Arts & Sciences Magazine 2012-2013

Making History, Shaping the Future The graduation of the first class of the Master of Arts in Global Governance is just one of several milestones achieved by FIU Arts & Sciences grads in recent years Page 12

14 On The Cover: Making History, Shaping the Future Arts & Sciences graduates achieve FIU milestones in pursuit of their dreams

4

School of Environment, Arts and Society Tropics at a crossroads: Addressing a changing planet through research, partnerships and policy

6

8

School of Integrated Science and Humanity

Message from the Dean

Center for Children and Families provides solutions for children with behavior disorders

The School of International and Public Affairs Forging Linkages in the Americas: FIU welcomes new directors for Latin American and Caribbean Center and Cuban Research Institute

The College of Arts & Sciences has challenged

the way we think, developed solutions for the

world’s most pressing issues and charted a course of innovation at FIU for more than 40 years.

Our faculty transforms the lives of our students,

prepare to launch the Vaclav Havel Center for

Human Rights and Diplomacy. And our Model

United Nations team ranked 7th in North America this year, once again claiming the highest ranking

of all public universities and the highest ranking for

10 Gifts and Partnerships

offering inspiring educational and research

12 Current Initiatives

60 percent of all research grants awarded to FIU

Arts & Sciences faculty, established partnerships

grant climate, I am proud to say our distinguished

Zoo Miami and 100Kin10. The latter is a network

18 The Next Class 20 Alumni Features

experiences. Working together, they account for in the past year. In an increasingly competitive

faculty garnered $16 million more in grant funding

than last year, bringing our total to $60 million. Our

22 Faculty News

faculty also published 28 books and more than

24 news.fiu.edu

We continue to teach more students and

880 journal articles in the same timeframe.

mentor them so they graduate in a timely manner.

In 2012-13, we conferred more than 4,600

degrees. We also launched the Executive Master’s of Public Administration at our Brickell location

and added a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary

Studies onsite and online. We expanded our online degree offerings to include Psychology, Women’s Studies, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Liberal Studies and Religious Studies.

The School of Environment, Arts and Society

is addressing critical environmental and societal

In addition, the university, through the efforts of

with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

of diverse partners committed to fundamentally

changing teaching and learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

This academic year, I have the privilege

of being appointed chair of the FIU iREAL

(integrating Research, Engagement, Assessment and Learning) Commission by President Mark B.

Rosenberg. The establishment of this commission is the first step in developing a new strategic

plan for the entire university and will answer the

essential question: In the face of unprecedented disruptions in higher education, how will FIU continue to redefine the role of the public

research university? To learn more about iREAL, visit commission.fiu.edu.

While we celebrate our accomplishments, we

challenges locally and globally. Most notably,

continue to look forward. Philanthropy is a critical

Reef Base, the world’s only undersea research

year, we passed our $5 million goal — the largest

we assumed stewardship of the Aquarius

laboratory. Major funding was awarded to continue groundbreaking research in the Everglades and

projects bringing freshwater to communities in the developing world.

The School of Integrated Science and

Humanity is eagerly anticipating the opening of the

Stocker AstroScience Center in the spring of 2014.

From Dr. Carl F. Stocker’s transformational gift in The Stocker AstroScience Center observatory dome was hoisted to its permanent home atop the building in July 2013.

all Florida universities.

component of ensuring our success. This past

ever set by the college — raising more than $6.2 million. That momentum is a testament to the

great work being done by our students and our

faculty. In the following pages, I hope you enjoy

reading about what the college has been up to in the past year.

All the very best,

2007 to the addition of the dome this summer, we are making his vision a reality.

The School of International and Public Affairs

continues to expand our global agenda as we

Kenneth G. Furton, Dean

College of Arts & Sciences

A&S 2012-2013 | 1

Across the Globe

Thirsty Planet

Founding Dean Remembered 2012-2013 Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Leadership Board

Victor C. Balestra, Chairman Kenneth G. Furton Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Mariel E. Acosta-Garcia Sandy Batchelor Meredith A. Newman John M. Bussel Senior Associate Dean, Terence G. Connor College of Arts & Sciences Frank DuMond Fausto B. Gomez Gisela Casines Susan Ford Hammaker Associate Dean Patricia B. Keon Maureen Donnelly Mitchell Kaplan Associate Dean Paul D. Landrum Charles LaPradd Michael Maunder Joe Zammit Lucia Associate Dean John Mills Jeremy Rowan Esther Moreno Assistant Dean Alvaro Perpuly Ednagene Schofman Mike Heithaus Executive Director, School of Board of Trustees Environment, Arts and Society

2013-2014

Suzanna Rose Albert R. Maury, ’96, ’02, Executive Director, School of Integrated Science and Humanity Chairperson Michael M. Adler, Vice Chair John F. Stack, Jr. Mark B. Rosenberg, Secretary Executive Director, School of Sukrit Agrawal, ’89 International and Public Affairs Cesar L. Alvarez Jose J. Armas JoAnn C. Adkins Editor, Arts & Sciences Magazine Jorge L. Arrizurieta Robert T. Barlick, Jr. Aileen Solá-Trautmann Marcelo Claure Art Director Mayi de la Vega, ’81 Gerald C. Grant, Jr., ’78, ’89 Writers Claudia Puig Ayleen Barbel Fattal Robyn Nissim Faculty Member Evelyn S. Perez C. Delano Gray Elaine C. Pritzker Chair, FIU Faculty Senate Student Member Liane M. Sippin President, Student Government MMC Arts & Sciences is an annual publication produced by the College of Arts & Sciences at Florida International University.

Please send comments, requests for copies or requests for permission to reprint material to jadkins@fiu.edu.

College of Arts & Sciences Florida International University 11200 SW 8th St., ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199 305-348-2864 casdean@fiu.edu

cas.fiu.edu 2 | A&S 2012-2013

Glows Works to Improve Lives of People in the Developing World

Butler H. Waugh, one of FIU’s four founding

fathers, passed away Nov. 7, 2012, at the age of 78.

When Founding President Charles E. Perry was

appointed president of the newly established FIU

in the late 1960s — which at the time was nothing

more than an abandoned airfield — Waugh was his

By Robyn Nissim

E

very year, tourists flock to the

you break or endanger it, will come

water,” including

Mara River to witness what has

back to haunt you,” Donoso says.

building wells and

been described as one of the greatest

War, gender inequality, disease,

sanitizing existing

spectacles in the natural world — the

pollution, deforestation, animal

first official hire. Working with Perry, as well as Donald McDowell

water supplies;

great African animal migration.

extinction, politics, governmental

health and hygiene

plan that would become FIU.

upheaval and abject poverty can be

training and

gather by the hundreds along the

mitigated by one element—clean,

education, waste

jewel-like river in Tanzania and move

useable water.

management

and Nicholas Sileo, Waugh put pen to paper and drafted out the

In 1970, Waugh was named the founding dean of FIU’s College

of Arts & Sciences, the first college to be formed at the university.

He hired the first faculty members from the ground up. He presided

Wildebeests, zebras and gazelles

northward to Kenya. Thousands of

More than two thirds of the planet’s

and agricultural

people travel to Africa to watch the

surface is water but only 2.5 percent

techniques.

While Waugh was at the forefront of many FIU firsts, his passion

animals’ journey, which is regularly

is fresh water. Of that fresh water, less

In countries such as

resided most deeply in the classroom. In 1975, Butler stepped

cited as one of the top travel attractions

than 1 percent (.007) is accessible for

Georgia, where water is abundant,

down as dean and returned to teaching. He remained at FIU until his

in the world. Tourism is booming. That’s

human use. With the world’s population

GLOWS is working with local officials

retirement in 2003.

the good news — and the bad.

at 7 billion and climbing, clean water is

to protect the existing water supply and

“He believed in education,” said Waugh’s wife, Joanne. “He

Along with the boost to the local

definitely at a premium.

demonstrate the benefits of sustainable

over the education of the first 5,667 students to enroll in 1972.

was also very political. He was passionate and often would say,

‘My great-grandfather was an illiterate coal miner, and I spent 40 years teaching literature at a university. Only in America could that happen.’”

September, 1969: Butler Waugh, far left, and fellow FIU founders (left to right) Donald McDowell, Nick Sileo and President Chuck Perry on the steps of the old Tamiami Airport control tower.

FALL

economies, the visitors put additional

GLOWS was created in 2006 with

development.

strain on the water supply of the Mara

funding from the United States Agency

River, one of the only perennial sources

for International Development (USAID) to

traveled to the project sites around the

of water in that region of East Africa.

address the world’s growing water crisis.

world looking at basic water demand,

Water is a finite resource. And just like

One of FIU’s largest federally funded

precipitation and river flows, and the

some of the rare species of animals

programs, GLOWS has established

economics of water. GLOWS also

that follow the water to the north, water

the university as an international

provides support for a number of non-

needs to be protected.

authority on integrated water resources

FIU students in other countries.

