VIRES Spring 2021

A Publication of the Florida State University Alumni Association SPRING 2021 Volume 13, Issue 1

Zak the Baker

Miami’s renowned kosher baker and chef, Zak Stern

Inspiring by Example

Celebrating the fifth presentation of the Inspire Awards

FSU’s 15th President

A tribute to President John Thrasher

THE MOMENT

A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW

An aerial view of campus in 2020 taken by drone courtesy of the FSU Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program. Florida State University’s campus is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida. The historic core campus has expanded from 13.5 acres in 1930 to 485.5 acres as of 2019.

alumni.fsu.edu

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 1

VIRES

UNIVERSITY NEWS ®

PUBLISHER Julie Decker

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

DESIGNERS Jordan Harrison Lindsey Masterson Sierra Thomas

COPY EDITOR Susan Ray (B.A. ’88)

EDITORIAL INTERN Hailey Pflaumer

CONTRIBUTORS Tatia Ghviniashvili (B.A. ’20) Zac Howard (B.A. ’14) Brian Hudgins Teaghan Skulszki (B.A. ’20) University Communications

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF alumni.fsu.edu/staff

View VIRES Online alumni.fsu.edu/vires Contact Us vires@alumni.fsu.edu Submit Class Notes alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes Advertise alumni.fsu.edu/advertise Stay Connected alumni.fsu.edu/social

2 alumni.fsu.edu

FROM THE PUBLISHER You are reading an award-winning magazine! VIRES recently received the “Grand Gold” Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The FSU Alumni Association is happy to be recognized among peers in this way, but it’s you — our members — who we want to make proud. We love nothing more than celebrating the success of our alumni and sharing with you the many ways Florida State University continues to grow and thrive, thus increasing the value of your degree.

FSU alumni are leading all over the world, in some of the most challenging situations of our time. You will see their stories in this issue of VIRES and throughout the Association’s social media platforms. I want to take a moment and acknowledge the true heroes of the FSU Alumni Association: our volunteer leaders who so passionately and diligently serve to keep our FSU ties strong.

With 371,000 living alumni around the world (the largest in the ACC), our staff relies on the leadership of hundreds of trained volunteers across the country. From our networks and clubs to our board of directors, the FSU Alumni Association community exists because of their dedication and active participation. Especially now, during this strangest of seasons, these volunteers strive to find unique ways to connect with prospective students, recent graduates and alumni. These leaders support FSU in every way, every day. Together, we work to bring FSU to you in 2021. Visit our website calendar of events and join us. Sign up for one event you might not have otherwise participated in, join a trivia night, or support a new network. Thank you, volunteer leaders. You are noticed and invaluable to the Florida State alumni family.

In 2020, the Alumni Association — through the leadership of the National Board of Directors — established the FSU Alumni Association First Generation CARE Scholarship, created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the board, held 25 virtual events in the fall, and established our eight affinity networks. We did not slow down and 2021 is proving to be just as exciting with virtual and hybrid opportunities as well as the goal of getting back together in person. Save the date now for Homecoming: October 22-24, 2021.

Lastly, this year is already proving it will be a year of change. With many transitions ahead, none will have more impact on the future than the retirement of one of FSU’s most transformational leaders. President Thrasher, and his wife Jean, have made Florida State better. I have been lucky (as many of you have) to see firsthand their energy for, commitment to, and celebration of all things FSU. Yet, we won’t say goodbye. They will always have a home at the FSU Alumni Association and we look forward to welcoming them as guests and enjoying an alumni event from a new perspective. Look for unique ways we will honor his service later in the spring. We are indebted forever. To say the Thrashers have changed us is an understatement.

Stay in touch and see you in 2021!

Seminoles Forever,

Julie Decker President & CEO FSU Alumni Association

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

FSU’s three torches within the university seal represented on the University Center Building. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer

VIRES

SPRING 2021 Volume 13, 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.

20

Zak the Baker

28

Inspiring by Example

36

FSU’s 15th President

From his college roommate’s garage to the heart of Miami’s arts district, Zak Stern (B.S. ’07) is the man behind Miami’s popular kosher-certified bakery

05

University News

19

Catching Up With

26

Ten Questions

42

Association News

and cafe.

To celebrate the FSU Alumni Association’s fifth presentation of the Inspire Awards, this story highlights one honoree from each of the past four years.

50

Seminoles Forever

52

Class Notes

64

Parting Shot

As FSU prepares to wish President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) farewell following his retirement announcement, we glance at the road that led him to serve as FSU’s 15th president.

ON THE COVER: Zak Stern (B.S. ’07), renowned baker and chef who owns and operates Miami’s award-winning

kosher cafe and bakery. Photo by Craig Ambrosio

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 3

Proceeds from FSU License Plates fund

SCHOLARSHIPS

that promote students’ endeavors towards excellence in academics, research and innovation.

Find out how to get yours at mytag.fsu.edu/

4 alumni.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS

UNIVERSITY NEWS FSU at a Glance

TOP 15 FSU’s record first-year student retention rate places in Top 15 among national public universities.

9 FACULTY

DIVERSITY CHAMPION

Nine FSU faculty members were selected as U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program award recipients for 20202021, setting a new FSU record for most Fulbright Scholars in one year.

For the fifth consecutive year, FSU was recognized as a Diversity Champion

by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. FSU is one of 15 colleges and universities nationwide to earn Diversity Champion status.

MEMBERS EARN U.S. FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR AWARDS

20TH ANNIVERSARY

TOP 20 FSU ranked among the Top 20 public universities in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for the second consecutive year and improved on 11 of 15 key factors used to compile the ranking score.

23%

INCREASE IN GRADUATE STUDENT ENROLLMENT Graduate student enrollment for Fall 2020 increased 23%, far surpassing FSU’s goal of 3% in annual growth.

The FSU College of Medicine celebrated its 20th anniversary with a virtual ceremony, Nov. 6, 2020.

news.fsu.edu

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 5

UNIVERSITY NEWS

TOP TOPIC Great Give Celebrates 10 Years The FSU Foundation will hold its 10th annual Great Give on March 10 On Florida State University’s 161st anniversary in 2012, the university launched its first online giving campaign, The Great Give, with a goal of raising $161,000. During the 36-hour period, The Great Give raised $186,770 from 1,060 donors. Now in its 10th year, the campaign has set its sights on a $1 million goal for its milestone anniversary March 10, 2021.

FSU’s Great Give is an annual online giving campaign spearheaded by

6 alumni.fsu.edu

the FSU Foundation that provides an opportunity for supporters of Florida State to make gifts toward academic programs, scholarships and student activities. “FSU’s Great Give has only gotten better each year,” said Nora Clark (B.S. ’11), assistant director for digital and social giving for the FSU Foundation Office of Annual Giving.

“We’ve seen steady growth with each campaign, which tells us just how much FSU means to our community.”

The funds raised each year have benefited numerous programs and organizations across campus, including the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab’s Shorebird Nesting Habitat Restoration Project in 2019. “The support provided by FSU’s Great Give helped us turn the shoreline near the lab — an area previously composed of dredge spoil and ruderal vegetation — into suitable nesting habitat for the Least Tern, a state designated

threatened species,” said Cullen Morris (B.S. ’10, M.S. ’14, J.D. ’14), lead research assistant at the lab. “Aside from the obvious benefit of providing habitat for a threatened bird species, the Shorebird Restoration area provides an educational experience for visitors and students alike.”

HISTORY OF THE GREAT GIVE 2012 One of the campaign’s memorable projects was the 2019 Marching Chiefs: D-Day 75 Parade in Normandy project. FSU’s Great Give was a major source of funds that helped provide support to the Marching Chiefs traveling overseas to participate in the D-Day 75 Memorial Parade in France. The funds substantially lowered the out-of-pocket cost for students, which enabled 385 members of the 420-strong Marching Chiefs to participate.

That same year, the campaign raised its highest to-date total of $774,979 — more than half of which came from Alumni Association members. On March

10, alumni and friends can help the campaign accomplish its 2021 goal to raise $1 million, which would be the highest amount raised in its history.

New this year, FSU’s Great Give has shifted the campaign from 36 to 24 hours. Supporters can give online to various initiatives throughout the university — from student scholarships and emergency food services to travel abroad and research opportunities.

The 10th annual Great Give will be held Wednesday, March 10, starting at 12:01 a.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m. EST. greatgive.fsu.edu

• Launches with a $161,000 goal on FSU’s 161st anniversary

• $186,770 raised from 1,060 donors 2013

• Returns with Earth Day theme, The Great Give Going Green

• $114,088 raised from 1,144 donors 2014

• Rebrands from The Great Give to FSU’s Great Give

• $133,024 raised from 1,246 donors 2015

• Seven projects raise more than 100% of their fundraising goals

• $163,320 raised from 1,234 donors 2016

• Creates SPARKFSU, FSU’s crowdfunding platform

• $208,549 raised from 1,729 donors 2017

• Sees largest improvement from prior year with $100,000 increase

• $337,814 raised from 2,250 donors 2018

• Incentive awards increase to $23,000 • $404,548 raised from 3,378 donors 2019

• Sets highest fundraising goal to date, $500,000, and surpasses it

• $774,979 raised from 3,835 donors 2020

• Becomes FSU’s Great Give: SOS, a 24-hour fundraising blitz to help support students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic • $438,544 raised from 2,500 donors

2021

• Celebrates 10th anniversary with fundraising goal of $1 million

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 7

SEMINOLE 100

R

APPLY NOW FOR SEMINOLE 100

Join FSU’s Elite Group of Entrepreneurs!

THE FASTEST-GROWING BUSINESSES OWNED OR LED BY FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI. Apply or nominate fellow FSU alumni by July 29, 2021.

VISIT SEMINOLE100.FSU.EDU 8 alumni.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS

FSU PC Student Government President Lucy Rodriguez

FSU COMMUNITY Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship FSU announces 2021 Seminole 100 The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in Florida State University’s College of Business released the 2021 Seminole 100 list of fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Florida State alumni. This year’s Seminole 100 were recognized during a virtual celebration Feb. 18, 2021, that featured the release of their numerical rankings. Alumni can join FSU’s elite group of entrepreneurs by applying or nominating fellow alumni for the 2022 Seminole 100 by July 29, 2021. gonol.es/seminole100

College of Hospitality Dedman School of Hospitality becomes FSU’s newest college The Florida State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Dedman School of Hospitality, which was founded in 1947, to become the university’s 18th college. Don Farr, Dedman Professor of Hospitality Management and dean of the new college, said that becoming a college will engage Dedman alumni, which could also have a financial benefit.

“Our alumni are very excited. We expect — and we hope — giving will go up.” While the global pandemic has hit the hospitality and tourism industry especially hard, Farr said he is optimistic for the future of the newly minted college as well as the industry it educates its students to lead. gonol.es/hospitality-college

Panama City Campus FSU Panama City announces new scholarship program Florida State University Panama City (FSU PC) now offers a scholarship program that provides free tuition for qualified Northwest Florida students with family incomes of $50,000 or less or are eligible for Pell Grants.

The FSU PC Promise Scholarship took effect spring 2021 and reflects the university’s commitment to student success by providing resources to help FSU students become the best versions of themselves. “With the FSU PC Promise Scholarship, we are telling students to focus on their academic pursuits and not to worry about their tuition,” said FSU PC Dean Randy Hanna. The foundation for this scholarship program was established through gifts from the Chapman Family Foundation, the St. Joe Community Foundation, Larry and Pam Perry and an anonymous donor. gonol.es/fsupc-promise

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 9

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For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this card or to apply, please visit bofa.com/fsua Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details. *Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8–12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we, nor our affiliates, provide tax advice.

1 Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

By opening and/or using these products from Bank of America, you’ll be providing valuable financial support to Florida State University Alumni Association.

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10 alumni.fsu.edu

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Bob and Gail Knight with Florida State University President John Thrasher.

