Bitcoin: Should You or Shouldn’t You? Thanking the Troops Through Tennis
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aving grown up across the street from a soccer field in Australia and played the game for some 25 years, it was inevitable that I should be a major fan of Trinity soccer. Thus you might imagine my excitement this past fall as I watched the Trinity soccer teams—men’s and women’s—earn their respective berths in the NCAA playoffs. The women’s team went all the way to the finals, playing in San Antonio before more than 1,200 people, the largest crowd ever to watch a Division III soccer match, before falling to William Smith College. The men’s soccer team made it through to the semi-finals, playing two games in 6°F weather in Iowa. To place the achievements of these two teams in perspective, 460 women’s teams and 440 men’s teams contested the season. The showings were a remarkable achievement for our soccer program. Adding to the season’s highlights, Trinity’s women’s volleyball team made it to the Sweet 16, their run stopped only by the No.1 team in the nation. When I first arrived at Trinity, people often asked me if I was surprised by anything, and the answer was yes. I had been well aware of Trinity’s academic reputation, but I was indeed surprised to find an athletic program and tradition that was equally strong. I had known of Trinity’s nationally ranked Division I Trinity tennis stars like Dick Stockton and Chuck McKinley because they played against Australian stars at Wimbledon and other major tournaments. But that was in the 70s. So I was delighted to find that Trinity’s scholar athletes, now competing in NCAA Division III, were also setting records, winning SCAC and NCAA championships, and even returning to Trinity as coaches. (Meet the newest alumni coach—a perfect example of a Trinity scholar athlete—on page 14.) Hats off to athletic director Bob King and his terrific, dedicated coaching staff who have built an exceptional program—the Tigers are currently in the lead for a third consecutive President’s Trophy, having won five of six SCAC fall championships—that attracts 30 percent of our student population. I invite you to join me
among the growing ranks of Tiger fans. The Tigers will make you proud, and the teams will appreciate your support. The Trinity Tigers’ website (www.trinitytigers.com) includes schedules, highlights, and outcomes that will keep you up to date. As many of you are aware, rising college costs plus vigorous competition for the best and brightest students are challenges most institutions of higher learning are facing. Trinity is aggressively meeting those challenges via a recently launched marketing initiative that includes print, electronic, A jubilant President Ahlburg arranged for buses to take students and faculty fans to watch the Tiger women play in the NCAA soccer championship finals.
and social media designed to strengthen and expand brand recognition and enhance student recruitment. No longer will we be described as a “hidden gem.” Two new student recruiters are focusing on key markets (see page 13), and the Admissions Office has been relocated to a central location on the first floor of Northrup Hall. The remodeled space features a unique interactive “discovery table” that engages prospective students and parents alike. The Trinity website also underwent a major renovation to better meet the needs of prospective students, the large majority of whom begin their college search on the Web. With “all systems go” we look forward to enrolling an outstanding class of 2018. I would also ask that you, as alumni, parents, and friends, support our efforts by sharing the Trinity story and your experiences whenever and wherever possible. Penelope and Benjamin join me in wishing you a very happy New Year. Warmly,
Dennis A. Ahlburg
FEATURES
Rich Butler is interim dean of Trinity’s reorganized School of Business. See page 5.
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What a Difference A Decade Makes
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Bitcoin: Should You or Shouldn’t You?
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Thanking Our Troops Through Tennis
DEPARTMENTS 4 Trinity Today
Nora Ziegenhagen ’04, a Google executive working at “warp speed,” is based in Copenhagen. Profiles begin on page 32.
13 Faculty/Staff Focus 32 Profiles 40 Alumnews 54 Class Acts
Jin In ’95 has helped empower young girls around the world. See page 40.
January 2014 executive editor
Sharon Jones Schweitzer ’75 editor
Mary Denny art director
Michelle Wilby Friesenhahn ’77 contributing writers
Mike Agresta, Josephine Ayala, R. Douglas Brackenridge, Julie Catalano, Andrew Faught, Lisa Jasinski, Molly Mohr, Nancy Cook-Monroe, Susie Gonzalez, Russell Guerrero ’83, James Hill ’76 president
Dennis A. Ahlburg board of trustees
Sharon J. Bell, Ted Beneski, Walter F. Brown Jr., Richard W. Calvert, Miles Cortez ’64, James F. Dicke II ’68, Douglas D. Hawthorne ’69, ’72, George C. Hixon ’64, Walter R. Huntley Jr. ’71, ’73, John R. Hurd, E. Carey Joullian IV ’82, The Rev. Richard R. Kannwischer ’95, Richard M. Kleberg III ’65, Katherine W. Klinger ’72, John C. Korbell, Oliver T. Lee ’93, Steven P. Mach ’92, Robert S. McClane ’61, Melody Boone Meyer ’79, Forrest E. Miller, Marshall B. Miller Jr., Michael F. Neidorff ’65, Barbara W. Pierce ’78, Thomas R. Semmes, Paul H. Smith, L. Herbert Stumberg Jr. ’81, Lissa Walls Vahldiek ’80 Trinity is published two times a year by the Office of University Communications and is sent to alumni, faculty, staff, graduate students, parents of undergraduates, and friends of the University. editorial offices
Trinity University Office of University Communications One Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 E-mail: mdenny@ trinity.edu Phone: 210-999-8406 Fax: 210-999-8449 www.trinity.edu
FROM THE EDITOR
TO THE EDITOR
Since its re-launch in 2004, the Trinity
INAPPROPRIATE SETTING
University Press has published more than 150 volumes, created a unique niche in university publishing, and made a national name for itself. Its books have been featured in prestigious national and international media including The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the London Times, and National Public Radio, among others. Credit for this success goes to brilliant director Barbara Ras and her small staff—together they bring over 100 years of publishing experience—who have expanded the Press beyond its original parameters. Read of their success on pages 19-25. Again, Trinity alumni never fail to amaze me with their talents and accomplishments. In this issue you will meet two young women who are rising rapidly in the business world. “What glass ceiling?” they might ask. Also featured are two alumni who have avocations in addition to their day jobs: a creative entrepreneur who flies patients to medical care and a police officer who thrills fans with his string of zombie novels. After several years of campus construction, we are putting the finishing touches on the Center for the Sciences and Innovation. This spring it will be fully occupied, and new and returning students next fall can expect to find one of the finest undergraduate centers for teaching and research in the country. In addition to housing sophisticated labs and well-appointed interior spaces for quiet study or informal collaborations, the building itself is an architectural delight filled with art and landscaped beautifully. Look for pictures and an inside peek in the July issue. As always, we are interested in your feedback, and your ideas for stories, subject matter, and profile suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Our goal is to enhance your reading pleasure and keep you informed and proud of your alma mater. Best wishes for a Happy New Year. Mary Denny
I wish to bring to your attention a picture within the most recent issue of Trinity magazine. The picture on page 40 that accompanies the profile of [an alumna] is of her sitting on a bench at the Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial. I find this picture in incredibly poor taste as she is sitting on a bench erected in memory of one lost during those horrific attacks. In fact you can even see the name of the deceased. I believe that a place of silent reflection such as this should not be utilized by my alma mater as a photo opp. I don’t know, nor do I honestly care, about the specifics of why that location was chosen, but I do wish better judgment will be used in the future. Derek Billnitzer ’08 Greene, N.Y. GREAT WORK! Great work in the latest edition of the Trinity magazine! The table of contents mirrored my calendar. As I prepare to travel to assist in Syrian healthcare efforts, it will be a brief interruption from continued work providing excellence every day to our patients while being mindful of cost in the age of the ACA. The reflections by Mr. Uzman and Mr. Agresta were interesting in their perspectives on these topics. Additionally, I am the binge watcher that Mr. Agresta mentions as my 2-and-a-half year old and 7-month old take precedence and we are all looking forward to our recently ordered copy of 1,2,3 Si! Keep up the good work! Monica Staples ’97, RN, MSN Boston, Mass.
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MISSING RUSS
will be
Health Care Alumni tackle ACA in Texas Student Report: It was amazing!
Editor’s note: We welcome your comments, memories, and suggestions. Letters may be edited for style and space considerations. Please send them to mdenny@trinity.edu or Mary Denny, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212
GOOD BOOKS! I received (and read!) my Trinity magazine today. I loved having Dr. Grissom’s book recommendations. I took her contemporary literature course pass/fail my senior year. It is still one of the courses upon which I thoughtfully reflect because it was so much fun! I am so excited to have more fun novels to explore. Marney Babbitt ’08 Sewanee, Tennessee
Thank you for the Russ Gossage “In Memoriam.” Russ touched the lives of thousands of students, faculty, staff and friends of Trinity. Russ was a dear friend and a mentor to me. The friendship developed late in my junior year at Trinity in 1968. Russ offered me the opportunity to join Fred Shefte and another student in hosting an information booth built next to the old bookstore at the main entrance. Our job was to greet visitors (prospective students and family members) and provide campus tours. The volume of visitors was projected to increase due to HemisFair. At the end of summer, Russ offered to keep me on as a student host giving campus tours. After graduation and my two-year commitment to the military, I called Russ to ask if he would write a recommendation for me to law school. He immediately agreed but asked if I would be interested in joining his admissions team. I said absolutely and he arranged for me to visit Trinity for an interview. I’m pleased to say that I was selected and joined Russ and his team: Doodie Meyer, Nan Massengale, John Burleson, and Bill Duffy. The next two-andone-half years were wonderful. Russ and the team taught me about college admissions work. We traveled all over the U.S. calling on prospective students and their families, making presentations at high schools, getting to know key high school guidance directors, visiting with alumni, etc. We were quite successful. It helped that we all loved Trinity and our enthusiasm was contagious. Russ and I remained friends but our personal contacts waned due to distance and obligations. Like Russ, I eventually became a Fund Development Officer. Four years ago I retired from a Hospital Foundation in Arizona (my home state). One morning shortly after I retired, I answered a phone call and Russ’ unmistakable voice asked: “Glenn are you mad at me?” I immediately said, “Of course not. Why do you ask?” He replied
that it had been a while since I had called. He was correct, and for the next four years we chatted every month or two including our last conversation about two or three weeks prior to his passing. I also had the opportunity of visiting with Russ in person at two recent alumni weekends. Although he was enormously important in my career development, I will miss him more as a dear friend. Glenn A. Tappan ’69 Casa Grande, Arizona
I was very sad when I read that Russ Gossage had passed away. He was a very fine person who was extremely friendly. Mr. Gossage introduced Trinity to me as a freshman in 1979. [He] was a fine gentleman to remember. Jan Ohlsson ’83 Morges, Switzerland
January 2014 3
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THEY’RE BACK!
Triniteers re-chartered after six-year campus exile
Bid day in 2003 included jubulant Teer pledges, the first since the fraternity was reinstated the first time in 2001, after an absence of 10 years. The bonds of brotherhood have proved strong and resilient.
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he Triniteers, one of Trinity University’s oldest local fraternities, has returned to active and recognized status after developing a reinstatement plan that includes a commitment to change the culture of the “Teers.” Earlier this year, a group of Triniteer alumni approached the University about the possibility of re-chartering, acknowledging the 2006 charter revocation was warranted and that the organization had suffered many shortcomings, including a lack of alumni involvement. The “Teer” alumni expressed a strong interest in creating a “fresh start” for the fraternity that would include a complete change in its recent culture. “I was very impressed with the group’s pledge of alumni support of a re-chartered Triniteers fraternity and their cooperation
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to work in partnership with the University,” says Michael Fischer, vice president for Faculty and Student Affairs. After the Triniteers’ charter was revoked by the administration for policy violations in 2006, the organization was not eligible to apply for recognition or re-charter status for a minimum of five years. “We as alumni are looking forward to taking full advantage of the opportunity the University has provided the club. Our goal is to develop a club with a core of members who embody the ideals that the Triniteers were founded on in 1945,” says Jeremy Boyce ’03. “The members of the newly established Triniteers will be guided by our strong and active alumni base to have a positive and lasting impact on Trinity University.” Boyce, Trinity’s coordinator for athletic
recruitment and a Triniteer alumnus, and several other Triniteer alumni developed a reinstatement plan that re-examined the organization’s values and how their actions and activities will reflect those values. The group’s re-chartering plan also included activities related to the four pillars of fraternity and sorority life at Trinity: scholarship, leadership, service, and camaraderie. “Trinity University is committed to creating a campus environment where fraternities and sororities thrive and contribute to the larger community,” affirms Fischer. “The Blueprint for Trinity’s Fraternities and Sororities is a reflection of that commitment.” The Blueprint may be viewed online at www.trinity.edu/blueprint. Sharon Jones Schweitzer ’75
T R I N I T Y T O D AY
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Transformed department includes local partnerships
Paige Fields
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Linda Specht
rinity has transformed its department of business administration into a School of Business designed to forge partnerships with community and business leaders while remaining true to the institution’s focus on liberal arts and sciences. Richard Butler, Trinity professor of economics, will serve as interim dean of the School of Business while a national search is conducted for a permanent dean. The School of Business will include three departments with interim chairs. The department of accounting will have professor Linda Specht as interim chair, Paige Fields, Prassel Professor of Business, will serve as interim chair of finance and decision sciences, and professor Don Van Eynde will be interim chair of business administration. “Trinity has a very long tradition of providing a world-class business education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences,” says president Dennis Ahlburg. “With the reorganization, the School of Business will
Richard Butler
more effectively serve our students, link disciplines across the campus, and connect the University more fully to the business community of San Antonio.” Although about one-fourth of Trinity’s students major in business, Butler says the School of Business aims to offer even the students who do not major in business the opportunity to be equipped with business skills for whatever awaits them after college. “After graduating, they will work in some kind of organization, so it’s in their interest to be business literate,” he explains. A successful business school must have deep and thriving relationships with the business community. To develop these partnerships, Butler has spent the past year forming a 19-member Business Advisory Council chaired by Kevin Bergner ’79, retired Army major general and president of the USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group at USAA. Bergner was named Trinity’s 2013 Distinguished Alumnus. The Council also includes executives from large
Don Van Eynde
and small businesses, including AT&T, H-E-B, CPS Energy, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Methodist Hospital, and Frost Bank. Members of the advisory committee will speak to classes, offer internships and project assignments, and serve as mentors to Trinity business students. “This will make Trinity a better place, but it won’t change what Trinity is,” says Butler. “Trinity has offered a business major since the 1880s. The great advantage of a Trinity business education is that it combines strong preparation in the functional areas of business with an outstanding liberal arts education that will continue to prepare students to think critically and speak and write well.” Trinity’s business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Susie P. Gonzalez
January 2014 5
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UNIQUE SKILLS FOR UNIQUE POSITION
Alumnus Chemist to Head Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dedicated residence hall floor attracts 20 prospective entrepreneurs
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n returning to Trinity with a Harvard doctorate in chemistry and two patents, Luis Martinez ’91 is building on strengths and expanding the scope of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. As director of the refocused program, Martinez already has secured partnerships with San Antonio-based tech companies such as Geekdom and Rackspace and will continue to sponsor activities such as the 3-Day Startup for Trinity students and others to brainstorm the creation, production, and marketing of a product or service. “We want to give everyone on campus the opportunity to engage and learn about the principles of entrepreneurship,” he says. The center, he adds, can function as the University’s “front door” linking community business leaders with interns who are willing to work and learn. The door could swing the other way, too, offering students a bridge to employment options, career mentoring, and even inspiration. Twenty incoming first-year students with an interest in what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur signed up to live on a floor of Beze Residence Hall. Martinez, as well as former Trinity students, including Rackspace co-founder Pat Condon, joined Team Trinity to lift boxes and baggage in helping students in late August move into their home for the coming academic year. Daniel House ’17 of Austin adds that the entrepreneurial cohort will be a “good experience” for sharing ideas and for making a dream come true. “If you have a vision for something like Microsoft and can identify some capital, you can change the world.” As the entrepreneur program evolves, Martinez envisions maintaining the
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Luis Martinez
University’s minor for entrepreneurs and possibly adding a major or minor in social entrepreneurship. He also wants to engage Trinity alumni in student project teams by sharing experiences and serving as mentors. “In this way, Trinity would no longer be only a place where you went to school but a place you are still engaging with,” he says of Trinity alumni. One of Martinez’ first tasks will be assembling work groups for current students, faculty, alumni, and external stakeholders. He will consult with each group to evaluate the academic components and co-curricular elements of the program to make sure it is aligned with the University’s evolving strategic plan. “Our hope is that the outcome is a nationally recognized program of distinction,” he explains. In addition to his entrepreneurship courses, Martinez will teach chemistry and conduct research with an undergraduate student next summer. Scientists are natural innovators, he says, because they seek workable solutions when current techniques or
equipment can’t solve a problem. Martinez was an obvious choice to lead the entrepreneurship program in a new direction. In addition to serving as a management consultant, his experience includes a unique blend of innovative research, teaching, and community outreach that is focused on student-centered development of conceptual understanding. A 1991 honors graduate in chemistry from Trinity, Martinez went on to earn a master’s and doctorate from Harvard, where he developed a chemistry process that led to his first patent. He previously taught at the University of Texas, El Paso (where work for the second patent took place) and Rollins College. He was a senior scientist at the Scripps Research Institute, Florida, and also has worked in private industry as a senior account executive with Feinstein-Kean Healthcare, an Ogilvy PR Worldwide Company. Martinez also co-founded a consulting firm that served clients in southwest Texas and southern New Mexico. Dedicated to scientific workforce diversity, Martinez has worked nationally to support and broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in research and the recruitment and retention of university minority faculty and students in science through his active involvement with SACNAS, the American Chemical Society, and the Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship Programs. On a national scale, Martinez holds an appointment to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable (CSR) of the National Research Council. The CSR is a unique science-oriented, apolitical forum of leaders of the chemical enterprise. Susie P. Gonzalez
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RESEARCH NOTES FOUND ON GUITAR
Sociologist studies social justice movements and music in Chile In Concert
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ne of the great joys of conducting academic research is not knowing exactly where it may lead. In the case of David Spener, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology at Trinity University, researching the relationship between social justice movements and music in Chile two years ago led to an invitation to give a concert at the former home of poet and Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda last June. Spener was in Chile conducting research when he went into a bar and saw Chilean singer/ songwriter Jorge Venegas performing a song about American folksinger Woody Guthrie in Spanish. On Venegas’ guitar, in Spanish, was the phrase “this machine kills fascists,” which is what Guthrie used to have written on his guitar. “I walked into the right place,” says Spener. The sociologist and the singer met and a friendship was born. Venegas, who had played in underground concerts for political activists during the Pinochet regime, learned that Spener was also a musician. He invited Spener to perform with him. “I thought he just meant getting together and playing at his home,” says Spener. “But Venegas lives close to the home of Pablo Neruda on the ocean and he is friends with the woman who is director of cultural activities at the house. They do concerts and poetry recitals there and that’s what he meant.”
