A Publication of the Florida State University Alumni Association
SPRING 2022 Volume 14, Issue 1
BOBBY BOWDEN (1929 - 2021) The late head coach’s legacy at FSU went far beyond the field
A Toast to the Big Top The FSU Flying High Circus celebrates their 75th anniversary
Transforming Campus A peek inside a few of FSU’s enhancements
The Moment FSU WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Posing amidst a pile of garnet and gold confetti, from L to R players Clara Robbins, Emily Madril and Gianna Mitchell smile for a photo with their 2021 NCAA National Championship trophies to celebrate bringing home the title for the third time in program history.
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VIRES SPRING 2022 Volume 14, Issue 1
An award-winning 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. PUBLISHER Julie Decker EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janecia Britt (B.A. ’17) DESIGNERS Jordan Harrison Lindsey Masterson Sierra Thomas ILLUSTRATORS Lindsey Masterson Sierra Thomas EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Engle Lizzie Monk CONTRIBUTORS Kelli Gemmer (B.A. ’14, M.S. ’18) Zac Howard (B.A. ’14) Brian Hudgins Alexa Roddenberry (B.A. ‘20) University Communications PHOTOGRAPHY Creative Services Steve Chase Sarah Gray Mark Wallheiser ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF alumni.fsu.edu/staff
DIGITAL EDITION alumni.fsu.edu/vires CONTACT US vires@alumni.fsu.edu
FROM THE PUBLISHER Think back to the day you found out you would be heading to Florida State University. I wonder what words or images come to your mind. Life is demonstratively different today, but many things remain the same: a beautiful campus, welcoming atmosphere, opportunity for autonomy and independence with a school spirit and loyalty like no other. By the time you read this, another group of high school seniors will have received the news that they have been accepted to Florida State University. Little do they know the path they take at FSU will forever bond them to the traditions, spirit and community we all know and love. So much of today’s student experience is supported by involvement from our alumni. Alumni who give time to mentor our students –sharing the innumerable lessons learned is invaluable to our students. One of the most significant ways our alumni can support students is by hiring our graduates or inviting students to shadow you and learn about your field. This experience often allows students to solidify a career path or consider their options before they fully commit to an academic area of study, saving them valuable time and resources. Alumni like you are critical to our student success measurements. It is no secret that the last two years have certainly made alumni engagement challenging. Our team is excited to get back on the road this year and bring the good news of Florida State directly to you. We hope you will continue to take advantage of opportunities available virtually and through local Seminole Clubs and Alumni Networks. In partnership with the FSU Foundation and Seminole Boosters, the Alumni Association will be taking President Richard McCullough and First Lady Dr. Jai Vartikar on tour to introduce them to our alumni and friends. The president has been tireless in his efforts at FSU already. You are sure to be impressed as you learn from him about the university’s ambitious trajectory. As we move forward in 2022, I want to thank you for your membership in the FSU Alumni Association. Our members allow the Alumni Association to support activities locally and around the country. Further, your membership supports the Student Alumni Association, a group 3,000 students strong that connect with the university before they graduate to build their network and begin a lifelong relationship with FSU. From scholarships to local community service to awards programs and more, our 24,000 members make all the difference in how we can emerge from this pandemic. Be sure you stay in touch. Attend events. Engage in networking opportunities. Hire a graduate. Mentor a student. Together, we will watch FSU rise to heights we’ve only imagined, and you will be a part of it all. Seminoles forever,
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes ADVERTISE alumni.fsu.edu/advertise STAY CONNECTED alumni.fsu.edu/social
Julie Decker President & CEO FSU Alumni Association
P.S. Be sure to bookmark alumni.fsu.edu to learn about all our in-person and virtual events and programs. We will be looking for YOU! Thank you to our Corporate Partners
On the Cover Legendary Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden photographed in his home in Tallahassee, Florida. Copyright ©2013 Mark Wallheiser
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The three torches atop the Heritage Tower Fountain represent the ideals of Vires, Artes and Mores. The symbol, which is at the forefront of the university’s seal, first appeared in the seal of Florida State College for Women, predecessor institution of FSU.
2
The Moment
7
Chatterbox
8
University News
21
Catching Up With
29
Story Time
44
10 Questions
46
Association News
55
Seminoles Forever
56
Class Quotes
58
Campus Spotlight
60
Noles In Tech
62
Class Notes
70
Parting Shot
FEATURES
More Than a Coach
Innovation Meets Tradition
Flying High at 75
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From the field to the admissions office, we look at the impact of the most revered college football coaches of all time.
From residence halls to libraries, take a look inside a few of the university’s most recent enhancements.
One of only two collegiate circuses in the nation, the Flying High Circus celebrates 75 years at FSU.
By Zac Howard (B.A. ‘14)
By Janecia Britt (B.S. ’17) and University Communications
By Kelli Gemmer (B.A. ’14, M.S. ’18) SPRING 2022 |
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Jennifer Magi (B.S. ’20), FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Landus Anderson, College of Law
T HAT A MB I T I OUS MINDS THRIV E IN A SUP P ORTIV E COMMUNIT Y T HAT FUSES CRE ATIV IT Y WITH INTELLIGENCE. At FSU, our greatest achievements have been the product of nimble minds matched with the highest standard of excellence. Each day we expect greatness from ourselves. We push our students to the limits of their individual potential. And together, we are rewarded with new breakthroughs that enrich the human existence. Start your journey at fsu.edu/belivingproof
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Be living proof.
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Chatterbox
Colonel Karl Price (B.S. ‘61) from Atlantic Beach, FL on Facebook
Blurbs and notable comments from FSU alumni on social media
FSU Alumni Assoc. @FSU Alumni
When they have “FSU alum” in their bio but aren’t a member of FSU Alumni Association...
Josh Keller @ewnidad
“You called me out. Just joined. Go ‘Noles!”
@esc4now on Instagram in reference to the FSU Alumni Association’s Class of 2020 Alumni Happy Hour.
“Sat down against the big oak just in front of the library, with no money and decided that 4 years later I would graduate. I did and I call it the ‘Decision Tree’. If you ever doubt yourself just trust the tree.”
“Congratulations Sara Blakely! Your continual support of other females is inspiring.” Dana Garber (B.S. ‘95) from Edmond, Oklahoma
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US facebook.com/fsualumniassociation @fsualumni linkedin.com/company/fsualumni
“Congratulations! I wish the university did events like this when I graduated in 1982. Celebration events make a big difference!”
@FSUAlumni YouTube.com/FSUAlumni vires@alumni.fsu.edu
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Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, a professor at FSU’s School of Dance and founder of Urban Bush Women (UBW). Photo courtesy of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Alumna Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Named 2021 MacArthur Fellow By Anna Prentiss 8 | alumni.fsu.edu
University News
Urban Bush Women’s “I Don’t Know, but I Been Told, If You Keep on Dancin’ You Never Grow Old” Photo by Ian Douglas.
Florida State University’s Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (M.F.A. ‘79) has received the 2021 MacArthur Fellowship — also known as the “genius grant” — for using the power of dance and artistic expression to celebrate the voices of Black women and promote civic engagement and community organizing. Zollar, a professor at FSU’s School of Dance and founder of Urban Bush Women (UBW), will receive $625,000, a nostrings-attached award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, granted to talented individuals in a variety of fields who have shown exceptional dedication to and originality in their creative pursuits. She is the first FSU faculty member to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Over the past year, Zollar’s work, through UBW, has also received backing from the Ford Foundation and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Zollar founded the celebrated New York dance company Urban Bush Women in 1984 and joined the faculty of the FSU School of Dance in 1997. “Professor Zollar has made a truly distinctive mark as an artist and a leader,” said James Frazier (B.S. ‘91, M.F.A. ‘94), dean of the College of Fine Arts. “The MacArthur Fellowship is a profound and well-deserved honor, the result of decades of commitment to her vision of the Urban Bush Women and her stellar accomplishments as the founding artistic director of the ensemble and as a celebrated choreographer of iconic dances that resonate with emotional integrity and prioritize resilience and transcendence.” Zollar is a choreographer and dance entrepreneur who has forged a style of dance-making and artistic leadership that tethers dance to cultural identity, civic engagement, community organizing and
imperatives of social justice. UBW is known for its ability to weave contemporary dance, music, and text with the history, culture and spiritual traditions of the African Diaspora. The company galvanizes artists, activists, audiences and communities through performances, artist development, education and community engagement. “Movement is the foundation of life,” Zollar said. “Dance takes this human imperative to an expressive imperative that supports our ability to make meaning and deepen our understanding of this world. Through this lens, I work to build leadership, choreograph new works, and create strategies for community engagement and organizing. I am inspired by how, when, and under what circumstances people move. It is never ending.” WATCH NOW: gonol.es/ 2021MacArthurFellow
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Professor and Dean of the College of Social Work James J. Clark began his new role as Florida State University’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs on January 3, 2022.
Social Work Dean Jim Clark Named Provost of Florida State University By Amy Farnum-Patronis Florida State University President Richard McCullough announced on December 13, 2021, the appointment of Professor and Dean of the College of Social Work James J. Clark as the university’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Clark has served as professor and dean of FSU’s College of Social Work since July 2015. He succeeds Sally McRorie, who is returning to the faculty after seven years in the role. Clark was one of three finalists chosen by the 20-member Provost Selection Advisory Committee following an internal selection process. “Jim Clark is an innovative thinker, noted scholar and researcher and effective administrator,” McCullough said. “His leadership experience, record of excellence and strategic vision make him the right choice to lead FSU’s academic enterprise. I’m looking forward to working closely with Jim to advance FSU’s strategic goals and continue our upward trajectory.” As provost, Clark serves as Florida State’s chief academic officer, the second-highest ranking officer at the university. He oversees 10 | alumni.fsu.edu
Academic Affairs, including all colleges, centers, institutes and academic services; the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement; The Graduate School; the Division of Undergraduate Studies; and The Ringling, the State Art Museum of Florida. In this role, Clark works with the university’s deans, faculty and administrators to advance the academic mission of the university and strengthen the institution’s national and international reputation. “It is an honor to be chosen as the provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs of Florida State University — a university community I’ve grown to love through my experiences as dean of the College of Social Work,” Clark said. “Through university-wide collaborations I’ve come to appreciate the deep levels of talent, collaboration and commitment across the university. I’m excited to work with President McCullough, and I’m confident that we will elevate FSU to even greater heights.” During Clark’s tenure, the College of Social Work saw tremendous growth and increased
its presence statewide and nationally through academics, research, outreach and service. The college developed important centers and institutes in the areas of criminal justice research and development, family violence studies, trauma and resilience, substance use education, multidisciplinary assessment of children and community-based innovations. Beyond the College of Social Work, Clark played and continues an active role in many areas of the university. He holds a presidential appointment on the FSU Athletics Association Board and is a member of the Provost’s Healthy Campus Task Force and the FSU Health Data Sciences Initiative. He currently chairs the search committee for the new Vice President for Research and previously chaired the search committee that hired College of Fine Arts, Dean James Frazier. As a researcher, Clark works at the nexus of the justice, mental health and child welfare systems. He has published in the areas of substance abuse, criminal justice and child traumatic stress and co-edited a book for the American Bar Association on best practices in death penalty mitigation. Throughout his career, Clark has designed and provided behavioral health consultation and educational programs for judges, lawyers and other court personnel. He served as a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s Justice Committee from 2008 to 2012, as the lead member of the Council on Social Work Education’s National Research Integrity Workgroup from 2006 to 2012, and as an appointed member of the National Federation of Clinical Social Work’s Forensic Social Work Committee from 2003 to 2007. WATCH NOW: gonol.es/ provostclark
University News
Women’s Soccer Crowned National Champions For The Third Time By Jordyn Rolli
For the third time in the last eight years, the topranked Florida State women’s soccer team has won the NCAA National Championship. FSU downed No. 13 Brigham Young University on December 6, 2021, in Santa Clara, California, in a penalty kick (PK) shootout to win the Women’s College Cup. FSU (22-1-2) now has the second-most NCAA titles in the history of the sport and is one of just two teams to ever win three titles in an eight-year span. Florida State, which lost the 2020 title in a shootout, didn’t fall victim to the same fate in 2021. Goalkeeper Cristina Roque came up with saves on the second and fourth BYU PKs and Yujie Zhao sealed the title, hitting the final PK to give the Seminoles the title 4-3. “I feel like I had a lot of trust in my teammates, everyone who was stepping up to kick the ball,
especially (Zhao) finishing it off,” said Roque. “I feel like everyone is behind me no matter which way it goes just how last year it didn’t just go our way and everyone was behind me then. I knew whatever happened this year they were going to be behind me. I’m not gonna lie, it does feel better here.” With the 2021 title in hand, Florida State has cemented its legacy among the greatest programs in the sport. FSU is now tied with Notre Dame and Stanford for second on the all-time list for most championships with only the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill having more. WATCH THE WINNING SHOT: gonol.es/2021Champions
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Internal Medicine Residency Program Earns Accreditation By Bob Thomas
Students Remember Those Lost on September 11 By Sarah Johnson As people around the world recognized the 20th anniversary of September 11, Florida State University students planted American flags on the campus to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy. Organized by the Collegiate Veterans Association and Veterans Student Union, the annual flag display honors the 2,977 lives lost 20 years ago. Under the leadership of Collegiate Veterans Association President Julian Olivar and Veterans Student Union Director Sarah Johnson, 25 cadets from the FSU Army and Air Force ROTC created the display on Mina Jo Powell Green. “On this anniversary, FSU also reaffirms its commitment to being a national beacon of veteran success through our support of students affiliated with the military,” said FSU President Dr. Richard McCullough said. “These students have done so much for our country 12 | alumni.fsu.edu
Members of FSU’s Army and Air Force ROTC helped create a display in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Photo by FSU/ Creative Services
and our university, and we are proud of their service and sacrifice.” The students held a ceremony commemorating the anniversary programs. The ceremony began at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center. The ceremony included a presentation of colors from FSU’s Army ROTC Color Guard, a moment of silence and remarks from Billy Francis, director of the FSU Student Veterans Center. At the conclusion of the ceremony, students read the names of those who lost their lives that day. Francis, who served in the Air Force for 26 years, said September 11 often makes him reflect on his own service and those he served with during his military career. “Each September 11 is an opportunity for us — a university community, a family — to remember the loss and the incredible cost we have paid for the liberties we have and that so many around the world long for,” Francis said. LEARN MORE: gonol.es/ fsustudentveterans
The Florida State University College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cape Coral Hospital/Lee Health has received initial accreditation and approval to begin recruiting its first class of residents, who are expected to begin training on July 1, 2022. “Our mission is to graduate capable and efficient internists who are life-long learners, committed to serving others with excellence and compassion along with promoting a healthier future for the community,” said founding Program Director Dr. Maja Delibasic. “I’m pretty excited because the feedback has been beyond positive.” The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the sanctioning body of graduate medical education in the U.S. and Canada, made the announcement at its September meeting. The program, which takes three years to complete, is approved to accept 12 residents a year for a total of 36 at full capacity.
Physician faculty members in the FSU College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cape Coral Hospital/ Lee Health. Front row, left to right, Dr. Madeline Deutsch, Dr. Maja Delibasic, Dr. Hannah James. Back row, left to right, Dr. Nabil Benhayoun, Dr. Dustin BegoshMayne, Dr. Jordan Taillon.
