MADAM PRESIDENT Judy Perry Martinez Leads The American Bar Association - A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI, STUDENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ...
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A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R A L U M N I , S T U D E N T S A N D F R I E N D S O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W O R L E A N S FA L L 2 0 1 9 MADAM PRESIDENT Judy Perry Martinez Leads The American Bar Association
T A B L E O F Alumnus Mitchell Ervin referees a New Orleans Pelicans game. F E AT U R E S 22 MADAM PRESIDENT New Orleans attorney and UNO alumna Judy Perry Martinez is the new president of the 400,000-member American Bar Association 26 PRIVATEER IN THE PROS NBA referee Mitchell Ervin has earned his stripes 30 FOUNDING DEAN HONORED Fritz Dohse, the founding dean of the College of Engineering, left his mark in many ways. The college’s auditorium now bears his name 32 ALOHA IRBY Alumnus Irby Morvant Jr. started out waiting tables at a Hyatt restaurant while attending college, now he’s the general manager of a large resort in Hawaii 34 DATA TRAIL UNO researcher Tara Tolford is tracking joggers, walkers and bicyclists statewide as part of a $240,000 data collection grant D E PA RT M E N T S 5 CAMPUS SCENE 10 NEWS AND EVENTS 18 FACULTY FOCUS 36 THE UNO TRAVELER 38 ATHLETICS 42 DONOR SPOTLIGHT 44 ALUM NOTES 52 THEN AND NOW FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 3
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS: VOLUME 43 s ISSUE 2 C HA N G E I S T H E O N LY C O N S TA N T I N L I F E . T H I S A P H O R I S M I S AT T R I B U T E D T O Heraclitus, and it is something we think about a lot at the University of New Orleans. The com- EXECUTIVE EDITOR Littice Bacon-Blood munities and organizations we serve are constantly evolving, and the nature of work is shifting EDITOR drastically before our eyes. A 2017 report from the Institute for the Future, an independent futures Adam Norris research group, states that 85% of jobs that today’s students will hold in 2030 have not yet been DESIGN AND LAYOUT created. Ponder that for a moment: we cannot conceive of most of the work that will be performed Eric Gernhauser in a decade. Wow. That gets my attention. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mallory Moore In particular, it is difficult to imagine the types of jobs that sophisticated emerging technolo- Alicia Serrano gies like artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, robotics and cloud computing will PHOTOGRAPHY reveal across all industries. The inescapable conclusion is that to successfully Frank L. Aymami III Littice Bacon-Blood compete, each of us must be willing to also change, primarily through continu- Avery Gray ous learning and retooling, especially if we are to compete in these new jobs. Joshua Matthews Tracie Morris Schaefer Continuous learning is a necessity—it makes us more valuable, keeps our Alicia Serrano brains nimble, nourishes our minds and our curiosity, and it represents an enduring investment in our own well-being, one that often yields a strong return on investment. Send Correspondence to: Silver & Blue Editor For the University of New Orleans, our imperative is to University of New Orleans provide you with up-to-date learning opportunities, now and Administration Building 103 2000 Lakeshore Drive in the future. Whether you are 18 or 88, we engage with New Orleans, LA 70148 students in different ways using a variety of delivery methods. phone: (504) 280-6832 email: unomagazine@uno.edu In fact, our growing portfolio of professional and continuing education programs, coupled with an evolving curriculum of degree programs, allows us to transform lives, and not just those of traditional age college students. I am proud that the University continues to be a beacon of Silver & Blue Magazine is published by the University of New Orleans. Articles enlightenment, creating shared knowledge and honing the skills of represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the people we serve. One of the most exciting facets of working on anyone but the authors. a college campus is encountering our students and their thirst for To inquire about alumni events or to join knowledge. They are an example to all of us. We are reminded to the UNO Alumni Association, contact: Office of Alumni Affairs, University of ask questions, engage in discussion, branch out beyond our own New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148 phone: (504) 280-2586 areas of expertise and be humble enough to learn from oth- fax: (504) 280-1080 email: alumni@uno.edu ers. A lifelong commitment to learning can be both financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying. If you are interested in © 2019 The University of New Orleans This public document was published at a total cost pursuing new intellectual or professional goals in our ever- of $21,475. Forty-five thousand (45,000) copies of this public document were published in this first changing world, let us know how we can support you. and only printing at a cost of $21,475. There will be no reprints, so the total cost of all printings of this document is $21,475. This document was published UNO Proud, by the University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., John Nicklow New Orleans, LA 70148, to promote the purpose of the University under authority of 17:3351(A)(12). This PRESIDENT material was printed in accordance with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to @UNOPresidentJN @unopresident R.S. 43:31. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. 4 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
HEADLINES AND HAPPENINGS INSIDE SPRING COMMENCEMENT MOVING IN CONVOCATION TAKING A PLUNGE SUCbAUF A proud family member displays a larger-than-life version of his graduate outside the Lakefront Arena at spring commencement. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 5
SPRING COMMENCEMENT Alumna Sheba Turk, a co-anchor of WWL- TV’s Eyewitness Morning News, served as the principal speaker at the University of New Orleans spring commencement on May 17. The 2019 graduating class hailed from 28 U.S. states and territories and 32 countries. As the graduates prepared for the next chapter of their lives, Turk urged them to remember that life happens in seasons and that they shouldn’t wait for things to be perfect in order to make positive moves. “I realize now that there’s power in what you think and how you think,” Turk told the graduates. “When I decided to move forward anyway, even though things weren’t perfect, things started to really happen for me.” SUCbAUF For more than 30 years, UNO students have celebrated the end of spring semester by chowing down at a free crawfish boil! Sponsored by the Student Activities Council, SUCbAUF offers an afternoon buffet of all- you-can-eat crawfish and side fixings of potatoes and corn! 6 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
MOVE-IN DAY The UNO Move-In Krewe— made up of administrators (including President Nicklow), faculty, staff and returning students—help freshmen and new transfer students move into the Pontchartrain Hall residence halls. CONVOCATION The Class of 2023 was officially welcomed to campus with a formal ceremony and a get-to-know-you party with their peers. The annual convocation at the UNO Lakefront Arena, which included faculty marching into the arena in full academic regalia while “Pomp and Circumstance” plays, commemorates the start of the academic journey for new students with an opening ceremony followed by free food and games. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 7
