MAGAZINE Patrick Smith '09 Focused on an Olympics Unlike Any Other - Towson University
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Patrick Smith ’09
Focused on an
Olympics Unlike
Any Other
MAGAZINE
FALL 2021
THE RED LESLIE, BRAVE
PLANET SQUARED LEADER
20 26 28
Feature | 20
Reading the Story in Red Soil
Mike Thorpe ’12 plans for the day Earth receives its first souvenirs from Mars.
Photo: NASA
TU MAGAZINE // FALL 2021
Contents
Cover Story | 12
02 Contributors 31 #TUproud
Shooting
02 President’s Letter 32 My Town for Gold
Patrick Smith ’09
03 Treasures 33 Alumni News documented the
Tokyo Olympics.
04 Campus News 34 Alumni Events
06 Office Hours 36 Class Notes
Feature | 26
07 he One Mentorship
T 42 Rearview Mirror
That Changed My Life Leslie,
43 On My Bookshelf Squared
08 Moving On Up Leslie Isler’s ’13
44
From Towson, father helped
09 Coffee With... With Love her to the NFLPA.
10 Athletics 45 Philanthropy
12 Features 48 OUR TOWN
Feature | 28
Brave
Leader
Baseball Hall of Famer
John Schuerholz ’62, ’07
has a new mission.
ON THE COVER
Sports photojournalist
Patrick Smith ’09 found
himself on the other
side of the camera for
this issue’s cover photo.
“When we first started to
plan for the shot, I knew
I wanted to show off two
things: his eyes and the
camera lens,” says Lauren
Castellana ’13, director
of photographic services.
“Patrick’s images from
the Olympics are so captivating because of his personal vision and
photographic style. I wanted this portrait to not only be about him
but how he uses the camera as a tool to create unique images.”
CONTRIBUTORS
Kim Schatzel
President
Mike Unger
Editor
President’s
Lori Marchetti
Art Director/Designer
Letter
Megan Bradshaw
During my first five years as president, I often
Copy Editor
pointed to the cranes around campus as a sign
Lauren Castellana ’13 of confidence in Towson University’s future.
Alexander Wright ’18 Today, we can all look back at the ribbon
Photographers cuttings and groundbreakings of the past few
months and say that the confidence in TU
Tasha Lloyd was indeed well placed as the largest capital
Production Manager investment in the university’s history—more
than $750 million—is being realized.
Contributors This fall, we officially dedicated the Science
Cody Boteler ’17 Complex—our largest academic building on
Megan Bradshaw
campus at more than 300,000 square feet—and
Elizabeth Braungard
broke ground on the new College of Health
Rebecca Kirkman
Felicity Knox ’94 Professions building, which will support
Matt Palmer world-class, interprofessional instruction for
Chandler Vicchio our students and the world-class research of
our faculty. These two projects combined are a This edition of TU Magazine touches on so
Lori Armstrong signal to the state as well. Not only is TU a STEM much of that momentum. From news items about
Associate Vice President, destination for tomorrow’s leaders, our university the inaugural executive director of the Dr. Nancy
Alumni Relations is the largest provider of health care and Grasmick Leadership Institute and our diverse
computer information professionals to Maryland, new-student population, to features including
Sean Welsh ’05 filling key workforce shortages and propelling world-renowned photographer Patrick Smith ’09,
Interim Vice President,
our state’s economy forward. you’ll find relevant stories about the great things
University Marketing
This fall TU opened our new front door to happening within our community.
& Communications
the greater Baltimore business community in You’ll also see articles about how alums—like
Office of Alumni Relations downtown Towson. The StarTUp at the Armory, John Schuerholz ’62, ’07—are engaged in the RISE
410-704-2234 or 800-887-8152 TU’s business engagement center, is now open for campaign, the launch of which helped TU set
business and will catalyze business connections, records in philanthropic giving and reach more
towson.edu innovation and entrepreneurship on our campus, than 70% of the $100 million goal, positioning
towson.edu/magazine in our region and across our state. Through this the campaign for success with three years to go.
newly modernized 26,000 square feet of space You’ll see how recent grads—like Leslie Isler ’13,
Published three times a year by the
Division of Marketing & Communications inside the historic armory building in the heart who helps former NFL players deal with post-
for Towson University’s alumni, faculty, of Baltimore County, executives, entrepreneurs, retirement challenges and Mike Thorpe ’12, who
staff and friends. Please send comments nonprofits and government agencies will find a has been instrumental in NASA’s exploration of
and contributions to Marketing &
front door to connect with faculty on research, Mars—are leading and serving their communities
Communications, Towson University,
8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252-0001.
students for internships and jobs and staff for and colleagues.
Telephone: 410-704-2230. specialized programming and training in areas So whether it is cranes or ribbon cuttings,
Please send address changes to Alumni such as cybersecurity, project management and covering the Olympics or philanthropic records,
Relations, Towson University, 8000 York leadership development. helping retirees or supporting research on
Rd., Towson, MD 21252-0001 or email
And in the new year, TU will celebrate the other planets, TU’s impact is far-reaching and
alumni@towson.edu.
completed expansion and renovation of the substantial. As we enter this holiday season, there
University Union. Much of the expansion is is so much to celebrate at Towson University, and
open now, helping to modernize this central there are indeed even greater things ahead.
space for student activity from its original It is a great time to be a Tiger!
scope—built when TU had less than half the
students it does today.
But as I often say, what we’re building is
more than just buildings. These new facilities
are playing a significant role at a time in which
faculty, research, programming and students KIM SCHATZEL, PH.D.
continue to push what is possible at TU. TOWSON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
2 | TU MAGAZINE
TREASURES
A Bug’s Worth
Assistant professor Faith Weeks has spent most because their predators are gone. Who would students are more comfortable [after exposure].
of her time at TU surrounded by creepy-crawlies. pollinate the plants?” They’re less likely to kill them, and they’re much
She loves it. Weeks primarily teaches pre-service science more likely to incorporate them into their teaching.”