University News “The internal medicine program aligns well with the mission of the Florida State University College of Medicine and will help to address physician workforce needs in southwest Florida and throughout the state,” said Dr. Joan Younger Meek, the medical school’s associate dean for graduate medical education. “Dr. Delibasic’s enthusiasm and engagement with the local medical community has been impressive.” FSU College of Medicine is also the academic sponsor of a family medicine residency program at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. That program accepted its first residents in 2014. “We are pleased with the track record of success in our current residency program, and are pleased to once again work with Florida State University College of Medicine as we bring a second Graduate Medical Education program to our community,” said Dr. Venkat Prasad, chief medical officer, population health and physician services at Lee Health. “The residents of Cape Coral and the surrounding community will be well-served by housing an internal medicine residency program at Cape Coral Hospital. As evidenced by our current family medicine program at Lee Memorial Hospital, physicians who train here, stay here. We are eager to bring additional physicians into our community, which is much needed in a time of physician shortages.” Delibasic, who joined the residency program last July, is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. She previously served as associate director of the internal medicine residency program at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago. She and the residency program faculty began conducting virtual interviews last fall. The program received nearly 1,000 applications in its first 24 hours. The top 25 to 30 candidates were invited to Cape Coral early this spring. WATCH NOW: gonol.es/NIH
Khalil Kinsey, left, is pictured with his parents, Shirley and Bernard Kinsey, whose historic collection of art and artifacts spans more than 40 years. The nationally recognized Kinsey Collection of African American Art & History began with the couple’s desire to instill an appreciation for the arts from cultures throughout the world in their son.
Kinsey Collection Slated for Spring at FSU Panama City By Jan Waddy The nationally recognized Kinsey Collection of African American Art & History arrives at Florida State University Panama City in April 2022. The traveling exhibit will feature historical artifacts, artwork and documents — from a bust of Frederick Douglass to a letter signed by Malcolm X — in the Holley Academic Center at FSU Panama City from Friday, April 1, through Sunday, July 3, 2022. “The story is not a Black story; it’s an American story,” said Bernard Kinsey, whose collection with his wife, Shirley, spans more than 40 years. “We are really proud of our work and believe it’s the kind of work America needs right now.” The Kinseys are the subjects in artist Samuel L. Dunson Jr.’s “The Cultivators, 2000.” Florida natives Bernard and Shirley Kinsey met at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and after marrying in 1967, they set a goal of traveling to
100 different countries during their lifetime. The Kinsey Collection project began with the couple’s desire to instill an appreciation for the arts from cultures throughout the world in their son, Khalil, and support up-and-coming artists. But it was their son’s family history assignment for school when they realized they could only trace their family tree back four generations, which led to their uncovering or “rediscovering” of the African American story that had gone untold. “Really, we feel this is a human story on the human experience and connection, illuminating the story not known,” said Khalil Kinsey, chief operating officer and curator of the collection. The collection tells part of the American story through African American paintings, manuscripts, rare books and letters. Rare, primary source historical objects and artifacts date from 1595 to the present day, and art created by African American artists dates to 1865. During the past 15 years as a traveling exhibit, the Kinsey Collection has been seen by more than 15 million people. The exhibit has opened at museums such as the California African American Museum in LA, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. SPRING 2022 |
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The Kinseys shared their journey during the 33rd opening of the exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Washington, for a segment on NBC’s Today Show. The Florida Department of Education has adopted the Kinsey Collection as the basis for the instruction of 3.6 million students on African American History. The family also published an accompanying book, “The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey,” that features items on display in the exhibit as well as other items of interest in their collection. “We have a saying,” said Bernard Kinsey, who retired as a Xerox executive 30 years ago, “‘God, grant me a gift to give to someone else who needs it more than me.’ The Kinsey Collection embodies it — how people who had so little did so much.” The community is invited to get involved in the cultural celebration of American history during the three-month-long exhibit of the Kinsey Collection at FSU Panama City. Speakers, artists and vendors are encouraged to be part of the inclusive celebration highlighting African Americans’ contributions, and area schools are invited to tour the exhibit. LEARN MORE: gonol.es/kinseycollection
The Kinseys are the subjects in artist Samuel L. Dunson Jr.’s “The Cultivators, 2000.”
“Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, 2002” is an oil on canvas by Artis Lane.
JOIN THE RANKS OF ALUMNI THAT SHARE YOUR UNMATCHED ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Seminole 100 recognizes the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Florida State University alumni. Nominations now open for 2023 at seminole100.fsu.edu
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University News
MagLab Chief Scientist Appointed to President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology By Kristin Roberts
The chief scientist at the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has been appointed to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). U.S. President Joe Biden named Laura Greene, chief scientist at the National MagLab and the Marie Krafft Professor of Physics at Florida State University, as part of his first group of appointees to the council on Sept. 22, 2021. “I am humbled and honored to be selected to advise the president on science and technology policy,” Greene said. “I feel like this is my opportunity to serve my country in a way where I can make a real contribution and help ensure that America remains a global leader in both foundational and applied research.” Greene is a widely respected researcher on quantum materials and the mechanisms of unconventional superconductivity. She has held leadership roles
in many of the nation’s most prestigious science organizations, including president of the American Physical Society (APS) and a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Greene also is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Institute of Physics (U.K.), and the APS. She has been awarded the E.O. Lawrence Award for Materials Research from the U.S. Department of Energy, the APS Maria GoeppertMayer Award and the Bellcore Award of Excellence. “This is the latest in a long string of remarkable recognitions for Laura Greene,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “She is a great representation of the high-quality faculty we are proud to have here at Florida State University.” LEARN MORE: gonol.es/ whitehouse
Laura Greene is the Chief Scientist at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. She was named by President Biden to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
FSU, FAMU Researchers Form New Gulf Scholars Program By Amy Robinson
Researchers from Florida State University and Florida A&M University have created the FAMUFSU Gulf Scholars Program with a $1 million grant from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to support students who are interested in tackling long standing social, economic, environmental and justice-related challenges facing the Gulf of Mexico region. The program will provide unique learning and research opportunities for undergraduates at both universities interested in building more equitable, sustainable and resilient Gulf Coast communities. Students in the program will learn about relevant regional issues affecting the Gulf Coast and how
they can leverage their research interests to address these problems. “This grant allows us to continue the work of building a more future-ready and socially just Gulf Coast region,” said program director Kassie Ernst, teaching faculty at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “It enables us to scale up our efforts beyond a single case or research project and create strong leaders with the goal of enacting change in the Gulf. It also helps us further engage and support Gulf communities as they build back stronger from economic and environmental crises and meet the future better prepared than they were yesterday.” SPRING 2022 |
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The Gulf Scholars Program is led by the Gulf Research Program, an initiative of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine formed in 2013 in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest accidental oil spill in history. It is funded by the $500 million criminal settlement from the companies involved in the spill. FAMU will work with research faculty through its College of Science and Technology and School of the Environment to develop student learning experiences and will utilize a network of institutional and community partners — including NASA, the National Science Foundation’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM, and the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory, among others — to
Kassie Ernst is the director of the FAMU-FSU Gulf Scholars Program at the FAMUFSU College of Engineering. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/ College of Engineering.
create and organize a unique set of field experiences for Gulf Scholars. Byron Greene, director of the Gulf Scholars Program at FAMU, said the collaboration presents an extraordinary opportunity for students to connect with the communities in which they live and work. Faculty and staff from the FAMU-FSU Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center, as well as FSU’s Office of Research and Development, Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Center for Leadership and Social Change and the FSU-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory round out the program’s leadership team. Maria-Paula McIntyre, community engagement coordinator at the Center
for Leadership and Social Change, and her team will be available for one-onone advising for students on how best to work with schools, nonprofits and other community agencies. “I am incredibly excited to support students in research that is driven by a desire to collaborate on a promising future for everyone,” McIntyre said. Students from any major at either university may apply online. The first Gulf Scholars cohort will be officially announced at the inaugural “Focus on the Gulf” event, a planned gathering of Gulf Coast researchers, stakeholders and industry partners set for April 2022. WATCH NOW gonol. es/gulfscholars
‘Kin Theory: Why Indigenous Representation Matters’ Sparks Conversation With Indigenous Media Makers By Anna Prentiss Florida State University’s Department of Art History co-hosted a virtual film screening and panel discussion on Nov. 9, 2021 about the importance of narrative sovereignty, where Indigenous creators regain control of their stories in a rapidly shifting industry landscape. “These films and scholarship offer significant examples of self-representation and demonstrate that Indigenous peoples and cultures exist in the present,” said Michael Carrasco, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts. “They are critical tools for changing stereotypical depictions of Native Americans in the United States and of Indigenous peoples worldwide.” The event, “Kin Theory: Why Indigenous Representation Matters,” focused on the importance of inclusion of Indigenous artists in front of and behind 16 | alumni.fsu.edu
Brit Hensel interviewing an elder on the set of ỢSHO. Photo by Taylor Hensel.
University News the camera, to amplify Indigenous stories, perspectives and protocols at all levels. The event also included a virtual panel discussion. Participants watched stories and heard from Indigenous media makers in film and television including Brit Hensel, writer, award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer (“OsiyoTV,” “Reservation Dogs,” Reciprocity Project); Princess Daazhraii Johnson, producer and screenwriter (“Molly of Denali,” Reciprocity Project); and Theola Ross, social worker and filmmaker (NSI IndigiDocs, “CBC ShortDocs”). Tracy Rector, the managing director of storytelling at Nia Tero, moderated the event. “I think it’s time we ask ourselves, ‘who is telling this story and why?’” Hensel said. “Empowering Indigenous folks to be the shapers of their own stories is a vital component in cultivating perspective and raising consciousness. It is also an act of sovereignty. After all, we know our communities best, and we are the only ones capable of sharing our stories in a way that promulgates health, hope and truth-telling.” Florida State University’s Department of Art History, College of Communication and Information, School of Communication, the FSU Native American and Indigenous Studies Ad Hoc Committee and Nia Tero, a nonprofit that works with Indigenous peoples and movements co-hosted the event. “Indigenous storytelling links a millennium of knowledge with current day life,” Rector said. “As seen from the beautiful video of the panelists, it is integral not only to Indigenous family life today, generational healing and future growth but also to climate justice that benefits all we share this Earth with, Indigenous and otherwise.” LEARN MORE: gonol.es/fsuarthistory
FSU Receives $14.5M from National Institutes of Health to Foster Faculty Diversity By Kelsey Klopfenstein A team of Florida State University researchers from the College of Nursing, College of Medicine and College of Arts & Sciences has received a $14.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to build a diverse community of early career researchers committed to improving mental health and chronic disease prevention and management. The university will use the funding to create the FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE, a program designed to support new tenure-track assistant professors and build a research community committed to diversity and inclusive excellence. Frankie Wong, McKenzie Endowed Professor in Health Equity Research in the College of Nursing and Founding Director of the Center for Population
Sciences and Health Equity, will lead the project along with Sylvie Naar, Distinguished Endowed Professor in the College of Medicine and Founding Director of the Center for Translational Behavioral Science, and Pamela Keel, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. The project is supported by co-investigators in the FSU College of Nursing (Associate Professor Eugenia Millender) and the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa (Professor Jack Barile). “We’re proud of our progress toward creating a cohesive research community at Florida State University, but we can — and will — do more,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “The FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE is an SPRING 2022 |
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excellent step in that direction. The program’s initiatives will be transformative, and we appreciate the NIH’s support and faith in our work in this area. This grant is an example of FSU’s great research strength.” The project team plans to promote inclusive excellence in research and develop an innovative model for the next generation of FSU health-science faculty by recalibrating processes for minority recruitment, advancement and retention at FSU. Key to the project’s success is to establish individual research and career development and mentorship plans for each member within a cohortbased model using a systems-level approach. “This is a really innovative and interdisciplinary program that builds on our existing strengths in mental health and health equity research,” said Interim Vice President for Research Laurel Fulkerson. “I have no doubt that this program will bring excellent faculty to FSU who will help us continue to build our research portfolio in these fields.” The funding is a trans-NIH initiative to help institutions foster a more diverse and inclusive community of researchers to broaden perspectives in setting research priorities and positively impact scientific discovery. “This award was made possible with the unwavering support from many people, notably the support from Provost Sally McRorie and Interim Vice President for Research Laurel Fulkerson,” Wong said. “The FLORIDA-FIRST BRIGADE is ready to take on the challenge to further FSU as an inclusive community for scientific excellence.” LEARN MORE: gonol.es/NIH
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Professor of English, Maxine Montgomery
FSU English Professor Earns Prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Grant By McKenzie Harris A faculty member in Florida State University’s Department of English has received a collaborative research grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to digitize the work of awardwinning American novelist Gloria Naylor and develop a model for engaging Black women’s literary archives. Professor of English Maxine Montgomery will use the three-year, $100,000 award to travel to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to collaborate with scholars at Lehigh and Sacred Heart universities. “Engaging Black Women’s Archives: Gloria Naylor and Twentieth-Century
Literary History” is a multi-institutional project that will allow Montgomery to carry out programmatic events surrounding the digitization of Naylor’s unpublished papers at Lehigh University. Naylor’s archival material spans over 47 linear feet, and only one-third of the material is currently digitized. “Discovering that this proposal was one of only 13 projects receiving this grant is humbling and rewarding,” Montgomery said. “The organization received a large number of strong proposals, so the selection of our project speaks volumes about the importance of our work for the digital humanities, archival studies, and Black women’s literary and cultural studies.” Montgomery, who shared a personal and professional relationship with Naylor, was inspired to pursue this funding to direct critical attention to Naylor’s work. While most are familiar with Naylor’s works, including “The Women of Brewster Place,” many of her insights into 20th-century intellectual and cultural histories, Black women’s intersectional lives, folklore and vernacular culture, gender and sexualities and issues of class remain unpublished. As a literary scholar whose research interests include a focus on contemporary Black women’s fiction and expressive culture, Montgomery has a fascination with Naylor’s novels and insights. She
University News has authored two books on Naylor as well as numerous articles and essays in scholarly journals and edited collections. In 2003, she interviewed Naylor at her residence in Brooklyn, New York, and later invited her to visit FSU where Naylor delivered two public addresses following the publication of her fictionalized memoir, “1996.” “Her ability to create works of fiction that speak to the specificity of a raced, cultured and gendered experience in relation to the narrative history of Blacks in a diasporic geography resonated with me on a professional level in my efforts to situate myself within a broad community of literary scholars,” Montgomery said. “At the outset of my scholarly engagement with Naylor, I realized she had not received the critical attention she merits. My multiple scholarly undertakings will illuminate her works and elicit the broad critical engagement she deserves.” In addition to translating Naylor’s unpublished papers into digital form, the team will build a collaborative model for engaging Black women’s literary archives by circulating, contextualizing and analyzing holdings of the Naylor archives across multiple mediums. Montgomery delivered the keynote at a symposium last fall at Lehigh University, featuring scholarly presentations, a theatrical production based on previously unproduced plays and round-table conversations that interrogate the intersection between Naylor’s published and unpublished materials. “I hope that our collaborative model will be useful beyond the immediate work over the next three years in framing an archival methodology for engaging with other Black women’s literary archives and charting new directions for Naylor scholarship in relation to 20th- and 21st-century literary and intellectual histories,” Montgomery said. LEARN MORE: gonol.es/fsuenglish
Seminole Organic Garden Grows Thanks to Budding Partnerships By Mark Blackwell Thomas Thanks to the work of about 40 volunteers, Florida State University’s Seminole Organic Garden has grown a little bit larger. The garden, which sits between Doak Campbell Stadium and the FSU Circus, is run by FSU Sustainable Campus. Volunteers gathered last October to add fruit trees, build pollinator gardens and plant produce and herbs. Among the people working were employees from the FSU Grounds Department, who dug holes for lemon and orange trees to be planted, FSU students and employees from beverage wholesaler Tri-Eagle Sales. Elizabeth Swiman, director of Campus Sustainability, said ensuring a healthy, productive garden requires many hands — and expertise.
