The Magazine of the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences
Maralyn Sommer Leaving a legacy
Cynthia Holland Student science star
Jane Lucas Local hero
Henderson State University Vol. 16, Summer 2014
Letter from the Dean For the past 30 years, students in the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences have made undergraduate research an important part of their Henderson experience. The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as “an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate that makes an intellectual or creative contribution to a discipline or disciplines.� It is important to glean from this definition that it is not restricted to science, techology, engineering, mathematics fields, but embraces the arts and humanities. Students benefit in a number of ways by participating in undergraduate research: their understanding of their academic field is enhanced; they gain academic credentials that help expand their resumes by presenting at conferences, publishing, and working with a research group; their oral and written communication skills improve; they encounter real world problems during their research experience that strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Dr. David Bateman was named Director of Undergraduate Research in July of 2013. He has done an excellent job of promoting undergraduate research in Ellis College. He has published two newsletters that recognize students and faculty for their undergraduate research accomplishments. The Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference, which he now directs, has been held on our campus each spring for the past 20 years. Students from across the state use this forum to present undergraduate research results. I would like to personally thank the faculty of Ellis College of Arts and Sciences for working with our students in undergraduate research. Faculty members do not receive additional pay or load credit for directing undergraduate research activities. They go above and beyond the call of duty by donating their time to enable our students to realize the significant benefits of the undergraduate research experience. The dedication of these faculty and their students provides a true example of the Reddie Spirit.
Dr. John Hardee Dean of the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. David Bateman Director of Undergraduate Research, offers a demonstration during Family Science Night.
Content
If you like what you see
Volume 16, Summer 2014
Consider making a donation to an Ellis College organization or department, or endow a scholarship in memory of a friend. www.hsu.edu/ecas
Lasting Legacy Celebrating Dr. Maralyn Sommer
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A Writer and a Scholar
Eyewitness to Revolution
One student’s Romanian history
Page 6
Meet Henderson’s new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Scientific Passion
Page 5
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Cancer research earns fellowship
Leading by Giving
Local alumna transforms community
Page 10
Indiana Gibson Professor forges new path
Page 15
Paris Magic
Honors student at Notre Dame
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Holy Psych, Batman Faculty author puts crusader on couch
Page 16
Taking a Bow
Seven Ellis College faculty retire
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The Magazine of Ellis College FORGE is published yearly by the Henderson State University Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences. Through profiles and current news, the magazine serves as a personal link connecting the college to its alumni and other related communities. The FORGE staff, composed of students and faculty, strives for excellence in magazine journalism through fair reporting and high quality photography and design. To suggest topics for future FORGE articles or to comment on the magazine, please email hardee@hsu.edu.
President Glen Jones Provost, VPAA Stephen Adkison Dean of Ellis College John Hardee Associate Dean Angela Boswell Forge Editorial Board John Hardee David Stoddard Michael Ray Taylor Tonya Smith Cover Illustration David Stoddard (based on a reference photo by Steve Fellers)
Designers Taylor Heinzelman Heath Sims Megan Snoddy David Stoddard Chris Weber Editors Joshua L. James Michael Ray Taylor Contributors Lea Ann Alexander Cornelia Calin Ashley Dunn Steve Fellers Joshua James Kate Patrick Sara Tadlock
“ I knew from the minute I stepped on campus this was the place for me.”
