NEWS School of Health, Science and Wellness Gets New Dean
photos by kevin manuel
Karen Benn Marshall, PhD, has been appointed dean of the School of Health Professions, Science and Wellness at Washington Adventist University. “It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work at a Seventhday Adventist institution where I can openly share my faith,” said Marshall. “I look forward to working in an environment where students are prepared for wider and more meaningful service.”
(Ala.) for 10 years and served as director of its Allied Health Program. Marshall received her terminal degree in science education from Morgan State University in Baltimore. Her research interests include: attitudes toward science and achievement in science, informal science education and achievement in science among African-American students. She has researched, published and lectured extensively on education, science and human anatomy and authored a chapter in the Handbook of College Science Teaching as well as the book The Tough Professor and the Easier Way.—Keisha Tulloch
Music Building Completed
Prior to her WAU appointment, Marshall served as chair and professor of Biology at the nearby Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. She also taught at Oakwood University
The first new building in 40 years at Washington Adventist University is now complete. Larry E. Walker, principal for the construction company the Walker Group, declared the Leroy and Lois Peters Music Center (below) finished in December. The building features cuttingedge technology, multiple practice rooms, libraries, SMART classrooms, recital rooms and teaching studios and is expected to add enormously to the timber of university life, in general, and to the richness of its fine arts programs. Its completion is a punctuation mark on a dream, which has had its fair share of twists and turns. Funding for the project came
from the state of Maryland, which provided a $2.2 million grant with the understanding that WAU would match that amount and complete the building within a year. The university board voted the $2.2 million—$1 million of which was donated by philanthropists Leroy and Lois Peters of Howard County, Maryland. A formal grand opening of the building is planned for Alumni Weekend, April 13-15. —Kevin Manuel
Mini Grant Helps Students Pay Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Washington Adventist University recently won a Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Challenge Mini Grant for the maximum amount of $1,000 by the Michigan Campus Compact in partnership with Wisconsin Campus Compact and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Sophia Ward, PhD (above), student success and engagement specialist, partnered with Dean Nemeka Mason, first-year residence life coordinator, to apply for the grant. The funds went to support a service day in honor of King where several WAU student groups participated.
The Gateway is published in the Visitor by the Washington Adventist University ■ 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 ■ Phone: (800) 835-4212 wau.edu ■ President, Weymouth Spence Communication Director, Grace Virtue
38 | V ISITOR February 2012