Spener was shocked when he received the invitation to perform at Neruda’s home, which has become both a museum and cultural center. He hadn’t given a performance in 20 years. Still, he accepted the invitation and returned to Chile in June.
Billed as an homage to Victor Jara (about whom Spener just published a book in Spanish), the concert took place on a Saturday night with both Spener and Venegas taking turns performing. Spener played guitar and sang in both Spanish and English, including songs by Guthrie and American folksinger Phil Ochs that Spener had translated into Spanish. “It was a great experience and was very moving to be in this space. It was a real privilege to be there,” says Spener. Later he was a guest of honor at a party given following the concert. Many of the people who attended the festive event had, years earlier, risked their lives by organizing underground coffee houses to play protest music and by working for human rights organizations. Russell Guerrero ’83
Chile Sings to the World Joint seminar and lecture series to host semester-long events
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his spring, the Trinity community will learn more about the relationship between music and Chile before and after the overthrow of the Allende government. In a pairing of the Álvarez Seminar and the Lennox Seminar and Lecture Series, the University will host a semester-long series of events titled “Social Justice, Human Rights, and Song on the World Historical Stage: Chile Canta al Mundo (Chile Sings to the World).” Visit the Trinity website for more information on specific events. The Lennox Seminar and Lecture Series is made possible by the Martha, David, and Bagby Lennox Foundation. The Álvarez Seminar is made possible with the support of the Carlos and Malú Álvarez Fund for Trinity’s MAS (Mexico, the Americas, and Spain) program.
January 2014 7
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PLAYING ABROAD
Tiger athletes engage with the world through sports The Tiger men’s basketball team traveled to Italy in 2012. Trinity’s squad played games against local teams and conducted basketball clinics for Italian kids. Sightseeing was also part of the agenda, including a visit to The Forum in Rome.
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aking advantage of NCAA rules that permit athletic teams to take a foreign trip once every three years, a number of Trinity coaches have organized visits to cities across Europe and South America. It’s an opportunity for athletes to hone their skills, bond with teammates, and absorb another culture. Paul McGinlay, the Tiger men’s soccer coach who led his team to the 2003 NCAA Division III Championship, has taken his squad on more trips than any other unit: France (1998), England (2002, 2005), and Brazil (2008 and 2013). During the most recent trip to Brazil, the “Spiritual Home of World Football,” (soccer to Americans), the Tigers played some of the
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best club teams in the soccer-savvy country. They also attended the Rio Cup final between Botafogo and Vasco de Gama, the fourthranked major club pro team in Rio. For two of the players, Yuri Ribeiro ’14 and Victor Araujo ’15, it was a trip to their native country. Embodying the Trinity spirit of community service, the contingent carried 150 pairs of shoes, which were distributed to youngsters who resided in the favelas. The group also visited with Chris Gaffney ’92, captain of McGinlay’s first team in 1991 and author of Temples of the Earthbound Gods, about famous soccer stadia in Brazil and Argentina. “There is nothing like being together in one place for an extended time,” says McGinlay. The bonding opportunity is much more in-
tense. There was the cultural experience and the athletic competition. It has become part of our recruitment process.” The women’s soccer team also traveled abroad last summer. Head coach Lance Key ’00 took his team to Denmark and Sweden, where in addition to taking in the sights, the team attended women’s championship matches and scrimmaged against some of the finest club teams in Sweden. Key, who traveled to France as a student, had taken his team to Germany (2007) and Spain (2010) before the trip to Sweden last summer. Emily Jorgens ’15, the 2013 Division III Academic All-American of the Year, especially enjoyed the competition against world-class club teams. “Sweden challenged us to push ourselves and make adjustments because of their different style of play. We also enjoyed connecting with the Swedish teams after the games ended, because we learned more about their lives and perspectives,” says Jorgens. The two head soccer coaches are planning the next trip, in 2016, with Brazil and Barcelona, Spain, high on the list of possibilities. Edward Cartee ’09, the men’s assistant soccer coach, traveled to England during his first year as a Tiger soccer player. “You are playing a different style of what you encounter here in the states,” Cartee said. “It gives you some new ideas and broadens your horizons. Those same things have helped me as a coach.” Men’s basketball head coach Pat Cunningham has taken the Tigers on two trips, to
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Trinity’s diving team trains annually in Puerto Rico. Team members are shown here in front of Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, built in the 16th century.
Ireland (2008) and Italy (2012), where they played several games against local teams and held a basketball clinic for Italian kids during their last trip. “It’s less about basketball than the cultural and social experience,” Cunningham says. “Since basketball covers two semesters, most of our players have a limited opportunity for foreign study. These trips give them a chance to at least experience a different culture.” In Italy, for example, the team enjoyed stops in Rome, the Vatican, Florence, and Siena, to name a few. Zach Lambert ’14 says the experience in Italy will always be entrenched in his heart and soul. “Going to another part of the world is an amazing experience,” Lambert says. “It was
also great to see the level of competition from the two professional club teams and the under-age-20 team from Rome.” Another group of student athletes, the men’s and women’s diving squad, makes an annual trip in January. Coach Stan Randall, who has three NCAA champions to his credit, takes the team on a “working vacation” to Puerto Rico. The team practices four hours a day for 10 days near San Juan at the National Swimming and Diving Stadium, where numerous top diving teams train and the Tigers often have makeshift meets with the friendly opposition. “This is a learning trip,” Randall explains. “They polish up their dives, and it is the last possible time they can learn something new for the rest of the season. It also lets us see who is doing something new and what the competition looks like.” Go Tigers! James Hill ’76
For schedules, outcomes, and highlights for all sports, visit www.trinitytigers.com
For highlights of the NCAA Division III women’s finals, which pitted Trinity against William Smith College, visit : www.trinity.edu/wsoc_ncaa_semi www.trinity.edu/wsoc_ncaa_final
January 2014 9
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TIGERS SAVING TIGERS
Trinity students join national coalition From left are Gabriela Sandigo, co-president and co-founder of Trinity’s chapter of Tigers for Tigers; Humberto Sandigo as the Trinity mascot and chapter secretary; and Alese Descoteaux, copresident and co-founder of Trinity’s chapter.
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ith tigers around the world facing imminent extinction, senior Gabriela Sandigo decided to take action to save Trinity University’s beloved mascot. Determined to make a difference, Sandigo, a psychology major from Victoria, Texas, co-founded Trinity University’s chapter of the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition with senior Alese Descoteaux, a political science major and history minor from Dallas. The student-led national organization focuses on developing initiatives to save tigers from extinction. Trinity is one of 12 colleges and universities that make up the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, and all of the member schools have one thing in common: the majestic, yet endangered, tiger as their mascot. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the tiger population has drastically dropped from 100,000 animals to merely 3,200 over the past
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100 years because of factors such as poaching and human interference with their natural habitats. This steep 97 percent decrease is accompanied by a 93 percent decline of tiger habitats. Without immediate action by both individuals and governments, tigers may be extinct as soon as the year 2050. Faced with these alarming statistics, Sandigo, along with other members of the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, went to Washington, D.C., in mid-June to turn their concern for tigers into protective legislation. They met with senators, representatives, and their assistants to discuss three issues:
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(F.W.S.) Multinational Species Conservation Fund, which supports efforts to improve wildlife security by combating wildlife trafficking, poaching, and trade operations throughout the world.
The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition voiced its support for the transfer of $50 million from the United States Agency of International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) to this fund. The transfer has been introduced into the U.S. Senate Committee of Appropriations. • The Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamp (H.R. 3510/S. 3280), which has raised more than $2.1 million toward the F.W.S. Multinational Species Conservation Fund. The Tigers for Tigers National Coalition is advocating for the re-authorization of the stamp for another four years. This re-authorization has been introduced to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. • The Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (S. 1381) which places a federal ban on the ownership of exotic big cats except within accredited facilities. The bill has been introduced into the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources with 50 co-sponsors. Soon after the students’ trip to Washington, President Barack Obama issued an executive order establishing a Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, which will produce a national strategy for combating illegal wildlife trade. The national Tigers for Tigers Coalition played an important role in the establishment of the order.
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A BIT OF CELLULOID HISTORY
Grant preserves film among the Claude and ZerNona Black Papers The most inspiring moment from the trip, according to Sandigo, was seeing how much of an impact the voices of just a few students had on Capitol Hill. “As college students, we sometimes take for granted the power we have to make a difference,” she said. Trinity’s chapter of Tigers for Tigers officially became a club this past March. Since it is still in its beginning stages, Sandigo, co-president of the club, wants to raise awareness of the organization and its mission in the 2013-2014 academic year. “We are very excited about the coming school year and have a lot planned to get the student body involved,” she said, such as possibly hosting a 5K race on campus. With the current legislation and actions being taken in Washington, membership, which is at about 35 students currently, is expected to increase. Sandigo especially wants to reach out to incoming first-year students “to instill in them a sense of school spirit, accompanied by pride in their mascot,” she said. Noting that “our mascot is a big part of campus,” Sandigo added, “I don’t think Trinity would be the same if our mascot went extinct in the wild, so it’s my job to help save the tigers for future students.” Molly Mohr Molly Mohr, daughter of former Trinity football coach Steve Mohr, is a student at Rice University. She was a summer intern in the Office of University Communications.
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n early 2012, Trinity University acquired a collection of documents that belonged to local civil rights activists Rev. Claude William Black Jr. and ZerNona Stewart Black, his wife. The collection contains materials related to local and national civil rights, as well as social and civic issues, from the mid-1800s to 2009. Found among the handwritten notes, scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera of the collection that will be housed in the Special Collections and Archives area of Trinity’s Coates Library were three silent 16mm amateur color films. Through a 2012 grant from the Summerlee Foundation, two of these films underwent reformatting and digital preservation work at the Texas Archive of The Moving Image in Austin. They now reside in the Trinity Digital Collections. The third film, however, was extremely fragile and required more extensive treatment. Recognizing the value of the film and the need to preserve it, project archivist Donna Morales Guerra applied for funding from the National Film Preservation Foundation. In September 2013, Trinity University received a $9,200 grant for completion of the preservation project, and Colorlab, a full-service archival film preservation laboratory in Rockville, Md., undertook the extensive rehabilitation. “Preservation and digitization of unique materials—those not widely held by other academic institutions—is increasingly a responsibility and a focus of academic libraries in general,” says Trinity University librarian Diane Graves, “and of Trinity’s Coates Library in particular.” The papers were a gift from Taj Matthews, Black’s grandson and the executive director of the Claude & ZerNona Black Developmental Leadership Foundation. The National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) was established in 1996 to support film preservation in the United States. The NFPF has saved more than 2,000 films and collections across the nation and in Puerto Rico, and is affiliated with the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board. Susie P. Gonzalez
January 2014 11
T R I N I T Y T O D AY
Program helps students answer ’life’s big questions’
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any students attend college to figure out what they want to do with their lives. In that spirit, Trinity University is launching two linked programs called Reflections and Transitions to help students discover paths to meaning and purpose. The two-year initiatives are being funded by a $50,000 development grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). The Council of Independent Colleges and Lilly Endowment Inc. selected Trinity as one of 36 colleges and universities working to deepen the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students. These opportunities “will challenge our students to consider their vocations—their callings—including but not exhausted by how they might earn a living,” says the Rev. Stephen Nickle, the University chaplain. The programs are planned to serve 500 students and involve more than 30 specially trained faculty and staff members. Adapted from similar programs at Stanford and Harvard Universities, “Reflections creates a time and space for first-year students to think about life’s big questions, articulate personal goals, and develop strategies to achieve them,” explains Tom Jenkins, chair of classical studies, a faculty member who led a 2013 pilot to test the concept at Trinity. Through guided reflection as individuals and in small groups, participants begin to draw clearer connections between their values, choices, and vocation in order to maximize their time in college. Trinity will launch a parallel Transitions program, targeting juniors and seniors who
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recently completed an off-campus internship, returned from study abroad, participated in research with a faculty member, or redefined their goals in light of an academic, personal, or familial crisis. Grouping students into Transitions cohorts based on similarity of experiences will create supportive communities where students approaching graduation can explore their values and vocation with their peers. “Innovative initiatives like Reflections and Transitions are integral to the Trinity Tomorrow Strategic Plan,” adds Michael Fischer, vice president for Faculty and Student Affairs and co-chair of the strategic planning effort, “because they invite students to engage in
life’s big questions.” Trinity President Dennis A. Ahlburg situated these new programs within “a constellation of efforts to foment student exploration of vocation, including a revitalization of the Career Services office, a proposed new curriculum, residential life programming, an expansion of undergraduate research opportunities across all disciplines, and the establishment of the new Art-Letters-Enterprise program. Trinity is currently recruiting the 2014 Reflections cohort. First-year students can learn more about the program and apply on the Reflections homepage. Lisa Jasinski
Student volunteers build playground. A group of Trinity students was among over 200 volunteers who assembled at the San Antonio Carver Library to build a playground on the library campus.
Read the story and see more photos at www.trinity.edu/magazine
FA C U LT Y | S TA F F F O C U S
Mark Brodl, associate vice president for Academic Affairs and the Brackenridge Distinguished Professor of Biology, has been named one of two CUR Fellows for 2014. The award, presented by the Council on Undergraduate Research, recognizes “leaders in undergraduate research who have a sustained record of research excellence, with activities ranging from involving undergraduates in their research to leading efforts to institutionalize undergraduate research on their campuses and across the nation.” Brodl will receive the award at the CUR national conference in Washington, D.C., in June. The CUR Fellow awards were created in 2000 and only two of the Council’s 10,000 members are selected every two years. Among the 16 current CUR Fellows, Brodl is the third biologist selected, and his award makes Trinity the only school in the country with two CUR Fellows. Chemistry professor Nancy Mills was named a CUR Fellow in 2006.
Seasoned recruiters join Admissions team, focus on California and Houston
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n an effort to step up student recruitment efforts, Trinity University appointed Keith B. Stanford as director of California recruitment and Gail Roberson director of Houston recruitment. Stanford is responsible for recruiting students from California and supporting the University’s tradition of enrolling a diverse population from across the country and overseas. Formerly the senior associate director at DePauw University, Stanford has 13 years of experience in recruitment and financial aid in a private liberal arts college environment. “Keith is one our profession’s best recruiters, he cares passionately about students and their advancement into higher education,” said Chris Ellertson, associate vice president for enrollment and student retention. During his tenure at DePauw, Stanford successfully recruited students, both domestically and internationally, to the Midwest liberal arts college. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from DePauw and after graduation worked briefly for Champion International, a large paper manufacturer, before returning to DePauw as an admissions counselor and recruiter.
Keith B. Stanford
Gail Roberson
After Texas, California sends the second largest number of students to Trinity. “Many California students look at Texas schools as part of their college search, and we want to ensure Trinity is an option when they come to visit our state,” says Ellertson. Back home in Texas, Roberson will concentrate her efforts on representing Trinity to prospective students, parents, and high school counselors, and assisting in the evaluation of applications from the Houston area. Formerly director of admissions at Centenary College of Louisiana, Roberson has 12 years of experience in admissions at selective, liberal arts institutions. Prior to Centenary, she was associate director
of admissions at Southwestern University and served more than 10 years in their recruitment operation. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University and is an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Although Trinity recruits students nationally and internationally, more than 21 percent of Trinity students come from the Houston area, making it the University’s primary market. “As a native Houstonian, Gail understands the city and its culture,” says Ellertson, “Gail’s experience and professionalism will strengthen Trinity’s ties with the Houston community, our number one area for top students. She is a great addition to our staff.”
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FA C U LT Y | S TA F F F O C U S
Faculty and staff are active and recognized in their fields Athletics Volleyball coach Julie Jenkins was elected AllSouth Regional Coach of the Year for the seventh time and SCAC Coach of the Year for the eleventh time. Women’s soccer coach Lance Key
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
National Academy Sciences Keck Center in Washington, D.C. The workshop explored the current state of antibiotic development, examined the technology available to facilitate development, identified approaches to antibiotic discovery, and discussed the incentives and disincentives in antibiotic development.
Luis Martinez together with Ken Moloy
Classical Studies
published a paper titled “Colorful displays signal male quality in a tropical anole lizard” in the October 2013 issue of the scientific journal Naturwissenschaften.
(Dupont), Carole Bewley (NIH) and John Kozarich (ActivX Biosciences) organized a Sept. 23 workshop, “Technological Challenges in Antibiotic Discovery and Development,” at the
Erwin Cook wrote Chapter & Verse: The
contemporary relevance of Homeric poetry, a guest feature on the Iliad that appeared in the John Hopkins University Press blog. Thomas Jenkins
Jerheme Urban appointed head football coach Lance Key
was elected SCAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time. Cross-country coach Derick Lawrence was elected U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s Regional Coach of the Year for the second time. He was also named SCAC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year for the second consecutive time. (For individual team standings and student standouts, visit www. trinitytigers.com) Biology Michele Johnson, Troy Murphy and Ellee Cook ’13
Michele Johnson
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Jerheme Urban ’03, a nine-year National
Football League veteran, and former Tiger All-American, was appointed head coach of Trinity’s football team. He succeeds Steve Mohr, who retired as head coach after a successful 24-year career. Urban served as an assistant coach with Trinity the past two seasons, including the 2013 campaign as the team’s Offensive Coordinator. During his NFL career, Urban played wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs. He was with the Seahawks and Cardinals teams that reached the Super Bowl. As a Trinity student-athlete, Urban was a two-sport standout, setting school records in both track and field and football. He was a four-time SCAC Athlete of the Year and still holds Tiger records for career touchdowns, career receiving touchdowns, single season touchdown receptions, and single season touchdowns overall. He was a three-time All-SCAC performer, and was selected
Jerheme Urban ’03
as an All-American by D3Football.com and Football Gazette in 2002.