“You can’t just start digging here because there’s a lot underground, like power lines,” she said. “That’s why we need to thank the Grounds Department for their work preparing the grounds.” Swiman said Just Fruits and Exotics provided consultation and delivery services and said Tri-Eagle has been an especially valued partner for the past 15 years, including supporting Sustainable Campus’ gameday recycling program. Brittany Foster, director of marketing for Tri-Eagle, said benefits of the partnership with Sustainable Campus work both ways. “We’ve partnered with Sustainable Campus for many years now and events like this are great for the community and they’re an opportunity for members of our team to help a worthy cause,” she said. Many of the garden’s beds are rented out by student groups with much of what’s grown donated to local food pantries. Pineapple sage, perennial flowers, mustard greens, dill, mulberry and loquat were among the plants being put in the ground. Food harvested from those beds will be donated to the Food for Thought and Unconquered Scholars food pantries which assist students facing food insecurity. WATCH NOW gonol.es/ sustainable- campus
Volunteers at Seminole Organic Garden get their hands dirty planting pineapple sage, perennial flowers, mustard greens, dill, mulberry and loquat.
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Calling all alumni who studied abroad! Join International Programs for Alumni Week, where we’ll be celebrating all our study abroad alumni through various virtual events, including celebrating 50 years of FSU London! Follow @fsuip on social media for updates and appearances from our overseas directors. Can’t make it to our Alumni Week events? Give the gift of international education by donating during the Great Give on 3/9!
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Catching Up With
Amie Runk (B.A. ’10, M.S. ’18)
Special Events Director, Askew Student Life Center By Emily Engle
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he Askew Student Life Center celebrated its 21st birthday last fall. “21 years of bringing media to FSU students in all the ways they love most: big screen movies, gaming, things they can all do to socially connect with each other.” said Amie Runk, Special Events Director of the ASLC. On October 13, 2000, the Student Life Building, now known as the Askew Student Life Center, held its grand opening, complete with an impressive multimedia theater and cybercafé. Its focus lingered on entertaining students through the power of film until the 2010s, when an increased student interest in gaming took root, and the ASLC further developed its offerings. When asked why the ASLC has remained such an important aspect of campus life, Runk gave credit to the students: “They’re who keep it going and changing. The students are constantly pushing to try new things and new skill sets.” In the years since its founding, the ASLC has founded six student-led committees, including its newest: the Content Committee. During the summer of 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, the Content Committee birthed the Stargazer; a student-run blog sharing hot takes on everything from queer representation in gaming to the best streaming platforms for a college budget. The pandemic made many departments more technologically savvy. The ASLC was no exception. The ASLC continued their programming virtually, holding virtual zoom watch parties, trivia nights and discord gaming. They hosted their first drive-in movie night, showing The “Nightmare Before Christmas” in partnership with Club Downunder and provided goodie bags for those who attended as “Thank You” treats. As the university has reopened, the main cinema is currently operating at limited capacity, encouraging students to wear masks as well as to sit at least one seat from parties separate from their own.
The ASLC currently has 13 gaming computers available for video games or to study if other libraries are too crowded. Housed are 11 gaming consoles, such as Wii or PS4, that students can rent throughout the week when they need a break from studying. If one enjoys classic games like Clue or Battleship, there are numerous board games that students can check out to play with their roommates and friends. With esports — or “electronic sports” — growing in popularity, Runk expressed her desire to build an esports culture here at FSU, hopefully, in the next 21 years. “Many colleges do scholarships for esports, so it’ll be interesting to see what
FSU decides to do and how the ASLC will work with organizations to help foster it,” she explained. Runk has recently been working with academic deans to bring in little pockets of esports to the university because the communities exist on campus, but in a fragmented state. She hopes to see more classes dedicated to esports in the future, but those conversations are a work in progress. Much has changed for the Askew Student Life Center in the last 21 years, but they’re only beginning. Coupled with the expansion of campus offerings and a staff full of engaged and innovative students, the ASLC will continue to be the center of student life on campus.
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MORE THAN
A COACH During his remarkable 34-year run, Bobby Bowden’s impact on Florida State University went far beyond the football field By Zac Howard (B.A. ’14)
I
n December 1977, a 48-year-old Bobby Bowden sat down with a young reporter for a post-season interview on WFSU-TV. Just five years removed from the Seminoles’ 0-11 season in 1972, the squad had managed an impressive 10-2 season. Bowden, sporting a full-head of solid brown hair and a red dress shirt with a large collar that flared out wide over the top of his white jacket, reflected on his second season as head coach. The reporter asked how he was handling the praise, noting some had called for Bowden to become the next Pope or state governor, “That’s the way coaching is. We’re king for the day. Tomorrow? Boom, it could be right down the other way.” After a brief pause, Bowden leaned in and said, “We’re not going to let that happen… but I’ve been in it long enough to know that it can happen. You better enjoy it while you can.” For the next 34 years, the coach kept his word in more ways than one, transforming a nascent program into one of the most iconic brands in college football history. Bowden lost his battle to
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pancreatic cancer on August 8, 2021, at the age of 91, but it’s clear his imprint on Florida State University will endure long into the future.
Climbing the Ranks
The Seminoles’ meteoric rise under Bowden is unrivaled in college football. “We will probably never see another ascension like that again,” said Charlie Barnes (B.A. ’80), vice president of Seminole Boosters from 1975 to 2012. “It was a surreal experience. It surprised everybody.” In hindsight, the necessary ingredients for success were all present. Florida State’s football program had laid a good foundation in its first two decades, notwithstanding the 4-29 record during the three seasons that preceded Bowden’s hiring. Population, industry and education in the state of Florida were all booming, cultivating a recruiting trail from which Bowden and his coaching staff could reel in blue-chip high school athletes. Not to mention that finding
talented players who had not yet been discovered was much easier in the preinternet world. Nevertheless, Bowden faced an uphill battle. Florida State remained a relatively young school with resources and cachet nowhere close to older schools in the region. Motivated by financial incentives, television exposure and the challenge of competing against the nation’s premier programs, Bowden was willing to play any team in the country, no matter the distance from Tallahassee or disparity in talent. FSU famously scheduled consecutive road games at Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and LSU in 1981, during which the Seminoles went 3-2, earning Bowden the nickname “King of the Road.” The daunting non-conference stretch, dubbed “Murderer’s Row,” increased the risk of mounting losses, which may explain why it had not been tried by other unproven football programs in the years prior or since. “That opportunity allowed us to elevate our program much quicker than
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we ever would have otherwise,” said Andy Miller (B.A. ’73), president of Seminole Boosters from 1975 to 2020. “He liked going into big stadiums and having people underestimate him.”
Instilling Faith
By the mid-1980s, Florida State had become a household name among sports fans around the country, having established itself as a football powerhouse. Star players quickly turned into first-round draft picks and perennial Pro Bowlers in the NFL. Perhaps nowhere is the program’s ascent better depicted than Doak S. Campbell Stadium, which grew from a pair of high-rise metal bleachers affectionately called “The Erector Set” into the prodigious 5-millionbrick landmark that remains the largest continuous brick structure in the United States. Following its significant expansion in 2003, Doak’s seating capacity had doubled since Bowden’s arrival, rising from 40,500 to over 82,000. The architectural makeover was expensive, but the renovations were necessary to carve out a permanent place in college football royalty. The $200 million investment proved worthwhile because the Seminoles kept winning. “We were like a business that had 24 | alumni.fsu.edu
exploded,” Barnes said. He recalled thinking at the time, “We’re making lots of money, but we have to keep reinvesting the money, or we’re going to lose everything.” Beyond simply putting fans in the stands, Bowden brought much more to the game day experience in Doak. He began new traditions that have since become iconic to the university’s brand. Most notably, Bowden was an integral part of the conception of Osceola and Renegade. “Bobby recognized that Florida State was a school that was lacking somewhat in tradition,” Miller said. “We hadn’t been playing football very long, relatively speaking.” In addition to ushering in swagger on Saturdays, Bowden’s charisma became contagious across the campus. “Florida State fans, in my estimation, we had a feeling of inferiority,” said Jerry Kutz (B.S. ’74, M.B.A ’75). Kutz, who founded The Osceola newspaper in 1982 and
worked for Seminole Boosters from 2000 to 2019, believes Bowden’s humble confidence trickled into other aspects of the university, establishing a lasting milieu. “People didn’t really believe that we would ever be great in football, that we would ever have a medical school, or become what we have become. I think Bobby instilled that in us. That was the biggest thing he did.”
Lasting Impressions
His success made him popular in Tallahassee and eventually an internationally recognized celebrity, but it was his affable, gregarious disposition that endeared him to the masses. “It’s unbelievable the way people loved him,” said Sue Hall, Bowden’s longtime administrative assistant. Hall said a woman once called her and asked for Bowden to sign a picture with a Bible verse on it so she could give it to her terminally ill husband. The photo brought a smile to the man’s face in the hospital and his wife later put it in his casket. “There are a lot of stories like that,” Hall said. According to Hall, hospital visits were not uncommon for Bowden, yet he told her he never knew what to say. “Somehow, God gave him the right words because people would call back and tell me how thankful they were.”
Bowden served as an ambassador for the university to those outside of Tallahassee, exhibiting honesty, excellence and humility. “If Bobby had an ego, I never saw it,” said Gene Deckerhoff, the voice of the Seminoles since 1979. “He was the most honest man I ever met. What he told you was the truth.” Naturally, Bowden’s convictions rubbed some people the wrong way, and his career did not flourish without criticism. Some preferred he keep his Christian faith to himself rather than proffering his views to anyone and everyone without solicitation. Neither was his tenure altogether without controversy. In 1993, the program was put on probation after several football players accepted free shoes and apparel from a local store. Additionally, an academic cheating scandal prompted the NCAA to vacate 12 wins from the 2006 and 2007 seasons, which knocked Bowden below former Penn State coach Joe Paterno for the most career wins in Division I football. History suggests it is hard for any head coach in big-time college football to manage a decades-long career without an asterisk of some sort on his record. Many others among Bowden’s peers have risen to prominence, only to see their careers
dashed on the rocks of scandal or failure. But by and large, Bowden’s coaches, players and families adored him, admired him and applauded him during and after his career. “It’s easy to talk up a good game, but to live it out is tough,” said Lee Corso (B.S. ’57, M.S. ’58), longtime ESPN pundit and former star quarterback at FSU. “Bobby won football games, but he had the right priorities. People respected the way he handled those tough losses.” For every negative headline bobby’s loquacious personality spawned, it was responsible for 100 positive ones. He understood the value of the press, the power of humor and the importance of engaging fans. Local and national reporters often felt comfortable calling the Bowden home phone because they knew the odds were good that the coach would give them excellent story material in a matter of minutes. “Everybody he met was under the impression they were his best friend,” said Barnes. This was a particularly helpful trait for coaxing alumni into the mirthful spirit that begets large donations — something the athletics program needed to become commonplace if they wanted to continue winning at the highest level. SPRING 2022 |
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Building a Brand
Every spring, Barnes and Miller traveled with Bowden up and down Florida and into bordering states from week to week for the annual Bowden Tour. Bowden played golf with alumni and prospective donors during the day and spoke at a banquet-style dinner in the evening. All coaches understand the importance of shaking hands and kissing babies, but rarely are those at the helm of established programs tasked with a 30 stop road tour after every season. “You just didn’t see other schools doing that,” Miller said, noting that personal connections make a big difference in fundraising. “He felt that it was his obligation, but to tell you the truth, he liked doing it.” The first tour was in 1976, with turnouts often reaching around 400 attendees, many of whom were younger than Bowden or his peers. Over the next 30 years, the enterprising duo of Miller and Barnes built one of the nation’s largest and most successful college athletics fundraising organizations, in large part due to the success of the annual Bowden tour. “Bobby’s last year in 2009, the same people were there, but now they had 26 | alumni.fsu.edu
grandchildren,” Barnes said. “We had guys now in their eighties and giving big money to the program. We didn’t have that when he came here.”
The ‘Bowden Effect’
Between the revenue and exposure generated from football, the task of calculating Bowden’s impact on the university proves a bit impossible. While the university’s growth during Bowden’s tenure was due to many individuals – from presidents and administrators to faculty and students – it is hard to argue that any one individual made a more significant impact. Athletics are often referred to as the “front porch” of colleges and universities, providing a lasting impression to those otherwise unfamiliar with a school. Florida State football put out quality advertisements to high school students and their parents every year. “It was clearly a piece of FSU Admissions marketing,” said Rick Burnette (Ph.D. ’98), associate vice president and interim chief information officer at FSU. Burnette worked in admissions from 1987 through the end of Bowden's tenure in 2009. “Our admissions team was doing some very innovative things starting in the nineties, so
those of us who were there cannot say that there was any ‘Bowden Effect’ on acceptable applicants or applicant quality, but we certainly appreciated that he was our coach and how he conducted himself.” Calculating the figures that could indicate a “Bowden Effect” on FSU’s admissions is difficult given the myriad other factors at play, but his influence can not be understated. Applications during the early 1980s averaged just over 7,000. That figure steadily rose during the next two decades, totaling over 26,800 in 2004. FSU’s total enrollment was roughly 21,600 during Bowden’s first year in 1976 and surpassed 40,000 in his last year in 2009. “There are many people who decided to go to FSU because of the atmosphere that was created because Bobby Bowden had the
success that he did,” said Scott Atwell (M.S. ’15), president of the FSU Alumni Association from 2008 to 2018. At the time of Bowden’s retirement in 2009, approximately 80% of all living FSU alumni had attended the school during Bowden’s tenure. Alumni who preceded the Seminoles’ rise to national prominence quickly saw the value of their degree skyrocket as the university’s prestige and profile rose to new heights. “I think he recognized that he had an impact on the entire university, and it made him very proud,” Miller said. “He felt a responsibility to promote the entire school, not just football. He was proud that the football program was succeeding at the level it was, but also that the At the time university was growing in stature.”
A Lasting Legacy
of Bowden’s retirement in 2009, approximately 80% of all living FSU alumni had attended the school during Bowden’s tenure.
Bowden was often asked about how he wanted to be remembered in the years after his retirement. His answer was always the same. “I would like for them to say that I carried out God’s purpose for my life,” he told ACC Network’s Tim Brando in 2013. “That, to me, is the greatest win you can get.” On the Sunday of Bowden’s passing, shades of garnet and gold flowers covered the bronze plinth on which his statue stands outside Moore Athletic Center at Doak Campbell Stadium. High above the figure is a stainedglass mural that depicts the profile of Florida State’s beloved coach overlooking the field that now bears his name. If Bowden secured that victory, then FSU was an integral part of his life’s purpose. In his honor, the university he called home, our beloved alma mater Florida State University, continues to expand on the foundation his legacy built.