When there is a drought in South

management. Based in the College of

Over the years, FIU students have

“The University is a neutral place

Florida, people are restricted on when

Arts & Sciences, GLOWS is operated by

where all of the minds can come

they can water their lawns and fill

a small staff on Biscayne Bay Campus.

together and present their information

their pools. When there is a drought

GLOWS partners with CARE, WaterAid

without weighing in on a particular

in other parts of the world, there is

America, Winrock International, World

interest,” Donoso adds. “An additional

famine, war, disease and damage to the

Wildlife Fund and World Vision U.S., to

benefit that FIU brings is the science

environment, to animals and to people.

provide a holistic approach to integrated

base and the opportunities for

water resource management.

collaborative projects. And it gives

But “whether one is in a welldeveloped society or in a small

GLOWS has teams working across

our students and faculty the unique

community without services, water is

the globe, with projects in Ghana,

experience of becoming involved in

still a major need for survival,” says

Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burkina

real-life laboratories.”

Maria Donoso, director of FIU’s Global

Faso and the country of Georgia.

Water for Sustainability (GLOWS)

Other projects have been completed in

program. And in the long run, the

India, Morocco, Peru, Ecuador, Kenya

threats to people’s health, livelihood

and Mozambique. GLOWS program

and natural environment are the same.

activities involve developing and

“There is a circle of nature that if

applying new techniques to “harvest

2012

To read the complete story from FIU Magazine, visit news.fiu.edu/magazine or scan this QR code.

A&S 2012-2013 | 3

| 25

Tropics at a Crossroads

School of Environment, Arts and Society addresses a changing planet through research, partnerships and policy

By Elaine C. Pritzker | epritzke@fiu.edu

international policymakers to protect

Department of Earth and Environment

better communicators to help those

these predators including protected

is exploring food security through a

hold three-quarters of the world’s

the country and then put the science to

making the decisions — and people

status, stricter fishing laws and

sustainable agriculture program that

work for environmental conservation,”

most affected by them — understand

enforcement of existing policies.

offers a particular emphasis on the

Anderson said.

the complexity and importance of these habitats and ecosystems,” said Mike

of the FIU Marine Education and

and community engagement to develop

Last year, an international

Oberbauer, climb to the highest

Heithaus, executive director of SEAS

Research Initiative, is leading his

meaningful solutions.

reaches of the Costa Rican rainforest

and associate dean of the College of

own charge, making a global plea for

“Our goal is to better our world,”

canopies to explore how climate

Arts & Sciences. “The only way our

the world’s seagrasses. Dubbed the

Heithaus said. “When you consider our

change affects plant life. Others, like

efforts will ever matter is if we can

Blue Carbon Initiative, Fourqurean is

broad and diverse faculty expertise,

a comprehensive examination of

marine scientist Deron Burkepile, dive

help others make sense of what

asking governments to extend carbon

our ideal location and the strategic

protected species in the tropics and

to the depths of the sea to study the

we discover.”

credits to seagrass after proving these

focus of SEAS, FIU really is a solutions-

concluded that protected areas in the

imperiled coral reefs. Their efforts

undersea meadows are as effective as

center that can make a difference for

tropics are struggling to maintain their

rely on national and international

studying top predators, including

rainforests in absorbing carbon dioxide

generations to come.”

collaborations.

sharks and alligators, evaluating

from the Earth’s atmosphere. Last year,

biodiversity. Donnelly, who has spent

rainforests and coral reefs. Biodiversity

decades researching amphibians

is the diversity of life — from the largest

and reptiles in the neotropical areas

others leverage the resources among

predator to the smallest bacteria.

of Central and South America,

South Florida’s living laboratories.

has witnessed the drastic crash in

The Kampong of the National Tropical

with more than 30 faculty members

species populations. She is quick to

Botanical Garden, Montgomery

working in the region, FIU is ideally

acknowledge that conservation must

Botanical Center and Fairchild Tropical

situated for the study of biodiversity and

be a global team effort.

Botanic Gardens are three major

While some reach across borders,

conservation of the tropics — from the

Recently, the federal government

facilities that provide resources to help

mountains to the forests to the oceans.

awarded FIU a grant of nearly $750,000

FIU scientists understand the diversity,

The School of Environment, Arts and

to support environmental conservation

distribution and evolution of life in the

Society (SEAS) unites this research

efforts in the Andean Amazon region of

tropics.

to promote a better understanding

South America. Led by SEAS Director

of tropical conservation, create

of International Programs Elizabeth

research has benefitted from these

opportunities for ground-breaking

Anderson, FIU is developing a research

partnerships. The botanist is exploring

biomedical discoveries and develop

collaboration network in Colombia

predictors for the future of the Amazon,

sustainable production methods to

through a partnership with Pontificia

hoping to give policymakers, scientists

address global food shortages.

Universidad Javeriana and Universidad

and conservationists a roadmap to

de la Amazonia.

implement meaningful change. The

According to scientists, 34 hot spots exist on the planet where 1,500

“Our goal is to develop a greater

Professor Kenneth Feeley’s

role of scientists stepping out of the

species unique to that area have lost

scientific understanding of the unique

field and into the policy conversation is

at least 70 percent of their habitat.

and understudied ecosystems in the

not a new concept, but one that FIU is

These hot spots occupy merely a

Colombian Andean Amazon by building

championing through the formation of

4 | A&S 2012-2013

tropics. The program includes research

Some, like biologist Steve

Maureen Donnelly, conducted

Located in the sub-tropics and

James Fourqurean, director

of all known higher plant species. team of more than 200

the tropics, especially in

Meanwhile, faculty in the

meaningful impact, we all must become

scientists, including FIU biologist

T

call for very specific actions among

European Union Parliament in Brussels.

education and research capacity within

and amphibians in addition to half

of biodiversity occurs in

“For our work to have a real,

numerous scientific papers that

quarter of the world’s land area, yet most threatened mammals, birds

he greatest concentration

SEAS nearly four years ago.

Heithaus has spent his entire career

To learn more about the School of

their global importance in protecting

he made presentations around the

Environment, Arts and Society, visit

biodiversity. He has produced

world including testimony before the

environment.fiu.edu. n

4 Questions: Maureen Donnelly Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Professor, Department of Biological Sciences | School of Environment, Arts and Society What or who inspires you in your area of study?

My biggest inspiration is my former professor, Jay M. Savage. Jay invited me to join his laboratory as a Ph.D. student in 1978. I always wanted to work as a “tropical biologist,” and I knew that Jay had a strong tropical program. His invitation opened the doors to a career that has exceeded all expectations.

Tell us something about your field that might surprise most people.

The group of organisms I am most interested in, the amphibians, are an ancient but vulnerable group. Nearly twothirds of all living species are threatened with extinction.

What book are you currently reading?

I most recently read “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer” by Siddhartha Murkherjee.

Give us something to watch for in your area of study.

We are moving forward on a variety of fronts with our research. We are trying to understand how fragmentation of forest patches affects amphibians and how the surrounding landscapes influence the animals. We also have papers in the works that examine how population genetics are affected by fragment size, isolation and community structure.

Donnelly, left, with her former student, Rudolf von May, at a study site in Madre de Dios, Peru.

A&S 2012-2013 | 5

4 Questions: William E. Pelham, Jr. Director, Center for Children and Families Chairman, Department of Psychology | School of Integrated Science and Humanity What or who inspires you in your area of study?

Trying to improve the lives of ADHD children and their families.

Tell us something about your field that might surprise most people.

The most widely used stimulant medications have zero longterm benefits for a child who takes them. Medication has to be combined with behavior treatment.

What book are you currently reading?

“The English Girl” by Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon series #13) – The #1 New York Times bestselling series, chronicles the adventures of art-restorer and Israeli master spy Gabriel Allon.

Matters of the Mind School of Integrated Science and Humanity puts focus on child mental health with creation of Center for Children and Families

CCF Director William E. Pelham Jr. (center) spends time with students during the 2012 Summer Treatment Program.

faculty have become affiliated with

by age 18. If left untreated, children with

Psychologist Lindsay Malloy leads a

the center, including 14 new hires to

anxiety disorders are at higher risk to

team of researchers studying child

the university,” Pelham said. “Their

perform poorly in school, miss out on

cognitive and social development,

interests span everything from typical

important social experiences and engage

and provides information and tools

development in children to multiple

in substance abuse.

for teachers, social workers and legal

aspects of mental health.”

