mark dantonio - MSU Alumni Association - Michigan State University

MARK DANTONIO 

MEET MICHIGAN STATE’S 

NEW FOOTBALL COACH 

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Life made 

every step of the way 

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Michigan State University • Winter 2007 • Vol. 24, No. 2 

Cover: Photo of 

Mark Dantonio by 

Robert Hendricks for 

Spartanmag.com, 

reprinted with 

permission. 

THE IMPACT OF ENDOWMENT: WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? 

As MSU’s capital campaign surpasses its goal, the focus now shifts 

to raising endowments. 

16 

THE STUDENT ALUMNI FOUNDATION EMERGES 

AS NATIONAL LEADER 

In only two decades, MSU’s Student Alumni Foundation has 

emerged as the Big Ten’s largest voluntary student organization 

and as a national leader. 

20 

A NEW MSU RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE FOCUSING ON 

ARTS AND HUMANITIES 

MSU’s new residential college offers students a new global and 

interdisciplinary emphasist on arts and humanities. 

26 

Letters to the Editor 

Editor, MSU Alumni Magazine 

242 Spartan Way 

East Lansing, MI 48824-2005 

Include name, address, phone, 

email and MSU degree/year 

(if applicable). Letters may be 

edited. 

Via Fax: 

(517) 432-7769 

Via email: 

editor@msualum.com 

NATIONAL 

CHAMPION! 

MEET MARK DANTONIO, NEW FOOTBALL COACH 

MSU has given Mark Dantonio a place on which to stand. Can 

he move the earth? Spartan Nation is abuzz with excitement. 

30 

DEPARTMENTS 

President’s Perspective 2 

In-Basket 3 

Around Circle Drive 4 

Spartan Profiles 10 

Sports 30 

Alma Matters 40 

State’s Stars 48 

Obituaries 50 

Lasting Impressions 52 

Page 1 

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PRESIDENT’SPERSPECTIVE 

MSU Alumni Magazine 

Robert Bao 

Editor 

Bill Beekman 

Acting 

Executive Director 

Bev VandenBerg 

Associate Director 

Dominic Schimizzi 

Business Manager 

David Brown 

Assistant Director 

Joni Burns 

Administrative 

Assistant I 

Beverly Carnahan 

Executive Staff 

Assistant 

Louise Cooley 


Regina Cross 

Marketing and 

Sales Coordinator 

Cheryl Denison 

Marketing and 

Sales Coordinator 

Brenda Haynes 

Office Assistant III 

Dave Giordan 

Design 

MSU Alumni Association 

Susie Hamilton 


Andy Henderson 

Systems Manager 

Kristin Mackley 

Office Assistant III 

Karen Moser 

Office Assistant II 

Chris Pfeffer 

Information 

Technology 

Tammy Pike 

Secretary II 

L. Patrick Scheetz 


Sandy Soifer 


Barbara 

Susa-Fineis 

Event Coordinator 

Jackie Sweet 

Membership 

Coordinator 

Linda Trimble 

Secretary II 

T 

he beginning of a new year marks a time when many of us 

pause to look back at the achievements of the past year, and then 

forward to the promise of the year ahead. It is a time when we 

reflect on our blessings, and give thanks to those who have made 

a positive difference in our lives. For many of us, it is also a time 

when we look deeply into our own lives and find ways we can 

improve both ourselves and the world around us. 

Over the years, Michigan State has made conscious efforts to 

develop in strategic and innovative ways. We have remained firmly 

rooted in our land-grant heritage as we have reached out globally – with our teaching, 

with our research, and with our outreach ventures. From our focus on experiential learning 

in our classrooms, to our innovative partnerships with local businesses and multi-national 

corporations; from our countless outreach initiatives in counties across Michigan, 

to our world-grant commitments in countries around the globe, MSU has demonstrated 

its proven ability – and follow-through – to respond to the ever-changing needs of society, 

and to provide solutions that work. 

I frequently refer to the strength and fortitude of Team MSU. While those references 

may seem commonplace to some, each is derived from some real and praiseworthy 

achievement. Like any good team, our strength and fortitude arise from a depth and 

breadth of diverse factors, all working together, and collectively driven by shared goals 

and values. With these shared goals and values as our solid base, one critical factor that 

continues to make Team MSU a winning team is a sustained ability to reinvigorate our 

lineup. 

As we look forward to the new year ahead, there is much that holds promise for Michigan 

State. As this issue of the MSU Alumni Magazine notes, we recently welcomed Mark 

Dantonio as MSU’s 24th head football coach. We welcome him not only as our new 

coach, but also as a great teacher and role model for our players, as someone who embodies 

and reflects back the values, passion, and work ethic necessary to achieve success at this 

level. 

Another story in this issue features MSU’s new Residential College in the Arts and 

Humanities, slated to open in fall 2007. This innovative living/learning opportunity for 

our undergraduates will not only enhance the student experience, but also equip students 

to live and work effectively as global citizens of the 21st century. 

Each year, there are many substantive ways in which we continue to strengthen Team 

MSU. And each and every member of the team can contribute to its overall success. As 

we welcome 2007, I thank you for your support of Team MSU and wish you great success 

and joy in the year ahead. 

Sincerely, 

Advertising (517) 355-8314 

advertising@msualum.com 

COPYRIGHT 2007 

MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

Lou Anna K. Simon, Ph.D. 

President, Michigan State University 

MSU Alumni Association 



(517) 355-8314 

www.msualum.com 

MSU is an affirmative-action, 

equal opportunity employer. 

Page 2 Winter 2007 MSU Alumni Magazine 

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INBASKET 

FUN, FLOATS AND THE FROG 

You did a great job capturing 

the excitement of this year’s 

Homecoming with “The Fun, 

The Floats, and The Frog” (cover 

story, Fall 2006). I applaud not 

only your coverage of Kermit 

and the Homecoming events, 

but also your coverage of MSU 

alumni from around the world 

and what is happening right 

here on campus. 

Everyone should be very proud 

to be GREEN. I know I am. 

As Kermit said, “At MSU, it’s 

not only easy to be green. It’s 

essential.” Acting executive 

director Bill Beekman deserves 

special praise for going to the 

“swamp” and persevering to land 

Kermit as the Grand Marshal, 

guest speaker, assistant football 

coach, and President Simon’s 

comedy sidekick. This was a big 

one, and it deserves an A+. 

Margaret Hehr 

East Lansing 

GRANDPARENTS U 

It was a privilege for me to have 

participated in Grandparents 

University last summer at 

MSU with my nine year old 

grandson, Parker. In addition to 

providing me an opportunity to 

spend some quality time with 

him, the hands-on, interactive 

program was educational, 

practical and exciting for both 

of us. The classes brought out 

a new behavior in Parker that 

I had not witnessed before. 

He behaved less reserved and 

more proactive in the class 

sessions. He even volunteered 

to interview his grandfather in 

one of the classes, sharing family 

traditions, in front of the class. 

We became better informed 

about growing plants, the food 

we eat and learned a lot about 

stars and galaxies in the Abrams 

Planetarium. These and other 

classes were interesting and 

learning experiences. They were 

taught by experienced instructors 

at the level to inspire both young 

and old minds to think and 

acquire knowledge. 

We had fun overeating at meal 

time, particularly the variety 

of sweets, including soft serve 

ice cream and real ice cream 

at the MSU dairy. We made 

new friends. In fact, the entire 

program was structured to 

cultivate the Spartan Family 

concept. Already Parker again 

has requested to participate in the 

program next summer and his 7 

year old brother also has asked 

to be included. We are looking 

forward to the 2007 summer 

sessions and will register early to 

get some more great classes. 

Clarence Underwood, Jr. 

Outreach Consultant, 

MSU Office of Admissions 

MSU Athletics Director 

Emeritus 

☛ This year’s Grandparents U 

will be held June 27-29, 2007. 

Those who sign up before 5 p.m. 

Feb. 28 will receive a discount. 

For information, visit www. 

grandparents.msu.edu. –Editor. 

NEW ORLEANS PROJECT 

Truly enjoyed reading your 

article on MSU’s New Orleans 

Project (Fall 2006) about 

the efforts of Professor Joyce 

Grant and her students to help 

revitalize the New Orleans 

school system. Whoever would 

have thought that one of “the 

darkest corners of corners of the 

earth” would be America’s Gulf 

Coast. The efforts of professor 

Grant and her students personify 

the essence of what it means to 

be a Spartan. 

Pat Gallinagh, ’67 

Ironwood 

☛ Gallinagh was a starter on 

MSU’s national championship 

football teams of 1965 

and 1966. Also, last December 

another group of 53 MSU 

students and faculty volunteers, 

organized by horticulture professor 

Art Cameron, spent five days 

refurbishing New Orleans’ largest 

park. They stayed at Camp 

Blessing, Sidell, LA. –Editor. 

SPARTAN INVENTOR 

I’d like to submit another 

candidate for your Gallery of 

MSU Inventors (Winter 2006). 

Whenever you switch on your 

TV and listen to stereophonic 

sound, you are listening to the 

circuitry developed and patented 

by James R. Simanton, ’47, 

and his partners at Telesonics 

Systems Inc. Many large 

corporations competed to 

develop such a system. Jim, 

from Benton Harbor, who 

graduated from MSU in 

1947 with dual BS degrees 

in Chemistry and Electrical 

Engineering, came up with the 

system. The Foundation we 

developed was recognized in 

1991 as an MSU Benefactor. 

Donna Simanton 

Spokane, WA 

NEW GLBT ALUMNI GROUP 

I was very excited to see your 

report in the Fall 2006 issue 

about the development and 

creation of the gay, lesbian, 

bisexual and transgender (GLBT) 

Alumni Association. It’s a historic 

event in MSU’s alumni history. 

Back when I was attending MSU 

in the middle sixties there was 

absolutely no visibility concerning 

gay and lesbian issues. Please 

continue to help draw the 

attention of the thousands of 

alumni across the globe who also 

happen to be glbt! 

Dennis J. Hall, ’69 

Lansing 

UPDATE 

}Dale Darling (“A Spartan Conquers Mount Everest,” Fall 2004), 

’87, M.S. ’91, has now conquered the highest peak on all Seven Continents. 

On November 21, Dale summited Mount Kosciuszko, at 

7,280 feet the highest peak of the Australian continent. Only a few 

climbers have achieved the seven peaks mountaineering goal. 

}Thomas McGuane (p. 10, Winter 1990), novelist, essayist, screenwriter 

and movie director, shows in his words over time how he 

evolved into one of America’s premier literary figures in Conversations 

With Thomas McGuane (University Press of Mississippi, 2006). 

}Mary Ann Ramsey (p. 14, Fall 2006), ’75, president of Betty 

Maclean Travel, Inc., Naples, FL, has been selected by Virgin 

Galactic to become an “Accredited Space Agents”—one of a select 

group allowed to reserve seats aboard Virgin Galactic’s suborbital 

space flights. 

Click Right Through for MSU 


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AROUND CIRCLE DRIVE 

Artist’s rendering courtesy of University Development 

MAJOR GIFT BOOSTS 

MED SCHOOL EXPANSION 

The Grand Rapids building 

that will become the new home 

of the MSU College of Human 

Medicine will be named “The 

Secchia Center” in recognition of 

a gift from alumnus Ambassador 

Peter F. Secchia. With this gift, 

the university has now reached 

the halfway point toward the $40 

million in private support required 

to complete the project. 

The naming was approved 

Jan. 18 by the MSU Board 

of Trustees, which also approved 

the building’s site on 

Michigan Street across from 

Spectrum Health and the Van 

Andel Institute (see “MSU’s 

College of Human Medicine 

Is Making A Bold Move West- 

Secchia 

ward,” Summer 2006, pp. 

26-29). 

The Secchia gift announcement 

will kick off a joint fundraising 

effort by MSU and Grand 

Action, a nonprofit organization 

of 250 community leaders that 

helped construct destination facilities 

in Grand Rapids. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime 

opportunity to combine my commitments 

to the university and to 

the community I love,” says Secchia. 

“I truly believe this will have 

a meaningful impact that will live 

on for generations to come.” (For 

more information about the Secchia 

gift, see page 44.) 

“The Secchia Center will bring 

to life a one-of-a-kind model for 

medical education and research 

in the 21st century,” says MSU 

President Lou Anna K. Simon. 

“This new approach blends key 

elements of a classic medical 

education center with MSU’s 

traditional strength in community-based 

medical education.” 

The new center is slated to enroll 

its first class of 100 first-year 

students in 2010. When the 

program is at full capacity, enrollment 

will exceed 400. It will 

include research and teaching 

laboratories, classrooms, offices 

and student areas. Special partnerships 

between MSU and the 

Van Andel Institute, Spectrum 

Health, Saint Mary’s Health 

System and Grand Valley State 

University have been announced 

recently. 

Photos courtesy of University Development 

Ferguson Foster Owen Perles 

NEW TRUSTEES, NEW OFFICERS 

Democratic candidates Faylene 

Owen and George Perles were 

elected to the MSU Board of 

Trustees in the Nov. 7 election. 

They defeated incumbents David 

Porteous and Dee Cook. 

Trustee Joel Ferguson, first 

elected to the board in 1986, was 

elected by unanimous vote in January 

to a two-year term as board 

chairperson. He previously served 

as chairperson in 1992. Melanie 

Reinhold Foster was elected to a 

two-year term as vice chairperson. 

Owen, a Democrat from East 

Lansing, is founder and CEO 

of Mica Corp. and marketing 

director for Village Green. 

She has served as director of 

special projects for former Gov. 

James Blanchard, chairperson 

of Sparrow Hospital Foundation, 

on the boards of Child 

abuse Prevention and MSU 

Safe Place, and president of 

the royal Oak Parent Teacher 

Association. She has raised 

two children, both of whom 

attended MSU, and has three 

grandchildren, two of whom 

attended MSU. Her husband, 

Larry Owen, is an MSU alumnus 

and served as MSU trustee 

from 1984-91. 

Perles, a Democrat from East 

Lansing, served as the former 

head football coach at MSU 

from 1983-94. He was athletics 

director from 1990-92. He is a 

U.S. Army veteran and has four 

children and six grandchildren. 

Currently, he is CEO of the Motor 

City Bowl. 

Board members serve eightyear 

terms. Perles and Owen will 

begin their terms Jan. 1, 2007. 

MSU A KEY PART 

OF RESEARCH CORRIDOR 

MSU, the University of Michigan 

and Wayne State University 

announced in November the creation 

of University Research Corridor, 

an ongoing alliance to work 

jointly to transform, strengthen 

and diversity Michigan’s economy. 

The University Research Corridor 

universities are a magnet for 

investment and jobs, and bring 

more than $1.3 billion in federal 

research grants into Michigan each 

year. They are seeking to speed 

up technology transfer, make 

resources more accessible and help 

attract new jobs to the state. 

The corridor partners account 

for 95 percent of federal academic 

research dollars to Michigan 

and average about an invention 

a day, leading to more than 500 


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license agreements for new technologies 

and systems. 

“Our research universities are 

creators of knowledge and generate 

the innovations, new technologies 

and new businesses that 

not only provide jobs, but also 

improve the life for all citizens of 

Michigan,” says MSU President 

Lou Anna K. Simon. 

Detroit News columnist Dan 

Howes calls it “the closest thing 

Michigan has to Silicon Valley— 

an intellectual powerhouse.” 

MSU NO. 1 IN STUDY ABROAD 

For the second straight year, 

MSU is the top public university 

in the U.S. for study abroad, according 

to Open Doors 2006, 

the annual report by the Institute 

of International Education. 

In 2004-2005, 2,385 MSU students 

studied abroad, second only 

to New York University among 

all colleges and universities. 

Kathleen Fairfax, director of 

MSU’s Office of Study Abroad, 

touts “both the strength of MSU’s 

institutional commitment to study 

abroad as well as the depth and 

breadth of faculty involvement.” 

MSU offers among the most 

diverse study abroad options, 

with more than 230 programs 

in 62 countries on all continents—including 

Antarctica. 

MSU was one of five universities 

highlighted in a November report 

by NAFSA: Association of International 

Educators as 2006 winners 

of the Paul Simon Award For 

Campus Internationalization. 

LAW COLLEGE TOPS IN STATE 

The MSU College of Law 

achieved the highest pass rate 

on the July 2006 Michigan Bar 

Exam among public institutions 

in the state. 

MSU had 180 first-time test 

takers and they achieved a 94 

percent pass rate, compared to 

the state average of 91 percent. 

Tied for second place—at 93 

percent—were Wayne State University, 

with 162 first-time takers, 

and the University of Michigan, 

with 30 first-time takers. Only 

Ave Maria School of Law, a 

private Catholic law school, had 

graduates pass the bar at a higher 

rate; 96 percent of its 26 firsttime 

takers passed. 

CROUCHING TIGER—MSU’s Kresge Art Museum has acquired this 

fabulous Chinese ceramic pillow, dated around 1160 AD in the Jin 

Dynasty. The MSU purchase was funded by the Emma Grace Holmes 

Endowment. In early Chinese mythology and art, the tiger was 

regarded as an auspicious guardian beast, noted for its bravery and 

nobility, explains museum director Susan Bandes. This pillow was 

probably intended to ward off evil spirits in the night. 

Pillow in the Form of a Recumbent Tiger, 1160 AD 

Photo courtesy of Kresge Art Museum 

A tradition begun to honor MSU’s Sesquicentennial, Fred 

Honhart, director of MSU Archives & Historical Collections, will 

continue to highlight key moments and people in MSU history. 

This year is the 

50th anniversary of 

our National Superconducting 

Cyclotron 

Laboratory (NSCL). 

How MSU came to 

acquire the NSCL 

began in the 1950s, 

when MSU’s physics 

department wanted to 

enter the field of high 

energy physics. Under 

the leadership of professor 

Joseph Ballam, 

a committee decided 

that MSU should 

build a state-of-the-art 

cyclotron. 

Milton Muelder, 

then dean of arts and science, and 

later vice-president for research, 

enlisted the support of President 

John A. Hannah. Muelder 

enticed Sherwood Haynes from 

Vanderbilt University to be the 

new department chair. Haynes 

hired Henry Blosser, then at 

the Oak Ridge nuclear facility, 

to head up the MSU cyclotron 

research project. Blosser has 

since noted that MSU’s MISTIC 

computer (see “MISTIC Memories,” 

Fall 2006, p. 57), which 

was similar to one they used at 

Oak Ridge, influenced his decision 

to come to MSU. He and 

Muelder sought funding for the 

project from the Atomic Energy 

Commission (now the Dept. of 

Energy). At one point President 

Hannah told Muelder if they 

could not get funding MSU 

would build its own high energy 

cyclotron. 

Henry Blosser 

Harley Seeley/IMC 

In various trips to Washington, 

D.C., Muelder and Blosser 

met with Glenn Seaborg, the 

head of the Atomic Energy 

Commission. He was intrigued 

by the MSU efforts and his 

support helped secure the 

project’s first National Science 

Foundation Grant—$700,000 

for a 50 MEV cyclotron at 

MSU. MSU would build the 

building housing it. Thus 

MSU began to develop one of 

the preeminent high energy 

nuclear research facilities in the 

world. 

In 1989, Sam Austin succeeded 

Blosser as NSCL director 

and in 1992 and he was 

succeeded by Konrad Gelbke. 

With the most recent $100 

million grant, Gelbke and his 

faculty are ready to move vigorously 

forward with the next half 

century of high energy physics 

research at MSU. 



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Photos courtesy of the Wharton Center 

Claremont Trio 

Sweet Charity 

Gangbe 

Brass Band 

WORLD CLASS WHARTON CENTER 

MSU’s Wharton Center clearly 

ranks among the world’s elite 

not only in box office—where it 

ranks 5th worldwide—but also 

for its continued array of worldclass 

performances. 

The Broadway Series will soon 

bring Molly Ringwald as Sweet 

Charity (April 24-29), an encore 

appearance of Rent Live (April 

6-7), and the blockbuster Wicked 

(July 11-22), the winner of 15 

major awards including a Grammy 

and three Tony awards. 

Music fans can look forward to 

classical, with the Claremont 

LESS WRINKLES WITH NANOTECH? 

An MSU researcher has a 

small suggestion for preventing 

wrinkles. Nano small. 

Ilsoon Lee, assistant professor of 

chemical engineering, and MSU 

doctoral student Troy Hendricks 

published an online article in the 

American Chemical Society’s 

Nano Letters (December 2006) 

revealing that nanoparticles can 

potentially smooth out the buckles 

that cause wrinkles. 

Joffrey Ballet 

Trio (March 18), or jazz, with 

Keiko Matsui (March 16) and 

the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra 

(April 21) and Brandford Marsalis 

(May 18), or popular music, 

with Chick Corea & Bela Fleck 

(March 1) and Natalie MacMaster 

(March 18). Fans of world 

music and dance will have the 

Gangbe Brass Band (April 12), 

JIGU! (April 22) and Los Folkloristas 

(April 26). The Joffrey 

Ballet will visit on March 13. 

☛ For box office information, 

call 800-WHARTON or visit 

www.whartoncenter.com. 

The MSU researchers found 

that nanoparticles can stop 

thin polymer fi lms from wrinkling. 

The same principle 

could apply to human skin, 

Lee says, noting that nanoparticles 

can break up compressive 

forces impinging on a plane 

and prevent wrinkling. 

Lee’s research is supported by 

the National Science Foundation 

and the Michigan Economic 

Development Corp. 

MSU JOINS CHICAGO CLIMATE 

EXCHANGE 

MSU has joined the Chicago 

Climate Exchange as another 

step in reducing greenhouse gas 

emissions. 

The exchange, or CCX, is the 

world’s first greenhouse gas emission 

registry, reduction and trading 

system for greenhouse gases 

(that arise from the burning of 

fossil fuels and wood). With its 

broad expertise in environmental 

sciences and its history of stewardship 

and tradition of student 

involvement, MSU will work 

toward a prescribed 6 percent 

reduction goal. 

“Michigan State has tremendous 

power to educate and inform, to 

help motivate positive changes in 

behaviors and to translate research 

by our students and faculty into 

practical solutions,” notes President 

Lou Anna K. Simon. 

CCX membership will position 

Michigan’s bioeconomy base 

and help move farming toward 

solutions in renewable fuels, nontraditional 

methods and crops, 

and environmentally sound 

practices, says David Skole, director 

of MSU’s Center for Global 

Change and Earth Observation. 

Greg L. Kohuth/University Relations 

REHAB CENTER HELPS ANIMALS 

Within a year, the Advanced 

Rehabilitation Center for 

Animals in MSU’s Veterinary 

Teaching Hospital has gone from 

nothing to “probably the most 

complete physical rehabilitation 

program in the state,” according 

to Patrick LeBlanc, director of 

the teaching hospital. 

The center’s patients use the 

facility following a surgical procedure 

or perhaps some other form 

of trauma, or maybe just to lose 

weight. About 30 to 50 percent 

of the nation’s pet population is 

overweight. 

The center offers therapeutic 

ultrasound, electrical stimulation, 

a colorful variety of therapy balls, 

and most stunningly, an underwater 

treadmill (as seen in the photo). 

“The buoyancy of the water supports 

the animal and allows it to 

exercise difference muscles,” notes 

Genia Smith, a veterinary technician 

at the center. 

MSU AMONG BEST FOR WORK 

Every year The Scientist magazine 

undertakes an online survey 

to rank the nation’s universities for 

their desirability as a work place. 

