Idaho State University Magazine

PRACTICALLY

REAL The New Facility at Idaho State University’s School of Nursing Provides a Taste of Reality

Volume 39 | Number 2 | Spring 2009

Plus … Accelerating Isotope Production • What’s Driving the Future of Power? … and more!

Podgursky Goes to Hollywood

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

COVER STORY

Cover: Look into the Idaho State University School of Nursing through the story on Page 16.

Photos by ISU Photographic Services

Chrome in the Dome, a student-run car show, took place in Holt Arena March 19-20.

See the story on Page 6 and don’t forget to go online to check out the photo gallery.

ISU Photographic Services/Julie Hillebrant

See each story and more at www.isu.edu/magazine

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 29 30 31

From the President Grad student makes discovery Health Professions dean immortalized CAES opens doors Chrome in the Dome comes to Holt Arena ISU’s Early Learning Center ISU hosts national debate tournament Researchers work to make waste useful Attempting to improve medical imaging ISU has major role with grant on climate change Melding technologies for training with Play2Train ISU’s Nepalese connection Responding to the nursing shortage School of Nursing offers a (sur)real environment for learning Engineering alumnus examines the future of energy ISU alumnus tries to make his mark in Hollywood An ’09 graduate doesn’t let a disability slow her down A glimpse at the ISU ADA & Disability Resource Center Annual Report ISU alumnus Roger Williams returns for campus performance Passing of Harry Magnuson Passing of Carl McIntosh Passing of Clark Carlile Trackings

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Spring 2009

Energy, Medicine, the Environment and ISU Idaho State University approaches challenges and solutions in three primary arenas: energy, medicine and the environment. Each of these areas overlap and create new realms for exploration and development.

For instance, in the overlap of medicine and energy you might find our work with producing medical isotopes. Using technologies typically associated with energy — particle accelerators — we are finding great promise for imaging and treatment in health. You can read more about Professor Doug Wells and the Idaho Accelerator Center’s work (p. 10) in this issue.

Vailas Similarly, we cannot talk about energy needs today without considering the environment. Both the source and byproducts of our energy sources are inextricably connected to the environment. Alternative energy sources, such as those studied at the recently completed Center for Advanced Energy Studies (p. 6), promise to fuel us for the centuries to come. Alumni like John Prescott recognize this great challenge and want to promote clean, renewable energy sources (p. 20). Researchers like Professor Tim Magnuson are searching for ways to convert agricultural waste into ethanol (p. 9), solving concerns about cleaning up pollution while simultaneously producing new energy.

No one can deny the impact the environment has on our health, either. We know that we are only as healthy as the world in which we live, and researchers studying everything from stream ecology to climate change to urbanization find the connections.

It is no mistake that the new national administration is focused on the same areas. These are issues that define our era and will determine how we will thrive or struggle as a nation, a world and humankind in the coming generations. Showing leadership in a time of crisis is what we need to do as an institution. We are realigning the past’s focus on manufacturing and building a base of knowledge through research and development.

That base provides the foundation for economic recovery, too. Both the public and private sectors are deeply interested in what happens in energy, health care and the environment. They want knowledge, technology and human capital. The pressing crises in health care reveal the need to grow the number of people who have a sound education accompanied by experience and insight. Training is not enough; the world needs research to produce true education.

That is what we are doing at Idaho State University. We are driving economic development in the state of Idaho, and contributing to national and global recovery as well.

Arthur C. Vailas, Ph.D. President, Idaho State University

Happy Birthday to ISU Magazine online!

ISU Magazine celebrates its first anniversary of offering exclusive online content and features with this issue. Since we started, we have added more video, photo galleries and multi-media presentations enriching the experience each story has to offer.

You can still e-mail your favorites to friends and colleagues, and you can also find direct links to featured departments’ and individuals’ sites.

You can help us keep ISU Magazine coming free of charge by making a taxdeductible contribution of $25, $50, $75 or more. Just send a check, made out to ISU Magazine, to: ISU Magazine, c/o ISU Foundation, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8050, Pocatello, ID 83209-8050. Questions? Call the Foundation at (208) 282-3470.

www.isu.edu/magazine

HATZENBUEHLER IMMORTALIZED

Parasite Named After Dean

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921 South 8th Ave., Stop 8265 Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8265 (208) 282-3620 Arthur C. Vailas, Ph.D. University President Kent M. Tingey, D.A. ’97 Vice President, University Advancement William Kobus, ’81 kobubill@isu.edu Director, Alumni Relations Graham Garner, ’02, ’07 garngrah@isu.edu Director, University Relations Idaho State University Magazine welcomes letters, comments and story ideas. Direct them to the postal address below, or send an e-mail to garngrah@isu.edu.

Idaho State University Magazine staff Contributors Nancy Lovgren - ’79 Andrew Taylor Casey Thompson - ’86 Designer Joey Gifford - ’03 Photo Services Susan Duncan - ’95 Julie Hillebrant - ’00 Office of Alumni Relations Idaho State University 921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8033 Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8033 (208) 282-3755 or (800) 933-4781 or e-mail: alumni@isu.edu

Freelance journalists are encouraged to submit queries for topical stories with an Idaho State University connection. Please send queries by e-mail to the editor at garngrah@ isu.edu, or call (208) 282-3620.

Postmaster

ISU Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of University Relations at Idaho State University.

Send address changes to the Office of Alumni Relations at 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8033, Pocatello, ID 83209-8033 or send an e-mail to alumni@isu.edu.

ISU Grad Student Makes Discovery MIRADOR BASIN HAS BEEN FERTILE GROUND FOR ISU RESEARCHERS

Idaho State University graduate student J. Craig Argyle poses next to the 2,300-year-old stucco frieze found at the El Mirador archaeological site in northern Guatemala.

n a quest to save Guatemala’s Mirador Basin Region, Idaho State University anthropology professor Richard Hansen continues to make remarkable Mayan archeological discoveries garnering worldwide attention.

Earlier this year, the Guatemalan government announced a number of major finds, including an ancient roof comb created in 500 B.C. The decorative panel on the summit of a pyramid structure is accompanied by two 26foot long intricately decorated stucco panels crafted in 300 B.C. “These recent finds are changing entirely our understanding of the developmental history of the Mayans,” said Hansen, who heads ISU’s Institute for Mesoamerican Research and the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES) based in Rupert. “We’re looking at exquisite art created 500 and 300 years before Christ by the Maya.”

The panels were discovered by Idaho State University anthropology graduate student J. Craig Argyle, who was investigating water collection systems. ISU students have participated in the Mirador Basin Project the last several years.

The announcement of these discoveries was featured in media outlets throughout the United States and abroad, from MSNBC to the Reuters news service.

Hansen is passionate about protecting the Mirador Basin, and involving locals in the management of the area. Many groups, including some major international “conservation groups,” favor logging and settling the area, actions which make as much sense to Hansen as “using the Grand Canyon as a landfill for Los Angeles or strip-mining Yellowstone National Park.”

“We can generate hundreds of millions of dollars more by preserving the area than by resource exploitation of any kind,” Hansen said. “It behooves us to look at the economic model we’ve proposed and our justification for saving it.”

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Photo courtesy of Richard Hansen/FARES

Among the Mirador Basin’s more impressive attributes, Hansen notes: • it is home to the largest and earliest cities in the Mayan world; • it is the last tract of virgin rainforest left in Central America; • it has one of the greatest densities of wild jaguars left in the entire world; • it is home of the largest pyramids in the world; • it is the first state-level society in the Western Hemisphere; and • it is one of the five founding civilizations in the world.

See our Web extras for world-wide coverage of the Mirador Basin.

he name Haliotrematoides hatzenbuehlerae will echo forever through the corridors of time.

Kasiska College of Health Professions Dean Linda Hatzenbuehler has achieved one form of immortality, due to the gracious gesture of one of her colleagues, Professor Emeritus Delane Kritsky, who has named a parasitic worm in Hatzenbuehler’s honor.

Kritsky named a parasitic worm Haliotrematoides hatzenbuehlerae after his former dean. For the record, Haliotrematoides hatzenbuehlerae lives in the gills of yellow-banded snapper off Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Both Hatzenbuehler and Kritsky insist being named after a parasite is not an insult, nor a backHatzenbuehler handed compliment.

“Linda basically supported my research for quite a period of time,” said Kritsky, a former associate dean of the Kasiska College of Health Professions and professor of health and nutrition sciences. He retired from full time work in 2007 after 33 years at ISU, but remains an active researcher.

“I retired a couple of years ago and at the time, in appreciation of all she’s done for me, I said I’d name the next new species I found after her,” Kritsky said. “It is an honor.

This is forever; that name will never disappear.”

For her part, Hatzenbuehler said, “What a gift! I was absolutely thrilled when Delane announced his gift to me at the party held in honor of his long service to the college, and I remain thrilled.

Just think about it. It’s my link to immortality — that just doesn’t happen every day.”

For a detailed account of Kritsky’s research interests and career at ISU, visit the ISU Headlines Page, www2.isu.edu/ headlines/?p=868.

haliotrematoides hatzenbuehlerae

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Spring 2009

ISU’S EARLY LEARNING CENTER

CENTER FOR ADVANCED ENERGY STUDIES

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daho National Laboratory and the state of Idaho – through its three public research universities partnering in the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) – recently dedicated the new 55,000-square-foot, $17 million energy research laboratory on the banks of the Snake River in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and the state’s congressional delegation joined INL, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, Boise State University and the U.S. Department of Energy in officially opening the doors Feb. 20 to the new facility dedicated to education, training and research in pursuit of solutions to critical energy problems.

CHROME IN THE DOME

“For six decades now, INL has been putting Idaho at the cutting edge of energy technology,” Gov. Otter said.

“Now, CAES is helping to ensure that Idaho is leading the drive to address our nation’s energy challenges today onfuture. The state of Idaho andMore into the the Web is proud to be a partner in this collaborative enterprise that will be such an important part of advancing the cause of More energy independence.” on CAESWeb research focuses on nuclear the

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o the public, it’s a cool car show coming at the right time of the year to cure the late winter/early spring doldrums. But for those that put on the Chrome in the Dome Car and Bike Show in late March, it’s a productive effort as a learning experience and fund-raiser for student clubs.

More than 60 students and their advisors in three different College of Technology programs and their associated students clubs are involved in putting on the show.

This two-day event in Holt Arena has grown annually during its three-

science, materials for energy application, bioenergy, carbon management and policy.

“This facility is not only a great accomplishment,” said ISU President Arthur Vailas, “but it has many other extensions in the great things we’re doing in energy here in Idaho that will affect the world.”

ISU Magazine featured a detailed story on CAES in the Fall 2008 edition.

Look online at www.isu.edu/magazine for a video and images from the opening.

More on the Web

Car Show Provides Fun More on and Learning Experience the Web

year run and was appropriately billed “Bigger, Better, Louder” this spring More on nearly 10,000 showwhen it attracted goers. theChrome Web featured more than 150 show cars and trucks and 38 motorcycles, coming from throughout on West and further, theMore Intermountain the Web including southern California and South Dakota.