Psychology professors Anibal

By Ayleen Barbel Fattal | abarbel@fiu.edu

U

“Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience” by Sally Satel and Scott O. Lilienfeld – The authors reveal how many of the real-world applications of human neuroscience gloss over its limitations and intricacies, at times obscuring instead of clarifying the various factors that shape human behavior and identity.

Give us something to watch for in your area of study.

Three grants funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will look at why stimulant drugs have no longterm benefits. Is it due to concerns about the effects on growth, developed tolerance or lack of adherence during teenage years?

As part of FIU’s Child Anxiety and Phobia Program (CAPP), associate

Gutierrez and Maricel Cigales oversee the

professor of psychology and CCF

professionals who work with children every day.

To date, CCF has served more than

p to 20 percent of children in the

of federal research grant money, with its

to cope with their child’s behavior and

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention

researcher Jeremy Pettit specializes

1,000 families. This past year, the center

U.S. experience a mental disorder

faculty currently holding a combined total

assist them in their child’s progress.

(EIBI) program at CCF. Through the

on the course of depression, anxiety

also provided consultation and training

program, FIU psychology students are

and suicidal behaviors over time. His

services for more than 300 Miami-Dade

in a given year. That’s one out of five

of $35 million in research funding.”

“The greatest thing about the Summer Treatment Program and the

providing one-on-one therapy to children

research includes interpersonal and

County Public School teachers working

can make the difference between healthy

centered treatment, the center offers

greatest thing for us to see is how happy

under three years of age who have or

cognitive factors that contribute to the

with children with behavioral and

development and a life plagued with

year-round services and treatment

and enthusiastic our son is coming

are at risk for developmental delays or

onset, maintenance and recurrence of

academic difficulties.

for children and their families in an

here,” said the mother of an 8-year-old

disorders, including autism.

these behaviors. CAPP addresses the

interdisciplinary clinic. This center’s

boy enrolled in the program. “We can

emotional and behavioral characteristics

excellence in research, education

signature Summer Treatment Program

see his growth and we see him feeling

a preschool classroom by designing

of children who are experiencing anxiety

and service regarding mental health

better about who he is.”

our schedule in a similar manner to

and phobic behavior.

in childhood,” Pelham said. “Not only

children. Early diagnosis and intervention

lingering challenges.

FIU’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) is leading the way in research and

Focusing on family and school-

evidence-based options to treat and

has treated 625 children since the center

manage childhood mental disorders.

was founded in 2010. The intensive,

“CCF is doing exciting and groundbreaking research in child behavior

“We help children learn to adapt in

“Our goal at the center is to provide

serving and involving families in South

CCF Director William E. Pelham,

that commonly used in preschool and

Researchers at the center also are

therapeutic program focuses on helping

Jr., a leading authority on child mental

kindergarten classrooms,” said Logan

exploring general cognitive development

Florida but also conducting research that

children and adolescents with attention

health, has brought together an elite

McDowell, a doctoral student and

in children. Shannon M. Pruden,

informs the nation and the world about

assistant director of the program.

assistant professor of psychology, is

the nature, causes and treatment of

disorders,” said Suzanna Rose, executive

deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and

team of researchers to FIU, leveraging

director of the School of Integrated

other behavior problems to improve their

both existing faculty members and

The center’s work doesn’t stop with

researching the use of spatial language –

mental health problems in childhood and

Science and Humanity and associate

problem-solving, academic and social

recruiting other leading researchers

ADHD and autism. Anxiety disorders affect

words such as big, tall, circle, curvy – by

adolescence.”

from around the country.

one in eight children. And about 11 percent

children 14 to 46 months and the long-

To learn more about the Center for

of adolescents have a depressive disorder

term implications for their development.

Children and Families, visit ccf.fiu.edu. n

dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

skills. Weekly training sessions also are

“The center is one of FIU’s largest sources

provided for parents, teaching them how

6 | A&S 2012-2013

“In the course of three years, 27

A&S 2012-2013 | 7

Forging Linkages in the

Americas

I

United States.

n an increasingly interconnected world,

possible solutions for the challenges that

particular point of focus for FIU is Cuba.

the challenges we face in the 21st

are persistent in the region. Representing

Located just 228 miles from Havana

century are diverse and multifaceted.

eight colleges and schools, three centers

and among the largest Cuban diaspora

is to bolster FIU’s research profile and

These challenges are complicated

and two libraries, the faculty members

in the world, FIU’s Cuban Research

commitment to community engagement

School of International and Public Affairs welcomes new directors for Latin American and Caribbean Center and Cuban Research Institute

in a region like Latin America and

specialize in anthropology, architecture,

Institute is the leading center for research

on a global scale.

the Caribbean, where governments,

art, biology, business, earth sciences

and academic programs on Cuban

political traditions and socioeconomic

and environmental studies, economics,

and Cuban-American issues. No other

publications and collaborations can make

backgrounds vary greatly among its

education, engineering, health services,

university in the United States surpasses

a real difference,” said John F. Stack

By Evelyn S. Perez | esuperez@fiu.edu

diverse nations.

international relations, journalism, law,

FIU in the number of professors and

Jr., executive director of the School

public administration, political science,

students of Cuban origin.

of International and Public Affairs and

The infrastructure needs are great. cybersecurity is an issue. Energy and

For both Mora and Duany, the goal

“Our alumni networks, faculty, research

associate dean of the College of Arts

“By expanding our current research,

and more.

Founded by FIU President Mark B.

collaborating with others who are

& Sciences. “Latin America and the

focus. And public health continues to

Rosenberg in 1979, LACC is a member

studying Cuba, and increasing our

Caribbean are far too important when

be a challenge. Situated in the gateway

of the Consortium of Latin American

outreach to our local community and

you consider their proximity to the United

to the Americas, FIU is forging linkages

Studies Programs. It is also a designated

abroad, we will only help to drive

States, their economic impact and the

through education and research aimed

National Resource Center for Latin

discussions about the island nation

human connections that we share.”

at better addressing the most urgent

America by the U.S. Department of

and its diaspora,” said Duany, who has

problems confronting Latin America and

Education, making it one of the top area

published extensively on migration,

American and Caribbean Center and the

the Caribbean.

studies centers in the country.

ethnicity, race, nationalism and

Cuban Research Institute, visit lacc.fiu.edu

transnationalism in the Caribbean and the

and cri.fiu.edu. n

the environment are major points of

In the past year, the School of

One nation in the region that is a

To learn more about FIU’s Latin

International and Public Affairs welcomed Jorge Duany as the director of the Cuban Research Institute and Frank O. Mora as the director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC). These two strategic hires will energize the work being done by faculty throughout Arts & Sciences.

“We need to ask: How are we contributing to the debate of solving the complex issues of today,” Mora said.

“This opportunity has so much potential, so much history and so much to do. I want LACC to be the center of gravity for all academic and policy discussions about Latin America and the Caribbean, not just in Miami, but the entire country.”

Prior to joining LACC, Mora served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the U.S. State Department. In his vision for the center, Mora believes the ongoing research of LACC’s nearly 200 affiliated FIU faculty will help drive discussions and

8 | A&S 2012-2013

Photo: Santiago, Chile, Metropolitan Cathedral in Plaza de Armas and New Office Tower.

4 Questions: Frank O. Mora Director, Latin American and Caribbean Center Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations | School of International and Public Affairs What or who inspires you in your area of study?

I’m always impressed and inspired by some of the more prolific scholars in my field. It’s not just the number but the quality/depth of the work.

Francis Fukuyama is one of those scholars.

The first of two tomes of his opus magnum came out last year – “The Origins of Political Order;” it is a masterpiece of great intellectual, interdisciplinary depth.

Tell us something about your field that might surprise most people.

My sense is that the average person believes the field of political science has greater predictive capacity than it actually does. It is true that through certain methodologies, we seek to not only understand but predict certain outcomes. We need to be reminded that human beings and their interactions are not like the controlled environment that the physical or hard science can control.

What book are you currently reading?

I’ve been reading quite a number of biographies, everything from Bolivar to the Kim dynasty in North Korea. I just finished reading a biography on John Hay, titled “All the Great Prizes: John Hay from Lincoln to Roosevelt”

by John Taliaferro.

Give us something to watch for in your area of study.

One of the most positive trends in political science is the return of area studies. The pendulum from the very quantitative methodology began a few years ago, but the focus on a new type of area studies has grown in the last three to five years, largely a result of a demand in Washington and other policy circles to understand at a “genetic” level the complexity of societies and their transnational impacts. It was curious, for example, to observe the number of anthropologists and sociologists hired by the State Department and Pentagon to help understand the complexity of Central Asian societies.

