Mr. Jesse Pruitt, '69 Biology, Partner/PrinciPal at cMc - coMMercial realty grouP in dallas, visited the college in aPril to sPeak to students and faculty.

Pictured left to right: dr. lawrence schovanec, interiM dean; dr. John Zak, chair, Biological sciences; Mr. Jesse Pruitt; Ms. eMily Pruitt, daughter, Junior at ttu; and Mr. wendell Jeffreys, develoPMent officer.

Sciences

R o b e R t W . b R o y l e s Rise eaRly, WoRk HaRd, stRike oil

P a u l a H e n R yHonoRing HistoRy, HonoRing fRiends

D R . m a R k s c i o l iHope lives

D R . G u y b a i l e y

a siMPle strategy

2 0 0 9 * t e x a s t e c h u n i v e r s i t y

Arts&

A m e s s A g e f r o m t h e i n t e r i m d e A n

It is with a sense of anticipation and excitement that we publish the inaugural edition of the College of Arts & Sciences magazine. The college stands at the center of the academic life of Texas Tech University. It contributes to the many successes of our university by virtue of our teaching and research, as well as through the relationships we build with alumni. Our magazine reflects our view of the breadth and excellence of the college, as well as a sense of the community that defines Arts & Sciences.

Change is currently very much an operative term at Texas Tech University and in our college. Dr. Guy Bailey is concluding his first year as President,

and Provost Bob Smith joined the TTU faculty last spring. We’re pleased that both have their academic homes in Arts & Sciences, and each is featured in our magazine. Dean Emeritus Jane Winer had an extraordinary tenure of seventeen years as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and now serves the university as Special Assistant to the President.

Under the leadership of Chancellor Kent Hance and President Bailey, Texas Tech is moving forward on several fronts to achieve performance goals that will enhance Texas Tech’s status as a national research university. In the most recent session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 51, which provides a framework of funding opportunities for the seven Texas universities classified as "emerging research universities"—including Texas Tech—to gain Tier 1 status. Strategic planning efforts initiated during this past summer under the direction of Provost Smith will set a course for our university that will support efforts to grow enrollment and research while ensuring the academic quality that will position Texas Tech to benefit from the opportunities presented by HB 51. One thing is certain: the College of Arts & Sciences will play a critical role in Texas Tech’s progress in growing student enrollment, research and prestige.

Benefits of serving in the Dean's office include the special vantage point it provides for observing the diversity and excellence of our faculty's creative activity and research, and the opportunity to meet inspiring alumni. We hope you enjoy reading about the distinguished career of Horn Professor of Biology, Dr. Robert Baker, and his research on mobile DNA and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The College of Arts & Sciences is home to several jour-nals that bring international acclaim to our university by virtue of their quality and world-wide readership. We are pleased to highlight two faculty who play an instrumental role in this effort, Horn Professor of Spanish, Dr. Janet Perez and Associate Professor of Creative Writing in the Department of English, Dr. Jill Patterson. I never cease to be amazed by the success and personal qualities of the alumni I meet. We appreciate the opportunity to share the stories on Robert Broyles, James and Paula Henry and Dr. Mark Scioli.

The message of the College of Arts & Sciences is one of excellence, and this magazine is only a part of our efforts to tell that story while reaching out to our alumni. We want to keep in touch with you as Texas Tech moves forward in these exciting times. I hope that as you read this magazine, you’ll reflect on the impact that Arts & Sciences had on your college experience and your life.

Let us know what you think of our magazine as well as our programs and goals. It’s im-portant to us that you, our alumni and friends, remain involved in our mission and future.

editors

Emily PhillipsAngela Eaton

Jane Bell

coordinator

Mark Hartsfield

design

Richelle DetrixheHartsfield Design

writers

Danette Baker Randy Christian

Shannon KirklandMona Nuckolls

Amy Ann Rasberry

PhotograPhy

Neal HinkleTonja Hagy

Kevin BrownArtie Limmer

Joey Hernandez

Printer

Crafstman Printers

interiM dean

Dr. Lawrence Schovanec

develoPMent

Wendell JeffreysEmily Phillips

Chris Chapman

adMinistrative staff

Earthlene SimmonsConnie CoffinFlorence Ruiz

This publication was made possible by the generous donations of alumni and

friends of the College of Arts & Sciences.

cover Photo By neal hinkle.

d r . l a w r e n c e s c h o va n e c

Meet your new A&S DevelopMent teAM:

Wendell Jeffreys, emily phillips, and chris chapman

help us educate the next generation

of red raiders

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p r e s i d e n t g u y b a i l e y 2

p r o v o s t r o b e r t v. s m i t h 4

f a c u lt y * a l u m n i

d r . r o b e r t b a k e r 6

r o b e r t w . b r o y l e s 9

d r . J i l l p at t e r s o n 1 2

d r . J a n e t p e r e z 1 5

d r . m a r k s c i o l i 1 6

p a u l a h e n r y 1 9

D e p a r t m e n t s

b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e s 2 2

c h e m i s t r y & b i o c h e m i s t r y 2 2

c l a s s i c a l & m o d e r n l a n g u a g e s & l i t e r at u r e s 2 3

c o m m u n i c at i o n s t u d i e s 2 3

e c o n o m i c s & g e o g r a p h y 2 4

e n g l i s h 2 4

e n v i r o n m e n ta l t o x i c o l o g y 2 4

g e o s c i e n c e s 2 5

h e a lt h , e x e r c i s e & s p o r t s c i e n c e s 2 5

h i s t o r y 2 5

m at h e m at i c s & s tat i s t i c s 2 6

p h i l o s o p h y 2 6

p h y s i c s 2 7

p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e 2 8

p s y c h o l o g y 2 8

s o c i o l o g y, a n t h r o p o l o g y, & s o c i a l w o r k 2 9

a r t s & s c i e n c e s e v e n t s 3 0

a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s 3 2

9*robert w. broyles

16*dr. mark scioli

12*dr. jill patterson

6*dr. robert baker

19*paula henry

Sciences2 0 0 9 * t e x a s t e c h u n i v e r s i t y

Arts&

2 * 2009

Not long ago, Dr. Guy Bailey, the newest president of Texas Tech University, was asked, “What did

you do to become a university president? What was your strategy?”

Bailey’s answer was anything but ordinary. Once you have the pleasure of hearing his story, you realize it’s a perfect reflection of this Alabama man's inquisitive mind and gentle spirit.

Bailey’s answer was, “I’ve really never had a strategy. For most of my life, when a door of opportunity opened, I walked through it. When I look back, there aren’t many I passed on.”

The first door to open was at the University of Alabama where he received a degree in English. There he encountered several inspiring teachers who heightened his desire to learn more, which led to the completion of his master’s degree. The next door to open was the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in English and Linguistics. After Tennessee, it was on to Emory University and postdoctoral work. While there, another door opened for Bailey. Little did he know that this door, which led to field research work, would change his life forever.

“At Emory, doing field research, I learned how to write grant proposals. I was pretty good at it,” Bailey said. “When

I moved to Texas A&M, grant writing came in handy and helped fund much of my work. Most of the money I received came from the National Science Foundation or National Geographic Society. It allowed me to do the kind of work that could make a real contribution to my field of study.”

While at Texas A&M, his grant writing skills again paid big dividends and opened yet another door, this time leading to a small rural Texas town nicknamed Spring-ville, not too far from College Station. Its population was primarily African-Ameri-can. There Bailey honed his listening skills and advanced social linguistic research.

“The first time we drove into Springville, I thought ‘this is just like the rural Deep South. This could be a town in Alabama where I grew up,’” Bailey said.

The work began in 1986, when Bailey and his students drove into town. Their intent was to listen and learn how and why the language of Springville has evolved from one generation to the next. To get the research ball rolling, they had to find ways to engage the “locals” in conversation ... get them to talk.

Like most rural Texas towns, it had a school, but with only 63 students. Of course, there was a post office and the quintessential general store. Its big, friendly, inviting porch was, without

question, the center of Springville’s social universe. It was the perfect place to chat with the “locals,” so quickly it became a linguist’s field laboratory. Day after day, Bailey would sit on the porch and share conversation – and often an ice-cold soft drink – with whomever might pull up a chair. Many of these conversations became part of the 2005 PBS television special, “Do You Speak American?” During the program Bailey can be seen sitting on that porch talking to Springville folks as if he’d known them all his life. The Alabama man felt right at home.

For the next 18 years, members of the research team returned to listen and learn if societal evolution had made an impact on the speech and culture of Springville. Unfortunately, in 2004, the store shut its doors, but the post office still “carries the mail.” The little school still thrives, thanks in part to the attendance of children from neighboring communities.

“It’s very hard to predict how things will work out. I’d like to find time to go back there some day,” Bailey said.

When the president’s door opened at Texas Tech University, Bailey was very interested in walking through it for a variety of reasons. One sentimental reason: it would be a homecoming for his wife, Dr. Jan Til-lery. She is a graduate of Monterey High and

Being a well-schooled researcher, he knew the first order of business: listen, learn and

analyze. So he began doing what he’s done hundreds of times before – field research –

this time as President of Texas Tech University.

