The Drexel University School of Law hosted its commencement ceremony for the graduating Class of 2014 May 21. The event celebrated the successes of 141 class members at the Kimmel Center.

Photo Credit: Ajon Brodie

Law school Dean Roger J. Dennis praised numerous notable accomplishments by the entire class, including the citing of more than 14,000 hours of pro-bono service, notable contributions to countrywide case law modifications, and significant work performed by members of the class on trial team, moot court and other competitions.

Law School Board Chairman and Trustee Thomas R. Kline greeted the graduates by reminding them of the responsibility that comes with the power of entering the professional legal field.

President John A. Fry awarded honorary degrees on former Ambassador Earle I. Mack and U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez. Mack’s numerous accomplishments were noted, such as his selection by President George W. Bush to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Finland in 2004, his major community service efforts to assist with the rebuilding process in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010, his induction into the Drexel 100 alumni hall of fame in 1992, his tenure as a senior partner of an enormously large and successful real estate firm, his outstanding leadership in the arts through the New York State Governor’s Arts Award in 2000, and of course, his massive contribution of $15 million to what was formerly known as the Earle Mack School of Law.

While providing a brief speech upon receiving his honorary degree, Mack commemorated the “dream of the late president of Drexel University, Constantine Papadakis, who had expressed his desire for Drexel to have a world-renowned law school.”

Perez delivered the keynote speech to the audience, who listened attentively as he gave a set of powerful and inspiring remarks.
He commenced his speech by acknowledging Mack’s important role in founding the Drexel University School of Law and went on to thank all the faculty and staff of the school who, according to him, “found the nonmonetary rewards of working at the school to be priceless.” Following this, Perez entered into the main content of his address by expressing his desire to speak about three specific topics: “failure in the sense of knowing how to fail, the fierce urgency of now, and justice and responsibility.”

According to Perez, “Wisdom is really what you get when you experience the highs and lows of life and understand the learning moments that come from both.”

He cited a personal failure by describing his removal from the ballot when running for the position of state attorney in Maryland during the 2006 elections. He connected this failure with his appointment as U.S. secretary of labor because had this not occurred, he might have never been appointed as the Maryland secretary of labor and in turn might have never been asked to lead the federal labor department.
Upon mentioning how his failure was openly publicized in an embarrassing fashion in The Washington Post, Perez said, “You know what? That was the most remarkable learning experience of my professional life.”

Perez continued his address by emphasizing how important it is that the class of graduates take reign of their situation in life right now to start doing significant things as soon as possible, due to the “fierce urgency of now.” He focused on the lasting legacy that would be left by members of the graduating class and how those around them would perceive this legacy.

Perez described his recognition for this legacy in an interesting fashion: “One assignment I would provide my students with was to write a version of their own obituary. Some might consider this quite the morbid assignment; however, I really think it is important to understand what our legacy that we leave behind is.”

Another important point Perez made was that there may be a large number of lawyers in the professional legal field, but there is a significant lack of “just” lawyers who are willing to serve the principles of justice.

“There are a lot of lawyers coming out of law school, but there aren’t enough who are doing the things that need to be done,” he said.
Perez expressed his wishes that the graduating class would serve as lawyers who would uphold the principles of justice and responsibility through their work.

Perez recognized graduating student Eva DeLair for her successes even in the face of experiencing the death of her father. Finally, he closed his speech by mentioning and recognizing the importance of the four P’s: passion, persistence, parents and partners.
The important takeaway that Perez had for the graduating class through all of this was that failure can truly provide for some of the most beneficial learning experiences in one’s life and that they should never shy away from such failure due to the constant desire to succeed.

According to Perez, failure can be one of the largest stepping stones on the path to true success in life.

Additionally, Student Bar Association President Bradley K. Wilhelm presented the Dean Jennifer L. Rosato Excellence In The Classroom Award to professor Alex Geisinger and the Carl “Tobey” Oxholm III Outstanding Contribution To The Law School Community Award to Assistant Dean Mary McGovern. Three-quarters of the graduating Class of 2014 voted on presenting the award to Geisinger.

