UT TYLER Fall/Winter Magazine 2015

Features Section:

ENGINEERING SUCCESS

UT Tyler Extends 4-Year Programs to Southeast Texas in Innovative Partnership Also in this issue: A Personal Touch: UT Tyler Professor Explores Use of Robotic Pet in Treating Dementia

The Great Debaters: Sam Cook, Steven Hullum Rank Second Nationally in Parliamentary Debate

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 FF A AL LL/ WL I N T2E R0 21 0 31 5

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF TEX AS AT T YLER MAGAZINE THE UNIVERSIT Y OF TEX AS AT T YLER MAGAZINE

Contributors The University of Texas at Tyler Magazine Volume Twelve, Issue Two Dr. Rodney H. Mabry, UT Tyler President UT Tyler Magazine Editor Emily Battle Photography: Andy Burnfield Alex Maldonado Clarence Shackelford Jeff Williford Contributing Writers: Emily Battle, Magazine Editor Hannah Buchanan, Public Affairs Specialist Ashley Festa Jennifer Hannigan, Special Assistant to the President for Communications Shelly Roark Staci Semrad

The University of Texas at Tyler Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications at UT Tyler.

UT Tyler is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The University of Texas at Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications 3900 University Blvd.

Tyler, TX 75799 ph. 903.566.7170 www.uttyler.edu

T Y LE R

FALL/WINTER 2015 In Every Issue 03

President’s Letter

04

Around Campus

20

Focus On: Benefactors

24

Focus On: Athletics

30

Focus On: Alumni

34

Class Notes

Features Section: 08

The Great Debaters Sam Cook, Steven Hullum Rank Second Nationally in Parliamentary Debate

Engineering Success UT Tyler Extends 4-Year Programs to Southeast Texas in Innovative Partnership

A Personal Touch UT Tyler Professor Explores Use of Robotic Pet in Treating Dementia

12

16

on cover: UT Tyler extends its engineering programs to Southeast Texas through establishment of Houston Engineering Center on the Houston Community College Northwest - Alief campus.

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“We are a thriving university, one of the fastest-growing in the state. This fall, we are home to just under 9,000 students.” – Rodney H. Mabry, President

President’s Letter Over the past few months, we have begun asking ourselves what we want to accomplish over the next 10 years. We have had numerous discussions about who we are and where we are going as a university.

We are a thriving university, one of the fastest-growing in the state. This fall, we are home to just under 9,000 students. We have added buildings, programs, colleges and faculty as we have grown. In fact, one of our most successful new programs, the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center, is featured in this issue. The program, the first of its kind in the nation, has expanded rapidly in its first three years.

We have grown and changed, but the values that make us unique have not changed.

I have said for a long time that we are a place where excellence is our top priority and where we are dedicated to developing students who will go on to be successful, productive, community-minded leaders. That has been our goal since we first opened our doors more than four decades ago.

We believe in giving our students a quality education and offering them the opportunities they need to excel. One of the great examples of how that philosophy leads to success can be seen in our debate team, which as you will read is once again ranked one of the top teams in the nation.

We also believe in hiring and supporting quality faculty. Take for example one of this issue’s featured faculty members, Dr. Sandra Peterson, who is currently researching the benefits of robotic therapy in those with dementia. Her work, funded by the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, is exploring the benefits of using robots to help doctors fight anxiety and depression in Alzheimer’s patients.

We believe in being a positive force in this community and region, which can be demonstrated not just through the thousands of hours our faculty, staff and students volunteer each year, but also through the influence our alumni have around the state and beyond. Alumni such as James T. Worthen, chief justice on the Texas 12th District Court of Appeals, who has built an outstanding reputation in East Texas, the state and beyond.

We have grown, but we still believe in the traits that make us truly special. Our dedication to excellence and quality has served us well throughout our history, and will continue to serve us well as we look toward our future.

Rodney H. Mabry President Dr. Ben R. Fisch Professor of Economics and Finance

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AROUND CAMPUS

Welcome, Pharmacy Class of 2019!

UT Tyler celebrated the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy’s first semester with a recent grand opening and dedication ceremony.

The inaugural cohort of 82 students began classes this fall in the new W. T. Brookshire Hall, custom designed for the college’s leading-edge Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program.

UT Tyler pharmacy students are among the first in the nation to benefit from a curriculum centered exclusively around

team-based learning, an interactive method emphasizing communication, critical thinking and teamwork. Graduates will be highly trained to serve retail pharmacies as well as clinical programs in hospitals and other institutions.

The first pharmacy education program in all of East Texas, Fisch College will help ease the gap between supply and demand for pharmacists in the region and state, and provide students access to a course of study previously not available locally or regionally, said Dr. Rodney Mabry, UT Tyler president.

“We realized years ago that a college of pharmacy made sense because of the strength of the Tyler medical industry; the university’s strength in nursing, chemistry and biology, among other science fields; and the great need for pharmacists in our region and across the nation,” Mabry said.

“I am so grateful to our visionary community leaders who helped make the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy

possible,’’ said Dr. Lane Brunner, the college’s founding dean. “They recognize that pharmacists are such important members of our community who care for us all, from our youngest children to our eldest seniors.’’

Fisch College is the result of overwhelming support from medical, business, political, philanthropic and university leaders throughout the region, including the Fisch Foundation and Brookshire Grocery Co. “The Fisch Foundation came forward with one of the largest single gift commitments in UT Tyler history, thus settling the name for the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy,’’ Mabry said. “Brookshire Grocery Company also committed to become a major philanthropic partner, naming the building for the company’s founder, W. T. Brookshire.’’

For more information about UT Tyler’s Fisch College of Pharmacy, visit uttyler.edu/ pharmacy or call 903.565.5777. n

FISCH COLLEGE IS THE RESULT OF OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM MEDICAL, BUSINESS, POLITICAL, PHILANTHROPIC AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCLUDING THE FISCH FOUNDATION AND BROOKSHIRE GROCERY CO.

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AROUND CAMPUS

School Starts in the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy

8,862 Patriots Largest Fall Enrollment Increase in University History UT Tyler proudly announces a 9 percent enrollment increase for fall 2015.

Preliminary enrollment was 8,862, marking the largest fall semester enrollment increase in UT Tyler’s history. Last year, the total headcount was 8,114 on the 12th class day, which is the fall census date.

“I am excited to see that UT Tyler continues to grow at such a strong rate,’’ UT Tyler President Rodney Mabry said. “Over the past few years we have been one of the fastest-growing universities in Texas, and UT Tyler’s enrollment surge this semester is proof of our university’s ever-increasing economic impact on our state and region.”

The university’s enrollment continues to rise amidst enrollment stagnancy or decline at higher education institutions nationwide.

“We’re very excited to see this remarkable growth in our enrollment this fall, and we attribute that to the growth across all undergraduate- and graduate-level programming,” said Sarah Bowdin, assistant vice president for enrollment management.

UT Tyler also is growing in ways that

have a direct impact on the educational levels and well being of Texans, Mabry said.

“We are offering more programs than ever, working with students to help them select high-demand fields and assisting them in developing class schedules that fit their lives.

In addition, more East Texas students are

coming to us for graduate and professionallevel courses. In fact, one in four UT Tyler students is enrolled in graduate studies,” the president said.

“Our next enrollment goals are to have 14,000 students by 2025 and 25,000 by 2040.

We are well on our way,’’ he added. n

Mirmiran Named Provost, VP for Academic Affairs

Dr. Amir Mirmiran

Dr. Amir Mirmiran has joined the university as provost and vice president for academic affairs, and holds the UT Tyler Sam Lindsey Chair in civil engineering.

Mirmiran previously served as dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University in Miami.

“We welcome Dr. Mirmiran and his family to our university family,” UT Tyler President Rodney Mabry said. “Dr. Mirmiran has a wealth of academic experience from different institutions. His research in bridge engineering has led to two U.S. patents and more than 110 journal publications.”

An accomplished engineer and academic leader, Mirmiran also has overseen research

projects totaling more than $15 million funded by industry and entities including the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Transportation.

In his previous position, he oversaw 28 innovative degree programs in 12 specialty areas of engineering, science, technology, telecommunication and construction to 6,100 students.

Mirmiran holds a Master of Science and Ph.D. in civil engineering, both from the University of Maryland. He also has served at the University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and North Carolina State University. n

Graduates of the UT Tyler Longview University Center nursing program achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination this year.

