In April the first international "Vanderbilt and You" reception took place in Shanghai, hosted by A.J. Spaudie, BS'97, and Nancy Wang, MBA'05.

Heartfelt Thanks

The Offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Alumni Relations owe a special thanks to alumni who have assisted with the student recruitment process by volunteering their time to interview applicants, represent Vanderbilt at college fairs, contact admitted students, and help coordinate "Vanderbilt and You" receptions. We are grateful for all your volunteer efforts on behalf of Vanderbilt, and we appreciate your continued dedication to your alma mater.

Welcome to the Class of 2012

Summer Send-Off Parties for incoming students are taking place in more than 35 cities throughout the summer. These informal events, planned by local alumni chapters nationwide, welcome students and their families into the Vanderbilt community. Local alumni and current parents and students are also invited to the gatherings, which provide an opportunity for students and alumni to share their Vanderbilt experiences and answer questions that new students and their parents have about the university.

Nashville Meets the Chancellor

Nicholas Zeppos was guest of honor May 12 at a Chancellor Celebration sponsored by the Nashville Vanderbilt Chapter.

Students and Alumni Come Together

Last year the Office of Alumni Relations launched a series of new initiatives designed to bring alumni and current students together, increasing students' awareness of and access to Vanderbilt's alumni network. Since that time, these student/alumni programs--many now with waiting lists--have engaged more than 2,500 students and 350 alumni volunteers.

This fall the momentum continues. Planned are more "Opening Dores" dinners, at which five alumni and 12 current students with similar academic interests come together on campus to share a family-style meal--and alumni share their advice about transitioning to the world of work after college. A panel led by alumni, called "After VU: Where My Vanderbilt Degree Has Taken Me," is also planned to give students an overview of the diverse career paths available with a Vanderbilt degree. Vanderbilt Law School alumni, admissions staff, and current Law School students also will lead a panel providing real-word advice about choosing and applying to law school.

The new Vanderbilt Student Alumni Association continues to grow, too, with upcoming fall events including a Seniorfest fun day on "Almost Alumni" Lawn and a "Halfway There" celebration for sophomores to mark their new status as upperclassmen during the second semester. As before, alumni volunteers are needed to make Student/Alumni Programs a success. If you'd like to help, contact Lauren Schmitzer, associate director of alumni relations, by calling 615/322-2042 or e-mailing lauren.schmitzer@vanderbilt.edu.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Alumni Relations teamed up a number of years ago to form the Alumni Recruitment Committee (ARC), an effort to involve alumni in the process of recruiting students for Vanderbilt. Over time the ARC's success has led to expansion of the program, incorporating several new initiatives--and now it has a new name better reflecting its breadth: Commodore Recruitment Programs (CoRPs).

Through CoRPs, the admissions office invites alumni around the globe to participate in vital recruitment efforts such as the Alumni Interviewing Program (AIP), college fair activities, contacting admitted students, and "Vanderbilt and You" receptions.

You are invited to join the other 2,700 Vanderbilt alumni who already have registered with the admissions office to help in the recruitment process. Last year nearly 1,400 alumni interviewed approximately 3,200 Vanderbilt applicants across the United States and on several continents. Through these interviews, alumni personalize the admissions process and give prospective students an inside glimpse of life at Vanderbilt.

Alumni from major markets and small cities alike represented Vanderbilt at local college fairs last year, speaking with interested students and their parents about the admissions process, and about academic and student life on campus. College fairs allow the admissions staff to reach many students in one easy setting, often providing these families with their first Vanderbilt contact.

"Vanderbilt and You" receptions offer admitted students a chance to meet alumni as well as other admitted students from their area. Last year alumni hosted and attended these receptions in 39 cities--including the first international reception in Shanghai. These events offer alumni an exciting opportunity to be part of a student's decision-making process as he or she embarks on the journey to college.

It's easy to get involved with CoRPs. Just go online to www.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/alumni to register with the admissions office. Or you may request information by e-mailing corps@vanderbilt.edu. We look forward to working with you!