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Michael W. Marion will serve as Drexel University Sacramento’s new executive director and associate vice provost beginning July 1.
Marion has been a member of Drexel Sacramento’s adjunct faculty for the past year, where he has taught students in the Master of Sciences in higher education program. Currently, he is the dean of student services and counseling at Cosumnes River College. Prior to joining Cosumnes River College in 2010, he worked as the associate dean of students at Radford University in Virginia. Additionally, Marion has held positions at San Diego State University, Los Angeles City College and the University of Southern California.
Marion, who is an active member of many of the region’s leadership programs and various community organizations, wants to pursue partnerships that solidify Drexel’s role as an “intellectual hub” in the Sacramento region.
“My goal is to make Drexel University Sacramento the intellectual hub of this region. I want it to be an additional option that is available to other students within the region. Some priorities of mine include maintaining the elite level of education that is widespread here, continuing to develop the business two-and-two undergrad program, and continuing to support faculty and staff members while building enrollment,” Marion said.
Marion will be replacing Sandra Kirschenmann, who has served with Drexel University Sacramento for the last three years. Her retirement will go into effect Sept. 1.
When asked about the position that he is entering with Drexel University Sacramento, Marion said, “I think Drexel Sacramento is a unique and outstanding place. It has the opportunity to accomplish some amazing things; entering in year five of this organization’s growth stage, I will be the fourth person coming in, and I think that everyone who served before me has done something to move the institution forward. Sandy has been outstanding, and I want to take her work and develop it further. The three pioneers before me really jump-started the program and I believe that I am the individual who will move it into the future by helping push the brand forward.”
During her three years with the institution, Kirschenmann led the launch of three new programs on Drexel Sacramento’s campus, including the Bachelor of Science in business administration transfer program and a career services and co-op program. She has also recruited some of the region’s most influential leaders to join the advisory board of Drexel University Sacramento and has been a vocal supporter of Sacramento’s “young professionals” movement.
Since its launch, Drexel University Sacramento’s academic offerings have expanded to include eight graduate programs and one undergraduate transfer program. Some of its academic programs in business, healthcare and education are designed to address some of the Sacramento region’s most pressing needs. Drexel University Sacramento has successfully graduated over 300 alumni.

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Michael W. Marion will serve as Drexel University Sacramento’s new executive director and associate vice provost beginning July 1.

Marion has been a member of Drexel Sacramento’s adjunct faculty for the past year, where he has taught students in the Master of Sciences in higher education program. Currently, he is the dean of student services and counseling at Cosumnes River College. Prior to joining Cosumnes River College in 2010, he worked as the associate dean of students at Radford University in Virginia. Additionally, Marion has held positions at San Diego State University, Los Angeles City College and the University of Southern California.

Marion, who is an active member of many of the region’s leadership programs and various community organizations, wants to pursue partnerships that solidify Drexel’s role as an “intellectual hub” in the Sacramento region.

“My goal is to make Drexel University Sacramento the intellectual hub of this region. I want it to be an additional option that is available to other students within the region. Some priorities of mine include maintaining the elite level of education that is widespread here, continuing to develop the business two-and-two undergrad program, and continuing to support faculty and staff members while building enrollment,” Marion said.
Marion will be replacing Sandra Kirschenmann, who has served with Drexel University Sacramento for the last three years. Her retirement will go into effect Sept. 1.

When asked about the position that he is entering with Drexel University Sacramento, Marion said, “I think Drexel Sacramento is a unique and outstanding place. It has the opportunity to accomplish some amazing things; entering in year five of this organization’s growth stage, I will be the fourth person coming in, and I think that everyone who served before me has done something to move the institution forward. Sandy has been outstanding, and I want to take her work and develop it further. The three pioneers before me really jump-started the program and I believe that I am the individual who will move it into the future by helping push the brand forward.”

During her three years with the institution, Kirschenmann led the launch of three new programs on Drexel Sacramento’s campus, including the Bachelor of Science in business administration transfer program and a career services and co-op program. She has also recruited some of the region’s most influential leaders to join the advisory board of Drexel University Sacramento and has been a vocal supporter of Sacramento’s “young professionals” movement.