“We are very proud of our students and of this major accomplishment,” Dr. Helene

Hakim, director of UT Tyler Longview nursing programs, said. “Graduates of nursing programs cannot practice as an RN until they pass the licensure exam. This is a crowning achievement for them and for our program.”

The achievement is one of the highlights

of a great year for the nursing program, LUC director Van Patterson said. “Our students, faculty and staff are involved in the community and their efforts help ensure that Longview continues to be a wonderful place to live. …

It is a good time to be at the LUC.” n

Tseng Awarded Grant from American Heart Association Dr. Benjamin Tseng was awarded a $140,000 research grant from the American Heart Association to potentially revise stroke prevention guidelines by investigating risks in certain older adult populations.

With the grant, Tseng is conducting a randomized controlled trial consisting of an exercise and a control group in adults aged 55-75 years with clinically diagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, or AFib. UT Tyler health and kinesiology graduate students Colby Craddock and Kasra Debeshlim, both of Tyler, are assisting with the study.

“The objective of this two-year clinical intervention study is to determine if moderate aerobic training reduces stroke risk by improving arterial stiffness, brain blood flow and decreasing cardiovascular burden in AFib patients,” said Tseng, an assistant professor who directs the UT Tyler Laboratory of Brain

Aging and Neuromotor Behavior.

“If effectiveness of our non-pharmacological approach is confirmed, we’ll apply this method on a large-scale clinical investigation and hopefully change the stroke prevention guidelines via AHA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.”

The assessment of these patients will involve heart rhythm monitoring, neuroimaging methods, ultrasound and a cutting-edge method called applanation atonometry, where the stiffness of blood vessels is measured without skin penetration.

“Atherosclerosis – or the stiffening of arteries – is highly associated with AFib,’’ Tseng said. “In contrast, aerobic training has been shown to reduce arterial stiffness and improves brain blood flow in adults.’’

He said AFib is the most common type of irregular heartbeat among older adults, and

Dr. Benjamin Tseng

the disease is the leading cause of fatal ischemic stroke, where blood clots obstruct blood flow in the brain.

The current standard of care passively relies on blood thinning medication. Current therapy also fails to incorporate proactive strategies to modify underlying risk factors that contribute to ischemic stroke, Tseng said. n

Leading the Office of University Advancement

Wendell Jeffreys Wendell Jeffreys is the university’s new vice president for university advancement.

Jeffreys comes to UT Tyler from Colorado State University, where he was executive director of development for the College of Business.

He follows Jerre Iversen, who retired this year.

“Mr. Jeffreys is an exceptional addition to our leadership team, bringing a rich variety of experience to UT Tyler,’’ President Rodney Mabry said. “He has proven skills in development, fundraising and personal business that made him the ideal candidate as our next VPUA.” Before serving Colorado State University, Jeffreys spent 16 years at Texas Tech University as the chief development officer for the College of Business and then the College of Arts and Sciences.

Prior to moving into higher education,

Jeffreys worked in the industries of banking and agribusiness. He also was a partner in a successful company involved in the development and sale of software to automate loan applications and credit screening for small business and consumer lending.

Jeffreys was a staff member to U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins of Oklahoma; legislative affairs vice president for Farm Credit Bank in Wichita, Kansas; and corporate manager for public affairs at American Cynamid in Wayne, New Jersey.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. n

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AROUND CAMPUS

100 Percent Pass Rate on National Licensure Exam

FEATURES

The Great Debaters Sam Cook, Steven Hullum Rank Second Nationally in Parliamentary Debate It’s not up for debate—The

University of Texas at Tyler has two of the best intellectual competitors in the nation.

Juniors Steven Hullum and Sam Cook took the UT Tyler debate team to new heights at the 2015 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence in March. Sophomores at the time, the duo placed second out of more than 250 collegiate teams in the nation, the university’s highest rank ever.

“They are wildly smart,” said assistant professor and debate coach Matthew Gayetsky, director of forensics. Gayetsky has coached the team for about a year, continuing UT Tyler’s longtime debate success. The squad as a whole ranked eighth in the country at the end of last season.

“Sam and Steven address anything their opponent throws at them,” Gayetsky said. They’re adaptable to any situation and very sophisticated at identifying significant weakness in their opponents’ arguments. They can exploit those weaknesses immediately.”

In fact, everything the team does must be immediate. In debate, time is of the essence. With only 20 minutes to prepare

their arguments after learning the debate topic, called a resolution, participants don’t even have time to write out full words and sentences in their notes. They aren’t allowed to bring any pre-printed or electronic notes to the tournament, so they use shorthand to jot down all the points they want to bring up.

The debate itself is only 40 minutes, and each speaker must deliver his speech as fast as possible to include all the team’s arguments. The more supporting statements a team makes, the more pressure the opponent feels to answer and rebut each argument.

“It’s nerve-wracking, an adrenaline rush,” said Hullum, who finds debate to be a worthwhile channel to indulge his competitive nature. “There’s no time between speeches. You immediately begin refuting what the affirming team says, and you’re talking very fast. One slip-up, one false move and you could lose the debate.

It’s very intense competition.”

That’s especially true when the opposing team takes a standpoint that the twosome isn’t expecting. The UT Tyler team sometimes must refocus its arguments mid-debate to ensure its stance still makes

Steven Hullum (left) and Sam Cook are pictured in the sweaters they wore at this year’s national tournament, where they placed second out of more than 250 teams.

“They are wildly smart,” — UT Tyler debate coach Matthew Gayetsky

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sense in light of the other team’s position.

Hullum and Cook also use this tactic to their advantage—it helped them win their debate against the University of Oregon in the NPTE semifinal round.

“For much of the tournament, we went for philosophical arguments, so that’s what the University of Oregon team expected,” Gayetsky said. “We made a strategic pivot in the middle of the round to expand on a previous argument. Going from one argument to another on a dime threw Oregon off their game.”

Oregon’s mistake, Gayetsky said, was underestimating his team’s knowledge of French politics. Unfortunately for Oregon, the UT Tyler team’s current events knowledge runs deep and wide; they spend more than 1,000 hours preparing for debates each season.

Hullum says that’s part of the reason he enjoys debate—it forces participants to stay abreast of everything going on in the world. From the science of global warming, to freedom of speech laws, to tax policies, to animal rights, to geopolitics and more—any social, political, cultural, racial, religious or other relevant issue is fair game.

Because the entire world of news is a lot to keep up with, one strategy Hullum and Cook use is to focus on a particular class of arguments, which can be manipulated to successfully address nearly unlimited topics in debate. For example, if the debaters have in-depth knowledge about the economy, the team can bring up points about economic issues that support their position for almost any resolution.

preliminary rounds, narrowing the field to 32 through double elimination.

Rising to the top

The sophomore-sophomore team competed for the championship against an exceptional senior-senior team from Southern Illinois University. Though they lost in the final round, Hullum and Cook took second place overall, UT Tyler’s best rank to date.

To be invited to the NPTE, a team must accrue enough points, which it earns for debate rankings throughout the season. Most teams that qualify for the NPTE make it to the quarterfinals or better in all the debates they attend season-long. Only the top 64 teams out of more than 250 nationwide are invited to the tournament.

Hullum likens the debate season to NCAA basketball season. All collegiate teams participate in debates around the U.S. throughout the academic year, earning points for performance. The top 64 teams head to the NPTE, where they compete in

The teams are then ranked, and the highest-ranked competitors face the lower-ranked challengers until only eight teams remain. Then the fierce competition continues in the quarterfinals (like the Elite Eight), semifinals (Final Four), and then the final round (national championship) to crown the winner.

The two competitors complement each other well, and they rely on each other’s strengths to develop well-rounded arguments.

Hullum, a political science major, brings a substantive perspective to the team’s arguments, while social sciences major Cook offers more abstract, critical reasoning. For example, one of the resolutions the team debated at the

tournament was that the United States should militarily intervene in Syria. As the negative team, Hullum and Cook argued against the resolution. One of Hullum’s points was that Russia would retaliate if the U.S. sent troops to Syria. Cook’s contribution was that foreign U.S. action leads to war, which is morally bad because it causes senseless death.

Before debating for UT Tyler, the two competed at rival high schools.

“We’ve debated against each other since we were juniors in high school,” Cook said.

“Steven always wanted to do a different kind of argument than I did. When we became partners in college, we got better at arguments that each other liked to go for. He knows me pretty well because we’ve been friends for so long, so we keep each other on track.”

Not only do they work well together, they help make sure the entire team can be successful at debates.

