Compassion in Crisis U.S. Navy Surgeon General Adam M. Robinson, Jr. MBA `94
Branding & Expanding
Nancy Schneid, `79, applies her marketing expertise to a new range of businesses. PG 20
Employ-A-Bull
Flexibility is key to staying ahead of the herd in the job market. PG 25
Bulls in the NFL
A look at some favorite Bulls who have made it into the NFL . PG 35
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Alumni Voice is printed with bio-renewable ink at Interprint, a TEC-certified Green printing facility.
CONTENTS FEATURES
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12 Compassion in Crisis U.S. Navy Surgeon General Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MBA `94, was among the first physicians to be part of USF’s MBA for Physicians program. Learning to balance the business and practice of medicine served him well as he rose through the ranks, never more so than when he was called upon to respond to one of the world’s worst disasters: the earthquake in Haiti.
20 Branding and Expanding Nancy Schneid, `79, helped make the restaurants in the OSI Restaurant Partners chain – Outback, Carrabba’s and others – into successful, nationally known brands. Now she’s working that same magic in other industries as president of Nancy Schneid Consulting.
25 Employ-A-Bull In the current job market, flexibility is the key to staying ahead of the herd, says our career columnist Jim Weber, `77 & MBA `82
35 Bulls in the NFL
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With another successful football season behind us, we take a look at some of your favorite Bulls Football players who have been drafted and gone pro in the National Football League. Who do you think will be next?
DEPARTMENTS 2 President’s Message 3 USFAA Board of Directors 4 Alumni Association Award Winners 6 News Roundup 7 Where’s Rocky? 16 Chapters & Societies
22 Blast from the Past 23 That Was Then; This Is Now 24 Your Membership in Action 25 Employ-A-Bull 28 Class Notes 37 Calendar
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president’s message Fellow Bulls, The first decade of the 21st century is behind us. Now is the time to look ahead. Please allow me to share with you a couple of things that I’m looking forward to this spring: • •
The Bulls Around the World dinner and silent auction on April 2. This evening is a chance to sip signature martinis and imported beer, socialize with fellow alumni and perhaps get a great deal on some special auction items. If you haven’t visited campus in a while, this event is a great way to reconnect with USF. For details, visit www.USFalumni.org/bullpride.
Basketball season. This is the Bulls last season in the Sun Dome before it’s closed as part of the extensive Athletics renovations that are now in progress. I have a lot of fond memories of games in the old Sun Dome (Remember the inflatable roof?) so I want to be sure to catch some of the action before it’s gone. Tickets for both men’s and women’s games are inexpensive and usually available at the box office before tipoff. Check out www.goUSFBulls.com for game schedules and details.
I’m also looking forward to taking some time to sit down to read this issue of your member magazine, Alumni Voice. In this issue we feature Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MBA `94. As Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy, he oversees some 60,000 Navy and Marine medical personnel worldwide. Robinson led the Navy disaster relief efforts in Haiti, deploying the USNS Comfort hospital ship within 77 hours of the devastating earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people last January. The ship was the most advanced trauma center available in the region for the first two months after the quake and treated 1,000 of the most severely injured. We also talked to marketing innovator Nancy Schneid, `79, who helped to guide the Outback family of restaurants into a national brand. She has now expanded her expertise to other industries and interests, including USF’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy. As you can see, USF alumni are making a global impact. As you read about these alumni and the others who are featured in these pages, I hope that you feel as proud as I do of our University. You can show that pride, and help us expand our efforts, by becoming a Life Member of the USF Alumni Association. Not only will you help support your alma mater, you also get special Life Member perks, such as 25 Athletic priority points for preferred game seating. For details, contact Ron Sherman at 813974-1891 or rsherman@admin.usf.edu. Here’s wishing you a happy and prosperous 2011. Go Bulls,
Brad Kelly, `79 President & Life Member
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Alumni Voice® USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni Center University of South Florida 4202 East Fowler Avenue, ALC100 Tampa, Florida 33620 alumni@admin.usf.edu USFalumni.org Alumni Voice Editorial: Karla Jackson, kjackson@admin.usf.edu or Rita Kroeber, rkroeber@admin.usf.edu Advertising: Rita Kroeber, rkroeber@admin.usf.edu or 813-974-6312 Design: Marilyn Stephens, University Communications & Marketing Contributing Writers in this Issue: Jeremy Canody Carter Gaddis Karla Jackson, `88 Evan Tokarz, `12 Alumni Association Contact Information Executive Director: John Harper, `76 Membership: 813-974-2100 or 800-299-BULL Alumni & Student Programs: 813-974-2100 General Alumni e-mail: alumni@admin.usf.edu Giving/Scholarships: Ron Sherman, `74 rsherman@admin.usf.edu USF Bulls License Plate: www.BullsPlate.org Alumni Association website: USFalumni.org Letters to the editor are encouraged. Please write to Karla Jackson at kjackson@admin. usf.edu or mail to the address at the top of the page. Views expressed in Alumni Voice do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USF Alumni Association, the University of South Florida or the editorial staff. ALUMNI VOICE (USPS# 025203) Number 15 Alumni Voice is published quarterly in January, April, July and October as a benefit of membership in the University of South Florida Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. Periodical Postage Paid at Tampa, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: University of South Florida Alumni Association, Communications Department, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. New Address? Moving? Update your official USF alumni record at myUSFbio.org or email your information to alumni@admin.usf.edu. You also may remove the magazine label and send it with your correct address to Alumni Voice, USF Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620. © 2011 All rights reserved.
USF alumni Association 2010-11
PRESIDENT Brad Kelly, CPA, Accounting, `79
SECRETARY PRESIDENT-ELECT Richard Heruska, Kimberly Choto Schmidt, Communication, `92 & M.A. Business, `99 Adult Education, `02
DIRECTOR Gene Balter, P.E., Engineering, `77
DIRECTOR Ed Hoeppner, Marketing, `81
DIRECTOR Michele Norris, Marketing,`79
DIRECTOR Jon Smith, MBA, `07
DIRECTOR Shaye Benfield, Marketing, `97
DIRECTOR Audrey Gilmore, Marketing, `80
DIRECTOR Gary Hoog, International Studies, `83 & Special Education, `87
DIRECTOR Thomas King, Finance, `09
Board of Directors
CO-TREASURER Donna Brickman, Accounting, `81
DIRECTOR Gene Haines, Criminology, `97
DIRECTOR Patrick Poff, Esq., English, `92
DIRECTOR Alan Steinberg, Communication, `78
CO-TREASURER Victor Lucas, Management, `85
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Roger T. Frazee, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CPA, Finance & Accounting, `71
DIRECTOR Lisa Provenzano Heugel, Mass Communications/Journalism, `93, Information Systems, `96 & M.S. Computer Science `07
DIRECTOR Mark Levine, Esq., Psychology, `74
DIRECTOR Diana Michel, Business, `88
DIRECTOR Jeff Reynolds, Finance, `91
DIRECTOR Ted Rivera III, Management, `98
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR Christi WomackJim Weber, Finance, Villalobos, English, `92 `77 & MBA, `82
DIRECTOR Derek Williams, CFP, Finance, `00
DIRECTOR Spencer Montgomery, USF Student Government Vice President
DIRECTOR Lee Winter, Finance, `85
NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS
DIRECTOR Dr. Judy Genshaft, University of South Florida President
DIRECTOR DIRECTOR John Harper, Leslie “Les” Muma, USF Alumni USF Foundation Board Association Executive of Trustees Chairman, Director, Mass Mathematics, `66 Communications, `76
DIRECTOR Joel D. Momberg, University Advancement Vice President
DIRECTOR Andrew Cohen, USF Ambassadors President
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Meet
the USF Alumni Association
Alumni Award Winners
It is a long-standing tradition at the USF Alumni Association to annually recognize outstanding alumni and community leaders who have made a significant contribution to the university and the community. The 2010 Alumni Award winners are: Emilio Gonzalez, `77 – Distinguished Alumnus recipient
The Distinguished Alumnus award recognizes an alumnus who has distinguished oneself in his or her chosen profession and who has rendered outstanding service to the community as well as the University of South Florida. Dr. Gonzalez’s accomplishments include: • President & CEO, Indra USA • Completed a military career spanning 26 years, during which time he served as a military attaché to U.S. Embassies in El Salvador and Mexico and taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. • Former Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. • Served as Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council in Washington, D.C. under former President George W. Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice • Awarded a Ph.D degree in International Relations from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Miami • Numerous decorations from the United States and the governments of El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua • Noted commentator on Hispanic and international affairs and has appeared on local, national and international radio and television programs.
Robert Turner, `92 – Donald A. Gifford Alumni Service recipient
The Donald A. Gifford Alumni Service award recognizes an alumnus who has rendered outstanding volunteer service to the University of South Florida over an extended period of time. Turner’s accomplishments include: • President and Publisher, Bradenton Herald, Lakewood Ranch Herald and Bradenton.com news media • USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board Trustee • Founding member of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council and founding Co-Chair of Brunch on the Bay • Has served on multiple boards and in leadership roles over his 29 years in Manatee County, including Chairman of the Board of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce • Current Chair of the Manatee County Economic Development Council • Awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award by USF President Judy Genshaft • USF Manatee-Sarasota Alumni Chapter’s Distinguished Alumni Award, 1999 • USF Distinguished Citizen Award, 2005.
Alison Kemmerling Jimenez, `02 – Outstanding Young Alumnus recipient
The Outstanding Young Alumnus award recognizes an alumnus, age 35 or under, who has rendered outstanding service or engagement to USF and who has also demonstrated strong potential for success in his or her chosen career field. Kemmerling Jimenez’s accomplishments include: • President & CEO, Dynamic Securities Analytics, Inc., a securities litigating consulting firm • Appointed to the Florida Advisory Council on Small and Minority Business Development whose function is to research and review the role of small and minority business in the state’s economy • Member of USF’s Women in Leadership and Philanthropy program • Four-time state and one-time national swimming champion; still competes for the USF water polo team • Authored and published articles in Fraud, Registered Rep and Law Practice Today magazines • Profiled in the Tampa Bay Business Journal‘s Executive Profile, the Maddux Business Report and the USF College of Business Magazine’s “Outstanding Alumni” feature • Leadership Tampa: Class of 2006 • Finalist for Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine, 2010 • One of five finalists nationwide for the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship • Named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “30 under 30” Business Leaders list, 2005
Dr. Dean Martin – Class of `56 recipient
The Class of `56 award recognizes a non-USF graduate who has rendered distinguished service to the University of South Florida and the community. Recipients are inducted into the “Class of `56” to commemorate the year USF was founded and becomes an honorary alumnus, receiving a complimentary Life Membership in the USF Alumni Association. Martin’s accomplishments include: • Professor Emeritus, USF Department of Chemistry • Served as a faculty member of the USF Department of Chemistry since 1964 • Author/co-author of over 300 publications, including four books • University of South Florida: Speaker of the Faculty Senate, 1986-1987 • Trustee, USF Foundation, 1981-1987 • Member, Board of Directors, USF Research Foundation, 1995 • Phi Beta Kappa • Served as member and held leadership roles for the American Chemical Society and the Aquatic Plant Management Society • Recipient of the Florida Award, 1975 • Co-recipient of the Medalist Award of the Florida Academy of Sciences, 1994.
Your USF Alumni Association is now accepting applications for the 2011 Alumni Awards.To nominate yourself or someone you know, please visit www.USFalumni.org/AlumniAwards. The deadline is March 31. 4
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The 2010 USF Alumni Award winners are from left: Alison Kemmerling Jimenez, `02; Dr. Emilio Gonzalez, `77; Dr. Dean Martin and Robert Turner, `92. STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Alumni Voice 2. Publication Number: USPS# 025-203 3. Filing Date: 9/27/10 4. Issue frequency: Quarterly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 4 6. Annual subscription price: Free to USF Alumni Association members 7. Mailing Address of Office of Publication: 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. 8. Mailing Address of Publisher’s Business Office: 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. 9. Full Names and Mailing addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: John B. Harper, USF Alumni Association, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. Editor: Karla Jackson, USF Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. Managing Editor: Rita B. Kroeber, USF Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. 10. Owner: University of South Florida Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. 11. There are no known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders. 12. Tax status has not changed in the previous 12 months 13. Publication Title: Alumni Voice 14. Issue Date for Circulation Below: September 2010
15. Extent & Nature of Circulation A) Total number of copies printed (Net Press Run): B) Requested distribution: (1) Outside County Requested Subscriptions, including written, internet, telemarketing requests, advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies: (2) In-County Requested Subscriptions, including written, internet, telemarketing requests, advertiser’s proof copies and exchange copies: (3) Sales through dealers, carriers, street vendors and others paid or requested distribution outside USPS: (4) Requested copies sent through other USPS mail classes: C) Total requested circulation: D) Non-requested Distribution: (1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies, including sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and names obtained from other sources: (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies, including sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and names obtained from other sources: (3) Non-requested copies sent through other USPS mail classes: (4) Non-requested copies distributed outside of the Mail: E) Total Non-requested distribution: F) Total distribution: G) Copies not distributed, including spoiled after printing: H) Total: I) Percent requested circulation:
Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months
No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date
13,875
13,500
12,117
10,779
446
1,787
0
0
0 12,563
0 12,566
3
3
0
0
100
100
1,081 1,184 13,747
400 503 13,069
128 13,875 91.3%
431 13,500 96.1%
16. The Statement of Ownership will be printed in the January 2011 Issue. 17. John B. Harper, Publisher, 9/27/10
news
roundup
Bulls End Season with a “W” in Meineke Car Care Bowl B.J. Daniels threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third as USF finished Coach Skip Holtz’s first season with a 31-26 victory over Clemson on Dec. 31 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Mo Plancher also ran for a score for the Bulls (8-5), who took control after Tigers quarterback Kyle Parker left at halftime with broken ribs. USF secured its fifth-straight eight-win season and earned its first bowl win over a team from a BCS automatic-qualifying league. It was a triumphant return to North Carolina for Holtz, who left East Carolina last January to take over at USF. After a slow start, the Bulls finished with wins in five of their last seven games and gave the BIG EAST a 3-1 bowl record. Hearing Loss Studied in Dolphin and Whale Strandings Few events in the marine world are as upsetting to the public and mystifying to experts as dolphin and whale strandings. But a new study by a team of scientists led by the University of South Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory has discovered that hearing loss may play a role in some of the animals’ distress. In a study published in the new edition of the journal PLoS One, researchers found severe to profound hearing loss in 57 percent of the bottlenose dolphins and 36 percent of the rough-toothed dolphins studied after the animals stranded. Given that these species rely on echolocation for orientation and feeding, the researchers believe that hearing loss could play a significant role in some strandings, said David Mann, a USF biological oceanographer and the paper’s lead author. The finding might also provide good cause for veterinary experts, scientists and resource managers to rethink the rehabilitation and release of dolphins given the role hearing loss might play in their trauma. NOAA Fisheries Chief Scientist Joins USF Steve Murawski, who was the director of scientific programs and chief science advisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, as well as a key figure in the nation’s scientific response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has joined the USF College of Marine Science as a research professor. Murawski will hold the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership – Peter R. Betzer Endowed Chair. Murawski, an internationallyrecognized expert on marine ecosystems and natural resource conservation efforts, begins his new job this month.
