within the park,” said Dr. Okello. “If we stop for everything now, we’ll never reach Amboseli!” He beamed with satisfaction, and I doubt he ever tired of this moment: the awe and wonder-filled eyes of green American students having their first sighting of iconic African wildlife.

During that afternoon at Amboseli National Park, I finally saw a lion. First, a lone male with a dark-brown mane. It was lying down, camouflaged in the tall tan grasses. Our driver, Maraka, an expert animal spotter, saw him first. He stopped the truck on the dirt road and instructed us to grab our binoculars. I pulled mine out and focused them where he was pointing. If it weren’t for the lion’s tail flicking every few seconds, I wouldn’t have spotted him.

When he came into focus, I gasped.

The lion must have been a goodluck charm, because the next hour was filled with numerous animal spottings: giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, hippos, fish eagles, cheetahs and more elephants. Some were active and excitable, like the antelopes that bounded away from us as our truck approached. Others were unbothered and conserving their energy, like the pride of female lions that barely glanced at us while they dozed in the afternoon sun. My intention when I applied for the program was becoming a reality — I was living the life of a wildlife television host, sans cameras. But it was more than that. I was learning the ecology, the fullness of the landscape, and the details of the conservation issues, in real time and from the most authentic people. Our professors had been born in this place, then gone off to Europe and the United States to receive degrees. After graduation, they’d returned to advance wildlife conservation in their home country, while training the next generation of conservationists.

Being a nature-show host would always be one of my goals, but becoming a conservation scientist and ecologist — someone who worked to find ways to keep these wild animals, landscapes, and ecosystems thriving — was of even greater importance.

“Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World,” published in April 2024 by Zando/Get Lifted Books, is available at bookstores everywhere.

ECOLOGIST

BIOLOGIST

It’s easy to get ecology and biology mixed up, says wildlife ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant. “I specialize in large carnivore ecology,” she says. “Ecology is a subset of biology, and an ECOLOGIST is a scientist who studies organisms and animals and how they interact with their environment, such as where they live, how they interact with their habitats, and how they and their habitats work together and coexist. A BIOLOGIST, in contrast, is someone who studies organisms’ or animals’ bodies and how they move around, how they eat and sleep and reproduce.”

megafauna like sharks, tigers and bears,” she adds. “I had interacted with lions during my study abroad in Kenya and I was fascinated by them. They were the largest and scariest carnivores I had ever seen.”

In her memoir, Wynn-Grant mentions a frightening encounter during that first stint in Kenya when she sensed a lioness prowling outside her tent late at night.

“After I had somewhat recovered from the experience, I got curious,” she writes. “Why didn’t the lioness attack me? There was a thin piece of material separating me from her. It would’ve been easy enough for her to claw her way into the tent. I’d soon learn that, unlike bears — which will do anything to get at food, including tearing open a tent and attacking a human — most big cats don’t waste their energy attacking things they can’t see.”

The encounter solidified her interest in lions and her adviser at Yale didn’t bat an eye at her request to study them.

The highlight of her master’s studies was a semester spent in East Africa, learning from her new mentor, Laly Lichtenfield, a National Geographic Explorer and big-cat conservationist. She spent a summer researching lions up close, learning to track them, observing the dynamics of their familial prides and finding out firsthand the challenges of trying to save their numbers as they and humans tried to coexist. She witnessed the aftermath of lion attacks on a Masai community, as well as the impacts of wildlife poaching on both people and animals, and grew to understand the delicate, uneasy balance.

Wynn-Grant followed up her master’s in wildlife conservation at Yale with doctoral studies in ecology and evolution at Columbia University. “My focus shifted at Columbia, where they were more focused on ecology rather than conservation,” she says. “Instead of studying lions — animals on the Endangered List — and trying to save them, they wanted me to study another large carnivore that was faring better in the wild, specifically bears in North America.”

At first, she was reluctant to make the

switch to bears. “But studying them changed my life for the better,” she says. “I can’t imagine my life without my work with bears.”

At Columbia, Wynn-Grant started researching bears before she’d ever seen one in the wild. “The only animals I had interacted with up to this point were all in Africa,” she says. After two semesters of studying them from afar, she flew out to Western Nevada in summer 2011 and saw her first black bear in person, falling in love with the furry and lovable yet dangerous creatures.

She’s been studying bears ever since. “My [early] research focused on how bears reacted to environmental challenges such as forest fires, drought and highways being built in the middle of their habitat,” she writes in her memoir.

“The conclusions I was making about bear ecology and the types of landscape changes humans bring about would be crucial to other conservation projects all over the world, in places where human development continues to encroach upon the natural habitats of wildlife. Our work was meant to protect these animals, to protect their habitats and facilitate the balancing of what was becoming an unequally yoked ecosystem.”

Since those early days of field research, she’s gone on to study jaguars in Panama, lemurs in Madagascar, grizzly bears in Montana

and more during the past decade. She collaborated with a wide array of leading researchers and organizations in the process, giving her an incredible swath of experiences as a wildlife ecologist and an ever-growing list of enviable research opportunities.

Making the Most of Her Opportunities

Today, Wynn-Grant wears many hats as a wildlife ecologist and a renowned expert on large carnivores.

She serves as a researcher at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California-Santa Barbara. “I don’t teach, but I work with graduate students on my research on a population of mountain lions that live on a nature preserve about an hour north of Santa Barbara,” she says.

The Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve “is a really special place,” she says. “It has so many different ecosystems. There’s hills, there’s oak trees and woodland forest, there’s scrub brush, there's sand dunes, there’s coastline, and the ocean itself is actually a marine protected area.”

Wynn-Grant says there’s never been a long-term research project on carnivores like mountain lions in such a unique landscape.

“We don't have a lot of data about how they move and how they behave and what they eat and what they need,” she says. “But they seem to behave in a really distinct way because their habitat is

protected and the coastline is protected there, too. For example, it’s possible and probable that large carnivores are using the ocean for food.”

Part of her research funding comes from the National Geographic Society. “Nat Geo is a lot of things, including a media company with magazines and TV shows,” Wynn-Grant says, “but most people don’t realize it’s also a scientific funding organization. It has funded my academic work for the past five-plus years.”

As a research fellow for National Geographic, she has also been featured on a number of its TV nature programs — though none as an official host — and recently finished up on a 20-city speaking tour nationwide at Nat Geo Live events.

She is a visiting fellow at the American Museum of Science and History in New York City, where she had previously worked as a staff ecologist. In addition to having a seat on the WWF’s National Council, she serves as an advisor and collaborator with a number of other conservation-minded organizations and corporations, including The North Face’s Explore Fund Council.

“One of my main roles is to push these organizations on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice initiatives,” she says, “and to create opportunities for future generations of

ANIMAL FRIENDS COME IN ALL SHAPES

Wynn-Grant doesn't balk at the chance to get up close when studying wild animals like wolves and bears, much less domesticated dogs.

scientists who don’t fit the antiquated mold.”

During this period of rapid professional growth, she’s taken the time to sharpen her communication skills and build a healthy media presence. Pairing her expansive scientific knowledge with an upbeat, relatable, easygoing personality, Wynn-Grant has been in demand for interviews with the likes of Vogue, Forbes and the New York Times.

In 2021, during the pandemic, PBS approached her to host a novel nature podcast. “The original idea centered on the fact everyone was locked up at home and can’t travel to see nature, but maybe we can take the audience on virtual nature walks through their ears and imaginations,” she says. “Those first early episodes — where I’d recreate, say, a trip through a rainforest, complete with ambient sounds — were kind of like guided meditations.”

Since then, the podcast — called PBS Nature’s “Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant” — grew in popularity and evolved into a showcase for sharing some of her wildest experiences out in the field. “From there, I then started bringing in guests who were also Black and Brown wildlife ecologists and I’d have them tell their own wildlife stories from all over the world,” she says. “Each story became not just the adventure and the suspense of working with a wild animal, but also a parallel narrative about identity and the journey that goes along with it.”

Wynn-Grant is very proud of her podcast, which finished its third season last year and has won numerous awards. But it still wasn’t that nature TV show upon which she had long set her heart.

Fulfilling a Dream (That Almost Didn't Come True)

“During the past six or so years of my life — when everything was going so

great for me as an academic researcher and I started getting national media attention — unfortunately I was also experiencing rejection after rejection when it came to the prospect of hosting my own nature show,” WynnGrant says.

“After earning my advanced degrees, after living and performing research all around the world, after becoming a respected thought leader in the field, after hosting a major podcast and all the rest, it still wasn’t enough,” she notes.

Because she was Black. Because she was a woman.

“I had a network executive tell me that even though he thought I was the real deal — both from my expertise as a scientist and as a media presenter — that it wouldn’t happen for me because no one like me had ever done it before,” she says.

Following numerous attempts across nearly two decades of professional growth, she put her childhood dream away. “It was really becoming harmful to my mental health to keep pushing because of all the doors I had shut in my face,” Wynn-Grant says.

She instead focused on the good things in her life: her research and the graduate students she worked with, her public speaking and media opportunities, her successful podcast and the book she was starting to write and, of course, all the time she got to spend in nature.

She then received an email out of the blue: Would she be interested in co-hosting a revival of an old nature show?

And it wasn’t just any nature show, it was “Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom,” the forerunner of them all that debuted back in 1963. The producers trying to get the reboot off the ground wanted someone with a strong science background. They wanted a

new, different voice and face. They wanted her.

“I didn’t push for this,” Wynn-Grant says. “I didn’t apply, I didn’t audition. In no way did I directly position myself to be visible for this opportunity. As a scientist, I question whether manifestation is real, but it’s a pretty incredible coincidence — I visualized this dream 30 years ago and it finally came true when I had all but let go of it.”

For her, it was a surreal experience but also an incredible honor. “I can’t tell you how special it is for me to be hosting a show that inspired me as a little girl, but also what a tremendous responsibility it is for me to be the first Black person, let alone a Black woman, to host a network wildlife show,” Wynn-Grant says.

In its first season, which started airing in fall 2023, “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild” took Wynn-Grant and veteran co-host Peter Gros — a wildlife expert who has been affiliated with the show since 1985 — across the globe to encounter wildlife ranging from Great White Sharks to prairie chickens. They filmed 22 episodes and have already begun filming the second season. The program has received four daytime Emmy nominations, to boot. (Episodes are available to stream on Peacock.)

“It’s been everything I had hoped it to be,” she says. “I can’t wait to do more.”

What’s more important than the audience numbers and the nominations has been the direct

feedback she’s received from viewers.

“I get a lot of positive notes from parents and teachers, especially those from Black and Brown and Latino and South Asian backgrounds,” Wynn-Grant says. “They write to me to share how much they loved nature shows when they were young but didn’t pursue careers in wildlife or environmental fields because they didn’t think it was possible for them. But for their kids, at least, I’ve proved it was possible.”

She remembers a Valentine’s Day card she received from a child who had drawn a picture of her with a bear and told her how she was their most favorite person in the world.

“If I can help make one kid feel welcomed to pursue a dream they used to feel was impossible to reach, because of our shared skin color or our shared gender, then that’s about as much as I can hope for,” she says.

With the environment and climate in so much trouble today, Wynn-Grant adds, it’s vital for there to be a greater diversity of peoples, perspectives and ideas to tackle these problems. “It’s not just the right thing to do for the sake of inclusivity, but it will ultimately result in a wider range of potential solutions and likely generate them more quickly,” she says.

Reflecting on Her ‘Wild Life’

Wynn-Grant’s new memoir contains two parallel narratives about her life. A major part of the book involves stories about the “call of the wild” and her adventures as an ecologist, interacting with a menagerie of animals in Asia, Africa and South America.

The second involves intertwining her personal journeys of identity and womanhood, the mistakes she’s made in her relationships, the balancing of her work with motherhood and her struggles with self-confidence.

“There have been a lot of traumatic moments in my life — death, divorces and breakups, bad choices,” she says.

“Whatever life can throw at me, I feel that I can rebound and grow mentally, spiritually and emotionally when I’m off on my next adventure in the wilderness. Nature, for me, is the best medicine for my body and soul.”

If I can help make one kid feel welcomed to pursue a dream they used to feel was impossible to reach, because of our shared skin color or our shared gender, then that’s about as much as I can hope for.

WORLD EXPLORER

Wynn-Grant has been fortunate to study animals all over the world, from Montana and Panama to Madagascar and Southeast Asia.

DEBATE UP FOR

BY TONY REHAGEN

At Emory’s Barkley Forum — one of the nation’s top programs in competitive debate — students become masters of critical thinking, research and rhetoric. But they also learn to advocate for marginalized communities, helping them to raise their voices, and fight against misinformation and propaganda.

BATE

A LOT OF AMERICAN TEENAGERS ARE FANS OF COLLEGE SPORTS. They spend their fall Saturdays watching football; they dedicate every March to filling out brackets for men’s and women’s basketball. But growing up in Topeka, Kansas, Grace Kessler 24C followed a different intercollegiate contest: Competitive debate.

And the program she watched most closely was the Barkley Forum for Debate, Deliberation and Dialogue at Emory.

Kessler had gotten involved in policy debate in high school. She reveled in the competition and how it rewarded hard work and dogged research. She appreciated being put in situations that made her look at the world in different, more nuanced ways. Most of all, she enjoyed being on a team with people who pushed her to be a better thinker.

The Barkley Forum represented the pinnacle of these virtues. Kessler traveled to see Emory teams compete in several tournaments, including the

National Debate Tournament in nearby Wichita. Several Emory debaters acted as judges in high school tournaments in which she competed. The encounters always made an indelible impression.

