College of Arts and Sciences - Spring 2021 - University of Miami

FROST INSTITUTE TAKES SHAPE | EXPLORING COVID-19 IN THE CLASSROOM | DATA SCIENCE FOR ALL 

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | SPRING 2021 

Rewilding 

the Caribbean 

Restoring a lost ecosystem pg. 14 

ARTS | SCIENCES 2

InsideVOLUME 22 | ISSUE 3 | ARTS & SCIENCES | SPRING 2021 

DEPARTMENTS 

02 

AROUND CAMPUS 

Scenes and sites on the 

Coral Gables campus 

04 

A&S NEWS 

Frost Institute construction 

and more A&S news 

10 

FIVE QUESTIONS 

Laurie Silvers, Chair of UM’s 

Board of Trustees 

12 

ALUMNI NEWS 

UM alumna joins White House 

communications team 

13 

MAJOR INFATUATION 

Students and alumni share their 

sentiments on psychology 

20 

CLASS SPOTLIGHT 

A new undergrad course 

decodes data science for all 

21 

STUDENT DIGEST 

UM senior charts her 

own stellar path 

22 

FACULTY CORNER 

A&S faculty members awarded 

by Faculty Senate 

FEATURE 

14 

REWILDING THE CARIBBEAN 

The restoration of a diverse island 

ecosystem 

23 

PHILANTHROPY 

A generous gift to create a new 

Judge-in-Residence program 

24 

A&S RESEARCH 

Discovering the scientific wonders 

of zebrafish 

26 

BOOKMARKS 

A look at recent publications by 

A&S faculty 

28 

CLASS NOTES 

News and notes from our 

A&S alumni community 

32 

END NOTE 

A Constellation of Passions 

and Pursuits 

10 

20 

21 

24

FROM THE DEAN 

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI 

SPRING 2021 

Dean 

Leonidas G. Bachas 

Senior Associate Deans 

Jennifer Ferriss-Hill 

Maria Galli Stampino 

Kenneth J. Voss 

Associate Deans 

Charles Mallery 

Nicole Leeper Piquero 

Assistant Deans 

Emily Long 

Maryann Tatum Tobin 

Director of Strategic Initiatives 

Jeanne Marie Luis 

Senior Business Officer 

Dawn Reynolds 

Executive Director of Development 

Patrick E. Stewart 

Project Manager and Assistant 

to the Dean 

Rose Ketlie Glemaud 

Editor/Writer 

Deseraé E. del Campo 

Editorial Contributors 

Maya Bell 

Brittany Bomnin 

Rim El Belkacemi 

Barbara Gutierrez 

David Menconi 

Richard Westlund 

Design and Layout 

Cowen Design, Inc. 

arts&sciences is produced in the fall and spring 

by the College of Art and Sciences Office of 

Communications. Through the magazine, we seek 

to increase awareness of the College’s activities 

by telling the stories of faculty, staff, students, and 

alumni. Send comments, requests for permissions 

to reprint material, requests for extra copies of past 

issues, and change-of-address notification to: 

College of Arts and Sciences, P.O. Box 248004 

Coral Gables, FL 33124-4620 

Telephone 305.284.2485 

casmagazine@miami.edu 

All contents © 2021, University of Miami. 

Reproduction in whole or in part without written 

permission is prohibited. Visit the College of Arts 

and Sciences online at as.miami.edu 

Past issues of the magazine are 

available online at: as.miami.edu 

Dear Friends, 

By any measure, the past year has been a 

time of unprecedented uncertainty, tragedy, 

and challenge. But it has also illuminated the 

boundless human capacity for creativity, 

Leonidas G. Bachas, Dean 

compassion, and connection—qualities the 

College of Arts and Sciences 

College of Arts and Sciences has witnessed 

and fostered in abundant measure throughout this difficult time. 

In light of our ambitious educational and research missions, the dedication and 

ingenuity of our College community, and the scope and quality of our programs and 

initiatives, it is perhaps not a complete surprise that our educational and 

intellectual pursuits would thrive even amid a devastating pandemic. Still, it is with 

special pride that we reflect on our institutional resilience and impressive recent 

achievements. Our faculty, students, and staff truly rose to the challenge, expanding 

knowledge and advancing our work in an array of inspiring ways. 

As we joyfully prepare for the first in-person Commencement ceremonies to be 

held since the pandemic brought normal life to a halt, we are delighted to share with 

you some of our activities over the past several months. In these pages, for example, 

you’ll see the progress on the highly anticipated Frost Institute of Chemistry and 

Molecular Science, designed in every detail to elevate STEM research and discovery. 

You’ll meet the dedicated biology professor and conservationist and student team 

embarking on an ingenious project to revitalize a precious ecosystem. You’ll read 

about new courses to introduce students to the complex nature of viruses and the 

influential field of data science. And you’ll get a peek at a project, spearheaded by 

one of our most dynamic art historians, to broaden access to a magnificent trove of 

creative works from an acclaimed artist of color. 

Looking ahead, the College’s mission to prepare students for productive lives and 

successful careers in an ever-changing world remains our greatest responsibility. 

With your ongoing support, we will continue to pursue opportunities to make the 

world a healthier, more vibrant, and more equitable place amid both current and 

future challenges. As always, we are profoundly grateful for your engagement with 

and commitment to the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Sincerely, 

Leonidas G. Bachas 

Make a difference. 

Your gift to the College of Arts and Sciences helps us 

support student scholarships and retain leading faculty. 

as.miami.edu/donate 

ARTS | SCIENCES 1

Around Campus 

2 

SPRING 2021

SWEET CAMPUS VIBES 

Students wait their turn to grab a tasty 

treat on the Coral Gables campus. 

Photo: Evan Garcia/University of Miami 

ARTS | SCIENCES 3

A|SNEWS 

A&SNEWS 

Since arriving at the University of Miami a 

decade ago, Leonidas G. Bachas, dean of the 

College of Arts and Sciences, has dreamed 

of a research center where world-class 

chemists and molecular scientists could 

work with experts from other disciplines to 

tackle a myriad of global challenges, from clean water and 

disease to energy and food production. 

Now, the analytical and biological chemist’s dream is 

literally becoming concrete. Recently, a convoy of trucks 

rumbled to the construction site of the Frost Institute of 

Chemistry and Molecular Science (FICMS) to deliver the 

40 loads of concrete that now form the second-floor deck 

of the five-story wet-lab facility rising just east of the 

McLamore Fountain on Memorial Drive. 

Following three years of planning and design, and 

months of site preparation, construction on the $60 

million project—the first of a planned group of interdisciplinary 

research centers that will operate under the Frost 

Institutes for Science and Engineering umbrella—began 

last October and is moving apace to open in the summer of 

2022. The highest floor deck, for a mechanical penthouse 

above the fifth floor, is slated to be poured this spring. 

Both the roof and the skin of the nearly 94,000-squarefoot 

building, which will be encased in precast concrete 

and impact-resistant glass panels, is scheduled to be in 

place this fall. 

“Completion is over a year away, but to watch the 

progress from my window is very gratifying,” says Bachas, 

interim director of both the FICMS and Frost Institutes 

INAUGURAL FROST INSTITUTE 

TAKES SHAPE 

4 


umbrella, whose office in the Ashe Administration Building 

overlooks the construction site. “It is hard to overstate 

the role this building will play in moving discovery science 

forward. Not only will it help attract the kind of top 

scientists we are looking for—people who are creative, 

innovative, and infused with an interdisciplinary spirit— 

but it will attract graduate and undergraduate students 

for the opportunity to work in the labs of renown chemists 

and molecular researchers.” 

A key initiative of the strategic Roadmap to Our 

New Century, the Frost Institutes took flight in 

2017 when the University’s longtime benefactors, 

Phillip and Patricia Frost, announced a landmark 

$100 million gift to create a multidisciplinary 

research hub focused on scientific discovery. 

Jeffrey Duerk, the University’s executive vice 

president for academic affairs and provost, noted 

that the inaugural institute’s location underscores 

the importance of its mission. 

“Chemistry and molecular science give rise to 

everything that we can see and touch, from the 

air we breathe, to our thoughts, to the objects we 

use daily—from our cells to our cellphones,” Duerk 

says. “From the emerging COVID vaccines to the 

microchips in our laptops, our lives are shaped by 

chemistry and molecular science. Because they 

are both central to so many fields and pervasive in 

their impact, it’s fitting that the first of the Frost 

Institutes is rising at the center of the Coral Gables 

campus, where it will propel the University’s 

trajectory as a leader in STEM research, education, 

and interdisciplinary discovery.” 

Exactly what research will be pursued in the 

building, which initially will include 15,000 

square feet of wet-lab space on the third floor, 

will depend largely on the vision of the inaugural 

director, who is expected to be in place by this 

summer. For now, a faculty member is on board, 

and there are plans to hire more than a dozen 

faculty members who will also teach across 

the University. 

As such, Duerk, Bachas, and other members of the 

steering committee, who helped guide the FICMS’s design, 

have ensured that the L-shaped structure will have 

the flexibility to meet the needs of a multitude of 

The Frost Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Science 

is on pace to open in the summer of 2022. 

interdisciplinary researchers now and in the future. 