BOWDEN BY THE NUMBERS 1 Only coach to compile 14 consecutive 10-win seasons (1987-2000)
11 Consecutive bowl victories (1985 - 95), a college football record
2 National Championships
12 Conference championships
2 Heisman Trophy
14 Straight Top 5 finishes in the AP poll (1987-2000)
(1993, 1999)
Winners coached by Bowden
3 NFL Hall of Famers coached by Bowden
4 Hall of Fame Inductions
(College Football Hall of Fame, Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame)
5 National Championship
Game appearances
6 BCS bowl game appearances
6 National Coach of the Year awards (1979, 1980, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999) 8 Consecutive ACC championships (1992 2000)
21 Bowl victories 24 Consensus All
Americans coached by Bowden
28 Consecutive bowl game appearances (1982 - 2009) 32 Bowl appearances 44 Seasons as Head Coach (Samford University, West Virginia University and Florida State University) 167 NFL draft picks coached by Bowden 377 Victories 522 Games coached
FEATURING AN
ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING:
FRED BILETNIKOFF, PETER BOULWARE, THE BOWDEN FAMILY, DERRICK BROOKS, MACK BROWN, KENNY CHESNEY, LEE CORSO, VINCE DOOLEY, WARRICK DUNN, JIMBO FISHER, LOU HOLTZ, JIMMY JOHNSON, MARVIN JONES, JIM KELLY, BURT REYNOLDS, MARK RICHT, NICK SABAN, DEION SANDERS, HOWARD SCHNELLENBERGER, BART STARR, ANDRE WADSWORTH, CHARLIE WARD, PETER WARRICK, CHRIS WEINKE and DANNY WUERFFEL
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THE BOWDEN DYNASTY film (without bonus features), is also now online on iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, VUDU and Google Play! Link to these platforms at: BowdenDynasty.fsu.edu Half of all digital proceeds to be split between the Seminole Boosters and the innovative LIFT Recovery Program at FSU.
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Thank you for being a champion of student success. Thank you for inspiring us both on and off the field. Thank you for your support of the FSU license plate program through the years. You are greatly missed.
mytag.fsu.edu
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Story Time
More Than a Mug By David Doyle (B.S. ’92, J.D. ’96), Oviedo, Florida Illustration by Lindsey Masterson
T
his mug has occupied a prominent place in my various law offices since I began practicing law in 1996. In and of itself, the mug is worth about $15 until you look at the other side and see that, at least to me, it’s priceless. I had the privilege of meeting Bobby Bowden in April 1992. I was close to completing my senior year at FSU and set to marry my high school sweetheart Kristin Doyle in a few weeks. My roommate Eric Smith and I came up with the idea to buy FSU mugs as groomsman gifts. I’m not sure which one of us came up with the idea of getting Bobby Bowden to sign the mugs. I called his office to see if I could bring the mugs by to be signed. His assistant kindly told me I could bring them by the office, but there was no guarantee he’d be able to sign them before the wedding. That’s when Eric and I hatched the “Operation Stalk Bobby” plan. Through various means and methods, we learned that Coach Bowden was flying back to Tallahassee that night from a recruiting trip to Miami. Eric and I went to the airport that night in search of Coach Bowden. After driving around the airport for 20 minutes or so, we caught the attention of a Tallahassee Police Department Officer, who pulled me over for questioning. We told the officer about our mug signing mission, and he showed us exactly where to go and wait for Coach Bowden’s plane to arrive. Just after midnight, a jet came
gliding into the airport. Eric and I could see three people emerge in the darkness: the pilot, Ann Bowden, and none other than Bobby Bowden. I excitedly grabbed the mugs and walked over toward Coach Bowden as he was walking to his vehicle. With all the courage I could muster, I introduced myself to Coach Bowden and asked if he would sign the mugs for my groomsmen. What happened next was amazing. Coach Bowden spent 15 minutes with Eric and me. He signed every mug (I wrote the names down ahead of time so I wouldn’t forget them in the presence of Bobby) for me. While signing the mugs, and afterward, he asked Eric and me about school, our families and the upcoming wedding. The Bobby Bowden I met that night in a dark and empty Tallahassee Airport parking lot was the very same Bobby Bowden I had seen on TV. He was as gracious, compassionate and genuine as if he were in a press conference or Seminole Booster function. I’ve often thought about how easy it would have been for him to politely decline, maybe ask me to bring the mugs by his office. But he didn’t. He took the time to leave his mark on the mugs and, in turn, left his mark on Eric and me by the way he treated us. Coach Bowden left his mark on much more than mugs, jerseys, and footballs. He left his mark on people. His faith, character and the life he lived say more about him than his wins on the football field. He is greatly missed. SPRING 2022 |
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INNOVATION TRADITION
Faculty detail the equipment available in one of many labs in the Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science building before its ribbon-cutting in February 2020.
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MEETS FSU’S TALLAHASSEE CAMPUS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE INTO THE FUTURE BY JANECIA BRITT (B.S. ’17) AND UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
F
or many alumni, it may seem as though the current students of Florida State are now attending a completely different university than they once did. Even recent graduates may notice a new building or space that wasn’t there during their time. Once a small seminary, Florida State now serves over 43,953 students, 2,454 faculty, and countless staff. Sprawled across 1,696 acres, with 486.7 on the main campus in Tallahassee, the university continues to change rapidly to accommodate with its massive growth. In the last five years alone, the university has unveiled exciting renovations that have increased student propensity for learning and created more room for engagement and social activities. As we share a few of the university’s most recent updates, you’ll see it’s clear that our university’s beauty and traditional style are not lost, but that its modernizations are allowing the university to improve its spatial functionality and confidently look towards the future.
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Replacing the original dorman and deviney residence halls in 2015 concluded phase 1. Completion of the project produced four new residence halls and a new dining location.
RESIDENCE HALLS In the fall of 2017, FSU opened two new residence halls, Magnolia and Azalea, completing a quad of four new residence halls, including the reconstructed Dorman and Deviney halls, which opened in 2015. The four six-story brick buildings feature the same type of amenities as apartment complexes, roomy lounge areas with comfortable seating, flat-screen televisions and ping-pong tables, laundry facilities, full-sized kitchens, large study rooms, along with 24-hour staff and maintenance services — all designed to make students feel at home without ever having to leave campus. Azalea Hall features a new concept that no other FSU residence hall has — its own 24,000-square-foot dining area, titled “1851.” The halls were designed to serve the needs of today’s students, with outlets for charging electronics built into the colorful chairs and couches, creating a perfect 32 | alumni.fsu.edu
studying environment that’s comfortable and functional. The old Dorman and Deviney halls were demolished and resurrected as suite-style residence halls in 2016. In addition, 1950’s post-war dormitories Kellum and Smith Halls were demolished in 2016 and 2017. As part of a continued revitalization plan for the west side of campus, FSU also intends to demolish the remaining residence halls, Rogers and McCollum Hall, replaced with a complex of academic buildings and residence halls. Also present on the westside is Salley Hall, which was renovated in 2019. The demolition of Kellum and Smith marked the end of communal bathrooms on FSU’s campus. Apartment or suite-style residence halls remain, allowing students to share living space while having more private restroom facilities. Apartmentstyle residence halls such as Ragans have individual rooms for each student, a small living area and a kitchen.
1851 DINING HALL Dining facility “1851” opened in the fall of 2017 as part of Azalea residence hall. It was designed to provide a wider variety of on-campus dining options while placing an emphasis on healthy, fresh and locally sourced foods. 1851 became the third major dining facility on campus, along with Seminole Café (formerly Fresh Foods) and the Suwannee Room. FSU built 1851 on West Jefferson Street to be more centrally located on campus. Diners experience an eclectic mix of trendy spaces suited for studying or socializing. The building is big but feels comfortable. The team paid special attention to little details — lighting, tables, chairs, soft seating, colors and textures — to create an inviting vibe at every turn.
Bento Sushi is a student favorite at the 1851 dining hall. Students can use their meal plans or dining dollars to enjoy freshly rolled and packaged sushi.
THE CONCEPT OF 1851, IS ACTUALLY FOUR “MICRO-RESTAURANTS” PLUS A CONVENIENCE STORE IN ONE SPACIOUS 24,000-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY. CURRENTLY FOUND IN 1851 ARE: VATO TACOS brings authentic Latin street fair to Florida State. Vato Tacos not only offers the freshest proteins, vegetables, and homemade sauces, it also aims to use locally sourced ingredients! Six street tacos are offered including the famous slow-cooked carnitas taco and the falafel taco for those looking for a vegetarian option. TUSCAN EATERY offers a unique setting where guests can watch classic Italian fare being cooked in a 600-degree wood-fired grill. Menu includes a variety of rustic pizzas, paninis, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesan, salads as well as cannoli and cheesecake for dessert. THE TALLY MAC SHACK puts an innovative twist on a culinary classic with unique, flavor-infused macaroni and cheese creations. This popular Tallahassee
business started as a food truck offering a variety of flavor combinations. BENTO SUSHI provides the highest quality packaged sushi and ready to eat/made to order hot Asian food, serving made to order rice and noodle bowls, bento boxes, poke bowls, soups, ramen and of course, sushi.
The varied menus include many items made from scratch with fresh ingredients and locally sourced foods. 1851, which can seat up to 450 people, features a “storefront” architectural style with garage doors that open to outdoor seating. The facility was designed by architectural firms Gilchrist Ross Crowe of Tallahassee and The Collaborative of Toledo, Ohio, to be one of the top college dining locations in the nation.
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INNOVATION HUB In the quest to put students at the forefront of the technology revolution and the job market, FSU opened the state-of-the-art Innovation Hub in 2018. The 14,000-square-foot space, located in the Louis Shores Building, is perfect for collective or solo projects and supports groups of up to 140 people. Truly an interdisciplinary venture, the hub partnered with 17 different colleges and departments on campus to provide access to the latest technologies.
ALONG WITH A COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE FOR STUDENTS TO SHARE IDEAS, CREATE PROTOTYPES AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS, THE HUB ALSO IS WHERE THEY CAN BUILD AND EXPAND ON DESIGNS AND PROJECTS. IT FEATURES MULTIPLE SPACES WITH CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF INNOVATION: •
Maker Space with 3D printers, laser cutters and Arduino boards
•
Virtual Reality Lab with graphics workstations, 360 photography and video, hololenses, leap motion and Kinect
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Hacker Space with prototyping work benches, hi-end graphics workstations and materials library; a hangout space with a café and patio (coming in August)
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Collaborative Work Space with an auditorium, program and pitch rooms
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Collaborative Tech Space with projectors, wall space and whiteboards for design thinking
Clockwise from the top: The heart of the Hub is the Open Collaboration space, which consists of flexible seating, the main help desk, fabrication space, and the ‘porch’ lounge area. From this bustling main space, visitors can see all the Hub has to offer. Folding the main collaboration space (right) is an area for more quiet study, with a small seating area, two phone booths, a second huddle room and the main pitch room. Right, a student consults with staff on a 3D printing project. Along with student ambassadors and staff available, the Innovation Hub boasts onsite and online education classes, workshops, demonstrations and training programs.
34 | alumni.fsu.edu
Photos by: Ryan Gamma Photography | Architecture by: Lewis + Witlock
BLACK STUDENT UNION In October of 2018, Florida State University unveiled the new home for the Black Student Union. Established in 1968, the Black Student Union offers Black students a form of identity and a social life and functions as a vehicle of communication to the FSU faculty and administration. In 2016, the Florida Legislature awarded the university $1.5 million in Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds to support the construction of a new BSU House. Ground was broken for the new location in January 2017 and a preview of the building was held during that year’s annual Homecoming week. The BSU had previously been housed on Woodward Avenue since its creation, along with the African-American Studies program, the interdisciplinary study of the history, culture and socioeconomic wellbeing of African Americans. The new building continues to be a space for the African-American Studies program and many classes have been held in the space since its opening.
The 5,600-square-foot, two-story Black Student Union, located at 921 W. Jefferson St., houses exhibit space, a student lounge, a large multipurpose room for classes and events, kitchen, conference room and staff offices. SPRING 2022 |
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EARTH, OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE BUILDING The Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science Building, a 130,500-square-foot space, includes 23 research labs and eight teaching labs, a broadcast studio for meteorology students, a 280-seat auditorium and a 100-seat active learning classroom. At seven stories, the new building has overtaken Doak Campbell Stadium as the highest point on campus and towers over Tennessee Street at FSU’s Woodward Avenue entrance. The exterior features a brick façade complemented by a five-story, glass-and-metal window installation of the FSU torches by the Master Craftsman Studio. FSU broke ground on the building in October 2016, and the first occupants began moving in at the end of the Fall 2019 semester. Some of the building’s specialized features also benefit the public, including a seismometer, solar flower and Science on a Sphere — a display of global data such as atmospheric storms, earthquake occurrences, climate change and ocean temperature that can be shown on the sphere.
Top right, Vincent Salter, Department chair of the earth, oceanic and atmospheric science department, shares details of the benefits to the newly constructed EOAS building in a 2020 pre-ribbon-cutting tour of the facility. Right, students attend class in one of the many lecture halls in the new building.
STROZIER LIBRARY SECOND FLOOR
Strozier Library has had multiple renovations in recent years, with the second floor among one of its most impressive. Above, the newly renovated second floor of the Strozier Library. Right, the second floor pre-renovation.
36 | alumni.fsu.edu
During the fall 2021 semester, FSU Libraries revealed exciting new renovations on the second floor of the Strozier Library, creating an ideal environment to foster student success. FSU Libraries and FSU Facilities worked together to design an updated space with an open floor plan, new desks, seating, flooring and enhanced directional signage. Academic Affairs funded the $1 million renovation. The renovation added 134 learning spaces to the Strozier Library. The increased capacity includes 384 chairs at study and computer tables and 67 lounge-style chairs for a total of 451 places for students to sit. There is power available at all study tables — 360 places for students to plug into, which is roughly one outlet per study chair. There are also several features included to assist with wayfinding, such as wall graphics, signage, accent carpet stripes and accent wall paint. The redesign received an Outstanding Design Award for Interior Renovation in American School & University Magazine’s 2021 Educational Interiors Showcase Issue. The award highlights how the redesign improves the student experience.
LOOKING FORWARD
Construction began on the $125 million new Student Union project in early 2018 and in the nearly four years since, various factors including the pandemic have delayed its completion. Current FSU students, many of whom have not experienced the advantages of a centralized hub for student collaboration and engagement are eagerly awaiting the completion of the spectacular space, now slated for Summer 2022. Rendering courtesy of ALW-Workshop Design Team and Ajax Construction.
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION BUILDING Florida State University officials broke ground in the fall of 2021 on an $88 million building that will serve as a collaborative space for researchers from a variety of fields focused on creating and advancing new materials. The Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building, with funding provided by the Florida Legislature and FSU Research Foundation, will be constructed on the corner of Levy Avenue and Engineering Way in the Innovation Park corridor. The 116,000-square-foot building is designed to facilitate interactions in laboratories, core facilities and strategically placed collaboration spaces. It will consist of three floors of mostly open labs, sized for up to 30 research groups, 24 postdoctoral researchers and 155 graduate and undergraduate students. The building is the university’s latest addition to the southwest campus, which is intertwined with Innovation Park. FSU buildings in that area include the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the High-Performance Materials Institute and the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics and Energy Building, among others. The university is working with the architecture firm HGA of Boston. The building is projected to open in 2024.
