July 2007

Mandle Named Executive Director of the FedEx Institute
U of M Mississippi License Plates Now Available
U of M Researcher and Alumnus Help Locate Injured Plane Crash Victim in Northern Mississippi
Alumni News and Events

Mandle Named Executive Director of the FedEx Institute

Shaye R. Mandle has been named the executive director of the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. He comes to the University from the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he led the strategic business activities of SAIC's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Operation.

Mandle began his career as a district director for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert. Later, he served as chief executive for two technology-focused public policy and economic development organizations. Mandle has also practiced law in Illinois and worked as a legislative liaison to the Illinois Department of Revenue for Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.

He holds a law degree from Duquesne University and a B. A. degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was named 2002's outstanding young alumnus.

The FedEx Institute of Technology is a state-of-the-art academic entity that supports research and innovation, notably the development of new ideas, approaches, technologies and educational programs that address real-world challenges. Opened in 2003, the Institute's physical facility is a 95,000-square-foot home for research labs, classrooms and meeting venues. The Institute features wireless Internet access, videoconferencing capability and a sophisticated audience response system.

U of M Mississippi License Plates Now Available

Earlier this month, the first Mississippi University of Memphis license plates were presented to Tiger fans. Memphis is now the first non-Mississippi school to be represented on a license plate in Mississippi. It also is the first state to have University of Memphis plates outside of the state of Tennessee.

The delivery of the specialty tags marks the end of more than two years of efforts by Harold Alexander, a longtime U of M supporter, and other loyal Memphis fans. Alexander had to get 200 pre-paid applications before the plates could be approved for production. In May, 219 applications were submitted.

The new U of M specialty plates can be ordered at any Mississippi tax collectors office for $61. It will be mailed to you in approximately 15 days and will expire when your current tag expires. Or you can wait until your tag comes up for renewal and purchase the Tiger specialty tag for $51 and it will be valid for 12 months. Pre-ordered tags are currently available for pick up at county tax collectors offices.

Thanks to the Mississippi Tiger fans who made this possible. Also, special thanks to the following Tiger supporters for their work on the campaign: Harold Alexander, John Blackwell, Sandie Brock, Ed Henderson, Chris and Traci Jones, Bobby Jumper, Rick Kale, Jim Pennington, Steve Schwartz, Ted Showalter, John Stacy and Fred and Dottie Tucker.

U of M Researcher and Alumnus Help Locate Injured Plane Crash Victim in Northern Mississippi

University of Memphis alumnus Tillman Carroll (B.B.A. '70, J.D. '73) and Dr. Robert Smalley, associate research professor with the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, have more in common than their association with the University. Carroll and Smalley both serve in the Mississippi Civil Air Patrol and recently played a pivotal role in saving the life of a downed pilot in northern Mississippi.

On June 20, 2007, a MCAP multistate earthquake response drill was scheduled for northern Mississippi. However, new orders were issued for the MCAP team to help locate a plane that crashed in a rural area the previous day. MCAP successfully organized a large team with several air and ground-based components to cover the large area in a short period of time. Pilots Colonel Carroll and Lt. Colonel Smalley identified the crash site from the air and circled overhead until ground crews could make their way through farm fields made nearly impassable by recent rains. Trapped for nearly 50 hours, stranded pilot Dennis Steinbock was rescued by MCAP helicopter and ground teams and is recovering.

Alumni News and Events

Holly Beuke has joined the University of Memphis' Advancement Division as an alumni affairs coordinator. Previously, she was a regional director of chapter services for the Chi Omega Executive Headquarters. Beuke received both her B. A. degree in communication/public relations and her M. A. degree in communication from the University of Dayton.

On behalf of the University of Memphis and the Alumni Association, we express our sympathies to the family of Carlotta Watson, recipient of the Friend of the University award at the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Ms. Watson recently died at age 106.