Designed by Harvard Jolly Architecture, a Florida firm 

with expertise in higher education, and constructed 

by Skanska, a global firm that built the award-winning 

Frost School of Music’s Patricia Louise Frost Studios, the 

FICMS has an open design, with moveable wet-lab benches 

and fixtures, allowing for the free flow of both ideas and 

people. The building is also designed to achieve, at the 

minimum, a silver rating from the Leadership in Energy 

and Environmental Design (LEED) green building 

certification program. 

As the University’s research endeavors grow, the FICMS 

will also have room to expand. When the building opens, 

the fourth and fifth floors will remain empty shells. Eventually, 

each will accommodate another 15,000-square-feet 

of wet-lab space. The first floor will primarily be a public 

space, featuring a great hall and seminar rooms. But it also 

will have a microscopy imaging suite, where researchers can 

examine biological and other materials at the nanoscale. 

For example, they can determine the suitability of those 

materials for biomedical devices or energy-storage 

applications. 

And the second floor, the site of the building’s first major 

concrete pour, will house the director’s office and 

innovation labs, where faculty members from across the 

University can take up residence for an extended period to 

collaborate on synergistic research. 

But Bachas is not waiting for the FICMS to inspire such 

collaborations. To date, the institute has awarded four 

seed grants to junior faculty members who teamed up with 

senior faculty members to pursue new research in molecular 

science that could lead to grants and publications. Their 

topics include molecular systems for targeted drug delivery, 

tissue-like electrical conducting materials, the role of metals 

in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the 

prediction of protein structure for drug design. n 

ARTS | SCIENCES 5

A|SNEWS 

A&SNEWS 

We need to talk 

Online program led by UM psychology 

professor assists troubled couples. 

A 

cross a broad array of 

institutions and businesses, 

the COVID-19 pandemic 

shutdown caused unprecedented 

disruptions and challenges. 

But some enterprises that were 

already operating online continued 

without a hitch—and even saw 

demand for their services increase. 

One of them is OurRelationship.com, 

an online marital counseling program 

founded and overseen by UM 

psychology professor Brian Doss. 

“Beyond the usual difficulties often 

faced by couples, the pandemic has 

triggered a lot of additional stressors,” 

Doss says. “People are having to 

renegotiate family roles, work-life 

balance, and other issues. 

“Because we can do everything 

remotely, our service delivery model 

makes more sense than ever these 

days,” he notes. “Our clients could 

access continuous services from their 

own homes, without interruption, 

when in-person workshops were 

impossible.” 

Created by Doss ten years ago to 

assist low-income couples unable or 

reluctant to avail themselves of 

in-person sessions, OurRelationship. 

com is promoted through social 

media and online advertising, appearing 

in results for searches on terms 

such as “free marriage counseling.” 

The program now employs 15 online 

counseling coaches, some of them UM 

doctoral students in clinical psychology. 

Working eight to ten hours per 

week, the coaches provide 20-minute 

virtual counseling sessions to complement 

eight hours of online content. 

Flexible hours accommodate couples’ 

work schedules. 

Funded by grants from the National 

Institute of Health and the Administration 

for Children and Families, 

OurRelationship.com has served some 

2,000 couples and individuals in all 

50 states, D.C., Guam, and Puerto 

Rico. With a new five-year grant 

from the NIH children and families 

program, Doss expects that figure to 

double. 

OurRelationship.com has also 

attracted interest from the U.S. armed 

services, making outreach to veteran 

and active-duty military couples a 

new priority. “The military is excited 

about the program as an option for 

deployed couples coping with multiple 

stresses,” Doss says. “Factoring 

in time differences when scheduling 

coaching calls for far-flung couples 

can be a challenge. But with coaches 

on both coasts, we can usually work 

it out.” 

Doss reports that the program 

improves individual as well as 

relationship well-being. The beneficial 

impact tends to be long-lasting, 

persisting for a year or more. 

“Anecdotally, we have seen an 

increase in the number of couples 

seeking a program like ours, 

especially with a lot of other things 

not being available,” says Doss. “More 

than a year into the pandemic, a lot 

of therapists have adapted with 

telehealth, so we may not have quite 

as unique a niche as we used to. Zoom 

fatigue is also a real factor these days. 

“Overall, however, people have 

become more comfortable seeking out 

these kinds of services online—and 

that is to everyone’s benefit.” 

For more information about Brian 

Doss and other psychology faculty 

research, visit psy.miami.edu. n 

6 


Mighty— 

But Not Always Malevolent 

New biology course explores viruses 

and their varied impact 

A 

ffecting life in every corner of the globe, viruses 

are the focus of a new Department of Biology 

course that attracted many students this spring. 

According to assistant professor Cynthia 

Silveira, “The Biology of Viruses” examines the complex 

nature of viruses as biological entities—an inquiry that has 

gained extraordinary relevance during a global pandemic. 

“The Biology of Viruses is not a typical virology course, 

which would study viruses as mere pathogens,” says 

Silveira. “Viruses are integral parts of ecosystems and 

organisms. We are studying their molecular biology, their 

ecology, and how their interactions with cellular 

organisms shape the evolution of life itself.” 

In development before the novel coronavirus emerged, 

the course has since been altered to address concerns and 

questions about the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. 

“This course has given me a new perspective on viruses,” 

says senior Aloki Patel, who is majoring in biology and 

criminology, with minors in chemistry and exercise 

physiology. “Especially during these unprecedented times, 

the course is extremely relevant and provides thorough 

information on viruses as fast-evolving ‘biological entities.’ 

“It has definitely increased my understanding of how 

viruses interact with humans and other animals.” 

The coronavirus pandemic serves as a compelling 

real-time case study for the students to recognize and 

analyze a viral phenomenon and its impact on humans. 

Viruses are best known for their role in plagues but—as 

fundamental components of biology—they also serve 

important and often beneficial roles in human life. 

“Among the most surprising things students learn is 

that a large fraction of the human genome is composed of 

viruses that became incorporated in the genomes of our 

For more information 

about the Department 

of Biology, visit 

biology.as.miami.edu 

ancestors,” Silveira says. “Some of these viral genomes 

gave origin to genes that, for example, form the placenta 

and participate in memory storage.” 

Silveira ensures that students take an active role in 

learning about viruses by providing them with an array 

of tools and research methods to understand the multifaceted 

nature of these tiny but powerful entities. At the 

start of the semester, students were given a genome in the 

form of a digital file, and every week they learn a different 

bioinformatic tool with which to study it. The goal is for 

students to develop different methods and approaches to 

navigate, process, and understand the information and 

eventually reach their own conclusions about the genome 

they studied. 

“Having a background 

on the structure and activity 

of viruses will provide 

me with much-needed 

insight as I prepare 

for my master’s degree 

in public health,’’ says 

Alexandrea Masocco, a 

senior who is double-majoring in biology, and religion and 

health care. “It’s really great that the University is offering 

this class, especially during a pandemic. 

“The more we understand viruses, the more knowledge 

we can apply to diseases and treatments.” n 

ARTS | SCIENCES 7

A&SNEWS 

Elevating Indigenous voices 

UM senior shares experience from new course offered in Native American and 

Global Indigenous Studies program. 

The University of Miami’s new multidisciplinary Native American and Global Indigenous Studies 

program strives to elevate students’ understanding of the unique histories and perspectives of 

Native communities. The NAGIS program offered its first course this spring, “Introduction to 

Native and Indigenous Peoples and Perspectives,” taught by Miami Law alumna Caroline LaPorte, 

a judicial advisor for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and an immediate descendant of the Little River Band 

of the Ottawa Indians (Bear Clan) of Manistee, Michigan. Natalia Brown, a senior majoring in Ecosystem 

Science and Policy, took the course this spring and shares her perspective on how it impacted her. 

A&S News: Why did you decide to take this course? 

NB: My research interests on issues of energy justice and environmental 

health are inextricably linked to the scholarship and grassroots activist 

traditions of Native American and global Indigenous populations. 

Beyond my own independent studies, I’ve never taken a formal class on 

the ways in which Native peoples are experiencing and conceptualizing 

these struggles, so this class immediately caught my eye! 

A&S News: How has the course impacted you? 

NB: Most importantly, the course made me realize that one class on these 

issues is not nearly enough. I have learned a great deal about my own 

positionality and privilege while gaining a more nuanced understanding 

of the sociohistorical context that we are living in. 

A&S News: Would you recommend this course to other UM 

students? 

NB: Yes! I highly recommend the class. It was the perfect mix of intellectual 

challenge and self-reflection for future growth. It’s relevant for all 

students, and it provides a great first stepping stone for us to have more 

conversations about accountability and equity as members of the 

University of Miami community. n 

8 


Artwork by Caroline LaPorte

Photos courtesy of Léo Holder and the Geoffrey Holder Estate 

Accessing the personal, archival collection 

of actor, dancer, composer, choreographer, 

and painter Geoffrey Holder. 

The Geoffrey Holder Project 

Throughout his enriched life 

as a performer and artist, 

Geoffrey Holder collected 

hundreds of mementoes, 

artwork, and keepsakes that could fill 

a warehouse. And he did—a 1,200- 

sq.-ft., climate-controlled warehouse 

in New Jersey preserved by his son, 

Léo Holder, to be exact. 

“Among his many talents, Holder 

was an incredible archivist,” says Art 

and Art History Professor Erica Moiah 

James. “He literally had warehouses 

where he kept all of his collections, 

costumes, papers, videos, and of 

course his artwork. He had such a 

complete life and knew that his life 

could teach others.” 

