ASU Magazine showcases stellar young alumni in May 2011 issue


The ASU Alumni Association is showcasing 21 accomplished young alumni under age 40 in the May edition of ASU Magazine.

The young alumni showcase issue has become a reader favorite over the years, and the 2011 edition includes ASU graduates in fields ranging from pediatric neurosurgery to online entrepreneurship. Among the alumni profiled are:

• Rafael Romo ’95 B.A., senior Latin American affairs editor for CNN;
• Gelie Akhenblit ’03 B.A., who leveraged her communications degree to launch NetworkingPhoenix.com;
• Isaiah Mustafa ’97 B.A., well known for his portrayal of the “Old Spice Guy” during last year’s viral ad campaign, who used the mental toughness he developed as an ASU football player to aid his acting career;
• Javier Cardenas ’99 B.A., who transitioned from a career as a special education teacher to become a pediatric neurologist who has developed a clinic for children who suffer brain injuries;
• Kristen Hartnett ’02 M.A., ’07 Ph.D., a forensic anthropologist in New York City who has examined skeletal remains to positively identify the remains of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Also highlighted in the May edition are efforts at the university aimed at discovering how best to deal with technology-driven change. As “disruptive” ideas go from a sketch on a napkin to product roll-out at shocking speeds, ASU entities such as the Center for the Study of Law, Science and Techonology, the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes, and the Center for Biology & Society and many others are collaborating to find the most ethical, positive uses of technology possible, while mitigating technology’s downsides.

In addition to these two features, the May edition includes a recap of the unveiling of the “It’s Time” campaign for Sun Devil Athletics, which rebranded ASU’s sports teams with a bold new look; an update of ASU’s sports teams; a review of the university’s outstanding playwriting program in the arts section; news and photos from alumni chapters across the country; and a full complement of alumni-focused news reports in the Class Notes section.

ASU Magazine is distributed to more than 300,000 readers who are graduates or supporters of Arizona State University, and can be accessed online at http://alumni.asu.edu/news/asu-magazine.