Dr. Levi Watkins Jr., MD'70, associate dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and professor of cardiac surgery, is this year's recipient of the highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus of the university: the Vanderbilt Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award.

First presented in 1996, the award recognizes an alumnus or alumna whose accomplishments and contributions have had a broad positive impact on humankind--and who has made the choice to go beyond a successful vocation to do something of greater benefit to the universal community. Levi Watkins embodies these noble traits.

Watkins broke new ground in 1966 when he enrolled as the first African American student of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Four years later, when he received his medical degree, he was still the only one. Since that time he has had a remarkable career, and his achievements have been recognized by Vanderbilt repeatedly through the years. In 1998 the School of Medicine awarded him the Vanderbilt Medal of Honor for outstanding alumni, and the school established an annual Levi Watkins Jr. Lecture on Diversity in Medical Education.

In 2002, Vanderbilt established a professorship and associate deanship in his name at the School of Medicine. The next year Watkins was named to the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust.

Levi Watkins' entire career has been punctuated by important "firsts." At Johns Hopkins he was the first African American person to serve as chief resident in cardiac surgery, as professor of cardiac surgery, and as associate dean of the School of Medicine. In 1980 he performed the world's first human implantation of the automatic implantable defibrillator--a procedure that has been repeated more than a million times worldwide since then.

Watkins defined the role of the renin-angiotensin system in congestive heart failure, leading to today's common clinical use of angiotensin blockers in treating the disease. He helped revolutionize the culture for postdoctoral education in America by working to establish the nation's first postdoctoral association.

He even graduated first in his class in high school.

Growing up in Montgomery, Ala., Watkins was exposed to widespread prejudice and to the early Civil Rights Movement, which sealed his commitment to racial equality, particularly in medicine. Now living in Baltimore, where he has been named "Best Citizen" by the city's mayor, Watkins has been awarded four honorary doctorates and has earned numerous other accolades because of his medical experience and interest in worldwide human rights.

For information on how to nominate an individual for the 2009 award, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni/alumni-association.php.

Becca Stevens, MDiv'90
Photo by Daniel DuBois

On Sunday mornings, former prostitutes and drug addicts fill the pews alongside Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students for services at St. Augustine's Chapel. They share their stories and take communion together, finding commonalities in what some would think are very different worlds.

It's part of the healing for the women of Magdalene, a two-year residential program that helps women get off Nashville's streets, off illegal drugs, and out of the cycle of abuse.
Magdalene is the brainchild of Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest and chaplain of St. Augustine's. The program includes housing, counseling, 12-step meetings, classes on parenting and financial management, spiritual guidance and employment opportunities. In its first 10 years, more than 100 women have successfully completed the Magdalene program. All have a criminal record. Thirty percent are HIV-positive or Hepatitis C-positive. All have endured rape, and most have a history of childhood sexual abuse. Of those who enter Magdalene, two and a half years later 75 percent are still clean and sober.

Magdalene sustains itself through private donations and through Thistle Farms, a cottage industry that produces bath and body products and candles. All aspects of the business are handled almost exclusively by the women of Magdalene.

"It isn't about making people feel sorry for these women," Stevens says. "It's about inspiring others to make changes in their own lives."

Find out more: www.thistlefarms.org.

Sam McCleskey, BE'51
Photo by John Russell

It's a fact of life: For some people, earning a living means dealing with death. Sam McCleskey has spent most of his career as the country's premier builder of mausoleums.

The earliest mausoleum was built between 353 and 350 B.C. for King Mausolus in present-day Turkey, and it is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. McCleskey's modern creations are pretty wondrous, too. His company is now building a three-story structure in Los Angeles that will house 40,000 caskets. But that's just the latest project in a long career.

"I've been responsible for designing and building more than 700 large community mausoleums in 32 states," says McCleskey, who is a 2007 Distinguished Alumnus of the Vanderbilt School of Engineering. "The smallest we've built is about 300 casket spaces, and the largest [prior to the Los Angeles project] is 10,000 casket spaces."