“It’s amazing what they can do. These guys teachers, and she uses her large collection Weeks has more than one real-life example
are absolutely fantastic,” she says. “They’ve of beetles, scorpions (pictured) and praying of her success. One of her favorites is a current
conquered everywhere in the world. They can mantises—among others—as much as possible. grad student.
handle things that we can’t.” “I always bring live things into my elementary “She has been coming to my lab since she
Weeks knows the value of bugs’ existence, in ed classes, primarily because they don’t have was an undergrad,” Weeks explains. “At first she
the ecosystem and the classroom. any experience and get freaked out,” Weeks was terrified of tarantulas. Then she started
“If humans weren’t here, nature bounces back,” says. “I am running a study where I bring insects coming to my lab more. Now she asks me,
she says. “If insects and arachnids weren’t here, so in and I see how much [undergraduates] can ’How are my kids today?’
many things would be gone. We wouldn’t have the understand the role of them in the ecosystem “The first day, she almost shrieked and ran out
produce we do. We wouldn’t have decomposition and if they eventually feel more comfortable with of the room. And now she’s trying to convince
like we do. A lot of pests would be around [the insects]. So far, the research has shown that her mom to get one as a pet.”
FALL 2021 | 3
Campus THE NEWEST
News
TIGERS
3.70
cumulative GPA
of the incoming class
StarTUp
Starts Up 23
countries from which the
new student class hails
Best in
Baltimore
Towson University was again
Recognizing
58.5%
Excellent Staff
selected as the region’s best
college or university in a poll of the incoming class
of Baltimore Sun readers. TU identify as a racial or ethnic
has been similarly honored minority—making it TU’s
for the last three years. most diverse class
The StarTUp at the Armory Two TU staff are among the seven people honored by
officially opened in uptown the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of
Towson on Sept. 20. The Regents as recipients of the 2021 USM Regents’ Staff
26,000-square-foot, state- Awards—the highest honor bestowed upon staff 4,992
of-the-art facility is home to across the system. students are new
entrepreneurship programs Patricia Watson (pictured left), assistant director Tigers, including
Thanking the as well as student competitions of sustainability, was honored for Extraordinary
Academy and events. Small businesses Public Service to the University or to the Greater 2,557
Thirteen alumni received and local entrepreneurs have Community. Julie Leary, associate director of client first-time students,
Emmys from the National access to a number of programs services in the Office of Technology Services, was
Capital Chesapeake Bay and resources focused on the awardee for Effectiveness and Efficiency. 1,776
Chapter of the National entrepreneurship and workforce “Our people are the backbone of TU, and these transfer students and
Academy of Television Arts development, including outstanding recipients are representative of TU’s
and Sciences, including the StarTUp Accelerator, commitment to being good stewards through efficiency 659
electronic media and ATHENAPowerlink Baltimore, and sustainability,” President Kim Schatzel said. “TU is graduate students
film faculty Jena ’11 and TEDCO and the Baltimore among the top 100 public universities and an anchor
Mark ’14 Burchick, for their County Small Business institution because of their dedication to the well-being
documentary The Local Resource Center. of the campus, students and the larger community.”
Oyster Stout.
Celebrating
Head of the Class
Dean Chapman
Three alumni have been
named Maryland Teacher Hundreds gathered on campus Officially revealed by President
of the Year Award finalists: Oct. 16 to honor Julius “Dean” Schatzel and Dean Chapman,
Jing Dai ’11, Alexis Eaton ’09 Chapman, TU’s first dean of the tribute will be a brick walkway
and Lauren Greer ’10. minority affairs, by renaming the through Chapman Quad lined
The Washington Post named green space outside of the Media with nine brick pillars. They
Patrick Bathras ’93 and Beth Center the “Dr. Julius Chapman will be topped with plaques
Morton ’14 among its 12 Quadrangle.” The event ended featuring full-color crests, mottos
Principal of the Year finalists, with a special announcement: and founding dates for each
and St. Mary’s County the installation of a tribute sorority and fraternity and each
recognized Laurel Dietz ’10 honoring the National Pan- chapter’s charter members
for excellence in Hellenic Council organizations. listed on the front.
educational leadership.
4 | TU MAGAZINE
Inaugural Head of Grasmick
Leadership Institute Named
Erin Moran has been appointed as the first executive director of the workplace culture. Moran was chief culture officer for New York City-
Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute after an extensive national based Union Square Hospitality Group for seven years, where she
search. She started on Sept. 8. was responsible for overseeing and enhancing all aspects of employee
Moran has spent most of her 24-year career dedicated to developing experience for the company that created Shake Shack and is known
leaders who create inspiring work environments that enable people to globally for its culture.
be fulfilled while also achieving extraordinary business results. Moran has a series of awards to her credit, including being named
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Dr. Nancy Grasmick one of the Top 50 Women Innovators in the Restaurant Industry (2019).
Leadership Institute,” Moran said. “Our world needs capable and ethical She is a two-time honoree through the National Restaurant Association
leadership more than ever before and this institute will undoubtedly Power List of Culture Champions (2017 and 2019) and Women’s Foodservice
positively transform and impact so many people. And as a proud Forum Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality (2018).
Baltimore native, I am beyond thrilled to join a pre-eminent national TU’s Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute is an interdisciplinary
university such as Towson University." research and action-based institute that launched in September.
She spent nearly a decade with Great Place to Work where she The externally facing institute is forging a new standard for leadership
studied leading workplace cultures, helped produce the “Fortune 100 development for the state, region and nation that will elevate leaders
Best Companies to Work For” list and advised clients on how to improve across all levels.
No Kidding
A herd of goats from Harmony Church Farm came to campus in
late September. The Bovidae chowed down on invasive species
in The Glen’s 10 acres to give native plants space to grow.
Bringing goats to the Glen is part of TU’s wider commitment
to sustainability that includes energy conservation, waste
reduction, carbon offsets and education and outreach.
FALL 2021 | 5
crisis five or 10 years ago that
they didn’t cope very well with,
that negative traumatic experience
can be in the forefront of their
minds when there’s a new
diagnosis. Conversely, families
that had sufficient support and
coping mechanisms may
understand that this new health
issue will be challenging, but they
have been through hard things
before, they handled it well and
they anticipate being able to
overcome this new challenge.
There is also research that
indicates that people who have less
supportive intimate partners and
spouses may have worse physical
health outcomes compared to
people who have more-supportive
spouses or partners. My dissertation
focused on women who were single
when they were diagnosed with
breast cancer. Half of the people
had never been married. The other
A persistent assumption is that half were divorced at the time of
OFFICE HOURS CLL is the “good” kind of cancer. their diagnosis. Many people who
Cancer Survivorship
The treatment often doesn’t have were divorced basically said, “The
as many side effects as other kinds cancer diagnosis is unfortunate, but
of cancer. CLL is something people I am so glad that I was diagnosed
live with for a long time. But no after getting divorced because my
Professor Amanda Ginter explains the emotional one really wants to hear that they life is so much better going through
complexities involved in receiving a cancer have the “good” kind of cancer. this single than if I was still with
diagnosis. When people find out that they have an unsupportive partner.” Not all
cancer, they want a certain level partners are supportive—or are
The concept of survivorship in the context of cancer has changed a lot of gravitas, not to hear from their able to cope with the diagnosis
over the last few decades. Cancer is often thought of as an acute illness, oncologists, “Be happy; it can be and treatment—and therefore, it’s
in that when someone is diagnosed, they’re treated for it and then so much worse.” important that patients’ medical
doctors assess for any remaining “evidence of cancer.”