“With our access to Holt Arena, we can hold the show indoors early each spring when other shows can’t be held outside,” said Russell Butler, ISU auto collision repair and refinishing instructor and a club advisor. “It

Photo by ISU Photographic Services

University Has Been Helping Student-Parents Since the 70s

is the perfect place and timing, because people are anxious, itching and ready to get out.”

See a photo gallery at www.isu.edu/magazine The three student clubs sponsoring the show are enrolled in the College of Technology Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing, Automotive Technology, and Marketing and Management Occupations programs.

“This has just been an incredible opportunity to put into action what I’ve learned in the classroom,” said Michelle Young, a student intern working on the Chrome in the Dome project who is in the College of Technology’s marketing program. “I’ve led meetings with the 60 to 70 students involved, worked on commercials, negotiated business deals and had the opportunity to network.”

Net proceeds, including gate receipts and sponsorships by local automotiverelated businesses, go to fund student club activities, primarily participation in SkillsUSA contests at the local, state and sometimes regional and national level.

“When we look back to when we created the show it has just been amazing,” Butler said. “It has exceeded our wildest expectations.”

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Photo by ISU Photographic Services

Research Center Opens Doors

daho State University is home to more than 14,000 stuand connections children make at the center to further develop dents, many of whom have children of their own. Scores as the children attend school together. of these student-parents not only attend classes, but strive The ELC meticulously monitors the education of the children, to raise children as well. For these students, the Idaho State so that each classroom is advancing at a healthy pace. “Outside University Early Learning Center, or ELC, is an easy and conof each classroom is a daily schedule, to keep parents and staff venient option to ensure that their children are receiving the informed of the activities their children engage in,” added Wilsame high quality education as their parents. liamson. “Additionally, the teachers must submit weekly lesson The ELC originated in the 1970s when a group of studentplans, which are reviewed to make sure they’re appropriate.” The parents wanted a better care system for their children. Since lesson plans are carefully crafted to provide both balance and then, the ELC has grown to become one of the largest facilities quality in the level of instruction, and to properly prepare the of its kind in the children for their educational progress. nation. It has ex“It really is a joy to work with these children,” said Colleen panded to include Hammers, one of the dedicated teachers on staff. “It’s just a joy a satellite location to be able to help not only the children learn, but know that for the Idaho Falls we’re also helping their parents finish their schooling as well.” campus, serving The Center strives to ensure that each child gets the attention its student-parent necessary, and keeps their student-to-teacher ratios below the population as recommended maximum, as well as below both state and city well. codes. This allows the teachers to give every student the time “The parents and energy necessary for their early learning success. who originally The ELC is a vital and important part of the Idaho State launched this University higher education system. It allows the bright minds of idea, they were today the time and energy to succeed, as well as educating the really sort of leaders of tomorrow.

Jeff Phillips pioneers in startGavin Flynn, age 3, attended the ELC for ISU Magazine ing it. It wasn’t a during the spring semester. common sight on many campuses,” said ELC Director Kerry Williamson.

Currently, the ELC location in Pocatello is participating in a pilot program with the state of Idaho called the IdahoSTARS Project. IdahoSTARS is a program designed to aid parents by presenting information about quality child care settings.

IdahoSTARS also aims to support child care providers with an assortment of professional development opportunities and

by Jeff Phillips resources. This is an exciting opportunity for the ELC to help launch this program, and is a testament to the atmosphere The ELC isn’t the only support option available to ISU students they have created. who are parents. Recently, students founded the Baby U Club as an “We’re really quite excited to be taking part in this proon-campus group to help students with children of all ages balance gram,” Williamson said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the demands between family and education. us to help create standards for parents to go by, to look at “We hope to see the club alleviate difficulties and provide a better when choosing a suitable care center for their children.” balance between school, work and family for these students,” said Heidi The IdahoSTARS project is creating a rating system for Harold, club advisor. “We feel it’s important because the vast majority of day cares similar to hotel ratings. A parent could look up students are or will be parents.” a rating, and see where the facility they are considering Baby U Club hosted a student parent fair April 22, which brought rates among other local options. “This is a wonderful tool together many public organizations useful to student parents, such as WIC for parents to ensure the quality of care their children will be receiving,” added Williamson. “This will not and Medicaid. only help parents, but should make every child care The organization recently solicted information and ideas from students center strive to receive the highest rating.” via e-mail, allowing the club to assess student needs and what resources and The Pocatello location currently enrolls children services the club can provide to target and resolve those needs. The group is from the age of 6 weeks up through the compleseeking to provide access to its resources online as well. tion of the fifth grade. Their enrollment age system “We’re currently compiling a list of local daycares, which we hope to matches the local school district, thus providing a make searchable. We’re also creating a map of local areas safe for mothers to smooth transition into the elementary education breastfeed, called lactation stations,” Harold said. “We’re very excited about the system. This method also allows the friendships opportunities this club can provide for students.”

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Spring 2009

HE SAID, SHE SAID

A COLLABORATIVE CHALLENGE

ISU Hosts CEDA National, USA’s Largest Collegiate Tournament

Researchers Seek to Create Ethanol From Idaho Agricultural Waste

ISU team pleased with finish, University of Oklahoma takes home first

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he largest collegiate championship debate tournament in the country came to Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus this spring, drawing 146 two-person teams from 83 colleges and universities from throughout the United States.

ISU’s James M. and Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society hosted the 2009 Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) Nationals from March 19-24, including teams from Harvard, Emory, George Washington, Gonzaga and Pepperdine universities.

A team from the University of Oklahoma won the tournament, earning a decision over Towson University, located near Baltimore, Md. Host Idaho State University performed well in the tournament, with its team of Paul Montreuil and Danielle Jennings making it to the octo-finals, the “Sweet 16” of the tournament, before being defeated by Wichita State.

Montreuil also was honored as one of the best individual debaters in the tournament, earning the ninth-place speaker spot.

“We had high goals coming into the tournament, wanting to win it,” said Sarah Partlow-Lefevre, director of the ISU Rupp Debate Society. “But I’m extremely proud of the showing of our team making it to the ‘Sweet 16’ and

Paul earning a top-10 individual finish.”

During Partlow-Lefevre’s seven years as director, the ISU Rupp Debate Society has risen to national prominence, winning more than 200 awards and honors in intercollegiate debate, 182More of which onwere top-five finishes, including 45 first-place awards. the Web “Sarah is widely acknowledged as one of the top five coaches in the country,” said James DiSanza, chair of More on the ISU Communications and RhetoriWeb calthe Studies department. “We are very pleased with the job she has done here.”

DiSanzaon said that CEDA likes “geoMore graphic diversity” in its selection sites. thewas Web Idaho selected not only for being a new location, but to offer “a nice recognition of the strength of our debate Moreand onits coach.” program the PriorWeb to the CEDA Nationals, the Idaho State University debate team won the championship of the Rocky More Regional on Tournament.

Mountain This region includes Idaho, Montana, the Web Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Nevada. In individual competiMore on took top honors as first tions, Montreuil speaker with a 6-0 undefeated perforthe Web mance, while Jennings was awarded

More on the Web

fourth speaker.

The ISU James M. and Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society has been the top team in its region six of the last seven years and has had success at the CEDA Nationals. In 2006 the ISU Rupp Debate Society finished third at the CEDA Nationals behind Dartmouth and Harvard Universities.

Organizers had their hands full preparing for the event, which required finding nearly 100 classrooms to host debates. Many of the debates were hosted in ISU’s newest venue, the Rendezvous Complex. The finals were held in the Pocatello Red Lion Hotel. Award ceremonies were held in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center.

“We are very grateful for and honored by the help we’ve received from the ISU administration, and the Pocatello Chubbuck Convention and Visitors Bureau,” DiSanza said. “Mr. James Rupp, an ISU alumnus and long-time supporter of the debate program, was also instrumental in bringing this event to campus.”

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

See video from the debate tournament at www.isu.edu/magazine

Photo by Ross Knight

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hey are not exactly alchemists trying to turn lead into gold, but almost: researchers from Idaho’s three largest public universities are seeking to create ethanol from the Gem State’s agricultural waste.

And they have a realistic shot at converting potato, sugar beet and other agricultural waste – perhaps even cow manure – into a fuel that can run your car.

Tim Magnuson, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology, has received $27,000 from the Center for Advanced Energy Studies – Idaho National Laboratory for a collaborative project between Idaho State University, Boise State University, the University of Idaho and the INL. “We want to emphasize that this study focuses on using Idaho raw materials,” Magnuson said. “A lot of this material is waste that we hope we can convert to useful energy.”

Idaho State University’s role in the project, funded by the Department of Energy, is to discover and characterize microorganisms that convert agricultural waste to ethanol. There is the potential to convert the waste from potatoes, sugar beets and other major Idaho crops into fuel, which would reduce waste and become an energy source.

“We have candidate microorganisms for the study that can metabolize those materials in waste products,” Magnuson said. “We’re using micro-

biological processes to convert waste byproducts into ethanol.”

Various bacteria can break down sugars in plants to make ethanol in a process similar to using fermentation to create alcohol. Idaho State University researchers are testing a variety of microbes in their laboratories that can metabolize various waste products into ethanol. Once the best microbes for doing this are identified, the researchers will just be getting started.

More on of this project is “The challenge the Web taking everything from the laboratory to the pilot scale to actually produce ethanol,” Magnuson said. “This project More onbasic research to discover incorporates Web thethe proper microbes up to applied en-

More on the Web

gineering that will produce the fuel.”

Once Idaho State researchers discover the best microbes for converting agricultural waste into ethanol, Boise State University researchers, led by assistant professor Kevin Feris, Ph.D., will work on encapsulating them in a form that can be used to convert waste. Greg Bala, a scientist at the INL, will assist in this area.

At the University of Idaho, Jon Van Gerpen, professor and chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, will then scale-up the process using the microbes to actually produce ethanol.

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

Look online at www.isu.edu/magazine for a multi-media presentation of Dr. Magnuson in the lab

More on the Web More on the Web More on the Web More on the Web

Background photo by ISU Photographic Services Cow photo courtesy of www.stockvault.net,

by Christian Taylor Hauschild

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10 Idaho State University Magazine

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

LOOKING DEEPER

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esearchers at the Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center are experimenting using nuclear accelerators instead of reactors to produce medical isotopes used annually for about 20 million medical imaging and treatment procedures in the United States.

If they are successful, southeast Idaho could become an area that produces medical isotopes commercially to supplement other medical-isotope sources.

“We are pursuing a new way of producing these isotopes that could have implications for the entire naDoug Wells, director of the Idaho Accelerator Center, examines some materials. tion,” said Doug Wells, director of the ISU Idaho Accelerator Center. “If this on Alternatives for Medical-Isotope tor is scheduled to close in about two works, we’re hoping to grow a local Production, about 80 to 85 percent of years. It was shut down for a short isotope production business that could all nuclear medicine procedures use time in fall 2007, causing shortages make southeast Idaho a hub for medithe medical-isotope Molybdenum-99 of the medical isotope used most cal isotope production.”

