Academic Year in Review 2016–2017
THE POWER OF TULANE
The only thing “ more impressive and
exciting than our current students is the thought of who they will become and how they will change the world. �
June 1, 2017 With the joyful strains of Commencement 2017 still ringing in our ears, it is time to celebrate the tremendous success of the 2016–17 academic year. The following pages offer a look back at this amazing period of growth and research breakthroughs. From the exciting expansion and renovation of buildings such as the A. B. Freeman School of Business and Mussafer Hall, to the continued rise of Tulane in national rankings, to the $160 million in research funding our faculty attracted, it was a spectacular year. We highlight students who are engaged in research that combines disciplines as diverse as political science and public health, scholar-athletes who knock both the ball and the MCAT out of the park, and math majors who help write their own textbooks. You will also meet a dean who is using virtual reality to help those fighting addiction, learn more about a new history professor who is also a best-selling biographer, and visit with alumni who are changing the world through news, politics, technology, medicine and literature. From threatened coastlines and cultures in Louisiana, to global poverty, to outer space, Tulane is bringing the brightest minds together to meet the greatest challenges of our times. This is our story. This is the power of Tulane‌
WE'VE BEEN BUSY
TOP PRODUCER OF
Fulbright —Grant— WINNERS
2017 U.S. News and World Report Ranking
NO.
NEW@
160 MILLION
$
in Research Grants vs.
$122 million from the previous year
TOTAL 2017 GRADUATES
460,000 HOURS
MUSSAFER HALL
2016–2017 Enrollment
——
8,452 UNDERGRADUATES
1
GRADUATE + PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS
5,129
producer of Peace Corps volunteers AMONG GRAD SCHOOLS
Average
SAT
FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL WITH A 4.0
score
——
OF TULANE COMMUNITY SERVICE
# 2,760 39 159 20 % : 2020 22
CLASS OF
TU
points higher
than previous year
Applications increased by
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION
THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT
(SoPA),
formerly known as the School of Continuing Studies, has a NEW NAME and a NEW DIRECTION
——
A new PhD PROGRAM in COMPUTER SCIENCE
——
85,000 SQUARE FEET
of new and renovated space at A. B. Freeman School of Business
At Tulane, we don’t stand down, we stand out. The strong connection between our students and faculty encourages the pursuit of individual passions that results in the ideas and solutions our world needs most.
WHO WE ARE
TULANE EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BREAK BARRIERS…
Asis Lopez
Tijuana, B.C., Mexico PhD STUDENT, BIOINNOVATION ’19
Recently elected to the board of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
“
This year, my colleagues and I are investigating ultrasound as a form of therapy to regenerate neurons for spinal cord injuries. In addition, we are researching bubble dynamics in blood vessels through high-intensity ultrasound and, in parallel, developing a computational model for blood vessel rupture.
”
“
I’ve worked in the Cognitive Neuroscience Labs since my sophomore year, studying the effects of musical experience and training on spatial selective attention, which is our ability to orient or react to specific images or sounds. My research has been one of the highlights of my time at Tulane. It has made me more confident in my basic communication and teaching skills—assets invaluable to a hopeful physician.
”
Alyssa Cruse
Thibodaux, Louisiana 2017 GRADUATE IN NEUROSCIENCE AND MUSIC
Attending LSU School of Medicine in Fall 2017
AND INSPIRE THOSE AROUND US
TO ACHIEVE BALANCE IN LIFE…
Hunter Williams
West Monroe, Louisiana
2017 GRADUATE IN NEUROSCIENCE
Student-athlete graduating with a 4.0 and attending Tulane School of Medicine in Fall 2017
“
As a student-athlete, Tulane is perfect because it has excellence in academics and athletics. This balance is especially tough for athletes— taking the grind from the classroom to the field. Tulane has taught me how to effectively manage my time while allowing me to practice with my brothers every day—I don’t think I’d be as happy anywhere else.
”
“
My work has centered around mathematic epidemiology— I produce math models to understand the transmission dynamics and behavior changes related to the spread of diseases such as Ebola and Chagas. At Tulane, I’ve learned the impact of public health is beyond what we can see, and the possibilities are endless. My trajectory has changed from wanting to save one life at a time, to hopefully helping thousands.
