VIRES Spring 2020

®

A Publication of the Florida State University Alumni Association

SPRING 2020 Volume 12, Issue 1

RISING TO THE

TOP 20

Featuring: Olympian Colleen Quigley Dance Alumnus Returns as Dean Graduates in the Driver’s Seat

THE MOMENT

MARCHING CHIEFS ALUMNI CELEBRATE 50 YEARS Homecoming 2019 marked a historic occasion for a talented group of alumni musicians.

The Marching Chiefs Alumni celebrated its 50th anniversary with the largest gathering in the organization’s history. On Oct. 26, 2019, more than 400 alumni returned to Florida State University and joined the 420 current Chiefs on the field for pre-game and halftime performances. Together as one band, over 800 past and current Marching Chiefs performed the Star-Spangled Banner, the FSU fight song, Aquarius, and the alma mater.

Photo by Melina Myers (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’13)

alumni.fsu.edu

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 1

VIRES

®

PUBLISHER Julie Decker Cheney

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelli Gemmer (B.S. ’14, M.S. ’18)

DESIGNER Jessica Rosenthal (B.S. ’01)

COPY EDITOR Susan Ray (B.A. ’88)

EDITORIAL INTERNS Hailey Pflaumer Shannon Turner

CONTRIBUTORS Brian Hudgins University Communications

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF alumni.fsu.edu/staff

View VIRES® Online alumni.fsu.edu/vires

FROM THE PUBLISHER We are excited about the first issue of this new decade! My team, led by our stellar Editor-in-Chief, started working on this edition of VIRES® magazine as soon as the last issue hit mailboxes. In this issue, you will notice a few updates. First, we have an expanded university news section. We want you to know what is happening on campus and gain deeper insight into FSU’s impact regionally, nationally and globally.

In fact, FSU undergraduate Toni-Ann Singh is the reigning Miss World; talk about global stage. Second, look at these faces! These images capture engagements near and far. You will see alumni and students coming together to revel in the timehonored tradition of Homecoming, as well as the celebration of individual successes demonstrating the value of a degree from Florida State University. Our graduates are making a difference and we love sharing the stories.

FSU continues its rise as a top public institution in the country. Spring 2020 is poised to see a record 70,000 applications for undergraduate programs. All of us look forward to welcoming 6,200 new Seminoles in August — the Class of 2024. Our university is in demand for many reasons — low student-to faculty-ratio, an exceptional four-year graduation rate, and a well-rounded student experience. Did you know that about 25% of FSU undergraduates co-author research publications and presentations with faculty members and graduate students? From medicine to the arts, students can come to Florida State and start making an impact immediately.

If you have not been back to campus recently, I encourage you to stop reading at this point and make your plans right now. Come back and take a tour, visit the Alumni Center, or walk through campus, and you are sure to be delighted. If you cannot get back any time soon, find your local Seminole Club to stay connected to your alma mater.

These alumni clubs are welcoming to friends, parents and alumni alike. If you love FSU — we love you! The network of clubs, and our invaluable club leaders, are a point of pride for Florida State University. You will find them just as welcoming as being home here in Tallahassee.

Alumni members — thank you for joining and renewing each year. Because of you, the Alumni Association is able to build a 21st century strategy. Currently, we are evaluating digital opportunities, career networking online, webinars, student mentoring and so much more. We thrive because of the belief that you hold that being a member matters.

Stay in touch. Let us know how we can better serve and engage you.

Seminoles Forever,

Contact Us vires@alumni.fsu.edu Submit Class Notes alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes

Julie Decker Cheney President & CEO FSU Alumni Association

Advertise alumni.fsu.edu/advertise Stay Connected alumni.fsu.edu/social

You may have recently received communication from Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) in your mailbox or online. This is because we have partnered with PCI to complete an alumni data verification project. Up-to-date alumni information is essential to our organization so we can better serve you, Florida State University and its future alumni. Learn more about this project at alumni.fsu.edu/directory-faq.

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

2 alumni.fsu.edu

FSU’s three torches represented in the new Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science Building’s five-story window.

Photo by Dana Sterneman (B.A. ’18)

VIRES SPRING 2020 Volume 12, Issue 1

®

A biannual publication of the Florida State University Alumni Association. Named after the first torch in the university seal, VIRES represents strength of all kinds: physical, mental and moral.

18

On Track for the Olympics

Colleen Quigley, former Wilhelmina model and FSU track star, prepares

for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

26 Raising the Barre

James Frazier returns to his alma mater as the newly appointed

Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

34 Paving the Road to Success

05 17 24 40 48 50 60

University News Catching Up With Ten Questions Association News Seminoles Forever Class Notes Parting Shot

Alumnae Laura Kelley, Michelle Maikisch and Lisa Lumbard lead one of the largest

ON THE COVER: Osceola and

toll road agencies in the nation.

Renegade pictured in front of the iconic Westcott Gate during the 2019 Homecoming Parade. Photo by Steve Chase SPRING 2020 | VIRES 3

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4 alumni.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS FSU at a Glance

17th COLLEGE

P.A. Degree

The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, the nation’s first stand-alone entrepreneurship college at a public university, became FSU’s 17th college. The school-turned-college was founded with a $100 million gift from Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation in December 2015.

Carnegie Foundation

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION FSU was one of 119 U.S. colleges and universities recognized for its efforts to actively engage with the local and world communities through teaching, research, service and partnerships.

ALUMNI

The School of Physician Assistant Practice at the Florida State University College of Medicine graduated its inaugural class of 37 physician assistants.

STUDENTS RAISE

$1,044,303.06 IN 40 HOURS

Dance Marathon, FSU’s largest student-run philanthropy, surpassed its goal to raise $1 million at its 40-hour event to benefit Shands Children’s Hospital, Tallahassee’s local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, and the FSU College of Medicine’s Pediatric Outreach Programs.

STUDY ABROAD

Miss World FSU undergraduate Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica was crowned Miss World Dec. 14, 2019.

Top 25 FILM SCHOOL

The College of Motion Picture Arts ranked in the nation’s Top 25 in lists by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the industry’s top publications, and The Wrap.

No. 11

FSU International Programs, which offers study abroad opportunities in 20 locations and 60 disciplines, ranked No. 11 in the nation in a report by the Institute of International Education. news.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 5

UNIVERSITY NEWS

TOP TOPIC FSU on the Rise Florida State University joins nation’s Top 20 among public universities Florida State University made history Sept. 9, 2019, when it rose eight spots from No. 26 to No. 18 among national public universities in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Colleges 2020, the greatest single-year leap FSU has ever experienced. Since ranking No. 43 in 2016, FSU has climbed 25 spots under the leadership of President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie.

Photo by Steve Chase

The rise ignited in 2013 when the state legislature designated Florida State a preeminent university. “The Florida Legislature believed in us, and they believed in our plan to get there,” Thrasher said. “They asked us to be a Top 25 university – now we’re a Top 20 university.”

“I always say that every decision comes down to what is best for our students. Then, it becomes a fairly easy decision to make.”

“The continued engagement of our alumni has helped Florida State rise up the national rankings, which directly increases the value of your degree, no matter what year you earned it.”

— Sam Ambrose, chair of the FSU Alumni

With the hard work and efforts of students, faculty and staff over the past few years, Thrasher was confident FSU would rise in the rankings, but such an enormous jump even came as a surprise to him. However, when looking back at the university’s accomplishments over recent years, the rise in rankings shouldn’t come as a surprise at all. “As much as we’ve come up in the numbers, I think the university was that good when we got here,” Thrasher said.

“It’s just that we’ve put the money and resources in the right places.”

Thrasher attributes FSU’s rise to an improved student-to-faculty ratio and student success. As a result of hiring 125 new faculty last fall, more than half of FSU’s classes contain fewer than 20 students,

6 alumni.fsu.edu

— Sally McRorie, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs

Association National Board of Directors providing a more intimate and engaging classroom environment. Thrasher credits the faculty, as well.

McRorie said student success is at the heart of FSU. “I always say that every decision comes down to what is best for our students,” she said. “Then, it becomes a fairly easy decision to make.” It is no wonder why the university has the highest four-year graduation rate in the state of Florida at 72 percent.

Now, graduates can say that they earned a degree from a Top 20 university.

“When I applied to FSU, I recognized as much as anyone that its exponential growth showed no signs of slowing down,”

Photos by FSU Photography Services unless otherwise specified

President John Thrasher congratulates faculty, staff and students on FSU's rise to No. 18 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of national public universities during a news conference Sept. 9, 2019.

said Zac Howard (B.A. ’14), assistant director of marketing at Long Island University. “President Thrasher’s resolve and the vision of his leadership team gave me confidence that the university would continue its ascent. To be honest, I’m not shocked that we achieved a Top 20 ranking.

The bigger surprise to me would be if we’re not higher next year!”

Sam Ambrose (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’92), chair of the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, said that the rise in the rankings is not only a testament to the hard work of university administrators, faculty

and staff, but also to FSU’s alumni. “The continued engagement of our alumni has helped Florida State rise up the national rankings, which directly increases the value of your degree, no matter what year you earned it.”

The Top 20 ranking is exciting for alumni, current students, faculty and staff — and for those still to come. As FSU moves up in numbers, so do applications for admission.

Last year, applications were at an all-time high with nearly 61,000 first-year students hoping to attend Florida State. “Every student who comes here can succeed at the

same level,” McRorie said. “To me, that is the most important thing we can accomplish.”

Rob Jakubik (B.S. ’10), project manager for Federal Realty Investment Trust and a member of the FSU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council, challenges alumni to stay involved and contribute to FSU’s success so that the university can continue to rise in the rankings. “With everyone’s help, it’s only a matter of time until we’re in the Top 10!” gonol.es/top20

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 7

UNIVERSITY NEWS

FSU COMMUNITY College of Education College of Education launches Project ElevatED

Dean Andrew hand delivers a care package to an alumna at Pineview Elementary School in Tallahassee.

Photo by Jennie Kroeger (B.S. ’09)

This past fall, the FSU College of Education introduced Project ElevatED, an educator recognition program aimed at raising the profile of careers in education and recognizing education professionals around the state for the difference they make in the lives of students. The initiative is designed to support teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, principals, superintendents, coaches, athletic directors and others who play critical roles in the lives of Pre-K-12 students.

Project ElevatED kicked off during halftime of the FSU-NC State football game Sept.

28, 2019. FSU President John Thrasher and College of Education Dean Damon Andrew, in partnership with the Florida Department

of Education and the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, honored the Florida teacher of the year, principal of the year, assistant principal of the year, superintendent of the year and schoolrelated employee of the year on the field.

Last semester, the College of Education began distributing care packages to FSU alumni working as teachers that included a stuffed Cimarron, the official mascot of the Florida State Athletics Kids Club, which could be placed on teachers’ desks or in other highly visible areas of their classrooms. “This care package is a token of our appreciation for all that they do,” said Andrew, who hand-delivered many of the care packages to schools across the state. “We want our alumni to be able to

Where FSU engineers are made.

We’re proud to be the #NoleEngineer alma mater for Echo Gates, who was the force behind the design of Tallahassee’s downtown Superfund siteturned-cultural mecca, Cascades Park. Every day, we’re educating more Seminoles to make their engineering mark on the world, and our unique model gives them a truly exceptional start. www.eng.famu.fsu.edu | @famufsucoe

ASEE DIVERSITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM

BRONZE 2019 BRONZE EXEMPLAR

8 alumni.fsu.edu

www.eng.famu.fsu.edu

famufsucoe

College of Arts and Sciences FSU neuroscience program confers its first undergraduate degree

show their FSU pride in their classrooms and start positive conversations with their students about the education profession.”

Project ElevatED hopes to spread across the entire state within the upcoming year. gonol.es/elevatED

FSU ROTC was one of eight programs

named a 2019 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Award, recognizing the ideals of “duty, honor and country” as advocated by the late Douglas MacArthur.