(Mo-99/Tc-99). About half of the 40 commonly in the United States, A medical isotope is a miniscule million nuclear medicine procedures which in turn caused about 2.5 milquantity of radioactive substance lion Americans to go without or“If this works, we’re hoping to grow a local isotope dered medical procedures. Business, that is used in safe, cost-effective imaging and treatment of disease. production business that could make southeast governmental and educational entiNuclear medicine is the medical Idaho a hub for medical isotope production.” ties in North America are searching specialty that utilizes medical isofor a replacement source or sources Doug Wells, Ph.D, Idaho Accelerator Center topes for diagnosis and treatment for the medical isotopes produced Idaho State University of conditions such as cancer or in Canada.

See video of the researchers and a heart disease.

Accelerators are safer than According to the University multi-media presentation at reactors and do not produce the of British Columbia Task Force nuclear waste or security issues of www.isu.edu/magazine transporting, storing and disposing that are annually done worldwide are enriched uranium. completed in North America, mostly “We’ve completed experiments to in the United States. However, no create medical isotopes with linear facilities in the United States manuaccelerators in the last couple of facture Mo-99. months that are highly encouraging,” The United States imports 90 perWells said. “We’re optimistic that we cent or more of the medical isotopes it will be able to secure funding to conuses. Most of North America’s Mo-99/ tinue this work and the private sector Tc-99 is manufactured at a nuclear has expressed strong interest in the reactor using enriched uranium in Onwork we are doing.” tario, Canada. There are many safety For more information on the and security concerns associated with Idaho Accelerator Center, visit http:// producing the medical isotopes with iac.isu.edu/.

Andy Taylor reactors using uranium, Wells noted.

ISU Magazine Furthermore, the Canadian reac-

Photos by ISU Photographic Services

ISU Researchers Attempt to Use Accelerators to Produce Isotopes for Medical Imaging

River Basin and on the Eastern Snake River Plain.

“Idaho has one of the largest, in tact watersheds in the Lower 48: the Salmon River Basin. It provides a window into how climate change may be affecting natural ecosystems in the West,” Baxter said. “We are particularly fortunate in that Idaho State University has decades of research that has been conducted in the Salmon River Basin that provides a long-term perspective on how it has changed and how it may be affected by climate change.”

Another geographic focal point of the study is the Eastern Snake River Plain and the Idaho National Laboratory site.

“Again, at ISU we have a long history of carrying out research on the Eastern Snake River Plain and at the INL,” Baxter said. “It is no accident we are playing a leadership role in aspects of this study.”

CLIMATE RESEARCH

ISU Has Key Role with $15 Million Grant

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daho State University played a role in landing, and is playing a key role in carrying out, the $15 million National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) grant to study climate change in Idaho.

“The state of Idaho and the three universities involved with the five-year project stand to make some important contributions to the study of climate change based on the strength of people involved, as well as the unique characteristics of the landscape we inhabit,” said Colden Baxter, Ph.D., assistant professor biology, and ISU’s lead person on the grant.

The research focus will be toward estimating impacts of future climate scenarios forecast by climate change models on water supply, biological systems and socio-economic systems of the Salmon River and Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer systems.

“Some parts of our state already have shown effects of changing climate, and much of our state, according to some climate models, is projected to be greatly affected by climate change,” Baxter continued. “There is a big red bull’s-eye on our area because it is expected to be strongly affected in various ways by changing climate.”

Von Walden, Ph.D., climatologist at University of Idaho, is the lead on the study. Baxter will be the grant’s team leader for the biological and ecological (including wildfire) impacts group. Rick Allen, Ph.D., of UI is the group leader on the water resources/hydrology focus; Sian Mooney of Boise State Uni-

versity is group leader for the economics and social impacts group. Among the three schools, there is a diverse team of more than 30 investigators.

Other ISU faculty involved with the grant include Drs. Matt Germino, Bruce Finney and Wayne Minshall in biological sciences and Drs. Nancy Glenn, Ben Crosby and Dan Ames in geosciences.

Idaho was able to attract the grant due in part to previous studies by ISU researchers conducted on the Salmon

I DA H O

STAT E

U N I V ER SITY

B OI SE

Idaho’s leader in health-sciences education.

ISU–Boise offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in the health professions.

For more information call (208) 373-1700 or visit our Web site at boise.isu.edu.

Leading in Opportunity and Innovation

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Play2Train

Virtual Worlds, Social Networks Provide Brave New World for Emergency Training

Far right: Scenes from Play2Train’s virtual world at Second Life.

Right: Ramesh Ramloll delves online.

hospital to complete an exercise of this scale in real life.”

The exercise was an opportunity to test Bingham Memorial Hospital’s current pandemic influenza plans.

The participants, through their avatars, played out their expected roles and responsibilities in the virtual setting.

travel to a training site; they need only login to a virtual site.

Last October, the ISU Institute of Rural Health partnered with Bingham Memorial Hospital to produce a pandemic flu triage exercise using Play2Train in a virtual hospital created

by Ramloll. Participants included personnel from the hospital, IRH, Blackfoot Fire Department and the Blackfoot Police Department. In all, 20 emergency response personnel at several different sites participated in the three-hour exercise.

“It is the first time that I know of that medical personnel held a pandemic influenza emergency preparation exercise in a virtual environment,” Ramloll said. “The response to the exercise was very positive. One of the participants from Bingham said they would have had to lock down the

• For more information on the ISU Kasiska College of Health Professions Institute of Rural Health visit http://www.isu.edu/irh/ • For a tour and a lot more information on Play2Train visit http:// www.play2train.org • For more information on Rocky Mountain Learning, a news report on the Bingham Memorial Hospital and recordings of the Bingham Memorial Hospital in Play2Train exercise visit http:// www.rockymountainlearning.com

Photo by ISU Photographic Services

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amesh Ramloll loves to play online. He posts on Facebook and moves avatars through Second Life.

He tweets on Twitter, connects on LinkedIn and plugs into Plaxo. Trolling the world of Web 2.0 has helped Ramloll harness the power of virtual worlds, online social networks and other nooks-and-crannies of the Internet to provide better training for health care and emergency-service providers.

Ramloll and his colleagues at Idaho State University’s Institute of Rural Health have been in the business of providing virtual trainings for emergency personnel for the past several years, primarily through its Play2Train platform. Play2Train was developed with support from the Idaho Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Program and is an online, three-dimensional, interactive virtual environment that is based in SecondLife, a virtual world with millions of subscribers.

“Play2Train is not real life, but it can be the next best thing,” said Ramloll, Play2Train’s founder. “By providing a virtual replica of real places and objects, Play2Train imparts a sense of plausibility within the virtual setting, allowing immersion of the participants in the virtual scenarios. Play2Train provides opportunities for collaborative learning and allows geographically dispersed stakeholders to participate in a common learning effort, with much less costs and minimal disruptions in workflows.”

The IRH, in the ISU Kasiska College of Health Professions, sees Play2Train as an example of “serious play,” where programmers use gaming technology — similar to that used in “SimCity” games, “HALO” and “World of Warcraft” — and apply it to serious applications. Participants create avatars for themselves to enter into the virtual realm, where they can interact with other participants in “live” or “real-time” exercises. One benefit of Play2Train is people don’t have to

The IRH is now using Play2Train while working with a large hospital in southern California. Ramloll does not offer many details on this project because of privacy agreements, but said that it is on a much grander scale than previous exercises and it sets the groundwork for similar ventures.

But Play2Train isn’t the only tool in the ISU Institute of Rural Health’s virtual and online toolbox. The IRH has launched Rocky Mountain Learning, a consulting service that aims to “provide live person-to-person interaction without the cost of travel, lodging, facility rental or additional presentation expenses.”

Rocky Mountain Learning can assist health and emergency preparedness organizations setup webinars and other online services, including using Play2Train.

It provides online registration, evaluation and

quiz applications for each session, links and downloads of the curriculum needed for each session and moderation of each session from introductions to closing remarks. It can host up to 1,000 participants at a time, while providing online hosting and technical support, and can record and archive sessions for later use.

“There are other less expensive and better ways to connect these days than through traditional conferences,” Ramloll said. “We understand the landscape of the technologies out there, from distance-learning technologies and simulation technologies to social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, and we want to share our expertise in connecting people.”

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

Connect with Ramesh Ramloll via www.isu.edu/magazine

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

n fall 2008, 45 Nepalese students were attending Idaho State University, making this contingent of international students the second largest at ISU, behind the 66 from India and ahead of the 39 from the People’s Republic of China.

These latter two countries each have more than a billion citizens—approximately 36 percent of the world’s population—and are two of the geographically largest countries (China ranks No. 4, India, No. 7). It stands to reason and proportion that they would be represented in greater number.

Nepal, on the other hand, is a much smaller country located between these two giants. It has a population of about 30 million and geographically is the 93rd largest country in the world, slightly larger than the state of Arkansas. The reasons for its high number of students are less obvious.

A suggested primary reason students from Nepal are enrolling at Idaho State University appears to be the result of positive recommendations by both undergraduate and graduate students.

“We cannot underestimate the power of word-ofmouth recruitment by our international students,” said Maria Fletcher, director of ISU’s International Programs Office.

After having positive experiences with Nepalese graduate students, the Graduate School developed a strategic plan to recruit more Nepalese students about two years ago.

“We have limited resources and it is difficult for us to recruit in places like China and India,” said Dr. Tom Jackson, dean of the ISU Graduate School. “We made a decision to

Rupa Pandey, a junior in microbiology, was among the dancers who performed at this year’s Nepalese Night at ISU, which drew hundreds of attendees who were treated to food, music and dance.

Background photo of Mount Everest, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, user Dnor Other photos by ISU Photographic Services

14 Idaho State University Magazine

concentrate some of our efforts in Nepal and it has worked out well.”

These efforts are widespread and include developing relationships with universities and faculty in Nepal, advertising ISU programs in English-written Nepalese newspapers and developing and mailing ISU promotional material to Nepalese students. The Graduate School also developed a Web “micro-site” for Nepalese students, www.isu.edu/graduate/ nepal, and Steve Bezdeka, coordinator of graduate promotion and recruitment, personally responds to each Web inquiry by a Nepalese student.

As a result of these contacts, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal, proposed the development of a memorandum of understanding between the two universities to promote research collaborations and academic exchange.

Recruiting and marketing efforts would not be successful, however, if Idaho State University did not deliver on providing quality opportunities for the Nepalese students who attend, and this is where word-of-mouth recommendations continue to be fruitful.

“Being Nepalese, far away from the place I was born, I got everything I could ask for in the course of acquiring an education in a foreign land,” said Rishika Sharma Lamichhane, who earned a master’s degree from ISU and is now working on a doctorate.

Several Nepalese students said the cost of attending Idaho State was less than competing U.S. universities they considered. Some international students can receive non-resident tuition waivers if they are pursuing studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

Additionally, ISU offers fields of study that interest many Nepalese students.

