Join Us At The Reunion!!

www.biochem.arizona.edu/dept/reunion

The first-ever reunion of the University of Arizona's Department of Biochemistry (and Molecular Biophysics) will be held May 18-20 at the University's Biological Sciences West Building and at the Doubletree Hotel in Tucson. Two and a half days of science, family fun, reminiscing, and finding out what's become of former classmates, colleagues, and friends will commence at noon on Friday, May 18 at the Doubletree Hotel at 445 S. Alvernon Way.

The brainchild of Christa Sitz, department Business Manager, who will be retiring this year after 34 years with the Department (see "Profiles"), the reunion will have "something for everyone", according to Administrative Assistant Ellie Warder. "It was Christa's idea", said Warder," Cindy Neal (Program Coordinator), Jane Dugas (Administrative Assistant) and I just volunteered to help organize it, along with Professors Michael Wells, John Law, Louise Canfield, and Marc Tischler". What began as a simple idea to bring some of the current and former Biochemistry students, staff, and faculty together has grown into a multi-site event, which will include a poolside reception, tours to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Columbia University's Biosphere 2, both a live and a silent auction, poster sessions (science and non-science), talks by current and former Department Heads and faculty and the new Dean of Science, volleyball, croquet, and a 50:50 raffle on Friday with a regular raffle ending Saturday's evening dinner.

Among the talks to be given by former (and current) department heads and faculty are: Michael Wells, "History of the Department of Biochemistry"; Thomas Baldwin, "Future of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics"; Marc Tischler, "Teaching Mission of the Department"; and Matthew Cordes, "Perspective of a New Faculty Member". Professor Megan McEvoy, who will be joining the Department in the fall, will give a talk on her research plans. Other speakers to be announced.

Warder, herself a veteran of 20 years in Biochemistry, explained that, while finding contact information for former students was relatively easy, getting addresses for previous post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty was more of a chore. "We were able to find most--probably 98% of our former undergraduates--through the UA Foundation's database", she said, noting that finding the non-student contingent was a hit-and-miss effort that required consulting a number of sources, including departmental listings, online "white pages", and "beating the bushes--asking anybody and everybody if they knew where so-and-so was these days".

The results of all these efforts are impressive. Warder et al have compiled a mailing list of over 500 former undergraduates and nearly 300 graduate students, faculty, staff, and post-docs. The first mailing for the reunion went out in August and a second was sent in January. Said Warder, "We're expecting a good turnout. With Christa retiring in June, it will be an excellent opportunity to say hello again, and goodbye".

The selection of the Doubletree Hotel as the primary site is a great one, according to Warder, because of its central location. "It's right across the street from Reid Park and the Reid Park Zoo (with its new twin polar bears), and close to the El Con Mall". The 36-hole Randolph Golf Course is also located within the Park, which also features tennis courts and a jogging and biking trail. The Doubletree has a beautifully landscaped central court with a large swimming pool, and volleyball and croquet facilities, as well as a weight room.

The Saturday afternoon poster session is open to all who wish to participate, and can be on scientific or non-scientific topics. Interested parties can make arrangements on the registration form received in the mail, or can register through the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics web page www.biochem.arizona.edu, or by contacting Professor Marc Tischler at tischler@email.arizona.edu.

Proceeds from the silent auction, which will begin upon arrival and continue until 5:00 pm on Saturday, will benefit the scholarship fund for graduate students. The auction items will be on display in the hotel registration area, and bids will be taken continuously until the designated cut-off time. Donations to the scholarship fund will be gladly accepted as well.

The reunion will kick-off with an open house at the Biological Sciences West Building on Friday afternoon, and continue with a reception at the Doubletree Hotel that evening. Joaquin Ruiz, new Dean of the College of Science, will be the speaker for the poolside event. And Saturday night will feature a dinner-dance, where disc jockey duties will be handled by departmental accountant Kevin Kowalski.

Biological Sciences West
P.O. Box 210088 ·Tucson, AZ 85721-0088
Tel: (520) 621-9185 FAX (520) 621-9288
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
The University of Arizona
Updated June 1, 2004

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