Written by randy christian

Walk Through Every Door of OpportunityA S i m p l e S t r A t e g y :

“I’ve really

never had

a strategy.

For most of

my life, when

a door of

opportunity

opened,

I walked

through it.

When I look

back, there

aren’t many

I passed on.”

Texas Tech. Her father, Clarence “Tim” Tillery, played football for Tech from 1939 to 1941, and her mother graduated from Texas Tech in 1947. Needless to say, Dr. Tillery gave the move an immediate “thumbs-up.”

As well as being a thoughtful spouse, Bailey is the type of person who quickly reasoned a move to his wife’s hometown would be an opportunity to help open new doors for a young, dynamic university — a university on the verge of becoming a Tier-1 national research institution and a major player in the world of higher education. His quest to achieve Tier-1 status began the moment he walked through his new office door. Being a well-schooled researcher, he knew the first order of business: listen, learn and analyze. So he began doing what he’s done hundreds of times before – field research–this time as President of Texas Tech University.

“A significant part of my job as president is exactly like what I did as a faculty member,” Bailey said. “We often forget to bring those same skills to our administrative jobs.”

Using those skills, Bailey and his Texas Tech team learned what needs to be done to become a Tier-1school. Now he’s sharing that information with people, both on and off campus. One thing is for sure: becoming a national research institution will not only benefit Texas Tech, but also the Lubbock and West Texas economy.

Many of the benefits of Tier-1 status are blindingly obvious. One that isn’t—the increased value of a degree from Texas Tech. Bailey has seen it happen at other universities. When a university’s esteem and prestige grows, its degrees also grow in esteem and prestige, no matter how long ago you received your diploma.

Not unlike Springville, Bailey’s work today is destined to affect generations of Texas Techsans both past and present, and into the future. Not bad for someone who simply walked through every door of opportunity that came his way. Now, it’s his turn to open doors for young, bright minds eager to come to Texas Tech. Some may call that a heck of a strategy. We call it being presidential.

dr. guy Baileypresident - texas tech university

arts & sciences * 3

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Building a

Yellow Brick Road for Texas Tech

A lot of us grew up watching “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a wonderful movie I’ve watched year after year. But never did I catch the many lessons of life revealed

as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion traveled the Yellow Brick Road until I met Dr. Bob Smith, Texas Tech’s newest provost. Once you have had the privilege of listening to this modern-day polymath’s study of the “The Wizard of Oz” and its creator, L. Frank Baum, those simple yet meaningful lessons laced throughout the movie and book become as brilliant as Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers — lessons Smith loves to share with those he encounters along his Yellow Brick Road.

Robert V. Smith grew up on Long Island, New York,

graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and then journeyed to the University of Michigan for his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Since then, Smith’s “yellow brick road” has taken him to Iowa, Texas, Washington, Con-necticut, Arkansas and now, back to Texas and Texas Tech. All along the way Smith, a man who truly believes life is about continuous learning, has absorbed a wealth of knowl-edge regarding what it takes to engage the hearts and minds of students both young and old. He is passionate about helping them discover the joy that comes from a life filled with ad-venture, discovery and endless learning. Fortunately for us, he brought that passion to Texas Tech.

dr. roBert V. smithprovost – texas tech university

4 * 2009

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“Whoever sits in the provost’s chair has an incredible opportunity to do something significant,” Smith said. “Making contri-butions to the academic fu-ture of this university is very, very exciting. I feel fortunate to be here at Texas Tech.”

He appreciates the history and accomplishments of Texas Tech, but he is well aware that to achieve an even higher level of academic strength and prestige, there is much work to be done. It is his belief that if “some new and exciting pieces are put in place” it will not take long for people everywhere to think of Texas Tech in a whole new light. Smith, like many others, feels Tech is on the right road and headed in a direction that will reap benefits beyond one’s imagination. But the journey to the “Emerald City” of academic superiority is challenging and, along the way, a variety of “flying monkeys” are often encountered. That’s why, like Dorothy, it’s wise to travel with courageous, thoughtful and compassionate partners who share the same vision.

“We want to be, and can be, a Tier-1 national research university. To get there we must grow and develop, but grow smartly, while also emphasizing graduate education and research productivity,” Smith said.

To become a national research univer-sity is a major challenge, but this isn’t the first time Smith has been a part of such a challenge. While at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), he served

as executive secretary for the “2010 Commission.” Its primary mission: make the case why research is important to the economic future of Arkansas and, secondarily, to communicate to its citizens the benefits of a nationally competitive research university.