PRIVATEERS TAKE A PLUNGE Privateer Plunge is a six-week welcome for new students. The schedule is packed with events, workshops, parties, and presentations designed to introduce new students to available resources and help them get to know campus! 8 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
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New Associate Provost Newtona ‘Tina’ Johnson Sees ‘Scaffold of Support’ As Key to Faculty Success, Retention NEWTONA “TINA” JOHNSON , of the preeminent urban research a comprehensive professional in the classroom and to oversee the new associate provost for institutions in the nation noted development program, mentor- the University’s commitment to faculty and diversity affairs at the for its commitment to excellence ing or facilitating grant activities diversity and inclusion. University of New Orleans, rose in teaching and in student suc- because faculty should be viewed “So, I have two hats,” through the ranks of academia cess,” Johnson says. holistically. Johnson says. “Faculty affairs is holding various faculty and ad- Johnson holds a doctorate in She instituted tenure and essentially to work with faculty ministrative leadership positions literary and cultural studies from promotion workshops and initi- to ensure their success in differ- that she feels has well-prepared Emory University, a master’s in ated faculty mentoring programs ent ways … the other is diversity, her to assist faculty in being suc- applied linguistics from Con- for specific affinity groups, such and that is to ensure that this cessful. cordia University in Montreal, a as women associate professors, institution’s commitment to di- “You know what faculty is master’s in English from Dalhou- while at Middle Tennessee State. versity and inclusion is pursued. going through because you have sie University in Halifax, Nova “When we talk about success, To make sure that we can retain gone through it yourself,” John- Scotia and a bachelor’s degree in it’s not just success professionally, our students and faculty by son says. “You know what the English language and literature it’s also about personal growth,” making sure they feel that they struggles are and what you need from the University of Sierra Johnson says. “For me, faculty belong here.” to do to recalibrate to make sure Leone. success is enabling professional As the chief diversity officer that what you do, you do well. She also has extensive train- and personal growth. Then at Middle Tennessee, Johnson “It’s invaluable experience, ing in senior-level higher educa- faculty are engaged and they have provided administrative person- especially for this position, when tion management and leadership, that sense of being committed to nel support to the University’s you’re working with faculty.” including a yearlong American the institution, because the insti- 18-member diversity advisory Johnson comes to UNO from Council on Education Fel- tution is committed to them.” board and was the liaison with the 21,000-student Middle Ten- lows Program and the Harvard Johnson says she views her the state board of regents on nessee State University where she Institute for Management and role as a facilitator—somebody diversity-related matters. was a professor of English and Leadership in Education. who motivates and provides Johnson, who has studied the previously served as interim vice “To me, faculty success and support for others to do well in city of New Orleans from afar as provost for academic affairs and student success are intertwined,” whatever position that they serve. part of her cultural research on chief diversity officer, and direc- Johnson says. “If you want your “My management approach diaspora and hybridity, says she tor of women’s studies/women’s students to be successful, your is that I’m there to help, to mo- is excited about living here and and gender studies. She spent faculty have to be successful tivate,” she says. “Everybody can getting to know the UNO com- eight years at Spelman College as well. How do we aid them? succeed with the right circum- munity. in Atlanta prior to her time at By facilitating professional and stances, the right help. That’s “It’s just a wonderful oppor- Middle Tennessee State. personal growth.” what I love to do.” tunity to be where I can con- “I was drawn to UNO’s com- Johnson, who arrived on Johnson says her dual roles tribute to moving the institution mitment to provide educational campus in July, describes her will allow her to work with forward,” Johnson says. “I am excellence to a diverse under- leadership approach as providing faculty to ensure they are as committed to the institution’s graduate and graduate student a “scaffold” of supportive services well-equipped and comfort- mission and to President Nick- body, and its vision of being one such as training, supporting able to be the best they can be low’s transformative vision.” 10 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
Leading a Joint Effort to Recover Missing World War II Airmen in Germany The University of New Orleans, through its partnership with the University of Innsbruck in Austria and the UNO-Innsbruck International Sum- mer School, led a joint effort to excavate the site of a World War II aircraft crash in Germany, in the hopes that the project will help the Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) in its mission to make the fullest possible accounting of American personnel. The team was joined by volunteers from the Task Force Dagger Foundation (TFDF), a nonprofit that serves U.S. Special Operations Com- mand members and their families. University of New Orleans anthropology professor D. Ryan Gray led the excavation, which concluded in mid-August, as part of a field school in archaeology. The site is located in southern Ger- many, and it is thought to be the location of a crash of a B-17 shot down during a 1944 bombing raid. The field investigations, combining traditional ar- chaeological methods with state-of-the-art inves- tigative techniques, will hopefully allow for missing air crew associated with the crash to be recovered and identified. The project included 15 students in the UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School, two students from the University of Innsbruck and six volunteers from Task Force Dagger. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 11