”
Jessica Conrad
Santa Rosa, California 2017 GRADUATE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND MATHEMATICS
Recently published in “Mathematical and Statistical Modeling for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases” as a lead author of the article “Modeling the Impact of Behavior Change on the Spread of Ebola”
AND FIND CURES
WE ARE INNOVATIVE THINKERS… 1
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1 Patrick Bordnick DEAN, SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Virtual reality may help people beat addiction, says Dean Patrick Bordnick, who joined Tulane in 2016. He believes smartphones can bridge the gap between the clinic and the real world. His trailblazing research shows that a simple cellphone app can help patients sharpen their decision-making skills in times of crisis.
2 Maureen Lichtveld
PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
Maureen Lichtveld’s ongoing research on environmentally induced diseases launched her into the national spotlight when she was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine this past year. This is one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine— based on scholarly accomplishments, leadership and vision. Lichtveld’s storied career in environmental public health spans more than 30 years.
3 Walter Isaacson
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Best-selling author and public intellectual Walter Isaacson this year agreed to join the history department. Isaacson penned biographies of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, and is a former chairman and CEO of CNN, managing editor of TIME, and leader of the Aspen Institute.
4 Patrick Button
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Older may be wiser, but that doesn’t always matter for female job applicants. Patrick Button, who studies discrimination in the labor market, co-authored a study this year that shows age bias in the workforce is stronger against older women. Among his findings was a negative contrast in callbacks for administrative positions for women ages 49–51 and 64–66, who were offered job interviews at a 47 percent lower rate than younger women, ages 29–31.
5 Shawn Rickenbacker
TAYLOR SENIOR FELLOW FOR 2016–17 AND FAVROT VISITING CHAIR, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Humans and machines: friends, enemies, masters and servants? This year, Rickenbacker pushed students to think harder about the artificial intelligence that creates relationships with machines, and how it informs design and environmental issues.
WHO ARE LEADING BY EXAMPLE
WE ARE CULTIVATING TOP SCHOLARS Tulane was designated as a FULBRIGHT top producing institution for the 2016–17 academic year. Over the past two grant cycles, 26 students and alumni received awards to conduct research, teach English or pursue graduate study in the following countries: A. B. FREEMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Taylor Geiger, Slovak Republic
SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AND A. B. FREEMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Nathan Benjamin, Mexico
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
Kelly Jensen, Peru Brady Page, Brazil
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Kelsey Lacourrege, Austria Christian Nguyen, Spain Gabriel Rodriguez, Italy
*suspended programs
SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Jennie Barker, Germany Vanessa Castaneda, Brazil David Chatelain, Guatemala Jaclyn Cole, Mexico Hannah Dean, Colombia Claire Dockery, Germany Samuel Fishman, Paraguay Leah Fox, Spain Abigail Goodman, Taiwan Louise Gretschel, Turkey* Sarah Haensly, Mexico Alexa Haverlah, Mexico Allison Koh, Malaysia Jesus Ruiz, Spain Peyton Smith, Turkey* Bria Trosclair, Bulgaria
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
Kayla Bruce, Uganda Hannah Kaufman, Paraguay Jessica Tran, Vietnam
THE TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP, one of the most prestigious national scholarships in the U.S., supports the next generation of public service leaders. Winners are selected based on their outstanding record of leadership, public service and academic achievement. SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Lilith Winkler-Schor, Kirkland, Wash. _________ THE GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Parker Evans, Huntersville, N.C. _________ THE BEINECKE SCHOLARSHIP is granted to highly motivated college juniors who plan to pursue graduate study in the arts, humanities and social sciences. SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
Hannah Hoover, Old Hickory, Tenn.
At Tulane, the bond between our university and our city is the source of our strength. We proudly embody the spirit of New Orleans— our unique culture, groundbreaking research and passion for service allow us to make a difference around the world.
“ ”
WHERE WE DO IT
IN FRAGILE WETLANDS
Parts of Louisiana’s coastline are drowning. In the westernmost part of the state, more than 60 percent of coastal sites may fall to accelerated sea-level rise, said Tulane geology professor Torbjörn E. Törnqvist, who co-authored a study in 2017 in the journal Nature Communications. Drawing attention to rising sea levels helps arm scientists with the critical knowledge needed to address the growing global problem.
Tasked with protecting our coast and vital waterways, the ByWater Institute, launched this year, is dedicated to finding solutions for the biggest challenges facing our region. Researchers use the high-tech Tulane River and Coastal Center located downtown on the Mississippi River to analyze soil sediment from the river, and will ultimately transport it to other sites to help preserve Louisiana’s wetlands.