Since its launch, Drexel University Sacramento’s academic offerings have expanded to include eight graduate programs and one undergraduate transfer program. Some of its academic programs in business, healthcare and education are designed to address some of the Sacramento region’s most pressing needs. Drexel University Sacramento has successfully graduated over 300 alumni.

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“Where do you get your protein, man? You can’t live without meat!” This question and statement are the most common responses I get from my shocked male friends as I explain to them that I follow a vegetarian diet. After a while, I decided to do more research not only to show my friends that a plant-based diet is healthy, but also to remind myself of the many food options out there. I was determined to assist my fellow vegetarians in finding sources of protein through a method that would help animals rather than hurt them.

The overwhelming results showed that there are a large number of plant-based sources of protein that would pass any nutritionist’s checklist. From common foods such as black beans and chickpeas to more exciting options such as seitan and tempeh, there are lots of options for the veggie-lover. Tempeh tops this list of products with a whopping 31 grams of protein per cooked cup. Other options with high values of protein include kidney beans, pinto beans and lima beans, which all contain 15 grams of protein per cooked cup.

Another extremely large holder of protein is the soybean, with 29 grams of protein per cooked cup. You might want to order soy milk with your vanilla latte, because it contains seven grams of protein per cup. Soy yogurt happens to have six grams of protein per eight-ounce cup. Other large vegetarian sources of protein include lentils with 18 grams of protein per cup, seitan with 21 grams of protein per three-ounce serving, firm tofu with 11 grams of protein per four-ounce serving and veggie burgers with 13 grams of protein per patty. Of course, one cannot forget about more common sources of protein that we find in our meals such as almonds, peas, quinoa and peanut butter, which all contain about eight grams of protein per serving. The average adult male requires 56 grams of protein a day, which gives you an idea of how easy it is to meet one’s protein requirements. But what is all this discussion of different sources of protein leading up to? The key point is that vegetarians consume protein that is better and less acidic for our bodies.

Without realizing it, a lot of Americans consume too much animal protein. Researchers in England found that when people added five ounces of fish, which contain about 34 grams of protein, to a normal diet, the risk of forming urinary tract stones increased by 250 percent! When consuming forms of animal protein, individuals usually take in a level of protein that is too high for their bodies to effectively process, which leads to health problems such as osteoporosis, cancer, kidney disease and kidney stones. The solution is not only cheaper, but also allows your body to retain more protein on average as well. Plant-based protein is the way to go! The average price per gram of kidney beans is only 3.6 cents while the average price per gram of chicken breast is 5 cents. Consuming meat-free goods is a cheap alternative that provides your body with a higher percentage of calories from protein than from fat. For example, when you eat a hamburger, on average, 41 percent of the calories in that burger patty consist of protein while the remaining 59 percent of the calories consist of fat. There is a larger difference in such percentage comparisons when examining a serving of tofu. In a serving of tofu, 44 percent of the calories consist of protein while only 31 percent of the calories consist of fat.

So, what this all sums up to is that it’s really easy to get enough protein on a vegetarian diet! Basically, to get one’s daily dose of protein at the right amount, just eat a healthy vegetarian diet that contains plenty of nuts, seeds, fruit, grain, veggies, legumes and beans. You will actually be doing yourself a favor by consuming enough protein without reaching the level at which your body would become sick, more obese and increasingly unhealthy. Stick to plant-based proteins and you’ll find that you feel refreshed, rejuvenated and healthy!

Drexel researchers from the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and the College of Medicine are studying the possibility of using ultrasound technology as a healing tool for chronic wounds, according to a press release published Aug. 1. The team is experimenting with ultrasound technology by harnessing its potential to heal by using it at a slower frequency and lower energy levels.

Peter A. Lewin, a professor in Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, is the primary investigator of the project, and his team’s preliminary tests have shown that low-frequency therapeutic ultrasound can increase the rate of healing in chronic wounds that would otherwise heal at slower rates.

Lewin’s team includes Michael A. Weingarten, a professor in the College of Medicine; Leonid Zubkov, a professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering; and biomedical engineering doctoral students Joshua Samuels, Chris Bawiec and Younhan Sunny.