Retired Professor Charles O’Connor Donates $60K for Endowed Chemistry Professorship AS A YOUNGSTER, CHARLES A $60,000 donation from $50 million in outside funding ate students, and the research O’Connor was fascinated by O’Connor and his wife, Sally E. for research, including a five- activities of more than 40 post- the attraction between two bar O’Connor, will help establish year grant from the Defense doctoral students. Results of his magnets that would cause one an endowed professorship in Advanced Research Projects research have been reported in to move, even though they were chemistry. The University will Agency for $8.2 million to more than 400 peer-reviewed not touching. pursue a $40,000 match from conduct research on nanophase publications in the scientific “I just always thought that the Louisiana Board of Regents. magnetic particles for advanced literature and more than 250 was really neat,” O’Connor says. O’Connor, who retired materials. presentations at scientific con- That early interest never following a 35-year career at “A lot of that had to do ferences and symposia. waned. It prompted O’Connor the University, describes the with trying to make magnetic His research work at the to earn a doctorate in chem- endowment as his way of giv- particles smaller and able to University bore applications istry and to pursue a career at ing back. hold the magnetism to try and for the data storage industry the University of New Orleans “I spent my whole career improve the density of data and miniaturizations of electric that spanned more than three there,” says O’Connor. “I just storage,” O’Connor says. devices and sensors, among decades researching and teach- thought I could give something O’Connor also developed other things. ing chemistry. back to the chemistry depart- an outreach summer research O’Connor is a world-re- His assignment, when he ment and help them recruit program at UNO for high- nowned and respected chem- joined the UNO faculty in faculty.” school students, high-school ist, says Steven Johnson, dean 1979, was to teach and develop That career included being teachers and underrepresented of the College of Sciences and research programs in inor- the founding director of the minority undergraduates, and chairman of AMRI’s campus ganic, solid-state and materials Advanced Material Research directed an effort at UNO to advisory board. chemistry. Institute at UNO, which was help develop a doctoral pro- Johnson credits O’Connor “I was always intrigued by developed to meet the research gram in advanced materials and for developing an interna- magnetism and that’s generally needs of the University in nanoscience as a collaborative tionally recognized materi- the area I ended up doing my the area of materials science. program between Louisiana als research institute and for work in, magnetic properties of The institute has established a State University, the University recruiting “fabulous” faculty materials,” says O’Connor, who research consortium that in- of New Orleans and Southern members to UNO whom he retired in 2012. cludes academic, government, University Baton Rouge. also mentored. Now, O’Connor is manifest- and industrial participants and During his tenure at UNO, “I would say that his dona- ing his fondness for chemistry their research laboratories. O’Connor directed the Ph.D tion is a testament to his gener- in another way: The creation of During his tenure at UNO, and M.S. thesis research of osity and his willingness to help an endowment fund. O’Connor received more than more than a dozen gradu- faculty,” Johnson says. 12 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
news in brief Saxophonist Brian Wingard Receives ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Jazz Award UNO Increases Enrollment Again The University of New Orleans in- The University of New Orleans music faculty has selected Brian Win- creased its overall student enrollment for gard for the 2019 ASCAP Louis Armstrong Foundation Jazz Composition the second straight year, marking the first time in more than a decade that the Award. Wingard, a jazz saxophonist and composer, will represent the University has grown in back-to-back years. Total enrollment increased from University at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publish- 8,151 students in fall 2018 to 8,231 students in fall 2019. ers Foundation awards ceremony in New York City on Dec. 11. “While the increase is a modest one, we are thrilled that we continue on an The annual award, which carries a $3,000 scholarship, is awarded to upward trajectory,” said President John Nicklow. “Particularly at a time when a UNO graduate student in jazz studies who demonstrates excellence many universities across the country are grappling with enrollment declines, in composition, and is supported by the Louis Armstrong Educational we consider this to be an indicator of continued progress. I am grateful for Foundation. the work of our entire team across campus that has made recruitment, reten- tion and student success our top priorities.” Undergraduate enrollment increased nearly 2% to 6,713 students. It is the first time that the number of undergraduates has grown in three consecutive years since prior to Hurricane Katrina. Two Biotech Companies Move to the University The founders of two biotech research companies moved their lab to the University of New Orleans in July. LaCell LLC, and its spin-off company, Obatala Sciences, are now housed on the second floor of the Science Build- ing within the Advanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI). “We are excited about these new companies moving into AMRI. This will expand the number of startups in the institute, further increasing internship and job opportunities for our students,” said John Wiley, director of AMRI. The focus of LaCell LLC is on stem cell research and the clinical translation of that research, according to its website. Obatala is a tissue-engineering company that offers, among other services, a 3-D human adipose tissue cul- ture system that is marketed for disease modeling and drug discovery within the obesity, diabetes, metabolism, pharmaceutical and academic sectors. LaCell LLC and Obatala Sciences join startups InnoGenomics and Advano already on campus in AMRI facilities. $75,000 Grant Will Expand College Beyond Program A $75,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation will allow the University of New Or- leans to provide more students with targeted support through its partnership with College Beyond. College Beyond’s success coaches, who are housed on UNO’s campus, provide academic and non-academic interventions to Pell Grant recipient college students who graduated from greater New Orleans high schools. The program served 80 freshmen during the 2018-19 academic year. The Kresge grant will enable as many as 100 additional students to participate. Many first-generation, Pell-eligible students face additional challenges such as transportation barriers, food insecurity, work commitments and financial hur- dles. College Beyond coaches are trained to help students access community- based resources to overcome those challenges and succeed in college. The Water Institute Celebrates Opening The University of New Orleans and The Water Institute of the Gulf cel- ebrated the Institute’s new home at the UNO Research and Technology Park during a reception in April. “This not only strengthens the partnership between the University of New Orleans and the Institute, it also allows us to leverage our respective field research capacities now and into the future to benefit the state and our other partners,” said Matthew Tarr, vice president for research and economic de- velopment at the University of New Orleans. “The University of New Orleans’ expertise in areas such as environmental sciences, civil and environmental engineering, coastal resilience, and hazard mitigation makes it a natural partner with The Water Institute.” The Baton Rouge-based Institute has had a presence in New Orleans since its inception and has collaborated with Tulane University, Greater New Orleans Foundation, GNO, Inc., UNO and many other partners on a variety of projects around the city. To read more about theseF Astories, L L 2 0 1 visit 9 S Inews.uno.edu. LV E R & B L U E 13