FA C U LT Y | S TA F F F O C U S
School of Business
combined hijinks and horror in his fresh adaptation of Plautus’ The Haunted House, directed by Kyle Gillette (Human Communication and Theatre) starring Rachel Joseph (Human Communication and Theatre) and Willy Razavi. More information at: http:// theovertimetheater.org
Rita Kosnik and Jacob Tingle, and Edwin Blanton
(Campus and Community Involvement) co-authored “Transformational Learning in Business Education: The Pivotal Role of Experiential Learning Projects,” which was published in the November/December issue of the American Journal of Business Education. Tingle also co-authored “Officiating Attrition: The
Economics Richard Salvucci published an article about
trumpet player Doug Mettome, who reached public notice while performing with jazz great Benny Goodman, in the Aug. 23 webzine All About Jazz. Maria Paganelli coedited the Oxford Handbook of Adam Smith with Christopher Berry and Craig Smith, Oxford University Press, which was published last summer. English Victoria Aarons published a chapter on
“Guardians of the Torah: Ambiguity and Antagonism in The Promise” in Chaim Potok: Confronting Modernity through the Lens of Tradition (Penn State University Press). Her chapter “Memory, Conscience, and the Moral Weight of Holocaust Representation” was published in Ethics, Art, and Representations of the Holocaust (Rowman & Littlefield Pub.). The fall issue of 1966, a national literary journal published by Trinity students and Kelly Grey Carlisle is live at www.1966journal.org. David Rando’s book,
David Rando
Modernist Fiction and News: Representing Experience in the Early Twentieth Century, was reviewed recently in Review of English Studies, Clio: A Journal of Literature, History, and the Philosophy of History, and the James Joyce Literary Supplement. Facilities Services
Jacob Tingle
Jim Baker and Randy Creech were the
Experiences of Former Referees Via a Sport Development Lens” with colleagues from East Carolina University and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The article appeared in the July issue of the Journal of Sport Management. Donald Van Eynde received the Stelos Alliance Award for empowering young leaders to reach their potential through scholarship and principled leadership training.
September recipients of the Helen Heare McKinley Employee Excellence Award. Geosciences
Diane Smith received the Outstanding Educator
Award from the Association of Women Geoscientists. KRTU
JJ Lopez was promoted to general manager. He
replaces Ron Nirenberg, who stepped down at the end of October in order to focus on his responsibilities as the newly elected San Antonio City Councilman for District 8. Monica Reina, special projects assistant, was named the new station manager.
University Communications Venetia DuBose received three national design awards from Graphic Design USA for her Afrolatinas poster (for the Álvarez seminar), the 2012 Alumni Weekend brochure, and her 2012 C.A.T. Alliance t-shirt design.
Kelly Grey Carlisle
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IN MEMORIAM
Duncan Wimpress
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uncan Wimpress, former president of Trinity University, died Jan. 6, following a brief illness. He was 91. Wimpress served as Trinity’s fifteenth president from 1970 to 1976. In one of his earliest speeches as president, he said: “Whatever the future holds for Trinity, I’m confident that the years ahead will be neither dull nor routine. Trinity University is on the move.” These turned out to be fitting words for an administration that would introduce a number of changes that prepared the pathway for the Trinity of today. Wimpress’ administration implemented major modifications in administrative and academic structures in an effort to increase effectiveness, including establishing the College of Arts and Sciences. He introduced transparency and collaboration into the University’s fiscal budgeting process by holding open discussions and working closely with the student association to create the Student Finance Board, affording students a major role in allocating student activity funds. With broad University support and some criticism, Wimpress eliminated athletic scholarships for all sports except varsity tennis due to growing costs. His administration also proposed Trinity abandon its plans to create doctoral studies programs and to concentrate on reducing the master’s degree programs and improving their quality. The Coates University Center, Trinity’s football stadium, Laurie Auditorium, and the adjoining Richardson Communication Center were completed during
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Wimpress’ presidency. Three new departments were also established: environmental studies, computing and information sciences, and journalism, broadcasting, and film (now communication). During the Wimpress administration, Trinity placed new emphasis on recruiting minority students, and by the end of the decade the diversity rate among the undergraduate student population grew from two percent to 10 percent. Trinity’s Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board chapters were installed during the Wimpress administration, recognizing the University’s strong program in undergraduate liberal arts education.
After a productive seven-year tenure at Trinity, Dr. Wimpress resigned as president and assumed the chief executive role at San Antonio’s Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (now Texas Biomedical Research), where he served with distinction until his retirement in 1992. Including his tenure at Trinity, Wimpress had 18 years experience as a college president. Prior to joining Trinity he served as president at Monmouth College, Ill., from 1964 to 1970 and Monticello College, Ill., as president from 1959 to 1964. A California native, Wimpress earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oregon and doctorate in political science from the University of Denver. A prominent and involved civic leader in San Antonio, he served on numerous nonprofit boards and commissions including Rotary International, where he served as president of the Rotary Club of San Antonio and district governor. A decorated World War II veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star for Valor and five major battle stars, he participated in the invasion of Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed golf and snow skiing late into life. He was a licensed commercial pilot and played the drums, enjoying “jam sessions” with Trinity student and faculty performers. Wimpress is survived by his wife of 67 years, Peggy, children Wendy Huston, Tory Whittier, and Gordon D. Wimpress III, and numerous grandchildren.
IN MEMORIAM
Daniel Wegner Dan understood that … humor is where a brilliant mind tickles itself.” Wegner was also one of the authors of “The Psych-Illogical Dictionary,” a column in Psychology Today that featured odd definitions to everyday terms. Examples include “Eye contact: the result of a very narrow nose” and “Propaganda: what to do with a male goose that has slumped over.” During his distinguished career, Wegner was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Palo Alto, California, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a recipient of the William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science. Wegner was the author of four academic books, an introductory psychology textbook, and nearly 150 journal articles and book chapters. Among his many additional honors, he received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Wegner attended Michigan State University, Association and the Distinguished Scientist aniel Wegner, former Trinity where he received a bachelor’s, master’s, and Award from the Society of Experimental Social professor of psychology and doctorate in psychology. He joined Trinity’s Psychology. In September 2011, Harvard pioneering social psychologist who helped reveal the mysteries of human psychology department as an assistant pro- organized “A Conference in Honor of Daniel fessor in 1974 and was promoted to associate Wegner” to celebrate his life and work. experience through his work on thought professor in 1979. He became a full professor “Dan Wegner had a transformative impact suppression, conscious will, and mind on the department of psychology. His perception, died July 5, 2013, at his home in 1985 and served as chair of the departnational reputation, indeed international ment from 1988 to 1989. in Massachusetts as a result of amyoreputation, marked a time of incredible Wegner left Trinity in 1990 to become a trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 65. change in the Trinity faculty in psycholThroughout his almost 40-year academ- professor and director of the graduate proogy,” says Charles White, vice president for gram in social psychology at the University ic career, Wegner was recognized for his Information Resources, Communications, of Virginia. In 2000, he joined Harvard work that focused on the role of thought and Marketing and professor of psychology. University, where he was named the John in self-control and in social life. He is remembered for his famous “white bear” Lindsley Professor of Psychology in Memory “He was sought and hired by the University of Virginia and Harvard based upon work studies, which showed that people become of William James in 2011. he began at Trinity with his students. He is Dan Gilbert, a friend of 30 years and preoccupied with a white bear when they Harvard colleague, called Wegner “the most still fondly remembered by colleagues and are merely asked not to think about it. original thinker in modern psychology” and alumni at Trinity.” Wegner conducted the study and wrote At Wegner’s request, his body was donated praised Wegner for opening “doors in walls about it with the help of two Trinity stuto the Massachusetts General Hospital’s dents and a colleague from the University that we didn’t know had doors in them, and Neurological Clinical Research Institute for he did this over and over.” of Texas at San Antonio. ALS Research. Despite his intellectual heft, Wegner He was also known for his controversial Wegner is survived by his wife, Toni, a was known for his keen sense of humor. work, The Illusion of Conscience Will, in Trinity alumna, and two daughters. which he argued that the human sense of As Gilbert described it, “Dan understood something important, which is that humor free will was an illusion. is the place where intelligence and joy meet. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
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IN MEMORIAM
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Joseph N. Sherrill Jr
oseph N. Sherrill Jr., Trustee emeritus of Trinity University, who served on the University’s Board for 31 years including three years as chairman, died Oct. 4, 2013, in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 84. A native of Wichita Falls, Sherrill attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a bachelor’s of science in marine transportation in 1952. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he received his J.D. in 1955. Following law school, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Devers, Mass., where he served as the legal officer for the Army Security Training Center. After completing his tour of duty, Sherrill returned to Wichita Falls and practiced law in the firm of Rogers, Eggers & Sherrill. He remained at the firm, now known as Sherrill, Crosnoe & Goff, for 56 years. In addition, he
Gene Norris
ene Norris, a longtime Trinity University football coach and administrator, died June 12, 2013, at age 78. Norris devoted 40 years of service to Trinity athletics and was an assistant professor in the department of physical education. He joined the staff in 1961 and retired in 2001. He served as an assistant football coach and then Tigers’ head coach from 1974 to 1989. Norris led Trinity to a 9-2 record in 1977. That mark tied a school standard for wins in a season, which held until 1994. He also guided the Tigers to the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 1976. Norris became the Tigers’ head golf coach in 1964 and guided Trinity from a lastplace finish in the Southland Conference to runner-up spots in 1968, 1969, and 1971. The Tigers finished third in the 1975 NCAA Division III Championships. He was appointed director of athletics in 1985 and continued in the position until 1993. Among many accomplishments, Norris oversaw the expansion of the William H. Bell Athletic Center.
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was a member of the American, Texas, and Wichita Falls County Bar Associations and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Sherrill was also the director of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Wichita Falls, Texas Bank & Trust in Wichita Falls, and the First National Bank of Byers. He was also the director or officer of many other corporations and companies. In 1963, Sherrill was elected to the University’s Board of Trustees and served as vice-chairman from 1969 to 1973 and chairman from 1974 to 1976. He retired from the Board and was named Trustee emeritus in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Joseph N. Sherrill III and daughter-in-law Mary Ellen Salmon; daughter Faith Sherrill; daughter Lucy Farr and son-in-law Randolph Farr; and six grandchildren.
Norris was honored for his service to Trinity by an induction into the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. A native of Chicago, Norris went on to play quarterback at the University of Illinois. He graduated in 1957 and earned a master’s degree a year later. Active in the community, Norris served as a volunteer court-appointed special advocate for children. His role with Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) was that of a protector of children’s rights and welfare. With authority from the court, Norris visited children, parents, foster parents, schools, and physicians. He also was called upon to testify at hearings. Norris is survived by his wife, Jan, six children, 10 grandchildren, three siblings, and many friends.
by Nancy Cook-Monroe Among hundreds of publishers exhibiting their books at a recent Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference in Chicago, one of the most celebrated and distinguished poets in the world sought out only one: Trinity University Press. Approaching the exhibit table, he asked, “Do you know who I am?” Press director Barbara Ras replied, “Of course, you’re Gerald Stern.” He replied, “I want to talk to you about a book.”
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rom academic conferences and publishing trade shows to kitchen counters and online chats, the distinguished fandom of Trinity University Press has spread widely over the years, generating accolades such as this from Martha Stewart: “Every year, dozens of books cross our desks . . . but my hands-down favorite this year [2012] was Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens.” The original Trinity University Press, publisher of beloved books
such as San Antonio’s Monte Vista and O’Neil Ford, Architect, closed in the late 1980s. Gilbert Denman, a Trinity Trustee, chairman of the Ewing Halsell Foundation, and a bibliophile himself, wanted to see the Press resurrected. “Denman contributed significant funding to launch the Press and establish an endowment to support operations,” says Charles White, vice president for information resources, marketing, and communications. After a national search in 2002, Barbara Ras was unanimously selected to direct the Press anew, and under her leadership it has surged to national and international acclaim. Ras re-launched the Press and published its first books in 2004, and there are plans to celebrate the revived Press’ tenth anniversary throughout the year.
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“It was a gutsy move to launch a print publishing venture at a time of such change, when the world was gearing up to go digital,” says Char Miller, who served as chair of the director search committee and is now on the faculty of Pomona College. “But Barbara has taken Denman’s idea and turned it into a ver y powerful and widely respected publishing and literar y enterprise.” Michael Fischer, vice president for Faculty and Student Affairs and chair of the Press’ editorial board, agrees it was an audacious move but says the results have exceeded expectations. “Trinity’s reputation for excellence
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photo by Susan Riley ’69
has been extended into new realms via spectacular review coverage for the Press’ books, welcome partnerships within our community, and the undeniable quality of the books themselves.” Since its rebirth, the Press has published more than 150 books and received dozens of prestigious awards and major media attention. Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril was designated as a Top 10 Book on the Environment by Huffington Post, and Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer was named one of the 100 most important nonfiction books of all time by The New York Times. Ras herself is widely respected within the publishing industry, and many professional colleagues and admirers marvel at her creativity and wisdom, not only as an editor but also as a poet. The author of three books of poetry, she is a Guggenheim fellow and has received multiple awards and fellowships, including a Rockefeller grant. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Prairie Schooner, The American Scholar, The Massachusetts Review, and other literary journals and magazines. In selecting her collection Bite Every Sorrow for the Walt Whitman Award, distinguished poet C. K. Williams said Ras’ “verbal expertise and lucidity are as bright and surprising as her knowledge of the world is profound.” “I don’t know how she does it,” says award-winning writer and Trinity alumna Naomi Shihab Nye ’74. “Barbara has an enormous job being in charge of a fine, hands-on press. Plus she remains an active poet, writing and presenting her own amazing work.” Nye has participated in
several Press projects and has encouraged many writers to publish with the Press. Somehow the Press scales great heights with a staff of only six. Publishing veterans Ras and associate director Tom Payton are responsible for editorial acquisitions, project development, and fundraising. (As a nonprofit cultural and educational publisher, part of the Press’ ability to remain self-sustaining is through donations and underwriting of projects.) Sarah Nawrocki, managing editor, and Burgin Streetman, marketing manager, both bring considerable book publishing experience to the table. Lee Ann Sparks is the business manager, and Steffanie Mortis is the editorial assistant. In addition, the Press offers professional internships to three or more Trinity students annually. Editors, designers, and developers are contracted on a freelance basis, matching talent with the needs of the book. Publishers Group West, a division of powerhouse publisher Perseus Books, distributes to online and neighborhood retailers, wholesalers, and libraries, and
Perseus’ Constellation Digital distributes the Press’ e-books. An editorial board, comprised of Trinity faculty from a range of disciplines, advises on and approves everything the Press publishes. “This is typical for a university press, but in many ways we are far from the typical university press,” Ras says. How does it differ? For one, Ras and her staff often develop original book concepts, going a step beyond traditional book acquisitions strategies. The Press has also distinguished itself by partnering with other important nonprofit institutions on projects. Their richly defined editorial focus helps fulfill Trinity’s commitment to “the personal, lifelong quest for understanding of oneself and one’s place in the world.” “We don’t publish scholarly monographs per se,” Ras says in her thoughtful, probing style. “Our mission is to publish intellectually rich books that hopefully satisfy the intellectual curiosity readers have or may discover through our work.” Additionally, Payton adds, “As a result of the quality books we publish, we are proud to garner broad-reaching and positive attention for Trinity as an excellent university committed to high educational standards geared for lifelong learning.” Like any publisher, the Press focuses on carefully considered editorial areas of interest. The first is books on Texas and the Southwest. “Everyone agreed early on that having a strong regionally focused component was an important part of what we would do,” Ras says. “Within that, we’ve published everything from Becky Patterson’s acclaimed memoir
January 2014 21
The Ranch That Was Us, which was heralded by Willie Nelson as ’a great book about Texas,’ and Susan Frost’s awardwinning Colors on Clay to books on the architecture, history, literature, and political issues of the region.” The editorial vision also encompasses international literary perspectives, such as a groundbreaking book series called the Writer’s World, edited by the distinguished poet and Guggenheim Foundation president Edward Hirsch. “We were very lucky to have him sign on because he is brilliant and knowledgeable about world literature,” Ras says. Together they planned a series that takes readers beyond global writers’ words. “You get not just an introduction to who’s writing in Chinese or Hebrew, or what specifically Irish or Mexican writers are writing,” Ras explains, “but also a deep exploration of issues surrounding identity, geography, politics, and language—how various groups know their individual vast and farreaching worlds.” Other literary works focus on writers’ lives and their perceptions about the meaning of place, such as the Literary Cities series, which includes Literary Washington, D.C., with a foreword by National Public Radio book critic Alan Cheuse. A third editorial focus—nature and the environment—draws on Ras’ knowledge, concerns, and connections honed as an editor at Sierra Club Books and the University of Georgia Press. Having started out the legendary North Point Press, Ras says the books she pursues on the environment lean toward observation and introspection and are not about policy and science. “We publish books about how to understand, interact with, and advocate for the natural world,” she says. The focus also closely parallels Trinity’s interest in environmental studies and its commitment to sustainability. Payton knew about the Press’ strong foundation from his work as a consultant for Ras from time to time in the early years. “If you stop someone familiar with
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photo by Susan Riley ’69
Press managing director Sara Nawrocki (left), associate director Tom Payton, and marketing manager Burgin Streetman look over page proofs for an upcoming volume.
publishing on the street in New York, for example, and ask who Trinity University Press is, the first things they will likely recall are the quality, innovative, awardwinning books about nature and the environment,” he says. “On a national and international level, that’s how the Press has made the biggest splash.” Three books in particular have burrowed into the popular reader’s psyche. Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape, one of the first books Ras acquired, was a national best-seller and remains the Press’ biggest seller. Ras and National Book Award–winning environmental writer Barry Lopez asked 45 writers, among them MacArthur, Guggenheim, and NEA fellows, best-
selling authors and other cogitators, to “define” geographical terms such as strata, eddy, and vly. Contributors include best-selling authors like Charles Frazier, Jon Krakauer, and Barbara Kingsolver. The book was a first of its kind, “a very fresh and original idea” according to Ras. The New York Times called Home Ground “a way of reclaiming the language that gives definition to landscape from the denatured terms of modern public discourse.” Acclaimed author Debra Gwartney served as coeditor with Lopez. A third edition of the book was released this fall in a repackaged “on the go” format that fits well in a backpack for hiking and travel use.
Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril has advanced a muchneeded national debate about climate change. With 80 moving essays by contributors ranging from E. O. Wilson, Thomas Friedman, and Ursula Le Guin, to Priceline founder Jesse Fink, the Dalai Lama, President Barack Obama, and Pope John Paul II, in whole it is a passionate call to action around a provocative yet unifying theme: the need to embrace the climate change debate from ethical, moral, spiritual, and even religious perspectives. The book has garnered awards, sparked more than 60 events nationally and is being widely taught in university classrooms. It is also an example of the many parallel online resources the Press
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photo by Susan Riley ’69
Manned by a small staff, Trinity University Press has managed to make a major splash in the world of university presses. Seated (left to right) are Burgin Streetman, Barbara Ras, and Tom Payton. Standing, l-r, are Sara Nawrocki, with editorial assistant Steffanie Mortis, and business manager Lee Ann Sparks.
has developed for its books, including teaching guides, as can be found in this case at www.moralground.com. The Ecopoetry Anthology, edited by Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street, features the natural world in poems by more than 320 living and historical poets, including Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and T. S. Eliot. The book is a landmark addition to the field, according to the Press, and they anticipate solid, sustained sales and wide classroom use. In late 2014 the Press will launch the Life of Trees series, each featuring short books exploring the botanical and social history of particular tree species, written
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by a stellar cast of writers. “Publishers like Trinity bring forth books that they feel will make a difference,” Ras says. “There is no doubt trees play a critical role in the life of our planet, and we plan to explore their importance more deeply in the hope of making a contribution to our collective environmental stability.” Payton builds on Ras’ sensibility for the natural world and is developing a list of books on understanding and appreciating the worlds of architecture, landscape design, and urban planning, the Press’ newest area of editorial focus. “We’re not publishing illustrated ’coffee table books’ or profiles on a particular architect’s work,” Payton explains. “We’re
more interested in books that push public debate and understanding about the built environment in terms of sustainability, history, theory, and simply how to see the world around you. As more than 50 percent of the world’s population and 80 percent of the U.S. population live in urban areas, an increased understanding of the built environment is critical. This editorial focus parallels our sensibility with books on nature and environment and was a logical next step for us.” A reissue of the classic American Architecture and Urbanism, by preeminent architectural historian Vincent J. Scully, is one of two books by Scully that Payton has acquired. The illustrated history
emphasizes the inherent link between architecture and city planning. Also coming this spring is Writing Architecture by acclaimed critic and Yale professor Carter Wiseman. While the Press operates as a selfsustaining, nonprofit business— revenues come from sales, fund-raising, endowments and, to a limited extent, from Trinity—it also sees itself as a cultural institution and, as such, seeks to partner with other organizations. Recent and forthcoming partnerships include projects with the Witte Museum, the Nature Conservancy, and the American Institute of Architects, among many others. “Producing a book is not just a matter of typesetting and editing,” Ras says. “You have to carefully cultivate quality authors and assess what readers and scholars in the marketplace need. In order to maximize the impact and sales of books, you need vigorous marketing campaigns.” For example, a 20-city book tour in which Lopez promoted Home Ground was made possible through foundation grant support. Ras says the Press has been “extraordinarily successful” in similar pursuits and such grants support the marketing efforts of many of its books. Like any well-written story, the Press’ focus is expanding and now includes publishing children’s books on a limited basis. Collaboration with the San Antonio Museum of Art and the San Antonio Public Library Foundation led to the ArteKids series—fun, bilingual, early reader board books highlighting colorful art objects from SAMA’s collections. Thanks to the generosity of the Semmes Family Foundation, the books have been well-received and posted significant sales for the Press. Plans are under way for an
ArteKids interactive app for use on mobile devices and an educational website. While fans of the Press rave about the beauty of their books—covers, typography, size, weight, and environmental sustainability—the Press is busy exploring digital possibilities for enhancing reading and learning as well. “Our digital future is bright, and we’re on top of the latest reader trends and technological capabilities,” Payton says. “When you have content that’s rich and lends itself to being accessed in other ways, we have an obligation to embrace that and seek every possible pathway to bring it to our readership.” The Press’ e-book program is in high gear, with most of its previously published books available in e-book through dozens of vendors and on most device platforms around the world. New books are now simultaneously published in both print and digital formats, and the Press is increasingly developing books and new series suitable for digital e-book-only publication. The Press recently reissued all 48 of the Works Progress Administration’s Guides to the United States, books that were originally published in the 1930s in a Depression-era effort to chronicle the nation’s history and local landmarks and traditions. The guides are available in e-book only under the “WPA Guides to America Digital Library” moniker. Payton discovered that the guides were mostly unavailable despite their ongoing popularity and vital role in American history. He describes the project as “a cultural gift to the nation from Trinity University.” As the publishing industry moves more boldly into digital content development
and delivery, “clearly we are at or approaching a tipping point,” says Payton. “It’s an exciting time to be in publishing.” Miller believes the Press is especially well suited to take advantage of a digital future. “The Press will prevail because it is so creative and nimble,” he says. “The substantive narratives and staggering beauty of their books should translate into varied digital formats. They love the traditional book but understand the economics and opportunities inherent to our digital age, and they’ll take the initiative to respond innovatively.” He continues, “Editors have to respect tradition while also keeping ahead of the curve and coming up with ideas that are financially viable, and their team is doing a good job of positioning the Press for that future.” Mirroring Miller’s observation, Ras adds, “The Press is planning some exciting new initiatives to be announced as 2014 unfolds. Publishing, especially university and small press publishing, is entering a vibrant new age for those with the creativity, focus, and resources to fully capitalize on it. “While we remain committed to our successful print roots, the Press has exciting plans to expand our commitment in the digital humanities and increase our visibility in ways that will make meaningful contributions to society while also reinforcing the mission and significance of Trinity University,” Ras says. Learn more about Trinity University Press at www.tupress.org
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A Beautiful Algorithm
Bitcoin: Should you or shouldn’t you? By Mike Agresta
E
veryone’s keeping an eye on the new digital currency—including the FBI. Is Bitcoin the future of commerce or a dangerous bubble? When we think about money, most of us imagine stacks of U.S. dollars or perhaps bars of gold in the vault of a bank. The concept of currency is much broader than that, however, ranging from American Indian seashells to 17th century Dutch tulips to modern-day prison cigarettes. “A viable currency is anything that people accept in exchange for a good or service,” says Trinity economics professor Gina Pieters. “As long as people accept it, it will survive.” Over the past few years, beginning in the darkest corners of the Internet, a new kind of currency has emerged, engineered for the digital age. This currency, Bitcoin, is radically decentralized, not beholden to any
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government or corporation, organized by an open-source computer algorithm, and utterly anonymous. If it survives—and many investors are betting that it will—it could have important ramifications on the ability of governments to manage economies and of law enforcement to monitor financial transactions. The past year has witnessed a breathtaking surge in the value of Bitcoins—from $13 in January 2012 to $825 at press time. Champions of the currency see this spike as evidence that Bitcoin is here to stay. Doubters warn of a bubble, pointing to the massive fluctuation as evidence that the currency is inherently untrustworthy. Whichever side is right, Bitcoin’s wild ride has opened eyes around the world to the potential for a new kind of currency for an increasingly networked, globalized world.
The economist and philosopher Adam Smith once remarked that, “All money is a matter of belief.” Those who believe in Bitcoin do so in large part because it is a product of computer programming genius, elegantly solving several problems that, up until four years ago, were thought to be insurmountable. Most significantly, unlike all previous attempts at decentralized digital currencies, Bitcoin has solved the problem of “double-spending”—meaning that no hacker, however clever, can get away with using the same Bitcoin twice to buy two different things. “The fact that the system has not been cracked is testament to its ingenuity and robustness,” says Trinity business administration professor Dante Suarez. “So far it seems unhackable.” Whereas the value of U.S. dollars is tied to the might of the U.S. military and the administrative reputation of the Federal Reserve, the value of Bitcoin lies in the ingenuity of its programming, which, for instance, defines the rate at which new Bitcoins can be created or “mined.” Governments, of course, can decide to print too much money and devalue their currency or even, in the extreme recent case of Cyprus, raid bank accounts to pay off debts. Bitcoin, with its open protocol, is an appealing alternative. “I’d imagine that the trust in Bitcoin is based on the fact that the protocol itself can be examined,” says Trinity communication professor Aaron Delwiche, who studies online communities, “whereas you can’t look under the hood of the Federal Reserve.” “In places where the currency has been having trouble, they’re using a lot of Bitcoin,” Suarez adds. “The economy wants to continue. They’ve found Bitcoin very useful.”
A Tool for Anonymity Bitcoin was developed in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, a mysterious computer program-
Illustration by Michelle Wilby Friesenhahn ’77
mer who comes off like a character from The Matrix. Most observers agree that the name Nakamoto is a pseudonym. He has never appeared in public, and he has recently disappeared even from the Internet message boards he once frequented. In any case, considering Bitcoin’s open-source structure, it may no longer matter who or what Nakamoto was. The transactions on the Bitcoin network, like the founder himself, are fully anonymous. That’s why the majority of Bitcoin spending so far has been on black-market websites trafficking in drugs, child pornography, and murders-for-hire. That may be changing, however, as mainstream ecommerce sites and even brick-and-mortar businesses like Howard Johnson begin to accept Bitcoins for everyday transactions. (Suarez notes that some of the recent spike in Bitcoin value can be attributed to a major Chinese online retailer deciding to accept the currency.) While few would warm to the idea of a currency that makes it easier to hire a hit man (as the recently arrested 29-year-old founder of the black-market website Silk Road stands accused of doing), there is a long-standing libertarian rationale for preserving anonymity on the Internet, popu-
lar among Silicon Valley pioneers. “These people are experts in technology, and they understand how it can be used to monitor and control and invade privacy,” says Delwiche. Indeed, the recent revelations of widespread warrantless email searching by the National Security Agency would seem to confirm these fears.
...the fact that Bitcoin has already been associated with so much illegal activity ought to be a red flag for any investor. Delwiche points out that many governments around the world still persecute people based on things like religion or sexual orientation. “There are countries where you’d be crazy if you didn’t try to protect your anonymity,” he says. Delwiche adds that during the Clinton era, particularly after the Oklahoma City bombing, the federal government was resistant to any use of encryption technology on the Internet. However, it soon became clear that
e-commerce and banking would be impossible without the “HTTPS” protocol we now take for granted when managing our bank accounts or entering our credit card information online. Delwiche suspects that Bitcoin anonymity concerns may fall away in the same fashion. Still, the fact that Bitcoin has already been associated with so much illegal activity ought to be a red flag for any investor. “It’s intrinsically threatening on so many fronts that it introduces some instability into the mix,” Delwiche says. “You never know what kind of reaction these dodgy applications of the Bitcoin currency are going to provoke.” Pieters adds that these concerns might lead to self-enforcement in the legitimate business community. “It’s possible that businesses may choose not to accept it due to a reputation effect (You must be doing something illegal! We will raid your offices and audit your tax returns!), but the extent of that is not immediately obvious,” she says.
Challenges Ahead Suarez is more optimistic about the future of Bitcoin. “I don’t think governments have a choice to decide whether they want this or not,” he says. Already, Germany has declared
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Bitcoin an acceptable, taxable currency. Suarez sees other governments falling in line and trying to collect taxes on Bitcoin—if they can. Suarez compares the emerging Bitcoin market to the well-established offshore market, a global network of financial institutions in places like the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands that are free from government oversight. Like these off-the-beaten-path jurisdictions, Bitcoin might soon be an appealing parking spot for vast sums of money whose owners prefer not to pay taxes. This creates one of several challenges for Bitcoin looking ahead. Having already established itself as the exciting new currency on the block, Bitcoin now must survive an awkward adolescence in which sophisticated users are more likely to buy Bitcoins for
Perhaps the greatest threat to Bitcoin comes from speculation and hoarding. “You could have a moment when a single party controls too many Bitcoins.”... specialized purposes like speculation, tax evasion, and purchasing illegal drugs, rather than the everyday commerce that helps make a currency strong. “If people start buying Bitcoins but not actually using them for purchases (i.e. just parking cash in Bitcoin currency for tax evasion purposes) that may cause valuation and convertibility problems for Bitcoin,” Pieters says. Perhaps the greatest threat to Bitcoin comes from speculation and hoarding. Healthy currencies are not supposed to increase 4,000 percent in value over the course of a single year. What happened to Bitcoin in 2013 is an extreme example of deflation,
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which can be just as harmful to a currency as inflation. If a Bitcoin will be worth more tomorrow than it is today, why would anyone choose to spend it? Suarez sees an even more serious problem in Bitcoin hoarding—the specter of currency manipulation. “Somebody could start gathering the new Bitcoins that are created and not inform others in the network about this,” he warns. “You could have a moment where a single party controls too many Bitcoins, say two thirds of Bitcoins in circulation. They could manipulate the system, create artificial bubbles.” Suarez notes that he does not see this happening yet, despite the recent spike in Bitcoin value. As to the question of whether ordinary investors should consider putting their money in Bitcoin, Suarez says yes—but only as a very speculative investment. “It’s a much better bet than buying a lottery ticket, let’s put it that way. Your return on Bitcoin could potentially be really big,” he says. Still, despite the fantastic returns seen by early investors, Bitcoin is not yet stable enough to be considered a conventional investment vehicle for retirement savings. Skeptics warn that Bitcoin could someday be replaced by an even better digital currency program, as Facebook replaced MySpace or Internet Explorer overtook Netscape, rendering all Bitcoin investments worthless. “It seems to me the earlier you got into this thing, the more likely it is you’ll get a return on investment in the short run, before things go south if they go south,” Delwiche says. “My gut tells me that you don’t get money for nothing.” Mike Agresta is a freelance writer based in Austin.
Bitcoin Dos and Don’ts Your guide to navigating the new and volatile currency DO your research first! More information is available on Bitcoin.it, a wiki maintained by the Bitcoin community. For Americans, the most popular and trustworthy place to buy and sell Bitcoins has historically been mtgox.com. DON’t try to “mine” Bitcoins, unless you own a supercomputer. In the early days, users were able to get Bitcoins for free by using their personal computers to solve problems for the Bitcoin network. Now the competition is much tougher, and miners need extreme computing power. DO secure your Bitcoins. Don’t store all your Bitcoins in one digital wallet, or on a computer that is badly maintained or vulnerable to hacking. Bitcoins can be lost or stolen, just like dollars. DON’t try anything illegal. Though Bitcoins are anonymous, criminals using Bitcoin have still been apprehended because they left other online clues. Crime doesn’t pay, even if you’re paying with Bitcoin! DO keep a backup of your Bitcoins on an external drive. You never know when you may lose your hard drive. DON’t even think about putting your retirement or kids’ college savings into Bitcoins. There’s a good chance you could lose everything, especially if a new digital currency emerges that works even better than Bitcoin. (Think of how Facebook replaced MySpace.)
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Thanking our troops By Andrew Faught
hen former world-ranked tennis player Dick Stockton ’72 got the idea last year to bring the game to military bases as a way to thank American troops, he was anything but sure the idea would be a grand slam: “I thought to myself, ’Am I out of my mind?’” How would he organize and fund such an effort? Most important, would anyone come to a clinic hosted by an erstwhile Wimbledon semifinalist and onetime No. 8 player in the world? But Stockton is no stranger to challenges. In 1977, he twice came from behind to beat Jimmy Connors, bringing the same trademark serve-and-volley power game that also netted him victories against Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe, and Bjorn Borg. Stockton put the idea by dozens of friends, Trinity teammates and former American tennis pros, including such greats as Stan Smith, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Todd Martin. Their responses were overwhelmingly positive. Many asked to be a part of the outreach. “Not one person said anything but ‘This is one of the best things I’ve ever heard. The only thing you’re nuts about is if you don’t pursue this,’ ” Stockton recalls. “The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.” So did the more than 175 military personnel and their children who participated in Stockton’s pilot “T3” clinic – Thanking our Troops through Tennis – held on a rainy July day at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg. Stockton, equipped with portable “mini nets,” racquets and balls, took the fun indoors to a base gym. He wasn’t the only Trinity luminary on hand that day to teach game fundamentals. “I’ve never been so appreciated by a group of people,” says JoAnne Russell ’75 of Naples, Fla., a member of Trinity’s powerhouse women’s tennis teams of the early 1970s and a 1977 Wimbledon doubles champion. “I’m glad I can make people feel good about themselves and forget about some of the incredibly bad stuff that’s happening in this world for one afternoon.” The event came just months after the Army kicked off its Ready and Resilient Campaign, designed in part to address post-traumatic stress disorder and national concerns about a spike in soldier suicides. While the
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campaign promotes athletic activities as a way to handle stress, tennis is not one of the featured sports. “Dick filled that gap,” says Army Col. Frank DeCarvalho, who worked with the base leadership to make the program possible. “Our installation commanders realized this is an opportunity for soldiers to learn a sport that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to, and they jumped at the chance. The sky’s the limit on this.” DeCarvalho, who is Stockton’s brotherin-law, says troops “are always willing to do something that’s physical. And tennis is a big stress reliever. People were laughing, even though they were making mistakes.” Stockton organized a second event in October at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, giving participants a chance to mingle with and learn from Stan Smith (the former No. 1 player in the world and winner of the U.S. Open and Wimbledon), Gigi Fernandez (winner of 17 major doubles titles) and Russell. The Andrews event drew a crowd of nearly 130 enthusiasts, giving Stockton even bigger aspirations. With his nonprofit Blue Sky Foundation, he’s hoping to organize as many as ten T3 clinics a year at bases around the country, and, eventually, at American installations abroad. Tennis, Stockton says, has given him a life he loves. Now it’s time to return the favor. “You can read in the paper every day about somebody thanking the troops with this or
Four of the pros on hand for T3 at Joint Base Andrews on October 5, were (left to right) Dick Stockton ’72, JoAnne Russell ’75, Gigi Fernandez, and Stan Smith.
that, which is great because they deserve it, but nobody, as far as I knew, had done anything in tennis, let alone actually going to their bases and doing it where they live and work,” Stockton says. “Tennis got me, my older brother, and my sister through college. It’s given us a lot. We were taught at a very young age that if you get to a point where you have the ability to give back, you’d better be prepared to do so.”
