WDCSA Newsletter – July 2020

This month’s newsletter is available for download in PDF format.

WDCSA COVID-19 Update

Due to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak and an abundance of concern for the well-being of our community,  The University’s senior leadership has recommended that all large events be cancelled or postponed.  

In addition, our monthly board meetings will be held virtually until further notice.  See below for the July meeting details.

We are going to take this time as an opportunity to brainstorm fun activities and events for the DC-area Stanford Community. If you have any ideas for events, do not hesitate to reach out to the WDCSA Board!  

To learn more, reach out to WDCSA President, Patricia Arty, patriciaarty@alumni.stanford.edu, WDCSA Vice President, Stephanie Tan stephanie.tan@stanfordalumni.org, or departing WDCSA Vice President, Ingrid Jernudd, ingridj@alumni.stanford.edu

Thank you,

Patricia, Ingrid, Stephanie, and Jasmaine
WDCSA Board

Events Calendar

  • July 12 – Washington DC Book Club Discussion
  • July 13 – Baltimore Book Club Discussion
  • August 1 – Zoom Yoga and Nutrition Discussion with Carolyn Moos, ’01

Upcoming Events

Washington DC Book Club Discussion

Sunday, July 12, 5 pm
Zoom

The book group will discuss Genentech: The Beginnings of Biotech, by Sally Smith Hughes.

Details to come prior to Zoom discussion. To join the e-mail list, notify Suzanne Harris, MBA ’78 (szharris56@gmail.com).

Baltimore Book Club Discussion

Monday, July 13, 7:30 pm
Google Meet:  Everyone will be emailed a link to join the meeting a few minutes before

Our July selection is The Great Pretender:  The Undercover Mission that Changed our Understanding of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. From NPR book review:  “In 1973, psychologist and Stanford University professor David Rosenhan published a journal article that shook the world of psychiatry to its core.  ‘On Being Sane in Insane Places’ was the result of a study in which eight people without mental illness got themselves admitted to psychiatric institutions – Rosenhan wanted to see whether mental health professionals could actually distinguish between psychologically well people and those with mental illness.  They could not … Rosenhan’s study had an outsized effect on psychiatry; it was ‘cited to further movements as disparate as the biocentric model of mental illness, deinstitutionalization, anti-psychiatry, and the push for mental health patient rights.’  The study was undoubtedly influential.  Unfortunately, Cahalan claims, it was also likely fatally flawed.”  The September selection is The Lady in the Lake:  A Novel by Laura Lippman.

Questions/RSVP: Helene Myers, Ph.D., P’14, at cedarhouse@comcast.net

Zoom Yoga and Nutrition Discussion with Carolyn Moos, ’01

Saturday, August 1, 11 am

Join WDCSA for a special virtual event featuring yoga and a nutrition discussion with Carolyn Moos, ’01.  

After playing basketball for Stanford, Carolyn played professionally in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury, FIBA in France, and WNBA in Miami. She won a gold medal in the Junior Olympics with USA Basketball prior to attending Stanford. 

Since completing her basketball career, Carolyn has worked full-time as a personal trainer, nutrition consultant, yoga instructor, member services representative, and ambassador for youth sports – including through offering health and wellness initiatives in various contexts.  She provides nutrition, fitness, and sports offerings live online and pre-recorded through her Thinkific platform.  For more on Carolyn, visit https://fitforlivinglife.com/ and contact c.moos@stanfordalumni.org

We’ll begin with a yoga session via Zoom, after which Carolyn will discuss nutrition concepts as linked to your ideal health, body composition, nutrient absorption, and optimal recovery from workouts. 

Sign up here:  https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/events/details?event_id=32876.

Questions? Contact Mike Kass, ’01 JD, ’06 at mkass01@gmail.com or Carolyn Moos, ’01, at c.moos@stanfordalumni.org

WDCSA 2020 Election Results

James Yan (Phd ’18) VP-elect, Jim arrison (Bs and Ms ’87) Treasurer-Elect

Congratulations to the winners of the recent WDCSA elections!  Please welcome our two newly elected officers to the WDCSA Board. Their term begins July 2020 until June 2022.