“Teaching the freshmen and helping them win is better for UT Tyler overall,” Hullum said. “I’ll convey to them the topics they’ll encounter most often, or I’ll suggest articles for them to read. When they’re doing drills, I’ll watch and critique them on how they can do better.”

They also learn from their own mistakes, which makes them so difficult to beat in tournaments, Gayetsky said. After losing in the final round, Cook returned to Tyler and voluntarily presented his arguments again, in a mock debate for his coach. He had nothing to gain, but he hates to lose, Gayetsky said, so he gave the argument again until he got it right. The students and their coach believe their hard work will pay off again this academic year.

“We set our goals high because of how last year went,” Cook said. “Neither Steven nor I will be satisfied with less than we did last year.”

Gayetsky agreed: “If we’re not in the final round, I’ll be surprised.”

And what does Hullum expect?

“The national championship,” he said.

“We finished second at the most difficult tournament, and we know what we have to do to never lose on that topic again.” n

Hullum, a political science major, brings a substantive perspective to the team’s arguments, while social sciences major Cook offers more abstract, critical reasoning.

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UT Tyler civil engineering faculty member Dr. Zafer Miqdadi (center) with Houston Engineering Center students Casey Horne (left) and Ghulam Boston Ali.

“There are a few reasons why staying in Houston was the best choice for me. First of all, it is closer to home, which saves me a lot of money. The tuition is affordable at the HEC, which makes it financially easier on me. Also, the schedule of the classes are back-to-back and go from the afternoon to the evening, which is attractive for students who are night owls and for other students who work in the morning. And it’s in Houston, where there are a lot of job opportunities.”

— Lizabeth Ly, electrical engineering student

FEATURES

Engineering Success UT Tyler Extends 4-Year Programs to Southeast Texas in Innovative Partnership E ngineersarenatural problem-solvers, so when Dr.

James Nelson learned community college students needed a better route to a four-year degree, he began brainstorming solutions.

“Between now and 2025, we’ll need tens of thousands more engineers in Texas, but where will they come from?” said Nelson, the dean of the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler. “Community college is huge in Houston, and the students don’t have options for pursuing a degree in engineering.”

Texas colleges and universities admit about 170,000 freshmen each year, but two-thirds begin at community colleges and many attempt to transfer to four-year institutions later. The problem? Many engineering students discover that some of their credits won’t be accepted. Others are location-bound due to job and family obligations, leaving them with limited transfer options.

Because more than 20 percent of Texas community college students are in the greater Houston area, it was a logical

place to begin addressing the issue.

So, UT Tyler created the Houston Engineering Center, the first of its kind in the nation. In partnership with Houston’s community colleges, the university now offers a defined pathway from associate to bachelor’s degree in engineering. HEC is located on the Houston Community College Northwest-Alief campus.

That pathway begins with the Associate of Science and Engineering Science degree now offered at several Texas community colleges including Houston Community College, San Jacinto College, Texas State Technical College-Harlingen, South Texas College, Laredo Community College and Southwest Texas Junior College.

ASES courses provide the foundation for any specialty of engineering, and all credits are guaranteed to be accepted at UT Tyler’s Houston Engineering Center when a student transfers. Because the student never has to leave the Houston area, the engineering degree becomes more attainable.

Close to Home

HEC accepted its first class of 50 students in 2013, and of those, 25 graduated in May. This fall, the center enrolled 255 students.

A member of the first HEC graduating class, Osman Rizvi was one of the students who wanted to stay close to home.

“I preferred to stay and work in Houston so I could be close to family and friends,” said Rizvi, who studied electrical engineering. “My commute to the HEC was much shorter than the commute to the University of Houston.”

The ASES degree includes 65 hours of general prerequisites, such as calculus, chemistry and introductory courses in engineering. When students transfer to HEC, they can decide what type of engineer they want to be— civil, mechanical or electrical. Students who begin coursework as freshmen at the UT Tyler campus follow the same progression, taking core classes and then focusing on a specialty. All students have between 129 and 132 total hours of coursework, depending on specialty,

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“The environment at the HEC was challenging yet academically nurturing and collaborative. … The professors were very approachable and helpful during class, and they were flexible with meeting times outside of class. My classmates came from diverse backgrounds with a wide variety of experiences,

and

their different

perspectives positively

contributed to group projects and study groups.”

— Osman Rizvi, electrical engineering graduate Dr. James Nelson (left), dean of the UT Tyler College of Engineering, and student Sinsandra Nov.

when they graduate.

Tyler campus,” Nelson said.

engineering fields.

“This is not an online program offering,” Nelson said. “Students will be studying face-to-face with faculty in Houston. We built the HEC teaching labs to mirror the labs in Tyler. The educational experience is intended to be the same whether they study in Tyler or in Houston.”

Students who attend classes full time will be able to complete their bachelor’s degree in two years after coming to UT Tyler. The center is also able to accommodate part-time students who need more time due to job or family obligations.

Among the women at HEC is Lizabeth Ly, who began her studies in fall 2014 and plans to finish her degree in electrical engineering in two years. Besides being close to home, Ly also prefers the smaller classes.

“I was part of the first class that started at the HEC, and we were like a tightknit family,” Rizvi said. “We all helped each other with homework and projects during study groups and during class, and we also had fun together off campus, which collectively made our time at UT Tyler HEC that much more memorable.”

“I feel that professors interact more when the crowd is smaller, and it’s a bonus when the professor knows you by name,” Ly said. “The faculty here are friendly, and if you need help, they will try their best to help you. And because we are such a small class, we work together.”

One-on-One Guidance Dr. Melvin Robinson, who’s been teaching at the HEC since it opened, helps provide that experience.

“We guide students coming from community colleges, advising them every semester so they’ll be on track to graduate,” said Robinson, HEC associate director and assistant professor of electrical engineering.

“These students can compete anywhere.”

That’s because the high quality of their degree is the same whether they attend the main campus as freshmen or transfer to the HEC with an ASES degree. “It’s just as if the student matriculated with us on the Houston Engineering Center students Tahreen Khandaker (left) and Sinsandra Nov.

Diversity in Enrollment The center also has increased the possibilities for underrepresented groups in engineering. About half of the students enrolled are from minority populations, Hispanic, African American or Asian, and more than 18 percent are women, a group with historically low numbers in

The Cost Benefit Arguably the most dramatic benefit to students is the price tag. Students who earn an ASES degree before transferring to the HEC pay a total cost of about $21,000 plus the cost of books. That’s about half the cost of other options available to them.

Part of the difference comes from the lower cost of community college tuition, and students also save on the cost of room and board by living in their own home while taking all their classes in Houston.

“Engineering jobs start at $60,000 to $70,000 at the entry level,” Nelson said.

“That’s a phenomenal return on investment.”

Rizvi is already enjoying the rewards of his hard work. While he was finishing his final semester, he secured a position at an intellectual property law firm as a patent engineer. Now Rizvi uses his degree to draft patents directed toward electrical engineering and software.

Nelson and others at the university

began fine-tuning the idea in 2009. By late 2011, UT Tyler along with two other universities signed an agreement with three community colleges to accept all credits from the ASES degree into their engineering programs.

In 2012, Nelson spearheaded the concept of the Houston Engineering Center, allowing the students to remain in Houston while completing their degree. Students with ASES degrees can also attend one of the other partnered universities, either Texas A&M-Kingsville or the University of Texas-Pan American, though they must travel to that university’s campus to complete the degree.

“Offering students a clear pathway to a four-year engineering degree is a crucial advancement in higher education,” said Dr. Zachary Hodges, president of Houston Community College Northwest.

“Our partnership with UT Tyler has the potential to lead to the creation of hundreds of engineers, and many of them will be able to find employment locally.”

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED Affirming the success of the idea, the White House recognized UT Tyler’s partnership with community colleges as part of its College Opportunity Day of Action, in which institutions of higher education were called to expand opportunities for students to enroll and succeed in college.

“The HEC benefits both Texas and the United States by increasing the number of prepared engineering graduates,” Nelson said. “In Texas alone, we’re going to need 70,000 to 80,000 more engineers by 2025, and that doesn’t count those of us who are old and gray and going to be retired by then.”

Robinson says he expects to see 350 students enrolled by next fall, and in five years, he anticipates an enrollment of 600700. Students’ experience so far supports Robinson’s confidence that the HEC will continue to grow as word spreads about the quality of the program.