Photo by Kallen M. Lunt

College of Social Sciences and Public Policy FSU launches new nonpartisan Institute of Politics In October 2020, FSU launched the Institute of Politics, a nonpartisan, world-class home for civic engagement and research that works to showcase the role of politics in improving the lives of Americans. Housed within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the institute will offer a fresh lens through which people can view political information in an objective way. The institute will also serve as a hub of learning, research and engagement at the state, regional and national level by hosting forums, symposia and workshops that will bring

together the top minds in politics to engage with students, faculty, elected representatives, political practitioners and citizens in the private sector. gonol.es/fsuiop-launch

CAMPUS SNAPSHOT College of Business New Legacy Hall Auditorium to be named after FSU alumni Gail Knight (B.S. ’82) and Bob Knight (B.S. ’81), Lifetime Members of the Alumni Association, are giving back to FSU, the place where they met in 1979 and began their careers, eventually

building and growing the largest event photography company in the world. They attribute their success to investing in each other as much as in their Tallahassee-based business. Now as the CFO and CEO, respectively, of the $100 million photography business Iconic Group, they want to invest in not only the College of Business, but also in the next generation of Seminoles.

The couple’s $1.25 million gift will establish the Gail and Bob Knight Auditorium in Legacy Hall, the new home for FSU’s College of Business.

This gift will have lasting and significant benefits for the college and students, much like the impact FSU has had on the entrepreneurial couple. Bob remarked, “FSU is such an important part of our story, not only because we are alums, but also because FSU students and the administration were our first clients.” gonol.es/legacy-hall-knight

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 11

UNIVERSITY NEWS College of Music

Facilities

FSU names new dean of the College of Music

FSU Facilities receives state award for recycling efforts

Todd Queen has been named dean of the College of Music, succeeding Patricia Flowers (Ph.D. ’81), who returned to the FSU College of Music faculty last June after serving as dean since 2013. Queen, who started in the role Jan. 11, 2021, previously served as dean of the Louisiana State University College of Music & Dramatic Arts. At LSU, he worked with faculty to modernize the undergraduate curriculum to meet the needs of the 21st-century artist. gonol.es/queen-named-dean

Florida State’s campus is one of the most beautiful in the nation and FSU Facilities helps ensure the campus stays clean and green.

For its sustainability efforts on campus, FSU’s recycling program was recently honored with a 2020 Recycling Champion Award by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Recycling Partnership. The award praises programs at FSU that support the reuse of items on campus, like “Chuck it for Charity,” the Office

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Supply Reuse Room and Surplus Property.

It also observes the work of FSU’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department, which recycled 1,322 tons of materials, composted 405 tons of materials and donated or re-sold 1,465 tons in its most recent year of tabulation. gonol.es/recycling-award

University Health Services FSU administers first round of vaccines to 65-plus population Through a partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Leon County, FSU administered the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to faculty, staff and students age 65 and older. The university also received a supply of vaccine doses from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Capital Regional Medical Center for health care workers. The partnership enables the county to expand its distribution and allows more community members to receive access to the vaccine sooner.

“This is another important step in our efforts to promote a healthier and safer campus,” said President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72). FSU is planning to reach a target goal of 400 vaccines per day from the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. gonol.es/covid19-vaccines65

↗ Willie Wiggins, the assistant director for Waste Management, has been a key player in the success of FSU’s recycling program. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer → Latricia Simmons, RN, assistant director of Clinical Operations at University Health Services draws up a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 13

UNIVERSITY NEWS Center for the Advancement of Human Rights

ACADEMICS

FSU Center for Advancement of Human Rights marks 20th anniversary

FSU expert on grief, trauma reflects on 50 years of teaching

The Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at FSU will commemorate its 20th anniversary.

Twenty years ago, an anonymous donor helped fund the center, which has now become a resource for state, federal and international policymakers to support human rights laws. Both center staff and students play an essential role in helping victims of human rights abuse in the U.S. and globally. FSU graduate and attorney Bob Kerrigan (B.S. ’67, J.D. ’71) and late FSU President Sandy D’Alemberte are credited with seeing this center to fruition. Its interdisciplinary mission has helped create human rights classes, placed students in internships worldwide and supported work done on behalf of nongovernmental organizations. Throughout the center’s 20 years, its mission has remained victim based while working with federal and state agencies. Terry Coonan, director of the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, said the center plans a 20th anniversary celebration as soon as the pandemic subsides. gonol.es/fsucahr20

College of Nursing Professor Sally Karioth celebrates 50 years of teaching at Florida State University during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer

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Nursing

Florida State University College of Nursing Professor Sally Karioth (M.S. ’72, Ph.D. ’77) has spent the past 50 years practicing and teaching about trauma and grief. A national commentator and expert on traumatic worldwide events, Karioth says that myriad factors are contributing to

people’s stress, anxiety and feeling out of control. “What we’re dealing with is a world that doesn’t know what to expect next and has no workable plan to make this virus go away,” Karioth said.

“That, along with isolation, loneliness, fear, boredom and helplessness, can create profound feelings of loss and grief.” Karioth, who helps people cope with the death of loved ones in private practice, has taught more than 26,000 students how to do the same in her “Death, the Individual and the Family” course and her healthcarerelated public speaking course. gonol.es/karioth-50yearsteaching

Christian Hubicki, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Photo by FAMUFSU College of Engineering/Mark Wallheiser

Kourosh Shoele, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Photo by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering/Mark Wallheiser

Mechanical Engineering

Chemistry

Robotics

FSU researchers investigate how face shape affects mask performance

FSU researchers investigate material properties for longer-lasting, more efficient solar cells

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professor will teach robots concept of risk with Toyota grant

Kourosh Shoele, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, is part of a team that has received an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve the efficacy of face masks as a defense against COVID-19 and other pathogens. Shoele and his team hope to understand the flow physics and mechanics of face masks used to protect against the virus. They are also studying how face masks fit different users — and how they can be designed for the faces of a wider swath of the general population.

FSU Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Lea Nienhaus and former FSU postdoctoral researcher Sarah Wieghold are helping to understand the fundamental processes in a material known as perovskites, work that could lead to more efficient solar cells that also do a better job of resisting degradation. They found that small tweaks to the chemical makeup of the materials as well as the magnitude of the electrical field it is exposed to can greatly affect the overall material stability.

Assistant Professor Christian Hubicki will develop algorithms that teach robots how to analyze risk with a $750,000 Young Faculty Researcher grant from the Toyota Research Institute. For Hubicki, robots aren’t just tools for the future; they’re also a way to understand everything around us. “I really think that risk is a fundamental unifying concept for anything we want to do in our lives,” Hubicki said. “How do we take all these very different sources of failures and put them into one equation for the robot to understand? That’s what this project is all about.”

gonol.es/mask-performance

gonol.es/perovskites

gonol.es/robots-risk

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 15

UNIVERSITY NEWS Art Art professor receives New York Times recognition An FSU art professor’s latest publication has been lauded

by New York Times art critics as one of the Best Art Books of 2020. Assistant Professor Jessica Ingram’s book, “Road Through Midnight: A Civil Rights Memorial,” is the culmination of a decade of work and field research that documents through photography seemingly ordinary places that were the

sites of pivotal events during the civil rights era. “Ingram’s work centers African Americans as subjects, with thematic content located at the intersections of history, culture, and race, in the Southern United States,” said James Frazier (B.S. ’91, M.F.A. ’94), dean of the College of Fine Arts. “Given the social justice issues that plague our society today, it resonates as acutely relevant.” gonol.es/road-throughmidnight → Law office, Pulaski, Tennessee, 2006. Photo by Jessica Ingram

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SU HISTORY

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16 alumni.fsu.edu

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SPRING 2021 | VIRES 17

UNIVERSITY NEWS

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18 alumni.fsu.edu

DEONTE BROWN

Director of nationally recognized CARE program

T

en years ago, DeOnte Brown advanced in his professional career as a program coordinator with Florida State’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), where he worked closely with the Upward Bound program. This FSU program promotes academic and post-secondary success among Gadsden County high school students — a program that he himself participated in as a high school student in Quincy, Florida.

In 2014, Brown took a position at Clemson University with hopes of one day returning to FSU. At Clemson, he held multiple administrative positions, taught classes in the College of Education, and, most recently, served as the assistant dean of students. Brown’s journey came full circle Jan. 4, 2021, his first day as FSU’s new director of CARE and assistant dean of Undergraduate Studies.

“In what has been such a tumultuous year around the world but particularly in this country, being back on Florida State’s campus where I started my professional career is comforting, exciting and also a little surreal,” said Brown. “CARE, the FSU campus, as well as the city, have developed so much while I was gone, so it almost feels like a different place,” he said.

“There are moments when it also feels as though I never left because the committed staff and incredible students — the heartbeat of CARE — make it feel familiar.”

One of Brown’s goals is to build on CARE’s success with first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students by expanding services to other underrepresented or underserved student groups. “As a former member of the pre-collegiate programs unit in CARE, I recognize the importance of educational interventions occurring sooner rather than later to not only create a college-going culture, but also college success.”

Alumni engagement will also be an important priority for Brown. “First-generation college graduates have so much to share with undergraduates about making the most of the undergraduate experience, successfully navigating graduate school or becoming a standout professional in their career.”

Read more about Brown: gonol.es/DeOnte-Brown

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 19

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Zak THE BAKER

Award-winning baker and chef Zak Stern (B.S. ’07) started his business by making bread in his college roommate’s garage.

Now, he owns and operates Zak the Baker, a vibrant kosher cafe and bakery located in the heart of Miami’s arts district.

STORY BY TEAGHAN SKULSZKI (B.A. ’20) PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG AMBROSIO

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 21

W

hat started in a two car-garage in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District turned into a bread sensation, with lines out the door early in the morning until supplies run low by evening. Zak Stern (B.S. ’07) is the man behind one of Miami’s most popular bakeries, the eponymous “Zak the Baker.”

The local kosher-certified bakery and cafe is founded on compassion and community. “I think what’s special about a local bakery is the connection between the consumer and the producer,” Stern said. “We’ve resisted the urge to open multiple locations, so we’re able to

22 alumni.fsu.edu

establish relationships and build intimacy with the community. One of the biggest challenges has been understanding what it is I want from the company. It’s more of a philosophical question, but it ultimately drives everything.”

There is no doubt that Zak the Baker has a following, down the block and on the web. Racking up 125,000 followers and growing on Instagram, Stern is well-known in Miami and in the food influencer world. He holds numerous awards and recognitions including: 2013 Best Baker and 2014 Best Bakery by the Miami New Times’ Best of Miami Awards, 2015 Bakery & Pastry Chef of the Year

at the Johnson & Wales University Zest Awards, and James Beard Miami finalist in 2017 and 2018.

“I didn’t grow up wanting to be a baker, it’s something that developed over time after university,” said Stern. So, how did this FSU graduate end up a celebrated kosher baker?

“I was shocked that I made it through with decent enough grades to get into FSU,” he laughed. Stern had hopes of one day becoming a pharmacist so he pursued a pre-med degree. While at FSU, he ate his way through Tallahassee’s favorite local restaurants. “Kool Beanz was my go-to place when my parents were paying,” he

Zak Stern in his college roommate’s garage in 2012, the location where he first started his business. said. “But on a college budget, you could find me at Gordos, Jim & Milt’s BBQ, Super China Buffet and Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack.”

In 2007, Stern graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the College of Human Sciences with plans to attend pharmacy school at Mercer University in Atlanta. It only took a semester of graduate school for Stern to understand his path was elsewhere. “I realized traditional academia wasn’t quenching my thirst anymore, but I was still thirsty to learn.”

With the realization that he had to put his energy into something that brought him fulfillment, Stern withdrew from

graduate school and spent the next five years traveling the world learning about bread, cheese and agriculture. “I apprenticed different bakers throughout Europe through work trades,” he said.

He participated in the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms program where he fully immersed himself in the country lifestyle, living off the land and hospitality of others. “I would often work from sunup to sun down in exchange for room, board and the hope that I would learn something along the way.”

The program took him through Sweden, France, Italy and Israel, each location bringing him different trials and lessons.

“Some places I learned a lot, and some were nightmares!” he laughed. “I think what I learned most was the wisdom of the country: manual labor with a direct relationship to the rhythms of nature.”

For the first time, Stern knew what he wanted to do. He was ready to return home and Miami was his oyster. “Once I returned home from my travels, bread baking was my most accessible craft, and the Miami market was wide open.”

Like many great startups, his business started in a friend’s garage in 2012.

“My friend, Jeremy, was my college roommate at Florida State, and his dad was gracious enough to let me pop up a bakery in his garage.”

Stern started his business with a pizza oven, old butcher table and a few garbage cans to stir flour. No air conditioning, no mixer, no employees and no running water — but a lot of determination. “I would use the sink in the kitchen to wash the bowls,” he said. He spent his early mornings baking in order to set up as soon as the farmers market opened. “Soon enough, there was a line waiting for me before I arrived.”

