By Tim Brownlee Associate Director of Internal Communications

The UT System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee will conduct its 2012 winter meeting and program Jan. 27-28 at The University of Texas at San Antonio.The group of leaders and key supporters convenes several times annually, rotating the meetings among the 15 UT System institutions.

The purpose of the meetings is to engage in dialogue with UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., regarding special initiatives and issues of importance to higher education in Texas. With more than 200 members, the committee is the core leadership group that provides direct support and counsel to the chancellor. Membership is by nomination only.

With the theme “Game Changers,” the meeting at the UTSA Main Campus will include breakout sessions hosted by UTSA professors on a range of research topics including the UTSA VisLab, cybersecurity, stem cell therapy, robotics in medicine, Comanche Indians, presidential politics and the history of France’s signature champagne.

After opening remarks by H. Scott Caven Jr., chair of the council, Francisco Cigarroa and UTSA PresidentRicardo Romo, the committee will meet Lynn Hickey, UTSA director of athletics, and Larry Coker, UTSA head football coach.

Additionally, the group will view a photography exhibit about life in modern China featuring work by UTSA President Ricardo Romo and four other Texas photographers who took the photos during a recent China tour. The exhibit was curated by Arturo Infante Almeida, UTSA art specialist.

The breakout sessions will include:

“Inside the VisLab” – the Visualization Lab features an HDTV so powerful it can display entire galaxies and molecules, along with a haptic device that enables users to experience the interactive feel of giving a patient an injection and other functions
Presenters: Yusheng Feng, UTSA associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering; Harry Millwater Jr., UTSA professor and interim chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

“Cybersecurity: A National Priority” – one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century
Presenter: Frederick Chang, UTSA AT&T Distinguished Chair in Infrastructure Assurance and Security

“Unlocking the Promise of Stem Cells” – New therapies harnessing the regenerative power of stem cells that could help treat heart disease and cancer
Presenter: Doug Frantz, assistant professor of chemistry

“The Science of Saving Lives” – a robot medic that can roll into danger ahead of human medics to examine a soldier and transmit life signs back to medics
Presenter: William Cooke, M.D., UTSA professor of health and kinesiology, Health Science Center adjunct professor of physiology

“Living History: Comanche Indians” – contemporary view of life based on experience living in Comanche households
Presenter: Daniel Gelo, dean of UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts

“Presidential Campaign Wrap-up” – analysis of political communication and advertising
Presenter: Amy Jasperson, UTSA associate professor of political science and geography

“When Champagne Became French” – a look at how a regional product became a symbol of French national identity
Presenter: Kolleen Guy, inaugural UTSA Ricardo Romo Endowed Professor, College of Liberal and Fine Arts, Department of History

“Texas Photographers: Descriptions of China” – photography by Peter Brown, Al Rendon, Ricardo Romo, Joel Salcido and Ansen Seale, recounting the dynamic culture of China,

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