ROTC

Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship FSU announces 2020 Seminole 100 The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in Florida State University’s College of Business released the 2020 Seminole 100 list of fastestgrowing businesses owned or managed by Florida State alumni. This year’s Seminole 100 were recognized at a reception and awards dinner on Feb. 22, 2020, that featured the release of the final rankings. gonol.es/seminole100-2020

Austin John Burns

“As soon as FSU announced the program was coming out, I was essentially the first person in the door to meet with the advisor. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Photo by Mick McGuire

Photo by Colin Hackley

FSU and UF ROTC create a new tradition, the Game Ball Run

FSU and the University of Florida’s Air Force and Army ROTC programs teamed up to begin a new tradition, the Game Ball Run. Prior to the 2019 FSU-UF rivalry football game in Gainesville, President John Thrasher handed the game ball to FSU ROTC cadets at the Westcott Building who then ran the ball to the midway point between Tallahassee and Gainesville to hand the ball off to UF ROTC cadets. Participants ran a collective 150 miles to celebrate 150 years of college football and highlight both the rivalry between the two football teams and camaraderie between the FSU and UF ROTC programs. gonol.es/rotc-run

– Austin John Burns (B.S. ’19)

When Austin John Burns (B.S. ’19) walked across the stage at graduation Dec. 13, 2019, he became the first FSU alumnus to hold an undergraduate degree in neuroscience. FSU’s neuroscience program, which to date is the only university in the State University System to offer a formal neuroscience degree to undergraduates, began in 2018 with 45 students. The program is now opening doors for 305 students in the major and new opportunities for faculty collaboration.

The departments of Biological Science and Psychology work very closely together to develop a coursework strong enough to help enhance the students’ skills and understanding of the rigorous material. gonol.es/neuroscience

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 9

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Above left: The exterior of the 37,000-square-foot Palazzo Bagnesi Falconeri, in the heart of Florence, Italy. Above right: Florence study center faculty use the city as a classroom. Photos courtesy of International Programs

International Programs

gonol.es/fsuip-florence

Order Today!

Historic Florentine palace becomes new home of FSU International Programs in Italy

while also keeping the connection with FSU’s history in Florence, dating back to 1966 with FSU’s inaugural class. It will also provide space for them to congregate, learn and experience the countless artistic and historical wonders of a city that sparked and cultivated the artistic explosion of the Renaissance.

This summer, FSU will move its Florence study center to the newly renovated Palazzo Bagnesi Falconeri, a historic 37,000-square-foot palace that dates back to the time of Michaelangelo. In addition to serving as a hub of research and learning, the building will be a home away from home for visiting FSU students and faculty. The new infrastructure will aid in the immersive experience of the students,

10 alumni.fsu.edu

CAMPUS SNAPSHOT Marching Chiefs

University Housing

FSU honors the Marching Chiefs with a stained-glass window

Academic Resource Center

Above: Wearing her original band cardigan, Ashby recounts her memories as a Marching Chief with current members of the band. These memories played a key role in developing the design of the window with FSU’s Master Craftsman Studio. Below: The unveiling of the window inside Dodd Hall's Heritage Museum. Photos by FSU Photography Services

FSU Housing teamed up with the Academic Center for Excellence, the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Academic Affairs to debut the Academic Resource Center (ARC) at a grand opening ceremony Nov. 18, 2019. Located on the ground level of Jennie Murphee Hall, the ARC is a convenient study space for students living on campus. The communal space supports both collaborative and individual learning, and will employ students part-time as academic trainers to assist other students through a paid peer-assistance program. gonol.es/fsu-arc

A one-of-a-kind, three-dimensional stainedglass window honoring the Marching Chiefs was unveiled Sept. 20, 2019. The window — made possible through a generous $25,000 donation from FSU alumna and former band member, Florence Ashby (B.M.E. ’57) — was the product of a collaboration between Ashby, the College of Music, FSU Libraries and the FSU Master Craftsman Studio. The window depicts Ashby wearing the women’s black uniform of the day and playing her clarinet, with two men at her side in former and current uniforms to highlight the Marching Chiefs’ rich history. gonol.es/chiefs-heritage

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 11

Guide the Next Generation of Noles

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Whether you are in Tallahassee or London, you can contribute to the success of FSU students by becoming a ProfessioNole Mentor.

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Learn more at education.fsu.edu.

12 alumni.fsu.edu

Above: Attendees of the 2019 President's Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence listen to the opening remarks.

Below: Elias Larralde explains his project, Melodies of Mirages: Exoticism, Folklore, and “performing” Santeria.

Photos by Bayard Stern (B.S. ’90, M.A. ’09)

Students learn to grow their own produce at FSU’s Seminole Organic Garden located on campus next to the FSU circus.

Sustainable Campus Seminole Organic Garden teaches sustainability A sustainability initiative is taking a new course to teach life skills. This on-campus garden provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to learn how to grow their own food while reducing their carbon footprint. “This is a great place to learn where your food comes from, how to grow it, what to do with it, and get creative with how you eat healthy and nutritious local food,” said Director of Campus Sustainability Elizabeth Swiman. gonol.es/garden

ACADEMICS Student Research Students present impressive research at annual showcase The 2019 President’s Undergraduate Research Showcase last fall provided students the opportunity to present their summer research and creative work.

Many of these students were IDEA Grant, Tech Fellow and iGEM award recipients working under the mentorship of some of FSU’s most distinguished faculty. “Our

“It prompted me to think more about my place in academia and that my thoughts are valid.”

— FSU Senior Elias Larralde

students are doing groundbreaking work in partnership with our talented faculty that pushes their disciplines further,” said President John Thrasher. “The undergraduate research experience helps students become more critical and capable thinkers who are able to identify problems and find ways to solve them.” gonol.es/undergradresearch19

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 13

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science

Wenyuan Fan

FSU researchers discover new geophysical phenomenon Wenyuan Fan, assistant professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, has coined the term "stormquakes" to describe a newly identified geological phenomenon where hurricanes or other strong storms trigger seismic events.

The energy caused by strong storms and hurricanes transfer into the ocean in the form of strong ocean waves, creating intense seismic source activity.

After a decade of analysis, researchers found that there is in fact a connection between this activity along continental shelves or ocean banks. Fan and his colleagues have created a process to detect if certain activity is a seismic event, such as the waves seen off the shore of Florida and Little Bahama Bank after Hurricane Irene in 2011. The research is published in the journal, Geophysical Research Letters. gonol.es/stormquakes

Walter Boot

14 alumni.fsu.edu

Psychology FSU professor receives $4.6 million grant to launch ENHANCE In an effort to improve adults’ lives, Psychology Professor Walter Boot received a $4.6 million grant to establish a center focused on older adults with cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury, ENHANCE (Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks, & Community Engagement). Boot will co-direct the center with colleagues at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Illinois. This was Boot’s second major research award in 2019; he also was awarded a $2.9 million grant to investigate early detection and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and dementia.

The objectives of the ENHANCE center are to: • Understand the challenges older adults with cognitive impairment encounter with daily activities, how these vary according to type of cognitive impairment and needed areas of and preferences for support.

• Identify, develop and evaluate potential technology solutions.

• Disseminate findings to multiple stakeholders.

• Advance new knowledge in the aging, cognitive disability and technology space. gonol.es/enhance

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Join your local credit union today and discover what 119 million American consumers already know. nafcu.org

Dance FSU School of Dance faculty member awarded prestigious Bogliasco Fellowship Above Left: Students at New York Live Arts rehearse Welliver’s Beasts and Plots as she looks on. Photo by Ian Douglas. Above Right: The Bogliasco Foundation’s Study Center in northern Italy. Photo by John Hall

Gwen Welliver

Award-winning dancer and choreographer Gwen Welliver, an assistant professor in the School of Dance, was awarded the Bogliasco Study Center Fellowship.

Through this fellowship, Welliver will spend a one-month residency at the Bogliasco Study Center in Italy and work alongside fellows from all around the world. “I’m surprised and honored to be selected for a Boglisaco Fellowship by an international

panel of scholars and artists who carry a deep appreciation for the role that creative research methods in the arts and humanities play in living and communicating in our stunningly diverse world,” Welliver said. gonol.es/welliver Stay up to date: news.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS SPRING 2020 | VIRES 15

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MIKE NORVELL Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell stepped onto Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time as Florida State’s head football coach Dec. 8, 2019, welcomed by the Marching Chiefs and FSU President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72). Norvell, who spent the last four seasons elevating the Memphis Tigers’ football program to new heights, was one of the first coaches that FSU’s search committee interviewed. He was also the last.

Not even 24 hours after the press conference, Norvell began executing his plan and vision by building his coaching staff. He has hit the ground running in his new role and shows no sign of slowing down. Alumni, fans and friends of FSU can see Norvell’s game debut at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta on Sept. 5, 2020.

Photo courtesy of FSU Athletics Department

“In between, we met with a lot of coaches,” said Florida State Athletic Director David Coburn (B.S. ’73, M.S. ’77, J.D. ’77). “After every day of interviews, President Thrasher and I would sit down and well, we kept coming back to Norvell.” Coburn and Thrasher were not only looking for a head coach who could inspire and lead, but also for someone with a vision for how the football program could help the university achieve academic success. Coburn said, “We had a list of criteria that our new head coach needed to meet that went well beyond his record, and Mike Norvell exceeded all of them.”

The admiration from colleagues and former players was clear to Florida State from the moment Norvell stepped in front of the microphone at the introductory press conference. “I’m going to work each and every day to represent you in a first-class fashion,” Norvell said. “We’re going to do things the Nole way and that is competing to be excellent in every aspect of what we do. We’re going to approach everything with a championship mindset, with championship values of doing things the right way because this program is going back to the top.”

alumni.fsu.edu/footballhq SPRING 2020 | VIRES 17

for the

OLYMPICS

From Wilhelmina model to NCAA champion to Olympian, alumna Colleen Quigley is a role model to young athletes.

By Kim MacQueen (B.A. ’88)

For someone who wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to be growing up, Florida State University alumna Colleen Quigley (B.S. ’15) has already had two fantastic careers, and she’s not done yet.

Stand in the middle of a Times Square intersection and glance up at one of the many huge digital billboards, and you might catch a glimpse of her, larger-than-life and impeccably photographed in a Nike ad. Quigley’s first successful career was with Wilhelmina models, starting when she was in high school in St. Louis.

18 alumni.fsu.edu

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 19

When Quigley wasn’t traveling the world for her modeling career, she ran track for her high school team. Coached by her dad, she earned several titles and awards almost without breaking a sweat, but she didn’t think much about it at the time. Everything changed when Karen Harvey, former Women’s Distance Running coach at Florida State, came to her high school for a recruiting visit.

“She saw my potential,” said Quigley. “I’ll always remember her having that confidence in me, that belief that I was going to be good. I had to call my modeling agency and let them know I had decided to travel a different path. Coach Harvey stole my heart and I accepted a full ride scholarship to run for her and be a Florida State Seminole. To this day I am sure this was the best decision I have made in my life.”

“Coach Harvey stole my heart and I accepted a full ride scholarship to run for her and be a Florida State Seminole. To this day I am sure this was the best decision I have made in my life.”

— Colleen Quigley Once at FSU, Quigley decided to make the most of her college experience. She discovered a love for her major, dietetics, took leadership roles and made lifelong friends, all while her pre-college weekly running regimen went from 30 miles per week to 60-plus. Quigley’s greatest strength was in steeplechase, an obstacle race where runners jump hurdles and a water pit over the course of 7.5 laps around the track. During her freshman year, she finished fifth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) steeplechase, only to have Harvey look her in the eye and tell her she’d be a National Champion one day.

Page 18: Colleen Quigley in the qualifying round of the 2015 NCAA Championships. Photo courtesy of FSU Sports Information. Page 19: Quigley strides down Malibu Beach sporting her Nike Team USA gear. Photo by Ruben Domingo Above: Photos from Quigley’s modeling career with Wilhelmina, a full-service modeling and talent agency. Photos courtesy of Berk Communications. Above right: Quigley with Coach Harvey at the 2013 Notre Dame Invitational.

Right: After winning the national title in steeplechase at the 2015 NCAA Championship, Quigley pauses for an interview and caps it off with the chop.

Photos courtesy of FSU Sports Information

20 alumni.fsu.edu

“I thought she was crazy, but kept my eye on that goal for the next three years,” said Quigley, who went on to win an NCAA Championship during her senior year at FSU. “I never dreamed of taking this running thing any further. My senior year, lots of people started asking me if I was going to go pro. Professional runner? Me? Well, I never even considered it.”

Quigley’s plan was to graduate with a degree in dietetics, apply for a yearlong internship in New York, then take an exam to be certified as a registered dietitian while living in New York with Kevin, her boyfriend of 10 years.

“We would finally be able to live in the same zip code after five years of long-distance,” Quigley explains on her website, ColleenQuigley.org.

“Eventually, however, I decided to keep running and knew that my career would not land me in

New York. Kevin decided he was ready for a change of scenery too, and accepted a job at a startup in San Francisco. At least we would be on the same coast and time zone.”

When Quigley discovered the Bowerman Track Club, based in Beaverton, Oregon, she knew it was the place for her. In 2015, she signed a contract with Nike and became an official member of Bowerman; then the wins really started racking up.

