The Association of Southwestern University Alumni strives to provide alumni with quality lifelong learning activities and events. The following events took place during the 2005-2006 academic year.

May 13, 2006
Commencement Address
Larry Faulkner, who recently stepped down as president of The University of Texas at Austin, gave the 2006 commencement address at Southwestern University. The ceremony was held Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. Faulkner left UT-Austin Jan. 31 to become president of Houston Endowment, a private philanthropy established by Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones. He served as president of UT for seven years and nine months - longer than all but two predecessors in the school's 123-year history. Commencement was Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. in the Corbin J. Robertson Center.

April 27-May 9, 2006
Annual Student Art Exhibit
Student artwork was on display April 27-May 9 in the Fine Arts Gallery of The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. Admission to the Fine Arts Gallery is free and open to the public.

May 5, 2006
Southwestern University Observatory Public Viewing
Alumni and friends enjoyed a night of gazing at the stars during this public event. This public viewing took place Friday, May 5, from 7-11:30 p.m. CST.

April 28-30, 2006
Dance Repertory Concert
Showcasing the work of the Southwestern Dance Department and its outstanding choreographers and dancers, this ongoing event celebrated the enduring power of movement in a visual and kinetic extravaganza. This colorful and vibrant performance was an exciting evening of dance works full of imagination and the unique expressive power of movement, brought to life on the stage with energy and artistry. Directed by Judy Thompson-Price, performances were scheduled for the weekend of April 28-30, in the Jones Theatre of The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. Friday and Saturday performances took place at 8 p.m., while Sunday's performances were at 3 p.m. Order tickets by calling the Box Office at 512-863-1378.

April 30, 2006
Southwestern University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Performance
Sunday, April 30, 2006, the Southwestern University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble performed at the Georgetown High School Performing Arts Center. The performance began at 7 p.m. For additional information, contact The Sarofim School of Fine Arts at 512-863-1506.

April 28, 2006
Peanut Butter 'n "Jam" Features Eric Hanke '01
Alumni were invited to attend the second Peanut Butter 'n "Jam" session for 2006. Held in the Alumni Center, Peanut Butter 'n "Jam" sessions allow the Southwestern community to enjoy the sounds of our musically talented alumni and students, while enjoying a complimentary peanut butter and jam sandwich. Friday, April 28, at noon, Eric Hanke '01 performed. Click here to hear songs from Hanke's debut album, Autumn Blues. While at Southwestern, Hanke majored in German and international studies.

April 20, 2006
Opera Singer Weston Hurt ’99 Performed
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts' Music Department, presented baritone Weston Hurt ’99 in concert Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m at First United Methodist Church, Georgetown, Texas. Hurt was accompanied by Professor of Music Kiyoshi Tamagawa. Hurt is a recent graduate of The Juilliard Opera Center. The performance was free and open to the public. For more information, call Lacy Vain at 512-863-1379.

March 31-April 9, 2006
A Man of No Importance Theatre Production
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts Department of Theatre presents A Man of No Importance as a part of the spring season. Winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, A Man of No Importance tells the tender story of Alfie Byrne, a bus driver living in 1960's Dublin. A passionate fan of Oscar Wilde, Alfie is determined to stage a version of Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. In the process of fighting for the play, Alfie is finally forced to confront his own sexuality and take a stand in the world. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' delightful score mixes Irish folk with a pinch of pop and show biz dazzle. Performances are scheduled from March 31-April 9, in the Jones Theatre of The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. Friday and Saturday performances will take place at 8 p.m., while Sunday matinees are scheduled for 3 p.m. Order tickets by calling the Box Office at 512-863-1378. Note: This musical contains material suited for mature audiences.

April 7, 2006
Southwestern University Observatory Public Viewing
Enjoy a night of gazing at the stars during this public event. This public viewing took place Friday, April 7, from 7-11:30 p.m. CST. Please note the outside lighting on the northeast side of campus will be turned off for this event, including the parking lot and parts of Southwestern Blvd.

April 6, 2006
7th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Symposium
Thursday, April 6, nearly 100 student research projects were featured at the 7th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Symposium. Oral presentations of research projects were given at 5 p.m. and at 7 p.m. in the McCombs Campus Center Ballrooms, and poster presentations were on display from 6-7 p.m. in the Bishops Lounge, of the Red & Charline McCombs Campus Center. Research projects in 27 different disciplines were presented, ranging from a project on whether passing laws making counties “dry” actually reduces incidences of driving while intoxicated (DWI) to one on the use of artificial intelligence to design perfumes.