“The HEC provided me with all the tools necessary to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and my classes taught me how to think like an engineer,” Rizvi said. “UT Tyler gave me a tremendous education and opened up my future with endless opportunities.” n

(From left) Dr. Melvin Robinson, HEC associate director and assistant professor of electrical engineering, with students Lizabeth Ly and Tahreen Khandaker.

“MY BEST EXPERIENCE AT THE HOUSTON ENGINEERING CENTER WAS THE SMALLER CLASSES COMPARED WITH MY PREVIOUS SCHOOL, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, WHERE THERE WERE SOMETIMES 300-400 STUDENTS WITH ONE PROFESSOR. PROFESSORS AT HEC HAVE LOTS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE, AND MOST WORKED ANYWHERE FROM 10-25 YEARS IN THEIR FIELD. THEY STRUCTURED THE COURSES SUCH THAT WE DEALT WITH REAL-WORLD SCENARIOS AND REAL ENGINEERING PROBLEMS. WE ALSO USED EXCELLENT LAB EQUIPMENT, THE SAME TYPES OF EQUIPMENT I USE IN MY JOB NOW AT LIVANOVA, A HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. SO I WAS FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY COMING IN TO THE JOB. THAT’S ANOTHER WAY THEY PREPARE YOU FOR THE WORKFORCE—YOU’RE USING EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY YOU’LL USE IN THE FUTURE.” — JUSTIN SWAIN, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE

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FEATURES

A Personal Touch UT Tyler Professor Explores Use of Robotic Pet in Treating Dementia

Dr. Sandra Petersen and her

Petersen hypothesized that the seals would ameliorate the patients’ anxiety and depression, thereby decreasing their reliance on psychotropic medications.

Weeping was not the usual response to their therapy, but any reaction at all could be a sign of hope. For treatment, the woman was handed a robotic biofeedback device resembling a baby harp seal and was asked to help care for it. The device, called a PARO robot, mimics a real baby seal and is designed to evoke a nurturing response in the person holding it.

First of Its Kind in THE U.S.

team observed with cautious optimism as the dementia therapy treatment they were administering made a woman cry.

Though researchers in other countries have for years been studying the effects of robotic pet therapy on dementia patients,

This patient, whom we will call Belle, had begun to cry.

Belle was in the later stages of progressive dementia and had not spoken in years.

“At first we weren’t really Dr. Sandra Petersen, Associate Professor of Nursing sure if she liked it and how she was going to do with the treatment,” said Petersen, an associate Petersen’s project, conducted from May professor in The University of Texas at Tyler through July, was the largest randomized controlled study on the subject in the world family nurse practitioner program. and the first to be done in the United States.

This year, Belle was among 60 dementia Workers who administered therapy patients who participated in a study led by sessions for the study found that most Petersen exploring the use of PARO robots patients relaxed immediately when holding in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other and stroking the seal, said DeeAnn Stone, types of dementia.

a registered nurse and regional health care coordinator for Legend Senior Living’s five assisted living/memory care communities in Dallas-Fort Worth, where the study was done. The project received a $30,000 grant through Baylor Health Care System from the Deerbrook Charitable Trust to purchase PARO robots for each of the facilities.

One patient had been so combative that he was at risk of transfer to a more restrictive facility, but he was spared that fate because the seal treatments calmed him.

In others, like Belle, it brought them out of their shells. Belle previously sat in her wheelchair and stared in silence while not interacting with others or even looking around; that is, until she was introduced to the seal.

“It made her cry at first, which was a positive thing in her case because there was no evidence of emotion prior to that,” Petersen said. “As she cried, she clung to the seal like she wasn’t going to let go of it, so we just let her hold it. It evidently had tapped into some memory of hers from years ago, like of a long lost pet or something.”

Dr. Sandra Petersen leads a study exploring use of PARO robots in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The study is conducted at five Dallas-area assisted living/memory care communities, including one in Rockwall, where she is pictured visiting with residents.

Workers who administered therapy sessions for the study found that most patients relaxed immediately when holding and stroking the seal.

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“Most patients who come into this setting are on anywhere from 14 to 30 medications a day, which is very expensive.

And of course in an 85-year-old body, it’s not very good for them to take that much medicine,” Petersen said. “Sometimes it sedates them and can even cause them to fall or have organ failure, so there’s a downside to giving them all these meds.”

Stone concurred: “To see any reaction like that at all is actually a positive, because it’s like a link back to reality.”

The Synergy of Great Minds For years, Petersen has investigated the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s plastic-like ability to self-mend and flexibly adapt as needed by forming new neural cells and pathways. The brain can do so with certain stimuli, enabling people with memory impairment to reconnect with old memories and build new ones.

Petersen was developing memory care programming for dementia patients based on that principle when she learned about the robotic seals a couple years ago at a health care technology presentation. It included video of a nonverbal man who began to speak after exposure to the seals.

“I realized this would be a great tool for me as a geriatric nurse practitioner, because I have numerous patients in my practice

who are like that,” she said. “It can enhance neuroplasticity by tapping into their emotions, because so many people have a really strong emotional attachment to their pets.”

The presenter introduced her to Dr. Takanori Shibata, the scientist in Japan who invented the PARO robotic seal, and Petersen began to formulate her study. Her primary goal was to determine if robotic pet therapy could decrease the anxiety and depression experienced by dementia patients, and thus decrease their medicinal intake.

Though the robots have been studied and used to treat dementia in some other countries, Shibata took an interest in Petersen’s study because it was the first of its kind to be done in the United States, where the seals are uncommon. He visited Texas several times during the 12-week study to provide insight and feedback to Petersen regarding the use of the PARO seals.

Subjects in the treatment group were given the pet seal therapy, individually or in small groups, for 20 minutes three times a week. Meanwhile, facility staff members took a number of readings, including pulse rate, galvanic skin response, and oxygen

“When Dr. Petersen told us about her research and the opportunity for us to help with the project, we were all very excited about it. We had never thought something like that could totally change someone’s behavior.” — Vanessa Porter, UT Tyler Student-Researcher

Petersen’s study found that robotic seal therapy reduced patient symptoms, resulting in a 30 percent overall decrease in the amount of as-needed medications they were given to control anxiety. saturation, to measure stress.

Vanessa Porter was among the graduate students in the family nurse practitioner program who assisted with the project through independent study with Dr. Petersen last spring. Students helped interview patients, train staff to take measurements, and do other preparations in advance of the trial.

“When Dr. Petersen told us about her research and the opportunity for us to help with the project, we were all very excited about it,” Porter said. “We had never thought something like that could totally change someone’s behavior.”

Replacing Pills with Seals Petersen’s study found that robotic seal therapy reduced patient symptoms, resulting in a 30 percent overall decrease in the amount of as-needed medications they were given to control anxiety. It also found that the calming effect of a seal treatment lasts almost two hours longer than the effect of many drugs commonly

prescribed to treat anxiety in elderly dementia patients.

In July, she joined Shibata in speaking at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ international Healthy Aging Summit, where she presented her research. Petersen hopes the strong empirical and qualitative elements of her study will result in robotic pet therapy becoming a mainstream dementia treatment.

“So instead of patients popping a pill, you would give them a 20-minute treatment with the robotic pet,” she said, noting that psychotropic medications for a dementia patient cost $800 to $1,200 a month.

The results of Petersen’s study could provide strong scientific evidence of the therapeutic effects of PARO seals and result in Medicare covering the cost of robotic pet medical treatments in the future, Shibata said. PARO is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a neurological therapeutic medical device.

The mind-body connection her research illustrated has huge implications for the

elderly, a population that is growing due to people living longer, said Dr. Yong Tai Wang, dean of UT Tyler’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Her research may result in improved quality of life for people with dementia,” he said.

On a small scale, the seal robots have already made a big difference for several individuals like Belle. A process that began in Belle’s first therapy session with her own tears ultimately spawned tears of joy from her family.

A couple days after Petersen’s team introduced the seal to Belle, they reintroduced it to her in a second session, yielding yet another breakthrough—Belle began talking for the first time in more than a decade, to the seal, then to the nurse.

“We videotaped it and sent it to her family,” Petersen said. “Her daughter called crying and saying, ‘I can’t believe I have actually heard my mother’s voice! She hasn’t spoken for 12 years.’” n

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D.M. Edwards, pictured at his Tyler residence, presented a gift establishing The Dr. Welby C. and Davida M. Edwards Orchestral Room in UT Tyler’s new Center for the Musical Arts.

