Issuu

The official magazine of the College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University 2017

PUPPY LOVE PETE’S PET POSSE PAWS WAY INTO HEARTS

On the Cover

Dînez-vous français? Perhaps the best way to learn

IF YOU LOVE DOGS, you won’t find the amazing success

a n e w l a n g u a g e i s t h r o u g h t h e s t o m a c h . T h a t ’s w h a t ’s

o f P e t e ’s P e t P o s s e t o o s u r p r i s i n g . S t i l l , t h e p o s s e i s

h a p p e n i n g w i t h a n e w c o u r s e i n F r e n c h t h i s y e a r.

expanding, with several members of the College of

Arts and Sciences joining the Dean Bret Danilowicz, h i s w i f e , K a y, a n d t h e i r d o g , S a n d y D . , i n t h e c a d r e o f canines. (Photo by Gary Lawson/University Marketing)

A r t i s t i c V i s i o n — O k l a h o m a S t a t e ’s D e p a r t m e n t o f A r t h a s t a k e n o v e r S t i l l w a t e r ’s a r t s c e n t e r, a n d d e p a r t m e n t h e a d R e b e c c a B r i e n e n s h a r e s w h a t ’s n e x t f o r t h e f a c i l i t y.

22 Thundering Ahead — They shoot … they score! A group of OSU students have landed behind-the-scenes p a i d i n t e r n s h i p s w i t h t h e N B A’s O k l a h o m a C i t y T h u n d e r.

2017 v19 C A S .OK S TAT E .E DU Arts and Sciences Magazine is a publication of the Oklahoma State University College of Arts and Sciences. All communications should be mailed to OSU College of Arts and Sciences ATTN: Arts and Sciences Magazine 205 Life Sciences East Stillwater, OK 74078-3015 2 0 1 7 © O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the College of Arts and Sciences, was printed by Royle at a cost of $5,024.44/6,000. #6948 9/17

s t a f f Editor

Dorothy L. Pugh ’83

Art Director

Valerie C. Kisling

Photographers

Phil Shockley Gary Lawson ’83

Writers

Brian Petrotta Karolyn Bolay Shelby Holcomb, ’15 Jeff Joiner Kevin Karaki Bryan Trude, ’17

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean

Bret Danilowicz

Assistant Dean/Outreach Bobbi Kay Lewis

Senior Director for Development

Jayme Ferrell

Communications Coordinator Brian Petrotta

YEAR INDICATES OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES GRADUATES.

PHOTO / JASON WALLACE

Bret Danilowicz, dean, College of Arts and Sciences

From the Dean … Preparing Students by Liberating Learning

have observed news outlets proclaiming that the liberal arts do not lead to careers for their graduates, thus encouraging students to enroll in professional degree programs instead. The liberal arts include every major in the college, from English to mathematics to multimedia journalism. Such statements about these degrees are utterly misplaced.

What is true — yet not covered by the media — is that students learn more when their coursework is paired with experiential learning opportunities: Research and internships are critical for student success. During a research experience, a faculty member mentors a student one-on-one on the research process. During an internship, a working professional mentors a student on Studies regularly demonstrate that applying degree-based skills in a work environment. rates of employment and salaries are equitable among liberal arts and Not so long ago, companies readprofessional graduates; studies also ily offered unpaid internships for demonstrate that liberal arts majors students. However, policies have learn more than their professional changed, and many companies will degree counterparts. Isn’t learning accept only students who receive why students attend university? Not a stipend to participate. Similarly, only are liberal arts degrees alive students often volunteered to and well, they remain the best-suited conduct research alongside faculty majors for learning at universities. members, but the financial pressure

of increasing college costs is driving those students toward part-time jobs instead. This is where you come in. Alumni and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences have started to provide funding for our students to participate in internships and research experiences, changing excellent degree programs into transformational ones. Replicating this support will be the primary goal for the College of Arts and Sciences over the next few years. Supporting one Cowboy at a time, you can make an incredible difference at Oklahoma State University. I encourage you to reach out to me or to the OSU Foundation to learn how to become involved in this effort. Sincerely, Bret

Going Photos by Phil Shockley Story by Brian Petrotta

Emily Fekete (from left), Alyson Greiner and Dale Lightfoot developed a new degree program to arm geography majors with the tools they need to succeed in fields as diverse as tourism, academia and the state department.

Global New geography degree program has see how other people live and solve problems, the more opportunity you worldwide options — and appeal have to come up with solutions to

early everyone who attends college expects the time to serve as a map to employment. While this might be literally true for geography students, the department knows some people let misconceptions keep them away. “A lot of people just don’t know what geography is,” says department head Dr. Dale Lightfoot. “They had it in third grade and haven’t looked at it since.” In response, the department has developed a new degree called Global Studies to complement existing programs. Geography is inherently multi-disciplinary but the new degree program should be even more attractive to future students. “I think it fits the needs of today’s students,” says Dr. Emily Fekete, clinical assistant professor and student adviser for geography. “They have a lot of different interests, and this degree gives students the option to make a lot of their own choices.” The Global Studies degree is divided into three thematic areas: culture, arts and humanities; geopolitics and the global economy; and sustainability. Each group requires core geography courses, along with selected courses from anthropology, art, history, philosophy, political science and other departments. The wide range of subjects helped Christina Giles decide to pursue the Global Studies degree.

An employee with OSU’s Learning your own daily problems.” Lightfoot regularly heads study and Student Success Opportunity (LASSO) center, Giles devoured the abroad courses at OSU, including recent trips to Cuba. He finds many university’s course catalogue until students appreciate the structure of she found her path. “I’m really looking forward to it,” a class because it makes them feel more comfortable visiting a country, she says. “I’ve always been interrather than doing so on their own. ested in different cultures, history, geography and the way it all mixes Just as often, he finds that once they have traveled with a group, they are together.” That is precisely what Dr. Alyson more likely to travel again. Greiner had in mind when she took “Study abroad will break down the lead on developing the degree. that initial barrier for a lot of “After looking at what we offered, people,” Lightfoot says. “If they can it felt like we were already in effect partner that with a good grounddoing global studies, but we could ing in Global Studies, they’ll have a greater depth of understanding what repackage it in a way to broaden its appeal and make it really, truly they’re seeing and experiencing.” “Students are really fascinated by interdisciplinary,” Greiner says. globalization,” Greiner says. “It Big ideas like Greiner’s go raises a lot of interesting questions beyond the perception of geogand dynamics they experience.” raphy as just “maps and counThat is certainly the case for Giles, ties,” as described by Lightfoot. who has worked with countless OSU faculty members are eager to international students at the LASSO help students move on to graducenter. Now that she has found a ate programs and possibly pursue program that captured her imaginacareers in academia. They also tion, she is more excited than ever to point out that the discipline has be in Stillwater. broad, valuable applications else“I’m so happy to see OSU doing where, including in positions things like this.” with the U.S. state department, Giles will join the first cohort non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international corporations, of Global Studies students this fall. Many who join her may never and travel and tourism, among have considered a degree in geograothers. phy prior to learning of the Global Geography also offers plentiStudies degree. And while very few ful study abroad opportunities, of them will be known by the title including an option for students of “geographer” after they graduate, to incorporate travel into their each of them will know and apprecisenior capstone project. Greiner says experiences abroad are price- ate how the discipline guided them to less. Fekete agrees: “The more you their respective careers.