Growing up, Stern was never deeply invested in his Jewish culture. At the age of 15, he got kicked out of Hebrew confirmation for using the schoolwide intercom in the principal’s office and pretending to be the voice of God. His focus in life was elsewhere. Ten years and a trek across Europe later, Stern was invested in one particular part of Jewish culture: cuisine.

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“Nonreligious Jews communicate through food, not services,” he said. Stern pays respect to his ancestors through the artisan kosher bakery. The bakery has been certified kosher since 2014 and is closed all Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Under the bakery’s kosher certification, the bread is Parvae, Pas Yisrael, Non Yoshon, with hafrashat challah taken on each batch; pastries are dairy, Non-Cholov Yisrael, with some non-dairy products made in dairy equipment; and cafe items are dairy Non-Cholov Yisrael. In a bustling fast city life, the bakery serves as a cultural gathering place, where people of all backgrounds and beliefs meet to enjoy delicious food.

Located in Wynwood, the arts district of Miami, the outside of the bakery building is covered by a multi-colored block mural painted by Dutch artists Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn, better known as Haas & Hahn. “It’s pretty much the Disney World of wall murals,” Stern laughed. Inside you’ll see a collection of people from all walks of life, from Miami locals to orthodox Jews.

Inside, the menu is a synthesis between old and new. Popular menu items include a

24 alumni.fsu.edu

salmon Rueben topped with kraut, Thousand Island dressing and Swiss cheese hot pressed on sourdough Jewish rye bread. Another staple is a grilled cheese made with Challah sandwich bread and mozzarella cheese dipped in egg served with lemon and powdered sugar. And let’s not forget the staple of any bakery: pastries.

You can see many of these items and specialties on Stern’s Instagram page, @zakthebaker. There is no doubt that social media has benefited the business. “Social media has given us a platform to share our story for free,” said Stern. It has become particularly important to Stern and the bakery during the coronavirus pandemic. He uses Instagram to update his customers about deliveries, store closings and COVID-19 impacts.

Stern also uses his online presence to extend his community values. “It’s an incredible communication tool that when used appropriately, can have a powerful impact.”

He recently used Instagram to promote a GoFundMe COVID-19 relief campaign launched by the bakery’s most senior staff members. “Sadly, the bakery is not immune to this economic disaster,” Stern explained. “Keeping the bakery open with dramatically reduced business volumes has left us with significant weekly losses that are unsustainable for an independent small business, which has forced me to make some very difficult decisions.”

Stern used the time that restaurants in Florida were closed to expand his delivery service. “There were loads of mistakes, long days and unending uncertainty,” he said, remarking that it reminded him of his beginning days in his friend’s garage. “Only now, I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by an incredibly talented and dedicated team that I’m so proud to be a part of.

We’re learning fast and adapting at warp speed. We’ve already plowed through this list and are ready to tackle the next one.”

A tuna melt hot pressed on sourdough country wheat bread that was posted on the bakery’s Instagram.

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Eva Killings in FSU’s historic dining hall, Suwannee Room. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer.

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TEN QUESTIONS

Eva Killings

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lorida State University’s beloved ambassador of love and smiles, Eva Killings, has worked for FSU in various food service jobs for 45 years. She is one of the most recognizable faces on campus and known to most as “Ms. Killings.” In 2017, she was named the recipient of the Ross Oglesby Award during the Alumni Association’s Homecoming Awards Breakfast. She has also been honored with a hallway in her name located in Suwannee Room, noted for her iconic “I love you’s” when greeting all that enter. We caught up with Ms. Killings to learn more about her passion and commitment to FSU. 1 Share with us the story of what led you to work at FSU. I had just moved back to Tallahassee and reached out to my aunt that worked at Florida State. She said, “Come on up here, we need help,” and the first day I came they put me to work. That was 1975 and 45 years later, I just love being here.

2 What has given you the most joy while working here? Seeing my babies happy every day. After their first year, I don’t see many of the students but so many come back before they graduate to tell me, “I could not have made it through school if it was not for you.” That’s what I really love is taking care of the students.

3 When did you first start telling visitors “I love you” and when did you realize this was a phrase you would say every day? I can’t remember what year it was but from the first time I got here, we always gave love at Florida State.

People would come up and give me a hug, and I even used to come out from behind the line and give love each day. It just grew over and over, and now that’s all I know: to give love to everyone here at Florida State.

FSU’s 10th annual Great Give is coming up. If you could create a campaign, what fund would you start to better support students at FSU? A fund to make sure that every student that comes through here has food. I don’t want to see any student hungry. I’ve gone in my purse and paid for students to eat here on campus. I treat each student just like my own, and I love them just as well as I love my children.

4

You’ve touched the lives of so many alumni through the years.

Do you still keep in touch with them? I see many alumni when they come for Homecoming. Some of them say, “You’re still here!” I have pictures with many alumni when they come back to visit like Ben Crump (B.S. ’92, J.D. ’95) and the Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey (B.S. ’96, M.P.A. ’99). I just love people, I’m a people person.

5

6 You were honored with the 2017 Ross Oglesby Award that recognizes a faculty or staff member who has given distinguished service to students and to the university. How do you continually ensure excellent customer service? Just by being nice to everyone I see every day. I want to make sure everyone is happy, especially when they come in to eat. I go out of the way to make sure I take care of everyone, especially my babies! I love the students and that’s the reason why I’m still here.

7 What does it mean to be recognized by the FSU community? It just makes me feel really good. It doesn’t matter where I go or travel, someone always remembers me from Florida State. And that is overwhelming and a great feeling, to know that I touched so many lives here.

8 This year’s MLK Celebration Week celebrated the Black women in our lives. What are your thoughts on the theme? Black women are now important, everywhere. When I first started working on campus, there weren’t that many Black faculty or students. It’s just been amazing to see things change. What’s really impressed me about Florida State: we still gave so much love then too. No one ever looked down on me because I worked in food service. Everyone has always treated me very nice and that’s the reason I fell in love with this place.

9 What do you want your legacy to be at FSU? I’ve touched so many students and faculty here at Florida State, and they’ve touched my life. I just want my legend to continue because so many students tell me, “Thank you for being here and giving me love.”

10 You’ve inspired so many; who or what inspires you?

Just being here at Florida State, I love it. I want to stay as long as my health allows. This is where I belong. I’m going to be an old lady and still be around, I love it just that much! This is my second home.

Hear from Ms. Killings in the FSU Alumni Association's new podcast, Echoes: gonol.es/echoes-evakillings

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Eva Killings in 2018 with members of the Student Alumni Association executive board at 1851, the university’s newest dining facility.

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INSPIRE AWARDS

Stacie B. Harris cheers on the Noles during an FSU home football game. Harris was a member of the FSU All-Girl Varsity Cheerleading Squad from 2000-2002 and captain from 2001-2002.

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INSPIRING

BY EXAMPLE

By Zac Howard (B.A. ’14)

S

eizing opportunities offered to them after graduating, FSU alumnae Nada Usina (B.S. '93, M.S. '94), Stacie B. Harris (B.S. '02, J.D. '05), Loretta Jackson Brown (B.S.N. '87) and Anne Hamilton (B.S. '79) have elevated the university’s reputation to new heights through groundbreaking work in their respective fields.

Since 2016, the Florida State University Alumni Association has presented the Inspire Awards to alumnae of distinction with exceptional character who have demonstrated extraordinary success in their profession. In addition to conferring the 2021 Inspire Awards through an upcoming digital ceremony this March, the Association is highlighting one honoree from each of the past four years as part of the celebration. The university’s iconic legacy was built by women and it has been sustained, advanced and carried to the height of industry by women of true inspiration.

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INSPIRE AWARDS

Nada Usina

INSPIRE AWARD RECIPIENT, 2016

T

Nada Usina with her husband Gary and children Vuk and Mirko at the FSU vs.

Boise State football game in August 2019.

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hose who knew Nada Usina (B.S. '93, M.S. '94) when she was young might not have predicted that she would become a pioneer in the new media and mobile technology revolution of the late 1990s and early 2000s, but they likely expected her to succeed in whatever career path she followed.

The Toronto native currently serves as managing director at the global leadership advisory and search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. The daughter of a Yugoslav immigrant scientist and a former singing nun, Usina is the oldest of four children, and grew up in what she calls, “a super competitive family, one that valued education, athletics, music and well-roundedness.” She competed in seven sports in her youth, including swimming, which earned her a full scholarship to FSU. Not long after graduating, Usina and her husband moved to Dallas. During her job hunt, Usina interviewed at a small company called AudioNet, where she met with the two enterprising founders, Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner, who hired her on the spot. Usina ran the sports prosperities for AudioNet, which later became known as Broadcast.com — the first company ever to stream a live sporting event online.

“It was amazing,” she said, reflecting on the momentous time in her early 20s. “I did deals with teams and leagues. I built webpages. I connected satellite dishes and couplers, and whatever else needed to happen to get sports streamed live on the internet back in the 1990s. It sort of all came together and we built an industry.”

The company went public in 1998 and was purchased by Yahoo! for $5.7 billion. Though still in its infancy, Usina understood the internet’s limitless capacity.

“It was very clear to me that that was where the future would go,” she said. “The fact that it’s taken 20 years to get where it’s gotten to, I find fascinating. You sort of see the picture and paint it. That’s what we were doing as fast as we could.”

Following the acquisition, Usina stayed with Yahoo for another three years before joining the cellular powerhouse Nokia in 2002, where she rose to president of Nokia Canada. While there, she facilitated tremendous innovation, such as adding games to cell phones and allowing users to keep their mobile number when changing providers.

“We were mocked,” she said. “People would say, ‘Who’s going to want to play games or watch videos on their phone?’”

In 2005, Usina led a startup known as XOS Technologies as president, a role she maintained after JumpTV acquired the company for $60 million and at age 33, she became the president of a public company in the techspace. JumpTV merged with Neulion, where Usina remained on as president, which is now part of the global leader Endeavor Streaming.

Today, Usina helps match many of the world’s top companies with visionary leaders like herself. “Right now, I have a view into the C-suite around countries, and that’s a really cool vantage point,” she said. For FSU students and alumni, Usina says executive connections are ample across industry, making the possibilities limitless. “You can absolutely make the connections and leverage them to wherever you want to take them.”

Stacie B. Harris

INSPIRE AWARD RECIPIENT, 2017

T

he daughter of two public servants, Tallahassee native Stacie B. Harris (B.S. ’02, J.D. ’05) aspired to do the lifesaving work of a medical doctor when she grew up.

Harris, a federal prosecutor, ultimately opted for law school rather than medical school, but the contributions of her vocation are no less heroic than those of a cardiologist or neurosurgeon. She currently serves as an associate deputy attorney general, the national coordinator for child exploitation prevention and interdiction, and the national human trafficking coordinator for the United States Department of Justice, having joined the staff of the United States Deputy Attorney General in 2018. She received the statewide Human Trafficking Prosecutor of the Year Award from Florida’s governor and attorney general in 2013.

Once a pre-med student at the University of Florida, Harris moved back home to attend FSU, and she was a cheerleader at Florida State during some of the Seminoles’ best seasons in football. After graduating from law school, Harris worked in private practice in Tampa for three years before jumping at the opportunity to become a federal prosecutor in 2008.

“Really, being a federal prosecutor is the best job you can have as a lawyer,” she said. “The work we do is what movies are made of. One of the first cases I had, the U.S. Coast Guard stopped a speedboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that had over 8,000 kilos of cocaine on it. A helicopter had to shoot out the engine.”

Harris also took on the daunting role of human trafficking coordinator for the Middle District of Florida, working closely with the FBI’s Innocence Lost Initiative, a program dedicated to investigating and prosecuting Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.

“Back in 2008, society looked at prostitution very differently than it does now” she said, noting that underaged sex workers received far less sympathy than they do today. “These were cases that people, including prosecutors, weren’t excited to do. You’d often hear comments like, ‘They’re victimless crimes.’”

Understandably, Harris said more than a dozen years on the job has taken a toll. She credits her counselor, church and family for providing the necessary support that allows her to carry on with her arduous work. Of course, the reward is invaluable.

“It has been great to see how the attention we have brought to the issue has changed society’s perception about our most vulnerable citizens; but most importantly, the work that’s being done is giving these men and women a voice” she said. “I want to be remembered as someone who fought to make life better for all people, but particularly the people who have often been forgotten about.”