At 56, Kevin Wells, a chief warrant officer 4 at Fort Bragg, says he remembers watching Stockton play in the 1970s. Wells, a recreational player who was among volunteers who set up the event, says Stockton still burns with competitive fire, even as he hit balls with clinic participants. “With Dick, if you wanted to challenge him, he would rise to the occasion,” Wells says. “Some of the people here didn’t know him, but these guys have a competitive streak. They’re all tough old pros.” Stockton founded the Blue Sky Foundation more than five years ago, initially to raise money for children’s charities. But the recession forced him to delay those plans. Now that the economy has improved, Stockton says the base visits have given his life and the foundation new purpose. He says that he hopes to develop corporate partnerships to help subsidize the program. Weather was perfect for Stockton’s second T3 tennis clinic at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland in October.
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Former Trinity Tennis star Dick Stockton ’72 enjoys introducing the game to the children of servicemen who turned out for his initial T3 tennis clinic at Fort Bragg North Carolina.
The two thank-you clinics already are paying dividends. The U.S. Tennis Association said it will offer continuing programs for the children of servicemen and women, while also possibly helping to make repairs to base courts. Stockton described Fort Bragg’s courts as “in bad shape,” but he’s not deterred should that be the case at other bases: “I don’t care what the surface is like. We’re coming anyway!” Close friend and Trinity tennis star Brian Gottfried ’72, ranked the No. 3 player in the world in 1977, says he hopes to help Stockton at a future event. The game teaches indispensable life skills, he adds. “Being an individual sport, tennis forces you to be prepared, motivated and disciplined,” says Gottfried, a “freelance coach” who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. “There are no excuses. Tennis teaches you how to respond under pressure correctly. You learn life skills.” At Trinity, Gottfried was an All-American in 1971 and 1972, and he was the runner-up in NCAA singles and doubles in 1972. He went on to win doubles championships at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Italian Open.
Stockton, meanwhile, credits his Trinity days for helping with his success. His path to the University started at 12, when he was attending the U.S. National Singles Championships for Men (now called the U.S. Open) and met then-Trinity tennis coach Clarence Mabry, who died Jan. 26 at age 87. “He told me that when I graduated from high school that he wanted me to come to Trinity,” Stockton says. “I never forgot that. He said that when I see the place I’m not going to want to go anywhere else, and he was right.” Stockton started playing the game at age 6, when his mother bounced tennis balls to him “and I’d just start hitting them.” Big things were to come. At Trinity, he was a four-time All-American and the NCAA singles champion in 1972, the same year the men’s squad won the national title. Stockton, who lives in Wellington, Fla., retired from the Association of Tennis Professionals’ (ATP) main tour in 1984, but continued competing in over-35 events (including matches at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon) until seven years ago. He now plays recreationally several times a week. The base events, besides being a show of
gratitude, also are exposing new generations to the sport. Stockton says the United States is “way behind the 8-ball” when it comes to producing top-ranked players. “Where are our future stars? We don’t really have any, and it’s been that way for a while”. But that’s not his priority when he arrives on base with his truck full of equipment. “Most of the people who came out had never held a tennis racquet in their hand, but they still came and had some fun,” he says. “That’s what we’re trying to do, provide a fun day for people with stressful lives. All we want is for them to leave with a smile on their face. I could care less whether anyone knows Dick Stockton is putting this together.” Andrew Faught is a freelance writer living in Fresno, Calif. He has written widely on issues and ideas of higher education.
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P R O F I L E
Matthew Reedy ’79 Happy landings
Photos by David Smith
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f Matt Reedy were an ace poker player, he would be the embodiment of a Kenny Rogers song. This high-flying, serial entrepreneur-turned-corporate executive knows when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. Just five years after graduation, Reedy was already co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of IQ Software, a firm that helped small businesses generate reports from their financial and inventory systems. “We had customers in every industry,” he recalls, “and were doubling in size every year.” In 1981 he got his MBA from St. Mary’s University at the encouragement of his father, a former Marine. “My dad said if all I had was a technology background, I would be seen as a ‘propeller head,’ you know, a brainiac type. His excellent advice, especially in a startup environment, bridged the gap between technology and business.” But Trinity was where Reedy first blossomed in a class of three led by computer science department chair John Howland (“Talk about a personalized education”) combined with Paul Baker’s Integration of Abilities class. One of Reedy’s spontaneous projects involved stacking the classroom furniture, sculpturalstyle, in “a very unique way.” The freedom to explore became part of Reedy’s approach to almost everything. “Writing software is a very creative process,” he explains, “and their encouragement really kept me going.” After IQ Software’s $13.5 million IPO in 1992—the company had 170 employees with subsidiaries in England, France, and Germany by 1995—Reedy became increasingly restless. “I was now working for the biggest company I had ever worked for—my own,” he says, laughing. Discouraged by the increasing weight of bureaucracy (“I wasn’t having fun
anymore”), he went back to start-ups in 1995, launching first one company that “just sort of dwindled down after eight years,” and then in 2004 co-founding Armida Technologies Corporation, specializing in wireless products for surveillance and security applications (for which Reedy owns two patents). As exciting as entrepreneurship was (“It’s where my heart is”), by 2008 with its economic downturn, Reedy was ready for a change. In 2010, after short-lived management stints at two other companies, Reedy searched the San Antonio-based insurance giant USAA website looking for job openings. He landed a prestigious position on the Enterprise Innovation team—the brainchild of CEO Josue Robles.
Robles “recognized that the company has a lot of competitors all going after the military market. We needed to do things better, faster, and smarter,” says Reedy. The opportunity to focus on “big idea innovations” that add value to USAA’s products across the board is a dream job for Reedy, one of three executive directors. Rainbow-hued cubicles clustered around tables allow the small team to swivel their chairs from desk to table and voila! Instant brainstorming. “It’s very open, collaborative, and very creative. It’s a great space,” he says. For bigger gatherings there’s The Happy Room, “because with all the colors and a big picture window to watch deer and squirrels, you just have to be happy.” Reedy’s awards include his 2007 induction
into the Science & Technology Hall of Fame by then-SATAI (San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative), now the Startech Foundation. His proudest professional moment was when IQ Software went public—a very good day for the large number of employees with stock options. “It wasn’t quite like Microsoft where they made a bunch of millionaires, but we helped people achieve some financial security,” he says. Reedy’s personal dreams came true when he met his wife, Catherine. His and her daughters (both from previous marriages) were classmates who put their heads together to help arrange a blind date. The couple was married four months later. “It was one of those things that when you know, you know. We had both been through a lot, and we knew what we were looking for.” They also apparently had a little divine intervention. “Before Catherine’s mother passed away, she told her, ‘When I get to heaven I’m going to ask God to send you a husband.’ The one year anniversary of her death was the day we met,” Reedy explains. The couple celebrated their ten-year anniversary in 2013. Reedy also offers his own kind of help from above. As a private pilot, he flies his single-engine, four-seater Cirrus for Angel Flight South Central, an organization that provides free air transport for patients needing treatment at places like MD Anderson in Houston or Cancer Therapy & Research Center in San Antonio. “It’s so rewarding. To hear their stories and their hope, it’s great.” Reedy insists that his Trinity education “gave me the confidence to try new things without worrying or being afraid that they weren’t going to work out. I knew I could always get a job.” In other words, no matter what hand he’s dealt, with its twists and turns, ups and downs, setbacks and spectacular success—for Matt Reedy, the sky’s the limit. Julie Catalano
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P R O F I L E
Joe McKinney ’92 Dead beat
Photos by David Smith
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oe McKinney didn’t set out to be either a police officer or an award-winning writer, and yet he ended up being both. In addition to a 15-year distinguished career at the San Antonio Police Department, McKinney has another life as an author known primarily for zombie fiction, where he is— pardon the expression—making a killing. Fresh from a book signing at Trinity University’s alumni weekend, McKinney says it was “fun to connect with other Trinity alums who are also writers.” He also saw one of his favorite professors, Douglas Brackenridge, professor emeritus of religion. “He was a major influence on me,” recalls McKinney, along with the late Donald Everett, “who was the first to open my eyes to San Antonio’s history.” As for history professor and adviser Terry Smart, traveling with him throughout Eastern Europe “was one of the best experiences of my college career. We were there when the Berlin Wall came down.” McKinney majored in history, not really knowing where he was headed. “I thought maybe law school, or college professor.” He obtained a master’s in English at UTSA in 1995 (“It was the subject that called to me more than anything else”), followed by a few years “in limbo, still thinking about a Ph.D. program,” and managing a Barnes & Noble for a while. It was a fateful conversation with a poker buddy that put him into uniform. “I would say ‘I worked at the bookstore today,' and he’d reply, ‘I got into a car chase and a fistfight.’ I loved the life that he was describing, the constant adrenaline rush and the stress.” McKinney graduated from the police academy in 1998, working first in patrol, then
traffic, then as disaster mitigation specialist in the emergency operations command. In 2006 he was promoted to detective working in the homicide unit—the same year he published his first novel Dead City (Pinnacle, 2006)—and was then promoted to sergeant in 2010, running the City of San Antonio’s 911 center until 2012. “It almost didn’t happen,” says McKinney, referring to his debut novel. What happened—or almost didn’t—was this: “My editor told me that he and his friends had been up all night watching The Night of the Living Dead tetralogy of films. He almost didn’t go into work the next morning, and had made up his mind that if he didn’t see something he liked he would call it quits for the day and go home. He picked up my zombie manuscript, which is what he'd been looking for,
and thought, ‘Please don’t suck.’ ” Not only did it not suck, Dead City became the first of four novels and a half-dozen stories in the Dead World zombie apocalypse series so far, earning critical acclaim, hordes of fans, and a current eight-book contract. “Zombies are putting my kids through college,” along with science fiction, crime novels, short stories, articles, scripts—more than 500 in all—and “other odds and ends.” Odds, indeed. In Crooked House (Dark Regions Press, 2013) the haunted house tale takes place at Lightner University, a “thinly veiled Trinity,” reveals McKinney, “named after Lightner Hall, where I first fell in love with Trinity.” His official website and blog, “Old
Major’s Dream,” features his collected works, author interviews, and a Reader’s Guide to Dead World. McKinney describes how he taught himself to write, recalling his teenage self—saving his lunch money to buy books, taking his favorites and writing out scenes in longhand to dissect them, and studying how they did what they did. One of those books was penned by best-selling American novelist Robert R. McCammon. In 2012, in a textbook movie moment, McCammon was the presenter when McKinney won the Horror Writers Association’s Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel of 2011 (Flesh Eaters, Pinnacle, 2011). “He hands me the award, leans in close and says, ‘Great job, I loved your book.’ It was the greatest professional moment of my life, that feeling of coming full circle.” As for his greatest personal moments, nothing comes close to life with college professor wife Kristina and their two daughters. Transferred back to patrol in 2012, where he always wanted to be, gives McKinney more time to spend with family and turn out 1500 words a day, every day—a discipline he credits to the police academy. “The stuff I write is in many ways cathartic. It’s a good way to purge what I see on the job. I think it’s very easy for police officers to become desensitized to a lot of violence.” When worlds do collide, they can take a quirky turn. “I’ve arrested people who say, ‘Hey, you’re the guy, the zombie guy. I love your books, man!’” Julie Catalano
Watch Joe McKinney read an excerpt from one of his books online at www.trinity.edu/magazine
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P R O F I L E
Jamie Bauer Kimball ’04 Picture of health
Photos by David Smith
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he outgoing blonde with a 10,000-megawatt smile warmly welcomes visitors to the headquarters of Airrosti Rehab Centers in north side San Antonio. As managing vice president of business development for Airrosti (Applied Integration for the Rapid Recovery of Soft Tissue Injuries), Jamie Kimball embodies the youthful, feel-good vibe of a healthcare company passionately dedicated to putting patients first—and making pain a thing of the past. While touring the lively orange-and-blue themed offices of Airrosti (airrosti.com), Kimball explains, “Everyone here is very missiondriven. All of our providers are chiropractors, but they’re not doing traditional chiropractic. They’re doing the Airrosti treatment model, an outcome-based, disciplined approach to quickly and efficiently resolving musculoskeletal pain and injuries.” A model, says Kimball, that “gets people back to a pain-free life.” Some of those people are household names, like San Antonio Spur Tony Parker, former Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, MMA fighter Johny Hendricks, along with more than 100,000 mere mortals seeking relief from back, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, hip, knee, leg and foot pain. Working with primary care physicians, consultants, hospital systems, and corporations is also part of Kimball’s role. “Musculoskeletal injuries and claims are the number one cost driver for most employers,” she explains. “Right now there’s a real void of actual solutions. Employers spend tons of money on people utilizing imaging, pharmaceuticals, and surgery but still not really receiving
any relief or resolution.” Because Airrosti’s providers are chiropractors, no physician referral is necessary—one of the many things setting it apart from traditional physical therapy. “People call and schedule directly with us.” Their Facebook and Twitter accounts are peppered with testimonials from patients, many of whom were “fixed” (yes, the company purposefully uses that word) within three visits. “It gets you back to doing what you want to do, being able to sleep at night, and have a normal life, whether you’re a triathlete or whatever.” Fitness is hard wired into this St. Louis native, who played “every sport under the sun” in high school. She continued soccer at
Trinity, where she eventually captained the team. She credits art history professor Laura Agoston with helping to hone her writing skills. But it was marketing professor Kim Robertson who “sparked an adventurous spirit” that led Kimball to teach English in Japan for two years after graduation and travel throughout Southeast Asia. It was that same adventurous spirit that brought her back to San Antonio when classmate, roommate, and Spur sorority sister Jenni Bell Allen ’04 told Kimball “you’ve got to come work at this place.” The place was the fledgling Airrosti, and after meeting CEO Kelly Green, Kimball took a leap of faith that put her on the fast track for more than a halfdozen promotions since 2007.
And in another example of Trinity networking at its finest, it also led to romance. Kimball met husband Wes through Trinity grad and now colleague Keir Simon ’03. Wes owns CrossFit Austin and CrossFit Valor, which just happens to be Kimball’s “pretty intense” workout of choice four times a week. Fit and energetic, Kimball is eminently prepared for anything as she strides into her bright office—stopping to point out a very impressive alcove of awards, trophies, and accolades that the company has amassed in just nine years. “We are pretty creative and pretty competitive,” she says. One of the key highlights of her career so far was co-planning and chairing Airrosti’s annual summit meetings in 2009, 2010, and 2011. “Like reuniting with your family at Thanksgiving. Inexplicably awesome, especially as our family continues to grow exponentially each year!” Her office features a citified view of the great outdoors, a stand-up desk with laptop, and at the entrance, a red bird figurine representing her beloved St. Louis Cardinals. The Trinity connection is strong at Airrosti with about 20 alumni on staff at more than 100 locations in Texas, Ohio, Virginia, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Washington State. “It’s something of a joke here,” she says, “that we need more Trinity people. We love hiring Trinity grads.” A young, close-knit group (“I think the average age is about 30”), the 100 employees at headquarters make Airrosti “a great place to work,” says Kimball. “I think it comes back to what we are able to provide patients. We’re all working toward the same goal, helping people become pain-free. Nobody comes here and just punches the clock. If you were not a lover of Airrosti and our mission, you would stick out like a sore thumb.” But a sore thumb that could be fixed, right? “Of course!” smiles Kimball. Julie Catalano
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P R O F I L E
Nora Ziegenhagen ’04 Google drive
Photos by Adam Engelhardt, Copenhagen
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hen Nora Ziegenhagen pursued her first job after graduation she meant business. Not quite ready to follow in her parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps, she applied at PeaceWorks, Inc., a New York-based food company whose socially conscious mission was one that Ziegenhagen was determined to join, even though they were not hiring. In addition to submitting a poster boardsized resume, the eager young grad sent fortune cookies, one of which said, “Nora is going to be your star employee.” The cookie spoke the truth. PeaceWorks founder, CEO, and Trinity alumnus Daniel Lubetzky ’90 hired her in July 2004 as a sales assistant and swiftly assigned her responsibility for New York City, the Northeast, and then the East Coast. Over the course of her two and a half years at the company, Ziegenhagen increased sales by more than 643 percent. “As a business major I wanted to do well, but I also wanted to do good in the world. I couldn’t imagine a better job that blended capitalism and altruism.” Until one night, that is, when she was Googling around and ran into an ad by none other than the Internet behemoth itself, looking to hire people with a food background. “Google was traditionally known from an advertising perspective as a direct response company,” she explains, but they were now trying to “break branding dollars. Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Heinz— some of the biggest brand spenders in the world are food companies.” In 2007 she became sales representative, CPG (consumer packaged goods) in Google’s business solutions division in New York City. Since then, Ziegenhagen hasn’t just climbed the corporate ladder—she’s practically flown up. Two promotions followed in fairly short
order: account manager in direct sales, CPG, in 2009; and account director, direct sales, home and personal care, in 2010. Then came Stockholm, where she spent three months in Sweden in 2012 on a Google rotation program designed to “fill in the blanks when someone is on leave, and to give their people the opportunity to see other parts of the world.” For the Swissborn-and-Cleveland-raised Ziegenhagen, it was love at first byte. “The people are so cool, and Scandinavia has some of the highest Internet penetration and smart phone adoption in the world. I had a great time.” As it turned out, there was a permanent job coming up in Copenhagen.