– Dr. Maralyn Sommer
With many successes to her credit as chair, dean and interim provost, Dr. Maralyn Sommer takes a bow. By Joshua L. James
On the stage of Harwood Recital Hall in the Russell Fine Arts stands a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano. She isn’t kept center-stage, but rather rests in the corner to the audience’s right, a cache of sound made of pure spruce, waiting for a performer’s fingers to dance across her keys. Her keyboard boasts nine more of them – an entire extra octave – than most grand pianos. 2
Henderson has owned the instrument since 2001. Dr. Maralyn Sommer, who retired as provost and vice president of academic affairs in June, was dean of Ellis College at the time of the purchase. The vice president of Bösendorfer flew Sommer and her committee to their store in Vienna, Austria, to examine their inventory. The committee listened to several pieces of music on one piano, and then heard the same pieces played on several more before selecting the Imperial. Dr. Ann Rye, former director of piano at Henderson, recalled that the Imperial “had a magical sound, a really round sound.” What really makes the piano special, is that Henderson almost didn’t get a chance to own it at all. It was only through the efforts of Maralyn Sommer that the piano
found its way to Harwood Recital Hall. The music department had been in need of a piano for quite some time. The state had allocated a sum of money to Henderson, but it came with a catch – then President Charles Dunn informed Sommer that the state insisted the money be used for technology. “I’ll put a computer on top of the piano,” Sommer told Dunn, “if we can call that technology. But what we need is a piano.” Persistence combined, Sommer and Dunn finally persuaded the state to allow the money to be used for an item of longevity, rather than technology. Because the fiscal year was skidding to a close, however, the Sommer-led piano search committee had about a month to find one. Only after trips to Dallas, Atlanta, Little Rock and other piano-pushing locales failed to yield a satisfactory instrument did the committee
finally find themselves racing down Vienna’s Autobahn en route to Bösendorfer. The acquisition of the Bösendorfer put Sommer’s administrative skills on display. The operation required a great deal of multitasking. Sommer, a bassoonist, was able to both perform and teach while handling her administrative duties, first as department chair, then as dean and finally as provost. During her 24-year career at Henderson, Sommer actually served as provost and vice president twice in addition to holding the title of dean for 12 years. “I really admire her ability to juggle so many things,” Ann Rye said. “She has a myriad of details in her mind at all times.” Dr. Charles Rye, former choral director for Henderson, was impressed with her skills at managing money. A new Imperial, after all, generally costs over $150,000, but Sommer acquired it for the school at less than half that figure: $70,000. She organized the first and subsequent President’s Concerts. She created an annual clinic that allows elementary music teachers to work with experts in the industry at Henderson. Among many other achievements, she organized the annual China trip which gives students and faculty a chance to tour one of the oldest civilizations on the planet. But like the Bösendorfer piano, Maralyn Sommer is an asset that Henderson nearly missed its chance to enjoy. In 1989, Charles Rye was chair of the search committee who was charged with filling a part-time music faculty, part-time department chair position. Sommer, who had
Clockwise from top: The committee tours Bösendorfer factory in Austria; the piano in the rain; Dr. Sommer at the an early President’s Concert with Dr. Charles Dunn; NAMESTK; Charles and Anne Rye at the Bösendorfer factory.
only recently earned her doctorate in bassoon performance, had worked as an educator, but had little administrative experience. Still, she responded to an ad the committee had posted. Sommer flew to Arkansas to interview and perform a recital for the position that December. “She had a combination of ingredients that we found really interesting,” Charles Rye said. “We had some needs for instruction in double reeds – her instrument is bassoon. And because of her upbringing, it was obvious she was not afraid of hard work. At all.” Whatever questions were raised by her lack of administrative experience were answered by Sommer’s former supervisor at the University of Arizona, Dr. David Woods, who told Rye that Sommer was “a major administrator in the making.” If the committee grew infatuated with Sommer, she was enamored of Henderson. “I knew from the minute I stepped on the campus this was the place for me,” Sommer said. But when the committee proposed the hiring of Sommer, the recently appointed dean
Her former supervisor told Rye that Sommer was “a major administrator in the making.”
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“In my wildest dreams, I’d have never imagined you as an eighteen-yearold that I would be second in command of an institution, to be provost. It’s pretty awesome.”