Bringing Language

4 PHOTO: ISTOCK BY GETTY IMAGES

Life

Curriculum modifications allow more students to explore language through culture and food

By Karolyn Bolay

new course in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Foreign Language and Literatures brings language to life by studying French foods and culture. “We were just thinking about ways to get more students in, and a colleague threw out the idea of having culture classes that would get more people inspired in the culture and inspire them to then take the language courses,” says Dr. Laurielle Turcat, who is teaching the French Culinary Staples course. A class focused on culture will bring a lighter touch to the art of learning a language. “Having a constant grammar language class can get really exhausting,” Turcat says. “There are a lot of ways to lighten up a classroom and talking about culture is definitely one of them.” Turcat enjoys baking in her spare time and had the idea of a culinary course in the back of her mind. Now was the perfect time to launch her idea. “I thought, ‘Everybody loves French culture for its culinary staples,’” she explaines. “So I will be teaching a little bit of language in terms of vocabulary words, but having it just be about culture and taking away the language barrier by having it just be about culture is really useful in terms of a broad education.” Students participating in the new course will discover the French culture and language through different food groups. The main units will focus on cheese, wine and bread, and shorter units will include spirits, pastry, candy and meat spreads. “Depending on who is counting, there are between 300 and 1,000 French cheeses that are all distinct,” says Turcat, lecturer of French in the department. But the class will also talk about how marketing is different in the French culture. “There are going to be sections that are focused on food, but there is also going to be marketing and what French culture values are seen through the marketing of food,” Turcat adds. “We will also discuss the habits they have — such as they have two-hour lunches, and you don’t talk about business until the last 10 minutes of the meal, so it is not just about food.” The French Culinary Staples course will include a social media aspect, as the course is strictly online. The social media part allows students to share their projects on a different platform. “The students will be required to do nine or 10 different posts throughout the whole semester,” Turcat says. “They will also have a tasting project. … They will have to post some videos of their tasting experience onto Instagram.” CONTINUES

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING

Turcat and Shestokat have worked together to make foreign language courses more accessible for students. One way they have done so is by shifting first-year language courses from a five-hour format to a three-hour format.

“The hope is that we can get more students to take foreign language early in their career so that they hopefully like it and continue on to a minor or major in foreign language.” — Karin Schestokat

The course is open to anyone interested in the French culture. “It is a lower level class, and students don’t have to be 21,” Turcat says. “They don’t have to have any experience with French. It is really wide open, and anybody can take this and hopefully benefit from it.” This course is just the start of the department’s efforts to make foreign language courses more accessible for students. “We realized that for too many students our courses would overlap,” explains Dr. Karin Schestokat, head of the Department of Foreign Language and Literatures. “We are going to go to the three-hour instruction for the first year, down from the five-hour instruction. I heard from many students that the five-hour courses are somewhat scary. But it also affects gradepoint average. “If you do well [in a five-hour course], your grade-point average will go up, but if you don’t do as well, then it really pulls it down.” This change will also help students who are interested in foreign language courses and must meet certain grade requirements. “I especially heard that from students who were on scholarships and needed to maintain a certain level of GPA, that even if they wanted to take the class it is just too scary to have a five-hour course,” Schestokat added.

The department expects that the change in curriculum and different culture classes will encourage students to take more foreign language courses. “The hope is that we can get more students to take foreign language early in their career so that they hopefully like it and continue on to a minor or major in foreign language,” Schestokat says. Of course, the changes in required hours means a change in the amount of homework. “It is going to be a big change for instruction because all of a sudden, they are going to have to fit a lot of material into fewer contact hours, which probably means we’re going to have more homework,” Schestokat says. “Materials will need to be shifted around, and we are in the process of that.” Schestokat anticipates this will allow courses to branch out and offer more in-depth, focused curriculum. “With more students and more interest and more students voicing interest, instructors will be able to think of different courses to offer,” she says. “At one point, they have to do the vocabulary and grammar to get the basics, but once you have the basics, you can branch out in either literature or culture or business or maybe even more specialized courses.”

Building Futures by

Looking to the

PAST

History degrees can be misunderstood and undervalued. But Dr. Anna Zeide is leading the fight to change that with career opportunities.

hen Zeide joined the Department of History at Oklahoma State University in 2015, she accepted a unique faculty position that gave her a chance to focus on improving the undergraduate experience. “When I was hired, we really wanted to emphasize undergraduate program development,” she

says, smiling. “One of the ways I hoped to do that was by developing career opportunities for our students.” A history degree is often misunderstood by many outside the program — and even a few within it. “History is often undervalued as a major because students or

parents have a harder time making connections between the content learned as a history major and the applications of that knowledge in the workplace,” Zeide explains. “I wanted to put students in places where they could use the skill sets and knowledge they acquired here, even if it wasn’t in specifically history-related careers. And CONTINUES

Students in the Jobs in History Practicum use classroom learning in their hands-on experiences in real-world settings, such as the OSU Museum of Art. Student Lydia Perez says, “This is, by far, the most interesting class I have taken at OSU.” PHOTO COURTESY OSU MUSEUM OF ART

I wanted to help them develop the people skills so crucial to success in future employment.” Over the past few years, Zeide and the history department, led by Department Head Dr. Laura Belmonte, have recognized a growing need to better prepare graduating seniors for the working world. “We found that some students were finishing with a history major and having a hard time figuring out how to translate the deep skills of researching, writing, managing information and critical thinking that they had gained into specific career opportunities,” Zeide says. To meet this need, she designed the Jobs in History Practicum Course. The course is intended to equip students with the tools needed to secure employment, and connect with other institutions on campus and within the community. By pairing outstanding students with local organizations for hands-on learning experiences, OSU history students have worked with the OSU Museum of Art, the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, OSU’s Special Collections and University Archives, and the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History. “They come in, they ask questions, and they are very dedicated,” says Sarah Milligan of the OOHRP. “We look for curiosity, flexibility and passion: traits

that all of our History Practicum students have demonstrated. If it comes down to education versus passion, we will hire the applicant with passion every time. As long as the program continues to produce such high-caliber students, we will be more than happy to continue in the program.” In fact, one of the practicum students, Laurel Henagan, recently secured a paid internship position with the oral history project, due in no small part to the skills she acquired in the History Practicum course. “Overall, I thought the practicum was a great experience,” Henagan says. “The oral history office helped me learn a little bit about the whole cataloging process of the interview, really following it from beginning to end. Overall, I can’t praise this program enough. It was the first time I had any exposure to careers in history.” Practicum students have been able to ground their classroom knowledge in the workplace as well as develop additional marketable skills. Along with time at their partner institutions, they also meet in class to read and discuss ways of identifying jobs that will fit their strengths, the value of experiential education, skills of networking and community-building, and specific paths into history-related careers.

“The program is built to show history majors there are other paths to take rather than going to graduate school,” student Lydia Perez says of her experiences at the OSU Museum of Art. “This course is vital for “Overall, I can’t praise this program enough. people who are not sure what they want to do after It was the first time I had any exposure receiving their bachelor’s degree and also gives them field experience. This is, by far, the most interesting to careers in history.” – Laurel Henagan class I have taken at OSU.” “I am very grateful for all the opportunities this practicum course has given me for more hands-on history learning,” Christina Schrantz says. “This Throughout the semester, students write weekly jour- will definitely be a class I will not forget. I think this nal reflections to process their work and gain instruc- history practicum course is a great class, and I think tor feedback, and conclude the course with an oral other students should be encouraged to take it or presentation that brings their practicum experience other courses like it. It offers a unique and important to a close. experience that is difficult to get for many students, “These students also get an opportunity to become and I am very blessed to have been able to participate an essential part of our educational programs,” says in the course this semester.” Carla Shelton of the OSU Museum of Art. “They The program is still in its early stages, with assist in giving tours, facilitate conversations with 12 students in total. With glowing reviews from visitors in our galleries, and have helped run artists’ both students and employers, Zeide and the OSU workshops. We love having them take part in creatDepartment of History are looking to expand the ing new curriculum and write lesson plans. They are programs. always eager to help us come up with new ways to “We at the history department have deepened our reach out to our vast audience, whether that be to relationship with campus and community partners,” our parents and their small children, K-12 students, Zeide says. “We are excited to continue to develop college students or adults of any age.” this course in the years to come.”