Looking for New Solutions for Combat Trauma Helping service members and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan heal from symptoms of combat exposure, including post traumatic stress and mild traumatic brain injury, will be the focus of a $2.1-million federal grant to the USF College of Nursing. The project is part of the Research to Improve Emotional Health and Quality of Life among Service Members with Disabilities (RESTORE LIVES) Center, which was established to develop and evaluate treatments to complement services to the military provided by the VA Healthcare System, TRICARE, and the conventional health care system. The center will use the grant to conduct five studies investigating promising state-of-the art therapies. Based at the USF College of Nursing, the RESTORE LIVES Center is a collaborative project with the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and includes national participation by current and former members of the Armed Forces, clinical psychologists, nurse scientists, educators and research support personnel. The grant was awarded and will be administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Material Command and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center at Fort Detrick, M.D. Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Opens On Nov. 30, physicians, nurses and other members of a clinical deployment team moved 44 of Tampa General Hospital’s tiniest patients into their new home at the Jennifer Leigh Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The new facility, a partnership of USF Pamela Muma, Health and Tampa General, links the right, with Dr. best and newest technology to care for Terri Ashmeade, sick and premature babies with a more USF associate comforting, nurturing environment for professor of the babies and their families. Once pediatrics and TGH the second phase is completed in chief of pediatrics. Summer 2011, the new unit will have Photo by Hugh 82 individual neonatal beds, as well as Jones/TGH a separate 12-bed transitional area. The new $35 million unit, funded in part by a $6 million gift from Les and Pam Muma, was named in memory of their daughter, Jennifer Leigh Muma, who died in a neonatal nursery. USFAA Communications Earns Kudos Your USF Alumni Association recently won several national awards for communications. The 2009 Annual Report: The Scorecard won a Platinum award from the MarCom Awards in the category E-Annual Report. Alumni Voice, September 2010 issue, won a Gold award in the category Magazine/Association. There were almost 5,000 entries from the United States, Canada and several other countries in the 2010 competition. Alumni Voice also won a 2010 Award a JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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roundup of Excellence in the Communicator’s Awards, held by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. Readership Survey Winner John Huggins, `76 & M.A. `81, of Tampa was the winner of the Alumni Voice Readership Survey drawing. More than 500 people completed the online survey and entered their names in the contest. Huggins chose an Apple iPod Touch as his prize. USFSM Opens New Instructional Site USF Sarasota-Manatee began holding classes at its new Instructional Site in North Port in August. The location serves residents of Englewood, North Port, Venice and surrounding areas and offers undergraduate degrees in Business, Social Science, Elementary Education, Psychology and Criminology, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
USF Sarasota-Manatee’s south Sarasota County program began in 2004 at the State College of Florida’s Venice location with only 66 students and has grown to over 600 per semester. The new Instructional Site The USF Manatee-Sarasota includes four classrooms, Alumni Chapter was one videoconferencing room, present for the grand six offices and a conference room with room to expand in opening celebration the future. of the new North Port USF System President Instructional Site. Judy Genshaft and Regional Chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee Dr. Arthur Guilford presided over a grand opening celebration in October, held at the new location, 5920 Pan American Blvd. in North Port.
Sources: USF University Communications and Marketing, USF Sarasota-Manatee, USF Health
NEWS & NOTES Gonzmart Family Donates to Athletics District The University of South Florida Athletics Department and the USF Foundation announced a $500,000 gift from the Gonzmart Family Foundation toward the ongoing construction of the USF Athletics District. The new USF Athletics District will transform the athletics landscape at our BIG EAST University, and will include a new football practice complex, basketball practice center, baseball stadium, softball stadium and soccer stadium. In recognition of this generous gift, the entry plaza to the softball and baseball stadiums will be named the Gonzmart Family Plaza. The baseball stadium is expected to open in time for the 2011 season in February. “Richard and Melanie Gonzmart have been there every step of the way, helping us build an athletics program of consequence,” says Doug Woolard, director of intercollegiate athletics at USF. “We are so grateful for their generosity, and are honored to have the Gonzmart family name forever linked with USF Athletics.” The Richard and Melanie Gonzmart family’s involvement reaches across the USF campus. As the owners of Tampa’s signature restaurant, the Columbia, the Gonzmart family has funded Latino scholarships, made philanthropic gifts to USF Athletics, the College of Business and the USF Library System. Richard said this latest gift reinforces the family’s longstanding ties to the University. “We are a family business. We wanted to do this to honor 6
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my grandparents and our mother and father,” said Gonzmart. “None of us is as strong as all of us. It has been my wife, my brother, my grandparents, my parents and now our children. We wanted to honor all of the family.” Richard and Melanie Gonzmart were among the very first to join the Iron Bulls, a leadership giving society for Athletics. Richard serves on the USF Foundation Board of Directors and the Bulls Club Board of Directors. Bulls Baseball Coach Lelo Prado said the gift from the Gonzmart Family Foundation will make a real difference for all USF student-athletes. “The Gonzmart family, along with others who are giving to the Athletic District project, are transforming the Athletics landscape at USF. February 2011, when the baseball and softball stadiums open, will signal a whole new future for our coaches, players and fans.” lllllll The USF: Unstoppable Campaign is a comprehensive fundraising effort by the University of South Florida System to celebrate the energy, vision and future of one of the nation’s most exciting and engaged universities. Our people and programs, our ideas, our research and our solutions comprise an ambitious plan to embrace health care, science, technology, education, business, the arts and global partnerships. The USF: Unstoppable campaign continues to grow, with $385,158,338 raised as of Jan. 4, 2011. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.unstoppable.usf.edu.
rocky? where’s
Take Rocky on your next trip and send your photos to: Karla Jackson at kjackson@ admin.usf. edu or to her attention at the USF Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455.
Angela and Richard Bosaaen, `05, took Rocky on safari to Africa. He’s pictured above in the Kalahari Desert. The Bosaaens toured southern Africa on their way to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Sheryl Loesch, `82 & MPA `87, traveled to the Republic of Slovenia in September and introduced Rocky to the Slovenian Minister of Justice, Aleš Zalar, at the Castle in Lake Bled. Loesch is Clerk of Court for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and went to Slovenia with colleagues to share best practices in our court system. They ended up signing a “Sister Court Agreement” with the District Court in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
USF Alumni Association board member Ted Rivera, `98, shows Rocky around Kings Park in Perth, Australia. You can see the city’s skyline in the background. Kings Park is the largest inner-city park in the world.
Rocky at the Grand Canyon Tom Reisdorph, `73, and his wife Sue Ann, M.Ed `81, talked Rocky into traveling with them in an RV for 6½ weeks last summer. They’re pictured here on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Rocky returned to the Grand Canyon in October with, from left to right, Christi Sparrow Roos, `93, David Hamilton Roos, `91 and Debora Lynch Roos, `94. JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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Robert Sweeney, `00, took this photo (below) with Rocky some 95 feet below the surface of the Atlantic on the Captain Dan Shipwreck off the shores of Pompano Beach, FL.
The Dieter family took Rocky along on their beach vacation to Little Gasparilla Island. Pictured above on the top step are Jeff, Sarah and Michelle, `93, along with future Bull Nicolas, who is 2. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was pleased to meet Rocky while he was visiting the Bay area to conduct an Oil Spill Town Hall at USF St. Petersburg last summer. The former Mississippi governor told the standingroom-only crowd that recovery efforts should be rooted in science and that universities and marine science institutions based in the Gulf states should be the ones to lead the scientific response.
Shelby Finman, `09, took Rocky along when she paid her respects at the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. To honor the 184 victims of the attack, 184 illuminated benches were arranged according to the victim’s ages, each engraved with the name of the deceased. You can see a portion of one of the New grad Jan Jackson, `10, brought Rocky to New Orleans last summer on her People to People benches between Shelby trip as she worked with students from all over the U.S. who were assisting residents who are still and the police officer. rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. 8
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The USF Education Alumni who teach at Pasco County’s Centennial Elementary make sure that their students know all about Bull Pride during the football season and all year long. In the middle row behind Rocky is Centennial principal Cynthia Harper, `74 & M.Ed `79.
Daniel Cinquegrano ,`08, pictured, and Amanda GonzalezAnleo, `09, made it a point to visit Wall Street during their late summer trip to New York City so they could snap a photo with another famous Bull.
Rocky Visits India USF Alumni Association Past President Dr. Anila Jain, `81, and Rocky visited International Alumni Ambassador Rahul Krishna, Esq., `89, in New Delhi, India. Krishna is the senior legal counsel for Ericsson India.
Ken Lettre, `81, ran the Disneyland 5K race on Labor Day weekend in Anaheim, CA. He likes to wear his USF Alumni gear when he runs and even paused briefly during the race for a photo with Rocky in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Rocky joined a group of Information Systems students on a visit last summer to India with Kaushal Chari, chair of the College of Business ISDS Department. Rocky’s pictured here in front of the Lalitha Mahal Palace in Karnataka. JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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USF Alumni Association board member Mark Levine took Rocky on a tour of the south of France and Spain last summer. Pictured here in front of the Eiffel Tower are Mark, `74, his daughters, future Bull Avery, and USF Alpha Delta Pi sister Kate, his son, future Bull Eli, and girlfriend Susan Wittpenn, `81.
Patricia McConnell, `76 & M.A. `82 and husband Richard McConnell, `76, toured Ireland last summer and introduced Rocky to silent film star Charlie Chaplin. This statue in the seaside town of Waterville in County Kerry is an homage to Chaplin, who took many family vacations there.
Pictured above are Larry Collins, `88, team physician assistant for USF Athletics, center, and USF team physicians John Small, left, and David Leffers, right, with Rocky atop the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire after riding in the 38th Annual Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb race on August 21. The Mount Washington race has been dubbed “the toughest hillclimb race in the world.�
Kim Hermelyn, `92, shows her Bull Pride at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 10
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Joaquin Pereda, `86, center, took his family ziplining in Costa Rica last summer, while Rocky remained behind in the hotel.
USF Alumni Association Board Secretary Kimberly Choto Schmidt, `92 & MA `02, went to Philadelphia in August to visit Tom Veit, `93, who is president of the Philadelphia Union, a major league soccer team, to watch a game in their new stadium.
Rocky was honored to attend several weddings last year.
Former Bulls Football player, Dr. Derek Busciglio, `99, center, married Katie Mullis Busciglio in Atrani, Italy, on Sept. 10, 2010. Everyone in the wedding party is USF alumni. From left are: Leyla Khavarian, Leah Maitland, Dr. Brian Busciglio, Kristen Busciglio, bride Katie and groom Derek, mother of the groom and Charter Class member Diana Busciglio, Dr. Tim Kelly and Dina Busciglio, Esq.
Stevany Horne, `08, and Blake Cole, `06, were married June 26, 2010, in Jacksonville, FL. Other USF alumni in the wedding party include: Becky Jo Cole `95, mother of the groom; bridesmaids, from left to right: USF grad student Amanda Young, Erica Collum, `09, Karen Levy, `08 and Stefanie Rotolo, `08; groomsmen from left to right are: Andrew Winckler, `07 and Robert Krasnicki, `07. Rocky spent the reception next to the groom’s cake.
Tom DeCarlo, `07, and Laura Pell DeCarlo, `07 & `09, eloped to St. Lucia in August but left Rocky behind in the rush. They didn’t forget their Bull Pride, though.
OK, this wasn’t a real wedding, but we couldn’t resist this photo of former USF Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumnus Kerry Sanders, `82, at a book signing with his wife, Deborah Sharp, center, author of Mama Gets Hitched (Midnight Ink.) Pictured with the happy couple are, from left, USF Mom Cindy Gress, USF Assistant Director of Development Annual Giving Liz McNamara and Kerry O’Malley Cerra, `94. JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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Feature: Adam Robinson
Compassion in By Karla Jackson, `88
Did you hear the story about the young man with the golden baritone who went on to become the 36th Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy? That would be Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MBA `94, who, rather than taking the stage, decided to star in the O.R. instead. “My dad was a doctor,” said Robinson, 60, who has served as the U.S. Navy’s “top doctor” since 2007.“I first went to school as a music major and then got a political science degree. For a while I thought about anthropology, but I realized I had a burning desire to be a doctor.” Robinson earned a medical degree from Indiana University through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, a scholarship that paid his medical school tuition in exchange for service in the military. After completing his surgical internship at Southern Illinois University, he was commissioned into the Navy in 1977. Years later, while serving as head of the General Surgery Department at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA, Robinson was among the first physicians to enroll in University of South Florida’s MBA for Physicians program in the early 90s. Haitian earthquake survivors wait for aid amid the rubble of Port au Prince in the weeks following the January 2010 earthquake.