Today McCleskey serves as chairman of the board of McCleskey Construction Co. and isn't as involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. An avid traveler, he has visited all seven continents. But he remains fascinated by his profession.

"Above-ground burial has a long history. It just happened that when I came into the business in 1958, there was an upswing. And we're still in it today."

Thomas Schwartz, professor of history, has received the Faculty Alumni Education Award, presented by the Alumni Association Board of Directors last November. First given in 1982, the award includes a prize of $2,500 and an engraved julep cup.

Since 2003, Schwartz has lectured at nine alumni education events for Vanderbilt Chapters in New York; Boston; Los Angeles; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Va.; and Austin, Texas, on subjects ranging from U.S.-European relations to foreign policy in presidential campaigns. He has made presentations at Reunion Weekend events, and in October will serve as faculty representative for the Vanderbilt Travel Program's trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Schwartz teaches courses in the history of American foreign relations, with an emphasis on the 20th century. He is the author of two books: one about alliance politics during the Vietnam War and one about U.S. policy toward Germany after World War II. He is currently writing a short history of the Cold War and a biography of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Give the gift of tradition with the official Vanderbilt class ring for alumni and students.

For more information contact Balfour Rings at www.balfour.com or visit the Vanderbilt Bookstore.

"Never believe the landlord when he says that living next to the 'el' train is an 'urban experience.'"

Life After Vanderbilt is a new guide written for new graduates by recent graduates--a collection of advice that the Alumni Association will present as a graduation gift to each member of the Class of 2008. With tips about moving, money, first jobs, networking and life changes, this manual has something for everyone, plus words of wisdom from Vanderbilt Chapter presidents and final thoughts from the Vanderbilt Career Center.

The advice ranges from the practical ("If you don't have the money, don't buy it. The $150 purse really isn't worth the pain of being in debt.") to the playful ("Never believe the landlord when he says that living next to the 'el' train is an 'urban experience.'") to the comforting ("At my first job, I had no clue what I was doing for the first few months. This is normal! Everyone is clueless at first, but thankfully, it gets better with time.").

"Only young alumni from five years out were solicited for submissions, making it genuine, warm, real and recent," says Kate Stuart, program coordinator for alumni relations.

Katrina Markoff, BA'95

Alumni who are part of the 37 Vanderbilt Chapters nationwide are staying connected by planning dozens of events each year, from simple get-togethers for ballgames and happy hours to elaborate wine tastings and educational lectures. Here's just a sampling: The New York and Chicago chapters each hosted a "Chocolate and Cheese Tasting Soiree" in October, featuring Katrina Markoff, BA'95, from her Vosges Haut-Chocolat boutiques in those cities.

In Denver, alumni enjoyed a wine tasting followed by a tour of the "Artisans and Kings: Selected Treasures from the Louvre" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum in November.

Exploration and the challenge of encouraging America's brightest students to enter careers in science and engineering was the subject of a Houston Chapter lunch and lecture in November by Rick Chappell, professor of physics and director of Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. Vivien Fryd, professor of art history and American studies, engaged the Philadelphia Chapter the same month with a lecture and guided tour of an exhibit of Renoir's masterpieces at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Music enthusiasts in Atlanta gained insight into Beethoven and Schumann prior to a symphony performance, with the help of Michael Rose, associate professor of music, while in Nashville, Vice Chancellor for University Affairs David Williams chatted about Motown history.

To find out more about the Vanderbilt Chapter nearest you, click here.

"Opening Dores allows students to get real-world advice about what they can do with their Vanderbilt degree. And it's fun for the alumni, who chat about their old classes and professors, sports, and what it means to be a Vanderbilt alum."

~Kate Stuart

"Should I take Italian or Spanish? And please pass the potatoes."