“There are so many options here,” noted Sanjeev Niroula, an ISU sophomore in engineering. “Back home you have to choose one field, one way and then pursue it. Here, there are so many fields, so many options, it is amazing.”

Many also appreciate the lifestyle Idaho offers.

“It is a good place to go to college,” said Prawag Koirala, a junior biochemistry major from Katmandu, Nepal’s largest city with more than a million residents. “It is not too crowded and it is quiet so you can focus on school. It is also good that you can see mountains around and nature close by, like in Nepal.”

• it is a small landlocked country located between India and China.

• Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is located in Nepal.

• The country is the birthplace of Buddhism.

• It is a culturally diverse country with more than 40 native languages.

• About 80 percent of its residents are Hindu, 10 percent Buddhist and 4 percent Muslim.

• The national language of Nepal, Nepali, is only spoken by about 60 percent of its citizens.

• The country became a federal republic last year after being a monarchy for 239 years.

• ISU had students from every Idaho county.

• ISU had students from every state in the union, except South Carolina.

• The states with the most nonresident students at ISU were California with 139, Utah with 137 and Washington with 107.

• International students from 69 countries attended ISU. • Top five nations represented: India, 66 students; Nepal, 45; China (People’s Republic) 39; Saudi Arabia, 30; and Ghana, 17.

Rishika Sharma Lamichhane earned a master’s at ISU and is now working on her doctorate.

The students on their own gather to celebrate Nepalese holidays or festivals. They also, like many international groups on campus, join forces once a year to put on a cultural dinner for the ISU and Pocatello community. This year’s Nepalese Night attracted an estimated 600 to 800 guests who were treated to food, music and cultural presentations.

Though they have integrated well at ISU, Nepalese students keep tight bonds with friends from their homeland.

“It makes a world of difference to have people from your own country around when you’re here who can lend you a hand or help you adjust to the culture,” Niroula said.

“And, if you get sick or something, you know where to go.”

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

See video of Nepalese Night and a multi-media presentation at www.isu.edu/magazine Bikul Koirala, master’s chemistry student

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16 Idaho State University Magazine

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Long before the Idaho Department of Labor sounded an alarm in January about the state’s potential nurse shortage, Idaho State University’s faculty had been laying the groundwork to answer the problem.

ISU Responds to the

The mounting crisis comes largely from an aging population, both amongst those who require care and those who provide it. ISU’s solution has been to prepare more nurses both to teach and to practice.

In the Department of Labor’s report – the Idaho Nursing Workforce Advisory Council’s “Summary of Findings and Recommendations” – its authors note “that on a per capita basis, the size of Idaho’s nursing work force is smaller than all surrounding states except Nevada, falling more than 20 percent below the national average.”

That shortage could become much worse, due to a perfect storm of factors affecting our ability to educate nurses for the workforce, according to Dr. Carol Ashton, associate dean and director of the ISU Kasiska College of Health Professions School of Nursing.

“We knew the ‘age-wave’ of baby boomers needing more health care services was coming and now it has started to arrive,” Ashton said.

“And it will arrive with hurricane-force waves by 2016 when the population of those 55 and over peaks, along with their health care needs. The primary care needs for them will be astounding.”

At the same time baby boomers are aging, so is the nursing faculty at our universities. The report notes, “No other factor influences the state’s capacity to educate nurses more than the availability of nursing faculty.” Ashton agrees, and that is where one of the primary challenges for solving the shortage exists.

“Fifty percent of nursing faculty members nationwide are over 50 years of age, and 40 to 50 percent of nursing faculty are expected to retire over the next five years, just when the demand for them is peaking,”

By Andy Taylor Ashton said. “You can’t educate Photos by Susan Duncan nurses to address the shortage and Julie Hillebrant if you don’t have the faculty to educate them.”

Faculty teaching undergraduates must have at least a master’s degree or be in the process of earning one, while faculty teaching master’s students must have a doctoral-level degree or be in the process of earning one.

Idaho State University’s Kasiska College of Health Professions School of Nursing is responding to that demand, offering a variety of nursing

N U R S I N G

Crisis

Carol Ashton, associate dean and director of the Idaho State University School of Nursing.

advanced degree options in Pocatello and online.

During spring semester 2009, there were 256 students enrolled in undergraduate nursing programs and 106 in graduate-level programs in the ISU School of Nursing. Each year, ISU produces about 36 master’s-prepared nurses, eight in the nurse-education field.

No other Idaho university produces more nurses with advanced degrees and Idaho State University will become the first to offer doctoral-level nursing degrees. The ISU School of Nursing is ready to begin offering a Ph.D., perhaps as early as fall 2010, and that program will soon be followed by a Doctor of Nurse Practice degree option.

ISU offers two “Pathways to Masters” programs one for current nurses holding associate degrees, the other for nurses with nursing bachelor degrees.

Idaho State offers five fully online master’s degree programs – family nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nursing education, clinical nurse leader and nursing leadership.

“All our master’s programs are fully online and allow any nurse, regardless of geographical location, to have access to a graduate education,” Ashton said.

The School of Nursing offers baccalaureatelevel degrees for nursing, the first step nurses must take to pursue the advanced degrees, in Pocatello and Boise. At the undergraduate level, the School of Nursing offers a traditional fouryear baccalaureate degree; a bachelor of science degree completion program for associate degree registered nurses and licensed practical nurses; and a “fast-track,” four-semester nursing B.S. degree program in Boise for students with a de-

Nursing student Lily Juantuah works with ISU adjunct faculty member Donna Lassere.

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18 Idaho State University Magazine

gree in another field who have their prerequisites completed.

On the main campus in Pocatello, the School of Nursing increased its undergraduate B.S. enrollment by 12 students — from 58 to 70 — three years ago, and has increased its enrollment in the Boise fast-track program from 20 to 30 students.

“We’re responding in every way we can to help avert the nursing shortage,” Ashton said.

Offering advanced degrees won’t solve the nursing and nurse faculty shortage in itself, however, due to the level of nursing faculty salaries.

“Nursing graduates with a master’s degree or an advanced practice certificate working as faculty make from 35 to nearly 45 percent less than their counterparts working in the private sector,” Ashton said. “And for those with a Ph.D. or doctoral level degree, the pay differential is much worse for those working in academia.”

Because of this pay differential, there is a lesser financial incentive for practicing nurses to enter academia to teach. Additionally, younger nurses entering the profession find little reason for pursuing advanced degrees.

“We must deal with the inequities of salary,” Ashton said. “And we must provide more incentives for students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in teaching by offering more loans, scholarships and tax incentives to facilitate younger nurses coming in to be nurse educators.”

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

(S U R ) R E A L

Learning Environment The new School of Nursing advanced-simulation lab feels like a real hospital.

Walking into the Idaho State University Kasiska College of Health Professions School of Nursing advanced clinical simulation laboratory feels a lot like simultaneously walking into a real hospital and the “Twilight Zone.”

It’s the simulation dummies that create the greatest “Twilight Zone” effect. These dummies can talk in English or Spanish.

Students can take their blood pressure and vital signs or draw blood from them. These “SIMs,” as they are called, include a man, a woman, a baby and a woman who gives birth to a baby with an attached umbilical cord. These dummies are sophisticated machines that can cry, choke, moan with pain, breath, turn blue in the lips or pass gas.

The SIMs make their home in a new lab that opened spring semester 2009 in the lower level of the ISU Nursing Building. It features a nursing station and six clinical examination rooms equipped with hospital beds, blood pressure cuffs and other equipment for taking vital signs and serving patients. The faux hospital rooms are equipped well enough that, in a real emergency, they could be used as a clinical care center for real patients.

This realism and the context these SIMs and the lab provide gives ISU nursing students an advantage in learning and entering the workforce.

“I think it is great to work with SIM man,” said Melinda Cox, a sophomore in the ISU Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. “You never know

Top left: Nursing students John Meyers and Sarah Messenger examine a dummy.

Top right: SIM man Left: From left, clinical assistant professor Beverly Hewett and students Stephanie Jett and Alvin Hang examine SIM baby.

Below: Nursing students prepare and study in the new hospital-like facility.

See a photo gallery of the new nursing facility at www.isu.edu/magazine

what you’ll get – he may go code on you or he may be fine. It is always a thrill to work on him because you don’t know what to expect.”

John Meyers, another BSN sophomore, remarked on the realism of the new laboratory on a broader scale.

“They have it set up like an actual nursing station and hospital rooms, exactly like in real life,” Meyers said. “That realism adds a different learning dimension to our program. When we enter the workforce, the transition will be from one hospital setting to the next, not from a classroom to a hospital setting.”

There is no other nurse teaching facility like it in Idaho and few like it in the West. The realism of the examination rooms, the artificial dummies or the actors who role-play different illnesses, however, are not the heart and soul of this operation.

“Ours is a top-of-the-line laboratory and is one of the top laboratories in the region — not just in terms of brick and mortar, but in terms of the kind of instruction, research and evaluation we can offer,” said Dr. Carol Ashton, associate dean and director of the Idaho State University School of Nursing. “The most important aspect of the simulation laboratory is the learning pedagogy that goes with the technology. Our lab provides students with a much deeper clinical learning besides the episodic learning we’ve had in the past.”

For example, students who are engaged in a clinical practicum at a real hospital are not guaranteed to see or treat a specific illness or health condition. In the simulation laboratory, however, instructors can design scenarios that will teach students about specific problems they will encounter.

Every examination room is next to an observation room equipped with one-way windows allowing instructors to observe and critique students.

This allows students to practice without faculty in the exam room, creating a more normal patientnurse interaction.

As soon as fall semester 2009, these observation rooms will be equipped with digital audiovisual recording equipment and connectivity to ISU Telehealth and Telemedicine network, which uses electronic communications and information technologies to provide or support long-distance clinical care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration throughout the state and region.

“The other piece of our infrastructure will be our connectivity, which will allow us to offer new models of clinical learning and clinical research,” Ashton said.

Students can be filmed in an exam room, then watch their own session and critique themselves.

Or, students can watch how their peers responded to the same clinical situation. Instructors could also create instructional scenarios of specific treatments or techniques, and then broadcast the session to practitioners in rural hospitals.

What these students learn from SIMs and a realistic laboratory translates into real benefits in the real world, and that is something each of their future patients will appreciate.

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009 Photo provided by John Prescott

20 Idaho State University Magazine

J

ohn Prescott does for a living what most of us only worry about in our spare time: he is trying to figure out how our country can create more energy.

The financial crisis has taken center stage in 2009, but Prescott warns challenging times are ahead for meeting energy needs and power is getting more expensive to produce. He pleads with people to educate themselves and get involved with energy-making decisions.

“We’re moving into a higher risk phase of the energy crisis and the stakes could not be higher,” Prescott said. “Even after the higher gasoline prices that we experienced in 2008, we’re still not taking energy strategy serious enough.”

Prescott, a Blackfoot-area native and 1981 graduate of Idaho State University’s College of Engineering, is currently the president and chief executive officer for PNGC Power based in Portland, Ore. He has 27 years of experience in the electric utility industry.