A&S 2012-2013 | 9

Gifts and Partnerships International Center for Tropical Botany receives $5 million

Gift of establishes the Darlene M. and Jorge M. Pérez Art Collection Longtime FIU supporters, Jorge M. Pérez, CEO of the Related Group, and his wife, Darlene M. Boytell-Pérez, FIU alumna and nurse practitioner, have donated a Cuban art collection to School of International and Public Affairs and the Frost Art Museum. The collection features stunning rural and city landscapes, haunting portraits, and vivid graphical depictions of Cuba.

The donation includes 24 Cuban paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. The art will serve as an interdisciplinary teaching and educational resource for the museum and SIPA, and will help advance the Cuban Research Institute’s mission of creating and disseminating knowledge about Cuba.

Additionally, the donation includes a gift of $250,000 to support collection-related curatorial work; complementary programming such as workshops, exhibitions and public events; and scholarships. The Darlene M. and Jorge M. Pérez Art Collection at FIU features works by many of the best-known masters of Cuban art including Eduardo Abela, Víctor Manuel, Augusto Menocal, Carlos Enríquez, René Portocarrero, and José Bedia, providing an excellent window into the historical trajectory of pictorial representations of Cuba’s national identity.

Jewish Museum of Florida joins FIU The Jewish Museum of Florida, a historical museum that explores 250 years of Jewish art, culture and history in the State of Florida, has become part of the FIU family. This hallmark gift includes the two adjacent Art Deco buildings in Miami Beach that are former synagogues, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The gift also includes the museum’s historical collections, research library, endowment, and other assets.

The museum, now known as the Jewish Museum of Florida – FIU, will leverage the resources of both institutions, to ignite a new era of interdisciplinary education, research and outreach, focused on the history of the Jewish experience in Florida. Integrating academic programing and research endeavors in the School of International Public Affairs, the museum’s exhibitions, public programming and historical collections will strengthen awareness about the unique ways Florida Jews influence, and are influenced by, the historic and cultural dynamics of Florida, the nation, and the world. It will also educate the FIU and greater South Florida communities about the challenges of immigrant experiences shared by all in Florida.

10 | A&S 2012-2013

For development opportunities please contact: Nancy Rachman Director of Development Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU nancy.rachman@fiu.edu

In partnership with the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), FIU is developing the International Center for Tropical Botany, a dynamic endeavor to create a network of collaborators in plant exploration and conservation. It will be located at the historical Kampong, an NTBG garden where David Fairchild had his home.

In 2012, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust awarded the College of Arts & Sciences a $2.5 million challenge grant in support of this initiative. Earlier this year, the Batchelor Foundation generously matched the gift with a $2.5 million grant to build the facility where this initiative will be housed.

The center will advance FIU’s strategic priority on tropical botany, leveraging the expertise of more than a dozen faculty including world experts on rainforest ecology, mangroves and seagrass, island floras, phytochemistry and plant conservation. The new facility will be part of a global network working closely with botanical institutions in the Pacific, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Zoo Biology This summer, FIU and Zoo Miami formed a partnership to explore and develop greater research and community outreach initiatives.

Zoo Biology will focus on key areas including reproduction, demographics, genetics, behavior, medicine, husbandry, nutrition, conservation and all aspects related to exhibition and maintenance of wild animals in wildlife parks, zoos and aquariums.

Work will begin immediately on joint research initiatives and the establishment of internship opportunities for students in the College of Arts & Sciences and Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Long-term, the MOU calls for the creation of Ph.D. projects, public seminars on biodiversity and conservation, professional courses on zoo management and policy, and more.

A&S 2012-2013 | 11

Current Initiatives

Vaclav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy The Vaclav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy will advance the study of human rights and its impact on democratic transitions. Through research, lectures, internships and conferences, the center will provide students with the opportunity to learn from distinguished practitioners with expertise in diplomacy, activism, and policy implementation, and will foster scholarship on the governability of young democracies and the process of non-violent transitions.

I

n January 2013, FIU announced it would assume operations of the Aquarius Reef Base. In September, FIU welcomed four international astronauts to the research habitat as part of NASA’s extreme environments training program, marking the first saturation mission at Aquarius in the FIU era. The world’s only undersea research

lab, Aquarius provides unparalleled access to study coral reefs and marine life while also offering opportunities to test state-of-the-art undersea technology, train specialized divers and astronauts. Submerged by NOAA in 1993, Aquarius was in danger of being decommissioned last year due to cuts in federal funding. FIU has launched an aggressive plan to save Aquarius and has reopened it for the use of scientists, government agencies and private industry. Though the relaunch of Aquarius was met with international applause, including a live broadcast on NBC’s TODAY Show, much work remains to ensure this unique research facility continues to serve science for years to come. Aquarius is just one example of programs in the College of Arts & Sciences that are supported by public/ private partnerships, research funding and philanthropy. Each of the college’s three thematic schools is developing programs that drive innovation and inspire change. To learn how you can help, please contact us.

Cognitive Neuroscience Institute Biomolecular Sciences Institute The Biomolecular Sciences Institute is a multidisciplinary consortium bringing together many of FIU’s finest research scientists. The institute is designed to spark creative collaborations between the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Physics, as well as the College of Engineering & Computing, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work.

Advancing nanotechnology and furthering the fields of cancer biology and neurodegenerative disorders, the institute will provide a source of academic mentorship for undergraduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral students and foster the growth of the newly developed Doctoral Degree in Biochemistry.

The mystery of the human mind is one of immense complexity. Under the Cognitive Neuroscience Initiative, FIU researchers are analyzing brain development, brain function and the neurological basis of behavior. These scientists are investigating possible applications of their pioneering research to advance the treatment of nervous system disorders. They hope to map one of science’s last frontiers – the human brain.

Global Jewish Communities

Development Contacts: Emily Gresham Assistant Vice President Development cgresham@fiu.edu 305-348-0474

David Skipp Director of Development School of International and Public Affairs dskipp@fiu.edu 305-348-7407

12 | A&S 2012-2013

Throughout history, vibrant Jewish communities, with far-reaching family, commercial and cultural ties, have flourished throughout the world. The Initiative for Global Jewish Communities promotes innovative research and education, concentrating on the extraordinary and unparalleled diversity and plurality of Jewish communities in diverse settings and cultures.

Marine Education Research Initiative The Marine Education and Research Initiative in the Upper Florida Keys will enhance the scope and impact of FIU on teaching, research, K-12 educational outreach, and community involvement in the Keys. MERI will provide cutting-edge educational opportunities for children, residents, and visitors to the Keys, highlighting the region’s significance and our collective responsibility to be good stewards of the environment.

Sustainable Agriculture In South Florida, natural, agriculture and urban areas are in close proximity.

FIU’s Sustainable Agriculture program is designed to educate students and the community about their food systems and their relationship to natural ecosystems through resource management, hands-on field training, internships and scholarships.

A&S 2012-2013 | 13

Making History, Shaping the Future Arts & Sciences graduates achieve FIU milestones in pursuit of their dreams

By JOANN C. ADKINS | jadkins@fiu.edu

I

f Kailey MacNamara had pursued only

In just a two-year span, the college

15, his father passed away, leaving him as

celebrated the university’s oldest

the primary caretaker of his mother and

missed her moment in FIU history by a

graduate, 88-year-old Richard M. Smith

five younger siblings. While working, he

single degree.

and its youngest graduate, 16-year-old

still managed to earn a college degree.

But the College of Arts & Sciences

Sky Choi. Both men were products of

In 2010, he made the difficult decision

student double majored in physics and

the School of International and Public

to leave his family and make the 7,500-

biological sciences. During the evening

Affairs — Smith earned his Ph.D. in

mile journey to FIU to pursue a master’s

of April 30, she glided across the stage

History in 2011 and Choi earned his

degree in African and African Diaspora

during the School of Environment,

Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies in

Studies. Upon graduation, he enrolled in

Arts and Society’s commencement

2013. Choi beat out FIU’s previous

FIU’s Ph.D. program for political science.

ceremony expecting no more pomp and

youngest graduate Kristian Herrera —

His goal is to return to Rwanda and help

circumstance than what greeted every

also an Arts & Sciences student — who

improve access to education.

other graduate. But as she approached

earned his Physics degree in 2011 at

the platform, the ceremony came to an

the age of 18.

one bachelor’s degree, she would’ve

“When you see the diversity in our student makeup and the challenges they

abrupt stop as the announcer broke with

But greatness isn’t just measured in

have faced to get to this point, it really

his traditional oration to announce FIU’s

age. Sometimes, it’s measured in firsts.

puts into perspective what we’re doing

200,000th graduate.