STUDENT UNION The new Student Union is expected to open its doors later this year. When it does, students will be greeted with a facility designed to surpass its predecessor in stature, utility and aesthetic. The exterior of the Union was designed with the campus’ existing architecture in mind utilizing the iconic red bricks found throughout campus. The Union will use 607,910 bricks. Natural ambiance is a core principle of the building as designers let natural light pour in where the design allowed. From the 48-foot atrium that greets visitors in the main entrance to the bottom floor that will be home to the new Club Downunder, a 12-lane bowling alley, a sports grill and an art center, natural light will be present. Exposed staircases and a set of bridges will add to the building’s spacious, open-air feel. The FSU Bookstore will be located on the main floor. Student Business support staff
will occupy space nearby, as will a Starbucks coffee shop. Students will have five restaurants to choose from: Pollo Tropical, Panera Bread, Seminole Pies, Panda Express and Sports Grill. About 30 FSU student groups will have permanent space in the facility. FSU is home to about 700 registered student organizations and clubs, and each will have access to Union facilities. The Union will be home to the FSU Computer Store, an Apple Authorized campus store, and the Trading Post convenience store, which will offer students everything from fresh produce to sushi. The building’s western end will feature a colonnade and Market Plaza, which will host concerts and performances. The uniquely FSU tradition, Market Wednesday, will return and be held on the terrace located off the building’s south side. The interior décor of the building will include art contributions from students and
When the previous Student Center was completed in 1952, it served as a gathering place for the fewer than 5000 students enrolled at FSU and housed a snack bar, jukebox and a room for dancing.
a commissioned art piece that honors the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the relationship between the Tribe and FSU. Editor’s Note: We look forward to sharing the student union unveiling with you in a future issue of VIRES. SPRING 2022 |
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G H N I I G Y L H F at
The Florida State University Flying High Circus celebrates 75 years By Kelli Gemmer (B.A. ’14, M.S. ’18)
Photos courtesy of Heritage & University Archives // photo illustrations by lindsey masterson
T
he Flying High Circus has remained a captivating aspect of Florida State University for 75 years. What started as an activity to integrate men and women on a newly coeducational campus has become a nationally recognized program and beloved tradition. One of only two collegiate circuses in the United States, the FSU Flying High Circus is a student-run aerial and stage presentation. Throughout its 75-year history, the FSU Circus has appeared in Europe, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. They’ve been featured on network television, such as the “CBS Sports Spectacular,” “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” and an hour-long College Sports Network documentary, “Flying High: the Florida State University Circus.” This golden tradition is rich with history and memories from FSU Circus alumni whose hard work and dedication make the Circus special to past, present and future ‘Noles. SPRING 2022 |
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CIRCUS BEGINNINGS In 1947, the Florida State College for Women transitioned to a coeducational Florida State University. At that time, the university saw an influx of male students, many of whom were soldiers returning from World War II seeking a college education through the GI Bill. Jack Haskin, the namesake of the current circus complex located opposite Doak S. Campbell Stadium and Dick Howser Stadium, was hired to create a noncompetitive program that male and female students could equally enjoy. As a result, the FSU Flying High Circus was born. Performances could be seen in campus gymnasiums, the football stadium as well as locations across the state. James “Jim” DeCosmo (B.S. ’49, M.S. ’50) was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran, a student in the first circus and a member of the first football team as coeducational FSU in 1947. He described the Circus’ early years in his 1950 master’s degree thesis and outlined the mental, physical, social and ethical skills he developed while participating. DeCosmo served as an assistant coach under Haskin from the beginning of the circus program until 1958 and helped build its lasting success. There is even a trapeze act named after the late DeCosmo called the “Flying DeCosmo.” In his assistant role, DeCosmo coached performers and oversaw physical operations, including the transport and set-up of the Circus at various venues. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the FSU Circus performed under their iconic threering, striped Big Top. For the program’s 65th anniversary in 2012, the FSU Circus unveiled a new, state-of-the-art tent built on the traditional circus lot. While the former tent was often down in the off-seasons, the new tent could withstand prolonged periods of time. Today, it remains up throughout most of the year as a recognizable landmark on FSU’s campus.
UNDER THE BIG TOP With over 100 members, the FSU Flying High Circus performs 70-80 shows throughout a typical year on the Tallahassee campus and at Callaway 40 | alumni.fsu.edu
Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Performances include their Home Show Spring Series, summer recreation program at Callaway Gardens, FSU Family Weekend and Halloween Show Series. The Circus is an extracurricular activity within the university’s Division of Student Affairs that is open to all degree-seeking FSU students. While no experience is required to participate, open auditions are held at the start of each fall semester to measure interest, degree of flexibility and physical fitness to determine which of the 18-22 circus acts taught on the ground or in the air may personally fit. Production positions such as lighting, stage management, hair, makeup and
costuming are also available for students interested in involvement. In addition, a one-semester, one-credit-hour Introduction to Circus course within the College of Education’s Sport Management program is offered to students of all majors who are interested in learning the basics of juggling, walking the high wire, aerial ballet and rigging. The Flying High Circus participation and show attendance remains free for FSU students. The Circus generates revenue by selling show tickets for community members, hosting a student-run Flying High Circus Camp for children ages 7-17 and directing the summer recreation program at Callaway Gardens.
High Circus. “I was primarily a coach at that time,” said Mathews. “As I grew into the role, I assumed more and more responsibilities, which allowed me to become well-rounded as an administrator.” Mathews served as assistant director from 1998 until 2007 when longtime FSU Circus Director Richard Brinson retired. In January 2008, Mathews was appointed director, where he manages administrative and fiscal elements of the organization while also coaching acts and directing performances. For Mathews, the 75th anniversary of the FSU Circus is particularly special. “Not to date myself, but I was a performer during the 50th anniversary,” he said. “It was a very big event for us as students. So many former performers attended. It really made it hit home how much of an impact the Circus has had on those who have been involved.”
FLYING HIGH ALUMNI Each summer, FSU Circus Director Chad Mathews (B.A. ’98, M.S. ’03) relocates to Callaway Gardens Resort to manage the Summer Family Adventure program, a program in existence since 1961. Alongside Mathews are 25 FSU Circus students who serve as day camp counselors and perform circus shows each week. Mathews, who has worked at the FSU Circus for 23 years, was also a student performer. “I started as a freshman by taking the circus PE class,” he said. “My first act was hand balancing, but I also did flying trapeze, teeterboard and low casting (comedy trapeze).” Soon after he graduated from FSU, Mathews began working for the Flying
While most FSU Circus student performers continue to pursue a career in the discipline from which they graduate, a small percentage of performers seek a professional circus career. Traci (Wilks) Ort (B.S. ’05), a stuntwoman, acrobat and mother of two, is one of those alumni. “I wanted to be part of the FSU Circus as far back as I can remember!” said Ort. “I grew up going with my family. I got to FSU and signed up for the circus class for my PE credit, and the rest is history.” During her undergraduate career, Ort performed as a flyer, aerialist, acrobat and rigger. Following graduation, she performed and rigged in several stunt shows and productions in Orlando, including Disney’s “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!”
and SeaWorld’s aerial show. “My experience with the Flying High Circus prepared me for what would be my first decade in the ‘real world’ out of college and in the entertainment field,” she said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the FSU Flying High Circus set me up for success in my field of work.” Miles Postlethwait (B.A. ’15) also pursued a circus career post-graduation and is an independent contract circus performer as a flying trapeze-ist. As a student, Postlethwait performed the flying trapeze, Chinese pole and low casting from 2013 to 2016. Unlike Ort, he didn’t always know he wanted to be involved in the Circus. “Honestly, I saw a flyer posted in my dorm and thought, ‘This could be fun,’” he said. “I fell in love.” For some alumni, the FSU Circus was in their blood. Janet DeCosmo (B.A. ’73, M.A. ’78, Ph.D. ’87), Jim DeCosmo’s daughter, described how the Circus was a large part of her childhood while her father served as assistant coach. “He let us come to the circus and get on the equipment sometimes, and he also built trapezes in our backyard at home,” she said. “Our family went to Callaway Gardens in the summer as well, and as kids, we were able to practice on the circus equipment there.” Although she was not part of the performing cast, she did perform on the cloud swing and swinging trapeze in the circus course offered by the university. Sosie Kae Quarrie (B.A. ‘13, B.S. ‘13, B.S. ‘17) knew from a young age that she wanted to be a part of the FSU Flying High Circus, so once she got to FSU, she signed up for auditions and the circus class. “I didn’t make the cast the first time I tried out, but I joined the production team and helped with lighting, SPRING 2022 |
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75TH ANNIVERSARY PLANS (Subject to change)
75th Annual Home Show Series music and costumes,” she said. “All my hard work finally paid off, and I made the final cut after two years of auditioning. Becoming a part of the performing cast was one of the proudest moments of my life.” Quarrie, a three-time alumna, performed in the Circus from 2009 to 2017 on the triple trapeze, bicycle for five and as a production crew member. While she had many memories of working and performing in the Circus, Quarrie recalled an incredibly special moment. “A family came up to me after a show and told me how amazing it was seeing representation of people of color in our show, especially how important it was for their kids to see,” she said. “I think about that moment a lot. It truly made all the cuts, bruises, long hours and weekends worth it.” The Flying High Circus isn’t just an activity that entertains the community, educates students and builds alumni connections; it can also create a lasting impact among attendees. “The FSU Circus is such a wonderful program,” said Postlethwait. “It gives non-traditional circus family members a chance to learn circus arts and creates a profound sense of community. I hope it continues for another 75 years or more.”
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS This April, the annual Home Show Spring Series will celebrate its 75th anniversary. As always, the series will hold performances in the first three weekends 42 | alumni.fsu.edu
of April. This year, the Circus Alumni Board has a special Alumni Home Show Weekend planned for its circus alumni, which includes a gala, luncheon, tour of the Haskin Circus Complex and a historical display in Dodd Hall. FSU Circus Alumni President Nicole Fearnbach Viverito (B.S. ’12), who met her husband Matt Viverito (B.A. ’12) in the FSU Circus, has been working with fellow board members on plans for the celebration. “The shows have evolved and the program has grown so much,” said Viverito. “We’re excited for more FSU students to experience the joy of being part of this incredible organization over the coming decades. We’ll be there cheering them on.” Quarrie, who is the vice president of the FSU Circus Alumni and will become the organization’s president in May 2022, explains the importance of this monumental year: “Tradition to me means carrying out the customs of our predecessors but finding new ways to involve future generations. Tradition is the foundation on which we grow.” “The FSU Circus is full of rich traditions,” continued Quarrie. “Traditions are the acts we perform and the tricks carried down through generations. Tradition is in our costumes and using pieces of old fabric to make new outfits. Tradition is ending all our shows with one phrase: ‘May all your days be circus days!’”
Friday, April 1 | 7 p.m. Saturday, April 2 | 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2 | 8 p.m. Friday, April 8 | 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9 | 7 p.m. Sunday, April 10 | 2 p.m. Friday, April 15 | 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16 | 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16 | 8 p.m.
Alumni Home Show Weekend: April 15-17, 2022 Friday Cocktail Hour and Gala
Saturday our of the Haskin Circus Complex T with Director Chad Mathews Luncheon and Circus Alumni meeting After Party following the final show Historical Display in Dodd Hall Heritage Museum and Oral History Project Collaboration LEARN MORE: circus.fsu.edu
For more about FSU Flying High alumni who have made careers of the circus, including positions with Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil and Barnum & Bailey Circus, read the VIRES Spring 2011 cover story at gonol.es/FlyingHigher
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Director of Athletic Bands and Specialized Teaching Faculty III, Dr. David Plack (B.A. ‘92, M.M.E. ‘95, Ph.D. ‘06) , stands on Marching Chiefs Tower & Practice Field. At far right, L to R: Plack poses with Assistant Professor of Music Education and Assistant Director of Athletic Bands, Chandler Wilson (Ph.D. ‘19) and Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands, Patrick Dunnigan in Opperman Music Hall.
44 | alumni.fsu.edu
10 Questions
David Plack
(B.A. ’92, M.M.E. ’95, Ph.D. ’06) Director of Athletic Bands By Lizzie Monk David Plack (B.A. ’92, M.M.E. ’95, Ph.D. ’06) has a long history with the Florida State University Marching Chiefs. In fact, he once was one himself, giving him a unique perspective on the craft of teaching, conducting and managing the Seminole Sound pep band and “worldrenowned” Marching Chiefs. Below, Dr. David Plack, Director of Athletic Bands at FSU, shares his passion for music, his students and leaving a legacy beyond the field. WHAT INSPIRED YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC? Undoubtedly my passion for music started with my high school band director, Tim Zabel. We were just a small, 90 piece high school marching band. I looked up to his passion and enthusiasm for music, and said, “I want to do what he does.” At a college level, it was the late Dr. Jim Croft, who was director of bands at Florida State. Both of these gentlemen really formed my desire to be a band director. HOW DID BEING A MARCHING CHIEF PREPARE YOU FOR SUCCESS AS THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC BANDS? Anything
I ask them to do, they know I have done it myself. I have marched down the field countless times doing Chiefs steps and playing the fight song, so when I ask them to work hard and do countless downfield blocks, they know that it comes from my experience. For my students, I think knowing that I am a Marching Chief gives me some street cred, as the kids would say. As an alum, I’m very in tune with our traditions and how things have modernized and changed over 30 years, which is a pretty neat perspective to have.
WHAT ARE COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MARCHING BAND? I think a lot of people look at our level of
musicality and assume that they must all be music majors, but we are comprised of students from nearly every major offered on campus; with a majority being non-music majors. Also none of the Marching Chiefs are required to be here or are on scholarship for the Marching Chiefs. They do Marching Chiefs strictly because they love their school, each other and this organization. Everybody genuinely wants to be here, and to me, that is pretty special.
FAVORITE MARCHING CHIEFS PERFORMANCE? We’ve been very fortunate to play in the Rose Bowl parade, which is kind of the crown jewel for any band program. Marching down Colorado Avenue to 2 million people was an incredible experience. Also, our trip to Normandy, France for the 75th anniversary of D Day just two years ago. Standing on Omaha beach 75 years to the day of the World War II D-Day invasion with the Marching Chiefs was very impactful. As far as halftime shows, our Beyonce show that went viral is one of my favorites. Lastly, conducting the Bobby Bowden Amazing Grace tribute in a silent Doak Campbell with the cell phone lights glimmering is something I will never forget. Music has a way of bringing us together, and in that moment it did just that as we celebrated Coach Bowden’s life and impact on FSU.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE AS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC BANDS? For anyone in my profession it is time
management. I have a family; my girls are ages 11, 7 and 3. My wife works at the hospital, so balancing priorities and time is difficult. My job is not a nine to five, so making sure that I know when it is time to step away from the sporting events and class schedule to give my family my complete undivided attention is essential. HOW HAS A CAREER IN EDUCATION SHAPED YOU INTO WHO YOU ARE TODAY? I would certainly not be sitting here if it were
not for my desire to teach. If it weren’t for Tim Zabel, Jim Rock, or Patrick Dunnigan seeing something in me, I would not be an educator. It is important to always be willing to learn more. I am 52 years old, and there is still so much I can learn as long as I am willing. For me, education has placed an importance on relationships. It is so important that students feel cared for and wanted. That’s what makes a good educator, making their students feel special.
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY AT FSU TO BE? We have
people who work tireless hours to make the football games happen, and without those people, we couldn’t do what we do on Saturdays. I would love for people to think of me as somebody who takes time to say hello and value what they do, whether they are working the facilities, security or custodial. I want my legacy to be someone who treated everybody with respect, kindness and made everyone feel appreciated.
WHAT MAKES YOU MOST PROUD TO BE AN FSU ALUMNUS?
I am so proud of how I have seen the campus grow since my time at Florida State. Although there has been so much change, so many things have stayed the same. There is such a special feeling at Florida State. Students are more than just a number here, and that is what makes FSU special.
Want more Marching Chiefs?