“Emory always had a huge entourage of students and full-time debate coaches,” says Kessler. “And the team had so many resources. It wasn’t like they were just speaking about what they’d read in the news. They were successful, and people looked up to them.”

Emory was also one of the only schools to offer a full-ride scholarship for debate, the Robert W. Woodruff Debate Scholarship. Kessler applied, and in August 2020, she was awarded the prize as an incoming first-year student.

In April 2024, she found herself a Barkley Forum senior competing at the National Debate Tournament — hosted by Emory this year — where she and her teammate, Shreyas Rajagopal 24C, received the prestigious Rex Copeland Award for ranking as the overall top two-person debate team in the country. Kessler also was named Top Speaker at the national tournament. Both awards serve as a capstone to her stellar efforts the past four years.

To Kessler, the moment wasn’t just the realiza-

PREP AND PRACTICE

Barkley Forum debaters Shreyas Rajagopal (above, left) and Grace Kessler put a lot of effort into their debate preparations. And it paid off big: This year, the duo received the prestigious Rex Copeland Award for ranking as the top two-person debate team in the country.

tion of a childhood dream — it was also a moment when she truly felt like she was part of the Barkley Forum’s rich heritage and thriving community. She belonged.

“It was really special to win these awards at Emory,” she says. “There were so many alums that came back that weekend. I got a chance to rub shoulders with Emory debaters who competed as far back as 40 and 50 years ago.”

The tradition of the Barkley Forum reaches back even further — nearly two centuries, almost as old as the university itself.

In more recent decades, the program and its students have emerged as a national powerhouse, winning more than 30 national championships, including three National Debate Tournaments, and producing three Copeland Award–winning tandems. But much more than that, the Barkley Forum has become a force for education, illumination and public discourse at a time when the open exchange of ideas and credible information is in peril.

Through its unique dedication to service, the organization has partnered with public schools and uplifted communities of students to give previously unheard populations a loud and

authoritative voice. And perhaps most important, the Barkley Forum has helped shape the minds and attitudes of its alumni across professions who have, in turn, influenced the greater world around them.

ROOTS IN RHETORIC

Named in 1950 after noted Emory student and U.S. Vice President Alben W. Barkley, who served from 1949-1953 under President Harry Truman, the Barkley Forum long predates the moniker. In fact, the roots of the organization reach back to a time before the university was even in Atlanta.

Shortly after Emory was founded in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia, two literary societies — Phi Gamma and Ignatius Few — were started by students who staged weekly debates on campus. All students attended. And the subject matter of these discussions would be familiar to any college student from any time.

“It was essentially a collection of students who wanted to push back on the staid curriculum of the time,” says Ed Lee III, senior director of faculty inclusivity for Emory College of Arts and Sciences and former director of the Barkley Forum.

“In many ways, that’s the DNA of the Barkley Forum. Debaters get to play around with established research and create their own arguments and new perspectives on how the world should work and be governed.”

BACK IN THE DAY

In 1950, Emory’s debate program was named the Barkley Forum in honor of former student and U.S. Vice President Alben W. Barkley (right). A page from the Emory yearbook shared the story of how Barkley Forum debaters won their first national championship in 1967.

‘‘ EMORY ALWAYS HAD A HUGE ENTOURAGE OF STUDENTS AND FULLTIME DEBATE COACHES... THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL, AND PEOPLE LOOKED UP TO THEM.

Grace Kessler

The tradition followed the school to Atlanta in 1919. Soon, these literary societies began representing Emory in debates with other institutions. By the mid-1920s, an Emory team of orators was holding its own against intercollegiate rivals throughout the U.S., including Princeton and Harvard, and in the U.K. versus the likes of Oxford University and Cambridge, that would visit Glenn Memorial sanctuary and entertain audiences almost every year.

World War II and strict travel restrictions ended these informal competitions and the literary societies disbanded. But when the troops came home in the mid-1940s, flooding U.S. colleges with young GIs, the United States Military Academy hosted the first National Debate Tournament. Emory’s revived debate team was eager to get back to the podium.

In 1960, Glenn Pelham, who had coached the team that had won the inaugural Barkley Forum for High Schools and would go on to become a two-term Georgia state senator, took over debate at Emory. Pelham ushered in a period of unprecedented success, culminating in the school’s first Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha national championship in 1967. And he also started to chip away at the white male hegemony of collegiate debate, especially in the South, recruiting women and Black students.

Once before a debate at the University of Alabama, which had been embroiled in civil rights protests, Pelham called ahead to make it clear that Emory would not participate unless Alabama officials could guarantee the safety of Black debater Marsha Houston, a Barkley Forum student competitor who would co-found the Emory Black Student Alliance and later become a pioneering Black scholar, feminist and activist.

“He was a big man,” says Melissa Maxcy Wade 72C 76G 96T 00T, one of Pelham’s star pupils who, as an undergraduate, was the third seed at the 1972 National Debate Tournament. “Everyone was afraid of him, so Marsha was safe.”

Upon his retirement in 1972, Pelham tapped Wade to be his replacement as director of the Barkley Forum.

Wade would grow the ranks and reach of the organization to unforeseen heights, doubling down on community service and the diversity of voices in the forum. She would usher in the future. “I was 21. I was clueless. I was a good debater, but I knew spit about teaching,” says Wade. “But I see now that Pelham orchestrated my hiring. He understood that the future was coming.”

ERA OF SERVICE AND EXPANSION

When Wade first arrived at Emory as an undergraduate in the late 1960s, she was one of few women in debate. There were even fewer people of color. When she took over as director of the Barkley Forum in 1972, she set out to correct both shortcomings.

Diversity was more than just the right thing to do. In Wade’s view, having a robust and eclectic group of voices, perspectives and life experiences was vital to success in debate. Teammates pool their research, practice against each other and generally bounce ideas off one another. Naturally, a variety of viewpoints — thoroughly interrogated, discussed and refined — leads to better-rounded arguments.

This search for a deeper and more diverse pool of debaters dovetailed with Pelham’s tradition of service in 1985 with the founding of the Urban Debate League (UDL), which began as a graduate school project and evolved into a partnership

‘‘

Melissa Maxcy Wade I AM SO STRUCK BY WHAT DEBATE CAN DO FOR EMPATHY.

with Atlanta Public Schools to bring debate and educational resources — via Barkley Forum volunteers — into lower-income communities. It’s an effort that’s been replicated in more than 20 other cities nationwide.

“Melissa Wade had a dedication to making debate accessible to as many students as possible and ensuring that the most vulnerable had the opportunity to learn about debate,” says Lee, who as an Atlanta Public Schools student fell in love with debate through the UDL in the early 1990s. “She saw the need and the desire of other students who yearned to craft an argument.”

Wade’s efforts soon began to bear fruit. First, the overall ranks of the Barkley Forum started to grow. While most schools would send eight to 12 debaters to a tournament, Emory would send more than 20, eventually approaching 40. And these large cadres were increasingly diverse. In 1996, Kate Shuster was part of the duo that won Emory’s first National Debate Tournament.

Since then, at least eight other Emory debaters who do not identify as men — including women, nonbinary and transgender people — have won national championships. Aimi Hamraie 07C won the National Debate Tournament with teammate Julie Hoehn 08C in 2007.

“When I first arrived at the Barkley Forum, I had assumed it would be a very traditional approach to things,” says Hamraie. “It was quite different. It was a large, multiracial and multicultural community. And it was really a community, with a lot of mentorship between students, especially older students mentoring the younger.”

Wade is quick to note that none of this would have happened without the extraordinary support, financial and moral, of the Emory administration — a backing that has been unwavering in the years since.

“Emory leaders have always brought a degree of appreciation for what the Barkley Forum does that is missing at other institutions,” adds Mikaela Malsin 10C, the current director of the forum and yet another former Emory debater tapped to lead the program. “They understand how much Emory is a locus for debate and how powerful it is as a campus feature,” Malsin says. “That appreciation

ED LEE III WILL NEVER FORGET THE ARGUMENT THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE. IT WAS THE EARLY 1990S, and he was a high school student from Atlanta attending a summer debate program put on by the Barkley Forum at Emory, in the old Winship Ballroom.

At the front of the room, four students were volleying views on renewable energy and the merits of sending the technology to a rapidly industrializing China to help them mitigate climate change and poverty. The nuanced topic that might trigger yawns in most teens mesmerized Lee.

“From then on, I wanted to sound as sophisticated in talking about things as those four students,” he says. “I was immediately hooked.”

Inspired by this experience, Lee went on to debate competitively at the University of Alabama and eventually brought his career full circle when he returned to Atlanta to become a coach and, eventually, director of debate at the Barkley Forum. In so doing, Lee also became a prime example of how the forum has changed lives through its legacy of community outreach.

The tradition of Emory evangelists spreading the gospel of debate dates back to the 1960s, when then-director

A TRADITION OF SERVICE

FOR DECADES, BARKLEY FORUM STUDENTS HAVE HELPED EVANGELIZE THE POWER OF DEBATE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ATLANTA AND BEYOND.

Glenn Pelham started the Emory National Debate Institute through which Barkley Forum debaters would provide debate training for students in rural Georgia.

“Glenn Pelham said that we all owed service,” says his protégé and successor as director, Melissa Maxcy Wade. “He believed in forced volunteerism. If you want to ride the bus to all these events, you need to pay for your ticket. Our community service was getting out into these schools.”

In 1985, 13 years into her tenure as director, Wade helped broaden that mission to include under-resourced students when she partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to form the Atlanta Urban Debate League (AUDL). Emory students and faculty would now facilitate workshops, tutorials and debate tournaments — like the one Lee witnessed — in high schools and middle schools across the city and metro area.

The goal was to help children from underserved communities learn critical thinking and research skills, public presentation and speaking, and advocacy. By the end of the century, Emory had expanded the program to create UDLs in more than 10 cities nationwide. Today that number stands at 23 UDLs impacting more than 35,000 underserved

schoolchildren and teachers.

There’s little question that, through the years, Barkley Forum’s community outreach has impacted thousands of youths, just as it did Lee. But along the way, many Emory debaters have come to realize that their service shaped them as much as the people they served.

“Those kids taught us more about how to teach them than we could’ve ever learned on our own,” says Wade. “I very much believe in the teacher-student partnership in education. That’s what debate is.”

Barkley Forum alumna Aimi Hamraie — half of the 2007 National Debate Tournament Championship Team and current associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University — uses lessons learned through the UDL every day.

“Given the economic privilege we had, it was our job to help redistribute knowledge and experience in the community,” says Hamraie. “It affects how I think about the most ethical ways for universities to partner with communities without exploiting those communities. UDL redistributes the resources to the community and gives students access they wouldn’t otherwise have. That’s something I try to bring into the work I do now.”

goes from budgetary decisions to casual conversations you have on campus with people who know the Barkley Forum’s reputation. The deep appreciation across campus is unmatched.”

SHAPING THE FUTURE

As a transformational student experience led by Campus Life, Barkley Forum members often go on to be successful alumni and ambassadors of the university. Barkley Forum debaters have graduated to serve in a wide range of fields, including medicine, political science, business, law and education.

The short list of notable recent alumni includes Hank Tomlinson 96C, director of the Division of Global HIV & TB for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cyrus Ghavi 06C, senior counsel with the National Football League; Catherine Beane 90C, senior vice president of public policy and advocacy for the YWCA; Stephen Bailey 01C, co-founder and CEO of ExecOnline; Henry Liu 04C, recently named director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission; U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) 04C 04G; former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) 91C; and Michael Horowitz 00C, current U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense, just to name a few.

One reason for the broad success of Barkley Forum graduates is that the skills needed to prevail in competitive debate are broadly applicable. They include research, public speaking, persuasiveness, teamwork and anticipating counterarguments.

“I took the academic career path, which was similar to the stuff I did in debate,” says Hamraie, who is now an associate professor of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt University. “Reading high volumes of published research and using those research strategies is very similar — except it’s now less intense, less competitive and I sleep a lot more.”

Rajagopal, who graduated from Emory College of Arts and Sciences this past May, says he’s already seen the benefits of debate in his preparation for medical school. “In debate, you learn to process information quickly and read through massive

‘‘

DEBATE REALLY REVEALS THE NUANCE AND GRAY AREA IN ALL THINGS. . . . WE SEE DIMENSION TO THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE OPAQUE.

Mikaela Malsin

amounts of literature at a fast pace,” he says. “It also teaches you to be a good and balanced speaker who approaches issues with nuance, which is huge in modern medicine, where you have to use the evidence to reach a conclusion.”

Perhaps no element of debate is more universally appliable — and some might argue, more in demand these days — than the core tenet of critical thinking.

“My experience in the Barkley Forum shapes the way I see things insofar as a way of thinking about the world that is strategically oriented,” says Malsin. “Debate really reveals the nuance and gray area in all things. Because you have to argue both sides in debate, we are familiar with why an argument might be or might not be true. We see dimension to the way the world works that might otherwise be opaque.”

And, of course, Barkley Forum’s decades-long history and tradition has spawned its own culture that spans generations of alumni, providing a ready professional network and support system for graduates of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“You have this special connection,” says Kessler, who also graduated from Emory College this May and will be continuing her education at Harvard Law School. “I’m connected to debaters from the past; I know several who’ve invited me out to coffee or dinner who want to continue to help Emory debaters. And as we continue to interact, you want to pay it forward, too.”

FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS ON DIFFICULT TOPICS

In 2017, the organization lengthened its title to the Barkley Forum for Debate, Deliberation and Dialogue to reflect an expanded mission. The forum began reaching out across campus and communities to facilitate broader discussions on difficult topics of the day.

According to Barkley Forum officials, past and present, the outreach couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. They lament how our society is awash with misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. The flood of unreliable news has washed people into separate, insulated spheres, both online and in person, where their beliefs are unchallenged

and reinforced. And yet, now more than ever, those with differing opinions and perspectives are unwilling to even engage in civil discourse, much less open themselves and their minds to the possibility of seeing things in a different light.

“In debate, you assume there are multiple legitimate perspectives,” says Lee. “You also assume that there is always better research and better thoughts to be found. Debate encourages — nay, demands — that you not be dogmatic in the positions you take. Genius is developed when we are willing to collaborate with people with different perspectives and different ideas.”

Wade says Barkley Forum can be a beacon in a time when nuanced topics have been reduced to 140-character tweets and sound bites that drive media.

For instance, the Emory Conversation Project, a facilitator-training program, provides safe spaces for structured, face-to-face dialogue that can potentially bridge differences and connect communities. “It drives conversation,” she says. “I am so struck by what debate can do for empathy.”

Meanwhile, the Barkley Forum itself fosters a long and deep connection among students from decades past as it sends skilled debaters and rigorous thinkers out into the world. Lee talks about a wall in the Alumni Memorial University Center where the Barkley Forum offices are located. Photos of debaters from the 1940s all the way to the present hang there.

“I am the keeper of the wall,” says Lee. “I want students to see themselves connected to a past and a future. This is a space where if you want to debate, you can debate. When you show up willing to share your ideas, someone will listen. But you must be willing to reciprocate and listen to them. The only price of admission is a commitment to considering perspectives that are different from your own.”

FIVE TIPS FOR WATCHING ELECTION DEBATES

1

LEAVE YOUR POLITICAL BIASES ASIDE. You can identify — and acknowledge — when a candidate makes a well-reasoned argument or point without having to vote for them. And it can create a thaw during a really tense political moment: A “Huh. I never thought of it that way” realization.

— Ed Lee III

2

WATCH FOR STRATEGIES DURING CROSSEXAMINATION. Often, you’ll see candidates simply reject the premise of a question instead of answering it — very telling about what they are willing to concede and what they are not willing to talk about.

— Mikaela Malsin

YOU’VE PROBABLY NOTICED: IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR.

That’s when political debates on all levels — national, state and local — often take center stage on TV. These rounds of discourse usually prompt weeks of media coverage and social media spin. But when we watch these charged contests of rhetoric, how can we tell who’s winning? The experts at Barkley Forum offer these tips for following along at home.

3

LOOK FOR A CANDIDATE’S COHESIVE VISION. Over the course of the debate, the best performances are those that sustain a cohesive narrative vision for the future based on their views and experiences.

— Melissa Maxcy Wade

4

THINK ABOUT WHAT AN ARGUMENT IS and if real support for it is provided. An assertion or claim differs wildly from a substantiated argument, which relies on data and hard facts. Try to encourage yourself to balance your emotional response for or against an idea with an appreciation for logical and consistent arguments.

— Ed Lee III

5 PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIRST THING A CANDIDATE SAYS in response. Whether it’s reacting to a moderator’s question or starting their rebuttal to an opponent’s argument, the first place their mind goes is usually the message that they want to lead with and get through.

— Mikaela Malsin

LScience of Sleep

Interdisciplinary researchers at the Emory Sleep Center help diagnose disorders and other problems that prevent patients from getting quality slumber and, in turn, boost their overall health.

says his whole life has been a series of struggles to stay awake. “Struggles in college, struggles with relationships, struggles in my career,” he says. “I was always tired. I slept for a month and still wasn’t rested. It’s been a real emotional roller coaster.”

In Delaware, where Fiorucci grew up, a neurologist first diagnosed his problem as cataplexy, a brief loss of muscle control connected with strong emotions — but not always. Another doctor diagnosed him as being on the autism spectrum and attributed his sleepiness to that.

The misinformation and misdiagnoses continued for years, leaving him confused, frustrated and depressed.

It wasn’t until his job brought him to Atlanta that he heard about the Emory Sleep Center, where sleep specialist Dr. David Rye ran some tests of his own. “Rye’s been around the block,” Fiorucci says. “He’s seen a lot of things.”

Rye, professor of neurology at Emory School of Medicine and director of research at Emory Sleep Center, finally diagnosed Fiorucci’s underlying problem: type 1 narcolepsy, a condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.

This type of narcolepsy is frequently accompanied by cataplexy. Though it has no permanent cure, Fiorucci is still grateful that Dr. Rye’s accurate diagnosis allows him to live with his affliction more effectively.

“Going to a sleep doctor makes a world of difference,” Fiorucci says. “Because unfortunately, with a lot of neurologists and a lot of sleep studies, a lot of people are, like, ‘Is that really narcolepsy?’ Without that concrete diagnosis, who knows what other medications I could have been put on?

It's life-changing.”

TAKING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

For the Emory Sleep Center, diagnosing tricky cases is all in a day’s work. The center, founded in 2011, was created to bring together specialists from multiple sleep disciplines to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts — precisely tailored to the interdisciplinary nature of sleep afflictions.

“It lends itself very well to have different specialties,” says Dr. Nancy Collop, the Emory Sleep Center’s director and a professor at the School of Medicine. She notes that the center’s specialties

Story by Tony Van Witsen

Photos by Jack Kearse • Illustrations by Davide Bonazzi

SLUMBER EXPERT

Nancy Collop serves as the Emory Sleep Center's director and also as a professor in the School of Medicine. She champions the center's multidisciplinary approach to research and treatment.

I love to monitor patients . . . It can make for a pretty exciting night.

—Kevin Okonkwo

include family medicine and internal medicine, but it also employs four pulmonologists, an ear-nose-and-throat surgeon and several nurse practitioners. “If you had a sleep complaint,” she adds, “you might see any one of those providers. It really allows people from different specialties to integrate, work together and manage patients better.”

As a result of these intersecting strengths, the center’s sleep doctors can help patients who sometimes have experienced repeated misdiagnoses from primary care doctors or other specialists.

SLEEP MONITORING:

ALL IN A NIGHT’S WORK

The center’s four locations in and around Atlanta have a total of 18 bedrooms where patients can spend a night wired up to measure a wide variety of sleep factors, all under the watchful eye of supervisors such as Kevin Okonkwo. A sleep-disorder technician, Okonkwo monitors everyone’s sleep on computer screens in the control room during their overnight stays.

“I love to monitor patients,” he says. “It can make for a pretty exciting night.”

When patients come in, usually around 8 p.m.,

they’re hooked up to multiple sensors to measure sleep breathing patterns and airflow, heart rates, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to determine a patient’s level of sleep.

Collop describes it as “a bunch of sensors with wires on their head and under their chin,” as well as muscle monitors and respiratory belts that measure chest expansion and contraction during breathing along with an EKG to detect cardiac arrhythmias.

Because many patients have a condition called restless leg syndrome that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, another sensor measures leg movement. Additional sensors measure brain waves to determine which stage of sleep patients are in at different times.

Everything is fed to the control room where techs like Okonkwo keep watch.

HOW SLEEP EMERGED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

That complex series of measurements is an indication of how the science of sleep has evolved and come into its own as a medical specialty in recent decades, able to bring multiple perspectives to problems such as sleep apnea that have equally complex origins. Doctors such as the Sleep Center’s David Schulman — who’s a professor

of pulmonology, allergy, critical care and sleep medicine — say it’s not a moment too soon.

“Sleep deprivation — I don’t think it’s an exaggeration — is a public health crisis,” he says.

There can be many sources of sleep deprivation beyond sleep disorders, Dr. Schulman adds.

These can include a poor sleeping environment with too much light or noise, irregular work hours, inconsistent sleeping hours and, a particular concern for Schulman, the whole range of modern electronic communication devices now available to everyone.

“When you pair some normal degree of insomnia with the ability to distract yourself with a panoply of activities,” he says, “sleep deprivation is incredibly prevalent. It is incredible to think how many hours of lost productivity come from people who are inefficient at their jobs or even making mistakes as a result of chronic sleep deprivation.”

Many of them don’t even realize why they’re struggling, Schulman says. “They think they’re doing OK.”

As a respiratory specialist, Dr. Schulman is an expert at diagnosing breathing-related issues such as sleep apnea, a complex series of interrelated ailments that involve the area from behind your hard palate down to your voice box, all of which are subject to collapse.

But, Schulman adds, while sleep apnea is a common problem, “The Sleep Center has specialists from a wide range of backgrounds, including neurologists and otolaryngologists. So even though each of us can manage almost all sleep-related conditions to some degree, no single one of us is expert at every possible sleep problem. Having a group of partners within the center, we can reach out to our colleagues to ask, ‘Hey, can I run this case by you?’ That’s an extraordinarily valuable resource.”

Part of the value of those multiple specializations lies in being able to precisely diagnose what’s wrong with a patient, when many sleep ailments can be hard to tease out or may superficially resemble each other. Patients like Louis Fiorucci.

“Thank God I had that conclusive, definitive information from Emory,” he says. So many other physicians before had led him astray before he was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy.

“Oftentimes patients have gone to a primary care physician and said, ‘Hey doc, I’m sleepy but I don’t know why,’” adds Glenda Keating, a research associate in neurology at the Emory School of Medicine who frequently studies Sleep Center patients.

“And they’re written off as depressed or other things and they get lost to follow-up,” Keating says. “They’ve suffered for years and struggle through high school and college and then finally get a referral to come to Emory and then find out the real root of their sleep issues.”

THE CHALLENGE OF CLASSIFYING DISORDERS

The Sleep Center’s interlocking strengths allow its clinicians not only to be able to recognize what’s causing a patient’s problems but also be able to dig deeper and even classify it by a subtype.

For example, most sleep apneas have complex origins. “There are a lot of muscles in there, like 26 in all, just in the throat area,” Collop says.

Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common kind, occurs when the tongue falls against the soft palate during sleep and causes the airway to collapse. Eventually the brain senses the lack of breathing and wakes the body, at which point the cycle starts again.

In the rarer condition known as central sleep apnea, the brain stops sending signals that control the breathing process, so the sleeper temporarily stops breathing. On occasion, both types of apnea combine in a single patient.

All forms of sleep apnea have both upstream risks including genetics that make people more susceptible and downstream risks that make other problems more likely to happen. “Apnea tends to run in families,” Dr. Collop says. “It could be facial structure. It could be obesity.”

Apnea tends to run in families. It could be facial structure. It could be obesity.

—Nancy Collop

In addition, patients who suffer from sleep apnea are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and hypertension.

Narcolepsy, the disorder that plagued Fiorucci, can occur with cataplexy, known as type 1, or without, type 2. Its most visible symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness. However, when sleep occurs, it’s interrupted by frequent awakenings. Sometimes it’s even accompanied by sleep paralysis, a brief stage between sleep and wakefulness when a person is conscious but unable to move.

With idiopathic hypersomia, these are people that are sleeping 10 to 12 hours, waking up unrefreshed.

—Glenda Keating

“There’s a lot of misinformation, even amongst doctors, people in the medical community,” Fiorucci discovered, making him grateful for the Sleep Center. “Having seen someone who writes the books on this stuff is extremely beneficial.”

Even rarer is idiopathic hypersomnia, a baffling affliction of unknown origins that affects less than 1% of the population, causing an irresistible need to sleep, not only at night but during the day. Hypersomnia patients sleep and sleep but never feel refreshed. They may have difficulty awakening and feel disoriented when they do awake, with memory problems, attention problems and cognitive failures.

“With idiopathic hypersomnia, these are people that are sleeping 10 to 12 hours, waking up unrefreshed,” Keating says.

“They have to get disability, they can’t hold jobs because they’re so tired in their daily lives and functioning.”

Like sleep apnea, hypersomnia frequently runs in families but a great deal about it is still unknown. “The heterogeneity is huge,” Keating says of the vast diversity of symptoms that show up in different patients. “What it looks like in person A versus person B versus person C, there’s so many different aspects going on. It’s a huge, huge difference in presentation of hypersomnia across people.”

Partly because of the unknowns, idiopathic hypersomnia is one of the nodes where the Sleep

Center’s daily clinical practice connects with the larger community of Emory researchers who seek scientific understanding of sleep, sleep health and sleep disorders. The center’s sophisticated clinical technology for monitoring sleep can also be used for scientific studies, with some patients volunteering as research subjects.

PROBLEMS AFFECT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS DIFFERENTLY

Dayna Johnson, an associate professor of epidemiology at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, has been examining the connection between sleep and inequalities, one of the less recognized forms of health inequity. When Johnson, who was trained in epidemiology, studied sleep data across different demographic groups, she found minoritized individuals consistently displayed poorer sleep patterns.

“They’re disproportionately affected by shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality,” Johnson says. “We’re seeing more irregular sleep patterns. Going to sleep and waking up at different times

LOADING UP WITH ELECTRODES Patients who participate in sleep studies are hooked up to sensors overnight to measure everything from breathing patterns to leg movements.

Expert tips for getting better sleep 8

Sleep is a serious public health problem — on that Emory’s sleep experts all agree. “Sleep complaints are incredibly common,” says David Schulman, professor of sleep medicine in the Emory School of Medicine.