PNGC is a cooperatively owned power service business providing power supply and other management services to 16 cooperative member-owner utilities serving customers in seven western states, including Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. Its member-owners, including six coops in Idaho, have about $816 million in assets.

Historically, PNGC has largely delivered electricity to its members through long-term

contracts with the federal Bonneville Power Administration, which derives much of its power from hydroelectric projects. Beginning in 2012, however, its customers must provide their own energy sources, or utilize BPA’s marginal resources to meet additional demand because the BPA is tapped out.

“PNGC will be building its own portfolio of power generation plants to meet this demand,” Prescott said. “We’re looking at everything, from new technologies like wave power ... to more traditional power generating plants.”

Prescott is a proponent of producing more power through hydroelectricity, but acknowledges there is resistance to building more dams in the West and Northwest.

“The Department of Energy doesn’t consider hydropower a renewable resource, but I do,” Prescott said. “It is clean, reliable and has a low carbon output. I think hydro is the cleanest, best and most renewable energy resource there is. Because of the environmental landscape, it may be difficult to expand, but we are still exploring options there.”

The PNGC executive thinks natural gaspowered plants may be a good alternative for this region, because of the relatively plentiful supply and the fact it produces less carbon and is cleaner than coal.

“Wind and solar power are important components to help meet future power demands,” Prescott said, but he believes many

people have some fundamental misconceptions regarding those two sources of power.

“Wind and solar won’t solve the energy crisis because they are intermittent resources,” Prescott said. “You can’t guarantee wind will be blowing when you need it, and when it is blowing you might not need that power. Wind and solar power both need to be backed up by natural gas or combustion turbines, or some other dispatchable resource. We have to be realists. Lots of advertising these days seems to have wind turbines in the background, but you can’t replace traditional power plants with wind.”

Another alternate energy source that can supplement traditional power plants is methanepower plants using landfill gas. PNGC Power provides operations and management expertise at the Coffin Butte Resource Project, located north of Corvallis, Ore. The project generates clean renewable power from landfill gas, a natural byproduct of the organic matter in the neighboring regional landfill, Valley Landfills, Inc. The Coffin Butte Resource Project, which began operation in 1995, produces enough electricity to power about 4,000 average-size homes.

There is one more major energy source Prescott said needs to be given greater consideration: nuclear.

“I really think, going into the future with the growing concern about global warming, we have to be looking at nuclear,” Prescott said. “It needs to be part of the mix.”

These are some of the strategies Prescott is pursuing as CEO of PNGC. His advice to the rest of us for addressing our mutual energy needs is: • realize the sense of urgency regarding the crisis and get involved; • try to develop a realistic national energy strategy; • develop domestic resources; • don’t rule out anything; and • focus on energy efficiency.

Idaho State University, with its focus on energy research, partnership in the new Center for Advanced Energy Studies and academic and technical programs related to energy-producing professions, will help the region find answers to the energy challenges we face.

Prescott’s advice could help focus those at ISU and elsewhere who are looking for the answers to those challenges.

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

THE POWER BEHIND THE DRIVER

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A strange thing happened while Blackfoot native John Prescott was on his way to putting out fires: he became president and CEO of PNGC Power, based in Portland, Ore. After graduating from high school in the 1970s, Prescott had two main goals: become a pilot and a firefighter. He fulfilled both goals soon after high school, while holding a job with the Pocatello Fire Department for six years.

While at the PFD, his supervisor encouraged Prescott to pursue a university education to advance his career. Prescott did, arranging his shifts so that he could take classes. He entered Idaho State’s engineering program because it was the closest thing ISU offered to fire science, something that might help him eventually become a fire chief. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering from ISU in 1981.

That’s when his career path changed.

“It’s funny. I went to college to become a fire chief, but pursuing an education presented a lot of opportunities for me,” he said.

Engineers were in high demand in the 1980s, so Prescott took a job for a year as a civil engineer at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. But he wanted to return to Idaho and landed a job with Idaho Power, where he worked for 23 years in various positions, his last as vice president of power supply. He then worked at Seattle City Light, one of the largest municipal electric systems in the nation, before being hired at PNGC and eventually becoming its leader.

Prescott credits education as the key to his success. When asked what advice he’d offer to current ISU students, Prescott said, “First and foremost, get the most education you can. Education will open more doors than you can ever imagine. After that, be open to everything and all the opportunities that are out there, pay attention to what’s going on in the world and network.”

“And,” he quipped, “Read ‘The Economist.’”

Prescott certainly followed his own advice. While working at Idaho Power he went on to earn a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho, and completed the executive Master of Business Administration program at Harvard Business School. Prescott is a registered professional engineer in eight Western states, something not many engineers can boast. His education and career have taken him throughout the United States and all over the world, working in countries from Iceland to Asia.

He still has fond memories and connections to Idaho State University. For one, his wife of a little over a year, Patti Megason, is a 1982 alumna of Idaho State with a degree in nursing. She is still practicing. His mother and brother also are Idaho State alumni.

Prescott is satisfied with the education he received at ISU. “The absolutely neat thing about the degree I received from Idaho State was that it was a general degree in engineering, which gave me a background in everything from concrete design to mechanical analysis,” Prescott said. “The ISU program also had a fair emphasis on the economic side of things, which is also very important.”

And he noted the teacher-student ratio was very small, particularly in upper level classes, a characteristic still true of the program.

“Go Bengals,” Prescott said.

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Can the Short Film ‘Cheerbleeders’ help spell success for Peter Podgursky?

Recent ISU theatre graduate gives Tinseltown his best shot HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The 11-minute film Cheerbleeders has some elements you might expect in a low budget, grad-student horror film, including violence, lots of blood, scantily clad cheerleaders and a sense of humor. It also features one of the most interesting field-goal kick attempts in the history of American cinema.

Beside these elements, its creator, Peter Podgursky, a 2003 graduate of Idaho State’s theatre program, says it has its roots in ancient Greek drama and has deeper roots still in Idaho. He produced the film for his 2007 master’s thesis at the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

“If I hadn’t gone to Idaho State and been in (ISU theatre professor) Norm Schroder’s class, I would have never read Euripides’ play ‘The Bacchae,’” said Podgursky, a 1999 graduate from Blackfoot High School. “In that play the god Dionysus seeks revenge and turns women into vicious monsters. My movie is based on ‘The Bacchae’ and features a kid who turns cheerleaders into monsters who wreak havoc on a high school. It is a take-off on a play I read at ISU.” Cheerbleeders (“It is definitely rated ‘R,’” notes Podgursky) is set at Blackfoot High School in Podgursky’s hometown in Idaho, and

features footage shot at a homecoming game pitting BHS against Idaho Falls. The athletic departments at both schools lent Podgursky uniforms that he took back to California for actors to wear as he finished his film.

The film is about Idaho in other ways, featuring an outcast punk rocker in the lead role, something Podgursky said he was in his high school years. The female lead in the film, Laurel Vail, is a friend of Podgursky’s from Idaho Falls. The closing credits of Cheerbleeders features the song “Face Against the Wall” by the Pocatello punk band the Teen Meanies. The film also may be a catharsis to some of the angst Podgursky felt growing up as a teenager in Idaho and facing some challenging times beyond the scope of this article.

Cheerbleeders, particularly as a master’s thesis, has done well, winning awards at seven horror film festivals, including Best Short at the Phoenix Fear Film Festival. However, for the 27-year-old Podgursky the creation of the film is just one step to achieving his professional goals.

“I want to write for television, or write and direct horror movies, or anything that gets me close to that,” Podgursky said.

His former ISU theatre professor, Schroder, said he believes Podgursky has the talent to pull off those feats.

Schroder taught Podgursky in the classroom and directed him in plays at ISU. “Peter is one those people that really does think out of the box,” Schroder said. “Although he is very rooted, he sees the world through a variety of perspectives and he is immensely creative, which are very good characteristics for someone going into film.”

If Podgursky doesn’t succeed, it won’t be for a lack of trying. Just as his film may have less frivolous roots than one would expect on first impression, the same could be said for Podgursky.

He achieved a 3.9 GPA while attending ISU, and lives an energetic lifestyle. He now works 50 to 60 hours This photo taken during the filming of “Cheerbleeders” features Peter Podgursky in the foreground and actress Chelsey Dailey in the background.

Peter Podgursky’s Top Five Hollywood Moments (so far): 1 • Having Sam Raimi, director of the SpiderMan films, ask why him why he wasn’t wearing a tie.

2 • Having a “real job” in Hollywood — with a 401k and insurance — working as a receptionist at JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions.

Abrams, among other feats, produces “Lost” the most popular TV show in America, and is making the next Star Trek movie, Star Trek (2009) .

3 • Having his own office that has its own private bathroom at the Paramount Studios lot.

4 • Having dinner with famous horror movie directo r John Carpenter, who directe d Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, and many oth er popular audience and cult hit s.

5 • Having Gremlins directo r, Joe Dante, visit his set to personally wish him good luc k with his shoot.

Photos provided by Peter Podgursky

22 Idaho State University Magazine

a week, sometimes more, as a From a scene in “Cheerbleeders”: from left, actors receptionist and office manager Jon Catoe, Mike Horton and Jake House. at JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, which produces America’s Bendinger, writer of the cheerleader comedy, Bring most popular television show, It On. Both gave Podgursky advice on bettering “Lost,” and is producing the next his film. He also wrote Sam Raimi, director of the Star Trek movie, among many Spider-Man movies, who invited Podgursky to the other endeavors. set of Spider-Man III, where Podgursky met Raimi “It’s a really cool place,” and actor Tobey Maguire. Other people he wrote Podgursky said. He interacts with letters to also offered their time and provided their famous people on a regular basis advice. and is surrounded by pros in his “You try to set yourself up for success so when chosen profession. When he is it comes your way, you don’t mess it up,” Podgurnot working, he is busy writing sky said.

“I’m trying to be as ready as possible for movie and television scripts and any opportunity that is coming my way.” producing YouTube videos for Schroder is among those who have faith in www.grumpypandafilms.com. He Podgursky. has co-written a full-length script “I would certainly never write him off,” Schrofrom his short and is working on der said. “He has immense potential and I suspect another. He also recently had a he’ll do us proud.” small part as an actor in one of Andy Taylor his friend’s films.

ISU Magazine “I’m just hustling, with a lot of irons in the fire.” Podgursky said.

Web sites for more information: One example of his strategic http://www.cheerbleeders.com/ nature, his energy and thinking http://www.fatally-yours.com/interviews/ outside the box was his writing of 100 letters to people interview-with-cheerbleeder-writerdirectorhe admired, asking them for input on Cheerbleeders. peter-podgursky/ “It’s amazing what you can get from people if you http://www.badrobot.com just ask them,” he said. “And all it cost me was a 42cent stamp.”