Now, with the help of a $200,000 

Mellon Foundation grant and the 

determination of Professor James, 

Geoffrey Holder’s creative world will 

be available to scholars and the public 

through a new digital platform and 

print publication focusing on 

Holder’s life and his 

artistic influences. 

“I’m interested 

in African 

diasporic arts, which doesn’t include 

only people of African descent but 

people who engage within that imaginary,” 

says James. “We know as 

scholars that accessibility to archival 

information is very limited in the Caribbean, 

so when it came to accessing 

Holder’s art and personal collection, 

we wanted to think about different 

ways in which we could deliver African 

diaspora scholarship to transform the 

conversation about Holder’s work as a 

multi-modal, interdisciplinary artist.” 

Geoffrey Holder was a 

man of tremendous talent. 

Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad 

and Tobago, Holder embodied 

the life of an artist who displayed 

an artistic awakening 

as a 

Caribbean 

creative within the 

African diaspora and 

global black arts 

movement. Holder, who 

starred on Broadway and 

choreographed original works 

for companies like the Alvin Ailey 

American Dance Theatre, also starred 

in Hollywood films like “Live and Let 

Die” and “Annie.” In 1974, he won 

a Tony Award for best director and 

costume designer for the original 

Broadway production of “The Wiz.” 

James, with the Holder family and 

researcher, Dr. Daniela Fifi, will 

organize the archive by making the 

items from Holder’s collection accessible 

to scholars and the public. The 

collection will be administered under 

the University of Miami’s Center for 

Global Black Studies. “The aim is to 

give a fresh and critical 

perspective into 

Holder’s life as an 

artist, dancer, and 

performer for not only 

scholars 

interested in 

his work 

but also for the 

public and 

students 

here at 

UM who can 

learn a 

great deal 

about per- 

severance 

and the 

capacity 

of art to 

transform 

lives and 

perhaps 

worlds,” says 

James. n 

ARTS | SCIENCES 9

1. What are your top priorities 

as Chair of UM’s Board of 

Trustees? 

As Chair of the Board, I will 

aggressively support the University’s 

continuing commitment to academic 

excellence and outstanding healthcare. 

We are an exceptional 

institution with some of the very best 

and brightest stars among our faculty 

and students. I see my obligation to 

do whatever I can to promote our 

status as a highly respected 

institution and to provide a clear 

path forward to grow even brighter. 

2. Where do you see UM in the 

next 10 years and what excites 

you most about the University’s 

future? 

We are a comparably young university 

and as a result there is an excitement 

and energy to what is possible. Our 

past is a springboard to our future— 

the future of creating new forms of 

teaching and research; the future of 

new forms of healthcare; the future 

of creating and molding graduates 

who are innovative and bold. That is 

where I want UM to be in ten years 

and beyond. 

3. As an Arts and Sciences 

alumna, what do you see as 

the value of an arts and sciences 

education in the 21st century? 

Education is a multi-faceted 

experience. An arts and sciences 

education exposes students to a world 

of diverse thoughts and ideas, which 

promotes the development of a wellrounded 

intellectual perspective. At 

UM, we are committed to making this 

a significant goal for every student and 

have developed innovative programs 

and curricula to promote these 

initiatives. 

4. Why is civic and social 

engagement necessary for 

women today who are shifting 

their roles from volunteers to 

philanthropists and donating not 

only their time but their money 

to help different causes? 

Women today have opportunities that 

were not available in the recent past. As 

a result, we have become significant 

influencers in all areas of 

contemporary society. To be best 

equipped to successfully maneuver as 

leaders, women need to have an 

understanding as to what they can do 

to influence as well as support causes 

they care about. Shifting from 

volunteer to philanthropist allows a 

further degree of support to ensure that 

charitable causes are stable and 

sustained. 

LAURIE 

SILVERS 

Psychology Major, ’74 

Media Entrepreneur 

and Chair of UM Board of Trustees 

5. Over the years, you have made 

impactful gifts to the University 

of Miami. Would you please help 

us understand what motivated 

you to make each gift? When it 

comes to our graduates and their 

prospects for the future, what 

advice would you offer them? 

Every gift I have made to the 

University of Miami has been made 

with the single goal of supporting the 

best educational opportunities for our 

students. Whether it has been to 

provide scholarships, funding to 

attract faculty scholars or innovative 

research—all have been made with 

this one goal in mind. 

When our students graduate from 

the University of Miami, they leave 

with an incredible education that will 

prepare them for a successful future. 

I am an entrepreneur so I always 

look at how I can influence change. 

If I can offer one piece of advice for 

our graduates it would be to embrace 

change, look beyond the obvious and 

go for what you believe in. That will 

give your life meaning and no matter 

where you go and what you do, you 

will have taken your own path to 

get there. 

QUESTIONS 

Lib 

10 SPRING 2021

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Data Science 

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Security Management 

Go anywhere 

from HERE 

EXPLORE INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS AT A RT S & SCIEN C E S 

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ARTS | SCIENCES 11

ALUMNINEWS 

It's all about communications 

Alumna joins Biden’s all-women communications team 

In a historic move, President Joe Biden appointed an 

all-women senior communications team to work in 

his administration. The group includes University of 

Miami alumna, Maria del Pilar “Pili” Tobar, who was 

named as Deputy White House Communications Director. 

Tobar graduated from the University of Miami in 2009 

with a double major in motion pictures and political 

science. In 2010, she earned a Master in Public Administration 

(MPA) from the College of Arts and Sciences. 

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside 

this group of women. They are a talented, experienced, and 

knowledgeable group of communicators. And many of us 

are also moms,” says Tobar, who lives with her wife and 

3-year-old daughter in Washington, D.C. 

Born in Florida and raised in part in Guatemala, 

Tobar traces her love of politics at the U. She became an 

active member of the Young Democrats and helped members 

of the media during former President Bill Clinton’s 

visit to the campus. She attended presidential debates and 

other political events during her time on campus. 

“UM was such a vibrant place for politics,” she says. “My 

interest in political science increased when I learned how 

engaging people in the electoral system and making sure that 

they had a voice could change the lives of millions of people.” 

Casey Klofstad, professor of political science, was one of 

her professors. “I had the pleasure of working with Ms. 

Tobar when she was a UM student and later in 2012 in her 

role as press secretary for America's Voice, an immigration 

reform advocacy organization,” he says. “Pili is deeply 

dedicated to public service, and the Department of Political 

Science is honored to see one of our graduates in the 

president’s administration." 

Jonathan West, professor and director of the MPA 

program, says that he remembers her as someone who had 

a strong interest in American politics, communications, and 

film. “She was a pleasure to teach, always willing to share 

her insights in class discussions and an excellent writer.” 

After getting her master’s degree, Tobar moved to 

Washington, D.C. where she worked for America’s Voice. 

She also worked for the Democratic National Committee 

as regional press secretary for the western region, and 

she became communications director for the Latino 

Victory Project. 

Tobar also did stints as communications director for 

Congressman Ruben Gallego and media director for 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, where she 

ensured that all senate democrats took their messages to 

Hispanic outlets as well as to mainstream ones. Her 

extensive experience got her the job of communications 

director for coalitions for the Biden-Harris campaign. 

Tobar joined a team that includes Kate Bedingfield, 

White House communications director; Jennifer Psaki, 

the administration's press secretary; Symone Sanders, 

Vice President Kamala Harris’ chief spokesperson; Ashley 

Etienne, communications director for the vice president; 

Karine Jean-Pierre, principal deputy press secretary; and 

Elizabeth Alexander, communications director to incoming 

First Lady Jill Biden. n 

12 SPRING 2021

MAJORINFATUATION 

Discovering how humans tick is just one reason why these UM 

undergrads and alumni decided to major in psychology. 

“Psychology is the key to unlocking the synergy 

of neuroscience, the conscious mind, and human 

behavior. A psychology degree from UM gives you 

invaluable tools to analyze and examine phenomena 

on the individual, group, and societal levels in the 

service of a better tomorrow.” 

Connor Mears, Class of 2019 

"I love my major because it covers a broad overview 

of the many different fields of psychology, while 

giving you the flexibility to explore the realms you 

feel more intrigued by.” 

Alexis Adornato, Class of 2022 

“At the University of Miami, I was able 

to explore my interests in the major 

of psychology. I was able to take a 

variety of psychology-based classes 

that ultimately led me to my passion 

in applied behavioral psychology.” 

Zoë Ifill, Class of 2019 

“Majoring in psychology helped 

me figure out what I was good at 

and how I could use my skills and 

experiences to make a difference 

in others’ lives. The best part 

about majoring in psychology 

was the connection I made with 

faculty members and the Child 

and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety 

Treatment Program (CAMAT). 

Having people in the 

department who believed in me 

and my potential and having the 

opportunity to participate in 

research, gave me the confidence 

and real-world experience 

I needed to pursue a career in 

clinical psychology.” 

Liz Halliday, 

Class of 2017, second-year 

clinical psychology PhD 

student 

"I love studying neuroscience 

because it has allowed me to delve 

into the dynamics of emotion and the 

role individual differences play. I have 

been able to continue developing my 

interest in neuropsychology through 

my research in the Miami Affective 

Neuroscience and Translational 

Experimental Enterprise (MANATEE) 

lab and feel excited to go further into 

the subject in graduate school.” 

