Wave Magazine - Spring 2005

Adding GlobalDimensionsto Engaged

Learningat JU

Adding GlobalDimensionsto Engaged

Learningat JU

magazine

Plus: Campus Life and the New JU Business Graduates

S P R I N G 2 0 0 5Volume 8 Number 2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 5Volume 8 Number 2

Plus: Campus Life and the New JU Business Graduates

Message from the Publisher

Dear JU Magazine Reader,reetings and welcome to yourSpring 2005 JU Magazine.This is an exciting semester at

JU. We just opened our new DavisCollege of Business building, and plansare underway for converting the oldbusiness building into a new DavisStudent Commons, which we hope toopen this fall. You can read about boththese developments in this issue.

Opening the new student commons issuch an important step for this university.Fostering an active and enjoyable campuslife is a critical part of our strategic plan for growing andimproving JU. In fact, creating what we call a living/learningenvironment on campus is one of the five areas of strategicemphasis that I have established for the university.

This list began as the outline to a speech I gave last fall toan alumni group. It developed into a framework for what I seeas our most important priorities at this point.

The basic tenet upon which the priorities are based is thatstudents are the fundamental focus of Jacksonville University,and that “the success of the University is measured by the successof its students.” Here are my five areas of strategic emphasis:

1. Promoting Academic Excellence: The heart of any fineuniversity is its faculty, and Jacksonville University isfortunate to have a strong, dedicated faculty. This resourcemust be preserved and expanded through the retention andrecruitment of the finest faculty available.

2. Creating a Living/Learning Community: JacksonvilleUniversity should provide an educational oasis for ourstudents, a living/learning community where students feelsafe, secure, and appreciated.

3. Re-establishing a sound financial base upon which astrong university will be developed.

4. Taking full advantage of the natural environment andsetting of the JU campus.

5. Creating Centers of Excellence.

I look forward to meeting with as many of you as I canduring the coming months so that I can elaborate on these fivepoints and better explain how each of them fits in with our longrange goals for Jacksonville University.

Thank you very much for your support during this academicyear and for staying in touch with your university.

Kerry D. RomesburgPresident

G

PresidentKerry Romesburg

featuresStudent Life on Campus 4There’s no shortage of campus activities,but students look forward to the newDavis Student Commons as a gatheringplace for fitness, fun and much more!

JU Students Learn 8Around the GlobeNew Study Abroad programs arecreating opportunities for specializedinternational education worldwide.

Glass Sculpture Shines 14A masterpiece of glass and stainless steeladds the crowning touch to the newDavis College of Business.

Orthodontics Graduates 15Spread Far and WideThe first class of orthodontists trained atJU looks toward a new career path.

Aviation Meets High 16ExpectationsStudents with a passion for flying aredrawn to JU’s business and flight trainingdegree program.

Good for Business: New 18Focus is on Real WorldDavis College graduates enter theworkforce armed with a few extraweapons in their arsenal thanks to arevived and revved-up curriculum.

Spring 2005, Volume 8, Number 2

contents

Jacksonville University Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville

University, 2800 University Blvd. N.,Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 745-7033.

Please send changes of address to: Development Services, Jacksonville University,

2800 University Blvd., N., Jacksonville, FL32211-3394.

© 2002 Jacksonville University

On the Cover:

A summer programin France included atrip to Mont SaintMichel in Normandy.

For Alumni and Friends ofJacksonville University

PublisherKerry D. Romesburg

EditorJohn Daigle Jr.

Assistant EditorSara F. Coleman

DesignChristopher D. Layton

Publication CoordinatorRobin Bangert-Lenard

Alumni Section EditorOlga Bayer

Web VersionRyan Hart

Class NotesPatricia Reeves

Contributing PhotographylairdJonathan Derden

Contributing WritersOlga Bayer Devan StuartKathy Ellis_________________________________

Jacksonville University Contacts:

Main Number . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-8000Admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7000

[email protected]/Class Notes . . . . . (904) 256-7201

[email protected] Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7033

[email protected]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (904) 256-7091

[email protected] Advancement (904) 256-7195

[email protected] . . . . . http://www.jacksonville.edu

Jacksonville University Magazine is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Jacksonville

University, 2800 University Blvd. N.,Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394, (904) 256-7033.

Please send changes of address to: Institutional Advancement, JacksonvilleUniversity, 2800 University Blvd. N.,

Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394.

© 2005 Jacksonville University

magazine

J U M A G A Z I N E / S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 3

Florida’sBest

JacksonvilleUniversity,recently namedone ofAmerica’s BestColleges andUniversities by U.S.News & WorldReport, was also named one of Florida’stop four private universities by FloridaMonthly magazine. The award was listedin Florida Monthly’s Ninth Annual “Bestof Florida” awards in its September 2004issue. Among the four “best privateuniversities” were JU, the University ofMiami, Stetson University and SaintLeo University. The four were notranked.

Calling All Alumni 43Phon-a-thon students are working harderthan ever to achieve their goal for alumnipledges. Find out why they’re counting onyou.

departmentsNews Briefs 22Sport Shorts 26Faculty News 28Student News 32Alumni News 34Class Notes 40

Student LifeStudent Life

4 J U M A G A Z I N E / S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

tudent Life at Jacksonville University is not aspectator sport.

Many of JU’s roughly 1,000 residential students came to JUfor its unique engaged learning opportunities. They love how amath major can star in a theater production or how the studentbody president can start on a Division I football team. Indeed,being a spectator might be about the only activity in which JUstudents find it hard to participate.

With 17 Division I intercollegiate teams, more than 60student clubs and organizations, 12 Greek organizations, fiveintramural leagues and numerous other activities, often thebiggest challenge for the Student Life Office at this campus ishow thin the student population is stretched between all thethings to do.

“The small community here at JU is unique,” said JustinKnowles, president of the Student Government Association anda starting tight end for the Dolphins football team. “I wouldn’ttrade it for the world. But it’s not the same as with a school witha big football program. Everyone has some other activity. It’shard to get enough people to attend the games.”

That challenge and others are why JU’s new president, Dr.Kerry Romesburg, made focusing on campus life one of his topfive strategic priorities. Early in his tenure at JU, Romesburgpublished a list of areas of strategic emphasis, including the goalof creating an attractive living/learning community wherestudents are appreciated and can realize their full potential.

JU will take one big step toward that goal this fall with theopening of the University’s new Davis Student Commons. Thestudent life facility was made possible by a gift from the Davisfamily, and it found a home when one of the campus’s largestbuildings was vacated as the Davis College of Business movedinto a new building in January.

Dean of Students Bryan Coker spent much of the fallworking with a committee of student leaders, faculty andadministrators on plans for the new riverfront student commons.Coker’s committee produced a vision for what the campuscommunity wants and needs in the much-anticipated new

by Kathy Ellis

S

t Lifet Life

“The small community here at JU isunique. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

– Justin Knowles, president of SGA

on campus


facility. Plans to incorporate the committee’ssuggestions are underway. Ideas are beingstudied by architects and engineers todetermine their feasibility.

The committee’s top recommendationwas a new campus fitness center. “We hopeto have the first phase of the plan – thefitness center on the first floor and offices forstudent clubs and organizations on the thirdfloor – in place by fall of 2005,” Coker said.

He said the lack of gathering spaces forstudents and faculty came up repeatedly as aconcern. Consequently, the second phase ofrenovations will look at providing such spaceson the second floor, perhaps as a coffee shopor sports bar-type restaurant.

Coker also discussed Romesburg’s plans forusing the

campus’s physical resources to help invigoratestudent life. “The president is very interestedin maximizing the use of the riverfront,”Coker said.

The west side of the Commons buildingfaces the river, and Romesburg wants to takefull advantage of the view, possibly expandingthe rear of the building with more glass.

To make the most of the riverfront, thecampus's old nine-hole golf course located onthe St. Johns has been closed. Officials aredeveloping plans to use the beautiful riverfrontland in a way that will excite today's students.Perhaps the land can become a riverwalk, apark or an informal recreation space, Cokersaid.

JU Trustee Carolyn Munro Wilson is analumna who serves on the Board of Trustees’Student Life Committee. She said thecommittee’s goal is to provide students with

more to do and to keep commuter and non-residential students on campus in theevening hours.

Munro Wilson said that last summer, the SGA presented the committee with alist of student concerns. She said the trustees’ committee is working to address thelist.

“Some of the ideas are doable, some are not,” Munro Wilson said. “But, we’reworking on it. Of course,a big piece will be thenew Commons, and wehave the money to do it.”She added that she thinksthe students appreciateknowing that they havean ear on the Board ofTrustees.

Senior communications major Kay Creager is editor of The Riparian yearbook.As an SGA committee chair, she said there has been much focus on the issue ofstudent apathy, but school spirit has grown significantly during her time at JU.

“I think school spirit has skyrocketed inthe last year, and the new Commons willbe the fuel the keeps the energy going.”

– Kay Creager, Editor of The Riparian

SGA PresidentJustin Knowles

The Riparian YearbookEditor Kay Creager

“I think school spirit has skyrocketed in the last year,and the new Commons will be the fuel that keeps theenergy going,” Creager said. “It’s just so easy to be involvedhere. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed.”

While the renovation of physical spaces like the DavisStudent Commons and the former golf course may have thestudents pumped up, another brand new program has beenlaunched that has Coker equally enthused.

“This past fall we did something JU has never done,” hesaid. “We housed all the freshmen together and enrolledthem in JU 101, a one-hour credit course that focuses solely onthe college transition, things like study skills and timemanagement skills. The goal is to build class unity and putstudents together that have the same interests.”

He said he is already starting to see benefits such as moreattendance at events. “It’s just another opportunity to buildrelationships and become involved,” said Coker. “I’m confidentwe’ll see retention benefits too.”

Retention is something Miriam King is watching closely.As the new senior vice president of Enrollment Management,King is responsible for attracting new students, keeping themthrough graduation and turning out alumni who are happy withtheir college experience. She said a high-quality student life iscritical to her own as well as students’ success.

“Retention literature indicates that you must make apositive impact on students within the first six weeks,” Kingexplained. “We have employed JU 101 to address that, but acourse alone can’t do it all.”

So, even as optimism about the future grows, the challengesof invigorating JU’s student life continue. Solutions are notalways clear, but the University’s resolve is firm. JU continues toseek the balance between the many attributes a small universityprovides and the challenges of creating a vibrant student lifewithin a relatively small campus community.

Check out these preliminaryplans for the new Davis

Student Commons

FIRST FLOOR• Performance space and movie theater • Student Fitness and Recreation Center, featuring:

• Weights and cardiovascular workout equipment• Aerobics room for group fitness classes• Student locker room

SECOND FLOOR• Centralized campus information and resource desk• New food service and dining area • Private dining room • Large multipurpose and meeting room• Recreation and gameroom• Student work/copy center • Campus Activities staff offices

THIRD FLOOR• Student organization offices• Meeting space for clubs and organizations• Offices for student services staff: Residential Life

and Greek Life

INTERIOR FEATURES• Art galleries and display cases• Wireless Internet access

EXTERIOR FEATURES• Large patio facing campus• Express window for food service• Outdoor stage

The former Davis College of Business building looks out over theSt. Johns River and will become the new Davis Student Commons.

hen JU junior Bethany Hayes arrived by train onSept. 1 in Angers, France, for a semester of

intensive language study, things got off to a rockystart. She waited seven hours in the train station for her hostfamily to pick her up. She was a little scared. She called her dad

on her cell phone. But her host mother arrived after work,and Hayes learned that the French process time alittle differently than Americans do.

Six months later, Hayes is still reflecting on allthat she absorbed during her international educationtrip. She’s re-reading her five months’ of journal entriesand learning about not only France, but also aboutherself and her American way of life. And she’s alreadythinking about helping others find similar opportunities.

“Somehow, I definitely want to be involved inhelping other people go abroad – and live – not just for aone-week vacation, but so they can really experience it,”Hayes said.

Extending JU InternationallyFive years ago, only a handful of students would leave

Jacksonville University for a semester or a summer and spendtime overseas, usually studying a foreign language. Facultywith an interest in international studies encouraged their mostambitious students to seek out such opportunities.

W

(Above photo): Bethany Hayesvisits the Arc de Triomphe,which lies in the center of 12radiating streets in Paris.

(Right photo): Kelly Robertsand fiancée Concetta Paceenjoy the view above Florence,Italy, where Kelly plans tostudy opera next year.

Engaged Learning Goes GlobalbySara F. Coleman


Today, as many as 150 JU students might be in as many as12 different countries each year. Those who aren’t takingintensive language instruction are concentrating on their majorstudies – business, music, art, and more – at internationaluniversities all over the world.

The University now boasts a Study Abroad program withtwo full-time staff, a full portfolio of internationalopportunities, and faculty-designed offerings that areinnovative, but focused on JU’s core strengths. Troy Peden,director of the Study Abroad Office, came to JU four years agowith experience studying, working and volunteering worldwide.

Peden has built JU’s collection of program offerings into anationally competitive initiative that attracts college students

from across the country, in addition to the dozens of JUstudents who participate each semester and summer. Studentscan choose from 15 countries – from the European standbys ofEngland, France, Spain and Italy, to more unusual places likeThailand, South Africa, Nepal and Sweden.

Hayes, a French major, spent last fall studying languageintricacies – grammar, phonetics, slang and translation – atUniversite Catholique in Angers. She started her French classesin high school and has long wanted to spend time in France.

“Being totally immersed in a language and culture simply isthe best way to understand and adopt it,” she said. Herprofessors encouraged her to travel the country, go to themovies, and build relationships with French citizens to

Meredith Arns, TitimaWongsuwan, HeilwigJones and HartwellJones gather inBangkok, Thailand for anight out on the town.

ng Goes Global


maximize theopportunities for learning. She also

developed friendships with students from around theworld who were studying French like her.