His letters were productive. He had dinner with ayJohn Carpenter, the director of Halloween and he-sw it be t : r e ) many other films. He also had far r, let sky s-und gur te (so eerleader m this yea ursky’s d coffee with Jessica o l h g Quo d Pod ibal-c er P cast fi Pet eview inute cann chool-out ho feature t s h-s -m Be ie-R lt, w eles. ne 11 ls-hig v g Oswa Mo only see o f-the-reve n Patton in Los An a o u i w o d o d me “If y reek-go y sh by co G omed of-a- leeders.” – lloween c a rb Chee at a live H e i v mo

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24 Idaho State University Magazine

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Karen Linafelter’s world of sound is much different than most of ours. When hearing music, she can sometimes hear the melody, sometimes the beat. Often, she can’t hear either. She can never understand, she says, sung lyrics.

minor at ISU and has danced with and choreographed for both of ISU’s modern dance groups, the student dance organization DANSON and the Department of Theatre and Dance’s I-MOVE. Being deaf and an accomplished modern dancer is not as incongruous as it may initially sound.

“I wish I could get

“I love music even though what I’m hearing is completely different from what a person with full hearing would hear,” said Linafelter, a Great Falls, Mont., native graduated in May with a degree in journalism.

Largely deaf since birth, she has adapted well.

Equipped with hearing aids, Linafelter can communicate and “hear” well when communicating one-onone, simultaneously lip reading and listening. In a crowded room, such as a restaurant or classroom, she cannot hear well enough to follow a conversation and must use sign language, which she began mastering at age 3.

“When there are a lot of people in a big space, the voices really echo and it is really hard for me to follow,” she said. “In a classroom, I really need an interpreter or I am not sure what is going on.”

Her hearing disability, however, hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old from pursuing her greatest passion in life: modern dance. She has earned a dance

the Web More on the Web

Karen Linafelter in motion.

Photos by ISU Photographic Services compiled by Joey Gifford

ISU ADA & Disabilities Resource Center Provides Invaluable Service

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aren Linafelter credits much of her success at Idaho State University to the deaf services provided by the ISU ADA & Disabilities Resource Center.

ISU Deaf Services employs 16 “service providers,” a mix of sign language interpreters and transcribers. Idaho State’s deaf services program is the largest in the state and is one of the largest in the region. During spring semester 2009 there were nine deaf and hard-of-hearing students attending Idaho State who required deaf services.

“Our services provide equal footing for people who couldn’t otherwise hear the lectures,” said Robert Wood, Deaf Services coordinator.

Deaf students can be accompanied to a class by a sign language interpreter or a transcriber. ISU uses TypeWell software that within seconds allows transcribers to provide near word-for-word and meaning-for-meaning transcription from a lecture to the screen of a deaf person’s portable computer.

In a lecture hall with wireless Internet access, a transcriber also can complete

other people to listen as well as she does,” noted Lauralee Zimmerly, ISU associate lecturer in dance, who has taught Linafelter in class and worked with her as part of ISU’s two dance groups. “Her deafness is not an issue. I don’t have any trouble communicating with her at all.”

Of course, the way Zimmerly “talks” is as a dance instructor, using strong hand gestures, frequent body movement and her voice — as loud as it needs to be — to communicate. For dance class lectures Linafelter brings an interpreter, but for dance practice she comes by herself. If Zimmerly sees that Linafelter is not getting something in practice, she makes an effort to stand directly in front of her student and speak directly to her.

“Modern dance is not necessarily choreographed to music,” Zimmerly said. “It is choreographed to movement and our own inherent rhythmic structure.More Sometimes on we add music afterwards to convey the movement.

Karen learns the Web dance more from what she feels and not what she is hearing.”

“I really have to know when my cueMore is,” noted onLinafelter. “I go by just counting or by watching other the Web dancers on the floor. Sometimes someone will clap the count so I can pick it up, or I just go by visual cues and memory.

More on “It is hard to explain. If I can the see itWeb and know the count, I can pick it up fast.”

Linafelter is hooked on dance.

“It is such a performance high,” she said.

More on “After a performance there is no feeling like it. thethere Web It sounds cheesy and cliché, but is really no way to describe it. It just makes everything worthwhile.”

More on Linafelter has her supporters.

their services from a remote location.

Lecturers speak into a wireless microphone that broadcasts the lecture to a transcriber. That information is translated and sent back to the person in class, again within seconds. The transcribed lectures can be read at the time, saved to a computer hard drive or printed.

“The ADA system here is wonderful,” Linafelter said. “I love the interpreters and the coordinator of the program.

This program is very beneficial and I really don’t think I could have done school without them.”

More on the Web

“Karen is the kind of student who doesn’t let the idea of a disability stand in her way,” said Robert Wood, ISU Deaf Services coordinator. “She is a dancer and journalist and a high achiever by standards of someone who does or does not have a disability.”

Linafelter has faced greater fears than stage fright, which has given her perspective and focus. In high school she received the most unkind Valentine’s gift one can imagine: she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer originating from a type of white blood cell, in February of her senior year.

She underwent chemotherapy and only attended school a couple of hours per day. Among other side effects from the disease and its treatment was losing all her hair.

“I would never wish cancer on anyone because it is a horrible thing to go through,” said Linafelter, now a fiveyear cancer survivor. “At the same time, you really see how people interact with people who are bald and really sick. I found out who my true friends were at the time. It made me think about, if I didn’t live, what I would want people to say about me. It gave me clarity about the type of person I want to be.”

With her bachelor’s degree taken care of and her bout with cancer over, Linafelter is looking forward to what comes next. She has decided to join the Peace Corps and will most likely go to Africa to help with special education projects next winter.

“I’m really open to any opportunity that comes my way,” she said. “I am an adventure seeker. If something comes up in the middle of nowhere, I’d do that, or if a job opened up here I would do that, too. I’ll go wherever life takes me.”

Andy Taylor ISU Magazine

See a multi-media presentation of Karen Linafelter at www.isu.edu/magazine

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26 Idaho State University Magazine

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

FISCAL YEAR 2008

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n the limited space that follows, we offer some of the major highlights for the last fiscal year (2007-2008) for each of the University’s seven colleges and its Graduate School.

Our health mission continues to expand and we look forward to the opening of the ISU-Meridian Health Science Center this fall, just shortly after our School of Nursing expanded its facilities in Pocatello.

The scope of our research continues to expand, as researchers explore everything from how to create medical isotopes at the Idaho Accelerator Center to how to create ethanol from agricultural waste. These are two examples of the wide array of research endeavors

taking place and the type of scholarship in which Idaho State University is engaged.

Following are highlights of the significant accomplishments of the past year, and a glimpse of things to come.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program was ranked No. 1 out of 207 doctoral training programs in the United States and Canada, based upon Examination for Professional Psychology test scores as published in Psychological Report in 2008.

42% Student tuition and fees 41% All grants and contracts 4%

Sales and services of educational departments

10% Auxiliary enterprises sales and services 3%

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Other operating revenue

UNIVERSITY

Operating revenues Student tuition and fees (Net of discounts and allowances) $47,496,019 All grants and contracts 45,909,609 Sales and services of educational departments 5,039,057 Auxiliary enterprises sales and services 11,147,278 Other operating revenue 3,166,792 Total operating revenues $112,758,755 Operating expenses Operating income (loss)

Other revenue and expenses Capital gifts and grants Gain or (loss) on disposal of fixed assets Net other revenues and expenses Increase (decrease) in net assets

$212,982,354 ($100,223,599) 93,751,820 5,608,845 2,730,165 (59,128) (3,549,902) $98,481,800 913,840 (38,527) $875,313 ($866,486)

Net assets - beginning of year

$142,335,064

Net assets - end of year

$141,468,578

With enrollment increasing among undergraduates and in the MBA program, the college has initiated a number of regional, national and international outreach efforts.

The college’s Center for Business Services has established an E-center in partnership with BYU–Idaho and the Bannock Development Corporation. The pilot semester of spring 2009 saw four teams working on projects for the Idaho National Laboratory, Premier Technologies, Precision Nanoparticles and the Regional Workforce Innovation Team.

Partnerships were established with international organizations, including Universidad ORT of Montevideo, Uruguay; the Korean Information Security Agency; University of Pretoria, South Africa; and King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

A new major – Health Care Information Systems Management – is in place in partnership with the Kasiska College of Health Professions.

The National Science Foundation renewed a $1.6 million grant for the college’s “Scholarships for Service” program, thus ensuring the college remains a “Center for Excellence” in information assurance and a strong attraction for prospective MBA students.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The College of Education celebrated a 115-year tradition of preparing professional educators as it marked 50 years as an established college in September 2008. More than 200 alumni and friends celebrated events on the theme, “Connecting Our Past and Preparing for Our Future.”

The College of Education has a long and rich history beginning in 1893 when the Rev. Charles Lyles voluntarily taught 23 students in a school built by local residents in Albion. The following year, the Idaho Legislature granted funding for Albion State Normal School, centered wholly on preparing teachers, and it opened its doors on Sept. 11, 1894.

In 1951, the Idaho Legislature closed Albion and transferred its teacher education program to ISU. The State Board of Education established the College of Education in 1958.

The College of Education has more than 12,000 alumni and during September 2008 the College successfully renewed its accreditation with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

FOUNDATION

Nonoperating revenues (expenses) State appropriations Gifts Investment income Amortization of bond financing costs Interest on capital asset related debt Net nonoperating revenues

Several departments are recipients, in collaboration with other universities, of the $15 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant “Water Resources in a Changing Climate” (p. 11).

The Department of Mass Communication is in the final stages of a $2.3 million project that has renovated some of its facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and incorporated KISU-TV into the department.

The nanotechnology developed by chemistry professors Josh Pak and Rene Rodriguez was nominated for the United States Top 100 Research and Development Discoveries of 2008. The duo received a $1.3 million award from Precision Nanoparticles to complete their research.

The Department of English changed its Doctor of Arts degree to a Doctor of Philosophy degree and immediately began promoting the new degree program.

Photo by ISU Photographic Services

Idaho State University Annual Report

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) facility was opened for occupancy in September. (p. 6) The newly formed Department of Nuclear Engineering hired its first chair, George Imel, who has more than 30 years’ experience in reactor physics and came to ISU directly from the Cadarache Laboratory of the French Atomic Energy Agency. The nuclear engineering department, in partnership with the physics department, was awarded two grants totaling $806,000.

The grants will be used to fund graduate fellowships and to support the hire of a new faculty member with a joint appointment in the two departments.

The college initiated an educational collaboration agreement allowing for faculty and student exchange with S. R. Engineering College in Warangal, India.

Funded by Battelle Energy Alli-

Revenue Contributions Investment Income Other Change in FMV of investments Total Revenue

$8,870,180 903,280 883,386 (1,028,530) $9,628,316

Expenses Payments to ISU Management expenses Fundraising Total Expenses

5,529,012 1,336,644 942,347 $7,808,003

Change in Net Assets

$1,820,313

ance LLC, a multi-disciplinary team including investigators from civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, the ISU biological sciences and INL demonstrated that singlechamber microbial fuel cells can be fueled by potato processing wastewaters.