Gillian Mitchell, Class of 2021 

ARTS | SCIENCES 13

NATURE'S WAY: UM students visit the Three Jays 

Tortoise Sanctuary where Dr. Galetti is performing 

experiments on seed dispersal by Galapagos tortoises. 

Rewilding 

the 

Caribbean 

UM biologist and conservationist 

leads collaborative initiative 

to restore ecosystem diversity 

Thousands of years ago, the Caribbean islands were replete with giant tortoises, macaws, monkeys, iguanas, and 

fruiting trees. Between overdevelopment, climate change, sea level rise, and other environmental 

insults, today’s Caribbean bears a pale resemblance to its lush primeval past. 

While the clock cannot be turned back, a biologist with the College of Arts and Sciences is taking steps toward 

restoring these rich island ecosystems through “Rewilding the Caribbean,” a collaborative initiative with long-term 

implications for the entire Western Hemisphere. 

“High rates of animal extinctions have massively disturbed the Caribbean islands,” says Mauro Galetti, associate 

professor of biology and director of the John C. Gifford Arboretum. “These extinctions have far-reaching consequences 

for the survival of plant populations. 

14 


“They may ultimately lead to a collapse of important ecosystem functions such as carbon storage, which mediates the 

impact of greenhouse gases.” 

Over the past 7,000 years, at least ten species of giant tortoises, four species of primates, several species of macaws, and ten 

species of giant sloths have become extinct due to human poaching and habitat loss. “The loss of the giant tortoises is particularly 

devastating, because they are frugivores, eating fruits and distributing the seeds throughout their habitats,” says Galetti. 

TURNING THE TIDE 

To bring back some of the Caribbean’s lost biological diversity, Galetti has launched a pilot project studying the role of giant 

tortoises in the germination of Caribbean plants. “The Caribbean is ideal for rewilding,” he notes, “because there are so 

ARTS | SCIENCES 15

Alumnus gift will enhance Arboretum 

UM’s John C. Gifford Arboretum is 

a destination not only for education 

and research, but reflection and 

relaxation. A generous gift from 

Eric D. Brueggeman, A.B. ’13, 

will help revitalize the facility with 

new benches, an easily accessible 

path, water fountains, and other 

features. 

“This wonderful gift will transform 

the Arboretum, creating a 

‘must-see’ natural campus site for 

’Canes and the community,” Galetti says. 

Last fall, College of Engineering student teams, supervised 

by Associate Professors Esber Andiroglu and Matthew Trussoni 

of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental 

Engineering, crafted sustainable plans to attract more visitors to 

the Arboretum. The students’ ideas include recycled rubber 

pathway, benches with solar panels, and outlets to power laptops 

or cell phones. An outdoor pavilion could serve as a classroom 

and feature a rooftop lounge for visitors to appreciate the 

surrounding greenery. 

The students presented their projects to a group that 

included Andiroglu, Trussoni, and Galetti; Terri Hood, senior 

lecturer and assistant director for the undergraduate 

Ecosystem Science and Policy program, who maintains the 

Arboretum’s Sustainability Garden; and Teddy L’Houtellier, 

the University’s sustainability manager. 

“We’re discussing the students’ ideas and will be making 

recommendations to implement those we believe will best 

maintain the Gifford Arboretum’s ambience, optimize our plant 

collection, and respond to our visitors’ needs,” Galetti says. 

many islands where small populations of animals 

could be reintroduced and studied in a controlled 

environment.” 

Genetically and functionally similar to their extinct 

cousins, Galapagos tortoises have gaping mouths that 

allow them to swallow large fruits and deposit the seeds 

throughout their habitat. 

“Several plant species in the Caribbean evolved large 

fruits too big to be eaten by birds, and they were possibly 

dispersed only by giant tortoises,” Galetti says. “Seed dispersal 

by animals plays a prominent role in maintaining 

healthy tropical vegetation. In fact, 90 percent of all 

trees in the South American rainforest rely on 

vertebrates to spread their seeds. 

FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR 

To begin the rewilding project, Galetti and 

his students measured living birds and rock 

iguanas as well as fossils of extinct Caribbean 

tortoises in the University of Florida Natural 

History Museum in Gainesville. Next, the 

team studied the size, shape, 

and structure of a variety of 

tropical fruits from the Gifford 

Arboretum, Montgomery 

Botanical Center, and Fairchild 

Tropical Botanical Garden 

—“something like matching a 

key to a lock,” says Galetti. 

After identifying several types 

of large-seeded fruit that have 

grown in the Caribbean for 

thousands of years, Galetti and 

his students began feeding these 

fruits to Galapagos tortoises, 

standing in as extinct Caribbean 

giant tortoises. 

“We are extremely grateful to 

the Three Jays Tortoise Sanctuary 

and the Grossman family, 

who kindly allow us to feed their 

Galapagos tortoises with the 

Caribbean fruits,” he says. 

The team found that the fruit 

seeds that pass through the guts 

of a Galapagos tortoise germinate 

much faster than those that just land on 

the ground. 

“For instance,” Galetti says, “the Cuban 

belly palm seed takes at least two years to 

germinate in the wild, but it can begin growing 

in just four weeks after being swallowed 

and dispersed by a tortoise. That’s a clear 

indicator of the importance of animals in 

maintaining healthy plant populations.” 

This summer, Galetti is planning a field 

trip to some Caribbean islands with both 

graduate and undergraduate students to 

16 1 


“When the animals become extinct, plant populations 

can become confined to limited areas and lose their 

genetic diversity, making them vulnerable to changing 

climate conditions.” 

TEAM EFFORT: Ph.D. student, 

Seokmin Kim, and Dr. Galetti are 

leading the rewilding project. Photos: 

Three Jays Tortoise Sanctuary 

ARTS | SCIENCES 17

Your donation can help our faculty 

conduct research and expand 

learning experiences for UM students 

For more information, visit 

as.miami.edu/donate. 

scout potential locations for the rewilding initiative. 

“Rewilding is a powerful tool for nature restoration and 

climate change mitigation,” he says. 

BROADENING THE FOCUS 

Rewilding the Caribbean involves more than just reintroducing 

tortoises to the islands. Another candidate for 

increasing biodiversity is the blue and gold macaw, now 

found in limited numbers in South Florida. It is genetically 

similar to extinct species of these large, colorful birds that 

were once plentiful in the islands. 

“The Caribbean was home to several macaw species, but 

none of them survived,” Galetti says. “We have been 

studying the feeding habits of the macaws that live in 

Coral Gables to see if they would be good candidates to 

replace the ecological functions of the extinct macaws. 

“By using remote-controlled cameras, we can see what 

fruits they eat and whether they drop those seeds immediately 

or carry them away to other locations. This will help us 

understand their diets and whether an island habitat would 

support a small population of macaws over the long term.” 

Galetti also plans to study the rock iguana, one of the 

few large animals remaining in the Caribbean. Threatened 

by poachers, the endangered species can be found on 

just a handful of undeveloped islands in the Caribbean. 

With proper protection, this iguana can also contribute to 

restoring biodiversity. 

The potential benefits of Galetti’s research, with its 

collaborative embrace of citizen science, research 

institutions, and botanical gardens, reach beyond the 

Caribbean. “In the past, many types of large animals and 

plants thrived together,” he says. “Understanding the interactive 

relationships between animals and plants is vital 

to increasing the biodiversity resilience in a variety of 

tropical and subtropical habitats.” n 

Catesbaea spinosa, or Lily Thorn. This endemic 

species from Cuba and The Bahamas were 

potentially dispersed by extinct giant tortoises. 

18 


Galapagos tortoise feeding on Theophrasta jussieui, a tree 

endemic to Hispaniola that was likely to be dispersed by 

extinct tortoises. 

Dr. Galetti’s collection of fruits and seeds. 

Scan this QR code 

to see a behind-the-scenes 

video of Dr. Galetti’s 

rewilding research. 

ARTS | SCIENCES 19

CLASSSPOTLIGHT 

A First Date 

with Data 

New course designed to decode data science for all 

From healthcare to transportation to online shopping, 

data permeates every aspect of modern life. 

Its principles and applications spur knowledge and 

insights in a wide range of disciplines and 

endeavors. Rather than being all about number-crunching, 

data analysis even has applications in the humanities. 

To engage and enlighten students interested in pursuing 

data science, the College of Arts and Sciences launched a 

Master of Science in Data Science program in Fall 2020. 

The College is now unveiling an undergraduate course in 

the topic with a distinctly global name: “Data Science for 

the World,” open to students from any major. 

According to the course’s creators, the sweeping scale of 

that title is deliberate. 

“The main thing we want to convey about the new course 

is its interdisciplinary nature,” says Jerry Bonnell, a 

doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science, 

who developed the class in collaboration with Mitsunori 

Ogihara, a professor of computer science. “We want it to 

be approachable from any discipline and welcoming to 

students from all majors.” 

“Data Science for the World” represents the first attempt 

by the department and College to offer an introduction to 

data science, specifically designed for accessibility to students 

pursuing studies outside of the typical STEM 

(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) rubric. 

“We hope to attract as many students as possible, 

because we believe data science is becoming a fundamental 

skill in the future job market,” says Ogihara. “Students will 

leave the course with new knowledge on how to engage 

with data and a set of tools they can use in their studies 

and careers. 

“Our goal is to draw from as many real-world examples and 

settings as we can—and to have some fun along the way.” 