Was she interested, her boss inquired? “I was,” she says with a smile. “I played a little hard to get, but I was interested.” Bidding goodbye to New York in the spring of 2013, Ziegenhagen became head of branding solutions for the Nordics—her third promotion at Google. As difficult as it was to leave New York, she says her new Danish digs are “a huge upgrade. There is an absolutely exquisite canal with an architecture museum just a few steps away in one direction. In the other, there is a beautiful harbor with an opera house.” The transition from the company’s 3,000-employee NYC office to the cozy 35-person one in Copenhagen was a smooth one, thanks to Google’s consistency both
physically and philosophically: “We have an open floor plan at every office worldwide. The idea is to promote conversation and collaboration that’s not possible if you’re behind closed doors.” The highly charged atmosphere of cutting-edge innovation keeps everyone “constantly challenged by the people around us. We hire people with an internal engine that pushes them. I know I’m in a good meeting if I feel like the dumbest person there.” As for the legendary Google perks—all true, she says with a laugh. “We get massages, lots of toys, and Segways in the office.” She credits her Trinity education with preparing her “to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” an essential skill in her current environment. Her educational trial by fire came courtesy of late professor and director of the Trinity debate program Frank Harrison, who shipped her off to a debate competition at the Naval Academy in her sophomore year. “I learned so much from that experience,” she says, “like faking confidence,” laughing again. Turning somber, she is also indebted to Don Van Eynde, professor of business administration, who shepherded her during some early bumpy times. “It meant a lot that he took the time to encourage me.” Traveling her territory keeps Ziegenhagen hopping from Denmark to Sweden to Finland with her ever-present little red suitcase, ready to go at a moment’s notice. “I tell new people that Google never stops. As fast as it is, this is the slowest the pace of change will ever be. You do your best, but you’ll never wrap your arms around the beast.” Yoga (“my number one workout”) keeps her centered with its axiom to “focus on your own mat. Don’t worry about what other people are doing or get distracted by what’s going on around you, like 87 million projects.” Some sage, Zen-like advice from a woman working on at least 86 million of them, and loving every warp speed minute of it. Julie Catalano
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Two alumni honored for their global impact
Wilbanks named Distinguished Alumnus, In receives Spirit of Trinity award At a festive dinner in the Great Hall on January 31, Tom Wilbanks ’60 received the Distinguished Alumni Award for his outstanding work in national and international environmental activities. A second honoree, Jin In ’95 received the Spirit of Trinity Award for her exceptional service to the global community as the founder of 4GGL (For Girls GLocal Leadership), a U.S.-based, nonprofit organization advocating social change and dedicated to empowering the world’s poorest girls. After completing military service, where he was awarded an Army Commendation medal, Wilbanks earned a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1967 and joined the faculty there. In 1974 he was named chair of the geography department at the University of Oklahoma, later serving as president of the Association of American Geographers (AAG), a nonprofit scientific and educational society that has contributed to the advancement of geography for more than 100 years. His career took another turn when he became a fellow in the OU science and public policy program and moved into research on energy and environmental technology assessment and policy analysis. In 1977 the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recruited Wilbanks to lead its program development related to these and similar topics, as the new Department of Energy was being formed. Since then, Wilbanks has been involved in a wide range of national and international energy and environmental activities, including the international Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the international Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. One of his most impressive achievements with IPCC was his contribution to winning the
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Tom Wilbanks left, Jin In right Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 awarded jointly to the IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations that are needed to counteract such change. Wilbanks continues to work full time at ORNL and has been a corporate Research Fellow since 1986. He often serves on international and national committees and panels, especially of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council. Occasionally, he testifies before committees of the U.S. Congress and often gives invited talks, including presentations at universities, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, and Stanford. Wilbanks is married to Kay Jordan Wilbanks ’62, and the couple has three children and three grandchildren. Motivated and inspired by her own once severely limited opportunities, In, a native of South Korea, founded 4GGL to improve the lives of girls around the world who have been neglected and victimized because of gender inequality. The idea is to visit the poorest sections of the world, find the girls who are the furthest from gender equality, and encourage them to develop their leadership skills and rise up with their own self-empowerment.
Thanks to the help and encouragement of her mentor, Barbara Crocker, In was able to earn a Trinity degree and later an M.P.H. from The University of California, Berkeley. The education and leadership skills she gained make it possible for In to help empower the world’s poorest girls as a lever to accelerate social change. Toward that end, In has championed girls at the Office of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, co-chaired Girls’ Right to Health at the first (and only) U.N. Commission on the Status of Women focusing on girls. In February 2011 she conducted leadership training for 200 college women at the first ever Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Pakistan. Passionate in her mission, In actively advocates for gender equality by giving lectures across the U.S., advising programs like Women in Public Service Project and NeXXt Scholars to cultivate tomorrow’s women leaders, globally, and speaking on behalf of Girl Rising and other global campaigns for girls’ rights and development. She also writes for the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Women’s eNews, and International Museum of Women. To paraphrase the old Helen Reddy anthem, In is woman and the world can hear her roar. Josephine Ayala ’15
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Trinity honors Outstanding Young Alumna
Public health officer’s work spans the globe
Alyson Rose-Wood ’03
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lyson Rose-Wood ’03, a U.S. Public Health Service Officer, was honored with the Trinity University Outstanding Young Alumna Award for 2013-2014 at a luncheon Thursday, Nov. 14, on the Trinity campus. As a senior international public health specialist covering the Americas in the Office of Global Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C., Rose-Wood coordinates U.S. government policy and activities. She also serves as the program officer for the Border Health Improvement Initiative of the U.S.Mexico Border Health Commission. After the Haitian earthquake in 2010, she was deployed to support the work of the HHSmanaged Haiti Health Facilities Work Group.
Prior to her current position, RoseWood was a Presidential Management Fellow with the National Cancer Institute, where she worked on initiatives such as communicating information about the link between alcohol consumption and several cancers. She also drafted Michele Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative guide for faith-based and community groups and worked at the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at HHS as well as at the U.S. Agency for International Development on the President’s Malaria Initiative. The child of U.S. diplomats, Rose-Wood grew up in Botswana, Ethiopia, Mali, and Honduras. She returned to the United States to attend Trinity, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English literature and political science. She then earned a master’s in global health and population with a concentration in infectious disease epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. Rose-Wood has published her research in the Malaria Journal and the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping Bulletin. Her interest in public health was inspired by her tenure as a water and sanitation Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco where she worked with the local population and health officials to improve access to potable water. Rose-Wood is the 11th Trinity graduate to receive the honor, which is given to alumni who have graduated in the past 15 years and distinguished themselves in their profession and service to the community and set a standard of excellence worthy of recognition by the Alumni Association and the University. A committee of the National Alumni Board selects the recipient. Josephine Ayala ’15
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Erin Baker ’99 chairs National Alumni Board Erin Baker ’99, a vice president of the global financial services company Guggenheim Partners, LLC, was installed as chair of the National Alumni Board and president of the Trinity University Alumni Association during Alumni Weekend, October 11-13, 2013. Baker, who served several years as president of the Chicago chapter of the Alumni Association, joined the National Alumni Board in 2010 and served as vice chair on the executive committee prior to being elected president. Among other duties, Baker will represent alumni as an ex officio member of the University Board of Trustees. Professionally, Baker is responsible for Guggenheim Partners’ corporate governance and risk insurance. She also acts as chief of staff to the chief operating officer. The privately held firm is headquartered in New York City and Chicago with over 2,500 professionals located in 20 cities throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. In her free time, Baker enjoys travel, hiking, fly-fishing, and the joys of a good book.
Three distinguished Trinity graduates, who have had an impact on the University and their communities, recently held an informal reunion in Dallas. Pictured (left to right) are Butch Newman ’65, Trinity Director of Tennis; John Cornyn ’73, U.S. Senate Minority “Whip,” and Distinguished Alumnus Award winner in 2001; and Al G. Hill, Jr. ’67, former Tiger tennis star.
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Marshal, sponsors chosen for Class of 2017 Trinity University selected a class marshal and alumni sponsors to guide the incoming Class of 2017 through their college careers by sharing their professional outlook. Steve Bachrach, the Semmes Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, will serve as class marshal, while retired Colonel John Collins ’79 and his wife, Darcy Collins ’79, a retired teacher, have been chosen as the alumni sponsors. A premier researcher in computational organic chemistry, Bachrach has written more than 120 academic publications, including Computational Organic Chemistry. At Trinity, he teaches general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and a firstyear seminar on such topics as “water policy in the West.” At the administrative level, Bachrach is responsible for special projects in the office of Faculty and Student Affairs, serving as the University’s Title IX compliance officer, chairing the crisis management team, and as a member of the enterprise risk management team. John and Darcy Collins, who were married in Parker Chapel two weeks after graduating in 1979, hold bachelor’s degrees in education. Colonel Collins also holds a Master of Strategic Studies and postgraduate diplomas
in defense acquisition/program management, homeland security, and emergency management. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 28 years and was a Marine aviator, qualified in multiple military aircraft. He currently is a consultant on energy, emergency response planning, and defense matters. Darcy holds a Texas Teacher Certificate and taught preschool before the couple’s two sons and daughter were born, one of which is a 2007 Trinity graduate. She also worked and volunteered in local schools throughout travels
with John while he was an active Marine. The Collins’ connection to Trinity is long and strong. Between their two families, they count 17 alumni and one current student. Their daughter, Cally, earned Trinity degrees in 2007 and 2008. In their role as alumni sponsors, the Collins’ will offer a consistent presence for students and serve as mentors and a resource for the San Antonio community and offcampus issues. Josephine Ayala ’15
During Alumni Weekend, members of the Student Managed Fund classes held a 15-year reunion. President Ahlburg, center, greets Sardar Biglari ’99, (left) who was in the original class and professor Phil Cooley, who led the class until he retired from Trinity in 2012. Begun with $500,000 granted by the Board of Trustees, the SMF continues its excellent record of growth under the guidance of Paige Fields, the Prassel Professor of Business.
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Where Are They Now? Frank Kersnowski, research professor
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hen Frank Kersnowski arrived in San Antonio in 1964 as a candidate for an English position, his airport greeting party included President James W. Laurie. Impressed by Laurie’s vision of the University’s future and by the academic stature of Dean Bruce Thomas, Kersnowski knew that he wanted to teach at Trinity. He never regretted his decision. Throughout his 38-year career, Kersnowski valued the freedom to design courses and the opportunities for academic research afforded by the University. Kersnowski’s penchant for literature and class discussions blossomed early. In seventh grade, he won $10.00 for an essay published in a local newsletter. Later publications seldom paid as well. After completing B.A. and M.A. degrees at the University of Tennessee, he
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earned a Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. It was there he took his first course in Irish literature and chose noted Irish poet William Butler Yeats, one of the foremost figures of twentiethcentury literature, as the subject of his dissertation. Aided by summer grants from the NEH and Trinity, Kersnowski did research at the Library of Congress and interviewed contemporary Irish poets. One summer in Washington, D.C., he shared an apartment with Jim Dicke ’68, who worked as an assistant to a congressman. At the end of the day, the two met to swap jokes and roam the bars of Georgetown. Dicke, a current Trinity Trustee and past board chairman, told a commencement audience, “One of the enduring legacies of my Trinity education has been the lifelong friendship
with Frank Kersnowski.” Out of Kersnowski’s research grew The Outsiders: Poets of Contemporary Ireland, published by Texas Christian University Press in 1975. During his tenure at Trinity, Kersnowski taught basic courses in freshman composition and sophomore literature and advanced courses in British and Irish literature. For a number of years, he taught a course on modern drama. Rather than relying on lectures, Kersnowski employed a discussion format in order to find out how students were responding to the assigned primary sources. At the same time, he enjoyed being able to integrate his active research interests into his courses. Kersnowski also served on a number of University committees. He chaired a committee whose major accomplishment was to recommend the creation
of the Promotion and Tenure Commission. In retirement, Kersnowski requested the title of research professor rather than professor emeritus because it provided easier access to libraries and research grants. Though lacking the classroom to test ideas, Kersnowski continues to do research, which he has presented at conferences in Paris, London, and Madrid. He has also written a book on Robert Graves and an essay on Lawrence Durrell. Currently, he is working on a digital book on the writings of Durrell, noted British novelist, poet, and dramatist, with whom he had become friends. Helping him navigate the tricky digital world are three Trinity graduates with computer expertise: Peter Brantley ’84, director of Scholarly Communications Hypothes.is; Lyn Belisle ’72, Trinity computer science department; and Erin Cox ’99, Rob Weisbach Agency New York. Kersnowski’s favorite leisure reading genre is mystery novels. He and his wife, Alice, a professor of English at St. Mary’s University, live near campus. Kersnowski remains close to his daughter, Maud, from a previous marriage, and his grand-daughter, Lydia, who he says is “adorable” and also “closely resembles her grandfather.” Kersnowski welcomes emails at fkersnow@trinity.edu. R. Douglas Brackenridge
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William O.Walker, professor emeritus
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hen Trinity established the Distinguished University and Community Service Award in 2002, the first recipient was William O. Walker, Jr., professor of religion. The honor marked a fitting conclusion to a distinguished 40-year career (1962-2002) as a member of the Trinity faculty. An effective classroom instructor, productive scholar, and skillful administrator, he was a highly regarded mentor and friend to students, faculty, and staff. Walker grew up in a small West Texas town in a family of faithful church members. Parental and community values of honesty, industry, and integrity were firmly implanted in him and maintained throughout adult life. His superb scholarship emerged early. As high school valedictorian, he outperformed
his nine classmates. Walker graduated from Austin College (1953), Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (1957), The University of Texas in Austin (1958), and Duke University (1962) where he earned a Ph.D. in Biblical studies. An unsolicited letter from Trinity Dean Bruce Thomas led to a campus visit and an appointment in the religion department. Despite the informality, it proved to be a judicious hire. Walker served as chair of the religion department (19801988) and Dean of Humanities and Arts (1988-1999). He was a member of numerous University committees including the Faculty Senate (one year as chair), Promotion and Tenure Commission, and Curriculum Council. When the psychology department needed temporary leadership, Walker agreed to
serve as interim chair, much to the satisfaction of department members. An internationally recognized New Testament scholar, Walker authored 49 major articles in scholarly journals and was author and/ or editor of 10 books. He held offices in regional and national scholarly organizations. In 2009 Austin College named him a Distinguished Alumnus. Walker’s community activities included active membership in the Democratic Party, American Civil Liberties Union, and Madison Square Presbyterian Church. During the 1960s and 1970s he participated in Viet Nam War protests. A member of his college tennis team, Walker maintained an avid interest in the sport at Trinity. He was a familiar sight on the varsity courts, where he engaged in friendly competition with students and peers. Some
students nicknamed him “Whamo Walker,” a play on his initials and his powerful serves and strokes. In retirement, Walker maintains Trinity contacts. He enjoys having lunch in the Skyline Room where he meets old friends and makes new ones, and he keeps in touch with former students. Ever the scholar, he has published 18 articles since his retirement in 2002 with others in progress. His leisure reading includes biographical history and mystery novels. Family relationships remain an important part of his life. Walker is the father of three children: Scott, a physician (Rhode Island), Mary, a volunteer social worker, (Colorado and Kenya, Africa), and Neal, a professional musician (San Antonio). Four grandchildren complete the family circle. Trips to West Texas for family reunions and interaction with his children and grandchildren are important events on his social calendar. In San Antonio, Walker attends Madison Square Presbyterian Church, where he currently serves as Clerk of Session. No longer able to grace the tennis courts, “Whamo” Walker retains his keen mind, sharp wit, and gracious demeanor. Walker welcomes emails (wwalker@trinity.edu), mail (315 Cloverleaf Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78209), or telephone calls (210-999-8325). R. Douglas Brackenridge
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Chapter and Network Activities Arizona On October 20, the chapter held its “Alumni Family Picnic"at the McCormick Ranch Railroad Park. They enjoyed reconnecting over barbecue, while the families enjoyed a park that has a playground, trains to ride, and a miniature train museum.
Atlanta The chapter held a special service project on October 26 from noon - 5 p.m. at the Sandy Springs Tennis Center where they volunteered for the Special Pops Tennis Tournament. Special Pops is the nation’s largest adaptive tennis match play event for people with intellectual disabilities.
aging LinkedIn,” on Oct. 29 at the Spicewood Springs Branch Library. Michelle Hardy ’99, senior associate director at The McCombs School of Business, conducted the workshop.
Chicago The chapter welcomed biology professor Jonathan King at a happy hour on November 7. King showed pictures from the Center for the Sciences and Innovation and talked about the research he has been doing at Trinity and during his sabbatical at the University of Chicago.