“It’s been such an eye-opener to me,” Hayes described. “Ijust feel like it’s taken my world perspective to a much deeperlevel.” A true appreciation for a different culture can’t betaught in the classroom, in a book, or through personalstories, she asserted.

If Hayes was a typical Study Abroad student, then seniorKelly Roberts was a more unusual candidate. As a musictheater major at JU, Roberts left behind several campusactivities like student government, the Residence HallAssociation and Chamber Singers, to spend a semester atthe University of Reading in England. But he didn’t have toget off his major track. Roberts took courses in pop andapplied music, and studied sociology, ecology and Spanish.

He sang with Reading’s chamber singers group at theNotre Dame Cathedral in France. During his independenttravels, he met an Italian girl who became his fiancée.Roberts plans to graduate this year, then study opera inFlorence, Italy.

Students in these programs typically broaden theirhorizons and gain self-confidence, said Ginger Sheridan, a JUphotography instructor who has been leading internationaleducation trips for 10 years. Many are separated from theircultural norms and the pressures of everyday life.

“They can choose who they want to be,” Sheridan said.“Students are able to think for themselves and make up theirown minds. They learn not to be afraid.”

Sheridan has developed one ofJU’s most attractive internationalprograms. Paris Live! Fine Artsand French Language offers fiveweeks of summer classes inphotography, painting, mixedmedia, architecture and arthistory, along with languageinstruction.

Last summer, Sheridantaught students from JU andother colleges in herShooting Like the Masterscourse in Paris. Studentsexamined the work of fourfamous photographerswho shot in Paris, thenset about to re-create

that style of work. Noteveryone was a trainedphotographer,Sheridan said, butthey soon developed

their skills. “People’s eyes arewell trained. You just have to get them aware of

it,” she explained.

Laura Winn ’03participated in the Paris program as a student, then served asSheridan’s assistant last summer. She said her experiences therebrought a whole new perspective to her studies of art, arthistory and architecture. “To see a Monet [in person] and havethe paint come off the canvas – it’s a whole other experiencethan seeing it in a slide,” Winn said.

Velda Jones, Scott Tayloe '04 and Katrina Kramer celebrate their climb up the Sydney Harbour

Bridge in Australia.

Brandon Burrell and Liz Kozlowski talk with instructor GabrielAntonopoulos in Giverny, France, at the home and gardens ofimpressionist painter Claude Monet.


Exotic Location, Engaged Education“I think Study Abroad is perhaps the prototypical

example of engaged learning,” said Provost GaryMoore. Engaged learning, as a cornerstone of the JUculture, he explained, involves “deepening andenriching the learning experience” as students takeresponsibility for their own learning and seekextensions of the narrow classroom learningexperience. “Time spent abroad in study accomplishesall these things,” Moore said. “It enriches the learningexperience.”

For a small, private university such as JU, astandout specialty program like Study Abroad hasbecome a great recruiting tool. “Prospective studentsall say that they want it available,” Peden says, evenif they aren’t sure they’ll participate. Internationalexperiences are also good for retention, Peden says,because “students return reinvigorated.”

This expanded program is also helping JUestablish a reputation around the country as aninnovator in international education. Some 150students from institutions such as Harvard, Syracuse, Cornell,the University of Virginia and the University of California areamong those who book their overseas learning programsthrough JU’s Study Abroad Office each year. They earn creditfrom JU that transfers back to their home university.

Peden attributes the widespread popularity to a handful offactors. Students are attracted to the unique programs andexotic locations. Most of the offerings are led by a JU facultymember, which means students have a familiar point of contactwhile they’re in a different culture and learning environment.The non-language programs are mostly taught in English.

Peden and his associate, Scott Tayloe ’04, provide a lot ofsupport services, from planning and financing the trip to onlineadvising during the experience. JU offers internationalexperiences with partner universities that provide goodimmersion opportunities in the foreign culture and excellentacademic resources. With good planning, Peden says, studentscan earn credits that fit into their academic plan, even if theyaren’t language majors.

Participants can study foreign languages and cultures, butcan also take academic specialty classes. For instance, one of theNew Zealand programs offers aviation courses, and a programin Spain concentrates on business studies. JU’s School ofNursing has created a nursing-focused spring break trip toLondon.

JU’s international education offeringsare a good example of how study abroad programs have changedin recent years. Traditional semester-long programs are stillavailable, but students can now choose a summer short course, aspring break trip or a flexible-length volunteer program in Nepalor the Philippines.

“Years ago, international educators were opposed to shorttrips,” Peden said. But today, faculty, students and organizerssee the value of short trips that provide opportunities to beimmersed in another culture.

Last spring, professors Quint White and Ray Oldakowskiled 25 students on an “alternative spring break” trip to CostaRica. Instead of a luxury cruise or a beach trip, participants paidto spend the week volunteering for tree planting, beach clean-upand mountain-trail maintenance. This year’s service trip toEcuador filled up fast, and organizers had to turn students away.More than 40 students are set to go this spring.

Peden says Study Abroad and educational travel programsare often life-transforming eventsfor students. Most participantscount it among their mostmemorable college experiences.Several “alumni” of JU’s programshave started a club to share theirexperiences with each other andwith the next generation ofcollege students.

For Hayes, the student whospent the fall semester in France, returning home brought a newperspective to her college life. She was drawn to the University’sbeautiful campus and location close to her home in FernandinaBeach. “It wasn’t that I fell in love with the JU community, untilI came back from France,” she explained. “And it’s true – youdon’t realize what you have until you’ve been away.”

In Conwy, Wales, English Professor Dr. Richard Gibson is surrounded by

students enrolled in his 2004 summer program in England.

“Being totally immersed in a language and culturesimply is the best way to understand and adopt it."

- Bethany Hayes


Impressions of Paris

Laura Winn earned a bachelor of fine arts in studiophotography at Jacksonville University in 2003. Today, she worksin the JU School of Nursing as the coordinator for RN studentsand teaches photography in JU’s Art for Art’s Sake program.

In the summer of 2002, Winn was a student in GingerSheridan’s Paris Live! Fine Arts and French Language programand studied alternative photography processes. Last summer, Winnreturned to Paris as Sheridan’s teaching assistant. Here are some ofher impressions of the city, in black and white.

Winn said her second trip afforded her the opportunity to moreclosely examine several aspects of the city, both personally and withher camera. “When you’re there, it’s overwhelming,” she explained.“But you learn to be very aware of your surroundings, internalizethe experience and embrace the differences,” Winn said.

of Paris


A Glass Act: Sculpture Dedicatedto Davis Family

by Olga BayerAAmerican painter John Singer Sargent immortalized the Florida palmetto in afamous watercolor landscape titled Palmettos. Now, the native palm has been glorifiedagain – this time as a magnificent 20-foot glass sculpture created by JU Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Christie. The sculpture, handmade out of more than 150opalescent glass pieces fitted into a brushed matted stainless steel frame, is acontemporary masterpiece dedicated to the Davis family and specially designed forthe new Davis College of Business.

Although he patterned the glass palm fronds from the palmetto, Christie sees the“sculpture in space” as representing all palms – symbolizing an oasis of relaxation andcool tropical breezes. The imposing, chandelier-like sculpture, hanging in the two-story atrium, aesthetically complements the bright, airy feel of the front entrance.

The sculpture, titled White Palm, is a fitting tribute to the Davis Family. Theyhave been staunch supporters of the University for more than 40 years, and through agenerous challenge grant, have made the new Davis College of Business a reality atJU. President Kerry Romesburg commissioned Christie to create the originalsculpture when he learned that Florence Davis, a former trustee and widow of thelate J.E. Davis, was a big fan of glass art – especially that of world-renowned glassartist Dale Chihuly.

Prior to running JU’s glass studio, Christie worked as an assistant for Chihuly inSeattle. Over the years, he has taught, lectured, owned his own business andcollaborated with an impressive list of contemporary artists including Jim Dine, KikiSmith and Maya Lin. His art can be found in the permanent collections of manywell-known corporations, museums and private collectors, including Microsoft’s BillGates.

Because of his experience with large-scale productions, Christie realized themagnitude of the project. He had the expertise, but he didn’t have the luxury of time.What would normally be a four-month project, Christie had to pull off in a month.

Christie wasted no time assembling a team. James Mongrain, Chihuly’s chiefgaffer, and Nick Fry, a professional glass worker, came from Seattle for the firstweek. From concept to production to final installation, Christie relied on JU artstudents Amanda McDonald, Jocelyn Winslow, and Judy DeAngelis, and alumniNate Nardi, BFA ’04, and Jono Lukas.

“The students have been fantastic,” Christie said. “They haven’t been exposed toa production level like this and the teamwork it takes to create the same shape on arepetitive basis. It’s a great experience for them. It’s how Chihuly does it.”

Besides the glass work, nearly 100 feet of stainless steel tubing was cut, shapedand soldered together to form the seven-finger bases for the 23 palm fronds and theframe. To figure out the mechanics of assembling and hanging the sculpture, Christieinstalled it from the ceiling of the studio and completely disassembled it beforehanging it in its permanent spot in the Davis College of Business.

The sculpture was revealed at the dedication of the new building on Jan. 13 and asurprised Florence Davis said she “absolutely loved it.” Christie was pleased. For him,glass blowing is a labor of love. He grew up in Ireland, moved to the United States at13, and took his first glass blowing class at Massachusetts College of Art.

“As soon as I saw that sloppy molten material, it was love at first sight,” Christiesaid. “I’ve been doing it 18 years and I’m still learning. That’s what I love about it.”

Artist Jonathan Christie and alum Nate Nardiinstall White Palm in the new Davis College ofBusiness. The glass sculpture was dedicated inhonor of A. Dano Davis, Florence Davis, and inmemory of the late J.E. Davis.

Ready to Improve Smiles Nationwideby Sara F. Coleman

hey started off in a trailer and waited anxiously forthe Lazzara Health Sciences Center to beconstructed. They treated patients and servedfamilies who needed affordable orthodontic care.And they blazed a new trail as the largest class oforthodontics residents in the country.

Now, Jacksonville University’s first group oftrained orthodontists is ready to graduate and go

forth to practice. In a country desperate for moreaccess to orthodontic care, these 14 practitioners willspread across the United States, beginning this July.

Dr. Matthew Becker is headed to Omaha, Neb.,as that city’s first new orthodontistsince 1999. For him, it’s a returnhome. He attended college anddental school in Nebraska, thenhad a dental practice in Lincoln.

Becker volunteered 10-15hours a week seeing dentalpatients in underservedpopulations, and plans to maketime for that in his orthodonticspractice, too. “You have aresponsibility as a professional togive back,” he said.

Becker and many of hisclassmates received privatelyfunded scholarships that coveredthe cost of orthodontics trainingat JU. For most of the students,the scholarship made theireducational dreams possible.

Dr. Derick Phan said he stillowes about $200,000 – the average figure – in studentloans from his four-year dental education. It was a bigrelief to find out that his two additional years oftraining at JU wouldn’t add to that significant burden.

Like Becker, Phan was a practicing dentist beforestarting the program at JU. For three years, heperformed cosmetic dentistry procedures in theMonterey Bay area of California. Though he saw alot of wealthy adult clients, he also expanded thepractice to include local children and families.Through the Monterey Bay Dental Society, and hisown volunteer coaching in schools, Phan learnedabout local populations – often the children of farmworkers – who needed dental services.

“But a lot of them don’t go to the dentist becausethey’re not educated enough,” he said. So Phan did

screenings at schools, then he volunteered at freeclinic days to see referral patients. He plans tocontinue treating underserved groups after hisresidency.

“In fact, JU’s school of orthodontics encouragesthat,” Phan said. “They like to see us do about 10-15cases a year pro bono, where there’s no charge,because the patient desperately needs it, but they can’tafford it. In fact, students here are encouraged to dotwo per year, for the people in this community alone.”

Phan’s next stop is Phoenix, Ariz., along withsome JU classmates. After that, he hopes to open a

practice in San Jose, Calif., a high-growth area with alarge concentration of Asian Americans. Phan, aVietnamese American, thinks there may be goodopportunities to connect with new patients andestablish a thriving practice.

Jacksonville will also benefit from this new classof orthodontists. One of the two who will practice onthe First Coast is Dr. Molly McCarty. She will haveoffices in the Mandarin and Julington Creek areas oftown. Eventually, she would like to take time out ofher practice to teach part time.

McCarty said she’s had some memorable patientsat JU. Though the cases were often complex, patientswere usually not afraid of treatment. “The biggestdecision most patients have is what colors they wanton their braces,” she said.


T

The orthodontics Class of 2005 includes (back row) Dr. Cameron Hulse, Dr. MollyMcCarty, Dr. Cory Hoffman, Dr. Randall Snyder, Dr. Darrin Storms, Dr. MatthewBecker, Dr. Enrique Vargas, Dr. Jeff Meckfessel; (front row) Dr. Jack Wright, Dr.

Derick Phan, Dr. Robert Sheridan, Dr. Jason Pavlik and Dr. Boris Arbitman.

ach fall and spring, when the applications roll in forJacksonville University’s aeronautics program, thestory is always the same. Associate Director ofAdmissions Jo Stone says the student essays are

nearly identical. They all begin, “Ever since I can remember,I’ve always wanted to be a pilot.”

Associate Director of Aeronautics Jill Darkatsh agrees, andsays it’s not uncommon to hear that students have wanted to flysince they were two years old. “These are very determined, verydirect students,” Darkatsh said.