In that spirit, course assignments, topics, and projects 

will include a case study of football statistics, inspired by 

the “Deflategate” controversy stemming from a 2014 New 

England Patriots NFL game; financial analysis of stock 

market prices; Harvard University admissions data broken 

out by race; a novel approach to visualizing data scales; 

a data-driven approach to analyzing the popular fantasy 

game “Dungeons and Dragons”; and the use of regression 

analysis to predict everything from Old Faithful eruptions 

at Yellowstone National Park to Spotify music stream 

popularity. 

“Data science does some of its best work when it 

reaches beyond its own discipline,” Bonnell says, noting its 

applications for liberal arts disciplines such as the classics, 

history, and literature. “For example, for scholars studying 

the works of Shakespeare and of authors of the ancient 

world such as Homer and Virgil, the body of available texts 

can be so large that no one can possibly read them all. 

Data tools such as textual analysis provide new lenses with 

which to broaden perspective and deepen understanding.” 

If the course goes as Ogihara and Bonnell hope, students 

drawn from an array of academic programs and majors 

will come away prepared to apply data analysis to a wide 

range of situations. It will also inspire students intrigued 

by the power of data to dig deeper. 

“Sitting at the intersection of computer science and other 

departments, the course will serve as a conduit to more 

advanced classes such as statistical learning and the computational 

sciences,” Bonnell says. 

“By providing that bridge for students, I think we’ll 

achieve something great.” To learn more about the 

Department of Computer Science, visit csc.as.miami.edu. n3 

20 


STUDENTDIGEST 

Laws in Space 

University of Miami senior sets sights on 

far-reaching legal specialty 

F 

or most of us, outer space is quite 

distant from our daily lives—but 

not for University senior and aspiring 

space lawyer Tuana Yazici. 

Comprising international and 

domestic agreements, rules, and 

principles, space law addresses 

issues such as space exploration, 

damage liability, rescue efforts, environmental preservation, 

information sharing, and ethics. Her sights 

set firmly on the field, Yazici has found the U a stellar 

environment for her course of study. 

With an Independent major in PPE (Philosophy, 

Politics, Economics) and a minor in psychology, Yazici 

is taking 27 credits this spring. The ambitious trajectory 

will allow her to graduate in May—a whole year earlier 

than expected. 

The University of Miami did not have 

a PPE major when Yazici enrolled, so she 

set about creating it. She modeled the 

curriculum on a course she had taken at 

Oxford University and, with the help of 

University faculty, structured the major 

to fulfill her desired criteria. 

Yazici credits Jennifer Ferriss-Hill, 

senior associate dean for academic 

affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences, 

for making it possible to realize her 

academic goals. “Dean Ferriss-Hill was 

not only involved with structuring the 

major, but helped me arrange my credits 

this semester so I can graduate early,” 

Yazici says. 

Before moving on to law school, Yazici plans to 

pursue a one-year master’s program in International 

Administration at UM. “The Master of Arts in 

International Administration 

fits into the educational path that 

I am trying to pave for myself,” she 

says. “The program will help me 

sharpen my knowledge in the 

fields that contribute to 

international space law.” 

Yazici is already involved in space law as a member 

of the operational team of the three-year Knowledge 

Constellation Project with the International Institute 

of Space Law (IISL). She is acting as creative brand and 

visual identity manager on the project and will also be a 

contributing author. 

“The project will deliver great benefits for the space 

field in general as well as for the international space law 

and policy sector,” Yazici says. “As the youngest member 

among a group of very accomplished 

individuals, I am very thankful for 

this amazing opportunity.” 

Yazici has found 

the U a stellar 

learning 

environment 

for her ambitious 

trajectory. 

Yazici clearly thrives on a full 

plate. In addition to her responsibilities 

with the IISL, her studies, 

and numerous student government 

activities, she has served for the past 

year as a paid research assistant 

for a Harvard Law professor and is 

a Florida Captain volunteer for the 

Humane League. She is currently 

preparing for her LSAT exam and 

working toward a private helicopter 

license. 

Poised to ascend to new heights 

in her envisioned career, Yazici looks forward to 

combining her personal passions and educational 

preparation “to find ways to use space technologies to 

protect human and animal rights around the globe.” n 

ARTS | SCIENCES 21

FACULTYCORNER 

A&S Faculty Members’ Achievements Lauded 

Faculty Senate recognizes members of the faculty community who represent exemplary 

teaching, service, and scholarly work 

DRIVING INCLUSION AND EXCELLENCE. 

Since arriving at the University of Miami in 1988, Marvin 

P. Dawkins, professor of sociology, has made a long-lasting 

impact on the University community in the classroom, on 

faculty matters, and in the athletics space. 

Through various roles, which 

include director of the Africana 

Studies program and director of 

graduate studies in sociology, he 

has had opportunities to mentor 

students from a myriad of 

disciplines, working with underrepresented 

minority students 

and championing inclusion. 

Dawkins was inspired by Dr. 

Martin Luther King Jr., who 

attended a historically Black 

college, and majored in sociology. 

“When I found out that Dr. 

King had majored in sociology, I 

switched my major 

from biology to sociology, which I thought 

would lead me into social activism,” said 

Dawkins. “Instead, sociology led me to a 

career as a social scientist studying race 

relations with a focus on racial and other 

social inequities and injustices in such areas 

as education and sport.” 

Dawkin’s role as faculty athletics 

representative to the Atlantic Coast 

Conference (ACC) and the National 

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 

stands out. Initially appointed in 2012, he is 

responsible for representing University 

academics to the 14 partner institutions in 

the ACC and certifying NCAA eligibility of 

more than 400 student-athletes. n 

22 


7 

A&S FACULTY MEMBERS 

HAVE WON FACULTY SENATE 

OUTSTANDING 

TEACHING AWARDS 

10 

A&S FACULTY 

HAVE WON THE 

JAMES W. MCLAMORE 

OUTSTANDING 

SERVICE AWARD 

SHAPING A FIELD OF STUDY. A world leader 

in the field of combinatorics, Michelle Wachs Galloway, 

professor of mathematics, has spent her career specializing 

in algebraic combinatorics and studying the topology 

of combinatorial simplicial complexes. Combinatorics is 

the science of counting, arranging, and analyzing concrete 

discrete configurations, which can arise in various fields 

of mathematics, computer science, physics, biology, and 

engineering. 

Her love of mathematics began at an early age, long before 

she had any idea of what being a mathematician entailed. 

Wachs Galloway, a child of 

immigrants, grew up in 

New York City and earned her 

undergraduate degree at the 

City College of the City 

University of New York. 

Galloway joined the University 

of Miami faculty in 1977 at age 24. 

Throughout her career, she has 

served in various 

visiting positions 

at top mathematical 

institutes, including 

the Newton Institute at Cambridge University, 

the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute 

in Berkeley, and the Mittag-Leffler Institute 

in Djursholm, Sweden. 

“One great thing about doing research in 

math is that you can do math anywhere—on 

an airplane, on the beach, in the shower,” 

said Wachs Galloway. “But that can also be 

a bad thing because it is often hard to turn 

it off. I have been to concerts and plays that 

were ruined for me since I couldn’t stop 

thinking about a math problem that I was 

stuck on.” n

PHILANTHROPY 

Supporting insights 

that foster equity 

Philanthropist underwrites groundbreaking 

Judge-in-Residence program 

W 

hatever our academic or professional 

pursuits, the United States legal system 

affects our lives, careers, and values. 

The University of Miami’s Judge-in- 

Residence program, based in the College of Arts and 

Sciences, is designed to highlight those impacts and to 

prepare undergraduates across the University for 

citizenship through experiential learning. 

“The innovative Judge-in-Residence program offers 

insights into how our justice system shapes individual lives 

and the community at large,” says Leonidas Bachas, dean 

of the College of Arts and Sciences. “It encourages students 

to explore how they can support justice and fairness, 

whatever their studies and career goals.” 

Founded in 2018 and led by the University’s Judge in 

Residence, Miami Circuit Court Judge Ellen Sue Venzer, 

the program recently received generous support from 

philanthropist Nancy Hector. Hector is passionate about 

creating a more equitable world for underrepresented 

groups. 

Hector has been a major supporter of the University of 

Miami for many years. Her daughter Brittany is a junior 

in the School of Education and Human Development, and 

many other family members have graduated from UM. She 

has given grants to more than 50 charities that support 

children and families through the Hector Family Foundation, 

which she cofounded with her late husband, Robert. 

The Judge-in-Residence program reaches students 

through multiple paths, including seminar-style courses 

on crime and punishment, courtroom experience “on the 

bench,” University-wide lectures, dinners and dialogues, 

and structured conversations with prominent legal and 

judicial professionals. 

“The Judge-in-Residence program provides students not 

only a rare real-world perspective on the forces that shape 

our system of justice,” Hector says, “but direct experience 

of how systemic bias in the system affects real people, 

including at-risk children and families.” 

Hector witnessed the phenomenon 

firsthand as a foster parent. It was in 

this role that she first met Judge Venzer. 

“I have known Ellen Venzer and admired 

her work since she was a judge in dependency 

court,” Hector recalls. “Now, as a criminal 

court judge, she is on the front lines every day, 

trying to make a difference in people’s lives. 

Her dedication to her students—whether 

mentoring in the classroom or the courtroom 

—is unmatched.” 