This year, MSU ranked seventh 

nationally in the “Best Places To 

Work 2006: Academia” survey, 

which focused on tenured faculty 

in life sciences, including research, 

technology and business. 

Jim Potchen, chairman of the 

Executive Committee of MSU’s 

Academic Council, says MSU’s 

high ranking makes the university 

more appealing to potential 

faculty and staff members. 

“The ranking says something 

about the leadership, ambiance 

and attitude of the leadership at 

MSU,” he told the State News. 

“People we bring here say, ‘We 

didn’t know MSU was so good.’ 

That is something we are trying 

to do, and it is good someone 

already recognizes it.” 

NEW LASERS ARE SMART 

New “smart” lasers developed 

by MSU scientists are the future of 

modern medicine and promise to 

draw high-tech jobs to Michigan. 

New lasers with rapid, ultrashort 

pulses allow researchers to 

manipulate molecules in fractions 

of a second have been developed 

by Marcos Dantus, MSU profes- 


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sor of chemistry, and colleagues 

Daniel Jones and Gavin Reid. 

“This kind of science that I’m 

working on—we call it smart 

laser technology—is using properties 

of lasers that have not been 

exploited before,” says Dantus. 

“It’s also a special type of laser 

with a tremendous number of 

applications.” 

These smart lasers could lead to 

new, safer drugs, since scientists 

can now study side effects at the 

molecular level with more precision. 

Scientists can also use them 

to analyze blood more precisely. 

In the hands of homeland security 

agents, it can help detect chemical, 

biological and explosive agents. 

The Dantus team earned $1.4 

million through the state’s 21st 

Century Jobs Fund for further 

research and development. Dantus’ 

company, BioPhotonic Solutions, is 

one of two SmartZone businesses 

created in downtown East Lansing. 

BLACK HOLE IN CLUSTER 

One mystery of black holes that 

has confounded generations of 

astronomers has now been solved 

by MSU astronomer Stephen 

Zepf and an international team 

of astronomers. 

As published online in Nature 

(Jan. 3, 2007), Zepf and his colleagues 

have been able to finally 

confirm the existence of a black 

hole within a globular cluster. 

A black hole occurs when a 

large star dies, collapsing into 

itself and creating a gravitational 

field so strong that light cannot 

escape from it. A globular cluster 

is a dense group of stars. Some 

astronomers had questioned 

whether a black hole could exist 

within such a dense environment. 

Zepf and his colleagues were 

able to detect the X-ray emissions 

of a blackhole in a globular cluster 

known as NGC 4472. “Our timing 

was somewhat fortuitous,” says 

Zepf. “This was only the second 

globular cluster we looked at.” 

HOW TO READ “INVISIBLE INK” 

The Stasi, the notorious East 

Germany secret police, were 

known to use a sophisticated 

invisible ink for their espionage. 

The ink’s formula had been a 

secret, until now. 

Two professors with MSU’s 

Lyman Briggs School of Science—science 

historian Kristie 

Macrakis and chemist Ryan 

Sweeder—with the help of two 

undergraduate researchers, have 

figured out the invisible ink’s 

chemical composition. 

After the fall of the Berlin wall in 

1989, the Stasi had left behind an 

incomplete formula for the invisible 

ink, which Macrakis stumbled onto 

when studying the once-confidential 

Stasi archives. She and Sweeder 

set out to complete the formula in 

their so-called “Spy Lab,” and eventually 

succeeded. 

The Stasi encoded invisible ink 

messages by writing with cerium 

oxalate, which would then be 

made visible—in orange—by 

applying a solution of manganese 

sulfate, hydrogen peroxide and 

other chemicals. 

POSSIBLE HELP FOR STROKE 

MSU researchers have found a 

possibly superior way to reduce 

the severity of a stroke. 

Photo courtesy of the MSU Museum 

MUST SEE MUSEUM—Last fall, 

USA Today named the MSU Museum 

as one of “10 Great Places To 

Be Enveloped In Quilts.” The paper 

noted the Museum’s collection 

of more than 35 quilts by black 

Michiganians, discovered in the 

mid-1980s, and highlighted Beverly 

Ann White’s Mr. Mandela portrait quilt (seen here). The MSU 

Museum is home to the Great Lakes Quilt Center, with a collection 

of more than 500 historic and contemporary textiles, research and 

archival documents. “Redwork: A Textile Tradition in America” is 

on exhibit in the MSU Museum’s Heritage Gallery through October 

2007, tracing the origins and popularization of a striking red-on-white 

needlework technique first seen in the 1880s and still produced today. 

☛ For more information, call (517) 432-3800 or visit 

www.museum.msu.edu/glqc. 

Arshad Majid, associate professor 

of neurology and ophthalmology, 

and colleagues have found 

that the dietary supplement 

carnosine—a common product 

available over-the-counter—consistently 

reduced the severity of 

stroke by up to 50 percent in 

laboratory mice. 

“That’s huge,” says Majid. “At 

first, I didn’t believe the results, 

so we repeated the test many 

times. These are very promising 

results. If you can reduce 

the size of the stroke by half, 

that means less disability for the 

patient.” 

The researchers also found 

that use of carnosine was still 

effective after the onset of stroke 

symptoms. Majid notes that 

carnosine is nontoxic, whereas 

current stroke medications can 

be dangerous. 

HAND-HELD DEVICE TESTS 

PATHOGENS 

MSU researchers are developing 

a hand-held device that can 

test for deadly food, air and water 

pathogens. 

Syed Hashsham, associate professor 

of civil and environmental 

engineering at the Center for 

Microbial Ecology (CME), is 

developing a portable device that 

can detect up to 50 microbial 

threat agents. 

“This device will give us the 

ability to measure pathogens in a 

manner and at a price that really 

matters for human health,” says 

Hashsham. 

Currently testing for pathogens 

like cholera and dysentery 

must be done one pathogen at 

a time. The device is capable 

of simultaneous testing, thus 

simplifying the process and increasing 

the cost-effectiveness. 

Hashsham has been awarded 

$966,608 from the 21st Century 

Jobs Fund to develop and commercialize 

the device. His team 

includes James Tiedje, University 

Distinguished Professor of crop 

and soil sciences and director of 

the CME. 

EVENING COLLEGE EXPANDS WEST 

MSU’s Evening College, which 

has provided noncredit personal 

enrichment for alumni since 1951, 

has expanded into 

Grand Rapids. 

Beginning in 

Spring 2007, several 

courses will be held 

in the Kent County 

Extension Building 

in Grand Rapids. 

This move was 

made in concert 

with MSU Extension, 

Central 

Region, and the 

West Michigan 

alumni regional club, notes Louise 

Cooley, director of Evening 

College and assistant director of 

the MSU Alumni Association. 

“We’re offering five classes, 

ranging from information strategies 

to European travel and 

medieval art books,” says Cooley. 

“This expansion allows us to 

serve a much larger constituency.” 

Evening College is offered by 

Alumni Lifelong Education, a 

component of the MSU Alumni 

Association. Those wishing 



Page 7 

046957070001_04-9.indd 7 

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to take classes need to register. 

MSU Alumni Association annual 

and life members receive 

discounts. 

☛ Contact 517-355-4562 or visit 

www.msualum.com/evecoll. 

MSU KUDOS 

Every semester MSU faculty, 

staff and students garner kudos 

too numerous to list exhaustively 

here. Some examples: 

4Three MSU professors have 

been named 2006 American 

Association for the Advancement 

of Science Fellows: Shelagh 

Ferguson-Miller, University Distinguished 

Professor and chair 

of biochemistry and molecular 

biology; Kenneth Keegstra, University 

Distinguished Professor 

in biochemistry and molecular 

biology; and Robert Pennock, 

professor in the Lyman Briggs 

School of Science. 

4Hiram Fitzgerald, University 

Distinguished Professor of psychology 

and associate provost 

for outreach and engagement, 

has won Zero To Three’s 2006 

Dolley Madison Award for Outstanding 

Lifelong Contribution 

to the development and well-being 

of very young children and 

their families. 

4Guofang Li, associate professor 

of second language and literacy 

education, was awarded the Edward 

Fry Book Award for her book, 

Culturally Contested Pedagogy. 

4Shanti A. Zaid, ’06, a member 

of MSU’s Honors College 

and history major, has been 

awarded a 2007 Marshall scholarship, 

which covers all costs for 

two years of study in the United 

Kingdom. He is one of 40 

scholarship winners in the U.S. 

4The State News, MSU’s student-run 

campus daily, has won 

its 15th Pacemaker Award— 

dubbed “the Pulitzer Prize of 

collegiate journalism”—at the 

National College Media Convention 

last fall. 

NEW HIRES ON CAMPUS 

4James Pivarnik, professor of 

kinesiology and epidemiology 

and director of the Center for 

Physical Activity and Health, 

has been named University Intellectual 

Integrity Officer. He 

succeeds Loran Bieber, who is 

retiring from MSU. 

4Cliff F. Thompson, dean 

emeritus of the University of 

Wisconsin Law School, has been 

named acting dean of the MSU 

College of Law. MSU College 

of Law Dean Terence Blackburn 

is on leave currently serving as a 

legal reform specialist in Jordan 

for the American Bar Association 

Middle East Programs. 

HIGH RANKS FOR 

MSU RESEARCH 

Two MSU departments, 

accounting and philosophy, 

topped the rankings for published 

scholarly activity of its 

faculty. 

The Faculty Scholarly Productivity 

Index, which ranks 

faculty for the number of 

publications and citations in 

scholarly journals, as well as 

funding, has those two departments 

higher than their counterparts 

at 353 other research 

universities. 

“It’s really nice that we are 

being recognized,” says Kathy 

Petroni, acting chairperson 

of the Accounting and Information 

Systems Dept. Adds 

Richard Peterson, philosophy 

chairperson, “Our department 

has got a number of very active 

and talented faculty.” 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES OF 

YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

By Bill Beekman,’89, Acting Executive 

Director 

As I write this column in mid-January, 

winter has finally descended on us 

here in mid-Michigan. The warmth 

of our extended fall has passed, winter 

coats are out, and the wind chill is down 

in the single digits. Personally, I’m ready for spring. But the cold 

weather isn’t slowing us down here at your alumni association. 

On Friday, January 12, Sparty was crowned the national champion 

mascot by the Universal Cheer Association. Sparty has 

received this honor three of the last four years; an incredible feat. 

You may not know that Sparty is the responsibility of the Student 

Alumni Foundation, a unit of the alumni association. SAF, as 

we call it within the alumni association, is featured on page 20 of 

this issue of the magazine. Our great team at SAF runs the best 

mascot program in the country and the Izzone and Corner Blitz 

are now models for how others across the country establish student 

cheering sections. 

We are working hard to communicate more effectively with your 

club and on-campus alumni leaders. We conducted an alumni leadership 

conference in East Lansing in November and will be on the 

road with a conference in Las Vegas in late January and Charlotte, 

North Carolina in early February. 

We’re also gearing up for a strong schedule of spring activities. 

Kaleidoscope, a day for women, will take place on April 27, featuring 

singer and author Naomi Judd. Then we welcome back graduates 

of fifty years or more to the annual Kedzie reunion on June 

8. We’re also excited to participate in Grandparents University, 

featured in the last issue of this magazine (pp. 28-31, Fall 2006), 

on June 27-29. 

There’s also a lot going on behind the scenes. Your alumni 

board of directors is busy working on a new strategic planning 

process to lead us into the future. They are also working on a new 

governance model that will increase the number of people that 

participate in the governance of your alumni association. Here in 

the office we’re in the process of rethinking how we do business, 

exploring operational efficiencies, and working hard to improve 

quality and consistency in everything we do. 

In the coming months we hope you’ll notice a new campaign 

designed to increase awareness of the MSU Alumni Association 

and all we have to offer. There is a lot going on and we want you 

and your more than 400,000 alumni colleagues to know about it! 

Finally, if there is anything that we here at the alumni association 

can do for you, please don’t hesitate to email, call, write, or 

stop in. We’d love to hear from you. 


046957070001_04-9.indd 8 

2/21/07 12:16:25 PM

The MSU Alumni 

Association would like 

to welcome our newest 

Life Members. We thank 

you and commend you 

for your willingness to 

share our commitment to 

this university through 

membership in the MSU 

Alumni Association. 

Paul and 

Christine Caragher 

Fort Collins, CO 

Dewane and 

Mary Cogswell 

Commerce, MI 

Anthony Conniff 

Dearborn, MI 

Demetrios Dallis 

Chicago, IL 

Jack Jenkins 

Lansing, MI 

Rodney Jewett 

East Lansing, MI 

Gary Johnson 

Durand, MI 

Wolfram Kaehler 

GERMANY 

Michael and Peggy Kelley 

Brownsburg, IN 

Shehrezad Muzher 

Mason, MI 

Timothy Myaard 

Cincinnati, OH 

Kevin Newman 

Okemos, MI 

Brandon Norwood 

Detroit, MI 

James O’Brien 

Novi, MI 

Edward and Mary Sergent 

Newnan, GA 

Stephen and 

Patricia Sokolow 

Locust Valley, NY 

Lindsey and 

Kai Sorensen 

Chicago, IL 

Kary Stacy 

Lakeland, FL 

James Baker 

Washington, DC 

William Beachler 


Gregory and Trisha Bird 

Haslett, MI 

Grant Bolhuis 

Chicago, IL 

Dawn and Albert Bolles 

Lake Forest, IL 

Erin Bomba 

New York, NY 

Brian and 

Catherine Brenton 

Northville, MI 

James Darrow 

Brooklyn, NY 

Patrick and Gail Donohue 

Township of Washington, NJ 

Gary and Rita Gallagher 

Washington, DC 

Emily Gelbaugh 

Baltimore, MD 

William and Suzanne 

Gieszer 

Okemos, MI 

Michael and Julie 

Gunkelman 

Novi, MI 

Judith Hansen 

Plano, TX 

Edward and Michele 

Kieckhefer 

Burbank, CA 

Stephen and 

Lauren Kincaid 

Roswell, GA 

Angela and James Kirsch 

Holt, MI 

John Konwinski 

Bonita Springs, FL 

Steven Landry 

Rochester, MI 

Robert Lavoie 

Bloomfield, MI 

Richard Lietzke 

Edgewater, MD 

Laura Paas 

Saginaw, MI 

John Parker 

Northbrook, IL 

Lawrence and 

Susan Perlin 

Novi, MI 

Tracey Pilkinton 

Marlborough, MA 

Jason and 

Rebecca Prone 

Springfield, VA 

Loren Reuler 

Rockwall, TX 

James Rosbolt 

Clinton Township, MI 

Gary and Sue Swinehart 

Ionia, MI 

David and 

Colleen Tallman 

Davenport, IA 

Carolyn Vieira-Martinez 

Los Angeles, CA 

Glenda and 

Gerald Whiting 

Lansing, MI 

W. Alan and Susan Wilk 


Brian and Kellye Wood 

Lakeview, MI 

Otis and Diane York 

Elgin, IL 

Justin Bugajski 

San Francisco, CA 

Kristin and Dave Hemink 

Stow, MA 

Steven and Diane Mazurek 

Lake Barrington, IL 

Robert Rosenthal 

Fairfax, VA 

Mary Lou Cantrell 

New Canaan, CT 

Joseph and Amy Hogue 

South Bend, IN 

Charles Mostov 

Los Angeles, CA 

Brian and Cristy Schulz 

Fenton, MI 



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SPARTAN PROFILES 

JOANNE ULNICK: 

DUCKER WORLDWIDE 

In 1961, William Ducker 

founded Ducker Worldwide 

LLC, a marketing and research 

consultancy that provides global 

analysis, especially in automotive 

systems and construction. After 

he passed away in 1996, the company, 

now based in Troy, has tripled 

its revenues under the leadership 

of daughter Joanne Ulnick, 

’83, who was recently labeled a 

“Portrait of Success” by Crain’s 

Detroit Business. The firm boasts 

offices in Paris, Berlin, Montreal, 

Bangalore and Shanghai, has 

diversified its product base into 

industrial products, electronics 

and chemicals, grows at a 20 

percent per year clip, and counts 

among its clients Masco Corp., 

Sony Corp., DaimlerChrysler 

AG, BASF Corp., and Dow 

Chemical Co. In 2006, revenues 

exceeded $15 million. “I have a 

Page 10 

great team, so I can’t take all the 

credit,” says Ulnick. “It was my 

father’s idea to diversify, and we’ve 

certainly brought in researchers 

and analysts with industry experience 

to add to our research expertise.” 

Joanne explains that in 

recent years Ducker has evolved 

into a full-service provider, offering 

not just research data, but 

also follow-up marketing strategies. 

A native of Birmingham, 

Joanne had two sisters attending 

the University of Michigan and 

one, Patty, at MSU. “Patty was 

having so much fun at MSU 

with Magic Johnson and all 

that,” recalls Joanne, who picked 

MSU over Michigan. “Overall 

I enjoyed MSU very much,” she 

says. “I found a group of friends 

(at Alpha Phi sorority) with similar 

values and goals in life and 

we’ve maintained that friendship 

through the years.” She enjoyed 

her business classes, especially one 

in business law in a Study Abroad 

program at Erasmus University 

in Rotterdam. “The coursework 

was very, very hard,” she recalls. 

“We traveled on weekends, but it 

wasn’t just go to Europe and have 

fun. The professor was very engaging. 

I’d say that was my most 

memorable college experience.” 

MARTIE SANDERS: 

MONOLOGUE MAVEN 

She is an original “mighty 

monologue maven,” one of a 

group of Chicago actresses who 

in 1993 founded the Sweat 

Girls—who, “coiffed and dangerous,” 

deliver hilarious autobiographical 

rants on stage. She 

recently won acclaim portraying 

Mae West in Dirty Blonde at the 

Madison Repertory Theatre in 

Wisconsin, and then continued at 

Madison starring in the one-character 

comedy Bad Dates—again, 

delivering hilarious monologues 

about her failed dates and her 

600 shoes. Next for rising actress 

Martie Sanders, ’86, will 

be performing her own work at 

Chicago’s Live Bait theater. “I’ve 

had some great shows and wonderful 

experiences,” says Sanders, 

who grew up in Detroit suburbs. 

“I’ve enjoyed the way I’ve been 

stretched as an actor.” Her 

monologue experience with Sweat 

Girls—which she co-founded 

with two fellow Spartans, Rose 

Abdoo, ’84, and Dorothy Milne, 

’80—proved very helpful in 

Bad Dates, which was one long 

monologue. “You go full throttle 

for 90 minutes, with no breaks. 

It’s a real challenge, but it works.” 

Martie says MSU gave her great 

acting opportunities from the 

get-go. “Even as a first-term 

freshman, I was able to audition 

for roles,” she says, noting that she 

performed at Summer Circle, the 

Auditorium, and the then-new 

Wharton Center, and was active 

as a board member of the studentrun 

New Arena Theater. “We 

had a very hands-on participation 

in the artistic part of our theater 

program,” she recalls. “It was 

exciting and eye-opening. You 

got to see exactly how a theater is 

run.” She touts many professors, 

including Arthur Athanason and 

Frank Rutledge. “Athanason 

could take a play and just get you 

inside of it and demonstrate the 

power of drama,” she notes. “It 

was awesome and inspiring.” She 

also credits Rutledge with using 

innovative teaching tools, including 

once staging a shooting of 

Martie for arriving late to class. 

“It set up his lecture about the 

power of surprise,” she notes with 

a chuckle. 

Brent Nicastro 

Winter 2007 MSU Alumni Magazine 

046957070001_10-13.indd 10 

2/2/07 1:15:30 PM

ROBERT GOLDBORT: 

WRITING FOR SCIENCE 

Writing for science has surged 

in importance in this era of multiple 

breakthroughs. Few people 

are more qualified to talk about 

it than Robert Goldbort, M.A. 

’81, Ph. D. ’89, an English professor 

at Indiana State University 

who boasts two degrees in biology 

and two degrees in English, 

and whose doctoral thesis at 

MSU was titled Scientific Writing 

and the College Curriculum. 

And, in fact, Goldbort has just 

published Writing For Science 

(Yale University Press, 2006), 

which is receiving worldwide 



distribution. “The key to 

scientific writing is that you 

need absolute objectivity 

along with utmost clarity 

and simplicity,” he explains 

from his office in Terre Haute, 

IN. “You cannot afford to be 

somewhat unclear in conveying 

scientific fact. Ambiguity can 

enrich literature, but not scientific 

writing.” Robert says that 

today’s scientist needs to do a 

better job writing. “Many find 

writing a bother,” he notes. “Scientists 

prefer to be in a lab. But 

they need to communicate what 

goes on in the lab because much 

of today’s research is funded by 

the taxpayer.” A native of New 

York, Robert became enamored 

of scientific writing at MSU 

when he had to teach a freshman 

sequence as a graduate assistant. 

“I found that, first, that the field 

existed, and two, that it was an 

exploding field,” he says. “I fell 

in love with the whole area.” 

He touts his MSU advisor Stephen 

Tchudi (formerly Judy) 

for having encouraged him. “I 

can’t give you enough superlatives 

about him,” he says. “He 

continues to be a model for me 

today.” Robert is now working 

on a book about “Third Culture 

Rhetoric,” dealing with works of 

fiction by scientists. “There will 

be a chapter about (the late MSU 

molecular biologist) Leonard 

Isaacs, who taught in Lyman- 

Briggs,” says Robert. “He was 

involved in the Clarion Science 

Fiction Workshop and was very 

much into the use of fiction to 

teach basic biology.” 

JEMELE HILL: 

ESPN PAGE TWO 

How do you become a sports 

columnist? Be a good sportswriter, 

and also—apparently—be 

male and white. A recent 

survey of 305 newspapers found 

only one black female sports 

columnist. That was Jemele 

Hill, ’97, a sportswriter with the 

Detroit Free Press who was hired 

in 2005 as a sports columnist by 

the Orlando Sentinel. “That was 

an absolutely startling stat,” says 

Hill, 31. “And now, there are 

none.” In December, Jemele left 

the Sentinel to become a columnist 

for ESPN Page 2 and a writer 

for ESPN The Magazine. “This 

is a great job and I’m meshing 

well and having a lot of fun,” 

says Jemele. “ESPN brings 

two things no one can match. 

One, the audience. Two, the 

web site. It’s international. 

You write something, and 

you might get 1,000 emails.” 

Jemele’s initial columns have 

been pretty edgy, but creative 

and compelling, and 

at times humorous. She is 

not afraid to tackle racial 

angles. “I like to push the envelope,” 

she notes. “Sometimes 

you need that to make people 

think. I’m able to bring a take 

that’s different or maybe that 

people will talk about behind 

closed doors and are afraid to 

bring out into the mainstream.” 

A native of Detroit, Jemele knew 

at a very early age she wanted to 

become a sportwriter. At age 15, 

she had an internship with the 

Detroit Free Press. “Everybody 

that worked for them were from 

MSU,” she recalls. “I found out 

that the MSU journalism program 

had a very strong professional 

network, and that’s why I 

went to MSU.” She joined the 

State News, becoming managing 

editor, but did not cover 

sports—opting instead to get a 

strong news foundation. “(Journalism 

professor) Steve Lacy 

was a terrific mentor,” she says. 

“He taught me a lot about the 

business.” She considers herself 

fortunate for her meteoric rise 

to columnist. “I certainly didn’t 

expect it to happen so early,” says 

Jemele. “I feel blessed that my 

career has unfolded this way.” 