Vanderbilt students and alumni are networking with each other the old-fashioned way: over meals together. Through "Opening Dores," a new initiative by the Office of Alumni Relations, 10 to 12 current students--all with the same interest or major--are brought together with five alumni who work in that field to share conversation and a family-style meal.

"We conducted focus groups with students and found they were interested in meeting alumni in informal, intimate settings where they could ask questions that perhaps they didn't want to ask in front of professors or parents," says Kate Stuart, program coordinator for alumni relations.

"Opening Dores allows students to get real-world advice about what they can do with their Vanderbilt degree. And it's fun for the alumni, who chat about their old classes and professors, sports, and what it means to be a Vanderbilt alum."

So far six such events have taken place since last fall--for history majors, political science majors and engineering majors, and for students interested in media and marketing, nonclinical health care, and noninvestment banking finance. Students sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Along with the various academic departments, the Vanderbilt Career Center is a partner in the project.

Billy O'Steen, BA'89 (left), Betsy Macdonald, BS'90, and Kirk Williams, BA'89

"Kids seem to be the admission ticket for making new friends in strange places," says Kirk Williams, who figured he was the only Vanderbilt alumnus living in the small coastal village of Sumner, New Zealand, until one day his wife took their children, Ruby and Kirk, to the library.

"Little Kirk was wearing a Vandy sweatshirt when a woman came up to my wife, Breda, and asked if she had gone to Vanderbilt," Kirk recalls.

"No," Breda replied, "but my husband did." Turns out the other woman's husband was Billy O'Steen.

"I couldn't place the name, but when Billy arrived at our house, the recognition was instant," Kirk says. "We swapped many stories. He was a Sigma Chi and I was a Beta. It seems we even dated the same girl along the line."

The Williams children became fast friends with the O'Steen girls, Lawson and Stewart, as did Breda and Billy's wife, Susan. And then they found a third Vanderbilt graduate living in Sumner--Betsy Butera Macdonald, BS'90. "Betsy has a daughter, Virginia, and little boy, Gus," Kirk explains. "She met a Kiwi, Andrew, while living out in Aspen. They married, and he wanted to move home to Christchurch."

The three determined that their paths had crossed before, at fraternity houses and Nashville music venues. "We have since all become best of friends and even had Thanksgiving at Betsy's house this year," Kirk says. "I find it very bizarre that three people from a Southern school unwittingly followed such a similar pathway."

Any untapped Vanderbilt Kiwis would be most welcome at small but lively gatherings of the Christchurch, New Zealand, Vanderbilt Alumni Chapter.

Ted Hildreth, BE'89 (standing, right), with Terry Moran, co-anchor of ABC News' Nightline. Photo by Sgt. Jack W. Carlson III

If North Korea or Iran shot an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the United States, most of us would be blissfully unaware. But for Lt. Col. Ted Hildreth, this "bolt out of the blue" would be just the scenario he's been training for his whole career. Hildreth is commander of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Fort Greely, Alaska.

"My battalion is the only one of its kind in the military," says Hildreth. "No other unit can shoot down an ICBM that would potentially touch our country."

Thanks to satellites and sensors around the world, the ability to detect the time and general location of a missile launch occurs almost in real time. "All that information is correlated and fed to my fire direction crew so that they can do all they need to do to potentially launch and intercept an ICBM." The final say-so to intercept lies with the country's senior leadership, and they only have a few minutes to communicate with Hildreth and his crew, who are operational 24/7.

Hildreth's two-year stint at Fort Greely will come to an end in May. He has been selected to attend the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., from July 2008 to June 2009. The course there is designed to train the future senior leaders of the Army and Army National Guard. But he will always be grateful for his time spent in command.

"A bad day in command beats a good day at the Pentagon any day," says Hildreth. "There's no greater privilege in life in the military."

Marc Hamburger, BA'64 Photo by Daniel Dubois

People who collect stamps or coins have it easy--they can add to their collections whenever their budget allows. But for car collectors like Marc Hamburger, space is always a consideration. Of the seven cars in his collection, those nearest and dearest to his heart are two Pierce-Arrows. One is a 1936 model, the other a rare 1931 that took seven years to restore.