LEARN MORE: fsuchiefs.com @FSUChiefs
#MCATDT
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About THE FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
serves the university’s more than 381,000 living alumni, including our 24,000 members. As a member-based organization, we are thankful for the continued support and contributions from our Alumni Association members and donors. 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. 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 381,000 living 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
Former President John Thrasher gives remarks during the Emeritus Induction Brunch and Awards Ceremony after receiving the Commitment to Excellence Award from the Emeritus Alumni Society.
46 | alumni.fsu.edu
Association News
Board FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS is the chief governing
body of the FSU Alumni Association and represents the interests of the association’s members and constituents. The board is composed of a group of distinguished alumni and staff who give back to the university with their time and talent, to support Alumni Association initiatives.
Florida State University Alumni Association National Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Scott Wiegand (B.M. ’90), Chair Dazi Lenoir (B.A. ’02, M.S. ’03), Vice Chair Zach Heng (B.S. ’07), Secretary Colleen Dean Miller (B.S. ’02), Treasurer B. Dan Berger (B.S. ’89), Immediate Past Chair Drew Weatherford (B.S. ’08), Board of Trustees Chair Designee Julie Decker, Alumni Association President & CEO Andy Jhanji, FSU Presidential Designee Jeffrey D. Boykins (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’93), Member At-Large Jeanne Curtin (B.S. ’92, M.B.A. ’99, J.D. ’01), Member At-Large Les Akers (B.S. ’94) Javi Borges (B.S. ’97) Chris Bosler (B.S. ’83) Cyd Bougae (B.S. ’75) Eleanor Connan (B.S. ’63) Staci Cross (B.S. ’04) Susan Delgado (B.S. ’91, M.Acc. ’92) Kyle R. Doney (B.S. ’07), Seminole Tribe Designee
Ashley Folladori (B.S. ’04) Katie Heintz, FSU Student Alumni Association President Glen Hallowell (B.S. ’09) Cecil Howard (B.S. ’81) Ramiro Jose Inguanzo (B.S. ’91, M.P.A. ’94) Shannon Libbert (B.S. ’93, M.P.A. ’97) Benjamin McKay (B.S. ’91) Bruce W. McNeilage (B.S. ’88) Jeanne Miller (J.D. ’95) Ahli Moore (B.S. ’93, M.S. ’95) Mahogany Newell (B.S. ’02) Joe Paul (B.S. ’02) Cameron Pennant (B.S. ’15, M.P.A. ’17) Alexander Quince (B.S. ’92) Laura C. Russell (B.S. ’05) Anne Smith (B.S. ’87) Michael Stephens (B.S. ’91) Joshua Tyler (B.S. ‘02) Jessica Washington (B.A. ’04) Allisson Yu (B.S. ’00)
Florida State University Alumni Association Board of Trustees THE 13-MEMBER GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE UNIVERSITY Peter Collins, Chair Maximo Alvarez Kathryn Ballard Eric Chicken Emily Fleming Duda Vivian de las Cuevas-Dia
Jorge Gonzalez Jim W. Henderson Nastassia Janvier Craig Mateer Deborah Sargeant Bob Sasser John Thiel Drew Weatherford
gonol.es/board
Kaitlyn Heintz 2022 SAA President
The Association is ecstatic to welcome Kaitlyn Heintz to the National Board of Directors. Heintz began her term as President of the FSU Student Alumni Association in January 2022. Prior to becoming President, Heintz held the role of the Director of the Homecoming Parade, Chief and Princess for SAA. Heintz is a junior pursuing dual majors in Hospitality and Tourism Management and General Business Management at Florida State University.
*Appointment subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate at time of publication SPRING 2022 |
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Programming ALUMNI PROGRAMMING
Our events and programs continue to connect, uplift, educate and honor our incredible alumni. The Association is thrilled and immensely grateful for the ability to safely return to in-person programming with students, faculty, members and friends of the university after a year of virtual events. gonol.es/events
ALUMNI AWARDS GALA The Florida State University Alumni Association recognized five members of the FSU family during the third annual Alumni Awards Gala on October 22, 2021. The Bernard F. Sliger Award Named for the 10th president of the Florida State University, the Bernard F. Sliger Award is the single highest honor given by the FSU Alumni Association. 2021 Recipient Ed Burr (B.S. ’79) 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.
Young Alumni Awards The FSU Alumni Association recognized 19 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 on Nov. 5, 2021. Six 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. 2021 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award Recipients Jesse Marks (B.A. ’16) Suresh Narayanan (B.S. ’08) Katharina Reekmans (B.A. ’12)
2021 Honorees
Alexa Cronin Sobeck (B.S.W. ’15)
Kenneth M. Austin (B.S. ’75, M.P.A. ’79)
Bethany Swonson (B.S. ’13)
James “Jim” Lee (B.S. ’71)
Nicholas Thomas (B.S. ’18, M.S. ’20)
Scott Wiegand (B.M. ’90) Marilyn J. Young (B.A. ’64)
gonol.es/yaa20
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Above, Young Alumni Council President Derrick Scott III speaks at the Young Alumni Awards held on November 5, 2021. Below, the Circle of Gold Inductees and Sliger Honoree, University President Dr. Richard McCullough and President and CEO of the Alumni Association, Julie Decker, pose for a photograph at the Alumni Awards Gala held on October 22, 2021. Photos by Steve Chase
Association News
Student Alumni Association THE STUDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (SAA) is a student organization that fosters
spirit, tradition and pride throughout the university. Comprised of current undergraduate and graduate students, it provides activities and programs that assist its more than 3,000 members in their development as leaders, scholars and future alumni. The FSU Alumni Association supports SAA’s membership, activities and events such as the Homecoming Parade and Court, Countdown to Graduation and Speaker Series. gonol.es/saa Facebook.com/FSUSAA @FSUSAA @fsu_saa
Above, an SAA member celebrates with the Garnet and Gold Guys at the annual Traditions BBQ held in the Alumni Center courtyard. Below, Homecoming Chief and Princess, Paxton Rhoads (B.S. '21) and Brooke Deering walk down the field of Doak Campbell Stadium during the Homecoming Game against The University of Massachusetts.
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Clubs SEMINOLE CLUBS® AND CHAPTERS
The Alumni Association’s network of Seminole Clubs® and Chapters unite alumni, friends and fans of FSU in numerous 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 gamewatch parties, community service opportunities and networking events. gonol.es/clubs Facebook.com/SeminoleClubs @SeminoleClubs
(Clockwise) The Tampa Bay Seminole Club enjoys a networking shuffleboard event this past October. tampanoles.com The Palm Beach County Seminole Club saw the return of their annual Seminole Scramble Golf Tournament and Kickoff Party last August. Former Florida State running back Greg Jones served as the guest of honor and keynote speaker. pbnoles.com Atlanta Seminole Club members enjoy the camaraderie at their FSU night held at Truist Park. Each ticket came with an exclusive co-branded Atlanta Braves/FSU ball cap as a fun parting gift. atlantseminoles.com
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Association News
Scholarships LEGACY SCHOALRSHP
The FSU Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship program was established in 2010 to encourage the children of Florida State alumni to attend their parent's alma mater and perpetuate the legacy of Florida State within their family. This program was designed to recognize the commitment and support of students in choosing to follow in their families' footsteps and attend Florida State University. Legacy scholarships are funded by gifts to the FSU Alumni Association. Awards are given to first-year students only. Applications for 2022 will open this spring. LEARN MORE: gonol.es/legacyscholars
SEMINOLE CLUBS® SCHOLARSHIPS
Seminole Clubs and Chapters across the nation are dedicated to helping future alumni meet their educational goals. To that end, many Clubs award annual scholarships to FSU students from their local areas or home states. The eligibility criteria, number of scholarships offered and amount of each award vary by club and chapter. In FY21, Seminole Clubs and Chapters awarded over $114,800 in scholarships to help 98 students during the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. LEARN MORE: gonol.es/clubs-scholarships
Above, a student catches up on class reading in the Dirac library. Below, scholarship awardees pose for a photo at a Seminole Club of the Rockies event.
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Networks ALUMNI NETWORKS
In cooperation with the Alumni Association, chartered affiliate groups called Alumni Networks serve and represent FSU’s diverse alumni population. These volunteerled 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.
THESE EIGHT ALUMNI AFFINITY NETWORKS INCLUDE: Emeritus Alumni Society (EAS) FSU Asian American Alumni Network FSU Hispanic/Latinx Alumni Network (HLAN) Jewish Alumni Network (JAN) FSU National Black Alumni (FSU BA) FSU Pride Alumni Network Veterans Alumni Society Young Alumni Network
gonol.es/networks Above, FSU Black Alumni smile with some balloons at one of their homecoming events. Middle, Pride Alumni Network hosts a Happy Hour at Charlie Park rooftop bar located in Cascades Park. Bottom, the Jewish Alumni Network enjoys their Meet The Board Happy Hour Event.
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Association News
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.
Jean Baptiste (B.S. ’06) Richard Bastien Edward Benson (B.S. ’92) Marc Bianchini James Bouterse (B.A. ’65) Michele Burt (B.S. ’02) Christopher Canazaro (B.S. ’04) Brett Cook (B.A. ’01) Brian Crews (B.S. ’88) Ryan Deeley Richard Fenton (B.S. ’94) Melissa L. Fenton (B.A. ’94 , M.S.’95) Carol L. Fernadez (B.A. ’67) Frank Fernandez (B.A. ’67) Joseph Galuppi (M.S. ’18) Natalie M. Galuppi (J.D. ’17) Robert Garcia (B.S. ’10) Michael Germain (M.B.A. ’08, M.A. ‘11) Kinsley Grant (B.S. ’03)
Byrnes Guillaume (B.S. ’97) Glen Hallowell (B.S. ’09) Jamie L. Hallowell (B.S. ’06) Nicole Hanaka (B.A. ’93) Angela Higbea (B.S. ’95) Sean P. Higbea (B.S. ’94) Kerry Israel (B.S. ’85) Catherine A. Jenks (Ph.D. ’06) David A. Jenkins (Ph.D. ’02) Katherine LeMaster (B.S. ’79) Steven Mccarus (B.S. ’20, M.S. ‘21) John F. Mccarus (B.S. ’21) Jill Mimbs (B.S. ’87) Michael Moreno (B.A. ’06) Natasha Peet Kyle Pham (B.S. ’16) Carla Polaszek (B.S. ’96, M.A. ‘97) Christopher Polaszek (B.S. ’92, M.B.A ‘97, J.D .’97) Daniel Riahi (M.S. ’70, Ph.D. ‘74)
Arthur Rich (M.S. ’86, Ph.D. ’02) George Roland (B.S. ’94, M.S. ’96) Garrett Sargeant (B.S. ’21) Harry Sargeant (B.A. ’06) Lensey C. Scott (M.D. ’06) Ingrid Sherles (B.S. ’96) Anne Stockdale (B.S. ’89) Eddy Stringer (Ph.D. ’11) Calandra Stringer (Ph.D. ’07) Nicole Trapp (B.S. ’21) Milena Tzigantcheva (M.S. ’02, Ph.D. ’08) Dimitre Tzigantcheva (M.S. ’06, Ph.D. ’06) Kathryn Weathers (B.A. ’10, B.S. ‘10) Charles Williams (B.S. ’62, J.D. ’70) Andrew Wright (B.S. ’90) Eric Zichella (B.S. ’02) Amy J. Zichella (B.S. ’98) Amy Zubaly (B.S. ’93, M.P.A ’99) Mark T. Zubaly (B.A. ’93)
*This list includes individuals who joined the FSU Alumni Association as Life Members between July 1 and December 31, 2021.
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Cement Your Place in FSU HI
S TOR Y
Buy a Commemorative BRICK at WESTCOTT PLAZA Visit gonol.es/BRICKVF21 to get started! 54 | alumni.fsu.edu
#SeminolesForever
#SEMINOLESFOREVER “Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1921 to the Ringling Brother’s tentmaker William Hobson and his wife Anna Hobson, Alice Hobson, or ‘Hobbie’ as her classmates called her, attended the Florida State College for Women (FSCW) at the age of 16 years old. She graduated in 1941 with a degree in mathematics, leading her to a career in aerodynamics, designing planes for World War II and eventually the head of the drafting department for the Army Corp of Engineers in Jacksonville, Florida. While she was “Hobbie” to her classmates, she has always been ‘Mema’ to our family, as she never wanted to be called ‘grandmother’ or ‘grandma.’ My Mema is one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met. More importantly, she’s one of the most selfless women. Born after World War I, just eight years before the Great Depression, her life hasn’t always been easy. She attended college during the second World War and gave up a job offer from NASA so her husband could pursue his career goal in Jacksonville, Florida. Despite these trials, she’s always been a kind, loving and devoted wife, mother and Mema.
When it was my own time to figure out where I wanted to obtain my collegiate education, FSU was only slightly on my radar. So when I decided to transfer to FSU starting my junior year of college, I wasn’t quite sure how it would go. Upon stepping onto campus, everything changed. I recognized buildings from Mema’s old postcards and photographs. This past summer, I graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Editing, Writing and Media and a minor in General Business, almost precisely 80 years after my grandmother. Mema just celebrated her 100th birthday and is one of the last living graduates of the Florida State College for Women. I can’t begin to fully explain how deeply personal Florida State University has become to me. To share an entire university filled with traditions and like memories with your grandmother is a type of special in a category of its own. To walk the same path to class, the same strides past the William Johnston Building, the same steps across the stage at graduation… there is no one’s legacy I’d rather continue.” - Kiara Hansen (B.A. ’21)
Left, Kiara Hansen ( B.A. ’21) poses with a few of her Alpha Omicron Pi sorority sisters. Right, a class photo from Alice Hobson during her time at the Florida State College for Women. Below, Hansen and her "Mema" Alice pose outside the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
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We asked you answered What is your favorite place on campus and why? “Chiefs Field - for everything the Marching Chiefs meant to me and continues to mean to me. Second place: at the end of any Chiefs performance when we sang the Hymn. It has never been the same since I graduated. MCATDT ” Jenifer Neale (B.A. ’84), Tampa, Florida “The walkway between the SLC and the Union. It's so pretty and easy to stroll. You always see people around. It's quiet but in the heart of campus. Love it.” Elizabeth Kelley (B.A. ’06), Tallahassee, Florida “Doak Campbell Stadium, lots of memories there when I was there and for over 40
years my wife, son and I went to football games.” Tracy Jackson (B.A. ’72), Jacksonville, Florida “College of Fine Arts is my favorite place because that was where I made my first friends after transferring to Florida State. That is where I found my people.” Holly Blanks (B.S. ’98), Battle Creek, Michigan “Ruby Diamond Auditorium because of all of the amazing opera and concert performances we produced there.” Heide Janshon (M.A. ’93) New Port Richey, Florida “The front steps of the old B school in springtime.” William Ellrich (B.S. ’73), Palm Beach, Florida
“The original Journalism Building (behind the cafeteria) where, in the late 50s, a small group of Radio-TV Journalism majors put together a daily 6:00 p.m. news program for broadcast on WFSU-FM. Afterwards, we rushed to the cafeteria next door, which closed at 7:15 p.m., for our dinners and to review our work. We were a tight, joyous, thriving "family." I remember many of the names: Hal LeVay, Charlie Allen, Gordon Pschirrer, Roger Burnham.” Patti (Wisener) Howard, (B.A. ’58) Los Osos, California “Basement of the Love Building. I had an office there. It had been a library before it was given to me to use. It was lined with floor to ceiling built in bookcases. Truly a wonderful space for me. The only thing I could have wished for was a window.” Earl Billingsley (B.S. ’76), Greensboro, North Carolina “Every place on campus holds a special place in my heart, but I love Legacy Walk because you can grab a bench and people watch, and it can be very peaceful between classes.” Sara O'Connor (B.S. ’13), DeLand, Florida “My favorite spot on campus is definitely the Leach
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Center because I have many memories of going there at night after studying and seeing some of my classmates. Plus, there is nothing better than hitting a workout followed by the sauna after a long day of studying.” Krystal Reyes (B.S. ’15), Orlando, Florida “The Circus Tent at the Haskin Circus Complex. I was a member of the Flying High Circus during my 5 years at FSU. I met some of my very best friends, including my husband, while in the circus. He proposed under the Big Top when we were in Tallahassee for an Alumni reunion!” Nicole Fearnbach Viverito (B.S. ’12), Baton Rouge, Louisiana “There's no place like Doak Campbell on a Saturday night home game. I grew up going to FSU games with my family. I remember being a little girl traveling with my late grandmother, parents and brother to watch the Noles play at home. As an adult, I never missed a home game. It was electrifying being in that stadium. The lights are incredible, the speakers booming, the hype of the crowd. I miss the Warchant all the time and seeing Osceola
Class Quotes and Renegade out on that field. I have many fond memories of being in that stadium, win or lose; I bleed garnet and gold.” Kenzie Fitzpatrick (B.S. ’13, M.S. ’14), Knoxville, Tennessee “The Student Union was my favorite place on campus because that's where students were able to relax and interact with one another and meet new people all aside from the hustle and bustle in the classrooms.” Brenda Cliette Thomas (B.S. ’88), Macon, Georgia "Doak Campbell Stadium. It's where 82,300 come together for home Saturday football games in the fall. It's where creativity and enthusiasm intersect, and it's where I created myself as Papa Smurf for a Halloween game
and my ESPN sign, Even Smurf Promotes Noles #1’ Joseph Riopel (B.S. ’10), West Palm Beach, Florida “The alumni building where I worked on the FSU Flambeau, moving up to editor by my senior year. I spent most of my time in my office when I wasn't in class or making short weekend trips for the University. My second favorite place on campus was Broward Hall where I spent my freshman year and returned as dorm president in my junior year. Of all the dorms I lived in, it was the coziest and seemed like home to a kid from Anna Maria Island whose parents had been transferred to the Caribbean and still lived there.” Deanna Morris Dorvillier (B.A. ’61), San Diego, California
TALK TO US What was your favorite place in Tallahassee while you were at FSU? Want to be featured in the next issue of VIRES? Email your answer to this question to vires@alumni.fsu.edu
ECHOES features interviews with inspiring alumni, faculty and staff
and is dedicated to connecting Noles to the FSU campus and showcasing opportunities for their continued involvement.