Page 11 

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Page 12 

LAURA & ROB SAMS: 

SISBRO PRODUCTIONS 

They are siblings, they both 

studied zoology at MSU, and 

now they have an Okemos-based 

company, Sisbro Studios LLC, 

that produces nature films for 

children. Their most recent 

film, Lost in the Woods, won a 

Panda Award at the Wildscreen 

Festival in Bristol, England—the 

Oscar equivalent of the wildlife 

and environmental film industry. 

“We’re super excited,” says Laura 

Sams, ’00, M.S. ’03. “The 

award has been called the Green 

Oscar.” Adds brother Rob Sams, 

’03, “We were chosen by children, 

our audience. That’s special.” 

They beat out such competitors 

as National Geographic, 

Discovery and the BBC. The 

children of an Air Force general, 

Ronald Sams, ’72, who returns 

to MSU every year to play in the 

alumni marching band, Laura 

and Rob grew up liking each 

other. “We’re an oddity in that 

we never fought much,” recalls 

Rob. Adds Laura, “Our ideas 

tend to match and we sort of 

feed off of each other.” They 

write their own music and do 

their own filming, and they also 

do presentations to elementary 

schools throughout Michigan. 

Although they lived all over the 

map, each chose to attend MSU, 

where they met great mentors. 

Laura cites Kay Holekamp, with 

whom she went to Africa to 

study hyenas. Rob cites zoologist 

Dick Hill, who “was really 

supportive and went out of his 

way to help me.” The duo’s next 

project is an underwater movie, 

supported by a grant from the 

Save Our Seas Foundation. 

They spent months filming baby 

sea turtles in Florida, and are 

headed to Hawaii in January to 

film tidepool critters and other 

life on coral reefs. Says Laura, 

“We’re lucky to be able to blend 

all our interests like this.” Adds 

Rob, “We love the same sense 

of humor that you see with Jim 

Henson’s muppets. Kermit was 

my lifetime hero. When I met 

him at the Homecoming Parade, 

oh my goodness, that was a 

dream come true.” 

JOHN LEPARD: 

WILLIAMSTON THEATRE 

Assuming there are voices in 

the Midwest worth hearing, 

how can one assemble them at a 

theatre that is accessible and affordable? 

Ann Arbor has Purple 

Rose Theatre in nearby Chelsea, 

and now East Lansing boasts 

the Williamston Theatre just 11 

miles east. John Lepard, ’88, 

whose acting credits range from 

film and television to live theatre 

off-Broadway, is executive director 

of the new theater, working 

alongside three colleagues who 

are also alumni of the Purple 

Rose. “It’s coming along great,” 

Lepard says of the new theater 

(see www.williamstontheatre. 

org). “It has grown incrementally 

and we’ve built our audience 

every step of the way.” He notes 

that recent production Rounding 

Third sold out its last week, 

and their holiday show, Every 

Christmas Story Ever Told, was a 

complete sellout. “It’s scary any 

time you try something new, but 

I’m really excited about this,” 

says John. “Just like Chelsea, 

this is a great location, being 

near MSU and I-96. This year 

we employed 57 people, ranging 

from actors to set designers 

to writers.” A native of Haslett, 

John credits MSU with helping 

him discover what he wanted to 

do in theater. “Acting,” he says. 

“I realized I had the chops to do 

it.” He credits Frank Rutledge, 

Joyce Ramsay and Dixie Durr 

with being great influences. 

“Dixie Durr had a great work 

ethic,” John recalls. “When she 

directed a production, you really 

got some direction. She didn’t 

let you get away with anything.” 

John got his Screen Actors Guild 

card while doing commercial 

and industrial films, then spent 

seven years in California, where 

he acted in TV dramas, soap 

operas and independent films. 

Now that he’s back in Michigan, 

he looks forward to fulfilling the 

Williamston Theatre’s mission 

of “telling stories for and about 

people in this part of the world.” 

J.D. Small Studios 

John Lepard performed the 

role of Little League baseball 

coach Don in the Williamston 

Theatre’s production of 

Rounding Third. 

MEGAN RAPHAEL: 

THE COURAGE CODE 

Every day women perform acts 

of “courage” in ways different 

than the traditional, masculine 

meaning of the word. In this 

unspoken feminine language, or 

code, women are changing the 

world for the better. So argues 

Megan E. Raphael, ’73, former 

Winter 2007 MSU Alumni Magazine 

046957070001_10-13.indd 12 

2/2/07 1:18:22 PM

president of Raphael-Leritz Consulting, 

Portland, OR, co-author 

of The Courage Code (Utopia 

Press, 2006). In the book, she 

and co-author Jennifer Byron 

profile 44 women, including 

several MSU graduates, like 

Sen. Debbie Stabenow. “Most 

women don’t see themselves as 

courageous,” says Raphael, who 

now works out of Traverse City. 

“But once they see themselves 

as courageous, they can really 

step into the world and become 

even more courageous, in the 

feminine sense of the word. 

It’s the everyday choices to live 

authentically, to live according 

to what’s of value to them.” A 

native of Detroit, Megan also 

believes her feminine principle 

of courage—which emphasizes 

collaboration as opposed to 

force—is more valuable in helping 

solve societal problems. “I 

had a great experience at MSU,” 

says Megan, who met her 

husband Peter on campus. “I 

remember the fun of dorm life. 

I was an R.A. I loved my social 

work program.” After serving 

as the health services director 

for the Grand Traverse Band of 

Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, 

Megan currently does presentations 

and personal coaching 

(she is scheduled to speak at 

the MSU Alumni Association’s 

Kaleidoscope event at Kellogg 

Center on April 27). She notes 

that her book has been well 

received in Northern Michigan 

and has garnered good 

reviews. “We’re not yet a New 

York Times best-seller,” she says. 

“That comes next!” 

SANDER DEVRIES: 

LOSE YOUR JUNK MAIL 

If you are an average American, 

you receive 41 pounds of junk 

mail per year. So says a new 

service, 41pounds.org, which 

wants to help. For a one-time 

fee of $41, the service promises 

to eliminate up to 95 percent of 

your junk mail for the next five 

years. “Half of the money will go 

to a charity of your choice,” says 

Sander DeVries, ’05, who cofounded 

the Ferndale, MI-based 

service with two brothers. A native 

of Shelby Township, DeVries 

was an English major at MSU— 

which he calls “a fantastic four 

years of my life.” After MSU, he 

worked in sales for his brothers’ 

computer networking company. 

“One day, we were at my brother’s 

house and he had all this 

junk mail piled up, mail that he 

didn’t open,” he recalls. “So we 

began to figure out how we could 

stop it.” They worked on it and 

eventually found a system that 

involved contacting 30 of the 

nation’s biggest direct marketers 

and bulk mailers. “We sent an 

email to our friends explaining to 

them how to do it,” says Sander. 

“But no one followed up. It was 

a time-consuming process and 

it involved signatures. So we 

said, ‘OK, we’ll do it for them.’” 

And so, in June, they launched 

their company—a mail version 

of the “Do Not Call” service to 

restrain telemarketing. “Since 

then we’ve saved 850 trees and 

more than 200,000 gallons of 

water,” says Sander. “We’ve 

prevented more than 150,000 

pounds of carbon dioxide from 

being released into the air.” 

Because the company donates 

half its profits to charity, mostly 

environmental nonprofits and 

school groups, says Sander, 

many in the community have 

volunteered to help with fundraising 

efforts. “Most people 

tell us this is a great idea,” says 

Sander, who recently got 200 

new clients after a plug from a 

local television station. “We’re 

a good option for all those who 

want to get rid of all this waste.” 



Page 13 

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SPARTAN 

PATHWAYS 

2007 TRAVEL PROGRAMS 

MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

All dates, prices and itineraries are subject to change. Reservations are on a firstcome, 

first-serve basis. Since the MSUAA partners with other universities, many 

tours fill quickly. It is essential that you make your reservation early to reserve 

space on the tour. Brochures are generally available six to eight months prior to 

trip departure. 

For more information on our 2007 tours go to www.msualum.com and click on 

travel or call (888) 697-2863 to request brochure(s) or a 2007 travel catalog. 

Egypt 

March 2-11 

International Expeditions 

Program Type: Land & Cruise 

aboard the M/S Ti-Yi 

From: $2,898 

Destinations: Cairo • Pyramids of 

Giza • The Spinx • Sakkara • Luxor 

• Aswan • Abu Simbel • Egyptian 

Museum 

A 5-day post-extension to Jordan is 

also available 

Treasures of New Zealand 

March 15-28 

Sold Out 

Alternate Dates Available: 

March 8-21 

Alumni Holidays International 

Program Type: Land 

From: $3,995 + air 

Destinations: Auckland • 

Rotorua • Napier •Christchurch • 

Queenstown 

Voyage of the Canary Islands 

April 22-30 

Gohagan & Co. 

Program Type: Cruise aboard 

the M/S Le Diamant 

From: $2,995 + air 

Destinations: Gran Canaria • 

Tenerife • La Palma • Madeira • 

Gibraltar • The Algarve • Malaga 

A pre-extension in Madrid and 

a post-extension in the Granada 

Riviera are also available 

Voyage of the Western 

Mediterranean 

April 29-May 7 

Gohagan & Co. 

Program Type: Cruise 

aboard M/S Le Diamant 

From: $2,995 + air 

Destinations: Malaga • Balearic 

Islands • Corsica • Rome 

(Civitavecchia) • Florence • 

Portofino • Nice 

A pre-extension in Marbella and a 

post-extension in the French Riviera 

are also available 

Sicily ~ Taormina & Mondello 

May 19-30 



From: $2,845 + air 

Destinations: Mt. Etna • Syracuse 

Agrigento • Palermo • Segesta • 

Monreale • Erice • Cefalù 

Essential Europe 

for New Graduates 

May 21-June 14 

AESU Travel 


From: $2,983 + air 

Destinations: London • English 

Channel • Paris • Brussels • 

Amsterdam • Dutch Countryside 

• Cologne • Rhine River Cruise • 

Black Forest • Swiss Alps • Lucerne 

• Munich • Austrian Lake District • 

Venice • Florence • Rome • Vatican 

City • Sorrento • Pompeii • Athens 

Tuscany ~ Cortona 

May 30-June 7 New Dates 



From: $2,295 + air 

Destinations: Cortona • Assisi • 

Perugia • Montepulciano • Siena • 

Florence 

Treasures of Japan 

June 10-20 New Dates 



From: $3,545 + air 

Destinations: Tokyo • Nikko • Mt. 

Fuji • Hakone • Kyoto • Nara 

Cruise the Mediterranean 

June 12-20 


Program Type: Cruise aboard the 

Crystal Serenity 

From: $2,895 + air 

Destinations: Athens, Nauplion, 

Santorini and Mykonos, Greece • 

Kusadasi, Turkey • Sorrento and 

Rome, Italy • 

A three-night optional postextension 

in Rome is also available 

Great Journey Through Europe 

(Featuring the deluxe M.S. 

Amadeus Princess and the Glacier 

Express) 

July 13-25 New Dates 

Gohagan & Co. 

Program Type: Cruise, 

Land & Train 

From: $3,395 + air 

Destinations: Amsterdam, The 

Netherlands • Cologne, Koblenz, 

Rüdesheim and Mannheim, 

Germany • Strasbourg, France 

• Basell, Gruyères, Montreux, 

Zermatt, Lucerne and Zurich, 

Switzerland 

A two-night optional pre-program 

in Amsterdam also available 

Multi-Sport Adventure 

July 21-28 

Northwest Voyageurs 

Program Type: Adventure 

From: $1,599 + air 

Optional Activities: Rafting & 

Kayaking on the Salmon River • 

Horseback Riding • Hiking • Trout 

& Fly Fishing • Golfing 

Accommodations are at the Little 

Salmon Lodge on the banks 

of the Little Salmon River. It 

features a quaint bar, riverside 

hot tub, great swimming hole and 

good fi shing. 

Alaska (Land & Cruise) 

July 24-August 5 

Alumni Travel Group 

Program Type: 

Land, Cruise & Train 

From: $2,975 + air 

Destinations: Fairbanks • Denali 

National Park • Mt. McKinley • 

the Kenai Wilderness • Skagway • 

Ketchikan • Vancouver. Optional 

excursions include: City tour of 

Fairbanks • El Dorado Gold Mine 

• a Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise. 

Transportation between stays on 

land will be by Princess rail service 

or motorcoach. Accommodations 

are at the Princess Wilderness 

Lodges. 

Alaska (Cruise Only) 


Alumni Travel Group 

Program Type: 

Cruise aboard the Island Princess 

From: $1,375 + air 

Destinations: Whittier • Glacier 

National Park • Skagway • 

Ketchikan • Vancouver. 


046957070001_14-15.indd 14 

1/30/07 10:08:11 AM

The Danube River ~ Vienna to 

Bucharest 


Gohagan & Co. 


From: $3,495 + air 

Destinations: Austria • Slovakia • 

Hungary • Serbia • 

Bulgaria • Romania 

Celtic Lands Sold Out 

August 10-21 

Gohagan & Co. 


From: $3,995 + air 

Destinations: Scotland • Wales • 

Ireland • England • 

France 

Odyssey to Oxford 

August 18-September 1 

Alumni Lifelong Education 


From: $3,895 + air 

Destinations: Wales • Stratfordupon-Avon 

• prehistoric sites 

• famous castles • gardens 

• palaces • cathedrals • the 

Cotswolds • London and other 

English towns 

China: Highlights of 

the Middle Kingdom 

September 13-25 

China Advocates 

Program Type: Land & Cruise 

From: $3,990 + air 

Destinations: Forbidden City • 

Temple of Heaven • Summer Palace 

• Great Wall • Terracotta Warriors 

• Yangzi River • Three Gorges • 

Shanghai 

An optional extension to the Huang 

Mountains is also available 

Spain ~ 

Barcelona & San Sebastian 

September 21-October 2 



From $2,745 + air 

Destinations: Pendes Wine Region 

• Montserrat • Zaragoza • Bilbao • 

Pamplona 

Prague, Vienna & Budapest 

Discovery 

September 23-October 3 



From $2,545 + air 

Included Excursions: Highlights 

of Prague • Bohemian Wine 

Country • Highlights of Vienna • 

Blue Danube Cruise • Highlights 

of Budapest. Optional Excursions: 

Prague Castle • Wachau Valley • 

Szentendre 

Italy ~ Sorrento & Orvieto 

October 10-21 



From: $2,845 + air 

Destinations: Amalfi Coast • 

Pompeii • Isle of Capri • Florence • 

Perugia • Assisi 

In the Wake of Lewis & Clark 

October 27-November 2 

Lindblad Expeditions 

Program Type: Cruise aboard the 

M/S Sea Lion 

From: $2,430 + air 

Destinations: The Columbia and 

Snake rivers • Hells Canyon • 

Fort Clatsop • Bonneville Dam • 

Columbia River Maritime Museum 

MSUAA Travel Programs 

242 Spartan Way, East Lansing, MI 

48824-2005 

(517) 355-8314 • (888) 697-2863 

(517) 355-5265 - fax 

Email- crossreg@msu.edu 

Web-www.msualum.com 

AFFORDABLE QUALITY TOURS 

Sponsored by Spartan Pathways and Go Next 

The MSU Alumni Association is 

pleased to offer exceptional valued 

tours with travel provider Go Next. 

Go Next keeps price-conscious travelers 

in mind by designing quality, airinclusive 

trips at an affordable price 

that appeal to all age groups. Travelers 

have the opportunity to tour on their 

own or select from a wide choice of 

well-planned and informative optional 

excursions. Optional excursions 

typically range from $75 to $150 each. 

Rome & Florence Sold Out 

March 2-10 


From: $1,949, including air 

Optional Excursions: Rome & Vatican City • Pompeii • Florence • Pisa 

& Lucca 

Paris to London on the Eurostar 

April 21-29 

Program Type: Land & Train 


Optional Excursions: Paris & Montmartre • Louvre Museum • Moulin 

Rouge Dinner & Show • Versailles, Giverny & Monet’s House • West 

End & City of London • Windsor Castle • Stratford & Oxford 

South Africa 

May 7-17 



Destinations: Cape Town • Johannesburg • Ivory Tree Game Lodge • 

An optional extension to Victoria Falls is also available 

Northern Italian Lakes & French Alps 

September 21-29 New Dates 



Optional Excursions: Venice • Lake Garda • Parma & Cremona • 

Montreaux • Geneva • Zermatt 

Enchanting Ireland 

September 29-October 7 New Dates 


From: $1,999 including air 

Optional Excursions: Dingle Peninsula • Blarney Castle & Kinsale • 

Garinish Island & Kenmare • Dublin • Waterford Crystal Factory • 

Glendalough 



Page 15 

046957070001_14-15.indd 15 

1/30/07 10:08:43 AM

Photos courtesy of University Development 

THE IMPACT OF 

ENDOWMENT 

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? 

As MSU’s capital campaign surpasses its goal, 

the focus now shifts to raising endowments. 

By Rick Seguin 

What’s the first thing you 

think of when you hear the word 

endowment? Is it a word you’ve 

never really thought about? 

For those not in the accounting 

or stock brokering professions, 

does it bring to mind a tedious 

list of investment-related words? 

It certainly doesn’t conjure up 

an image of excitement and the 

thrill of quick, big changes, does 

it? But perhaps both of these 

notions are a bit correct. 

In a university setting, endowment 

is a term referring 

not only to the way money 

is invested but the way the 

investment income is used as 

well. And the changes brought 

by endowments are often not 

quick. In fact, when investing, 

patience can be a virtue. 

Change, however, and all positive 

words that can be associated 

with it—enhancements, 

improvements, transformation, 

growth—is the heart and soul 

of why endowments are important 

to a university. They 

can take time, but the payoff is 

phenomenal. 

Michigan State University has 

an endowment. Maybe this is 

common knowledge to you, but 

maybe it’s a thought that never 

crossed your mind. So before 

we get into any more detail 

about endowments, let’s take a 

look at a simple illustration of 

the difference between a university 

fund that is endowed versus 

a fund that is expendable: 

Endowed funds differ from 

others in that the total amount 

of the gift is invested. Each year, 

only a portion of the invested 

income earned is spent while 

the remainder adds to principal 

growth. In this respect, an endowment 

is a perpetual gift. 

Expendable funds may also 

have rules that apply to how 

they are utilized, but once the 

original money that created the 

fund is exhausted, the fund no 

longer lives to serve its original 

purpose unless more money is 

given from an outside source. 

This is the primary difference 

between a fund that is expendable 

and a fund that is endowed. 

Both are valuable and needed 

at a university, but endowments 

aim to replenish themselves. 

Now, this is certainly not to 

say that there is something deficient 

about expendable funds. 

Often there is an immediate 

need for cash to fund a particular 

endeavor, and expendable 

funds make that money available 

right away. The key to 

endowments, however, is a word 

right near the end of that first 

bullet point above: perpetual. 

When some of the interest 

earned from the investment the 

university makes with a contribution 

to an endowed fund 

is added back to the original 

amount of the gift, there will be 

more money in the fund that 

will earn interest in year two, 

and so on. (It’s sort of like that 

old shampoo commercial, except 

it would go something like 

– and their dollars joined the 

original dollars, and so on, and 

so on, and so on.) 

So why is this an important 

topic for Michigan State University 

right now? 

Another item you may have 

heard recently is that the university 

reached it’s goal for The 

Campaign for MSU of $1.2 billion—and 

a year ahead of schedule 

as well. This is a tremendous 

President Lou Anna K. Simon (right) and Dr. Roy J. Simon (left) 

were honored in October by David Porteous, then trustee chair, for 

their personal financial contributions to MSU endowments. 


046957070001_16-19.indd 16 

1/30/07 10:22:25 AM

MSU needs some $80 million 

more to reach the endowment 

goal—a huge feat but not 

insurmountable. The impact 

could be tremendous. 

success story, especially considering 

that the only other universitywide 

campaign in MSU’s history 

peaked at $217 million. Both 

campaigns owe everything to 

the incredibly generous alumni 

of MSU and those corporations, 

foundations and other individuals 

who believe so strongly in its 

mission and ability. 

Billy Rose, an American 

theatrical producer and lyricist, 

once said, “Never invest your 

money in anything that eats or 

needs repairing.” Well, there’s 

always something to repair at 

a university, and just ask our 

on campus cafeterias if MSU 

students can eat. Yet thousands 

of people and organizations 

thankfully never took Mr. 

Rose’s advice—and the payoff 

has been fantastic. 

Take for example renowned 

musicians and MSU faculty 

members Walter and Elsa Verdehr 

who are among that 

thankfully growing list of 

donors who value the benefits 

of earmarking their gifts for 

endowment. 

Walter, professor of violin, and 

Elsa, professor of clarinet, have 

been on the faculty of the School 

of Music since 1968 and 1962, 

respectively. They married in 

Elsa and Walter Verdehr, of MSU’s renowned Verdehr Trio. 

1971 and established the unique 

Verdehr Trio in 1972 as a way 

to travel and perform together. 

There was a lack of music for the 

violin-clarinet-piano combination 

at the time, so the Verdehrs 

took matters into their own 

hands by commissioning works 

to expand the repertoire for this 

unique instrumentation. They 

have now commissioned over 

200 new works for this combination, 

many with the help of 

MSU, have traveled worldwide 

and recorded twenty compact 

discs presenting this literature. 

During The Campaign for 

MSU, The Verdehrs’ established 

a gift from their estate 

which is directed primarily to 

creating endowed named fellowships 

in violin and clarinet. 

The MSU School of Music can 

now show promising young 

musicians that there is support 

here for people specializing in 

those instruments. 

Even though the primary 

benefit will come in the form of 

well-funded fellowships years 

from now, it immediately becomes 

an important recruit ment 

tool to ensure these areas continue 

to attract the most musically 

talented graduate students. 

“We have watched the astounding 

growth of MSU 

over the 40 years we have both 

taught here and have been very 

pleased to see the institution 

develop in the ways it has,” Elsa 

said. “It makes us very proud to 

be a part of this great university 

and we wish to show this in 

a tangible way, one that will 

benefit future generations of 

students and teachers.” 

The future is the key, along 

with stability. How do generous 

donors like the Verdehrs 

know that their gift, whether 

cash now or a planned estate 

gift later, will be there for its 

intended purpose? One need 

only glance at MSU’s track record 

in the investment department 

to be assured. 

Michigan State University’s 

investment performance continues 

to be superior over the 

past decade. The National 

Association of College and 

University Business Officers 

(NACUBO) annually surveys 

its member institutions on investment 

pool returns. Results 

from the NACUBO Endowment 

Study for the ten years 

ending June 30, 2004 placed 

MSU’s average annual return of 



Page 17 

046957070001_16-19.indd 17 

1/30/07 10:22:44 AM

Investing in MSU offers a sound return, 

as MSU’s average annual return of 13.2 percent 

ranks 23rd of 443 institutions. 

MSU LEADERS SUPPORT 

ENDOWMENTS WITH THEIR OWN 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

13.2% at 23rd of 443 institutions 

reporting. 

“Michigan State has proven for 

many years now that our method 

of investing—combining 

funds marked for endowment in 

our Common Investment Fund 

and then stewarding that with 

great care—has achieved excellent 

results,” said MSU President 

Lou Anna K. Simon. “We have 

been ranked highly nationally 

for a number of years, and we 

have risen significantly in the 

ranks of the Big Ten since the 

start of our campaign, moving 

from last to the middle of the 

pack with a total endowment 

over $1.4 billion.” 

Impressive, for sure, but there 

is the need to raise some $80 

million more to reach the goal 

set by the MSU Board of Trustees 

and campaign organizers. 

It is a huge feat, but certainly 

not insurmountable considering 

the gains generous donors 

have helped MSU make to date. 

The hope for the future impact 

of endowments is tremendous, 

and President Simon pointed to 

a specific example. 

“When you take into consideration 

that Harvard University 

has had at least some of 

its private contributions managed 

as endowed funds since 

its inception in 1636, there 

is no wonder that they are so 

far ahead of the game with an 

endowment with an overall 

value of $29.2 billion as last 

reported,” she said. 

“One of our earliest recorded 

endowed funds is from 1917, 

and our endowment total may 

seem small by comparison, but 

Harvard has been at it for nearly 

300 years longer than we 

have. Their endowment has 

grown so much over that period 

of time that they are now 

able to have over 30 percent of 

their operating budget paid for 

with endowment dollars. 

“We don’t need to compare 

ourselves to Harvard, because 

MSU has its own unique place 

in the world, ” President Simon 

continued, “but their example 

makes the significance of and 

potential of investing in endowed 

funds quite clear.” 

Clear indeed. The Campaign 

for MSU has entered its 

final year. To raise an additional 

$80 million for endowment 

would make it the most 

given for endowment in a 

single year in MSU’s history. 

Hundreds if not thousands 

of scholarships, fellowships 

and funds for a variety of 

purposes are secured for the 

university’s future when gifts 

are made today. 

“Reaching our endowment 

goal would be quite an accomplishment,” 

President Simon 

said, “but I think Spartans are 

up to the challenge. It is a great 

way to link your legacy with 

our future, forever.” 

Rick Seguin, ‘90, M.A. ‘99, is 

assistant director of marketing 

programs with University 

Development and sings 

professionally with a Lansingbased 

group called Any World. 

President Lou Anna K. 

and Dr. Roy J. Simon 

Any time you’re thinking of investing 

time or money in a particular organization 

or activity, one of the telltale signs of 

the wisdom of that investment is whether 

or not the leaders of that organization 

invest in it themselves. Michigan State is 

fortunate to have among its leaders very 

generous donors as well, and one need 

not look further than the president and 

provost. 

For years, Dr. Roy J. Simon, MSU’s 

Director of Telecommunication and Transportation Systems, 

and President Lou Anna K. Simon have given monetary gifts to 

the university. They recently added a significant amount to their 

total contributions via a gift from their estate. The gift elevated 

them to the newly formed Clifton R. Wharton Society, and all 

of it was directed toward endowed funds. They will substantially 

add to an endowed fund they previously created that provides 

financial aid to students in the School of Music, especially those 

in the Jazz Studies Program; they will also add to another existing 

scholarship established by Roy Simon’s parents, Mary Jane and 

Theodore B. Simon, to support students majoring in business or 

engineering who also work at the Physical Plant Division; and 

the rest of their estate gift will establish a new scholarship in the 

School of Music, The Drs. Lou A. and Roy J. Simon Endowed 

Marching Band Scholarship. 

When Provost Kim A. Wilcox and 

his wife, Diane Del Buono, decided to 

make a financial commitment during 

The Campaign for MSU, they chose to 

apply their donation to a cause dear to 

their hearts: sustainable farming systems 

throughout the world. They have 

Kim A. Wilcox and his 

wife, Diane Del Buono 

entrusted MSU with a generous gift to 

fund an endowment that will enable the 

MSU Libraries to established a collection 

on this topic that will hopefully be used by scholars who will 

add to the body of research necessary to one day eradicate hunger 

through agricultural practices that are sustainable. 

“A strong library is the core of a university, and Diane and I are 

proud to help strengthen MSU’s core,” Provost Wilcox said. “It 

is even more satisfying to be able to also invest in one of our personal 

interests.” 

The gifts of these campus leaders show much faith in MSU’s 

ability to manage funds well and use the proceeds to accomplish 

great things. 


046957070001_16-19.indd 18 

1/30/07 10:23:01 AM

The MSU Office of Planned Giving 

A Valuable Resource for MSU Alumni 

Our gift planning professionals can assist you in 

exploring, at no cost or obligation, gifting strategies you 

may incorporate into your comprehensive estate plans. 

We will help you fulfill your philanthropic desire to 

remember and support the college, department and/or 

Spartan athletic, cultural or academic program of your 

choice at Michigan State University. 

For assistance, contact: 

Dan Chegwidden 

James Obear 

Tina Daniels 

Kathy Fore 

Shannon Duvall 

Office of Planned Giving 

University Development 

Michigan State University 



(517) 884-1000 

www.givingto.msu.edu 



Page 19 

046957070001_16-19.indd 19 

1/30/07 10:23:16 AM

MaryJo Brode (left) and Allison Crawford were 

involved with SAF activities, which include the 

Corner Blitz (below), MSU's biggest student 

spirit group with more than 3,200 members. 

The campout at Munn Field (left) gets students into the Izzone 

(above), which Tom Izzo credits with helping MSU win some 

home games at the Breslin Center. The Sparty Mascot just won its 

third national mascot championship in four years. 


046957070001_20-25.indd 20 

2/2/07 1:36:20 PM

THE STUDENT ALUMNI 

FOUNDATION EMERGES AS 

A NATIONAL LEADER 

In only two decades, MSU’s Student Alumni Foundation has 

emerged as the Big Ten’s largest voluntary student organization 

and as a national leader. 

By Robert Bao 

It hasn’t made banner headlines 

(yet), but a dynamic 

student group associated with 

the MSU Alumni Association 

is quietly having a tsunami-like 

impact across the MSU campus. 

Formed in 1986, the Student 

Alumni Foundation has just 

surpassed 7,000 members, 

making it a larger organization 

than several hundred colleges in 

the nation. More importantly, 

the reach of its programs are 

highly visible on campus and 

even around the country. 

“We’re the largest, voluntary 

student organization 

in the Big Ten,” says 

SAF president Frankie 

Orlando, a senior from 

Grand Ledge, who joined 

the SAF in 2003 when it 

VandenBerg 

Hamilton 

only had 2,000 members. “We 

believe we might well be the 

biggest in the country as well.” 

Indeed, the Association of 

Student Advancement Programs, 

which is a part of the 

Council for the Advancement 

and Support of Education, lists 

MSU’s SAF as the nation’s largest 

student organization with 

7,200 members. 

Size matters, but that alone 

is not what distinguishes the 

SAF. Its recent growth has 

been explosive, with membership 

more than tripling since 

2003. But along with numbers 

has come great student leadership. 

Two signature SAF programs—the 

current national 

champion Sparty mascot and 

the Izzone—have blossomed 

into iconic entities that others 

in the country emulate as 

models. 

If imitation is the sincerest 

form of flattery, then 

Beverly VandenBerg, 

assistant director of the 

MSU Alumni Association, 

should feel very flattered. 

She has served as SAF 

adviser this past decade 



Photo by Robert Bao 

Page 21 

046957070001_20-25.indd 21 

1/30/07 10:37:57 AM

Photo by Robert Bao 

and has overseen much of SAF’s 

phenomenal growth. 

“This has been a very rewarding 

job,” says VandenBerg, who 

will step down from her role as 

SAF adviser this year and serve 

as interim associate director of 


“It’s a 24/7 commitment, but 

the best part is working with 

students. Every year, we have a 

whole new group coming in and 

they bring new ideas because 

they want to leave their mark. 

“That’s very exciting. The 

students make all the decisions, 

and that’s what makes 

the SAF work.” 

(Left) SAF president Frankie Orlando and marketing VP 

Cheryl Brodowski take time out during halftime of a recent home 

basketball game at the Breslin Center. (Above) The 2006-2007 

SAF board of directors gathered at the Spartan Spirit Pep Rally 

at Breslin Center. 

After VandenBerg leaves, 

Susie Hamilton, assistant director 

for student outreach at Iowa 

State University, will take over 

as SAF adviser. A native of 

Chariton, IA, she is a graduate 

of Northern Iowa University 

and has worked five years as an 

adviser for student programs. 

SAF programs seem to work 

well and student leaders have 

thrived within the organization. 

“A lot of people know our programs, 

but they don’t necessarily 

know the SAF is the organization 

that runs it,” notes SAF 

marketing vice president Cheryl 

Brodowski, a senior from Shelby 

Township. Even fewer people 

know the SAF operates under the 

aegis of the alumni association. 

The SAF president, for example, 

occupies a seat on the MSUAA’s 

national alumni board. 

Here some of the major programs 

run by the SAF: 

• Parents Weekend, held during 

Homecoming Weekend, sells 

out every year and draws about 

1,300 MSU parents and siblings 

to campus. 

• Every year, SAF students give 

campus tours to more than 

22,000 visitors—including 

prospective students, alumni, 

visitors and special groups. 

• SAF has pioneered the rising 

popularity of student spirit 

groups, with Corner Blitz 

surpassing 3,200, the Izzone 

at 2,200, and Slap Shots at 

163—a significant increase 

from last year. Both the Izzone 

and the Corner 

Blitz are national 

trendsetters. 

• Sparty, which 

is run by the 

SAF’s mascot 

program, has 

just won its 

third national 

championship 

in the last 

four years, 

and remains 

the only 

Big Ten 

mascot to have won a national 

championship. 

• Every fall, the SAF and the 

MSUAA stage Spartan Spirit, 

the largest Welcome Week event 

where new students learn the 

Fight Song from the Spartan 

Marching Band and the MSU 

Cheerleaders and where they 

get to meet coaches and star 

Spartan athletes. Formerly 

the event was held in Spartan 

Stadium, but henceforth it will 

be at the Breslin Center. 

• The SAF runs assorted 

programs, such as Students for 

State, Dinner for 12 Spartans, 

Sparty’s Spring Party, and the 

Winter Formal. It also gets 

involved with special efforts, 

such as spearheading the student 

fundraising for the Sparty Project 

(see cover story, Winter 2003) 

To run these programs, 

the SAF boasts an annual 

budget well in excess of 


046957070001_20-25.indd 22 

2/2/07 1:44:09 PM

$100,000—most of which 

it raises via memberships, 

sales of merchandise, and 

income generated from the 

mascot program. “Also, we 

receive financial support from 

University Development and 

the MSU Alumni Association,” 

says Orlando. “We really appreciate 

this.” 

Orlando joined the SAF as 

a freshman and has played a 

role in its steady recent growth. 

SAF recruits members at Academic 

Orientation Programs 

and also markets to parents of 

new students. It costs $15, and 

the benefits include discounts 

at 31 stores frequented by 

students, including area bookstores, 

restaurants, and the like. 

“It pays for itself right away,” 

notes Brodowski. 

SAF two signature programs 

are the Izzone and the Sparty 

mascot program. 

“Everybody wants Sparty,” 

notes Orlando. “Sparty does 

tons of events—weddings, bar 

mitzvahs, parades, anniversaries, 

you name it. We are 

happy to accommodate fans 

and alums, especially in the 

summer.” 

SAF tour guide Ross Ramsey stands by the Library fountain 

during a recent campus tour for prospective students. 

The mascot program began 

in 1989 and became an instant 

hit. Since then the costume, 

created by a company in 

Georgia, has been refined to 

allow for more movement and 

animation. As a result, Sparty 

has been able to project some 

personality and is now the only 

Big Ten mascot to have been 

crowned national champion 

by the Universal Cheerleading 

Association. Sparty has won 

many other awards and is often 

featured in ESPN Sportscenter 

commercials. As Kermit the 

Frog announced on Spartan 

Stadium’s Diamond Vision 

during the Homecoming game, 

“Sparty (is) the No. 1 mascot 

in the country!” 

Explains Brodowski, “Some 

of the mascots we see are nothing 

more than a person inside 

a rug. They don’t do much. 

Sparty is very animated. He 

interacts with the crowd and 

you think of him as a living, 

breathing entity.” 

A key component of the mascot 

competition is a videotape 

presentation. To view the current 

one, where ESPN sportscaster 

Lee Corso introduces 

Sparty, visit www.msusaf..edu. 

Alumni can request Sparty appearances 

at the same web site, 

or call the SAF office at 517- 

355-4458. 

The SAF also runs the spirit 

sections for football, men’s 

basketball and hockey. The 

Izzone has garnered the most 

national attention, especially 

during MSU’s three-year Final 

Four runs, although the Corner 

Blitz has recently undergone 

meteoric growth. 

The Izzone began in 1995 

as a small section of about 

100 rabid fans, basically “Jud’s 

Jungle” with a new name. But 

the section has grown steadily 

with Tom Izzo’s success—and, 

according to Tom, helped take 

MSU basketball’s home court 

advantage to a new level. 

Today’s Izzone is a gameimpacting, 

loud and boisterous 

bloc of around 2,200 fans, a 

blinding agglomeration of jumping 

white t-shirts occupying 

most courtside seats in the lower 

bowl and sprouting out into the 

top rows of Breslin Center’s upper 

level, the so-called “Ozone.” 

SAF now requires students who 

want the coveted courtside Izzone 

seats to first be members of 

the Ozone. 

“Today’s Izzone is 

a game-impacting, 

loud and boisterous 

bloc of . . . jumping 

white t-shirts.” 

“The Izzone has led the way 

in the Big 10,” says Orlando. 

“Look at the Orange Crush (Illinois), 

the Hawk’s Nest (Iowa), 

the Grateful Red (Wisconsin) 

or the Maize Rage (Michigan)—they 

were all organized 

in response to the Izzone.” 

One thing is sure—students 

want to get into the Izzone. 

Every year, they camp 

out in mid-September at 

Munn Field for the privilege 

of signing up. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” says Orlando. 

“Last year 1,800 students 

camped out. We have a 

live band. This year Tom Izzo 

camped out with us and all 13 

team members came and met 



Page 23 

046957070001_20-25.indd 23 

1/30/07 10:38:44 AM

e sent to rooms in Bessey 

Hall or even Olds Hall. Now, 

on the third floor of the MSU 

Union, across the hall from SAF 

headquarters, is the Admissions 

Presentation Room. 

“This is a state-of-the-art 

presentation room,” says VandenBerg. 

“I give the credit to 

(director of admissions) Pam 

Horne (who recently left MSU 

for Purdue).” 

During Homecoming Weekend, 

the SAF organizes Family 

“Sparty does 

tons of events— 

weddings, 

bar mitzvahs, 

parades, 

anniversaries, 

you name it. 

We’re happy to 

accommodate 

alums.” 

with the students. Our players 

are really classy people.” 

Though intimidating, the 

Izzone tries to be clever and 

witty, rather than simply loud 

and vulgar, says adviser VandenBerg. 

If it gets even a bit 

out of line, a few gestures by 

Izzo usually suffice to get it 

promptly back in line. 

In recent years, the Corner 

Blitz, the football spirit section, 

has grown to more than 

3,200, making it the largest on 

campus. Members stay in the 

stadium win or lose, and when 

players celebrate after the game, 

they do so in the general vicinity 

of the section. 

One program run by SAF 

that is critical to MSU is the 

campus tour program, where 

the SAF and the admissions 

work cooperatively. SAF conducts 

daily tours and special 

tours, including tours for prospective 

students and for admitted 

students. “We do it on 

every day except for holidays,” 

says VandenBerg. “What we 

strive to do is to put MSU’s best 

foot forward for people who 

want to get to know us.” 

For a long time, MSU had 

no dedicated room from 

which to assemble people 

for a pre-tour admissions 

presentation. Visitors would 

(Left) The SAF float for the 

Homecoming Parade usually 

wins an award. (Below) SAF 

sweethearts Amanda Boryn 

and Trevor Goodhue pose 

for a photo during Family 

Weekend 2006. (Bottom) 

MSU Cheerleaders perform 

in the SAF tent during Family 

Weekend. 


046957070001_20-25.indd 24 

2/2/07 1:45:23 PM

Weekend, a series of events for 

parents and siblings of MSU 

students. The activities revolve 

around a tailgate brunch under a 

huge tent erected near the Rock, 

just north of the Red Cedar and 

just east of Farm Lane. 

“We usually sell out a month 

in advance,” notes Orlando. 

“Our location by the Rock is a 

great location. We’re under a 

gigantic tent and it’s like one, 

giant pregame pep rally.” 

The SAF always sponsors a 

float in the Homecoming Parade, 

and their float often wins 

the “Best Float” award. In 

partnership with the University 

Activities Board, the SAF 

also sponsors Sparty’s Spring 

Party—a large outdoor festival 

centered around a men’s 

and women’s three-on-three 

basketball competition. The 

Students for State, an SAF 

subgroup, performs ambassadorial 

services for MSU on 

many occasions. 

“You’d think with all the 

programs we have we’d be 50 

years old, but we’ve only been 

around for 20 years,” says Orlando. 

“The growth has been 

astronomical.” 

Beyond their programs, the 

SAF remains an excellent training 

ground for student leaders, 

who can become alumni leaders 

in the future. 

“That’s definitely yet another 

great value of having an 

organization like the SAF,” 

says Bill Beekman, acting executive 

director of the MSU 

Alumni Association. “Besides 

all the programs they run, in 

many cases very successfully, 

I might add, the leadership 

experiences that students enjoy 

with the SAF can translate 

into leadership roles they may 

seek as alumni, whether with 

regional clubs or constituent 

associations or special interest 

groups.” 

The SAF is currently run 

by an executive 

council 

consisting 

of a president 

and 

four vice 

presidents. By 

the time a student is named 

to one of those posts, he or 

she has probably served in 

many leadership roles, 

running one of the 

many programs. 

It will be interesting to see 

how SAF evolves in the next two 

decades. Stay tuned. 



Page 25 

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Rendering courtesy of MSU Physical Plant 

“Students can learn how history, 

language, visual culture, music, and 

ethical reflection are woven together”. 

A NEW MSU RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE FOCU S 

MSU’s new residential college offers 

students a new global and interdisciplinary 

emphasist on arts and humanities. 

By Carol A. Cole 

In Fall 2007, students choosing 

to attend MSU will have a 

new option—a new residential 

college that combines a global 

and interdisciplinary emphasis 

with a residential living-learning 

setting to enhance the undergraduate 

experience in the arts 

and humanities at MSU. 

Its mission is to weave together 

the passion, imagination, 

humor, and candor of the arts 

and humanities to promote 

individual well-being and the 

common good. 

The College, which will open 

to students in Fall 2007, will 

provide the supportive environment, 

small faculty-student 

ratios, easy access to faculty, 

and opportunities for mentoring 

that have characterized 

MSU’s highly successful James 

Madison College and Lyman 

Briggs School, which provide 

residential programs focusing 

respectively on public affairs and 

the natural sciences. 

In keeping with MSU President 

Simon’s Boldness by Design 

initiative, the RCAH recognizes 

both the importance of a supportive 

living-learning center 

to an optimal undergraduate 

experience and the need to 

equip students to live and work 

effectively as global citizens of 

the twenty-first century. 

The communication and writing 

skills, visual literacy, and 

sensitivity to culture and transcultural 

change developed during 

their studies in the RCAH 

will equip graduates for a wide 

range of careers in the creative 

arts or in global or community 

service, as well as for academic 

careers in the arts and humani- 


046957070001_26-29.indd 26 

1/30/07 10:44:11 AM

U SING ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES 

ties. The RCAH also will pro- 

grams for each student—paired 

flection are woven together. 

student’s career goals. Possible 

vide an excellent foundation for 

with its commitment to foster an 

While all RCAH students 

pathways include: 

those wishing to pursue gradu- 

engaging living/learning environ- 

will graduate with an interdis- 

·Language and Culture 

ate study in law, medicine, or 

ment—will provide an exciting, 

ciplinary major in the arts and 

·Childhood and Society 

other specialized fields. 

new opportunity for students.” 

humanities, the curriculum is 

·Art and Public Life 

“The rich interplay between the 

designed to be flexible, encourag- 

·Nature and Culture 

diverse range of arts and humani- 

A Flexible and 

ing students to tailor their studies 

·Technology and Creativity 

ties offerings here at Michigan 

Innovative Curriculum 

to their own interests and abili- 

The curriculum is designed to 

State will become more fully 

Through a lively combination 

ties through elective pathways to 

facilitate pursuing a second ma- 

realized by way of RCAH’s inte- 

of integrated seminars, tutorials, 

other majors and specializations. 

jor or specialization if students 

grated and experiential approach 

creative workshops, and civic 

Working with a faculty advisor, 

desire. A student studying crim- 

to learning,” says MSU President 

engagement activities, students 

students will complement their 

inal justice, for example, might 

Lou Anna K. Simon. “The Col- 

will study the complex ways in 

RCAH core studies with courses 

find the foreign language study 

lege’s unique curricular approach 

which history, language, visual 

from outside the College that 

and cultural understanding 

of creating individualized pro- 

culture, music, and ethical re- 

cohere in a way relevant to each 

provided by the RCAH curricu- 



Page 27 

046957070001_26-29.indd 27 

1/30/07 10:44:39 AM

Acting dean Stephen 

Esquith and assistant 

Scot Yoder, assistant 

to the dean and a 

core RCAH faculty 

member, survey the 

construction progress 

of MSU’s new residential 

college. 

(inset photo above) 

William Mackay 

(left) of Christman 

Co. and Scot Yoder. 

Photos courtesy of Carol Cole 

lum of great value in his or her 

that end, a World Language 

guage tables and study abroad 

to the rule, but is rapidly be- 

career. Another student might 

Proficiency Center, housed 

programs, but also through 

coming the expected norm for 

incorporate studies in digital 

within the College but shared 

co-curricular activities—plays 

many college graduates,” says 

media into the Technology and 

with other MSU language 

and performances and other 

MSU Provost Kim Wilcox. 

Creativity pathway. Students 

departments, will provide lan- 

student-initiated programs that 

“RCAH provides students with 

interested in music or art may 

guage assessment services and 

will emphasize the value of a 

not only language, but culti- 

also enroll in performance or 

help students plan a strategy for 

multilingual approach to our 

vates immersion opportunities, 

studio classes while majoring 

developing the required level 

living and learning together.” 

and will enhance our graduates’ 

in the RCAH. As a result, no 

of competency. In addition, 

The foreign language ele- 

chances for success in the global 

two programs will be identical, 

the Center will provide access 

ment has sparked wide interest 

environment.” 

and students will be prepared to 

to foreign language television, 

among prospective students, 

apply and adapt their skills in 

foreign newspapers and books, 

according to Scot Yoder, As- 

Engaged Learning 

creative ways. 

and other resources. 

sistant to the Dean and RCAH 

A key element of the RCAH 

Students also will participate 

faculty member. In addition to 

curriculum will be that of en- 

World Language Profi ciency 

in a variety of language im- 

pursuing commonly taught lan- 

gaged learning, i.e., students will 

As part of their studies, 

mersion experiences, including 

guages such as Spanish, French, 

be active learners rather than 

students in the RCAH will 

study abroad and local study 

or German, a number of stu- 

passive recipients of knowledge. 

become proficient in a foreign 

away programs. 

dents have expressed interest 

For example, all students will 

language, both to develop un- 

“The goal is to integrate 

in learning Chinese or Arabic, 

gain hands-on creative experience 

derstanding and respect for oth- 

language learning into the lived 

languages that are becoming 

in workshops taught by faculty 

er cultures and to enable them 

experience of students,” says 

increasingly important on a 

or visiting artists in such areas as 

to communicate and build 

Acting Dean Stephen Esquith. 

global scale. 

creative writing, poetry, painting, 

connections with people from 

“This may be through conven- 

“Fluency in a foreign lan- 

music, or theatre. In the process, 

other cultural backgrounds. To 

tional means like world lan- 

guage used to be the exception 

students will experience the ex- 


046957070001_26-29.indd 28 

1/30/07 10:45:03 AM

citement, the pleasure, the improvisational 

nature of learning as 

their new skills are internalized. 

A related concept, civic 

engagement, or active involvement 

in the community, also 

will play a critical role in the 

College. While MSU has a rich 

heritage of outreach and service 

in which students often have 

played a vital role, the Residential 

College seeks to engage 

students on every level and in 

every area. 

Students will have the opportunity 

to work in schools, 

refugee centers, community centers, 

and other venues. The goal 

is not service per se, although 

service will occur, but rather a 

reaching out, with mutual cooperation 

and learning between 

students and those with whom 

they work. 

“One of the goals of the Residential 

College is to integrate 

community service and civic 

engagement into the curriculum 

and the major as a whole, 

not just into one particular 

course as a module or an extra 

credit experience,” Esquith says. 

“This kind of active experiential 

learning can shape how 

students approach their other 

creative and intellectual work.” 

A hallmark of the RCAH will 

be its collaborative nature, as 

the College works with other 

“The arts and humanities not only 

give us the pleasure of living in 

the moment, but also the wisdom 

to make sound judgments and 

good choices.” 

MSU departments and colleges 

as well as with community 

partners. Students also will collaborate 

as they work with each 

other, with faculty and staff, 

and with members of the community 

in their civic engagement 

activities. 

Such collaboration will be 

important in preparing students 

for future careers and professions. 

“We work in groups; that’s 

how work is done in the world,” 

says Esquith. “We’re teaching 

the value of listening to other 

people’s views and being able to 

engage with other people as collaborators 

in a common project.” 

A State of the Art Facility 

About 125 students are expected 

to comprise the inaugural 

first-year class, with a goal of 

about 500 total students within 

four years. Students will be 

housed in the newly renovated 

Snyder-Philips complex. A new 

three-story facility connected 

to the two dormitories will 

house faculty and administrative 

offices, an art studio, music 

practice rooms, an art gallery 

for displaying visiting artist 

and student work, and even a 

small theatre for student performances 

and creative initiatives. 

Classrooms and seminar rooms, 

as well as the World Language 

Proficiency Center, will be 

equipped with the latest in educational 

technology. 

In addition, a wireless coffee 

house will provide ambiance—as 

well as a quick latte or 

cappuccino—and a new stateof-the 

art dining facility will 

feature an ever-changing menu, 

with choices ranging from 

world cuisine to cook-to-order 

stations to traditional Midwestern 

comfort food. 

Shaping the Future 

In a College that stresses student 

engagement, it comes as 

no surprise that students have 

been involved from the very 

beginning in discussions about 

the proposed College, serving 

in focus groups and on design 

and planning committees. And 

they will continue to help shape 

the College, helping to plan the 

following year’s curriculum, 

organize co-curricular activities, 

and develop the College’s 

governance structure. In so doing 

they will both utilize their 

developing skills and further 

hone them for use in the wider 

community and beyond. 

As stated in an RCAH planning 

committee report, “Students, 

faculty, and community 

partners in the arts and humanities 

have the power to focus 

critical attention on the public 

issues we face and the opportunities 

we have to resolve them. 

The arts and humanities not 

only give us the pleasure of living 

in the moment, but also the 

wisdom to make sound judgments 

and good choices. The 

mission, then, is to see things 

as they are, to hear things as 

others may, to tell these stories 

as they should be told, and to 

contribute to the making of a 

better world.” 

Carol A. Cole, ’75 (Social Work), 

’96 (English), is the office administrator 

in the Residential College in 

the Arts and Humanities. 

☛ For more information 

about the new college, please 

visit www.rcah.msu.edu. 



Page 29 

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SPORTS 

MEET MARK DANTONIO, NEW FOOTBALL COACH 

MSU has given Mark Dantonio a place on which to stand. 

Can he move the earth? 

Kurt Stepnitz/University Relations 

Robert Hendricks/Spartanmag.com 

Page 30 

Winter 2007 


046957070001_30-39.indd 30 

2/2/07 1:51:46 PM

Photo courtesy of MSU Sports Information 

(L to r) Kristen, 

Becky, Mark and 

Lauren consider 

MSU their “home.” 

The Spartan Nation is abuzz with excitement. 

By Robert Bao 

On the day Mark Dantonio 

was officially named new MSU 

head football coach, an instant 

tsunami of approval from alumni, 

fans, media and football experts 

seemed to spread across Michigan 

and beyond. 

The comments bouncing across 

airwaves and Internet message 

boards were uniformly positive— 

a rare phenomenon for MSU 

football in recent years. 

Credit President Lou Anna K. 

Simon for successfully conducting 

a model, inclusive search. Simon 

had to navigate adroitly around a 

number of timelines, schedules, 

protocols and hiring issues and processes, 

in a timely manner to satisfy 

alumni, trustees, donors, fans, players 

and recruiting timetables. She 

and her core team, which included 

basketball coach Tom Izzo, athletics 

director Ron Mason, senior associate 

athletics director Mark Hollis, 

and former player Lt. Alan Haller 

of MSU Police, worked quietly but 

efficiently, effectively and ethically. 

The final choice not only met her 

announced criteria but also secured 

unanimous support from MSU 

trustees. 

In Dantonio, MSU has landed 

a coach who solidly meets every 

major selection criteria—and then 

some. He even boasts a surname 

that ends in O, a criterion Izzo had 

inserted in jest. Dantonio--like 

“paisans” Izzo and Palombo (as in 

Joanne P. McCallie)—has produced 

success at the highest level 

of competition, boasts a terrific 

football pedigree, has BCS conference 

head coaching experience, 

knows MSU’s recruiting territory 

intimately, knows the university, 

and perhaps most importantly, 

truly wants to be at Michigan 

State, his “dream job.” 

Don’t think this last point is 

a minor one. When Dantonio 

appeared on Izzo’s radio show a 

couple of days after his naming 

and when his daughters Kristen 

and Lauren sang the MSU Fight 

Song on air, it electrified many 

listeners who were longing for 

a Spartan to lead the football 

program. While Mark did not 

graduate from MSU (he has 

degrees from South Carolina and 

Ohio University), his heart lies at 

“We’re looking 

forward to competing 

against him, but the 

neighborhood just 

got tougher.” 

--Jim Tressel, Ohio State. 

MSU. He spent six years as Nick 

Saban’s defensive backfield coach 

and Bobby Williams’ associate 

head coach from 1995-2000. East 

Lansing is where his children 

essentially grew up, where the 

family made some great friendships, 

and where they consider 

home. As he puts it, “This is our 

final destination.” 

“We still lay on Spartan 

blankets at home,” he noted at his 

introductory press conference at 

the Duffy Daugherty Building 

auditorium. “We have a lot of 

things from Michigan State that 

are really just cherished as part of 

our past.” 

While at Cincinnati, he 

recounts, Mark and wife Becky 

had decided that MSU was one of 

only two Big Ten jobs for which 

they’d leave Cincinnati. 

His words leave no doubt they 

come from someone who bleeds 

green. 

“It’s tremendous to be a Spartan,” 

he said. “To me, I know the 

phrase ‘boldness by design’ exists 

here right now. I can tell you as 

a Spartan, whenever I walked 

into any school in America . . . I 

walked in with boldness because 

I knew I represented something 

that was very special. I knew I 

represented something that had 

history behind it, had tradition 

behind it, had championships behind 

it, a place that was nationally 

known for its athletics. . . . I’m so 

proud to be here today, to represent 

Michigan State University in 

this capacity.” 

In December, Dantonio made a 

brief appearance at Breslin Center 

during the halftime of the Chicago 

State game. To thundering applause, 

he quickly announced his 

three goals—to graduate players, 

to have players become productive 

members of society, and to win 

championships. He also deftly 

had the crowd circle Nov. 3—the 

date of the Michigan game. 

Dantonio’s credentials go way, 

way beyond simply deeming East 

Lansing as his dream destination. 

Dantonio, 50, boasts an 

impressive pedigree, counting 

Nick Saban, Jim Tressel and Earl 

Bruce—all championship caliber 

coaches—among his key mentors. 

He has 27 years of experience 

as football coach, the last 

three as head coach at Cincinnati, 

where he led the Bearcats to two 

bowls and where he significantly 

improved a program as it made 

a transition from “mid-major” 

Conference USA to the Bowl 

Championship Series’ Big East 

Conference. 

Dantonio’s three-year record 

of 18-17 at Cincinnati is deceptive, 

argues Jim Comparoni, 

editor and publisher of Spartan 

Magazine. Cincinnati, notes 

Comparoni, had to compete in 

a major-conference environment 

with mid-major resources. He 

adds that Cincinnati gained 

significant credibility by beating 

No. 7-ranked Rutgers, a previously 

unbeaten team. Cincinnati 

played the second-toughest schedule 

in the country and four of its 

losses this season were on the road 

against Top Ten teams—West 

Virginia, Louisville, Ohio State 

and Virginia Tech. 

“I don’t think there are 20 

teams that could have beaten one 

of those teams on the road,” notes 

Comparoni. “Cincinnati was 

playing its best football in the last 

half of the season, winning four 

of its last five.” 

Before Cincinnati, Dantonio 

was defensive coordinator at Ohio 

State and helped the Buckeyes win 



Page 31 

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2/21/07 12:18:47 PM

Dantonio’s “ready-made recruiting train” for the Great Lakes 

region left the station a day after his announcement. 

the 2002 national championship. 

Dantonio does not usually wear 

his championship ring, but he did 

show it off at this introductory 

MSU press conference to symbolize 

what can be achieved when one 

has the will along with resources. 

Dantonio is best known for his 

defensive expertise. Those who 

remember OSU’s win over Miami 

in the championship game 

might recall the stinginess of 

Dantonio’s defense, and it made 

a difference. Five years under the 

tutelage of defensive guru Nick 

Saban, now head coach of the 

Alabama Crimson Tide, clearly 

has helped hone his defensive understanding. 

In 1999, Dantonio 

played a key role in MSU’s 10-2 

season—during which the Spartans 

beat Michigan, Notre Dame, 

Ohio State, and Penn State, and 

then Florida in the Citrus Bowl. 

MSU led the Big Ten in total 

defense that year. In a previous 

stint, when Dantonio worked as 

defensive coordinator for Tressel 

at Youngstown State, he played a 

key role in an 11-0 season en route 

to a national championship. 

Spartan Magazine credits 

Dantonio for helping design the 

2000 MSU defense that shackled 

Purdue quarterback Drew Brees 

and ended the Boilermakers’ Rose 

Bowl hopes as MSU won 30-10. 

As President Simon put it, 

“He’s been places that have 

achieved the objectives that 

Michigan State University hopes 

to achieve. . . And at every place, 

he’s been one of the people who 

has been the most respected in a 

coaching staff.” 

That point was echoed by Tressel 

when he said, “We’re looking 

forward to competing against 

him, but the neighborhood just 

got a little tougher.” 

Dantonio has a reputation for 

being a great teacher and role 

model for young student-athletes. 

During his tenure at Ohio State, for 

example, 6 of his defenders made 

First Team All-Big Ten while 13 

were NFL draft picks, 2 in the first 

round. At MSU, he tutored three 

defenders who earned All-American 

honors and six defenders who 

were drafted by the NFL. 

Perhaps even more important, 

Dantonio is known for his ability 

to recruit. Some analysts believe 

recruiting is the key to college 

football success. 

“We wanted someone who had 

successful networks around the 

country and who had built them 

in a way that people really did 

respect him and we could call 

on those networks in order to 

help assure the success of Spartan 

football,” explains Simon on announcement 

day. 

Dantonio’s “network” spans 

Michigan and Ohio, the two 

most critical recruiting areas 

for MSU. He is a native of 

Zanesville, and after playing at 

South Carolina, he coached at 

Youngstown State, Ohio State 

and Cincinnati—three programs 

located in the major geographical 

regions of the talent-rich state. 

Besides Ohio and Michigan, 

he has also personally recruited 

Chicago, Florida, Texas, California 

and various parts of the 

East Coast. While at MSU, for 

example, he helped land talented 

players like Desmond Thomas, 

Plaxico Burress and Sorie Kanu 

from the Chesapeake Bay area. 

Dantonio’s familiarity with 

MSU’s recruiting base is a huge 

asset. To paraphrase MSU quarterback 

Drew Stanton, Dantonio 

will not need a road map to get 

to Grand Rapids. Saban has 

described him as “one of the top 

recruiters on (our MSU) staff.” 

And Spartan Magazine reports 

that Dantonio has a “ready-made 

recruiting train” for the Great 

Lakes region. 

Indeed, after Dantonio hired 

seven assistants—all from his 

Cincinnati staff, a testament to 

his strong desire for program continuity—he 

promptly deployed 

them in a recruiting drive across 

Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Atlanta, 

and Tallahassee, FL, after 

a quick meeting on an airfield. 

“We’ve been around,” he told 

media on his first press gathering 

since his introduction as coach. 

And recruiting “verbals” began to 

pop up on message boards. 

He has since completed his staff 

by hiring an 8th assistant from 

Cincinnati, defensive coordinator 

Pat Narduzzi, and by retaining 

quarterback coach Dan Enos 

from the John L. Smith staff. 

Enos was a former MSU quarterback 

who previously coached 

under Dantonio at Cincinnati. 

Enos will coach running backs 

under Dantonio. 

“With continuity, you can keep 

the system in place, keep the 

teaching progression the same,” 

explains Dantonio. “They know 

how we do things, the vocabulary, 

the terminology, the way we 

manage people, etc.” 

It’s easier to sell something you 

believe in, and Dantonio believes 

MSU is easy to sell. “Some 

guys we couldn’t get a sniff on,” 

he notes, “But now you got on 

this shirt . . . (He points to the 

Spartan emblem) and they’re 

returning your calls.” 

Dantonio’s familiarity with 

MSU is also an important asset. 

Knowing the landscape will help 

him not make mistakes spending 

time on some things rather than 

more important things required 

for program success. Knowing 

how things work at MSU will 

save time and effort. 

Dantonio’s football philosophy 

will have a familiar ring to 

longtime fans of MSU football. 

Echoing the philosophy of former 

coach George Perles, now an 

MSU trustee, Dantonio says he 

believes in “toughness” above 

other measurables such as “speed” 

or “strength.” 

“I want a football team based 

on toughness,” he says. “That’s 

what I want. That’s what we’re 

gonna do.” 

He notes that toughness is both 

mental and physical, and toughness 

is a time-honored Spartan 

tradition harking back to Saban, 

Perles, and even Duffy Daugherty. 

Indeed, “smashmouth” 

football is a time-honored 

concept in the Big Ten, where 

the best teams have historically 

excelled at establishing the run on 

offense and stopping the run on 

defense. In the Big Ten, experts 

have noted, trick plays tend to be 

favored by the also-rans. 

“The key to our offense is 

to be multi-dimensional,” says 

Dantonio, who notes that in his 

first year at Cincinnati he had a 

quarterback who passed for 2,600 

yards and 24 touchdowns, as 

well as a tailback who rushed for 

1,000 yards and a wide receiver 

who caught for 1,000 yards. “I 

want to be able to walk up to a 

tailback and say, ‘Hey you could 

be a 1,000-yard rusher here,’ 

because we are going to run the 

football. I also want to be able to 

say to a wide receiver or a quarterback, 

‘Hey, you are going to 

throw for 300 yards a game.’ 

“I want everyone to know, ‘If 


046957070001_30-39.indd 32 

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you come here, we can feature you 

if you’re a good enough player.’” 

Dantonio says offensive linemen 

will have to learn how to 

pass protect and run block. “I 

don’t want an offense that just 

runs the zone play,” he says. “I 

want to run power football, I 

want to be able to get that yard 

when we need a tough yard.” 

Dantonio wants to re-establish 

the fullback position, which 

Smith had eliminated in his 

spread offense. “We will have a 

fullback on this team,” he avows. 

“We need to run some gap plays, 

some power plays.” 

Don Treadwell, who previously 

coached at MSU and helped develop 

wide receiver Charles Rogers, 

will run Dantonio’s offense. 

Treadwell has excelled as offensive 

coordinator at four schools, including 

Youngstown State, where 

he won a national title, Boston 

College and Ball State. “He 

brings tremendous patience and 

stability,” says Dantonio. “He 

does a great job of listening. He’s 

right on time with a play. You 

never see us with a game delay 

penalty. He gets plays in quickly, 

and that’s half the battle.” 

On defense, Dantonio believes in 

zone pressures. “This is the age of 

zone pressures, so we’ll zone pressure 

a lot,” he notes. “We will also 

feature a lot of man-pressures.” 

Allowing that his defensive 

formation will be somewhat 

dictated by personnel, he likes to 

use a “base, 4-3 front.” Others 

have described his defense at Cincinnati 

as an attacking defense. 

He touts defensive coordinator 

Narduzzi as “young, energetic 

and very passionate.” 

Dantonio intends to let his 

coordinators run the show. While 

he will help determine the game 

plan, he does not like to change 

things in the middle of a series. “I 

want to empower our coaches and 

give them ownership,” he explains. 

“When you have ownership . . . 

you look for ways to succeed. You 

take it personal, and because of 

that, you attack things more passionately. 

Like everything in life, 

if you’re passionate, you’re more 

likely to succeed.” 

When asked how he would 

upgrade MSU’s overall team 

speed, Dantonio says, “You have 

to recruit to that, and there’s a 

certain level of speed you can 

increase. When you know what 

you’re doing, you have the ability 

to play faster. But more than 

speed, you need explosiveness.” 

Dantonio is very mindful of 

MSU’s storied history and tradition—one 

that includes seven 

national championships since 

1950—and wants to bring that 

to the forefront again. 

“I want to embrace MSU football’s 

past,” he says. “That’s very 

important to me. We’ll have an 

honorary captain for every game, 

and it’ll be an ex-Spartan player.” 

At his introductory press conference, 

MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson, 

vice chair of the board, 

emphasized that Dantonio was 

everyone’s first choice and not a 

“compromise” candidate. 

“Mark Dantonio is absolutely 

the best fit for Michigan State 

University,” he said. “He was a 

unanimous choice by this board 

not because anyone else had 

flaws, because the other candidates 

were excellent also. He just 

happened to be the best.” 

Izzo believes Dantonio will 

succeed so long as all Spartans 

unite to support him: 

“He’s got pedigree and great 

character. If you have those 

two things with a great work 

ethic, everything else kind of 

falls in place as long as we’re all 

with him.” 

Dantonio’s favorite metaphor is 

a quote from Greek mathematician 

and philosopher Archimedes, 

who said, “Give me a place 

THE DUFFY DAUGHERTY PROJECT 

The Duffy Daugherty 

Building expansion 

project (see p. 42, 

Fall 2006) remains in 

effect, but its priorities 

and emphasis 

have evolved since 

the arrival of Mark 

Dantonio. 

Mindful that sizzle 

Rendering courtesy of Raymond O’Leary 

can help sell recruits, 

Dantonio has prioritized the project’s “Wow factor”—the Skandalaris 

Hall of History (see Lasting Impressions, p.52 ), a two-level glass 

structure that will showcase MSU football history in all its past glory. 

Dantonio wants to prominently show MSU’s tradition to future 

recruits—six national championships, three Rose Bowl triumphs, 

76 first-team All Americans, 33 Academic All Americans, and such 

iconic moments as 1966’s “Game of the Century” 10-10 tie with 

Notre Dame. 

When completed, the Skandalaris Football Operations Center will 

include a meeting room with state-of-the-art video technology, along 

with the Duffy Daugherty Tribute and Motivational Area where 

coaches can perform game preparation. Position meeting rooms and 

a Coaches Office Suite will round-out the expansion project. If you 

wish to help, contact the Ralph Young Fund at (517) 432-4610. 

ASSISTANT COACHES 

Harlon Barnett 

Dan Enos 

Ted Gill 

Pat Narduzzi 

Dan Roushar 

Mark Staten 

Don Treadwell 

Mike Tressel 

Dave Warner 

to stand on and I can move the 

earth.” The more Spartans unite 

behind Dantonio, the more solid 

the platform. And the more 

solid the platform, the more 

likely he will be able to move, if 

not the earth, at least the MSU 

football program. 

- Secondary 

- Running backs 

- Defensive line 

- Defensive coordinator 

- Offensive line 

- Tight ends/tackles, recruiting coordinator 

- Offensive coordinator 

- Linebackers/special teams 

- Quarterbacks 



Page 33 

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Photos courtesy of MSU Sports Information 

GLI CHAMPS AGAIN! — 

MSU beat archrival Michigan 

in the finals of the Great Lakes 

Invitational Tournament, 

college hockey’s most prestigious 

holiday tournament, at 

Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. In 

the past 10 years, MSU has won 

6 titles in 9 GLI finals appearances 

at Joe Louis Arena, while 

the Wolverines have won no 

titles in five appearances in the 

finals. Coach Rick Comley has 

now surpassed the 700-win 

mark and ranks among the Top 

Five all-time winningest coaches 

in college hockey history. 

A TRANSITION FOR 

MEN’S BASKETBALL 

By Robert Bao 

Izzo’s rebuilding job had fans 

thinking big—until two key 

untimely injuries halted the 

momentum. 

For a while, MSU’s “rebuilding” 

season was going so well 

that some fans were envisioning 

yet another Tom Izzo-trademark 

championship run. 

But an old Izzo nemesis—the 

stress fracture—struck twice 

before the Big Ten opener and 

put that notion on pause. 

Expectations had been low for 

the 2006-07 men’s basketball 

team, which was both young and 

inexperienced. Izzo lost three 

starters to the NBA (Maurice 

Ager, Shannon Brown and Paul 

Davis) and a fourth possibly to 

the NFL (Matt Trannon). Yet 

this year’s team kept finding 

different ways to win, no matter 

which style—slowdown (Brown, 

45-34), uptempo (Youngstown 

State, 86-61), acrobatic (Chicago 

State, 69-61), you name it. 

In the Coaches vs. Cancer 

finals at New York’s Madison 

Square Garden, MSU managed 

to beat No. 19-ranked Texas, 

Izzo 

Neitzel 

with leading scorer Drew Neitzel 

making a spectacular drive for 

the winning layup. MSU did 

lose two close games in the 

season, but one of them—62-60 

to Maryland—featured a no-call 

on an apparent Terrapin shot 

clock violation. 

For the most part, this year’s 

cagers seemed to be making up 

for their inexperience by going 

retro to Izzo basics—scraping for 

rebounds, diving for lose balls, 

playing stingy defense (with a 

surge of blocked shots). 

Junior guard Neitzel emerged 

as the team’s leading scorer (17.9) 

and playmaker, while backcourt 

mate sophomore Travis Walton, 

a defensive specialist 

last season, has 

unveiled a reasonable 

shot and averaged 7 

points a game. Small 

forward Morgan 

averaged in double 

figures prior to his 

injury. The “Bigs,” 

as Izzo calls his front 

court players, showed 

improvement. Sophomores 

Goran Suton 

and Marquise Gray 

produced great scoring 

outputs in given games, but 

needed to work on consistency. 

One statistic that improved dramatically 

was blocked shots, with 

6-10 junior center Drew Naymick 

and 6-9 sophomore Ibok Ibong 

leading the way. 

This unsung collection of 

cagers fought and scratched they 

way to an impressive 13-2 preseason 

record, earning considerable 

praise in the media. 

But then arose an Izzo-era 

bugaboo—the stress fracture. 

This injury struck forward Raymar 

Morgan, the second leading 

scorer as a true freshman, and 

sophomore guard Maurice 

Joseph, the team’s second best 

shooter. Both went down just 

before the holiday break. Even 

so, the Spartans continued to 

win, beating BYU at the Palace, 

and then polishing up Chicago 

State, Belmont, Wisconsin- 

Green Bay and Loyola of Maryland 

at the Breslin Center. 

Despite the wins, Tom Izzo 

remained unhappy prior to 

conference play. A team that 

was already thin around the perimeter 

could not afford injuries 

to two perimeter players. Their 

absence affected practices. Izzo 

sensed that progress was stalling 

just as the Spartans had to open 

up with two road games at Iowa 

and Indiana. 

“This team isn’t ready to win 

in the Big Ten the way we’ve 

played the last four or five 

games, especially on the road,” 

cautioned Izzo just before MSU 

began its conference play. 

At 13-2, MSU probably 

needed to at least break even 

in conference play to earn an 

NCAA bid. If MSU somehow 

pulls itself together and manages 

to get into the big dance, 

it would mark its 10th straight 

appearance—the nation’s fifth 

longest streak. 

Spartan fans know also that 

help is coming. Three highlyranked 

perimeter players are 

coming next season. 


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A VERTICAL STRETCH 

FOR WOMEN’S HOOPS 

DeHaan 

By Robert Bao 

Freshman Alyssa DeHaan makes 

an immediate impact as both a 

scorer and shotblocker. Wait till 

she makes her first dunk. 

Despite graduating its two alltime 

scorers, the MSU women’s 

basketball team has received tremendous 

media buzz this season. 

The center of attention? 

Grandville freshman Allyssa 

DeHaan, who at 6-9 has the 

potential not only to excel but 

also to alter the college game. 

“She changes the game completely,” 

explains Joanne P. Mc- 

Callie, the 2005 AP National 

Coach of the Year. “Defensively, 

she changes the game by 

her stature, as long as she’s very 

aggressive. Offensively, she is 

just such a target. The thing 

about her that is truly extraordinary 

is her ability to pass the 

basketball. Her passing ability is 

pretty phenomenal for a young 

person under so much pressure 

as people try to double or be 

physical with her.” 

In just 12 games, DeHaan 

notched 60 blocked shots— 

breaking Kristen Rasmussen’s 

single-season record of 57 

blocked shots in 1998-99. By 

mid-season, she led the nation 

in blocked shots. She averaged 

around 12 points, 9 rebounds 

and 5 blocked shots per game 

and has not been intimidated 

by veteran All-Americans. In 

losses against national champion 

Maryland and LSU, she 

blocked five shots by Terrapin 

All-American center Crystal 

Langhome and three shots 

by Tiger All-American Sylvia 

Fowles. DeHaan ranks among 

the leading scorers in the Big 

Ten and is a candidate for 

Rookie of the Year honors. 

MSU features other weapons 

besides DeHaan. Senior 

guards Rene Haynes and 

Victoria Lucas-Perry are proven 

players who compete at the 

highest level. Both are averaging 

double figures. Transfer 

Mia Johnson has helped out 

at the guard spot. Sophomore 

Aisha Jefferson made the All 

Big Ten freshman team last 

season and has continued to be 

a force inside, along with senior 

forward Katrina Grantham. 

But DeHaan 

Haynes 

has captured 

the most 

attention as 

MSU reached 

a decent 12-3 

by mid-season, 

poised 

to make its 

fi fth straight 

NCAA tournament. 

“I’m not the least bit surprised 

at the success that she is having 

because of the kind of person she 

is,” notes McCallie. 

Meanwhile, fans and media 

are awaiting DeHaan’s first slam 

dunk. 



Page 35 

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FOR THE RECORD 

TALES FROM SPECIAL K— 

Greg Kelser, who teamed up 

with Earvin “Magic” Johnson 

to lead MSU to its first NCAA 

basketball championship in 

1979, has now told his story in 

Tales From Michigan State Basketball 

(Sports Publishing LLc, 

2006). The book, written with 

Booth Newspapers of Michigan 

sportswriter Steve Grinczel, 

is fi lled with inside 

anecdotes from his MSU 

years. Kelser was a firstteam 

All American and 

also a first-team Academic 

All American, and was the 

first Big Ten player ever 

to compile 2,000 points 

and 1,000 rebounds in 

a career. He starred in 

a championship game 

that changed basketball 

forever and remains the 

most-watched game of 

all time. He, Magic 

and Indiana State’s 

Larry Bird triggered the 

popularity of “March 

Madness” and “Final 

Four.” The last 20 

years Kelser has been a TV 

analyst. In the book, he 

gives an inside account 

of his life, including the 

magical 1979 season and 

his take on such Spartans 

as Jud Heathcote, Gus 

Ganakas, Tom Izzo, Scott 

Skiles and Steve Smith. 

SPARTAN BASEBALL 

DREAM—Danny Litwhiler, 

MSU baseball 

coach from 1964-82 and 

member of the MSU 

Sports Hall of Fame, 

has told his exciting life 

story in Danny Litwhiler: 

Living The Baseball 

Dream (Temple University 

Press, 2006), 

co-authored with Jim Sargent, 

M.A. ’68, Ph.D. ’72. Litwhiler 

played 18 years as an outfielder 

and set a Major League record 

by playing 187 games in the 

outfield without an error, from 

1941-43. His glove is in Cooperstown, 

NY. As a coach, he 

invented a number of devices, 

including the JUGS radar gun 

to measure pitching speed. 

Among the players he coached 

at MSU were future stars like 

Kirk Gibson and Steve Garvey, 

as well as future successes in 

other fields, such as Tyrone 

Willingham. Co-author 

Sargent is history professor 

and dean of social science at 

Virginia Western Community 

College, Roanoke, VA. 

BIG TEN NETWORK—The Big 

Ten Conference will launch its 

own network in August 2007. 

Mark Silverman, who was 

general manager and senior 

vice president of ABC Cable 

Networks Group since April of 

2004, has been named as the 

organization’s first president. 

Says Big Ten Commissioner 

James E. Delany: “Mark’s 

media and business experience 

coupled with his intelligence 

and personal leadership style 

equip him to successfully 

launch and lead this network.” 

Operating 24-hours a day, 

365-days a year, the Big Ten 

Network is majority-owned 

by the Big Ten Conference, 

while Fox holds a minority 

interest in the network. 

The Big Ten Network 

will be the destination for 

Big Ten fans around the 

country. Showcasing a wide 

array of classic-to-current 

sports as well as original 

programming produced by 

the conference’s 11 institutions, 

it will be available to 

all carriers and distributors 

nationwide. 

SIMMONS HELP PACE 

WRESTLING—In mid-January, 

the Simmons brothers, 

Nick and Andy, were helping 

pace this year’s Spartan wrestling 

team to a No. 21 national 

ranking. Nick Simmons was 

ranked No. 1 in the nation 

at 133 pounds with a perfect 

25-0 record, which includes 

wins over eight ranked opponents. 

Andy Simmons, ranked 

No. 4 at 141 pounds, has also 

excelled, along with freshman 

Franklin Gomez, who was 

ranked No. 7 at 125 pounds. 

Joe Williams was ranked No. 

8 at 184 pounds. In January 

MSU notched its first dual meet 

victory of the season with a win 

over Pittsburgh. 

HUMANITARIAN HALL OF 

FAME—Steve Smith, basketball 

star and philanthropist, 

has been inducted into the 

World Sports Humanitarian 

Hall of Fame, Meridian, ID. 

Smith was inducted in December 

along with Steve Largent, 

football great turned congressman, 

and baseball great 

Harmon Killebrew. The hall 

is now in its 12th year, with 

35 inductees. Smith made 

the lead gift for MSU’s Clara 

Belle Smith Student Academic 

Center, created a number of 

scholarships, and is a member 

of the Reading Is Fundamental 

national board of directors. A 

14-year NBA veteran, Smith is 

currently in his second year as 

the Atlanta Hawks’ TV color 

analyst. 

Photo courtesy of Larry Maneely 


046957070001_30-39.indd 36 

1/30/07 12:31:29 PM

Big Opportunities at the Big Ten Network 

For additional info, email: BigTen.jobs@FOX.com 

046957070001_30-39.indd 37 

1/30/07 12:32:12 PM

046957070001_30-39.indd 38 

1/30/07 12:33:11 PM

KEDZIE REUNION 2007 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

Each year is its own, yet it 

is all years put together. 

From a distinguished past 

we inherit a brilliant future. 

Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives. 

Mark your calendar as MSU and the Michigan State 

University Alumni Association cordially invites all 

Alumni who graduated during or before the year 1957 

to join us for the Kedzie Reunion on June 8, 2007. It is 

a perfect time to get together and relive old memories 

and make new ones. Members of the class of 1957 

will be honored with a special induction ceremony. 

For more information visit us online 

at www.msualum.com/kedzie or call the 

MSUAA office at (877)MSU-ALUM. 



Page 39 

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ALMA MATTERS 

Calhoun County 

REGIONAL CLUBS 

BOSTON, MA—Nov. 16: 

About 50 area Spartans gathered 

at the Boston Hyatt Regency 

to kickoff a local scholarship 

drive. President Michael 

Kratochwill welcomed special 

MSU guests Ron Fisher, dean 

of Honors College, and development 

officer Barbara Ball- 

McClure. 

CALHOUN COUNTY—Sep. 25: 

Sparty and more than 100 area 

Spartans (photo) attended the 

annual Golf Outing & Scholarship 

Dinner at the Battle 

Creek Country Club. More 

than $8,000, the most ever in 

the club’s history, was raised 

for club student scholarships 

and for MSU athletics. Special 

guests included former MSU 

football coach and trustee 

George Perles, and MSUAA 

assistant directors Dave Brown 

and Robert Bao. 

CENTRAL OHIO—Sep. 23: 

Nearly 40 area Spartans gathered 

at Fitzgerald’s in Columbus 

to watch the MSU-Notre 

Dame game. 

COASTAL GEORGIA—Oct. 7: 

More than 40 area Spartans 

and Wolverines gathered to 

watch the football game at the 

Grand Lake Lodge & Spa, 

Savannah, GA. The MSU club 

(see photo), which hosted the 

event, was able to raise $120. 

Dec. 10: More than two dozen 

area alumni gathered in the 

home of Bob and Carol Nickels 

in Savannah for a Holiday 

Open House. 

Photo courtesy of Nancy Juntunen 

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX— 

Oct. 27: About 50 area Spartans 

enjoyed two private suites at 

the American Airlines Center 

for a Red Wings-Stars hockey 

game. About $300 was raised 

for the club’s scholarship fund. 

Nov. 29: More than 100 area 

Spartans attended a Mavs- 

Raptors pre-game reception 

at American Airlines Center. 

Special guests included (photo, 

l to r) former MSU cagers Morris 

Peterson, Maurice Ager and 

Sam Vincent, and 1979 championship 

team members Terry 

Donnelly and Jamie “Shoes” 

Huffman, University of Texas- 

Arlington president Jim Spaniolo 

and Dallas Morning News 

Photo courtesy of Chris Horner 

sportswriter Rick Gosselin. 

The event raised nearly $1,800 

for the club’s scholarship fund. 

DAYTON, OH—Oct. 7: About 

30 area Spartans and Wolverines 

gathered to watch the 

MSU-UM football game at the 

Fox & Hound Pub & Grille, 

Beavercreek, OH. It was the 

club’s first-ever joint event with 

the University of Michigan. 

Photo courtesy of Barbara Spivack 

GREATER BALTIMORE, MD— 

Dec. 2: Some 18 area Spartans 

gathered for the annual Dinner 

and Movie at the historic Senator 

Theatre in Baltimore. 

GREATER NEW YORK—Oct. 

28: (Clockwise from lower 

left) MSU President Lou Anna 

Photo courtesy of Pat Donnohue 

K. Simon, club vice president 

Dianna Antlocer, David James, 

secretary Bob Kobel, treasurer 

Roni O’Connor, and (center) 

club president Greg Hauser 

gathered at Blondies Sports Bar 

on West 79th Street, Manhattan, 

to watch the MSU-Indiana 

football game. Area Spartans 

call Blondies “East Lansing on 

the Hudson.” 

HILLSDALE COUNTY—Oct. 

2: About 50 area Spartans attended 

the Annual MSU vs. 

UM Football Pep Rally at the 

Hillsdate Golf & Country 

Club. Special guest was George 

Blaha, play-by-play radio announcer 

of Spartan football. 

Funds were raised to the club’s 

endowed scholarship fund, now 

in excess of $35,000. 

SEATTLE, WA—Dec. 9: More 

than a dozen area Spartans 

gathered at Jillian’s Bar and 

Grill, Seattle, to watch the 

men’s basketball team play 

BYU. 

SPACE COAST, FL—Oct. 16: 

(L to r) Founding president 

Jack Johnston, Narda Reise, 

Bill Burpeau, club president 

Frank Kunze, Bill Glick & Pat 

Page were among some 30 area 


046957070001_40-47.indd 40 

2/5/07 10:47:41 AM

Photo courtesy of Pat Page 

Spartans who attended the first 

annual Oktoberfest dinner at 

Valkaria. The new event raised 

$700 for the club’s scholarship 

fund. 

man Medicine. This presentation 

took place at a “Meet & 

Greet” reception at Stelter Partners 

LLC, Grand Rapids, with 

more than 100 area Spartans in 

attendance. Nov. 10: The club 

donated $50,000 to help fund a 

new World of Wonder Library 

at Sibley Elementary School. 

Photo courtesy of Matt Jackson 

Francie Todd 

WEST MICHIGAN—Sep. 21: 

The annual Outstanding Junior 

Awards luncheon took place at 

Cascade Hills CC, Grand Rapids. 

Special MSU guests Trustee 

Dee Cook (seated, middle), 

MSUAA acting executive director 

Bill Beekman, and associate 

admissions director Jim Cotter 

spoke to students, counselors, 

principals and parents. Oct. 

24: (L to r) Club president 

Don Patten presents a symbolic 

check to trustees Dee Cook and 

Dave Porteous and MSU provost 

Kim Wilcox for the club’s 

$50,000 endowed scholarship 

fund to benefit new students attending 

MSU’s College of Hu- 

Photo courtesy of Steve Wolf 

(L to r) West Michigan board 

members Frank Grant and 

Mike Poggi and Grand Rapids 

Mayor George Heartwell greet 

students at the Sibley Elementary 

School. 

CONTITUENT 

ASSOCIATIONS 

AGRICULTURE & NATURAL 

RESOURCES—Nov. 11: More 

than 900 Spartans and friends 

attended the 31st AutumnFest 

at the MSU Pavilion, including 

special MSU guests trustee 

Don Nugent, president Lou 

Anna K. Simon, provost Kim 

Wilcox, dean Jeff Armstrong 

(right, in photo), and MSUAA 

board chairperson Stella Cash. 

The event raised more than 

$13,500 for scholarships. 

Since 1989, the event 

has raised more than 

$175,000. Nov. 16-19: 

Altogether some 250 or 

so Spartans took part in a road 

trip to Penn State, where the 

PSU College of Agricultural 

Sciences hosted the MSU 

group. $1,350 was raised for 

scholarships. 

EDUCATION—Oct. 27: More 

than 270 Spartans and friends 

gathered to pay tribute to this 

year’s 29 Crystal Apple recipients 

at the Kellogg Center. 

Speakers included dean Carole 

Ames and award recipient Brian 

Hawkins, president of Colorado-based 

EDUCAUSE. The 

award winners were selected by 

members of the COE Leadership 

Circle, who support the 

College of Education with gifts 

of $1,250 or more. For information 

on next year’s event, 

Photo courtesy of Kathryn Reed 

contact 

517-432-1983 or email birdjuli@msu.edu. 

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS— 

Nov. 7: More than 700 students 

attended Career Expo 

XXVIII at Kellogg Center, 

featuring 150 recruiters from 

70 leading companies in the 

nation’s largest career fair for 

hospitality students. The event 

was organized by a board of 

directors (see photo). Nov. 

11: Nearly 300 students and 

alumni attended the Wall of 

Fame induction ceremony at 

the Waldorf-Astoria in New 

York. William P. Weidner, ’67, 

MBA ’68, president and CEO 

of Las Vegas Sands Corp., was 

named Industry Leader of the 

Year. New inductees included 

Photo courtesy of Mike Madura 



Page 41 

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Mark Auerbach, ’65, James A. 

Delligatti, ’64, Tekin Ertan, 

MBA ’65, Judy Zehnder Keller, 

’67, M.A. ’73, Hans R. Schuler, 

’59, and Hajimu Tsuzuki, ’82. 

Special guest was Robert Duncan, 

dean of MSU’s Eli Broad 

College of Business. 

Photo courtesy of Craig Reed 

l to r): Sheung Pan Hon, Errial 

Chiu, Barbara L. Kolar, Louis 

Lam, Simon Mok, Louisa Lo, 

and Ronald Leung gathered at 

the Chao Inn, Tsim Sha Tsui, 

Hong Kong. The Hong Hong 

alumni welcomed Kolar, assistant 

director for international 

admissions. 

OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE— 

Sep. 22-23: Record numbers 

of alumni attended the College 

of Osteopathic Medicine’s annual 

Silverfest. More than 150 

enjoyed a reception held at the 

East Lansing Marriott where 

they mingled with old friends, 

faculty and staff, and celebrated 

the Class of 1981 (see photo). 

Fifty-one took advantage of Fall 

Kaleidoscope, an annual continuing 

medical education series, 

while 450 tailgated before 

the MSU/Notre Dame football 

game. 

INTERNATIONAL CLUBS 

HONG KONG, CHINA—Oct 27: 

(Standing, l to r): Calvin Chu 

and Wing Wong; and (seated, 

INDONESIA—Nov. 10: (L to r) 

Herr Soeryantono, of the University 

of Indonesia, Setyanto 

P. Santosa, M.A. ’76, and Gerhardus 

Schultink, professor 

of international development 

planning, College of Agriculture 

and Natural Resources, 

gather at the Lorojongrang 

Restaurant in Jakarta. 

KANSAI, JAPAN—Sep. 9: About 16 area Spartans attended the 

club’s annual meeting at the Rihga Royal Hotel in Osaka. The 

club named Tamio Tani to take over as club chairman upon the 

expiration of the term of Akira Oku. A special presentation was 

made by club founder Yuzo Yagi. Special guest was Dennis Meier, 

interim director of Japan Center of Michigan Universities. 

(L to r) Budi Rochadi, M.A. 

’84, senior director of Bank 

Indonesia, Burhanuddin 

Abdullah, M.A. ’84, Governor 

of Bank of Indonesia, and 

Schultink 

Nov. 11: Schultink 

visited the Bank of 

Indonesia and met with 

MSU alumni Budi Rochadi, 

M.A. ’84, senior 

director of Bank of 

Indonesia and Burhanuddin 

Abdullah, M.A. 

’84, Governor of Bank 

of Indonesia, Johanes 

Said, M.A. ’86, Ir Farid 

Maruf, and Pos Hutabarat, 

as a special guest of the MSU 

Alumni Club of Indonesia. 

THAILAND—Dec. 6: Anne 

Schneller, MSU coordinator of 

Sponsored Student Programs, 

hands Thiti Mahacharoen his 

letter of admission to MSU as a 

doctoral student in the School 

of Criminal Justice. Also on 

hand were several members 

of the Thai Alumni Club, 

who hosted a reception for the 

Royal Thai Scholars at the 

Sasin Hotel of Chulalongkorn 

University. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Schneller 

WingKuen Wong 


046957070001_40-47.indd 42 

1/30/07 12:45:12 PM

White House Photo by Paul Morse 

SPOTLIGHT ON A SPARTAN 

STAR DURING THE STATE OF 

THE UNION ADDRESS 

On January 23, when President 

George W. Bush gave the State of 

the Union Address, he acknowledged 

four citizens who were in the 

U.S. Capitol’s House Gallery. One 

of them was Julie Aigner-Clark (see 

p. 15, Fall 2002), ’88, founder of 

the multi-million-dollar Baby Einstein 

Company of LoneTree, CO. 

During the nationally televised 

address, President Bush said: 

“After her daughter was born, 

Julie Aigner-Clark searched for 

ways to share her love of music 

and art with her child. So she 

borrowed some equipment, and 

began filming children’s videos 

in her basement. The Baby Einstein 

Company was born, and 

in just five years her business 

grew to more than $20 million 

in sales. In November 2001, 

Julie sold Baby Einstein to the 

Walt Disney Company, and 

with her help Baby Einstein has 

grown into a $200 million business. 

Julie represents the great 

enterprising spirit of America. 

And she is using her success 

to help others producing child 

safety videos with John Walsh 

of the National Center for Missing 

and Exploited Children. 

Julie says of her new project: ‘I 

believe it’s the most important 

thing that I have ever done. I 

believe that children have the 

right to live in a world that is 

safe.’ And so tonight, we are 

pleased to welcome this talented 

business entrepreneur and generous 

social entrepreneur Julie 

Aigner-Clark. (Applause.)” 

The other citizens saluted by 

President Bush were former NBA 

star Dikembe Mutombo, Iraq 

war hero Tommy Rieman, and 

Wesley Autrey, who helped save 

the life of a man who fell into the 

path of a train at the Harlem subway 

station in New York. 

YOUSUF KARSCH 

EXHIBIT—Jan. 

12: The Yousuf 

Karsh Photographs 

exhibit at Kresge 

Art Museum 

(through March 

18) debuted with 

the presence of 

the late Canadian 

photographer’s 

widow Estrellita 

Yousuf, Karsh curator 

Jerry Fielder, 

and Governor 

Erin Groome/IMC 

(Seated) Estrellita Karsh (left), 

Janet Blanchard; (standing, 

l to r) Governor Jim Blanchard, 

Jay Blanchard and Jerry Fielder. 

Jim and Janet Blanchard, who generously sponsored the event and 

exhibition, with additional assistance from the Consulate General of 

Canada-Detroit. Karsh (1908-2002) is one of the world’s most eminent 

photographers and his portrait of Winston Churchill became an 

iconic symbol during World War II. Currently, 30 of Karsh’s stunning 

photos are on loan to MSU from the Detroit Institute of Arts. 

Images courtesy of Kresge Art Museum 

Yousuf Karsh 

(Canadian, 1908-2002); 

Helen Keller (right) with 

Polly Thompson, 

1948, gelatin silver print, 

19 x 21 inches. 

Yousuf Karsh 

(Canadian, 1908-2002); 

Winston Churchill, 

1941, gelatin silver print, 

23½ x 19¾ inches. 

Loans from The Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Estrellita and Yousuf 

Karsh in honor of Governor James and Mrs. Janet Blanchard. 



Page 43 

046957070001_40-47.indd 43 

2/2/07 1:25:52 PM

Artist’s rendering of MSU’s Secchia 

Center in downtown Grand Rapids, 

as seen from the northwest. 

SECCHIA PROVIDES 

LEADERSHIP GIFT FOR 21st 

CENTURY MEDICAL SCHOOL 

By Linda Dunn 

Peter and Joan Secchia 

Photo courtesy of University Development 

Ambassador Peter F. Secchia’s 

leadership gift to the new home of 

MSU’s College of Human Medicine 

in Grand Rapids, to be named 

“The Secchia Center” (see p. 4), 

will be the essential catalyst for the 

evolution and expansion of the college 

for the 21st century. 

“We are creating something 

very special here by bringing a 

world class university to bear on 

developing medical education 

in Grand Rapids and by using 

this opportunity to advance the 

power of genomic medicine,” 

said MSU President Lou Anna 

K. Simon. “This venture will 

significantly increase our activity 

in research, both in Grand Rapids 

and East Lansing.” 

Simon noted the critical role 

of Grand Rapids partnerships 

in achieving the vision. The 

Van Andel Institute, Spectrum 

Health, Saint Mary’s Health 

System and Grand Valley State 

University each have recently announced 

important partnerships 

with Michigan State University 

associated with land acquisition 

or future programs. Grand 

Action and MSU will launch a 

campaign to raise the remaining 

$20 million nationally and from 

the West Michigan community 

to cover the development and 

construction costs associated 

with the facility. 

“This is being done without 

the need for state appropriations, 

and it is a triumph of creative 

problem solving that will raise 

the level of medical care in West 

Michigan and benefit citizens 

throughout Michigan and beyond,” 

said Simon. 

The Secchia Center will include 

research and teaching laboratories, 

classrooms, offices and 

student areas. Michigan State’s 

College of Human Medicine is 

slated to enroll its first class of 

100 first-year students in Grand 

Rapids in 2010, when the new 

facility opens. It will also continue 

to enroll four-year classes 

in East Lansing and to situate 

the residents from its programs 

throughout the state. 

“Ambassador Secchia has been 

a generous friend and long-time 

donor to Michigan State University,” 

said Simon. “His volunteerism 

and contributions date 

back nearly 50 years. He currently 

serves as a member of the 

President’s Campaign Cabinet 

for The Campaign for MSU. He 

has hosted and sponsored dozens 

of university events and chaired 

Artist’s rendering courtesy of University Development 

several campus building projects. 

“We are grateful for his continued 

support, particularly as 

we establish the new home of the 

College of Human Medicine and 

set a course for its research agenda 

and innovative curriculum. 

Peter was a pioneering proponent 

of the idea of housing the school 

in Grand Rapids.” 

“It is a triumph of creative 

problem solving that will raise 

the level of medical care in 

West Michigan and benefi t 

citizens throughout Michigan.” 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime 

opportunity to combine my commitments 

to the university and to 

the community I love,” said Secchia. 

“I truly believe this will have 

a meaningful impact that will live 

on for generations to come.” 

The Secchia family tremendously 

values education. Joan Secchia 

(Education, ’64) taught in the 

Rockford and East Grand Rapids 

public schools. She recently served 

as president of the Grand Rapids 

Public Schools Student Advancement 

Foundation and led the drive 

to raise $1.7 million to restock 

more than 40 public school libraries. 

She currently serves on the 

fundraising committee to raise 

in excess of $100 million for the 

DeVos Children’s Hospital. The 

Secchias have four children and 

five grandchildren. 

Chairman Emeritus of Universal 

Forest Products Inc., 

Secchia began his service with 

UFPI in 1962, graduating from 

MSU with a bachelor’s degree 

in economics the following year. 

While at UFPI,he helped open 

102 manufacturing plants. Secchia 

served as U.S. Ambassador 

to Italy from 1989 to 1993. 

In addition, he has held leadership 

positions on the boards 

of Old Kent Financial, Old 

Kent Bank, River City Foods, 

StelterPartners and the Manufactured 

Housing Institute. Secchia 

has volunteered in local, 

state and national political and 

charitable work. He has served 

on the library foundation boards 

established by two presidents, 

Gerald R. Ford and George H. 

W. Bush, and was selected by 

former Governor John Engler to 

head a commission to reevaluate 

government services. His personal 

philanthropy and fundraising 

efforts have aided many Grand 

Rapids causes — youths, parks, 

economic development, health 

care and cultural enrichment and 

education, among many others. 

Secchia has earned a number 

of lifetime achievement awards 

during the last 15 years, 

including: Michigan’s Master 

Entrepreneur of the Year; Crain’s 

Detroit Business, Businessman 

of the Year; Economic Club of 

Grand Rapids, Business Person 

of the Year; National Italian 

American Foundation, Special 

Achievement Award; Republic 

of Italy, Cavaliere di Gran Croce 

(The Knight of the Great Cross); 

Michigan State University’s 

Broad Business School Outstanding 

Alumnus; MSU’s 

Distinguished Alumnus; and the 

Smithsonian Institute Award as a 

National Scholar. 


046957070001_40-47.indd 44 

1/30/07 12:47:16 PM

Heidi Potter 

MSU Bike Project, is centrally 

located (at old canoe shelter) 

and believed to be the most 

comprehensive university-funded 

bicycle program of its kind in the 

country. It offers short and longterm 

bike rentals, repairs and 

other related services to promote 

cycling at MSU. 

GRAND RAPIDS ROTARY 

CLUB—Oct. 12: MSU trustee 

Dee Cook and President Lou 

Anna K. Simon attended the 

Rotary Luncheon at the Cascade 

Country Club. Included in the 

photo are top area students who 

may be considering MSU as 

their college of choice. 

Dave Brown 

MSU BIKE PROJECT—Sept: 

19: (L to r) Tim Potter, 

coordinator of the MSU Bike 

Center, Gus Gosselin, director 

of Building Services, MSU 

Physical Plant and co-founder 

of the Bike Project, volunteers 

Nick Kwiatkowski and Mike 

Lang, new coordinator at the 

Demonstration Hall workshop, 

pose during the grand opening 

of the new MSU Bikes Service 

Center. The Center, which 

grew out of the volunteer-run 

Red Cedar Lodge & Suites is one 

“ 

of the most exciting and unique 

condo-hotel real estate ownership 

opportunities available today. Join us! 

Mike Brenan 

Brenan Hospitality Group 

” 

A Unique Condo–Hotel 

Real Estate Ownership Opportunity 

Incomparable Location – 2 Miles from Campus 

(formerly the Harley/Clarion Hotel) 

Numerous Luxury Upgrades Available 

Optional Professionally Managed Hotel Rental Program 

Classic Dining – Exciting Pub 

Indoor Pool - Beautiful Courtyard 

Game Day Celebrations for 

Spartan Faithful 

3600 Dunckel Rd, Lansing, Michigan, 48910 - US-27 and I-96 at Jolly Rd Exit 

John P. Lenhard - Great Lakes Brokerage - www.redcedarlodgesuites.com 

Hotel Reservations: 517.664.5300 - jp@redcedarlodgesuites.com - Condo Sales: 517.719.4700 



Page 45 

046957070001_40-47.indd 45 

1/30/07 12:48:02 PM

ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES 

SCORES ANOTHER HIT 

By Robert Bao, Editor 

Most of you probably don’t pay 

much attention to “Alumni Career 

Services,” one of our listed 

benefits of membership. 

But some of you, especially 

those seeking jobs or a career 

change, find this benefit to be 

worth the cost of membership in 

itself—and then some. 

As the assistant director 

for communication, I’m 

usually the first person 

to see feedback from 

alumni that 

comes 

via email, whether it’s related 

to the magazine, our operations, 

upcoming events, or some 

other issue. I’ve been struck by 

how appreciative the users of 

our alumni career services are 

when they actually land a job or 

otherwise fulfill a career-change 

objective. 

One recent email, for example, 

recounted a life-transforming 

experience arising from someone 

who put to use career advice 

from Dr. Patrick Scheetz, assistant 

director of the MSU 

Alumni Association and longtime 

associate director of MSU’s 

Career Services & Placement 

and also former director of the 

Collegiate Employment Research 

Institute. Dr. Scheetz was 

also the author for 27 years of 

Recruiting Trends, the bible for 

new college graduates entering 

the marketplace. 

This particular alumnus was 

facing a volatile situation at 

work and wondered if he should 

change companies, perhaps even 

careers. After a face-to-face consultation 

with Dr. Scheetz, he 

was advised to update his resume 

and devise a career plan, which 

he implemented point-by-point. 

Within the year, his career 

turned in a direction where he 

was able to recapture his passion 

and achieve his career goals. 

“You may pause from time to 

time and wonder if you make a 

difference to all of the students 

and alumni that you help day 

in and day out,” he wrote. “I 

wanted to let you know that 

indeed, you certainly do make a 

difference. Thanks Dr. Scheetz, I 

appreciate your help.” 

Should you need alumni career 

services, please visit www.msualum.com/careers. 

There you can 

see the gamut of career services 

offered to our members. Last year 

we had 3,276 job listings that 

our members could access. 

This year, we already have 

more than 1,000 job listings. 

In addition, last year 677 of 

our members listed resumes 

on the website. Last year we 

critiqued nearly 1,500 resumes. 

“Our service is not a silver bullet, 

but it can help if you put in the 

work,” says Scheetz. “We try to 

help as much as we can. I appreciate 

the positive feedback we receive, 

but with every success story, 

you have an alum who worked 

diligently to do things right.” 

As I said at the outset, use of 

our Alumni Career Services is 

a benefit of membership in the 

MSU Alumni Association. As 

a member, you can post your 

resume in the Resume Database, 

search Job Listings for 

ones matching your interests, 

subscribe for job listings (one or 

multiple-employer categories) so 

you are notified when employers 

post job openings, and post 

a description of your business 

in the Spartan Business Card 

Directory, a new service we’ve 

recently unveiled. 

Employers that use Alumni 

Career Services must register and 

enter a Username and Password. 

Then, they can add, review, edit, 

and delete their own job listings; 

extend or reduce job-listing 

deadlines; search resumes of 

MSU alumni for applicants that 

match their interests; and enter 

job listings using word processing 

formats. When employers 

post job openings, job seekers 

subscribed for job listings in the 

employer category immediately 

receive an email. 

Are You Moving? 

Be Sure to Take the 

MSU Alumni Magazine Along 

Email us at msuaa@msualum.com 


046957070001_40-47.indd 46 

1/30/07 12:48:34 PM

MSUFCU Study Abroad Scholarship recipients pose with members of the 

Board of Directors of the MSU Federal Credit Union 

Congratulations 

to the 2006 recipients of the MSU Federal Credit Union 

Study Abroad Scholarship 

Michigan State University and the Office of Study Abroad are pleased to announce that in 2006, 

108 students have been awarded MSUFCU Study Abroad Scholarships. These scholarships are funded 

in perpetuity by a generous gift from the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and are 

available to all MSU students, regardless of their major. 

In 2006, students from several different colleges including Nursing, Engineering, Agriculture & Natural 

Resources, Business and Education traveled to locations around the world to enhance their educational 

experience at MSU. Students studied such diverse topics as Antarctic System Science in Antarctica; 

Food, Environment and Social Systems in Australia and New Zealand; Forensic Anthropology and 

Human Identification in England; and Food, Nutrition and Health in Tanzania. 

To date, over 175 students have received an MSUFCU Study Abroad Scholarship. 

When fully funded in 2007, over 130 students will benefit from this scholarship annually. 


046957070001_40-47.indd 47 

www msualum com 

Page 55 

1/30/07 12:49:26 PM

STATE’S STARS 

Charles Albright, ’68, and Ralph 

Wallace, ’75, MBA ’80, were both 

elected as International 

Director, Toastmaster 

International 

2005-2007. Albright 

is currently a project 

engineer with Mesa 

Albright 

Associates, Inc., 

Chattanooga, TN. 

Wallace is director of 

information systems 

for the Presbyterian 

Healthcare Services, 

Alburquerque, NM. 

This is the first time 

two MSU graduates 

Wallace 

have served on this board at the same 

time. Toastmasters is a worldwide, 

nonprofit organization with over 

210,000 members in approximately 

100 countries, where members practice 

speeches of all types and develop 

leadership skills. 

Kwasi Adarkwa, Ph. D. ’82, has 

been named vice-chancellor of the 

Kwame Nkrumah 

University of Science 

and Technology 

(KNUST) in Kumasi, 

Ghana. He joined 

the KNUST faculty 

in 1983 and rose to 

full professor in 2001. He has held 

many appointments and chaired 

many committees, including the 

University Printing Press Management 

Committee. He has published 

more than 75 publications. He 

serves as president of the Asante Presbytery 

Men’s Fellowship. In 2006, he 

was named Outstanding Alumni by 

MSU’s College of Social Science. 

Katie Woodruff, ’96, M.A. ’97, 

has been named senior counsel of 

Seyferth Spaulding 

Tennyson Inc., Grand 

Rapids. Since joining 

SST in 2002, 

Woodruff has worked 

in strategic planning, 

brand identity development 

and image management, rising 

to account supervisor. SST is one 

of the midwest’s largest privately held 

public relations firms with offices in 

Grand Rapids and Detroit. 

Kathryn Davis, ’78, assistant vice 

president at Fifth Third Bank, Southfield, 

has been named associate/vice 

president of Plante 

& Moran Corporate 

Finance, Southfield. 

She is a member of 

Inforum and The 

Society of Human 

Resource Management. 

She is a member of the Ralph 

Young Fund’s Spartan Club. 

Velvie Green, Ph. D. ’03, provost and 

executive vice president for academic 

and student affairs 

at Grand Rapids 

Community College, 

has been named 

president of Glendale 

Community College, 

AZ. Green served 

24 years at GRCC in a number of 

positions, including business division 

chair and assistant dean. She also 

taught five years in the Grand Rapids 

Public Schools. She has served on 

the boards of Goodwill Industries 

and the World Affairs Council. 

Rhoda Weiss, ’71, a PR and health 

care executive based in Santa Monica, 

CA, has been named 

chair and CEO of 

the Public Relations 

Society of America, 

the world’s largest 

organization of communications 

professionals 

with 31,000 members. Weiss 

has served PRSA the last five years in 

leadership roles and has won many 

honors, including the Health Academy 

National Lifetime Achievement 

Award. A former Kellogg Foundation 

Fellow, she has taught PR at UCLA 

Extension for two decades. She is the 

founding president of the American 

Hospital Association Society for 

Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. 

She is a Life Member of 


Budi Rochadi, M.A. ’84, has been 

named Deputy Governor of the Bank 

of Indonesia by President 

Susilo Bambang 

Yudhoyono of Indonesia. 

The post is one of 

the nation’s key financial 

posts. 

Edward Liebler, ’62, DVM ’64, 

owner of a veterinary practice at Capital 

City Airport, Lansing, has been 

elected as President Elect for 2006- 

2007 of the American 

Veterinary Medical 

Law Association, and 

as President of the 

association for 2007- 

2008. Liebler was a 

founding member of 

the association and served as its executive 

director for six years. He is currently 

a member of the MSU Alumni 

Association’s national alumni board. 

He is a Life Member of the MSU 

Alumni Association and is a member 

of MSU’s Frank S. Kedzie Society. 

Stephen J. Knoop, ’87, vice president 

of corporate development for RPM 

International, Inc., Medina, OH, has 

been named senior 

vice president for 

corporate development. 

Prior to joining 

RPM, he was an 

associate attorney 

specializing in corporate 

and securities law for Calfee, 

Halter & Griswold. Knopp serves on 

the executive committee of Rainbow 

Babies & Children’s Hospital’s National 

Leadership Council. 

Jeffrey S. Johnson, ’76, boating law 

administrator for Alaska since 1998, 

has been named president 

of the National 

Association of State 

Boating Law Administrators. 

Johnson 

joined the U.S. Forest 

Service in Alaska in 

1976 and in 1981 became a park 

ranger with the Alaska Division of 

Parks and Outdoor Recreation. In 

1991 he managed restoration projects 

in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez 

oil spill. He has received numerous 

awards and commendations for his 

public service. 

Thomas G. Evans, MBA ’66, Ph.D. 

’69, professor emeritus of the University 

of Central Florida, 

has been awarded 

the John L. Lawler 

Award for best article 

published in the Journal 

of Accountancy. 

In Feb. 2005, he coauthored 

an article on “Hedge Fund 

Investing,” which explains the history, 

uses and regulation of these popular 

investment vehicles. Evans is the 

author of a textbook on accounting 

theory and co-author of a textbook 

on international accounting. 

William Sheridan, ’72, a 31-year 

veteran of the auction industry and 

owner of Sheridan 

Realty & Auction 

Co., Mason, has been 

named president of 

the National Auctioneers 

Association, the 

largest professional 

organization for auctioneers with 

more than 6,000 members. Sheridan 

boasts professional designations CAI, 

AARE, CPPA and CES. Last fall he 

appeared on NBC’s Today Show in a 

segment about auctioneering. 

Michael Gay, ’00, manager of the web 

operation of WBBM-TV, a CBSowned 

station in Chicago, 


executive producer of 

digital media content 

for Hearst-Argyle 

Television, Inc., New 

York. Under Gay, 

WBBM’s website grew from 60,000 

to 3.5 million page views per month 

and was named the Edward J. Murrow 

Best Website in the Online News 

Association’s competition. Prior to 

WBBM, he worked on the website for 

San Francisco’s KRON-TV. 

Joel N. Stark, ’67, a small business 

consultant from Warwick, RI, has 

been named treasurer 

of the Board of Trustess 

of The Providence 

Center, a behavioral 

health organization 

that serves 9,800 

patients a year. Stark 

retired in 2001 as senior vice president 

of marketing and development of the 

Providence Journal Company. He 

currently also serves as chair of the 

Finance/Administrative Committee of 

the center. 

Debra E. Spencer, ’91, and Anne 

M. Feighan, ’95, have been named 

senior vice presidents 

at Campbell-Ewald, 

Detroit. Spencer has 

been named management 

supervisor and 

will work with the 

Spencer 

U.S. Postal Service 

account. Prior to 

joining Campbell-Ewald in 1999, 


046957070001_48-51.indd 48 

1/30/07 12:56:21 PM

she was a project 

management supervisor 

at Ross Roy, Inc., 

Bloomfield Hills. 

Feighan has been 

named director account 

planning and 

Feighan 

will handle the Michelin account. 

She was a project manager at Church 

& Dwight, Co., Princeton, NJ. 

Richard W. Myers, ’76, M.S. ’89, 

police chief of Appleton, WI, has been 

named police chief of 

Colorado Springs. He 

assumes leadership of 

an agency with some 

700 sworn officers 

and total employment 

of 1,000, covering an 

area of about 200 square miles. Myers 

previously served as chief in Lisle, IL, 

and Plymouth, MI. Before that he was 

a police officer in Auburn Hills and 

Oak Park, and a Sheriff’s Deputy in 

Oakland County. 

John C. Smythe, ’69, a career banker 

with 40 years of experience and 

president and CEO 

of Capitol National 

Bank, Lansing, has 

been named president 

of Capitol Bancorp’s 

Great Lakes 

Region—which 

includes 17 banks in Michigan, Ohio 

and Indiana. In addition, Smythe 

serves as chairman of the board of 

directors of Amera Mortgage Corporation, 

a mortgage lender owned in 

part by Capitol Bancorp. He serves 

on the board of Sparrow Development, 

Inc., University Corporate 

Research Pak Management Co., and 

Lansing Community College Foundation. 

He is a member of the Ralph 

Young Fund’s Captain Club. 

Sanford B. Ring, ’83, chief operating/business 

development officer 

and executive vice 

president of the 

Michigan Economic 

Development Corp., 


partner of Honigman 

Miller Schwartz and 

Cohn LLP in its Lansing Tax Appeals 

Dept. While at MEDC, he was the 

principal liaison to the Office of the 

Governor. In 1992, Ring was named 

by President George H. W. Bush 

as Chief Legal Advisor of the U.S. 

International Trade Commission in 

Washington DC. 

Richard A. Haan, ’99, an associate 

in the Dallas office of Thompson & 

Knight LLP, received 

the highest score on 

the most recent Texas 

Bar Examination, 

taken by more than 

2,500 law school 

graduates. Haan 

works with the firm’s Real Estate and 

Banking group. Previously, he served 

as an intern in the Michigan Supreme 

Court in 1994 and as an assistant 

director of the MSU Dept. of Athletics 

from 1999-2003. 

Mary Abraham, ’03, Detroit marketing 

coordinator of Decus Communications, 

Auburn Hills, has 

been named client 

strategist. She will 

lead Decus’ strategic 

client relations and 

new business development. 

Prior to 

joining the public 

relations firm she worked in marketing 

and promotions at 96.3 FM in 

Detroit. Before that, she taught writing 

and editing at MSU. In her spare 

time, Abraham is a singer-songwriter 

working on her second CD, and she 

also coaches the Lake Orion varsity 

tennis team. 

J. C. Huizenga, MBA ’76, chairman 

of the Huizenga Manufacturing 

Group, Grand Rapids, 

has won the 2006 

Dutch American 

Heritage Award from 

the Dutch American 

Heritage Foundation, 

Los Angeles, CA. 

Huizenga is a business leader and also 

founder and chairman of National 

Heritage Academies, which operates 

53 charter schools serving more than 

30,000 students in five states. He 

has won many other honors, including 

the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur 

of the Year Award and the Education 

Industry Association’s Boyle Award. 

He is a member of MSU’s Beaumont 

Tower Society. 

Harold Steinberg, ’68, co-owner 

of Reverie Fine Linens & Bath, 

Memphis, TN, has been named 

U.S. senior vice president of B’nai 

B’rith International (BBI), the oldest 

worldwide Jewish organization. He is 

one of BBI’s two U.S. 

senior vice presidents; 

the other, John Rofel, 

’76, is also an MSU 

alumnus. Steinberg 

has been active with 

BBI for more than 30 

years. As chairman of the BBI Center 

for Community Action, he led disaster 

relief campaigns to help the areas 

affected by the Tsunami in 2004 and 

hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. 

Megan Maher-Brennan, ’83, has 

been elected Wayne County Circuit 

Court judge in Michigan’s 

Third Judicial 

Circuit. Brennan 

served as assistant attorney 

general in the 

Labor Division of the 

Michigan Dept. of 

Attorney General since 2003. Before 

that, she was an associate attorney 

with Bodman LLP, Detroit, from 

1989-94 and had a private practice. 

She served as law clerk for the late 

Chief Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley 

of the Michigan Supreme Court 

from 1987-83. 

Errata 

4Carolyn Stieber (Fall 2006, p. 5) 

was MSU’s longest-serving Ombudsman, 

holding the position for 17 years. 

4“The Tulsa Two-Step” (Fall 

2006, pp. 43-45) was excerpted with 

permission from Lynn Henning’s 

new book Spartan Seasons II, which 

is available in bookstores or online at 

www.spartanseasons.com. 

Stella Cash, chairperson of the MSU Alumni Association’s 

national alumni board, was the first member of the MSU 

Federal Credit Union to use its new Coolidge Road drives. 

The MSU Alumni Association congratulates the MSUFCU 

on its newest facility. 

MSU Alumni Association members are eligible to join the 

MSUFCU. For more information, call 800-MSU-4-YOU 

or visit www.msufcu.org. 

-the fi nancial institution of the MSU and OU communities- 

600 E. Crescent, East Lansing, MI 48823 



Page 49 

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OBITUARIES 

1920’s 

Chester I. Hartsell, ’29, of Bangor, 

Nov. 27, age 99. 

1930’s 

Marian L. (Lee) Aylesworth, ’32, of 

Alexandria, VA, Aug. 16, age 94. 

Evelyn (Hardy) Lawford, ’32, of East 

Grand Rapids, Dec. 3, age 94. 

Dorothy L. (Marzke) Paige, ’33, of 

Lansing, Jan. 7, age 96. 

Mildred C. (Peacock) Knudsen, ’35, of 

Escanaba, Dec. 12, age 93. 

Lela (Keener) Arnell, ’36, of East 

Lansing, Sept. 2, age 92. 

Evelyn M. (Hart) Bacon, ’36, of 

Davidson, NC, Oct. 19, age 92. 

Doris E. (Wilson) Nowlin, M ’36, of 

Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 23, age 96. 

Blaine M. Henkel, ’37, of Rockford, 

Sept. 19, age 91. 

David B. Johnson, ’37, of Okemos, 

Dec. 2, age 91. 

Richard B. Pilkinton, ’37, of Washington, 

DC, Oct. 7, age 91. 

Margaret H. (Hotchin) Ross, ’37, of 

East Lansing, Oct. 29, age 91. 

Arnold F. Waterman, ’37, of Grand 

Ledge, Oct. 30, age 92. 

Basil Carclay, DVM ’38, of Redford, 

July 16, age 92. 

Willis H. Bash, M ’39, of Findlay, OH, 

Oct. 4, age 91. 

Harlan W. Collar, ’39, of Westminster, 

CO, July 28, age 88. 

Dorothy Davey, ’39, M ’55, of Iron 

Mountain, Nov. 29, age 90. 

Dorris K. (Moyer) Dolbee, ’39, of 

Kalamazoo, Nov. 9, age 89. 

Charlotte L. (Mason) George, ’39, M 

’66, of Midland, Sept. 19, age 89. 

Mark E. Treadwell, ’39, of 

Westminster, CO, July 23, age 88. 

Robert W. Zant, ’39, of Los Angeles, 

CA, Nov. 7, age 89. 

1940’s 

Donald H. Anderson, ’40, of 

Kalamazoo, Oct. 12, age 89. 

Howard G. Hahn, ’40, of Brant 

Township, Dec. 19, age 91. 

Robert J. Leiphart, Sr., ’40, of Grosse 

Pte. Farms, Oct. 13, age 89. 

William H. Mansfield, ’40, of 

Asheville, NC, Oct. 27, age 88. 

Lester “Dale” D. Sheets, ’40, of Port 

Orange, FL, Oct. 29, age 89. 

Elizabeth B. (Brown) Williams, ’40, of 

Traverse City, Oct. 21, age 88. 

Shirley M. (Crutchfield) Cresswell, ’41, 

of Midland, Nov. 15, age 86. 

William A. Dwight, ’41, of 

Texarkana, TX. 

Leona E. Stunkard, ’41, of Silver 

Springs, MD, Dec. 2, age 86. 

Bernard Goldsmith, DVM ’42, of 

Camarillo, CA, Nov., age 90. 

Donald E. Caswell, DVM ’43, of 

Hillsdale, Dec. 4, age 85. 

Donald “Doc” F. Chapel, DVM ’43, of 

Grass Lake, Oct. 19, age 89. 

Marjorie E. (Clubb) Mayhew, ’43, of 

Traverse City, Sept. 28, age 85. 

Violet (Nelson) Ray, ’44, of Charlotte, 

Oct. 18, age 83. 

William Barclay, ’46, M ’48, of 

Elmhurst, IL, Oct. 13, age 83. 

Doris (Englehardt) Berg, ’46, of 

Hopkins, MN, Nov. 25, age 82. 

Donald W. Herberholz, ’46, of Gold 

River, CA, Dec. 17, age 83. 

William W. Moon, ’46, of Cadillac, 

Nov. 7, age 87. 

John W. Moran, ’46, of Fort Pierce, FL, 

Nov. 9, age 86. 

Lois K. Warner, M ’46, of Salt Lake 

City, UT, Jan., age 87. 

Stephania Winkler, M ’46, of East 

Lansing, Dec. 5, age 85. 

Thomas F. Begley, ’47, of Muskegon, 

Oct. 21, age 84. 

Virginia L. (Chaplin) Burnell, ’47, of 

San Jose, CA, Oct. 5, age 81. 

William R. Greene, ’47, of Traverse 

City, Oct. 11, age 83. 

William A. McCartney, ’47, of Bradenton, 

FL, Jan. 01, age 83. 

Roger B. Merrill, ’47, of Lansing, Sept. 

30, age 86. 

Harold W. Rockwell, Sr., ’47, of 

Midland, Oct. 29, age 84. 

Florence (Trippensee) Sprague, ’47, of 

Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 18, age 81. 

F. Brooks Thomas, ’47, of Marco 

Island, Nov. 28, age 86. 

Grace (Hagen) Aardal, ’48, of Howell, 

Nov. 5, age 81. 

Daniel F. Carlstrom, ’48, of Ocean 

City, NJ, Sept. 11, age 80. 

Doris E. Cornish, ’48, of St. Clair, Dec. 

12, age 81. 

Samuel F. Cryderman, ’48, of 

Okemos, Nov., age 80. 

Matt R. Jukkala, ’48, of Atlantic Mine, 

Dec. 6, age 84. 

Raymond F. Turek, ’48, of Mt. 

Pleasant, Oct. 16, age 84. 

Frank Blackford, ’49, M ’51, of Fountain 

Hills, AZ, Nov. 9, age 87. 

Harold W. Fritz, ’49, of Toms River, 

NJ, Sept. 21, age 88. 

Thomas N. Johnson, M ’49, of 

Baltimore, MD, Sept. 26, age 83. 

Glenn L. Kenney, ’49, of Charlevoix, 

Oct. 28, age 82. 

Carl D. Kerekes, ’49, of Grand Rapids, 

Dec. 12, age 82. 

Stephen Kessler, ’49, of Hoover, AL, 

Jan. 4, age 82. 

Claude E. Lauscher, ’49, of Marquette, 

Sept. 20, age 84. 

Roy W. Malarik, ’49, of Traverse City, 

Oct. 17, age 82. 

Thomas O. Mitchell, ’49, of Muskegon, 

Nov. 10, age 83. 

Barbara (Pullen) Shannon, ’49, of 

Naples, FL, Sept. 28, age 79. 

William G. Vosburgh, Sr., ’49, of West 

Chester, PA, Sept. 21, age 81. 

Lorraine E. (Steelman) Waddell, ’49, 

M ’77, of Northville, Nov. 12, age 79 

Verne A. Warner, M ’49, of Onekams, 

Dec. 21, age 89. 

Roland M. Zwick, ’49, of Jackson, Nov. 

19, age 82. 

1950’s 

Frank J. Banner, ’50, of Middlebury, 

VT, Sept. 25, age 87. 

Sidney H. Beale, ’50, of Palm 

Springs, CA, Dec. 16, age 82. 

Dennis Manko, ’50, of Waterford, 

Oct. 8, age 82. 

Elizabeth K. (Higbie) Orey, ’50, of 

Camden, NJ, Nov. 7, age 78. 

Kenneth P. Wallace, ’50, of Farmington, 

age 80. 

C. Dean Allen, ’51, M ’60, of Blacksburg, 

VA, Aug. 18, age 77. 

Rainer H. Fries, ’51, of Zellwood, 

OH, Oct. 6, age 81. 

J. Harvey Graves, ’51, of Akron, OH, 

Nov. 10, age 77. 

Gordon “Cork” Hendrick, ’51, of 

Jackson, Oct. 21, age 78. 

Frederick F. Brunner, Jr., ’52, of 

Custer, Dec. 8, age 84. 

George “Bud” L. Carr, ’52, of 

Columbus, OH, Nov. 18, age 75. 

Onalee A. (Adams) Detwiler, ’52, of 

Mason, formerly of Caro, Dec. 7, age 81. 

William H. Gallagher, ’52, of Fort 

Myers, FL, Sept. 29, age 77. 

Herbert Liu, M ’52, of Honolulu, 

HI, July 20. 

Russell C. Potter, ’52, of Muskegon, 

Nov. 8, age 77. 

Margaret E. Sours, M ’52, of Big 

Rapids, Dec. 10, age 88. 

Gilbert E. Thomas, ’52, of Pensacola, 

FL, formerly of Alma, Sept. 29, age 78. 

Norman Tufford, ’52, of Munster, 

IN, Oct. 12, age 86. 

Eugene W. Vroman, ’52, of New 

York, NY, age 76. 

Norman H. Walper, ’52, of Naples, 

FL, Nov. 3, age 77. 

Michael S. Wright, Jr., ’52, of 

Jackson, Nov. 7, age 76. 

John F. Flaugher, ’53, M ’75, of 

Jacksonville, FL, Sept. 25, age 76. 

Lamar E. Luce, ’53, of Paw Paw, 

Dec. 3, age 76. 

Robert H. Lundy, M ’53, of Live 

Oak, FL, Nov. 7, age 83. 

John G. Schahfer, ’53, of Longview, 

WA, Sept. 24, age 79. 

Robert E. Tetrick, ’53, of Cathedral 

City, CA, Sept. 8, age 82. 

Warren D. Bailey, M ’54, of 


James R. Blackmore, ’54, of 

Enterprise, AL, Sept. 19, age 75. 

Richard A. Gamelin, ’54, of Alpena, 

Dec. 26, age 74. 

Horace Smith, ’54, of Flint, Oct. 14, 

age 83. 

Wayne S. Blewer, ’55, of Ankeny, IA, 

Sept. 25, age 78. 

Eleanor E. Cuckler, ’55, of Lansing, 

Nov. 2, age 94. 

Andrew H. Gibson, M ’55, of Jamestown, 

NY, Nov. 11, age 90. 

John P. Morris, ’55, of Madison, WI, 

Oct. 8, age 74. 

Joan C. Planutis, ’55, of Bridgman, 

Nov. 13, age 73. 

David J. Davis, ’56, of Jasper, IN, 

June 1, age 76. 

Phillip M. Flora, ’56, DVM ’58, of 

Monticello, IN, Nov. 10, age 78. 

Eugene “Geno” B. Freund, ’56, of 

Traverse City, Dec. 7, age 76. 

Ronald H. McClumpha, ’56, of 

Three Rivers, Oct. 12, age 76. 

George R. Van Buren, ’56, of De- 

Witt, Nov. 28, age 76. 

John H. Wagner, Jr., ’56, of Flint, 

Dec. 19, age 76. 

Donald L. Williams, ’56, of Sterling, 

Dec. 12, age 71. 

John E. Woolley, ’56, M ’65, of 

Clinton Township, Sept. 1, age 74. 

Martin W. Brasher, ’57, of Fort 

Myers, FL, Oct. 1, age 74. 

Lois A. (Cluchey) Caverly, ’57, of 

Burt Township, Nov. 27, age 71. 

Warren G. Fulks, ’57, of Dallas, TX, 

Sept. 27, age 76. 

William Gleason, ’57, M ’62, of 

Beverly Hills, FL, Sept. 21, age 74. 

Danny L. Greenman, ’57, of South 

Haven, Oct. 12, age 71. 

Kenneth Iacovoni, ’57, of San Jose, 

CA, Oct. 19, age 75. 

Clyde K. Stephens, ’57, of Jamestown, 

NY, Nov. 26, age 72. 

Donald L. Thornburg, ’57, of 

Dimondale, Oct. 15, age 72. 

James Wood, ’57, M ’58, of Remus, 

Nov., age 71 

William H. Boutell, ’58, of Bay City, 

Oct. 8, age 72. 

William “Bill” Bryant, ’58, M ’60, 

of Brighton, Sept. 9, age 77. 

George F. Farhat, ’58, of Green 

Valley, AZ, Nov. 14, age 75. 

Lawrence “Larry” A. Field, ’58, of 

Kalamazoo, Sept. 22, age 72. 

Frank Golley, Ph.D. ’58, of Athens, 

GA, Oct. 8, age 76. 

Fredric “Fred” R. Haines, ’58, of 

Traverse City, Dec. 5, age 70. 

Dick P. Hoke, ’58, of Prince George 

County, MD, Sept. 9, age 76. 


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Ronald Rickens, Sr., ’58, of Altoona, 

PA, Dec. 17, age 70. 

Janet (Leaver) Streng, ’58, of Pontiac, 

Oct. 4, age 69. 

James G. Stryker, ’58, of Midland, 

Dec. 4, age 76. 

George W. Ludwig, ’59, of Bluffton, 

IL, Sept. 18, age 69. 

Sylvia F.(Wallace) McGrath, ’59, of 

Nacogdoches, TX, Sept. 1, age 69. 

Thomas Moshimer, ’59, of Canton, 

Nov. 20, age 71. 

1960’s 

Ardys (Waite) Cox, ’60, of Greenwood 

Township, Sept. 2, age 83. 

Robert D. Dunn, M ’60, of Holly, Oct. 

25, age 78. 

James T. Maatsch, ’60, of Charlotte, 

Sept. 2, age 70. 

Richard Benoit, ’60, of Chicago, IL, 

Dec. 22, age 69. 

William R. Stewart, ’60, of Marcellus, 

Oct. 9, age 68. 

Roy C. Berry, ’61, of Marysville, OH, 

Nov. 10, age 68. 

Alfred L. Borgatti, Ph.D. ’61, of East 

Brookfield, MA, Oct. 23, age 78. 

Aldo F. Lonigro, ’61, of Cocoa Beach, 

FL, Nov. 9, age 69. 

Garfield N. Newberry, ’61, M ’67, of 

Flint, Sept. 27, age 75. 

Marguerite (Harvey) Hoffman, M ’62, 

of Kalamazoo, Nov. 18, age 87. 

William “Bill” J. Manley, Jr., ’62, of 

Swartz Creek, Oct. 2, age 71. 

Emile Alhaddad, ’63, of Lansing, Nov. 

12, age 81. 

Virgil “Bub” B. Beld, M ’63, of Jenison, 

Nov. 25, age 90. 

Carol L. (Wangeman) Carson, ’63, of 

East Lansing, Dec. 2, age 66. 

John V. Creyts, Sr., ’63, of South Bend, 

IN, Nov. 5, age 65. 

Thomas C. Derr, ’63, of Coldwater, 

Dec. 26, age 67. 

Pieter E. Geldhof, ’63, of St. Joseph, 

Dec. 16, age 67. 

Robert Kirkey, ’63, of Columbus, OH, 

Nov. 9, age 73. 

J. Terry Moran, ’63, of Englewood, FL, 

Nov. 12, age 65. 

Eric Rikans, ’63, of Grand Haven, Dec. 

2, age 68. 

Steven B. Zamiara, ’63, of Raleigh, 

NC, Dec. 6, age 66. 

George W. Wright, Ph.D. ’64, of 

Fayette, MO, Oct., age 83. 

Henry P. Young, ’64, of Sugar Grove, 

IL, Dec., age 72. 

Sara L. (Oeltjen) Brodhun, ’65, of 

Northville, Oct. 3, age 64. 

Elaine (Hickman) Hurst, Ph.D. ’65, of 

St. Joseph, Sept. 1, age 86. 

Edward D. Keys, ’65, of Harbor 

Springs, Sept. 26, age 65. 



Margaret J. (Campbell) Slingerlend, 

’65, of Portage, Oct. 10, age 92. 

Carmen V. Agnew, ’66, of Columbiaville, 

Nov. 3, age 62. 

Rushton Bancroft, Jr., ’66, of Fremont, 

Nov. 30, age 71. 

Kenneth L. Chapin, M ’66, of Powell, 

OH, Sept. 15, age 83. 

Patricia A. (White) Chriswell, M ’66, 

of Chelsea, Oct. 17, age 72. 

Dennis Dietz, M ’66, of Richland, 

WA, Sept. 18, age 65. 

Marvin Mendyk, ’66, of Harbor 

Springs, Nov. 1, age 63. 

Joseph C. Nozicka, ’66, of Stevensville, 

Oct. 9, age 69. 

Susan K. (Mallison) Swatosh, ’66, of 

Palm Harbor, FL, Sept. 15, age 61. 

Calvin D. Fuller, ’67, M ’73, of Traverse 

City, Nov. 3, age 70. 

Sally Murphy, ’67, M ’76, of Flint, 

Nov., age 69. 

Lynda B. (Preloznik) Wallin, ’67, of 

Harbor Springs, Oct. 25, age 61. 

Jean P. Carl, ’68, of Grand Blanc, Dec. 

11, age 70. 

Joseph R. Deans, M ’68, of Lubbock, 

TX, Oct. 18, age 67. 

Christopher Hogan, ’68, M ’70, of 

Shepherd, Oct. 1, age 59. 

Charles Wright, ’68, of Dryden, Oct. 

4, age 67. 

Bruce K. Henderson, M ’69, of 

DeWitt, Sept. 11, age 70. 

Carol A.(Sarnes) Holzinger, ’69, of 

Bonita Springs, FL, Sept. 16, age 59. 

Alan C. Spillner, ’69, of Cary, IL, Oct. 

28, age 59. 

William G. Youatt, Jr., ’69, M ’72, of 

East Lansing, Oct. 10, age 59. 

1970’s 

Jeanne M. (Kraatz) Alaga, ’70, M ’80, 

of Ovid, Nov. 25, age 58. 

Dennis D. Anderson, ’70, M ’71, of 

Mt. Morris, Oct. 25, age 58. 

James A. Bohn, M ’70, of Petoskey, 

Sept. 6, age 63. 

Mary L. Gibson, ’70, of Charlotte, 

Dec. 29, age 58. 

Carolyn G. Olsen, M ’70, of Hudsonville, 

Oct. 28, age 63. 

George R. Reed, Ph.D. ’70, of Albion, 

Sept. 29, age 84. 

C. Douglas Fix, ’71, of Escanaba, Sept. 

23, age 61. 

David A. Knoll, ’71, of Sanford, Sept., 

age 57. 

Michael J. Panetta, ’71, M ’72 Ph.D. 

’00, of Lansing, Dec. 22, age 57. 

William H. Schnarr, Sr., ’71, of 

Hickory Corners, Oct. 10, age 92. 

Emma L. (West) Sutcliffe, ’71, of 

Plymouth, NH, Sept. 11, age 63. 

Robert P. Tyckoski, ’71, of Coldwater, 

Sept. 27, age 57. 

Christine L. Witherspoon, ’71, of Bay 

City, Oct. 28, age 58. 

Gwen (Halter) Bodine, M ’72, of 

Lansing, Nov. 5, age 84. 

David E. Hieshetter, ’72, of Menominee, 

Oct. 3, age 57. 

Gilbert E. Leslie, M ’72, of St. Paul, 

MN, Aug. 21, age 70. 

Arthur P. Narins, M ’72, of Hendersonville, 

NC, Sept. 25, age 76. 

Larry Baker, ’73, of Kalamazoo, Sept. 

25, age 56. 

Thomas Black, M ’73, of Plainwell, 

Oct. 22, age 60. 

Eugene W. Meyer, Jr., ’73, of Bay City, 

Nov. 22, age 62. 

Bobbby Mitchell, Ph.D. ’73, of East 


Jane U. (Unzicker) Boyd, M ’74, of 

East Lansing, Dec. 17, age 66. 

Norma (Baughan) Fetterolf, ’74, of 

Chelsea, formerly of Williamston, Nov. 

29, age 77. 

Gayl M. Godsell-Styts, ’74, D.O. ’81, of 

Beaver Creek, OH, Sept. 29, age 54. 

Michael Maki, ’74, of Newberry, Oct. 

14, age 57. 

Wallace B. Piper, Ph.D. ’74, of East 


Odessa L. Bogan, ’75, M ’77, of 

Lansing, Sept. 2, age 70. 

Curtis M. Miller, ’75, of Indianapolis, 

IN, Oct. 9, age 52. 

Bruce E. Koenig, ’77, Ph.D. ’92, of 

Williamston, Dec. 24, age 55. 

James R. Young, M ’78, of Kentwood, 

Dec. 6, age 58. 

Rosalyn A. Brown, ’79, of Moncks 

Corner, SC, May 29, age 48. 

Robert M. Lund, ’79, of Wayland, Dec. 

8, age 50. 

Brian J. Muir, ’79, of Evergreen, CO, 

Nov. 12, age 51. 

1980’s 

Jo Ann B. Lowes, ’81, M ’85, of Haslett, 

Nov. 12, age 71. 

Steven Brush, M ’83, of Somerville, 

NY, Nov. 24, age 56. 

Douglas J. Bucher, M ’83, of New 

York, NY, Sept. 27, age 51. 

ADD A LITTLE 

Class 

Richard B. Clark, ’83, of Sturgis, Dec. 

11, age 47. 

Susan E. Brady, ’84, of Marietta, GA, 

Oct. 6, age 44. 

Angela R. Davenport-Scott, ’85, of 

Lansing, Oct. 21, age 47. 

Aaron C. Flannery, ’85, of Williamburg, 

Oct. 15, age 44. 

Jeffrey T. Dorrell, ’87, of Cadillac, 

Sept. 22, age 49. 

Lisa Forest, ’87, of Benton Harbor, June 

17, age 42. 

Julia A. Hoinville, ’87, of East Lansing, 

Nov. 2, age 50. 

Mark R. Gover, M ’89, Ph.D. ’01, of 

Lansing, Oct. 15, age 49. 

Lisa M. Heritz, ’89, of Stevensville, 

Nov. 11, age 39. 

1990’s 

Francesca (Robinson) Moore, ’92, of 

Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Jan. 6, age 42. 

Anthony D. Dixon, ’94, M ’99, of 


Bryan D. Smith, ’94, of Cadillac, Nov. 

30, age 35. 

Stephen R. Coll, ’96, of Warren, Nov. 

8, age 38. 

Gwyneth Royer Cocco, D.O. ’97, of 

Fort Worth, TX, Oct. 20, age 35. 

2000’s 

Heather E. Baker, M ’00, of Owosso, 

Oct. 23, age 35. 

Kris M. Zmitko, ’02, of Owosso, Sept. 

27, age 27. 

Michael J. Lundholm, ’05, of 

Muskegon, Nov. 23, age 23. 

Daniel J. Merens, ’05, of Midland, 

Nov. 28, age 25. 

Parker T. Miller, ’06, of Harrison, 

Nov. 8, age 23. 

Faculty 

Sanford S. Farness, professor emeritus 

of urban planning and landscape 

architecture, 1962-1981, of East 

Lansing, Nov. 7, age 89. 

Arnold Werner, professor emeritus of 

psychiatry, 1969-2002, and former 

State News advice columnist, of East 


TO YOUR LIFE! 

Alumni Lifelong Education EVENING COLLEGE 

Announces the 2007 personal enrichment noncredit programs 

for ALL adults, including alumni, faculty, staff, students and 

community members. 

To receive a brochure call: (517) 355-4562, 

email: evening_college@msualum.com, check online: www.msualum.com, 

or visit 57 Kellogg Center on Campus. 

Alumni Lifelong Education Evening College. A division of the Michigan State University Alumni Association 

Page 51 

046957070001_48-51.indd 51 

2/5/07 10:45:41 AM

LASTINGIMPRESSIONS 

Rendering courtesy of Raymond O’Leary 

Page 52 

Winter 2007 


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MSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE 



PRSRT STD 

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Travel with other Spartans on the MSU Alumni Association sponsored tour 

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mark dantonio - MSU Alumni Association - Michigan State University

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