“In any given year, up to 30% of Americans say there are occasional nights, not infrequently, when they have difficulty falling asleep.”

People with good sleep habits have healthier hearts and immune systems, lower blood pressure, are less likely to get sick and in general live a more stress-free life. Whether or not we have sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea, most of us still have many individual opportunities to improve our sleep, an activity we spend one third of our lives doing.

Nancy Collop, director of the Emory Sleep Center, says it’s important to focus on sleep quality as well as quantity.

“Improving your sleep quality often includes following commonsense things,” she says. Here are some tips from Emory experts for improving your sleep:

1

AVOID EXERCISING, EATING AND DRINKING ALCOHOL OR CAFFEINE JUST BEFORE BEDTIME. Working out raises body temperature and adrenaline levels, which can make it difficult to fall asleep. Meanwhile, eating too close to bedtime can cause discomfort and indigestion; caffeine works as a stimulant that can keep you awake; and alcohol, although initially a sedative, has been proven to alter sleep cycles.

2

EXERCISE REGULARLY (THREE TIMES A WEEK) AND EAT A HEALTHY DIET. Routine physical activity and a balanced diet contribute to overall health and well-being, including better sleep, Collop says.

3

SLEEP IN A COOL, DARK, QUIET ROOM. Your sleep environment plays a significant role in sleep quality, Collop notes. A cool temperature (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly cooler) helps lower your core body temperature, which is necessary for initiating sleep. Meanwhile, darkness signals to your body that it’s time to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone. A quiet room minimizes disturbances that can disrupt your slumber.

4

STAY AWAY FROM PHONES AND OTHER LIGHT-EMITTING SCREENS BEFORE — OR DURING — BEDTIME. The blue light emitted by phones, tablets and computers can interfere with the release of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, warn Emory sleep experts. Additionally, checking your phone during the night can stimulate your brain, making it harder to fall back asleep.

5

GO TO BED AND RISE AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY, when possible. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule helps regulate your body’s internal clock, and a regular schedule can improve both the quantity and quality of sleep. It helps you fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.

6

GET SIX TO EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT, IF YOU’RE AN ADULT. Getting enough sleep improves work efficiency, interpersonal relationships and overall long-term health, Schulman says.

7

KEEP DAYTIME NAPS TO A MINIMUM . While napping can be beneficial, long or irregular naps can negatively affect nighttime sleep. Keeping naps short (20 to 30 minutes) and not too late in the day can prevent them from interfering with your overall sleep cycles.

8

FINALLY, KNOW WHEN TO SEEK HELP FOR SLEEP ISSUES. Occasional sleep troubles are normal, but persistent problems can indicate a sleep disorder or other health issues, say Emory sleep experts. Seeking help from a healthcare provider can identify underlying causes of sleep problems and provide appropriate treatments or interventions. Addressing sleep issues early can prevent them from becoming chronic and affecting overall health.

INSIDE THE CONTROL ROOM Sleep technicians monitor patients closely overnight to help detect disorders like apnea and restless leg syndrome, as well as track important data such as cardiac arrythmias and disrupted sleep cycles.

Sometimes it’s race and sometimes it’s place. In disadvantaged environments, it doesn't matter what your race is. Everybody is doing bad.

—Dayna Johnson

across the week. That’s associated with hypertension and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes.”

She continues: “Additionally, it’s not just this higher prevalence, but we're seeing more severe sleep apnea, more severe insomnia. And this is not just a problem for adults. We see this among children and adolescents.”

What’s behind these poor sleep patterns?

Johnson attributes part of it to social patterns that mean individuals from minority populations are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods and be exposed to more air pollution, bright light and noise. Other patterns are harder to attribute to a single cause.

People living in rough neighborhoods are also more likely to sleep with the TV on.

Sometimes that’s used as a safety measure to keep intruders away, but it also adds even more distraction to those trying to sleep. In addition, disadvan-

taged groups have less access to health care and information about good health. Johnson’s study found even Black and Hispanic individuals with higher incomes and education still tend to have worse sleep patterns overall.

“Sometimes it’s race and sometimes it’s place,” she says. “In disadvantaged environments, it doesn't matter what your race is. Everybody is doing bad. Race comes in because we know that certain racial groups are more likely to live in those environments.”

Johnson thinks sleep needs to be included in public health objectives when health policy is made. That’s a view Nancy Collop shares.

Collop believes it’s important to integrate sleep issues into all aspects of medicine and medical training. “If you take stroke,” she says, “and put sleep in, studies have shown probably 80% of patients that come into a hospital who had a stroke have sleep apnea. But not a lot of people are looking at sleep as part of the management or even prevention of stroke. If you could take those highly impactful disorders and add sleep research as part of it, it would go a long way to expand our understanding of sleep and how it impacts other disorders.”

Nobody’s Perfect:

Reframing Life’s Detours

A new campaign at Emory is helping students and the entire university community work to reframe their mistakes, shortcomings and moments of defeat, embrace life’s setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow, and turn away from the pursuit of perfection.

STORY BY ANNA CHAPMAN

PHOTOS BY KAY HINTON

Growing up, Joanne Williams was fascinated with the field of medicine. When she entered college, she set her sights on becoming a doctor. She carefully curated her path, taking all the necessary courses and co-curricular activities to make it into medical school.

Until she stumbled.

“I kept taking the MCAT, and my scores were too low for admission,” says Williams 18PH, director of student engagement at Emory’s Rollins School of

Public Health. “There was a feeling of failure, and there was a feeling of disappointment and even a little bit of an identity crisis that I experienced.”

After several exam retakes and continued disappointment, Williams was forced to pause for a moment and reflect on what truly filled her cup.

She remembered back to her time in college when she enjoyed engaging in student organizations, working in residence life and advising students as a peer mentor. She found joy and purpose

CHANGING DIRECTIONS

After struggling with the MCAT, Joanne Williams pivoted from applying to med school to pursuing a career in higher education.

PORTRAITS OF COURAGE

This spring, the Reframes campaign showcased photos and stories in galleries across campus that shared how Emory community members learned and grew from their mistakes.

in engaging with students, and this realization sparked her to redirect her goals and ambitions.

“After getting more experience in community capacity building and understanding what is required of the field — and also getting more experience advising students — I found my way,” Williams says.

Williams reframed what she initially thought was a defeat as an opportunity to explore her real passions and find a fulfilling career.

“What I learned from that experience is that when a door closed for me, and when I figured out that there was something that just wasn’t meant for me, a window opened. I crawled out of the window and found the job and the role I was

supposed to be doing all along,” she says.

This past spring, Williams and several other members of the Emory community shared their stories through video as part of the new “Reframes: Discovering the Possible” project. This effort aims to help students realize that missteps and hitting unforeseen obstacles — even experiencing outright failure — are a normal part of being human. And that instead of lamenting our imperfections, we all should use such moments as opportunities to learn and grow.

The Pitfalls of Perfectionism

As Alexander Pope once famously wrote, to err is human and to forgive divine. Too often we

The project aims to help students realize that missteps and hitting unforeseen obstacles — even experiencing outright failure — are a normal part of being human. And that instead of lamenting our imperfections, we all should use such moments as opportunities to learn and grow.

According to Raper, another consequence is that our fears of failure can cause us to hide our perceived inadequacies — furthering the belief that everyone else “has it figured out,” and deepening our sense of isolation and disconnection. This lack of authenticity, in turn, undercuts feelings of belonging and community with others.

The goals of the Reframes campaign are threefold: to introduce Emory students to videos of Emory faculty and staff explaining in their own words how they “reframed” their failures to support their future successes; to give students tools to begin reconsidering their own experiences of the unexpected; and to bring students together to share and connect more authentically with one another, Raper says.

Being Vulnerable and Finding Your True Self

As the project rolled out this past spring, a diverse mix of faculty and staff members, students and alumni stepped forward to embrace their vulnerabilities and publicly share a story of a personal mistake or failure they made in their lives.

Through portrait galleries, videos and a series of in-person dinners, these campus leaders share moments that were initially devastating to them. But they also share the silver lining: how they turned dark clouds into opportunities to learn more about their true selves and persevere. (See "From Setbacks to Successes," page 50.)

forget these words as we move through life. Perfectionism — the unrealistically high and rigid expectations we place on ourselves — is always toxic, says James Raper, associate vice president for health, wellbeing, access and prevention.

“Moreover, how we treat ourselves when we don’t meet those expectations creates a detrimental cycle of fear,” Raper says. “It also causes us to miss out on the growth and learning that naturally comes from the unexpected twists and turns of life.”

That puts most young people at a particular disadvantage, especially when both social expectations and self-expectations are high and often have seemingly been reinforced through grades and entry into elite institutions.

Raper says it is imperative to promote these conversations to create a community that supports student flourishing. He hopes that throughout the course of the project, which will extend into the 2024-25 academic year, students can learn to normalize the experience of sharing their moments of struggle with their teachers and peers. In the coming year, Campus Life will be facilitating a variety of additional opportunities to bring the student community together around these topics.

After all, Reframes was created to help them realize how common it is to make mistakes and still succeed. “It’s my hope, from the entirety of this campaign, that students’ perfectionism and anxiety about failure is interrupted, that they will instead take the approach of being curious about what might be around the corner,” Raper says.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EMORY’S REFRAMES EFFORT, VISIT REFRAMES. EMORY.EDU

From Setbacks to Successes

In the Reframes project, more than a dozen campus leaders, including alumni, shared their stories about how they turned stumbles in their lives and careers into sure-footed successes. Here are three that showcase how life’s challenges can be reframed:

Enku Gelaye Senior VP of Campus Life

Gelaye, born in Ethiopia, shared the expectations of her immigrant parents for her to pursue a practical career like law, medicine or engineering. “I was an engineering major for almost two years because it’s really what my father wanted me to do,” she says. “But I was not thriving. I carried a lot of pressure those first couple of years.” She worried about telling them she wanted to change her major. She worked up the courage to talk to them and

was surprised by their response. “They told me it was going to be OK. They told me they wanted me to stay in school and pursue the major I wanted.” She switched to journalism, but later she realized what she really wanted to do was work in higher education. “It wasn’t until my fifth year of college that I figured it all out.” Her hope for today’s students is to not be so hard on themselves and to relax and enjoy the journey.

Munir Meghjani 08Ox 10C Former President of the Emory Alumni Association, Commercial Real Estate Agent, Podcaster and Activist Meghjani loves to talk and makes a living presenting to large groups, but in the ninth grade, public speaking was his No. 1 fear. He joined the debate team to confront this fear, but the first moment he stepped on stage during a competition, he felt so ill he had to run to the bathroom. “That whole weekend I was just so sick I physically could not debate,” he says. “That went on for weekend after weekend.” He kept trying, and after six months, he stopped feeling sick and afraid. Through grit, determi-

nation, FOMO and support from family and classmates, he became one of his school’s top debaters and competed in national competitions. “I had a lot of self-doubt at the time, but when I look back, it’s now one of my favorite stories.” He often shares the story with students and mentees, telling them, “It can feel like this mountain is never going to end, but with resilience, patience and grit, getting to the top and the other side can be life-changing.”

Growing up, Carter dreamed about one day writing a book. “As a kid, I remember buying blank books and filling them with stories,” he says. Some 15 years ago he had an idea for a nonfiction work on the psychology of thrill-seeking. He found an agent and sold a publisher on the concept. “I remember taking a photograph of myself signing the contract and I told all my friends.” However, working with an editor, he realized he was being pushed in a different direction than intended and eventually the publisher pulled the contract. “I felt so ashamed and upset that

my dream wasn’t going to happen,” he says. Instead of conceding defeat, Carter restored his original vision for the book, shopped it around and found a new publisher. Until the book “Buzz!” came out in 2019, he found himself frightened that his dream was going to fall apart again. “I get imposter syndrome sometimes, and whenever there’s a success, I wonder whether or not I’m going to get found out as a fraud.” However, he learned along the way that the path to “success includes failure, and sometimes it’s those failures that are a gateway to making your dream come true.”

Ken Carter 87Ox 89C Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology, Oxford College

COME HOME TO EMORY

Get ready for an unforgettable 2024 Emory Homecoming and Family Weekend where you can revisit your alma mater and reconnect with old friends while making new ones. The festivities run from Wednesday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 27, and this year’s celebration invites all alumni, parents, families, current students, faculty, staff and friends of Emory to join the fun across Emory’s Atlanta campus.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• A host of social, intellectual, religious, and affinity-based activities all (extended) weekend long.

• The Alumni Homecoming Kickoff Party on Friday, Oct. 25, an adults-only event featuring delicious food, open bar, Emory swag and tons of nostalgia.

• The Food and Music Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26, when the Atlanta campus will be transformed for an amazing celebration featuring live music performances, fantastic eats, a lively parade, tours, exhibits and other festivities geared for the whole family.

• Reunion activities and specific events will be hosted by different schools and departments throughout the weekend. Check the registration page for more details.

Don’t miss out on re-immersing yourself in the heart and soul of Emory during 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Supporting Psychiatry and Dispelling Stereotypes

Catherine Hardman has given more than $10 million to the Emory Brain Health Center, bolstering research and patient treatment.

— By Jennifer Carlile

CATHERINE SHROPSHIRE HARDMAN’S SUPPORT FOR THE EMORY BRAIN HEALTH CENTER IS APPROACHING LEGENDARY STATUS — MORE THAN $10 MILLION.

“We live in a needy world,” Hardman says. “But psychiatry has been the story of my life, so that seemed like a logical thing to donate to.”