At JU, they find an opportunity to combine thatpassion for flying and a thirst forknowledge in a degreeprogram that caters directlyto their career goals. From allacross the country and around theworld, students flock to JU for itscombined aviation degree and flight training program. Onlyabout 10 percent of the applicants are from Florida, comparedto 50 percent in-state applicants in the University’s generaladmissions pool.

Sophomore Lok Lee, an international student from Hong

Kong, was one of those very focused students who sought out acollege-level aviation program. He surfed the Internet, foundJU, and the rest is history. Lee is serious about his aviationstudies, but is also an enthusiastic participant in internationalstudent activities and several other aspects of campus life.

Today, about 240 students are enrolled in the aeronauticsprogram. The vast majority choose the major in aviation

management and flight operations– a curriculum that includes several

levels of professional pilot training.JU also has an aviation management

major that focuses more on airlineand airport management. Both majors

build upon a business core and areadministered by the Davis College of Business.

A longstanding partnership with Delta ConnectionAcademy, dating back to 1996, is one of the main draws for

these driven students. While JU’s aeronautics facultyconcentrate on teaching the management curriculum andground instruction, DCA personnel teach hands-on pilottraining at Craig Airport in Jacksonville.

In four years, students can earn a bachelor’s degree,

Flying igh

Jacksonville University’s Aeronautics ProgramThrives with Determined Students

by Sara F. Coleman

E

H


complete their pilot’slicense and advanced“ratings,” and rack upessential flight timehours that are necessaryfor career advancement.Most become flightinstructors by the timethey are juniors orseniors, and end upworking with youngerclassmates in the cockpit.

The success of JU’spartnership with DCA isindisputable. Even in anera when major airlines have significantly slowed hiring and laidoff pilots, JU aviation graduates are bucking the odds, Darkatshconfirmed. Upon completion of DCA’s training, each student isguaranteed to have an interview with a regional carrier.

“In the last eight years, 97 percent of graduates qualified asflight instructors have been hired as pilots,” Darkatsh said. This,she added, makes JU’s program stand out head and shouldersabove the rest.

Aviation students at JUfinish with a business-based degree thatemployers appreciate,several pilot ratings forgeneral aviation andcommercial flight, andusually a job working for a regional carrier or flight trainingschool. While they’re here, the students learn in small classesand get personal attention – the hallmarks of a private collegeeducation. This combination is what draws students from allover the country to JU.

Senior Jessica Hudson came from the smalltown of Pleasant Plain, Ohio, to JU to fulfill herlifelong dream to be a pilot. Though she hadbeen inspired by her dad, who had a privatepilot’s license, she had no flying experience. Shedevoted herself to her schoolwork and to pilottraining, and has advanced quickly by earningseveral ratings.

She now works part time as a flightinstructor for DCA and spends a lot of time justhanging out at Craig field. Like most aviationstudents, she has ambitious long-term goals. “Isee myself in the left seat of a triple seven,” saidthe petite blonde. That translates to thecaptain’s seat of a Boeing 777, a state-of-the-art, passenger plane used by the major airlines.

Her sister, freshman Codie Hudson,followed in her footsteps to JU.

Women make up about 12 percent to 15percent of JU’s aeronautics program, but onlyabout 6 percent of pilots in the industry,Darkatsh said. A campus chapter of the Womenin Aviation club is dedicated to supporting and

promoting femalestudents in the field.

Senior Henry Kicerais another student with alifelong passion and animpressive resume. Kicerafigured out when he wasa kid that he could beatthe traffic by flying rightover it. He started flyingat age 12, and was flyingsolo by 16. Kicera visited

JU during a high schooltrip with the Civil AirPatrol, and came back to

JU for college because it “felt like home.” Today, Kicera isfinishing his aviation management degree, working as a flightinstructor and serving as a resident assistant on campus.

Another outlet for these students’ energy and focus is the JUFlight Team, which competes regionally and nationally againstother college aviation programs in flight and ground-basedevents. As JU’s program has grown, the depth and talent levelon the team has grown with it, said Dr. Rhett Yates, assistant

professor of aeronauticsand co-advisor of theteam. This year’s teamplaced second in theregional competition andwill go to the nationaltournament in May.

To finance their trips, the team members wash airplanes onthe weekends at Craig. For many, it’s not a stretch to spendSaturdays and Sundays at the airport too. These students lovebeing in and around planes as much as they can.

“In the last eight years, 97 percent of graduates qualified

as flight instructors have been hired as pilots.”

– Jill Darkatsh, Associate Director of Aeronautics

Justin Whitmer and Mark Costa consider their course during aflying lesson.

Jessica Hudson has already earned enough flight hours to work as a flightinstructor for Delta Connection Academy. Now she teaches her youngersister, Codie, and other JU students studying for their pilot’s license.


Davis College of Businessgoes high-tech, high-impact


by Devan Stuartphotos by laird

hen Lauren Starmer headsto her first post-college jobinterview, she’ll have a

powerful weapon in her arsenal that’sbound to give her a competitive edge.The double-major senior will graduate inApril with marketing and management

degrees as well as real-worldexperience to offer potential

employers. Starmer’s portfolioalso includes an actual sales

presentation she developed,from idea toimplementation, as part of amarketing class at JU’sDavis College of Business.

“I learned so muchbecause I was literally going

through the actions of whatI’ll be doing professionally

someday,” said Starmer, whoaims eventually to become a high-

level executive in a marketing oradvertising firm. “The practicalexperience teaches us more of what we’regoing to find in the real world versus justreading things in a book. It’s so muchmore valuable and easier to learn.”

That scenario is precisely what facultyand board members had in mind threeyears ago when they kicked off efforts todevelop new, application-based curriculathat would go hand-in-hand with thedesign of the new Davis College ofBusiness building. JU representatives

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s College of Businesshigh-tech, high-impact


traveled the country, observing the best practices of nearly 50top-tier business schools including Dartmouth College, CornellUniversity and the University of Pennsylvania.

“We crafted a business curriculum that we think is takingthe best of many different curricula and tailored them to ourresource capabilities and the needs of our students,” saidVincent Narkiewicz, interim assistant dean and associateprofessor of marketing.

The revamped programs are based on an applied learningapproach, rather than the traditional theoretical approach,meaning that textbook memorization gives way to morehands-on learning. Lessons and teaching techniques drawfrom everyday business practices, much like Starmer’s salespresentation, and classes take advantage of high-tech featuresof the new 55,000-square-foot building, which opened inJanuary.

“One of the focal points of our new curricula is theconcept of engaged and applied learning. The building itselfwas designed to encourage that engaged and applied learning

approach,” Narkiewicz said. One example is the new building’s Trading Room, where

finance students practice real-time decision making usingvideo monitors that display actual stock quotes and businessnews. Using the same information, seniors invest an actualstock-bond portfolio investment fund of more than $100,000established by the Davis Family, founders of Winn-Dixie,major supporters of JU and the family namesake of the DavisCollege of Business.

The building also features dozens of space configurations,including rooms that double as executive boardrooms, abehavioral observation room and tiered rooms designed forseminars and presentations. “Smart podiums” feature completecomputer and video projection systems, and the buildingfeatures multiple wireless zones – all common characteristicsof today’s business environments. And flexible, coordinatedprogram requirements make it easier for students to achievedouble majors.

“We’ve developed a mix so that students understand thetheories, but also see the practices and how the theories areactually used,” said Jan Duggar, dean of the Davis College ofBusiness. “Obviously, we want our students to have a strongliberal arts background, with critical thinking skills, the abilityto communicate and an understanding of mathematics. But,the facilities here also lend themselves to the applied part oftheir learning.”

The new building’s capabilities and the new curricula willcertainly enhance the students’ experience in school and alsoprepare them very well for their careers after school, saidBarbara Vick, director of Career Services.

“I’m always looking for ways to help the students transitioninto the real world,” Vick said.

The real key to the Davis College of Business’ success,however, will be its ability to recruit the involvement of localbusinesses and executives, say officials and students. Giving on-campus presentations of real-world business issues, lendingtime and efforts as mentors, and providing quality internshipopportunities, wherein students get actual hands-on experiencerather than making coffee-and-bagel runs, are a few of theways the business community is stepping up. And they’re allthe more willing knowing that students will bring with themmore advanced knowledge and skill sets than ever before.

“We’ve developed a mix so that studentsunderstand the theories, but also see the practicesand how the theories are actually used.”

- Jan DuggarDean of the Davis College of Business

“I’m definitely optimistic,” said Brian Barquilla, who,along with fellow JU grad A.J. Beson ’93, founded BarbesPublishing seven years ago. Barquilla graduated from theDavis College of Business in 1994 with marketing andmanagement degrees. His company publishes North FloridaDoctor and several other health-related magazines.

Dr. Russ Baker, associate professor of management, instructsstudents in a management and information technology classin the new Davis College.

New Business Centers toPlay Specialized Roles

Under the banner of two new academiccenters, business faculty are working to incorporateleadership development and wide-rangingmarketing topics into the curricula. Dr. WilliamLocander, director of the Center for LeadershipDevelopment, has been busy helping faculty retoolJU’s Executive MBA degree into an ExecutiveMBA in Leadership Development. Other facultyare reworking undergraduate classes in leadership.

The new Marketing Center, said Director Dr.Gordon McClung, has a broader focus than itsname implies. It encompasses customerrelationship management and supply chainmanagement too. McClung plans to matchcompanies and students for applied research andproject opportunities in marketing.

Joint owners of Barbes Publishing A.J. Beson ’93 (standing) and BrianBarquilla ’94 have hired three Davis College of Business graduates.

“The new building is one that any university would beproud of, and I think it’s going to go a long way in terms ofattracting faculty and students,” said Barquilla, who has hiredthree Davis College of Business graduates and is looking foranother. “But the burden is going to fall on JU to reach out tothese businesses. There are plenty that are eager to help theUniversity as long as they can take advantage of some of thetalent.”

If the business community’s strong turnout at the recentdedication of the new building is any indication, recruitingsuch help won’t be a major challenge. Dozens of local businessleaders from major companies toured the new building andhobnobbed with students.

“The turnout is a great sign of the business community’sinterest in the Davis College of Business and our programs,especially the Executive MBA program,” Duggar said. “Wereally want to capitalize on the new facilities and work withthe business community to fine tune our programs and betterserve the needs of both the businesses and our students.”

NEWSNEWS

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round Jacksonville, the talk among the preschool set isabout RALLY Jacksonville, the early literacy programpushed by Mayor John Peyton. And when JU friend

Fran Peacock Coker was selected to write books for theprogram, the young students at the on-campus Wilma’s LittlePeople’s School (WLPS) foundthemselves right in the middle ofthe action.

On Sept. 17, Jacksonville arearesident Coker read her firstbook, I Can Read, to four-year-olds at WLPS before the start ofa city-wide promotional tour.The preschoolers received anautographed copy of the bookalong with a colorful RALLYbackpack stuffed with crayons,T-shirts, alphabet cards, stickers,picnic blankets and more.

Jeanine Garrett, director ofWLPS, said the children werevery excited about meeting a realauthor. “It was a huge success, just excellent,” Garrett said.“Both the parents and the children are so enthusiastic.”

Coker, who’s been enlisted to create 12 books for theprogram, said, “I feel blessed to be part of a team that’s workingto make a difference in four-year-old lives.”

She said she was especially honored to initiate the programat JU, where she has strong family ties. Coker’s daughter, Dr.Kelly Coker-Daniel ’91, graduated from JU’s MAT programand worked at WLPS. Coker’s granddaughter, MadelineDaniel, attended WLPS before entering kindergarten and is the

inspiration for the Madelinecharacter in the book.

Coker was accompanied onthe visit by her sister, GingerPeacock Preston ’91, from theJacksonville Children’sCommission. Preston alsograduated from JU’s MATprogram and worked at WLPSfor 20 years. Preston’s threechildren, as well as numerousnieces and nephews, attendedthe preschool.

Peyton has pledged tospend $10 million during thenext three years on the literacycampaign, aimed at getting

every four-year-old in Jacksonville involved in early reading. Toparticipate, parents can sign up at libraries and in preschools.Each month, children receive a book at their home, and parentsreceive a teaching guide. Coker’s stories feature Jacksonvillelandmarks such as the zoo and the city’s bridges.

AAuthor Kicks Off Mayor’s Book Club at WLPS


Fran Peacock Coker reads her original book to an audience ofcaptivated children at Wilma’s Little People’s School.

lumni and friends are invited to take astroll in front of Terry Concert Halland walk along Terry Lane, newly

named in honor of philanthropists andlongtime JU supporters Mary Virginia Terryand her late husband, C. Herman Terry. At adedication ceremony Oct. 20, President KerryRomesburg unveiled the signs for the street andsaid that Mary Virginia Terry exemplifieseverything that JU stands for in the community.

At the ceremony, former Board of TrusteesChairman Billy Walker said he marveled athow committed the Terrys have always been togiving, rather than receiving. Romesburg saidthe Terrys have been kind and generous to the

University, and have worked diligently on theboard to ensure that students are the numberone priority at JU.

Terry Lane runs from Second Street – one ofthe main campus arteries – to UniversityBoulevard and passes by Terry Concert Hall,which was dedicated in 1991. Over theirlifetime, the Terrys have given generously toJacksonville University and served as trustees.Herman Terry served from 1981 until his deathin 1998, at which time Mary Virginia Terrysucceeded him on the board. Today, she issecretary of the board and a member of theenrollment committee.

Campus Road Named for Dedicated JU Benefactors

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President Kerry Romesburg andMary Virginia Terry show offthe new street signs in front ofTerry Concert Hall.

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he community of alumniand friends who financiallysupport the University is

growing and prospering. Nowherewas this more evident than at theannual Order of the Dolphindinner in November, where theUniversity thanked and celebratedwith donors who contributed morethan $1,000 during 2003-2004.