A 1987 alumna of the School of Law, Venzer 

has presided over felony criminal circuit court 

cases since 2004. She has served for the past 

15 years as a professor and lecturer at UM, 

teaching undergraduate and law school 

classes, with a focus on criminal justice 

and sentencing. 

“What a privilege it has been to engage 

students in thoughtful, relevant 

conversations about issues of law and 

society that have a direct impact on 

their lives,” Venzer says. n 

Fulfill your philanthropic 

goals with a gift to your favorite 

program or department. 

For more information, 

visit as.miami.edu/giving. 

ARTS | SCIENCES 23

A&SRESEARCH 

Little stripes, 

big answers. 

Unlocking the mysteries 

of human diseases with the 

help of a little fish 

Help our faculty continue conducting cutting-edge 

research with undergraduate and graduate students 

Visit as.miami.edu/donate 

24 


One of the lesser-known dwellings on the 

University of Miami campus is a place referred 

to as the “Zebrafish Hilton” by facility 

manager, Ricardo Cepeda, whimsically listed 

in the directory as the “local fish whisperer.” 

A former literature teacher in Colombia, 

Cepeda keeps close watch on the nearly 6,000 zebrafish 

living in the Zebrafish Core Facility, the site of cutting-edge 

research used by faculty and students to model human 

genetics and disease, from Parkinson’s and autism to 

peripheral neuropathy. 

Known scientifically as Danio rerio, zebrafish are a 

striped species of fish native to Southeast Asia. They grow 

to only about an inch and a half in length. But that small 

size, which makes the entire fish easier to view with magnification, 

is just one of its many advantages for research. 

Zebrafish eggs and young are translucent, which makes 

for easy observation of their internal organs. They mature 

quickly, developing as much in a day as a human embryo 

does in a month. And as vertebrates, they have physiology 

similar to humans with comparable nervous system, muscle, 

blood, kidney and eye structures. 

“We keep thousands and thousands of adults and they 

live for years in the Zebrafish Hilton,” says Julia Dallman, 

Zebrafish Core Facility director and associate professor of 

biology. In addition to overseeing operations at the facility, 

Dallman also studies zebrafish. Her main area of research 

is autism, using genome editing technologies to study some 

of the hundreds of genes linked to the condition. 

In terms of genetics, zebrafish have a structure remarkably 

close to humans and share 70 percent of the same 

genes (as well as more than 80 percent of the genes linked 

to human diseases). They’re also cheaper to acquire and 

use than mice, in part because you can get a whole bunch 

of zebrafish very quickly thanks to their prolific reproductive 

cycle and the ease of genetic manipulations. 

“Zebrafish females produce up to 300 eggs at a time, 

once a week,” says Dallman, who also started the 

Department of Biology’s zebrafish colony with 40 

“pioneers” she brought from New York after joining UM in 

2007. “We’re using an animal model to get to the 

underlying mechanisms of disruption of genes. It’s not 

autism per se that we’re addressing so much as comorbidities 

common to autism, like seizures or gastrointestinal 

Photo: Alan Cressler 

distress. A lot of other conditions are also associated with 

gastrointestinal distress, like Parkinson’s. It can be an early 

indicator of nervous-system trouble.” 

Another Zebrafish Core Facility tenant is Associate 

Professor Sandra Rieger, who primarily studies neuropathy 

and appendage regeneration in the Department of Biology. 

Zebrafish is one of the few vertebrates with robust 

regenerative abilities. Rieger’s team is studying the 

nervous system’s role in fin regeneration, cutting them off 

and watching them grow back. 

Using zebrafish, Rieger is studying the use of possible 

inhibitors to prevent chemotherapy and diabetes-related 

nerve degeneration. Initial results have been promising 

with zebrafish as well as rodents, so much so that she has 

been starting up a company to develop a molecule for 

testing and eventual treatment in humans. That’s years off, 

but it can’t happen soon enough. 

“Chemotherapy-induced and diabetic neuropathy are 

very relevant topics, affecting approximately 15.5 million 

people in the US,” Rieger says. “Patients frequently email 

me and have hope in my research as a new approach that 

could potentially treat them. Right now, there is no treatment, 

so people are desperate and living with pain as well 

as numbness and loss of balance. Pain is the most common 

and terrible symptom, and pain medicines can be 

addictive. I hope to find treatments for them.” 

As for neuropathy, it’s a degenerative nerve condition 

that commonly manifests as pain or numbness in the 

hands and feet. Neuropathy is associated with a wide range 

of conditions and causes besides chemotherapy and 

diabetes, including environmental toxins, alcohol, 

trauma, and antibiotics. It’s also a common side effect 

of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer, which is 

where Rieger’s research comes in. 

“From an evolutionary standpoint, regeneration occurs 

more frequently in invertebrates and lower vertebrates and 

has been lost in the mammalian lineage throughout 

evolution,” says Miguel A. Portales Guemes, one of 

Rieger’s student collaborators. “We want to understand 

why humans do not regenerate their tissues as well, and 

if there is a way to supplement or reactivate that, since we 

have the same genes as zebrafish. If we find the mystery 

behind growing back tissues, maybe we can improve the 

healing process in people.” n 

ARTS | SCIENCES 25

BOOKMARKS 

RECENT A&S FACULTY PUBLICATIONS 

Love, death, and the plague 

GUIDO RUGGIERO HISTORY Love and Sex in the Time of Plague (Harvard University Press). 

For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death 

swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. 

Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron was born. Love and Sex in the Time of Plague 

guides readers back to Boccaccio’s world to recapture how his world sounded to 14th-century ears. 

Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. 

TRACI ARDREN 

ANTHROPOLOGY Her Cup 

for Sweet Cacao (University 

of Texas Press). Her Cup for 

Sweet Cacao brings together 

leading scholars to showcase 

a variety of approaches and 

present new evidence from 

faunal remains, hieroglyphic 

texts, chemical analyses, and 

art, exploring how food was both 

sustenance and a tool for 

building a complex society. 

DOMINIQUE REILL 

HISTORY The Fiume Crisis: 

Life in the Wake of the 

Habsburg Empire (Harvard 

University Press). The Fiume 

Crisis recasts what we know about 

the birth of fascism, postwar 

nationalist activism, and the fall 

of an empire after 1918 by telling 

the story of the three-year period 

when the Adriatic port-city Fiume 

(today known by its Croatian 

name Rijeka) became an international 

fiasco that stalled 

negotiations at the 1919 Paris 

Peace Conference and became 

the setting for the fifteen-month 

occupation of the city by the 

poet-soldier Gabriele D’Annunzio, 

an occupation many believe 

Mussolini copied explicitly in his 

rise to power. 

CHANTEL ACEVEDO 

ENGLISH Muse Squad: The 

Mystery of the Tenth. (Balzer 

+ Bray/Harper Collins). Muse 

Squad: The Mystery of the Tenth 

is the finale of an action-packed 

middle grade fantasy duology 

about a young Cuban American 

girl who discovers that she’s 

one of the nine muses of Greek 

mythology. Perfect for fans 

of The Serpent’s Secret, the 

Aru Shah series, and the Percy 

Jackson and the Olympians 

series. School Library Journal 

called the first installment of 

Muse Squad a “riveting, 

suspenseful book …Perfect for 

readers of mythology-based 

adventures.” 

LINDSAY THOMAS 

ENGLISH Training for 

Catastrophe: Fictions of 

National Security after 9/11 

(University of Minnesota Press). 

In Training for Catastrophe, 

Lindsay Thomas shows how our 

security regime reimagines 

plausibility to focus on unlikely 

and even unreal events rather 

than probable ones. Drawing 

from a huge archive of texts— 

including a Centers for Disease 

Control comic about a zombie 

apocalypse, the work of Audre 

Lorde, and the political thrillers of 

former national security advisor 

Richard Clarke—she asks 

difficult questions about the uses 

and values of fiction. A major 

statement on how national security 

intrudes into questions of art 

and life, Training for Catastrophe is 

a timely intervention into how we 

confront disasters. 

26 


The body’s will 

to thrive 

SUSAN LEARY ENGLISH Contraband Paradise (Main Street 

Rag Publishing Company). Susan L. Leary’s poetry collection, 

Contraband Paradise, is structured around a series of X-ray impressions 

that explore a body with scoliosis—the pain, the sadness, the perversity 

as well as the accompanying splendor, what can only be called “the 

marvelous clairvoyance of a body that believes in its own ability to 

live.” As such, these poems explore the ways in which we thieve joy, in 

which we live affirmatively, and astonishingly, amidst all that we inherit. 

More than anything, these poems juxtapose the beauty and rupture that 

characterize this world, this “contraband paradise.” 

HUGH THOMAS 

HISTORY Power and 

Pleasure: Court Life 

under King John, 1199-1216 

(Oxford University Press). 

Although King John is 

remembered for his political and 

military failures, he also presided 

over a magnificent court. Power 

and Pleasure reconstructs life at 

the court of King John and explores 

how his court produced 

both pleasure and soft power. 

Much work exists on courts 

of the late medieval and early 

modern periods, but the jump in 

record keeping under King John 

allows a detailed reconstruction 

of court life for an earlier period. 

The book examines the many 

facets of King John's court, 

exploring hunting, feasting, castles, 

landscapes, material luxury, 

chivalry, sexual coercion, and 

religious activities. It explains 

how King John mishandled his 

use of soft power, just as he 

failed to exploit his financial and 

military advantages, and why he 

received so little political benefit 

from his magnificent court. 