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Crisis
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., commands about 60,000 medical personnel worldwide, many of whom must deal with some of the world’s worst catastrophes.
“It was `92 when I started. Very few places were doing it at the time,” he said.“Now everybody has an Executive MBA program, but back then, USF was one of the few.” Juggling a challenging career as chief of surgery with the demands of a long-distance MBA program was daunting, but Robinson persevered. “We came to Tampa for two weeks every four months or so,” he recalled.“It was very concentrated time … then we’d all go back to our facilities and locations.There were 30 in my class, all men, by the way, and we’d go back to our hospitals and practices and communicate with each other by computer and telephone.” This was well before Skype and other forms of telecommuting were commonplace. Even so, Robinson said that his MBA cohort formed a close bond, personally and professionally. “The thing I remember most was that I had a great group of classmates from across the U.S.,” said Robinson. “One of my best friends to this day is Bob Weir, who was an ophthalmologist in Dickinson, ND. We sat together the entire 2½ years in class.” The MBA for Physicians program was especially enlightening for Robinson in that it gave him a sense of how civilian medical care was managed. “Associating with men from across the United States from so many different practices and backgrounds gave me a cross section of American medical care from a group of individuals who were concentrating on improving it. It was like getting a sabbatical for two weeks every few months to view how the private medical system worked and it helped me enhance and grow the market within the military medical system.” Considering the advances in medicine and the changes in how health care is delivered, the business of medicine is second in importance only to the practice of medicine, Robinson said. “The model of the future has to be that of a health
care industry that has a cadre of trained professionals who understand the art and the science of medicine, and the art and the science of business. It needs to be blended. But at the end of the day, you have to remember that health care is about an individual patient and that patient’s family. And we have to provide that care in a way that’s affordable and sustainable.” Whatever the challenges facing American health care, they pale in comparison to what Robinson dealt with in Haiti. He first went to the impoverished island in 1999, leading a fleet hospital from Jacksonville in Operation Uphold Democracy. He lived in Port au Prince for six months while the fleet provided medical services and humanitarian aid to some 26,000 Haitian nationals. When the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, Robinson knew
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better than most how dire the circumstances would be.“I understood the people and the geography and the poverty and the conditions there,” he said. Navy Surgeon General Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr. and The USNS Comfort, a hospital Nguyen Quoc Trieu, Vietnam’s Minister of Health listen to a ship that is a Level One trauma U.S. Embassy translator during a meeting in Hanoi in May 2010. center, was in a scheduled maintenance period when the earthquake struck.The ship’s boilers were ripped apart and there was only a skeleton crew aboard. Robinson rallied his officers and within 77 hours, the Comfort deployed to Haiti with a crew of 550 medical personnel in Operation Unified Response.The ship stayed in Haiti about two months and served approximately 1,000 of the most severely injured earthquake victims. “It was possible through the dedication and training of the men and women who are the leaders of our Naval operations and the crew of the Comfort,” Robinson said.“The key was that people needed our help.” Vice Admiral Robinson is shown a hypobaric oxygen chamber at Haiti’s ongoing problems with disease and Naval Survival Training Institute (NSTI) in Pensacola. reconstruction are a prime example of the type of problems that Robinson plans to tackle after his term as Surgeon General of the Navy ends in June of 2011. “That will be my fourth year and my last year by law as surgeon general,” Robinson explained.“I see global health care as an emerging need.To 5 have vaccines and medicines for diseases such as malaria and What is the last book you read? 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History. dengue fever, and to meet the need Charles Bracelen Flood. I’m a history buff. for basic health care, such as clean water and proper sanitation, that’s What’s your favorite movie? where I’d like to focus my efforts “The Godfather” when I leave the military and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, left, and transition into the private sector in Where is your favorite place in the world? Vice Admiral Robinson tour the convention floor the summer.” Probably Yokosuka, Japan, that’s the home during the 116th annual meeting of the And maybe he’ll find the time of my wife and her family. We like to go Association of Military Surgeons of the United to sing a little, too.
Questions
States in the Phoenix Convention Center last fall.
when we can.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? You are the person that will limit you. You have to keep moving forward. What super power do you wish you had? The superpower I wish I had is one I actually do have: The absolute wonderful belief that there is a God and he watches over us every day. 14
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chapters & societies Homecoming is always a blast for the Engineering Alumni Society. This year their float was a 2.5 ton 1967 Kaiser Jeep Troop Carrier owned by Robert Andrew, `89 & `92. Pictured at right before the parade with the student Society of Automotive Engineers bus are, from left: Carissa Giblin, `95 & MBA `02; Jos van Dijk, Sheila Carpenter-van Dijk, `96 and Phil Saraneeyavongse.
The Houston Chapter held watch parties for all televised USF games at SRO Sports Bar & CafÊ on Hempstead Road. Eighteen Bulls fans turned out for the USF vs. UF game, and they didn’t let the results diminish their Bull Pride. Pictured here in no particular order are: Chris and Kelly Waldron, Bob and Sue Burnell, Niki Foster, Jeff Miller, Holmer Moran, Cecil Coutinho, Steve Voss, Ryan Neely, Karrie Marra, Dustin Sachs, Dustin, Jamie and Carter Molyneaux, Alan Goldsmith and chapter leader Mike Pepper and his wife, Susan.
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The College of Business Alumni Society got their fright on at Busch Gardens’ Howl O’ Scream event. Pictured in the front, from left, starting with the man with ‘Resident Extinct’ on his shirt are: Jared Monaco, `00 & MBA `07; Crystal Monaco, Christina Duran and Carey Duran. In the back, from left, starting with the man with eagle on the white shirt, are: Rick Diden, Jeffrey Zurek, `01; Jamie Ellison, `06; Peter Wingfield, `06; and Anthony Scaglione.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Taylor Branch, pictured at left, kicked off the Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Lecture Series in September with a free lecture in the Jaeb Theatre at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. The Phi Beta Kappa series is sponsored by USF’s College of Arts and Sciences, the USF Phi Beta Kappa Faculty Alumni, the USF Office of the Provost and the Mayor of Tampa. Pictured below are, from left to right, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Eric Eisenberg, USF Ambassador Lisa Noury, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and USF Ambassador Michael Parsons.
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chapters & societies
October was reunion month at USF. More than 100 alumni of Alpha Omicron Pi :: Gamma Theta Chapter came back to the USF Tampa campus Oct. 15-16 for the chapter’s 25th anniversary weekend. Events included a brunch at the AOII house in Greek Village and tours of the village and campus, including the new Marshall Student Center and the Athletics facilities, where the sisters posed for photos with Bulls Football Coach Skip Holtz. Pictured from left to right are chapter presidents through the years: Rebecca McKnight Dorsey, `01; Melissa Molinari Shelton, `96 & MSN `08; current chapter president Jessica Ellis; Cindy Lyons Barr, `89; Alycia Buford Boudreau, `91; Erin Gaddis, `95 and Stacey Richards, `99.
David Sokolowski, `74, shot this photo Oct. 23 at a reunion of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers from the 1960-70s that was held at USF Tampa. About 120 brothers and their family and friends came from as far away as California for the event.
Members of the Association of Filipino Students Alumni Society and officers of the Association of Filipino Students (AFS) got together in October for the 20th Anniversary of Filipino Students. The event included a banquet and a picnic. For more information about the AFS Alumni Society, contact afsalumnisociety@hotmail.com.
The D.C. Regional Chapter held a Student and Alumni picnic at the Iwo Jima Memorial back in late summer as a sendoff for students from the Washington, D.C. area who were heading to school at USF. Some 30 alumni, students, parents and two dogs attended the get together. To learn more about the D.C. Regional Chapter, contact Celia Riley at celia.riley@ yahoo.com or Kathy Dorf at kathyd286@yahoo.com. 18
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No matter where you live, you’ll always be a Bull! The USF Alumni Association has alumni chapters all over the country. We also have college and specialinterest societies for like-minded alumni. It’s easy to get involved. Just email the contact person of the group you’d like to visit. Societies Ambassador Alumni Ted Rivera Tedrivera1976@yahoo.com Architecture Alumni Adam Fritz adam@cgharchitects.com Association of Filipino Students Alumni Society Aileen Aqui afsalumnisociety@hotmail.com
Greater Boston Lisa Casillo casillo.lisa@gmail.com
Alan Steinberg usfbrowardalumni@hotmail.com
Chicago Greg Morgan greg.morgan@sigmachi.org
Fort Myers Sanjay Kurian skurian@becker-poliakoff.com Hernando Kevin Floyd usfhcac@gmail.com
D.C. Regional Celia Riley celia.riley@yahoo.com Kathy Dorf kathyd286@yahoo.com
Black Alumni Shomari Sanford shomari1906@yahoo.com
Jacksonville/St. Augustine Gary Hoog oldcitymunc1@yahoo.com
Dallas Ken Lettre klettre@jcpenney.com
College of Business Alumni Jamie Ellison jamie@usfcobalumni.org
Ellen Rosenblum rosenblum.ellen@gmail.com
Rob Smith RobSmith@alumni.indiana.edu
Manatee/Sarasota Sean Grosso sgrosso@sar.usf.edu
Denver Mile High Mark A. Thompson brahman95@msn.com
Darren Gambrell dgambrell@sar.usf.edu
Houston Alan Goldsmith alshmaly@flash.net
Maegan Fader Maegan@usfcobalumni.org Education Alumni Freda Abercrombie aber2@aol.com Engineering Alumni Shelia Carpenter-van Dijk sheliacv@tampabay.rr.com Entrepreneurship Alumni Debbie Bernal dbernal@bnfe.org Geology Alumni Mike Schackne mschackne@gore.net Honors Alumni Lisa Provenzano Heugel lproven1@tampabay.rr.com
Football wasn’t the only game taking place in Gainesville last September when the Bulls played the Gators. Both USF and UF have had rugby teams since 1977 and have had a heated rivalry from the start. The Friday before the football game, the two alumni rugby teams met as a precursor to the current rugby teams’ game. In the top photo, Travis Miller is tackling a Gator, and from left are J.R. Nowakowski, `09; Keith “Irish” Norton and Jeff “Alaska” Herron, `08. In the bottom photo, Steve Jorgenson, `08, is carrying the ball, with Joshua Harvard behind him, Aris Williard, left, and Jeff Herron, right. In the end, UF edged USF 8-5. A rugby social was held at Mother’s Irish pub on University Avenue with both alumni and current players, including both USF and UF women’s teams. Alumni gathered the next day for a tailgate party prior to the USF vs. UF football game. Many thanks to Jason Heffelmire, `00, and Angela Pachcinski, `03, for providing the photos.
Broward Ruth Rogge R_rogge@yahoo.com
Kosove Alumni Christina Calandro ccalandro@research.usf.edu Marine Science Alumni Bruce Barber bbarber@terraenv.com Beau Suthard bsuthard@coastalplanning.net Medicine Alumni Christina Brown-Wujick cbrown7@health.usf.edu Nursing Alumni Lauren Kelly lkelly2@health.usf.edu Pharmacy Alumni Leanna Baylis lbaylis@health.usf.edu Public Health Alumni Leanna Baylis lbaylis@health.usf.edu
Miami-Dade Carlos Rodriguez USFmiamialumni@aol.com Monroe (Key West) Kristen Condella kristnine@hotmail.com
Indianapolis Ali Bridwell alibridwell@gmail.com
Greater Ocala Kathleen & William Bellamy icchoice-kathie@earthlink.net
Los Angeles Janet Foster usfbullsnla@yahoo.com
Jerald “Jerry” Grimes donnajer958@embarqmail.com
New York Valerie Berrios valerieberrios78@hotmail.com
Orlando Katie Giglio Kgiglio@admin.usf.edu Palm Beach Scott Teich scott.teich@raymondjames.com Panama City Janet Caragan janetcaragan@yahoo.com Pasco County/New Tampa Kimberly Choto Schmidt kchoto@success-sciences.com Pensacola/Spanish Fort/Mobile Nick Kessler nickess@aol.com Pinellas Brenda Kenny BdKenny@tampabay.rr.com Polk Randy Dotson randy.dotson@gmail.com
Florida Chapters
St. Lucie Frank Pennetti franker@adelphia.net
Greater Tampa Ashley Smith smithd72@verizon.net
Tallahassee Phil Canto pcantompa@gmail.com
Brevard Todd Bonanza bonanza298@aol.com
National Chapters
John Carpenter j-carpenter2@ti.com Barbara Lyn barbara@barbaralyn.com
Michael Peppers mike.peppers@comcast.net
Atlanta Denise Dimbath denisuela@hotmail.com Austin Brad Heath gobulls@austin.rr.com
Northern Ohio Sean Chamberlin usfneoalums@yahoo.com Philadelphia/South Jersey Joe Ebner usfphilly@gmail.com Phoenix Stephen Curry Scurry914@gmail.com Pittsburgh, PA Robb Myer ruther44@yahoo.com Portland, OR Scott Chamberlain sc.28372@yahoo.com Raleigh, NC Bob Cohn bob.cohn@smithbarney.com St. Louis Mark Greenspahn markgStL@aol.com San Antonio, TX Ruben Matos captram02@yahoo.com Seattle-Tacoma, WA Suzann Lombard suzann.lombard@gmail.com Corporate Affinity Group Lockheed Martin – Oldsmar Brent Lewis brent.a.lewis@lmco.com
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Profile in Leadership
Branding & Expan Invest, innovate and inspire are words that aptly describe a movement or cause that can generate positive outcomes for many. However, these words are rarely used when describing an individual. Unless that person has built a widely successful career based on her ability to inspire, to innovate, and ultimately, invest in people. By Jeremy Canody
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USF
alumna Nancy Schneid, `79, has done just that throughout her career as an innovator of some of the most globally recognized brands in the restaurant industry. If you are a fan of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill or any one of the restaurants that make up the OSI Restaurant Partners family of restaurants, chances are Schneid helped to influence your dining experience. As a former executive vice president and chief marketing officer of OSI, she built her career on launching new business concepts based on providing superior hospitality, global brand recognition, employee pride and giving back to the community. Today, she employs those same elements for success as president of Nancy Schneid Consulting, LLC. Launched four years ago, Schneid’s consulting business specializes in taking a local footprint of a company and launching it nationally by building brand awareness and developing marketing strategies with staying power. Her client list includes restaurants within the OSI family, but also
branches out into the health care and automotive industries. “The marketing industry of today is not one that is staid and traditional, and it’s changing every day,” she explained. “The way we go into business today is dramatically different than the way we went into business 30 years ago. In my consulting business, I’m amazed by the new opportunities and innovations that exist and the unlimited possibilities that new business ventures present. I love the challenge of being creative and innovative, as well as forecasting the future for new business opportunities,” she added. The Long Island, N.Y. native admits she wasn’t always driven by such a sense of purpose. Schneid and her family moved to Tampa in 1972, and she graduated from Plant High School a year later at the age of 16. “As a 16-year-old freshman at USF, it’s safe to say I was lacking direction,” she said. “It wasn’t until I arrived at USF that I had a transitional epiphany that was fueled by two of my professors, Dr. Eugene Levy and Dr. Scott Barber, who served as my mentors and provided me with direction.”
