Campus & Community

Once a member of UT’s track team, Richards-Ross is now an Olympic gold medal-winning runner and a proud Texas Ex. In her speech, she detailed her long, and often bumpy, road to success and encouraged the graduating class to persevere — something that, she believes, shouldn’t be too difficult for UT grads. “In our weight room it says, ‘The winning tradition of the Texas Longhorns will not be entrusted to the weak or timid,’” Richards-Ross said to the crowd. “I would dare say that isn’t just a slogan used to motivate athletes — it’s a slogan that truly represents the spirit of all Longhorns.” And it’s that Longhorn spirit that truly threads the Class of 2013 together. When he took to the podium, President Bill Powers explained that this year’s graduates came from 66 countries, 48 states and 158 Texas counties, and each had a very different path that led him or her to the Forty Acres.

Singing “The Eyes of Texas” and holding their horns up high, hundreds of Longhorns stood beneath the glowing Tower this weekend, watching the bursting technicolor fireworks that signaled the end of their time at UT through misty eyes. The 130th Spring Commencement of The University of Texas at Austin was a bittersweet moment for the 8,358 students receiving their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Following two days of individual recognition by UT’s colleges and schools, the university-wide ceremony — held in the Main Mall on Saturday evening — marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

Post-doctoral researcher Kevin Lee demonstrates a technique that reduces harmful affects on marine life from underwater noise created by industrial activities like oil drilling.

For the past few years astronomer Don Winget has been using the Z Machine, the world’s largest x-ray generator, to create white dwarf “star stuff” here on earth. When he put a photograph of the Z Machine up on the projector, in his Astronomy 301 course, it inspired fine arts student Leah Flippen to begin a painting of the same name. In this video Winget and Flippen talk about the machine, the painting, and the interplay between science and art. Sandia National Laboratories is considering buying the painting, to be hung right outside the actual machine. Music: Johannes Brahms, String Sextet I Op. 18 B flat – “Andante ma moderato.” Live at the Ratner Museum, March 22, 2005. Sally McLain, violin, David Teie, cello, Carl Banner, piano. Washington Musica Viva. Creative Commons license. The OO-Ray, “Silhouettes.” Creative Commons license.

A chance investigation in Guatemala City in 2005 led to the discovery of millions of administrative police documents dating from 1882 to 1996. The Guatemalan government and police had long denied their existence, particularly during truth commission investigations by both the United Nations and the Catholic Church in the 1990s, during the final years of the country's nearly four decades of armed civil conflict. The University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with the Historical Archive of the National Police of Guatemala, or the Archivo Histórico de la Policía Nacional (AHPN), recently unveiled a university-hosted digital archive that will serve as an online digital repository for millions of documents from the archive.

Gerre Hancock, a celebrated concert organist, choral director and professor of sacred music at the university, and the Bates Recital Hall's magnificent Visser-Rowland Tracker Organ on the UT campus are the true stars of this video. Hancock, described as a legend in his own time, by Glenn Chandler, director of the Butler School of Music, passed away on Jan. 21 due to cardiac arrest. He was 77. In this video, which debuted on the Longhorn Network, audiences get a sample of the passion Hancock brought to his music and teaching.

Dr. Lauren Ancel Meyers is a mathematical biologist who develops new computational methods for studying the spread and control of infectious diseases in humans and wildlife. She works with public health agencies throughout the world, including the Texas Department of State Health Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to develop effective surveillance and intervention strategies for influenza and other diseases.

Twice a year people of all ages are invited to bring natural objects such as fossils, rocks, gems and bones and cultural artifacts such as arrowheads to Identification Day at the university's Texas Memorial Museum. Experts in paleontology, geology and anthropology explain what each object is, how it was formed and about how old it is. The stories that emerge are often surprising. It's sort of like Antiques Roadshow, says Pamela Owen, senior paleontology educator at the Texas Natural Science Center and chief organizer of the event. We tell you all about them. We don't do monetary appraisals, but it's just as much fun, just as much excitement, because you never know what people are going to bring in.

Exciting new findings in UT’s neurobiology labs suggest that rapamycin, an FDA-approved immunosuppressant used to control organ rejection in transplant patients, may be an effective therapy for Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and even autism. Now a UT team led by Professor Kim Raab-Graham of the College of Natural Sciences’ Center for Learning and Memory is searching for an equivalent drug that can deliver the benefit without the side effects.

In this video from NPR’s Science Friday, UT paleontologist Tim Rowe describes his non-invasive technique for looking inside the skulls of dinosaurs by creating hundreds of digital slices. Digital morphology uses high-resolution X-ray computed tomography to create spectacular imagery and animations of biological specimens. With this technology scientists at the university can see what a dinosaur’s brain looked like or examine the famous hominid “Lucy” without touching the fossil. This video was produced by Flora Lichtman for Science Friday.