If there is no evidence of cancer, then that person is
considered successfully treated. If five years pass “Cancer survivorship is very different for each
with no evidence of cancer, then that person is
considered a survivor.
person. I think it’s important to know who’s in your
But survivorship is actually a complicated and life and who’s going to be helpful and who isn’t.”
much more nuanced concept. There are individuals who
might have metastatic cancer, for example, in which the
cancer has spread from the initial site to other parts of the body. A person More sensitivity is needed in teams don’t assume the presence
may live with metastatic cancer for weeks or months. In some cases, years. treating people with any form of of a partner guarantees sufficient
For those individuals, what does it mean to be a survivor? One term cancer and recognizing that any support for the patient.
used in the metastatic breast cancer community is “metavivor.” What does cancer diagnosis is going to cause In order to best support patients
quality of life look like for them? stress and worry for that individual and families, it is crucial that
and their family. medical care providers don’t make
Another group is individuals who are diagnosed with a chronic form
Decades of research supports the assumptions; ask about the needs,
of cancer. I’m currently studying people who have chronic lymphocytic
fact that how family members react questions and fears of patients
leukemia (CLL), which often lasts indefinitely. to someone’s cancer diagnosis is and families; and know when to
With CLL, a person may not need treatment right away. The periods often very much informed by what refer people to mental health care
between diagnosis, initial treatment and subsequent treatment is called their previous experience has been providers. A diagnosis of cancer
“watch and wait.” They’re under observation with their doctors and then with health issues, be it cancer or brings stress and fear. Ensuring
undergo treatment as needed. What does survivorship mean to something else. people feel cared for goes a long way
someone who will likely live with cancer for the rest of their life? If a family had a major health in improving their quality of life.
6 | TU MAGAZINE
The One MENTORSHIP
That Changed My Life
A person, place or
thing can make all
the difference Mia Williams, right, and Casey Miller.
I liked the people and the work we I was trying to get my first internship. a space to influence people I want
did. I got trained on resumes and I got rejected, and when Danielle to make anyone I interact with
cover letters, and I was interfacing and I had our one-on-one, I broke feels the way I felt when I was
MIA with students on a day-to-day basis, down crying. She validated me and having those one-on-ones with
WILLIAMS ʼ19 which I really enjoyed.
Danielle Brower was my manager
let me know that I was qualified
for any internship and that I would
Casey and Danielle.
From them, I learned how to
FoundHER of The Colors for my first year and a half. But leave that year with an internship, manage from a people perspective,
of Her Success Danielle left for another role, so so I didn’t have to be worried. I not from a “This is what I need from
I started working with Casey Miller. ended up graduating having had you” perspective. I also learned that
My freshman year I started working Our relationships developed five internships, with organizations mentorship is a two-way street. They
at the front desk of the Career naturally, because we would have like [sports marketing firm] Octagon, are people I have kept in touch with.
Center. Then I became a career weekly meetings. We had the NASCAR and [the Baltimore branch Even when Danielle left for another
peer adviser (CPA), where I helped freedom to talk about whatever of] the PR firm Weber Shandwick. role, I still would see how she was
students with their resumes and we wanted. Originally, we were I have a business called the doing. And I’ve reached out to Casey
cover letters. I wanted to expand supposed to talk about how many Colors of Her Success. I help young even though I’ve graduated.
my skill set and knowledge of the students came in for express hours professionals by interviewing high- My mentorship and the support
professional development world and things like that. But eventually, powered women of color on their I had in college are what helped me
because if I wanted an internship it became a therapy session, and it career journeys, offering professional develop into the person I am today.
or job [in the future], I would was like, “Well, what’s going on in development services and posting Because Casey and Danielle saw
always have that skill set. your life, and how’s school going and social media content. something in me that I didn’t see
My dad was really big on me how are you doing with finals?” [The mentorship taught] me how back then. I really appreciated that.
working at the Career Center, and One moment I remember to be a boss. I have hired a team for At that time, that’s what I needed.
I’m glad I decided to work there. specifically with Danielle was when my business, and now [that] I am in I needed to be uplifted.
FALL 2021 | 7
Moving On Up
1972 SEPT. 11, 2001 2021
BORN IN PRINCE
GEORGE’S COUNTY, 2001
MARYLAND
JOINED REUTERS AS
Tom is the oldest HEAD OF ITS MERGERS
of five children. AND ACQUISITIONS DESK WAS IN REUTERS’ “For any leader, the last
NEWSROOM IN TIMES 18 months has been an
SQUARE WHEN THE
PLANES HIT THE
incredible challenge,
TWIN TOWERS. leading during a time
when we’re dealing
“I can vividly recall with a pandemic but
1999
1990 when someone also going through this
MOVED TO NEW YORK shouted that incredibly important
CITY TO WORK FOR something had hit conversation as a
CNN FINANCIAL NEWS the World Trade country about how we
TU has sparked countless Center. It quickly treat people of all races
“New York was went from stunned and handle diversity.
GRADUATED FROM
innovators. These are GLENELG HIGH SCHOOL
a whole different silence to a lot of I try to be as in the
IN HOWARD COUNTY,
ballgame. You frantic activity. trenches as anyone
their stories. WHERE HE WAS THE go from covering Reporters and editors else in the company.”
SPORTS EDITOR OF mostly state issues discussing how we
THE NEWSPAPER HIS to covering national were going to cover
Tom
SENIOR YEAR
and global issues. it. We knew the
I had to learn fast.
Johnson ’94
companies in the
I got to travel to World Trade Center.
big company We covered them.
CEO of Abernathy MacGregor events and do It was a place that
1990–94 profiles of titans I visited to interview 2016
A reporter by training, Tom Johnson’s of industry. It’s people all the time.
