UD360°

COMPUTING CONSERVATION

Comp Sci, Cyber Join to Launch Blockchain Startup

By Megan Wagner, MH '16

omputer science major Clarissa Skipworth, BA ’22, interned with Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Renita Murimi, Ph.D., CISSP, as they launched the blockchain company WildChain last year. Using blockchain technology, they are aiding global conservation efforts.

“What I personally valued most about my internship experience was the freedom to grow in practical software development and to conquer my insecurities as a prospective professional,” said Skipworth, who, when deciding on a major, was torn initially between her passion for languages and the appeal of mathematical logic. When taking a computer science class as a sophomore, she realized it was the intersection of these two loves: a way of communicating logic through programming languages.

“Developing a new prototype with a team involves lots of research of often equally good options,” said Skipworth of her WildChain internship. “At WildChain, I appreciated how failure of one design was framed as a success because it narrowed down our choices and added detail to our project’s vision. Getting to work with Dr. Murimi meant experiencing daily collaboration, mentorship and accountability in a positive environment, which further encouraged me to develop my skills in ways that could best serve our team.”

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1 Read more at udallas.edu/ computing-conservation.

2 The idea for WildChain developed from Murimi’s passion for conservation and interest in finding ways to add tree cover, reduce water usage and protect wildlife. WildChain was born out of a long time reflecting on these issues.

NEWSFEED

RECORD-BREAKING CLASS.

Fall 2021 saw an entering freshman class of 487 students. Representing 295 cities and 39 states across the U.S., the Class of 2025 is both the largest and the most diverse freshman class in the university’s 65-year history, with 47% minority, 32% Hispanic and 25% firstgeneration students.

LEADING FIRST-GEN.

Jeanine Dorrough, BA ’22, conceived the idea for First-Gen Ambassadors last fall out of a desire to create leadership opportunities unique to first-gen students like herself who are the first in their families to go to college. Read more at udallas.edu/leading-first-gen.

MENTORING THE FUTURE.

Students seeking career advice and UD alumni looking to give back can now take advantage of a new Mentorship Program created by the offices of Personal Career Development and Alumni Relations. Read more at udallas.edu/mentoring-the-future.

ACCUMULATING ACCOLADES.

In its 2022 edition, U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” ranked UD No. 6 overall and No. 9 as a “Best Value” institution in Regional Universities West, while The Princeton Review named UD one of the Best 387 Colleges and Best Regional Colleges. UD was also one of only 24 institutions nationwide, and only five Catholic institutions, to receive an “A” grade from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) in its 2021-22 “What Will They Learn?” report.

+ ‘Love Our Neighbors’

“The Big Event was a direct manifestation of what we learn in the classroom here at UD. In every class, we learn how to love God, how to love ourselves, and how to love our neighbors,” said Aubrey Wieberg, BA ’24, of the November event she organized in which UD students, alumni, faculty and staff gave back to the Irving community, mowing lawns, raking leaves and painting sheds. Read more at udallas.edu/love-our-neighbors.

Trending

+ $100 Million Strong

For the first time in its 65-year history, UD’s endowment reached the $100 million mark in September. This success is partly attributable to the university’s increased focus on endowed giving, including new funds that support student scholarships and faculty excellence. Read more at udallas.edu/100-million-strong.

+ Seriously Playful

Gregory Roper, Ph.D., BA ’84, is UD’s new dean of students. “I am excited to begin this new role at my alma mater and my professional and vocational home,” said Roper, who has served as a full-time faculty member in UD’s English Department for 20 years. “At few other schools is the academic life so carefully intertwined with the student experience. I look forward to fostering more of the ‘playfully serious and seriously playful’ spirit that represents UD student life at its best.” Read more at udallas.edu/seriously-playful.

STEM SUCCESS

UNDERGRAD EXPERIENCE FUELS ALUMNA’S ENGINEERING CAREER

For electrical engineer Jennifer (Coyle) Byrne, Ph.D., BS BA ’85, perhaps the greatest benefit of her University of Dallas education was that it taught her to seek truth and answers to big questions.

“UD inspires a natural curiosity, asking 'Why does it work, how does it work?' It helps you to form an approach to things using analogues and mental models,” she said. “I may not be a subject-matter expert in all the technical areas I’ve been responsible for, but I’m able to work across a great swath of engineering because I’m able to ask good questions, spot patterns and synthesize, which are all things UD taught me.”

The community she found at UD has also had a deep influence on Byrne’s life, recently leading her to help establish the Class of 1985 Endowed Scholarship with other members of her class. “We all gave what we could afford, each of us generously in our own way,” she said. “The scholarship was a shared experience that we created for each other — the most important thing was that we did it together, and it made us even closer as a class.” Read more about Byrne’s career and journey to UD at udallas.edu/ stem-success.

LOVING UD

NAB Fosters Communication and Engagement

uring Alumni and Family Weekend in October, the National Alumni Board welcomed and engaged alumni. This additional role did not hamper their own enjoyment of the celebrations; as NAB member Sara (Gentry) Werth, BA ’99, proclaimed, “What a weekend. I have never seen such a packed house at AFW. My favorite part was seeing old friends, making new memories, laughing, toasting and overall loving UD!”

The NAB seeks to foster communication and engagement in the alumni community. As part of these efforts, in the past year the board has revamped the Class Agent program, adding Regional Representatives as well. Class Agents help gather their classes back to campus for events such as AFW (pictured above), while Regional Representatives focus on events in particular areas where there are large concentrations of alumni, such as regional Groundhog celebrations.

“Of all the people I have known in my life, UD alumni are the most interesting, fun and intellectually stimulating,” said Werth. “If through this new program, more alumni are able to connect, interact, celebrate and learn from each other, then it is a success.”

The Honorable Stephanie Bascon,

BA '88, is the immediate past president of the National Alumni Board. She is also the parent of a current student and is married to UD alumnus Fabius Bascon, BA '88.

Become a Class Agent or Regional Representative

at udallas.edu/ class-agent.