Stacie B. Harris gives the welcome remarks at the National Law Enforcement Training for Child Exploitation in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 2019.

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INSPIRE AWARDS

Loretta Jackson Brown INSPIRE AWARD RECIPIENT, 2018

W

Loretta Jackson Brown at the Atlanta Seminole Club's 2019 Seminole Service Day at the Atlanta Food Bank.

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hen Loretta Jackson Brown (B.S.N. ’87), senior health specialist and team lead at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), met with the residents of Flint, Michigan, during the city’s water contamination crisis of 2016, she learned an important lesson.

“I would say, ‘Hi my name is Loretta and I’m a nurse,’” she said.

“This allowed me to gain trust among a community where distrust in government was heightened. They already had frustration with government, because government was supposed to protect them and government had actually harmed them.”

Building trust with strangers isn’t easy, yet it was essential for Brown and her team to be effective in critical situations. She has responded to over a dozen public health emergencies, including Ebola, Zika and most recently COVID-19. Prior to joining CDC, Brown, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, served as chief nurse executive for the 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Dobbins Air Reserve Base just outside of Atlanta. She learned about Air Force nursing during an FSU College of Nursing Career Day event and credits much of her success to the training she received in the military. She went on to complete her master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing.

In 1991, while stationed at Kessler Air Force Base (AFB) in Mississippi, Brown found her niche in nephrology, or kidney specialization. After three years at Travis AFB in California, she relocated to Dobbins AFB, just outside of Atlanta. While stationed at Dobbins, Brown deployed to Japan, Germany, Hawaii and Alaska for numerous domestic and international assignments.

Notably, Brown helped facilitate the airlift evacuation of wounded soldiers in Southeast Asia as part of project Iraqi Freedom.

Brown has served on the board of directors for the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA) and Emory Decatur Hospital in Atlanta. In 2020, she received the ANNA’s Nephrology Nurse Educator Award. Whether she is advising best practices for medical systems or on the ground assisting the public during a crisis, Brown maintains a selfless mindset.

“I always say live your life in such a way that helps others win,” she said. “That is more rewarding. Professional development, helping people build character and understand the importance of integrity, owning their work and making their practice personal — those are governing principles in how you live your life.”

Anne Hamilton

INSPIRE AWARD RECIPIENT, 2019

A

nne Hamilton (B.S. ’79), vice president of global travel and expense management at Disney, has a life motto that sounds like it belongs in the script of a Disney movie.

“Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?” she says.

Longtime employees at any company know that the culture inevitably rubs off on them, so Hamilton, who has worked at Disney since 1996, is a true believer in the iconic brand’s inspirational mission.

Yet anyone who knows Hamilton can attest that her life and career are not marked by magic or fantasy, but by her exemplary resolve, work ethic and magnanimity. “I always raise my hand for the hard projects,” she said. “The day you wake up and think you know it all, you’re dead.”

Staying hungry and humble has helped Hamilton rise to the top of her industry. In 2019, she received the Industry Leader Award from Meeting Professionals International, the event planning industry’s largest association.

Hamilton’s father worked in Miami’s thriving hotel business; she knew at an early age that she wanted to do the same, so FSU’s highly ranked Dedman School of Hospitality — now a college — made her university choice a no-brainer. After graduating, Hamilton began her career at Hyatt Hotels in 1980 and became director of sales and marketing for Hilton Hotels in 1989.

Seven years later, she found herself sitting next to a gentleman on an airplane who noticed Hamilton was wearing a Disney scarf and asked if she worked there. She replied that she did not, and then listed out many of the company’s shortcomings she had identified from afar. Her candor proved fortuitous in the long run, although slightly embarrassing in the moment given the stranger’s response. “‘I’m the guy that just got hired by Disney to fix everything you just talked about,’” Hamilton recalled him saying. “And then he hired me three weeks later. I worked for him for 19 years.”

In addition to blazing a trail for other women to follow, Hamilton has always believed in giving back to her alma matter, often mentoring students and fellow alumni.

“I try to inspire people to be the best that they can be in whatever their world is. It doesn’t always mean you have to win awards,” she said. “We all have a responsibility to continue to invest in the university, so it can continue to be great.”

Anne Hamilton speaks on the live panel featuring the Inspire Award honorees at the 2019 ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

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INSPIRE AWARDS

The Inspire Awards for FSU Women of Distinction: 2021 Recipients

2021 PRESENTING SPONSOR

ON MARCH 11, 2021, THE FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WILL CONFER THE 2021 INSPIRE AWARDS IN A VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION AND CELEBRATE ITS FIFTH CLASS OF INDUSTRY LEADERS. THOSE RECIPIENTS ARE:

CECELIA BONIFAY (B.A. ’71, M.S. ’76, J.D. ’85) Chair of Akerman’s Land Use and Development Practice, Bonifay helps developers navigate the governmental approval process for their real estate projects. Her professional accolades include recognition in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in land use and zoning. Bonifay has devoted more than 25 years to her community, holding several leadership positions at the Urban Land Institute. She is a proud three-time alumna of Florida State University receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1971, a Master of Science in Planning from the College of Social Sciences in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from the College of Law in 1985.

MARION HARGETT (B.A. ’93) Hargett is senior vice president of agency partnerships and national sales for Ampersand, a data-driven TV advertising sales and technology company. She is responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with Ampersand’s core clients and driving national sales efforts for the company’s advanced advertising products. She received a Bachelor of Arts in communications and education in 1993 from FSU, where she has served on the university’s Foundation Board of Trustees and Alumni Association National Board of Directors.

Hargett has been recognized on numerous occasions for her sales leadership and success and received the FSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa and the FSU Alumni Association’s Grad Made Good Award in 2016.

J’TIA HART (B.S. ’02) J’Tia Hart is a nuclear engineer currently serving as the program lead in the Security Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory, where she directs analysis covering international affairs, nuclear energy and safety, energy security and cybersecurity to inform department decisions.

She received a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from FSU in 2002 and holds her master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Hart has been nationally recognized for her outstanding leadership as a White House Fellowship finalist. Her outreach efforts have led to her designation as a Department of Energy Minority in Engineering (MIE) Champion Partner, an Intelligence Community Barrier Breaker and an Energy Slam Champion.

NAN CASPER HILLIS (B.S. ’76) Hillis earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University’s College of Business in 1976 with majors in marketing and finance. She is the senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Prime Meridian Bank. Hillis and her husband, Mark, have established seven endowed scholarships for students at FSU and one professorship in real estate.

Additionally, they have donated to the FSU Alumni Center, the new College of Business building, Legacy Hall, and the Veterans Legacy Complex. Hillis is a member of the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame and a recipient of the following awards: FSU Alumni Circle of Gold, FSU Faculty Senate Mores Torch, FSU Real Estate Network, and the 2019 FSU Panhellenic Alumni Advisor of the Year.

To attend the virtual event, purchase your exclusive access link at alumni.fsu.edu/inspire.

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36 alumni.fsu.edu

15

Florida State's

th

president John Thrasher and a Legacy of Leadership

By Tatia Ghviniashvili (B.A. ’20)

John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) has had a long and fulfilling career — practicing law, serving in the Florida Legislature, and since 2014, serving as president of Florida State University. As FSU prepares to wish him a warm farewell following his retirement announcement, it's only fitting to glance at the road that led Thrasher to where he is now.

Photos by FSU Photography Services

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John Thrasher in the president's office located in Westcott Building.

I

n the summer of 1961, a 17-year-old, first-generation college student from Jacksonville stepped onto Florida State’s campus in the Tallahassee heat with a few suitcases and not much else.

As fate would have it, that same student would one day become the 15th president of FSU, proudly leading the Seminoles to a new era of success through growth and adversity. Students, alumni, faculty and staff know him today as President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72).

Thrasher first came to FSU on a whim after becoming the first in his family to graduate high school. Embraced by the culture of FSU and filled with pride, a young John Thrasher fell in love with the university.

38 alumni.fsu.edu

Four years of school flew by for Thrasher, as he dove into the world of academics, work and brotherhood at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He met the love of his life, Jean, his sophomore year at FSU and married her his senior year. They now have three kids and eight grandchildren.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business, Thrasher joined the United States Army, where he served in Germany and Vietnam. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in Germany, as well as two Bronze Stars for his service in Vietnam. In 1970, he was honorably discharged and four days after leaving Vietnam, he returned to his alma mater to continue his education and study his passions: politics and public service.

Following his graduation from the FSU College of Law, Thrasher worked in private law practice in Daytona Beach and Tallahassee for several years until returning to Jacksonville to serve as general counsel of the Florida Medical Association, a position he held for 20 years. In 1986, Thrasher was elected to serve as a vice chairman, and then chairman, on the Clay County School Board. In 1992, Thrasher was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served consecutive terms. In 1998, he was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the House.

Using his education to give back to his alma mater, Thrasher was the first chair of the Florida State University’s Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005. He was elected to the Florida Senate in

f

John and Jean Thrasher view the solar eclipse with students on Union Green Aug. 21, 2017.

f John Thrasher served

in the Florida House of Representatives from 1992-2000 and was the Speaker of the House from 1999-2000.

Photo courtesy of Florida Memory

2009, where he proudly represented the people of Florida until his appointment as Florida State’s 15th president in November 2014.

Although the FSU Board of Trustees appointed Thrasher to the presidency with a strong 11-2 vote, he faced opposition from skeptics. “I had a kind of a rocky start,” recalled Thrasher. “I wasn’t the most popular choice among some areas, particularly the faculty, and it was because of my background in politics.”

Despite opposition, Thrasher was determined to gain the trust and support of the FSU faculty, promising to push all politics aside and lead FSU through an unbiased and fair lens. “I wasn’t John Thrasher, Republican, Speaker of the House, Senator, Chairman of the Republican Party; I was John Thrasher, President of Florida State

University, and my goal was to enhance the opportunity for any student that came here.”

Since the start of his presidency, Thrasher has worked tirelessly to do just as he promised. He worked closely with FSU faculty and staff to boost the reputation of the university and bring the best and the brightest students to campus each year. This year, FSU’s record first-year student-retention rate placed among the top 15 nationally for public universities. Thrasher also aimed to create a safe and exciting place for students to live, study and conduct research.

A two-time FSU graduate, Thrasher understands how a degree from FSU can help open doors for its alumni. “I can’t overemphasize the influence that these degrees have, and that’s why I’m so passionate about FSU and ensuring

that our students get their degree when they come to FSU, regardless of who they are, and regardless of their background.”

During the six years of Thrasher’s presidency, FSU attained a multitude of achievements and milestones. The university created a strategic plan, raised $1 billion for advancing the impact of the university, expanded the research enterprise, and enrolled and graduated the brightest students in the university’s history.

Florida State’s greatest achievement during Thrasher’s presidency is likely its leap in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings. FSU has risen from No. 43 in 2016 to now being ranked one of the nation’s Top 20 public universities.

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40 alumni.fsu.edu

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John and Jean Thrasher pass out ice cream to students at the 2015 President's Ice Cream Social on Landis Green.

(Top Right) Jean and John Thrasher. (Bottom Right) John Thrasher congratulates a graduate as she crosses the stage at commencement.

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“I could not be prouder of the fact that we are a Top 20 public university and that our reputation has grown over the last couple of years academically,” said Thrasher, reflecting his pride and commitment to the university. “The Top 20 is really good, but it’s a number; what it does is reflect the goodness of Florida State.”

With over 50,000 applications submitted for the upcoming year, FSU remains a popular choice for prospective students, another point of pride for Thrasher. “Florida State is a great place and not because of John Thrasher but because of the quality of the students and faculty that we have been able to attract and the great programs we have here.”

As well as being a top university to study, Thrasher is thankful for extraordinarily talented and highly respected faculty. “We are attracting great faculty and research dollars, and our faculty are doing incredible things.”

Thrasher has led FSU with an understanding of what makes FSU unique: its people. Using everyday opportunities such as walks through campus or athletic events, Thrasher has inspired and created personal connections with the faculty, staff, alumni, and students, in particular. “To me, every time I go on campus or get the chance to see students, I get joyful and I get very happy,” he said.

The same students who see Thrasher alongside his wife and partner, Jean, on Landis Green handing out ice cream for the President’s Ice Cream Social are the same students who once again greet Thrasher

at graduation and seal their personal and academic accomplishments with a handshake from him. “Graduation to me is the culmination of everything that we do here,” said Thrasher. “Even though I know it’s only the students who walk across the aisle, to me it’s when their families are out there and they’re cheering and they’re so proud and so happy. Those are the things that I will miss.”