WROTE FOR THE
path to the corporate boardroom TOWERLIGHT, COVERING
where I developed I still remember the NAMED CEO
was highly unconventional. It PRIMARILY SPORTS AND
an interest in moment when the
mergers and “We’re one of a handful
weaved through newsrooms at SERVED AS THE SPORTS first tower fell. An
of firms that focuses
TU, in Frederick and Baltimore and
EDITOR HIS SENIOR YEAR acquisitions.” audible gasp went out
on corporate strategic
ultimately in New York City, where from the newsroom.
communication. We
he contributed to Reuters’ coverage It went from the
help companies big
adrenaline rush of
of 9/11. Today he runs a strategic and small, public and
trying to cover a news
communications firm with 85 1994 story to an incredible
private, think about
employees in five offices around the how to communicate
WORKED AS A GENERAL human tragedy.”
country. “For me, entrepreneurship, ASSIGNMENT REPORTER 1995 important matters like
collaboration and leading by FOR THE FREDERICK a CEO change, mergers
NEWS-POST or an IPO to various
example best define what I do,” he
constituencies. It’s
says. “I was a mass communication “You cover the courts, wildly unpredictable.
major—I don’t proclaim to be the you cover the police, My family has learned
world’s best businessperson. You’ve the local planning WROTE FOR THE DAILY
RECORD IN BALTIMORE,
that I’m only about
got to have an open communication boards, social COVERING BANKING 2004 90% sure to show up
style where you allow people to gatherings. It was very AND FINANCE,
BECAME NORTH
for whatever event
BEFORE BECOMING
bring forward good ideas and much a community THEIR STATEHOUSE
AMERICAN FINANCE I’ve committed to.”
concerns, because if we’re going newspaper. That’s REPORTER AS WELL
EDITOR AT REUTERS
to grow, we’re going to do it where I learned how
collectively.” to be a reporter.”
2005
To read Johnson’s essay on 9/11 from JOINED ABERNATHY
the Winter 2002 issue of TU Magazine, MACGREGOR AS SENIOR
visit towson.edu/MovingOnUp. VICE PRESIDENT
8 | TU MAGAZINECoffee With...
Cori Dioquino ’07
We sat down with the founder life waiting to go back home, and now I’m home, money. After they acted out their job, they would
and I don’t fit in here.” I started to question a lot earn a paycheck. They were using their little budget
and co-executive director of the of things and to realize, “Hey, I didn’t have sheet to add and subtract. And then we got to talk
Asian Pasifika Arts Collective to X, Y and Z opportunities as a kid. I didn’t to them about, “Why should we save money? Why
talk about Asian representation have people telling me that I could be this if is it important?” We were able to tie in real life.
I wanted to be this.” When I realized I could
in the arts, arts integration and be the representation for kids that I didn’t have, Q: Why did you start the Asian Pasifika
her plans for the collective. that’s when I started saying, “How can I make Arts Collective?
my work mean something, not just for me?” A: I used to have a blog called I Am Not a Ninja. I
wrote in response to a production of The Mikado,
Q: How do you define representation? and it accidentally went viral. I was afraid it was
LOCATION:
A: Diversity is like checking off boxes. too angry but, apparently, it was the anger that
Red Emma’s in Baltimore Representation is, are you honoring our resonated with everyone. It was this clue, “Oh, I
experiences? Are you’re telling our stories am not the only pissed-off Asian right now.” I used
honestly and sincerely? Are you letting us tell the momentum. I remember the first meeting
IN HER CUP:
our stories? One of the conflicts that we have happened in D.C. It made me realize people just
Latte with non-dairy creamer often, especially in theater, is that it’s people want a place to come together. We just want to
and raw sugar telling Asian stories, but they’re not Asian. feel as if we can vent about the things that we
If you’re going to tell an Asian story, not only experience and not feel as if we’re judged.
are you hiring Asian actors, you should be
ADDICTION LEVEL:
hiring Asian producers, Asian directors, Q: What programming are you planning on
At least one cup per day Asian choreographers. You really should be offering with the collective going forward?
but trying to cut back making this about them and not about you. A: We are looking to expand AAPI Voices, a
storytelling, music and poetry series. We’re also
Q: What do you do as an arts integration looking to develop some education programs.
Q: What did you do right after college? teacher? We would love to start with after-school programs,
A: I took a break from acting and got into A: Arts integration is using the arts to help kids where Asian teaching artists are in the classroom.
teaching and doing arts integration. I did some understand core curricula. This summer, we used We’re doing our first art contest for emerging
traveling, had a little bit of a life crisis when theater to help kids understand more about money 18- to 26-year-old AAPI artists to help them find
I went back home to the Philippines and was like, management. They were first and second graders. a voice. It’s open to the entire East Coast and
“Oh, I don’t belong here either. I spent my entire In week two or three, we introduced them to play there are cash prizes.
FALL 2021 | 9Nationally Known WOMEN’S SOCCER Nia Christopher ’24 has been has really helped Nia get stronger were just thrilled that she chose penalty curse with confidence.” following in her father, Lloyd’s, and faster to hold off opponents Towson.” Christopher says one of the footsteps since she first stepped and play quickly to avoid tackles,” Before Christopher picked TU, biggest adjustments she’s had to on a soccer field at the age of says women’s soccer head coach her country called on her. She make has been getting used to four or five. Katherine Vettori. “The past year began training with the Bermuda playing at the Division I level. A utility player for the Bermuda the learning curve has been women’s national organization at “It is completely different from men’s senior national soccer team, huge, and she’s stood up to the the age of 12 and joined the senior club and high school,” she says. the elder Christopher even took his challenge.” team at 17. “But I think that getting on the place between the posts during his A two-time all-conference The Devonshire, Bermuda, national team helped me a lot tenure. standout during her two years native has played matches for her because I was always playing Nia, however, prefers attack. at The John Carroll School, country while a Tiger, and Vettori with older girls. I was always Her aim for the 2021 fall season Christopher caught Vettori’s eye believes the experience has helped one of the youngest.” is striking in its simplicity: “I want when the coach was scouting Christopher grow her confidence Christopher’s abilities on the to score more goals.” at the Jefferson Cup, one of the and leadership ability. ball are just one reason she’s The forward earned All-CAA top-rated youth soccer “Last year, in her first college become an asset to the team. second team and rookie team honors tournaments in the country. game, she went up to take the Her coach sees her “soft” skills after the 2021 spring season, when “She scored an amazing goal, penalty kick and hit the crossbar. as vital too. she started all eight games and led and I just said, ’We need her. She And I think since then, she hasn’t “Nia is all about business,” the team in points and shots on goal. can help us,’” Vettori recalls. “She’s necessarily been excited about Vettori says. “She’s professional She scored her first career goal—the quick. She’s agile. She can meet taking penalties,” Vettori says. every day, has a great attitude game winner—in a 1-0 victory over players one on one, but she’s also “But in the St. Joe’s game [on Aug. and is out there smiling and Delaware on April 4. very smart and very technical. She 19], when we got the penalty, she just loves the game. And it’s “I think, physically, this past year really is a complete player, and we walked up, took it and broke our contagious.” 10 | TU MAGAZINE
Soccer to
McKenna Smet
Handball
What was previously a foul in the sport she
grew up playing has become former women’s
soccer player McKenna Smet’s new focus:
handball. Smet ’13 turned a pandemic hobby
KAIYA TOWNSEND SABUR ’24 into a spot on the U.S. women’s national team’s
was a field hockey preseason All-CAA
honorable mention after starting four preliminary roster, even though her first game
of eight spring-season games action came during a tryout with the country’s
and earning All-CAA Rookie Team top players. The team is looking to qualify
honors. She had one goal and for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
one assist for three points.