She finished 12th in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, and came in eighth in the same event at the Summer Olympics in Rio in 2016.

Lately her days are packed with training for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, yet she still finds time to pen inspirational articles for her website and other outlets. Her writing never loses that authenticity that comes from still being amazed — five years after going pro — that she can make a good living running, something that comes so naturally to her. She spends a lot of time corresponding with younger athletes on social media and via her email newsletter.

When Quigley steps up to the starting line for a race, her long blonde hair hangs down her back in French braids. An open, influential and wildly successful maven of Instagram, she thought it might be fun to post a photo of herself getting ready to race one day, and tagged it #frenchbraidfriday. Then she posted every Friday.

That was two years ago.

Top: Quigley, left, poses for graduation photos with teammates Chelsi Woodruff (B.S. ’15), right, and Linden Hall (B.S. ’15), center, at the picturesque Mike Long Track on FSU’s campus. Photo courtesy of FSU Sports Information. Above: Quigley holds up the flag of the United States of America after placing second at the New Balance 5th Ave Mile in New York City on Sept. 9, 2018. Photo by Jason Suarez. Left: Quigley has her eyes set on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Photo by Ruben Domingo

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 21

“I talk about how braiding my hair and getting on the starting line feeling put-together — with my hair done up like that — makes me feel confident,” she said. “I’ve got my shoulders back and my hair braided, and I’m ready for this challenge. Let’s go get it!”

A true influencer, Colleen Quigley has over 183,000 followers on Instagram and uses the platform to give her fans a genuine snapshot into the day-to-day life of an Olympian. Everpresent in her stream are posts tagged #fastbraidfriday. Braided hair, a longtime race day signature for Quigley, inspired the hashtag that now serves as a source of empowerment for athletes of all ages, as well as a way for followers to share their own stories. Top left and above: Quigley inspiring fans at events in Chicago. Top right: Quigley takes a selfie with a fan after the 2019 USA Outdoor National Championship where she qualified for the IAAF World Championships. Photos courtesy of Colleen Quigley’s Instagram

@steeple_squigs 22 alumni.fsu.edu

Her followers responded by posting their own photos, and the hashtag took off, eventually becoming #fastbraidfriday. “I thought, ‘this could be bigger than I realized,’ when word spread through social media beyond runners to swimmers, basketball and soccer players, and horseback riders,” she said. “It’s been really cool to see people take it into their own lives and see what it means to them. Whatever sport you’re doing, if braiding your hair makes you feel confident and powerful and fast, I want to see you.”

And then it spread beyond sports.

“It means more to me now, because I see people posting their stories about really meaningful things that they're doing and challenges they're taking on in their lives,” Quigley said. “Maybe someone began chemotherapy and came back and decided to run their first 5k post-cancer. I realized these are big battles, crazy challenges that people are taking on.”

One Friday in February 2019 in the run-up to a race in New York, Quigley decided to set up a braid bar, working with the Bandier clothing store on Bond Street. More than 150 people showed up to get their hair braided for the weekend.

“They might have been planning to do a race, or maybe just a run in Central Park,” she said.

“They got to sit in the chair for 10 minutes and have someone really talented do their hair for them. They get to feel like the center of attention for a minute.”

Speaking of feeling like the center of attention: In an interview, Quigley doesn’t mention that she went on to pull down her first national title the next day at the 2019 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships. For an Olympic athlete who trains for hours every day to be the best, her writing doesn’t spend a lot of time on the subject of winning either. She’s much more interested in helping other people win at sports and life itself.

“I want to connect with people outside of my day-to-day life,” she said. “Even though I probably will never be able to meet as many of them as I’d like in person, I just love to be able to create connections with other athletes who might be following along with me. Hopefully they can get something even more out of my journey than they would if they were just watching me on TV.”

WATCH QUIGLEY COMPETE IN THE 2020 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN TOKYO COLLEEN QUIGLEY INSTAGRAM TAKEOVER Look back at Colleen Quigley’s Jan. 29, 2020, takeover of the FSU Alumni Association’s Instagram account. @fsualumni

Though Quigley is a runner first, she often models for sponsors like Nike.

Photo by Brian Jamie

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 23

Echo Kidd Gates at Imagination Fountain located in Cascades Park on the west side of Meridian Plaza. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

24 alumni.fsu.edu

TEN QUESTIONS E

cho

Kidd Gates (B.S ’97, M.S. ’99)

Tallahassee native Echo Gates, a civil engineer, was instrumental in the reimagination of Tallahassee’s beloved Cascades Park. This area has been a part of Tallahassee’s history since 1824, the year the city became Florida’s capital. It even housed Tallahassee’s first sports arena, Centennial Field, which was built in 1924 to commemorate the city’s 100th anniversary. While Cascades Park was first conceptualized by state and local planners in 1971, it shut down a few years later due to contamination. After contamination removal was completed in 2006, construction on the revitalized park began four years later and was completed in 2014 with the help of Gates through her role as assistant project manager.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the field, Gates is currently an engineering team leader/senior project manager with Halff Associates Inc. Yet, her journey to becoming an engineer was unconventional. After 22 years in construction management, she returned to school with a new career in mind: engineering. We asked this two-time alumna 10 questions.  What led you to civil engineering after already having a successful career in construction management? I had always wanted to go back to school to finish my degree; it was unfinished business for me. When my children were still preschoolers, I set my sights on an engineering degree having learned the role of engineers through working for a construction company. Because of time constraints, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair Soronnadi Nnaji allowed me to attend part time. As my children got older, I was able to take more classes each semester until I was a full-time graduate student.  How did your time at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering influence your success in civil engineering today? One of the most important things I learned was to attend to details. It did not matter if the assignment was a lab report, a homework assignment or a design project, excellence of work including the details was and is always rewarded.  Is there anything that you’d like readers to know about being a civil engineer that they might not know? What many people don’t realize is that civil engineering focuses on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of environments where people live, work and play. The water delivered to your tap when you brush your teeth in the morning is thanks to civil engineers. The roads and bridges you drive on to get to work were designed by civil engineers.

The structural component of the building where you work was designed by civil engineers. The traffic lights, the sewage system, the stormwater system, were all designed by civil engineers. The most mundane services and systems we encounter every day such as those named were once intriguing problems solved by civil engineers.  When planning for the future of Cascades Park, what were some ideas that you pulled from its past? We had an architect as part of the design team that researched the history of Tallahassee back through the Native American culture up to the present day. His research was invaluable in bringing the past to the present. Throughout the park, there are Native American motifs evident in the handrails and retaining walls. The crenelated tops of the exposed sheet pile harken back to the park’s industrial past as a coal gasification plant and site of Tallahassee’s first electrical generation plant that is now the home to The Edison restaurant. The Meridian Marker, the survey point from which all surveys in the State of Florida are based, is now celebrated on the Meridian Plaza. My memories and contributions to the design elements were interwoven in the discussions of the design team and folded into the overall park aesthetic.

 How did your past experiences at Cascades Park influence your vision of how the revitalized Cascades Park would serve the Tallahassee community? I remember the old Centennial Field – a ballpark that hosted community sporting events – and attending junior high school football games there. On the section of Gaines Street that is now enclosed within the park was the entrance to the curb market, a farmer’s market where you would find farmers’ mule-drawn wagons full of produce. That makes me sound old, but Tallahassee and Leon County were much more rural when I was growing up. We used to buy hampers of white acre peas from the curb market in the early mornings before sunup and then sit on the porch to shell peas. Cascades Park had been a part of the fabric of Tallahassee’s social life despite its industrial past. My hope for the park was that it would once again become a place for people to come together and enjoy its beauty. Its success has far exceeded my expectations.  What are you most proud of about how Cascades Park has impacted the Tallahassee community and quality of life? One of the greatest rewards of having worked on the park is seeing people enjoy it. It has truly become a social center, a gathering place for all ages, and a place of respite. From concerts, to playgrounds, to the interactive waterplay, to the Capital Cascades Trail, all these elements bring people together. Seeing the park come alive with people makes all the work that was put in a labor of love.  If you could tell one thing to students pursuing a career in civil engineering, what would it be? The field of civil engineering is so broad and there is much to learn. Absorb all the knowledge you can in classes, be inquisitive and ask questions, get an internship. You may only get one shot at going to college, so make it count.  What’s the biggest challenge you’ve been able to overcome in your field? Women in engineering are still something of a rarity, making up only 11% of practicing engineers nationwide. It is my hope that over time, diversity in the profession will not be unusual as it is now, but the norm.  You are the current chair of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Advisory Board. What compelled you to get involved and give back to your alma mater? The College of Engineering gave me so much in the way of friendships, knowledge, and opportunity.

How could I not give back? I started out judging senior design projects, then added networking nights and career days. I jumped at the opportunity to join the advisory board when the offer was extended and have been delighted to serve as the board chairman. Participation from the engineering community is so important in setting an example for the aspiring engineers coming through the COE. It’s important that they learn early that the technical knowledge they receive at the school can be repaid by giving back to the profession, and to FSU and FAMU through volunteer service.  What makes you most proud to be an FSU alumna? There are so many things about FSU of which I am proud: the quality of education that was provided to me and continues to be provided to students; the faculty and staff that care for individual student success; the commitment to diversity and inclusivity evidenced by the partnership at the College of Engineering with FAMU. There are so many things I could name to be proud of, but mostly it is the opportunity and hope that FSU provides to each and every one of us who passes through her gates. GO NOLES! SPRING 2020 | VIRES 25

E R R A B E H T G N RAISI The FSU SCHOOL OF DANCE took a leap of faith on JAMES FRAZIER when they accepted him into their graduate program. Now this two-time alumnus has returned to lead the college that launched his career and changed his life.

By Rosanne Dunkelberger

26 alumni.fsu.edu

After attending Florida State University as an undergraduate and graduate student, James Frazier (B.S. ’91, M.F.A. ’94) couldn’t be happier to return to his alma mater after being appointed dean of the College of Fine Arts. “It’s like being at home, and people have been amazing. There’s something about this place that feels like family,” said Frazier, who has been on the job since June 2019. “I’ve been blown away by the number of people across the campus that know of me. Surreal is the word I use most often.”

Frazier earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from FSU and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the very college he now leads. His connection to Florida State goes beyond his degrees, having worked in the School of Dance as a work-study student and graduate assistant while studying at the university. After receiving his master’s degree, Frazier worked in several different roles including teaching stints at FSU and Florida A&M University (FAMU), and performances as a professional dance artist before receiving his doctorate of education in dance from Temple University in 2007, while a fulltime faculty member of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

Prior to returning to FSU, Frazier had an 18-year career at VCU starting as assistant professor and rising to a full professor with tenure, and serving at the university as chair of dance and choreography, associate dean for graduate studies and faculty affairs, and interim dean. Now, he’s dean of the college that launched his career and changed his life.

James Frazier in the studio where he auditioned for the FSU School of Dance nearly 30 years ago. Photo by Bruce Palmer/ FSU Photography Services

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 27

“I remember that he was not the usual candidate and that he had not had dance experience, but he had gifts.”

— Nancy Smith Fichter, professor emerita, FSU School of Dance

Top: Illustration from the 45 Years of Dance: Celebrating Nancy Smith Fichter event program in 1997 honoring Smith Fichter’s distinguished career in the arts. Above left: From left, students Smith Fichter (then Warren Smith) and Susan Ball at a performance rehearsal for On Screen, choreographed by Ken Xuto. Above right: Smith Fichter teaching. Materials courtesy of Heritage and University Archives, FSU Libraries

28 alumni.fsu.edu

Despite a long and lauded career in the dance world as a teacher, choreographer and administrator, Frazier’s first degree from Florida State is in marketing. And then came a life-altering revelation three years into his undergraduate studies: “One night I was at a show over at FAMU, just watching, and it was as clear as day that I thought ‘I can do that.’”

A graduate student at FSU invited Frazier to audit a non-major jazz class, which inspired him to sign up for more dance classes, including beginning ballet. “My ballet teacher assumed I was auditioning for the department … and because of that assumption, I thought hmm,” he said. “I met the department chair, and I told her I thought I might be interested in auditioning. I auditioned for the department and, I always say, they gave me a chance and let me in.”

That department chair was the legendary Nancy Smith Fichter (B.A. ’52, M.A. ’54), who Frazier describes as dear to his heart and central to his story.

“She may balk at this, but I owe this to her,” he said.