About 400 individual donors,families and companies who aremembers of the Order of theDolphin were honored, with 140 inattendance at San Jose Country Club.

The black-tie affair also had anew twist this year – a videopresentation of students sayingthank you to the donors in theirown words. Four scholarshiprecipients told their JU stories andunderlined the impact donors haveon students’ futures when theysupport the University.

“I almost certainly would not behere if it weren’t for your support,”said Student GovernmentAssociation President JustinKnowles in the video. “From the

bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Students Say Thanks to Order of the Dolphin Supporters

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series of powerful storms in September left a markon the JU campus but spared the University frommajor property damage. Still, a few dozen trees fell

or were severely damaged and the Swisher Library struggledwith sustained power outages for several days.

Hurricane Frances was the first storm to roll through thearea on Sunday, Sept. 5. Several trees came down and thecampus was strewn with debris, but Physical Plantemployees worked diligently inthe following days to clean upthe campus and make it safe.JU was one of the onlyeducational institutions on theFirst Coast to open and holdclasses on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Dr. Jeff Martin, assistantprofessor of social sciences anda climatology and windresearcher, surveyed the treedamage on campus anddetermined that 25 trees fell orlost major limbs more thanfour inches in diameter duringFrances. All except two werewater oaks – trees with weak root and limb structures thatare infamously prone to storm winds. And nearly all fell inthe southwest direction. Martin explained that most of thesetrees had existing structural damage prior to the storm.Thus, the “treethrow” caused by the tropical system was partof a “natural process by which the weak and sick are culled,leaving an environment that is less dense, more nutrientloaded, and in better overall health,” Martin wrote in apreliminary assessment.

The next weather incident came on Thursday, Sept. 9,

when a microburst storm rolled over campus shortly before 5p.m. Intense rain, wind and hailstones were followed by flashflooding. Martin said 12 more large campus trees were lost.Several live oak and other types were completely uprootedbecause the soil was saturated from the previous storm andlingering wet conditions. These trees, in contrast, had beenhealthy but could not sustain the wet conditions of twoconsecutive storms, Martin said.

Finally, Hurricane Jeanneskirted the campus on Sunday,Sept. 26, scattering moredebris and toppling branchesonto students’ cars near thecampus apartments. TheUniversity was closed onMonday following the storm,but reopened the followingday. Martin said that eightwater oaks or major limbs fellin different directions duringJeanne. The varied direction oftreethrow suggested signs of atornado-like activity, Martinsaid.

President Kerry Romesburg assured the campuscommunity that continuing tree removal efforts on campuswould prioritize the safety of people and property, treepreservation and campus beauty. He also indicated that atree replacement plan would be developed.

Aside from tree damage, the most visible reminder of thestorms was the continuing disruption of electric service inthe Swisher Library. During the repairs, library staff workedhard to make parts of the library accessible and to meet theindividual needs of students and faculty.

Hurricane Season Forces Closings, Topples Trees at JU

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Ken Anderson, Eula Wood, James Macklin ’60, ShirleyMacklin ’60, Randall Berg, and Bill and Fran Nashenjoy the evening.

The debris created by the September storms was moved to a hugepile in the southern part of campus and then hauled away.


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riefs ome of the oldest known art depicting early life on

Florida’s First Coast is now on display at theUniversity’s Swisher Library. Six prints, dating back

to 1591, display engravings of the artwork of painter Jacquesle Moyne, who traveled to Northern Florida with Frenchexplorers in 1564 and witnessed the development of Ft.Caroline, not far from the present-day JU campus.

Le Moyne’s depictions ofthe New World, the TimucuanIndians and the St. Johns Riverwere thought to provideEuropeans with some of the firstrepresentations of Florida and itsnative people. His drawingswere later turned into engravingsby Theodor de Bry andpublished in book form in 1591.

Flash forward more than400 years. Individual pages fromde Bry’s work caught the eye offormer Jacksonville UniversityPresident Franklyn Johnson,who found them in New Yorkin the 1960s. Johnson collectedold book pages and maps, andhad an interest in Native American studies. The prints wereinexpensive, Johnson recalled, and he simply stored themwith other collected items that endured several householdmoves. “I suspect they were kind of forgotten,” he said.

A few decades later, Johnson decided that donating theprints to the University would be a great tribute to CharlieBennett, the late U.S. congressman from Florida and friendof JU who had developed a great passion for Florida historyand the Ft. Caroline area.

Bennett died in 2003, after a 44-year career in Congress

and retirement spent partly at Jacksonville University, wherehe maintained an office in the library as a DistinguishedProfessor. It was the continuation of a longtime relationshipbetween Bennett and the Swisher Library. Director ThomasGunn said Bennett had sent hundreds of books to the libraryover the years. Bennett also called the library fromWashington, D.C., for help researching questions, and often

joked that the Swisher Librarygave him better service than theLibrary of Congress, Gunn said.

Over the years, Bennettwrote and published severalbooks about First Coast historyand was instrumental in theestablishment of the Ft.Caroline National Monumentand the Timucuan Ecologicaland Historic Preserve, which liewithin the Jacksonville citylimits.

Johnson said he wanted tohonor Bennett’s time atJacksonville University and hisinterest in First Coast history.“Anything connected to Ft.

Caroline, the Timucuan Indians, or the St. Johns River…makes you think of Charlie Bennett,” Johnson said.

Today, the de Bry prints are displayed in theadministrative offices of the Swisher Library. They depicthunting and food stores, the discovery of rivers, and the Ft.Caroline site. The frames are accompanied by a plaquecommemorating Johnson’s gift and memorializing Bennett’slife and work. For the library staff, and for all of JU, the giftrepresents a historical connection to a former JU president, awell-respected legislator, and the area’s early history.

Library Showcases Historic Artwork with JU Connections

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This 1591 print shows how artist Jacques le Moyne paintedFt. Caroline. The print now hangs in Swisher Library.

acksonville Universitydedicated its new $10million, state-of-the-art

Davis College of Business buildingon Jan. 13, amid hundreds ofUniversity supporters, alumni,faculty, staff and students. Thebuilding honors Mrs. Florence Davisand her son, A. Dano Davis, whose$20 million challenge gift funded thenew facility.

President Kerry Romesburg andBoard of Trustees Chairman MichaelCascone led JU trustees, alumni,

donors, faculty, staff and students inpaying tribute to the Davis family.

Also on hand were formerUniversity presidents Dr. FrancesBartlett Kinne, Dr. James Brady, andReverend Paul Tipton.

Dan Davis addressed the crowdand said he was reminded of themovie Field of Dreams, and its famousline “Build it, and they will come.”Both the new building and thecollege’s outstanding faculty willbeckon new generations of businessstudents to JU, he said.

Davis Family Honored as New Business Building Opens

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Artist-in-Residence Jonathan Christie talks withFlorence Davis and Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinneat the dedication of the new Davis building.

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nder a new articulation agreement with NovaSoutheastern University, Jacksonville Universitypre-med students now have a leg up in the graduate

school admissions process. The agreement establishes a dualadmission 4+4 program for outstanding students who wantto pursue an undergraduate degree at JU and a doctor ofosteopathicmedicine (D.O.)degree at NSU.

The Collegeof OsteopathicMedicine atNSU willreserve up tofive slots in eachclass for JUgraduates whohave completedundergraduatedegrees andpre-medprerequisites. High school seniors seeking dual admission tothe 4+4 program will notify both JU and NSU of theirintent and complete initial interviews at NSU.

Students must also meet GPA standards, take theMCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and complete afull application before being admitted to the medical school.Upon completion of their bachelor’s degrees at JU, thestudents will matriculate into NSU’s osteopathic medicineprogram.

Dr. Quinton White, dean of JU’s College of Arts andSciences, which will administer the program, said NSU’sinterest in JU pre-med undergraduates is a tribute to theexcellence of the faculty and instruction at the University. “Ithink it’s an indication of the quality of our pre-medprogram and how competitive our graduates are for medicalschool.” About 83 percent of students in the University’spre-med program are admitted to medical school, comparedto 50 percent at most schools, he said.

Osteopathic medicine was developed more than 130years ago to bring a holistic philosophy to medicine. With astrong emphasis on the interrelationship of the body’snerves, muscles, bones, and organs, Doctors of OsteopathicMedicine apply the philosophy of treating the whole personfor the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illness,disease, and injury. Approximately 65 percent of D.O.spractice in the primary care fields of family medicine,pediatrics, and internal medicine

NSU is one of 20 accredited schools of osteopathicmedicine in the United States. It enrolls more than 750students, and has articulation agreements with othermember institutions of The Independent Colleges andUniversities of Florida (ICUF).

JU Students Can Opt forMedical School at Nova

U

Dr. Anthony Silvagni, dean of Nova’s medicalschool, and Dr. Quint White, dean of JU’sCollege of Arts and Sciences, made a jointpresentation to students about the new program.

ine community leaders were elected tothe University’s Board of Trustees inJanuary:

Rear Admiral Kevin F. Delaney, retired, U.S.Navy, CEO of Delaney & Associates Consulting.Two of his three daughters graduated from JU.

Dr. John M. Godfrey, principal and chiefeconomist of Florida Economic Associates, aneconomic consulting firm. He formerly taught atJacksonville University.

John G. Harrison ’67, president of Harrison &Company and chairman of the advisory board ofthe JU Athletic Association.

Michael R. Howland ’76, CEO of Noble ofIndiana and president of the JU AlumniAssociation.

Cyrus Jollivette, senior vice president of publicaffairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

Timothy D. Payne, president and CEO of the MPSGroup.

Gilbert Pomar Jr., a retired labor relationsexecutive. His wife, Nancy, is a graduate of JU.

Linda Berry Stein ’69, community volunteer andphilanthropist.

Lisa Strange Weatherby, vice president ofinvestments and senior investment managementconsultant at Smith Barney.

Board of TrusteesWelcomes New Members

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ortraits ofJacksonvilleUniversity’s

storied leaders –from founder JudgeWilliam J. Porter tocurrent chief KerryD. Romesburg –are now on displayin the Howard Building’s new Gallery of Presidents.The portraits honor the legacies of each of the 11leaders who left their mark on JU in the last 70years.

Presidential Parade Newto Howard Building

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SPORTSsports

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September3 at Southeastern Louisiana

10 GEORGIA STATE17 at Charleston Southern24 BUTLER

October1 at Dayton8 MOREHEAD STATE*

15 DAVIDSON*22 at Austin Peay*29 NORTH GREENVILLE

November12 at Webber International19 at PFL Championship

*Pioneer Football League GameHome Games in BOLD CAPS played at D.B. Milne Field

Jacksonville University2005 Football Schedule

hat to do for an encore? Inhis first season as headcoach at JU, Kevin Paul led

the Dolphin volleyball team to itsfirst Atlantic Sun ConferenceChampionship title and theprogram’s first NCAA Tournamentappearance in the Division I era(since 1983). The season might havestarted rough as JU got off to a 0-8start, but Paul rallied the troops fora 15-5 finish, including a school-record 10 consecutive wins againstA-Sun opponents. The Dolphinseventually lost to perennial powerStanford in the first round of the NCAA VolleyballChampionship, which was the Cardinal’s first win en route tothe 2004 National Championship.

The Dolphins entered the A-Sun Championship as the No.4 seed, but proceeded to beat host UCF, top-seeded Florida

Atlantic and the No. 2 seedBelmont, all within a 24-hourperiod. Junior middle hitter LindsayWard became the first Dolphinsince 1987 to earn A-SunChampionship MVP honors.Sophomore Eva Stoilova and juniorJoanna Silva also earned all-tournament accolades.

For the season, Stoilova becamejust the fourth Dolphin to receiveFirst-Team Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors after leading thesquad with 296 kills. JU alsoestablished school records for

average digs per game (17.98) and digs in a single match (121). As a Division II program, JU made an NCAA Tournament

appearance in 1983 after finishing 35-9 on the year, while alsoclinching the Sun Belt Conference regular-season andtournament titles.

WDolphin Volleyball Captures A-Sun Title, NCAA Bid

The Dolphin volleyball team celebrates its Atlantic SunConference Championship title.

U junior transfer RyanFeely waited a long time tobe in the spotlight. After

playing behind talented teammatesin high school and at the Universityof Central Florida, the punter/placekicker made the most of hisopportunity at JU last fall. Feely, theyounger brother of Atlanta Falconskicker Jay Feely, earned Division I-AA Mid-Major First-Team All-America honors from The SportsNetwork after leading the PioneerFootball League in punting duringhis first season at JU. He also earnedFirst-Team All-Pioneer FootballLeague honors as the Dolphins led the league in punting for thefirst time.

Feely ranked 18th in Division I-AA in punting with a 40.9yard average. He booted 10 punts over 50 yards during theseason. Feely also connected on 19-of-21 point-after attemptsand nailed five field goals, including two career-long 38-yarders.

Feely Finally Shines at Kicking

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Junior Ryan Feely gets hiskicks playing for theDolphins.

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U baseball is back and the Dolphins are in searchof their fourth NCAA Regional appearance inthe last seven years. Head Coach Terry

Alexander, who is in his 15th season at the helm of theprogram, will feature his deepest squad in 10 years as JUreturns 22 letter-winners.

The Dolphinswill once again faceone of the toughestschedules in theAtlantic SunConference with 10games against Top-25 schools, includingNo. 2 Miami, No.10 Texas A&M, No.18 Florida State and No. 24 UCF. JU will host theSeminoles at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville onTuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in the first of four annualmeetings with FSU. The contest will be the first DivisionI baseball game to be played in Jacksonville’s state-of-the-art facility, which also houses the Jacksonville Suns andwill play host to the 2005 ACC Baseball Championship.