KASISKA COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS

2008 marked the 40th year that Idaho State University has housed a college of health professions. Enrollment increased across the college’s 17 professional programs by 10 percent in 2008. Through a combination of state and federal funding, the renovation of the Nursing Building was completed on the Pocatello campus (p. 16).

KCHP was awarded $9,709,356 in grant funding in 2007-08, including large grants to the Institute of Rural Health, the School of Nursing and the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences.

Delta Dental Community Outreach made a $500,000 gift to KCHP to help fund the new advanced dental residency in Boise.

Two prestigious awards were conferred on KCHP programs in 2008. The Department of Counseling was honored by the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision with the Robert O. Frank Outstanding Counselor Education Program award. In addition, the Department of Family Medicine’s

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

In August, the College celebrated 90 years of providing pharmaceutical education since its first leader, Eugene O. Leonard, was appointed director of the Division of Pharmacy in 1918. Today, the College is thriving, providing students with opportunities to earn the Doctor of Pharmacy degree through a traditional and nontraditional curriculum, as well as the Doctor of Philosophy and master’s degrees in pharmaceutical sciences.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education reaffirmed the College’s accreditation after reviewing the

plans for an expansion of 20 students per year in the Pharm.D. program. The College now will offer the full four years of professional pharmacy education in Idaho’s Treasure Valley at the new L.S. Skaggs Pharmacy Complex at the ISU Health Sciences Meridian building. This expansion was made possible through a gift from The ALSAM Foundation.

Scholarship has increased substantially with Drs. Karl Madaras-Kelly and Dan Selvage receiving notifications of National Institutes of Health funding, an increase in externally-funded projects by others, and numerous national presentations and publications by faculty members in both departments.

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

In 2008 the Automotive Technology, Auto Collision Repair and Refinish-

ing, Child Development and Associate Degree Registered Nurse programs completed accreditation processes.

The Associate Degree Registered Nurse (ADRN) and Practical Nursing program graduates achieved a 100-percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examinations for their professions. In addition, statistics released from the NCSBN showed the ISU ADRN program as the leading professional nursing program in Idaho and the nation, ranking No. 1 out of 1,599 programs.

The Information Technology Systems (ITS) program received a donation of approximately $1.6 million worth of data-networking equipment from Qwest.

Nov. 7 marked the official opening of the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC), a cooperative effort between the College of Technology, Idaho National Laboratory and Partners for Prosperity, which received more than $2.5 million of grant funding. ESTEC’s primary mission is to support the energy sector in offsetting the growing national shortage of energy systems technicians.

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Graduate student applications have increased dramatically in the last couple of years, and graduate student enrollment overall is on the increase, to about 17 percent of the total academic student population, as compared to about 14 percent in previous years. The Graduate School graduates about 25 percent of the total academic students who graduate.

Since hiring a full-time promotion and recruitment staff member, the Graduate School has increased its concentrated promotion and recruitment efforts, especially in Idaho, Utah, Washington, Oregon and internationally, in Nepal.

The Graduate School is now producing an electronic newsletter distributed each semester. The Graduate Council has approved a large number of faculty for graduate faculty status, and has approved several notices of intent for new programs, which are now going through the external approval process.

The Graduate Student Association, an ASISU-approved student organization, was organized in Spring 2007 and has been quite active since Fall 2007.

Harry F. Magnuson 1924-2009

P

Photo by ISU Photographic Services

Family Medicine Center, received an Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality presented by Qualis Health, Idaho’s designated Quality Improvement Organization.

Photo by ISU Photographic Services

28 Idaho State University Magazine

I

nternationally-acclaimed performing artist Roger Williams returned to his alma mater for a sold-out concert at the Stephens Performing Arts Center on Feb. 14. He welcomed fellow World War II Navy V-12 alumni, family and friends from throughout the West at a reception in the center’s green room prior to his performance. He dedicated the concert to the late Harry F. Magnuson, also a V-12 alumnus. Williams — known as Louis Weertz in his ISU days — is known for his signature performance piece, “Autumn Leaves,” the greatest selling piano recording of all time. He has 18 gold and platinum albums to his credit.

MoreV-12 onalumni also attended a reception at the College of Business and Visiting the the Web toured campus, visiting the familiar sites of Graveley Hall (the V-12 dormitory); the Administration Building (the V-12 student union) and Davis Field, where military drills and physical training were conducted. The alumni were among a More onnaval recruits from 23 states who came to Pocatello to enroll in a group of 450 the Web one-year, highly rigorous, concentrated and intensive undergraduate education program created to help meet wartime demand for commissioned Naval officers.

From 1943on to 1945 the Navy V-12 program boosted enrollment to 699 students More at the the University Web of Idaho–Southern Branch, as ISU was then known.

More on the Web More on the Web

See a photo gallery from the V-12 event at www.isu.edu/magazine

rominent North Idaho businessman and philanthropist Harry F. Magnuson, a stalwart and generous supporter of ISU, died of cardiac arrest Saturday, Jan. 24, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. He was 85.

Magnuson was the president of H.F. Magnuson Company in Wallace, which has interests in mining, banking, investment, real estate, shopping centers, land and the hospitality industry.

Magnuson attended Idaho State University, which was then the University of Idaho-Southern Branch, from 1943 to 1944, graduating from the V-12 College Navy Training program. He was a member and former chair of the ISU College of Business Advisory Council. He served for many years on the ISU Foundation Board of Directors and is a former chairman. He was a member of the ISU Bengal Foundation and previously served on the ISU Alumni Board.

Magnuson received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1991 from ISU, was named Idaho Business Leader of the Year by the ISU Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity in 1984, and was honored by the ISU Alumni Association with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1976.

Magnuson’s generous giving to the University included gifts to support the Harry F. Magnuson Alumni House.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen, three sons, two daughters and nine grandchildren.

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30 Idaho State University Magazine

C

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

Carl W. McIntosh 1915-2009

arl W. McIntosh, Ph.D., seventh president of Idaho State University, died of natural causes Monday, Jan. 19, at his home in Bozeman, Mont. He was 94.

McIntosh served from 1946-1959, when ISU was transitioning from the University of Idaho-Southern Branch to become Idaho State College. As interim president, his advocacy and testimony before the 1947 Idaho Legislature was instrumental in establishing Idaho State as a four-year institution. He was appointed dean of the college, while John R. Nichols was the first president.

Nichols resigned in the fall of 1946 and the State Board of Education named McIntosh president.

Under McIntosh’s leadership, Idaho State developed a four-year curriculum and supported students in their effort to raise funds to build a million-dollar student union at no cost to the state.

“Mac,” as most who knew him called him, began his career at ISU as a speech and debate teacher. He served in the Army from 1943 and returned to campus in 1946.

Born in Redlands, Calif., he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Carl McIntosh, Ph.D. the University of Iowa. He was a champion college debater.

After leaving ISU, he was president of California State University-Long Beach from 1959 to 1969, and president of Montana State University from 1970 to 1977.

McIntosh is survived by his daughter, Diana McIntosh, and grandchildren, Christopher Kauppi and Erika Kauppi. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Mary Carroll McIntosh.

Clark Carlile 1913-2009

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meritus faculty member Clark Carlile, who taught speech and communications at Idaho State from 1947-1973, died Feb. 7 at the age of 96.

Carlile came to Idaho State College in its first year in 1947, beginning a career and a life that would benefit countless people through his teaching, personality, friendship and service.

He organized Idaho State’s required freshman speech program, which he directed for 23 years while teaching other public address courses. He gave generously to the University.

In 1948, in addition to teaching at Idaho State University, he and his wife, Flora, established Clark Publishing Company, which they owned and operated for 43 years. Their textbooks were used throughout the United States, Canada and other countries.

Carlile loved the Idaho outdoors and had a number of business interests in southeast Idaho.

Clark Carlile He earned a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State College in Kansas, and a master’s degree from the Colorado State University College of Education and pursued a Ph.D. in speech.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and three brothers. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Carmen Larkin of Junction City, Kansas, and numerous nephews and nieces. The Clark and Flora Carlile Scholarship Fund was established before his death through the Idaho State University Foundation.

Drive proud.

Idaho State University Bengal license plates are now available. Show your pride as you drive, and they’re only $35*. Know you are helping the Bengals because $25 of that goes to ISU scholarships. Keep helping year after year with a $25 renewal fee, $15 of that going to scholarships.

To drive up the level of your school spirit, see your county motor vehicle licensing bureau and get your Bengal plate today.

Or visit idt.idaho.gov/dmv to find applications for numbered and personalized plates. *Other fees may apply. Personalized plates have an additional fee.

Editor’s note: Send Trackings information to the Office of Alumni Relations, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8033, Pocatello, ID 83209-8033; or e-mail to alumni@isu.edu; or fax to (208) 282-2541. Or call (208) 282-3755 locally, or toll-free (800) 933-4781.

Craig Callaway, BA journ ’66, has written a book, Hawai`i Unbuttoned: a Practical Guide to Buying and Selling True-Vintage Hawaiian Shirts. Information is available at www.hawaiiunbuttoned. com and is available through Amazon. com. Craig lives in Eagle Point, Ore.

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Dick Clothier, alumnus ’72, of Pocatello, was awarded the 2008 Thomas Jefferson Award by the National Weather Service. He received the honor for his outstanding service in the Cooperative Observer Program and has recorded weather and climate observations at Pocatello since 1971.

Robert D. Wheatley, BS pharm ’72, was named pharmacist of the month for January 2009 by the Professional Compounding Centers of America. He was selected from a field of more than 3,500 independent pharmacists throughout the United States and Canada. Wheatley is a pharmacist at Ontario Pharmacy in Ontario, Ore. Rick Nordseth, BA anthro ’76, has retired after a 23-year career with the Pocatello Fire Department. He retired as captain, but also worked as firefighter, driver operator and in fire prevention.

Kenneth Taylor, MBA bus admin ’77, is owner and president of Taylor and Company, PC, a certified public accounting firm in Idaho Falls. He is currently president of the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants. He

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is also president of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club and the Idaho Falls City Council.

Mary Stephenson Scott, BA soc ’78, has joined United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a controller. She is currently in Washington, D.C., for six months to learn Arabic and will then be stationed in Amman, Jordan.

Steven Keen, BBA acct info sys ’81, was appointed to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association’s Board of Commissioners. He is vice president and treasurer for Idaho Power Co., and its holding company, Idacorp. Inc., in Boise.

James Yizar, Jr., BA phys ed ’83/M. Cou. ’90, received a Human and Civil Rights Award by the Pocatello Human Relations Advisory Committee.

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The award honors individuals in the community who further the quality of human rights and equal opportunities for citizens of Pocatello. Yizar is the associate dean of students at ISU. Dave Bull, BBA marketing ’84, is associate vice president and financial consultant with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Pocatello. He has 16 years’ experience at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray and joined D.A. Davidson & Co. in 2000.

