How does the theory play out in social media circles? Last year researchers at the University of Milan analyzed 721 million active Facebook users and their more than 69 billion friendships. They found that, on average, any two individuals are connected by just 4.74 acquaintances.

We tested the findings using the four feature articles in this issue.

Our cover story on retiring President James D. Spaniolo examines his nearly nine-year administration, which brought unprecedented growth in enrollment, research activity, philanthropic support, and the physical campus. President Spaniolo has more than 700 Facebook friends, one of whom is Ryan Haire.

A senior in the Athletic Training Education Program, Haire is profiled in our story on the University’s new Sports Medicine Center and how its cutting-edge equipment prepares students for successful careers. I am among Haire’s 500-plus Facebook friends.

One of my friends is Jocelyn Zee, who graced the cover of our spring 2002 issue. She enrolled at UT Arlington at age 13 and graduated with a microbiology degree at 17. Now a doctor, Zee is part of our article about academic prodigies who nurtured their genius at UT Arlington.

That’s four acquaintances linking three stories. The final article, which ties them all together, explores our tendency to reveal too much personal information when communicating via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. It stems from sociology Professor Ben Agger’s book Oversharing: Presentations of Self in the Internet Age.

Today’s world is much more connected than Karinthy ever could have imagined.

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In her new role as vice president for research, Dr. Cason oversees UT Arlington’s growing research enterprise and leads divisions that manage technology development, intellectual property, and the University’s centers of research excellence.

A former associate dean in the College of Nursing, she had served as interim vice president for research since November 2011. She succeeds Ronald Elsenbaumer, who was named provost and vice president for academic affairs last fall.

“With our focus on biomedical technologies, Dr. Cason is ideally suited to lead the charge toward expanding our research influence,” Dr. Elsenbaumer says. “She excels at building relationships and will further our efforts to organize faculty and student research teams to tackle the most pressing societal concerns.”

Cason holds a master’s degree in nursing from the UT System School of Nursing and a doctoral degree in educational psychology from UT Austin. She joined the UT Arlington College of Nursing in 1997 and is a co-founder and former administrator of the University’s Smart Hospital, the Smart Care program, and the Genomics Translational Research Laboratory.

Her recent research has focused on diversity in the health care workforce and simulation learning environments in nursing education.

“Our goal,” she says, “remains to become recognized as a university of research excellence and to compete with other top national institutions for public and private support.”

Kelly, a retired Navy captain and best-selling author, speaks Feb. 19, 2013, in Texas Hall on “Endeavoring to Build a Better America.” Tickets will be available Jan. 22. Kelly flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, which he commanded on its final flight in May 2011.

He became the center of international attention after the 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Kelly’s identical twin brother is also an astronaut, and they are the only twins and only siblings to have both traveled in space.

Corwin, a TV host and nature conservationist, closes the season with “100 Heartbeats: A Global Movement” March 27 at College Park Center. Tickets will be available Feb. 28. Best known as the host of the Animal Planet show The Jeff Corwin Experience, he has worked to protect endangered species and ecosystems worldwide for nearly three decades.

For his conservation efforts, Corwin was named ambassador of climate change and endangered species on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, a prominent conservation organization. His book 100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species was published in 2010.

The 2012–13 Maverick Speakers Series kicked off in September with a lecture by legendary sportswriter and novelist Frank Deford. Other fall speakers were ABC News political commentator Cokie Roberts and comedian Seth Meyers (see College Park Comedy).

Free general admission tickets are available at utatickets.com. Visit uta.edu/maverickspeakers to watch video highlights of past speakers.