"[The '31] is a super luxury car--one of only 20 ever made. It would've sold for $8,000 or $9,000 then," he says. "A Ford would've cost only $500." His Model 41 LeBaron Club Sedan garnered the Most Authentic Restoration trophy at the 2007 Pierce-Arrow Society Meet.

Pierce-Arrow automobiles debuted in 1903 and were immediately recognized as first-class cars. They won important races and were a favored conveyance of U.S. presidents.

"What made them so great was also their undoing," says Hamburger. "They would not compromise on quality. In 1929 they made 10,000 cars, but then the Depression started. By 1938 they were bankrupt."

His dream car is the Pierce Silver Arrow. Only five were made, and were showcased at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. Three are known to exist, and two are unaccounted for.

"It's every car collector's dream to walk into an old barn in the middle of nowhere and find some remarkable car that's been sitting there for 40 years. That still happens."

Click here to view a slideshow of pictures from Reunion 2007

Because of your hard work, Reunion 2007 giving surpassed its goals, providing new levels of support for Vanderbilt. In fact, the final tally was over $46 million. The generosity of the undergraduate reunion classes and our distinguished Quinqs is already making an impact across campus. We also set a new attendance record--4,425 Vanderbilt alumni, spouses and friends attended the 2007 Reunion/Homecoming weekend.

So thank you all for a wonderful 2007!

* Indicates Class Weekend and Fundraising Chairs

The board includes a minimum of 18 regional representatives, 10 representatives of the largest Vanderbilt chapters, and representatives from Vanderbilt schools and colleges. Rotation of board members, who serve four-year terms, is staggered.

The Alumni Association is now calling for nominations for representatives from:

• Region I: Nashville
• Region II: Tennessee, exclusive of Nashville
• Region III: Southeast (North Carolina to Mississippi inclusive)
• Region IV: Northeast (Virginia and Kentucky northward)
• Region V: West of the Mississippi River
• Region VI: Areas outside the United States (Asia)

Representatives from these Vanderbilt chapters will be selected:

Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis and New York. Representatives from the School of Engineering, Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Nursing, and the Blair School of Music also will be selected.

To find out more, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni/alumni-association-board.php.

To nominate an alumnus or alumna, please use the online form at www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni/aabodnom.htm, or print out the form and submit it to:

Alumni Association Board Nominating Committee VU Station B #357735 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville,TN 37235-7735

Fax nominations to 615/343-1412, or e-mail alumni@vanderbilt.edu.

Hurry! The nominations deadline is Jan. 31, 2008.

The Alumni Interviewing Program (AIP) allows undergraduate applicants to request interviews with alumni who live in their areas. Students contact alumni directly via e-mail to request and arrange for these interviews, and interview reports are submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions afterward. More than 1,600 alumni participated in the program this year, interviewing more than 2,000 prospective students.

Alumni volunteers also helped promote Vanderbilt by attending college fairs nationwide. Although representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions attend as many college fairs as possible, they rely on alumni to help represent Vanderbilt when they cannot. This year alumni staffed information booths, answered questions about Vanderbilt, and encouraged prospective students to complete information cards, therefore enabling Vanderbilt to have a presence at more college fairs.

If you are interested in learning more about the AIP, visit our Web site at www.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/AIP.To volunteer for college fairs in your area, please contact Angelo Lee in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for more details by e-mailing arc@vanderbilt.edu.

Take three best friends forever. Let's make them blonde, with Southern accents. One night over a dinner of martinis and mini-burgers, the trio happens upon an idea that grows into an international success story--Passport Panties.Turns out tiny pieces of lingerie equal big business.You can find them in more than 350 stores around the world.