The Austin chapter-area alumni took a boat cruise on Lady Bird Lake on July 19 to socialize and support Camp Brave Heart, a Hospice Austin program. From left to right: Kels Farmer ’00, Stacy Brunson ’81, Rich Coffey ’02, Michelle Hardy ’99, Michael Muela ’09, Eric Hansum ’97, and Jorge Hakim ’09
Austin Alumni enjoyed live music at Zilker Park on June 26, then gathered again on July 19 for a cruise on Lady Bird Lake to socialize and support Camp Brave Heart, a Hospice Austin program. The program provides 100 grieving children a threeday summer camp with other children who have recently lost a loved one. Local Austin eateries and distributors donated food and drinks. The two-hour boat ride was capped off with a view of the millions of bats that leave every night to hunt for food from under the Congress Street Bridge. The chapter supported the University of Texas hometown team by participating in the huge tailgate on September 14. They also held an interactive workshop, “Lever-
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The Chicago chapter welcomed Professor Jonathan King (fourth from left) to a happy hour on November 7, 2013.
A L U M N E W S
Colombus, Ohio Alumni attended a baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and Buffalo Bisons. This was a first-time event for alumni in the area, many of whom had no idea that there were other Trinity alumni around. Five decades of alumni were represented.
Colorado On June 2, the alumni board held their annual Making Connections event in beautiful Washington Park, where they ate barbeque, played lawn games, and relaxed in the Colorado summer sun. Alumni met at Denver Beer Company on August 21 for the chapter’s annual beer-tasting event. More than 40 alumni from class years spanning five decades enjoyed some of Colorado’s best microbrews and Mexican food surrounded by casks of tomorrow’s great beers in DBC’s Barrel Room.
Alumni in Columbus, Ohio attended a baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and Buffalo Bisons. Pictured (left to right) are Robert Crosby ’62, Duane Weaver ’79, Eric Vela ’00, Michele Bailey ’86, and Dushyant Pattni ’12.
Dallas
Dallas alumni had a great time at the “Welcome to Dallas” Happy Hour at Park Tavern in the University Park area on August 15 as a part of the Welcome to Dallas initiative.
Alumni met at the Nodding Donkey, which holds a “Geeks Who Drink” Trivia Night every Tuesday from 8-11 p.m. We all had a really great time talking to one another and competing against the opposite Trinity team! It was especially popular with younger alumni. The chapter also enjoyed a fun get together at Park Tavern in the University Park area of Dallas on August 15 as a part of the Welcome to Dallas initiative. The chapter got together at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on September 15 to root for
their home team. On October 26, the chapter organized a brewery tour for the area-alumni at Community Beer. Awardwinning brewer and alumnus Jamie Fulton ’03 greeted all and gave the tour.
to welcome recent graduates to the chapter. On October 17, alumni enjoyed Trinity Thursday Night at Mi Cocina’s at Sundance Square.
Fort Worth
The chapter held a Day of Giving on November 16. Alumni volunteered at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to assemble food packages for low income seniors, women with infants, and children in Los Angeles County.
On August 15, alumni gathered at Zio Carlo’s Magnolia Brew Pub and the party lasted more than an hour past its planned ending time! The chapter held a First September event on September 12 at Rodeo Goat in the growing West 7th area
Greater Los Angeles
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Fort Worth alumni gathered at Zio Carlo’s Magnolia Brew Pub on August 15 for Trinity Night Thursday.
Houston
Houston alumni dedicated a Saturday afternoon to serving at the Houston Food Bank on September 7.
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On September 7, alumni spent a Saturday afternoon volunteering at the Houston Food Bank sorting food items that equaled more than12,000 meals. The BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) Carving and Painting event in Bendwood Park on October 19 was a huge success and hopefully the beginning of an annual tradition. Awards were given for the categories of Prettiest, Scariest, Best Carved and Best Painted Pumpkin as well as a special, I-Can-Hardly-Tell-That’sA-Pumpkin award which went to Craig Fecel’s ’00 Frankenstein gourd carving. A big “thank you” to all who participated. More than 160 alumni, prospective students, and guests of the Rothko Chapel attended our distinguished alumni lecture by Elisa Massimino ’82, CEO of Human Rights First, who spoke on “The Human Rights of Women and Girls.”
A L U M N E W S
Participants at the Houston chapter’s BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) Carving and Painting event on October 19 had a great time.
National Capital Area
Alumni from the Greater Los Angeles chapter volunteered at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to assemble food packages.
On July 9, Professor Sussan Siavoshi met alumni over sushi and cheeseburgers to discuss her research, her upcoming book, current affairs, and of course the latest gossip about Trinity and San Antonio. In attendance were U.S. Foreign Service Officers, lobbyists, academics, and World Bankers, as well as Congressional and Executive Branch/White House staffers. The chapter hosted a successful Young Alumni happy hour on July 24 at Hill Country Barbecue in Chinatown, hopefully the first of many such events for the NCA chapter. Alumni cheered the Washington Nationals and their manager Davey Johnson ’64 as they took on the Miami Marlins on September 19 at the Nationals Park. On October 27, alumni went to the D.C. United’s last game of the season—a match with the Houston Dynamo—and enjoyed tailgating in a parking
lot. On December 8, the areaalumni gathered for the always popular holiday party at the home of Cathy Phillips Starnes ’04 and Steve Starnes.
New England Two of the eight incoming Trinity students from the Northeast and New England area enjoyed a waterfront send-off party hosted for them in Greenwich, Conn., on August 3.
New York Despite the snow, alumni in Central NY enjoyed a festive holiday luncheon on December 14 while watching the video of the December 6 Trinity University Christmas Concert. They were all very pleased and inspired that President Ahlburg gave a special greeting to alumni across the country and mentioned Central N.Y. before the start of the concert.
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Washington D.C. alumni joined students and their families for the Summer Send-off barbeque on August 11 on the western lawn of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
Oklahoma City The area-alumni took a cruise on the Oklahoma River Saturday, November 2. Left to right are Marc Weinmeister ’76, Chris Kirt ’93, Elaine Weinmeister ’76, Kathryn Kirt ’93, Melissa Heuer ’01, boat captain, and the Kirts’ son, Evan.
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On July 20, the chapter enjoyed lunch at Flint, followed by a tour of Devon Energy, the tallest building in Oklahoma. Alumni took a cruise on the Oklahoma River November 2, and learned the river’s colorful history from the captain. Highlight of the trip was the lock; it is the only one in the United States run by a computer.
A L U M N E W S
San Antonio Alumni saw Flashdance on June 19 in reserved sections of the Majestic Theatre. On August 29, alumni gathered at Tycoon Flats to kick off the new school year with happy hour margaritas. On September 18, alumni returned to the Majestic to see Book of Mormon and visit over champagne during intermission. Students and alumni reunited in the Skyline Room for the 15th annual Making Connections networking event on September 19. The chapter’s Soccer Appreciation Day on September 22 was a huge success, where alumni and their families watched Tiger men’s and women’s teams defeat Schreiner University. As usual, the possibility of winning soccer gear, graciously donated by the coaches, added to the excitement. Chefs from Green Vegetarian Cuisine treated Trinity alumni to a private cooking class on September 24 at the CIA. They shared tips and recipes on how to make healthy Tex-Mex food while preparing a four-course meal for the attendees. On October 26, San Antonio alumni and their families met at Sea World for a behind the scenes tour of the dolphin, ray, and Beluga areas. Dolphins displayed their eagerness to perform, no matter how small the audience and they all had the opportunity to touch a shark. The Chapter held a reception for the theater opening night of “Pippin” on November 15. It was a fantastic showcase of the amazing Trinity students’ passion, dedication and raw talent! Special thanks to faculty members Roberto Prestigiacomo and Tim Francis for the pre-show insight during the reception. On November 19, San Antonio area-alumni gathered at Pinot’s Palette - Alamo Heights wine bottles in hand, ready to paint! They sipped and painted Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Alumni took their self-created paintings home at the end of the night. All
Chefs from Green Vegetarian Cuisine treated San Antonio alumni to a private cooking class on September 24 at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). were creative and a great time was had all around. The Chapter held its annual alumni holiday party on December 6 continuing the tradition of combining Trinity University’s Christmas Concert (20th) with pre-concert dinner and drinks. A reserved section in Laurie Auditorium for the dinner guests always serves as an added attraction. The annual event was once again a splendid sold out start to the Holiday season. On November 19, San Antonio alumni attended a painting class at Pinot’s Palette and painted Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
January 2014 51
A L U M N E W S
St. Louis Alumni, students and parents gathered at the August 5 Cardinals vs. Dodgers baseball game for a fantastic night at Busch Stadium, watched from the luxury suites of Trinity University Trustee Michael Neidorff ’65 and joined by Vice President for Faculty and Student Affairs Michael Fischer. On September 28, alumni enjoyed a day at the St. Louis Zoo, where highlights included getting kissed by a sea lion and feeding the stingrays.
Alumni enjoyed a day at the St. Louis Zoo, including getting kissed by a sea lion and feeding the stingrays.
St. Louis alumni, students, and parents gathered in the luxury suites of Trinity University Trustee Michael Neidorff ’65 at Busch Stadium for the August 5 Cardinals vs. Dodgers baseball game.
52 Trinity
A L U M N E W S
Tennessee
Newly formed Tennessee chapter sampled a variety of wines paired with a selection of delicious hors d'oeuvres at the November 7 Wine and Gourmet tasting.
On November 7, the new chapter hosted a Wine and Gourmet Tasting, its first event as an official chapter. Alumni gathered at Boundry Restaurant, where everyone enjoyed taste comparisons using the unique wine aerator decanter from Travaso, thanks to a presentation by Jeff Smith, spouse of Kelly Jackson Smith ’02. A Trinity Cares service project is planned for February.
West Texas Alumni and friends from the Lubbock area gathered at the Blue Mesa Grill on August 15 for a fun happy hour event. They welcomed two new members to their chapter-in-formation: Caroline Gates Kopp ’79 and C.J. Robison ’13, who is getting ready to start his first year of law school at Ole Miss. (Follow them on Facebook: West Texas Trinity Alumni.)
West Texas Trinity alumni and friends from the Lubbock area gathered at the Blue Mesa Grill on August 15 for a fun happy hour event.
January 2014 53
C L A S S There’s a chapter near you! If you would like to be involved in chapter activities or to serve on the Board, contact these respective chapter presidents. *Albuquerque: Scott Webster ’85, scott.webster@pnm.com Arizona Bryan Bertucci ’95, bbertucci@hotmail.com Arizona@alum.trinity.edu Atlanta Dan Wright ’96, danielswright@yahoo.com Atlanta@alum.trinity.edu Austin Rich Coffey ’02, rcoffey30@hotmail.com Austin@alum.trinity.edu The Bay Area Walter Evans ’07, wfevansiii@aol.com thebayarea@alum.trinity.edu Chicago Meghan Vincent ’05, meghanelisabeth@gmail.com Chicago@alum.trinity.edu Colorado Jenny Savage ’05, JennySavage2@gmail.com Colorado@alum.trinity.edu Dallas Natalie Webb ’04, nataliewebb82@gmail.com Dallas@alum.trinity.edu *Florida vacant Email alumni@trinity.edu if interested Fort Worth Bryan Cancel ’98, bcancel@hotmail.com ftworth@alum.trinity.edu Houston Craig Fecel ’00, cfecel2@gmail.com Houston@alum.trinity.edu *Kansas City Travis Holt ’06, tholt@alum.trinity.edu Los Angeles Matt Clark ’92, Matt.Clark@pimco.com LosAngeles@alum.trinity.edu
54 Trinity
National Capital Area Luke Peterson ’02, luke.peterson@gmail.com NationalCapitalArea@alum.trinity.edu New England (includes New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut) Jessica Patrick ’02, stillchasingsummer@gmail.com NewEngland@alum.trinity.edu New York Adrian Mendoza ’06, adrian.mendoz@gmail.com NewYork@alum.trinity.edu Oklahoma City Melissa Heuer ’01, melissa.k.heuer@gmail.com OklahomaCity@alum.trinity.edu *Portland Nicole Roth ’10, nicole.marie.roth@gmail.com San Antonio Stacy Olds ’04, stacy.olds@att.net SanAntonio@alum.trinity.edu San Diego Fritz Hesse ’87, fritz@hessenet.net SanDiego@alum.trinity.edu Seattle David Schlosser ’90, dbschlosser@analects-ink.com Seattle@alum.trinity.edu St. Louis Courtney Rawlins ’00, courtneyrawlins@aol.com StLouis@alum.trinity.edu Tennessee Leslie South ’04, south.leslie@gmail.com *Tulsa Hilary McKinney ’07, hilarymckinney@gmail.com *West Texas John Grace ’85, johngracelaw@gmail.com
*chapters in the formation stage About photo submissions: Digital photos should be saved at a minimum size of 4” x 6” at a resolution of 300 dpi or 1200 x 1800 pixels. Save in jpg format and e-mail as attachments to alumni@trinity.edu. Prints should be mailed to: Office of Alumni Relations, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200
A C T S
Class Acts 1950
1968
Carol “Bucky” Warwick Smith is still very active in Girl Scouting after 74 years, a member of the Republican Party, and still teaching swimming for the 70th year.
Lee H. Matthews is chair of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the state’s licensing board for psychology.
1962
1969
Warren J. Camarano and his wife, Margie Martin are planning a river cruise along the Rhine/Mosel rivers in May. E-mail Warren at wcamarano@att.net. W. Kay Lancaster is retired after a successful 42-year career in teaching and counseling and working as a high school principal and college professor in Kentucky.
Larry Jefferies was selected for the Southland Conference All-Decade Men’s Basketball Team from the 1960s. He was also elected Southland Player of the Decade and remains the institution’s all-time leading scorer with 2,454 points. Susan Masinter Riley completed a photo mural for the San Antonio Downtown Alliance’s new offices. It includes nine images shot from Olmos Tower across from Trinity’s campus. She also designed the cover of sibling Tom Masinter’s ’72 piano arrangement of The Magnificent Seven. Norman Robbins was elected secretary of the Fort Worth Independent School District Board of Education. He has served on the board since 2004 and is the District 7 representative.
1963 James B. Jennings is a new member of the VAALCO Energy Inc. Board of Directors.
1965 Robert W. Lull has retired after serving in the Army, working as director in different hospitals and teaching history. He recently wrote Civil War General and Indian Fighter James M. Williams and looks forward to traveling, pursuing hobbies, playing golf, and volunteering.
1970
Thomas A. Fry joined the FreeportMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Board of Directors. He previously held a position on the Plains Exploration & Production Company Board of Directors.
Carole (Dee) Rushing Lay’s e-book publication company Lava E-books Inc., has its first books available on Kindle and Nook. They are Cold River Spirits and Red Thunder. E-mail Carole at carole.lay@aol. com. Sara Jo Hubbard Mueller has been retired from accounting (CPA) for three years and is serving on the Committee of Ministry at her local Presbytery and volunteering with Girl Scouts. E-mail Sara at dsjmueel@verizon.net
1967
1971
Marianna “Penny” Mead Lull has retired after teaching elementary and preschool and working as assistant manager to a needlecraft shop. She looks forward to traveling, pursuing hobbies, playing golf and volunteering.
Robert “Bob” Clark was named interim director of the nonprofit business community organization Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce. Ron Piretti worked as the fight choreographer on Fly, a new musical at the Dallas Theater Center in July.
1966
1967 Benita Longoria-Champion is retired after more than 42 years of teaching and lives in San Antonio with her husband, Fred, and dog, Lucy. Her daughter, Linda ’94, is an attorney and has three children (Trinity classes 2030, 2032, and 2034). Pete Ranucci was selected for the Southland Conference All-Decade Men’s Basketball Team from the 1960s. He was also inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in Worcester, Mass.
1972 Tom Masinter had two piano compositions selected for inclusion in the prestigious National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals Bulletin for the years 2014-2016. The selections are Cowboy Saturday Night and an arrangement of The Magnificent Seven, which has already sold 1,000 copies. Dick Stockton has started a program with his wife called T3 (Thanking our Troops through Tennis) through Blue Sky
C L A S S
Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit foundation. See feature pages 29-31.
1973 Karen Brumbaugh Gallagher was inducted into the Blair County sports Hall of Fame at the 16th induction banquet. She is a 16-time national tennis champion. Retired Lt. Gen. Jim Pillsbury was a guest speaker at Athens State University’s annual Flag Day ceremony last June. He is the former commanding general of the U.S. Army Material Command at Redstone Arsenal.
1975 Ken Ashe is ZapBoomBang’s new general manager for the production company. The company provides editorial and finishing services, motion graphics and effects, audio recording and mixing music composition, recording and production post-scoring, and sound design. Margery Erp received her 25-year membership pin at the annual conference of the Texas National Association of Social Workers
in August. She’s 77 and still working as a contract social worker at the Army Retirement Community. Joel Hart retired as president of INTEGRIS Baptist Regional Health Center in Miami, Okla., in October. Since 2001, he has renovated and expanded many parts of the Center. Elaine Liner wrote a one-act solo comedy Sweater Curse: A Yarn about Love, which debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. She is still the theater critic at the Dallas Observer. Larry Waks was selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2014. He currently practices at Jackson Walker L.L.P. in Dallas.
1977 Consulting magazine named Becky Roof one of 12 “Women Leaders in Consulting” for the year.
1978 Eva G. Carpenter passed her exams from the Institute of Supply Management to become a Certified Professional in Supply
A C T S
Management and a Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity. Robyn W. Dunbar became the director of Stanford’s Center for Teaching and Learning and associate vice-provost for undergraduate education on September 1, 2013. Lisette McSound Mondello is a principal at The Mondello Group, a government consulting firm in Washington, D.C., founded by her husband, Joe, in 2006.
1979 Vincent Ng is director of VA Boston Healthcare System. The Boston System serves 67,000 veterans from around New England. Dr. William Moore Smith has been asked to lead, develop, and grow adult primary care services with the Erlanger Health System in Tennessee. He will continue to see patients and serve on the teaching faculty of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
1980 Eddy Mindlin’s company is celebrating 25 years in business as a representative for
many flooring and other building products in New Mexico and West Texas. His book on sales strategies, Revealed, was published last fall.
1981 Stephen Purves is CEO for Maricopa Integrated Health System in Phoenix. Karen Sumner has returned to Texas after doing development work for many years in Honolulu.