which was a powerhouse radio station in the Tampa Bay media market in the early 80s. It was then that she met the future founders of OSI, Chris Sullivan and Bob Basham, who were her clients at the station and were developing the Chili’s restaurant chain in Florida. “It was at WRBQ that I developed a passion for giving back philanthropically because it was such an important aspect of the station’s mission in the community. That was really the beginning of my desire to give something back to this community and make it a better place. The philosophy of working hard and getting everyone involved in a cause became very much a part of my DNA.” At WRBQ, Schneid helped to launch several community fundraisers, like Lowry Park’s Zoofari and Tampa’s Piratefest, that are still going strong 25 years later. Through that working relationship, Schneid also became involved with a new restaurant concept that ...” Sullivan and Basham were launching called Outback Steakhouse. She initially started as an investor in the Aussie-themed steakhouse, and then joined the operation to oversee its marketing and move the footprint around the country. “As we built Outback in the early days of the company, we forged a philanthropic priority to give back to the community locally, and that grew to every city and coun-
building a culture of pride and commitment that can impact hundreds of thousands of people. She said she believes that same mantra has helped transform USF into the world-class research university it is today. “The same success we experienced in growing Outback applies to what I’m seeing at USF through President Genshaft’s influence to build a culture based on pride that inspires a better world. There is an enormous amount of pride and community awareness that exists at USF today that wasn’t there when I was in school.” Schneid commits that same sense of pride to her alma mater as a member of the USF Foundation Board and as a founding member of the USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy (WLP) program. As a volunteer, mentor and donor, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the system-wide Unstoppable campaign. “I love the Schneid said her experiences at students of today. There is so much USF opened her eyes, and for the first brilliance in today’s youth and the optime, she realized the importance of portunities this university provides to pursuing the opportunities ahead of them is something very exciting to be her. She fondly recalls her years at a part of.” USF as a period in her life where she She said her participation in WLP created some of her most cherished was inspired by the fact that the promemories and friendships that have gram provides support and opportuniremained with her throughout her life. ties to USF students that was not avail Schneid graduated from USF in able for prior generations of women. 1979 with a bachelor’s in Political “My mother never had the opportunity Science and had aspirations of goto go to college. So in my family, going to law school. ing to college and “I wore that degree getting a degree like a badge and “I love the students of today. There is so much brilliance in was very important. was determined to this program is today’s youth and the opportunities this university provides And put it to use,” she something that is very to them is something very exciting to be a part of.” said. The dream was special to me and alshort-lived because lows me to be able to just 10 days after provide that opportugraduation, she successfully landed a try in which we operated in.” Today, nity to other young women.” job in Atlanta with McCann Erickson as a partner in OSI, a consultant for She says her future goal is to – a global leader in the advertising their restaurants and an investor, find balance between her career and industry. It was there she began to Schneid plays an integral role in influspending more time working with the develop her portfolio as an advertising encing a culture built on pride regarduniversity on efforts like WLP. “That’s and marketing guru. less of how large the company grows going to be my ultimate luxury - to re Schneid said her connection to and evolves into new brands and main relevant in the business commuTampa eventually lured her back, and concepts. nity and to dedicate more time around she began a new career in the media Schneid said she gravitates toward the students and all of the exciting sales department of WRBQ (Q105), opportunities that create a spirit of things that are going on at USF.”
nding
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2005 A Blast from the Past ! U.S. PRESIDENT: George W. Bush VICE PRESIDENT: Richard Cheney MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $67,019 (current dollars) UNEMPLOYMENT: 5.1% 1ST CLASS STAMP: 37 cents
IN SCIENCE: Astronomers at the California Institute of Technology find a rocky, icy celestial body they believe is larger than Pluto and may in fact be another planet; cancer replaces heart disease as No. 1 cause of death for people ages 85 and under.
AT USF: USF joins the BIG EAST Conference; marine researchers announce in January the discovery of the Pulley Ridge Reef, the deepest coral reef in the United States, located off Florida’s Gulf Coast, about 100 miles from Naples; Jay Hopler, an assistant professor of creative writing at USF, publishes his first book of poetry, Green Squall, which wins the Yale Series of Younger Poets prize, the oldest annual literary award in the United States. Four years later, he is one of ten writers to receive the 2009 Whiting Writers Award for “writers of exceptional talent and promise in early career.” 22
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IN THE NEWS: Hurricane Katrina wreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf coast; more than 1,000 die and millions are left homeless; Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein goes on trial for the killing of 143 people in the town of Dujail, Iraq, in 1982; Islamic terrorists bomb three subways and a doubledecker bus in London, killing 52 and wounding about 700 in Britain’s worst attack since World War II.
IN THE ARTS: Mariah Carey’s “Emancipation of Mimi” was the best-selling album of 2005, selling nearly 5 million copies; Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” was the most downloaded song of the year, downloaded more than 1.7 million times; English playwright, actor and activist Harold Pinter wins the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Sources: USF archives; Infoplease.com; U.S. Census Bureau;TampaBay.com; Wiki Commons
By Evan Tokarz, Class of 2012 Whether you are a Charter Class graduate or a newbie freshman, I’ll bet that you have a story to tell about trying to park your car at USF. Through the years, parking has been either a major aggravation or a minor annoyance, depending on who you talk to. Some alumni recall scrambling and “stalking” other drivers to find a prime parking spot, while others took a more Zen approach. I’m a second-generation Bull, so I asked my dad, Edward Tokarz,`89, about his parking memories. He described the process as “an absolute nightmare,” a daily hunt for scarce spots. He said he would often have to walk about 3/4 of a mile to his classes from the only available spots on what is now Sycamore Drive. To this day, students still have trouble finding parking close to their classes, especially during peak hours. Anna-Maria Delocuas, a Psychology and Gerontology major, says not much has changed since she started school in 2007. “During the time I’ve gone to USF, I’ve always had trouble trying to find a parking spot after 9 [a.m.],” she said. Like my dad, Deloucas finds that the available spots are generally far from her classes. Their experiences sum up the parking situation at USF: there are spaces, just not convenient ones. Unfortunately, not all of the parking spots can be right next to the classroom buildings. At least freshman can have cars on the USF campus, unlike some other universities. The USF Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) department manages parking on campus. The department is an auxiliary extension of USF that functions like a private business, and as such, the department must operate efficiently, which means selling as many spots as possible, while limiting operational expenses, like extra parking places. I spoke with Operations Manger Frank Granda, who said that during peak hours, the school is at 85 to 87 percent of its parking capacity. He said that the remaining 13 to 15 percent is located mostly at the upper levels of towering garages and at park-and-ride lots, where students can park and catch a campus shuttle. For the 30,000+ students who attend USF Tampa, there are 20,277 parking spots available. Taking into consideration that some spots may be used for more than one purpose, it breaks down to 12,578 student spots (non-resident and resident), 10,243 staff/ reserved/gold spots, and 5,167 pay-by-space spots. Though people who have racked up tickets may disagree, Granda said Parking and Transportation Services is always trying to find ways to make parking at USF a little easier. He listed several new measures that students and alumni might find helpful. The more tech-savvy graduates might like the new iUSF app, a smart-phone application that allows visiting alums to view a map of the campus and all of its parking locations. It also lists news and events on the Tampa campus and offers directory information for faculty and staff. You can download it by searching iUSF on the www.usf.edu website. He added that PATS is planning to use the new electronic messaging boards that are going up at Tampa campus entrances to let visiting alumni know when certain parking lots are full. New grad Kyle Johnson, `09, said he didn’t have too many problems finding a spot when he was at USF earning a degree in Advertising. He said he didn’t need to park right next to his classes, and would occasionally walk a decent distance to get to them. “I think what it comes down to is there is a lot of parking, just not close to the buildings where [students] have their classes at,” he said.
Myself, I haven’t had too bad of a time parking at USF. I always find one general area and stick to it. Even if it means walking a bit farther, it beats the stress of entering the fray of cars searching for the perfect spot. I knew I hit a common chord when my post about parking on the USF Alumni Association’s Facebook page generated some great stories from alums. Jennifer Crozier Wien, `98, said she remembered cruising the Sun Dome parking lot, offering students a ride to their car in exchange for their spot. Heidi Oros, `90, said she became skilled at parallel parking due to her time at USF – simply because they were the only open spots she could find. Kimberly Overholt Milne, `07, and Corey Anderson, `98, both raised lighthearted concerns about being thought of as stalkers while seeking the perfect parking place. Ross Allen, `02, recollected people bringing bagels and coffee to bribe people into giving up their spots. Tammy Major skirted the whole issue: “Parking at USF? I bicycled.” My favorite story, though, was from Angela Keller-Markle, `99. She remembered an assignment for a broadcast journalism class where she had to interview a Bull Runner employee, a driver for the campus shuttles that perpetually loop around campus. She really liked the quote she got for the assignment, and posted it on the USF Alumni Association Facebook page: “I make my route and come back again and see the same people driving around in a circle, can’t find nowhere to park and I wanna tell ‘em, ‘Hey, come on and ride the shuttle! I’ll get you there!’” So basically, the choice is yours when you come back to campus: you can either wait and park close, or park quickly and hoof it. Remember that after 5:30 p.m. and on weekends, visitors can park in any lot, as long as it’s not reserved, labeled or a pay space. If you need more information about parking, visit the PATS website at http://usfweb2.usf.edu/parking_services/.
SHARE A Memor y Enjoy these excerpts of memories from members of the USF Alumni Association. Email your favorite USF memory to kjackson@admin.usf.edu or post it on our Facebook page. I remember basketball games, sitting with the TKEs in the new Sun Dome’s “Rose Garden.” Scott Kaufman, `81 Organizing the first homecoming parade (basketball,) Senior Class Committee, telling John Lott Brown we needed a football team and getting shot down, Sarasota Alumni Association meetings at the Ringling mansion, watching my friends jump on the roof of the Sun Dome right after the roof was inflated for the first time, Phyllis Marshall at the U.C., the Keg, Greenery, Epsilon 3E, and EVERYTHING from 1979-1983. Laurie Budd, `83 In 1960, being in the charter class. We didn’t even have dorms, much less a football team! Bob Alwood, `64 JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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inaction in action!
YOUR MEMBERSHIP
your membership
Helping the Alumni Voice be Heard! Your membership in the alumni association enabled the alumni association to create a web site where alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends of USF can advocate for the University and higher education with Florida’s elected officials. The actions of our state legislature have an enormous impact on your University and community and our local and state economy.
USFalumni.org/advocate
Visit http://USFalumni.org/advocate • learn about key issues and bills that impact USF • take action when the legislature is in session • find and contact your local legislator in just a few clicks of your mouse • access an Advocacy Toolkit with ideas for how to best make your voice heard • find and send a message to your local media • even register to vote
Your voice can make a difference! JOIN THE ALUMNI ARMY. You can have a major impact on elected officials by joining with your fellow alumni in support of USF! In fact, alumni have already mobilized to support USF by sending over 1,000 emails to state legislators in support of keeping the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute a part of USF and more than 400 emails to Governor Christ asking him NOT to veto funding for USF.
Through your membership, the association has developed this site as a way for alumni to make their voice heard in support of education and USF! We encourage you to check out the site and make your voice heard on behalf of your alma mater.
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Employ -A-Bull
Get ahead of the herd with tips from executive recruiter Jim Weber. Class of `77 & MBA `82
USF Alumni Association Board Member Jim Weber is the founder of New Century Dynamics, Inc., an executive search firm for the food service industry. If you have career questions for Jim, email them to us at alumni@admin.usf.edu.