In September, Thrasher announced his plans to retire.

“I have to say, it’s been pretty good for the last six years, and it’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” said Thrasher. “I’ll tell everyone this, and I’ve told everyone this: this is the best job I’ve ever had, and it’ll be the last job I’ll ever have, so it’s a good way to finish.”

As the university search committee looks for a new president who can fill Thrasher’s shoes, he is more than confident in the university’s future leadership. “I’m an optimistic person. I’m sure they will find an excellent president because I know the people conducting the search. That’s what they want, and that’s what I want. When the time comes, I’m ready to hand over the reins to the next president and look forward to supporting him or her as best I can.”

In the past six years, Thrasher has led FSU with a steady hand through the highs and the lows, continuing to offer his support and encouragement to his fellow Seminoles every step of the way.

“It’s been an opportunity of a lifetime for me, one I never thought I’d have, and I’m certainly blessed to have been the 15th president of this great university.”

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 41

ASSOCIATION NEWS ABOUT The FSU Alumni Association

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serves the university’s more than 371,000 alumni, including our 26,000 members. Your Alumni Association membership helps connect Seminoles all 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.

OUR GOALS 1. Connecting the university’s growing network of more than 371,000 alumni 2. Fostering alumni engagement through events, services and programming 3. Highlighting and sharing alumni success stories with the community 4. Supporting students and future alumni through programs and scholarships

As a member-based organization, we are thankful for the continued support and contributions from our Alumni Association members. Becoming a member makes a resounding statement of commitment to the university, fellow alumni and the students who will soon join the ranks of the alumni community.

1. Alumni Association Life Members Judith Tankel (B.A. ’12, J.D. ’15) Terri Tankel (B.S. ’80), Laura Bare (B.S. ’11, J.D. ’14) and Aaron Tankel (B.S. ’15, J.D. ’18) hold an Alumni Association member flag while visiting the Fusterlandia neighborhood in Havana, Cuba, during a Continuing Legal Education trip in February 2020.

42 alumni.fsu.edu

ASSOCIATION NEWS STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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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, Countdown to Graduation, and Speaker Series.

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SUPPORT SAA

You can support SAA by signing your student up anytime throughout the year or by sponsoring the Speaker Series or Beat T-shirts. Learn more at gonol.es/saa-sponsorships.

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

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1. The 2021 Executive Board at their virtual board retreat to start the year off strong.

2. President Jacey Hanley, left, and Vice President Cannon Randle, right.

3. SAA hosted the 2021 Countdown to Graduation Jan. 28, 2021, on Landis Green.

This outdoor grab-and-go event included important information for graduates, treats, giveaways and a Class of 2021 photo opportunity.

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 43

ASSOCIATION NEWS ALUMNI PROGRAMMING

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The Alumni Association hosts events, awards and programs annually to engage alumni around the world and strengthen the Seminole spirit that resides in every FSU graduate. At the onset of social distancing in March 2020, the Association shifted from inperson events to digital engagement opportunities, acknowledging the needs of alumni and friends amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is uncertain when the Association can safely resume in-person events, virtual events and webinars will continue monthly.

Watch past Webinars at alumni.fsu.edu/webinarresources

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS

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The FSU Alumni Association recognized 18 young alumni as Notable Noles for their significant contributions to their professions, communities or alma mater at the ninth annual Young Alumni Awards Ceremony, presented virtually Oct. 9, 2020. 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.

2020 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award Recipients • Michael Burgess (M.S. ’13) • Kristine Ramos (B.S. ’08) • Ryan Kitchens (B.S. ’10, M.A. ’17) • Charee Williams (B.S. ’06)

View the full list of Notable Noles at gonol.es/yaa20

44 alumni.fsu.edu

4 1. In 2020, the Alumni Association hosted over 15 webinars during the Webinar Wednesday series. 2. Gene Deckerhoff, voice of the Seminoles, records in front of a green screen as the emcee for the 69th Annual Kickoff Luncheon, presented virtually Sept. 10, 2020. 3. Ashley Folladori (B.S. ’04), FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors member, watches FSU Football Head Coach Mike Norvell during the Kickoff Luncheon.

4. Alumni Association President and CEO Julie Decker records a welcome for the virtual Young Alumni Awards.

ASSOCIATION NEWS 5

ALUMNI AWARDS GALA The Florida State University Alumni Association recognized six members of the FSU family during the second annual Alumni Awards Gala presented virtually Nov. 13, 2020.

The Bernard F. Sliger Award 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.

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2020 Recipient Freddie Groomes-McLendon (Ph.D. ’72) Circle of Gold 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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2020 Inductees • Jean Accius (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’03) • B. Dan Berger (B.S. ‘89) • Christopher Iansiti (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’94) • Karen Laughlin, presented posthumously • Bill Montford (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’71)

gonol.es/gala20

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Join us for our Spring 2021 Homecoming Events: FSU Then and Now | April 5 TEDxFSU | April 7 Spring Alumni Awards | April 9

10 5. The Young Alumni Awards’ presenting sponsor was Crossman Career Builders, which is owned and operated by FSU alumnus John Crossman (B.S. ’93).

6. Attendees were encouraged to share a virtual champagne toast celebrating the 2020 Alumni Awards Gala honorees. 7. Christopher Iansiti (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’94) displays his custom engraved champagne bottle given to him as a gift from friend Julie Dunn Eichenberg (B.S. ‘94) for the virtual Alumni Awards Gala ceremony. 8. Freddie Groomes-McLendon (Ph.D. ’72), recipient of the 2020 Bernard F. Sliger Award, holds her medallion. 9. Senator Bill Montford (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’71) receives his Circle of Gold medal. 10. The Alumni Award Gala’s presenting sponsor was the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions.

FSU Homecoming Reverse Parade | April 9 Garnet and Gold 4 miler | April 11

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

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 45

ASSOCIATION NEWS ALUMNI NETWORKS In cooperation with the Alumni Association, chartered affiliate groups called Alumni Networks serve and represent FSU’s diverse alumni population.

These volunteer-led groups create avenues for alumni to connect with one another based on the mission to sustain each network through meaningful programming, mentoring and scholarships for students while advocating for representation and professional development opportunities.

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THESE EIGHT ALUMNI AFFINITY NETWORKS INCLUDE • Emeritus Alumni Society (EAS) • FSU Asian American Alumni Network • FSU Hispanic/Latinx Alumni Network (HLAN)

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• Jewish Alumni Network (JAN) • FSU National Black Alumni (FSU BA) • FSU Pride Alumni Network • Veterans Alumni Society • Young Alumni Network

gonol.es/networks

5 1. In October 2020, the Alumni Association launched the Jewish Alumni Network, which will provide opportunities for Jewish alumni to have a long-term commitment for the betterment of Jewish life and overall improvement at FSU. JAN is led by Network President Jared Ross (B.A. ’99, J.D. ’06). 2. FSU BA sponsored the Black Student Union’s Bobby E. Leach Scholarship for 2020 that was awarded to Simone Smith, a junior at FSU majoring in criminology. 3. The FSU Asian American Network’s Board of Directors at their kickoff meeting in December 2020. 4. The Young Alumni Network partnered with Madison Social for a virtual mixology event Oct. 8, 2020, where attendees learned how to make Madison Social’s signature cocktails, played FSU Bingo and heard from Network President Herneshia Dukes (B.S. ’08). 5. Leaders of the Alumni Association’s Networks and Seminole Clubs® and Chapters connected virtually for a volunteer leader mixer event.

46 alumni.fsu.edu

Show Your Noles Pride

Alumni Association Members Receive 10% Discount* Join our email list for exclusive deals, offers, and promotions. *Exclusions apply, see store for details.

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 47

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 year-round programming and alumni engagement opportunities throughout the country such as game-watching parties and networking events.

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SEMINOLE CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS Seminole Clubs® also provide scholarships to students.

In fall 2020, 36 Seminole Clubs® gave 104 students scholarships totaling $112,553. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities at gonol.es/ clubs-scholarships. gonol.es/clubs Facebook.com/ SeminoleClubs Instagram @seminoleclub

48 alumni.fsu.edu

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1. Lindsay Munn (B.S. ’11) and her future Nole participate in the #904GradYearGive, an online fundraiser created by the Jacksonville Seminole Club in which alumni donate the year they graduated in dollars and cents to help future Seminoles reach their educational goals through donations to the club’s endowed scholarship. 2. 2013 Orange Bowl MVP Lonnie Pryor (B.S. ’12) participates in the #904GradYearGive with the Jacksonville Seminole Club.

3. Chelsea Fanelli (B.S. ’09) and Michael Fanelli (B.S. ’09) participate in the Seminole Club of the Rockies’ Grad Year Give. 4. Misty J. Oaks (B.S. ’95) participates in the Seminole Club of the Rockies’ Grad Year Give. Her daughter, Maggie, was one of this year’s recipients of the club’s endowed scholarship fund. 5. The Seminole Club of New York City won the Homegating 2020 garnet bracket, which featured alumni sharing their “Homegating” pictures with their local Seminole Club® each gameday Saturday during the fall football season. 6. Save the date for FSU’s Great Give Great on March 10, 2021, for opportunities to give to projects across Florida State including 25 Seminole Club endowed scholarship funds.

ASSOCIATION NEWS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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.

f

Charee L. Williams (B.S. ’06) and John M. Crossman (B.S. ’93)

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee

B. Dan Berger (B.S. ’89), Chair Scott Wiegand (B.M. ’90), Chair-Elect Dazi Lenoir (B.A. ‘02, M.S. ‘03), Vice Chair Altony Lee III (B.S. ’02), Secretary Jeanne Curtin (B.S. ’92, M.B.A. ’99, J.D. ’01), Treasurer Samuel Ambrose (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’92), Immediate Past Chair Melinda Benton (B.S. ’77, M.S. ’78), At-Large Andy Jhanji, FSU Presidential Designee Julie Decker, Alumni Association President & CEO Kyle R. Doney (B.S. ‘07), Board of Trustees Chair Designee Joshua Tyler (B.S. ’02), At-Large Kevin Adams (B.S. ’94) Les Akers (B.S. ’73) Javi Borges (B.S. ’97) Chris Bosler (B.S. ’83) Cydna Bougae (B.S. ’75) Jeffrey D. Boykins (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’93) Stephen T. Brown (B.S. ’68) Eleanor Connan (B.S. ’63)

Staci Cross (B.S. ’04) John M. Crossman (B.S. ’93) Susan Delgado (B.S. ‘91, M.Acc. ‘92) Ashley Folladori (B.S. ’04) Jacey Hanley Zach Heng (B.S. ’07) Cecil Howard (B.S. ’81) Benjamin McKay (B.S. ’91) Bruce W. McNeilage (B.S. ’88) Jeanne Miller (J.D. ’95) Colleen Dean Miller (B.S. ’02) Rose M. Naff (B.S. ’80) Mahogany Newell (B.S. ’02) Joe Paul (B.S. ’02) Alexander Quince (B.S. ’92) Laura C. Russell (B.S. ’05) Anne Smith (B.S. ’87) Michael Stephens (B.S. ’91) Jessica Washington (B.A. ’04) Charee L. Williams (B.S. ’06) Allisson Yu (B.S. ’00)

FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 1ST GENERATION CARE SCHOLARSHIP In October 2020, the FSU Alumni Association Board of Directors approved the FSU Alumni Association 1st Generation CARE Scholarship encouraging current and past board members to give to FSU’s CARE program.

“Through my involvement on our board, I met fellow board members who were CARE students. Listening to them to tell their stories of struggle and challenge, and how CARE was a bridge for them, is incredibly moving.

As part of our board’s continued commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, there was a strong consensus to create an FSU Alumni Association 1st Generation CARE Scholarship, and so we did!”