PATRICIA ENGEL 

ENGLISH Infinite Country 

(Simon & Schuster). 

Award-winning, internationally 

acclaimed author Patricia Engel, 

herself a dual citizen and the 

daughter of Colombian immigrants, 

gives voice to a family 

as they navigate the particulars 

of their respective circumstances. 

Rich with Bogotá urban life, 

steeped in Andean myth, and 

tense with the daily reality of the 

undocumented in America, 

Infinite Country is the 

story of two countries and one 

mixed-status family—for whom 

every triumph is stitched with 

regret, and every dream pursued 

bears the weight of a dream 

deferred. 

MAUREEN SEATON 

ENGLISH Undersea (Jackleg 

Press). Undersea presents 

Seaton's free-wheeling series of 

love notes to her transplanted 

sea-struck self and her salty sidekick. 

The poems in this collection 

celebrate her signature wit and joy 

in that wild state of mind called 

Florida. 

ARNOLD MITTELMAN 

JUDAIC STUDIES Enacting 

History: A Practical Guide 

to Teaching the Holocaust 

through Theater (Routledge). 

Enacting History is a practical 

guide for educators that provides 

Working on the student farm. 

mythologies and resources for 

teaching the Holocaust through 

a variety of theatrical means, 

including scripted texts, 

verbatim testimony, devised 

theatre techniques, and 

process-oriented creative 

exercise. 

ARTS | SCIENCES 27

CLASSNOTES 

in memoriam 

DR. LUIS GLASER, who for nearly two decades as provost steered the 

University of Miami’s academic growth as one of the nation’s leading 

research universities and was a proponent of collaborative and 

interdisciplinary study, passed away on Dec. 23, 2020. He was 88. 

During his tenure as executive vice president and provost, from 1986 

to 2005, Dr. Glaser focused on enhancing the strength of the 

University’s faculty and was considered a brilliant scholar who mentored 

many faculty and students. 

In the later years of his tenure, Dr. Glaser and Stephen Sapp, a 

professor in the Department of Religious Studies, pioneered and jointly 

taught a cross-disciplinary course entitled “Ethics and Genetics.” 

The course explored the areas of science, social science, and the humanities 

and was popular with students across multiple academic fields. 

The University established the Luis Glaser Fellowship in Integrated 

Teaching and Learning, which is open to faculty and celebrates Dr. 

Glaser’s commitment to the University and his unique approach to cross-disciplinary teaching and learning. 

Born in Vienna, Austria, Dr. Glaser grew up in Mexico City, graduated from the University of Toronto, and received his 

Ph.D. in biochemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. He served as a professor and chair of the division of 

biomedical sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, which is also where he met his wife, Ruth. In addition to Ruth, 

he is survived by daughters Miriam Lipsky, director of student affairs assessment and projects at the University, and 

Nicole Glaser, and five granddaughters. n 

DR. HARRY P. SCHULZ, a professor emeritus and former chair of the 

Department of Chemistry, passed away on Dec. 7, 2020. He was 102 when 

he passed away at his home in Wyoming. Dr. Schultz joined the Chemistry 

Department in 1947 as an assistant professor and moved through the ranks 

to tenured professor of chemistry until he retired in 1984. He continued 

teaching part time until 1991. Dr. Schultz was an accomplished scholar 

who taught generations of students and made the Chemistry Department a 

center for research and scholarly exploration. To honor Dr. Schultz and his 

legacy at UM, the College created the Harry Pershing Schultz Fellowship 

Fund in 2018. For more information about Dr. Schulz's contribution to the 

Chemistry Department, visit as.miami.edu/magazine. n 

DR. MARVIN V. MIELKE passed away on Feb. 23, 2021 in Coral Gables, FL. Dr. Mielke 

joined the University of Miami in 1966 and served the Mathematics Department for 55 

years. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and students. Dr. Mielke was born on 

May 2, 1939, in Wisconsin. He received his bachelor and master’s degrees from the 

University of Wisconsin, and his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Indiana University. He 

enjoyed a wide variety of interests including fruit cultivation, genealogy, reading, and 

thinking and writing about mathematics. n 

28 


60s 

Peter A. Wish, B.A. ’67, 

wrote a new book The 

Candidate's 7 Deadly Sins: 

Using Emotional Optics To 

Turn Political Vices Into 

Virtues, which is an Amazon 

#1 bestseller. The book 

combines neuroscience, 

social psychology, case 

studies along with his years 

coaching candidates on how 

to make a better emotional 

connection with the voter. 

Mark McKinnon, chief media 

advisor to President George 

W. Bush and Sen. John McCain 

and co-host of The Circus on 

Showtime, wrote the forward. 

70s 

Tommy Mandel, B.A. ’71, is 

president of Candyland 

Brokerage Co. for 41 years, 

representing candy, 

cookie, and confectionery 

companies nationally and 

globally. Mandel is married 

and has three daughters. He 

has also been involved in 

theatre appearing in nine 

Broadway musicals and plays 

and played softball until he 

was 65 years old. His 

company is located in 

Pembroke Pines, FL. 

Marcie Katcher, B.A. ’74, 

graduating from the U with a 

degree in art education 

(K-12). She has a long career 

in communications, creative 

development and public 

affairs. Katcher returned to 

graduate school and obtained 

a degree in Creative Arts 

Therapy and studied for 

her M.F.A. at Parsons and 

Pratt. She has since been 

facilitating Zoom workshops 

during COVID-19, using the 

arts and meditation to form 

virtual communities. She is 

offering UM alumni a free 

workshop on creativity and 

an interactive experience to 

process these difficult times. 

If interested, please email 

marciekatcher@me.com. 

Nanette Lampl Avery, B.F.A. 

’76, released Who, a 

mystery novel in January 

2021. Familiarity breeds 

contempt, or even murder, 

as portrayed in this mystery 

parody. Avery reunites 

a notorious but forgotten 

group of legendary personalities 

in her latest book, 

which is intriguing and often 

humorous with just the right 

amount of Agatha Christie 

and the Brothers Grimm to 

keep you wanting to know, 

"whodunit"! 

Dave Hinkes, B.A. ’79, and 

his wife of 40 years, Deb, 

have moved to their final 

newly built home in Port 

Saint Lucie, FL. Their youngest 

daughter, Melissa, a CPA 

in Chicago, is getting married 

in July. Hinkes is a business 

consultant, certified coach, 

professor, mentor, trainer, 

and author. 

80s 

JeJuan Stewart, B.S. ’80, 

recently retired as an 

anesthesiologist’s assistant. 

She is also a social entrepreneur 

of Eagle 7 Consulting 

(www.EAGLE7Consulting. 

com) and executive director 

of John & JeJuan Stewart Jr. 

Foundation (www.jjsjfoundation). 

Her business journey 

began shortly after the tragic 

loss of her college sweetheart 

in 2006. Building on the 

legacy of community 

engagement that started at 

UM and continued by her 

husband’s commitment to 

servant leadership, Stewart 

believes in the power of 

empowering for all to lead 

and excel. 

David Auslander, B.A. ’86, 

is proud to announce that he 

is a grandfather to a future 

’Cane born in December 

2016. Auslander’s son-in-law 

is also a University of Miami 

alumnus. 

90s 

Wynne Stallings, B.A. ’92, 

is the owner of SoulSpring 

Counseling, which has seen 

exponential growth since 

2020. The company has 

hired two additional 

therapists and a support 

role hire. Due to the 

pandemic, the company was 

able to expand its offerings 

of counseling services to 

anyone in the State of Florida 

via telehealth. Stallings is 

excited and humbled to offer 

much-needed support to 

help Floridia residents cope 

with the many mental health 

challenges they are facing 

that have been created, or 

exacerbated, by the 

pandemic. For more 

information, visit www. 

soulspringflorida.com. 

ARTS | SCIENCES 29

CLASSNOTES 

90s Continued 

00s 

Celia Alvarez, M.F.A. ’95, 

wrote a new book of poetry, 

Multiverses. It is a speculative 

memoir in verse chronicling 

four years of her life alongside 

imagined narratives in 

parallel universes where a 

single different detail changes 

the outcome of the narrative 

dramatically. You can find 

more information, including 

sample poems, on her website, 

celialissetalvarez.com. 

KEEP YOUR 

CLASSMATES 

UP TO DATE! 

Charlotte Freeman, M.S. ’94, 

Ph.D. ’96, continues to have 

a thriving career as the sole 

proprietor of Nia Therapy 

Services in Memphis, TN. She 

provides counseling, consulting, 

and training for individuals 

and families, businesses, 

community and social service 

organizations, Head Start, 

and educational institutions. 

Dr. Freeman has received 

several awards for her work 

in psychology including the 

TN Commission on Social 

Welfare and nationally, the Eli 

Lilly Welcome Back Award in 

Primary Care. Her civic work 

has garnered recognitions 

by the Top Ladies of Distinctions, 

Silver Humanitarian 

Award and within her sorority, 

Alumnae of the Year Award 

(TN) for the Southern Region. 

She serves on Delta Sigma 

Theta Sorority, Inc.’s National 

Program Planning and Development 

Committee, specifically 

the Physical and Mental 

Health Subcommittee, helping 

to develop and implement 

programming for the sorority's 

national body in the areas 

of mental health. She works 

with the sorority's national initiative 

on healthy habits with 

the national partner, WW. She 

has recently been elected 

Board Chair for the Memphis 

Leadership Foundation. 