ON THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI
TULANIANS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE… 1
Mary Kathryn Nagle LAW ’08
Mary Kathryn Nagle believes being a good storyteller is essential to both of her passions: law and playwriting. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and a partner at Pipestem Law, an Oklahoma-based firm specializing in sovereignty of native tribes and peoples. Her most recent work, Fairly Traceable, was produced in Los Angeles earlier this year and has a notable Tulane connection—one of the main characters is based on professor Oliver Houck.
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2
Luis Guillermo Solís GRADUATE SCHOOL ’81
As a student at Tulane, Luis Guillermo Solís was learning about political matters. It would be some time before he transitioned his career from academia to working in politics. Today, he serves as the president of Costa Rica. The alumnus and former Tulane professor was honored with two awards on a recent trip to campus: the President’s Medal and the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Peter Gold
LIBERAL ARTS ’12, MEDICINE ’16
Dr. Peter Gold isn’t done being a hero. The alumnus and Good Samaritan captured the world’s attention when he was shot rescuing a stranger being assaulted on a darkened street in November 2015. Now fully recovered and residing in New York, Gold and eight of his friends from Tulane have recently launched the Strong City foundation to help end cycles of violence within communities, starting with New Orleans.
5
4
Steve Gleason
ENGINEERING ’01
Steve Gleason’s blocked punt is one of the most memorable Saints plays of all time, but it's his work with ALS patients that's made him known worldwide. Gleason says the lessons he learned at Tulane are helping him lead a foundation that finds new technologies for those diagnosed with ALS. This year the A. B. Freeman School of Business honored him as Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards Gala.
Peggy Wang
Peggy Wang moved to New York City hoping to make it big in the music industry. She was the keyboardist and vocalist for the indie band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but now her day job is pretty cool, too: editorial director of life and lifestyle for BuzzFeed.com, a news website that attracts 7 billion views a month.
BUSINESS ’11
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AROUND THE NATION AND THE GLOBE
FROM SHIPYARDS TO WALL STREET
The Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Small Cap Fund was ranked No. 1 in the small-cap blended category in 2017 because it outperformed 237 funds over the past 15 years. The mutual fund inspired by A. B. Freeman’s Burkenroad Reports equity analysis program is among the best performers in the nation. Over 200 MBA and undergraduate business students prepare for successful careers in finance by meeting with top management of 40 small-cap public companies in the South, visiting their sites, designing financial models and publishing in-depth, unbiased investment research reports.
We use the power of ideas to help tackle the world’s toughest challenges. Our research crosses disciplines, from the environment to experimental poetry, from the culture of the Gulf South to epidemics in Africa. Our scholars and researchers are committed to working together in order to understand and improve the human condition.
HOW WE DO IT
BY COMBINING OUR STRENGTHS
Researchers from the School of Science and Engineering and the School of Medicine are working against the clock to unlock the mysteries surrounding the aging of the brain. By studying the effects of unforgiving diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, scientists and physicians at the newly minted Tulane Brain Institute are exploring the role of the brain in health and disease.
A cross-disciplinary group of Tulane undergrads, including engineering, engineering physics, architecture and economics students, nabbed the top prize during NASA’s 2017 BIG Idea Challenge by beating teams from the top aerospace programs in the country. Stackable, hexagonal and solar-powered, their space ferry was the only submission of its kind— earning high praise from the judges with its “unanticipated design solution.” Members of the team earned internships at NASA headquarters.
BY CROSSING BOUNDARIES
BY HONORING ACHIEVEMENT…
HONORARY DEGREES: Helen Mirren, Academy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Branford Marsalis, Grammy Award-winning musician
TEACHING AND MENTORING AWARDS: 2017 WEISS FELLOWS
Diane Nash, Civil rights icon
Elisabeth McMahon, School of Liberal Arts
Dr. Shelley Taylor, Pioneering social psychologist
Beth Wee, School of Science and Engineering 2017 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL TEACHING Janet C. Hoeffel, Tulane Law School Victor Moll, School of Science and Engineering THE OLIVER FUND AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FACULTY MENTORING Dr. Jiang He, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
MAY
20 —2017— MERCEDES-BENZ
SUPERDOME
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Helen Mirren
STUDENT SPEAKER:
Corley A. Miller School of Liberal Arts
AND CELEBRATING TRADITION
President Michael A. Fitts 6823 St. Charles Avenue | 218 Gibson Hall New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 504.865.5201 president.tulane.edu
On the cover: the class of 2020 performs one of their first acts as new Tulanians by touching the Victory Bell for luck as they exit their convocation ceremony.