While most Americans feel we are in a mental health crisis, philanthropy in this area is rare. According to data from Candid developed by the Center for High Impact Philanthropy and reported by Inside Philanthropy, mental health accounted for only 1.3% of overall foundation investments from 2015 to 2018. Which makes Hardman’s support even more significant.

Hardman is a third-generation Atlantan and an eighth-generation Georgian. Born at Emory University Hospital, she has lived her entire life — 82 years — in Atlanta. She is a 27-year survivor of breast cancer. And she has struggled with psychological issues since high school.

As a teenager, Hardman began suffering from physical symptoms related to anxiety.

“My family didn’t know what to do with me, so they sent me to a mental hospital in Asheville, North Carolina,” she says. Hardman was 16. She often wonders if the trajectory of her life might have been different if her mental health issues had been addressed more appropriately.

As an adult, Hardman was diagnosed with severe anxiety, a condition she later discovered was prevalent in her family. Family and friends also suffered from ALS, autism and cognitive, mood, psychotic and substance use disorders, as well as brain injuries leading to devastating symptoms and even suicide.

Hardman became acquainted with Emory’s programs through her own sessions with two psychoanalysts affiliated with the Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute. Her choice to support the Emory Brain Health Center is intended in part to dispel the stigma associated with brain disease. “If you have a heart condition, people are sympathetic, but they jump to all sorts of conclusions when you have a mental illness,” she says.

William M. McDonald, Reunette W. Harris Chair for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the J.B. Fuqua Chair

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE Catherine Hardman's generosity to the Emory Brain Health Center places her at the vanguard of women in philanthropy.

The world needs more people who can help, who can be kind and supportive

for Late-Life Depression, is both grateful and awed by the scope of Hardman’s philanthropy. “Mrs. Hardman has an abiding interest in how the brain works, and her own experiences have helped her understand how vital a correct diagnosis and treatment plan can be,” he says. “She values the role that research plays in developing meaningful treatments. Her support has been critical to the care of so many patients who have anxiety and depression, including many who have suffered for years without appropriate treatment.”

Hardman’s philanthropy places her in the vanguard of women philanthropists. The percentage of overall wealth owned by women is growing, and their historically hidden generosity is coming into full view as increasing numbers of women are embracing philanthropy (see "A Force for Good" at right).

“When I think of Catherine Hardman, one word comes to mind

— courage,” says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. “The challenges that she has faced in life have served as fuel for her generosity. As a philanthropist, she has empowered Emory psychiatry and brain health researchers like few others, and we are profoundly grateful.”

Hardman established named funds in psychiatry, and the Catherine Shropshire Hardman Brain Health Suite and Symposium honor commitments to psychoanalytic education.

One of the initiatives she enabled is the CARES Program, launched in January 2024 for people suffering from anxiety. The program focuses on identifying the types of therapy that could be most helpful for each person, getting started right away, and connecting with additional resources at Emory and beyond. People of all ages — from teenagers to older adults — are finding support.

“I have sympathy for people who have severe anxiety because they really suffer,” Hardman says. “And that’s another reason I support Emory.”

Hardman hopes that her frank, open approach to giving will encourage other women to do the same. “The world needs more people who can help, who can be kind and supportive,” she says. “Women with means could be doing more to support whatever causes they value. I think it’s important to put your money where your mouth is.”

The philanthropy of women continues to emerge as a catalyst for positive change.

A Force for Good WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY

As women’s incomes rise, they become more likely to give to charity than their male counterparts, according to a 2015 study by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. The study also indicated that women who are divorced, separated, widowed and never-married are more likely to give — and at higher rates — than men.

In January 2024, The Washington Post reported that women are expected to control most of the $30 trillion in Baby Boomer wealth by 2030. The philanthropic landscape may look significantly different moving forward.

RECENT BOOKS

by Emory Alumni

A TALE OF TWO MAIDENS

By Anne Echols 75C 78G

In this work of historical fiction, 15-year-old Felise, an apprentice scribe in medieval France, yearns to become a writer and bookshop owner. To achieve her dreams, she must escape her cruel guardian's plan for an arranged marriage. Amid the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc's courage inspires Felise to flee. Her journey reveals a world of burning villages and terrified peasants. She encounters a young man from home who pursues her, stirring feelings despite her distrust of men. Following the army, she meets Joan and is torn between her heroine’s purpose and her own desires for love and fulfillment.

Anne Echols’ “A Tale of Two Maidens” tells the story of an ordinary medieval girl on an extraordinary adventure, requiring her to find her own independent, heroic destiny.

CIRCLING HOME: WHAT I LEARNED BY LIVING ELSEWHERE

By Terry A. Repak 92G

Writer Terry Repak and her husband, a director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moved to West Africa with two small children at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s. Once there, she seized the opportunity to connect with people of other cultures and bear witness to the ravages of the disease. “Circling Home” chronicles the adventures and challenges of raising children to be global citizens and trying to find home in countries as diverse as Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Switzerland. Repak, who worked as a reporter for several years before earning her PhD in liberal arts at Emory, crafted this memoir to spotlight the complexity, struggles and profound lessons at the heart of the expatriate journey along with her need to find a sense of “home” wherever she and her family lived.

A CONVENIENT VILLAIN: CHARLES A. LINDBERGH’S REMARKABLE AND CONTROVERSIAL LEGACY PREPARING THE U.S. FOR WAR

By Jonathan D. Reich 95MR

This book of historical nonfiction reevaluates the life and legacy of one of the most enigmatic and important political figures of the 20th century: pioneering aviator Charles A. Lindbergh. Much of Lindbergh’s contribution to American preparatory air power prior to World War II and medicine of the 1930s is largely unknown.

Author Jonathan D. Reich, an aerospace engineer turned cardiologist, combed through numerous archives to document the aviator’s achievements. He also reviewed Lindbergh’s record opposing American entry into another European war to provide a new Jewish generational perspective on his advocacy and his conflict with American Jews.

Investing in the Power of Our Professors

Emory has added 80 new endowed professorships through the 2O36 campaign.

— By Jennifer Carlile

ACTS OF GENEROSITY

VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WE ACCOMPLISH AT EMORY IS POWERED BY OUR PROFESSORS. From conducting world-changing research to helping students unlock their intellectual capacity, Emory professors help shape a brighter future in which societal problems like cancer and climate change are no longer insurmountable and students are inspired to seek lives of purpose.

That’s why faculty eminence is a core component of the 2O36 campaign. Many generous individuals have stepped forward to answer the call. More than 80 professorships have been endowed — far surpassing the 41 that resulted from Emory’s previous campaign.

“Our faculty is the heart of our university, and with endowed positions, we recognize their eminence and support their scholarship,” says Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Our students also benefit, both from having

incredible scholars in the classroom and by having access to research opportunities in diverse fields of interest.”

As we approach the final year of Emory’s 2O36 campaign, let’s take a moment to celebrate two of many individual acts of kindness that are fueling this tremendous — and transformational — success.

HONORING A FATHER’S LEGACY AND LOVE FOR EMORY

Where Richard M. Griffin 55C 59M 60MR would attend college was never in question. “My father wanted me to go to Emory, where he studied,” he says. “I

Gifts from the Griffin family (pictured this page, with President Gregory L. Fenves) and Emily Park (opposite page) helped create new endowed professorships at Emory, both made in honor of family members.

had a great admiration for my father and for the fact that he was a doctor, so I did what he asked.”

Griffin went on to become an ophthalmologist and worked alongside his father, Harold W. Griffin 1921C 1923M, for many years. To celebrate his father’s life, Griffin and his wife, Olivia, have recently established the Griffin Family Distinguished Professorship in Otolaryngology.

Griffin chose to support his father’s specialty area to further the work of the Otolaryngology Department. The Griffins’ gift, along with matching funds from Emory’s Faculty Eminence Initiative, created a distinguished professorship, a highly regarded position reserved for those recognized as leaders in their fields. Distinguished professors are expected to leverage their positions to support other faculty members and researchers, expand research, and develop programs.

C. Arturo Solares, interim chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, is grateful for this investment in the department’s future. “This distinguished professorship will pay tribute to Harold Griffin’s role in the community, his contributions to the field, and his generosity in helping to train young otolaryngologists,” Solares says. “I can think of no better way to honor his life than to use funding from this gift to support our residency program.”

GRATITUDE FOR A FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

As a high school senior, Emily Park 04C was excited for a new start in a larger, more diverse community at Emory. During first-year orientation, Park quickly found community through Emory’s Korean Undergraduate Student Association (KUSA). “When I

arrived at Emory, that was the first time I experienced that much diversity,” Park says. “Before the first day of classes, I already knew I belonged here. Through KUSA, I saw many versions of myself on campus.”

That sense of belonging and community continued throughout her time on campus and after graduation. Many of the friendships she formed during orientation week are still going strong today. Beyond these connections, Park says she left Emory with many skills and qualities that prepared her for success.

Much of what she took with her wasn’t from textbooks. Rather the entire experience—encouragement from professors to ask questions, experiential learning opportunities, and conversations with her peers—built her self-confidence. “I learned how to be curious,” she says. “I knew no matter what curveballs were thrown at me, I had the skills to work through them.”

Emory provided the space at the beginning of my adult journey to develop my own picture of success. Emily Park 04C

The curiosity and confidence Park gained at Emory inspired her to launch her own retail business, the Capsule Shop boutique in Brentwood, California. She also serves on the board of trustees for a cause that is close to her heart, FamilieSCN2A Foundation, which provides support for SCN2A-related autism and epilepsy research, advocacy and community.

“Emory provided the space at the beginning of my adult journey to develop my own picture of success,”

Park says, “including realizing my unique skills and interests and how to bring them to their fullest potential. Now I’m able to focus my time and energy on projects that are personally meaningful to me, including Emory’s 2O36 campaign.”

As a member of the 2O36 Campaign Leadership Council, Park wants more students to have the experience she had as a student. And she’s making it happen through her philanthropy.

On a recent trip to campus, Park sat in on a political science class. She had a realization: Through discussions and unpacking information with students, Emory professors were ultimately improving the world, one classroom at a time.

Park’s family wanted to be involved in making a difference with Emory students. The family has endowed the Dr. Walter Park Professorship in honor of her father-in-law — a former journalist and national assemblyman in South Korea.

“My giving is truly personal,” Park says. “This professorship is a thank you to Emory from my family.”

class notes

60s

Robert Morgan 63Ox authored the biography "Fallen Angel: The Life of Edgar Allan Poe" in November 2023. Andrew Sheldon 64C was the invited presenter at the Booth Museum Artists Guild meeting in November 2023. Sheldon is the author of “Heartbreak and Healing: An Artist’s Search for Justice.”

70s

R. Lynn Barnett 78C 79G has written two books: “What Patients Want: Anecdotes and Advice” and “My Mother Has Alzheimer’s and My Dog Has Tapeworms: A Caregiver’s Tale.”

James P. Smith 76Ox retired as a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Georgia on March 31, 2024, after serving on the bench for 14 years.

80s

Nancy Howell Agee 80N, CEO of Carilion Clinic based in Virginia and West Virginia, received the American Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award, its highest honor.

David W. Coleman 87Ox 89C, a professor of history and executive director of the Honors Program at Eastern Kentucky University, was named a Fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council in November 2023. This career achievement award recognizes those who have made lasting leadership contributions to honors education both nationally and on their own campuses.

Jonathan Eady 84Ox 86C, chair of the Oxford Board of Counselors, was named one of 500 most influential Atlantans in Atlanta Magazine’s annual “Atlanta 500” issue. This is the fifth time Eady has been named to the list. He is chairman of Arnall Golden Gregory and a partner in the law firm’s real estate practice.

T. Scott Jones 86OX 88C was selected by more than 2,500 peer attorneys of the Knoxville Bar Association as the top personal injury attorney and among the top two criminal defense attorneys in East Tennessee. Jones completed his 2023 presidency of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the nation's most prestigious organization of civil jury trial attorneys. He currently serves as the senior managing partner of the law firm Banks and Jones, based in Knoxville.

William “B.J.” Kelley 81C, partner of Batesville, Indianabased law firm Craig, Kelley & Faultless was named a 2024 Super Lawyer honoree.

M. Yvette Miller 88L, a presiding judge for the Georgia Court of Appeals, received the Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of Georgia in Atlanta in March 2024.

Samuel S. Olens 83L, former attorney general of Georgia, was the recipient of the 24th annual Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service by the 2024 Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism.

Betsy Schechter 88B directed and produced the documentary film “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive” that was distributed and released by Fathom Events in February 2024.

Keith Shapiro 83L, renowned for his leadership

and commitment to the Chicagoland Jewish community and Israel, has been named chair of the 2024 Jewish United Fund (JUF) Annual Campaign. The campaign is the cornerstone of JUF's multifaceted resource development efforts, fueling life-transforming services for 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and two million Jews across the globe.

David L Smith 84Ox 86C, managing partner with the law firm of Lanford Smith and Kapiloff, was appointed judge in the Municipal Court of Perry, Georgia.

Joseph Capizzi 92T was appointed as dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America. With more than 25 years of service to the university, Capizzi has served as area director for moral theology and associate dean of graduate studies, and in 2016 was appointed the executive director of the Institute for Human Ecology. During the past seven years, he has helped build the institute into one of the leading centers of Catholic thought in the United States.

Marc J. Gerson 90B, a member of Washington, D.C.-based law firm Miller & Chevalier, was named a 2023 Top Lobbyist by The Hill. Francesca Macchiaverna 95C, a business litigation attorney with HunterMaclean in Savannah and St. Simons Island, Georgia, was named a 2024 Georgia Super Lawyer.