Next-generation genome analysis technology enables biologist Christopher Sullivan to study how viruses replicate and cause tumors in new ways. Sullivan is an assistant professor in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. His lab studies how viruses interact with the host RNAi machineries to replicate, induce tumors, and cause pathogenesis.

Inspired by the paper-folding art of origami, chemists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3-D paper sensor that may be able to test for diseases such as malaria and HIV for less than 10 cents a pop. Such low-cost, “point-of-care” sensors could be incredibly useful in the developing world, where the resources often don’t exist to pay for lab-based tests, and where, even if the money is available, the infrastructure often doesn’t exist to transport biological samples to the lab. “This is about medicine for everybody,” says Richard Crooks, the Robert A. Welch Professor of Chemistry. One-dimensional paper sensors, such as those used in pregnancy tests, are already common but have limitations. The folded, 3-D sensors, developed by Crooks and doctoral student Hong Liu, can test for more substances in a smaller surface area and provide results for more complex tests.

The history of how red imported fire ants came to North America has a destructive end. Every year the non-native ants cause more than $1 billion of impact in Texas alone. In this video, learn what innovative scientists at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (BFL) are doing to combat this destructive invasive species, under the guidance of Larry Gilbert, BFL director and professor of integrative biology.

About 8,000 students graduated from The University of Texas at Austin at the 129th spring commencement. Watch highlights from the ceremony with the fireworks as the grand finale.

In this video celebrating the remarkable achievements of the class of 2012, graduating students Anustubh Agnihotri, Shannon Allport, Eduardo Chavez, Kelly Moynihan and Natasha Verma describe how their academic experiences inspired them to pursue their passions in research and education.

Third-year neurobiology major Da’Marcus Baymon studies statistics and its role in the sciences. His goal is to attend medical school upon graduation. Accompanied by his own singing voice, Baymon reflects on his time here at the university.

Cello performance doctoral student Leanne Zacharias brings the audience closer while performing her final recital.

Plan II Honors, Government and Communication Studies major Natalie Butler talks about her experience in Plan II classes and how she makes a large campus feel smaller by getting involved in engaging clubs and organizations. Butler is the 2011-12 Student Government president.

In the spirit of health literacy, Michael Mackert challenges communication students to creatively advertise issues of public wellness.

Kenyan-born business student John Kidenda explains why he believes in the for-profit model of social entrepreneurship over the nonprofit model of world aid. John and a group of other students from The University of Texas at Austin have formed a team called "Nutty Solutions" and created a business proposal to sell gourmet peanut butter in order to provide RUTF (ready-to-use therapeutic food) to the developing world.

When she's not teaching marketing to students at the McCombs School of Business, Dr. Kate Mackie cares for sick and injured horses. In this installment of the Longhorn ID video series, Mackie shares her passion for teaching and mentoring successful students on the path to a meaningful career.

Adam Fivenson joined the Peace Corps “for the experience of getting to be a part of a foreign culture, learn a language and really help people to improve their lives.” To fulfill his Peace Corps assignment, Fivenson lives and works in a poor district of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. He works with a local computer school, teaching kids professional computer skills, developing new educational programs and improving administrative practices. His work requires him to travel to some remote corners of the country, where electricity is seldom available and Internet access unpredictable. Despite these electronic difficulties, Adam was able to complete two self-paced online courses from University Extension (UEX). Fivenson took Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Macroeconomics through UEX to deepen his understanding of the economic challenges faced by the residents of Santo Domingo and to help him prepare for graduate school. The flexibility of a UEX self-paced online course was a convenient option for Fivenson. He was able to do his reading and assignments offline and then submit them when he had electricity and Internet access. Fivenson says, “I worked on my class on top of a mountain, hiking through a valley, packed in between five people on a bus, while doing medical translation on the Haitian border and even laid out on remote tropical beaches.” When Fivenson finishes his two-year service commitment, he is interested in pursuing a master’s in international affairs or public policy. The specific programs that he is considering recommend taking economics courses before applying. In addition, Fivenson has always had an interest in economic news. After taking microeconomics, he has a greater understanding of the information presented in economic reports. He explains, “Now when I read such news, I can develop an opinion of my own.” Fivenson, who earned his undergraduate degree in communications at the University of Michigan, is making the most of his time in the Peace Corps by preparing for graduate school while living and working abroad. Fivenson’s experience is preparing him for a future career in diplomacy. He says, “The Peace Corps is the best internship out there for careers in international affairs.”

From 1962 to 1981, “CBS Evening News” anchor Walter Cronkite covered many of the pivotal events of the 20th century – including the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the first moon landing and Watergate – and eventually became known as “the most trusted man in America.” But before he earned this title, he studied at the university. To honor his legacy, the College of Communication dedicated the Walter Cronkite Plaza on April 19. The dedication activities included the unveiling of “And That’s the Way It Is,” an art installation by renowned new media artist Ben Rubin.