April 5, 2006
Stephen Perz '92 Lectured on Campus
Stephen Perz '92, associate professor of sociology at the University of Florida, presented his lecture, "Fly Labs, Flycatchers, Brazil, and Beyond: The Transformation of Self and Science from SU to the International Amazon," Wednesday, April 5, at 4 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Building, Room 110. Perz talked about his Southwestern experience and how it led him to conduct research on the demographic processes and environmental change, land-use practices and land cover dynamics and the socio-spatial processes of road-building in the Amazon. This lecture was free and open to the public.

April 3, 2006
King Creativity Symposium
The creativity of Southwestern University students was displayed Monday, April 3, at the 2006 King Creativity Symposium. Projects funded this year include a documentary about the rebuilding of New Orleans and a play based on actual student e-mail exchanges. The symposium featuring project exhibits and presentations was held from 5-6 p.m. April 3 in the ballrooms of the McCombs Campus Center. In all, the symposium highlighted the work of 19 scholars on 12 projects. In conjunction with this symposium, Southwestern hosted a screening of the film My Father the Genius at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at the Palace Theatre, 810 S. Austin Ave. The screening is free and open to the public. Complimentary tickets for the screening may be picked up in Room 33 of the Cullen Building (corner of University and Maple Streets). This event is sponsored by the King Creativity Fund, established by W. Joseph "Joey" King '93. Click here for more information on the King Creativity Symposium.

March 30, 2006
Pre-lecture to the Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture
Sara Daly '95 gave the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Lecture March 30, at 4 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Building, Room 105. Daly is an international policy analyst for the RAND Corporation and one of the country's leading experts on terrorism. This pre-lecture event prepared audiences for the Governor Kean March 31 lecture.

March 31, 2006
2006 Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture
Thomas H. Kean, the former New Jersey governor who was selected by President George W. Bush to chair the 9/11 Commission, gave the 2006 Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture at Southwestern University, titled "9/11 and the War on Terror - Looking Forward."Dec. 16, 2002, Kean was named by President Bush to head the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, which became known as the 9/11 Commission. The Commission's work culminated July 22, 2004, with the release of the 9/11 Commission Report, which quickly became a national bestseller. Its recommendations resulted in the largest intelligence reform in the nation's history. Kean currently serves as the chairman of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project, a nonprofit entity created with private funds to continue the Commission's work of guarding against future attacks. The lecture will be held March 31, at 2 p.m. in the Corbin J. Robertson Center. The 2006 Shilling Lecture complemented the kickoff for Southwestern University's Thinking Ahead fundraising campaign.Click here to read more about Thomas H. Kean. Read more about pre-lecture events.

March 21, 2006
2006 Jessie Daniel Ames Lecture: Donna Haraway
Professor Donna Haraway earned a Ph.D. from the Biology Department at Yale in 1972 for an interdisciplinary dissertation on the functions of metaphor in shaping research in developmental biology in the twentieth century. After teaching in Women's Studies and General Science at the University of Hawaii, she went on to Johns Hopkins University, and is now professor and former chair of the influential History of Consciousness Program at University of California-Santa Cruz. In September 2000, Haraway was awarded the highest honor given by the Society for Social Studies of Science, the J.D. Bernal Award, for lifetime contributions to the field. Her seminal work, Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature has become the authoritative text in theorizing the politics of the post-human, the cyborg, the techno-mythological ideal and its promised utopia(s). Her most recent work is The Companion Species Manifesto. Professor Haraways' lecture was held March 21, at 4 p.m. in the McCombs Ballrooms, McCombs Campus Center. This year's Jessie Daniel Ames Lecture was co-sponsored by the Fleming Lectures in Religion. Contact Laura Hobgood-Oster for more information.

March 7, 2006
Pre-lecture to the Roy and Margaret Shilling Lecture
Political science faculty, Teena Gabrielson, Tim O'Neill and Bob Snyder, participated in a panel discussion to explore different aspects of the 9/11 report and consider where we have been, where we are and where we are going. Eric Selbin, professor of political science, moderated the discussion. This pre-lecture event will prepare audiences for the Governor Kean March 31 lecture. This lecture is schedule Tuesday, March 7, at 4 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Building, Room 105. The lecture is open to the public.

March 4, 2006
North Carolina Road Scholar Event
Hal Haskell, professor and chair of the classics area and Paideia® Professor, visited Durham for a Road Scholar Presentation. Haskell covered the topic, "Politics the Old Fashioned Way: Alexander the Great and Caesar Augustus." Hosted by Robin Neas Fowler '94, this Road Scholar Event took place Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. at The Symposium Cafe (318 Blackwell Street, Suite 100, Durham). A reception followed the presentation. Family members and guests were welcome. For questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-960-6363 or alumni@southwestern.edu.