The Alumni Association will hold its Vision Forum, "We've Got You Covered," on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the FedEx Institute of Technology. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and will also include breakout sessions, lunch, and club and chapter reports. The Alumni Association will report on its progress of achieving the new vision of the Association. There will be a special appearance by President Shirley Raines and other surprise guests, as well as a gift for all attendees. To attend, call the Alumni Office at 901/678-2586 or e-mail alumnievents@memphis.edu.

Nashville-area alumni are invited to the annual Alumni Picnic at Edwin Warner Park, Sunday, July 15, at 2 p.m. Everything is included for $10 per person or $25 per family. Alumni Association members will receive a $2 discount per person. To RSVP, e-mail gotigersgo@nashvilletigers.com.

The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter will host its annual Striving for Excellence in the Law Alumni Dinner Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis. Please join the Law Chapter in honoring our legal community's Pillars of Excellence from America's greatest generation as well as other alumni and friends of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Kelly Davis at 901/678-4299 or kdavis9@memphis.edu.

The Young Alumni Committee will host its first True Blue Tigers to the Tailgate 5K on the evening of Friday, Aug. 31, around the U of M campus. Alumni, students and friends are invited to celebrate the beginning of football season and the school year in this race. For more information, contact Stephanie Galloway at 901/678-4373 or sgallowa@memphis.edu.

Travel with the Alumni Association on Saturday, Sept. 8, to the Tigers vs. Arkansas State University game. The cost is $75 for Alumni Association members and $85 for nonmembers, which includes game ticket, box lunch, snacks and bus ride. Limited seating is available. To make reservations, call 901/678-3119.

The second annual Forensics Conference will be held Friday, Sept. 14, at 8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis and is sponsored by the Loewenberg School of Nursing Alumni Chapter. The keynote speaker is Rachell Copeland, president and founder of Global Forensics Solutions Inc., and guest speakers include members of the counseling, assault, legal and elder communities. CEU credit is available for an additional fee. E-mail Lauren Isaacman at lauren.isaacman@memphis.edu for details.

The College of Arts & Sciences will be celebrating outstanding alumni and friends at a dinner on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Racquet Club. Dr. Reed Baskin (B.S. '65), Peggy Turley (B.A. '85) and Eric Robertson (B.S. '03) will be honored as outstanding alumni. For more information, contact Holly Beuke at 901/678-4299 or habeuke@memphis.edu.

Fogelman College of Business and Economics alumni, save the date for the 15th Annual Alumni Day luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis. Debbi Fields-Rose, of Mrs. Fields Cookies, will be the keynote speaker. Outstanding alumni from the college will be named and guest professors will speak at various FCBE classes. Contact Lauren Isaacman at 901/678-2333 or lauren.isaacman@memphis.edu for details.

The Herff College of Engineering Alumni Chapter is currently accepting nominations for the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus Award. If you know of an exceptional Herff graduate, nominate him or her today. Download the nomination form from www.memphis.edu/alumni/eng_oaa.pdf. The deadline for nominations is August 1.

Would you like to promote a special discount to other Alumni Association members? If so, the Alumni Association will post your business information on the Tiger Business Directory. Simply e-mail your complete business contact information and a description of the discount available to Alumni Association members to alumnievents@memphis.edu with "tigers doing biz with tigers" in the subject line. Please note, you must be a current dues paying Alumni Association member to use this service.

Make plans to travel this fall or spring with fellow U of M alumni and friends on one of our exciting trips. Trip one, "Prague & Bavaria," includes a stop at the spectacular Semper Opera House as well as many other exciting locations. Trip two, "Tuscany & Venetian Treasures" has already sold out.
For additional information including costs and dates for Prague & Bavaria, please visit www.gonext.com/memphis/germanyf07.html.

Three new trips were just added for this spring. Trip one, "Paris Highlights," will explore the beaches of Normandy, historic Reims and the castles of the Loire Valley. Trip two, "Sensational Spain," will travel through the capital of Madrid and the Mediterranean's Costa del Sol at Spain's southern tip. Lastly, "Ireland – Best of Dublin and Belfast" will tour two of Ireland's and Northern Ireland's great cities. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 901/678-2586.