VINNIE SHAFFER ’22
had six tackles and a half-sack against
eight-time FCS national champion
North Dakota State in the football
home-opener on Sept. 18.
FOOTBALL MEN’S VOLLEYBALL FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL
RILEY MELENDEZ ’24 Preseason Portugal Marking Battling for
was a 2021 CAA All-Conference honorable Stars Bound Milestones Baltimore
mention in the preseason women’s soccer
coaches poll. Second team All-CAA
in the spring, she was a three-time Five football players earned Nakye Sanders ’20 will Volleyball head coach The football team earned
CAA Defensive Player of the Week with a spot on the Phil Steele play for Portugal’s CD Don Metil collected his its first shutout since the
31 saves on the season, allowing just Preseason Colonial Athletic Povoa/Monteadriano 400th career win with a 2017 season, defeating
five goals in the first seven games.
Association All-Conference basketball team for the five-set victory over Navy crosstown rival Morgan
Team: D’Ago Hunter 2021–22 year. He was a on Aug. 29. He began his State 31-0 on Sept. 4,
(kick returner) and Luke two-year starter in the TU head coaching career in to retain the Battle for
Hamilton (fullback) made the frontcourt, averaging 8.7 2002; in his nine seasons Greater Baltimore trophy.
second team while Aaron points and 5.9 rebounds at TU, Metil has tallied TU scored a touchdown in
Grzymkowski (offensive line), per contest. He is the third 170 wins, second all time. every quarter and did not
Christian Dixon (linebacker) member of his class who The 2019 CAA, ECAC allow Morgan State past
and Shane McDonough has or will have played and AVCA East Region the TU 32-yard line. The
(punter) were on the a professional season Coach of the Year guided Tigers won their season
third team. Hunter was in Europe: Sanders in TU to a perfect 16-0 opener for the fourth
also CAA Preseason Portugal, Brian Fobbs in CAA matches before season in a row. The
All-Conference at the in Finland and Dennis winning the 2019 previous three times had
NYGIL JOHNSON ’22
same position. Tunstall in Luxembourg. CAA Championship. all been on the road.
notched four tackles, a half-sack and
two quarterback hurries in his first
collegiate start, the football team’s 31-0
win over Morgan State on Sept. 4.
FALL 2021 | 11SHOOTING
GOLD
FOR
PATRICK SMITH ’09
TOOK ROUGHLY 102,000 PHOTOS
AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS.
BY CODY BOTELER ’17 IT STARTED EVERY MORNING After waking up each morning,
AT 5:15, TOKYO TIME. Smith would leave his hotel by 6:15
Patrick Smith would roll over and a.m. Once he arrived at the day’s venue,
immediately spit into a test tube, filling he and his colleagues would spend
it with saliva. Then he’d affix a barcode time getting through security, dropping
to the tube, use his phone to register off their saliva samples for COVID-19
the barcode and then use a different testing and setting up their gear.
app to answer questions about how COVID-19 precautions also included
he was feeling. wearing a mask or other face covering
This was just one of the safety all day, every day. The only time
protocols Smith ’09 took each day while Smith took his mask off, he says,
he was covering the 2020 Olympic was in his hotel room.
Games as a photojournalist for Getty But when the action started,
Images. Smith has been snapping shots he was ready to capture it. Over the
professionally for 15 years, but not course of three and a half weeks, he
even the three weeks he spent in Rio took roughly 102,000 photos, covering
documenting the 2016 Summer sports that ranged from skateboarding
Olympics could have prepared him to track and field.
for the pandemic version of one of the “The camera is one of the few things
world’s most prestigious sporting events. in my life that takes everything away,”
12 | TU MAGAZINE1 Noah Lyles strikes
the Hadouken
attack pose from
the Street Fighter
video game series
after placing in the
men’s 200-meter
race. The photo
captures Lyles in
a moment of raw
Smith says. “It puts me in that moment, most historic games we will ever cover,” celebration. “It’s cool
to give the viewer the
to be mindful when I’m there. To know Smith says. “It was cool to document
front-row seat. If you
it’s my job to document history…when it. As sad as it was, it’s an incredible were his teammate,
that camera comes to my face, there’s opportunity.” this is what you
not much else that I’m thinking about, might be seeing.”
other than being there.” Smith’s photojournalism career began
In some ways, once the competitions at The Towerlight, TU’s independent,
started, his experience in Japan was student-run newspaper. He can 2 The disconnect
similar to the work he did in Brazil. In still remember walking into the between a competition
and a vacant venue
other ways, the differences were stark. newspaper’s office in the University caught Smith’s
In 2016, Smith says, a Getty client Union and asking then-editor-in-chief attention. In this
could get a photo in about a minute. Brian Stelter ’07—now an anchor on shot, he focused on
During the Tokyo Games, one of CNN—how to join the staff. the empty stadium
rather than the athlete.
his photos from the 100-meter final “I’ve had a camera in my hand for
Skateboarding was
was available just 16 seconds after the rest of my life,” Smith says. a new event at the
he took it. While he doesn’t remember his first Olympics, but that
But perhaps the biggest—and most assignment, Smith does remember an fact will probably
obvious—difference between the Rio early one: to capture photos of a star soon be forgotten.
