University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 4/1996 20 alumni honored with Presidential Citations Twenty alumni from the University of Delaware were honored this spring as the 1996 recipients of the University's Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement. Begun in 1992, the award honors alumni of the last two decades who exhibit great promise in their professional careers or public service activities. Kenneth L. Becker, Delaware '72, '76M, of Wilmington, Del., (bachelor's degree in sociology and master's degree in urban affairs and public policy), and is currently a vice president of Smith Barney Inc., an investment banking firm. Becker has received numerous awards for his work, including the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Most Innovative Financing Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "The University provided an atmosphere that allowed me to grow at my own pace. I was supported by my professors in my natural curiosity and was assisted in learning how to think and reason; these simple skills have been my greatest allies in solving complex problems I've encountered in my professional and personal life. I probably made the strongest statement that I can make concerning my experience at the University when, two years ago, I entrusted the University with my daughter's education." Virginia M. Burns-Ferrara, Delaware '76, Wilmington, Del., (bachelor's degree in child development and young exceptional children), is a kindergarten teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Wilmington. She was inducted into the Delaware Association for Childhood Education Hall of Excellence in 1993. "...At the University of Delaware, opportunities to engage in challenging and stimulating quests were abundant. The diversity of campus life was inspiring. It afforded me the chance to meet and interact with many people whose vital and diverse views encouraged and energized independent thinking. Along the way, I developed lifelong friendships that are treasured today." Harmon R. Carey, Delaware '77M, of Wilmington, Del., (master's degree in urban affairs and public policy), is the founder and executive director of the Afro-American Historical Society of Delaware, as well as the executive assistant for African-American heritage in the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. The foremost advocate for African-American historic preservation in the state, he has taken an active role in the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Association for African-American Historic Preservation. "During the two decades I have taken courses at the University of Delaware, I have witnessed evidence of a sincere commitment to diversity as reflected in the student body and faculty at the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. I have also been impressed by the University's increasing commitment to urban public service and African-American historic preservation." Patricia Ann Childs, Delaware '76, '78M, of Tucson, Ariz., (bachelor's degree in child development/young exceptional children and a master's degree in individual and family studies), formerly worked as a child development counselor for the state of Delaware before her retirement due to multiple sclerosis. Today, she focuses on helping others with chronic illnesses reach their full potential and obtain a better quality of life. Founder and co-facilitator of the M.S. Support Group in Tucson, she also has helped form and chairs the service committee of the M.S. Support Foundation of Pima County, Ariz. "The dedication, caring and expertise of the faculty inculcated values of determination, creativity, teamwork and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. Their emphasis on one's abilities and repeated questioning of 'What's another way?' would reverberate for years. When I thought I could think no more, I was encouraged to come up with alternate solutions." Willie Curtis, Delaware '77, '80M, '83PhD, of Bowie, Md., (first African American to obtain a Ph.D. in political science from the University, also a bachelor's degree in social studies education and a master's degree in political science), is currently an associate professor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Curtis has provided leadership for the development of the U.S. Naval Academy model programs on the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the League of Arab States and the Organization of American States (OAS). "My academic experience at the University of Delaware provided me with a solid foundation for the teaching and research that has characterized my career. The fact that my professors were not only scholars but outstanding teachers motivated me to seek excellence in both teaching and research. My experience at the University of Delaware was such an exciting and positive experience that I was unaware until now that I was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in political science. I realize that what I treasure most from my academic experience at the University of Delaware are the lasting friendships developed over the years." Brian Deleu, Delaware '92, of New York City, (bachelor's degree in apparel design and fashion merchandising), is currently working as director of design for Regarde Inc., a junior sportswear company in New York. His line is carried by 83 percent of all department stores in the United States. He is responsible for a multimillion dollar company and designs six lines a year for the labels Arizona, Tangibles, Kathy Ireland and Bonjour. Jacqueline Edington, Delaware '83, of Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, (bachelor's degree in athletics), is the senior clinical nutrition adviser for the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories Ltd. She is a summa cum laude graduate of UD and went on to receive her doctorate in human nutrition from the University of Oxford, England. Currently, she is responsible for designing and implementing nutritional clinical trials for efficiency and safety of nutrition products. She continues to support undergraduate students at UD through her educational lectures in the London Semester-Abroad Program. "As a mature student in the coordinated program in dietetics, I received an education that was a quality experience. The American Dietetic Association lays down strict guidelines for the education of dietitians. The faculty of the College of Human Resources was uncompromising in demanding even higher standards of its students. The result, for me, was a superb grounding in my subject, which has given me untold advantages over others in my field." Martin L. Klopping, Delaware '76, of Wilmington, Del., (bachelor's degree in economics) also earned the professional designation of Chartered Financial Analyst, conferred by the Association for Investment Management and Research in 1983. He is the president of Rodney Square Management Corp., an investment adviser and mutual fund service company, which he founded and developed into the first fully integrated, bank- affiliated, mutual fund complex and service company. "My education at the University of Delaware provided me with a solid academic foundation upon which I have built my career and also with an awareness of the pleasures that derive from