James Yan, incoming Co-Vice President. James graduated from Stanford in 2018 with a PhD in Chemistry. Since moving to DC last summer, James has been actively engaged by attending WDCSA board meetings, serving as the liaison to the Pac-12 DC Alumni group and organizing a fun dim sum outing event in January.  While at Stanford, James was involved with the Asian American Graduate Student Association, men’s Ultimate Frisbee, and Stanford Outdoor Education.

Jim Arrison, incoming Treasurer. Jim graduated from Stanford with a BS and MS ’87 in Industrial Engineering. Jim has been an active member of WDCSA for the past 20 years, attending board meetings, coordinating WDCSA Big Game events and other WDCSA intercollegiate sports teams though the Capital Alumni Network. 

I am looking forward to working with both James and Jim.

In closing, I would like to thank Ingrid Jernudd and Jasmaine McClain for their service to the club.  Ingrid is the outgoing Vice President. Ingrid will be relocating to New York to start law school in the fall.  Jasmaine is the outgoing Treasurer.  Jasmaine will remain in DC, but recently welcomed new twins, Maxwell and Mila. Congratulations to both Ingrid and Jasmaine! 

Patricia
WDCSA President

TEAM Spotlight: WDCSA Basketball 2020 Season Update

The 2020 edition of the Washington DC Stanford Cardinal Alumni Basketball should not be measured in terms of wins and losses, as the wins were few – 1,  and the losses were plentiful – 8.  

Instead, it should be said that this season’s games allowed the team the unique opportunity to socialize, get exercise, and have lots of fun before the abrupt halt forced on them by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

After experiencing two loses at the start of the season against two traditional Capitol Alumni Network (CAN) basketball powers,  the team went on to record a shocker with the dramatic 1-point win over the rugged Temple Owl alumni.  Led by future Supreme Court justice Sri Srinivasan’s excellent shooting and playmaking, JBrossy’s dominant presence in the middle, Faith and Tiffany’s sharpshooting,  and the overall hustle and intelligent play from everyone else, the DC Cardinal achieved the season’s biggest success. 

The Cardinal season officially concluded following the first-round tournament game loss against American University.  Due to a pause in the season necessitated by Covid-19 conditions, the 2020 basketball season has yet to determine a champion (as of June 28, 2020).  

10 people (a mix of genders and races) stand for a photo. They are wearing athletic clothing, mostly red and black, many with "Stanford" printed on their shirts. One person holds a basketball.
Pictured from left to right: Whitney Martin ’12,  Jeremy Marcus 04, Gregory Billings ’88, Michael Starr MS ’16, Faith Begay ‘13 , James Yan ‘18 , Nathan Taylor (non-alumni), Jackson Brossy ‘06, Samantha Kennard (non-alumni), Tiffany Carney (non-alumni). Not pictured: Matt Hafer ‘01, Sri Srinivasan ‘89.

Stanford in the News

  • Five Stanford students are among the recipients of the 2020 Boren Awards. Two are graduate students who will receive David L. Boren Fellowships and three are undergraduates who will receive David L. Boren Scholarships. Presented each year by the Institute of International Education (IIE) on behalf of the National Security Education Program (NSEP), these awards provide students with resources and encouragement to acquire language skills and experience in countries critical to the future security and stability of the United States. This year’s fellows and scholars will study 46 languages in 44 countries. In exchange for funding, Boren Award recipients agree to work in the federal government for at least one year.
  • Lucius J. Barker, a political scientist who broke through racial barriers to become a leader in constitutional law, civil liberties and African American politics, died in his Northern California home on June 21 of complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. He was 92. Barker, who was the William Bennett Munro Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, at Stanford, served as president of the American Political Science Association (APSA) in 1992-93. He was the second Black leader to hold that position.