ANNUAL FUND
The couple eventually collected so much art they opened the Rubin Museum of Art, which showcases premier Himalayan works, in 2004 in New York. The museum’s 70,000 square feet (formerly part of Barney’s department store) houses more than 3,200 paintings, sculptures, textiles, ritual objects and prints from the second to the 20th centuries. This permanent collection includes Rubins’ donated works from their collection, as well as additional purchased art objects and gifts from others. “I don’t have any artistic talent for music or painting,” Rubin says, “but I do have a great appreciation for art…Chagall is my favorite European painter.” The Rubins’ Manhattan apartment exhibits three Chagall paintings. “I don’t like pure abstraction. If we all liked the same thing we would all marry the same person!” The appreciation for art is just one of the things Oglethorpe President Larry Schall shares with the Rubins. “Whenever we are together, Donald and I share many things in common, none more compelling than our
love for Oglethorpe. Donald and Shelley’s gift, the largest gift from an individual in the university’s history, means so much to all of us, both current and future generations of Oglethorpe faculty and students. It will ensure that the quality and breadth of exhibitions and programming at the museum will remain extraordinary forever.” Rubin says, “Oglethorpe was very instrumental in my intellectual growth and introduction to ethics,” providing a basis for his dedication to doing “things that are ethically and morally right—that make a difference.” Susan Soper ’69 is a former Oglethorpe trustee and became an OU staff member after 20 years as an editor with The Atlanta JournalConstitution. Now a contract editor and writer, she is the founder and author of ObitKit: A Guide to Celebrating Your Life, available at www.obitkit.com. She was profiled in the winter 2012 issue of the Carillon.
Scan the QR code with your Smartphone to visit the new OUMA website.
PICASSO, BRAQUE & LÉGER: 20TH CENTURY MODERN MASTERS The Rubins’ generous gift to Oglethorpe University has helped to establish The Shelley & Donald Rubin Exhibitions Series to support exhibitions in the OU Museum of Art. The current exhibition, “Picasso, Braque & Léger: 20th Century Modern Masters,” is the first exhibition presented as part of the series. An arts-related curricular program accompanies each exhibition of the series. This program may include new courses, lectures, online learning, and
JONATHAN DICKSON ’00 AND LE JL A ISL AMOVIC DICKSON ’02 began their lives together at Oglethorpe. Lejla, originally from Yugoslavia, was raised primarily in Germany and France before moving to the U.S. She met Jonathan, an OU baseball player, while they were students. At an Oglethorpe reception, Jonathan was introduced to OU trustee Steve Malone ’73, who invited him to learn more about the investment business and offered him an internship with Merrill Lynch. The internship turned into a full-time opportunity, which led to a 10-year career with UBS and then to his current position at Morgan Stanley. Lejla has spent the majority of her career with Reznick Group (now CohnReznick) and currently is their director of marketing. Lejla and Jonathan, who serves on the President’s Advisory Council, are members of the James Edward Oglethorpe Circle of university donors. They recognize their alma mater is a special place and choose to contribute to the success of future students by giving to the annual fund and providing scholarship assistance.
other innovative approaches.
He spent several years working at Lockheed Martin (formerly Martin Marietta)
Dr. Albert Sheppard ’58 has experienced tremendous success in his lifetime.
and as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army, where he discovered his passion for
Since retirement, he has become an avid golfer, nature photographer
engineering and obtained a PhD in electrical engineering from Duke University.
and amateur radio enthusiast. Dr. Sheppard and his wife, Marge, have
A self-proclaimed maverick, Dr. Sheppard accepted a faculty position at
generous scholarship he received from Oglethorpe and is pleased to “pay
Georgia Institute of Technology, allowing him the freedom to pursue his passion
it forward” by supporting the university’s annual fund. He also understands
for research, while also completing consulting projects. He went on to become
the importance of faculty members who truly take an interest in a student’s
a distinguished engineering, mathematics and computer science professor, as
success, as well as an environment that fosters the desire to never stop learning.
visited more than 100 countries around the world. He forever values the
well as Vice President of Interdisciplinary Programs at Georgia Tech, Jenkins Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Director of Academic Computing at Florida Southern College. Dr. Sheppard continued to serve as an industry consultant for leading companies and government agencies such as IBM, Whirlpool, NASA and the Department of Defense. FALL 2013 | CARILLON 33