Phillip May and Roxanna Rodriguez-Torres To Be Honored at 2019 Distinguished Alumni Gala E N T E R G Y L O U I SIA NA of transition management, in general studies from the president and CEO Phillip and managing director of University of New Orleans. May will receive the 2019 corporate strategic planning She has completed linguist University of New Orleans and analysis. certifications in Russian, Homer L. Hitt Distinguished May, who joined Entergy Kurdish and Spanish from Alumni Award, the UNO in 1986, holds a bachelor’s the Department of Defense’s Alumni Association an- degree in electrical engineer- Defense Language Institute. nounced. Additionally Rox- ing from the University of May is the 36th honoree anna Rodriguez-Torres, the Southwestern Louisiana and to receive the Homer L. Hitt National Security Council’s a Master of Business Admin- Distinguished Alumni Award. director for Transnational istration from the University Previous recipients include Organized Crime, has been of New Orleans. He serves on State Rep. Julie Stokes, New named the 2019 Homer Hitt the boards of the U.S. Cham- Orleans Tourism Marketing Young Alumna of the Year. ber of Commerce; GNO, Inc.; Corporation President and Both will be honored at the Louisiana Nature Con- CEO Mark Romig, engineer Phillip May the Distinguished Alumni servancy; Teach for America and executive Roy Glapion, Gala, which will take place of South Louisiana; City Year television news executive on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Baton Rouge and Second Kim Bondy, former Gambit National WWII Museum’s Harvest Food Bank. Communications Chairman United States Freedom Pavil- Rodriguez-Torres Clancy DuBos and former ion: The Boeing Center. advises and supports the Lieutenant Governor Melinda “Alumni from the president, his senior national Schwegmann. The honoree University of New Orleans security advisers and cabinet is selected by a committee of excel in every imaginable officials on national security former award recipients. endeavor,” said President and policy issues related The Distinguished John Nicklow. “It is fitting to transnational organized Alumni Gala will also rec- that we are honoring Phillip crime. In 2018 she served as ognize distinguished alumni and Roxanna because, while the deputy assistant secre- from each of the University’s they work in very different tary for law enforcement four academic colleges, and fields, they exemplify the policy under the Department athletics. determination, perseverance of Homeland Security’s Of- The gala’s venue is a testa- and excellence found in so fice of Strategy, Policy and ment to UNO’s lasting impact Roxanna Rodriguez-Torres many of our graduates. They Plans. Her previous positions on the community—the are both very deserving of within the Department of National WWII Museum was this recognition.” Homeland Security include conceived in UNO’s history As president and CEO intelligence analyst and chief department by professors of Entergy Louisiana, May is of staff for the Homeland Stephen Ambrose and Nick responsible for the com- Security Investigations Of- Mueller, the museum’s former pany’s customer service, fice of Intelligence. She also president and CEO. regulatory and public affairs, worked as an analyst for the Proceeds from the Dis- resource planning, economic U.S. Customs Service. She tinguished Alumni Gala will development programs and began her career as a coun- increase funding for student charitable contributions, as terintelligence agent and scholarships and support well as its financial perfor- linguist with the Louisiana the UNO Alumni Associa- mance. He previously served National Guard. tion’s programming to ensure as vice president of regula- Rodriguez-Torres re- student success and alumni tory services, vice president ceived a bachelor’s degree engagement. 14 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
Students Put Engineering Concepts to Work at Robotic Eel Camp It takes imagination to look at the seg- mented white PVC pipes splayed on the table with the long protruding wires and exposed batteries and see a robot—spe- cifically a robotic eel capable of undulat- ing underwater and through waves. That was the vision and goal Univer- sity of New Orleans professor Brandon Taravella shared with local middle and high school students who piloted the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering’s inaugural eel robotics camp this summer. The weeklong camp, funded through a National Center for Advanced Manufac- turing grant, introduced a variety of engi- neering concepts, such as 3-D modeling, mechanical and hydrodynamics design, and electrical engineering. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 15
University of New Orleans Engineering Student Spends Summer Aboard Electric-Powered Yachts UNIVERSITY OF NEW Orleans senior Nigel Watkins spent his summer vacation along the French Riviera and scenic Italian waterways. It was not, however, just “fun in the sun.” Watkins, who is majoring in naval architecture and marine engineering, was honing his skills through a two-month internship with the European boat builder Vita Yachts. “To be honest, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” Watkins says. He’d read about the compa- ny and was intrigued that they specialized in high-performance electric-powered boats, Watkins says. He contacted the company, and after a flurry of Skype inter- views and emails, he was offered the job as a naval architecture and marine engineering intern. “I’ve always had a passion for clean energy and believe manufacturers to get the best systems and software to allow so that by the end of the intern- that’s where the marine sector product,” he says. clients to seamlessly cruise ship it would be equally beneficial will eventually migrate to, so Watkins was assigned to along the Mediterranean with for both parties. I can’t thank it was a perfect fit being able work under the company’s head zero carbon emissions.” everyone at Vita enough for the to combine my two passions of performance, who is a former Watkins spent the rest of experience and look forward to of luxury yachting and clean chief engineer for the Mercedes the summer between Cannes, what’s in store for the future.” energy,” Watkins says. Formula 1 auto racing team, France and Monaco working Watkins says the College of “What I didn’t realize and Vita’s head of production, with clients and consultants Engineering, as well as his in- was over the span of a couple who is a former super-yacht to perfect the final designs for volvement in student government months I’d get to travel all over project manager. a full production roll-out, he and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, southern Europe working with The first month was mainly says. gave him the leadership and com- some of the best designers and spent performing sea trials in “It’s satisfying work know- munication skills that made for a engineers this side of the world Lago Maggiore, Italy and testing ing that this project will hope- successful internship. had to offer.” the newest Vita model, Watkins fully have a domino effect and “The naval architecture and The first couple of weeks says. The boats, a 27-foot and show the world the capabilities marine engineering depart- were very production-focused 30-foot models, can fit eight to of electric propulsion,” he says. ment at UNO is second to none, and included meeting all of the 10 people comfortably, he says. “Being a part of a small team and it really shows when you’re boats’ contractors and manufac- “Vita is also the only boat in has given me the opportunity to put in the field,” Watkins says. turers, Watkins says. the world that can supercharge be involved in every aspect of “The professors prepare you in a “The company is constantly much like Tesla, and we have the company from marketing to way where they don’t hold your trying to improve anything and our own in-house network of design to testing. hand, but rather make you work everything from hull design to superchargers along the French “Thanks to my education at through problems on your own seat fabric so it was important Riviera,” he says. “We’ve spent UNO, I felt like I could consis- which is realistically what will to meet with those respective this summer perfecting those tently contribute and add ideas happen once you graduate.” 16 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
