From the
President In this we believe: Environmental Stewardship
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President Barry Buxton talks to students on Mountain Day about the tradition of celebrating the ancient mountains in which the College resides.
ne of the enduring values of LeesMcRae College is environmental stewardship. The faculty, students, staff, and administration are dedicated to protecting and nurturing our natural resources. Our College motto….In Montibus, Ex Montibus, Pro Montibus (In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, For the Mountains) speaks to our location and our special commitment to our natural surroundings. This was true at our founding in 1900 and it is true today. Examples of Lees-McRae’s commitment to environmental stewardship include our Biology Field Station, where Professor Stewart Skeate leads students in a variety of longitudinal research projects related to area flora and fauna. Professor Skeate is also very involved in studying the endangered bat population and has constructed and installed custom designed bat houses for the historic Mill Pond area on the 450 acre Lees-McRae campus. Our new Outdoor Adventure Studies minor degree, under the dynamic leadership of Dee Thomas, does a remarkable job of introducing students to the beauty and fragility of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Professor Michael Joslin, who directs the Appalachian Studies Program, chronicles in stunning photography the Roan Mountain Massif and does many public awareness programs every year about the mountain environment. Professor Gene Spears directs the entire Division of Science and Math and oversees one of the most environmentally focused curriculum concentrations at the College. Lees-McRae students created and manage a campus recycling program and are otherwise dedicated to a green future. On the administrative front, the College has completed Phase II of an energy efficiency transition with our steam plant, and when Phase III is completed, we will be more energy efficient and leave a much smaller footprint on the planet.
2 | The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012
Lees-McRae is now one of the nation’s leading pet-friendly campuses! Allowing students to bring their pets to college, under a strict set of conditions and guidelines, has proven very popular. Since the program began last year, under the watchful eye of Dean of Students Allison Norris, we have experienced no major problems and the first pet-friendly dorm has been full with a waiting list and the need to now expand the program to other residences. Seeing faculty and staff bring their pets to campus makes a powerful statement to students about the interrelationship of all living creatures and the joy and lessons we derive from our animal friends. How can we be good stewards of the environment if we are insensitive to the animals around us? We often like to say that “we are blessed and we are grateful.” For many years, we have needed a new home for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program at Lees-McRae College. Our program, under the direction of Professor Nina Fischesser, has been operating out of a double-wide trailer. This facility has been “non-compliant” with the Town of Banner Elk Building Code Ordinances. While the Town Council has been gracious in granting the College a series of annual temporary exemptions, patience has been growing thin. To the rescue come Dan and Dianne May, Florida residents and special friends of Lees-McRae College. The new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on the Elk River Preserve, scheduled for dedication on July 12th, will provide a new home for one of the most unique and popular academic programs at Lees-McRae. Last academic year, Professor Fischesser and her dedicated students restored to health and returned to nature over 1,000 animals! These students represent the very best in environmental stewardship and serve as great examples for the Lees-McRae learning and service community. There are many things to love about Lees-McRae College, but none more important than our centuryold commitment to environmental stewardship. Please come join us on July 12th as we celebrate the dedication of the new Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center along the beautiful Elk River. Upward and onward,
Barry M. Buxton, Ph.D. President