The Oklahoma Oral History Research Program (OOHRP) looks for curious, flexible and passionate students to reach its goal of preserving the oral history of Oklahoma for future generations. PHOTO / GARY LAWSON, UNIVERSITY MARKETING

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts will ENCOURAGE discovery, PUSH educational boundaries and REDEFINE Oklahoma State’s influence in the arts with world-class programming unique to the region. Being built on the southwest corner of campus, The McKnight Center will be a modern venue for OSU’s talented students, accomplished faculty and members of the community to enjoy. The Center will open in October 2019 with a grand celebration that includes masterclasses for OSU students and joint concerts with the New York Philharmonic, as part of its previously announced residency partnership with Oklahoma State. The grand opening and additional programming for the inaugural season are being planned by Mark

Blakeman, the Marilynn and Carl Thoma Executive Director for The McKnight Center. Blakeman arrived at OSU in April 2017 and has an impressive resume with leadership positions at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Fundraising for the project and a new music building is ongoing. By helping us advance these projects, The McKnight Center will also become a long-lasting expression of you — a reflection of your belief that art on the Oklahoma State University campus, in this community and in our world, is valuable and worth supporting.

C O N C E P T UA L R E N D E R I N GS P ROV I D E D BY:

A student participates in an evening pottery PHOTO / PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING

class led by local artist and instructor Buck Dollarhide in May 2017 at the Multi Arts Center.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain

12 Students experience a free painting workshop led by award-winning artist and illustrator Mike Wimmer in September 2014 at the Stillwater Multi Arts Center. The workshop was offered by the OSU Museum of Art in connection with its Framing History: Highlights from the Oklahoma State Capital Senate Collection exhibit. PHOTO/OSU MUSEUM OF ART

OSU drawing new plans in partnership with city center By Shelby Holcomb

an artist once he grows up.” — Pablo Picasso

The arts

can affect us economically, emotionally, physically and cognitively. They bring us together; promote creativity, critical thinking and adaptability; broaden worldviews; and ignite change. Last summer, Rebecca Brienen, Vennerberg Chair of Art and head of Oklahoma State University’s Department of Art, Graphic Design and Art History, proposed a partnership between OSU’s art department and the local Multi Arts Center. “I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we were able to step in and provide the kind of administrative and financial support that could make this facility really flourish?” Brienen says. Thus, a stretch of extensive discussion began. In the end, following a stream of opinions, perspectives and supporting evidence, the notion of change won. In mid-April, the City of Stillwater approved Brienen’s request, and as of July 1, the center’s management shifted from that of the volunteer Friends of Multi Arts group to that of the Art Department. “I am excited for the Multi Arts Center partnership between Stillwater and OSU,” says Mayor Gina

Noble, who is also associate director of undergraduate studies and a professor in OSU’s School of Media and Strategic Communications. “I’m impressed with Dr. Rebecca Brienen’s vision and leadership because she plans to expand classes offered, and she’s going to involve more OSU faculty and master’s students in the classrooms. It’s a win-win situation, and it enhances our community and quality of life. Stillwater City Council and Stillwater administrators appreciate OSU’s partnership.” OSU has already been modestly involved with the center, renting its darkroom for the last few years and holding free public workshops with visiting artists there each semester. Brienen and her daughters joined Multi Arts when they moved to Stillwater in 2013, which is also the year she became a Friend of Multi Arts. Shortly after that, she noticed a lack of community awareness and participation in the center and found herself longing for change. She wasn’t alone. “I think there is so much potential,” Brienen says. “I want this to be vibrant, exciting, fun and a really great learning environment. I want it to be used, and I think it will be.

Brienen and her two daughters. PHOTO/REBECCA BRIENEN

“I really resonate with OSU’s land-grant mission idea that you’re giving back to the community — and it actually goes back to the motto of my undergraduate institution, which is ‘not to be served but to serve.’ So there’s this idea that I don’t just serve OSU but that I’m also a member of the community, and I serve the community.” Brienen’s vision for the center revolves around the intersection of community development and cultural programming. Building on some of the existing foundation, her plans include: • Bringing in more students, teachers and artists; • Implementing more workshops and camps; • Working with local retirement and homeschool communities; • Revamping the space; • Creating new jobs; • Paying artists more for teaching; and • Applying for various grants and fellowships. “Art is often treated as not being worth as much as a STEM field, for example, and art takes a lot of training, a lot of hard work, and we should respect that,” she says. The center will also get a fresh start with a new name: Stillwater Center for the Arts. As center director, she intends to work with other local organizations, such as schools and the public library, because she thinks there’s a place for these dynamic relationships throughout the community. She’ll also be teaming up with the OSU Museum of Art, which will run a number of future programs and bring in guest artists. Many events will be free or inexpensive. “I just want stability to ensure growth,” she says. “I have tremendous support from the OSU administration, from [Vice President for Administration and Finance] Joe Weaver in particular, and a number of people in the community have reached out to me in incredibly positive ways.” “I believe that this new approach, with the help of the OSU Art Department, will be a good thing and will encourage longevity for the Multi Arts Center,” says Gayla Foster, secondary education program coordinator and a professor in OSU’s College of Education. “This building is a true jewel for Stillwater and needs to be enlivened for both

community and university participation. I look forward to working toward that goal in whatever capacity I can.” Foster has been involved with the center in various capacities since 2005 and served on the Friends of Multi Arts Board for several years. As for instruction, Brienen wants to involve a combination of advanced OSU students and visiting and community artists, which includes some current and former teachers. She’s also open to letting artists use the space in exchange for volunteer hours. “I’m happy to have Multi Arts be a venue for my students to gain experience, but I want us to deliver a really high-quality resource,” she says. “So I want us to be involved as mentors to make sure what we’re offering is at an appropriate level for our community.” The first program, “Around the World in 10 Days,” a summer arts enrichment camp for ages 9-12, ran in July. Liz Dueck, who recently graduated from OSU with a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art as well as coursework in education, will be leading the camp and has been developing a curriculum under the oversight of Brienen and Foster. “I think this new partnership will be a great gateway for arts students at OSU to investigate various careers in the arts in relationship to community work,” Dueck says. While so much is still in the works, Brienen’s robust vision seems to just get better and better. “The impulse to create art is fundamental to all human beings, so having this resource open and accessible to all is absolutely essential,” she says. “A strong community arts center can provide many positive things for our community. At the most basic level, a community arts center provides supplemental arts education for public school K-12 and homeschooled students, a venue for creativity and art experimentation for adults and retirees, and a place where people with special needs can take classes that allow them not only to develop their imaginations but can also help strengthen things as fundamental as fine motor skills. “We really want the Art Department to support what’s happening in the community. I’m really interested in developing a place where people not only learn something but develop a life-long appreciation for the arts,” Brienen says. “I’d like this to become a model … one of the leading art centers in Oklahoma. It’ll take some time, but it’s all totally possible.”

