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Midweekmemo

Marx Library Reception — Dr. Richard Wood, left, dean of the USA libraries; Carol Ellis, director of the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library; Linda Marx, widow of the late Julien Marx and a member of the Julien E. Marx Foundation Trust; and Dr. John W. Smith, USA acting president, joined more than 100 people recently at a reception to honor the Julien E. Marx Foundation Trust for a $3 million donation to the library. Smith, Dr. Joe Busta, vice president for development and alumni aff airs; and Dr. David Johnson, senior vice president for academic aff airs; spoke on the signifi cance of the gift to the University. Th e library has been re-named to honor the Marx family of Mobile for its support. Of this gift, $1 million will be used for the renovation of the third-fl oor library space, which will house the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, currently located at the USA Springhill campus. Th e remaining $2 million of the gift will be used to establish an endowment for annual support of the Marx Library. Also attending the reception, but not shown, were Bill Youngblood, Earl Hollingshead, Mike McAleer and David Cherniak, all members of the Julien E. Marx Foundation Trust. To date, the Marx Family has contributed nearly $4 million to the University in addition to signifi cant archival materials, including the extensive Julius E. Marx Photographic Collection, which they support through an endowment. Th e library donation is the most signifi cant contribution ever made to the University’s main library.

More than 55,000 Gifts Contributed for 50th Anniversary Campaign

More than 55,000 gifts were made to the University of South Alabama during its three-year 50th Anniversary Campaign, representing widespread support for the University’s mission of teaching, research, public service and health care. During the campaign, 4,123 donors were fi rst-time givers to the University. In addition, an annual employee fundraising eff ort brought in a record $1.04 million in 2012. “Th e 50th Anniversary Campaign was signifi cant not only because of the amount of money raised, but also because of the number of people who stepped up in support of the University of South Alabama,” said Dr. John W. Smith, USA acting president. “We could not be the University we are today, 50 years after our founding, without such strong and widespread support from our alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff . A comprehensive teaching and research university requires private giving in addition to public dollars and we are honored that so many people share USA’s commitment.” Th e 50th Anniversary Campaign began Oct. 1, 2010 and ended Sept. 30, 2013. Th e money raised will support all aspects of the University, including students and student scholarships, faculty, equipment and facilities, health care, academic programs, research, athletics and others. Two groups of volunteers led the outreach eff ort among alumni and business leaders. Th e 50th Anniversary Annual Leadership Council, made up of 72 alumni, committed personal gifts and helped contact fellow alumni for support. Th e 50th Anniversary Business Leaders Circle, comprised of 50 Gulf Coast business leaders, gave to the campaign and encouraged other business leaders to do the same. Th rough these two groups, along with the inauguration of a Jagline

phone-a-thon and use of direct mail, the campaign’s outreach eff orts were unprecedented. Th e resulting 55,429 gifts exceeded the goal of 50,000 by more than 10 percent. “Th e goals of the 50th Anniversary Campaign were to raise 50,000 charitable gifts and to position the University with the broadest possible base of support as it begins another half-century of service in south Alabama,” said Dr. Joseph Busta, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. “In attracting

55,000 gifts over the three-year period, the 50th Anniversary Campaign exceeded its goal and stirred an unprecedented response from alumni, employees and the business community. Consequently, for the 2013 fi scal year, USA has recorded the second largest total of funds raised ever in its history, and the largest total ever outside of a comprehensive campaign. At its 50-year mark, USA is a vibrant, well-supported institution ready to move boldly into the future.” Ann Sirmon, president of the USA National Alumni Association

and a 1987 graduate of the University, expressed pride at the outpouring of support from her fellow alumni. “As this milestone year comes to an end, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the celebration through attendance at our many events, the generous gifts to the 50th Anniversary Annual Fund campaign and membership in the USA National Alumni Association,” she said. “I look forward to the future as we embark on the next 50-plus years!”

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USA Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Awarded “Chapter of Merit” Status

Th e Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society has awarded a “Chapter of Merit” to the University of South Alabama chapter. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. With chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, it initiates about 30,000 new members annually. Phi Kappa Phi members include faculty, professional staff , alumni, graduate students in the top 10 percent of their class, and outstanding undergraduates who have completed at least 24 semester hours. “We are honored to achieve the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter of Merit Award, which recognizes the high level of commitment our faculty and students bring to our society, as well as the longstanding support of the University of South Alabama for our chapter,” said Dr. Brenda Beverly, associate professor of speech and audiology and chapter president. “Th is achievement is particularly gratifying as we work to expand Phi Kappa Phi’s recognition of outstanding students on campus and student involvement in our chapter.” Recently, the local chapter named Dr. Mary Townsley, professor of physiology and internal medicine, associate dean for faculty aff airs and the director of training programs in the Center for Lung Biology, as the 2013 Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, call Dr. Ellen Harrington, associate professor of English, at (251) 460-6146.