Since FIU’s inaugural commencement

here,” Furton said. “These degrees are

MacNamara’s short walk across

ceremony in 1973, countless numbers

so much more than the time spent in the

the commencement stage signified a

of graduates have been the first in their

classroom. The combination of research

milestone in FIU history. 200,000 FIU

families to attend college.

and community engagement plays a

degrees. 200,000 stories. 200,000

These first generation students are a

critical role. And the relationships our

particular point of pride for FIU, where

students build, with the faculty and their

making a world-class education accessible

peers, really help to shape character and

first and largest college, has produced

to all is a priority. Didley Delpeche is

ensure long-term success.”

more graduates than any other FIU

among those. A U.S. Army veteran,

college. With three thematic schools

Delpeche put his academic career on hold

Campbell, their academic pursuits proved

and 16 academic departments, Arts &

several times for training, deployments and

to be a life adventure.

Sciences has produced an exceptional

family matters. By 2011, he was ready to

Gavassa grew up on a remote farm

portfolio of students with hometowns,

finish his Psychology degree. Leveraging

in Los Llanos, Colombia. There was no

backgrounds, academic journeys and

the discipline, leadership and teamwork

electricity or modern communications.

career aspirations that are as interesting

skills he learned in the military, he earned

For her education, she collected books

and diverse as the college itself.

a 4.0 grade point average and graduated

and assignments from the nearest

in 2013.

school, taught herself and returned

achievements.

The College of Arts & Sciences, FIU’s

“Historically, Arts & Sciences has had a

For some, like Sat Gavassa and Justin

lot to celebrate, but in recent years, we’ve

A world away in the African Republic

for finals at the end of each academic

enjoyed some rather unique achievements

of Rwanda, Fiacre Bienvenu was born to

year. Though her methods were non-

among our graduates,” said College of

poor parents who were never afforded a

traditional, she was successful and

Arts & Sciences Dean Kenneth G. Furton.

formal education. When Bienvenu was

eventually accepted at the Universidad Continues on page 16

14 | A&S 2012-2013

Photo: Kailey MacNamara ’13, made FIU history as the 200,000th graduate.

A&S 2012-2013 | 15

Richard M. Smith

Continued

Who was president of the United States when you were born?

de los Andes where she studied electric

until the fall, so they could be married that

Professional Master of Arts in Global

fish. She eventually set her sights on FIU.

summer. Today, the couple says they rely

Governance, a program focused on some

on each other for professional advice, but

of the most perplexing issues brought on

What was your first paying job?

earned his bachelor’s degree in

joke they don’t always see eye-to-eye on

by globalization in today’s society.

When I was 13, I worked in my father’s garment business.

environmental sciences from Dartmouth

statistics.

Campbell, a Manhattan native,

College in 2001. Originally interested

Spanning the physical and

generation of problem-solvers and future

natural sciences, social sciences and

global leaders in careers we have yet

internship in the Florida Keys was just

humanities, the College of Arts &

to imagine,” Furton said. “With each

the inspiration Campbell needed to direct

Sciences offers a holistic education that

graduate, FIU is leaving its mark on the

his career to seagrass conservation. Like

encourages its graduates to make an

world. It’s exciting to see, not only the

Gavassa, he set his sights on FIU. It was

impact locally, nationally and globally.

caliber of students we have, but the

The dynamic makeup of its student body accounts for thousands of success

campuses. It’s hard for me to imagine

each other.

stories that are defining FIU’s legacy.

what milestones are in store for us next.”

During the last academic year alone, Arts

Check out a video on Richard Smith

To learn more about the College of

and were poised to graduate in the

& Sciences graduated more than 4,600

Arts & Sciences, including student and

summer of 2012. Yet they chose to defer

students including its first cohort of the

alumni features, visit cas.fiu.edu. n

What was your first car?

It’s been so long ago, I don’t remember the model anymore, but my father bought it for me when I returned from World War II. Who is your favorite musician?

Frank Sinatra

character and passion they bring to our

course where the two set their sights on Both excelled in their doctoral studies,

They made women’s dresses. I did small jobs for a dollar.

“We are educating the next

in engineering, a marine conservation

in an introduction to biological research

Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States

What book are you currently reading?

“From Slavery to Freedom” by John Hope Franklin

Generations: A Tale of Two Graduates In 2011, FIU celebrated the graduation of its oldest graduate, Richard M. Smith, who earned his Ph.D. in History at the age of 88.

In 2013, the university celebrated the graduation of its youngest graduate, Sky Choi, who earned his bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies at the age of 16. Recently, the two alumni offered to answer a short series of questions and, though they were born nearly three-quarters of a century apart, their answers prove that ‘Ol Blue Eyes can transcend the generations.

Sky Choi

Who was president of the United States when you were born?

Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States What was your first paying job?

Teaching Taekwondo

Check out a video on Sky Choi

What was your first car?

I’m still saving to buy my first car, so I borrow my father’s Optima for now.

Who is your favorite musician?

I listen primarily to Korean artists and my favorite is Kim Jong Kook. Believe it or not, Frank Sinatra is a close second.

Couple Justin Campbell and Sat Gavassa walk hand-in-hand at commencement in December 2012 as both prepare to receive their master’s degrees.

What book are you currently reading?

“Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire” by Rafe Esquith

16 | A&S 2012-2013

A&S 2012-2013 | 17

The Next Class

Arts & Sciences students make a difference through research, leadership and policy

Howard Holness

Ph.D. student, Chemistry and Biochemistry | School of Integrated Science and Humanity The alphabet and a little chemistry were

all Howard Holness needed to find his way to FIU.

A native of Jamaica, Holness enrolled

in the University of West Indies for his

undergraduate studies. In a chemistry class, the professor assigned seats

alphabetically. That put Davia Hudson in

the seat next to Holness. Smitten from the start, Holness followed Hudson to Miami

when she enrolled at FIU for her graduate studies in 2004. After a little research,

Jessica Lee

Holness decided FIU was a good fit for him, as well, and enrolled.

M.S. student, Earth and Environment | School of Environment, Arts and Society Jessica Lee wants to use her research

Hollywood, Fla.-native immersed herself

to educate others and to help people feel a

in the diverse marine and terrestrial living

connection with the environment.

laboratories of South Florida. Lee’s uncle

“The environment is an awesome

on walks in state parks and talking about

to enjoy it and enjoy it responsibly,” Lee

the trees and animals they saw. Her fondest

said. “That’s why I’m passionate about

childhood memories are of the canal in

learning about it, understanding how to take

her backyard, where she would fish with

care of it, and how to help people feel a

her dad and canoe with her sister, often

connection to the world around them.”

observing and interacting with the resident

As part of her master’s thesis, the

manatees. At age 12, an encounter with a

Environmental Studies student created the

turtle-nesting program at the beach forever

Coastal Angler Science Team (CAST), which

changed her life. When she volunteered

combines tag and release methods – along

with the program, helping to protect the

with some help from local citizens – to

nests and release the hatchlings, Lee knew

evaluate the habitat of largemouth bass

she wanted to be a marine scientist.

“My family played a huge role in exposing

works alongside local anglers, recreational

me to the natural environment. That canal

fishermen and fishing guides to collect the

influenced my life,” Lee said. “Yes, it’s

recapture data. To date, Lee and her thesis

important to understand fish ecology

advisor, Jennifer Schopf Rehage, have

because of the many ecological and

tagged more than 2,500 fish with microchips

commercial values associated with it, but

that provide data on growth, movement

there are generations of families that have

and survival. The information will be used to

bonded over fishing, just how I used to

analyze the impacts of restoration efforts by

catch fish with my dad.”

looking at their ability to survive abiotic and biotic stressors.

Lee developed an interest in marine ecosystems at a young age. The 18 | A&S 2012-2013

into medical school. But that was before

he was introduced to the FIU International

first introduced her to ecology, taking her

resource. We have an amazing opportunity

and snook in the Shark River Estuary. CAST

Holness first saw chemistry as an

opportunity to improve his acceptance odds

Lee earned her bachelor’s degree from FIU in marine biology. She is set to graduate with a master’s degree in 2014. Lee plans to earn a Ph.D., conduct research and teach.

Forensic Research Institute (IFRI) and its

founding director, Kenneth G. Furton, now

the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

In 2006, the same year Hudson and Holness

Ph.D. student, Public Administration School of International and Public Affairs Ph.D. candidate Shahed Jasem Al-Tammar is on a mission to empower Kuwaiti women through democracy.