“Everyone involved
and Tokyo games was the distinct lack on the football team. One problem: the will always remember
of a crowd. To protect the health of ath- player showed up without shoes. the empty seats.”
letes and those working at the Olympic “So in the picture, he’s on the 50 yard
venues, no spectators were allowed. line in socks,” Smith says, laughing.
“There is not one person, not There isn’t one particular photo 3 “The world we live
one family member, not one spouse from his time on staff at the student in, there’s so much of
cheering the athletes on. I can’t imagine paper that defines his college career, moving on to the next
“
thing. There’s a little
what it felt like for them. These are the Smith says. He remembers covering
bit of, ’What’s going
on here?’ that keeps
you engaged.”
2
“THESE ARE THE MOST
HISTORIC GAMES WE
WILL EVER COVER.”
—PATRICK SMITH ’09
14 | TU MAGAZINE1
3
FALL 2021 | 151 16 | TU MAGAZINE 2
3
football games and student protests and “Having a challenge is what keeps
1 “We’re always sweating in the office of a university me coming back,” he says.
trying to shoot
administrator because he was nervous. Even if he goes to a stadium or is
something ordinary
in an extraordinary “We worked really hard, we laughed, sent to cover a team that he has before,
way,” Smith says we pushed the envelope too far at the circumstances are always different,
of this photo, times,” Smith says. “Those kinds of giving him an opportunity to hone
taken with a long things live with you forever. his craft. He’s been documenting local
exposure time.
“I don’t want the “We were learning every day. You’re teams like the Baltimore Orioles and
same pictures as in a university setting, but without the Washington Capitals since he was a
anyone else.” guidance of a professor. It wasn’t like student, and regularly since 2011, so
sitting in a classroom waiting for a he’s “seen teams completely change.”
grade. If you did something wrong, Rob Carr, Smith’s boss at Getty
2 This decathlete you learned from it.” Images, says Smith has a unique eye.
brought grace and Since then, Smith has gone on to “He’s very much a perfectionist, in
beauty to his work.
become a Pulitzer finalist and won everything that he does,” Carr says.
“I don’t think I shot
his first attempt recognition from organizations like the
[at the jump], but National Photographers Association and So what makes a good photo?
I saw him do it and the White House News Photographers “Evoking emotion is what I’m going
I knew I had to get Association. for,” he says. “I want a photo to make
over to him.”
Smith has three older brothers, and me feel something. I want it to make
his dad coached soccer and lacrosse, me laugh. Make me cry, make me
so everything he did was competitive, smile, make me want to ask questions,
3 On the day he
took this photo, “whether it was running up the stairs to or make me say ’wow’ out loud.”
Smith was working beat my brothers or actually competing That’s not to discount the importance
with two colleagues in a game,” he says. of knowing the technical skills of
who specialize Now Smith, who says he is his own how to operate a camera, Smith says,
in gymnastics
biggest critic, pushes himself as a or understanding what makes an
photography, so
he was able to get photographer every day. ethical photojournalist.
creative. “You have
to put yourself
somewhere you
think something
might happen…if
you see it in your
head and draw it
up, you put yourself
in a great position
to get lucky.”
FALL 2021 | 171 Smith’s new
passion is capturing
images of waves
at the beach. He
loves the color in
this photo and that
the wave is closing,
which puts the
viewer right in the
moment. There’s
only one way to get
a photo like this:
“getting up before
sunrise and being
in the water when
it’s dark. That’s the
commitment you
make to wanting
to make art.”
2 There was no
bigger story in
Tokyo than American
gymnast Simone
Biles. This photo
was taken before
her announcement
of her withdrawal
1
from several
competitions. “A lot
of photographers
think, ’Oh, if I get a
photo of X athlete,
it’s a great photo.’
Kanji Takeno, TU’s former longtime a meal was delicious came in handy, I try not to harp on
that. Just because
director of photographic services, is Smith says.
it’s a familiar face
one of Smith’s mentors. In addition to His journalism professors, too, left does not mean it’s
discussing photography with Takeno, their mark on him, he says. a great photo.”
Smith recalls taking a Japanese “Those bonds and relationships that This one is.
language course with him and traveling I got at Towson are so important to
to Japan with Takeno’s encouragement. what I am today,” Smith says.
Takeno says Smith has an amazing But, when it comes to the feel of a 3 This photo is of
talent for capturing colors in photos good photo, which he says is key, that’s Allyson Felix, who
had just become
and for making his subjects feel not something he thinks can be learned one of the most
comfortable. Smith, Takeno says, was from a textbook or lecture. decorated U.S. track
always dedicated and friendly, even “It’s a lifetime of learning,” Smith says. and field athletes.
when learning the difficult language. “I can teach you how to use a camera; Smith captured the
image of Felix alone
Seeing Smith succeed—and travel to I can teach you the fundamentals of
and leaving the
Japan, where Takeno is from—has been composition. But I can’t teach you how stadium because
incredibly rewarding, Takeno says. to walk into an environment—any kind he was the only
While in Tokyo for the Olympics, of situation—and get a feel on where journalist who
Smith put some of Takeno’s teachings to stand. That’s what breaks good saw this moment.
to use. He revisited some of the cuisine, photographers from great—the ability
including sushi and dumplings, that he to read a situation and move about the
was introduced to by Takeno as a environment they’re in.”
student. He knew his way around
town—at least a little bit—and could
speak some Japanese as well. Phrases Cody Boteler ’17 is TU’s assistant director
like asking for the bathroom or saying for social media strategy.
18 | TU MAGAZINE2
3 FALL 2021 | 19READING THE STORY IN
RED SOIL
Mike Thorpe ’12 plans for the day Earth
by megan bradshaw
receives its first souvenirs from Mars.
M
ars has been a part of human myths, to describe streaks he viewed on Mars’
philosophies and aspirations since surface was wrongly thought to mean
the Babylonians spotted it in 400 BC. canals and imply that intelligent life on
The Red Planet’s mystique may Mars had dug a canal system.
have a great deal to do with the longing By the 1950s, Mars and Martians
to explore or escape to a faraway place, were fixtures in American cinema,
but for Mike Thorpe, a sedimentary television and fiction.
geochemist contracted to NASA, its In 1964, fact caught up to science
attraction is grounded more in, well, fiction when NASA launched Mariner
the ground. 4, a spacecraft that orbited Mars and
“Understanding the ancient sent 21 photos to Earth. NASA sent
environments on Mars is going to Viking 1 and 2 to the planet in 1976
provide us clues to the history of water but didn’t return to that corner of the
and maybe why Earth is so unique,” solar system for another 20 years when
he says. “I study Earth to get a better the organization launched the Mars
reference on what we’re seeing on Odyssey, which landed in 2001 and is
Mars. But I’m also studying Mars to still working.
understand early Earth.” In 2012, the Curiosity rover—about
Humanity’s fascination with Mars the size of a minivan—landed at Gale
has grown alongside its scientific Crater to search for ancient habitable
advancements. environments by acquiring rock, soil
Dutch astronomer Christiaan and air samples for on-board analysis.