Kip Kruse, BBA acct info sys ’85, is a fisheries technician on the Chinook and sockeye recovery programs for the Idaho Fish and Game. He has 23 years’ experience in the insurance industry.

Karen Etlin, BA soc work ’86, whose career with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Pocatello spans 18 years, has retired.

She was a clinical supervisor of the Assertive Community Treatment Team for the past nine years and was an

In Memoriam Frances “Frankie” Bliesner, 76, of Jerome, died Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at the St. Benedict’s Family Medical Center in Jerome.

She was born September 15, 1931, at Twin Falls, the daughter of Harold and Vada Clark Bliesner. Frankie was a graduate of Eden High School in 1949, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree from Idaho State University in 1953. She then moved to Colorado, where she attended the University of Denver, graduating with her Master of Arts degree in 1958. She completed her Masters of Fine Arts degree at the University of Oregon in 1979.

Frankie worked at various playhouses, spending 1957 through 1960 at the Pasadena Playhouse. She was highly regarded in theater circles. One paper stated, “she is a force to be reckoned with in costuming circles” because of her abilities and skills at sewing.

For a time Frankie was a costume designer at the University of Utah. She moved to Pocatello, where she was a professor in the fine arts department for 29 years and produced many costumes and plays. Frankie was a highly-esteemed professor who influenced the lives of her many students during her years teaching.

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advocate for individuals and families facing mental health challenges.

Kara Heikkila, BS health care admin ’87, is a senior associate of the law firm of Hall, Farley, Oberrecht & Blanton, P.A., of Boise. She received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law and worked primarily in employment law for the last 10 years in Washington.

Murray Rose, BA history ’87, of Portland, Ore., has been a tour director and tour guide with Tauck World Discovery since 1999. Fluent in Portuguese, he runs tours in South America, Chile, Argentina and Brazil during the winter months, and tours to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks during the summer.

Mike Hayhurst, BBA finance/acct ’90, is managing partner of the Anchorage office of KPMG LLP, an audit, tax and advisory firm. He joined KPMG in 2002 and is a partner in the firm’s audit practice. Hayhurst has 18 years’ experience and has worked with corporations in the forest products, agribusiness, manufacturing, consumer and high technology industries.

Lisa Leyshon, BBA acct ’90, serves

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Spring 2009

Spring 2009

on the board of directors for the ISU Federal Credit Union. She served on the supervisory committee of the credit union for eight years and is assistant controller in finance and administration at ISU. Karen Fullmer, BA anthro ’92, was promoted to manager of Ireland Bank’s branch on Pole Line Road in Pocatello; she was the new accounts representative and accounts manager for the past year. Fullmer also has five years’ experience as a personal banker and office manager at Wells Fargo Bank.

Dr. Stephen R. White, MPA pol sci ’94/5th yr cert ed ’96/DA pol sci ’97, will be a guest keynote speaker at the University of Canterbury–King’s College International Conference on Education in the United Kingdom in July. White is an associate professor in leadership and educational studies at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. Kyle J. Siemen, BS biology ’95, completed a two-year dental fellowship education program at the Scottsdale Institute of Dentistry in Arizona.

He learned techniques of implants, cosmetic dentistry, root canals, rehabilitation dentistry, sedation and pain management. Siemen is a co-partner at Sage Dental in Pocatello.

Amy Bowie, BA sec ed/Engl ’97, was named Teacher of the Year for

2008-09 by School District 25 in Pocatello. She has taught at Highland High School for 10 years and currently teaches junior advanced placement language, composition, junior English and a leadership course for student government. She also is involved in the district’s ongoing Total Instructional Alignment which strives to make curriculum more consistent throughout the district.

Col. Guy Hollingsworth, M.Ed. curriculum & instruction emph ‘98, was deployed in March on a 400-day Army assignment to Bezmaya, Iraq.

He serves as the senior adviser to the Iraqi Army Training Center located south of Baghdad, with oversight of 15 other training sites throughout Iraq. He has served in the National Guard and Army Reserve for more than 30 years and is the director of internship and career services at Brigham Young University–Idaho.

Eric Olmstead, alumnus ’99, of E. J. Elmstead LLC, Pocatello, was recently certified as a landscape technician by the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association.

Jason Alba, BBA comp info sys ’00/ MBA bus admin ‘03, has written his first book, I’m on Linked In-Now What? and has co-authored I’m on Facebook-Now

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THE ALUMNI & VISITORS CENTER AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY

The new Alumni & Visitors Center will be a treasury of alumni accomplishments, University history and memorabilia recognizing the tradition of Idaho State, its faculty, staff and alumni.

The vision for a new Alumni Center includes a magnificent, 20,000 square-foot, two-story building, centrally located upon the beautiful landscape that extends past the north side of Holt Arena.

If you would like to be a part of this project, call the ISU Foundation at (208) 282-3470.

What? He is chief executive officer and creator of jibberjobber.com and has started a professional speaking career.

Laura Baird, BS dent hyg ’00, is a dental hygienist with Cowlitz River Dental in Longview, Wash. She has written a fiction book, Gem Opportunities, which is available through Author House and is currently working on her second book.

Dr. Stephen W. Holm, alumnus ’00, has established his oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Pocatello.

He graduated with a doctor of dental medicine degree from the University of Kentucky and received extensive training at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Illinois.

Jeffrey Lunt, alumnus ’01, is an insurance agent at State Farm Insurance in Chubbuck. Previously, he worked as an operations and sales manager for Qwest Communications in Pocatello.

Stephanie Richardson, AAS bus admin ’01/BBA marketing ’03, is a membership and marketing specialist for the Girl Scouts for Bannock, Bingham, Bear Lake, Caribou, Power, Franklin and Oneida counties. She has been a business owner of Countryside Interiors in Pocatello.

Helena Rizor, MPAS phys asst stu ’04, is a physician assistant at Community Care in Pocatello. She also has extensive experience as a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.

Saheed Khan, BS phys ed ’08, earned a spot on the Canadian National Cross Country team and competed in Orlando, Fla., on March 7. He participated in the senior men’s category at eight kilometers to finish in seventh place. While at ISU, Khan participated in both cross-country and track.

Phillip Kreissler, DPT phys therapy ’08, is a physical therapist with Physical Therapy and Hand Rehabilitation in Nampa. His primary focus is outpatient physical therapy with a background in sports medicine and neurological pathologies.

ISU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS RON D. STEPHENSON, PRESIDENT Boise ’65, BBA, management and organization ronbarbs@msn.com DAVID G. ADLER, Ph.D. Idaho Falls adledavi@isu.edu J. BRENT BERREY, D.M.D. Pocatello ’67, BS, pre-dentistry drjbb333@aim.com TOM R. CURTIS, D.D.S. Boise ’68, zoology tomlauracurtis@msn.com

STEPHEN M. RHODES Pocatello ’77, Cert., Merchandising ’82, Mid-Management rhodestep@hotmail.com

PATTI BENNION EATON Boise ’76, nursing pbeaton71@clearwire.net

GEOFF RANERE Pocatello ’74, CERT, electrical technology ’88, AA, electrical technology ’88, BBA, management and organization ’93, MEd, occupational training management g.ranere@yahoo.com

GERALD JOHN HEELAN Olympia, Wash. ’58, BA, political science jheelan34@aol.com

PAUL RONAN Texarkana, Texas ’76, BA, American studies ronanpj@redriver-ex.army.mil

PHIL LUCKEY Pocatello ’65, BA, physical education ’75, MPE, athletic administration luckphil@isu.edu

JAYSON RONK Meridian ’02, BS, Political Science jronk@iaci.org

WALTER (WALT) LUHR Nampa ‘59, BS, pharmacy wluhr1@msn.com DIANA MCLAUGHLIN, Ed.D. Pocatello ’64, AS, dental hygiene ’79, BS, nursing ’93, MS, nursing ’01, EdD, educational leadership mcladian@isu.edu TED MESSMORE Pocatello ’70, BA, sociology tedm@tejacadv.com CHUCK MOLLERUP Boise ’70, BBA, management and organization chuckmollerup@hotmail.com CASSANDRA “SANDEE” MOORE Henderson, Nev. ’03, BS, health care administration Sandee.Moore@HCAHealthcare.com ROBERT MYERS Pocatello ‘68, BBA, management and organization ‘82, MEd, educational administration myersrobertw@hotmail.com

More Trackings are now online at www.isu.edu/magazine

MIKE NESBITT Flagstaff, Ariz. ’68, BA, physical education mike@jonescotrucking.com

CARISA K. SCHULTZ Idaho Falls ’82, BA, Secondary Education ’92, MED, Occupational Training Management carisasch7@aol.com KIRK SHULER Sumner, Wash. ’71, Alumnus kirk@rainiermortgage.com STEPHEN A. STOKES, J.D. Pocatello ’01, BA, history s_stokes@qwest.net DEB GRAVES-STONE Pocatello ’73 BS, physical education ’82, MEd, occupational training management dgstone@cableone.net SANDRA THOEN Blackfoot ’03, Health-care administration sathoen@hotmail.com SUSAN DELANA (GODFREY) WALKER Boise ‘81, BBA, finance susan.delanawalker@usbank.com NANCY WHEELER Pocatello ‘81, BA, ‘86, MEd, early childhood education rwheelie@cableone.net

www.isu.edu/alumni.shtml

33

34 Idaho State University Magazine

Spring 2009

Spring 2009

I’m doing research on the ecosystems in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Pick out your favorite tunes.

Shine up your wheels.

Get ready to cruise on in to Pocatello.

Homecoming 2009 is all about …

Monday, September 28, 2009 through Saturday, October 3, 2009

Other Upcoming Events:

I usually ride to work.

JUNE 2009

27

J.B. Smith Memorial Golf Scramble, Twin Falls

18

Treasure Valley Summer Picnic, Ivywild Park, Boise

29

ISU Night with the Idaho Falls Chukars

31

ISU Night with the Boise Hawks

JULY 2009

For more information on these events, call the ISU Alumni Relations Office: (800) 933-4781, 282-3755 or visit our Web site www.isu.edu/alumni.shtml.

Study hard. Play hard. www.isu.edu/playhard

35

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage

PAID

Pocatello Idaho Permit No. 42

921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8033 Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8033

Create

a legacy.

Endow a scholarship.

Joseph C. and the late Cheryl H. Jensen

“It has been hard to put into words how much of a blessing our gift to ISU for the grand concert hall has been to us. We had hoped to make a difference but had no idea of the scope, particularly at the individual level, this gift would make.

It was a big commitment at the time, but in retrospect never have we felt happier about a decision. To learn its effects has been such a wonderful and unexpected surprise.”

Joseph C. Jensen ’66 Joseph C. and Cheryl H. Jensen Grand Concert Hall

gift to Idaho State University is a way to honor a special person in your life, to share the rewards of your own life, and to help ensure that generations of students can receive the lifelong benefits of

an Idaho State University education. The ISU Foundation can help you easily establish a legacy of learning in the name of your choice.

Visit the Foundation online or call Don Colby at (208) 282-3470.

www.isu.edu/gift