The public administration student recently presented at the 2013 Joint Congress of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS)International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) in Bahrain. Her presentation prescribed recommendations on how to counteract the current obstacles women face, including recommendations for equal opportunity in the workplace and

way to identify and link different batches

at the institute, Holness’s most significant

– once they are confiscated. Holness is

Director Jose Almirall. During his tenure

accomplishment has been the launch of the annual IFRI Forensic Science Symposium,

which features the latest in research findings and new technologies for forensic science professionals. The symposium, which

launched in 2012, covers topics such as

animal cruelty, crime scenes, gunshot residue testing, designer drugs and DNA backlog.

“Holness has been key to the IFRI

outreach mission. He has organized the very successful IFRI Symposium for the last two

years and frequently represents IFRI outside of FIU,” Almirall said. “Holness combines a sharp scientific mind with excellent

administrative skills. He is an effective

communicator, well-liked and has earned

the respect of his colleagues. We are very fortunate to have him on our IFRI team.”

Almirall also serves as Holness’s faculty

were married, he accepted a job in Furton’s

mentor. Holness’s research is focused on

lab for several years, he was promoted to

type drugs, offering law enforcement a

lab. After managing the forensic chemistry

Shahed Jasem Al-Tammar

assistant director of IFRI by current IFRI

increased political representation.

The presentation was based on a joint research project that evaluates women’s experiences in Kuwait in their administrative lives and how their roles have evolved over time. The research was conducted with College of Arts & Sciences Senior Associate Dean and Public Administration Professor Meredith Newman and Al-Jassar Salwa, a former member of the National Assembly of Kuwait and Al-Tammar’s mother.

“Shahed brings a unique perspective on the role of women in governmental and administrative reform in the Middle East,” said Newman, who also attended the conference.

“Those of us who have the opportunity to participate with our students as they present

identifying impurities in methamphetamine-

of these drugs – based on the impurities

modifying a fast and inexpensive technique commonly used to screen for explosives at airports so crime labs can also have a fast and inexpensive way to track methamphetamine.

“The most important real world

application will be to have this technique

available to any crime lab,” Holness said.

“At the moment, cost is a major issue for

crime labs. Any new tests developed have to be cost-effective and practical before a lab will even consider their use.”

After graduation, Holness hopes to be

able to share his experience with students as a professor.

“I am hoping to pursue a more specific

focus on teaching undergraduates, since I realize that many good researchers

start as very curious undergraduates,”

Holness said. “I think I can more effectively influence these students at that level.”

at high-profile conferences and to visit their home countries to conduct research together are truly privileged. It is one thing to watch our students perform in the classroom; it is another experience entirely to see them thrive and excel in such a high profile gathering.”

Al-Tammar earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The American University of Kuwait. She worked as a youth representative advocating for their involvement in the public sector.

Al-Tammar earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania in 2012. She has also served in a variety of academic and professional roles in the U.S., Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Georgia.

From left, Shahed Jasem Al-Tammar joins her mother, Al-Jassar Salwa, and Dr. Meredith Newman during a recent trip to the Middle East.

A&S 2012-2013 | 19

A&S Alumni

Inspiring, mentoring and serving with honor Richard Blanco

Idaykis Rodriguez

School of Environment, Arts and Society For weeks after Richard Blanco ’91, MFA

’97 was selected as President Obama’s Inaugural Poet, fear and worry crept in.

Asked to write an original poem that he

would share on live television before the

entire world, he was given surprisingly little

direction by the White House. The poem was his to write.

own framework as an exile. I ended up really, really liking the poem.”

Blanco often writes about the idea of

community, and he says FIU is clearly a part of his community.

Born in Spain to Cuban exiles, Blanco’s

parents emigrated to New York City days

School of Integrated Science and Humanity Cuban-born Idaykis Rodriguez ’08, Ph.D. ’13 came to the U.S. as a child determined to succeed. Today, at 28-years-old she is a respected physics researcher.

The alumna, who earned her Ph.D. at

after his birth and eventually settled in Miami.

FIU in the summer of 2013, is helping

FIU in engineering and has spent much of his

technology, engineering and math

Blanco earned an undergraduate degree at

to revolutionize the way science,

career as a civil engineer, designing bridges

(STEM) subjects are taught.

South Miami.

school and continued through her

Since then, Blanco has become a literary

path, returning to FIU to earn an M.F.A. from

her senior year, she became the vice

fielding calls from agents and fans around

Creative Writing Program.

Students, earned a prestigious research

“It was very liberating but also kind of

scary,” Blanco said. “What if I wrote the

wrong poem or wrote a horrible poem?”

As the world now knows, Blanco wrote

and delivered a transcendent poem, “One Today,” on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

superstar, doing dozens of interviews and the world.

The distinction – inaugural poet – is an

honor shared by very few. To be exact, only five poets have delivered inaugural poems

including Maya Angelou and Robert Frost.

To come to “One Today,” Blanco said

he began to hone in on how he feels about the United States of America. This was the second of three poems he wrote for the White House.

“What I hadn’t expected was it opened my

creative channels,” he said. “It’s opened up a way for me to talk about America outside my

and even an architectural plan for City Hall in In 1991, he decided to explore a different

the Department of English’s highly regarded

Blanco’s first collection, “City of a Hundred

Fires,” won the Agnes Lunch Starrett Poetry Prize from the University of Pittsburgh. He went on to receive a prestigious “Beyond

Margins Award” from PEN, the international writers’ organization, in recognition of his

work. Some 130 books of poetry by writers

of color were nominated for the 2006 awards; Blanco’s second book of poetry, “Directions

to the Beach of the Dead,” published in 2005, was one of five winners. His third collection, “Looking for the Gulf Motel,” was published in 2012.

Her love for physics started in high undergraduate studies at FIU. During president of the Society of Physics term at Jefferson Lab, and then became active in the Physics Education

Research Group where she studied the development of expertise in physics research groups.

Rodriguez represents a significant voice in physics and STEM education – currently only 5 percent of doctorate degrees in physics are granted to Hispanic students, and only 2.5 percent to Hispanic women.

During the summer of 2012, Rodriguez was invited to Switzerland to attend the 62nd Lindau Meeting of Nobel Prize Laureates, an event limited to 80 U.S. students each year. The meeting is an annual gathering of Nobel Laureates and young researchers from around the world. Rodriguez was the only student from FIU and, as she later learned from a

education researcher at the conference.

“At first, meeting so many students that study nuclear, plasma and high energy physics, I felt a little intimidated to share with them that I was a physics education researcher,” she says. “Half of the people I met didn’t know what it was and half may have heard of it. But once I explained that what I do is research how people learn and teach physics, they showed genuine interest in the field, which often sparked philosophical conversations about knowledge, expertise and the meaning of science.”

Today, Rodriguez continues to mentor students as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, FIU.

Manuel Chavez

School of International and Public Affairs It’s never too late to chase your

dreams. International Relations alumnus Manuel “Manny” Chavez ’76 is proof.

Born in Las Cruzes, New Mexico, Chavez

active duty with the National Guard. It

became clear that Georgetown was not in his future.

Chavez spent time in the Philippines

remembers vivid details of his childhood

and Japan. He was discharged from duty

of a homemaker and a public service

enroll in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence

during the Great Depression. The son official, he shined shoes, delivered

newspapers, pumped gas and picked cotton to earn money.

“My father’s career in public service

brought many poor folks to our home

seeking help. His actions and examples taught me to be considerate and

compassionate,” Chavez said. “I knew I also wanted a career in public service.”

in 1945 only to return a year later and

School. He subsequently served as an

air attaché throughout Latin America and

the Caribbean and worked in the CIA field office in Miami during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Chavez retired from the Air Force

as a lieutenant colonel in 1966 and settled in Miami where he worked as a security

consultant for multinational corporations.

In 1975, Chavez heard about a

daughters attended FIU so he knew it was a good fit for him.

“This program was created for an

underserved population whose life

circumstances didn’t allow them to finish

their education,” said retired international relations Professor Ralph Clem. “It

was people like Manny who made that program a success because he was

definitely intelligent, with a lot of real-

world experience, and he was motivated to finish.”

Thirty-nine years after graduating

from high school, Chavez earned his bachelor’s degree at the age of 57.

Chavez retired from the private

Chavez set his sights on Georgetown

program at FIU, Miami’s new public

sector in 2010. The non-traditional alum

Angeles, earning his associate’s degree

personnel the opportunity to earn a

anniversary with his wife, Bernice. They

University. He first attended college in Los in 1939. With U.S. involvement in World War II looming, Chavez was called into 20 | A&S 2012-2013

Lindau meeting organizer, the only physics

research university, that offered military degree based on earned college credits and work experience. Both of his

recently celebrated his 70th wedding continue to make Miami their home.