Baseball Gears Up for NCAARun; Dolphins to Play FSU

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JU will host FSU at the BaseballGrounds of Jacksonville March 22.

heAtlanticSun

Conference willundergo a faceliftof sorts as thelandscape ofcollege athleticscontinues toevolve. The A-Sun, which is in its 26th year of operation, will addthree new schools beginning in the fall of 2005,while three current member institutions are leavingat the completion of the 2004-2005 campaign.East Tennessee State, the University of NorthFlorida and Kennesaw State University will join theconference. The University of Central Florida(Conference USA) and Troy (Sunbelt Conference)are leaving because of football affiliations, whileGeorgia State will join the Colonial AthleticAssociation in the fall of 2005. In addition, FloridaAtlantic will join the Sun Belt in 2006 as aDivision I football member.

Atlantic Sun ConferenceGets Makeover

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olphin student-athletes took some time out oftheir busy fall schedules to serve the communityin a time of need. JU’s Student-Athlete Advisory

Committee (SAAC) led all Atlantic Sun Conferencemembers by contributing $564.46 of the $2,562.84collected for the American Red Cross in an effort to helphurricane victims in Florida find shelter and food last fall.JU was awarded a plaque for its efforts by the AtlanticSun Conference at halftime of the Dolphins’ final regular-season basketball game on Feb. 12 at SwisherGymnasium.

To raise the funds, the student committee ran acafeteria drive, took donations at the Homecomingfootball game, placed collection buckets around campusand hosted a dodgeball tournament at Swisher Gym.

“I am truly amazed at the dedication of these fineyoung people,” said Steve Sturek, Atlantic Sun seniorassociate commissioner and conference liaison to the A-Sun SAAC. “The fact that so much money could beraised in such a short period of time shows the characterof these student-athletes.”

The A-Sun SAAC includes student-athletes from all11 A-Sun institutions. Its goal is to promote the ideals ofthe NCAA, its institutions and all student-athletes.

JU Student-Athletes SetPace for A-Sun Fund-Raiser

Dhe Dolphins made their first basketballappearance in downtown Jacksonville infive years when JU played the University

of Florida at theJacksonville VeteransMemorial Arena inNovember. TheDolphins will hostFlorida State nextseason at the arenaand will play host tothe 2006 NCAABasketballChampionship Firstand SecondRounds, March16 and 18.Tickets for the2006 NCAATournament goon sale thisyear in lateMarch.

JU Brings Hoopla toDowntown Jacksonville

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Facultyfaculty

Facultyfaculty newsfaculty news

he Davis College of Business entered a new era inJanuary when it moved into the new Davis buildingand welcomed Dr. Jan W. Duggar as its new dean.

Since 2000, Duggar had been dean of theArkansas State University College ofBusiness. He previously served as dean of theAlbers School of Business and Economics atSeattle University (1998-2000) and as dean ofthe College of Business Administration at theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette (1990-1998). His career also includes a term in thePeace Corps in Ethiopia and several years inprivate practice as an economic and financialconsultant.

Business faculty said that Duggar’sbackground as a dean and administrator atthree different universities made him the topcandidate for the job. They were also drawnto his record of working well with faculty andwith the business community.

Duggar promises to be a hands-onadministrator. He got up to speed with thebusiness community quickly at the January dedication of thenew Davis College of Business building. Restarting an executiveadvisory council for the college and developing a studentadvisory council were two of the early ideas he proposed.Duggar wants to make sure all of the college’s constituencieshave an opportunity to provide input about major initiativesgoing forward.

He also jumped right into the academic life and beganteaching an undergraduate class in International Finance. “Ienjoy teaching,” Duggar told faculty. “It gives me some sanity, it

connects me to students, and it helps meunderstand the issues you’re facing.”

Through his deanships at otheruniversities, Duggar has had experience withsome of the most pressing issues facingbusiness schools today. Under his guidance,schools have achieved initial andreaffirmation of accreditation from AACSBInternational – The Association to AdvanceCollegiate Schools of Business, which is thepremier accrediting agency in businesseducation. He has developed and supervisedextensive economic development programsfor the community and implemented newadvising strategies for students. And he haslaunched new academic programs in areassuch as international business, managementinformation systems, leadership, andinsurance and risk management.

Duggar earned a bachelor of arts, master of science andPh.D. – all in economics – from Florida State University. Healso served as scientific director of the social sciences division atthe Gulf South Research Institute and as economicdevelopment coordinator in the Louisiana Office of StatePlanning.

TExperienced Business Dean Joins Davis College

Dr. Jan W. Duggar

n November, Dr. Bill Crosby becameJU’s permanent chief financial officer andvice president for administrative services,

after filling that role on an interim basis for morethan a year. President Kerry Romesburg saidCrosby was a good choice for the job because ofhis strong finance background, and because heknows the JU community and its circumstanceswell. Crosby also has had great success in workingwith the University’s lending partners, Romesburgsaid.

During Crosby’s tenure as interim vicepresident, the University restructured its finances

and developed a plan to address recent financialchallenges. Crosby also continued to teachaccounting classes while holding hisadministrative post. As vice president, heoversees the University’s offices of HumanResources, Physical Plant, InformationTechnology, Purchasing, Budgets and theController.

Crosby is a certified public accountant, withbachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees inaccounting. He has taught at JU since 1992 as aninstructor, assistant and associate professor.

Crosby Becomes Permanent CFO and Vice President

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Dr. Bill Crosby

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rmed with small grants and extra time for research,four faculty selected as the new JacksonvilleUniversity Scholars are preparing projects that will

engage students in new methods of learning and study theirprogress. The 2005 Scholars were introduced at a luncheonin January.

Now in its second year, theScholars program encouragesfaculty to explore new teachingand learning methods, practicethose methods in the classroom,and report their results in apublic forum. The University’sCenter for Teaching andLearning administers theprogram, and funding isprovided by a grant from thenonprofit Jessie Ball duPontFund. Each scholar receives$1,500 to support travel andresearch expenses, and courserelease time to focus on theirproject.

Assistant Professor Dr. Julie Sloan Brannon andAssociate Professor Dr. Sandra Coyle, both in the Englishdepartment, will research how faculty use student groupprojects in their classrooms and assess how well students

learn through these activities. With engaged learning beingpromoted at JU and elsewhere, their research will have far-reaching implications for the humanities classroom.

Dr. David Luechauer, associate professor of leadershipand business, plans to work on integrating business

education with the performingarts. He hopes to developtheater-based educationalactivities that can be used inbusiness classes and inleadership developmentactivities by campus groupssuch as the Office ofResidential Life.

He says that students mayfind the exercise useful in thefuture when they are businessleaders playing an advisory rolewith community arts groups.

Dr. Michael Nancarrow,assistant professor ofmathematics, will study how

and why students encounter difficulties with real-worldmathematical problems, even when they possess the skillsrequired to solve the problems. Nancarrow noted thatproblem-solving skills, even outside of mathematics, havebecome a major skill sought in college graduates.

Newest Faculty Scholars to Study Teaching and Learning

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Dr. Michael Nancarrow, Dr. Julie Sloan Brannon, Dr.David Luechauer and Dr. Sandra Coyle are the 2005Jacksonville University Scholars.

n an effort to improve studentenrollment and retention rates at theUniversity, President Kerry

Romesburg reorganized several units earlierthis year under a new division calledEnrollment Management. Miriam King, aveteran enrollment management professional,was selected to lead the new division as seniorvice president. She came to JacksonvilleUniversity from Monmouth University, whereshe was vice president for enrollmentmanagement.

King has more than 25 years of successfulsenior-level experience in areas includingadmissions, financial aid, recruiting, research,marketing and strategic enrollment planning. At JU, she willlead a new division including Admissions, Financial Aid,Public Relations and Marketing, the Registrar’s Office,Institutional Research, Career Services and Student Life.

At the January meeting of the Board of Trustees, Kingdiscussed her plans to help JU remain distinctive andcompetitive in the higher education marketplace. One item at

the top of her agenda is helping the Universitymake better use of its financial aid resources toattract good students with the potential forsuccess in college.

King holds a master’s degree in sociologyfrom Lindenwood College and a bachelor’sdegree in consumer services in business fromPennsylvania State University. At Monmouth,where she had served since 1995, Kingdeveloped a distinctive enrollment program thathelped boost enrollment by 58 percent. Full-time undergraduate enrollment rose 132percent during her time at Monmouth, andgraduate enrollment rose 60 percent. At thesame time, Monmouth increased its graduation

rates and the average SAT scores of new freshmen. Thechanges accounted for some $382 million in new tuitionrevenue.

King has also served as vice president for enrollmentmanagement at Rockford College, dean of Admissions andFinancial Aid at Chatham College, and dean of Admissions atLindenwood College (now Lindenwood University).

New Senior VP Aims to Boost Enrollment and Retention

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evil claws. Monkey balls. Barometer earthstars.They are small, unique specimens found in nature.At the new West Regional Branch public library in

Jacksonville, you can take a nature walk inside the library andencounter these objects – and other enchanting forms – inthe shape of huge three-dimensional clay sculptures.

The sculptures, unveiled earlier this year, are part of apermanent display created by sculptor Dana Chapman,assistant professor of art at JU.Commissioned by the Art inPublic Places program,Chapman was chosen fromamong 30 artists for theinstallation. The large-scalecomposition includes 20 separatesculptures – the centerpieceweighing more than 35 pounds– encasing three walls aroundand above the library’s entrance.

For Chapman, it was anhonor – and somewhat dauntingexperience – to be selected forwhat would be her biggestpersonal project to date.Describing herself as a “maker ofobjects,” she was passionateabout the project from thebeginning, believing that herwork would be a perfect fit. “Mywork is about collecting, andlibraries are big collections. Ithink I belong here.”

Much of Chapman’s work isbased on collections from hertravels and from former studentswho send her things from all over the country. For thelibrary, she envisioned a collection of these trophies fromnature, including a slippery elm pod, a beefsteak mushroomand glacial stones, being displayed on the wall the same waya hunter would mount animal trophies. She also visualizedthe objects much bigger thanactual size.

Jacque Holmes, a consultantfor Art in Public Places whowas on the board that choseChapman, said, “Her work isextremely good quality. Thisparticular library has a feeling ofa hunting lodge, constructed from large stones and naturalmaterials. Her work has to do with nature both in form andin the way she handles the clay. We thought it would beparticularly appropriate.”

The sculptures are arranged to represent all parts of

existence, to envelop the viewer in nature. And how wouldChapman like people to react? She wants to spur theirmemories – hopefully, positive reminisces – about placesthey’ve been and objects they’ve encountered along the way.

“Everyone has their own memory, and I just hope totrigger that,” said Chapman. “My ultimate intent is to havesomeone walk though it and say, ‘Hey, I remember that.’”

Chapman developed the sculptures over the past year,doing her most intense workover the summer break.Chapman, who likes to workentirely from her sketches,found her biggest challenge wastranslating her small-scaledrawings into large physicalpieces. For this she used hercalculator and – much to hersurprise – algebra.

There were a lot of learningcurves for making the largestoneware pieces. She needed toadjust the clay thickness,account for shrinkage and allowfor a lengthier drying time. Tokeep the forms from collapsingwhile drying, she had to carvefoam supports, a process thattook two weeks.

Each sculpture has abeautiful rich matte finish –largely the result of Chapman’sknowledge from a year-longstudy of glazes.

After going through nearly1,000 pounds of wet clay,

Chapman installed the sculptures herself, adhering to strictparameters required for a public building. “From this, Idefinitely realized my mechanical potential,” she said.

Chapman, who received an MFA in ceramics fromTulane University, said the entire experience has been

incredibly positive. Shewouldn’t have attempted it hadshe not been 100 percentpassionate about it. And shefeels the same way aboutteaching. “I want to nurtureeach student’s individuality.That way, students can develop

what they’re passionate about. It just makes sense to me.”Chapman admits a certain amount of pride and

satisfaction with the finished project. But as far as resting onher laurels, she said, “There’s always a project in the works.When you’re doing what you love, there’s no end really.”

Chapman’s Sculptures a Natural for New Public Libraryby Olga Bayer

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Artist Dana Chapman created a larger than life magnolia podfor the West Regional Branch public library installation.

“My work is about collecting, and libraries are big collections. I think I belong here.”

—Dana Chapman, assistant professor of art

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or JU history ProfessorJohn Garrigus, 2004 was abusy year on the speakers’

circuit. Garrigus specializes in thehistory of Caribbean nations andspecifically Haiti, which earnedindependence from France 200years ago. During the past year ofbicentennial celebration, Garrigusparticipated in conferences as faraway as Barbados and Martiniqueand in a roundtable co-sponsoredby Columbia University at theBrooklyn Public Library in NewYork.

“People have kind of erasedHaiti from history,” Garrigus said. Though Haiti has beenlargely forgotten, it is a nation with important milestonesand characteristics, he said. After the United States, it wasthe second independent country in the Americas. Blackslaves in Haiti fought for and won freedom in 1804, decadesearlier than emancipation in the United States. AndHaitians have long identified themselves as LatinAmericans, even though many were born in Africa.

Haiti, earlier called Saint Domingue, had been ruled byFrance for 150 years and valued for its production of sugarand coffee. As French Revolutionaries established liberties,free blacks in Haiti demanded more rights and startedfighting French colonial rule. The slave revolt that drove the

war started in 1791. Haitians wonfreedom from bondage, defeatedNapoleon’s attempt to restoreslavery, and finally declaredindependence on Jan. 1, 1804.

Immediately following, Haitisuffered from infighting amongmilitary leaders and an enormousdebt owed to France, Garrigussaid. It was more than 50 yearsafter independence before theUnited States and other majorpowers would treat Haiti as alegitimate country.