- B. Dan Berger (B.S. ’89), Chair

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES The 13-member governing board for the university Edward E. Burr, Chair Maximo Alvarez Kathryn Ballard Eric Chicken Peter Collins* Emily Fleming Duda Jorge Gonzalez

Jim W. Henderson Jonathan Levin Craig Mateer Deborah Sargeant* Bob Sasser John Thiel

View board member bios at gonol.es/board

*Appointment subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate at time of publication

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 49

fsualumni

#SEMINOLES

FOREVER

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida State alumni and staff have been doing their part to help stop the spread. Our alumni show their FSU pride by wearing their masks to protect their communities, and that’s what makes them #SeminolesForever. cts manager

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fsualumni Leslie Mille (B.S . ’95, M.S. ’15), associ ate director at the Career Center, wears her FSU mask while helping distribute free face cov erings to students dur ing the first two weeks of classes. #St ayHealthyFSU a psychiatrist

n (B.S. ’10, M.D. ’15), fsualumni Sheldon Brow s in Warner Robins,

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50 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.

Find out more about alumni membership: alumni.fsu.edu/join.

Jeanne E. Belin (B.S. ’93) and David Belin Amber E. Brown (B.S. ’20) and Judith A. Brown Hazel Brown (B.S. ’67) Richard B. Byington (M.A. ’11) Robert F. DeLeon (B.S. ’76) Elvira R. Disbennett Jennifer L. Engel (A.A. ’97) and Bryan T. Maxson Paul B. Engel (B.S. ’95) Arthur L. Fleming (B.S. ’81) and Sheila E. Fleming (M.S. ’85)

Dale M. Gibson (B.S. ’18) Steven E. Helms Robert A. Henderson (J.D. ’82) Robert L. Hooper (B.S. ’72) and Teresita M. Hooper Kristen L. Lowerhouse (B.S.N. ’98) Mark L. Metheny Jr. (B.S. ’97) and Lisa M. Metheny (B.S. ’96) Lauren S. Mokwa (B.S. ’18) and Mahal K. Cason Amanda K. Nelson Dennis Pascual Jr. Patress A. Persons (B.S. ’02)

Patrick M. Polowichak James A. Richardson (B.A. ’10) and Jennifer A. Richardson (B.S. ’12) J. Mark Rutledge (B.S. ’88) Kyle K. Scott (B.S. ’78) Suzette E. Swallow (B.M.E. ’83) Samantha J. Thiel Tara M. Travieso (B.S. ’06) and Robert Travieso (B.S. ’06) Russell A. Vorhis (B.A. ’93) John A. Weinberger (B.S. ’91) Suzanne E. Workum (A.A. ’90) Mary Ziegler (B.S. ’86)

*This list includes individuals who joined the FSU Alumni Association as Life Members between July 1 and December 31, 2020.

#SEMINOLES FOREVER

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 51

CCLLASSSS NNOOTTESS

1970s

Indicates FSU Alumni Association Life Member Indicates FSU Alumni Association Member

EMERITUS Maybelle P. Hogue attended the Florida State College for Women on a four-year scholarship in 1940. “I lived on campus my first year, then was honored to be chosen by a sorority,” said Hogue. “My life at this college shaped me into the career driven woman I became.” Last August, she returned to campus with her nephew and niece to see her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.

▼ James “Jim” W. Carr James “Jim” W. Carr (M.S. ’71, Ph.D. ’75), president of Highland Home Holdings, was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He was also elected chairman of the Arkansas Higher Education Board.

Bob Sasser (B.S. ’73), executive chairman of Dollar Tree Stores, was recognized on the 2020 Power List within the Living Legends category in the inaugural edition of the Virginia 500.

▼ Craig Lynch Craig Lynch (B.S. ’81) was elected secretary of the board of trustees for the Florida State University Foundation. From 2017 to 2018, he chaired the FSU Alumni Association’s national board of directors. He also received the Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold award in 2017, which recognizes individuals who personify the university’s tradition of excellence through their service and achievements.

William D. Slicker (B.A. ’73, J.D. ’76) wrote an article about COVID-19 anti-lockdown rallies that was published in The Thinker, a quarterly magazine in South Africa.

Maybelle P. Hogue

Richard Lukas (B.A. ’57, M.A. ’60, Ph.D. ’63) authored eight books, two of which won national awards, and wrote numerous articles on military, diplomatic, and Polish and Polish-American History. He is the only American to have been awarded an Order of Polonia Restituta in Literature, a recognition given by Poland to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their field.

Alice Tesch Graham (B.S. ’76) published “Developing Effective Special Educators: Building Bridges Across the Profession” to support special education student teachers and serve as a guide for beginning special educators.

▼ Steven Rothman Steven Rothman (B.S. ’81, J.D. ’85), litigation shareholder at Jones Foster, was appointed to the American Board of Trial Advocates Palm Beach Chapter board of directors.

Jeff Tanner (B.S. ’82), retired sergeant from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, wrote “SWAT Mentality” based on his 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Pasco County, Florida.

▼ Gary Brand Gary Brand (B.S. ’78) created BIZIMPACT, an app that enables small business owners to express the economic impact their individual businesses bring to the local economy.

1980s ▼ Dwight F. Davis Dwight F. Davis (B.A. ’68, M.S. ’71, Ph.D. ’74) published the book, “Vietnam Draftee Memories,” about his experiences in the U.S. Army including his tour in Vietnam.

52 alumni.fsu.edu

Steven Cooper (B.S. ’80), previous director of the National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region, retired from NWS after more than 40 years as a meteorologist in several forecast offices. He mentored thousands throughout his distinguished career, including many Florida State graduates.

▼ Terry L. Vaughan Terry L. Vaughan (B.S. ’82) retired at the end of his current term as Bradford County Supervisor of Elections after nearly 30 years of service.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S Jim Erb (B.S. ’84), founder and wealth management advisor at James Erb and Associates with Northwestern Mutual, was named to the 2020 edition of the Financial Times’ 401 Top U.S. Retirement Plan Advisors.

Ramiro Inguanzo (B.S. ’91, M.P.A. ’94)

Laura Johnson (B.A. ’84), founding artist and CEO of the Coton Colors Co., celebrated the opening of the company’s very first Happy Everything! Flagship Store in Tampa, Florida. The new retail store held its grand opening in November 2020. “This has been a goal of mine for some time,” said Johnson, who founded the company in 1997. Today, the Coton Colors Co. designs under two brands, Coton Colors by Laura Johnson and Happy Everything! by Laura Johnson. Products from the two brands are sold in over 3,000 stores across the country — including Dillard’s, Neiman Marcus, and Macy’s, as well as independent boutiques.

Laura Johnson

Jennifer Kelly (M.S. ’84, Ph.D. ’87), director of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine, was named the president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Her experience in private practice sets her apart from most previous APA presidents, who often represent academic backgrounds.

“One of the things I have always been proud of is to have graduated from Florida State; it’s a highly respected institution,” she said, noting that her interest in behavioral medicine drew her to FSU specifically. “That was what my research interest was and being at FSU afforded me the opportunity to train with experts in that area.”

Jennifer Kelly

R

amiro Inguanzo’s traveling party to Tallahassee was tiny.

Out of 190 in his graduating class at Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami, Inguanzo was one of only two students who attended Florida State University. He had zero hesitation.

“My mom and dad came from Cuba in the early 60s to flee the communist regime,” Inguanzo said. “Once they arrived in the U.S. they were both fortunate to get jobs in the city of Hialeah where I grew up. I knew FSU being in the state capital would afford me the chance for internships in government. That was the icing on the cake. I was blessed to have those opportunities.”

Those opportunities helped Inguanzo become the deputy city manager for Bal Harbour Village, Florida. The 3,000-resident town has provided Inguanzo the chance to be director of both a human resources and tourism/economic development. He also serves as president of the Miami-Dade City/County Management Association.

“I have always loved being a part of human resources,” Inguanzo said. “Our labor is our most important asset. The police officers, fire fighters, teachers, the librarians and the sanitation workers… it takes all kinds of talent to get the job done.”

Inguanzo experienced many new people and avenues for learning as an undergraduate student majoring in political science and communication. “In the suburbs of Miami, we had the largest concentration of Cuban residents in the country – a very strong Hispanic community,” Inguanzo said. “Florida State helped me grow in many different ways by introducing me to different cultures and communities.”

Inguanzo’s academic growth was bolstered by Mark Zeigler (M.S. ’89), teaching professor in the College of Communication & Information. “I had a class in my junior year about communicating effectively,” Inguanzo said. “Professor Zeigler was very engaging and enthusiastic.”

Fred Seamon (M.S.W. ’73, Ph.D. ’76), a former FSU assistant professor who is executive vice president with MGT Consulting Group, was another major influence.

“I gravitated to that material,” Inguanzo said. “Dr. Seamon was an incredible professor.”

Inguanzo has even become a teacher to his three teenage children whom he hopes will be future Seminoles. “I tell them school years are the best years,” Inguanzo said.

“You are learning and applying that knowledge as a kid to help you become an adult.”

Read more about Inguanzo: gonol.es/ramiro-inguanzo

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 53

CLASS CLA TES SS NO NOTE S Louise Hajjar Diamond (B.A. ’87, M.S. ’89) authored the parenting book, “Creating the Balance: Parenting Through the Middle School Years.” She has been a school counselor in South Florida for 30 years.

▼ Melissa Gracey Melissa Gracey (B.S. ’87) was named to United Way of Miami-Dade’s board of directors and executive committee.

Carol J. McDowell (M.M.E. ’87, Ph.D. ’98) wrote a children’s book titled, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Drum,” and coauthored a textbook, “Therapy Groups Using the Creative Arts, second edition.” She also serves on the editorial boards for The Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education and General Music Today.

Janet Malzone (B.S. ’89) was named incoming national managing partner of audit services at Grant Thornton LLP, effective Aug. 1, 2021.

John Crossman (B.S. ’93), a real estate executive, speaker, author and former principal of Crossman & Co., received a Best of Central Florida award from The Orlando Local News.

1990s

Michael Joseph Montgomery (J.D. ’93) joined the law firm of Davis & Ferber LLP as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney.

Robert Hummer (M.S. ’90, Ph.D. ’93), Howard W. Odum distinguished professor of sociology and fellow of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, won the 2020 Mentoring Award from the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science.

Angela Santone (B.S. ’93), senior executive vice president of human resources at AT&T, was appointed to the Jed Foundation’s board of directors.

Sean Pittman (B.S. ’90, J.D. ’94) was named one of INFLUENCE Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics. As a prominent lobbyist, he advocates for many organizations and local governments within Florida and advocates on their behalf. ▼ Nikki Austin-Shipp Nikki Austin-Shipp (B.S. ’94) was appointed chief executive officer of the South Florida Institute on Aging, a nonprofit dedicated to bettering the socioeconomic lives of South Florida’s aging community. ▼ Raymond E. Johnson Jr.

▼ Roger N. Casey Roger N. Casey (M.A. ’88, Ph.D. ’91) announced his plans to retire from his position as president of McDaniel College at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. He took office as the college’s 9th president in July 2010 and is one of the longest serving college presidents in Maryland.

Raymond E. Johnson Jr. (B.S. ’92) was named division director for the Standards and Consumer Services Division of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. He previously served as assistant division director and bureau chief.

▼ John Casey John Casey (M.A. ’94) published the second book in The Devolution Trilogy, “Evolution,” a psychological spy thriller that has been nominated for five literary awards.

Andrew J. Rutens (B.S. ’88), managing partner for Galloway, Wettermark and Rutens LLP, was confirmed as the 2020-2021 president of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. ▼ Jason M. Lloyd

▼ B. Dan Berger B. Dan Berger (B.S. ’89), president and CEO of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, was named a top association lobbyist for 2020 by The Hill, a daily newspaper covering Congress and Washington, D.C.

54 alumni.fsu.edu

Jason M. Lloyd (B.S. ’92) was promoted to rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. He is the Navy’s chief engineer and Naval Sea Systems Command deputy commander for Ship Design, Integration and Naval Engineering.

Neil Rambana (B.A. ’92, M.A. ’96) was inducted into the Alumni Friends Hall of Fame by the Tallahassee Community College Alumni and Friends Association for his professional achievement, service to society, and service and support to the college.

▼ John F. Davis John F. Davis (B.S. ’94), executive vice president of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, was appointed secretary of the Florida Lottery by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S Jennifer Hall (B.S. ’96, M.S. ’02)

▼ Lynn Leidel Lynn Leidel (B.S. ’94, M.S. ’98) was promoted to director of meetings and education of Hinman Dental. She has been with Hinman for 16 years, most recently as senior meetings and education manager.

Benjamin J. Salz (B.S. ’94), budget bureau manager at the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, was elected treasurer for the board of directors at University Credit Union and as a member of the advisory board for the Salvation Army Miami Area Command.