Huygens published Cosmotheros in It was joined by the Perseverance rover
1698, discussing what was required of in early 2021.
a planet to support life and speculating As part of his role, Thorpe ’12 works
on intelligent extraterrestrials. Fears on the chemistry and mineralogy
of little green men began as early as (CheMin) instrument on Curiosity.
1877 when Italian philosopher Giovanni “My role on that team is to look at
Schiaparelli’s use of the word canali the samples that are drilled into the
20 | TU MAGAZINEThe Curiosity rover used two cameras to take this selfie in front of Mont Mercou. (NASA)
FALL 2021 | 21surface of Mars. The powder is picked “Joel showed me that there were source to sink.’ We start in the moun-
up and X-rayed onboard, and then the places on Earth that looked like Mars, tains where these rocks are formed,
data come back down to Earth,” he in terms of the rock composition— and then we trace them as they are
says. “We interpret it and then analyze places like Idaho, Hawaii and Iceland. transported via rivers downstream,”
what minerals are present. Some of the he says. “Another chapter in my
new minerals that we are identifying dissertation was taking what the
give us clues into some of the earliest Curiosity rover was observing on
water in our solar system and what Mars [at the time] and comparing
was going on in these ancient lake those findings to the field sites that
environments on Mars before we
MORE ON MARS I previously went to.
even have history of water on Earth.” “A take-home from my dissertation
•
was that Mars, at some point, looked
Thorpe’s career started solidly It was named for the very Icelandic. The ancient climate
on terra firma. Growing up in New Roman god of war. of Mars was likely more of a cold and
York’s Hudson Valley, he and his
sister Lauren frequently went hiking. • It is 142 million miles icy climate than it was a warm and
wet climate.”
“We would always find these
from the sun. Which is one of the reasons Thorpe
really cool spots,” the 31-year-old
says. “My sister said one day, ’Each
• The average distance has returned to Iceland several times.
He did fieldwork there during his
between Earth and Mars
rock tells a story.’ That resonated
is 140 million miles. postdoctoral fellowship with NASA in
with me. To learn history from rocks 2019 and visited again from late July
was something that motivated me • Its diameter is 4,220 to early August this past summer.
to learn more.” miles (Earth’s is 7,926). On the latest trip, Thorpe and
Thorpe enrolled at TU as an a large team of researchers from
undeclared major with an interest • A year there is 687 universities in the U.S. and England
in environmental science. Earth days. took rock and sediment samples and
• A day there is 24 hours,
“It wasn’t until I took an tested bodies of water to understand
introduction to geology class with what’s happening beneath the surface
Professor Lev my second semester 37 minutes and is and identify areas that were rich with
that I realized how much I enjoyed called a sol. groundwater discharging into the lake.
geology,” Thorpe recalls. “Professor
Lev was a mentor and showed me • The average temperature He earned a NASA graduate
fellowship in 2015 before meeting
how I could make my passion is -81 degrees Fahrenheit. Elizabeth Rampe, an exploration
for the environment into a career
with geology.”
• It has two moons mission scientist within NASA’s
Astromaterials Research and
(Phobos and Deimos).
A few of the simpler field trips Exploration Science division, with
Thorpe took with his TU professors
• 100 pounds on Earth whom he shared professional interests
have stuck with him. weighs only 38 pounds and a desire to collaborate. She became
“Some of the best places to go on Mars. his adviser when he was accepted into
for geology is a road cut, which the NASA Johnson Space Center’s (JSC)
is where they’re building bridges • It would take more postdoctoral program in 2018.
or new highway and drilling than six Marses to fill “Mike is so enthusiastic, engaging
into rock. As a geologist, that’s the volume of Earth. and interested,” Rampe says. “He
where you find some of the best found me at a poster presentation
exposures,” he says. “So, some I was giving at the Lunar and Planetary
of our field trips were just on the Science Conference in 2017. NASA
side of the road on I-95.” postdoctoral fellowships are prestigious
After discovering an interest in I did fieldwork in these environments, and hard to get, but he told me,
hydrology as an undergrad, Thorpe and it really opened my eyes to how ’I think we have a really good project,
went on to study the subject at Stony I could take my passion and apply it and I really want to work with you,
Brook University in New York, where to another planet.” so I think we’re just going to get it.’”
he earned his master’s and his Thorpe wrote his dissertation, When the opportunity for the
doctorate in geosciences. in part, on Icelandic basalts—dark, Mars sample return scientist position
Thorpe credits his doctoral adviser, fine-grained volcanic rock—and how opened, Thorpe was eager to apply.
Joel Hurowitz, for expanding his under- they break down. “Collecting and analyzing the
standing of what his career could be. “The theme of my work is ’from samples on Earth that I’ve worked with
22 | TU MAGAZINETop: Mike Thorpe standing in front of Fagradalsfjall, a volcano about 25 miles from Reykjavik, Iceland.
Left: Thorpe extracting lake cores to compare with sedimentary rocks on Mars. Right: In 2014, Curiosity
completed a shallow drill of a rock target called Windjana to evaluate whether to drill deeper to
collect sample material. (NASA)
FALL 2021 | 23U.S.–MARS
EXPLORATION
TIMELINE
NOV. 28, 1964 | NASA
launches Mariner 4, which
reaches Mars July 14,
1965. It completes the first
successful flyby of Mars,
and the spacecraft sends
21 photos to Earth.
AUG. 20, 1975 | Viking
1 and 2 (Sept. 9, 1975)
execute NASA’s first suc-
cessful surface landings.
They achieve the first
extended exploration of
the planet and reveal that
the composition of Mars is
almost identical to certain
meteorites found on Earth.
NOV. 7, 1996 | The Mars
Global Surveyor leaves
Earth, arriving on Sept. 12,
1997; NASA loses contact
with it in 2006. It maps
Mars pole to pole and helps
scientists decide where to
land future rovers.