Today, Haiti remains dividedby political ideology and social

class. Last year, rebels forced out longtime president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Haitians’ plans for major bicentennialcelebrations were further dampened by the devastation fromflash flooding and tropical storms, Garrigus said.

At the Nov. 21 roundtable in New York, Garrigus andfellow scholars explored how “the ideals and promise of theHaitian Revolution have remained unfulfilled.” The HaitianRevolution, he explained, is seen as an unfinished one.Though former slaves achieved independence, they did notfollow France, England and the United States in creating anation-state that could meet the needs of its people,Garrigus said. Two hundred years of unstable political rulefollowed, and it continues to this day.

Historian Garrigus Studies Haitian Revolution Bicentennial

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On a 1999 Fulbright-sponsored trip to Haiti, Dr. JohnGarrigus (right) had coffee with Andre Pierre, one ofHaiti's greatest living painters.

r. Rody Borg, professorof economics, took overas chair of the faculty in

January after Dr. Sherri Jacksonstepped down for personalreasons. Dr. Janet Haavisto,professor of English, was electedvice chair.

Both Borg and Haavisto havebeen at JU for 20 years and havea deep understanding of theUniversity’s history and currentissues.

Borg said one of his priorities in the coming monthswill be to encourage faculty to work together withadministrators. “The faculty need to be proactive aboutthe institution and their involvement with the institution,”he said.

Rody Borg Takes Over asFaculty Chair Mid-Year

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Dr. Rody Borg

U’s Navy ROTC unit has welcomed backthree alumni who have returned as NavalScience instructors. All three naval officers

chose JU from more than 140 NROTC colleges anduniversities nationwide.

Ensign Wes Smith ’04 worked with the unitbefore attending flight school. He spent the fallsemester teaching and advising the NROTCfreshman class. Lieutenant Thomas Purvis returnedto JU after a five-year hiatus as a pilot. He becamethe new freshman advisor and instructor forintroductory courses. Lieutenant Kevin Lowe ’97, anuclear officer and submariner, serves as thesophomore advisor.

The NROTC unit at JU serves about 225students who attend JU, the University of NorthFlorida, and Florida Community College atJacksonville. It is housed in a new building namedfor former U.S. Representative Tillie Fowler.

Alumni Return to JoinNavy ROTC Staff

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32 J U M A G A Z I N E / S P R N G 2 0 0 5

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ara Huke, a JU senior with a double major in art andpsychology, has found a way to combine her twopassions – working with art and reaching out to help

others. For more than a year, Sara has volunteered as a visitingartist for Art-at-the-Bedside, a program sponsored by theMayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine that bringsart to hospital patients.

Terence Netter, dean of theCollege of Fine Arts, told Hukeabout Mayo’s startup program.Huke became part of agrassroots team for the six-month pilot, which proved to beso successful that it earnedapproval for continuation.

Armed with a basketful ofart supplies, Huke visits patientsin the transplant and post-surgical wards of St. Luke’sHospital each week.

Some patients are reluctantat first, but through experience,Huke said, she has gotten betterat persuading them to “try their own hand” at art. “I’ll start apiece of work, and then ask them to show me something, andpretty soon they’re doing it on their own,” she said.

Huke has always loved art, but discovering it as an outletfor healing was more of a fluke. While recuperating from about with swimmer’s shoulder, Huke painted an image of afemale shoulder in cool shades of blue and purple. Almostsubconsciously, she added a hand brushing the warm, healingcolors of orange, yellow and red over the shoulder.

Huke acknowledges that arttherapy is more complex, butsaid, “Unbeknownst to me, Iwas already well under wayorienting my interest of art andpsychology in the direction ofart therapy,” she explained.

As a volunteer for Art-at-the-Bedside, Huke gained“hands-on experience and sawhow art could affect others – notjust myself.” Seeing theemotional benefits for thepatients reinforced her decisionto focus on art therapy as acareer.

Currently Huke is the onlyvisiting artist at St. Luke’s, but she is working to recruit others.“It’s so rewarding. Even though it sounds cliché, I have to sayit’s the experience of a lifetime.”

SStudent Brings Creative Bedside Manner to Patients

Student volunteer Sara Huke shares her artistic talent with patientCarroll Manahan through Mayo's Art-at-the-Bedside program.

ith the end of college in sightlast fall, senior CandaceBradley didn’t need to worry

about finishing the 50 hours ofcommunity service required tograduate. She had logged nearly 1,000hours of service to a single organization– Community Hospice of NortheastFlorida. Bradley got involved throughher grandmother, Marian Bradley,who was president of the auxiliarygroup for many years. Candace Bradleybegan volunteering with the auxiliaryas a high school freshman, and never turned back.

The auxiliary is focused on making Hospice’s 900 patientsfeel at home. Bradley explained the group’s work with this

guiding principle: “While they’re here,make them happy for the remainder oftheir lives. Just make them happy.Whatever you can do.” Her activitieshave ranged from fund raising tocreating patient care packages,supporting events for pediatric patients,and working at book and craft sales.

Christine Tyler, director of JU’sCommunity Service Learning Center,said Bradley’s record of service wasextraordinary. “I think that Candacewould say that she has also has received

from the process of giving of herself,” Tyler said. “That is themagic of community service: we become better persons throughthe process of giving.”

Senior’s Community Service Inspired by Her Family’s Own

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Candace Bradley was inspired to volunteer at Hospiceby her grandmother, Marian Bradley.

he University’s FlightTeam turned in its bestshowing ever with a

second place finish in the RegionIX competition of the NationalIntercollegiate Flying AssociationSafety and Evaluation Conference,in Flagler County on Oct. 30.Fourteen of the 19 participatingteam members also placed in theindividual competitions. The teamwill now advance to the nationalcompetition in May.

Dr. Rhett Yates, team advisor and assistant professor ofaviation, said the students performed above expectationsagainst other regional teams with older, more established

aviation programs and moretraining resources. Region IXincludes Florida, Georgia andAlabama. JU finished ahead ofFlorida Institute of Technology andjust behind Embry-RiddleAeronautical University.

The events included AircraftRecognition, Computer Accuracy,Message Drop, Navigation, AircraftPreflight, Simulator, Short FieldLandings and more.

All of the team members areenrolled in the aviation management or aviationmanagement and flight operations programs at JU’s DavisCollege of Business.

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TStudent Aviators Ascend to Second Place Regional Win

When senior Adewale Adeniran logged onto hiscomputer to check his scores for the MedicalCollege Admission Test (MCAT), he and his

entire family started cheering.Adeniran, a soft-spoken biochemistry

major at JU, placed in the top 2 percentof the country on the MCAT. Accordingto Dr. Ted Allen, chair of JU’s Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, Adeniran’sextraordinarily high score – in the 98thpercentile – is believed to be the highestscore in Florida. “He can probably gainadmission to any medical school in theUnited States,” said Allen.

Adeniran is a Nigerian native who, atthe age of 21, has already lived anamazing life. When Adeniran was 10years old, his father left the family inKano, Nigeria, to accept a teachingfellowship in Nebraska.The family movedhere when his parents determined it wasnot safe to return to Nigeria due to schoolclosings, escalating ethnic/religious conflicts and harshU.N./U.S. sanctions against Nigeria’s military government.

Living in America was a major culture shock forAdeniran. His family went from affluent to poor, andadjusting to the American public school system was difficult.“In Nigeria, my entire high school had only 60 students. Youbowed your head when you talked to a teacher,” he said.“Education was based on competition. I was used to beingranked number one or two, but here, I lost my rank. It wasdepressing.”

Adeniran’s parents made great sacrifices to put himthrough private schools, and that helped him regain his self-esteem. “My parents worked hard for me and my sister,” hesaid. “That’s what drives me, so their sacrifice hasn’t been a

waste.” Adeniran’s sister, Adetutu, is anaccounting major at JU.

At age 16, Adeniran moved toJacksonville. While in high school, heattended a mini-class during JU’sadmissions visitation weekend. The class,taught by physics professor Dr. PaulSimony, would influence Adeniran’sdecision to attend JU. He rememberedvisiting his father’s research lab as a smallboy in Nigeria, and how it peaked hisinterest in medicine. At JU, he found anopportunity to explore his interest insmall classes with knowledgeableprofessors who were “excited about whatthey were teaching.”

Last summer, Adeniran was selectedfor Yale’s prestigious pre-med summer

program for minority students. His research onneurotransmission of the eye was presented in Washington,D.C., and has been accepted for publication.

As far as becoming a doctor, Adeniran believes he canoffer a different perspective from most of his peers. “Havingbeen in every social class, and a minority both racially andculturally, I can relate well to a diverse group.”

Adeniran is considering the field of oncology. He hasbeen accepted to the some of the most prestigious medicalschools, and now has only to make his decision.

IStudent Headed for Medical School Soars to Top of the Classby Olga Bayer

Adewale Adeniran placed in the top 2percent of the country on the MCAT.

JU's flight team placed 2nd, despite having fewerresources than schools with larger and more establishedaviation programs.

omecoming week – chock full of festivities, parties and awards –ended on a high note: a football victory over Austin Peay StateUniversity, 31-14, on Oct. 16. After several weeks of weather

disruptions on campus, students, football players and alumni were glad to beback on schedule and enjoying fall traditions.

The students celebrated all week with activities under the Viva Las Vegastheme, with t-shirts declaring “What Happens at JU Stays at JU.” Highlightsincluded the Ocean’s 11 Casino Night, the Elvis Impersonator and Elvis look-alike contests, and Friday night’s Rally in the Valley.

President Kerry and Judy Romesburg kicked off the Alumni Weekendactivities on Friday night with a reception at the University House and introducedthe 2004 Distinguished Alumnus, Jacksonville attorney Fred Franklin ’77.

On Saturday, student groups came out strong to sponsor the Family Fun Zonewith activities for visiting children and families of all ages. It was a picture perfectday for tailgating. Prime parking areas filled up quickly with students, alumni andfamilies who enjoyed picnicking and visiting with friends old and new.

Following the football victory, alumni enjoyed the MargaRATaville celebration atthe second annual revival of the Rathskeller party. The River House alumni office wasdecked out for a beach-themed party that recalled the heyday of the Rat, JU’sformer on-campus bar and lounge. The Saturday night festivities alsoincluded the first ever Silver Dolphin Reunion, adinner and dancing celebration in theHoward Building.

alumniAlumnialumni newsalumni news

Students and Alumni CelebrateDuring Homecoming Week

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After my family, faith and the challenges ofleading Noble of Indiana on a daily basis, nothingoccupies more of my time or thoughts thanJacksonville University and my belief that JU canascend to the level of our nation’s elite privateuniversities. We have an extraordinary, much-honored faculty, a spectacular riverfront campusand – in Kerry Romesburg – a president withintegrity, fiscal prowess, vision and a recognitionthat alumni must be a cornerstone of JU’s future.

My two-year tenure as your Alumni Board ofGovernors president has offered me somewonderful opportunities to mold that cornerstone.Much like my four years at JU, it has incorporateda lot of learning, new friendships, a fair number ofmeetings, a deepened appreciation for what makesJU special, and some returns to the Rathskeller.

What I am the most proud of is the cadre ofdedicated alumni leaders – Robert Leverock, AndyMoran, Matt Kane, Nina Zuccaro Waters, ScottRomero, Karen Kelczewski Hike, Diana Peaks andBill Morlan to name a few – waiting to take theboard and the level of engagement to new heights.

In Margaret Widman Dees ’86, they have acreative, passionate colleague as alumni directorand worthy partner.

Rather than bore you with ouraccomplishments, I implore you to join the boardfor the next two years. Share your ideas at our nextBoard of Governors meeting May 19. Join us forHomecoming Weekend Oct. 14-16. Become aVISA volunteer and recruit our future alumni.Contribute your favorite JU memories to JUMagazine or our E-Dolphin newsletter. Get involvedin a JU Alumni Chapter or smaller Dolphin Club inyour backyard… or help us launch one. Join AlvinBrown, Julia Samms and others in lifting afledgling Black Alumni Association off the ground.

By all means, please contribute what you canto JU. Our heartfelt thanks go to those of you whoalready have invested in JU’s future this year,helping us to improve our alumni giving rate. I ammore optimistic than ever that your investment willreap huge dividends.

Contact me at [email protected] orMargaret Dees at [email protected] to get involved.

From theAssociationPresident

by Michael R. HowlandCAE ’76

red Franklin ’77, a prominent Jacksonville attorneyand community volunteer, was named the 2004Distinguished Alumnus. Franklin, honored at this

year’s Homecoming festivities, is a shareholder at law firmRogers Towers, and is a former general counsel for the Cityof Jacksonville.He earned abachelor’sdegree inpolitical sciencefrom JU andlater received hislaw degree fromthe University ofFlorida Collegeof Law.

AlumniBoard ofGovernorsPresident-Electand Gator Bowlstaffer RobertLeverock ’86 worked closely with Franklin, who was alsogeneral counsel of the Gator Bowl Association. He saidFranklin is generous with his time and volunteers for severalcommunity organizations that make a difference.

“He has a business sense that helps keep us on track,”Leverock said.

Franklin serves on the boards of St. Vincent’s HealthSystems, the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee andthe Jacksonville Zoological Gardens, and is a member of theJacksonville Economic Development Commission.

Franklin Honored withDistinguished Alumni Award

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During halftime of the Homecoming footballgame, Alumni Association President MichaelHowland ’76 and University President KerryRomesburg congratulate Fred Franklin (secondfrom right), as Robert Leverock ’86 looks on.

lumni giving is critical to JU’s success.Here’s a look at how some of the topclasses compare on giving rates.