Build Flexibility into Your Plans
I
have always subscribed to the belief that experience is the best teacher. In fact, many of the most important lessons I have learned have been from my real-world experiences. When I started my business in 1999, I got a crash course in entrepreneurship, learning a great sum in short order. The most important lesson I learned was the importance of building flexibility into my business model. I learned that ultimately, market forces will guide us to a place where our talents and skills are in demand. The challenge is to be able to listen to what the market is saying and to demonstrate the flexibility to satisfy the needs of the market. It was a lesson that I learned the hard way and none too soon. Recently, this dynamic played itself out with a new client. More about that shortly, but first a little background. After graduating from college, I went to work for a billion dollar conglomerate, first as a financial analyst, then later I moved into strategic planning for the retail group. My job was to help the division presidents craft their business plans, and then help my boss, the group president, monitor their progress against key metrics. Part of my responsibility was evaluating capital project requests submitted by those divisions. In that role, I watched division executives build their businesses by working their plans as drafted, and also by responding to opportunities that presented themselves along the way. At first, many of these opportunities did not seem to fit their business models, which raised serious questions for me. But, upon closer scrutiny, when evaluated in context with the capabilities of the division and the over-arching mission for the brand, they made perfect sense and resulted in new growth. With this in mind, I
began to work with the division presidents to draft plans that addressed opportunistic investments. In other words, I learned to be aware of signals the market is sending to serve unmet needs. When I began my executive search business, I partnered with an established retained search firm. As you may know, retained search firms get an upfront fee to begin the search, one-third of the fee after candidate presentation, and the final fee when the assignment is complete. Contingency search firms only get paid if their candidate is hired. I turned down a lot of contingency assignments to stay true to my business model. That was a big mistake. If I had paid attention to what the market was trying to tell me, I would have taken many of those contingency assignments. Had I done so, I would have developed more clients sooner and had a much better cash flow. Eventually I did catch on and my business thrived. That is how I learned to listen to the market and be flexible. Recently, that lesson played out again for me. Last year, a long-time CEO friend contacted me to say that he was moving his company to Atlanta and needed my help. He is not well connected in the area so he reached out to me. In order to build on our relationship, I connected him with people who I knew could be helpful: attorneys, commercial leasing professionals, accountants and others. Ultimately this is what I do, connect people. Last fall, my friend and I got together for lunch to catch up on his progress. Almost immediately, he told me that his CFO was looking for a director of human resources but he was not making progress. They had discussed using a recruiter and planned to call me the following week to initiate the search. It was welcomed news, but not really a surprise. I knew it was just a matter of time before their staffing needs would require my services. The following week, my CEO friend, his CFO and I met for another lunch to close the deal. In the process they told me of an internal candidate who they thought could do the job. This guy is currently in a supervisory position in operations, managing six restaurants. They wanted to know how I would assess his capabilities among my other candidates and how that might affect my fee if they decided to offer him the job. This is really not an unusual question, so I took it in stride, explaining my process. When we left the restaurant, I had instructions to prepare the necessary documents to initiate the search. We had a deal. a
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Employ -A-Bull
continued
After a few days, the CFO and I talked again. He told me that after further consideration they thought their internal candidate may be the best candidate for the job after all. They were not certain, however, and asked if I would be willing to evaluate him up front before considering other candidates. They offered to pay me a third of my fee for this evaluation, to be applied to my full search fee if they decided not to promote this candidate. At first, I was disappointed that I would not be conducting a search for my full fee. The more I thought about it, I came to realize that this was a win-win opportunity. It may not have been my usual model, but it was within my capabilities and did not require much of my time. I heard that familiar little voice telling me to heed the message from the market and go with the flow. That was indeed a good decision. I accepted the project and we scheduled a meeting with the internal candidate. In the interest of privacy, let’s call him David. While preparing for our meeting, I poured over David’s resume. He had a lot of valuable operations experience with some very good companies, including prior experience working for my clients. Additionally, he had held director-level human resources positions before focusing on training and development. Clearly, David is not a human resources generalist, but operations is largely about managing human resources on the front lines, and he had worked in a human resources department. I was begin-
ning to have a good feeling about this candidate. Fundamentally, there are three questions that must be answered in the affirmative before a client will hire one of my candidates. Can he do the job? Will he do the job? Is he a fit for the client’s culture? I knew that he would have the support of management so he could likely do the job. Based on his prior experience with the management and their consideration of him for this job, I was confident that fit was not an issue either. So, I was left with the question of “Will he do the job?” More importantly, I was curious as to why he wanted this job. That became my focus. I found David to be very engaging, a people person. It was clear that he had a passion for the restaurant industry and the ambition to be a greater part of the decision-making process at a strategic level. I discovered that he was frustrated in his current career path and was looking for another alternative that would contribute to his growth and advancement. He viewed the director of human resources position as a viable alternative. That made sense to me. By moving in this direction he could fulfill his ambition to work closer to the strategic level while staying close to his passion. David was smart to build flexibility into his career and pursuing an option for continued growth and development. The market was telling him that his capabilities were needed in a different place. He got the message. You should too.
In the Bulls Eye
… Holli Rubin, Theatre `76
I
t was while she was studying theatre at USF that Holli Rubin first became consumed with a passion for puppetry, which has evolved into her life’s work. Rubin and husband Jerry Bickel founded Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, where they create every kind of puppet imaginable, from the tiniest of finger puppets to larger-than-life, 9-foot-tall characters that captivate audience members of all ages. In their Dover puppet playhouse and studio, Rubin has created puppets for 16 productions, including 52 giant puppets for 11 shows. Bits ‘N Pieces presents mostly children’s classics, such as “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Ugly Duckling,” which features Rubin performing in character on stage with her giant puppet cast mates. As a complement to the performances, Rubin developed an educational curriculum that is a favorite among local elementary school teachers. But it’s not all child’s play for Rubin. She also collaborated with the Florida Orchestra to present Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka,” a ballet about a giant puppet that falls in love with a ballerina. The couple tour nationally with their puppet troupe and have taken their show on the road on a dozen international tours throughout Europe and Asia. Rubin says she is living her dream and “it all started at USF.” To learn more about Bits ‘N Pieces, visit www.puppetworld.com. By Karla Jackson, `88
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classnotes 60s
Dave Bauer, Mathematics `69, is a special
projects consultant for George Mason University. He helps academic departments identify their core skills from an external perspective and develop relationships with external organizations that share a common interest. Bauer is retired from IBM where he worked on a variety of information technology and relationship building activities. He lives in Fairfax with his wife and three sons. He is also involved in leading youth sports and recreation programs for the City of Fairfax and Fairfax High School.
Ken Rollins, Political Science
`64, has launched an art consulting company, Rollins Fine Art, LLC, (RFA) in partnership with his son, architectural designer Noah A. Rollins. RFA represents more than 150 artists nationwide on a non-exclusive basis. The artists work in all media and on any scale. The company works primarily with architects, developers, interior designers, corporations, public art programs and private collectors. Projects include the placement of existing works of fine art and crafts, or the development of site specific commissions for appropriate situations. In addition to his Political Science degree from USF, Rollins has a graduate degree in Ceramics and Sculpture from the University of Tennessee and a certificate from the Getty Museum Management Institute. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Florida Association of Museums and the Florida Art Museum Directors Association. He is also a former United States Naval officer and a Vietnam Veteran.
James R. Ward, Mathematics, `66, M.A. Natural Sciences `73 & Ph.D. Natural Sciences `75, was named Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
70s
Scott Campbell, Zoology `79 & Ph.D. Biomedical
Sciences `85, was named executive director and CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Prior to this appointment, Campbell served as the national vice president of research programs at the American Diabetes Association.
Shelley Carson, English `71, is the
author of a new book based on her creativity research: Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity and Innovation in Your Life (Jossey-Bass/Wiley). Dr. Carson is an instructor and researcher at Harvard, where she teaches creativity, abnormal psychology and resilience. She has won multiple teaching awards for her popular course “Creativity: Madmen, Geniuses, and Harvard Students.” Dr. Carson’s research on creativity, psychopathology and resilience has been widely 28
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published in national and international scientific journals, and her findings have been featured on the Discovery Channel, CNN, NPR, the BBC and Radio Free Europe, as well as in Newsweek, Scientific American, and Psychology Today. Dr. Carson is a featured blogger for The Huffington Post, with her blog Creativity in the 21st Century, and she writes the popular Psychology Today blog, Life as Art. She maintains an active speaking schedule outside of the classroom, talking to such groups as the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, the National Council on Disability, the Massachusetts Manic Depressive and Depressive Association, and the One Day University lecture series. Since 2006, Dr. Carson has served as a senior consultant and subject matter expert for the Department of Defense project afterdeployment.org, which provides innovative online mental health assistance to service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Carol J. Cook, Elementary Education `73, was elected chairperson of the Pinellas County School Board at an organizational meeting Nov. 16. Cook was elected to the school board in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. Cook served on the Florida School Boards Association Board of Directors and has served on several task forces for the Florida Department of Education. She is a past president of the Pinellas County Council of PTA’s. She was also named as the legislative liaison to the Florida School Boards Association. Brenna Malouf Durden, Special
Education `74, was named to the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, in the area of real estate law. Durden is a shareholder in Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., a firm with offices in Bradenton, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach and Tallahassee.
Sonja Garcia, M.A. Library and
Information Science `77, was presented with the Graduate Celebratory Alumni Award by the Dean of USF’s Graduate School, Dr. Karen Liller, in September. Garcia is a former USF Library administrator and a former member of the USF Board of Trustees. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A&M University before completing her Master of Arts at USF. She has completed numerous leadership, management and development training programs. Garcia is also the recipient of the Jean Key Gates Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by the USF School of Library and Information Science, and a recipient of the Kente Award, presented by the President’s African American Advisory Committee. She has also received keys to four cities for her community building efforts in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Harold G. Jeffcoat, History `73 & M.A.
History `88, was named as president of Millikin University in Deactur, IL, in November. Previously, Dr. Jeffcoat served as president and CEO for 10 years at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.
Kim Klein, Art `78 and Mass Communications `81, of Shelburne Falls, MA, has joined Florentine Films, the production company of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, as the vice president of development for The Better Angels Society. The society, with advisors throughout the U.S., is associated with WETA-TV, the non-profit PBS affiliate in Washington, D.C. that has been Burns’ production partner for the last 25 years. Sidney Matthew, Business Economics &
Psychology `72, is a Tallahassee attorney and author of Bobby: The Life and Times of Bobby Jones, a biography of the late Harvard graduate, lawyer, author, Grand Slam winner and Augusta National founder. The coffee table book is in its third printing, and a documentary of the same name aired on national television before the final rounds of the Masters tournament last April.
W. Michael Montgomery, Mass
Communications `76, was voted No. 1 Plan Advisor in the U.S. in the $5 - $15 million plan category by The 401kWire, a leading industry website. In the survey of employers and his fellow consultants, over 75,000 votes were cast for over 2,500 advisors. Earlier in 2010, Montgomery was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the defined contribution field. Montgomery is managing principal of Montgomery Retirement Plan Advisors. Based in Tampa, his firm provides fiduciary and plan consulting services to sponsors of 401(k) plans across the U.S., and to several Florida municipal government plans.
Ken Otero, Education `75, is deputy
superintendent with the Hillsborough County School District, specializing in curriculum. He was a social studies teacher and assistant principal at Plant High School before being named as principal of Sligh Middle School and Tampa Bay Technical High School, respectively. He left Tampa Bay Technical to join the Hillsborough County School District as a general director of secondary education, then became general director for Area VII schools and assistant superintendent for Administration. He served as chief of staff within the county school system prior to taking his current position as deputy superintendent. He is active in the Tampa Bay community and currently serves on the Florida Aquarium Board of Directors and on St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Advisory Board.
Lee Patouillet, American Studies `75,
has founded Patouillet Consulting, a higher education advancement consulting firm. Dr. Patouillet has led three different
Don’t be shy Alumni! We’d like to include your news and photos in Class Notes. Send in your information to: kjackson@admin.usf.edu or you can mail your information & photo to: Karla Jackson USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni Center University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, FL 33620-5455
alumni associations; the University of South Florida, the University of Pittsburgh and most recently the University of Florida. At all of these institutions, he served on the senior leadership team responsible for all aspects of advancement including two different capital campaigns in excess of one billion dollars each. Dr. Patouillet earned a B.A. in American Studies with Honors from USF, an M.S. in College Student Personnel from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a charter member of the Council of Alumni Association Executives and is a long-time active volunteer leader for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He is also a charter member of the editorial board for The International Journal of Educational Advancement. The associations led by Dr. Patouillet have received more than 10 CASE Circle of Excellence awards.
Patricia Podlas, Nursing `78, is a registered nurse at Morton Plant Hospital, Bardmoor emergency room, in Largo.
David Sokolowski, Physical Education `74, married his college sweetheart, Claudia Kordus Sokolowski, `74. They have been married 36 years and have three grown kids, all college graduates and Division I athletes. David is currently working as the managing director of Training and Development for Aspen Dental Management, Inc. in Syracuse, NY. He spent 30-plus years as a training and development executive, building and leading teams in restaurant, retail and health care growth companies. Darrell Stinger, Engineering `74, has been recalled to active duty in the U.S. Air Force. This recall program brings back retired Air Force pilots to active duty because of a critical shortage in the pilot career field. Lt. Col. Stinger was stationed at Nellis AFB, NV, before deploying to the Middle East. James Wilkinson, Chemistry `75 & M.D. `78, is an associate professor at the University of Miami.
