ASU Retirees Association (ASURA) Video History Project Interviews

Brent Brown, a faculty member of the School of Public Programs, served for many years as ASU's chief lobbyist. The interview covered a number of topics including: working to get ASU to be viewed as a player at the Legislature and Board of Regents, planning for West Campus, Downtown Campus, and Polytechnic Campus, the arrival of the NFL and becoming a Research 1 University.

Video History interview with Ellamae Branstetter, College of Nursing. Ella discusses helping set up the Nursing program with two others in 1957 and later setting up the Master's Degree Program. Ella grew up in Oklahoma and eventually got her nursing BS degree in 1944. She worked as a nurse in various locations, including stints with Indian Services Hospital and Visiting Nurse Service in Arizona. She earned her Master’s Degree in 1957 and her PHD in 1967. During her tenure at ASU Ella taught classes, founded and was director of a clinic in Scottsdale, and one summer helped train Bolivian Peace Corps Volunteers. Ella felt strongly that nurses needed a broad education and she was a strong advocate of advanced broad learning for nurses

Gus Edwards, Professor of Theater and Films, retired from ASU in 2010. Gus first came to ASU as Playwright in Residence in 1984-86 and returned as an Associate Professor in 1988.

In the interview Gus talks about growing up in St. Thomas and moving to New York City in 1959. Gus goes on to discuss:
• Living and Working in New York
• Becoming a Playwright culminating with presentation of “The Offering” performed by the Negro Ensemble Company.
• His Academic Career teaching theater at ASU
• His thought about writing
• His experiences teaching film, the creation of a Film School, and Running Wild Films
• Challenges, the need for University’s to promote experimental work, and the need to follow your passion