PHOTO BY JASON WALLACE

CULTURING CREATIVITY

Teens get a college experience with Summer Art Academy By Kevin Karaki

It seems kids always want to grow up faster. “They accomplish amazing The Summer Art Academy (SAA) at Oklahoma State University gives students 13-18 years old a taste of that. The program allows junior high and high school students to experience designing and creating art projects at the college level. Art professor Chris Ramsay has been involved with the SAA since its organization three years ago, and he is excited to see the expansion of the program. “I have always believed that we’ve needed a program like this

here at Oklahoma State University,” things in such a short and concenRamsay says. “It’s been wonderful trated period of time. I have had to see this program take shape and to re-evaluate my expectations for the fall undergraduate students expand.” after working with Summer Art For the past three years, Academy students,” Ramsay says, a OSU faculty and students have huge grin on his face. instructed various classes, from Both of Ramsay’s parents were computer-generated graphic design educators: One taught elementary to working with hammers and school, the other at the university anvils to craft jewelry (Ramsay’s level. With K-12 teaching certificaclass). The range of classes in the tion of his own, to say nothing of Summer Art Academy reflects the his experiences with twin teenage breadth of OSU’s art classes as children, programs such as these well as the creativity of the SAA are very close to his heart. students. CONTINUES

A few examples of the artwork created by students of the SAA jewelry making class. PHOTO BY CHRIS RAMSAY

“It’s been great to have younger “When you show students somestudents come here onto a college thing that they didn’t know before campus, into the classroom, and and as they practice, gain confiexperience this kind of learndence and technical knowledge, it’s ing environment that will prepare a night-and-day transformation them for their future education,” in the classroom,” Ramsay says. Ramsay says. “You can see the joy in their eyes as It’s not just the SAA students they realize, ‘I’m getting this.’” who are receiving an education. One of the SAA courses, OSU art students volunteer to “Around the World in Ten Days,” assist instructors, gaining valuintroduces students to the art of able experiences of their own. For various global civilizations, utilizmany OSU students, this is what ing exhibits within the OSU they would like to do as a career Museum of Art, the Gardiner Art — teach art. At the Summer Art Gallery and the Stillwater Center Academy, they learn teaching tech- for the Arts. niques and instructional methods “The course is a great opportuin a classroom setting. Teaching nity to share resources and create a junior high and high school begin- stronger collaborative effort within ners and teaching undergraduate the Stillwater community,” Ramsay college classes are not so different, says. according to Ramsay.

Art and science are both about little extra time devoted to helpobservation and developing techni- ing this student succeed. And to be cal skills, according to Ramsay. honest, when the class ended only “When you are shown how to five days later, I had no idea what properly accomplish basic technikind of impact I had made, if any.” cal skills or processes, the result But a few weeks later, Ramsay is confidence, which then leads to ran into a mutual acquaintance in an opportunity to make observathe supermarket and heard the rest tions about the world and express of the story. it through that medium,” Ramsay “[The student] has so much says. “If you are a scientist, it is more confidence,” the acquiancritical that you learn how to oper- tance told him, “and has been so ate precision instruments with proud of the work accomplished in confidence to record your obserthe class and has gone on to make vations, to know if you are truly more art projects!” making a new discovery.” “That right there sums up what’s Often the most amazing stories it’s all about,” Ramsay says. are not discovered until after the “Empowering the next generation SAA ends. to be bold, to create, and to feel “I had a student in the course free to express themselves artistiwho was not very socially cally in practical ways, and applyadjusted,” Ramsay says. “Over the ing that creativity and boldness course of the week, I spent just a into their own lives.”

“I have always believed that we’ve needed a program like this here at Oklahoma State University. It’s been wonderful to see this program take shape and expand.” – Chris Ramsay

Ramsay has been teaching full time at OSU since 1990.

PHOTO BY JASON WALLACE

Pete’s Pet Posse picking up members in CAS The dogs of Arts and Sciences: (from left) Sandy D (Bret Danilowicz), Huxley (Keith Garbutt), Darwin (Christine Garbutt), Cooper (Holley Hansen and Stephen Nemeth), Roscoe (Leslie Baldwin), Logan (Bobbi Kay Lewis), and Chunk (Tyrell Conway)

Logan By Brian Petrotta Photos by Jason Wallace

ne of Oklahoma State Alliance of Therapy Dogs. They University’s primary collaborate with their department traits is the cultivation to develop a work schedule and of a friendly campus participate in special P3 events that helps students feel as if they are part of a family. For many, family includes pets. Through a cross-campus, collaborative effort, Pete’s Pet Posse (P3, for short) was established in Fall 2013 to introthroughout the year. It can make duce pet therapy dogs in hopes of for a significant time commitment, making the OSU campus feel even but it reaps bountiful rewards. more like home. Bret Danilowicz, dean of the In four short years, eight dogs College of Arts and Sciences, recalls associated with College of Arts one student who burst into tears and Sciences’ faculty and staff have upon seeing his dog, Sandy D. She earned their “barkalaureates,” and laid down with Sandy, hugged her more are on the way. The popular- and cried for several minutes. Then ity of the program has grown by she stood up, smiled and said, “I traditional word-of-mouth as well really needed that,” before walkas hand-to-fur. ing away. “We have two dogs, Sandy D. “We never exchanged names or and Chunk, in Life Sciences East, greetings — but in that moment, where I work,” Assistant Dean for we didn’t need to,” Danilowicz Outreach Bobbi Kay Lewis says. says. “She just needed Sandy.” “Their owners told me about the TAKING NOTICE program and what great experiMost interactions involve smiles ences they’ve had in the program, and laughter. As the program which inspired me to get on board.” enters its fifth year at OSU, P3 owners and their dogs students have come to look for must first submit an application dogs wearing the orange P3 vests. in August and September. If the Even prospective students who visit program accepts them, complete the campus have taken notice. extensive training begins in January. “I remember one freshman during Graduation from the program a visit who told me she decided to includes obtaining the Canine come to OSU because of P3,” says Good Citizen (CGC) certification Leslie Baldwin, undergraduate and national registration with the

adviser for the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders. Pet therapy is quickly growing in

“It is incredible to see the stress just melt off people while they are petting your dog.” popularity everywhere. Hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, people with learning difficulties and stressful situations such as disaster areas have taken advantage of this approach. The OSU Pet Therapy Program was designed to contribute to the America’s Healthiest Campus® initiative. “Mental health often gets overlooked, and petting a dog one day CONTINUES

Roscoe

Darwin

Danilowicz and his wife Kay may be all the student needs she says. “It is incredible to (Communications Sciences and to change their attitude,” see the stress just melt off Disorders) share Sandy D., for Baldwin says. “I am often people while they are petting instance. reminded that it’s the little your dog.” Hansen and Nemeth handle things in our daily lives that Baldwin concurs. She felt add up to the big things, and I guilty leaving Roscoe at home Cooper. Tyrell Conway, microbiology think P3 is just that.” every day, and the more she and molecular genetics, and his Baldwin also shares her dog, learned about the program, wife, Sharri, bring Chunk. Roscoe, with her department’s the more she realized how Darwin and Huxley belong Animal Assisted Intervention much it helped the dog. to Keith Garbutt, dean of The program. This allows Roscoe “It is a symbiotic relationHonors College and professor to interact with children with ship,” she explains. “Roscoe of plant biology, and his wife, autism and clients who stutter. is always excited when we Christine Garbutt. They have found a “marked put the vest on and we go to difference” when dogs like Roscoe participate in the sessions. Holley Hansen and Stephen Nemeth (both in political Toby is shared by Michael, science) have noticed how campus.” geology, and Susan Grammer, their dog, Cooper, has the Roscoe is not the only P3 power to bring people together. dog to get excited. Some may OSU Fire Protection publications. “During visits, you will often even get too excited. Hansen Rebecca Sheehan, geography, see a circle of students who and Nemeth discovered adds Goose as a P3 pet in the have never met each other, all Cooper could strain his tail College of Arts and Sciences. from different backgrounds, from wagging too much. In Danilowicz could not be social groups and majors, talk- fact, he did so twice. happier so many dogs have ing about themselves or their “He really loves his job,” joined Sandy D. in the program. dogs back home,” Hansen Hansen says. “Since this is purely a volunsays. “These may be tempoThe owners love the job, teer program, it is wonderful to rary or little connections, but too. While the entire P3 group see so many of our faculty and they can help students feel a feels like a family, in some staff from the college supporting lot more at home.” cases it is literally true, for our campus this way.” many campus couples share P3 DOGS AT WORK duties (and rewards). While the primary benefactors of the P3 dogs are stressed-out students, faculty and staff, the owners enjoy the perk of taking their dogs to work. Lewis says her favorite days are when she brings her lab mix, Logan, to Life Sciences East. “You not only get to build a better relationship with your dog and bring him/her to comfort you and others on campus, you get an opportunity to connect with so many different people and students,”