80s
Robert J. Beaudet, Jr., Physical Education `85 & M.A. `94, is department head and assistant professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Western Carolina University. Dr. Beaudet earned his Ph.D. from FSU in 1997. David A. Brown, Mass Communications `89,
operates a professional writing and marketing agency, Tight Line Communications. His work has appeared in ESPNOutdoors.com, Florida Sportsman, Louisiana Sportsman, St. Petersburg Times and Saltwater Angler. He also was the ghostwriter of “Fish Smart – Catch More!” for Tampa’s cable T.V. host Capt. Bill Miller.
David R. Brown, Education `87, is principal of
Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, FL. He was named as principal in 2009. Prior to coming to Strawberry Crest, he was an assistant principal at Leto, Freedom and East Bay high schools. He earned a Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1997.
Katharine T. Carter, MFA `80, has released
Accelerating on the Curves: The Artist’s Roadmap to Success, a collaboration by Katharine T. Carter & Associates and Running Hare Press. The book, a definitive guide to self-marketing and career advancement for artists, is the culmination of 25 years experience guiding countless artists toward successful professional outcomes. The 363-page volume is anchored by Carter’s detailed roadmap approach to building an exhibition record and advancing from local and regional success to a path toward national recognition. Katharine T. Carter & Associates, founded in 1985, offers museum and gallery placement services and comprehensive promotional support to artists, as well as educational programming, public relations and marketing.
Victor Crist, Speech Communication
`83, was elected in November to represent District 2 on the Hillsborough County Commission. Prior to serving on the County Commission, he represented northern Hillsborough County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1992 until 2000. He was then elected to the Florida Senate in 2000, where he served until 2010. As part of his duties as County Commissioner, Crist will serve on the following Boards and Councils: Aviation Authority, Council of Governments, Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors, Friendship Trailbridge Oversight Committee, Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group, Public Transportation Commission, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Policy Board, and Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
Kathleen Glaser, Nursing `84, is the director of health practitioners for the Department of State Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C.
Shawn Harrison, Political Science
`87, was elected to the Florida House to represent District 60, which includes the Temple Terrace area, northern Hillsborough County and the neighborhoods surrounding USF. An attorney in Tampa, he previously served on the Tampa City Council for eight years, representing the northern part of the city.
Victor Lucas, Management `85, joined SunTrust Bank in November as manager of the downtown Dunedin office.
Carl Lum, Accounting `85 & MBA `89, was
promoted from vice president of finance for Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa to park president of Busch Gardens and Water Country USA in Williamsburg, VA. Lum had served as Busch Gardens finance vice president since 2001. Prior to that, he spent two years as the park’s finance director. Lum began his career with Johnson & Johnson in 1984 as supervisor of accounts receivable. For three years starting in 1994, Lum worked in finance for the international division of construction, mining and building materials conglomerate Jim Walter Corporation. In 1997, he moved to Tech Data Corporation, where he worked as a sales operations manager. Lum and his wife Debbie have two sons, Alexander, 16, and Ashton, 13.The family relocated to Williamsburg in December.
Kevin McCarthy, `87 & MPA `89, is an engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Over the holidays, he led a team of fellow engineers at the McMurdo Ground Station in Antarctica in performing crucial upgrades and maintenance activities to the Near Earth Network in support of the European Space Agency’s latest meteorological satellite MetOp-A. McCarthy provided project oversight and coordination with the National Science Foundation and reported back to Goddard on day-to-day activities. He was also the primary blogger for the Near Earth Network McMurdo upgrades while in Antarctica. Julie Moore, M.A. Library and Information Science `89, is a librarian in the Technical Services Department of the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno. She was recently named as the 2010 winner of the Nancy B. Olson Award, presented by the OnLine Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc., an affiliate of the American Library Association. Moore was selected for significant and diverse contributions to audiovisual cataloging and catalogers at the local, state, and national levels over more than twenty years. The award has special significance for Moore, who studied under Olson, the first chair of the catalogers’ association. Michele Ogilvie, M.A. Anthropology `83, is an
executive planner for the Hillsborough County City County Planning Commission.
Scott Pautler, M.D. `80 is a board certified ophthalmologist with RetinaVitreous Associates of Florida. He specializes in diseases and surgery of the vitreous and retina. After medical school, he interned at the University of South Carolina and did his residency in ophthalmology at USF. He continued his training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, completing a fellowship in medical retina and macular disease as well as a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery. He JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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classnotes continues to participate in clinical research and is a clinical associate professor at USF. He has been named seven times in the listing of Best Doctors in America. Dr. Pautler has clinics in Tampa and Temple Terrace. He performs surgery at University Community Hospital in Tampa.
Deborah Ehler Polston, Mass Communications `81, is an author and child advocate who lives in Tallahassee with her husband, Justice Ricky Polston. She is the mother of four biological daughters and six adoptive sons. Polston is the author of the Eagle Child series, Books 1 & 2, adventure stories written for the elementary student, teaching character and leadership traits, and Victor’s Dream, a children’s story about life in foster care. She was named as one of Florida’s “Point of Light” recipients in November 2008, recognized for her service to the community. Polston speaks to churches, civic groups, the media and the Florida Legislature on behalf of foster children, and encourages families to pursue special needs adoptions. She was named to Florida’s Child Protection Task Force, which suggests improvements to Florida’s child protection system, and sits on the board of directors of Heart Gallery North Florida – a gallery of professional portraits of North Florida’s special needs children who are available for adoption. She is also a board member of The Trust for Florida’s Children, Inc., a direct-support organization of the Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection. Fran Powers, M.Ed. `89, is executive director and founder of Powerstories Theatre of Tampa Bay, Inc., a theatrical production company providing motivational theater and speaking-with-inspirational messages. The company specializes in helping ordinary people discover their personal “powerstory” and develop their ability to share it. Powerstories’ Girlstories Leadership Theatre was recently chosen to receive the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award out of more than 400 nominees nationwide. Girlstories is one of only 15 programs nationwide to receive the award and the only program to be recognized in the southeast U.S. The award was presented to Fran Powers by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. The Girlstories Leadership Theatre programs are designed for middle school girls between the ages of 10 - 13 who are at a critical crossroads in their development. Through theatre arts, this program teaches the girls how to honor and speak their personal story – and share those stories in performances to elementary school girls – increasing their confidence, communications skills and self-esteem. Jean Reynolds, Ph.D.. English `88, has published a book, Gretel’s Story: Finding the Way Home. Reynolds recently retired as a writing teacher from Polk State College. 30
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Dale A. Schmidt, Interdisciplinary
Natural Sciences `82, is the president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Schmidt previously was vice president of operations for the Florida Aquarium, following a career of multiple positions with Busch Gardens and Universal Studios Florida.
Christi Champion Switzer, Nursing `87, is a certified registered nurse anesthetist working for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Houston, TX. Daniel J. Van Durme, `84 & M.D. `86, is a professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health in the Florida State University College of Medicine. Prior to joining FSU in June 2004, Dr. Van Durme was vice chairman of the department of family medicine at USF. While at USF, he taught in all four years of the curriculum and received numerous teaching awards, including the Sir William Osler Award for Outstanding Faculty Role Model. Dr. Van Durme is a nationally known teacher and leader in family medicine. He is a highly rated teacher for continuing medical education programs for practicing physicians. He is a past president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and served on the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as several other national organizations. Before taking his position at USF, he was in private practice in semi-rural Land O’ Lakes, where he provided a full spectrum of care to the residents of Pasco County. Dr. Van Durme also has an interest in sports medicine and has served as team physician for college and professional sports teams in Tampa. He has also been very active in international humanitarian efforts and international medical education development in several countries. Robert Wierzel, Theatre `80, is the
lighting designer for “FELA!” which opened at London’s National Theatre in November. Wierzel has collaborated with Bill T. Jones and the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company for more than 23 years, including work at the Lyon Opera Ballet, Berlin Opera Ballet and The Louvre Museum (“Walking the Line”). His Broadway productions include “David Copperfield’s Dreams and Nightmares.” His Off-Broadway resume includes: the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, Signature Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company and Playwrights Horizons. He has collaborated with Grace Jones (Hurricane Tour), the composer Philip Glass and with opera companies of Paris (Garnier), Tokyo, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Washington, Chicago and New York. Last spring, Weirzel and Bill T. Jones came to USF to present a full production of one of Jones’ most recent works, “Serenade/ The Proposition,” to rave reviews, and were also featured in two USF “Talk of the Arts” lectures.
Wierzel is the recipient of numerous awards including several Bessie-Dance and Performance Awards for his collaborations with Jones.
Steven Woodruff, Chemical Engineering `87, was
appointed by the Governor of Georgia to serve on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources which oversees the divisions of Environmental Protection, Coastal Resources, Historic Preservation, Sustainability, Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites and Wildlife Resources. Woodruff is a licensed professional engineer and is president and chief executive officer of Woodruff & Howe Environmental Engineering, Inc. He is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Consulting Engineering Council (ACEC) and the ACEC of Georgia. He is active in the American Water Works Association and served on the Governing Board of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. He is a member of the board of directors for Terra Renewal Services and the board of directors of the Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority. Woodruff and his wife Lisa have two sons.
90s
Amina Alio, M.A. French `94 & Ph.D. Anthropology `00, received an Outstanding Research Achievement Award from the USF Office of Research & Innovation. Alio is an assistant professor of Community and Family Health in the College of Public Health. Her publications include a seminal paper published in The Lancet, on the impact of intimate partner violence. Terrance ‘T.W.’ Anderson, Jr., Business Administration `99, was selected to participate in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 20102011 Leadership Program. Anderson is an attorney in the Miami office of GrayRobinson, P.A. He focuses his practice in commercial litigation, including real property, construction, landlord-tenant, homeowner and condominium association litigation, as well as complex judgment enforcement. He has been with the firm since 2008, and holds memberships to the Florida Bar, the Miami-Dade County Bar Association and the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida. He earned his juris doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. Linda Bernard, Biology `99, was
accepted into the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, WV, in August. She will earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.) after successfully completing the four-year medical education program.
Colleen Burkard Blanton, Elementary Education `95, is a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Winter Haven.
Don’t be shy Alumni! We’d like to include your news and photos in Class Notes. Send in your information to: kjackson@admin.usf.edu or you can mail your information & photo to: Karla Jackson USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni Center University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, FL 33620-5455
Kim C. Brown, MBA `95, is chief financial officer
of CallMiner, a company that provides enterprise speech analytics solutions for managers and executives. As CFO, Brown is responsible for CallMiner’s finance and legal operations. He was previously a CFO of Attitude Network, where he was a senior member of the team that grew from start up to a $43 million acquisition in three years. In addition to his financial background, Brown is a licensed attorney and serves as CallMiner’s in-house counsel.
Ricardo Contreras, M.A. Applied Anthropology
`97 & Ph.D. `05, accepted a tenure-track position in the Department of Anthropology at East Carolina University in which he will help develop a medical anthropology program. He had been previously teaching at the University of Tampa.
Lucia Martínez Gonzalez, M.A. Library and Information Science `91, is the 2010-2011 president of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. Gonzalez, a Cuban immigrant, has had a successful library career, and is also a storyteller and puppeteer, as well as a Pura Belpré Award winning author. She was honored at USF in 1998 with the Jean Key Gates Distinguished Alumni Award. Erick Grolemund, Mass Communications `97, is a sales executive at Prudential Tropical Realty in Trinity. Grolemund has experience in both the mortgage and real estate industries. Allison Groulx, Special Education `95, is a teacher with the Florida Virtual Program. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in brain-based teaching from Nova Southeastern University. As an educator in Florida, she has taught courses at both the middle school and high school levels, both in the traditional classroom setting and as a K-12 virtual teacher. Groulx is certified in Social Science for Middle Grades (5-8), Social Science (6-12) and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (5-9). In addition, she has her endorsement in Gifted Education. This school year, she is teaching middle and high school students and working with the Advanced Learner Program.
Ardis Hanson, M.A. Library and Information
Science `90, is director of USF’s Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute Library. She was recently installed as the 2010-2011 president of the Association of Caribbean University, Research, and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL). Hanson also received an ACURILEANA STAR Award for excellence in research. She was one of six recipients of the award.
Jennifer Highland, MPH `95, is executive director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County.
The organization’s goal is to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women, infants and young children by assuring that they get needed care and services.
David Klement, M.A. Mass
Communications `96, has joined Manatee County government as an organizational development manager. His role is to analyze Manatee County government programs and services and map out policies and business strategies that will more effectively ensure quality services are being delivered to taxpayers. Klement retired as editorial page editor for the Bradenton Herald in 2007 to become director of the Institute for Public Policy and Leadership at the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. He worked at the Herald from 1975 to 2007. His journalism career began in 1962 at The Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City and he worked as night metro editor, deputy business editor and photo editor for The Detroit Free Press from 1966 until 1975.
John Legg, Social Work `95, R-Port
Richey, was named as Speaker pro tempore in November by Speaker of the House Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. Legg, who represents parts of Pasco County, was first elected to the House in 2004 and served as deputy majority whip.
Rich Mercadante, M.A. Communication `92
is a Communications instructor at St. Petersburg College. He joined SPC in 2006 and has taught for 25 years. He currently teaches courses in Speech Communication, Philosophy, and Interdisciplinary Studies (honors). He has served as president of the Florida Communication Association (FCA) and is currently chair of the Clearwater Faculty Council. He is completing his Ph.D. dissertation which explores the topics of casuistry, ethics and communication. His communications career began in his native state of Massachusetts, as a radio news anchor and disc jockey at several radio stations, including WBMT, WNBP and WHAV. Mercadante has over 20 years of teaching experience at Jesuit High School, Hillsborough Community College, USF, Father Lopez High School, Bethune-Cookman College, Northeastern University and Our Lady of Grace Seminary. He has taught a variety of courses including Speech Communication, Critical Thinking, Logic, Ethics, Philosophy, Contemporary Social Problems, Biblical Literature, World Religions, Humanities, and Homiletics. He also created a professional development course, Communication Skills for Teachers, along with several summer seminars on value debate. In 2004, he received the FCA Teacher of the Year Award and in 2007 he received the FCA Outstanding Service Award. He has been awarded competitive research and education grants from the National Endowment for
the Humanities (Philosophy and Medicine in Ancient Greece), the Council for Basic Education (Aristotle on Friendship), and the National Science Foundation (Vico’s Rhetorical View of Mathematics). In both 1999 and 2006, he was elected president of the FCA, a 75-year-old state organization that focuses on best practices for professional teaching and research in Speech Communication. His hobbies include attending local auctions and selling books and antiques on eBay.