THE ADMIRATION IS MUTUAL. “I remember that he was not the usual candidate and that he had not had dance experience, but he had gifts,” said Smith Fichter, who was instrumental in building the dance program during her decades-long career at FSU. “This was exactly what he wanted to do. I remember the audition committee and the other faculty members liked him a lot, but they worried, of course, about the lack of background. But he had keen intelligence and was very musical. Eventually they became convinced he should certainly be given this opportunity — and you can see where it went.”

About that audition: Ballet was the first portion of the process and he was in the first group. “The instructor conducted the entire audition using ballet terminology, so it was in French,” Frazier said. “She didn’t fully demonstrate anything.”

Standing at the barre wasn’t so difficult because he could follow the person in front of him.

But then, the group went to the center of the floor and the instructor began describing the dance combination such as, “we’re going to do 16 changement and we're going to éschappé to second,” while using her hands to indicate what she wanted, Frazier said.

“If Jennifer Finn had not started jumping in the center of the floor — because the changement was actually a jump where the feet change position from fifth to fifth front to back — I would have been standing in the middle of the

floor moving my hands instead of jumping, because I had no idea, no idea. At the end of the ballet portion of the audition, I was sitting on the floor actively contemplating leaving, and Gwynne Ashton, a faculty member in the School of Dance, came over. She’s no longer with us, but she came over, leaned down and said, ‘You did fine, dear,’ which was totally not true, but bless her heart. So, I stayed and I did the modern portion of the audition.”

WHILE FRAZIER TOLD HIS AUDITION STORY WITH LAUGHTER AND GOOD CHEER, HE

CHOKED UP WHEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THE

FSU SCHOOL OF DANCE – TAKING A CHANCE ON A YOUNG MAN WITH LITTLE TRAINING BUT LOTS OF POTENTIAL – CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF HIS LIFE.

James Frazier, 1993. Photo by Jon Nalon

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 29

Below left and bottom: The 1993 Twelve Days of Dance program cover and James Frazier’s …Of Things Not Seen within the program selection. Below right: Frazier, second from left, with dance students and faculty between rehearsals in 1991.

Photos courtesy of Heritage and University Archives,

“Art is not just the thing that gives us joy, although it does.

It’s also the thing that makes us think, deeply, in profound ways.” — James Frazier

FSU Libraries. Below center: Frazier as a

graduate student. Photo by Jon Nalon

“Just in that moment where they let me in, it gave me an opportunity. It wasn’t going to be easy,” he recalled. “In fact, in some ways, I knew that’s how I wanted to do it.” To illustrate, Frazier spoke of starting piano lessons, but soon realized the commitment it would take to master the skill.

Dance, he decided, was worth the time and effort required. “I still wanted to do it, and FSU gave me an opportunity to do it. They opened that door for me, and that door obviously was everything.”

In academia, today’s world seems to be laserfocused on the value of STEM; studying more artistic pursuits can be seen as impractical. Frazier makes the case for the fine arts: “Art is not just the thing that gives us joy, although it does. It’s also the thing that makes us think, deeply, in profound ways. It's everywhere. It's all around us.

Even in the things that we don't think are about arts and design.”

30 alumni.fsu.edu

Gesturing around his office, he continued. “This table is just a table. But you know, it has a look that we understand. If we think it’s beautiful, that’s all having to deal with our senses and our beliefs. You know, aesthetics. Art and artistry are everywhere.

It’s in this carpet, you know. It’s in the mundane.”

Frazier sees arts education as central to all that we do and to who we are as people. He also values vocational education, citing classes he took during his middle and high school years in central Florida in typing, drafting, agriculture, shop and business.

“I actually think the kind of broad education that doesn’t exclude those kinds of practical things is really, really important,” he said.

Before deciding to focus on dance, Frazier had taken college courses in a variety of disciplines including calculus, brain and behavior, music theory and international relations, all while working multiple jobs. In what he calls a “soap box moment,” Frazier bucked the trend of committing to a career choice even before college. “Kids are on these career paths in the ninth and 10th grade,” he said. “They’re asking them to choose what it is that they’re going to do for the rest of their lives, and they don’t know.

And so it forces them into something that they may not love.”

Frazier also counsels that a particular degree isn’t necessarily one’s destiny, nor should it be considered a waste of time if a person doesn’t work in what they were trained for in college.

“I have a list of people like me who are college professors and administrators in the arts who do not have undergraduate degrees in the arts,” he said. “Which is to say that landing in the arts is just as valid and perhaps more fulfilling as deciding on any other career.”

“SO EVEN IF IT’S A DETOUR, YOU LEARN

SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY. ALWAYS WITH YOUR EYES STILL ON THE END GOAL, SO THAT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE WHEN DETOURS COME. THEY ARE

JUST THAT. I’M NOT DERAILED. I’M NOT OFF TRACK HERE. I’M JUST GOING THIS WAY. AND WHILE I’M

OVER HERE, I’M GOING TO GAIN SOME SKILLS. I’M GOING TO GAIN SOME UNDERSTANDING, SOME KNOWLEDGE, THAT I CAN THEN APPLY AND USE

WHEN I COME BACK ON A MORE DIRECT PATH TO THE THING THAT I WANT TO DO.”

One of Frazier’s detours included learning how to sew from School of Dance Costumer Currie Leggoe. “I remember talking through basics, assuming he would want to learn on a machine; but no, his plan was to hand sew an entire garment and he did just that,” Leggoe said. “I tried to talk him out of the hand sewing plan, but to no avail. He showed up in the office on Monday in a shirt and pants he had worked on over the weekend! And they were fabulous, African print fabric, beautifully done. When he commits, he commits 150%.”

Above: James Frazier gives the keynote address at the second annual DIRECTO — or Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Teaching Organization — symposium held Sept. 27, 2019. In his speech on the power of the personal story, Frazier noted that he found his complete self as a college student at FSU learning about dance as an independent platform. Photo by Bill Lax/FSU Photography Services.

Frazier recalls that his hand sewing was the result of “bobbins just kind of messing me up,” although he did eventually learn to use a sewing machine and would make the costumes for all the dances he choreographed at VCU as chair of the Department of Dance and Choreography.

“Even when I was department chair you could come by my office, and you might hear the sewing machine in there because I’d be in there trying to make a costume,” he said. “Creativity is a connector. It all connects if you can tap into your passion. I think that’s the big thing for a lot of students. They just haven't found it yet.

But if they find the thing that they’re absolutely passionate about, they can make everything relevant and I believe everything is relevant.

Everything is connected, and you just have to take the time to figure out how it connects, or where it connects.”

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 31

Once a Seminole

FSU BOOKSTORE

SEMINOLE SPORTSHOP

Alumni Association Members Receive 10% Off Discount*

ShopFSU.com

*Exclusions apply, see store for details.

Visit ShopFSU.com to see all the newest styles.

Join our email list for exclusive deals, offers and promotions.

32 alumni.fsu.edu

“My life’s work would be facilities that match the stature of the programs that we have.”

— James Frazier Editor’s note: During the interview, James Frazier visited various facilities housed within the College of Fine Arts including Montgomery Hall, the college’s dance facility, and the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA), a free public museum with over 6,000 pieces of historical and contemporary art works.

Frazier’s connection to his alma mater led him back years later to lead as dean. The FSU College of Fine Arts is home to a unique combination of visual and performing arts studios, classrooms, performance spaces, galleries and a museum.

Under the umbrella of degree programs that fall within the college are studio art, art and museum education and curation, art therapy, art history, interior architecture and design, dance and theatre. While Frazier leads a well-established college with some of the most diverse and renowned programs at any public university, he sees opportunities for growth.

“I would like for more people to know about what it is that we do. How do we expand reach and increase our visibility so that people really see and better understand what it is we’re doing here?” One of Frazier’s major goals is to work on the college’s infrastructure to support its growth and thriving. He adds, “My life’s work would be facilities that match the stature of the programs that we have.”

Smith Fichter, Frazier’s mentor, is confident that he will excel in his new position. “It’s a tough job, and I think he will do well because he's done so well at everything else.”

Top left: A group of ballet dancers practice in Montgomery Hall studio 301, the very same studio Frazier would audition in years later. Photo courtesy of Heritage and University Archives, FSU Libraries.

VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAMES FRAZIER Watch an interview with James Frazier as he reflects on his experiences at FSU while visiting facilities within the College of Fine Arts.

Top right: Frazier stands at the same barre where he auditioned nearly 30 years ago, reflecting on his journey that led him back to FSU to serve as dean of the college that launched his career.

Left: Frazier walks through the Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA), noting that students within the college often come to MoFA for a quiet and creative place to study, sketch and write. Photos by Bruce Palmer/FSU Photography Services

gonol.es/frazier-interview SPRING 2020 | VIRES 33

PAVING THE ROAD TO SUCCESS In an industry traditionally led by men, three Florida State alumnae have risen to the top as senior level executives at one of the largest toll road agencies in the country.

By Dan Tracy

Three women – all graduates of Florida State University – have paved the path to the top executive level at the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), Metro Orlando’s transportation network that supports tens of millions of travelers each year. Executive Director Laura Kelley (B.S. ’84), Chief Financial Officer Lisa Lumbard (B.S. ’93) and Chief of Staff/Public Affairs Officer Michelle Maikisch (B.S. ’89) were promoted to their roles in 2014 after the precursor to CFX, the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority, was reconfigured and expanded.

34 alumni.fsu.edu

State Road 408, the backbone of CFX’s 125-mile network, leading into Downtown Orlando.

One of the largest toll road agencies in the nation, CFX’s five-year, $2.5 billion workplan includes the design and construction of major expressways, new transportation technologies, roadway expansion, and the maintenance of a financial operation that processes over one million transactions daily, 85% of them electronically. CFX also operates the electronic toll pass, E-PASS, including the FSU-branded NolePass that allows fans to drive with pride with a customized toll sticker for discounts and convenience.

“The Central Florida Expressway Authority’s demonstrated success in delivering innovative mobility solutions to a region where population growth far outpaces infrastructure demand is a testament to the talented executives that lead the agency,” said Jay Madara, CFX governing board member. “With more than 50 years of combined experience in infrastructure and tolling operations, Laura Kelley, Lisa Lumbard and Michelle Maikisch are some of the most effective leaders I’ve had the pleasure to work with – the future of transportation in Central Florida is in good hands with these three Noles at the helm.”

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 35

36 alumni.fsu.edu

Kelley joined the authority in 2006 as the director of finance and administration and temporarily filled the executive director role. Lumbard was hired in 1998 as a staff accountant/assistant manager of the E-Pass service center, while Maikisch joined the authority in 2008 as the public affairs coordinator.

The years they spent at the agency before moving into their current positions were important, Kelley said, because they learned to trust and look out for each other. “We’ve always approached things as a team; we confided in each other and gave each other advice. It was a natural fit.”

CFX’s expressway system continues to make a positive impact on Central Florida. The alumnae’s commitment to a customer-first culture has earned the agency a rare 97% customer satisfaction rating.

The three alumnae credit Florida State for preparing them to not only enter the workforce upon graduation, but also for their success at CFX. They reflect on their fond memories of their days at FSU.

LAURA KELLEY Executive Director

Growing up in Tallahassee, Kelley rented a room behind Doak Campbell Stadium when she attended FSU in the early 1980s. The oldest of seven siblings whose father died when she was 15, she took several part-time jobs as she worked her way through school. Typically punching the keys of a cash register or balancing accounting ledgers

as a bookkeeper, Kelley said she was “all about getting the education” during her undergraduate days. Though she enjoyed attending football games and experiencing the nightlife along the Tennessee Street corridor, Kelley said her days at FSU were very serious. “It wasn’t about the social experience for me,” she said. “FSU taught me that I really loved going to work.”

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business, she landed a job right after graduation in the accounting department of a Tallahassee engineering firm. Within five years, she had become the company’s chief financial officer.

From there, she moved to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), over time becoming the manager of the financial department. Then she was named executive director of the Florida Transportation Commission, the citizen's oversight board for FDOT, and the state’s expressway and regional transportation authorities. These jobs set her up for the leap to CFX and, eventually, the No. 1 job at the agency.

She advises young women at FSU to consider pursuing a career in transportation, possibly through an engineering degree, because jobs are plentiful in the industry. The state’s continual influx of new residents, she said, creates a seemingly unending need not only for more roads, but also other forms of getting from Point A to Point B, including mass transit. “Our state is growing at a phenomenal rate,” she said. “There’s just so many opportunities to learn and work.”

Laura Kelley

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 37

Kelley describes her management style as collaborative and open to hearing other points of view. One of her first decisions when taking over at CFX was to go on a listening tour with area leaders, seeking their opinions on the role her agency should play. “Anything worth building is worth building right,” she said. “We don’t pretend to know everything.”