LISTEN NOW: gonol.es/echoespodcast
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Campus Spotlight
Dr. Jessica Pryce (M.S.W ’09) Executive Director, Florida Institute for Child Welfare By Alexa Roddenberry (B.A. ’20) Vires had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Jessica Pryce (M.S.W' 09), Director of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, to talk about her work, her legacy, and all things Florida State.
A
s a child protective investigator for the Department for Children and Families, Pryce saw the harsh realities of the child welfare system and the toll the career path can take on one's mental health. "Having that frontline experience has been vital to my work at FSU," said Pryce. In her current role as Director of the Florida Institute of Child Welfare (FICW), she primarily focuses her research on the training and education of the workforce, racial disparity in child welfare decisions, and disproportionality in the United States foster care system. The FICW, housed with the FSU College of Social Work, is overarchingly dedicated to "promoting safety, permanency and well-being" for all children and families of Floridians in the child welfare system. Pryce notes that several factors make the Institute a unique resource for the field of social work. Typically, research-based organizations have difficulty getting legislators to look at research conducted to influence policy making. The FICW was intentionally created as a pipeline to legislation, connecting the research community to the policy sphere. "I think some people assume we research and research, and it sits on a shelf – but at our Institute, our research informs policy statewide. We are fortunate to use research in a translational way, said Pryce. "It's a very unique and amazing opportunity to work closely with policymakers who see value in our continued partnership." It's evident that legislators are listening loud and clear; in 2021, FICW was awarded a recurring $10 million appropriation from the Florida State legislature to help build programs that center around improving the Child Welfare workforce. Through research, Pryce and her team discovered that due to caseworker's lack of work-life balance, many leave the profession altogether, directly affecting the children they serve. "We want child welfare workers to feel supported in their work and to have an outlet," says Pryce, "they then can truly engage families and make decisions, particularly with marginalized families that are dealing with poverty …. We want caseworkers to be at the top of their game so they can have sharpened skill sets focused on safety, permanency, wellbeing and justice." At the university level, Pryce and her team are actively working to adequately prepare students for the often challenging road of casework. "We have this statement that says, 'From classroom to casework to competent leaders.' We are getting in front of students
Stay Informed: 58 | alumni.fsu.edu
LEARN MORE: ficw.fsu.edu
and talking about this complex job. We're telling them, "this community of support is going to be here when you graduate." she says. "We also are exploring virtual reality. We want students to put on virtual reality experience glasses, walk into a home with families dealing with a crisis, and get some sort of firsthand knowledge of the work. They can start to ask questions now while they're in the classroom before they're actually in a real home." As a 'Nole, Pryce has thought a lot about the legacy she wants to leave in her time at FSU. "I want to leave a legacy of social and racial justice after I'm no longer at FSU," Pryce said. “When people hear my name – I want it to be associated with child welfare and racial equity." Additionally, she loves her team and wants her leadership style to remain with them and the organization. "I hope they felt that they had a courageous leader who is an inspiration to other Black women who want to make a difference in child welfare. I want to be remembered as someone that not only cared about her team but cared about cultivating their lens to be focused on equity and justice." Equity, justice and representation are a large part of Pryce's life's work, often helping and mentoring other young black women. Pryce hopes her colleagues and students recognize that "a black woman was in this seat for the first time" and see that as an exceptional "representation of what can come after."
WATCH: gonol.es/DrPryce
@FSUChildWelfare
I N M U L A L E V A R T BACK ! IS
2022 TRIPS: DOMESTIC TRAVEL:
Death Valley, Yosemite and the Great Parks of California | May 21 - May 28 Discover Southeast Alaska | July 1 - July 8 Civil Rights: A Journey to Freedom | November 5 - November 9
YOUNG ALUMNI TRAVEL:
Greek Island Hopper | June 11 - 19 Iceland Backroads | July 1 - 6 Ciao Italy | September 3 - 11 New Year’s Eve in Berlin | December 28, 2022 - January 2, 2023
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
Canadian Rockies by Train | May 26 - June 3 Spain’s Classics | June 3 - June 14 Enchanted: A Fairytale Journey | July 29 - August 6 Discover Scotland featuring the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo | August 15 - August 24 South Pacific Wonders | September 21 - October 5 Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights | November 1 - November 7
Join us: gonol.es/Travel
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‘Noles n Tech By Brian Hudgins | Illustrations by Sierra Thomas
FSU alumni are leading the charge in the technology field. We caught up with a few alumni making their mark in an ever-evolving industry.
DONNY BARSTOW (B.S. ’01)
President and CEO, MCCi and JustFOIA Tallahassee, Florida
JODY LYNN JACKSON (B.S. ’13)
Social Media Manager, Audible, Inc. New York, New York Jody Jackson’s affection for varying art mediums is a direct reflection of her FSU experience. “My economics courses taught me how to think. I liked the way they challenged my mind,” Jackson said. “I tried to engage in a lot of things — I participated in intramurals, I worked as a nanny and as a receptionist at a law firm.” Jackson befriended students who were studying dance and theater. All of those shared ideas from various sources became an integral part of her FSU experience. “After graduating and moving to Denver, a company asked me to take photos for their social media feeds. But I had New York City on my mind. I thought, ‘Let me see if I can be a photographer there.’” Doing photography and social media management in NYC led to Jackson’s 60 | alumni.fsu.edu
work as a social media manager and video producer for Audible, an online audiobook and podcast provider. “I am in creative development,” Jackson said. “We create video content to promote titles available on Audible, and I create material for our YouTube program. It’s a fun, creative challenge as I get to work with both experts and talent.” Her career path is made up of unique experiences that Jackson enjoys sharing with her FSU peers. “I have a friend from FSU who is now in Los Angeles working on films and one is at Georgetown University working on a Masters,” Jackson said. “FSU exposed me to a lot of different people. My appetite for what was possible expanded.”
Donny Barstow started building MCCi after earning his degree from FSU in management information systems/finance. “It was the MIS degree that gave me the knowledge I needed to be an entrepreneur,” Barstow said. As government agencies and private businesses have moved from keeping paper records to digital formats during the last two decades of IT management, Donny Barstow, the president, and CEO of MCCi, has matched those moves. Barstow started MCCi with five customers in 2001. That number has grown to 1,300 in 20 years. Inc. Magazine has recognized that growth, MCCi moved up roughly 400 spots in 2021 on its annual 5,000 list to 3,660. The company also moved up on the Inc. regional Florida list from 213 in 2020 to 180. “We primarily deal with state and local government accounts and some larger commercial accounts,” Barstow said. His achievements have not gone unnoticed by his alma mater. MCCi has been awarded a place on the Seminole 100 list for the last three years. The award recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU’s campus each year. “As a Tallahassee based technology company, we strive to retain FSU talent,” said Barstow. “For our team, being part of the Seminole 100 is a reminder of what we can accomplish together, and for that, we are incredibly thankful.
Noles in Tech
GABRIELLE CREVECOEUR (B.S. ’15)
Program Manager, Microsoft Staten Island, New York Gabrielle Crevecoeur’s social media presence lightheartedly announces there is no way she codes. Crevecoeur, who employs the social media handle @nowayshecodes, is a program manager at Microsoft. The FSU computer science graduate’s path to program management includes working as a software engineer, where she focused on coding and development on the software side. “I am in charge of creating new features for different products at Microsoft,” Crevecoeur said. “It is a lot of customer research and working on how to make current products better.” That includes a lot of collaboration, communication with engineers and calling
MADELINE DUPLESSIS (B.S. ’16)
Cloud Technology and Innovation Leader, Google Chicago, Illinois
upon skills that Crevecoeur, a Staten Island, New York native, solidified at FSU. “I had moved to Florida in high school and I knew I was good at math,” she said. That general interest led Crevecoeur to consider all her options at FSU – majors in biology and exercise science gave way to computer science — which provided her the tools needed to navigate those initial software engineer responsibilities. “Everything we learned about the rules of programming and algorithms helped me when I was a software engineer,” she said. “I did a lot of math going into programming and learning how to code.” Some uplifting words from faculty member Bob Myers in the Department of
Computer Science provided Crevecoeur with pivotal support. “I had to take his class twice. He remembered me and told me how I was doing much better,” Crevecoeur said. “That encouragement helped me keep going.” Crevecoeur is grateful to have found a community with the multitudes of alumni in New York City. “Everybody I hang out with went to FSU!”
Madeline DuPlessis’ partnership with major healthcare companies has provided her both a career and the chance to remain close to family in the Windy City. DuPlessis, based in Chicago, serves as a Cloud Technology and Innovation Leader at Google. “I help healthcare insurance payers and healthcare providers adopt cloud-based technology to drive their businesses,” DuPlessis said. DuPlessis lived in Ocala, Florida, and visited family in Chicago during the summers before she flew the nest to Tallahassee. “My education and major in the professional sales program really gave me a leg up compared to other people who did not have that curriculum,” DuPlessis said. “Pat Pallentino, Director of Sales and Marketing Education Foundation at FSU, totally changed my career trajectory. He helped
me understand what makes a good salesperson.” That base knowledge led to an internship at tech giant IBM and, inevitably, to Google. “Previously, I was an AI & Cloud Specialist at IBM. Then to Oracle in a similar role and was aligned to healthcare customers.” DuPlessis said. In her current role at Google, she focuses on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable data-driven innovation in the healthcare industry. Living in Chicago has given DuPlessis the best of both worlds — her home base and communication with peers in many other areas. “I am based in a big city and I get to travel to meet with customers,” DuPlessis said. “When I am home, I love Chicago sports! When the Cubs won the World Series, the energy reminded me so much of the Seminoles winning the 2013 National Championship.” SPRING 2022 |
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Class Notes
Joseph Zeballos-Roig (B.S. ’17) catches a sound byte from Congressmember Pramila Jayapal outside the U.S. Capitol Building while reporting on Congress for Business Insider. Photo by Frank Thorp V/NBC News
Joseph Zeballos-Roig (B.S. ’17) Senior Economics Reporter at Business Insider By Brian Hudgins
J
oseph Zeballos-Roig, a Washington D.C.-based policy reporter for Business Insider, found the Tallahassee news atmosphere provided many foundational lessons in his chosen career. “We had interesting [congressional] House races in Leon County … there were always a lot of things going on at the state capitol,” Zeballos-Roig said. “During my time at FSU, there was a big push to give undocumented students in-state tuition rates. I was able to speak with people on both sides of that issue.” Those experiences gave Zeballos-Roig firm footing when he focused on economics and health care in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages. “My job had transitioned to the economy and covering the response to the pandemic,” Zeballos-Roig said. “I did a lot of back and forth between New York and Washington D.C.” 62 | alumni.fsu.edu
A subsequent move to Washington D.C. enabled Zeballos-Roig to zero in on the federal machinery of domestic policy. Stimulus packages, infrastructure spending and other items on the D.C. docket dominate his work schedule with a continued focus on economics and health care. “It has been extraordinary,” ZeballosRoig said. “The economy shut down and we had to hunker down inside,” he said. “It was harder to connect with people and I had to learn to be creative in New York.” Zeballos-Roig has many fond memories from his time at Florida State University, but two experiences stick out as pivotal points in his career path. “Writing for the FSView allowed me to build a solid collection of clips during my junior year,” Zeballos-Roig said. “That allowed me to get on the radar and helped me break into journalism in New York City, the biggest news hub in the
country.” Post-graduation it was those clips that got him into the door at The New York Times Student Journalism Institute, which helped launch his career in a field often hard to break into. “Race and Rhetoric in America,” taught by Dr. Davis Houck, Professor of Rhetorical Studies, gave Zeballos-Roig the chance to explore rhetoric that shaped the Civil Rights movement. “Dr. Houck had an interesting way of explaining history,” Zeballos-Roig said. “We were able to travel to Mississippi to do primary-source research on the death of Emmett Till. Speaking with people who are part of that living history; that is an opportunity only FSU could have given me.” Follow:
@josephzeballos
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HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF FSU ALUMNI SUCCEED IN THEIR CAREERS There are a number of ways you can help ensure the career success of current FSU students!