Virgil “Pete” Moberg, Ph.D. Communications
`95, is an associate professor of Communications at Jacksonville University. He was married to Jan Brown in May. She practices elder law in Harrisburg, PA, half the year. The couple lives in St. Augustine Beach during the semester and at their 20-acre farmhouse near Berkeley Springs in the Alleghenies during breaks and holidays.
Melissa Mousseau, Education `96
& M.A. `06 is a tutor for Armstrong Tutoring. She specializes in Social Studies courses, including A.P. U.S. History. She has over 13 years experience as a Social Studies teacher and has a Social Studies Grades 6-12 Florida teaching certificate. She has been a presenter at both the Florida Council for Social Studies and the National Council for Social Studies conferences.
Randy B. Nelson, M.A. Criminology `93, founded
21st Century Research and Evaluations, Inc. in 1997, with the vision of finding solutions for today’s societal problems, particularly those affecting disadvantaged communities. Dr. Nelson’s educational background includes a B.A. degree in Sociology from Eckerd College, an M.S. degree in Corrections Administration from USF and a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University. Dr. Nelson has influenced various evaluation projects throughout the state of Florida. As a result of his well-documented evaluation of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Hillsborough County Disproportionate Minority Confinement Pilot Project, the Florida Legislature funded other disproportionate minority confinement projects throughout Florida. This project was one of Florida’s earliest efforts to find solutions for the over-representation of minorities in Florida’s juvenile justice system. Having served as an adjunct professor at Florida State University and Florida A&M University for a number of years, Dr. Nelson stays on the cutting edge of research and evaluation techniques. He also provides law enforcement training in the areas of community policing strategies and concepts to law enforcement academies and agencies.
Judy Nolasco, M.A. English `96, is the academic dean of the Hillsborough Community College SouthShore campus. JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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classnotes Robert Roberg, M.Ed. Computers in Education `96, is a teacher at the English Language Institute at the University of Florida. Roberg received a B.A. in English from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, and left immediately for Peru with the Peace Corps. After the Peace Corps, he taught in Guatemala, Colombia, Spain, Tunisia and, most recently, in China. Roberg taught ESOL in Bradenton for 2½ years for the Manatee County School Board. He likes to play guitar and paint and loves teaching English. He’s also writing a sci-fi novel. Nancy H. Wall, Ph.D. Adult Education
`97, is president and founder of Tampa Bay MatchMakers LLC. Found online at www. TampaBayMatchMakers.com, the matchmaking and coaching company serves single professionals in the Tampa Bay area. An internationally noted speaker, Dr. Wall was selected as a presenter for the Professional Matchmaking & Date Coaching Worldwide Conference, held in New York in October. She is also a lead learning designer for IBM’s Center for Advanced Learning.
Mike Wightman, M.S. Geology `90, is president of GeoView and also serves as the technical director. GeoView, Inc. is a Florida-based company
that specializes in the provision of non-intrusive geophysical services to the engineering, geological, environmental and construction industries.
Lunetta M. Williams, Elementary Education `93
& M.A. `94, is an assistant professor in literacy at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. She is state certified in elementary education, reading education and primary education. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Reading Education, at the University of Florida in 2005, when she was the recipient of UF’s College of Education Dissertation Award.
Emmett Winn, Ph.D. Communications `99, is now the associate provost at Auburn University. Adriana Younskevicius, M.A. Library and
Information Sciences `94, joined the Library Associates Companies Group as the senior client manager. The LAC Group is a professional services firm that provides library, legal, information and research staffing, consulting, project management and asset management services. Younskevicius previously worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and Xerox Corporation, where she managed their library systems.
00s
Marisa F. Baker, M.D. `00, is board certified and practices general obstetrics and gynecology with a special interest in minimally invasive surgery and laparoscopic hysterectomy. She joined Lifetime Obstetrics and Gynecology, previously known as Carrollwood Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. Dr. Baker was in academic practice from 2004-2006 as assistant professor and attending physician at the USF College of Medicine. During that time, she acted as director of the Maternal/Newborn Clinical Clerkship for third year medical students and received the APGO Excellence in Resident Teaching Award and the CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Teaching. Although she is now in private practice, she continues teaching students and residents as clinical assistant professor at USF. Dr. Baker is also active in community service and volunteers both at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic and the San Jose Mission Clinic helping the underserved. Quenton Bonds, MSEE `06, and Andrea Rocha, two College of Engineering doctoral students,
In the Bulls Eye
… Rick Williamson, Theatre `77
R
ick Williamson is a man of many talents: actor, screenwriter, director, producer. He even does some stunt driving for the hit television show “CSI: NY.” During his long career in L.A., Williamson has been nominated for a number of awards, but his most recent claim to fame comes as the writer/director/producer of “A Short Film,” a comedy that he calls “the epitome of a short western film, with short actors, short horses and long credits.” The film, starring Marty Klebba of “Pirates of the Caribbean” fame, is winning awards at film festivals all over the country, including Audience Awards at the highly competitive Los Angeles Comedy Short Film Festival and the Friars Club Film Festival in New York City; the Best Comedy award at the 3 Minute Film Festival in New Mexico and Best Comedy Short at the Melbourne (FL) International Film Festival. The Lighthouse International Film Festival in New Jersey described “A Short Film” as “one of the most efficiently hilarious shorts of all time.” Though he has lived and worked in L.A. since graduation, Williamson says he built the foundation for his success while studying with a trio of USF professors. “Paul Massie taught me that being an actor is an honor and a privilege. Bernard Downs believed in the integrity of the work, as well as the uniqueness of the individual to create magic onstage. And I will not forget Jack Belt, who cast me in my first lead on the main stage.” Massie and Downs are retired professors emeritus in theatre and communication, respectively. Keep an eye out for Williamson as a goat farmer in the soonto-be-released film “Born to Be a Star” with Christina Ricci and Stephen Dorff. By Karla Jackson, `88
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Don’t be shy Alumni! We’d like to include your news and photos in Class Notes. Send in your information to: kjackson@admin.usf.edu or you can mail your information & photo to: Karla Jackson USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni Center University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, FL 33620-5455
were invited to present their work at a research poster and networking session on Capitol Hill last fall. The NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) on the Hill event was targeted to congressional staff who may not know about the activities and achievements of the LSAMP program. Both Bonds and Rocha are participants of the Florida Georgia LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate project at USF that has been funded by the National Science Foundation and USF (Provost’s Office, Office of Research & Innovation, Colleges of Engineering, Marine Science, Arts & Sciences and Medicine).
the usual trappings” and each show in the series is presented script-in-hand, with minimal staging. To date, The York has presented over 75 Mufti concert revivals of musical theatre gems from Broadway, Off-Broadway and London, celebrating great writers from the world of musical theatre. Darrington was also a cast member in “Born For Broadway,” a one-night celebrity cabaret that featured both established Broadway performers and undiscovered talent. Proceeds from the benefit, held Oct. 4, benefitted the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Wendy Bradshaw, M.A. Special Education
Diana Doughty, MBA `00 received the New York State Commissioner of Health’s Commissioner’s Recognition Award as part of the Hospital-Acquired Infection Reporting Team in September. The team was recognized for providing outstanding service by rapidly establishing an exemplary reporting system on hospital infections and promoting infection prevention and control efforts statewide. Doughty, R.N., CIC, CPHQ, is located in the Syracuse NYSDOH office and manages hospitals in 14 counties that comprise the Central New York Region and three counties in the Capital Region.
`06, is an infant-toddler developmental specialist and certified teacher for Florida Pediatric Therapy. She specializes in working with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children with behavior disorders.
Bethany Graves Brown, Nursing `09, is a registered nurse at Tampa General Hospital and is currently enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner Program at USF, training in critical care. David Butler, M.A. Applied Anthropology `01 &
Ph.D. `07, teaches an Internet Marketing Masters of Science program at Full Sail University in Winter Park. Dr. Butler has nearly a decade of college-level teaching experience focusing on the analysis of cultural behavior. Additionally, he has served as an Internet marketing consultant for profit and nonprofit organizations as well as his own business, Butler Cultural Resource Management.
Sheila Calistri, MBA `06, operates Sheila Calistri & Associate’s BuyTampaFL.com Realty. Marlee Cea, Psychology `08, was part of an AmeriCorps team that developed an information station to inform residents of Milton, FL about the BP oil spill cleanup and recovery. The team worked on a volunteer management program for the area. Cea is one of 160 young people who pledged to perform 10 months of public service throughout the country as part of the 16th class of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. She completed her pledge in November. Thomas A. Crabb, Finance `03, of the firm Radey Thomas Yon & Clark, was listed in Florida Super Lawyers for 2010 as a Rising Star in the area of business/ corporate law. Quentin Earl Darrington, Theatre `04, appeared in the NYC Theatre Company’s “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd,” a part of the Fall 2010 Musicals in Mufti concert series in October. Mufti means “in street clothes; without
Chris Harden, MBA `07, is an
engineering manager and embedded device developer for bsquare, a Washington-based company that provides engineering services and software development for the smart device market. Harden has been an embedded device developer for 12 years and has created user interfaces for many products for well-known manufacturers. He has a unique mix of Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and Entrepreneurship experience, and has consulted for companies such as Disney Imagineering, Palm, Coca Cola, and Motorola. Chris presented “Building Device User Interfaces with Adobe Flash” at ESC 2009. He is currently working on the Ford MyTouch System. In addition to his MBA from USF, Harden has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He was also a finalist in the Inaugural Florida Statewide Business Plan Competition hosted by the Florida Venture Forum.
Rebekah Lee, Political Science `09, is a marketing and media associate for Benico, Ltd., an employee benefits consulting firm, in Huntley, IL.
Dennis Leoutsakas, Ph.D. Communication `03, is an associate professor of Communication Arts at Salisbury University in Maryland. His specialties are folklore, health communication, communication and social issues, performance art and media criticism. Diana Lima, MPH `09, is a research program administrator at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Before joining Moffitt, she was awarded a health communications internship with the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, which ended in December 2009. Matthew Lopez, Theatre Performance `00, has written “The Whipping Man,” a play about the lives of three men at the end of the Civil War, which had a successful run this summer at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA. Raffaele Macri, Biomedical Sciences `09, joined
the Peace Corps as a community health project volunteer and was assigned to serve in Madagascar for two years.
Max Jacobo Moreno Madriñán, Ph.D. Public Health `08, is a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Global Hydrology and Climate Center in Hunstville, AL. Rafael Martin, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences `00, ran 50 miles, from Tenoroc High in Lakeland to Orlando on Oct. 22 to raise money for school supplies. Martin, who teaches at Tenoroc, won 100 reams of paper, binders, notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators and digital cameras as well as a $5,000 gift card to OfficeMax. OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better campaign – which provides supplies to teachers – sponsored Martin’s run and pledged to match donations.
Keri-Rose Harkins, MPH `01, is a senior child advocate for the Mobile Medical Clinic and Watch Me Grow program of St. Joseph’s Children’s Advocacy Center.
Mike Merrill, M.A. Religious Studies `01, was named Hillsborough County administrator in December by the Hillsborough County Commission. He had been serving as interim administrator since March. Merrill has spent 23 years in county government, most of it as debt management director, before his promotion to the equivalent of an assistant administrator in 2008.
David C. Hood, M.D. `02, is an otolaryngologist
Doug Miles, Professional/Technical Writing `08, is
for ENT Associates in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He did his residency and internship in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, TX. He is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.
director of broadcast for the Sarasota Millionaires, a minor league football team in the Florida Football Alliance. He is also the government reporter for the Bradenton Times.