Ruth Sawh (Ph.D. ’94) published a novella, “Woman Go Home,” an account of her struggle to fight ageism and gender discrimination.

▼ Chuck Adcock Chuck Adcock (B.S. ’97), president/CEO of FSU Credit Union, announced the expansion of the FSU Credit Union to Pensacola and Panama City through a merger with Pensacola-based Gulf Power Company Employees Credit Union.

▼ Brent Brummer Brent Brummer (B.S. ’97, M.S. ’02) was named senior vice president of claims and legislative affairs for Florida Family Insurance, leading the organization’s legislative efforts while also serving as property chairman for the Florida Insurance Council.

W

hen Atlanta-based Jennifer Hall had to make a sudden switch from inperson technology support to online trainer, she was able to get a couple of buffer days thanks to lessons learned during “Snowmageddon.”

Hall, an education technology specialist for Atlanta Public Schools, was helping an average of five schools a week with their instructional technology tools before the COVID-19 pandemic changed her role to providing online training and support.

“We had a big switch in March 2020 when all classes went online,” Hall said. “We were in an emergency transition and did a lot of training. We all have five to seven schools and I mainly work with middle schools.”

That led to educators throughout Atlanta Public Schools asking Hall about the possibilities connected to online learning or a hybrid of online and face-to-face lessons.

During those first couple of days, all involved were implementing new devices and digital resources. Hall had a head start. “When we had Snowmageddon 2017, we missed a week of school,” Hall said. “After missing a week of instruction, a plan was developed in the event of future school closures. We showed all the teachers how to use Google Classroom, so we had some lesson plans ready to go and were a little ahead of the game.”

Even though Hall faced a long stretch where she would not be entering a classroom, she was able to call upon both of her degrees from FSU and 17 years of teaching experience. “One of my big focuses — it’s all about student engagement,” Hall said.

“Teachers have been creative in fostering engagement in an online environment using resources such as Bitmoji Classrooms.”

The online learning format has led to lesson plans that allow students to create online newspapers, stop motion movies, planet posters, presentations, videos and more. Hall’s helpful hints led to her picking up a nickname: “The Bitmoji Whisperer.”

Hall created her own Bitmoji — Jenmoji as she called it — while helping teachers create their avatars and access virtual classroom resources. “This is an unprecedented time,” Hall said. “Teachers see the possibilities of virtual education!”

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CLASS CLA TES SS NO NOTE S Brandon Bowden (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’06, Ed.D. ’14), associate vice president for student affairs at FSU, received the 2020 Outstanding Service to Students award from NASPA Florida. ▼ David Reisen ▼ Becky (Wilson) Magdaleno David Reisen (B.S. ’97), a civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience, joined Dewberry as senior project manager in the firm’s Port St. Joe, Florida, office.

Becky (Wilson) Magdaleno (B.A. ’00), chief operating officer at the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, served as the president of the Council of Architectural Components Executives. She is also a member of the 2020 national board of directors of the American Institute of Architects.

▼Grasford Smith

▼ Gigi Rollini Gigi Rollini (B.A. ’97, M.P.A. ’03, J.D. ’03) was elected as an executive officer of the National Association of Women Lawyers board of directors. She was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2021, which highlights the top 6% of private practicing attorneys in the U.S. Alex Brauer (B.S. ’99), a founding partner of the Dallas-based trial and appellate firm Bailey Brauer PLLC, was recognized in the 2020 edition of the Texas Super Lawyers legal guide to the state’s top business litigation attorneys.

He was also named to the 2020 Best Lawyers in Dallas list by D Magazine for the fifth time.

Grasford Smith (B.S. ’02) joined Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm in West Palm Beach, Florida. ▼ Dawn Doucette Dawn Doucette (B.S. ’01, M.Acc. ’02) was promoted to principal of Coulter & Justus P.C., representing the highest level of accomplishment and technical service responsibility.

▼ Sheree Mitchell ▼ C. Scott Jenkins C. Scott Jenkins (M.S. ’99), senior government consultant at Carlton Fields, was named the interim executive director of the Florida Financial Services Association.

Sheree Mitchell (B.A. ’01, M.A. ’04), president and founder Immersa Global, was appointed president of the American Society of Travel Advisors’ newest chapter in Portugal.

She will oversee starting the chapter while strengthening business relations in the tourism industry between Portugal and the U.S.

Clay Ingram (B.S. ’00) was appointed chief legislative affairs officer in the FSU Office of Governmental Relations. He served on the FSU Alumni Association’s national board of directors from 2014 to 2020.

56 alumni.fsu.edu

Melanie S. Griffin (B.S. ’03, M.B.A. ’06, J.D. ’06), a business lawyer for Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, was recognized for the fifth consecutive year in the 27th edition of The Best Lawyers in America - 2021.

Barry Jenkins (B.F.A. ’03, B.A. ’03), Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay and best director nominee for the Academy Award winning “Moonlight” in 2017, was asked to direct “The Lion King” sequel for Walt Disney Studios.

Michael Lortz (B.A. ’03, M.A. ’05) published his first novel, “Curveball, at the Crossroads,” the story of an athlete who makes a deal with the devil following a career-ending injury.

▼Holly Raschein Holly Raschein (B.S. ’03) was named director of government relations for the national disaster recovery firm AshBritt Environmental, headquartered in Broward County, Florida.

2000s

▼ Clay Ingram

Bennett Napier (M.S. ’02) was recognized for the third consecutive year by Florida Trend Magazine in the September 2020 edition of the Florida 500, recognizing Florida’s most influential business leaders.

▼ Jean Accius Jean Accius (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’03), senior vice president of global thought leadership at AARP based in Washington, D.C., was recognized by Next Avenue in its list of 2020 Influencers in Aging.

Jennifer Berry (B.S. ’04) was appointed to partner at BKS Partners, a national insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Jeff Denson (M.M. ’05), dean of instruction at the California Jazz Conservatory, was featured on the cover of JAZZed Magazine’s August/ September 2020 issue.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S Cedric Nabe (B.S. ’08)

Sarah Hall (B.A. ’05) was admitted to the Global Field Program at Miami University and participated in the Earth Expeditions: Connected Conservation course.

▼ Terry Hill Terry Hill (J.D. ’05), division director of the Programs Division at The Florida Bar in Tallahassee, Florida, was selected to lead the National Association of Bar Executives.

Eevi Jones (B.A. ’05), bestselling children’s author, published her award-winning book series, “Braving The World” to support nongovernmental organizations that help provide children with access to quality education regardless of their gender, race or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Allison Palumbo (M.A. ’05) published her first book titled, “Love and the Fighting Female: A Critical Study of Onscreen Depictions.”

Debra Willacey (B.S. ’05), head of secondary at Nibras International School in Dubai, adapted to a new way of teaching and learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am a Jamaican-American who, inspired through personal experiences, quickly developed a deep passion for education,” said Willacey, who received her degree in elementary education from FSU. “As we maneuver through COVID-19 education developments, we must give ourselves grace and be vulnerable to try (and sometimes fail at) new ways to educate students.”

Debra Willacey

Thabata Batchelor (B.A. ’06, M.P.H. ’10) was promoted to vice president of operations at Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville and Baptist Health Pulmonary Services.

C

edric Nabe left his home in Geneva, Swizerland, to attend FSU on a track scholarship. “I had been to New York, but had never been to Florida,” said Nabe, who quickly found his footing — and a second family — at FSU. “I was part of the sport community — more specifically the track and field community,” said the former All-American sprinter. “I had a family in that team and managed to branch out. I joined Burning Spear early on.”

Nabe, who is now director in risk advisory with Deloitte in Geneva, credits FSU professors who encouraged him to work on projects that use analytical and problemsolving skills. One of Nabe’s ideas was SportLog, an app designed to help athletes and coaches improve through training.

“FSU encouraged me to look at (gaining) work experience outside of the degree,” Nabe said. “I managed to land an internship. Before I graduated, I had offers from companies.” One of those companies was Deloitte. Nabe had some familiarity with Miami because he had spent Thanksgivings with fellow student-athletes there. He worked for Deloitte in Miami for a few years before moving back to Switzerland.

“I was very IT focused,” Nabe said. “How can I help resolve business issues?

That was my career. Over time, it transitioned to information security. The most important thing became protecting data and company brands through cybersecurity to accomplish daily operational duties.”

Nabe’s job is to make businesses aware of the challenges — theft of data, major IT disruptions, etc. — and to advise them on risk-based approaches they can follow to protect themselves. “I am still focused on cybersecurity, but I am becoming more of a risk-management professional,” Nabe said.

When at FSU, Nabe was part of the fastest team in the country. Today, he still aspires to be the best at what he does by working with the No. 1 cyber security consultancy services company in the world.

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CLASS CLA TES SS NO NOTE S Lauren Hanley (B.S. ’06) joined the Patterson Real Estate Advisory as director to lead the firm’s Tampa office.

Aaron Moorhead (B.F.A. ’09) released his latest film, “Synchronic,” starring Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie. He will also be directing the upcoming film “Moon Knight” for the Marvel Universe.

2010s ▼ Dylan Conley Dylan Conley (J.D. ’12) was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Rhode Island’s second district.

He met his wife Jenica Reed Conley while studying law at Florida State University.

▼ Jennifer Perrine Jennifer Perrine (Ph.D. ’06) published her fourth book of poetry, “Again,” which approaches the current political climate through the lens of language.

Samuel Stokes (M.M. ’06), audio curator on the hitRECord platform, was a percussionist, vocalist and photographer in the production of the Create Together series produced by hitRECord in conjunction with YouTube Originals.

This series features artists from all over the world together to produce collaborative art in the form of short films and music videos. Along with other contributing musicians, Stokes is seen recording the xylophone parts he wrote for the “Class of 2020,” the centerpiece of the series, which read like a letter to 2020 graduates. The Create Together series was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Media in 2020.

▼ Adam Luebke

Taylor Harmon (B.S. ’12) was promoted to senior manager in the assurance services department of Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs.

Adam Luebke (Ph.D. ’10) was nominated for a 2021 Grammy award for Best Choral Performance for his work on the recording, Richard Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua. The recording is with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and the UCLA Chamber Singers conducted by JoAnn Falletta.

▼ Ingrid Gonzalez

▼ Bruno Garofalo

Ingrid Gonzalez (B.S. ’14), a licensed mental health counselor, started her own private practice business, “Therapy Talk,” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bruno Garofalo (B.A. ’11) joined Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.’s Miami office as an associate.

Samuel Stokes

Daniel Best (B.A. ’08), an associate at Gallagher Sharp in Ohio, was named the winner of the 2020 ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction for his story, “The Family Lawyer.”

Melissa Robel (B.A. ’08) started Pads 4 Refugees, a nonprofit with a mission to support the dignity of refugee women and girls by providing period products in humanitarian environments.

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▼ Abigail Lucien

Maika, left, with younger sister Maritza Maika Moulite (B.S. ’11) published her second novel with her sister Maritza, “One of the Good Ones,” which explores the raw and real terror of losing a sibling after a social justice rally, and what it means to be deemed “worthy” when you’re Black.

Abigail Lucien (B.F.A. ’14), an interdisciplinary artist raised in Haiti, was named to Forbes’ 2020 30 Under 30 list in the Arts and Style category.

Megan Townsend (B.S. ’14, M.S. ’16), marketing and business development coordinator at Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs, was appointed to the Board of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay and to the associate board of ambassadors of Tampa Bay for the American Cancer Society.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S Moira Conley (B.A. ’20)

Larry Weru (B.A. ’14) was selected to participate in the four-month Media and Medicine Intensive Program from Harvard Medical School to explore how storytelling and visual communications can be used to impact public health.

Alexander Anthony (B.A. ’15) pen name Alex Knight, published his fourth book, “The Far Wild,” which is an Audible Original published

by Audible United Kingdom. On release week, it hit the top 10 for audiobooks in the U.K. Julia Skinner (Ph.D. ’15), founder of Root, was awarded a spot in Atlanta Business Chronicles’ 40 Under 40 list for 2020 along with Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 class of 2020. “Winning a prestigious award like Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 is a great honor and is evidence of the widespread and growing interest in fermentation and food history across the country,” said Skinner. “That it comes less than a week after winning Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 is testament to the fact that the business community and the American public recognize the importance of this work.”

Julia Skinner

▼ John Marra John Marra (B.S. ’16) joined Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt P.A. as an associate in the firm’s Tort & Insurance Litigation Department.

