Nine Faculty Advance to Tenure, Nine Promoted
Eighteen faculty received tenure or were promoted this year. Their advancement becomes effective in the fall.
In the College of Arts and Sciences, associate professors Pamela Balls Organista (psychology), David Batstone (theology and religious studies), Horacio Camblong (physics), Shalendra Sharma (politics), Stephanie Vandrick (communication studies), and Paul Zeitz (mathematics) were promoted to full professor. David Galles (computer science), Rebecca King-O’Riain (sociology), Paul Murphy (history), and John Nelson (theology and religious studies) were promoted to associate professor and given tenure. John Sullivan, in biology, also advanced to tenure.
In the School of Business and Management, Mark Cannice and Peggy Takahashi were promoted from assistant to associate professor and advanced to tenure. Diane Roberts was promoted from associate to full professor.
In the College of Professional Studies, Sharon Wagner (organizational development) also advanced to tenure as did Linda Walsh in the School of Nursing. In the School of Education, Terence Patterson was promoted from associate to full professor. Deborah Malone was promoted from assistant to associate librarian.
A congratulatory dinner will be held April 9.
 USF Signs Exchange Agreement with Xavier of Louisiana
USF has signed an agreement for a student exchange program with Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically black Catholic university in the United States.
The exchange program will begin in spring 2004, with several students from USF spending the semester at Xavier, and several Xavier students studying at USF. The program complements the 1-year-old exchange program between USF and Jackson State University in Mississippi, which also is an historically black college.
“This is a way for our students to experience a unique cultural immersion, that of a historically black and Catholic university,” said B.J. Johnson, dean for academic services.
Business Competition Draws International Competitors
The USF School of Business and Management’s business plan competition is going global this year, with 25 different competitors coming from all over the world.
“We’ve had four competitions in the past—the biggest difference here is that we’ve pretty much invited the world,” said Mark Cannice, an assistant business professor and one of the event’s primary coordinators. About 600 universities worldwide were invited to this year’s competition, which will take place April 9–12.
Cannice said his goal in organizing the event is to advance the business school’s global reputation and entrepreneurial focus. “We started promoting [the competition] in the late summer of last year, and we got a pretty good response from places as far away as Israel, Hong Kong, France, Spain.” Student teams from Italy, India, and throughout the United States will also compete.
From 75 proposals received, Cannice and other coordinators narrowed the field down to 25. Proposals had to include a clear plan for investment spending, designated positions for each team member, excellent written communication skills, realistic success possibilities, and adequate up-front capital.
Cannice said USF’s location helped attract competitors. “There are plenty of other competitions like this at other schools. But being here in the Silicon Valley area, where half of the U.S. venture investment capital in the world is, is what drew people.”
This year’s competition will feature more than 20 partners from various Bay Area venture capital firms. The winner will be awarded a prize of $20,000.
Choegyal, USF President Define Justice
University of San Francisco President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. and Tendzin Choegyal, the youngest brother of the Dalai Lama, discussed the nature of justice and spirituality for a March 11 panel at the McLaren Center sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California.
“A just world is a world where children do not die from hunger and people do not eat garbage,” said Fr. Privett during his opening remarks on the experience of poor people around the world. “Our challenge is living together humanely in a global village.”
Choegyal offered a more individualistic definition. “The less selfish we become, the better idea of justice we have,” he said.
This was the third, and final, public appearance by Choegyal at USF. The Dalai Lama’s closest adviser, Choegyal taught on campus for three weeks in February and March. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit USF Sept. 5. For information visit www.usfca.edu/dalailama.
Fr. Privett also urged closer connection to populations normally marginilized by mainstream society. “Justice is defined by how society treats its weakest members: widows, orphans, the elderly, and foreigners,” he said. “If we understand we aren’t competing with one another but are connected to each other, that is a profoundly spiritual stand.”
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Phil Matthews has amassed a 107-95 record in seven seasons as Dons coach.
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Matthews Renews Contract
Head men’s basketball coach Phil Mathews has signed a multi-year, incentives-related contract to continue at USF.
Mathews, who has coached the Dons since 1995, saw his team finish third in the West Coast Conference this season.
“We’re encouraged by it,” said Bill Hogan, executive director of the athletics program. “Phil and I both agree on winning goals in the future.”
“We just want to build on this season,” Matthews said. “I’m happy to be the coach to do that.”
Campus Goes Wireless
Working to expand the campus’s technological accessibility, the university’s Information Technology Services launched the USFwireless Pilot Project March 10. Four areas on campus have been fitted with wireless connectivity to help students access the Internet when away from a computer plugged into a wall.
“As the university is trying to take steps to keep pace with technology, this is another offering that will help students get together out of the confines of the computer lab,” said Jim Muyo, director of publications and the campus’s Web coordinator.
The four locations—Gleeson Atrium, University Center’s ground floor and Parina Lounge, and the glass lounge in Phelan Hall—allow anyone with a laptop outfitted with wireless capability (normally a card that fits into the side or back of the computer) to get Internet service.
“This is a way to see if and how often the university community make use of wireless technology,” Beth Forest, manager of ITS.
A demonstration and raffle promoting the technology will take place April 8 in Parina Lounge. USFwireless is currently considering requests for additional locations. If you wish to have wireless capability installed in your area of campus, send a message to www.usfca.edu/its/support/wireless.
Grants Help Retreat Program—and Students—Grow
Marcela Yerena, who came to the University of San Francisco in fall 2001, faced a challenge common to junior transfer students: Most students in her class had an established circle of friends and regular campus activities and Yerena had a tough time establishing her own connection. One move that helped her “break in” was registering for one of University Ministry’s New Student Retreats.
“Now they call me the ‘retreat junkie,’” said Yerena, now a senior and a retreat intern. “Retreats give me a base to maintain my faith. I’ve also made lots of great friends that I’ll keep in touch with.”
Next year, students, faculty and staff will have more opportunities to experience a retreat through two grants: The Odell Trust has awarded $26,000 and the Leonardt Foundation gave $10,000 to help expand program offerings. Three additional retreats have already been added to next year’s schedule.
“The retreats are an opportunity for people to attend to their spiritual lives, whether they’re Catholic or not, but staying consistent with the vision and mission of this Jesuit university,” said Dina Gardner, University Ministry’s associate director for retreats.
USF’s Entrepreneur Program Ranked Among Top 100
The School of Business and Management’s Entrepreneur Program was ranked among the top 100 U.S. programs of its kind by Entrepreneur magazine in April.
The magazine divided college and university programs within national and regional reputation categories. USF was ranked in the third tier of regional universities with business programs that emphasize entrepreneurship.
More than 700 business programs were researched for the rankings, the first such list published by Entrepreneur.
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