LISA LUMBARD Chief Financial Officer

CFX

at a glance

8 500M 125 named expressways

in tolls annually

Lumbard, a Life Member of the FSU Alumni Association, knew very little about the authority when she came in for her first interview back in 1998, just five years after graduating from FSU. She had been working as an accountant for a wealth management firm in Winter Park and unsure if she wanted to change jobs. “I didn’t know what a transponder or an E-PASS was,” Lumbard said, referring to the agency’s program that electronically debits tolls for the user when passing through a tolling plaza. She was intrigued by the intricacies of the business and the level of talent so she quickly learned all she could about the agency, acing her next two interviews and receiving the job offer.

Now, she is enthralled with her job – even after almost 21 years at the agency – because of the agency’s wide-ranging impact. “Transportation affects everyone in the community,” she said. “You can do a lot to help your community.”

miles of limited-access highways

72 interchanges 93 toll plazas

342 bridges

A Leesburg, Florida, native and the youngest of nine children, FSU was Lumbard’s first choice for her post-secondary education. She loved attending football games and also partook in a few evenings at The Phyrst before it closed. Before the start of her senior year, Lumbard met with an academic counselor who recommended she take two classes that would qualify her for a double major, adding finance to her chosen field of international business. Finance, she knew, was important to her plans for a career in the business world, but she had not considered it as job in and of itself. “FSU taught me to use the tools I had available and to look for more,” she said.

Lisa Lumbard

38 alumni.fsu.edu

Once she graduated, all of her jobs revolved around finance and numbers — always the numbers. “Debits and credits, no matter what,” Lumbard said, though she added she enjoys the challenge the work provides. “Every day is not the same,” she said. “I may have something planned when I come in, but it may change.”

MICHELLE MAIKISCH Chief of Staff/Public Affairs Officer

Maikisch, who holds a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in marketing, never considered going to any school other than FSU. A native of the small town of Cottondale in North Florida, Maikisch’s brother, aunts and cousins were all proud Florida State alumni and she could not wait to continue the legacy. “FSU was my only choice,” she said. “That was just a part of who we were.”

Her education prepared her for what would become one of her main roles upon graduation, speaking with elected officials and community groups. Specifically, one communications class taught her the basics of public speaking by assigning her and fellow students presentation assignments almost every time they gathered. “I feel like I received a great education,” she said.

“The professors certainly were engaging.”

Like Kelley, Maikisch also worked part-time jobs while at FSU, including positions in the College of Communication’s Dean’s Office and the Florida Department of Highway Safety where she compiled accident statistics. However, it wasn’t all work and no play for Maikisch. She rarely missed a home football game and enjoyed hanging out at one of the legendary restaurants located on Jefferson Street across from campus, The Phyrst – just like Lumbard.

Following graduation, Maikisch found her passion in road construction due to its long-lasting effect on the community. The realization hit her one day as she was standing near a bridge that was being built. “This is going to be here 30 years, 50 years, who knows how long?” she thought.

Michelle Maikisch

The three alumnae agree that the key to succeeding in your career is finding employment that stirs an inner passion. However, they also advise students and recent alumni not to automatically reject a job that may not have been in their “master plan.”

Featured alumnae photos by Judy Tracy

“If an opportunity arises, don’t be afraid to take it,” Lumbard said. “It might be different than what you thought you wanted, but you never know where that road may go.”

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 39

ASSOCIATION NEWS ABOUT The FSU Alumni Association serves the university’s more than 361,000 ALUMNI, including our 24,000 MEMBERS. Your Alumni Association membership helps CONNECT SEMINOLES across the country, shape the future through STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS each year, and STRENGTHEN ALUMNI PROGRAMMING. Our programs, events and services do more than bring alumni together to share memories and good times.

They STRENGTHEN OUR UNIVERSITY’S TRADITIONS and the SEMINOLE SPIRIT that resides in every graduate of Florida State University.

Whether an alumnus, friend or fan of FSU, we’re all #SEMINOLESFOREVER.

2020 ALUMNI

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ASSOCIATION EVENTS Support FSU and stay connected to fellow alumni through these FSU Alumni Association and university-partnered events.

CAPTIONS: 1. The Marching Chiefs march toward the Westcott Building on College Ave. in the 2019 Homecoming Parade. Photo by Steve Chase. 2. The FSU Homecoming Parade in the 1960s.

Photo courtesy of Heritage and University Archives, FSU Libraries

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

March Seminole Service Month

July 31 Asheville Luncheon Honoring Emeritus

October 9 Young Alumni Awards

March 26 Inspire Awards

August 21 69th Annual Kickoff Luncheon

November 13-15 Reunion Honoring the Class of 1970

March 27 TEDxFSU

August 21 Seminole Clubs Leadership Conference

November 13 Homecoming Parade

May 4-8 Noles in New York

September 4-5 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Events in Atlanta

November 13 Alumni Awards Gala

View the full list of events at gonol.es/events.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS ALUMNI AWARDS GALA

THE BERNARD F. SLIGER AWARD

The Florida State University Alumni Association recognized SEVEN DISTINGUISHED NOLES during Homecoming Week at the inaugural Alumni Awards Gala Oct. 25, 2019.

Named for the 10th president of Florida State University, the Bernard F. Sliger Award is the single highest honor given by the FSU Alumni Association.

2 CIRCLE OF GOLD INDUCTEES

The FSU Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold recognizes worthy individuals who, through their service and achievements, PERSONIFY THE UNIVERSITY’S TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE.

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2019 INDUCTEES

2019 RECIPIENT

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Melvin Stith, Dean of FSU College of Business, 1991-2004

CIRCLE OF GOLD

GRADS MADE GOOD RECIPIENTS

Keith Carr (B.S. ’90, M.P.A. ’93) J.D. Doughney (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’03)

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Doby Flowers (B.S. ’71, M.S. ’73)

GRADS MADE GOOD

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This recognition, jointly awarded by the FSU Alumni Association and the FSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, honors alumni who have made outstanding CONTRIBUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR CHOSEN FIELD.

2019 RECIPIENTS Arthur Fleming (B.S. ’81) Myrna Hoover (B.S. ’83, M.S. ’84) David James Kennedy (B.S. ’99)

7 CAPTIONS: 1. Melvin Stith, second from left, with Alumni Association President and CEO Julie

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Decker Cheney, left; FSU President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72), second from right; and Alumni Association National Board of Directors Chair Sam Ambrose (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’92), right. 2. From left, Decker Cheney, Carr, Flowers, Thrasher, Doughney, and Ambrose. 3. From left, Decker Cheney, Kennedy, Hoover, Thrasher, Fleming, and Ambrose. 4. FSU-themed design elements helped set the stage for the inaugural gala. 5. Attendees in the Alumni Center courtyard. 6. President Thrasher welcomes Mart Hill (B.A. ’42), FSU distinguished emerita and 2018 Bernard F. Sliger Award recipient.

7. The 2019 Homecoming Court at the gala. 8. From left, Fred Flowers (B.A. ’69, M.S. ’73), Circle of Gold Inductee Doby Flowers, Altha Manning and Ralph Flowers. Photos by Steve Chase

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 41

ASSOCIATION NEWS ALUMNI NETWORKS In cooperation with the Alumni Association, chartered affiliate groups called Alumni Networks help CONNECT FSU ALUMNI THROUGH SHARED INTERESTS AND IDENTITIES. These volunteer-led groups plan reunions, mentor students and enrich the ties between FSU alumni and friends.

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These Alumni Networks include: • Asian American • Black Alumni • Emeritus Alumni Society • Hispanic/LatinX • LGBTQ+ • Women’s Engagement • Young Alumni Council

gonol.es/networks

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6 CAPTIONS: 1. BLACK ALUMNI members in the 2019 HOMECOMING PARADE. Photo by Steve Chase. 2. Stefany Moncada (B.S. ’13), president of the newly formed

7 42 alumni.fsu.edu

HISPANIC/LATINX NETWORK, with board member and FSU student Kristian Diaz, director of the HISPANIC/LATINX STUDENT UNION. 3. Andres Bascumbe (B.S. ’12, B.A. ’12), YOUNG ALUMNI COUNCIL member, with his guest Alec MacMillen at the 2019 YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS. Photo by Steve Chase. 4. YOUNG ALUMNI COUNCIL members at their September 2019 meeting. 5. EAS members Carmena Bostic (B.A. ’67) and her husband Donald at the network’s WELCOME LUNCH kicking off Homecoming Weekend 2019. Photo by Steve Chase. 6. Marti Wittevrongel (B.S. ’62), chair of the FSU EMERITUS ALUMNI SOCIETY (EAS), welcomes attendees at the CLASS OF 1969 INDUCTION BRUNCH AND AWARDS CEREMONY hosted by EAS during HOMECOMING 2019. Photo by Steve Chase. 7. At the EAS INDUCTION BRUNCH AND AWARDS CEREMONY, Rob Langford (B.S. ’85), left, and Lawton Langford (M.B.A. ’82, J.D. ’82), right, accept the DEAN EYMAN DISTINCTIVE SERVICE AWARD on behalf of their late father George Langford, who received an Honorary Doctorate from FSU in 1988.

Photo by Steve Chase

ASSOCIATION NEWS SEMINOLE CLUBS AND CHAPTERS The Alumni Association’s network of Seminole Clubs® and Chapters UNITE ALUMNI, FRIENDS AND FANS OF FSU IN CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, fostering a continued bond of collegiate fellowship and connection to Florida State University. Volunteer-driven and alumni-oriented, they offer yearround programming and alumni engagement opportunities throughout the country such as game-watching parties and networking events.

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View a full list of clubs and chapters at gonol.es/clubs.

Facebook.com/SeminoleClubs Instagram @seminoleclubs

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CAPTIONS: 1. Several members of the SEMINOLE CLUB OF GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C., were honored as Notable Noles by the Alumni Association at the 2019 YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS. Photo by Steve Chase. 2. THE SEMINOLE CLUB OF GREATER ORLANDO hosted a NETWORKING BRUNCH in the fall to help build community in the Central Florida area. 3. JACKSONVILLE SEMINOLE CLUB at a Jacksonville Icemen game for their HAPPY NOLE YEAR event. 4. HOUSTON AREA SEMINOLE CLUB at a football GAME-WATCHING PARTY against Boise State. 5. THE TWIN CITIES SEMINOLE CLUB at a football GAME-WATCHING PARTY against Louisiana-Monroe hosted by club members Susan Allen (B.S. ’77) and Jorge Allen (B.S. ’75). 6. After the SEMINOLE CLUB OF GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C., received a request from an FSU Alumni Association member to honor their brother, a U.S. marine, they partnered with his family to lay wreaths for him and hundreds of others at Arlington National Cemetary through WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA.

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 43

ASSOCIATION NEWS STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Student Alumni Association (SAA) is a STUDENT ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS SPIRIT, TRADITION AND PRIDE throughout the university. Comprised of current undergraduate and graduate students, it provides activities and programs that assist its more than 3,000 members in their development as leaders, scholars and future alumni. The FSU Alumni Association supports SAA’s membership, activities and events such as the Homecoming Parade and Court, 100 Days Until Graduation, and Speaker Series.

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STUDENTS TODAY. ALUMNI TOMORROW. SEMINOLES FOREVER.

gonol.es/saa Facebook.com/FSUSAA Twitter @FSUSAA Instagram @fsu_saa

CAPTIONS: 1. SAA members volunteering at THE BIG EVENT Tallahassee 2019, a one-day

5 44 alumni.fsu.edu

student run service project where college students come together to give back to their city.

2. Sofia Slimak, SAA director of events, helps coordinate the 100 DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION event hosted by SAA and FSU’s Class Councils. 3. SAA leadership and volunteers at the staging area for the annual HOMECOMING PARADE organized by the Student Alumni Association.

4. Miss Florida Seminole and Jr. Miss Florida Seminole crown 2019 Homecoming Chief Caleb Dawkins and Homecoming Princess Olivia Hopkins at the HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME in this longstanding tradition coordinated by SAA. Photo by Steve Chase. 5. SAA members at an ETIQUETTE PRESENTATION AND DINNER presented by the FSU Career Center.

ASSOCIATION NEWS YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS

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The FSU Alumni Association recognized 22 YOUNG ALUMNI AS NOTABLE NOLES FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS to their professions, communities or alma mater at the eighth annual Young Alumni Awards Dinner Sept. 20, 2019. Four Notable Noles were also presented with the Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed upon young alumni by the FSU Alumni Association.