“Just look what happened to the state of North Carolina,” Smith said. “Many years ago their governor had a dream of mak-ing his state a world-class research center. Now, what once was a sleepy little place is an internationally recognized research tri-angle made up of several universities. That dream is now a reality and has made a huge difference in the region’s economy and in the lives of North Carolinians.”

Texas Tech has a similar dream, but for it to become reality, careful planning is a must. Currently, Smith heads a strategic planning council, and one of its tasks is

to communicate what changes should take place in order for Texas Tech to continue traveling toward an exciting and dynamic future. The ultimate goal is to create a learning place designed to enhance the lives of students, faculty, staff and the communities the university serves.

Yes, Texas Tech is in vigorous pursuit of national research status and more graduate students, but Smith is also quick to point out the value of under-

graduate education. “The truth is some universities have

lost sight of undergraduate education. But if you look at all the great research universities, they also have wonderful undergraduate programs,” Smith said. “Texas Tech has an exceptional reputation for undergraduate education. We have some very imaginative plans to attract bright young students who would like to begin their academic journey with us.”

For many young people their life’s journey begins, in earnest, with their first step onto a college campus. It’s the beginning of their own personal yellow brick road, where they, too, are sure to encounter unique people from faraway places and with assorted points of view. Hopefully, like Dorothy, they are always respectful, courteous and never lose their love for home and family.

“'Oz’ forces us to think about elements of life such as learning, loving, serving and understanding in an integrated way,” says Smith. “When we think about bringing those aspects of our lives together, we not only enrich our own lives, we become empowered to do more to enrich the lives of others. It’s what life is all about.”

Texas Tech is very fortunate to have a man like Dr. Smith sitting in the provost’s chair. His academic accomplishments are obvious, but what sets him apart are the things he has learned and is willing to share about what it takes to live a fully engaged life.

Under Dr. Smith’s guidance, Texas Tech’s Yellow Brick Road is sure to take us on a lifelong-learning adventure all would enjoy ... even Toto.

For many young people their

li fe’s journey begins, in earnest, with their

f i r s t s t e p onto a college campus.

It’s the beginning of their own personal yellow brick road,

where they, too, are sure to encounter

unique people from f a r aw ay p l a c e s and

with as sort ed p o i n t s o f v i e w .

“Texas Tech has an exceptional reputation

for undergraduate programs.

We have some very i m a g i n at i v e p l a n s to attract

bright young students who would like to begin their

academic journey with us.”

Written by randy christian

arts & sciences * 5

Kind another of Pool:

Dr. robert baker StuDieS the Gene pool, Dna effectS

on environment

Kind another of Pool:

dr. roBert Bakerhorn professor in the department

of biological sciences

Written by randy christianphoto illustration by neil hinkle

6 * 2009

Since 1976, Dr. Robert Baker, Paul Whitfield Horn professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University, has been teaching young, bright male and female mammals about the world in which they live. He brings to the classroom his experience of traveling the world capturing, collecting and archiving information about crea-tures large and small. As a mammalogist, his primary focus has been all types of mammals. At the core of his lifelong pursuit is his fascination with life on planet Earth – past, present and future. It’s this passion that has inspired many young college students to spend less time thinking about the new leisure pool at the Texas Tech Rec Center and a little more time studying the gene pool.

Baker has witnessed first-hand how humans, as well as nature itself, have impacted our world, both positively and negatively. He also understands, better than most, the value of science and the work of dedicated scientists as they seek to discover what makes creatures large and small “tick.” The relentless curiosity of dedicated scientists such as Baker can produce enormous positive impacts on our world, including uncovering threads leading to potential remedies for diseases that have plagued human beings for hundreds of years.

Of significant interest to Baker is mobile, or parasitic, DNA. He created a method to label this biological renegade that replicates itself and travels in search of places to land. Thanks to Baker’s research, we now know mobile DNA especially likes to land on X chromosomes. There’s more to be learned. If mobile DNA lands in the wrong place, bad things, such as cancer and birth defects, can happen. Fortu-nately, good things can happen. Mobile DNA can increase variation in a population. For example, mobile DNA is at-tributed to the large variation in the color and taste of corn. The trick is to control how long and when the characteristics of the mobile DNA genes are expressed on chromosomes.