Second Line Brewing Releases Privateer Ale SECOND LINE BREWING, giving our alumni an opportu- by volume with 15 international UNO in 2005. in collaboration with the nity to enjoy a delicious local bitterness units, making it a light Privateer Ale is available at University of New Orleans, craft beer and support their and thirst-quenching beer. Second Line Brewing, 433 N. has released Privateer Ale, alma mater in the process,” says “We are so pleased to be Bernadotte St., and on campus a refreshing golden ale and President John Nicklow. “We working with my alma mater at The Sandbar inside The Cove the University’s new officially have more than 47,000 alumni in to create Privateer Ale. We look and the UNO Lakefront Arena. licensed beer. Privateer Ale metro New Orleans and I’m sure forward to supporting and It’s also sold at the Balcony represents the first collaboration they’ll be UNO Proud to drink promoting the university that Bar & Café, Katie’s Restaurant between UNO and the indepen- Privateer Ale. If your favorite helped me achieve my goals, just & Bar, Red Door, 504 Craft dently owned Mid-City craft bar, restaurant or grocery store as it has for so many others in Beer Reserve, Craft Beer Cel- brewery, well known for beers doesn’t carry it yet, ask for it.” the city,” says Second Line Brew- lar, Elio’s Wine Warehouse, such as Batture Blonde Ale and Privateer Ale is a crisp gold- ing co-founder Karen Logan, Homegrown Pizza, Lakeside A Saison Named Desire. en ale brewed with Mosaic and who earned a Master of Business Country Club and select loca- “We’re really excited about Idaho 7 hops. It is 4.3% alcohol Administration degree from tions of Breaux Mart. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 17
Howard, Mosterman and Horne Win Faculty Excellence Awards ALTHOUGH THE SERVICES sterman, and John Horne. al practice in biological sciences. The recipients of the Faculty they render in helping to shape Howard, associate professor Johnson said Horne’s active Excellence Awards were the next generation of leaders in biological sciences, received learning methods has helped l-r: John Horne, Andrea are far-reaching and priceless, the mentoring award. improve student success rates Mosterman and Jerome educators aren’t drawn to a Howard created the summer in introductory science courses Howard. career in teaching expecting STEM Scholars Program, and has that tend to be challenging. to get wealthy, University of an “affinity” for connecting with “He cares about innova- New Orleans Provost Mahyar students and helping steer them tion in teaching and he has Amouzegar said during an to success, said Steven Johnson, done a fabulous job in the research, Long said in making April ceremony honoring three College of Science dean. HHMI grant,” Johnson said. the award presentation. faculty members for outstand- The STEM camp, funded in “His approach has really excited “This method of visualizing ing work. part by a grant from the Howard students and allowed them to the topics that she is teaching, “I think all of us are here, Hughes Medical Institute, is succeed.” helps to bring the topics to life not for personal gain, it’s really an intensive six-day residential Kim Martin Long, dean and ensure that students know because we care,” Amouzegar program aimed at boosting the of the College of Liberal Arts, how to research, analyze, discuss said. “We care about our com- academic readiness of incoming Education and Human Develop- with others and present visually munity, we care about our cam- freshmen who have chosen to ment, wished she’d had a history sometimes very complex topics,” pus, we care about our students, pursue majors in science, tech- professor like Mosterman who Long said. “Skills that … transfer we care about our colleagues nology, engineering and math. she said believes in “active and to jobs and life.” and it shows.” Howard researched the idea engaged learning.” Mosterman also allows The ceremony at the Earl and now facilitates the camp, Mosterman, an associate students “voice and choice” in K. Long Library was the second which completed its fifth year at professor in the department of content, Long said. Students year for the Faculty Excellence the University last summer. history and philosophy, also can propose their own historical Awards established by Academic “He’s done a phenomenal received the faculty excellence in topics, and with justification, Affairs to recognize faculty job in mentoring through the teaching and teaching innova- Mosterman incorporates that members in two categories: STEM Scholars HHMI camp,” tion award. into the syllabus. Excellence in Mentoring and Ex- Johnson said in presenting the Mosterman doesn’t just “In these ways history does cellence in Teaching and Teach- award to Howard. lecture about history, but continue to live and these stu- ing Innovation. The awards Johnson also presented one requires her students to seek out dents are able to understand how include a $5,000 prize. of the two awards for teaching historical places around their important understanding our The award recipients were excellence and innovation to neighborhood and produce pre- present time period is in know- Jerome Howard, Andrea Mo- Horne, a professor of profession- sentations based on their own ing their history,” Long said. 18 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
Management Professor Nicole Fuller Left Corporate For The Classroom WHEN SHE WORKED AS A career that allowed for continu- financial analyst in Washington, ous learning, mentoring future D.C., Nicole Fuller, now an leaders and producing work assistant professor of manage- that impacts the community in ment at the University of New meaningful ways,” says Fuller, Orleans, says she felt unfulfilled who teaches business policies and and longed for a career that problems, and business planning. not only challenged her, but In 2010 she was selected to nonprofit organization. Fuller incorporates her re- impacted lives. attend the PhD Project’s annual “The decision to leave my search into the business courses “I didn’t feel like I was mak- conference at which participants corporate position in finance that she teaches at UNO, by ing a difference in anybody’s life, are introduced to the doctoral and move across the country to pushing her students to look and I have a passion for working program process through a va- enroll in graduate school full- beyond the textbook’s typical with young people,” says Fuller, riety of sessions, including talks time was a complete step out on focus on management practices whose expertise is in strategic with deans, professors and cur- faith,” Fuller says. “The support at large, well-known companies. management and entrepreneur- rent doctoral students of color I received and network connec- “I often would use an ship. “A lot of my volunteerism about the benefits of pursuing a tions I established through The example of a large company, but after work had to do with men- business Ph.D. PhD Project