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2019 REUBIN O’D. ASKEW YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS

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Danilo Belarmino (B.S.N. ’08) Zach Heng (B.S. ’07) Aurélie Mathieu (B.A. ’12) Ashley Russell (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’13, Ph.D. ’17)

4 Belarmino

Mathieu

Heng

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View the full list of Notable Noles at gonol.es/yaa19.

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Russell

CAPTIONS: 1. Notable Noles and guests celebrate during a reception in the Alumni Center courtyard. 2. Notable Nole recipient Rachel Rossin (B.F.A. ’09) with family in front of Pearl Tyner. 3. Young Alumni Council Member Tatiana Daguillard (B.A. ’16) at the reception. 4. Jalaycia Lewis, FSU senior and immediate past president of the Student Alumni Association, networks with event attendees during the reception. 5. The 2019 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award recipients. 6. Former First Lady of Florida Donna Lou Askew says a few words about her late husband, Reubin O’D. Askew, the 37th governor of Florida and namesake of the award. Photos by Steve Chase

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 45

ASSOCIATION NEWS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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The National Board of Directors is the CHIEF GOVERNING BODY of the FSU Alumni Association and represent the interests of the association’s members and constituents. The board is COMPRISED OF A GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AND STAFF, who give back to the university with their time and talent, to support Alumni Association initiatives.

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3 2020 DIRECTORS Executive Committee Sam Ambrose, Chair Max Oligario, Immediate Past Chair B. Dan Berger, Chair-Elect Scott Wiegand, Vice Chair Jeanne Curtin, Treasurer Dazi Lenoir, Secretary Tom Jennings, Vice President for University Advancement and Foundation President Julie Decker Cheney, Alumni Association President and CEO Kyle R. Doney, Board of Trustees Chair Designee Maura Hayes, At-Large Jeanne M. Miller, At-Large Kevin Adams Les Akers Melinda Benton Javi Borges Chris Bosler Jeffrey D. Boykins View board member bios at gonol.es/board.

46 alumni.fsu.edu

Stephen T. Brown Kenneth Cagnolatti Staci Cross John M. Crossman Colleen Dean Miller Susan Delgado Michael G. Griffith Ritesh A. Gupta Jennifer M. Guy-Hudson Zach Heng Cecil Howard Clay Ingram Altony Lee III Benjamin McKay Bruce W. McNeilage Rose M. Naff Joe Paul Laura C. Russell Anne Smith Joshua Tyler Charee L. Williams Marti Wittevrongel Allisson Yu

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

4

The 13-member governing board for the university Edward E. Burr, Chair Maximo Alvarez Kathryn Ballard William Buzzett Eric Chicken Emily Fleming Duda Jorge Gonzalez Jim W. Henderson Craig Mateer Bob Sasser Brent W. Sembler Evan Steinberg

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John Thiel

CAPTIONS: 1. SAM AMBROSE (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’92), chair of the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, with his son in the 2019 Homecoming Parade. Photo by Steve Chase. 2. From left, Alumni Association National Board Members BRUCE MCNEILAGE (B.S. ’88), DAZI LENOIR (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’03) and B. DAN BERGER (B.S. ’89) at the Young Alumni Awards supporting the 22 honorees. Photo by Steve Chase. 3. Alumni Association National Board Member ALLISSON YU (B.S. ’00), center, at the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando’s Networking Brunch. 4. From left, FSU Student Body President EVAN STEINBERG, a member of the FSU Board of Trustees, with Student Body Treasurer Caleb Dawkins and Student Body Vice President Stephanie Lee at the 100 Days Until Graduation event hosted by the Student Alumni Association and FSU’s Class Councils. 5. KYLE DONEY (B.S. ’07), center, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Board of Trustees chair designee on the Alumni Association National Board of Directors, takes a photo with Emeritus Alumni Society members during the 2019 Homecoming Parade. Photo by Steve Chase

Cement Your Place in FS

U HISTORY

Buy a Commemorative BRICK at WESTCOTT PLAZA Visit gonol.es/bricks20 to get started.

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 47

fsualumni

# FSU

FSU SPIRIT

The theme for Homecoming 2019 was Spark Your Spirit. We encouraged our followers to share their school spirit with us by using #SeminolesForever.

like, comment

392 likes Chief fsualumni 2019 Homecoming ming eco Hom and kins Daw b Cale Princess Olivia Hopkins.

by Steve Chase

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1,033 likes y’s first fsualumni Florida State Universit . ’49), (B.A ee Alles cheerleader, Maggie her in t spiri inole Sem her ing show original cheerleading uniform.

419 likes fsualumni President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) stops to meet a future Nole during the 2019 Homecoming Parade. #SeminolesForever

by Steve Chase

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386 likes fs fsualumni The Marching Chie ming eco Hom 9 201 the perform in parade.

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#SeminolesForever 48 alumni.fsu.edu

Thank You to Our Newest Life Members The following alumni and friends recently* became Life Members of the FSU Alumni Association. Their support creates opportunities for our students, alumni and members who are and will always be #SeminolesForever.

Learn more about Alumni Association membership: alumni.fsu.edu/join.

Alicia B. Adams (B.S. ’10) Richard Elder Adams (B.M. ’58) Rob B. Auslander (B.S. ’81) and Melody Mendoza-Auslander Cynthia S. Barber (B.S. ’86) and Tony B. Barber Katharine S. Barry (B.A. ’76) and Harris K. Solomon (B.S. ’75) Dr. Richard Bertram (B.S. ’85) William E. Beye (B.S. ’64) Michael D. Blank (J.D. ’14) J. Brad Bollier (B.S. ’99) David D. Brooks (M.S. ’05) and Lisa Brooks Jefferey L. Burns (J.D. ’07) and Lindsey W. Burns Jennifer Stearns Buttrick (B.A. ’90) and Matthew W. Buttrick David A. Covington (B.A. ’63) and Mary Jane Little (B.A. ’74) Elliott J. Curry, Jr. (B.S. ’04) and Quiana R. Curry (B.S. ’04) Edward W. Dougherty, Jr. (J.D. ’81) and Audrey K. Dougherty Susan P. Delgado (B.S. ’91) and Christopher J. Delgado Walter D. Dover (B.S. ’69) and Carol B. Dover (B.S. ’78) Kathy H. Dunnigan (M.S. ’04) and Patrick Dunnigan Rose-May Delva Frazier and Charles Frazier Kevin A. Fenton (Ph.D. ’94) and Suzanne Fenton Kimberly S. Gabbard (B.A. ’89) and Steve E. Gabbard (B.S. ’89) Charles R. Glynn (M.S.W. ’12) and Pamela J. Tarras Karen A. Hansen (B.S. ’90) and Christian E. Hansen

Jeffrey E. Harris (B.S. ’68) and Linda M. Harris (B.S. ’73) John J. Harris, Jr. (B.S. ’70) and Sharon P. Harris (B.S. ’72) Barbara J. Hendriksen Lillie A. Henry (B.A. ’93) Kathryn C. Holland (B.S. ’02) Roderick N. Jones (B.A. ’70) and Wesley A. Hunt (M.S. ’89) Sarah C. Jones (B.S. ’07) Adam M. Kabuka John M. Kest (J.D. ’72) Catherine L. King (B.S. ’81) and Samuel P. King (J.D. ’85) Robert L. Kopp (B.S. ’01) and Terisa L. Kopp Ramesh M. Korwar (Ph.D. ’72) and Saroja R. Korwar Ellen T. Kosman (Ph.D. ’18) Jim Lakin (B.F.A. ’01) Scott M. Langevin (B.S. ’95) and Kristen M. Langevin Patrick C. Letellier Kathleen B. Levitz (Ph.D. ’71) and Stuart E. Schiffer John C. Luce (B.S. ’92) and Helen Luce Sharon L. Madill (B.F.A. ’80) and Douglas P. Madill Amanda Lucia Manganiello (B.S. ’19) and Bart N. Manganiello Joseph M. Maus (B.S. ’86) and Kristen Maus Frank P. Mayernick, Jr. (B.S. ’98) and Theresa E. Mayernick Phyllis A. McCluskey-Titus (Ed.D. ’96) and John M. Titus Paul L. Menconi (B.S. ’79) and Maria M. Menconi

Lisa M. Mendelson (B.S. ’99) Robyn S. Metcalf (B.S.W ’13) David R. Miller (B.S. ’89) Jeanne M. Miller (J.D. ’95) Lindsay A. Montag (B.S. ’09) and Christopher L. Montag (B.S. ’09) James R. Montano (B.S. ’66) and Nancy R. Montano Ivan A. Morales (B.S. ’95) and Andrea C. Brant Destinee Morgan (B.S. ’19) James A. Mosrie (B.S. ’98) and Hiba Najib Abou Assi Thomasine Motlow (B.S. ’17) Linda C. Murray (B.S. ’83) Kimberly A. Nash (B.A. ’06) and Maverick Nash Mahogany B. Newell (B.S. ’02) Melissa M. Newman (M.F.A. ’96) and Matthew Newman David S. Overholt (B.S. ’89) and Beth L. Overholt (B.S. ’91) David T. Pierce Kelly A. Peters (B.S. ’04) and John Vermeere Patricia C. Peters (B.S. ’69) and Stephen Peters William R. Pfeiffer (J.D. ’91) T. Brett Player (B.S. ’93) and Caroline Player Robert W. Pulsinelli (B.A. ’63) and Linda R. Pulsinelli Alexandra L. Quittner (M.M. ’80) Rodney D. Reeves (Ph.D. ’84) Dr. Charles R. Robinson (B.M.E. ’73) Karen J. Russell (B.S. ’69) Jonathan C. Sajeski (B.S. ’03) Thekla B. Salzman (B.S. ’83) and Terrence L. Salzman

Alexander D. Sanchez (B.S. ’06) and Jessica E. Sanchez (J.D. ’10) Stephen R. Senn (B.S. ’86) and Leslie A. Jamesson (B.S. ’87) Loren W. Setlow (M.S. ’72) and Michaelene W. Setlow Kathy O. Smiley (B.S.W. ’04) Anne C. Smith (B.S. ’87) and Gary M. Smith Divinne B. Smith (B.A. ’05) Kareem Spratling (B.S. ’02) and Tammy L. Spratling Glenn W. Stillion (Ph.D. ’68) and Judith A. Morton Stillion Christopher C. Stuart (B.S. ’92) Matthew A. Suhar (B.A. ’02) Lloyd F. Sweet, Jr. (B.S. ’72) and Nancy R. Sweet Mark C. Tatro (B.S. ’83) Alexandra V. Thomas (B.S. ’12) and Samuel A. Thomas (B.S. ’14) Lauren E. Todd (B.A. ’93) Michael R. Ufferman (J.D. ’97) and Ida Ufferman (J.D. ’95) Aaron Van Tassel (M.S. ’00) Karen A. B. Walker (B.S. ’87) and Sterling G. Walker Michael S. Williams (B.S. ’93) and J. Michelle Baragona (B.S. ’94) Wendell H. Williams, III (B.S. ’05) and Kristen Williams Kathleen P. Wilson (B.S. ’78) and Steven P. Wilson Bonnie D. Wright (B.S. ’88) and M. Felton Wright *This list includes individuals who joined the FSU Alumni Association as Life Members between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2019.

# SPRING 2020 | VIRES 49

CLASS NOTES

CHASING THE WIND: George A. Winterling (B.S. ’57), veteran and renowned meteorologist, was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

by Marquis Who’s Who, the premier publisher of biographical profiles. Winterling was instrumental in developing the techniques of weather forecasting and television broadcasting that were unheard of prior to his pioneering work in the field of meteorology at WJXT in Jacksonville, Florida. He recently wrote Chasing the Wind Memories of a Pioneer TV Meteorologist, a book about his life and career.

Indicates FSU Alumni Association Life Member Indicates FSU Alumni Association Member

EMERITUS Richard Lukas (B.A. ’57, M.A. ’60, Ph.D. ’63), a retired professor of history, published The Forgotten Holocaust in its third edition. He was also presented with the Polish American Historical Association’s Mieczyslaw Haiman History Award in recognition of his contributions to Polish history.

Patricia Powell Gizelar (B.S. ’66), who worked as a programmer on the Apollo 11 mission, reunited with her fellow Apollo 11 coworkers last year to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the mission.

THOROUGHLY A HOTELIER: Edward Staros (B.S. ’72), vice president and managing director of the Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, was named the HOTELS 2019 Independent Hotelier of the World. This prestigious international award presented by HOTELS Magazine recognizes industry achievement at the highest level and is determined by subscribed reader votes.