Baker also researches DNA modifications at the most disastrous nuclear site on earth: Chernobyl. The Chernobyl disaster happened on April 26, 1986, at 1:23 a.m. in the Ukrainian region of what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The No. 4 nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl power plant exploded. Two people were instantly killed. More explosions occurred, and a plume of highly radioactive fallout was launched into the air, floating and eventually landing on Eastern, Western and Northern Europe, parts of Ireland, and the Eastern United States. More than 300,000 people were evacuated from the communities surrounding Chernobyl. Four times more radioactive fallout was released that day than the day the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The fear of how this unprecedented disaster might impact people and the environment of the region for generations to come was uncertain. As was customary at that time, the Soviets kept a lid on Chernobyl and little was known outside this secre-tive society, other than it was now completely absent of humans. The Chernobyl incident was literally cloaked in secrecy and speculation. Were there now three-headed rats, mutant deer and giant deranged bears because of the fallout? Or, had the high doses of radioactivity killed everything … forever? The world was waiting for answers.

Since 1994, Baker and a team of researchers from Texas Tech University have traveled to Chernobyl more than 15 times to study the effects the radioactive fallout has had on the region’s animal life. Over the years, Baker and his team have collected more than 3,000 specimens, making Texas Tech one of the world’s foremost repositories of informa-tion regarding animal life in post-disaster Chernobyl. What Baker and his Texas Tech colleagues discovered was quite surprising to many, but not to Baker. The long term effect of the radioactive fallout on animal life appears to be minimal. Today, species of all types are flourishing. No animals seem to

arts & sciences * 7

of significant interest to Baker is

mobile, or parasitic, dnA. He created

a method to label this biological

renegade that replicates itself and

travels in search of places to land.

8 * 2009

be encountering reproductive difficulties; in fact, several are being challenged due to over-population.

“If you go to Chernobyl to-day, you’ll see more moose, roe deer, black storks and other animals than outside of the Chernobyl area,” Baker said. “We simply cannot find that the accident has been as bad as many people would like to make it out to be. The evidence is just not there. The primary reason animal life is flourishing in this region is not because of what happened in 1986 but because the region has been absent of man.”

The tragedy at Chernobyl has created a one-of-a-kind “enviro-lab” that continues to produce valuable informa-tion immensely relevant to the nuclear world we live in today. That information gleaned from scientists like Dr. Baker and colleagues, for whatever reasons, is seldom included in the great debates that rage among leaders of our land. Baker would probably agree the work of scientists should be included in important global dialogues wherever in the world they might take place.

In addition to his invaluable samples of DNA from Chernobyl, Baker has spearheaded the collection of DNA samples at the Natural Science Research Lab (NSRL) at the Museum of Texas Tech University. Established in 1962 by Robert Packard with more than 350 specimens of mammals, today the NSRL consists of nearly 110,000 specimens from all over the world. “The tissues of the specimens are used by students as if it were an entire set of encyclopedia,” Baker said. “Each is filled with genetic informa-tion that can unlock the mysteries of that specific specie and often unveils the beginning of something that might ultimately benefit man.” One example is Baker’s study of vampire bats. It was discov-ered that their saliva contains an anticoagulant. Today the protein found in the saliva of that particular specie of bat is being used to treat heart attack and stroke victims and is saving lives.

There is another area where Baker watches the interplay of life and DNA: he breeds Golden Retriev-ers. He has been a breeder for more than 35 years and has seen how selective breeding impacts them. Like the mammals Baker has studied, the “Goldens” have their own unique genetic make-up that makes them what and who they are. But genetics also maps the unique characteristics of every animal and its ability to survive, adapt and learn.

Baker’s young golden retriever Puc is no excep-tion. The newly trained Puc accompanied Baker on a trip to the family ranch. Puc was told to sit and stay close to the truck and not bother the cattle. After walking several hundred yards away from Puc and the truck, Baker saw his dog romp-ing through the mesquite. Ignoring Puc, Dr. Baker re-

turned to his work with the cattle. When he returned to the truck, there was Puc sitting in the exact location where he was told to stay. Puc acted as if he’d been sitting in that spot all day. Never once did he give the slightest hint of his disobedience.

“Not only was Puc smart enough to go watch what we were doing, but he was smart enough to cover his act of disobedience by acting like nothing happened,” Baker said. “That’s pretty sophisticated behavior.”

Puc’s intelligence may or may not make him the best choice for breeding and advancing his specie. He is, however, a perfect example of why unique, complex animals of all types fascinate scientists like Dr. Robert Baker. Hopefully, a few new college mammals will join Baker as he continues to dig deeper into the ever-changing world in which we live.

"We simply cannot

find that the accident

(Chernobyl) has been as

bad as many people would

like to make it out to be.

The evidence is just not

there. The primary reason

animal life is flourishing in

this region is not because

of what happened in 1986

but because the region has

been absent of man."