Identical twins Kim Howard Willson, BS'02, and Mary Kay Howard Bowden, BS'02, along with Morgan Harbin (a University of Alabama graduate), are the blondes behind the business. These young women aren't just the creators of the product ... they are the brand.A travel and airline theme is carried out in every aspect of marketing--from the packaging to the flight-attendant uniforms the three wear at trade shows. Their Web site (www.passportpanties.com) opens with an animated pink airplane emblazoned with the name "Air Force Blonde."Their goal is to grow the business into a full lingerie line all marketed under the umbrella company MMK Brands. Body shapers are the newest offering, and others are planned to follow.

Being in the intimate apparel business has its quirks, says Willson.

"Because of the type of product, our customers seem to think they can tell us all about their personal lives. Sometimes we think,'We're not doctors--we're just designing underwear.'"

In 2005 Katharine Carroll was beginning her career as a professional cyclist. She just missed a top-10 finish in her first race, the Athens Twilight Criterium, and then placed fourth in the Joe Martin Stage Race. Just two years later--a very short time in the cycling world--she won both prestigious events.

"Once I got that first win, it all started to click," she says. "You have to learn to win. It was a mental change, and I felt I could win every race after that."

Carroll's success caught the eye of the U.S. National team, which selected her to train in Europe last summer. She raced in the mountainous regions of Spain and Italy, getting a taste for competing with the world's elite cyclists. In September, competing in France and Holland, she won one stage of the Tour Cycliste Féminin International Ardèche.

With several victories under her belt and a sponsor in place, Carroll can concentrate on her next goal--making the U.S. Olympic Team. She says 2008 is a long shot, but don't be surprised if you see her sporting the red, white and blue on the streets of London at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Alumni Association News

Remember when you were a Vanderbilt student, not quite sure where you would land after graduation or how you were going to make the transition from the classroom to the work world?

Wouldn't it have been great to connect with former students who had at least some of the answers?

This fall the Office of Alumni Relations has launched a series of initiatives to bring alumni and current students together, increase students' awareness of and access to Vanderbilt's alumni network--and build unity and tradition among the classes.The hope is to involve students with the alumni community early on, even as prospective students.

Benefiting from the wisdom of those who have gone before, these students will be able to seamlessly transition into engaged alumni once they leave the university. One of these initiatives is the creation of the Vanderbilt Student Alumni Association. Through the work of student committees representing each undergraduate class, the association seeks to help foster connections between current students and alumni while also building a sense of community among the classes.

Many students are looking to alumni to offer advice on career paths, to demonstrate to them that they are part of a global Vanderbilt community, and to help them understand the connections between academics and life after Vanderbilt. By volunteering with these programs, you can help make a big difference in the life of a Vanderbilt student.

While the initial focus of student/alumni programming is on campus, the Alumni Association will expand these programs into Vanderbilt Chapter cities soon. For more information contact Lauren Schmitzer, associate director of alumni relations, by calling 615/322-2042 or e-mailing lauren.schmitzer@vanderbilt.edu.

After Herschel Gower retired in 1985 as an English professor at Vanderbilt, he figured he'd take it easy and refinish furniture. "I've done no refinishing at all,"Gower says."Working for one's wife is certainly hazardous."

The two now live in Dallas, where Dona is executive director of the Athena Foundation and her husband is a faculty member. With $10,000 in seed money donated by teachers and $12,000 contributed by the Gowers, she established the nonprofit organization in 1996 so that educators from kindergarten through college could immerse themselves in classic literature, both ancient and modern.Tuition for teachers is free.

"There is a profound need in America today for the classics to be brought to the forefront," says Dona, who has spent 35 years teaching.

The foundation operates on an annual budget of less than $100,000. Athena students (more than 1,600 since 1996) gather in borrowed spaces around Dallas, such as rooms provided by a church, an apartment complex and a nonprofit foundation.The Gowers hope to open a Graduate Institute in World Literature by 2012 that will offer master's and doctoral degrees for teachers.

"Most teachers are students, first and foremost, and that's why they became teachers in the first place," Dona says.