“We are so grateful to Mr. Edwards for his support of the university, the School of Performing Arts and music in the East Texas area as a whole.”

— Dr. Michael Thrasher, director of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts

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Benefactors

A Noteworthy Gift Edwards Honors His Parents With Gift to New Music Center D. M. Edwards reels off the dates

of Tyler historic events so well that one would think he was there when they happened, and in some cases he was.

He recently reflected on one such time in 1979, when he attended a ceremony on campus where then Texas Gov. Bill Clements signed a bill into law that turned Texas Eastern University into The University of Texas at Tyler, making it part of The University of Texas System.

“They had invited everyone to come out for the ceremony, and I was happy to be one of about 250 people there that day for the joyful occasion,” Edwards said.

participant in helping to make it happen.

Edwards gave $250,000 to fund the orchestral hall in the new UT Tyler Center for the Musical Arts, an addition to the Cowan Center expected to be completed this spring. He is the chairman and CEO of D. M. Edwards Investments, which owns commercial real estate properties in Tyler, Houston, Odessa and Shreveport, and operates a warehousing and distribution business “We are so grateful to Mr. Edwards for his support of the university, the

He also recalled other magnificent moments in local history, such as the 1997 grand opening night of UT Tyler’s R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center.

That night, he and others experienced the splendor of Vaughn Auditorium for the first time with a piano and singing performance by the late Broadway composer Marvin Hamlisch.

Edwards now eagerly awaits another grand Tyler progression, this time as a key

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School of Performing Arts and music in the East Texas area as a whole,” Dr. Michael Thrasher, director of the UT Tyler School of Performing Arts, said.

“He’s been a friend and encourager for many years, and his gift has made a tremendous impact in helping this project become a reality.”

nursing students. He also serves on the executive committee of the UT Tyler Development Board, is a sponsor of the Hibbs Institute for Business & Economic Research in the UT Tyler College of Business and Technology, and is a Platinum Member of the UT Tyler President’s Associates.

The 15,000-square-foot Center for the Musical Arts will provide needed instruction and rehearsal space for the university’s rapidly growing music program, in which the number of music majors has increased 70 percent in the last six years, UT Tyler President Dr. Rodney Mabry said.

The $6.5 million addition will house the 80-plus-seat band and orchestral hall that Edwards’ donation is funding, as well as a 72-seat choir room, teaching studios for individual instruction, a music library, offices and break areas. Its halls and teaching rooms will be acoustically engineered to be soundproof for optimal rehearsal opportunities.

Edwards’ generosity will help many thousands of young musicians over the years become better performers, help propel the university’s music program to even greater heights, and have a lasting benefit like his many other contributions to UT Tyler through the years, Mabry said.

Edwards is chairman of the UT Tyler College of Nursing and Health Science External Advisory Council and established two endowed presidential scholarships at UT Tyler for undergraduate and graduate

“Mr. D.M. Edwards is one of those individuals who contributes to our community and university in a truly effective way without making a fuss. He is very bright, analytical and caring at the same time, and always positive and fun.

That makes him one of our favorite people,” Mabry said.

Edwards said he devotes time and money to education because it is a lasting gift.

“You’ve heard the old phrase that if you give a man a fish, he can feed himself that day, but if you teach a man how to fish, he can feed his family for a lifetime,” Edwards said. “That’s why UT Tyler as a higher education institution is so vital to the progress and growth of our entire region of Northeast Texas.”

Continuing a Family Legacy Edwards named the new rehearsal hall, The Dr. Welby C. and Davida M. Edwards Orchestral Room, in honor of his parents.

“My family has always supported higher education,” Edwards said.

His mother worked as an area supervisor for the Texas Education Agency and oversaw 14 counties in East Texas in the early 1950s. When the Texas Eastern School of Nursing at Tyler Junior College first formed, she was called upon to help recruit its first class of students from those counties because of her familiarity with the region.

His father, too, helped foster the area’s growth and development. He was an organizer who helped found Meals on Wheels in Tyler in 1973. In 1991, East Texas Baptist University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Humanities in recognition for providing substantial funding and support for the creation of its school of nursing. He had previously served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II and was the state chaplain for the Disabled American Veterans Department of Texas.

In 1959, Edwards’ parents also founded the Tyler Saddle Club to promote horsemanship, proper care of horses and fellowship among horse lovers in East Texas.

“My parents were tireless civic workers for church and for community activities.

That’s why I was happy to underwrite this orchestral rehearsal hall in their honor, because they were always so supportive

Edwards said he devotes time and money to education because it is a lasting gift.

Edwards with David Jones (left), UT Tyler development officer, and Dr. Martin Slann, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

of the growth of Tyler, Smith County and the East Texas area,” Edwards said.

“Whatever they could do to help our region grow and develop economically and culturally, they were always there to help move the process forward.”

A fourth-generation resident of Tyler, Edwards inherited his parents’ passion for serving the community and fostering the region’s growth.

In addition to his support of UT Tyler, he has served as president of the Camp Fannin Association, president of the Rotary Club of Tyler, president of the East Texas State Fair and chairman of its senior citizens program, president of the Smith County Historical Society, and chairman of the Smith County Historical Commission. He also is a longtime member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a deacon at First Baptist Church of Tyler.

Perhaps most noteworthy is his love of music. He served more than once as chairman of the board of the East Texas

Symphony Orchestra, which will benefit from the new music center at UT Tyler.

“We like to use the slogan with our symphony orchestra that music feeds the soul. And we’re fortunate to have Dr. Michael Thrasher as the director of the School of Performing Arts,” Edwards said.

“The Center for the Musical Arts will help Dr. Mabry and Dr. Thrasher lift the School of Music at UT Tyler to new heights of musical excellence.”

“My parents were tireless civic workers for church and for community activities.

That’s why I was happy to underwrite this orchestral rehearsal

The support for and celebration of the arts at UT Tyler is universal throughout the community and is guided by wonderful individuals such as Edwards, said Dr. Martin Slann, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

hall in their honor,

“D. M. Edwards represents the best of the best in Tyler,” Slann said. “He is a successful business person who wants to give something back and has been doing so for the last several decades. We are and will remain most grateful for his continual support and generosity.” n

Tyler, Smith County and

because they were always so supportive of the growth of the East Texas area,” Edwards said.

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Athletics

MAKING HISTORY Kevonte Shaw First Patriot Sprinter to Win National Championship

W hen T he U niversityof Texasat Tyler track standout Kevonte Shaw crossed the finish line a winner at the 2015 NCAA Div. III National Championships, he was excited, exhausted and relieved . . . but not exactly surprised.

“The first thing I felt when I finished was relief,” Shaw remembers. “There was a lot of anxiety. I was so nervous.”

But despite the pressure of national competition, running on the track was right where he wanted to be. Before he even set foot on the UT Tyler campus, he said, “I made up my mind that I wanted to run track.’’

That desire fueled Shaw’s journey to a history-making win as NCAA Div. III indoor track and field men’s 200 meter dash champion.

He became the first Patriot sprinter to win on the national stage and the second athlete in school history to win an individual national championship, joining Laura Lindsey, who won the NCAA Div. III women’s golf individual national title a few

years ago.

During the competition, Shaw twice ran the fastest NCAA Div. III time in the 200 meters, blowing past the competition with a 21.74 second time in his final heat.

Shaw’s incredible effort is even more

UT Tyler sprinter Kevonte Shaw won the 2015 Indoor Track and Field Men’s 200 meter dash.

EVEN THOUGH SHAW WON AN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE ENTIRE TEAM CELEBRATED. “THEY WORKED HARD TOGETHER AND IT WAS SPECIAL FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM,” THE COACH NOTED. “I ran track and played football in high school,” Shaw said. “Then I broke my femur playing football. After that, I was pretty much done with sports.”

Shaw took a few years off from sports while attending community college.

“When I started looking for a university after that, I wanted to run again,” said the speech communications major from Shepherd. “I was out of shape, but wanted to see if I still had it. It was more of a personal challenge than anything. I found out that UT Tyler had a track program and awesome academics. It was the perfect place for me to go.”

But Shaw’s journey back to the track wouldn’t be easy.

“I was a walk-on and not very good

that first season,” Shaw said. “I wasn’t in shape for it. But I started working out and wanted to put everything I had into it.”

Chris Stonestreet, Patriot assistant track and field coach, said Shaw gave it his all plus some. “When I first saw him, he had a lot of talent, he was a really fast athlete.