Intelligence and smart thinking are not the same. In fact, science confirms that smart thinking is not an innate quality but rather a skill to be cultivated. Drawing on diverse studies of the mind, from psychology to linguistics, philosophy and learning science, Markman will demonstrate the difference between smart thinking and raw intelligence, showing how memory works, how to learn effectively and how to use knowledge to get things done. About Art Markman Art Markman is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing in the Department of Psychology. A leader in cognitive psychology, Markman’s research examines the way people think and reason. He is a frequent blogger for the Harvard Business Review, the Huffington Post and Psychology Today. Markman also serves as an expert consultant to the Dr. Phil show. Markman is the founding director of the university’s program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations, an executive education program geared toward leaders in the business and nonprofit sectors seeking to improve their professional lives. He is executive editor of the journal Cognitive Science and a member of the editorial board of Cognitive Psychology.

Whether a first-year student or a graduating senior, students can explore and be inspired by the offerings of the Harry Ransom Center, the university’s humanities research library and museum. Through exposure to and interaction with collection materials — whether it be a manuscript, photograph, artwork or rare book — students can open the door to the creative process. Watch this video about what the Ransom Center offers students and how its collections can spark the imagination.

In 2012 the Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since 1987, the Migrant Student Program has helped about 18,000 migrant students earn high school credits by providing distance learning services and courses. The program helps these students achieve and maintain scholastic levels equivalent to those of their classmates who remain in school throughout the year. Students are able to stay on track with their studies and graduate on time. Many of the students represent the first high school graduates in their families, and many go on to become college graduates. In this video interview, Alexis Fernandez, who was named Migrant Student of the Year in 2006, shares his story. By the time he was 11 years old, Fernandez was working with his parents in the crop fields of California, Illinois and Texas as a migrant farm worker. “My memories of carrying heavy loads of tomatoes and grapes to awaiting trucks, feeling like there was no more sweat left in me, have left a lasting effect on my way of looking at the world and the value of education,” he says. Despite the hardship of a migrant worker’s life, Fernandez excelled academically thanks in part to the Migrant Student Program. As a graduating senior at James “Nikki” Rowe High School in McAllen, Texas, he was ranked 15th among 451 graduating seniors, placing him in the top three percent of his class. Fernandez graduated under the Distinguished Achievement Plan with a grade average of 93. During high school, he took honors courses as well as Advanced Placement courses and earned 33 college credits. Fernandez went on to graduate from college with a degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2011. During his years at the university, he served as president of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity and vice president for the United Greek Council. During his college years, Fernandez remained involved with the Migrant Student Program, volunteering numerous times to speak to migrant high school students and conduct campus tours. He became an employee of the program during his junior year. “The migrant program has impacted me in so many ways. It is made up of people who want to see me succeed,” he says. “But I’ve also been able to give back to the program and help make sure that other students succeed. The migrant program really reaches out to these students and makes a difference in their lives.” Fernandez recently left his job at the Migrant Student Program to start work full time as an engineer for Samsung Austin Semiconductor. He says, “I’m really excited to work for Samsung Semiconductors, manufacturing processing chips. To start my engineering career with such an established company is great.”

After the Second World War, American society benefited from unprecedented peace and prosperity. What was key to this success? Americans were very strategic in their deployment of historical wisdom, drawing upon the experiences, institutions and knowledge acquired in earlier decades to build our nation. So far, Americans have not shown the same wisdom in the 21st century. Our society is suffering. The time has come for Americans to reawaken their historical wisdom, analyzing the recent past to identify the key ideas and institutions that will allow our society to thrive once more. About Jeremi Suri Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and professorships in history and public policy. He is the author of five books on contemporary politics and foreign policy including “Liberty’s Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama” published in 2011. Suri’s research and teaching have received numerous prizes. In 2007 Smithsonian Magazine named him one of America’s “Top Young Innovators” in the arts and sciences. His writings appear widely in blogs and print media.

In his book “The Ajax Dilemma,” Paul Woodruff uses a parable from classical Greece to shed light on a very contemporary business dilemma: how to reward outstanding players without damaging the team. Tapping into his experience as a boss, a professor, an officer and an employee, Woodruff uses his broad perspective to issue an intriguing call for a compassionate approach to fairness. About Paul Woodruff Paul Woodruff is the inaugural dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies and the Darrell K. Royal Professor in Ethics and American Society. He joined the university faculty in 1973 and has been chair of the Department of Philosophy and director of the Plan II Honors Program. He also served on the Task Force on Curricular Reform. Specializing in ancient Greek philosophy, Woodruff has written a number of definitive translations of works by Plato, Sophocles and others. In addition, he has authored books that interpret classical philosophy for political, business or personal situations in contemporary lives. He won the 1986 Harry Ransom Teaching Award and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 1997. He holds degrees from Princeton and Oxford.