The target wounds that Lewin hopes to heal are known as venous ulcers. Venous ulcers are wounds that affect more than 500,000 people each year and occur due to the improper functioning of venous valves located in the legs. A problem with this type of chronic wound is how expensive the treatment can be; it can cost patients as much as $2,400 per month.

“Right now, venous ulcers are primarily treated using passive methods. These include compression therapy to reduce swelling, keeping the wound moist and clean, and topically applied hydrogels,” Samuels explained. “The few active therapies available are very expensive to use, costing up to several hundred dollars per application. We feel that ultrasound energy could expedite healing with a reusable, rechargeable, wearable technology which could be applied at home, between visits to their physician.”

Drexel’s research team is aiming to address these issues with the advancements in ultrasound technology.

Weingarten said that this technology could be a more affordable option for patients if it can be combined with compression treatment into a wearable form.

The wearable technology is a lightweight and battery-powered ultrasound device that the team is developing. By developing this device, they hope to provide active treatment as opposed to current passive treatments both to reduce medical expenses and to help heal wounds faster.

The therapeutic device combines ultrasound technology with compression technology to treat patients’ wounds. Ultrasound technology is used for the examination of pregnant women and treatment for injuries related to athletes, but this is the first time it is being used to treat patients with chronic wounds. The dramatic reduction in the dosage of energy administered makes it possible to prescribe the dosage for lengthier periods of time with comprehensive results; the ultrasound treatment can be applied directly to the wound for a longer period of time due to the gentle nature of the pressure being applied by the compression device.

Bawiec and Sunny developed the ultrasound applicator, and Samuels conducted a study using the applicator in Weingarten’s wound clinic at the College of Medicine. The tests involved treating 20 patients, who were divided into four different groups based on the strength of their ultrasound treatment and the duration of time that it was applied to their wound.

The four-week treatment trials resulted in complete healing for five patients who were subjected to lower frequencies for shorter periods of time. These five patients were administered 20 kHz rather than 100 kHz and were only subjected to 15 minutes of treatment instead of 45 minutes, which proved to be the most effective combination. The study will also be featured in the August special edition of the Journal of the Acoustic Society of America.

“It will take several years going through the [Food and Drug Administration] approval process and regulations before this could be used commercially. We would like to establish a connection with a company in the biotech industry to partner with for that development and approval process, which could begin within the next year or two,” Samuels said.

As part of a National Institutes of Health study, the group will continue to investigate how and why this treatment works. The team will monitor the three phases of wound healing — inflammation, proliferation and remodeling — using a near-infrared scanner to find out how the ultrasound affects the healing process.

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In what is estimated to be one of the largest green retrofitting projects in U.S. history, a makeover of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is underway in New York City. The cost of the transformation is on the order of $463 million. While the effects that the green technology will have on the massive convention center and its surrounding environment are not yet known, they will be closely monitored by a team of engineers from Drexel University and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

The 6.75-acre green roof is the centerpiece of a series of renovations designed to make the 27-year-old building an example of retrofitting for sustainability. When it opened in 1986, the Javits Center was, according to many architects, outdated by sustainable design measures before it even opened.

“In the last few years, the City of New York has made major commitments to sustainability and to different forms of green infrastructure,” Franco Montalto, a professor at Drexel’s College of Engineering and the team’s lead researcher, said. “The Javits Center green roof exemplifies the kind of environmentally sensible urban redevelopment projects that the City wants to encourage. The retrofit building will reduce urban runoff, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and potentially have a cooling effect on the streets and buildings that surround it. Our research will seek to quantify these benefits.”

Under the direction of FXFOWLE Epstein in New York City, a joint venture between FXFOWLE Architects and Epstein Global, the Javits Center’s major renovation project includes replacement of the building’s curtain wall, upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems, and interior reconfigurations that will enhance the visitor experience as well as operational efficiency. These modifications are in addition to the green roof, which, at 292,000 square feet, will be the second-largest green roof on a single freestanding building in the United States.