On October 5, Student Ambassadors assisted Sara Pruneda Beesley ’08 (left) and Center director Susan Albert at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Student Ambassadors are from left to right, Will Miles ’16, Anh-Viet Dinh ’15, Jacob Hall ’15, and Ana Ruiz ’16.
January 2014 55
C L A S S
A C T S
For the Record Marriages Steve Pralle ’80 to Jeff Surrena July 2, 2013 T David Allan Kerr ’86 to Jay Samuel Stowsky August 14, 2013 T Maribeth Bruno ’90 to Maj. Jamie Davis September 14, 2013 T Renee Rodrigues ’98 to Rohan D’souza October 12, 2013 T Amanda Barth ’07 to Greg Mangelsdorf ’07 November 2, 2013 T Jason Lee McPherson ’07 to Christina Louise Conner August 30, 2013 T Stacey Button ’10 to Alexander Bacon ’10 June 22, 2013
Births Violet to Caitlin and Ian MacDonald ’93 August 29, 2013 T Danica Rachel to Marty Canner and Tracy Gostyla ’95 April 27, 2013 T Elena Goldie to Heather and Dale Shover ’96 June 17, 2013 T Henry Day to Susan E. McDonald Cooper ’96 and Jason Cooper ’96 July 7, 2013 T Zoe to John and Erasmia Moustakis Gardner ’96 May 31, 2012 T Lorenzo Anderson James to Nadiya Williams-Boldware ’99 and Lorenzo Andre Boldware ’98 March 4, 2013 T Aidan Gray to Jimmy and
Last June, President Dennis Ahlburg visited with Bill Chiang ’88 and other alumni, together with students and faculty who were attending a summer program at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.
1982
1984
1988
Mark Horak has served 31 years in public and private education and is receiving his second national award from his peer athletic directors. Rick Nixon was named a Player of the Week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for heading a committee at Indianapolis that planned and conducted a national women’s basketball summit.
Stephen Curry graduated with honors from Perkins School of Theology and Southern Methodist University and was appointed to serve as the pastor of La Vernia United Methodist Church in La Vernia, Texas. William Fox was named CEO of Dauterive Hospital in New Iberia, La., in July. Ronald Glazener Jr. was hired as the director of special education for the La Vernia Independent School District in Texas after 29 years as an educator/coach. Lois (Straub) Glazener has taught Spanish for 29 years and is a teacher at La Vernia High School. Lyn Smith was interviewed by Shaun Tabatt for the 45th episode of the Author Talks. She co-authored Think 4:8 40 Days To a Joy-Filled Life for Teens. Geoffrey F. Ward joined Saybrus Partners, Inc., as the managing director of business development. He identifies new distribution channel opportunities for middle market product offerings.
Shannon Turner Abikhaled lives in Austin and is an OB-GYN. She has three children, the youngest, age 10, adopted from China. Mary Arneson earned her doctorate in education last year and is a national education consultant for the Danielson Group. Kimberly A. Morris Yates assumed the duties of chief, Air Force voluntary education in February 2013. The position provides policy and guidance to Air Force Commands and base education centers.
1983
Annette Dailey McLaughlin ’99 May 2, 2013 T William Charles to Tim and Laura Samuelson Hotard ’02 April 9, 2013 T Amelia Marie to Paul and Sara Hatton Bauman ’02 July 5, 2013 T Lacey Noelle to Darin and Patricia Foh Womble ’02 August 13, 2013 T Wesley Jameson to Alanna Cassidy Onken ’03 and Price Onken ’04 February 14, 2013 T Emily Margaret to Jamie Ehlinger Thompson ’05 and Simon Thompson ’05 July 20, 2013
56 Trinity
Frank Garza was selected by the Rockwell City Council as the city’s primary attorney. He currently serves as city attorney for the cities of Balcones Heights, Bulverde, Poteet, Sabinal, Terrell Hills, and Karnes City. Patrick Huffstickler continues to practice law. Thomas Jodry was appointed senior vice president of development management with Trammell Crow Company’s Northern California business unit. Trammell Crow Co. is one of the nation’s leading developers and investors in commercial real estate. Jeff Wilt was promoted to executive principal of Alpha Testing, Inc. The firm has offices in San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.
1985 Troy Bond published The Curse of Akbar in April 2013, and the suspense novel has since received a 4-5 star review by Indie Reader, allowing it to carry the Indie Reader Approved label.
1989 Dennis Litos joined Consumers Mutual Insurance as CEO after finishing his contract with Doctors Medical Center. Michael McBride received the inaugural
C L A S S
A C T S
For the Record In Memoriam Lawrence R. Powell Jr. ’53 May 2, 2013 Leonard E. Davis ’59 June 4, 2013 Marian Stafford Sinclair ’56 April 21, 2013 Alvin A. Jannasch ’58 June 14, 2013 Marsha A. Aiken Neeb ’64 May 22, 2013 James McEwen Dewar ’66 July 30, 2013 Alexander Simko ’67 July 7, 2013 Billy H. Roberson ’70 August 31, 2013 Nancy Giles Loomis ’71 October 27, 2013 Nina Gail Murphy Gonzales ’78 May 9, 2013 Michael Thomas ’78
Zeta Chi’s had a reunion in August 2013. Pictured outside the Darioush Winery in Napa, California, are Laura Tenczar Whiles ’99, Abby Haran Raddatz ’99, Andrea Spolidoro Martinsen ’99, Emily Houston ’99, Amy Fowler Tellinghuisen ’99, Reka Lal ’98, Heather Conger ’00, Heather Lunow Hunziker ’01, Ramey Barnett ’97, Kaci Wongsmith ’02, Courtney Schmidt Holcomb ’99, and Pamela Neil Thibodeau ’98.
September 10, 2013 Jeffrey Ray Buhr ’83 June 14, 2013 William Glenn McPherson ’86
Justice Rudolph Hargrave prize for outstanding scholarly article from a faculty member. The award was given by the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s Sovereignty Symposium, Inc.
1990 Valerie Alexander wrote Happiness as a Second Language, which was an Amazon bestseller in its category. The audiobook was released in September. Cindy Hobbs Janecka hosted a book signing event with Barnes & Noble for her new book This Can’t Be Happening. The book tells of her inspiring journey as a cancer survivor. Russell E. Lloyd is acting director for the
VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville. Carrie Wheeler was awarded the 2013 CIO (Chief Information Officer) of the Year Award in the category “Enterprise” from Georgia CIO Leadership Association (GCLA).
Koch spoke in July at the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s 24th International Nursing Research Congress in Prague. She presented research on inter-professional education in healthcare professions.
1991
1992
Judith Canales was appointed state executive director for the USDA Texas Farm Service Agency. Miles Cortez III joined HVS Capital Corp. as a vice president responsible for the origination, structuring, and placement of asset sales. In the past he helped start a variety of companies as an associate at San Vincente Group. Lee
Kevin Foyle is vice president for development at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Mark Funk is department chair at Little Rock College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He was reappointed as the chair of economics and finance in July. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Steven Mach of Houston to
July 5, 2013 Gary B. Gross, Jr. ’88 September 29, 2013 Joseph Kosler ’90 September 19, 2013 James Broach ’98 August 30, 2013
January 2014 57
C L A S S
Shaw Drummond is vice president of consulting services with the Intersect Group, a national finance, accounting, and IT staffing and consulting firm. Jennifer E. Noyes graduated from UTSA with her master’s in social work and also received her LMSW license.
A C T S
2002 Travis R. Steele earned a top AV preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a global independent legal rating service. Steele is an attorney with Sutin, Thayer & Browne APC.
the vice president of operations of Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Livia Istrate Rodriguez started the Trinity Alumni Referral Network (TARN). The networking group will meet once a month in San Antonio. E-mail Lmistrate@yahoo.com for information.
1999
2005 Allison Lanza accepted a position as associate chaplain at Texas Christian University.
Garth Bond was promoted to associate professor in the English department at Lawrence University. Kristi (Harter) Button earned certification as a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in April 2013. Jenny Lucas was honored as teacher of the week by “Woodlands Online.” She is a ninth-grade teacher at Woodlands High School. Kristi Roberts moved to Algiers with her husband and daughter to begin work as the Public Affairs Officer. She is in charge of a 15-member staff at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers. Erika Trafton wrote Independence Day, which was recognized as one of the best creative non-fiction pieces of the year from Connotation Press’ editor Robert Clark Young.
Trajan Cuellar will complete general surgery at University of Florida in 2014 and proceed to a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Mississippi. Mazie Harris was appointed as the Linda Wyatt Gruber ’66 Curatorial Fellow in Photography at the Davis Museum at Wellesley College. Emily Houston graduated from the School Library Teacher Program at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in Boston. She began work at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in September. Sarah Madigan was promoted to executive vice president of content distribution by Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Ron Nirenberg was elected to San Antonio’s City Council from District 8 and was appointed by Mayor Julian Castro to represent the city of San Antonio’s Mobility Coalition, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the San Antonio Education Partnership. Email Ron at ron@CouncilmanRon8.com. Jennifer Zinn is chief academic officer at the San Antonio KIPP University Prep organization.
1996
2000
Elizabeth Fauerso was honored as Marketer of the Year for her work as CMO with The Pearl, a multi-use development on the site of the former Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. Erasmia Moustakis is the in-house contracts specialist and attorney at FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies, Inc., in Houston.
Ryan H. Deck opened his law office in downtown Round Rock, Texas. Deck is a criminal defense lawyer, former prosecutor, and serves as an advocate for individuals facing criminal charges in the local area.
the Public Safety Commission for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2015. The commission formulates and oversees policies for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
1994
1997 Jim Bohnsack leads acquisition strategy for Conifer Health Solutions in Frisco, Texas. He has relocated to Dallas.
1998 Brian J. Box published Back in the Game through SUNY Press. The book discusses American political party behavior from 1996-2008.
58 Trinity
2001 Steven Lam is director for the School of Art + Design at Purchase College, State University of New York.
2006 Cynthia Piña is a financial analyst for commercial lending for Capital Bank. Adam Zimmer spent the past months as a coach with the Cincinnati Chiefs.
2003
2007
Rebecca L. Avitia was named as a Rising Star in Business Litigation by SuperLawyers, was listed by ABQ Business First to its “40 under 40” list for 2013, and became a shareholder of Montgomery & Andrews, P.A. Sarah C. Bowman is marketing manager of Taylor English Duma L.L.P.’s growing Atlanta office. Daniel de Robles was promoted to area engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ San Antonio area office. His team was recognized for the second year in a row as the District Team of the Year, and he was named the District Employee of the Year. Terra Smith has been named associate principal at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. James J. Valdes was reappointed to the Harford Community College Board of Trustees by Maryland’s Gov. O’mally.
Ben Casmer is the chief operations officer at the Bentonville hospital. He previously worked with the Community Hospital Systems, which is affiliated with Northwest Health System.
2004 Jennifer Haley-Brown completed her Ph.D. in rhetoric, composition, and teaching of English from University of Arizona. She has since decided to attend the U. of A. College of Law as well. Jessica Rangel O’Neal was chosen the 2013 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year. She is
2008 Casey Hill is the Santa Cruz Warriors’ new head basketball coach in California. Monica Wiseman Latin is a trial and appellate lawyer. She is a member of the executive committee at Carrington Coleman in Dallas. She was also named one of the top 50 women lawyers in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. Whitney Ann McCarthy received the Leadership Development Award from the College of American Pathologists Foundation. It commends her interest in pursuing leadership roles to improve pathologists’ residency training. Megan Smith published her first book, Before Reality Hits: A Straightforward Guide to College Success.
C L A S S
A group of former Trinity runners get together every year to run Zilker relays, a 10 mile, four person race through Zilker park. Left to right: Tyler Kee ’09, Joe Macrini ’08, Todd Wildman ’09, Phil Avocato ’09
A C T S
Corrections to 2012-13 Donor Honor Roll In the Donor Honor Roll published last fall, the following donors were listed in the incorrect giving category and should have been listed as donors of $1,000-$2,499. The University deeply appreciates their generous support.
Alumni
2010
2012
Stu Van Dusen signed with the Calgary Stampeders as an offensive end. The team is part of the professional Canadian Football League (CFL). David Prichard was selected by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to serve as the chairman of the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee. Kaitlin Steinberg was hired by the Houston Press as their new food critic. Bart Taylor is the coordinator of scouting for the Utah Jazz NBA basketball team. Christina Wan received the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators Fellows Award while working for Texas A&M University, Commerce.
Shannon Baldwin works at the Institute for Health Promotion Center as a research curator for Salud America, the RWJF (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children. Rachel DeFoe is the development and operations coordinator at City Year Columbia, South Carolina.
2011 Laura Franklin was admitted as a candidate for the MPP program at the Harvard Kennedy School. Andrew Wilson was named senior director of support services at the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest in Fort Worth.
2013 Alan Castillejos is head coach of the Lady Rebels soccer program. Lucy Cevallos received the Marc Raney Ambassador Award, which honors the Student Ambassador who has shown integrity while excelling in the role of an Ambassador. Catherine Gilbert was selected for the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, an intensive nine-month public affairs program. Monica Stanton was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English to children in Malaysia.
CORRECTION
Alumni Weekend
I. Bobby Majumder was mistakenly identified as J. Bobby Majumder in the last issue. He is a partner in the law firm Perkins Coie LLP in the Dallas office.
Parents Ana and Keith Farlow Susan and Thomas Golden
Faculty and Staff Robert and Shari Albright William G. Christ Francisco Garcia-Treto & Bonnie Flake Dorothy and Lorenzo Gibson Jr. Coleen Grissom
Friends Joy Baskin Brett Cupples Dale F. Dorn Olga and William Hickey Elizabeth Moursund Linda S. Newman Christine and Larry Wedige The following people should have been listed as members of the Heritage Society in the recent Donor Honor Roll.
Save the Date! Oct. 10-12, 2014
Robert H. Albright ’84 James F. Barrett III ’73 J. J. Baskin ’88 Mary E. Downey ’80 David R. Evans III ’06 Marion Therese Lee ’78 Thomas A. McElroy ’91 Edward N. Newman Jr. ’65 Joanne C. Russell ’75 Jeffrey D. Wilson ’97 Jennifer N. Wilson ’99 Craig M. Wright ’71
EDITOR’s NOTE: If the picture you sent does not appear, it’s because the resolution was too low for print. Please see instructions for photo submission on page 54.
Dennis A. Ahlburg and Penelope Harley Mary Jane Joyner Anne and Paul Smith
January 2014 59
[ déjà view ] Trinity’s Boxing Teams
Poster courtesy of Carter Family Archives (McNeese University, Lake Charles La.)
A
hundred years ago, most Americans regarded professional prize fighting as a brutal and vicious sport, and many states, including Texas, outlawed such contests. Amateur boxing suffered from guilt by association. It gained impetus on college campuses after World War I, however, from returning servicemen who had received training in boxing as a form of exercise. In addition, rule changes included new safety measures to reduce injuries, and educators emphasized physical conditioning and character building rather than brute power. Creation of the Golden Gloves Program in 1923 and NCAA sponsorship of a national boxing championship in 1932 facilitated the acceptance of amateur boxing throughout the country. By 1927, boxing and wrestling on the Waxahachie campus had become an integral part of Trinity’s intramural program. According to the Mirage, students took great interest in “the manly arts” of boxing and wrestling and “no serious casualties [occurred] as a result of some of the ferocious encounters.” The only negative aspect was “the many forfeits in the several ranks of the fighters.” Boxing enjoyed a brief heyday from 1945 to 1950 after Trinity moved to the Woodlawn campus in San Antonio. Another cadre of returning servicemen spurred interest in boxing. Under the leadership of intramural director Wilbert Richarz, a Trinity graduate and experienced amateur fighter, boxing
David Carter ’49 was a Trinity boxing star before embarking on a legal career.
flourished. Primary opponents were regional colleges, junior colleges, and local amateur athletic clubs. Richarz organized Trinity’s first annual intramural boxing tournament in 1947 held in the downtown YMCA. Winners in each weight category received a pair of golden gloves engraved with their names. A Trinity boxing highlight came in 1949 when two Trinity boxers, Bill Rawls ’50 and David Carter ’49, winners of the San Antonio regional Golden Gloves tournament, traveled to Fort Worth to participate in the state finals. Heavyweight Rawls was
eliminated by knockout in the second round of his opening fight. Carter, a light heavyweight, won his first three matches before facing a final bout with Tom Adams, a two-time state Golden Gloves winner from Hardin-Simmons University. Boxing pundits gave Carter little chance of surviving the first round. According to Bill Bellamy, San Antonio Express sports editor, “Carter, the polite Trinity law student, gave Adams a real boxing lesson before losing a hotly contested split-decision fight. He convinced himself and thousands of others that he is
plenty good. Carter narrowly missed what would have been the biggest upset in the 13-year history of this tournament.” A World War II veteran who saw service in Europe, Carter subsequently had a distinguished 45-year legal career in San Antonio where he displayed a passion for restoring historic houses and buildings. The San Antonio Conservation Society honored him with the Amanda Cartwright Taylor Award for his sustained support of architectural projects. Carter died on February 28, 2013, at the age of 91. Trinity lost its most zealous boxing advocate when Richarz left in 1950 to become head coach of the Air Force boxing team. After the University moved to its present campus in 1952, the sports program did not include boxing. For future student generations, boxing became television entertainment rather than a participatory sport. If any Trinity boxers are still around, I would be glad to hear from them. R. Douglas Brackenridge
Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 210 San Antonio, Texas 78212
One Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 change service requested
The 2014 Cameron Lecture on Politics and Public Affairs presents
Walter Isaacson
Biographer and president/CEO of the Aspen Institute
Steve Jobs: a Life March 26, 2014 • 7:30 p.m. • Laurie Auditorium The Cameron Lecture on Politics and Public Affairs is made possible by Mrs. Flora C. Crichton of San Antonio.