Gabriel Loor, B.S. ’97, is 

Associate Professor of Surgery 

in the Division of Cardiothoracic 

Transplantation and 

Circulatory Support at the 

Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Loor 

is also the Surgical Director of 

Lung Transplantation and 

co-chief of Adult Cardiac 

Surgery at Baylor St. Luke’s 

Medical Center, Baylor 

College of Medicine. Dr. Loor is 

responsible for pioneering new 

innovations in the field of 

complex adult cardiac surgery 

and lung transplantation, 

particularly for patients fighting 

with COVID-19 and other 

end-stage respiratory illnesses. 

Imelda Medina, B.S. ’98, 

M.P.H. ’13, is president and 

founder of Familias Unidas 

International, Inc. The company’s 

mission is health promotion 

and disease prevention, 

which is accomplished 

through evidence-based 

health education and 

community service projects. 

In addition, the company 

implemented the Chronic 

Disease Self-Management 

Program to empower persons 

regarding self-care and wellbeing 

at worksites and in the 

community. 

Sarah Rodriguez, B.A. 

’03, M.P.A. ’09, is the 

Director of Development at 

the world-famous Apollo 

Theater in Harlem. She has 

helped to raise millions of 

dollars for the theater and 

its annual programs. She 

was named in the 2020 

class of Crain’s Magazine 

“40 Under 40” for her work 

and achievements. 

Rodriguez is also an 

Association of Performing 

Arts Professionals (APAP) 

Leadership Fellow. 

Samantha Stiglitz, B.F.A. 

’05, traded in her career as a 

TV and film casting director 

(known for such projects as 

“Burn Notice” and “Pretty 

Little Liars”) to become one 

of the top acting and 

audition coaches in Los 

Angeles. She works with 

movie stars, influencers, 

athletes, musicians and many 

others. She is sought out 

by top industry executives 

to coach actors for film and 

television. 

Share your news, personal milestones, or career achievements on A&S Class Notes! 


30 


Jessika Contreras, B.A.’06, 

is a visionary and successful 

Miami real estate broker and 

entrepreneur. Living in 

Florida for more than 19 

years, Contreras and her 

brother Andrés Gómez 

created the Global Prestige 

Development Group, a 

company that specializes in 

the construction and remodeling 

of luxury apartments 

and homes. In addition, 

Contreras is the CEO and 

broker of Global Prestige 

Real Estate specializing in 

selling luxury homes and 

projects throughout Florida 

Cindy Seaburn, B.A. ’06, 

began working as an 

Adjunct Professor for the 

University of West Florida in 

Fall 2020, teaching English 

Composition in the College 

of Arts, Social Science, and 

Humanities. 

Jason Smith, B.A. ’07, 

published a book on female 

offenders entitled, Understanding 

Female Offenders. It was 

a major accomplishment that 

took ten years to produce. 

Smith says his ’Canes 

education helped propel his 

future psychology career. 

Jess Page, B.A. ’09, cofounded 

the company, Open 

Water, with UM alumna, 

Nicole Doucet, Class of 2010. 

The company produces 100 

percent, recyclable, and 

reusable aluminum bottles 

and cans of purified water. In 

2020, it became the world’s 

first carbon-neutral bottledwater 

company. The 

company’s tag line is "more 

ocean, less plastic," and it 

was named the #1 fastest 

growing company in the 

Midwest by INC magazine. 

10s 

Jonah Robinson, M.F.A. 

’18, turned to his hobby of 

songwriting and produced 

his first album during a time 

when the theatre industry 

shut down due to the 

pandemic and many artists 

were looking to find outlets 

to keep the creativity alive. 

Robinson invites you to 

check out “Not The Whale” 

on Spotify or Apple Music 

(@NotTheWhale). Robinson 

started songwriting in his 

Stanford dorm room and is 

grateful that it has stayed 

with him all this time. 

20s 

Chuan Liu, B.A. ’20, is a new 

adjunct faculty member in 

the Chemistry Department at 

Miami Dade College. 

Alexandra Lejarza, B.A. 

’07, completed her Ph.D. 

in higher education, added 

a new puppy to her family, 

and started a master’s 

degree in web design—all 

of these changes happened 

while in quarantine. 

Edwin Murillo, Ph.D ’09, 

was promoted to Associate 

Professor of Spanish in the 

Department of Modern and 

Classical Languages and 

Literatures at the University 

of Tennessee-Chattanooga. 

Jamie West, B.A. ’10, is 

happy to welcome a future 

’Cane to the family during the 

pandemic. 


ARTS | SCIENCES 31

ENDNOTE 

College champion brings business expertise and humanistic perspective to role 

A Constellation of 

Passions and Pursuits 

C 

omprising UM’s most 

varied disciplines and 

interdisciplinary 

programs, the College 

of Arts and Sciences is the intellectual 

hub of the University. So it’s only 

fitting that the College is now 

receiving guidance from an advisor 

who brings a broad range of interests 

and experience to the role. 

As a member of Dean Leonidas 

Bachas’s Advisory Committee, Trae 

Williamson, Ph.D. ’20, is dedicated to 

building connections on campus and 

in the community. 

“Trae brings valuable insights and is 

an effective ambassador and advocate 

for the College,” says Dean Bachas. 

“He understands the importance of 

teaching and learning on many 

different levels.” 

President of Williamson Cadillac 

-Buick-GMC, Williamson works 

closely with his parents, Ed and Carol 

Williamson, longtime business leaders 

and supporters of the University. He 

readily acknowledges the vital role 

of STEM disciplines (science, 

technology, engineering, and math) 

in advancing progress and innovation. 

“But,” he says, “they must be balanced 

with the humanities, which make life 

worth living and keep us connected 

with each other.” 

Williamson champions fields such 

as sociology, history, philosophy, 

and art for their power to deepen our 

understanding of the world and our 

place in it. “I like the idea of 

constellation thinking,” he says. 

“For instance, I might take an 

idea from an essay on ethics, 

a breaking news story, and an 

experience in our business, and 

then pull those threads together 

in a meaningful way.” 

A theater aficionado since 

childhood, Williamson is 

particularly passionate about 

the performing arts. His longterm 

interest in psychological 

well-being—he started a peer 

counseling program as a high 

school student at Ransom 

Everglades—now drives his advocacy 

for mindfulness in the workplace and 

individual lives. 

Williamson earned a doctorate 

in interdisciplinary studies at 

UM in 2020. His dissertation was 

“Portrait of the Mindful Worker: 

Traits and Training Toward a More 

Mindful Workplace.” He has been 

involved with the UM Mindfulness 

Research and Practice Initiative for 

several years. 

“Mindfulness can be any activity 

that allows you to focus your attention 

on the present moment while 

gently acknowledging and releasing 

the mental clutter that builds up in 

our busy lives,” he says. “Especially 

during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 

practice eases feelings of stress and 

isolation.” 

Williamson earned a bachelor’s 

degree in public policy and international 

affairs from Princeton 

University, then a law degree from 

Columbia University. He practiced 

entertainment and intellectual 

property law until returning to Miami 

in 2002 to join the family’s automobile 

dealership. Highly active in 

the South Florida community, he 

is a member of the UM President’s 

Council and the boards of several area 

nonprofits. Williamson also enjoys 

exchanging ideas and insights with 

students at Miami Herbert Business 

School as an adjunct faculty member 

in management. 

Now Williamson is drawing on his 

impressively varied interests and 

experiences to help support the 

College of Arts and Sciences as it 

moves into the future. “It is a 

pleasure,” he says, “to support UM in 

this time of transformation.” n 

32 


INSPIRE 

& ENGAGE 

FUTURE 

GENERATIONS 

By naming the College of Arts and Sciences as a 

beneficiary in your will or trust, you can support the 

College or your favorite department or program. 

A bequest in your will or trust allows you to fulfill 

your philanthropic goals while minimizing your 

taxable estate and simplifying the probate process. 

You also retain full use and control of your assets 

during your life. 

A bequest is easy – just ask your attorney to draft a 

codicil to your existing will or include a bequest if 

you are doing a new will. A bequest to the College of 

Arts and Sciences can be a specific dollar amount or a 

percentage of your residual estate or trust. 

You don’t have to be wealthy to leave a legacy – any 

size gift can make an impact for generations to come. 

To learn ways you can make a bequest, 

or for sample bequest language, please contact: 

Kyle Paige, Executive Director 

Office of Estate and Gift Planning 

umplannedgiving@miami.edu 

305.284.2266 

Or visit our website at www.miami.edu/plannedgiving 

ARTS | SCIENCES 33

1252 Memorial Drive | Ashe Building 227 | Coral Gables, FL 33146 

Non-Profit 

organization 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Permit No. 438 

Miami, FL 

Photo: TJ Lievonen/University of Miami 

NANO DISCOVERIES UM graduate student Mary Olagunju, a member of the Knecht Research Group, is using 

bio-inspired approaches to modify the catalytic reactivity of nanoparticles using light. The light is able to alter the 

surface configuration of the nanoparticles, thus allowing the chemical reaction to progress and/or change. Located 

in the Cox Science Building on the Coral Gables campus, the lab is run by Professor of Chemistry Marc R. Knecht. 

1

College of Arts and Sciences - Spring 2021 - University of Miami

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