the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. I look back at the years I spent at the University with fond memories. I recall, in particular, the faculty of the Department of Economics who were personable, accessible and genuinely interested in, and committed to, the development of their students." Robert L. Lipstein, Delaware '77, of Washington Crossing, Pa., (bachelor's degree in accounting), is currently a partner with KPMG Peat Marwick, a professional services firm. He served as the lead engagement partner for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education and played a critical role in the merger of First Fidelity and First Union Corp. "My experiences at the University of Delaware left me with a strong foundation in the basic tenets of business and accounting and gave me many other life-long building blocks as well. Through the efforts of the University faculty, I learned the need to emphasize practical applications of complex business issues. They also helped me realize that establishing relationships in the business community is a key ingredient to success." Jeanne McCauley, Delaware '76, of Baltimore, (summa cum laude graduate bachelor's degree in nutrition). McCauley completed her medical degree at the University of Maryland and a fellowship in emergency medicine at the University of Maryland. On leave as an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she is pursuing a research fellowship in general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins. She was awarded the David E. Rogers Junior Faculty Education Award by the Society of General Internal Medicine for her work on a curriculum entitled "Gynecology for the Practicing Internist." "I will always be grateful to the University of Delaware for the superb education that I received there. As a graduate of the College of Human Resources, I had all the advantages of a small college yet could still sample the diverse offerings of a large university. I learned to think, study and develop organizational skills that have been critical to my development as a physician and person." Cynthia R. Ryan, Delaware '76, of Fairfax, Va., (bachelor's degree in political science), continued her education at Widener University School of Law. Currently, she is the associate chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where she provides advice and training to DEA management and field agents worldwide on issues related to DEA foreign operations, intelligence sharing and activities with U.S. intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense. "I headed off to college determined to become a trial lawyer. My liberal arts education at the University of Delaware taught me invaluable legal skills-to analyze and articulate. The trraditional campus setting inspired me to study. I was thrilled to be able to pursue my passion for sports both at the varsity and intramural levels." Robert S. Slowik, Delaware '77, '85M, of Vernon Hills, Ill., (bachelor's and master's degree in physical education), began his career by coaching college football and was the assistant coach for the 1991 Peach Bowl champions, East Carolina University. By 1992, he was the defensive assistant coach for the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. Currently, Slowik is defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. In his first year as a National Football League (NFL) defensive coordinator, his unit finished fourth in fewest yards, while allowing just 230 points, third best in the league. "My academic and athletic experiences at the University of Delaware have been important in developing the work ethic and competitive drive necessary to succeed in the world of college and professional sports. The coaching profession has taken me to almost every area of the country, and I am proud to say the University of Delaware football program and coaches are highly respected throughout the nation." Gwen L. Stauffer, Delaware '93M, of Warrenton, Va., (bachelor's degree in public horticulture administration), is the director of horticulture at Hillwood Museum and Gardens. She is responsible for the restoration and historic interpretation of the formal gardens and greenhouses and curation and maintenance of the plant collections. She teaches at George Washington University and lectures at regional and national horticulture clubs and professional associations. "My training in the Longwood Graduate Program in public horticulture administration was an opportunity to meet, study under and work with numerous professionals who generously shared their knowledge and expertise, while allowing me to flex my mind, expand my abilities and hone my skills. To have gained these many professionals as my peers has been the richest reward." Shelley Sturman, Delaware '79M, of the District of Columbia, (master's degree in art conservation from the UD- Winterthur Museum Art Conservation Program) has been head of object conservation since 1987 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She has published important studies on the sculptural techniques of Degas, Saint-Porchaire ceramics, enamels, outdoor sculpture and Renaissance bronzes and has lectured internationally about these subjects. "Twenty years ago, I faced a very difficult decision whether to enter a doctoral program in archaeology or to begin a second master's degree in art conservation. I chose to enter the University of Delaware-Winterthur Museum program and have never regretted my decision. The program offered the finest training available in the the United States for a relatively unknown profession that marries science with art. After graduation, my professsors became my colleagues and friends. I still rely on them for discussion of complicated conservation issues." Joan G. Thomas, Delaware '88M, of Wilmington, Del., (master's degree in geriatric/gerontological nursing), is the executive vice president of St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington. Thomas has influenced health care throughout the state, was instrumental in establishing the nurse midwife credentialing process at St. Francis, which resulted in a nurse midwifery practice there, and assisted in the development and implementation of a Clinical Pathway System of Care Management and a Patient Focused Care Delivery model. Both of these systems promote more cost-effective, interdisciplinary care. Jane Claire Wright Vincent, Delaware '77, '95M, of Wilmington, Del., (bachelor's degree in Spanish and master's degree in public administration), is the director of the Department of Real Estate and Housing for the city of Wilmington, where she administers housing and community development programs and oversees the efforts of three housing development corporations. She has been recognized for changing the quality of production in city building programs and for upgrading the quality, size and livability of houses supported through city efforts. She also has helped the city develop special partnerships, including a home-building construction training program for students that has been replicated around the country. "Whether serving as faculty, friend or peer, the University encouraged me to continue my formal education, has been there as a cheerleader along the way and played a part in my professional life. I have no doubt that this relationship will continue."