A&S 2012-2013 | 21

Beyond the Classroom The latest news and honors for Arts & Sciences faculty members Professors receive Florida Book Awards Creative Writing professors Campbell McGrath and Lynne Barret both earned gold medal honors at the Florida Book Awards.

McGrath was recognized for his book of poems, “In the Kingdom of the Sea Monkeys.” Barrett was honored for her short story collection, “Magpies.” This is the second Florida Book Award for McGrath and first for Barrett.

Botanist receives rare honor Javier Francisco-Ortega, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been elected as an honorary member of the Montgomery Botanical Center. The award recognizes the long trajectory of Francisco-Ortega as a supporter and collaborator of the center.

Psychologist recognized for research The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded psychology professor Raul Gonzalez the Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award for his HIV and drug abuse research.

making contributions toward informing, advocating for, and improving the mental health and well-being of children and families, particularly through policy.

Newman re-elected to international post Meredith Newman, senior associate dean of Arts & Sciences and professor of Public Administration, was elected to a second term with the Board of Management of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration during a meeting in Bahrain.

Also this year, Newman was honored by her alma mater, the University of Central Florida, with two Professional Achievement Awards.

Pettit honored for career contributions The American Association of Suicidology has awarded Jeremy Pettit, associate professor of psychology, the Edwin Shneidman Award.

The annual award is given to individuals under the age of 40 who have made outstanding early career contributions in the field of suicidology.

Pettit was honored in April during the association’s annual conference.

History professor receives two honors

Rhea recognized as emerging scholar Harry M. Rhea, associate professor of Criminal Justice, received the Roslyn Muraskin Emerging Scholar Award from the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences in June 2013. The award recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions to the advancement of criminal justice within the first five years of the recipient’s professional career.

Every year, the College of Arts & Sciences offers hundreds of lectures for students, faculty and the greater community to share ideas and foster greater understandings of issues that affect us all. These events feature faculty members, students, local community members, activists, global leaders, and visionaries. Each lecture

Public Administration Professor Allan Rosenbaum was inducted as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a non-profit coalition of public management and organizational leaders that analyzes and makes recommendations on the country’s most critical public management, governance, policy and operational challenges.

leaves its mark at FIU.

APA Highlights Shrage Philosophy Professor Laurie Shrage’s work was highlighted by the American Philosophical Association in 2013. Her research examines the philosophical assumptions and political values that provide a foundation for demands for the emancipation of women, reproductive and health care rights; toleration for diverse gender and sexual expression, and marriage and family equality.

Founding director of the FIU Women’s Studies Center Marilyn HoderSalmon was honored by the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU with the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award. This annual award celebrates the achievements of professional women who foster advancement for women in society.

Early career honors for Malloy

Patricia L. Price named an ACE Fellow

Professor named to economics society

The American Psychological Foundation has named Lindsay Malloy, assistant professor of psychology, the first recipient of the annual Division 37 Dianne J. Willis Early Career Award. This award was created to honor talented young psychologists who are

Patricia L. Price, professor of geography in the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. As an ACE fellow, Price will focus on nurturing a campus culture of integrity at FIU.

Hakan Yilmazkuday, assistant professor of economics, was appointed executive secretary of the International Economics and Finance Society. Yilmazkuday is responsible for the society’s web communications, organizing officer elections, and planning sessions at the Allied Social Science Association’s annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.

22 | A&S 2012-2013

Visionaries, activists and champions leave their mark at FIU

Rosenbaum inducted into academy

Bianca Premo, professor in the Department of History, received the 2012 Vanderwood Prize from the Conference on Latin American History for the article “An Equity against the Law: Slave Rights and Creole Jurisprudence in Spanish America.” She also received Honorable Mention for the 2012 Kimberly Hanger Prize by the Southern Historical Association for her article, “Before the Law: Women’s Petitions in the EighteenthCentury Spanish Empire.”

Hoder-Salmon honored by JMOF-FIU

International Voices

Watson appointed to cultural institute Modern Languages Professor Maida Watson has been named contributing member to the La Institución de Investigaciones y Estudios Abulenses Gran Duque de Alba in Ávila, Spain. Watson will serve as an adviser to the institution, offering insight on Iberian and Latin American literature, culture and other issues.

Albright headlines Broad series Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright visited FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus last fall as part of the School of International and Public Affairs’ flagship speaker series, the Ruth K. and Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series. Albright discussed the legacy of Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic and the leader of the Velvet Revolution, which toppled the communist regime in 1989. Supported by a gift from the Shepard Broad Foundation Inc., the series provides FIU and the community with insights into the events and forces shaping contemporary global affairs. In addition to Albright, other 2012-2013 speakers included Rajiv Shah, U.S. Agency for International Development; Trita Parsi, founder and president of the National Iranian American Council; and Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, South African ambassador to the U.S., among others. For the schedule of upcoming speakers, visit international.fiu.edu.

SEAS launches two lecture series In the spring, the School of Environment, Arts and Society launched two distinct lecture series focused on conservation. In March, the school welcomed Robert W. Corell, principal with the Global Environment and

Technology Foundation, to campus to inaugurate its flagship lecture series, Our Common Future. Corell discussed the consequences of interactions between regions of the Northern hemisphere and the Arctic on climate change, human health, and economic development. Our Common Future will bring some of the world’s leading thinkers to FIU to discuss critical environmental issues.

In May, SEAS kicked of Zoo FIU, a lecture series hosted in collaboration with Zoo Miami. The series of talks by university researchers and zoo staff focus on the conservation and care of species that reside at Zoo Miami.

To learn more about these lecture series and other SEAS events, visit environment.fiu.edu.

SISH welcomes activist Gloria Steinem to campus Feminist icon Gloria Steinem visited FIU last fall, urging women to stay involved in the political process. In a lecture hosted by the Women’s Studies Center, the renowned writer, lecturer and activist focused on women’s rights issues related to the 2012 election.

Women in Science takes to the podium The School of Integrated Science and Humanity also launched the Women in Science Lecture Series, thanks to a generous gift by Turkish philanthropist Mine Ucer. The series promotes the awareness, participation and advancement of women pursuing academic careers in science. To learn more, visit humanity.fiu.edu.

Cuban Blogger champions democracy During a lecture hosted by the Cuban Research Institute, blogger Yoani Sánchez said the Internet is changing Cuba in spite of government restrictions. Sánchez addressed an audience of 500 on the restrictions the Cuban government places on free expression, including Internet access, and the impact of technology on the possible democratization of Cuba.

Media coverage of the event reached an audience 5 million and FIU tweets reached another 1.5 million people. Sánchez documents her life on the island through her blog, GeneraciónY.

To view Yoani Sanchez’s lecture, scan this QR code.

A&S 2012-2013 | 23

FIU scientists help find ‘God Particle’

For the complete stories, visit news.FIU.edu.

Physicists on experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) announced in 2012 that they have observed a new particle, possibly the elusive Higgs boson. FIU scientists and graduate students are part of the international team collaborating on the research. The FIU team helped design, build and operate the LHC accelerator with the Compact Muons Solenoid (CMS) experiment.

STEM Transformation Institute launches In September of 2012, FIU launched the STEM Transformation Institute, a multidisciplinary partnership that will pave the way for student success in

Researcher finds answers to food security with honeybees

science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The institute brings all of

Stephany Alvarez-Ventura ‘09, MS ‘11 is finding answers to food security by studying

the university’s efforts together into a

honeybee colony collapse disorder, which occurs when a parasite spreads viruses

collective mission to transform STEM

within a colony causing the bees to abruptly disappear. Honeybees help ensure the world’s food supply because they pollinate a variety of crops. Alvarez-Ventura’s research found that beekeepers should place hives in natural, stable environments with flower abundance to limit parasites. Anti-parasite treatment should be used as a last

education from preschool through graduate school. To learn more, visit stem.fiu.edu.

resort, according to her findings.

Forensic science experts convene at FIU FIU’s International Forensic Research Institute hosted a symposium on “Research and Practice in the Forensic Sciences.” The second annual conference featured the latest in research findings and new technologies for the field. FIU faculty and

Math lab opens Arts & Sciences opened the new, state-of-the-art Mastery Math Lab in the fall semester of 2012. Located in the Green Library, the lab is a key component of FIU’s five-year Title V project “Opening the Gateways,” a high-tech, high-touch approach to improving student performance in college algebra led by Arts & Sciences Dean Kenneth G. Furton. During the first day of classes, more than 1,600 students attended sessions in the lab, which was funded by the university’s technology fee. The program is on track to achieve an overall pass rate of 73 percent in college algebra by 2015. To learn more, visit gateways.fiu.edu.