And I knew it could be something special when I saw his work ethic turn up a notch.

He didn’t just come out to practice; he came with a mission, a purpose. And the better he saw himself getting, the more he realized the possibility and the more he worked.’’

Shaw not only pushed himself, but led the entire team by his actions, Stonestreet said. “His performance and work ethic are incredible, but his leadership for the team is what makes him stand out. He encourages the younger athletes to not

just work hard, but make good decisions in school and in their social lives. He has been a difference maker for our team in just about every way imaginable.”

Even though Shaw won an individual championship, the entire team celebrated.

“They worked hard together and it was special for the entire team,” the coach noted.

With Shaw and several other promising athletes returning this year, including thrower Whitney Simmons who finished as national runner-up in the women’s weight, Stonestreet says the track and field program expects another trip to the national winner’s circle this year.

For more about UT Tyler track and field, and the entire athletic program, visit uttylerpatriots.com. n

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Athletics

The Catch

Softball Centerfield’s Heroic Effort Makes National Sports News The University of Texas at Tyler softball fans know it simply as “The Catch.”

And they are not alone.

When UT Tyler senior centerfielder Christa Hartnett robbed a homerun in a dramatic fashion during last spring’s NCAA Div. III National Championship game against the Salisbury Seagulls, she made national sports news.

To set the stage, the semifinal matchup between the Patriots and Seagulls came down to the sixth inning when Seagulls hitter Annah Brittingham crushed the ball, sending it to the wall.

“I really thought it was a homerun when it left the bat,” remembers Mike Reed, UT Tyler’s head softball coach. “I dropped my head and was noting the pitch on our charts.”

Meanwhile, an undaunted Hartnett ran at full speed with eyes on the ball, never slowing until she leaped up, snagged the ball and crashed hard into the wall. The jolt knocked Hartnett to the ground. When

she came up with the ball secure, Hartnett ignited her team.

“Off the bat, I knew it was going to be a shot but I had no clue it was going to be a homerun,” said the veteran outfielder. “I knew I had it the whole time, but it wasn’t Christa Hartnett robbed a homerun in dramatic fashion during NCAA National Championship game.

The huge effort not only fired up Hartnett’s team, it caught national attention. Hartnett’s play was named the “No. 1 Play of the Day” on ESPN Sportscenters’ Top 10 Plays.

until moments after the catch I realized I just robbed my first homerun.”

Reed said, “I was afraid the homerun was going to be a huge momentum swing to them; instead, it became one for us.”

The Patriots scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win 3-2.

Hartnett’s homerun-robbing catch kept the score within reach.

The huge effort not only fired up Hartnett’s team, it caught national attention. Hartnett’s play was named the “No. 1 Play of the Day” on ESPN Sportscenters’ Top 10 Plays.

“It is a play that will forever be in the history of our program,” Reed said. “That great of a catch at such a big moment on the national stage was just remarkable.

And for Christa to finish her career playing for a national championship and making a catch that put her and our team as the number one play on ESPN was a perfect ending to her great career.”

Hartnett also made big contributions in the postseason on offense with good hits at the plate, Reed said. “Christa was a critical piece to our team and that amazing postseason run, and continues to help us now as an assistant coach.”

Gipson helped Reed lead the Patriots to a regular season American Southwest Conference championship, an ASC tournament championship, NCAA regional and super-regional championships and a national runner-up finish.

Her incredible catch not only put her in the spotlight, it also “brought more national exposure for our softball program and this wonderful university,” Reed added.

Hartnett said she was grateful to be part of such an incredible team. “I could not have asked for a better finish to my softball career than to compete in the national championship game with such amazing teammates and to make ‘The Catch.’ To be able to rob a homerun during the championship series and for it to be all over SportsCenter is more than I could have ever imagined.’’

Hartnett graduates this fall with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and plans to begin graduate studies in the spring.

The entire 2015 UT Tyler softball season was headline worthy. The Patriots went 50-5 overall and finished the year as the NCAA Div. III national runnerup. They became just the third school in NCAA Div. III history to put up 50 wins in a season, and were just one win shy of the all-time record of 51.

Assistant coaches Whitney Wyly, Michelle Jones, Coby Gipson and Christy

She added, “I cannot thank my teammates enough for the fight they had all season long.

It was a special way to finish my senior year because I do not believe ‘The Catch’ would have been possible without them.”

For more about the UT Tyler softball program and the entire athletic program, visit uttylerpatriots.com. n

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Athletics

Set Up for Success!

Volleyball’s Rebecca Floyd Excels on Court and in Classroom

S tan d ingat just 5’5, Rebecca

Floyd is never the tallest player on the court.

But watch her play and you’ll see a giant.

This fall marks Floyd’s third year as starting setter on The University of Texas at Tyler volleyball team.

“Rebecca is one of those players coaches get once or twice in a lifetime,” said Patriot head volleyball coach Suzanne Henson. “She is an incredible leader both on and off the court. Her speed and amazing hands lead the way on the court. Players have so much respect for her ability. She is having her best year ever.”

Known affectionately as “Bex” by her coaches and teammates, Floyd is a two-time All-Conference player and an Academic All-Conference honoree. She has been named American Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and broke the school record for number of assists in a five set match with 52 as a freshman. The Patriots reached the ASC Championship tournament for each of her three years on the team.

Floyd is the all-time assist leader in program history and will enter her senior season with 3,059 assists and 799 digs. She also serves as president of the UT Tyler Student Athlete Advisory Committee this year.

Floyd said she dreamed of playing on a competitive team since she was little.

“I grew up the baby of six kids, and all of them were a lot older than me” she said.

“I always wanted to do the hobbies they were interested in. When two of my sisters

In addition to her success in volleyball, Floyd is a member of the UT Tyler Honors Program, and made the Dean’s List with a 3.81 GPA.

KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS “BEX” BY HER COACHES AND TEAMMATES, FLOYD IS A TWO-TIME ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYER AND AN ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREE. decided that was what I wanted to do.”

Floyd began playing at age 10 and soon joined a club team with games year-round.

“I loved the team aspect of volleyball and leadership roles I got,” she recalls. “Getting that connection with teammates was rewarding for me.”

The standout athlete joined the Patriot team after Henson saw her play while on a recruiting visit for one of Floyd’s club teammates. Henson said it took watching only one game to know she wanted Floyd for her team.

“I can’t say enough positive things about this outstanding young lady,” Henson said.

“She succeeds in anything she attempts.”

In addition to success with the volleyball team, Floyd excels in her academic endeavors.

Majoring in kinesiology with plans to enter

physical therapy school, she made the Dean’s List in the spring with a 3.81 GPA. She also is part of the nationally recognized UT Tyler Honor’s Program, where students explore differing viewpoints, form educated opinions, enjoy smaller classroom environments and are mentored by top faculty members. The unique program includes core honor seminar courses, an honors colloquium series, contract courses and honors thesis.

Dr. Paul D. Streufert, honors program director and associate professor of literature and languages, said, “Rebecca exemplifies the qualities of an Honors student in two key ways: she has deep intellectual curiosity and always works to make herself better. She approaches new ideas with openness, while at the same time learning ways to better her speaking and writing skills.”

Floyd said the Honors Program “has been amazing. The professors I’ve gotten to work with and the classmates have been great. The Honors Program is a strong core of people with different majors and different backgrounds. The program helped me grow as a student . . . I’m not as timid to speak to people and learn about new things.”

She said being a student-athlete has helped her develop important life skills including time management. “It is teaching me a lot of discipline. I have found all the opportunities I could hope for at UT Tyler.

I’m so excited about the future.”

Whatever the future holds, Floyd is sure to meet it head on in big success.

For more about the UT volleyball program and the entire athletic program, visit uttylerpatriots.com. n

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CHIEF JUSTICE JAMES WORTHEN (B.S. POLITICAL SCIENCE, 1978; M.A. INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, 1999) HAS SERVED THE 12TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SINCE 1998.

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Alumni

Pursuing Truth and Justice Alumnus Leads Tyler Court of Appeals C hief J ustice James Worthen

starts each day with the weighty responsibility of discovering truth and dispensing justice.

A holder of two degrees from The University of Texas at Tyler, he has served the 12th District Court of Appeals of the State of Texas since he was first elected a justice in 1998. The Tyler-based court consists of Worthen and two other justices who together review and make rulings on more than 400 cases a year.

“I’m very appreciative of the opportunities that I’ve been given, particularly by the citizens of East Texas, to handle these cases in the judicial system,” he said.