The popularity of the program has grown by traditional word-of-mouth as well as hand-to -fur.

Chunk

PHOTO / JASON WALLACE / CAS

s fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed seeing superstar Russell Westbrook become the “face of the franchise” and the NBA’s most valuable player last season, seven OSU undergraduates worked behind the scenes to help the organization manage and capiTexas). talize on the media attention that his feats While the majority of these students drew. The veteran guard set a league record for worked under the supervision of Matt Tumbelson and John Read in the basketsingle-season triple-doubles (10 or more ball communications (media relations) points, rebounds and assists in a single office, Butler and Plank served their interngame), gaining attention and fame locally, ships in the corporate office. So while they nationally and even globally. would occasionally work with the athletes All the while, the seven OSU underat community events, they spent the bulk graduates earned paid internships, easily of their time interacting with supporters of becoming the largest class of OSU students the team, particularly through social media. working for the Thunder in such a capac“I learned a lot about the difference ity. Considering the Thunder received thoubetween social media styles and the differsands of applications for these positions, it ent voices you have to take on,” Butler says. was no small feat for OSU to command so Adapting different voices to different many of the openings. audiences became particularly challenging “You have to be exceptional just to land for the interns, especially with an internaan interview with what is one of the besttional audience. China is eagerly engaged run organizations in professional sports,” in the NBA, so Butler and Plank learned to says Dr. Ted Kian, professor and Welchwrite for Weibo, a popular Chinese social Bridgewater Chair of Sports Media. media app. While they did not have to do The seven OSU students were: Logan their own translations, they still learned to Butler (Ottawa, Kan.), Thomas Chapman connect with that audience through the use (Tulsa), Jordan Glover (Oklahoma City), of emojis, bold text and exclamation points. Addison Plank (Oklahoma City), Addison It proved to be a successful approach. Skaggs (Perryton, Texas), Corinne Simpson (Lincoln, Neb.), and Matt Valdez (Fort Worth, “I feel like we got more engagement on CONTINUES

OSU students seize opportunity to work with OKC’s NBA team

Addison Plank (left) and Logan Butler earned valuable experience from their paid internships with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s corporate office.

PHOTO / BRIAN PETROTTA / CAS

Corinne Simpson (from left), Jordan Glover, Thomas Chapman, Matt Valdez and Addison Skaggs helped make up an impressive class of paid interns from OSU for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Weibo than on Twitter,” “I think having two really Plank says. strong women to look up to, Both Butler and Plank especially in the NBA, is really earned their internships, in impressive,” Plank says. part, through Gina Noble’s They are quick to point Advanced Public Relations out they were exposed to course. As part of the final successful women at OSU, project, students are required as well. Not only did they to create a finely tuned receive instruction from personal portfolio and cover Noble (“the best teacher letter, then apply for an intern- in the School of Media & ship. Butler applied in the Strategic Communications,” spring of 2016 and secured her Kian declares) but they had internship for the fall of 2016. the opportunity to interPlank followed and picked act with guest speakers from up where Butler left off early all over the country through in 2017. They each survived the Association for Women the first round of cuts through in Sports Media organization. a phone interview and then Still, their first sports media interviewed in person with classes were as male-domiKarina Henderson, director nated as might be expected. of corporate communications “I was one of only three for the Thunder. In Henderson, girls in my sports reporting the OSU interns found a class,” Plank recalls. “It was female role model. intimidating.” “Karina is the most Butler had a similar commanding presence in the experience. room,” Butler describes. “I think I was one of four The Thunder’s coordinator women in my first sports of corporate communications, media class, but you learn to Erica George, also provided hold your own,” Butler says. guidance. “Women have to work harder

in the workforce anyway, so I feel like working in sports prepared me for anything.” To that end, Butler, who graduated in May 2017, accepted a corporate communications job with a Kansas City engineering and construction firm — another maledominated industry. Plank is taking advantage of the SMSC’s 4-plus-1 program, which will allow her to finish her master’s degree just one year after obtaining her undergraduate degree. Their success stories are two of many from the relatively new sports media program at OSU. A combination of highlevel classroom instruction and practical experience has proven to be a winning recipe. “Our program is truly multimedia, and that is a large part of why our students have been so successful in landing internships and jobs,” Kian says. “I want to be the best,” Plank says. “I don’t want the boys to take my position, and I am not going to let them.”

CAS honors five alumni RANDY COUTURE GREGORY QUARLES SARAH COBURN BOB BLACKBURN WILLIAM HUA

Before dominating the octagon, Randy Couture was a three-time All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in German in 1992. Now retired from fighting, the three-time UFC World Heavyweight Champion and twotime UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion is an accomplished actor, author and businessman.

While at OSU, Dr. Gregory Quarles was a recipient of the Carl & Gladys Herrington President’s Distinguished Scholarship, helping him earn dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics in 1983, followed by a master’s in 1985 and a doctorate in 1987, both in physics. An accomplished physicist, CEO and board member, Quarles has been honored for developing new laser devices for medical, military and industrial applications.

Dr. Bob Blackburn came to OSU to earn his master’s degree in history in 1976, followed by his doctorate in 1979, after earning his bachelor’s degree in history at Southwest Oklahoma State. Since 1999, Blackburn has been the director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, joining the organization in 1980 as the editor of The Chronicles of Oklahoma.

25 In 1999, Sarah Coburn took the stage at OSU to receive her bachelor’s degree in music education. Today, Coburn is world renowned for her “precision placement, mercury speed and a gorgeous liquid gold tone” as she headlines musical performances with organizations such as the Seattle Opera, the Atlanta Opera, Opera San Antonio and the Copenhagen Philharmonic.

Dr. William Hua, the 2016 CAS Rising Star, received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from OSU in 2006. Since earning his medical doctorate from the University of North Texas in 2012, Hua has become a clinical health psychologist at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of San Francisco.