MARCH 7, 2001 | Mars
The Askja Caldera in the Dyngjufjöll since I started my Ph.D. was really the rover, to understand what sources Odyssey launches, landing
Mountains, located on the northern side foundation of what set me up for this of contamination there might be.” on Oct. 24, 2001. It is still
working and holds the
of Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park. job,” he says. “My job is two-fold: to Another of his responsibilities record for longest-serving
prepare for the samples to come back requires him to consider things that spacecraft on the surface.
from Mars one day and think about may not exist yet: what tools are going It has returned more than
how we can best characterize these to be used to analyze the samples 350,000 images, mapped
global distributions of
samples when they come back.” when they come back.
several elements and
“Some of the instruments that relayed more than 95% of
Just because it will take years for we may be analyzing these samples all data from the Spirit and
the samples taken by Perseverance with haven’t even been built yet,” Opportunity rovers.
to return to Earth doesn’t mean he says. “We may have some newer
Thorpe is idle. technology with capabilities that we NOV. 26, 2011 | Curiosity,
“Right now, I’m busy collecting and aren’t even familiar with yet. So it’s the rover Mike Thorpe
curating reference materials from the understanding what is state of the art works with, launches,
arriving at Gale Crater on
Mars 2020 rover with the team here now and also projecting what it is Aug. 5, 2012. Its mission is
at NASA JSC as well as the NASA Jet going to be in the future and how we to find out if Mars has the
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), ultimately can improve that to handle some of right environmental condi-
helping build a history of sample the most precious geological samples tions to support microbes,
essentially small life forms.
collection through the course of the we’ll ever have in our lifetime.”
mission,” he says. But to have materials to handle, they
“All this work leading up to Mars have to be extracted from the surface JULY 30, 2020 | Perse-
sample return is to make sure we know of Mars first. verance launches, landing
that what’s in these samples is truly NASA calls Curiosity “the largest, on Feb. 18, 2021, carrying
the Ingenuity helicop-
Martian. Perseverance was made here most capable rover ever sent to Mars.” ter. A key objective for
on Earth and we want to keep Earth, It uses a 7-foot arm to place any of its Perseverance’s mission is
Earth and Mars, Mars. We need to 10 science instruments close to rocks astrobiology, including the
analyze every step of the way, selected for onboard analysis. Its tools search for signs of ancient
microbial life. It is search-
including every part of making the include 17 cameras, a laser to vaporize
ing the Jezero Crater.
Ingenuity was designed to
complete the first powered,
controlled air flight on a
planet aside from Earth.
24 | TU MAGAZINEand study small pinpoint spots of constraints and uploading instructions from Mars are still nearly a decade
rocks at a distance and a drill to collect and algorithms to Curiosity, “ideally away, Thorpe is excited to log in
powdered rock samples. before 4 p.m.,” followed by a team every day.
Perseverance, whose design was debrief and leaving instructions for the “Each new [sample] that we’re
based on Curiosity’s, is equipped with next set of colleagues who comes in. looking at with the Curiosity rover
an even more sophisticated drill that is one that’s never been explored be-
is capable of collecting rock cores The plan for returning the samples fore,” he says. "Some of the data
and soil samples then storing them in taken by Perseverance is worthy of a that my team views is the first time
sealed tubes for pickup during a future Hollywood movie, filled with action, anybody gets to see what minerals
mission. These are the samples that adventure and many ways the scheme are in that particular sample from
will return to Earth. could go awry. Mars. Each sample unravels a
“Curiosity’s role is to investigate The rover will take anywhere new piece of the history for Mars
the geochemistry, the mineralogy with between 30 and 40 samples in tubes and also gives us a piece of the
unique, very robust instruments to look about the size of a pen with a puzzle to early water in our
for habitability,” Thorpe says. “One of diameter between a nickel to a quarter.
the biggest takeaways is that it is It will then cache them in two spots.
indeed habitable because we see a lot Scientists are storing duplicate
of clay minerals. Clays are ubiquitous samples to create backups in case
with lake environments on Earth, of damage or loss.
which are some of the most habitable
environments here on Earth.”
A collaboration between NASA
and the European Space Agency will
The plan for
As part of his work with Curiosity’s
CheMin instrument, he meets virtually
send the Fetch rover to Mars’ surface
to collect the sample caches. Fetch
returning the
with collaborators all over the world to
plan each day’s missions.
will launch a basketball-sized
ascent vehicle containing the samples
samples taken
“We have an engineering team and
a science team. The engineers give us
into orbit, where an orbiter from yet
another mission will catch and
by Perseverance
constraints: ’The rover can go this far. It bring them home. is worthy of a
can climb on this terrain. It can use this Due to the lengths and speeds in
amount of energy,’” he says. “Then the which Mars and Earth orbit the sun, Hollywood movie,
scientists take those constraints and try optimal, efficient launch windows only
to pack as much science into the daily come around about every two years. filled with action,
operations as we can. That’s part of the reason for the length
“The teams that are operating these of this mission. adventure and
many ways the
things are just amazing. It’s at least 50 Thorpe speculates the Fetch rover
individuals daily working together. And will launch in 2026, followed by the
scheme could
it’s not just the science behind it. It’s return rover in 2028 and the samples
the folks that are driving the rover and should arrive back on Earth in the
keeping it safe, keeping it healthy who
are really the superstars.”
early 2030s. Once the samples come
back to Earth, the sample return team go awry.
Thorpe’s team—one of approximately will have the first collected examples
11 associated with Curiosity—is in of Martian soil and rock humans have
charge of uploading and downloading ever seen. Thorpe and his team are
its data each day. Those data can be an already well aware of the significance
X-rayed sample or information about of that—and the potential pitfalls.
the status of the onboard instruments. “How can we keep these Martian solar system in the form of ancient
“One of Mike’s strengths is that he samples as pristine as possible here lake and river environments and
is really willing to do anything that the on Earth, where the conditions and maybe gives us clues to early
team needs,” Rampe says. “He learned atmosphere are fundamentally Earth as well.
how to interpret the X-ray diffraction different?” he asks. “The potential “Mars is the furthest afield
data using a technique called Reitveld for Mars sample return comes with that I’ve ever been. I may not
refinement. This technique is not easy, a huge responsibility and exploring ever get to physically touch down,
and there’s only a handful of people on novel sample handling techniques but these are definitely the most
the team who can do it.” and containment technologies are precious samples that we are ever
A normal day starts at 9 a.m. with efforts that are already underway.” going to have. In some regard,
the team meeting, troubleshooting While physical samples returning we are pioneers, almost.”
FALL 2021 | 25You can also read