Above left: In an interview with The Florida Times-Union in his home, George Winterling displays copies of his book and photographs from his life and career. Photo by Bob Self/Florida Times-Union. Above right: Winterling at the WJXT studios in front of his weather maps, which he drew by hand in the 1960s and ’70s.

Leslie Waters (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’70) was reelected for a second term as mayor of the City of Seminole in Pinellas County, Florida. Prior to serving as mayor, Waters served eight years in the Florida Legislature, terming out as speaker pro-tempore.

1970s Hugo de Beaubien (B.S. ’70), a member of the FSU Alumni Association Circle of Gold, was presented with the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Representative Award for his dedication and service to the organization.

Leslie Pantín (B.S. ’70), president of Pantín/ Beber Silverstein Public Relations, was appointed to the board of directors of the Ringling Museum, one of Florida’s top tourist attractions located in Sarasota.

▼ Ann Burke, center Ann Burke (B.S. ’74) was honored at the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey Fall Celebration event for her service to the organization and its youth for more than a decade.

John “Jack” Hickey (B.A. ’76), a trial lawyer, was elected chair of the Motor Vehicle and Premises Liability Section of The American Association for Justice, the largest single section of this national organization of trial lawyers.

Susan Potter Norton (B.A. ’72, M.B.A. ’75, J.D. ’75) was appointed co-chair of the United Way Tocqueville Society by the United Way of Miami-Dade.

Jim Vickrey (Ph.D. ’72), retired lawyer, university president and professor emeritus at Troy University, recently authored ROY, "ROCKY" & RED RYDER; "HOPPY," DURANGO & MO[O]RE: Personal Recollections of What They Taught Us on Saturdays, Riding Together into the Sunset of the B-Western Movie Era, at "The Strand" & "The Bijou" and on Radio & TV.

Staros in The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

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▲ John “Jack” Hickey

CLASS NOTES Jere T. Humphreys (M.M. ’76), professor of music at Arizona State University, received a Spirit of Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Greater Phoenix Chapter. He was nominated by Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona for his years of service as a volunteer leader.

David Yon (B.S. ’77, J.D. ’80), a shareholder of Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, was chosen by his peers for inclusion in the 26th edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Insurance Law.

Jeffrey A. Stoops (B.S. ’81, J.D. ’84), president and chief executive officer of SBA Communications Corp., was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.

Gilda Cobb-Hunter (M.S. ’78), South Carolina state representative, was recognized as a 2017 SCICU Legislative Champion by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

Janice Huff (B.S. ’82), WNBC New York chief meteorologist and 2002 FSU Grads Made Good recipient, was elected a fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Huff was recognized alongside fellow alumnus Alan Sealls (M.S. ’87) at the AMS 100th annual conference in January 2020.

Sue Ann Connaughton (M.S. ’79) published her second novel Dead before Christmas, a murder mystery.

1980s

▼ Richard T. Tschantz

Jeffrey A. Stoops

Photo by CAPEHART

Richard T. Tschantz (B.S. ’76, J.D. ’82) was appointed counsel at Carlton Fields in Tampa.

He joins the firm’s Government Law and Consulting practice after three decades in the public sector, most recently as general counsel of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.

▲ Janice Huff

WILLIAM T. HOLD (B.S. ’63) and WILLIAM J. HOLD (M.B.A. ’08) A 50-year journey started with one suitcase and a bus ticket from Miami to Tallahassee.

That was the inventory of belongings William T. Hold, Ph.D., CIC, CPCU, CLU brought to Florida State University. Hold has served as the cofounder and president of the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, an international organization headquartered in Texas, for five decades. He has headed the effort to provide technical and practiceoriented training to workers in the insurance industry.

What helped Hold handle those initial challenges of showing up at FSU and not knowing a soul? “It really is a kind university,” Hold said. “The faculty really does care about the students. They encouraged me to get a master’s degree. They helped me find scholarships.” Not only did Hold build a career in insurance education and research, he is the namesake of the program championed by the Center for Risk Management Education & Research within the College of Business.

The university’s importance in the Hold family story has continued to a second-generation FSU alumnus.

Hold’s son William J. Hold graduated from FSU with an M.B.A. in 2008. “I always tell people that the M.B.A. program at FSU was one of the hardest things I ever did,” said William J. Hold. “It makes me proud to see other people go through that process still today, especially those who have a family and may have to work full-time while going through the program.”

From left, William T. Hold and William J. Hold

William J. Hold is scheduled to become president of the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research this August. The mission remains the same with some modifications. “How do we keep the heritage of what we have done, but then modify the way we do things, but not why we do things?” William J. Hold said. “By pushing more online education and more reporting. We want to provide a return on investment for learning and help clients identify gaps so we can provide practical training solutions on almost a real time basis.”

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 51

EMBRACE YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AT WESTMINSTER OAKS

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Alan Sealls (M.S. ’87), WPMI NBC15 chief meteorologist in Alabama, was elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Sealls was recognized alongside alumna Janice Huff (B.S. ’82) at the AMS 100th annual conference in January 2020.

Photo by Nancy Evelyn

CLASS NOTES

Photo by Colin Hackley

▼ Kari B. Hebrank ▼ J. Marshall Shepherd

Kari B. Hebrank (B.A. ’84) joined the Carlton Fields law firm as a senior government consultant in Tallahassee.

Jeff Kottkamp (B.S. ’84), a member of the FSU Alumni Association Circle of Gold, was elected to a three-year term on the Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees. He served as Florida's 17th lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2011 and served as acting governor of Florida in June of 2008.

▲ Alan Sealls

1990s Bayard Stern (B.S. ’90, M.A. ’09), social media coordinator at Florida State University’s Office of University Communications, won the 2019 CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze award in the Digital Communications: Student Life – Best Use of Social Media category.

▲ Jeff Kottkamp

Travis L. Miller (B.S. ’91, J.D. ’94), a shareholder and president of Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, was chosen by his peers for inclusion in the 26th edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Insurance Law.

AMY HART (B.S. ’91) and

J. Marshall Shepherd (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’99), Georgia Athletic Association distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia and 2015 FSU Grads Made Good recipient, received The American Geophysical Union’s 2019 Climate Communications Prize.

See page 59 for Class Notes submission instructions!

Sarah Crossman Sullivan (B.S. ’91) released a book, Beautifully Broken & Astoundingly Whole: Throw Off the Façade of Perfection. Capture the Strength of Growing in Grit, Grace, Hope, and Love.

Laverne L. Gaskins (J.D. ’92), senior legal advisor at Augusta University, was inducted into the Academy of Richmond County’s 2019 Hall of Fame.

CHRIS HART (B.S. ’91)

Husband and wife duo Amy Coleman Hart and Chris Hart have kept FSU at the heart of their family business, The Hare & the Hart.

The two got engaged on the steps of the Alpha Delta Pi house moments after graduating from Florida State in 1991. From football games to university events, they have made their alma mater part of their family’s life, inspiring both their daughter Maddie (B.A. ’16) and son Charlie, a current FSU student, to become fellow Noles.

As life-long supporters of Florida State, it’s no surprise that the Harts would find a unique way to further their connection with the university. In 2017 they started The Hare & The Hart, a small Tallahassee storefront that has grown into a thriving, full-time Thomasville, Georgia, family-owned business. Curating and crafting goods that are

English at heart with a Southern soul and a French twist, the Harts have combined their creativity and their passion for FSU with the Toile of FSU™ products. The collection features mugs, notebooks, pillows and more with historic FSU landmarks hand drawn by Amy and officially licensed by Florida State.

“FSU met all of our family’s expectations,” said Amy Hart. “What’s so incredible and unique about that is we each had very different dreams, aspirations and expectations. The programs, faculty and extracurricular opportunities offered prepared each of us for our individual journeys and collectively provided the skills necessary to tackle an entrepreneurial venture through The Hare & The Hart.”

Top right: From left, Chris, Amy, Maddie and Charlie Hart in The Hare & Hart. Bottom right: The Toile of FSU™ products that feature historic FSU landmarks.

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 53

CLASS NOTES Joshua M. Lenzini (B.S. ’92) was selected into the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University for the 2020 academic year.

Thomas O. Ingram (B.S. ’93, J.D. ’98) launched Sodl & Ingram, PLLC, a law firm that serves clients in all aspects of commercial real estate, investment, financing and development.

litigation. Olson was named a Litigation Star and one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation for three years in a row from 2017 to 2019.

Wanda Ebright (M.F.A ’95) published Dance on the Historically Black College Campus, which explores the history of dance at HCBUs.

Bert Combs (B.S. ’93, J.D. ’96), a shareholder of Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee, was chosen by his peers for inclusion in the 26th edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Insurance Law. John Crossman (B.S. ’93), FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors member, wrote Career Killers Career Builders, which was featured as a Top 5 Instructive Book for New Employees by the website Boove.

▲ Thomas O. Ingram John Casey (M.A. ’94) published Devolution, the first book in a psychological spy thriller trilogy, which was nominated for the 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award by the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Lana A. Olson (B.S. ’95), a partner with Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC, was elected second vice president of DRI, the largest international membership organization of attorneys defending the interests of business and individuals in civil

▼ Gerald D. Sullivan, Jr. Gerald D. Sullivan, Jr. (B.S. ’95) retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than 31 years of active service as chief of weather operations, Air Combat Command with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

KAYCEE BROCK (B.S. ’07) Kaycee Brock

Kaycee Brock, Ed.D. realized her passion for education when she felt the joy of experiencing major milestones with her students.

Brock, who has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida State and recently earned a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University, started her career as a Teach for America corps member in Houston, Texas. She fell in love with teaching and quickly knew she would dedicate her career to understanding — and addressing — educational inequality.

At FSU, Brock began as a business and marketing major before a sociology of education class provided immediate insight into a new path she wanted to pursue. Her classwork coupled with her leadership experience as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Student Government Association chief of staff led Brock to apply to Teach for America, a program that recruited campus leaders across the country to teach in urban and rural school districts.

Here she encountered first-grade students in a new city and part of the country with different challenges

54 alumni.fsu.edu

than what she had seen before. “It was a very different experience than what I’d known in terms of inequity in education and it became the foundation for my path as an educator,” Brock said.

Brock moved to New York City two years later where she taught sixth grade for three years at the Harlem Village Academies. She then turned her attention to increasing students’ access to college as director and founding alumni program manager for the school. “I got to grow up with my students,” said Brock, who started with the group when she was 25 and helped the same cohort get into college seven years later.

She has since returned to her hometown of Atlanta, where she works at the Knowledge through Power Program (KIPP) Foundation as program director of KIPP Through College External Impact. Seeing Atlanta through a new lens has been an energizing experience for Brock. “I am excited to dig in here — how do I support our local schools? How do I advise people on college access? I am excited to share and contribute to my hometown.”

CLASS NOTES Aimee Siemianowski (B.S. ’96) was promoted to senior vice president at Driver SPG, a special projects group of legacy builder C.W. Driver Companies.

▲ Aimee Siemianowski Peter Boulware (B.S. ’97), former All-American football player and a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 1997 NFL Draft, was featured on the podcast, Sports Stories.

Gigi Rollini (B.A. ’97, M.P.A. ’03, J.D. ’03) was named a 2019 Super Lawyer in administrative law

by Super Lawyers magazine. ▲ Gigi Rollini

ABRAKADOODLE ART: Caroline Onwuemeli-Peters (B.A. ’04) acquired an art franchise that will serve children and families with mobile art education classes, camps, parties and events at schools and community locations throughout Northern Westchester County, New York. The franchise, Abrakadoodle, is an art class that puts children at the forefront of learning through an art methodology that encourages children to express their authentic creative voice. In these art classes, children use a wide variety of materials such as paints, wire and clays, and explore artists, techniques and world cultures.

Alexander Brauer (B.S. ’99) was selected as a 2019 Texas Trailblazer by Texas Lawyer magazine, which recognizes the efforts of 50 innovative attorneys throughout the state who have made significant contributions to the practice, policy and technological advancements of the legal profession.

Katherine “Kat” Saunders (B.S. ’97) was promoted to senior vice president at Development Counsellors International (DCI), a leading economic development and tourism marketing agency.

Christine R. Davis (B.S. ’99, J.D. ’02), managing shareholder at the Tallahassee Office of Carlton Fields, was reappointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission.

