October 9, 1998

Antonio (Tony) M. Lopez, Jr.– Man of Action and Ideas

by Kimberly Dorencz, A’99, Intern in the Office of Publications

When Mathematics and Computer Science Professor Antonio (Tony) M. Lopez, Jr., isn’t teaching his favorite class, artificial intelligence, you can find him performing his duties as chief of staff of the 377th Theater Army Area Command (TAACOM). He has been with the unit “for as long as I’ve been with Loyola –22 years to be exact.” The 377th is a command and control headquarters for life support of the war fighter, which means it is responsible for all provisions a fighting soldier might need, from toilet paper supplies to burial of the deceased.

“The Jesuit education I received at Loyola has taught me service for others,” says Lopez. He takes this ideal, along with that of educating the whole person, to his military career. “If a student is hurting emotionally, he will not be able to function mentally. Loyola focuses on the whole person and this is the approach I take with my soldiers.” Likewise, Lopez uses what he has learned from his military career and applies it to his role of professor. One aspect of his military life he has brought to his teaching is discipline. “Discipline allows you to be more goal focused and to accomplish what needs to be done.”

Among Lopez’s favorite memories of Loyola is his marriage to his college sweetheart, Michele, whom he meet and married at Loyola. The ceremony took place in 1970 Thomas Hall two days after he became second lieutenant and the day after they graduated from Loyola with a degrees in math.

Among his many TAACOM memories is Desert Storm when he worked at his civilian job during the day and with the army at night. Another memorable occasion was the Army Communities Excellence Award in 1995 which brought $175,000 to his unit. Lopez was the project officer for the packet that was submitted into national competition. The former chief of staff of the Army Gordon Sullivan presented the 377th TAACOM with the award “Best of the Best” in Washington, D.C.

Recently, Lopez, along with several colleagues, received a $30,000 Board of Regents grant supporting standards-based mathematics education reform. This grant allows three professors to bring new interactive technology into the classroom. Each has received a new laptop computer and overhead presentation system as a result of the money. This new equipment supplements classroom instruction by giving students new and different perspectives on old and difficult material. Lopez has written extensively on this subject and has posted it on his website at www.loyno.edu/~tlopez.

Currently, Lopez is on sabbatical and will return in the fall of 1999. During this time, he is visiting research centers on both the east and west coasts in order to learn more about intelligent information systems. When he is not on the road, he is at his home in Metairie “doing a lot of reading.”