made the rocky then I would say, ‘Now let’s look toring and teaching.” Once a candidate is enrolled road from enrollment to gradu- into inner-city Dallas, or let’s Still, the sense of being “mis- in a doctoral program, the ation smoother. I am grateful for apply the same thing to inner- aligned” and not maximizing her program offers resources and its The PhD Project and excited to city New Orleans and let’s see if full potential lingered. members act as a support system, be Dr. Cinco!” this still stands up.’” It was not until she found Fuller says. Fuller’s dissertation “Or- Her research interests herself applying for her fourth “I ended up quitting my ganizational Marginalization also include corporate social corporate job, that Fuller recalled job at the end of 2011 because I and Embeddedness in Dis- responsibility and exploring a conversation with one of her decided to get an MBA,” Fuller tressed Business Environments” how companies choose to serve former Georgetown University says. “A lot of the Ph.D. programs focused on small businesses the communities they operate business professors. He had asked don’t require an MBA, but it does located in Houston’s inner-city in, and business gentrification, whether she’d thought about make you more appealing in the neighborhoods. she says. pursuing a doctorate degree. application process.” That research fuels her “We talk about gentrifica- At the time, she had not, Fuller earned a full graduate passion for advocacy, Fuller tion and how individuals and intent as she was on finishing her scholarship to the University says. She wants to develop and households are being relocated bachelor’s degree and getting a of Arkansas-Fayetteville and share business theories about the and displaced, but there’s also a job. About five years after gradu- went on to earn her doctoral operations of small companies in sense of gentrification happen- ating, she found herself contem- degree in business from Texas poor communities. Management ing in business environments plating whether she really wanted A&M University in 2018. She theories developed from study- sometimes,” Fuller says. to stay in corporate America. also earned the title “Dr. Cinco” ing larger companies in more When new businesses move “I reached back out to my for quintupling the number of affluent environments are not in, and the area becomes a undergraduate professor … and minority business school pro- always applicable, she says. more up-and-coming neighbor- we met for dinner,” Fuller says. “I fessors since The PhD Project “I want to speak for the hood, some existing businesses said ‘What were you saying about started in 1994. business environments that continue to thrive. Others end getting a Ph.D.?’” Fuller, who was honored other people or other research- up shutting down, she says. He told Fuller about the PhD at the organization’s annual ers are not speaking for,” Fuller Fuller, who moved to New Project, a support network aimed conference in October 2018, says. “It’s typical for research- Orleans in 2018, said she’s look- at increasing workplace diversity became the 1,470th doctor- ers to do research on S&P 500 ing forward to expanding her by increasing the number of ally qualified minority busi- firms, but I’m really interested research canvas to include New African Americans, Hispanic ness school professor. In 1994, in the smaller businesses oper- Orleans businesses. Americans and Native Ameri- there were only 294 doctorally ating in distressed communities, “I want to look back and cans on business school faculty. qualified minority professors and I’m interested in the large know that the work I did was Fuller was intrigued. in business schools across the businesses operating in or near meaningful and impactful,” she “My goal was to pursue a Unites States, according to the distressed communities.” says. FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 19
Professor Researches Possible Link Between Common Pain Reliever and Developmental Disorders COULD USING A COMMON, pilot study on the question. over-the-counter pain reliever The goal for the project is contribute to neurodevelopmen- to generate data that can be tal disorders, such as autism, in used to obtain funding to take children? University of New Or- a larger, more in-depth look leans assistant professor of psy- at this possible link, while also chology Christopher Harshaw examining the effects of other is pursuing the answer to that fever-reducing medicine, such question using mice to develop a as ibuprofen, he says. Harshaw “translational” model. said he’d also like to study a Several recent epidemio- common practice among par- logical studies have linked the ents of switching back and forth use of acetaminophen in infants between Tylenol and Motrin to and young children to atten- reduce fever in children. tion deficit and social disorders “Just to do a more thor- in humans, Harshaw says. A ough, full analysis of the situa- few animal studies have also tion,” he says. found long-term differences in While genetics play a major brain and behavior. However, role in the development of few studies have examined autism, epidemiological studies behaviors specifically relevant indicate that other environmen- to autism spectrum disorders, tal factors likely act as triggers and none has used appropri- for certain individuals with ately scaled doses comparable genetic vulnerabilities, Har- to what parents would give shaw says. Studies have shown alone, acetaminophen alone or Assistant professor of psychology children suffering from a fever, a relationship between early fever plus acetaminophen. The Christopher Harshaw conducts so it is not clear if those results exposures to acetaminophen, control group will not receive research on his study of a are relatable to what happens in either prenatally or early in life, any drugs. common pain reliever and its humans, he says. and the emergence of attention “One of the primary things possible contibution to develo- Harshaw’s study focuses deficit hyperactive disorder that I’m doing is giving ap- mental disorders in children. on the developmental reaction (ADHD) and cases of autism propriately scaled doses—doses that mice have to acetamino- with a lot of hyperactivity, he that we know are equivalent phen, best known by its popular says. to what humans get,” Harshaw the nest by day 21, so the last brand name version, Tylenol. His hypothesis is that early says. “We’re actually treating fe- injection on day 11 would be “It’s something that needs to exposure to acetaminophen will ver in the animals; some of the comparable to a 10-year-old be looked at given that it’s the have some long-term impact animals have fever, some don’t. child, Harshaw estimates. His most frequent drug that any kid on the behavior of the mice, Some of them get acetamino- lab will then study the mice for in the U.S. will take, and most especially in males. Toxicol- phen, some don’t. So there are about 80 days, which by then kids will get a lot of it,” Harshaw ogy studies have indicated that four different conditions.” they are sexually mature. says. acetaminophen is more toxic The mice will be injected Harshaw said he expects to Harshaw, whose specialty to males, Harshaw says. His starting around day five, complete his study by December. is developmental psychology, is yearlong study will examine which is comparable to a late “This is just to start the ball also a trained animal research- autism-relevant social, commu- stage gestational human fetus, rolling,” Harshaw says. “Hope- er. He received a one-year grant nicative and repetitive pheno- Harshaw says. Other injections fully we’ll have a good model for $6,600 from the Louisiana types in mice exposed during will be given at day eight and of exposure that is relevant to Board of Regents to complete a early development to fever day 11. Mice get kicked out of what’s going on in humans.” 20 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