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ope McMath, BFA ’92, MAT’96, has a very special way withpeople and with art. So special,

in fact, she was presented with thenational VSA arts (formerly Very SpecialArts) Award of Excellence in Leadershipand Collaboration, at the KennedyCenter in Washington, D.C., last July.An international nonprofit organization,VSA arts has affiliates in more than 60countries utilizing the arts to includepeople with disabilities in all aspects ofsociety.

As director of education at theCummer Museum of Art and Gardens,McMath has coordinated the VSA artsFestival for disabled students at themuseum for the past 10 years. UnderMcMath’s tenure, the festival has grownfrom a one-day event with 200 students to a three-dayfestival serving more than 2,000 students.

Although she enjoys all aspects of her job, McMath said,“VSA is where my heart is. It’s proof that art can profoundly

impact anyone, especially people youthink couldn’t participate in arts. It showshow relevant art is, and to be a part ofthat is professionally and personally veryrewarding.”

McMath recently oversaw a three-year $1.5 million renovation of ArtConnections – the museum’s educationalspace that is fun and interactive. Since therenovation, she said, attendance has “shotthrough the roof.” McMath alsocoordinates field trips for more than32,000 children yearly, designs curriculumand supervises the volunteers and docents.

The museum’s junior docent program,currently made up of 70 middle andsenior high school students, was designedby McMath through her master’spracticum at JU. Her studies at JU

included studio art, education and art history – a perfectcombination for the museum job. McMath said her arthistory professor, Cheryl Sowder, had a big influence overher and inspired her to continually raise the bar for herself.

HAlum Earns National Arts Award for Helping Othersby Olga Bayer

Hope McMath ’92, ’96 serves as directorof education at the Cummer Museum ofArt and Gardens in Jacksonville.

erving as JU’s alumni director early in his career,Tommy Hazouri, BA ’66, made a living out ofpromoting the accomplishments of the University’s

many successful alumni. These days, Hazouri is making hisown headlines after another successful political campaign.

Hazouri, the former state legislator and mayor ofJacksonville, handily won an election to the Duval CountySchool Board last fall. This recent victory marks thebeginning of the next chapter in Hazouri’s long list of publicservice which includes the following positions:

1974-86 Florida House of Representatives1980-82 Chairman, Duval Legislative Delegation1984-86 Chair, House Committee on Education, K-121987-91 Mayor, City of Jacksonville

1991 Commissioner, Florida Commission on EthicsIndeed, from his time as JU’s Student Government

Association president until today, no other alumnus hasenjoyed more success in public office. Hazouri continues tobe one of the University’s most high-profile graduates.

Aside from his position on the school board, Hazouri ispresident of Hazouri & Associates, a private consulting firmthat specializes in government and legislative affairs. He andhis wife, Carol, whom he met at JU, live in Mandarin. Carolhas been a Duval County school teacher for more than 25years. Their son Tommy Jr. is an elementary education

major at Flagler College.While serving as mayor

of Jacksonville, Hazouritook on many toughpolitical battles. He iscredited with spearheadingthe effort to clean upJacksonville’s polluted air,and he led the initiative toremove toll booths cloggingthe city’s roadways. He alsoadded 278 police officers tothe Sheriff’s Office.

Hazouri credits much ofhis success in public lifewith lessons he learnedwhile majoring in historyand government at JU. Thesize of the campus and

nature of the student body gave him a chance to explore andcultivate his leadership potential, Hazouri said.

Hazouri joins a host of JU alums serving in public office,a list that includes: State Reps. Aaron Bean ’89 and StanJordon ’60, ’67 as well as Jacksonville City Council membersSharon Copeland ’00 and Glorious Johnson ’78.

In the Saddle Again, JU’s Hazouri Returns to Public Office

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Former Jacksonville MayorTommy Hazouri, BA ’66, recentlywon election to the Duval CountySchool Board.

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idway through her second year at JacksonvilleUniversity, Nina Waters (then Nina Zuccaro) wasready to transfer to another university. And, if not

for the personal attention she received from then Dean ofStudents Martha McGee, she probably would have left JU,and her personal and professional lives would have takenentirely different paths.

“Dean McGee helped me to see the benefits of a smallliberal arts university,” said the 1980 graduate who wasrecently named president ofJacksonville’s leadingphilanthropic organization.“The leadership and academicopportunities that I was able toexperience at JU truly shapedmy career and communityleadership opportunities. She(McGee) was helpful inencouraging me to take onleadership roles and helped meto connect with the Universityand the broader Jacksonvillecommunity.”

Those lessons from McGeeand others at JU have servedWaters well. In January, she wasnamed president of TheCommunity Foundation, Inc., apublic foundation that servesdonors and their philanthropiccauses by providing expertassistance in developingstrategies for giving. TheCommunity Foundation is anextremely influential voice inNortheast Florida’sphilanthropic community withassets of more than $100million. It makes an average of$8 million worth of grants eachyear.

Waters’ career path since her graduation from JU hastaken her on a whirlwind tour of the city’s youth-servingnonprofit organizations including positions as academiccoordinator at the Jacksonville Marine Institute, leadcounselor for the Jacksonville Job Corps Center, executivedirector of the Pace Center for Girls, and executive vicepresident of The Community Foundation.

Waters has also been president of the Uptown CivitanClub, is a Leadership Jacksonville graduate and member ofthe Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, and wasa finalist in the prestigious annual EVE Awards.

In her latest position, Waters is responsible for directingthe overall programs and administrative activities of the

foundation including grant-making, finance anddevelopment; facilitating the growth of the foundation’spermanent assets; and assuring their effective use in meetingthe community’s needs.

Waters said opportunities for leadership she had at JUhelped prepare her to lead the foundation.

“I was elected president of my sorority in my sophomoreyear, became a resident advisor in the summer of myfreshman year and eventually became senior resident

advisor,” she said. “Otherpositions such as chairperson ofHomecoming and president ofGreen Key helped me to haveconfidence in myself and taughtme how to work with diversegroups – like prospectivestudents, students, faculty,alumni – to set and reach goals.

“I came to JU fromPittsburgh having never beenaway from home and notknowing anyone,” Waterscontinued. “The small classsizes, individualized attentionprovided by faculty, andencouragement that I receivedwas invaluable to me at animportant time in my life. Idecided to make Jacksonville myhome based on my experience atJU.”

Waters said she has greatmemories of her days at JU andof professors and advisors suchas Drs. Quint White andNorman Pollack.

“Quint was my advisor myfreshman year,” Waters said.“He spent a great deal of timehelping me to find my true

interest in social sciences and assisted me in transitioning tothat field.”

Waters said Pollack helped her get an internship atwhat was then the Fairfield Correctional Institution, aminimum security work release program located in DuvalCounty.

“I didn’t have a car, so he drove me to the facilitydowntown three days a week,” she said. “He also helped toplace me in a job at the Jacksonville Marine Institute aftergraduation.”

Her latest position is both challenging and rewarding,Waters said. “I like to learn, and I am fortunate to work inan organization that truly values learning, reflection andthoughtful action.”

MWaters Named Community Foundation President

Nina Waters, BA ’80, came to JU planning to study marinebiology, but found her calling in the social sciences. Waters wasrecently named president of The Community Foundation.


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elly Delaney, BFA ’92, was named the 2004 ArtEducator of the Year by the Cultural Council ofGreater Jacksonville. Delaney, an art teacher at

Southside Middle School, was recognized for teachingexcellence and for involving her students in communityservice througharts in theclassroom.

For the pastfive years,Delaney’sstudents havecreateddecorations andauction itemsfor the Fur BallGala, theJacksonvilleHumaneSociety’s annual fundraiser. Each fall, her students createceramic bowls for a fundraiser to support the local foodbank. And recently, they painted part of a huge canvasmural displayed by JAXPORT during the Super Bowl.

Delaney’s students have beautified their own campus,turning cement benches into works of art, and addingfountains and murals to the courtyard and gardens.

“Art is a positive way to keep students interested inschool, especially if they’re not great at academics,” saidDelaney. “Participating in art builds self-esteem andappreciation for the arts.”

Delaney also volunteers at nonprofit organizationssuch as Hubbard House, where she painted a mural in theplayroom and taught art lessons to children.

Art Educator Takes Art fromClassroom to Community

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Kelly Delaney is flanked by her parents, Kevinand Pat Delaney, as she receives the award.

s the new executive director for the Amelia ArtsCentre in Fernandina Beach, JU alum SusanParry, BS ’71, has a challenging job ahead of her.

And first on her agenda is fund raising so that thenonprofit center can buy the historic First Baptist Churchof FernandinaBeach as itsnew home.The centerhas alreadyraised morethan half ofthe $3millionneeded topurchase thebuilding, butthe big pushis on to reachthe goal thisspring.

Parry wason theAmelia ArtCentre’sBoard ofDirectors andpreviouslyserved as thevolunteercoordinator for the Amelia Island Museum of History andthe Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. She earnedher degree in elementary education from JU, and taught17 years in both private and public schools. About her JUexperience, she said, “I feel my life has been shaped by theextremely caring professors who knew me by name andtruly cared and helped me through those years.”

Parry, a music minor, played the flute with JU’sorchestra, and later with the Jacksonville Symphony. Sheremembers gathering in the home of Dr. Fran Kinne,then dean of the College of Fine Arts, for mini-recitalsand sing-alongs with other music students. “It was like abig family,” she said.

Parry is following in the footsteps of her good friend,Susan Beaudette, the previous executive director for thecenter, who died suddenly last November. Determined tocarry on Beaudette’s mission, Parry said, “I truly have myheart in what I feel is one of the best jobs I have everhad.”

She’s optimistic that together, with the outstandingvolunteer support she has received from the community,they can realize their dream to “bring our arts communitytogether for the good of everyone.”

New Director Centered onArts Mission in Fernandina

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Susan Parry is raising money to buy this churchfor the Amelia Arts Centre.

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U ChancellorEmeritus FranKinne is at

home playing classicor popular music.Traveling with herhusband on overseasassignments, shedeveloped afreindship with BobHope. Kinnecemented her close freindship with Hope duringher time as dean and president at JU. Bob Hope,who passed away in 2003, encouraged Kinne torecord a collection of her music. She produced thisCD in Hope’s memory last year.

Thanks for the Memories...

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hen Glenn Ross, BA ’67, attendedJacksonville University, he put hissocial life first – playing pool in

the student center, hanging out with hisfraternity buddies and participating inintramural sports. A bit like the HoldenCaulfield character in J.D. Salinger’s book,The Catcher in the Rye, Ross had a rebelliousstreak that followed him through college.Today, Ross says that attitude, coupled witha major in philosophy that encouraged himto think, question and analyze, helped himget where he is today.

Ross now lives in Atlanta with his wife,Anita, and owns a successful commercialreal estate firm. He also owned a daycarefacility for 10 years. Before that, Ross tried avariety of jobs in insurance, personnel and ata concrete company. But his aversion totaking orders eventually led him to become self-employed, astatus he’s enjoyed since 1974.

Fortunately for JU, Ross’ generous nature is just as big as hislively spirit and wonderful sense of humor. Recently, he and hiswife made a substantial donation to enhance the experience ofstudents, both academically and socially, at JU.

Having experienced a good fiscal year and after readingabout JU’s financial needs, Ross, who had been considering agift to JU, decided to act sooner, rather than later.

The first part of the gift was a “no brainer” for Ross. Hewould furnish the new Davis Student Commons with new slateregulation pool tables, complete with standard accessories. Extrafunds can be used for a flat-screen TV.

“Shooting pool helped put me through school,” Ross said.

“I spent a lot of time in the student center,rather than studying. There were a lot ofregulars back then.”

Ross, one of only six philosophy majorsat the time, also gave a generous amount tothe Department of Philosophy, which he’spleased to see growing. It’s his belief thatphilosophy teaches you to think, read andenjoy life a little more, especially later in life.

With Ross’ gift, the PhilosophyDepartment will be able to provide a varietyof speakers – local, national, andinternational – annually for its Ethics LectureSeries, and purchase additional wish listitems such as new technology.

Dr. Erich Freiberger, assistant professorof philosophy, was overwhelmed by theRosses’ benevolence. “This money goes along way,” Freiberger said. “As a liberal arts

university, JU has a mission to bring in speakers, to expose ourstudents to a variety of viewpoints and levels of discourse. Thebenefits are incalculable.”

Ross’ philosophy of life has a lot to do with finding abalance between work and play. At JU, he balanced fraternitylife, shooting pool, intramural sports and working “withoutgetting on academic probation.” Today, one of his biggestpassions is food – his wife is a gourmet cook – and collectingwine to share with friends. He and his wife have toured Franceand traveled to Italy the last four years.

To sum up his college experience Ross said, “I really had aball at JU, and I appreciate the education.” He also appreciatesthe chance to make a difference at JU, and the ability to gear hisgift toward his main interests.

Donation Cued Up for Fun and Philosophy Wish Listby Olga Bayer

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Glenn Ross tailored his donation toencourage his favorite things at JU -philosophy and playing pool.

he JU tennis teams will have a newhome this year – the Keith WatsonTennis Complex – on the south end

of campus. A generous donation from Keithand Carol Watson helped fund the project,which includes six hard courts.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Watsonfamily, JU will have one of the premier tennisfacilities in the Atlantic Sun Conference,”said Head Coach Andre Herke. “This willhelp our programs accelerate their growthregionally, as well as on the national level.”

Watson, BS ’71, was a tennis standout atJU from 1969 to 1971, posting a 35-13record and becoming the only tennis player in

school history to qualify for the NCAAChampionship. In 1993, he also became theonly former Dolphin tennis player to beelected to the JU Athletic Hall of Fame.

A juvenile diabetic, Watson sufferedkidney failure as an adult and underwentsuccessful kidney and pancreas transplants in2000. After the surgery, he re-evaluated hislife. “Everyday is a blessing,” he said. “I livefor my family and to pay back the kindnesspeople have shown me. That includes JU.They enabled me to reach my goals.”