In the Name of Science Retired OSU chemistry professor has yet to leave the lab By Shelby Holcomb

lthough he officially retired in 1996, Paul Devlin still spends the majority of his days in the lab, continuing an experimental program that’s been funded by the National Science Foundation since the early ’60s. “The NSF has been good to me since 1962, and I don’t think things could’ve gone any better,” Devlin says. A professor emeritus of physical chemistry and chemical physics in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Chemistry, Devlin has the longest chain of continuous funding in his department — and he’s still not sure when he’ll completely call it quits. “I always look at the present NSF grant as the last one,” he says and laughs. “The first 16 years of retirement under the present program … most enjoyable I’ve ever had. “In the last few years, there have been some big life changes that have affected my outlook, but my own approach is that if my mind is adequate in a year, I’ll go back for another three years … but I’m not sure it’s going to work out that way for a couple reasons — my mind is number one, but number two is that federal funding of grants is dropping rapidly. We need to do something pretty spectacular if we’re going to go

back in hopes of getting more funding.” From the early ’80s to about 2002, Devlin’s research centered on ice, specifically the nature of the surface of ice nanocrystals and the mobility of defective structures within ice and ice-related systems. After that, his focus shifted to gas hydrates, or clathrate hydrates, with a system based on two methods: catalysis — the acceleration of a solid state formation by a substance or catalyst — and an all-vapor approach to that formation, as gas hydrates are basically ice with small guest molecules encaged. What’s the importance of all this time spent on one project? In a nutshell, there’s been a long-term view that clathrates can be used in numerous ways, such as with technology, water purification, bulk transportation of molecules and more. “One of the possible uses that’s been largely unrealized is in storing carbon dioxide,” Devlin says. “Potentially, they’d be useful in attempts to control carbon dioxide concentrations in the world — that’s a very big subject. The problem hasn’t been anywhere near solved in regards to that use, but as of 10 years ago, we weren’t using a practical system.” Others agree that findings by Devlin and his associates

along with more general progress over the last few decades are critical and perhaps profound. Roughly 10 years ago, Devlin says standard practice was to force gases, such as carbon dioxide or methane, into the hydrates by using tremendous pressure — think 60 atmospheres of pressure for hours at a time — but then, something clicked. “What we found was a way to form these systems on a sub-second time-scale at atmospheric or lower pressures and moderately low temperatures,” he says. With so many years spent in the lab, Devlin has had the opportunity to work with many students, particularly graduate students, and he feels this might be the area he has the greatest impact. “Dr. Devlin is a high-quality scientist and person,” says Brad Rowland, an assistant professor in OSU’s Chemical Engineering Department, who worked with Devlin as a graduate student in the ’90s. “He is a man who makes people question and think, whether talking about science or any other topic.” Through NSF funding, along with advanced computational support acquired through a collaboration with the United StatesIsrael Binational Science

Foundation from about 1996 to 2008, the program has long supported a handful of graduate and undergraduate students each year. “We weren’t great teachers, but we did do interesting things,” he says. “I think the students who worked with us liked what we did, and it just so happens, a lot of them are teachers now.” One, Nevin Uras-Aytemiz, is here on sabbatical from Turkey with her family for this academic year and will be in the lab to expand and renew the joint science she has done in past years. Originally from Colorado, Devlin grew up as a farmer. He attended liberal arts boarding high schools (partially in Oklahoma) and college before venturing to Kansas State University — and while he’s always had a knack for math and science, actually becoming a scientist “kind of just happened,” he says. “I was at a small college, and after two years was going to have to transfer if I wanted to be an engineer, but I could stay where I was and be a scientist, so I stayed,” he says. “But it worked out. For me, it’s been about as good as life can be.” Devlin received his doctorate in physical chemistry from Kansas State University in 1960 and moved on to the University of Minnesota for postdoctoral work until 1961. He then accepted a position at OSU, and he’s been here ever since.

Paul Devlin, professor emeritus, first came to OSU in 1961. After more than 20 years of retirement, his research continues in a campus lab. PHOTO/JEANNE DEVLIN

OSU’s Own Nobel Nominee Alumnus Dambach could win Peace Prize vote in October

“Chic” Dambach came to OSU to play football. He left searching for non-violent solutions to conflict resolution. PHOTO COURTESY OF OSU ATHLETICS

klahoma State University alumnus Charles “Chic” Dambach gave a TEDx talk earlier this year in Washington, D.C., sponsored by Johns Hopkins University, entitled “Exhaust the Limits: Why Not Peace?” Dambach, an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins and a former president of the Alliance for Peacebuilding and National Peace Corps Association, began by quoting Pindar, an ancient Greek poet. “O my soul, do not aspire to a mortal life,” he told the audience, “but exhaust the limits of the possible.” It’s Dambach’s work exhausting those limits that has earned the OSU graduate (bachelor’s degree in speech communication and rhetoric, ’67) a nomination for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. “I got involved in peace activism at OSU back in the 60s, but what I do now isn’t quite activism; it’s what we call peacebuilding,” Dambach says. “What we do is go into active conflict environments, where the adversaries on both sides are all tied to a conflict. We try to work with them, to help find a non-violent way to resolve whatever the differences may be.” Dambach’s journey began in Stillwater, as a lineman on scholarship for Cowboys head coach Phil Cutchen. Being drawn to OSU for football ultimately kept Dambach out of the draft: He earned a medical exemption after separating his shoulder five times during his playing career. “I played a little, but I was never any good,” Dambach jokes. “I like to say that the biggest mistake the Cowboys ever made back then was giving me a scholarship.” Dambach eventually left the team after events opened his eyes to social justice issues and racism, spurred by a career-ending injury. He rebounded by becoming involved with the debate team, in student government and in anti-war activism. As a member of the OSU debate team, Dambach participated in a debate concerning U.S. foreign policy, leading him to research the beginnings of the Vietnam War.

“[I] discovered what a disaster [the Vietnam War] prisoner; and Victor Ochen, a Ugandan peace activist was,” he says. “It was based totally on a misunderand founder of the African Youth Initiative Network. standing on what was happening in Vietnam, false Both men have also been nominated for the Nobel pretenses in the Gulf of Tonkin, and I realized that Peace Prize. Ochen holds the current record as subpeople were killing and being killed over a stupid Sahara Africa’s youngest nominee and Uganda’s mistake. You just can’t justify that.” first. Ochen has also been named one of the 10 most As he researched more wars and other conflicts, he powerful people in Africa by Forbes magazine. concluded that most wars are “colossal mistakes.” “Maikel was one of the key leaders of the youth “I just started thinking through the whole concept uprising in Egypt in 2011. … Victor was born and of using violent force to resolve differences,” he says. raised in a displaced persons camp in northern “I’m not a total pacifist; I am willing to defend myself Uganda, and was attacked by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s and this country when we are legitimately threatened. Resistance Army,” Dambach says. “These two young All too often, we get war when we are not threatened. men went to members of Congress to convince them There are peaceful ways of resolving these differences.” to nominate me for the prize.” Dambach’s path to the Nobel nomination began The final vote on the 2017 Peace Prize recipients with two young African men he mentored: Maikel will take place in October, with the awards being Nabil, an Egyptian blogger, activist and political presented in December in Oslo, Norway.

