DEAR AC ALUMNI AND FRIENDS:
DEVELOPMENT
Class Agent Report This College continues to expand upon its monumental achievements. Over the past seven years, we have seen a significant rise in enrollment, countless renovations and additions to facilities and the implementation of many new programs – including masters programs. Needless to say, how can we, as alumni, not be ecstatic about the momentum our alma mater has, and is continuing to generate? As a Class Agent, I am able to work cooperatively with the Alumni and Development Office by engaging classmates, keeping them informed of current Adrian College news, and requesting their support for current and future projects. One such project, the construction and renovation of Peelle and Jones Halls, has shown fruition. A groundbreaking for the new structure took place not too long ago, and efforts are now in full swing to complete it. Though the final project is far from complete, this is truly an example of what we can achieve when we align ourselves to a common goal. My challenge to you is to become a class agent in your own right. Reestablish lost connections with friends, talk to them about current developments at the College, and discuss the need for their support. Every little bit helps! Thank you all for your continuous support for our alma mater! Go Bulldogs,
On January 1, 2013, I had the honor of becoming the new Vice President for Development. For the last seven and a half years, I have had the opportunity to travel and meet with our extraordinary alumni and friends to tell the Adrian College story. The loyalty and support many of you have displayed during the “Renaissance” of our campus has been inspiring. I also want to take this opportunity to thank RON REEVES ‘64 for his hard work, dedication and leadership during his tenure as VP for Development (2006-2012). Ron officially retired on June 30, 2013. Many of you have worked with Ron through the years, and I look forward to continuing that relationship. Great things continue to happen at Adrian College-we hope to see you soon.
NATE SMITH ’81 P.S. Don’t forget to join the Adrian College Alumni Facebook page!
Best regards,
FAMILY TRADITION
MARTHA & SUE SEGER CONTINUE A LEGACY OF IMPACT AT ADRIAN COLLEGE. For the Seger sisters, Adrian College is not simply another small college in Michigan. It is defined in the roots of their family. Martha and Sue are both graduates of the University of Michigan, but it is Adrian, the small liberal arts college nestled amidst the fields of Lenawee County that lives in their hearts. “We always get asked, ‘Why Adrian College?’” says Martha. “You graduated from U of M, what could possibly be your interest in that small school in southeast Michigan?” Her response is to the point, “It is our business what we do.” The Seger sisters were born in Adrian to Fred, a partner in Seger and Graham Dairy, and one-time sheriff, and Irene, who owned a sewing and décor shop in town. Martha recalls the girls making deliveries with their mother as children and listening to the difficult stories of defeat and destitution during the Depression. Those stories ultimately led Martha to her pursuit of a career
in finance and economics and Sue to her work in dentistry. Both young women shared a passion for education, and neither would take their careers lightly. The sisters, who reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Arizona note, “We have family roots at Adrian, something we don’t have at U of M.” “A lot of good comes from a small, liberal arts college. There are amazing faculty and staff, and under great leadership, like that of President Docking, students are afforded remarkable opportunities.” Though their personal connection is not direct, the roots of the Seger family run deep at Adrian College.
Their grandfather, Dr. Fred Seger, and grandmother, Maggie Sweet, both attended the institution. In fact, the house in which their grandfather was born is located on Madison Ave., adjacent to campus. It now houses the Theta Chi Fraternity. Their great-grandparents made the trek to Michigan when rumblings of Civil War became rampant in the South. This move provided the foundation for the family’s belief in abolition. Sue recalls, “My grandmother, a suffragette, was friends with Laura Haviland, the legendary Adrian abolitionist. My father would share stories of having met her.” Sue also remembers that a freed slave once lived with them in Adrian.
MARTHA AND SUE ARE BOTH GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, BUT IT IS ADRIAN, THE SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE NESTLED AMIDST THE FIELDS OF LENAWEE COUNTY THAT LIVES IN THEIR HEARTS.
JIM MAHONY ‘00 Vice President for Development
NEW FACES
RYANN J. EFF ‘10 The Office of Development is excited to announce the addition of Ryann Eff as the new Director of Development. Ryann officially joined the office on July 1. Prior to joining the Adrian College team, Ryann served as the Director of Development for The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Ryann earned his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Adrian College in 2010.
SUMMER 2013
www.adrian.edu