Roger Sneed 99T received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach in the Czech Republic for the 2024-25 academic year. A professor of religion at Furman University,

Sneed will teach African American religious and philosophical thought, sexuality and Christian theology, and a course on religion and science fiction/fantasy at the Hussite Theological Faculty, one of three theological faculties of Charles University in the “City of a Hundred Spires.” Grace Taylor 89Ox 91C was appointed chief of staff for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in Virginia beginning December 2023. She is a former student in the school system and also has served as principal for three ACPS schools. As chief of staff, Taylor is responsible for the strategic management and operation of the superintendent's office, oversees the department of human resources and will lead special projects for the superintendent.

Carrie J. Williams 96C was named as partner at Baltimore, Maryland.-based law firm Goodell DeVries in January 2024. Williams joined the firm in 2023 as a member of the appellate practice group, bringing with her 16 years of appellate experience. Before entering private practice, Williams was with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, where she served as principal counsel for criminal policy and, before that, division chief of the Criminal Appeals Division. As a partner at Goodell DeVries, she represents clients across the firm's many practice groups in pretrial and appellate matters.

YOUR KEY TO CLASS NOTES

AH: Allied Health

BBA: Goizueta Business School (undergraduate)

C: Emory College of Arts and Sciences

D: School of Dentistry

DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice

FM: Fellowship in Medicine

G: James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies

H: Honorary degree

JM: Juris Master

L: School of Law

M: School of Medicine

MBA: Goizueta Business School (graduate)

MSN: School of Nursing (graduate)

MR: Medical resident

N: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

OX: Oxford College

MPH: Rollins School of Public Health (graduate)

PhD: All doctor of philosophy degrees

T: Candler School of Theology

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES TO: eurec@emory.edu

00s

David Bray 01C 04PH 08G was named a 2023 Distinguished Academy Member with the National Academy of Public Administration and will be inducted this year. He also is a Distinguished Fellow with both the Business Executives for National Security and the Stimson Center. Bray was featured in the first of an eight-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector aired on GovExec TV and he has been an invited keynote to speak on the topic of AI in public service by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, Harvard Medical School, National Institutes of Health, and other components of the U.S. national security community focused on the intersection of AI, biology, and commercial space technologies.

Patrick M. Emery 05C 05G was named partner at

Lavender Hoffman Emery, a boutique civil litigation defense firm in Atlanta. As a trial and appellate attorney, Emery litigates complex business and commercial cases, defends big-ticket class actions, assists health plans and their members in disputes with providers and advises corporate clients on internal investigations, contracts and legal risks.

Katherine G. Ericksen 09C was named the Executive and Physician Recruiter of the Year by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Julian A. Jackson-Fannin 01Ox 03C has been promoted to partner at law firm Duane Morris, based in Philadelphia, Pa. Jackson-Fannin practices in the area of commercial litigation. During his career, Jackson-Fannin has advised and represented companies of all sizes as well as individuals in a variety of commercial matters, including contract disputes, copyrights, employment disputes, administrative and regulatory challenges,

creditor’s rights matters and class action consumer protection disputes. Prior to joining Duane Morris, he served as an assistant public defender in Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit, where he represented indigent clients as lead and secondary trial counsel on numerous misdemeanor and felony cases

Lauren A. Lindquist 09PH 15G co-authored the textbook “Fundamentals of Epidemiology,” which was published in January 2024.

Wes Pickard 09C 15L was named as partner at law firm Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs. Pickard concentrates his practice on commercial real estate law, with an emphasis on developer, owner and borrower representation. He has handled numerous commercial real estate transactions, including commercial leases in all asset classes, construction and permanent financing, acquisitions and dispositions, mezzanine financing and equity investment. Pickard was recognized

by The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Real Estate Law.

Bilal Muhammed Sarwari 07Ox 09C was named interim executive director of Slow Food USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for and promotes access to good, clean and fair food for everyone, in May 2024.

Michael Woodworth 04Ox 06C 18G received the 2024 American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician Award at Emory University.

Woodworth has the longterm goal of translating and expanding understanding of microbial ecology and metagenomics into novel microbiome therapies for patients with antimicrobial-resistant bacterial colonization and infection. He helped to conduct the first randomized clinical trial of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in renal transplant recipients that was published in Science Translational Medicine and is leading two additional FMT translational

clinical trials. As an infectious disease physician scientist, Woodworth’s research program spans translational metagenomic data science, small clinical trials and clinical epidemiology.

Taos Wynn 06Ox 09C 26T, interim CEO of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation (AFRF), was named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2023 40 Under 40 list. He was the first COO of the AFRF, joining the organization's executive leadership team in November 2022 to help raise funds and address critical needs for the more than 1,200 Atlanta firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. In September 2023 he was named interim CEO of AFRF. And that year, the organization received its single largest donation in history: $1.66 million in funding that was unanimously approved by the Atlanta City Council. Wynn also is the founder of The Perfect Love Foundation, which has programs in educational leadership, community outreach and advocacy.

ADVANCED NURSE LEADER PROGRAM OPTIONS DESIGNED TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing offers post-licensure program options tailored for your specific nursing career goals. From adult and family health, acute and primary pediatrics, women’s health, neonatal care, and psychiatric mental health – you can design your future to fit your interests.

POST-LICENSURE PROGRAM OPTIONS

͗ Master of Science in Nursing

͗ Dual-Degree and Post-Graduate Certificate Program Options

͗ Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

͗ Doctor of Nursing Practice

͗ Master in Cardiovascular Perfusion Sciences

HIGHLIGHTS

͗ Wide variety of specialty programs

͗ Top clinical experiences

͗ Cutting-edge resources

͗ World renowned faculty

͗ Access to leading health care partners

͗ State-of-the-art simulation

͗ Global and local service-learning opportunities

10s

Nicholas B. Corser 16B 16L was promoted to partner at law firm Fox Rothschild in April 2024. Corser represents businesses in labor and employment matters and commercial litigation. He helps clients take proactive steps and conduct training to limit their liability and avoid costly missteps.

Avana A. Epperson-Temple 12C was recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for her exemplary dedication to pro bono service. According to the publication, attorneys were selected based on their commitment and significant effort toward providing pro bono legal services and helping to dramatically improve their clients' lives while still carrying the full case load of their law practice. Epperson-Temple is a litigation and trial attorney, concentrating in business litigation, professional liability litigation and insurance coverage litigation. EppersonTemple was appointed to the Business Litigation Session Advisory Committee by the Massachusetts Superior Court in 2022. She also serves as faculty for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In addition to her law practice, Epperson-Temple serves as president-elect of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and as a member of the Anti-Defamation League's Regional Board for New England.

Jane Han 14B was selected to join the 2024 Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) DC & NoVA Leadership and Mentorship Program. Han is an attorney in the federal government contracts and procurement practice with Washington, D.C.-based law firm Fox Rothschild.

William J. Lee 19L was recognized as one of the nation's Top 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health by the National

Minority Quality Forum. His work resides at the intersection of epidemiology, law and policy to reduce patient risk and advance health equity among minoritized and underserved populations. Lee leads the scientific practice group of Kershaw Talley Barlow, P.C., a nationally recognized plaintiffs' mass tort and class action firm in Sacramento, Calif.

Jacob Myers 14G serves as the Wade P. Huie Associate Professor Chair of Homiletics at Columbia Theological Seminary. The chair was established in 2004 through the generosity of then-Trustee

William S. “Billy” Morris III to honor the legacy of Wade P. Huie Jr., who served Columbia with distinction as professor of preaching for three decades beginning in 1957.

Allison Ng 14L, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig in Atlanta, was named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2023 40 Under 40 list. In 2019, Ng received the Above and Beyond award by the Atlanta products liability team of her firm and in 2022 she was elevated to the position of shareholder. As a member of the firm’s pharmaceutical, medical care litigation and Atlanta products liability practices, Ng defends high-profile cases throughout the country in state and federal courts. Ng is a member of the Georgia Asia Pacific Bar Association and works on projects empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Ng is also passionate about children’s health, assisting with fundraising efforts that support the sickle cell disease program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

Adam Parker 17B, vice president at Atlanta-based real estate development and investment firm Carter, was named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2023 40 Under 40 list. Parker is a leader in Carter’s 83-acre mixed-use Summerhill project involving the redevelopment of the former Turner Field and its surrounding parking lots. He

advised neighbor and city officials on the successful 2018 application of the U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER grant, which awarded $12.6 million for the development of a bus rapid transit line to connect neighborhoods south of downtown to MARTA. He also worked with the Atlanta Police Foundation to obtain grants for improved safety and security in the area. Parker volunteers extensively, including with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation, which named Carter the 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year.

Aarti Sharma 11L, vice president of policy and strategy for RedefinED Atlanta, was named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2023 40 Under 40 list. Her nonprofit advocates for increased funding for education in underserved communities, and Sharma leads statewide coalitions to form and push progressive policy initiatives related to children and education. The organization receives about $5 million in grants a year that impact more than 55,000 students. Sharma also served as policy director for One Georgia, the leadership committee for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. She’s served as executive director for the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation, where she doubled fundraising and diversified the board.

Kristin M. Wall 12G co-authored the textbook “Fundamentals of Epidemiology,” which was published in January 2024

20s

Eva Rothenberg 19Ox 21C was selected for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which funds up to three years of graduate study in the United Kingdom. Rothenberg, who graduated with degrees in English and linguistics, was among 51 Americans selected for the highly competitive award funded by the British government. She is Emory’s

19th Marshall Scholar. Rothenberg plans to study applied linguistics at the University of Birmingham. The university is a pioneer in corpus linguistics, the computer-based methodology that examines language qualitatively and quantitatively. A business reporter for CNN in New York City, Rothenberg wants her academic work to weave together digital humanities and public scholarship.

WEDDINGS

Jacob B. Eisenberg 13Ox 15C married Anna Weinstein on May 28, 2023.

Rachel Glasberg 15Ox 17C married Tyler Goldberg on December 16, 2023.

Jacqueline Hayes 18C married Carter Patrick Maguire III on January 7, 2023.

Nathan L. Hutcheson 05Ox 07C married Megan Nare on November 11, 2023.

Alexandra Katz 18C married Julien Advaney on September 30, 2023.

Sarah E. Levitt 16B married Robert Cairns on February 10, 2024.

Natalie Lewis 18B married Anshuman Parikh on May 27, 2023.

Devin D. Porter 16C married D.J. Porter on October 21, 2023.

BIRTHS

Farhan Ali Arshad 06Ox 08C welcomed Izza Aleyna Arshad, born on October 11, 2023. Shaheen Bandeali 07Ox 09B welcomed Suri Nya Bandeali, born on April 9, 2024.

Rebecca Crockett 09Ox 11C 16A 16PH welcomed Silas Brodi Brill, born on December 28, 2023.

Erin P. Cutler 12Ox 14C welcomed Samuel Wesley Cutler, born on January 17, 2024.

Liza Evans Elkwood 14Ox 17B welcomed Rosalie Elkwood, born on January 3, 2024.

Maria Miranda Griggs 02Ox 04C welcomed Sofia Susanna

Griggs, born on October 5, 2023.

Nafela Hojeij Helou 10Ox 12C welcomed Henry Wassim Helou, born on March 21, 2024.

Adedapo Adeyinka Iluyomade 06C welcomed Dap Iluyomade, born on August 7, 2023.

Emily Elizabeth Libecap 16C welcomed Vera Violet Libecap, born on October 24, 2023.

Veronica M. Roman 09Ox 11C welcomed Liana Miagros Kallal, born on October 8, 2023.

Jacqueline Sutton 14Ox 16C welcomed Nicholas Peter Sutton VanSickle, born on February 28, 2024.

Jeremy D. White 07Ox 09C welcomed Cooper Adam White, born on April 14, 2024.

Ayanna Faith Young 11Ox 13C welcomed Antoine Lee Young, born on August 24, 2023.

IN MEMORIAM

Costas G. Alexandrides 49Ox, of Atlanta, on December 28, 2023.

Walter L. Allen 46C, of Jacksonville, Fla., on September 29, 2023.

Mary Ann C. Davidson 48G, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., on March 22, 2024.

Sydney W. Fleming 47C 47G, of Kennett Square, Pa., on March 1, 2024.

M. McCoy Gibbs 47T, of Leesburg, Fla., on July 21, 2021.

Ruby Turner Hargis 47N, of Rome, Ga., on December 20, 2023.

Robert A. Johns 47Ox 51D, of Buford, Ga., on December 4, 2023.

S. Jarvin Levison 48B 51L, of Atlanta, on November 9, 2023. Member of 1836 Society.

W. Harrison Reeves 48C 52M 56MR, of Atlanta, on October 23, 2023.

Helen Hazen Richards 49N, of Highlands, N.C., on November 18, 2023.

Veda Sanders Sherard 43D, of Highlands, N.C., on January 13, 2024.

Howard B. Sims 48C 53G, of Atlanta, on March 20, 2024.

J. Hugh Steele 49Ox, of Covington, Ga., on November 3, 2023.

Bonnie Steinberg 48N, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on July 23, 2020.

50s

Gordon Fletcher Anderson 53T, of Asheville, N.C., on January 29, 2024.

Charles H. Banov 51C, of Altanta, on November 15, 2023.

Roy L. Baugh 54T, of Brownsburg, Ind., on January 17, 2024.