Dr. R. Franklin Trimm to Receive ACGME Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award

Dr. R. Franklin Trimm, professor of pediatrics, was recently selected as one of a small group of medical educators from across the United States to receive the Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. Trimm will receive the award at the Annual Education Conference

Dr. R. Franklin Trimm

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• E-mail items to midweekmemo@southalabama.edu and pubrel@southalabama.edu

• Fax to the Offi ce of Public Relations at 460-7827

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• Use the submission form on the calendar page Web site

You can access the calendar atwww.southalabama.edu/usacal/campuscalendar

of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in National Harbor, Md., in February. Th e award, given by ACGME, honors residency program directors who fi nd innovative ways to teach residents and to provide quality health care while remaining connected to the initial impulse to care for others in this environment. “I am humbled and honored to be a recipient of this award, which represents the values that have made being involved in graduate medical education a very rewarding journey,” said Trimm, who has directed the pediatric residency training program at USA for the past 20 years. Parker J. Palmer is the author of the book “Th e Courage to Teach,” and his promotion of the concept of “living divided no more” has proven relevant to teaching in academic health centers. “Th e supportive environment USA has provided me has been vital to my involvement in innovative educational activities and career development that are recognized with this award,”

Trimm said.

Tesla Car Visit — Dr. John Steadman, left, dean of the College of Engineering; and Dr. John Smith, USA acting president; join Richard Ramirez and Khanh Nguyen Bailey, marketing specialists for Alabama Power Co., for a look at the new Tesla Model S electric car. Alabama Power Co. brought the car to the College of Engineering recently for a demonstration of the most advanced technology in electric-powered vehicles. Th e fi ve-passenger sedan has an EPA estimated 90 miles-per-gallon rating and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.

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Dr. Nicolette Holliday Dr. Donna Bennett

As academic physicians associated with Mobile's premier hospital for the care of women and their children, our goal is to provide you with the very best care available.

Our practice provides a wide range of care for women, including infertility, prenatal, and obstetrical care to high-risk obstetrics and advanced gynecologic treatments.

Drs. Donna Bennet and Nicolette Holliday are the most recent additions to our practice that includes: Drs. David Lewis, Susan Baker, Frankie Bodie, John Lafleur, Eric McCathran, Peter Rizk, Craig Sherman, Robert Stauffer, Stephen Varner, Ruth Kennedy, W.H.N.P. and Cynthia Messer, C.N.M.

We invite you to visit us at www.usahealthsystem.com/womens-health to learn more about our physicians. To make an appointment with any of our providers, call (251) 415-1496.

Celebrating Our New Additions

U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h A l a b a m a

Physicians Group

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Editor: Alice Jackson. “Midweek Memo” is published by the Offi ce of Public Relations for University of South Alabama personnel. News should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Visit us at www.southalabama.edu/publicrelations/midweek/

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

CAMPUS CALENDARGot Calendar Info?E-mail items to midweekmemo@southalabama.edu

Monday, November 25, 2013

Th e USA Brass Ensembles Fall Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. It will feature a variety of groups that make up USA’s popular brass chamber music program. It will cover all music styles and periods, including Renaissance, baroque, classical, jazz, and contemporary. Tickets for this Musical Arts Series event will be sold only at the door. General admission will be $8 and $5 for USA faculty, staff , students, youths under age 18 and senior citizens. Only cash or check will be accepted. For more information, or to arrange for special accommodations, call (251) 460-7116, (251) 460-6136, or e-mail Keith Bohnet at kbohnet@southalabama.edu.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Th anksgiving holidays for faculty, staff and administration begin at noon. Employees return to work on Monday, Dec. 2.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Last day of regularly-scheduled classes before fi nal exams for Fall Semester.

Th e USA Holiday Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Mitchell Center. Th is year’s program will celebrate the world’s favorite seasonal music presented by the department of music. Performances will feature faculty soloists and student ensembles, including the USA Concert Choir, USA

Chorale, Wind Ensemble, USA Opera Th eatre, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, a variety of woodwind and brass ensembles, plus the USA Jaguar Marching Band. USA faculty, staff , students and the public are invited to attend the free event. For more information, call Frances Henson at (251) 460-7853, or e-mail fhenson@southalabama.edu.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Winter Commencement begins at 2 p.m. in the Mitchell Center.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Holidays for staff and administration begin.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Staff and administration return to work.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Th e Port City Wine Tasting Event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Legacy Bar & Grill. Proceeds will go to a scholarship for USA freshmen. For more information, contact Jessica Callahan at (251) 460-7259, e-mail jcallahan@southalabama.edu, or visit facebook.com/USAAlumni.

Dr. Mohammad S. AlamHonored for Contributions

Dr. Mohammad S. Alam, chair of electrical and computer engineering, was selected recently as a 2013 Fellow of the Society of Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T). Mohammad was honored for his outstanding contributions in the areas of imaging processing, pattern recognition and high-resolution image reconstruction. Th e award was presented Oct. 2 at NIP29, an international conference on digital printing technologies held in Seattle, Wash. For more than 25 years, NIP has been the leading forum for discussion of advances and new directions in non-impact and digital printing technologies. A comprehensive,

industry-wide conference, the meeting included all aspects of the hardware, materials, software, images, and applications associated with digital printing systems, including drop-on-demand ink jet, wide format ink jet, desktop and continuous ink jet, toner-based electrophotographic printers, production digital printing systems, and thermal printing systems, as well as the engineering capability, optimization, and science involved in these fi elds. Alam has been honored as a fellow by seven professional societies: Institution of Engineering and Technology; Optical Society of America; SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering;

Institute of Physics; IS&T; Institution of Engineers Bangladesh; and Bangladesh Computer Society. Alam received a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He also received a master of science degree from Wayne State University. He earned his doctorate degree at the University of Dayton.

Dr. Mohammad S. Alam