The Donna & Marvin Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts has been home to Emory's growing music, dance, and theater programs since 2003.

A few members of No Strings Attached (Kevin Smith 09B, Nick Van Vliet 09B, and Alec Galambos 09C) and a fan (Chloe Russo 09C) reach the end of the Houston Mill Bridge during the 2009 Candlelight Crossover.

According to this article in yesterday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta is embracing Facebook faster than any other city. In fact, the number of Facebook users in Atlanta rose by a whopping 142 percent during the past six months, from 525,000 to nearly 1.3 million.

These fascinating little nuggets of information are coming from Emory's very own Peter Corbett 03B, who founded iStrategyLabs, a digital marketing firm in Washington, DC.

All of this got us wondering: does Emory love Facebook as much as Atlanta does? We're trying to find out: the EAA has a brand-spanking-new fan page, where we have been posting photo albums from alumni events, videos from around campus, Emory news and happenings, and information about upcoming events around the country. So, show us some Facebook love!

-- Erin Crews 09C 09G, communications intern, EAA

The legacy of Bond Fleming 33C 36T, Oxford College Dean, Emeritus, was assured long ago. Even in his late 90s, Fleming, who passed away on June 27, remained an active part of the Emory community.

Since his death, that community has mourned his loss and celebrated his life as well as his many contributions to the University he loved.

Fleming (shown at right in 1974; it's tough to see, but on his lapel he is wearing an Emory nametag, click the photo to see it full size) was much-loved across the University, but nowhere more so than at Oxford, where he served as dean from 1966-76.

A July 2 memorial service at Glenn Auditorium gave the Emory community the opportunity to pay its final respects. Since then, the EAA collected several memories from Oxford alumni and administrators.

Joe Moon, Oxford's dean of campus life, wrote the following:

Dean Fleming left a legacy at Oxford that is truly remarkable. When I arrived at Oxford in 1988, Dr. Fleming was in retirement, but he continued to support and advocate for Oxford with the energy and passion as if he were still sitting in the dean's chair. I cannot remember an Oxford event that Bond failed to attend in all these years--often wearing a ragtag Oxford College baseball cap.

During Board of Counselor meetings or meetings with Atlanta campus administrators, I looked forward to the moment in each meeting when Bond would rise slowly and heap praise upon Oxford and admonish all in attendance to support the college's mission.

Bond Fleming was a southern gentleman of the highest order: he was courtly, intelligent, loyal, compassionate, and tenacious in the support of his friends, his college, and his church. He was one of a kind and will be deeply missed.

Oxford College Alumni Board member Warren Brook 70Ox 72B, a close friend of Fleming's, told us he had spoken with the former dean on June 18, his 99th birthday. Brook said his still-spry friend asked about Oxford's incoming first-year students and was already making plans for the upcoming year.

I spoke with my friend Tammy Camfield 89Ox 91C, director of alumni relations at Oxford, the other day about Fleming, and she also recalled the last time they spoke--Thursday, June 17. He was excited about his family coming over to celebrate his birthday and about officiating at his grandson's wedding in Athens on the 19th.

"He was always so complimentary of everyone at Oxford," she said. "And he always ended conversations by saying, 'God bless you.' It was the sweetest thing."

A memorial service at Oxford is being planned. Until then, please feel free to leave a memory of your own below.

-- Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA

I had the pleasure of joining about 75 fellow Emory alumnae for an evening of fashion, makeup, and shopping at the Tory Burch boutique in Phipps Plaza on Tuesday, June 30. Atlanta's Alumnae & Women of Emory (AWE) group hosted Chi Chi Okezie 98Ox 00C, the founder and owner of SIMPLEnetworking, who spoke about the importance of maintaining a professional image and perfecting your business etiquette.

Her advice? “Image is very important, whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, or if you’re in the university system, you’re a doctor, lawyer, whatever—you always want to have that professional look,” she said. “Pick something that fits your career and industry, and go that extra step to ensure you’re conveying confidence.”

Okezie also emphasized the importance of networking and of events like this one hosted by AWE as opportunities for women from all walks of life to get together around an array of topics, including shopping, auto repair, fitness, literature...the list just keeps going. She even motivated me to go to the free fitness event on July 28. (My total number of workout sessions since April: three. You have to start somewhere, right?)

Okezie was joined by Estée Lauder’s Nancy Dozier, who offered crowd-pleasing makeup goody bags and personalized foundation matching tips. After a brief introductory presentation, Okezie and Dozier spent the rest of the evening chatting with alumnae about everything from business consulting to cultural awareness to that perfect shade of lipstick.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I am not one to get excited about mascara and designer fashion. But it was hard not to be energized by Okezie's and Dozier's contagious enthusiasm.

When they weren't receiving fashion pointers, guests sipped flutes of champagne and enjoyed the boutique’s private sale with an Emory-exclusive discount.

View our photos of the event here.

“I really had a great time,” Okezie told me as the last few women made their way out, shopping bags and makeup samples in tow, a couple hours later. “A lot of the ladies were really excited to be here, and everyone just enjoyed the atmosphere…and the champagne!”

-- Erin Crews 09C 09G, communications intern, EAA

We don't have any photos of snails (trust us, that's a good thing), but we do have a brand new slide show from Faculty Destinations: Boston. Click here to take a look.

Thursday, June 25, was one of the first dry days all summer in New England, so we were glad so many alumni came out to the Back Bay Hotel to meet Justin Remais.

For more Emory photos, including hundreds from Emory Commencement Weekend, check out the July 2009 issue of EmoryWire, which is out today. We have photos from nearly 20 Commencement events, plus features on award-winning new graduates, an alumni-led film festival in New York, and much more.

If Emory history is your thing, don't miss the return of EmoryWire's Looking Back feature. While war is no doubt on the minds of many of new graduates (as well as alumni), it's not a new thing. Read how the Class of 1970 reacted to a distant war and how those passionate feelings affected the entire campus in a reprinted piece from Emory Magazine.

Only in the July EmoryWire.

--Eric Rangus, director of communications, EAA