Chemists’ Research On Oil Spill Response Seeks Better Measures of Impact While Providing Field Experience For Students F O R T H R E E Y E A R S , Uni- Podgorski says. versity of New Orleans assistant “So basically we’ve had this professors of chemistry David site that’s been left for us to study Podgorski and Phoebe Zito natural attenuation and fate of spent a portion of their sum- crude oil over an extended pe- mer prodding the soil at an oil riod of time,” he says. “It makes spill site near Bemidji, Minn., it a really unique site.” to assess the potential risks of The site is opened to scien- the petroleum-contaminated tific researchers annually for two aquifers. One goal of their weeks, Podgorski says. research is to develop a standard Podgorski and Zito returned of measuring for toxicity in the to the site in June. oxygenated compounds created “There are so many different by the naturally disintegrating areas of research that they have petroleum. a web page just for this project,” The oil spill research project, Podgorski says. “All these differ- which Zito describes as includ- ent scientists are looking at these ing “a suite of scientists,” has different areas.” allowed for collaboration with Podgorski and Zito, whose private companies such as Shell, expertise is in organic geo- Enbridge Energy Inc., the U.S. chemistry, are interested in the Geological Survey Toxic Sub- compositional makeup created stances Hydrology Program, and by the oil spill and the potential networking with other research environmental impact of those professionals. new compounds. In addition, Podgorski and Crude oil is made up pre- Zito have been awarded nearly dominantly of hydrocarbons, $250,000 in grants over the last and is regulated because of its 18 months that have allowed potential harm to the environ- them to offer paid fieldwork ment and to human health. lytical measurement techniques, University of New Orleans research experience to graduate While current regulatory stan- so it’s a pretty huge amount.” graduate student C. Nacaya and undergraduate students. dards call for tests that measure Moreover, because they are Brown (center) works with Jared “That’s what we’re here for those hydrocarbon levels, not tested, their environmental Trost and Barbara Bekins from for; our purpose is providing it does not include testing for impact is unknown. the U.S. Geological Survey at the opportunities for our students,” the potentially toxic oxyhydro- By tracking and testing the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Podgorski says. “It’s about giving carbon – the matter created as various composition of these ox- Natural Attenuation Research them experience.” the petroleum breaks down, the ygenated compounds overtime, Site near Bemidji, Minn. Last year undergraduate professors say. the researchers hope to develop student Katherine Humpal and “It’s a part of natural attenua- levels of “risk zones” that could tration of them is changing too,” graduate student Nacaya Brown tion. The bad part about it is that be applied in Minnesota and Podgorski says. “What we’re accompanied their professors to … we found the tests that they do other spill sites, Podgorski says. trying to work on is establishing the oil spill site. for these compounds are analyti- Knowing the chemical methods to test equal concentra- The Minnesota site, which cally blind to these oxygenated makeup of the compounds and tion and equal composition so is over seen by the U.S. Geologi- compounds that are forming that their potential hazards allows for we can control variables. cal Survey, is a result of a 1979 have the potential to be toxic,” more informed short and long- “We’re trying to lock the pipeline rupture that spilled oil Zito says. “So our work is looking term spill response decisions, compositional understanding over about 10 acres in a remote at those oxygenated compounds he says. that we’re getting here so that area, Podgorski says. The light in the water and how they are “The problem is the com- we can just go test the composi- crude oil was left to naturally mobilized in the aquifer. position of these compounds tion of those water solubles, break down and its changing “We are missing 85 percent is changing, going from being and we’ll already know its composition and movement has of the carbon in the water with a hydrocarbon to oxygenated potential toxicity and where it been studied for nearly 40 years, our current extraction and ana- hydrocarbons. Also the concen- falls in the zones.” FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 21
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UNIVERSIT Y OF NEW ORLEANS ALUMNA “I will be guided by the association’s unparalleled history of Judy Perry Martinez grew up in Chalmette, La., about a block from standing up for the voiceless and its unwavering commitment to sup- the St. Bernard Parish courthouse. Despite that proximity to the par- port our members to be the best that they can be each day for their ish’s judicial epicenter, Martinez, the president of the American Bar clients and the public they serve,” Martinez said during her 2018 Association, never thought about being a lawyer. acceptance speech when she became president-elect. “I just think it’s wonderful when someone says, ‘I was 6-years As president, Martinez will be the official spokesperson for the old, and I knew I wanted to become an attorney,’” Martinez says. “I group. She is also charged with advancing the ABA’s four primary was not one of those children, and I really didn’t know any attorneys goals: growing up.” t4FSWFNFNCFSTCZQSPWJEJOHCFOFĕUT QSPHSBNTBOETFSWJDFT That epiphany, instead, came after a business law class at the Uni- that promote professional growth and quality of life. versity of New Orleans where Martinez was pursuing a marketing t*NQSPWFUIFMFHBMQSPGFTTJPOCZQSPNPUJOHRVBMJUZMFHBMFEVDB degree. The professor asked Martinez to stay after class one day, and tion, competence, ethical conduct, professionalism, pro bono and gave her a nudge that would change the trajectory of her life. public service “He said, ‘You should go to law school,’” Martinez, an attorney t&MJNJOBUFCJBTBOEFOIBODFEJWFSTJUZ with Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn LLP in New Orleans, recalls t"EWBODFUIFSVMFPGMBX with bemusement. “To have that expression of confidence, that he “Everything we do, we do to advance those four goals,” Mar- saw something in me that made him think that I should go to law tinez says. “In some organizations, the presidency sort of zigs and school, was something that made me turn that way.” zags because it’s just one year, but our organization really strives After graduating from UNO in 1979, Martinez headed to Tulane for strategic leadership and continual leadership that advances the University for law school. She graduated law school in 1982 and organization’s goal.” embarked on a corporate legal career that has spanned nearly four From her election in 2018, Martinez traveled with the immediate decades, including a stint as vice president and chief compliance past-president Bob Carlson to various events, including spending a officer for Northrop