2000s Wes Ball (B.F.A. ’02) was selected as director for a new Planet of the Apes movie with 20th Century Fox. Melissa Kuipers Blake (B.S. ’02) was named as a 2020 Lawyer of the Year honoree by Law Week Colorado. ▼ Altony Lee

▲ Christine R. Davis

Jennifer L. Fitzgerald (B.A. ’98, M.S.P. ’01), co-founder and CEO of Policygenius Inc., was spotlighted in Inc. Magazine’s list of 100 Most Innovative Female Founders for the second year in a row.

Jonathan King (B.F.A. ’98) worked as an executive producer at Participant Media for the movie, Dark Waters.

Christopher J. Maier (B.A. ’98) joined Florida Power & Light Energy Services as director of fiber development.

Altony Lee (B.S. ’02), director of university relations and development at Florida Gulf Coast University and FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors member, was recognized as a 40 under 40 in Gulfshore Business Magazine celebrating Southwest Florida’s best young leaders.

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CLASS NOTES Barry Jenkins (B.F.A. ’03, B.A. ’03), Academy Award winning director of Moonlight, was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.

Angelo Esposito (B.S. ’04), wealth management financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, was named a Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisor for 2019 by Forbes.

Kyle Doney (B.S. ’07), deputy executive director for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Native Learning Center and a member of the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, was named to the Council of Trustees for United National Indian Tribal Youth.

Shane Houghton (B.F.A. ’08) created and executive produced Disney Channel's animated comedy series Big City Greens alongside his brother Chris.

▲ Kyle Doney

▲ Shane Houghton ▲ Angelo Esposito Gregory R. Broege (B.S. ’05) appeared on the cover of the Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine for his article on California’s “Split Roll” ballot initiative.

Brent Pease (B.S. ’05) and his brother Kyle launched the Kyle Pease Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the disabled through sports. The foundation has championed more than 100 athletes across 60 events and raised over $2 million.

Susannah Wesley-Ahlschwede (B.S. ’05) was named managing director of communications at American Airlines where she leads the company's corporate, commercial, labor and people communications team around the world.

Jared Kelly (B.S. ’07) became a partner at Reed Smith in the firm’s Global Corporate Group in New York.

Leah Rise (B.A. ’07) started her own business in Pinellas County called Challenge Island, an afterschool enrichment program that is designed to teach kids 21st century skills such as leadership, teamwork and thinking outside of the box Blake Taylor (B.F.A. ’07) was a writer on the second season of Charmed on The CW. Trevor Baldwin (B.S. ’08), chief executive officer at BRP Group, Inc., led the Tampa-headquartered insurance firm to its initial public offering and announced its first full week as a publicly-traded company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 29, 2019.

Elexa Bancroft (B.M. ’09) was appointed education director for Capitol City Opera Co. in Atlanta, Georgia.

Stephanie N. Brehm (B.A. ’09, B.A. ’09) published a book with Fordham University Press titled America’s Most Famous Catholic (According to Himself): Stephen Colbert and American Religion in the Twenty-First Century.

Joseline J. Hardrick (J.D. ’09), founder of Diversity Access Pipeline in Tampa, received The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division’s 2019 Diversity Award.

2010s Lequita Brooks (M.S.W. ’10) founded Therapy Topia, a solution-focused therapy practice that helps busy professionals, particularly those who are experiencing every-day stresses, prioritize self-care.

▼ Junior F. Bernadin

▲ Susannah Wesley-Ahlschwede Jeremy Carter (B.S. ’06) launched his second wine label, Tarpon Cellars, which was featured in Fortune magazine for its collaboration with Spotify music.

Every bottle includes a Spotify playlist on the back to share the music that inspired the wine and its flavors, and $1 from every bottle sold is donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Georgia.

Aakash Patel (B.A. ’06), founder of Elevate, was named Businessman of the Year by Indo-US Chamber.

56 alumni.fsu.edu

▲ Lequita Brooks Junior F. Bernadin (B.A. ’08), dean of students/IT director at the Ron Clark Academy, was named one of Georgia Trend's 40 Under 40 and honored for his contributions to education.

Michael Felker (B.F.A. ’11) was the editor of a newly released television show, The Coop, about a popular reality show who finds one of its contestants murdered.

CLASS NOTES Kali Hammond (B.S. ’11) became an account supervisor at Poston Communications in the agency’s Orlando office.

Ryan Smithies (B.S. ’14) flew his first season as a Hurricane Hunter with the U.S. Air Force.

▲ Kali Hammond

Julia Skinner (Ph.D. ’15), founder and director of Root Kitchens, launched an online course on food waste reduction called Preserving Abundance: Learning from Our Ancestors to Reduce Food Waste and Build a Pantry.

Andrea Stathopoulos (Ph.D. ’15) received a fellowship to pursue work in science policy at the federal level from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

▲ Ryan Smithies

See page 59 for Class Notes submission instructions!

Christopher “Jake” Autry (B.S. ’16) joined Hanson Professional Services Inc. as a civil designer where he will provide roadway design, studies, reports and computer-aided design (CAD) for a wide range of transportation and municipal projects.

Brittany Bardill (B.S. ’16) was named was Teacher of the Year by Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Julie McRee (B.S. ’11), a high school history teacher in Florida, received the Florida Council for the Social Studies Excellence in Teaching History Award.

Andrew Mannheimer (M.S. ’12, Ph.D. ’16), faculty member in the Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department at Clemson University, was presented the 2019 Phil Price Award for Innovative Teaching by Clemson University.

Rebekah Suellau (M.S. ’12, M.F.A. ’12) was appointed a part-time professor at Georgia State University in Dramatic Writing in the Film, Media and Theatre department.

Yi-wen Wei (M.A. ’13, Ph.D. ’19) was appointed assistant professor, art education, at Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts.

▼ Jazmyn Reed ▲ Brittany Bardill Lorelle Chapman (B.S. ’16) and Madeline Ruttenbur (B.S. ’16, B.S. ’17) were promoted to senior in the Assurance Services Department at Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs, a professional accounting, assurance, and tax services firm headquartered in Tallahassee.

▼ Elise K. Haverman

Elise K. Haverman (B.S. ’14) joined Carlton Fields as an associate in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Jazmyn Reed (B.A. ’15) joined Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management as an associate communications strategist where she leverages experience managing media relations, social media and marketing communications to serve the firm’s clients in economic development, technology and tourism industries.

▲ Lorelle Chapman

▲ Madeline Ruttenbur

Victoria Cragg (B.F.A. ’16) was visual effects producer on the second season of Insatiable on Netflix.

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CLASS NOTES CJ Hauser (Ph.D. ’16), author of Family of Origin: A Novel, was a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers where she discussed writing about her personal life and spending time with the scientists she wrote about in her novel.

Christine Webber (B.S. ’16) participated in Miami University’s Earth Expeditions global field course in Belize.

Sarah Cox (B.S. ’18) received the 2020 Student Research Award from the Division for Research Council for Exceptional Children.

Amy Booher (B.S. ’17, M.S. ’17) was named Florida Council for Exceptional Children Jack Lamb Rookie Teacher of the Year for the State of Florida.

▼Monique Pedroza ▲ Amy Booher Daniel Brian (B.S. ’17) joined Northern Trust Corp. as an account manager, wealth management advisory.

Derrick Nnadi (B.S. ’17), NFL defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, celebrated the team’s Super Bowl win by paying the adoption fees for all the dogs currently available at KC Pet Project.

Monique Pedroza (B.S. ’18) was the 2019 winner of the Achievement in Biosciences Award and the prize for the Best Laboratory Research Project/ Dissertation by the Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health.

Martin Thuernau (M.F.A. ’19) worked on set of James Arthur’s new song, You, featuring Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker.

MYRON ROLLE (B.S. ’08, M.D. ’17) After his career as a professional football player in the NFL, two-time alumnus and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle knew his next journey was to become a neurosurgeon.

Rolle graduated from FSU’s College of Medicine and then entered his residency training with the Harvard Medical School neurosurgery program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). When Hurricane Dorian struck his home country of the Bahamas, Rolle knew he had to do something. “I have the skills of a physician and a heart to serve so I thought, ‘How will I put them to use at a time when my family and my country need me the most?’” said Rolle, who is in his third year as a resident at MGH. He learned the hospital was forming a Global Disaster Response (GDR) team and jumped at the opportunity to join.

The response team focused its efforts on the eastern part of the island, setting up a fixed clinic in High Rock, Grand Bahama. Each day, the team would get their assignments from the Ministry of Health and then break into groups of nurses, physicians, 58 alumni.fsu.edu

pharmacists, midwives, nurse practitioners and social workers to either staff the clinic or go out into the community. “We did this for the majority of the day and reassembled as a team around 7 at night to debrief,” said Rolle.

While these were not the best circumstances for Rolle to visit his family, his connections on Grand Bahama Island helped the mission tremendously.

“When we arrived, our team needed fresh water to distribute and to use sanitarily for our clinic,” Rolle said. “I called my father who is very close to the leaders of the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, who had access to the water we needed. Within a few hours our clinic was fully equipped with water.”

Reflecting on the impact FSU had on his experiences today, Rolle said he chose Florida State because he thought it was the best place to position him as a future leader who would help change the world one day.

Left: Rolle standing on the rubble of what was once the medical clinic in High Rock, Grand Bahama.

CLASS NOTES I N MEMOR I A M

CLASS NOTES _ _ _ _ _ _ _ IN MEMORI AM IN MEMORIAM | 1950s Benjamin B. Powell, Jr. (B.S. ’57) passed away Sept. 23, 2019, at the age of 84. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting FSU where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, ROTC and served in the National Guard. Following his retirement from the Army, LTC Powell worked for the State of Florida Department of Education and the Legislature.

IN MEMORIAM | 1960s

IN MEMORIAM | Faculty/Staff ▼ Kay Hagan

IN MEMORIAM | 1970s Kay Hagan (B.A. ’75) passed away Oct. 28, 2019, at the age of 66. Hagan held the position of U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 2009 to 2015 after pursuing a career as an attorney and banker.

▼

Dick Danford (B.S. ’68, M.S. ’72) passed away May 4, 2019, at the age of 73. Danford was a member of the FSU Men’s Basketball team from 1966 to 1968, playing 53 games with an average number of 9 points per game. Not only was he a great player, but a prominent coach. During his career, he coached the Gulf Coast State College Men’s Basketball team leading them to 77 wins over four seasons.

He worked his final years as a Bay County shop teacher.

▼ Ned Stuckey-French

View the full “In Memoriam” list at gonol.es/in-memoriam.

SHARE NEWS WITH THE FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Raymond “Ray” Hayhurst (B.S. ’68) passed away Dec. 13, 2019, at the age of 73. Hayhurst was the senior vice president at Avison Young Global and was responsible for the sale of more than 4 million square feet in retail property. In addition to his successful 50-year career in commercial real estate, he served as a mentor to students in the real estate program at Florida State and actively supported the FSU Real Estate Center.

You may submit : Career milestones Publications IN MEMORIAM | 1990s Robert Johnston (M.A. ’96) passed away Jan. 27, 2020, at the age of 52. Johnston earned his master's degree in Archeology from FSU and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Every year he would drive from Indiana to Tallahassee in a car decorated with FSU memorabilia to attend FSU football games.

IN MEMORIAM | 2000s

▲ Raymond “Ray” Hayhurst

Ned Stuckey-French passed away June 28, 2019, at the age of 69. Stuckey-French was a highly acclaimed essayist and English professor at FSU. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, earned his master’s degree at Brown University, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

His students and peers describe him as fiercely compassionate, honest and brave.

Steven “Jeff” Godbey (B.S. ’09) passed away June 15, 2019, at the age of 32. Godbey was named one of eight Outstanding Senior scholars at FSU after defending his thesis and getting published in the Journal of Physiology and Behavior. He received his D.V.M. from Cornell University and joined the emergency veterinary team at Allied Emergency Hospital.

Awards/honors Alumni who have passed away Updates may also be featured in FSU Alumni Association publications and digital platforms. Due to space limitations, submission does not guarantee inclusion.

To submit a Class Note, along with a photo if applicable, fill out the online form at alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes or email vires@alumni.fsu.edu.

SPRING 2020 | VIRES 59

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NEW HEIGHTS First Lady Jean Thrasher, Former First Lady Molly Barron, Former President Eric Barron (B.S. ’73) and President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) look on as the statue commemorating Barron's presidency is unveiled. The statue was dedicated at the grand opening of the new Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science Building, a project Barron launched during his tenure. The 130,500-square-foot building includes 23 research labs and eight teaching labs, a broadcast studio for meteorology students, a seismometer, a solar flower, a 280-seat auditorium and a 100-seat active learning classroom. At seven stories, the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science Building has overtaken Doak Campbell Stadium as the highest point on campus. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer

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