March 4, 2006
"Luxury and Power in the Seaside Villas of Stabiae" Lecture in Chicago
Thomas Howe, professor of art history, presented "Luxery and Power in the Seaside Villas of Stabiae," as a part of the Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption exhibit at The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinios (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive). The lecture took place Saturday, March 4 at 2 p.m. in the Montgomery Ward Lecture Hall. The lecture presentation was free with Museum admission.  The exhibition was organized by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attivita Culturali, Soprintendenza archeologica di Pompei, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici delle province di Napoli e Caserta, Regione Campania. For additional information, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations by e-mail (alumni@southwestern.edu) or phone (1-800-960-6363).

March 3, 2006
Southwestern University Observatory Public Viewing
Alumni enjoyed a night of gazing at the stars during this public event. This public viewing took place Friday, March 3, from 7-11:30 p.m. CST.

Jan. 24-March 2, 2006
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts presented the sculpture exhibit "Wave of Light." This exhibit brought together four artists who expound upon the traditional role that light plays upon sculptural form. Each of the artists utilized a different material. The opening reception for the "Wave of Light" sculpture exhibit took place from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Fine Arts Gallery. All four artists who have work in this exhibit gave a short talk about their work. The exhibit ran from Jan. 24 through March 2. This event was free and open to the public. For more information, call The Sarofim School of Fine Arts at 512-863-1504.

Feb. 23, 2006
Lecture and Book Signing with Author Elizabeth Moon
The A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center and the Georgetown Public Library brought author Elizabeth Moon to campus Thursday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Building, Room 105. A resident of Williamson County, Moon’s Nebula Award-winning novel The Speed of Dark was chosen as the 2006 Georgetown Reads! selection. The library has a display of Moon’s books in the first floor Periodicals Reading Area. The SU Bookstore has copies of ­The Speed of Dark as well as many other of her. Moon’s talk was be followed by a question and answer session. Afterward, the audience was invited to a reception in the Olin Lobby for a book signing. For more information, contact Dana Hendrix or Carol Fonken.

Feb. 16, 2006
"Using Theory: Testing the Link Between Social Capital and Community Development” Lecture
The Sociology Colloquium Series presented Claudia W. Scholz, speaking on "Using Theory: Testing the Link Between Social Capital and Community Development." The lecture took place Thursday, Feb. 16, at 4 p.m. in the Mood-Bridwell Atrium. Drawing on her experiences with community organizations in mountain communities of the Dominican Republic, Scholz problematized definitions of social capital prevalent in recent scholarship on economic development. The presentation demonstrated the connection between social theory and observation in sociological research. Scholz is assistant professor of sociology and coordinator of the Hispanic Leadership Program in Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Texas at San Antonio. A reception followed the lecture. The lecture and reception were free and open to the public.

Feb. 17, 2006
Peanut Butter 'n "Jam" with Aryn Campbell '06
Alumni were invited to attend the first Peanut Butter 'n "Jam." Held in the Alumni Center, Peanut Butter 'n "Jam" sessions allow the Southwestern community to enjoy the sounds of our musically talented alumni and students, while enjoying a complimentary peanut butter and jam sandwich. Friday, Feb. 17, at noon, Aryn Campbell '06 performed. Campbell is a senior, pursuing a bachelor of arts with majors in music and communication. While attending Southwestern, she privately wrote, produced and released four albums of her own material.

Feb. 19, 2006
Art Songs performed by Bruce Cain and Kiyoshi Tamagawa
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts' Music Department presented a faculty recital, Bruce Cain, baritone and Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano performing Art Songs, Sunday, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m., in celebration of Black History month and the 100th birth anniversary of Dimitri Shostakovich. The concert was held in the Caldwell-Carvey Foyer of the The Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. On the program was an aria from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus, a humorous song cycle by Francis Poulenc and a set by Richard Strauss for the purely romantic. This performance was free and open to the public. For more information, call Lacy Vain at 512-863-1379.

Feb. 9-10, 2006
Southwestern University’s 2006 Brown Symposium (XXVIII)
The 2006 Brown Symposium (XXVIII) at Southwestern University presented the topic of “GNP or Gross National Well-Being?” The 2006 Brown Symposium focused on the latest theoretical research and findings from economics, neuroscience, and psychology, which indicate that consuming more, earning more or being wealthier does not necessarily lead to greater happiness or well-being. This symposium's intent was to encourage us to go beyond measuring well-being indirectly in terms of dollars or total consumption and to look deeper and assess societal and individual happiness by focusing on and measuring quality of life. Click here to visit the Brown Symposium Web site. Open to the public without charge, the symposium was funded through an endowment established by The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston, Texas, for professorships at the University. Click here for a list of highlighted readings for the Brown Symposium (XXVIII). For additional information, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or by calling 1-800-960-6363.