As part of the research study, four climate stations will be installed on and around the green roof. Flumes, thermistors, soil sensors and a series of weighing lysimeters will be installed within the green roof itself. Together, these instruments will be used to evaluate what effect the green roof has on its immediate microclimate by measuring how much rainwater ultimately runs off and/or evaporates from its surface and to what extent the roof — and the intake for the convention center’s air conditioning system — is cooler once the vegetation is in place.

The design and installation of the sensor system will be led by Montalto’s research team, which is currently monitoring more than 15 other green infrastructure sites in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Students from The Cooper Union will monitor the data and use it to learn about and model functional sustainable design projects.

“The Javits Center green roof project provides Cooper Union students with a significant learning opportunity to study sustainable design and use New York City as a learning laboratory,” Joseph Cataldo, a professor in the Albert Nerken School of Engineering at The Cooper Union, said.

The students are currently developing a model that will use climate and infrared data to predict the thermal behavior of the green roof. This model will help them better understand the temperature patterns in green roofs and New York City.

“Water and energy are intimately linked through the process of evapotranspiration. Incident solar radiation changes liquid water, originally deposited on the roof by precipitation, into water vapor, which then leaves the roof surface, Montalto said. “The energy consumed by this process keeps the roof and building cooler than it otherwise would be, since without the green roof this energy would simply heat up the roof surface. At the same time, if the air in the vicinity of the air conditioner intake pipes is cooler, these units have to work less to cool the already cooler building.”

The architects at FXFOWLE Epstein predict that the renovations will decrease the center’s energy consumption by as much as 26 percent.

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Twin sisters and Drexel students Gabriella and Sage Cifaloglio have both been selected as members of the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad for the 2013 season. Sage, a junior business administration major, has already been on the cheerleading squad for one year, and this will mark the first year for Gabriella, a senior design and merchandising major. Both sisters are in the Phi Mu sorority and are former members of the Drexel Dance Team. They were among 38 women who were chosen April 24 to be part of this year’s cheerleader roster.

The 2013 Eagles cheerleaders received their pom poms and uniforms April 30 during the first meeting with the squad, and their first official event took place May 8, when they shot photos in Cape May, N.J., for this year’s Eagles calendar. The proceeds from the calendar sales will go to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

During the semifinal round of the selections, the prospective cheerleaders had to introduce themselves to an audience and a panel of judges, which included a select group of season ticket holders, along with performing a dance onstage in a group of three. Those who called the hotline number and made it to the finals had to participate in a “fitness” round, where they modeled a bathing suit and then went through a different round of interview questions, which was followed by another dance performance. Gabriella has an extensive background and experience with dancing, having had practice from the age of 7. She said that she considers her dance experience the biggest factor in her success as a cheerleader today.

Gabriella is still undecided about how big of a role cheerleading will play in her future. “For right now, it will probably just remain as a college job to me. But seeing all my friends on the squad and how much they love doing it, I am definitely keeping my options open to it being a possible career in the future.”

Gabriella continued, “The NFL is not just about people’s individual talents or skills but their showmanship ability and how well they can combine their talents with their ability to grab the audience’s attention.” When asked from where her inspiration to become a cheerleader originally came, Gabriella attributed this to her dancing and explained how dancing helped her prepare as a performer for cheerleading.

Understanding that she will be a role model for many younger girls who are aspiring cheerleaders, Gabriella offered her words of advice for girls who are interested in following her footsteps: “Always be yourself. Never try to be something or someone that you are not, and portray confidence in yourself; people will love you for who you really are. Above all, never forget that hard work can get anyone anywhere they want to go in life.”

“A cheerleader really has to be able to be as friendly as possible, always displaying a positive attitude and mentality. They must be able to respect themselves as well as other people at all times, and most importantly, they must be able to represent. When I say represent, I do not mean necessarily to represent themselves by name but rather to represent the organization that they are working for and carry that image with a sense of pride,” she said.

The cheerleaders will have rehearsals Tuesday and Wednesday nights starting in June. They will also be required to attend special appearances and will be at Lincoln Financial Field for eight hours during home games.

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