David Reali, Accounting `09, was recently licensed
with the state of Florida as a Certified Public Accountant. He is employed by CS&L CPAs in Bradenton. JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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classnotes Amy Reckdenwald, M.A. Criminology `04, is an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2001 and her Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Florida in 2008. Dr. Reckdenwald’s research interests include intimate partner homicide, domestic violence, race and gender issues, and capital punishment and sentencing. At FAU she teaches Research Methods, Criminological Theory, and Domestic Violence. Daniella Gordic-Ronderos, French `07, teaches French and Spanish at Bishop John J. Snyder High School in Jacksonville. Lisa E. (Tarras) Rower, Accounting `04, was
named controller for the Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines. She is responsible for developing and maintaining financial accounting systems, policies and procedures, as well as ensuring compliance with accounting and corporate regulations. Rower previously served as audit manager for Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP, in Raleigh. She is a licensed CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Urrikka Woods-Scott, Gerontology `05, has
joined the National Council on Aging (NCOA) as a special projects coordinator for the Economic Security Initiative and Workforce Development team. In her role, Woods-Scott will assist in the development of NCOA’s EconomicCheckUp tool (an online screening tool to help older adults struggling during this economic downturn), manage online community campaigns, and conduct research and analysis on labor and industry trends for older workers. Prior to joining NCOA, Woods-Scott was a program associate for the National Academy of Sciences and an intern with AARP’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The NCOA is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Mulham Shbeib, CPA, Accounting `01, recently graduated from George Mason University with a Masters in Accounting. He also welcomed his third daughter, Jenna Shbeib, who was born in March 2010. He is the controller for the Partnership for Public Service in Washington, D.C. Melissa Slawsky, M.M. `06, is a Ph.D. candidate in Music Education. She was featured in the fall as a presenter at the 2010 GP3 Group Piano and Piano Edagogy Forum in Austin, TX. She presented research on the pianist’s transition into the teaching role including challenges, solutions, reflections, and suggestions for the future of piano pedagogy, the results of two pilot studies in preparation for her dissertation. 34
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Xigrid Soto, Communication Science and Disorders `09, is a graduate clinician in the USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences’ Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders. She was selected as a participant in the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association’s Minority Student Leadership Program, Class of 2010. The Minority Student Leadership Program was developed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to provide students from underrepresented groups an opportunity to develop leadership skills in the profession of communication disorders. Tim Stamps, M.A. Jazz Performance `05, and Jennifer Ford Stamps, M.A. Mass Communications `08, welcomed their daughter, Lula Claire, on July 30 at 4:47 a.m. She weighed 7lbs. 12oz. and was 19.5 inches long. Lula Claire watched her first football game, USF vs. Florida, in her Future Bulls onesie that her parents bought at the USF bookstore on their “babymoon” to Tampa/St. Pete Beach in the spring. Tim currently works as a dealer relations representative for Jim’s Formal Wear and Jennifer is a senior marketing associate for Capital One. The family lives in Richmond, VA. Kenneth R. Statsick, Biology `04, received a
most comprehensive battery test and assembly laboratory in North America.
10s
Melissa Anduiza, Dance `10, began her professional career after graduation last summer as one of the primary dancers with the North Carolina Dance Theatre in Charlotte. Prior to joining the company, she performed at the National College Dance Festival, sponsored by the American College Dance Festival Association at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Shahnjayla K. Connors, MPH `10, is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Outcomes & Behavior at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Connors’ research focuses on prostate cancer clinical trials and interventions for cancer disparities in minority populations. Michelle (Upshaw) Ghidinelli, MPH `10, is a microbiologist for the California Department of Public Health. She works in the Microbial Diseases Laboratory in Richmond, CA. Olabode Oyekoya, MPH `10, is a disease
intervention specialist for DACCO Inc. in Tampa.
Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University, Sarasota.
Caitlin Stowe, MPH `10, is an infection control professional at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Kali Thomas, M.A. Gerontology, `07, is a Ph.D.
Julie F. Troum, Ph.D. Music Education `10, presented her dissertation paper on self-regulation and music study at the 4th International Conference on Self-Determination Theory in Ghent, Belgium, last May. Her spoken paper, titled “The Relationship Between Perceived Autonomy Support and Perceived Competence on Task Persistence of Undergraduate Applied Music Students,” was the first-known study to apply self-determination theory to music.
candidate in the USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences’ School of Aging Studies. She was awarded a grant last fall through the Grants for Health Services Research Dissertation Program, funded by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. The grant, entitled “Understanding Processes of Care and Patient Safety Outcomes in Nursing Homes: An Examination of Patient Safety Culture,” will be used to fund Thomas for a year as she works on her dissertation. It will also cover the costs of tuition, data, a computer and travel for dissemination of research findings.
Chelsea Kuhl Watson, MSPH `00, is deputy
director of the Grants and Per Diem Program for the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Tampa.
Jessica Weber, Mechanical Engineering `03, M.S. `05 and Ph.D. `10, was the recipient of a prestigious American Society of Engineering Education/National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at the General Motors Global Research and Development Center in Warren, MI. Weber’s research centers on battery chemistry and testing of anode/cathode materials, including those at the nanoscale. At the General Motors Global Research and Development Center, she is collaborating with individual researchers as well as with teams from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. GM has the largest,
In Memoriam Bernadette Alkhatib, `80, 11/4/2010 Joanne Cogar, M.A. `68, 9/1/2010 Andrew A. Crawford, `06, 10/4/2010 Doug Gardner, `76, 5/23/2010 Richard Gasink, M.A. `07, 8/31/2010 Charity Kisser, `04, 10/19/2010 Kate Kohlier, `10, 10/30/2010 Judith Moody, `73, 11/12/2010 Kay Nash, `78 & M.Ed `82, 9/26/2010 Pat Richardson, `65, 11/16/2010 Margaret Steward, `80, 3/30/2010
athletics
Bulls in the NFL By Carter Gaddis
K
USF Bulls Active on 2010 NFL Rosters NAME POSITION TEAM Nate Allen DB Eagles Mike Jenkins DB Cowboys Carlton Mitchell WR Browns Jerome Murphy CB Rams Stephen Nicholas LB Falcons Jason Pierre-Paul DE Giants George Selvie DE Rams Kion Wilson LB Chargers Source – National Football League
ion Wilson entered his first National Football League training camp with the San Diego Chargers last summer as an undrafted rookie free agent. Such players typically are referred to in NFL circles as “camp fodder,” young guys whose ambition usually outweighs their talent. The odds are against them from the start, and most last only until the roster is trimmed shortly before the regular season. Wilson, a former University of South Florida linebacker, beat the odds. When training camp Kion Wilson, broke in August, Bulls San Diego fans had a new reason to Chargers cast an eye toward San Diego on Sundays. And Wilson, one of eight former USF players on active NFL rosters in 2010, had a new perspective on the power of persistence. “To a certain extent, you control your destiny, but you don’t know if they like you, you don’t know if you did this right, you don’t know if you did anything right,” Wilson said. “For all you know, you could be a complete failure. But you still have to go out there and prove yourself, day by day.” Two months into his rookie year, Wilson hurt an ankle in practice and was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season. But he still gets to report to work for rehabilitation in Southern California. He still gets to live his dream. And USF fans still get to share that dream, because Wilson will always be one of their own. There is an intense bond between USF football players and Bulls fans, a bond forged from the shared memory of the emotional highs and lows inherent to a young, rising program.
As the Bulls matured from NCAA Division I-AA independent in the late 1990s to perennial BIG EAST Conference contenders, the bond between fans and their favorite USF players grew stronger. And something else began to happen, a fortunate byproduct of supporting a successful college football team. The NFL began to take notice. Now, the bond would extend to autumn Sundays. It began as a trickle in 2000, with a handful of Bulls receiving invitations as undrafted rookies to NFL training camps. A short decade later, a school-record five Bulls were selected in the 2010 NFL draft, including the program’s secondever, first-round pick, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (New York Giants). According to data compiled by USF Athletics, 50 former USF players have participated in the NFL in some capacity. Some have gotten only as far as training camp in the summer. Other former Bulls have left an indelible mark in the NFL, starting when defensive back Anthony Henry led the league in interceptions with 10 as a Cleveland Browns rookie in 2001. Sixteen Bulls have been drafted, the first three in 2001: Henry (Browns), kicker Bill Gramatica (Cardinals) and offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones (Patriots). One former Bulls standout, 2008 Dallas Cowboys first-round draft pick Mike Jenkins, has made it to the NFL’s post-season all-star showcase, the Pro Bowl. During the 2010 NFL season, USF fans had plenty of names to follow on Sundays. Three were starters: Jenkins with Dallas, rookie safety Nate Allen (Philadelphia Eagles) and linebacker Stephen Nicholas (Atlanta Falcons). Wilson was on San Diego’s injured reserve list, but four other rookies saw significant action for their respective teams: Paul with the Giants, defensive end George Selvie and defensive a JANUARY 2011 | ALUMNIVOICE
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USF Bulls Selected in the NFL Draft
Nate Allen, Philadelphia Eagles
back Jerome Murphy with the Rams, and receiver Carlton Mitchell with the Browns. Even as they perfect their craft as professional athletes, former USF players carry fond memories of their time together in green and gold. “You build such a bond with the guys,” said Mitchell, who frequently electrified Raymond James Stadium with spectacular long catches. “There were just so many random things outside of football. They feel like family. That’s what I’m going to miss most, really, the bond we had in the locker room.” Wilson’s fondest recollection of life at USF echoed Mitchell’s sentiment. “From the beginning of the spring, all the hard work that we put in, just going on into the fall, we were just a family on the field,” Wilson said. “And it transferred off the field, too. We called each other brothers.” Mitchell and Allen both pointed to the 21-13 victory against fifth-ranked West Virginia in 2007 at Raymond James Stadium as the source of their greatest USF memory. “You remember that game?” Allen asked. What Bulls fan could forget? It was, at the time, the biggest victory in program history. “I remember how the stadium was sold out that night,” said Allen, who picked off a pass and recovered a fumble against the Mountaineers. “I 36
ALUMNIVOICE | JANUARY 2011
think we were ranked 20th (actually 18th), because we’d just beaten Auburn. It was just electric that night. They said that night was the night Tampa turned into a college football town.” Mitchell caught his first career touchdown pass that night, a 55-yarder from quarterback Matt Grothe. “I only played five snaps that game, but after the game I was so hyped,” Mitchell said. “I got so tired I needed an oxygen tank and everything. It was just wonderful.” Mitchell, Allen and their fellow former Bulls are busy now creating new memories for themselves and their fans from USF. Mitchell made his regular-season debut with the Browns on Oct. 24 in New Orleans against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints. Allen earned a starting job at free safety with the Eagles out of training camp. Nicholas recorded a career-best 13 tackles in a Falcons victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 3. And Wilson, while disappointed that his rookie year with the Chargers ended prematurely because of injury, has embraced the new challenge of establishing himself as a
PLAYER POSITION Bill Gramatica K Anthony Henry DB Kenyatta Jones OL Kawika Mitchell LB Shurron Pierson DE DeAndrew Rubin WR J.R. Reed DB Stephen Nicholas LB Mike Jenkins CB Trae Williams RB Tyrone McKenzie LB Nate Allen S Carlton Mitchell WR Jerome Murphy DB Jason Pierre-Paul DE George Selvie DE
YEAR TEAM ROUND 2001 Cardinals 4th 2001 Browns 4th 2001 Patriots 4th 2003 Chiefs 2nd 2003 Raiders 4th 2003 Packers 7th 2004 Eagles 4th 2007 Falcons 4th 2008 Cowboys 1st 2008 Jaguars 5th 2009 Patriots 3rd 2010 Eagles 2nd 2010 Browns 6th 2010 Rams 3rd 2010 Giants 1st 2010 Rams 7th
Source – USF Bulls Athletics
long-term player in the NFL. “I don’t have an actual year of experience, but now I know what it takes,” Wilson said. “Approaching next offseason, I know what I have to do. I know what the coaches expect. I know how to prepare for it, mentally and physically. Next year, I’m not competing to make the practice squad or whatever. I’m competing to play. And that’s what I plan on doing.”
Carlton Mitchell, Cleveland Browns
calendar
your membership in action
JANUARY 18 College of Business Alumni Society, 6:30 p.m., Tia’s Tex Mex, 2815 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. RSVP to bsbuckley@tecoenergy.com. 20 University Lecture Series featuring Martin Luther King III, 7-8:30 p.m., Marshall Center Ballroom, USF Tampa. Visit www.uls.usf.edu for details. 813-910-3274. 29 Hernando Chapter Hockey Night – USF vs UCF, 8:30 p.m., Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Email usfhcac@gmail.com for details. FEBRUARY 1 USF Alumni Assoication Board of Directors nominations due. Contact Jenny Cater at 813-974-9127 or jcater@admin.usf.edu. 1 USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board Joint Meeting with Community Leadership Council , 3:30-5:30 p.m., Selby Auditorium, USF Sarasota-Manatee. Email levensen@sar.usf.edu to RSVP. 4 Hernando Chapter Hockey Night – USF vs FGCU, 9:30 p.m., Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Email usfhcac@gmail.com for details. 9 USF: Unstoppable Event in Dallas, 6-8 p.m., La Cima Club on Top of Las Colinas, 5215 N. O’Connor Blvd., 26th Floor, Irving, TX. RSVP to Cornelia Higgins at www.usf.edu/ua/RSVP or 813-974-3596. 10 USF: Unstoppable Event in Houston, 6-8 p.m., The Westin Galleria Hotel, 5060 West Alabama St., Houston, TX. RSVP to Cornelia Higgins at www.usf.edu/ua/RSVP or 813-974-3596. 15 USF: Unstoppable Event at Innisbrook, Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort, 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, FL. RSVP to Cornelia Higgins at www.usf.edu/ua/RSVP or 813-974-3596. 15 College of Business Alumni Society, 6:30 p.m., Tia’s Tex Mex, 2815 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. RSVP to bsbuckley@tecoenergy.com. MARCH 12 Tampa Orchid Club Annual Orchid Auction, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Botanical Gardens at USF Tampa. Visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden or call 813-910-3274 for details. 15 College of Business Alumni Society, 6:30 p.m., Tia’s Tex Mex, 2815 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. RSVP to bsbuckley@tecoenergy.com. 31 USF Alumni Award applications due. Visit www.USFalumni.org/alumniawards for details on how to nominate yourself or someone else. APRIL 2 Bulls Around the World Spring Gala, 7 p.m., Traditions Hall, Gibbons Alumni Center, USF Tampa campus. Visit www.USFalumni.org/BullsAroundtheWorld for details. 14 LGBT Gala, 7 p.m., Traditions Hall, Gibbons Alumni Center, USF Tampa. Visit www.USFalumni.org/lgbt for details
Event dates and details are subject to change. Please visit the Alumni Association Website at http://usfalumni.org for the latest information.
PERIODICALS
USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni Center University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALC100 Tampa, FL. 33620-5455 Membership Renewal Date: