July 2017
Hands-on learning for teachers
Dallas middle-school teachers launched rockets and kayaked the Trinity River during a new STEM Academy presented by SMU’s Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development with support from the Texas Instruments Foundation and O’Donnell Foundation.
‘Empathy, adaptability and persistence’
Kovan Barzani’s Kurdish-American mother asked him to get two degrees from SMU, “one for you and one for me.” As an undergraduate, he developed a literacy program for refugees, ran a political campaign and surpassed his parents’ expectations by earning three degrees in May.
New aquatics center nears completion
A new chapter in the storied history of SMU’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs will begin this fall with the completion of the new $30 million Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium. The 42,000-square-foot “Nat,” located on the growing East Campus, will be dedicated during Homecoming Weekend.
Student earns international acclaim
SMU statistics Ph.D. student Yu Lan developed a cost-saving method of predicting clinical trial outcomes on the fly, and his paper on the topic won a prestigious international award. As his advisor Daniel Heitjan explains, “He’s the No. 1 clinical trials statistics graduate student in the world.”
Dedman Law’s winning initiative
SMU Dedman School of Law’s Professionalism Initiative has been named a recipient of the national 2017 E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award, presented by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism. The award recognizes exemplary and innovative approaches to experiential learning and professional development.
And the Tony Award goes to …
Congratulations to Michael Aronov ’98, who won a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Featured Role for Oslo, and Andy Blankenbuehler, who attended SMU in 1989 before launching a professional career, for receiving his third Tony as Best Choreographer for the musical Bandstand.
Hoop dreams come true
Two Mustangs made it to the pros in the NBA Draft on June 22: forward Semi Ojeleye ’17 was taken 37th by the Boston Celtics, while guard Sterling Brown ’17 went 46th to the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Another Mustang standout, undrafted forward Ben Moore ’17, signed a free-agent deal with the Indiana Pacers.
Scientist receives prestigious award
SMU chemist Alex Lippert has received a prestigious National Science Foundation Career Award, expected to total $611,000 over five years. The award will fund the researcher’s “glow-stick chemistry” – alternative internal imaging techniques that he describes as “kind of like an MRI, but much cheaper and easier to do.”
Mapping Mustang entrepreneurship
Engineer Josh Taylor ’17 uncovered some hidden gems during his quest to pinpoint the classes, people, programs, organizations and other resources fueling startup spirit on the Hilltop. Coming soon: an interactive version of the campus entrepreneurship map he created as an Engaged Learning Fellow.
Evicted author to visit campus
SMU community members are encouraged to join incoming students in reading Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond, the 2017 Common Reading selection, and attending a program by the author on August 24 at McFarlin Auditorium.
Wanted: your time and expertise
No matter where you live, it’s possible to give back to SMU with the gift of your time. Check out volunteer opportunities, and fill out the Volunteer Interest Form by July 31. Any amount of time you give can have a lasting impact on the University’s legacy.
In case you missed it: July 2017
In case you missed it this month, please enjoy these quick links to cool stories and interesting videos!