Dambach now teaches at Johns Hopkins University. He is the former president of the National Peace Corps Association. PHOTO COURTESY CHIC DAMBACH

Decker stepping up to lead English department

position. He also has been a Fulbright Scholar in Belgium and a DAAD guest professor in Germany. As head, Decker plans to uphold the department’s longstanding reputation for outstanding classroom instruction and internationally recognized scholarly achievement. Mentorship of junior faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate majors also counts as a chief priority for Decker. “Mentorship is really important to this department,” he explains. “Twenty years ago, we began to assign senior faculty mentors to incoming faculty. We tell our new colleagues, ‘We want you to have a career here, and we want to do everything we can to support your scholarly agenda as it flourishes and expands.’”

r. William M. Decker never planned to take on the role of department head. His dissertation director’s caution about research taking a backseat to administrative duties lingered for decades in the back of his mind. But having published books and articles on a range of American authors, Decker concedes his scholarly record is sufficiently established for him to take on the new challenge of being department PHOTO BY JASON WALLACE head of English at Oklahoma State University. A recipient of a 2016 OSU Regents Distinguished Research Award, he firmly believes that he can administer while maintaining momentum on his current book project. “The faculty was unanimous in wishing to promote from within their ranks rather than recruit a head from outside,” Decker says. “Nobody really campaigned for the position. I gave permission to two people to nominate me. That pretty much decided it.” Dr. William Decker Taking this step makes perfect sense for Decker. He Decker says his own OSU brings more than 20 years as career has been mentored and a faculty member at OSU as otherwise supported. well as experience as associ“There have been a lot of ate department head and direc- positive influences here at tor of Graduate Studies to the OSU,” he says. “I was hired

by Dr. Jeffery Walker, who is my fellow American Literature scholar, and his mentorship was invaluable to me while I was getting my legs set.” Working at OSU has also provided opportunities for collaboration, which Decker has first-hand experience with through his participation in the OSU Cambridge (United Kingdom) Summer Program. “One of my outstanding memories has to do with being on the Cambridge campus and teaching a course with my colleague from geography, CAS Associate Dean Tom Wikle,” Decker recalls. “Together, we taught a course on travel writing. We had 20 really gifted students who were excited about the whole course. A few of them had been abroad before, but some of them had never boarded an airplane before

flying to Dallas for the transatlantic flight. “It was so much fun, and the students were intensely motivated. That was definitely a high point in my career.”

PHOTO / COURTESY DAVID MCILROY

McIlroy leaves Idaho to lead OSU’s physics Dr. David McIlroy

challenge is defined as “difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to the one engaged in it.” And after 21 years at the University of Idaho, Dr. David McIlroy was looking for a new one. McIlroy found just the challenge he was seeking with the open position of department head in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics at Oklahoma State University. “I decided I could either stay here for another 12 to 13 years and cruise to retirement, or I could find something new and interesting to do,” McIlroy says. “The position as it was advertised looked really interesting to me.” McIlroy is already familiar with the challenges that come with leading a physics department, which he did at the University of Idaho for four years.

“The main goal, as I see it, is to continue to build the undergraduate physics major enrollment, continue to bring in higher and higher quality graduate students … help guide the department and reinvigorate its research,” McIlroy says. “Part of the goal is to take the department to what I view a modern physics department to be, which is a lot more student-inclusive, especially with the undergraduates, and have a lot more undergraduate research, which is what the department wants to move toward as well.” In fact, McIlroy sees undergraduate research as one of the most important parts of the department. “It is the main thing that is critical to any physics program,” he says. “In these days, the students are so much more knowledgeable on what they want to do. If you can answer their questions and

it matches with what they had in mind, you start to attract the best students, which is really what physics is all about because it is a difficult subject.” OSU’s physics department is larger than Idaho’s, which McIlroy says allows for more opportunities — and taking more risks. “There is not a lot of room for error [at the University of Idaho], so we have to be really careful with our strategy,” he explains. “At somewhere like OSU, the department can take more chances, which means we can pursue different opportunities.” McIlroy is looking forward to the changes and challenges of his new position. “It is a new beginning,” he says. “Just the excitement of working with people who want to see change and want to bring the department up to a different level.” — Karolyn Bolay

Time Out for Research team developing quick, easy test for lung cancer

n the race to detect lung cancer, there are several weapons in a medical professional’s repertoire. While imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans can reveal lesions, one of the most common methods of detection and assessment of a malignancy is a biopsy. A team of bio-analytical chemistry researchers hope to soon offer an alternative to this painful,

we want to use their properties in this test. By determining the biomarker levels, and seeing if the patient has the signs and symptoms of lung cancer, then they don’t have to initially go through painful procedures,” Premaratne says. “Our focus is to give an early diagnosis and predictions, so patients can seek medical professionals to further confirm their status.” The process relies on detecting biomarkers through surface plasmon resonance imaging. The Instead of a painful and technique measures the adhesion of molecules invasive surgical biopsy, the to a thin surface layer of gold, using the resulting refractive index changes. It is the team’s hope process makes it possible to that the technique can be further developed to diagnose possible lung cancer assist in early detection of multiple kinds of within three hours. cancers. The project has been generating a buzz invasive surgical procedure, assessing the preswithin the College of Arts and Sciences, earning ence and risk of developing lung cancer when it is Premaratne a second-place finish in the collegeeasiest to treat. level Three Minute Thesis competition last spring. Gayan Premaratne, a Ph.D. candidate in chemA native of Sri Lanka, Premaratne is a softistry, is one of a small team of researchers devel- spoken man with a perpetual smile on his face, oping a method that could help diagnose the and a passion for chemistry and biosciences. presence of lung cancer by detecting appropriAfter graduating in 2010 from St. Joseph’s ate biomarkers, even if a tumor has not develCollege in Bangalore, India, with a degree in oped yet. science, Premaratne went to work for SGS group “We started working on this idea somewhere in Sri Lanka for three years, before earning his around the end of 2015,” Premaratne says. master’s degree in analytical chemistry from the “Initially, we started hunting for the things that University of Colombo in 2014. The work of his were available, and we noticed a gap that has adviser, Dr. Krishnan, drew him to Stillwater. not been addressed, where people are not being “I really knew I wanted to work in bio-analytdiagnosed early for lung cancer because all of ical chemistry,” Premaratne says. “I was pretty the techniques that are available are for middle excited about Dr. Krishnan’s diverse profile of to late stages. This makes it very difficult to be research, and I knew it was something I would cured.” really fit in with the background that I have.” Premaratne, along with teammates Zainab With Premaratne on course to graduate with Al-Mubarak, Asantha Dharmaratne and adviser his doctorate in 2018, he looks forward to taking Dr. Sadagopan Krishnan, began developing his expertise to wherever he can do the most the diagnostic technique in 2016, focusing on good for society at large. developing a sensor array to detect biomarkers “I don’t mind being anywhere, as far as through a minimally invasive blood test. where my efforts will help to serve the society,” Instead of a painful and invasive surgical Premaratne says. “Ph.D.s are universal. biopsy, the process makes it possible to diagnose With that goal in mind, I would like to work possible lung cancer within three hours. at any institution or organization that uses my “Since our lab works with nanochemistry, expertise well.”

Bryan Trude

Diagnosis PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING

Gayan Premaratne (center) noticed a “gap” in lung cancer research. Along with Zainab Al-Mubarak (left) and Asantha Dharmaratne (right), Premaratne found a willing advisor in Dr. Sadagopan Krishnan at OSU to pursue this research.

Doctoral student discovers unidentified plant species found only in a corner of Texas

While Angela McDonnell (left) worked on her Ph.D. under advisor Dr. Mark Fishbein (right), she discovered a new species of milkweed – the hairy-faced spiny pod.

hile doing research at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis for her dissertation, Oklahoma State University graduate student Angela McDonnell came across a mystery. A botanist there showed her a pressed, dried specimen of a milkweed vine plant from Texas unlike any of its closest relatives. The plant hadn’t been described or named since first being collected in 1903. “Dr. [Peter] Stevens [a botanist at the Missouri Botanical Garden who specializes in milkweed vines] thought it was the species Matelea decipiens, but he wasn’t positive,” says McDonnell, a doctoral student in OSU’s Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Evolution. “He asked me to look at it, and it definitely wasn’t Matelea decipiens.” McDonnell began a search to identify the mystery milkweed. That led to new plant species and, as is the scientific custom for the discoverer, she gave the plant its scientific name, Matelea hirtelliflora, and its common name, the hairy-faced spiny pod. “She cast a broad net over this group of plants that she specializes in, and that led her to an inkling that this could be a new species,” says Mark Fishbein, an OSU professor and McDonnell’s advisor. Confirming that the plant was indeed something new became a side project as she worked to complete her Ph.D. “I study plants that belong to a lineage of around 500 species of milkweed vines called Gonolobinae. Within that lineage, I have focused on a smaller group of around 20 close relatives in the genus Chthamalia that occur in Oklahoma, Texas and throughout Mexico,” McDonnell says. “I use genomic information to estimate relationships among different species that allow me to better understand how different traits, like growth form, fruit shape and flower shape, have evolved over time.”