Also known as the Tyler Court of Appeals, the court has jurisdiction over all appealed civil and criminal cases, except death penalty cases, from trial courts in the surrounding 17-county district. It is one of 14 courts of appeal in the state, each presided over by a chief justice.

Worthen views the court system as essential for a society where people can

live together in harmony: “As Americans, we have that orderly and peaceful society because of the rule of law.”

Former Justice Sam Griffith of Starrville, who worked with Worthen for 14 years until retiring from the court in January, concurred and commented on the role of a judge in that process: “It

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really is awe-inspiring to realize the power you have as a justice and the impact you could have on people’s lives.”

He called Worthen “a very astute student of the law” and spoke of the many hundreds of cases he reviewed alongside him through the years: “Every case was so important to someone. These were very important issues, so we gave them the time, consideration and thought that they deserved. And we tried at all times to do justice, so even if you didn’t win, you felt you had justice.”

A Lifelong Learner A seventh-generation Texan, Worthen began life in Conroe, then moved to Big Sandy with his family during middle school. His mother, who earned her degree from UT Tyler later in life, instilled a love of learning in him when he was young, resulting in his becoming a voracious reader.

He worked his way through college by doing bricklaying for his father, a masonry contractor. Worthen earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1978 from UT Tyler (then Texas Eastern University), before earning his law degree from South Texas College of Law.

He then began practicing real estate law in Tyler, first at the partnership of Sammons and Parker, then with Bain and Files, which later became Bain, Files, Worthen, & Jarrett PC. As the oil and gas industry in Texas declined in the early 1980s, much of his client base began filing for bankruptcy, ultimately resulting in his becoming a board-certified specialist in bankruptcy law.

returned in the 1990s, including Dr. Marcus Stadelmann, professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science and History. He has been at UT Tyler for 25 years and taught some of Worthen’s graduate courses.

Worthen’s yearning for learning inspired his return in 1993 to UT Tyler to earn a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. He took one night class per semester while continuing to practice law, completing his master’s program in 1999.

From Private Practice to Public Service

“The thing that was most surprising was how much the campus had grown in size from the time when I had been a student there in the 1970s. It was a much bigger campus, and the student body had tripled in size,” he said.

While finishing his graduate program at UT Tyler, Worthen ran in 1998 as a Republican for one of the court’s three justice seats, which have six-year terms. Bill Bass, a former justice on the Tyler Court of Appeals, had years earlier given him the idea to run.

“But what stayed the same was the personal interaction with the faculty.

Professors were always so approachable and helpful.”

Worthen won the race, and in the middle of his first term was elected chief justice, a position to which he was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. In addition to judging cases, the chief justice is responsible for the administration of the court and working with other chief justices around the state on legislative matters relating to court budgets.

Some UT Tyler faculty members in the 1970s were still there when he

Because of Worthen’s background practicing real estate law, he excels in cases

Worthen said of his return to UT Tyler in 1993 to earn a master’s degree: “The thing that was most surprising was how much the campus had grown … from the time when I had been a student there in the 1970s. It was a much bigger campus, and the student body had tripled … But what stayed the same was the personal interaction with the faculty. Professors were always so approachable and helpful.”

“He always was one of my best students,” Stadelmann said of Worthen.

“He knew what was going on globally.”

involving land titles, which can involve difficult issues, said Griffith, who retired from the court this year.

The two of them rarely disagreed on a ruling, which Griffith attributed to Worthen’s keen understanding of the law and their shared commitment to upholding it: “We believe in following the law, not creating the law.”

A Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a Charter Fellow of the Smith County Bar Foundation, Worthen also served as chairman of the Texas Council of Chief Justices in 2005-2006.

“I really enjoy the intellectual side of the law, and each case is unique,” he said.

“Every case has something that you’ve just not seen before–something that will strike your interest and want you to dig a little deeper in putting the opinion together.”

“That’s one of the things that’s so good about the education I received at UT Tyler, both my undergraduate and graduate

programs there. They helped expand my knowledge and my understanding of the way things work, and that’s very helpful in this job.”

Worthen also has appreciated the camaraderie of working with Griffith and other justices on the court: “I’ve had a very collegial relationship with all the judges that I’ve worked with, and that’s a real highlight.”

Griffith and Worthen shared a love of travel and history, so sometimes compared international travel stories and swapped history books.

“He could put things in historical perspective. He knew history quite well, so that was fun,” Griffith said.

In fact, when Worthen earned his Master of Laws in judicial process from the University of Virginia in 2004, his master’s thesis was on the history of the creation and development of courts of appeal in Texas. The resulting article, “The Organizational and Structural

Development of Intermediate Appellate Courts in Texas, 1892-2003,” was published in the South Texas Law Review that same year. It was the first such published work on the subject and has since been cited by other authors.

Worthen’s quest to learn and discover has opened many doors for him, and he wants for others, too, to reap the rewards of learning. He and his wife Laura have been members of the President’s Associates at UT Tyler for many years, providing annual gifts that enable the president to allocate dollars for enhancing the educational experience of students.

Worthen, a UT Tyler Distinguished Alumni honoree in 2009, is a great friend of the university, said President Dr. Rodney Mabry: “James Worthen is one of the most loyal and accomplished alumni UT Tyler has ever had. He is respected as a chief justice and has an outstanding reputation in East Texas, the state and beyond. n

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Class Notes

Awards and Achievements 2001 Michael Lujan (M.Ed. educational administration) and his wife, Lisa, received the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizens for 2014.

The Lujans own Mentoring Minds, which produces supplemental educational materials for kindergarten through 12th-grade students nationwide. They also are active in philanthropic efforts.

2003

1986 Cynthia Swinney (B.S. education) was named Teacher of the Year at StantonSmith Elementary School in Whitehouse Independent School District. Swinney has worked in education for 30 years, including 28 years with Whitehouse ISD, and is in her third year working with students identified as dyslexic. She and her husband, David, have one son, Seth, a UT Tyler biology major.

1990 Dyna Tutt (B.S. nursing) was honored by the Chapter of Black Nurses Inc. for her many years of service to the community.

Tutt teaches nursing at the UT Tyler Palestine Campus.

1997 Patrick Willis (B.S. speech communication) received the W.C. Windsor Award for 2014 from the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to the community.

Willis is president and CEO of Abegg Willis & Associates, a nonprofit management consulting firm. He has held leadership positions with the American Heart Association, UT Tyler Alumni Association, United Way, Texas Rose Festival, UT Tyler Alumni Association, and UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center advisory board and endowment committee.

Kirk Overmoe (M. Ed. educational administration) was selected for induction into the Mayville State University Performing Arts Hall of Fame. Overmoe is a professor of piano and choral accompanist with Trinity Valley Community College.

DavidSauer(M.Ed.educational administration) was named Region VII Outstanding Principal of the Year for 201516 by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. Sauer is principal of Mineola High School.

Michael Wysocki (B.S. political science) was chosen for the 2015 Texas Super Lawyers list, published by Super Lawyers Magazine.

The list represents less than 5 percent of all attorneys nationwide, all of whom have attained an uncommon degree of peer recognition and achievement.

Wysocki has been on the Super Lawyers list for two consecutive years, and was on the program’s Rising Stars list in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He is a founding partner of O’Neil Wysocki Family Law, based in Dallas.

2010 J.P. Fugler (B.S. speech communication) is one of 13 educators nationwide selected for the 2015 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, which recognizes the contributions of some of the country’s most inspirational educators. A speech teacher at Van High School, Fugler was nominated for the award by former student Jacob Savage.

“The moment that sticks out most to me,’’ Savage said, “was when I won the St.

Mark’s Heart of Texas tournament – the very same tournament where my journey began one year prior – and I looked out to see Mr. Fugler beaming and cheering me on. Because of him, I wasn’t just becoming.

I was being.’’

2014 Colby Craddock (B.S. kinesiology) a UT Tyler graduate student, was awarded a Myrna D. Schlegel Scholarship for $5,000.

The scholarship endowment supports undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in Alzheimer’s research and/or treatment. Craddock will graduate in December 2016 with a Master of Science degree and plans to pursue doctoral studies.

Amy Friesenhahn (B.S. political science) is one of three American Southwest Conference student-athletes nominated for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Friesenhahn, a UT Tyler graduate student, was captain of the 2014-15 ASC championship tennis squad, a three-time All-ASC Academic honoree and a twotime member of the ASC Women’s Tennis Distinguished Scholar team.