Researchers uncover the mystery of charcoal’s fate An international team of researchers led by FIU Chemistry Professor Rudolf Jaffé has uncovered

Monster larva’s indentity revealed For centuries, an elusive larval creature with armor-like horns has kept its true identity a secret.

That mystery has been solved, thanks to a team of researchers led by Marine Sciences Professor Heather Bracken-Grissom. By using DNA testing on an intact, freshly collected specimen from the Gulf of Mexico, the researchers determined it is a rare, deep-sea shrimp – now identified as Plesiopenaeus armatus.

24 | A&S 2012-2013

Third from left, Kevin McElfresh ’79, chief scientific officer of The Genome ID Group in North Carolina, was the keynote speaker at the 2013 IFRI symposium.

one of nature’s long-kept secrets — the true fate of charcoal in the world’s soils.

The researchers concluded that charcoal is making its way to the world’s waters. Being able to determine the fate of charcoal is critical in helping scientists balance the global carbon budget,

students as well as forensic science professionals covered a variety of topics including animal cruelty, crime scenes, gunshot residue testing, designer drugs and DNA backlog.

Model United Nations ranks 7th in North America

What happens when an artist and a physicist meet?

The world was captivated earlier this year when scientists at CERN

The FIU Model United

announced the possible existence of the elusive Higgs boson particle. FIU

Nations (MUN) team

artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada and physicist Pete Markowitz collaborated

has been ranked

on an art installation that will forever mark the historic occasion: five banners

seventh in North

at Point Five at the Large Hadron Collider.

America and first among all public research universities

by BestDelegate.com. The education company also ranked FIU MUN as the top team from the state of Florida. The FIU delegates competed in conferences throughout the United States including the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.

which, in turn, can help explain and mitigate climate change.

To view a feature video on FIU’s Model UN, scan this QR code.

A&S 2012-2013 | 25

Fun

Just for

Student selected for Modern Language Association’s appointment Svetlana Tyutina, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Modern Languages, has been appointed to the Modern Language Association Committee on the Status of Graduate Students in the Profession.

The committee focuses on issues that

Academic Health Center Expands FIU’s Academic Health Center complex is growing. The official groundbreaking of AHC 5 – which will be the new home of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, the Extreme Events Institute, and the Department of Earth and Environment – took place during the summer of 2012. Seven months later the university celebrated the completion of AHC 4, home of the School of Integrated

affect graduate students in language and literature. Since her appointment, she has met with association officials at the MLA headquarters in New York and is preparing a panel discussion on balancing

If you’re having trouble finding Dean Furton, just look for the nearest suit, tie and all — has become the hottest draw for dunk tanks

Palm Species named after Wertheim Conservatory curator

campus-wide, raising money at the annual Lambda Chi Alpha food

When someone refers to the Orania zonae, they’ll be giving a

drive and the faculty and staff picnic. If you can’t find him there,

nod to FIU tropical botanist Scott Zona. The species of palm

check the latest flights to Africa, where the dean is conducting

was named after the curator for the Wertheim Conservatory

global security research involving elephants and meerkats.

nearly 20 years after he first observed the single-stemmed,

dunk tank. Furton — who is known to take his turn in a full business

academia and personal life for the 2014

highly ornamental plant in the rainforests of New Guinea.

MLA Congress in Chicago.

Science and Humanity.

Miami Heat players go green at BBC

Dunk the dean

Observatory nears completion

Save gorillas, one cell phone at a time

Miami Heat players Mario Chalmers and Jarvis Varnado

got a peek at the

Mendez is trying to help save the gorillas of

Panther wins Irish Open

joined volunteers from the School of Environment, Arts

Stocker AstroScience

central Africa by recycling cell phones. Mendez

English major Meghan MacLaren,

and Society in April to plant mangroves, a butterfly garden

Center earlier this year,

learned in a biology class that gorillas are losing

who hails from the United Kingdom,

and build picnic tables at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

an observatory that

their habitat to the illegal mining of coltan,

won the Irish Women’s Open Amateur

The event was part of the NBA’s annual Green Week,

has been nearly two

an ore that is refined and used in electronics

championship by a single stroke.

The FIU community

dedicated to educating fans about the importance of

decades in the making. Made possible by a

protecting our planet.

transformational gift from Dr. Carl Stocker, the research facility features classrooms, research labs, and an observatory. It will open for students in the spring of 2014.

Biological Sciences major Claudia Alvarez

equipment. That led her to launch an awareness campaign, collecting old cell phones no longer in use. Many companies have agreed to re-use the capacitors from the old phones, which helps to reduce the demand for coltan.

Coming off a successful freshman year with the FIU women’s golf squad, she also helped England win the tournament’s Nations Cup.

Students wade through research in the Everglades

Tweet

The Florida Coastal Everglades Student Organization launched

Shannon Pruden, assistant professor

the Wading Through Research blog, which shares stories,

of Psychology, achieved social media

photos and research ranging from failed experiments to

notoriety when her research to improve

successful endeavors. To read up on their latest happenings, visit

children’s learning of spatial skills was

floridacoastaleverglades.blogspot.com.

tweeted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

26 | A&S 2012-2013

A&S 2012-2013 | 27

The College of Arts & Sciences provides an educational foundation that prepares students to be successful and engaged citizens in a global society.

The college is made up of three thematic schools focused on global ideas and solutions for the 21st century: the School of Environment, Arts and Society, the School of Integrated Science and Humanity, and the School of International and Public Affairs. Offering a diverse educational experience, the College of Arts & Sciences offers more than 70 academic degrees in 16 academic departments and 48 interdisciplinary programs.

School of Environment, Arts and Society

Departments

By bringing together the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, the School of Environment, Arts and Society is transforming the way we conduct research, educate our students and engage the community. Because the world’s environmental problems are no longer just about the environment, the school’s approach to education will ensure today’s students become innovative leaders of the 21st century by providing the communication, research and critical thinking skills needed to make a difference in our local and global communities.

• Biological Sciences • Earth and Environment • English

environment.fiu.edu

• Center for the Humanities in an Urban Environment • International Center for Tropical Botany • Marine Education and Research Initiative • Southeast Environmental Research Center

Departments

The School of Integrated Science and Humanity encompasses a unique integration of academic departments, centers and institutes advancing a wide array of bold initiatives. The school’s faculty members are pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to the complex challenges of the 21st century, particularly in the fields of biomolecular, behavioral, cognitive and basic sciences. The school houses many of the university’s premier centers and institutes dedicated to research and community engagement including the Center for Children and Families, the International Forensic Research Institute, and the Women’s Studies Center.

• • • • •

School of International and Public Affairs The School of International and Public Affairs brings together FIU’s internationally oriented disciplines to provide cutting-edge research, first-rate teaching and innovative training necessary for the globalized world of the 21st century. The academic core of the school is comprised of eight major departments and houses many of FIU’s most prominent international centers, institutes and programs. The quality of its faculty and innovative programs has earned the school affiliate membership in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs. international.fiu.edu

Adding up Arts & Sciences in 2012-2013

16 41 416 4,642 $60 $6.2

academic departments

Chemistry and Biochemistry Mathematics and Statistics Philosophy Physics Psychology

Centers • Center for Children and Families • Center for Women’s and Gender Studies • International Forensic Research Institute • Biomolecular Sciences Institute • Cognitive Neuroscience Initiative

4.2 million viewers who watched the TODAY Show’s live broadcast from the Aquarius Reef Base on Sept. 18, 2013.

research centers and core science facilities full-time faculty

School of Integrated Science and Humanity

humanity.fiu.edu

28 | A&S 2012-2013

Centers

By the Numbers

graduates

million in externally funded research million in philanthropic giving

Departments • • • • • • • •

Criminal Justice Economics Global and Sociocultural Studies History Modern Languages Politics and International Relations Public Administration Religious Studies

Centers

SIPA houses many of FIU’s most prominent international centers, institutes, and programs.

124,380

YouTube views for TEDxFIU including talks by FIU professors Richard Olson and James Webb, and International Relations student Philip Koenig

7th

Best Delegate ranking for the FIU Model United Nations in North America

3,200

pounds is the total weight of the observatory dome atop the Stocker AstroScience Center

A&S 2012-2013 | 29

College of Arts & Sciences Modesto A. Maidique Campus ECS 450 Miami, FL 33199-0001

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Miami FL PERMIT NO 3675

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Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree Fully Online FIU now offers fully online bachelor degree programs in psychology and criminal justice. Students can study anywhere, anytime and with 24/7 technology, they can connect with faculty and classmates. They’ll even have a personal success coach to guide them along the way.

Alumni are a great source for qualified applicants. Do you know someone who would be a good match for these online degrees? If so, participate in our Referral Program today!

Visit fiuonline.com/referral_form.