Attend a Career Fair
Post Career Opportunities
NoleNetwork Recruit FSU students for your organization by attending a virtual or in-person career fair
Advertise jobs and internships for your organization using NoleNetwork
Become a ProfessioNole Mentor
Serve as a Job Shadow Host
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Class Notes
Class Notes
Founder of Bendt Distillery Natasha DeHart (B.S. '03) sits upon a whiskey barrel in her distillery located in Lewisville, Texas. Photo by Blackall Photography
Natasha DeHart (B.S. ’03) Founder of BENDT Distilling Co. By Brian Hudgins
F
or Natasha DeHart, a Charleston, Illinois, native, her introduction to FSU contained a chance meeting with a fellow Illinoisian. “During our visit to FSU, we happened to meet a student from Chicago,” DeHart said. “We’d gotten turned around, and he dropped everything to walk us across campus, telling us all the things he loved about FSU. That was all the sign I needed and I never looked back.” While DeHart celebrated both the learning environment and warmer temperatures at FSU, her bachelor’s degree in psychology gave her a good variety of problem-solving skills to help with current challenges. One tool DeHart took to heart is the value of embracing those challenges 24 hours at a time. “Today does not define you,” DeHart said. “Tomorrow, you have a fresh start.” Little did she know she’d need to hold onto the sentiment as she faced the unique challenges that were to come. When DeHart and her husband relocated from Munich, Germany, to Dallas, Texas, in 2007, they longed for the Biergarten culture they’d left behind in Europe. Unable to find the same quality of beer they’d become accustomed to, they started making their own. “We built out a wall of taps in our home in Dallas and converted a walk-in closet to a kegerator,” DeHart said. Their passion for creating craft beverages evolved from beer to wine and ultimately distilled spirits. They founded their craft distillery in 2012. Over the next several years, in small Lewisville, Texas, the distillery created several unique craft whiskies. In 2018, they took their art to the next level and began crafting a true American blend utilizing a combination of the grain-to-glass whiskeys they’d been perfecting
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over the years. In 2019, they released Bendt No. 5, an American Blended Whiskey which combines bourbon, rye, malt, wheat and light whiskeys to create a smooth, balanced blend with a wellrounded flavor profile. The blend received a gold medal award in the American Distilling Institute’s 2020 Judging of Craft Spirits. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented a new challenge. “We could no longer get hand sanitizer for our team, so we started making a homemade version,” DeHart said. Customers noticed and started asking if they could have some Bendt-created sanitizers. Then more requests came. On March 12, 2020, Bendt closed their doors and focused on making sanitizer. “People were crowding into a small space in our garden. The phone was ringing off the hook,” said DeHart. “In one day alone, we got more than 250 calls.” Through the pandemic’s peak, Bendt Distilling Co. distributed more than 60,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to individuals, municipalities, first responder units, hospitals and assisted living facilities amidst the pandemic. DeHart is now back to the work she loves — whiskey. The company reopened roughly a year ago after a repurposing and closure for what turned out to be several months. Day to day, DeHart manages sales, marketing, blending, research and development. Her husband handles the production side of the distillery. It’s no secret that DeHart is one of a few female founders in the whiskey industry. In the company’s early days, potential clients were often shocked to see her — then visibly pregnant — walk into sales meetings pitching the brand. As she expands the brand’s reach, DeHart wants demand to dictate Bendt’s growth. She hopes that her presence in the maledominated whiskey business will inspire other women to join the industry and that it will — one day — no longer be a shock for women to make whiskey. Follow:
@bendtdistillingco
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Class Notes
Emily Tuttle (M.A. ’17) Art History alumna and current Ph.D. candidate, recently joined the Limestone University faculty as a fulltime art history instructor, as well as director of the new Limestone University art gallery.
In October 2021, the Blackstone Group acquired a majority stake of Spanx, Inc., founded by alumna Sara Blakely (B.S. ’93). At that time, the company’s valuation was $1.3 billion by Forbes Magazine. To celebrate, Blakely gave each of her 750 employees $10,000 in cash and let them purchase two firstclass plane tickets to any destination they desired to travel to. Blakely was also a speaker at the 2021 Forbes Power Women's Summit.
Lauren Trujillo (B.S. ’06, M.F.A. ’14) interior design alumna, published a book titled “Homelessness and the Built Environment: Designing for Unhoused Persons” alongside Jill Pable and Yelena McLane. The book highlights the positive effects intentional design can have on human perceptions and actions, specifically in the sector of facilities that help unhoused persons.
Brian Holcombe (M.F.A. ’20) was recently named the curator of the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech University. Brian previously founded, directed and curated Saltworks, a contemporary art gallery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cara Peterson (B.A. ’07, M.A. ’10) was recently promoted to assistant director of development for the Court Theater at the University of Chicago.
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Kathleen McCampbell Hirsch (M.A. ’10) art history alumna, was recently appointed director of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston. Before this, Kathleen taught English for the Walt Disney Company and worked in programming for a commercial gallery called island6 while in Shanghai, China.
Alec Ruiz (B.A. ’18) was
cast in the first Broadway national tour of Tootsie, performing in the ensemble and understudying Jared David Michael Grant as the role of Jeff Slater.
Aaron De Groft (Ph.D. ’00) was appointed as the director and CEO of the Orlando Museum of Art.
Gena Heylock (B.F.A. ’21) performed in Fame, Evita, and Sweet Charity at the Woodstock Playhouse in New York.
Kate Vander Leest (B.F.A. ’21) performed in the Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University in their production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Lilliana Solum (B.F.A. ’20) performed in the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts production of “Guys and Dolls” alongside fellow FSU alumni Ramone Nelson (B.F.A '21) and Hannah Schreer (B.F.A '21).
Montego Glover (B.F.A. ’96) provided audio
narration for a new children’s book by the Rebel Girls, titled “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic.”
Dori Waymer (B.F.A. ’18) performed in “Shining On”, “A Grand Night for Singing”, “Anything Goes” and “The World Goes Round” at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. Brittany M. Watkins (M.F.A. ’16) studio art alumna, is exhibiting new works at Laundromat Art Space in Miami, Florida, alongside fellow alumni Elise Thompson and Lucia Riffel. Aaron C. Thomas (M.A. ’08, Ph.D. ’12) published an article titled “Infelicities,” in the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism by the University of Kansas. This article discusses the confusion regarding the usage of the word “performative” in theater and performance studies.
Ya Levy La’Ford (B.S. ’02) was a featured artist in The Ringling Museum’s Skyway 20/21 exhibit, which celebrates artistic practices in the Tampa Bay region. La’Ford had a room size installation, titled “American/ Rōōts.”
Melissa GonzalesLopez (B.F.A. ’21) was invited to participate in the international exhibition “gARTen” in Gdynia, Poland. Gonzales-Lopez contributed a piece titled “Desde Mi Casa,” which represents her experience throughout the pandemic.
Emily Duda Buckley (B.S. ’13) recently accepted a position as a government affairs manager for Dean Mead’s Government Relations Professionals team.
Class Notes
Cheryl Powers (B.S. ’89) was recently named Rotarian of the Year by the Key Largo Rotary Club. Powers received this award for her hard work and for embodying the Rotary Mantra, “Service Above Self.” Powers serves as the director of marketing and sales for Sea Tow in Key Largo, and she has won two Sea Tow awards: Georgia Frohnhoefer title and Franchise of the Year.
Dr. Chrys Egan (Ph.D. ’98) earned the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) Women and Leadership Outstanding Practice with Local Impact Award for her years of mentoring work with the Youth Innovation Academy, Peer to Peer Women’s Circle, Mosaic Mentoring, and Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. Egan is the associate dean of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts and a professor of communication at Salisbury University in Maryland.
Reynaldo Velazquez (B.A. ’90, J.D. ’95) has joined nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. in Miami as a principal. Velazquez joins the firm from FordHarrison LLP and has more than 20 years of experience in all areas of labor and employment litigation. Velazquez is a
seasoned litigator who works with various industries including fire departments, hospice care facilities, and many other private and public sector entities.
Denise Harle (B.S, B.A. ’02) has been named director of the Center for Life at Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, Harle leads her team’s litigation and advocacy efforts to defend pro-life legislation around the nation. Howard Ginsburg (B.S. ’93), North Carolina Department of Public Instruction wins the NC Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) Distinguished Service in Science Education in North Carolina Administrator Award for 2021. This honor serves as recognition of Howard Ginsburg’s professional excellence and contributions to science education in North Carolina.
Holly L. Weaver (B.A. ’02) joins Carlton Fields’ Mass Tort and Product Liability Practice as an associate. The practice defends Fortune 100 manufacturers in highstakes litigation in state and federal courts nationwide.
Matthew L. Garrett (B.M.E. '93, Ph.D. '09) and co-author Joshua Palkki published "Honoring Trans and Gender-Expansive Students in Music Education" with Oxford University Press. The book encourages music educators to honor gender diversity through caring, research-based practices across choral, instrumental and general music classroom environments by highlighting the narratives and stories of trans and gender-expansive musicians.
Adner Marcelin (B.S. ’09) has joined Self Help Credit Union as an executive in Tallahassee, Florida. Self-Help is one of the largest credit unions committed to community development in the country. Self-Help’s newest branch in Tallahassee will open in early 2022.
David Stokes (B.A. ’98, M.A.’00) was named director of Individual
Sarasota County District Teacher of the Year Jennifer Jaso, center, poses for a photo with Jennifer Vigne, left, President and CEO of The Education Foundation of Sarasota County, and Brennan Asplen, right, Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.
Jennifer Jaso (B.S. ’03), a social studies and critical thinking teacher at Sarasota Middle School, was named the Sarasota County School District's 2022 Teacher of the Year. Giving for CURE Childhood Cancer, an Atlanta-based non-profit that advances pediatric cancer research and provides patient and family support. Stokes will be responsible for growing the major gift and annual fund programs which will enable CURE to continue its fundraising aspirations in service of its mission.
Mikhail Sinanan (B.S. ’10), was named vice president of engineering at Ergatta, a fitness startup that “believes in the power of technology, design, and human ingenuity to improve people's lives through daily fitness.” Sinanan was formerly the director of software engineering at Capital One and lead software engineer at National Public Radio.
Veteran Tallahassee attorney and lobbyist Sean Pittman (B.S. ’90, J.D. ’94) was unanimously selected as general counsel for the National Bar Association. Pittman is the founder and managing partner of the Pittman Law Group.
April Novotny (B.S. ’98), RN, MSN, CEN, CENP, chief nurse executive and vice president of clinical services at Lakeland Regional Health, was recognized by Modern
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Class Notes
Healthcare as one of 2021’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. The recognition program acknowledges clinicians working in the healthcare industry who are deemed by their peers and an expert panel to be the most influential in terms of demonstrating leadership and impact.
G.C. Murray II (J.D. ’11) was selected as the 2021 Lynn B. Futch Most Productive Young Lawyer by The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. The Lynn Futch Most Productive Young Lawyer Award recognizes young lawyers who have worked diligently in Bar and law related activities, as well as maintained an excellent reputation for legal abilities and integrity.
Laura Janelle Downey (B.S. ’99) was selected as one of six 2021 Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program
Fellows for the Society of Professional Journalists. Downey is currently the executive editor of WebMD Magazine. Under her leadership, the publication won an Eddie Award in the category of Essays and Criticism for its Black Lives Matter issue. She also serves as WebMD’s lifestyle features consumer team lead on the digital side. Attorney Ben Crump (B.S. ’92, J.D. ’95) was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people of 2021. Described by the Rev. Al Sharpton as “Black America’s attorney general,” Crump has worked with the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor and Daunte Wright, among others who have lost loved ones. In 2021, he represented the family of George Floyd, whose death while in police custody in 2020 led to demonstrations around the globe.
Anne Ferrell Hager Tata (B.S. ’83), a Christian media professional with EMF Broadcasting, was recently elected as a Virginia State Delegate. She now represents Virginia Beach in the Virginia General Assembly, which is the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere.
Have a milestone you want to share? Submit a class note: alumni.fsu.edu/class-notes 68 | alumni.fsu.edu
In Memoriam Ruth R. Hill (B.S. ’45) (maiden name Susannah Ruth Rabb) passed away peacefully in her home in Blanton, Florida, in September of 2021. She graduated from the Florida State College of Women (now Florida State University) class of 1945 during the tenure of President Doak S. Campbell. Widely considered “The Father of Modern American Opera”, Carlisle Floyd, passed away in September of 2021 at his home in Tallahassee. The South Carolina-born Floyd created several of the most enduring works in the American opera repertory and was best known for his world-famous two-act opera “Susannah”. During his over thirty-year tenure at FSU, Floyd gave what he believed was the first accredited course taught anywhere on the problems of coordinating music and text in opera to a class consisting of composers and librettists. Charles Douglas “Doug” Messer, (B.S. ’65) of Austin, Texas, passed in July of 2021 at Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Messer played college football for FSU and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Early on in his career he gave his talents to FSU as an Athletic Director before acquiring his master’s degree at Appalachian State University and coaching football at Merritt Island High School in Florida and Decatur High School in Georgia. Dr. L. Janet (Jan) Wells (B.S. ’42), Professor Emerita, died in March of 2021, one month short of her 100th birthday. While at the Florida State College for Women, Wells was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Delta Phi honor societies, Mortar Board and “Even” honorary Esteren, Women’s “F” Club and Chi Omega social fraternity. Wells taught, administered and influenced students’ lives at FSU for over thirty years. Prior to and after her retirement from FSU as head of the Department of Physical Education, Wells continually supported and mentored female athletes, coaches and scholars. Wells nurtured students up to and through the doctoral level, hosted students and student groups at her home, mentored students as the advisor of the Chi Omega sorority, served as university homecoming general chairperson and oversaw FSU graduation ceremonies. Wells expected all her students to aspire to and achieve the FSCW motto, “Femina Perfecta”, the complete woman. The “Femina Perfecta” FSU endowed athletic scholarship stands today as a tribute to Wells was funded by her former students.
Former Florida State University basketball player and longtime fan Larry O. Strom (B.S. ’58) passed away in October of 2021, surrounded by his loving family. After graduating high school, Strom received a scholarship to play basketball at Jacksonville Jr. College from 195456 and went on to receive a full scholarship for basketball at Florida State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business. Wholly dedicated to Florida State University and its athletics department, Strom was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Gina Weller Webb (B.S. ’60, M.S. ’69), passed away in October of 2021 at Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola. After receiving both her bachelor's and master’s degree from Florida State University, Webb spent more than 30 years as an educator and speech language pathologist. Webb was especially proud of being a Florida State Seminole and took pride in wearing her aunt’s 1928 Florida State College for Women class ring. Her legacy at Florida State University continues in her grandsons who are 5th generation Seminoles and are currently enrolled at the university; Jack Thomson is studying Risk Management at the Tallahassee campus and James Thompson studies Civil Engineering at the Panama City Campus. Dr. Jay D. Rayburn (Ph.D. ’77), passed away in July of 2021 surrounded by his wife and children. After serving in the United States Army, Rayburn completed his Master’s degree at Murray State, followed by his Ph.D. at Florida State University. Rayburn joined the FSU faculty in 1985 and remained there for 35 years, retiring in December 2020. In his honor the Florida State School of Communication at the College of Communication & Information created the Dr. Jay D. Rayburn Endowed Professorship. Roberta “Bobbie” Rusk Clark passed away on September 4, 2021. She earned her degree in education in 1966 and was a Marching Chief during her tenure at FSU. She was active with the Tampa Bay Seminole Club for several years and frequently returned to Tallahassee to participate in various FSU activities. The family has established a fund at FSU in her honor to support clarinetists in the Marching Chiefs. Donations to that fund can be made at give.fsu.edu/bobbieclark
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Parting Shot This spring, FSU celebrated its 171st birthday with a party on Landis Green. The FSU Alumni Association co-sponsored the event with the Division of Undergraduate Studies. On Landis, students were seen with confetti canons, garlands and party hats. They also received free cupcakes, t-shirts and stickers as parting gifts. Additionally, special appearances were made by President Richard McCullough and the First Lady Dr. Jai Vartikar, the FSU Marching Chiefs and FSU Spirit Squads. Pictured, Student Alumni Association Student Teddy Fronczak lays on the green surrounded by festive confetti. Photo by Sarah Gray/ FSUAA
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