Arwood Begor 50B, of Columbus, Ga., on January 15, 2024.

Joe B. Bowen 59T, of Alpharetta, Ga., on November 28, 2023.

Louis R. Bowen 59C, of Alpharetta, Ga., on December 14, 2023.

William Burton Brown 55C 60L, of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., on September 27, 2023.

Julius C. Byers 57T, of Jacksonville, Fla., on September 16, 2023.

Fay Edwards Collins 57G, of Greenville, N.C., on December 31, 2023.

Kenneth Conoley 51C, of Toccoa, Ga., on March 7, 2024.

Samuel J. Crow 58C, of Asheville, N.C., on November 6, 2023.

Betty S. Daniels 51N 67N, of Sandy Springs, Ga., on November 7, 2023. Member of 1836 Society.

Sara V. Hartness Deiters 58G, of Huntsville, Ala., on January 13, 2024.

Walter E. Dippy 58M 61MR, of Palm City, Fla., on October 20, 2023.

Robert H. Doan 55B, of Tampa, Fla., on June 9, 2023.

John A. Dunaway 49Ox 51C, of Williamsburg, Va., on December 13, 2023.

Joe Ann Smith Fuller 57N, of Winter Park, Fla., on February 23, 2024.

Thomas A. Gibson 52C 55M, of Scottsboro, Ala., on February 15, 2024.

Augustus G. Grove III 58Ox, of Beaufort, S.C., on March 30, 2020.

Sara Frances Brown Hall 59C, of Decatur, Ga., on March 22, 2024.

Carl Hammer 52C, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., on January 20, 2024.

Claude G. Haugabook Jr. 54T, of Plains, Ga., on April 4, 2024.

Donald C. Holt 59T, of Lipan, Texas, on December 19, 2023.

Eleanor Hughes Howland 58N, of Honey Brook, Pa., on January 12, 2023.

Ronald M. Hughes 57Ox 58C 63M 64MR 70MR, of Tifton, Ga., on December 20, 2023.

Hugh W. Johnson 52C 59MR, of Lakeland, Fla., on January 19, 2024.

Donald F. Kokomoor 53T, of Englewood, Fla., on December 28, 2023.

Frank S. LaBella 57G, of Winnipeg, Canada, on July 16, 2022.

Jerry W. Lynn 59C 62D, of Atlanta, on January 13, 2024.

Andrew J. Mills Jr. 54D, of Enterprise, Ala., on December 3, 2023.

John A. Morgan 52D, of West Point, Ga., on December 29, 2023.

Forth R. Naisang 59C 65M, of Fairview, N.C., on February 27, 2022.

Robert W. Offutt 51C, of Cleveland, Ala., on November 3, 2023.

John H. Ozley 56T, of Covington, Ga., on November 14, 2023.

Diane S. Pedersen 56N, of Sudbury, Mass. on November 1, 2023.

William B. Price 59T, of Eclectic, Ala., on December 26, 2023.

Hugo Quiroz 53MR, of Ann Arbor, Mich., on February 16, 2024.

Bartow Dan Ragsdale 59Ox, of Covington, Ga., on January 6, 2024.

Carey Cansler Roberts 59C, of Leesburg, Va., on January 8, 2016.

O. Franklin Rogers 54C, of Atlanta, on March 20, 2024.

Jerome James Schoeppler 57T, of Minneapolis, Minn., on January 4, 2024.

Earl E. Seckinger 59T, of Springfield, Ga., on October 30, 2023.

David E. Shacklett 57C 61M 70MR 71FM, of San Antonio, Texas, on January 22, 2024.

Jim G. Short Jr. 55T, of Birmingham, Ala., on November 9, 2023.

George R. Slayton 52C 54G, of Marietta, Ga., on January 14, 2024.

Murray Solomon 59C, of Columbus, Ga., on March 3, 2024.

F. Oscar Smith Jr. 59T, of Charlotte, N.C., on September 19, 2023.

Irwin W. Stolz 58C 58L, of Charlotte, N.C., on March 31, 2024.

T.C. Stripling Jr. 59C, of Atlanta, on November 4, 2023.

Robert P. Taylor 58C, of Marietta, Ga., on October 2, 2023.

Edith B. Thomas 53G, of Madison, Ga., on October 15, 2023.

James B. Thompson 58Ox, of St. Charles, Mo., on December 2, 2023.

Ross E. Tracy 59T, of Charlotte, N.C., on September 23, 2023.

Janie T. Trussell 51N, of Nashville, Tenn., on January 9, 2024.

George L. Wallace 52C 55M 57MR, of Blacksburg, Va., on September 25, 2023.

Theodore Holt Walter 59T, of Columbia, S.C., on November 17, 2023.

Alvin B. Weston 52C 56T, of Pikeville, Tenn., on February 19, 2024.

Job White 56T, of San Jose, Calif., on December 6, 2023.

Clyde H. Wilkes 56C 58D, of Maple Plain, Minn., on March 15, 2024.

James B. Williams 55C, of Atlanta, on January 23, 2024.

James Haddon Williams 58T, of Prosperity, S.C., on December 1, 2023.

Charles P. Wollschlager 55D, of Tallahassee, Fla., on October 7, 2011.

Mary Morris Youmans 50G, of Cullowhee, N.C., on February 6, 2024.

Harold A. Young 59C, of Macon, Ga., on January 28, 2024.

60s

James M. Adams 67B, of Lawrenceville, Ga., on October 29, 2023.

Bianca R. Antón 64MR, of Atlanta, on December 27, 2023.

Ivan Arnold Backerman 60M, of Dog Island, Fla., on November 27, 2023.

Barbara Batho 65C, of Stone Mountain, Ga., on October 16, 2023.

James R. Bell 58Ox 60C, of Babson Park, Fla., on December 12, 2023. Member of 1836 Society.

William G. Bledsoe 60B, of Winter Park, Fla., on January 22, 2024.

Ernest Howard Bond 69C, of Marietta, Ga., on December 7, 2023.

Jane H. Bowyer 64C, of Maitland, Fla., on December 22, 2023.

Donald M. Boyd 61G, of Austin, Texas, on September 6, 2023.

Ann M. Brown 63C, of Orlando, Fla., on March 7, 2024

Barbara Brewton Burianek 61G 69G, of Atlanta, on January 2, 2024.

Paul Cahoon 61Ox 64C, of Monteagle, Tenn., on December 18, 2023.

H. Walter Carmony 64T, of Marietta, Ga., on January 17, 2024.

Polly Sharp Cathcart 68C 87A, of Charleston, S.C., on February 12, 2024.

Maryann Bass Chapman 61T, of Atlanta, on December 11, 2023.

Edward A. Charron 61L, of Jacksonville, Fla., on November 20, 2023.

William L. Childers 62T, of Buford, Ga., on February 13, 2024.

Jerry H. Combee 65C 67G, of Alpharetta, Ga., on December 27, 2023.

David O. Compton 62T, of Germantown, Tenn., on November 4, 2023.

James Julian Cook 61C, of Columbia, S.C., on January 7, 2020.

Robert E. Cruikshank 67T, of Greenville, Ala., on February 16, 2024.

Don A. Davis 67G, of Atlanta, on February 24, 2024.

Jefferson Davis 62L, of Atlanta, on January 8, 2024.

Mary Davis 63Ox 65C, of Atlanta, on June 5, 2022. Paul W. Davis 64C, of Baltimore, Md., on September 22, 2023.

Philip C. Davis 68MR 72FM, of Asheville, N.C., on March 28, 2024.

R. Bruce Donnelly 63C 66T, of Sandy Springs, Ga., on January 12, 2024.

John David Engel 63D, of Milledgeville, Ga., on January 22, 2024.

Ronnel L. Fort 65Ox, of Houston, Texas, on November 11, 2023.

Hilton M. Fuller 64C 65L, of Decatur, Ga., on February 14, 2024.

Sulabha Sawarkar Gadre 62G, of Boonsboro, Md., on January 27, 2024.

William Ronald Gardner 58Ox 60C, of Hickory, N.C., on March 16, 2024.

James Ansley Granade Jr. 68D, of Wilkes County, Ga., on January 29, 2024.

Vida Wham Griffin 60G, of Greenwood, S.C., on February 3, 2024.

Patricia Fryfogle Hartley 68C, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., on November 7, 2023.

Elizabeth P. Hinesley 64G, of Bishop, Ga., on October 13, 2023.

Robert C. Hopper 64T, of Sylva, N.C., on December 7, 2023.

Morris William Hutcheson 63Ox 65C, of Savannah, Ga., on October 18, 2023.

Frank M. Jackson 66Ox, of Carrollton, Ga., on October 16, 2023.

Alvin Jaffee 63M, of Mountain Brook, Ala., on December 29, 2023.

Dwight C. Jarvis 65C 66G, of Johnson City, Tenn., on January 20, 2024.

Gay Mitchell Kattel 60C, of Highlands, N.C., on February 7, 2024.

Brina H. Krupp 67C, of Lewes, Dela., on January 21, 2024.

Beverly A. Lavender 63C, of Fitzgerald, Ga., on November 22, 2023.

Hugh Lawson 63C 65L, of Hawkinsville, Ga., on March 29, 2024.

Marianne M. Leach 64C, of Falls Church, Va., on October 27, 2023.

Carroll W. Lewis 60T, of Effingham, Ill., on December 29, 2023.

Sebring Griffin Lewis 63Ox 65C, of Brevard, N.C., on July 25, 2023.

David Herman Lovelace 63T, of Johnson City, Tenn., on November 15, 2023.

Kerford A, Marchant 68G, of Brunswick, Maine, on December 20, 2023.

John F. Mash 68D, of Macon, Ga., on November 23, 2023.

Robert B. Matchette 66C, of Southern Shores, N.C., on December 10, 2023.

Jerome J. Mautner 65C, of Napa, Calif., on March 5, 2024.

Glenn E. McClane 66D 71DR, of Atlanta, on January 19, 2024.

Jerry N. McCurdy 65T, of Smyrna, Ga., on December 28, 2023.

Carl M. McGee 64T, of Richardson, Texas, on January 19, 2024.

Vaughn M. Nave 68T, of Knoxville, Tenn., on March 4, 2024.

Alexander Durham Newton 63Ox, of Madison, Ga., on January 15, 2024.

Kemie Richards Nix 60C 70G, of Atlanta, on March 22, 2024.

Robert Allen Olson 65MR, of Eden Prairie, Minn., on March 17, 2024.

Steven H. Orenstein 63B, of Leawood, Kan., on December 25, 2023.

Carol C. Overend 64C, of Atlanta, on November 22, 2023.

John A. Paar 67FM, of Black Mountain, N.C., on September 2, 2022.

Bernard Parks 69L, of Atlanta, on September 1, 2018.

John M. Parrino 67B, of Clayton, Ga., on October 15, 2023.

Robert L. Partridge 66T, of Fayetteville, Ga., on December 14, 2023.

Joseph F. Phillips 69M 70MR, of Boynton Beach, Fla., on March 9, 2024.

William R. Phillips 62T, of Jekyll Island, Ga., on December 30, 2023.

Ned L. Pierce 65B, of Greensboro, N.C., on March 1, 2024.

Richard W. Porter 68G, of Lilburn, Ga., on February 24, 2024.

Nancy Nealy Ragsdale 60C, of Crozet, Va., on October 2, 2023.

Charles R. Raisner 62G, of Harrisonburg, Va., on October 28, 2023.

Jack E. Ramsey 65D, of Pooler, Ga., on January 1, 2024.

James Thomas Reuteler 67T 79G, of Lakewood, Colo., on January 12, 2024.

Betty M. Rodgers 66G, of Decatur, Ga., on December 31, 2023.

John Edward Rowe 63C 68G, of Cary, N.C., on December 8, 2023.

Jay L. Sacks 69L, of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., on November 28, 2023.

Scott C. Shaffer 65C 68G 69G, of Charlotte, N.C., on January 6, 2024.

William Shadburn 60Ox 62C 66M, of Montgomery, Ala., on December 21, 2023.

Karl Smiley 63M, of Coral Gables, Fla., on October 13, 2023.

Jimmie R. Spikes 68T, of Brundidge, Ala., on December 2, 2023.

Lawrence M. Stanfill 62D, of Miami Shores, Fla., on December 5, 2023.

Barbara E. Styles 60C, of Tucker, Ga., on February 29, 2024.

Judith Kotys Summers 60C, of Alpharetta, Ga., on February 22, 2024.

Coy H. Temples 66L, of Dalton, Ga., on January 7, 2024.

William Carroll Tinsley 69C, of Cumming, Ga., on February 16, 2024.

Perri Omara Vaseliades 60C, of Spartanburg, S.C., on January 17, 2024.

Margaret Crawford Wagner 61C, of St. Petersburg, Fla., on October 29, 2023.

Lawrence D. Wheeler Sr. 68C, of Roswell, Ga., on January 23, 2024.

Donald S. Whitcomb 66C, of Chicago, Ill., on February 8, 2024.

Donald E. Wildmon 65T, of Tupelo, Miss., on December 28, 2023.

John M. Williams 64T, of Greenville, S.C., on October 14, 2023.

James W. Williamson 63MR 64MR, of Winter Park, Fla., on October 14, 2023.

Bette Almand Willison 65Ox 67C, of Cumming, Ga., on January 16, 2024.

Robert J. Yanno 63Ox 65C, of Coral Gables, Fla., on February 15, 2024.

70s

Barbara Lynn Bach 68Ox 70C, of Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023.