She was involved in several community service projects, including the Hope Open and the Quick Start Tennis program with the Boys and Girls Club.

Lena Lee (B.A. English) was a national winner in the 2015 Society of Professional Journalists writing contest for her work as a former Patriot Talon contributing writer.

Lee won in the General News Reporting category for her story about Ebola, titled “A Viral View.’’

Dr. Traci Murray (Ph.D. nursing) was awarded post-doctorate fellowship in public health from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Murray began the two-year fellowship this fall in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Kyle Price (B.A. English) was accepted into the Archer Fellowship summer internship program. A UT Tyler graduate student, Price spent last summer working in the Washington, D.C., office of Congressman Jeb Hensarling.

a

Pictured in this issue of Class Notes are scenes from UT Tyler’s 2015 Homecoming Week, themed “An East Texas Tradition.”

ALUMNI UPDATES 1978 Mary “Carolyn’’ Roosth (M.Ed. early childhood education) recently published her fourth novel. “Despair’’ is the story of Nola Santiago, a character from Roosth’s first novel, “Denial.’’

Her other novels are “Anger’’ and “Promises.’’

narcotics, and served as commander in all major components of the department. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.

Roosth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and speech from the University of Houston before earning her master’s at UT Tyler. She taught school for 22 years and is an avid reader. Having spent so much of her life teaching and reading, Roosth says she is pleased to have found her way into the domain of writing.

Kimberly Russell (B.A. English) was appointed chancellor of Louisiana State University-Eunice. She will serve as the university’s chief executive officer and be responsible for implementing educational and administrative policies for the campus.

After graduating from UT Tyler, Russell earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of North Texas.

1979

1989

Essie Childers (M.Ed. reading) took office as president of the Texas Community College Teachers Association, the largest organization of postsecondary educators in the state. Childers is a professor of parallel studies at Blinn College-Bryan.

Melissa Bennett (B.B.A. finance) is employed as a landman for an oil and gas company, and co-owns Sister2Sister Cookies in Tyler with her sister, Ashley Randall.

1983 David King (M.B.A. business) was promoted to chief executive officer and president of Primoris Services Corp. King previously served as the organization’s chief operating officer. He joined Primoris in March 2014, after serving as president of Lummus Engineered Products with CB&I. 1988 Donald Dingler (B.S. criminal justice) retired as Longview police chief after 42 years with the police department. Beginning as an officer in 1973, Dingler worked assignments in patrol, traffic, training, jail services and

named senior director of transformational learning for Arlington Independent School District.

Horton previously worked for Lancaster ISD, serving as executive director of school improvement, executive director of special programs and Lancaster High School principal. After completing her master’s at UT Tyler, she earned a doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

1998 Leah Bobbitt (B.S. interdisciplinary studies) (M.Ed. 2008) was promoted to assistant superintendent for West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District. Bobbitt previously served as principal of West Rusk Junior High School.

Weldon “Buddy’’ Bonner (B.S. political science and history) is the new assistant superintendent of human resources and employee engagement for Lewisville Independent School District. Bonner will lead the district’s human resources services, benefits and risk management, federal programs, grants, policy, leadership development and new employee induction.

1998

Bonner has been employed with the district since 1991, beginning as a language arts and social studies teacher for Milliken Middle School (now DeLay Middle School).

Adam Pecina (M.Ed. health and kinesiology) was hired as associate athletic director for sports medicine with the United States Naval Academy. He was an assistant athletic trainer for the Navy from 2008 to 2014, before spending a year as an associate athletic trainer at the University of Georgia.

1992 Dr. Tamela Horton (B.S. mathematics) (M.Ed. educational administration 2003) was

John Ray (B.S. political science) (M.A. political science, 2002) is executive chief deputy of the Tarrant County Sheriff ’s Department.

He joined the department in 2009, after serving as assistant police chief in Longview for more than 21 years.

2000

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER MAGAZINE

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2005

year, after a six-year battle with leukemia.

Wes Bloomquist (B.S. journalism) is the new sports information coordinator for UT Tyler athletics. Bloomquist brings years of communication and writing experience to the Patriots staff, and is a three-time winner of the CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest.

2010

While a graduate student at San Angelo State University, he won the Lone Star Conference Sports Information Student Academic Award. He also filmed and produced highlight videos that earned #SCtop 10 during the 2013 and 2014 football seasons.

Johnathan Bryant (B.A.A.S. applied arts and sciences) was named athletic director and assistant head of school at The Fulton School near Dallas. Bryant is a former head baseball coach, was drafted by the San Diego Padres, and played for the Calgary Vipers, Schaumburg Flyers and Anderson Joes.

Blake Moser (M.S. human resource development) is owner and manager of BSM Inc., MedicalRecruiting.com and EngineeringRecruiters.com.

Kimberli Partin (B.B.A. accounting, MBA business administration) was promoted to trust officer of Southside Bank. Partin has been employed with Southside since 1996.

Allison (nee Chew) Syltie (M.F.A. studio art) was hired as director of Baylor University’s Martin Museum of Art. She also serves as chairman of the Museum Planning Committee for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Texas and oversees the development and organization of IOOF’s historic collections.

Syltie received certification in education and outreach from the Texas Association of Museums.

2011

Clint Kelley (B.M. music) is choir director for Sacred Heart junior and senior high schools and choral director of the North Central Texas Chorale.

Blake Cathey (B.B.A. finance) joined Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants. His practice focuses on financial institution controls and audit.

2007

Stephanie Kurland (B.B.A., M.B.A. accounting) joined Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants. She graduated cum laude from UT Tyler.

Maegan Schneider (M.S. civil engineering) joined the staff of Aqueous Engineering, a Tyler-based aquatic and civil engineering firm.

2008 Kyle Dezern (B.S. history) was named head baseball coach for Jacksonville Independent School District. He served as Frankston ISD’s head baseball coach for the 2012 through 2014 football seasons.

2009 Jeremy Cotham (B.S. journalism) was honored posthumously with the establishment of the Jeremy Cotham Sports Memorial Scholarship Fund at Kilgore College. A former sportswriter for the college’s student newspaper, Cotham died earlier this

Alana Perdue (B.B.A.) received her license as a certified public accountant. She is employed as a senior accountant in the tax department at Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants.

2012 Kelsey Andrews (B.B.A. accounting) joined Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants.

Dr. Cheryl McKay (Ph.D. nursing) was promoted to chief nursing officer of North America for Orion Health, a population health management and health care

integration company. McKay previously served as the company’s nurse executive.

2013 Paula Gean (B.A. political science) was appointed director of marketing for Dialexa, a Dallas-based technology consulting, design and engineering firm.

Gean previously served as founding director of Addison Treehouse, a resource center for entrepreneurs.

Dillon Driscoll (B.S. kinesiology) and Taylor Adkins (B.S. interdisciplinary studies, 2014) were united in marriage in June 2015.

Dillon is forestry technician with Raven Environmental. Taylor is a second-grade teacher in Tyler Independent School District.

2014 Sarah Doss (B.S. criminal justice) completed the Tyler Junior College Law Enforcement Academy to become an officer at the Tyler Police Department. Doss worked as a dispatcher for Tyler PD before attending the academy.

Stephanie (Chiaramonte) Huckaby (M.B.A. business administration) of Cypress married Trenton Andrew Huckaby of Troup in May 2015.

Jonathan Katz (M.B.A. business administration) is the administrator of Oregon Specialists Survery Center in Salem, Oregon He previous positions include EMT, lab researcher and circulating nurse.

Matthew Zurawski (B.B.A. accounting) received his license as a certified public accountant. Zurawski is employed with Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants.

2015 Melissa Ellis (B.B.A. accounting/finance) joined Gollob Morgan Peddy Certified Public Accountants. She graduated magna cum laude from UT Tyler.

Gerardo Martinez (B.S. mass communications) was promoted to multimedia journalist at CBS 19 in Tyler.

He joined the news team in January as a Web producer.

John Peterson (M.B.A. healthcare management) was promoted to chief administrative officer for Sunstar Paramedics. He will oversee the organization’s daily operations and 550 employees. Peterson joined Sunstar in 2003 and has served as director of operations and administrative supervisor.

Joshua Roberts (M.Acc. accounting) was hired as an advisor with Roseman Wealth Advisors, a multidiscipline financial services firm.

Jessica Ross (B.S. interdisciplinary studies) joined the girls athletics coaching staff at Jacksonville High School.

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