M

oira Conley’s empowering FSU moment came when the music major informed flute faculty members she intended to join Florida State’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

“They said, ‘Go for it!’” Conley said.

Conley, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), had a relatively late introduction to the ROTC. She was a military kid whose father served as a combat systems officer in the USAF before he retired out of Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, Florida.

“I am incredibly grateful for the ROTC opportunities,” Conley said. “I joined as a sophomore. From day one I loved the program and the sense of purpose it gave me.”

She was able to combine her love of music with her ROTC service, becoming heavily involved with Old Time Ensemble, a non-audition group open to FSU students and community members of all skills. “I am so proud of my music degree,” said Conley, who plays flute, piccolo and violin. “So proud I did it.”

Conley reported to Pensacola after she earned her dual degree in environment and society, and music. She did the required water survival course with additional training scheduled to prepare Conley and her classmates for the body’s reactions to flying at high altitudes.

Members of a class train together before individuals split off into one of four tracks: electronic warfare office, weapons system officer, sensor operator or navigator. “You submit your (preference) sheet and your supervisors look at your rankings, strengths, weaknesses and what is available,” Conley said. “Every track has its ups and downs and you own it. That is the beauty of the Air Force.”

Camaraderie among competing USAF classmates creates a strong group. “It becomes a family,” Conley said. “Even though we are competing, we are looking out for each other to make sure we get better together.”

Conley expects to be in Pensacola for another year or so. “It depends on which track I take,” she said. “I am hoping to earn my wings in a year.”

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CLASS CLA TES SS NO NOTE S

▼ Derek Silver Derek Silver (B.S. ’16, J.D. ’19) was named a Rising Star of Florida politics in the Winter 2021 edition of INFLUENCER Magazine.

David Hasenauer (J.D. ’17), Jordan Pace (J.D. ’17), and Light Townsend (J.D. ’17), founders of Green Point Research, partnered with Florida State University to conduct an independent study centered on comparing the company’s Satividol CBD softgel to ibuprofen as an analgesic for acute pain. “It was a natural fit. We already love the university, and they have strong expertise in exactly where we needed it,” said Hasenauer, CEO of Green Point. “It came together organically after the new law passed.”

▼ Sarah Painter Sarah Painter (B.A. ’19), one of the most sought out female muralists in the street art world, painted a 200-foot wall in downtown Nashville honoring both the 19th amendment centennial and Black Lives Matter movement.

▼ Krista Stanley Krista Stanley (B.S. ’16) was named the 2021 Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year. She has taught sixth grade at Yearling Middle School in Okeechobee County for the past four years and was chosen from among more than 176,900 Florida public school teachers.

From left: Pace, Hasenauer, Townsend

Mark Akubo (M.S. ’18) was chosen by the Knowles Teacher Initiative as a member of its 2020 Cohort of Teaching Fellows.

Jason Blackthorne (B.S. ’19, M.S. ’20) joined Nucleus Research, a Miami-based IT research firm, as a research analyst covering the enterprise resource planning and supply chain markets.

▼ Brittany Cobb

▼ Dorsey Spencer Dorsey Spencer (Ph.D. ’19) published a children’s book, “Worms Are A Yummy Snack: A Story of Patience, Anger, and Joy.” The book explores the themes of patience; expression and management of emotions; resilience; and perseverance.

Brittany Cobb (J.D. ’17) joined Jones Foster’s Corporate & Tax and Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates practice groups. Jones Foster is a commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida.

▼ Taylor Knight

▼ Richard A. Rosario Richard A. Rosario (B.S. ’17) joined the law firm of Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC as an associate in its Birmingham, Alabama, office.

60 alumni.fsu.edu

Taylor Knight (B.A. ’19) was awarded the 2019-2020 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Morning Show as a segment producer with the NBC TODAY Show. She joined the team in 2019 and loves working with creative, supportive and strong people.

▼ Lina Sofia Tabak Lina Sofia Tabak (B.M. ’19) was selected for the 2020 Best Student Presentation at the Society for Music Theory National Conference.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S Marshall Anthony Jr. (Ph.D. ’19)

2020s Caron Byrd (J.D. ’20) joined Maynard Cooper & Gale in Birmingham, Alabama, as an associate in their Public Finance Practice.

▼ Julia Crawford and Abbey Wendisch Julia Crawford (B.S. ’20) and Abbey Wendisch (B.S. ’19, M.B.A. ’20), people leads in Walmart Supercenters in Central Florida, were recognized as Rookie of the Year for Market 90 and 92, respectively. Each market contains about 15 people leads, one per store, who each support an average of 400 associates.

▼ Jesse Ford Jesse Ford (Ph.D. ’20) co-authored an article that appeared in the Journal of Black Studies titled “Expect the Best; Not the Worst: The Impact of Parental Expectation on Black Males’ Math Scores.” He also received the Dissertation of the Year Award from the Jon C. Dalton Institute in 2021.

Daniella Horvath (M.S. ’20) was appointed social media editor at Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty under the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

Blake Yodlowski (B.S. ’20) was named a member of the first cohort of the new Liberty Sales Academy, launched by the New York Liberty WNBA team.

O

n paper, Marshall Anthony’s undergraduate outcomes reflect success; but coming from a low-income and racially underrepresented background, his transcript does not capture the barriers that he faced to obtain his degree.

These barriers, such as financial literacy, academic and social integration, cultural and social capital, and impostor syndrome, are something Anthony continued to combat as a first-generation graduate student. However, through support from his spiritual family and faculty, staff, and peers at the FSU College of Education, he was able to continually overcome them.

A native of North Carolina, Anthony always planned to go out of state to pursue his doctorate but did not plan on going any more than five hours from his home. It wasn’t until a friend encouraged him to look at the higher education program at FSU, despite it being about 10 hours away. “Upon speaking to Dr. Schwartz, my major professor, FSU became my top choice,” said Anthony. “Coming to FSU was one of the best decisions I made. The faculty are kind, available, and genuinely care about my academic, professional, and personal well-being.”

After receiving his doctoral degree in higher education with a specialization in public policy, Anthony moved to Washington, D.C. He is currently a senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, where he advances the think tank’s postsecondary education policy priorities on equity, affordability and attainment.

Read more about Anthony: gonol.es/marshall-anthony-jr

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 61

CLASS CLA TES SS NO NOTE S I N ME MORI A M James Kenneth Brewer (M.S. ’63, Ph.D. ’65) passed away Nov. 5, 2020, at the age of 85.

During his 37-year teaching career, he taught educational statistics to graduate students at FSU, served as the chairman of his department and assistant dean of the College of Education, authored statistical textbooks, and received a University Teaching Award.

CLASS NOTES _ _ _ _ _ _ _ IN M E MO RIAM In Memoriam | Alumni

Joanne Rogers on piano with the University Singers of FSU as featured in a 1952 edition of the Tallahassee Democrat. Photo courtesy of Tallahassee Democrat Archives Joanne B. Rogers (M.M. ’52) passed away Jan. 14, 2021, at the age of 92. She was a classical pianist who earned her master’s degree in piano from FSU, and wife of the late Fred Rogers.

Garnet Girl Janice Roback, front left, next to her twirling partner, Gold Girl Beverly Calvert, front right.

▼ Carolyn G. Fabien

▼ Audrey Cowley Audrey Cowley (B.S. ’48) passed away Dec. 11, 2020, at the age of 93. She attended Florida State College for Women where she received her degree in mathematics from Florida State University in 1948.

Janice Roback (B.S. ’63) passed away Sept.

30, 2020, at the age of 79. She attended FSU on a scholarship, where she was the first Garnet Girl solo twirler in the FSU Marching Band from 1959 to 1963.

Carolyn G. Fabien (B.A. ’54) passed away May 1, 2020, at the age of 87. After she received her degree in education from FSU, she became a public school teacher.

William S. Clendinen Sr. (B.S. ’59, M.S. ’62) passed away Nov. 4, 2020, at the age of 83. While at FSU, he was the president of his freshman and sophomore classes, a member of Kappa Alpha, and served as an assistant basketball coach at FSU in the 1970s.

▼ Raymond Schroeder

▼ Patricia Rose Patricia Rose (B.A. ’50, M.A. ’55) passed away Aug. 27, 2020, at the age of 91. She retired in 2002 after teaching art history at FSU for 30 years and serving as chair of the Art History Department for 17 years.

62 alumni.fsu.edu

▼ Alicia Wylie Hawkins Alicia Wylie Hawkins (B.A. ’62) passed away May 30, 2020, at the age of 79. She taught elementary school in California, Virginia, New Zealand and New York. She was married to fellow alumnus Charlie Hawkins (B.A. ’62) for more than 57 years.

Raymond Schroeder (B.S. ’65) passed away Sept. 26, 2020, at the age of 77. He was a valued supporter of the Alumni Association as a life member and is named throughout the FSU Alumni facility including the entryway arch.

Richard W. Hogan (B.A. ’67) passed away Oct. 2, 2020, at the age of 73. He attended FSU on a full track scholarship where he leveraged his track speed as a starting left cornerback for the FSU football team.

CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S IN MEMORIAM In Memoriam | Faculty/Staff

▼ Michael O. Ojo ▼ David Michael “Mike” Mannheimer David Michael “Mike” Mannheimer (B.A. ’67), retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, passed away July 27, 2020, at the age of 74.

He studied political science at FSU, was a cadet in the USAF ROTC and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He had a 21-year career in the USAF and served in the Vietnam War.

Michael O. Ojo (B.S. ’16) passed away Aug. 7, 2020, at the age of 27. He was a center for the Florida State men’s basketball team from 2012 to 2017. “In all of my years of coaching, I’ve never been around a person who captivated the emotions of everybody he came into contact with like Michael,” said FSU Basketball head coach Leonard Hamilton.

Karl F. Ijams (Ph.D. ’71) passed away Aug. 31, 2020, at the age of 87. He was dean of student affairs at Florida Atlantic University for more than 25 years.

▼ Jimmie Callaway Jimmie Callaway, former equipment manager for FSU football, passed away Oct. 24, 2020, at the age 85. He was well known for his commitment to FSU and his Museum of FSU memorabilia.

Roger Kaufman passed away Sept. 23, 2020, at the age of 88. He was professor emeritus of instructional systems within FSU’s College of Education.

In Memoriam | Friends of FSU Max Osceola Jr., former chairman of the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, passed away Oct. 8, 2020, at the age of 70. ▼ Phillip H. Sloane

▼ Myles Thompson Myles Thompson (M.F.A. ’80) passed away Oct. 26, 2020, at the age of 78. After earning a Master of Fine Arts in theater management from FSU, he managed the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office for years after previously teaching both math and English.

Phillip H. Sloane (B.S. ’16) passed away March 28, 2020, at the age of 56. He was employed as a contract auditor for the Department of Defense.

Julian D. Whiting Jr. passed away Nov. 2, 2020, at the age of 80. He was an avid supporter of FSU’s athletic program, serving as a member of the President’s Club and in the Area Chairmen’s Club for the Seminole Boosters.

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

SHARE NEWS WITH THE FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION You may submit: Career milestones | Publications | Awards/honors | Alumni who have passed away

▼ Perry Dollinger Perry Dollinger (B.S. ’02) passed away Nov. 5, 2020, at the age of 41. He majored in political science at FSU and was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. His allegiance to Florida State was well known and he supported all things FSU with a great passion.

Updates may also be featured in FSU publications and social media channels.

Due to space limitations, submission does not guarantee inclusion in VIRES magazine.

To submit news for Class Notes, fill out the online form at alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes or email vires@alumni.fsu.edu.

View Class Notes Stories at gonol.es/class-notes-stories.

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 63

2020 STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS

President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72) delivered his final State of the University address to the Faculty Senate before a small, socially distanced audience in the Heritage Museum at Dodd Hall, Dec. 2, 2020. Thrasher reflected on the university’s incredible achievements during his six-year tenure as FSU’s 15th president and expressed his excitement for the promise of the future.

Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bill Lax

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CLASS NO CLASS TES NOTE S

SPRING 2021 | VIRES 65

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID PPCO

Florida State University Alumni Association 1030 West Tennessee Street Tallahassee, FL 32304-7719 alumni.fsu.edu

The Institute of Politics at Florida State University celebrates democratic institutions by engaging students, Floridians, and all citizens in the political process – we promote civil discourse, civic engagement, and world-class research.

66 alumni.fsu.edu