Grumman and a fellow-in-residence at the week providing pro bono legal work at a residential detention center Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, the multibillion-dollar aerospace company, Martinez spent 21 years as a commercial litigator at Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, where she was a member of its management committee. “That just tells you that somebody’s belief in a young person can change their lives,” Martinez says referring to her former marketing professor’s suggestion. On August 13, Martinez was sworn in as the president of the American Bar Association, an organization of more than 400,000 members that, among other ser- vices it provides, recommends legal policies and sets academic accreditation require- ments for U.S. law schools. Martinez has held various leadership roles in the ABA for more than 30 years, includ- ing chairing the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which evaluates all prospective nominees to the federal bench. “I see the active participation in a bar association as essential to good lawyering,” Martinez says. “I can attest to the fact that they expose you to new ideas, different thoughts and expose you to in Texas where she helped interview migrants, some of whom were people with different perspectives than you have and, as a result, they seeking asylum in the United States. help you hone your skills.” “You see people who are desperate to come to this country,” Mar- tinez says regarding her observations of the detention center. “They ROLE AS ABA PRESIDENT need help telling their stories … getting information about the (legal) Martinez’s inauguration took place during the organization’s process and what’s going to happen in court when they pursue their annual meeting in San Francisco. Louisiana Supreme Court Chief claims is critically important.” Justice Bernette Johnson conducted the swearing-in ceremony at The ABA projects that its members will provide legal aid to more Martinez’s request. than 20,000 unaccompanied minors this year to help them make Martinez’s husband, Rene, along with their four children, at- informed decisions throughout the immigration process. tended. In June, the ABA issued a statement decrying the “inhumane 24 S I LV E R & B L U E FALL 2019
and illegal” treatment of unaccompanied immigrant children held in dome, Uptown, and, on a recent summer day, a cloudless blue sky. government custody, as had been widely reported in the news media. “I love the rain,” Martinez says. “It just feels great. You see the “We issue statements if we feel an issue is critical for us to speak clouds roll in and the rain.” on,” Martinez says. Her office is neatly arranged with sleek furnishings that comple- ment the abundance of natural light and the aerial view. Pictures of STELLAR LEGAL CAREER her husband and their four children line a bookshelf. There’s also a Martinez’s previous leadership roles in the ABA includes a 2011 picture of Martinez and several women associates at the firm laugh- appointment as chair of the ABA Standing Committee on the Feder- ing together—it was taken during “the early years,” Martinez says. al Judiciary, which evaluates all prospective nominees to the federal Despite a career steeped in service and accomplishments, Mar- bench, she served as the ABA’s lead representative to the U.N., has tinez shrugs off compliments and counters that she’s been given been a member of the ABA Board of Governors and a member of its opportunities. executive committee. “I see them more as opportunities than accomplishments,” she She previously has served as chair of the 170,000 member ABA says. Young Lawyers Division, a member of the ABA Commission on In the 1950s, Martinez said her dad owned a furniture store Women in the Profession and chair of the ABA Commission on on the corner of St. Claude and Desire in the Upper 9th Ward. Her Domestic Violence. three older brothers attended Holy Cross, while she graduated from Martinez worked with other Louisiana bar leaders to establish St. Mary’s Dominican High School. She initially attended LSU after the New Orleans Pro Bono Project, and served as its first chair in high school, but her family’s finances dictated a transfer after three the early 1980s. She has received numerous awards and recognition semesters, Martinez says. for her work in the legal field, including the Sam Dalton Capital De- “We had a good life, and UNO fit in perfectly,” she says. “I fense Advocacy Award from the Louisiana Association of Criminal worked two jobs while I was there, and was blessed to have a strong Defense Counsel in 1997, the Michelle Pitard Wynne Professional- education.” ism Award from the Association of Women Attorneys in 1998, and Her siblings and one of her sons live in Baton Rouge. Her old- est brother, Al, also an attorney and UNO alumnus, moved there following Hurricane Katrina, she said. She and her husband recently downsized to a “I will be guided by the smaller home in New Orleans about 10 blocks away from the house they’d lived in for 27 years, she says. association’s unparalleled To her delight, another son and his wife recently purchased a house nearby after living out-of-state for a decade. history of standing up “They moved 200 steps from our new house,” Martinez says. “That’s the greatest joy! His dog was for the voiceless and its over this morning.” Her family, which also includes a daughter and unwavering commitment son living in Washington, D.C. keeps her rooted and motivated, she says. to support our members “I have a big extended family and we love getting together,” Martinez says. “We eat; it’s all about the food!” to be the best that they As she prepared to take the helm of the organiza- tion that bills itself as the “national representative of can be each day for their the legal profession,” Martinez already knows the fre- netic pace of the job. Her schedule is basically booked clients and the public through next year with national and international obligations. To handle the chockablock schedule, Martinez they serve.” says she tries to exercise daily and give herself at least 10 minutes every morning to center herself. She has a “calming” app on her phone that provides daily themes. the Alliance for Justice Award in 1999 from the National Gay and “Today it was accepting criticism,” she says. “It’s just about 90 Lesbian Law Association. seconds to two minutes of talk at the end, but the first eight minutes She was named The Outstanding Young Lawyer in the State of are just music and breathing, and then I walk.” Louisiana in 1990 and the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s 2001 Distin- Martinez said she is honored and humbled to become the new guished Attorney. In 2012, the Federal Bar Association, New Orleans ABA president, where she also will represent her state, city and chapter, presented her with its Camille Gravel Public Service Award. alma mater. “I’m so proud to be doing this and being from Louisiana and “OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ACCOMPLISHMENTS” from New Orleans and being a UNO graduate,” she says. “It could be The half-dozen floor-to-ceiling windows in Martinez’s Poydras someone else easily doing this, but because of all the support all these Street corner office, located on the 30th floor in downtown New years, that’s why I’m able to do this. Orleans, offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River, the Super- “There is nobody more proud of her city.” FALL 2019 S I LV E R & B L U E 25
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