Watson lives with his wife and two sons,and is the founding member of Watson &Osborne, P.A. in Jacksonville.

Athletic Alum Pays Back JU with New Tennis Complex

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Tennis standout Keith Watsonin fine form playing at JU.


1954Charles Edward

“Eddie” Bohannon,AA ’54, lives inMillis, Mass. with hiswife, Carolyn.Pictured is theirdaughter, Betty Ruby,with her husband,Atef A.Wraya, andtheir son Ali.

1966

Dr. Allen Snyder, BA ’66, lives inPittsburgh, Penn. and recently retired as ageneral surgeon. He now owns andoperates a construction developmentcompany that builds retail town centers,home subdivisions and office buildings.

1968

Paul J. McNulty, BS ’68, coaches boys’lacrosse at Wilton High School in Wilton,Conn. His team won the ConnecticutState Championship in 2004. Paul was alsonamed the Connecticut High SchoolCoaches Association’s Lacrosse Coach ofthe Year for 2003-2004.

Roger N. Thomas, BA ’68/BS ’76,was named Civil Air Patrol NationalHistorian of the Year and recipient of theLester Hooper Award in History at CivilAir Patrol’s national meeting in Tampa,Fla., in August 2004. Roger and his wife,Nancy, live in Jacksonville. He is also amember of the JU Alumni Board ofGovernors.

1969Lauren C. Clough, MAT ’69, is a

retired ESE teacher, and is currently thepresident of the Nassau County RetiredEducators Association. She is also a statevolunteer for Special Olympics.

1973

Jane Boxer Feber,BA ’73, recently hadher first book, CreativeBook Reports: FunProjects with Rubrics forFiction and Nonfiction,published by MaupinHouse. Feber has beenteaching middle school in Duval Countyfor the past 32 years. She is a NationalBoard Certified Teacher, a recipient ofthe Gladys Prior Award for TeachingExcellence, and was the 2003 Teacher ofthe Year for the Florida Council ofTeachers of English.

1979

John Creuziger, BA ’79, and his wife,Debbie, moved from northern Virginia toFort Myers, Fla., in July 2004. Johnworks for George Mason University andDebbie is a technical writer currentlyunder contract to webMethods.

1981

J. Michael Kennedy, BS ’81, lives inNorth Carolina and has recently beenpromoted to vice president of BB&TCorporate Trust Services in Wilson, N.C.

1983James O’Keefe, BS ’83, was recently

selected for promotion to the grade ofcommander in the United States CoastGuard. O’Keefe also provided emergencyrescue and evacuation assistance to thevictims of the recent hurricanes thatdevastated Florida. He is currently a flightinstructor at the Coast Guard’s AviationTraining Center in Mobile, Ala.

Mark Roesser, BS ’83, recentlyreceived the Points of Light Award fromFlorida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings for hiswork and promotion of rights for disabledresidents. Points of Light awards aregiven to Florida residents whodemonstrate exemplary communityservice. Mark is a three-year member ofthe Florida Alliance for Assistive Servicesand Technology and has advocated forgreater access to and awareness of assistedliving technology.

1984

Greg LaFave, BS ’84, had his Changeof Command on Oct. 14, 2004, andseveral JU alums attended the event. Afterthe celebration, LaFave and his JUbuddies continued their celebration byattending Homecoming 2004 inJacksonville. Greg’s tour as commandingofficer of the Naval Recruiting District,Montgomery, Ala., was cut short when anemergency need arose for a new “air boss”on the USS Belleauwood. LaFave iscurrently serving in that capacity as airboss, which is the third most senior billeton the ship.

’5O19711993class notesclass notes

Class notes is compiled by your friends at the Office ofAlumni and Parent Relations. If you’ve got news, let us

know! We want to stay connected with you so e-mail yourinformation and photos (we’ll return them!) to us at

[email protected] or send snail mail to:Office of Alumni and Parent Relations

Jacksonville University 2800 University Boulevard North

Jacksonville, Florida 32211

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Randy Moore, BS ’84, is serving asthe supply officer of the USSBonhomme Richard, which is currentlyproviding humanitarian relief to theearthquake and tsunami victims.Moore e-mailed, “We have our handsfull, but this is exactly what I signed upto do – make a difference.”

1986

LCOL Owen R. Lovejoy, II, BS’86, is an executive officer with the U.S.Marine Corps stationed in Hawaii.

1987

Stuart Ott, BM ’87, lives inSpringfield, Va., and was recentlypromoted to chief of the Division ofTelecommunications for the U.S.Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S.Department of the Interior. He runs aNational Network Operations andSecurity Center, overseeing two majornetworks that cover 23 states andservice 63 Native Americanreservations.

1990

Joe Rinella, BS ’90, D.O., is asecond year resident at the University ofKansas School of Medicine-WichitaFamily Medicine Residency Program atVia Christi Regional Medical Center inWichita, Kan.

1992

Katie RamseurVogel, BS ’92, is amaster gardener anda master food andnutrition educator.She and her husband,Joe, are proud parentsof their son, Ryan Andrew, who wasborn on June 19, 2004.

1993Alaine Williams

Ducharme, BS ’93,and her husband,Rich, live inJacksonville withtheir two children.Jordan Ashley is 2years old and JakeWilliam was born Nov. 17, 2003.

Leo Stanley, BA ’93, lives in PortSt. Lucie, Fla., and is employed as atechnical writer for one of the largestmedical suppliers in the nation, LibertyHealthCare.

1995

Scott Johnson, BS ’95, works atRaymond James and Associates. He ismarried to YiYi Lam and they havetwo daughters, Annika Kai, born June4, 2003, and Dagney Amber, bornAugust 27, 2004.

1996

Amanda Reed, BA ’96, recentlygraduated from LaGuardia College inNew York City with a degree inveterinary nursing. She is currentlyworking at the ASPCA and in herspare time has gone back to acting aswell as school for sign language. She isalso a runner and competed in theWalt Disney World marathon inJanuary.

1997

David Lane, BM ’97, recently wascommissioned by the North CarolinaBaptist State Convention to composethe opening music for the 50thanniversary celebration of their Musicand Worship Team to take place inApril 2006. He is active in Winston-Salem, N.C., area as a composer,performer, private music instructor andminister of music. He married JenniferRollyson, BA ’98, in 1998.

1998Christopher Sacra, BS ’98, has just

completed his Master of PublicAdministration degree at OldDominion University in Norfolk, Va.He is currently an active duty Navylieutenant (surface warfare). He’sstationed on shore duty at AfloatTraining Group Atlantic in Norfolk andwill be reporting to department headschool in Newport, R.I. in April 2005.

1999

Lt. Scott DiGiusto, BS ’99, isflying the P-3C Orion with PatrolSquadron Nine out of Kaneohe Bay,Hawaii. He is the mission commanderand patrol plane commander for thecurrently deployed Combat Air CrewSix. Upon his return to Hawaii,Diguisto will check out of VP-9 andwill move to Corpus Christi, Texas, forinstructor duty at Training SquadronTwo Eight.

Dolphin Fans Win Bigin ‘Fair’ Competition

JU placed 2nd in the annual collegecompetition Nov. 10 at the GreaterJacksonville Agricultural Fair andwon a $750 donation to theUniversity’s scholarship fund. JUalumni and college supporterscompeted in four events – the BigFoot Race, Redneck Horseshoes (1st

place to JU), Suitcase Relay and adoughnut-eating contest (1st place toJU). Alumni Affairs staff MargaretDees and Pat Reeves reported thatthe JU crowd was great, and allparticipants had a good time. JUfinished behind cross-town rivalUNF, but ahead of Florida, FloridaState, Georgia, FAMU and TheCitadel.

Laura H. Gunn,BA ’99, has completedthe requirements forthe Ph.D. at DukeUniversity’s Institute ofStatistics and DecisionSciences, Durham,N.C. On June 4, 2004, she successfullydefended her dissertation, “BayesianOrder Restricted Methods withBiomedical Applications.” Dr. Gunn isnow assistant professor of biostatisticsin the College of Health and HumanSciences at Georgia SouthernUniversity in Statesboro, Ga.

2001

David Hawk, Jr., BS ’01, workswith Lake Shore Radiator as a salesmanager. Randy Amos, BS ’70, ispresident and CEO of Lake ShoreRadiator located in Jacksonville.

2002

Brandon Howard, BS ’02, recentlycompleted initial pilot training atComair Airlines, and began his career asan airline pilot. He began his master’sprogram at Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity in January.

Janis Brooks Walker, BSN ’02,lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. She works atDuke University Hospital inorthopedics.

2004

Daniel Dixon, BA ’04, works as afinancial advisor for American Expressin Jacksonville.

Hilary Glade, BFA ’04, recentlyaccepted a contract to dance with theIllinois Ballet Company for the 2004-2005 season.

Yary Lim, BS ’04, lives inJacksonville and recently was awardedan Omicron Delta Kappa FoundationNational Leadership Honor SocietyScholarship.

Miguel Angel Torres III, BS ’04,has been accepted for the Navy’sOfficer Candidate School. Torres,who wants to become a pilot, willspend 13 weeks training in Pensacola,Fla. After he receives his commission,he will begin flight training.

Births

Stephanie RoszelCassano, BFA ’93, andher husband, Capt.Allen D. Cassano,USMC, BS ’94,became parents ofRocco Norris on September 2, 2003.

Stacey HindmanHenderson, BS ’00,and her husband, ErikHenderson, BS ’00,became parents of JuliaKathryn Henderson onAug. 23, 2004.

Kimberly PetersonSheppard, BS ’92, andher husband, Scott,became parents ofHannah Kimberly onApril 15, 2004.

WeddingsBonnie Heffernan, BN ’96, and

Brian Williams married on Sept. 18,2004.

Robert Masucci, BS ’97, andCaroline Johnson married on Nov. 13,2004.

Laura Eve Patey,BS ’98, and BrianTimothy Hammock,BA ’98, married onJuly 3, 2004. Theylive in Jacksonvilleand are teachers forDuval County publicschools.

In Memoriam

Cyndie Baker, BSN ’89, on Sept.4, 2004.

Karen Jo “KJ” Watkins Erland, BA’85, on Dec. 12, 2004.

Wayne LaBerge, BS ’76, inOctober 2004.

Robin “Buffy” Nixon, BA ’89, onNov. 3, 2004.

Editor’s Correction: Due to anerror, the Fall 2004 JU Magazineincorrectly stated that Charles EdwardBohannon’s wife had died.


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Please mail your news and photos to the Office of Alumni andParent Relations, Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd.N., Jacksonville, FL 32211 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Besure to include the following information:

• Name, Maiden Name • Address, City, State, Zip (Indicate if New Address)• Daytime Phone, E-mail Address• JU Degree, Class/Year Graduated• If no degree from JU, last year attended

What’s New with You?

he JU Phon-a-thon team is well onits way to realizing its mostsuccessful campaign in years.

Midway through the fiscal year, dedicatedstudent callers exceeded last year’s total bymore than $30,000 in cash and pledges.Students continue their drive this semesterto raise more than $100,000 in Phona-thonpledges – part of the University’s overallAnnual Fund goal to raise $790,000 beforethe end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Student callers say that alumni areresponding positively to the changes on JU’scampus. Sophomore KaDee Stroleny, whohas worked with the program for two yearssaid, “Alumni and parents are supportingour new president and are happy with thedirection in which JU is headed. They’vebeen really generous. Most of the pledgeshave come from people who haven’t givenin years.”

Another Phon-a-thon goal this year is to increase alumniparticipation. Grady Jones, vice president for InstitutionalAdvancement, said, “Alumni participation is extremelyimportant because it allows us to pursue external fundingsources from foundations and corporations. Many require us toprovide our alumni participation rate, and it’s a factor in theirdecision making. They believe that the alumni participationrate is a good indicator of the institution’s strength.

“Alumni participation is extremely importantbecause it allows us to pursue external fundingsources from foundations and corporations.”

- Grady Jones, VP for Institutional Advancement

“Many foundations won’t even accept a grant proposal ifthe institution’s alumni participation rate isn’t in double digits,”Jones said. The figure is also used to determine universityrankings for publications such as U.S.News & World Report.

To increase the participation rate, student callers arefocusing on reconnecting with alumni and asking for a gift ofany amount. Phon-a-thon supervisor Renee Vaughn said, “Ourcallers are doing a tremendous job, and our alumni have beenfantastic to speak with.”

The Phon-a-thon will run through April. So when yourphone rings, please make a donation to the JU Annual Fund.

Annual Fund’s Phon-a-thonTeam Breaks All Records

ANNUAL FUNDREACHES 83% OF 2005 GOAL

As of Dec. 31, 2004,the JU Annual Fund hasraised $660,000! Did youknow that this is 83percent of our 2004-2005 fiscal year goal of$790,000? Whether youchoose to donate $1 or$1,000, it’s yourparticipation that countsand benefits JacksonvilleUniversity. Join us andhelp us reach our goal.Please mail the enclosedpostage-paid replyenvelope with your checktoday.

Thank You For Your Support

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$790,000

$660,00083%

Students KaDee Stroleny, Penny Rombaugh and Loren Shumard are among the manystudents working to make this year’s Phon-a-thon a huge success.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 3160Jacksonville, FL

he MBA Programat JacksonvilleUniversity offers

working professionalsthe opportunity to earntheir degree part time.A master’s degree fromJacksonville Universitywill open the doors toyour successful careerand life.

For more information,contact Ellen Lockamy,

Associate Dean of theDavis College of

Business, at [email protected] call 904-256-7459.

CEO Tomorrow.

2800 University Boulevard NorthJacksonville, Florida 32211-3394

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