On Saturday, May 9, 2020, a day usually filled with activity, excitement, and crowds of family and friends, the Ferrum College campus was brilliantly sunny, chilly, and quiet. At 10 a.m., the College began its 104th commencement ceremony during which 199 seniors from 14 different states were honored during a ceremony that was streamed online. The College was forced to postpone its traditional inperson graduation event due to COVID-19. Although the delivery was different, the commencement exercises remained generally the same. The program began with a slideshow of the graduates, and President David Johns and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato continued the tradition of ringing the Schoolfield Hall bell on campus to signify the start of the ceremony. Johns offered a greeting, telling the graduates, “Against all odds, and in the face of enormous challenges, Class of 2020, you made it! We all know, now more than ever, that great achievement comes from teamwork. It requires a group effort. Graduates, in addition to your own hard work and determination, the love and support that you’ve received from your family and friends helped to bring you to this moment.” Sposato recognized nine distinguished faculty members with 212 years of combined service in 10
teaching at the College: Director of Technical Services in Library Sciences Peggy Barker; Professor of Economics Rathin Basu; Assistant Professor of English Karen Duddy; Professor of English John Kitterman; Associate Professor of English Melvin Macklin; Assistant Professor of Marketing Michele “Micky” Naff; Associate Professor of Accounting and Business Christine Stinson; Associate Professor of Social Work Jennie West; and Assistant Professor of Sociology Peg Wimmer. The rank of Faculty Emeritus was bestowed upon the following retirees: Professor of Philosophy Gary Angel; Professor of Theatre Arts Harold Wayne Bowman; Professor of English John Bruton; Professor of Biology and Horticulture Bob Pohlad; Associate Professor of History C. Milton Rowan; Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Carolyn Thomas (awarded posthumously); Professor of History Mike Trochim; and Professor of Business Demetri Tsanacas. Jennie West, who retired this year after 25 years of teaching at Ferrum College, received the Exemplary Faculty Award. This award recognizes a full-time faculty member at the College who exemplifies excellence and commitment to teaching. West was described by her colleagues as one who “always leads by example, educates future professionals, challenges them, and opens their perspectives to different world views to make them more
