Love is in the air with these Sun Devil stories
Faculty and alumni share their stories — how they met and how they've kept the fire burning through life's ups and downs
Editor’s note: This story is being highlighted in ASU Now’s year in review. Read more top stories from 2020.
Love finds us all at different times and takes us to different places — just ask these Sun Devil faculty and alumni.
ASU Now picked the brains — and hearts — of three Arizona State University couples who have stood the test of time. We asked them for their tips and advice on how to keep the fire burning through life's ups and downs. Here's what they had to say:
Below, listen to their individual stories.
Instant Connection
Foundation Professor Devoney Looser and Professor George Justice, both of the Department of English, fell in love over a drink at the Javelina Cantina in Tucson while attending the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies conference. The two of them found their friends drifting away, and before the night was over there was a declaration of marriage on the table.
To find out more about their story, listen as they talk about the institution of marriage, Jane Austen and love-filled emails:
Drifting through love
For music Professor Mike Kocour and Heather Landes, director of the School of Music, love happened at different times. On their first date, Heather couldn't help but notice the cute jazz pianist playing in the club, who also happened to have a locker next to hers. Mike — so lost in his music — finally saw "this beautiful girl" weeks later as she crossed the street.
Find out who initiated the date that has led to 35 years of love:
Friendship first
Brian and Leah Swanton met each other on their first day of classes at ASU, where they were both in the urban planning program. Brian was young — 17 at the time — and felt like Leah was out of his league. This year they are celebrating 25 years together, their three beautiful daughters and the scholarship they recently created for current ASU students, The Brian and Leah Swanton Urban Planning Scholarship.
To learn more about what led to love after four years of friendship, listen here:
View this post on Instagram
class="glide image-carousel aligned-carousel slider-start glide--ltr glide--slider glide--swipeable"
id="glide-478789" data-remove-side-background="false"
data-image-auto-size="true" data-has-shadow="true" data-current-index="0">
data-testid="arrows-container">
aria-label="Previous slide">
aria-label="Next slide">
Top photos courtesy of the lovebirds
More Sun Devil community
Sun Devil Giving Day 2024: Students, faculty, staff champion generosity in creative ways
On Sun Devil Giving Day, March 21, Arizona State University’s campus communities found new and creative ways to champion generosity at the university. Sun Devil Giving Day is ASU’s annual day of…
$2M grant to improve tribal college and career readiness
Following a mission to improve rates of postsecondary education enrollment and completion among tribal populations, $2.2 million in U.S. Department of Education grant funds were recently awarded to…
ASU students create interactive D&D experience for Movies on the Field event
Should the wizard cast a magic missile spell or a sleep enchantment? Audience members will get to decide that during a live-action, interactive Dungeons & Dragons game created by Arizona State…