James G. Barrow 77T, of Bay Minette, Ala., on September 6, 2023.

Robert Leon Bass 71C, of Bristol, Tenn., on September 19, 2023.

Robert Lee Cherry 72D, of Stony Creek, Va., on June 30, 2021.

Michael P. Cielinski 72L, of Columbus, Ga., on January 6, 2024.

Alice M. Cohen 74B, of Bal Harbour, Fla., on December 23, 2020.

Marion Cotty 77T, of Worchester, Mass., on January 22, 2024.

David L. Davis Jr. 68Ox 70C, of Port Richey, Fla., on December 16, 2023.

Ann N. DeLoach 77G, of Sarasota, Fla., on January 24, 2024.

Ronald G. Dennis 78MR, of Mooresville, N.C., on December 26, 2023.

Thomas A. Dillon 71B, of Sarasota, Fla., on January 27, 2024.

Joseph P. Dominguez 70Ox 75D, of Atlanta, on April 28, 2023.

John Stephen Edmondson 72Ox 74C, of Columbus, Ga., on January 19, 2024.

E. Frank Hancock 74D, of Blowing Rock, N.C., on October 23, 2023.

Thomas A. Farr 79L, of Raleigh, N.C., on April 1, 2024.

Reid Steven Friedman 77B, of Plant City, Fla., on November 29, 2021.

Dana K. Greene 71G, of Alexandria, Va., on December 29, 2023.

Steven S. Guest 79C, of Miramar Beach, Fla., on December 5, 2023.

Samuel C. Hagan 74G, of Atlanta, on March 2, 2024.

Raymond O. Hall 73T, of Stanfield, N.C., on November 2, 2022.

John David Hanes 70MR 78MR, of Evans, Ga., on January 6, 2024. Member of 1836 Society.

A. Latimer Heard 71Ox 73C, of Watkinsville, Ga., on December 25, 2023.

Furman M. Hill 73A, of Waldorf, Md., on January 8, 2024.

Keith D. Holmes 74G, of Greenville, N.C., on December 24, 2023.

James G. Johnson 72G 74G, of Flagler Beach, Fla., on December 13, 2023.

Barbara Eason Jones 78A, of Ijamsville, Md., on October 4, 2023.

Dorrie L. Kanofsky 74A, of Ormond Beach, Fla., on February 28, 2024.

Renee Leslie Kaswan 76C, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on January 18, 2024.

Mary Jane King 74G, of Atlanta, on December 29, 2023.

David A. Levine 73B, of West Hartford, Conn., on February 8, 2024.

Robert M. Levy 78FM 79MR, of Atlanta, on October 18, 2023.

Lyle D. Linder 79T, of Newton, Mass., on August 3, 2017.

Robert O. Loftis 72L, of Buies Creek, N.C., on October 23, 2023.

Debia Fine McCulloch 79C 87G, of Atlanta, on December 19, 2023.

Kenneth Rogers McCullough 72L, of Atlanta, on March 3, 2024.

Julie Martel McKinney 73C, of Dallas, Texas, on March 31, 2024

Lawrence W. McRae 76B, of Aiken, S.C., on March 5, 2024.

Barry Robert Moll 79T, of Buckhannon, W.V., on March 26, 2024.

William A. Newman 73B, of Saginaw, Texas, on November 3, 2023.

Ute Agnes Partain 73G, of Atlanta, on March 21, 2024.

Betty H. Peyton 72A, of Alpharetta, Ga., on January 8, 2024.

Ward E. Poulos 74MR, of Indianapolis, Ind., on January 22, 2024.

Cynthia D. Prosnak 74Ox, of St. James, N.C., on May 18, 2018.

Kathleen W. Provost 70G 71G, of New Iberia, La., on December 17, 2023.

Christopher Elder Roady Sr. 74C, of Tallahassee, Fla., on February 16, 2024.

Robert L. Roberts 72C 78G 78M, of Los Angeles, Calif., on September 17, 2023.

Rosemary Armour Salter 71Ox, of Athens, Ga., on January 3, 2024.

James A. Settle 76FM, of Blue Ridge, Ga., on January 25, 2024.

Seth J. Shapiro 74D, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on December 14, 2023.

Morton P. Sherzer 78A 81L, of St. Simons Island, Ga., on February 28, 2024.

Charles T. Sirna 73C 79M, of Gadsden, Ala., on January 23, 2024.

Anne Anthony Smith 70C, of Collierville, Tenn., on March 20, 2024.

Paula June Sunshine 77C, of Philadelphia, Pa., on February 3, 2024.

Charlis Ecklund Thompson 73C, of Fairmount, Ga., on November 8, 2023.

Claire D. Thompson 74G, of Pelham, Ala., on December 7, 2023.

George L. Thompson 73T, of Canton, Ga., on November 5, 2023.

Guerry R. Thornton 75L, of Atlanta, on October 27, 2023.

Burton Lamar Tillman Jr. 71C, of Atlanta, on February 24, 2024.

John Charles Tollefson 76C, of Dallas, Texas, on March 13, 2024.

Mindy C. Waitsman 77L, of Hoschton, Ga., on September 6, 2023.

Thomas Alexander Whitehead 78MR, of Whidbey Island, Wash., on January 15, 2024.

Ann Elizabeth Williams 76G, of Lawrence, Kan., on January 6, 2024.

Marshall S. Williams 70L, of Mineral Bluff, Ga., on December 13, 2023.

Norman Glynn Williams 72T, of Montgomery, Ala., on March 19, 2024.

Sondra Wingo 73G, of Newnan, Ga., on April 2, 2022.

Lois J. Barry 83PH, of Corpus Christi, Texas, on January 18, 2024.

Diane H. Bartlett 88B, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., on February 18, 2024.

Richard Marshall Bishop 89T, of Byron, Ga., on March 19, 2024.

Enrique A. Bonfils-Roberts 87C, of Queens, N.Y., on March 9, 2024.

Robert David Coleman 87C, of Atlanta, on December 28, 2023.

Dolores Daniel 86L, of Peachtree City, Ga., on November 15, 2023.

E. Craig Stacey 82C, of New York City, N.Y., on January 1, 2024.

David M. Strongosky 83A, of Asheville, N.C., on January 13, 2024.

William Randy Warley 83G, of Rome, Ga., on January 4, 2024.

Gary Whatley 83T, of Atlanta, on November 19, 2023.

Norman Randolph Woodburn 84A, of Wilmington, Del., on July 16, 2023.

90s

Henry H. Whitehouse 92FM, of Victoria, Texas, on November 4, 2023.

Trevor Steven Williams 94L, of Cherry Hill, N.J., on December 20, 2023.

00s

Paul M.A. Baker 07T, of Atlanta, on December 12, 2023.

Michele Mary Doucette 03G, of Golden, Colo., on October 18, 2023.

Jean-Marie Dauplaise 01G, of Solon Springs, Wis., on March 8, 2024.

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James Gregory Dickens 86T, of Paw Creek, N.C., on December 14, 2023.

Joyce Ann Dillon 80N, of Atlanta, on January 1, 2024.

Martha H. Forrest 80T, of Decatur, Ga., on February 23, 2024.

Ruth T. Healy 88T, of Hamden, Ct., on January 15, 2024.

Knoxice Camellia Hunter 80C, of Decatur, Ga., on January 14, 2024.

Janice Lee Keck 88T, of Bethany, W.V., on October 14, 2001.

Roy E. Lehrman 80D, of Milledgeville, Ga., on August 14, 2020.

Michael E. Morris 87Ox 89C 96PH, of Tyler, Texas, on August 24, 2023.

Charlotte C. Petty 85D, of North Augusta, S.C., on November 28, 2020.

Timothy L. Prince 80M 81MR 83MR, of Orlando, Fla., on January 17, 2024.

David R. Schott 82G, of Richmond, Calif., on March 9, 2024.

Wendy Orr Schuler 86B, of San Diego, Calif., on October 7, 2023.

Martha Fulmer Smith 86T, of Athens, Ga., on February 17, 2024.

Laura Woody Soltis 86G, of Asheville, N.C., on January 22, 2024.

Daniel Marc Bassen 95C, of Atlanta, on January 9, 2024.

Darrell L. Dean 91PH, of Rome, Ga., on January 24, 2024.

Margaret J. Everett 91T, of Morristown, Tenn., on May 21, 2021.

Diane Carol Green 91PH 94G, of Marietta, Ga., on December 6, 2023.

Robert L. Infinger 97T, of St. Petersburg, Fla. on January 9, 2024.

Jane M. Maughon 95T, of Decatur, Ga., on March 2024.

Kathryn Bernice Miller 97A, of Manchester, Ky., on December 25, 2023.

John Allen Mitchell 95T, of Macon, Ga., on December 20, 2023.

John Allen Murphy 91C, of Cleveland, Tenn., on March 8, 2024.

Shahak Nagiel 98B, of Sykesville, Md., on February 1, 2024.

Kaaren Anderson Nowicki 95T, of Atlanta, on February 22, 2024.

Maureen Phelan 94G, of Inglewood, Calif., on February 4, 2024.

G. Joy Ritson 92T, of Port Orange, Fla., on January 7, 2023.

Michael S. Rodgers 96L, of Atlanta, on November 30, 2023.

Edward P. Saunders 92T, of Louisville, Miss., on January 16, 2024.

Cheryl Lucas 98Ox 00C, of Marco Island, Fla., on December 30, 2023.

Iliesa Uluinalotu Naivalu 01T, of Fiji, on December 17, 2022.

Dionne Lynnette Price 00G, of Silver Spring, Md., on February 22, 2024.

Cory Adam Rand 09C, of Yardley, Pa., on March 1, 2024.

Benish Adeel Shah 08L, of Brooklyn, N.Y., on December 7, 2023.

Heath Brandon Turner 03L, of Atlanta, on November 16, 2023.

10s

Tan Minh Tran 16L, of Decatur, Ga., on March 3, 2024.

20s

Melika Mohammadi 22C, of Potomac, Md., on December 24, 2023.

Ruzan Rafiq Khoja 24B, of Atlanta, on January 20, 2024.

Visiting ‘Scholars’

In Atlanta to promote their Flannery O’Connor biopic ‘Wildcat,’ Ethan and Maya Hawke visit Emory Libraries’ ‘Crossroads’ exhibit. By Susan M. Carini 04G

This past May, four scholars of writer Flannery O’Connor gathered on Level 3 of the Robert W. Woodruff Library to walk through the exhibit “At the Crossroads with Benny Andrews, Flannery O’Connor and Alice Walker.”

Two of those experts happened to be Hollywood royalty.

Director and actor Ethan Hawke and his daughter, actress Maya Hawke, recently released the film “Wildcat,” which Ethan directed and co-wrote and in which Maya stars as O’Connor. Ethan has been nominated for four Academy Awards, twice as a writer and twice as Best Supporting Actor. Maya made her acting debut in the BBC miniseries adaptation of “Little Women” and currently stars in Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”

They were there to rub elbows with, and learn from, royalty of Emory’s own — “Crossroads” co-curators Gabrielle Dudley, Rosemary Magee and Amy Alznauer.

The exhibit chronicles the overlap that these three Georgia artists — Andrews, O’Connor and Walker — experienced geographically, chronologically and creatively.

The Emory Libraries is, in fact, the physical crossroads to explore the lives and careers of the artists beyond the exhibition: the papers of Benny Andrews, Flannery O’Connor and Alice Walker all reside in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library.

The Hawkes proved attentive listeners, keyed to all that Magee and Alznauer, co-curators for the O’Connor section of “Crossroads,” imparted. Under glass, and commanding admiration from the Hawkes, was the large-format book Benny Andrews illustrated of O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge” — a story central to the exhibition and the film.

Magee, an expert on Southern women writers, is editor of the book “Conversations with Flannery O’Connor” and director emerita of the Rose Library. Alznauer is the author of “The Strange Birds of Flannery O’Connor: A Life,” which was named a New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2020 and a 2022 Book All Young Georgians Should Read.

Just prior to their arrival at the exhibit, Ethan had been city-hopping to promote the film, while Maya worked on set in Georgia filming “Stranger Things.” The pair were welcomed by Dudley (who is serving as co-interim director of the Rose Library), Magee, Alznauer and a small group of library staff.

The Hawkes spent the better part of an hour asking questions and absorbing, with obvious delight, the exhibit’s rare archival photos, journals, letters, original manuscripts, artwork and personal artifacts. They then participated in a Creativity Conversation, led by Magee and Alznauer, that followed a showing of their new film at the Tara Theater that afternoon.

“Wildcat” is titled after an early short story by O’Connor that was included in her 1947 master’s thesis — pursued in creative writing at what is now the University of Iowa — “The Geranium: A Collection of Short Stories,” which was not published until after her death. The structure of the film alternates between scenes from O’Connor’s life and dramatizations of several of her most well-known stories, with the principal actors having roles in both worlds.

STAR STRUCK Maya Hawke and her father Ethan Hawke pose with Emory’s Gabrielle Dudley (far left), Rosemary Magee and Amy Alznauer (both at right) at Robert W. Woodruff Library.

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Atlanta, Georgia 30322

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ADVENTURES IN NURSING This spring, students from the Emory School of Nursing traveled to the Dominican Republic for an immersive service and educational experience. Over the course of a week, they worked with local clinicians to provide families with primary care while learning firsthand about the country’s health care system. The school offers nursing students numerous skill-building opportunities like this every year across the United States and abroad, giving them a chance to enrich their knowledge and earn class credit.