How does a botanist study plants? McDonnell utilized dried, pressed plant specimens held in museum collections, or herbaria, and borrowed samples from institutions across the U.S., including the botanical garden in Missouri, the University of Texas in Austin,

the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and the New York Botanical Garden. Fishbein says McDonnell borrowed hundreds of dried and pressed samples of milkweed species. The specimens are measured, such as flower petal length and width, and described in detail. With Matelea hirtelliflora, the flowers are smaller and have hairs not found on related species. “I had specimens of this unknown species and specimens of what I thought were the closest relatives from mostly the eastern and southeastern U.S., and they were florally pretty different,” McDonnell says. “The flowers are really what differentiates it. Within the first hour of looking at it, I had a pretty strong suspicion. Then you just have to take measurements and mount up the evidence.” McDonnell says she most enjoys the fieldwork required in her research. She visited a state park in Texas where the plant was collected in 1903 and 1998. Its location further revealed the plant’s uniqueness because of geographic separation from relatives. Its range is limited to the piney woods of Northeast Texas, a tiny area compared with related milkweed vines that prefer oak-hickory forests across the eastern and southeastern U.S. It’s not known why the range of this species is so limited. “It might be something like the soil, or it might be reproduction that limits it,” McDonnell says. “It could just be doing a bad job dispersing itself.” With the collection of evidence and assistance from Fishbein, also an expert on milkweed vines and director of the OSU herbarium, McDonnell was ready to write a journal article to announce and provide evidence for her conclusion. She was the lead author with Fishbein on a paper published in Systematic Botany in August 2016. The authors described the characteristics and distribution of the plant and made the case for why it was a new species. But what difference does it make to the world at large if a previously unknown plant or animal is discovered? In the case of hairy-faced spiny pod, McDonnell says describing the plant provides information about the evolution of milkweed vines and how this new plant relates to its lineage and its environment. What feeds on it? What other plants and animals (including humans) depend on it or threaten it? Describing a rare plant alerts people to something that may need protection or simply tells people about a newly discovered plant right under their noses. This is not the first plant McDonnell has identified. She also discovered a previously unknown milkweed vine in Mexico.

McDonnell studied milkweed in OSU’s herbarium, run by Dr. Fishbein. She earned her Ph.D. in July 2017 and earned a post-doctoral fellowship at Bucknell University.

“I think this kind of work is a cornerstone of biodiversity research,” McDonnell says. “This seems to be a species that’s rather rare, and you can’t really communicate about it or conserve it if it doesn’t have a name.” With the completion of her dissertation this summer, McDonnell is preparing for a post-doctoral research position at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where she has been named the Burpee Post-Doctoral Fellow in Botany. For now, her work with hairy-faced spiny pod is over, but she hopes other scientists will pick up where she left off. Fishbein says the work of botanists like McDonnell is important because it helps people understand plants around them and realize what could be lost. In modern history, countless plants have disappeared before they were identified. Often, they’re found later as specimens in herbaria but no longer found in the environment. “We’re still discovering what plants grow in the U.S.,” Fishbein says. “It’s surprising to people that we haven’t identified all the plants that grow here.”

Story by Jeff Joiner | Photos by Gary Lawson

No Coincidences Blessings abound in OSU alumnae’s life

By Brian Petrotta

Football was Welniak’s first love, and in 2016 she landed a dream job as sideline reporter for the Kansas City Chiefs. PHOTO BY JOHN RIEGER

ani Welniak has encountered too Football may have been her first love but many coincidences to believe in at OSU she also tackled basketball, wresthem. tling, OSU’s Olympic sports, and even mixed From winding up at Oklahoma State martial arts events. She worked Friday night University because of her mother’s boyfriend to high school football games and eventually freemeeting her future husband in western Kansas lanced for Fox Sports and ESPN television to landing her dream job as a sideline reporter broadcasts. for the Kansas City Chiefs, Welniak believes All of that experience beefed up her résumé, her journey has been blessed with more than and the connections she made at OSU resomere serendipity. nated even more deeply with Welniak. “In the end, it’s a combination of a lot of “You are close friends at OSU, but you prayer and giving 150 percent in every aspect almost become closer when you graduate,” she of what I am doing,” Welniak explains. says. “We experienced so much together, and If that statement sounds like it could have now we’re experiencing it at another level.” come from a professional athlete, well, Welniak Part of the experience included paying her did play women’s professional football in dues. Very few people leap from college to gigs Dallas for four years. She took the same field in markets the size of Kansas City (the 33rd as the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, feeding her largest in the nation — vs. Oklahoma City’s competitive spirit. As she played, she took No. 43 ranking and Tulsa’s No. 60). To reach notice of the reporters around. that level, Welniak had to get into Dodge first. “I fell in love with the idea of being a sports Out of the 16 stations she sent a tape, the journalist because those who covered my one in Dodge City, Kan., was the only one games seemed so happy to be doing their jobs,” to offer her a job. There, she gained critical Welniak says. professional experience — and met the man At the same time, Welniak’s mother began who would later become her husband. dating a former OSU football player (Walt Together they moved to Wichita, Kan., when Garrison, who also had played for the Dallas Welniak was offered an opportunity there. She Cowboys and who would become Welniak’s continued to hone her skills but after a few stepdad). And the School of Media and years in Wichita, the station faced budget cuts. Strategic Communications at OSU hatched KCTV in Kansas City “came out of plans for a program in sports media. nowhere” and approached her just as her Welniak says she “absolutely fell in love” Wichita contract was expiring. That would with the campus. She soaked up classroom have been enough. Fast-forward to the fall of knowledge from professors such as John 2016, though, when Len Dawson, a Hall of McGuire and Dave Hunziker while becomFame former quarterback for the Kansas City ing active in student media. Her time at The Chiefs, decided to cut back on travel in his role O’Colly helped forge her writing skills, while as color analyst for the Chiefs’ radio broadher involvement in such organizations as casts. That opened up a spot for a sideline the Sports Media Club and Association for reporter, and Welniak was only too happy to Women in Sports Media led to opportunities in step in. broadcasting.

“I fell in love with the idea of being a sports journalist because those who covered my games seemed so happy to be doing their jobs.” — Dani Welniak

Never one to get too comfortable, however, Welniak still keeps a detailed binder of every résumé, letter, and demo tape she has ever submitted for a job. Last fall, she returned to OSU to speak at a reunion of O’Colly staffers and opened her binder for any student to view. “When I first got to college, I had no idea how to put together a résumé or a demo reel,” she explains. “That was one of the things the professors and guest speakers helped me with. The binder has not only been good to have for myself but for others.” Paying forward the generosity she received from others while simultaneously feeding her drive to succeed has Welniak traveling an evergrowing road of success. She has been fortunate, but it is no coincidence.

Welniak keeps a binder filled with all the material she has ever submitted for job openings. She uses it as motivation for herself and as a guide for others. PHOTO BY DAVE EULITT/KC STAR

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