Feb. 5, 2006
Southwestern University Observatory Public Viewing
Enjoy a night of gazing at the stars during this public event. This public viewing will take place Sunday, February 5, from 7-11:30 p.m. CST. Please note the outside lighting on the northeast side of campus will be turned off for this event, including the parking lot and parts of Southwestern Blvd.

Jan. 19, 2006
"Physical Activity: An Investment in Well-Being" Lecture by John Bartholomew
John Bartholomew, associate professor of kinesiology and health education and director of the Exercise and Sport Psychology Laboratory at UT (Austin campus), presented the physiological and psychological benefits of physical activity. In particular, he discussed the effect of physical activity on general health, mood regulation, and well-being. Research indicates, regular exercise influences many psychological factors associated with happiness and well-being, which can then lead to increased self-esteem, higher levels of cognitive functioning, and reduced anxiety and stress. He also described the clinical benefits of exercise on mental health. The lecture was held Jan. 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the F.W. Olin Building, Room 110. This lecture was the second in a series of speakers appearing during the 2005-2006 academic year, who will address issues centered on the 2006 Brown Symposium, GNP or Gross National Well-Being?, and is sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and the Lucy King Brown Chair in International Business. Please contact either Dr. Scott McLean (512-863-1195) or Dr. A.J. Senchack (512-863-1363) for further details.

Jan. 16, 2006
Southwestern University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Dinner
Southwestern University celebrated the ideals and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Community Dinner, Monday, Jan. 16, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. For additional information, please contact Michele Amerson, assistant director of wellness and diversity education, at 512-863-1342.

Nov. 8, 2005
On Measuring Quality of Life, Happiness, and Well-being: A Positive Psychology and Organizational Behavior Perspective
Michael B. Frisch, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University, discussed and allowed participants to take and score his well-validated happiness measure, the Quality of Life Inventory or QOLI. This lecture was the first in a series of speakers appearing during the 2005-2006 academic year who will address issues centered on the 2006 Brown Symposium, “GNP or Gross National Well-being.” The lecture was schedule for November 8 at 4:00 p.m. in the Mood-Bridwell Atrium. This lecture series is sponsored by the Lucy King Brown Chair in International Business. Please contact Dr. A. J. Senchack, the 2006 Brown Symposium coordinator, for an electronic copy of a manuscript upon which Dr. Frisch’s lecture is based.

Nov. 4-6, 2005
Southwestern University: Conference on Race and Ethnicity
Southwestern University planned its first annual conference on Race and Ethnicity (SU-CORE). The conference took place Nov. 4-6, 2005 on Southwestern’s campus. Teams of students, faculty, staff and administrators from Associated Colleges of the South member institutions and area colleges and universities were invited to attend. Interested community members were also welcome. Read more about SU: CORE. To view the schedule for SU-CORE, click here. View the SU-CORE Brochure and Registration Form.

Oct. 21-23, 2005
Southwestern University’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend
Alumni, students, and friends experienced “A Taste of Southwestern” by attending Southwestern University’s Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, Oct. 21-23, 2005. The University cooked up a weekend that melds all the great flavors of Southwestern. For additional information, visit the Homecoming & Reunion Weekend website.

Oct. 20, 2005
An Evening with Carlos Fuentes: Readings and Commentary
Southwestern University’s A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center and The Writer’s Voice presented “An Evening with Carlos Fuentes: Readings and Commentary” on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lois Perkins Chapel. A reception and book signing followed in the Bishops Lounge of the Red & Charline McCombs’ Campus Center. Admission was free, but tickets were required. Visit The Writers' Voice Website for additional information.

October 11, 2005
“The Doctor-Patient Relationship: Stories that Define its Shape and Power” Lecture by Dr. David Watts '62
Dr. David Watts, a 1962 graduate and recipient of the 1991 Distinguished Alumnus Award, returned to Southwestern University on October 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., for a lecture and book signing event in the Lois Perkins Chapel. Dr. Watts’ holistic approach to medicine captures the intimate relationship between doctors and patients. In his latest book, Bedside Manners: One Doctor’s Reflections on the Oddly Intimate Encounters Between Patient and Healer, Dr. Watts describes the wide range of encounters, from the emotive to the unusual, that both patients and doctors experience. The lecture and reception were open to the public without charge. To read more about his latest book, Bedside Manners, click here. To read more about Dr. Watts, visit his alumni profile. For additional information, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 1-800-960-6363.

Click here to view upcoming lifelong learning activities at Southwestern University.
Please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or by calling 1-800-960-6363 with any questions about upcoming events.