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of Ellis Colleges was hesitant due to her lack of administrative experience. He instructed the committee to conduct another search. “It’s rare that you have to have two searches,” Ann Rye said. “To be on a search committee is a lot of work.” “And the committee felt like they had done their work,” Charles added, “and made the recommendation for the right reasons.” After extending the search, the committee, perhaps slightly agitated at having been second guessed, once again recommended the hiring of Maralyn Sommer to the dean. Ten years later, Sommer was the dean. She had come a long way from the town of Nampa, Idaho, where she was one of ten children in her family. Charles Rye had been right in saying she was no stranger to hard work. No one is more surprised by what she has accomplished than Sommer herself. “In my wildest dreams, I’d have never imagined, you know, as an eighteen-year-old, that I would be second in command of an institution, to be provost. It’s pretty awesome,” Sommer said with a reflective smile. She has enjoyed her career. She is full of gratitude and sometimes laments leaving the institution. “I’m going to miss not being a part of the next step,” Sommer said. “I think it’s going to be a great step.” But she also feels her job has been done. “I am retiring for no other reason than I think I’ve done pretty much what I can do for the institution.” Her retirement will not likely signal an era of inactivity. Her nine siblings are scattered about the western and southern United States; she plans to see all of them. Not before, however, heading home to Idaho to see her parents. She has committed to giving private bassoon lessons to Henderson’s freshman recruits next year. She played 16 years with the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and often fills in when the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra needs additional bassoonists. She’s a regular with the UALR Choral Program and with the choir at Little Rock’s
Second Presbyterian Church when they need a bassoonist. She plans on continuing all of this work after Henderson. In 2001, as Dean of Ellis College, Sommer decided to offer Henderson’s most talented and best prepared music students the opportunity to play with the caliber of musician she, herself, had felt privileged to join. To say that Sommer “organized” the President’s Concert would be an understatement. She contracted the orchestra. She wrote the programs, had them printed, and ensured that the honoree’s program was framed. Every year. Several times, she invested her personal money into the event and into helping to ensure that it would continue after her retirement. Sommer, herself was the Concert’s honoree in 2014. Next February will be the concert’s fourteenth year. “The President’s Concert is a unique showcase for our best and brightest,” Ann Rye said. What Maralyn Sommer has left behind is more than a job, or even several jobs. It’s more than a handful of offices held and a plethora of accomplishments. She left behind a legacy. As a teacher, she’ll be remembered as kind but firm. When she was promoted to even higher administrative positions, she fought to keep at least some classes under her instruction. As an administrator she’ll be remembered for her work ethic, for her willingness to do whatever may be necessary to improve the institution: Refusing to back down until the music department got the piano it needed instead of what the state thought it should have. Using her own pickup and own hands to vacate Russell Fine Arts during its remodel. Advancing the mission of Henderson, transcending it, but never forgetting her beloved music department. And for the special place in her heart that will always remain for “The School with a Heart.” “I think that few realize just how much of a tender heart she has,” Ann Rye said, “and how much she cares about the institution.”
Meet Stephen Adkison, provost and vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Stephen R. Adkison began duties as provost and vice president for academic affairs July 1, 2014, coming to Henderson after serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Eastern Oregon University. The provost is the second-highest ranking officer at Henderson and the chief academic officer. He earned a doctorate in English, rhetoric and composition in 2000, and a master’s degree in English and writing in 1997, both from
Some of my role models are: My primary role models for most of my life have been my parents, though I wasn’t necessarily aware of that fact until later in my life — my mother for her outspoken integrity and sense of social justice, and my father for his common decency and fundamental sense of respect for everyone with whom he worked and interacted. Jennifer, my spouse, is also a strong role model for me as both a parent and a scholar, particularly since I’ve not had as much time as I’d like for the latter over the past decade. Most of the other role models I’ve appreciated have been teachers, from my own teachers to colleagues with whom I’ve worked over the years. Dr. Alan Egger, recently retired as a professor of mathematics at Idaho State University, and Dr. Susan Tchudi, longretired as a professor of English at the University of Nevada-Reno, have certainly been two of my most influential role models. (I mention them by name mostly because they deserve the acknowledgement, but also because it would irritate Alan to know I had referred to him in such a manner – he’s a militantly humble person!) If I weren’t provost, I’d be: teaching writing and thinking in the English department. I began my academic career in the classroom and someday I’ll end it in the classroom. My service in between as an administrator centers on helping shape the kind of university I value as a faculty member, that I would be proud to send my own children to. I’d like to think I’d also be about 40 or so pounds lighter if I weren’t working in administration, but that’s probably got more to do with parenthood than administrative work.
the University of Nevada-Reno. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Montana State University in 1986. Before he became provost at Eastern Oregon, Adkison served in several positions at Idaho State University and the University of Nevada-Reno, and taught courses at Truckee Meadows Community College, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Huron Shores Writing Institute.
My favorite recent movie/book/TV series: “Maleficent” — quite aside from the fact that most of the movies Jennifer and I see are kids’ movies, as the parent of a teenage daughter I very much appreciated a fairy tale in which the princess saves herself instead waiting for a prince to save her. My daughter and I really enjoyed seeing this one and talking about it afterward. I also read some of Bernard Cornwell’s historical fiction this spring for the first time and was surprised at how much I enjoyed those books, particularly because of Cornwell’s attention to detail. I don’t usually watch much TV, but did enjoy watching Joss Wheedon’s series, “Firefly,” on Netflix. Most people don’t know that I: worked as both a professional chef and ski instructor/professional skier for several years when I was younger. My fantasy dinner party would include: the perfect chicken-fried steak and turnip greens, and guests would include ... Protagoras and Aspasia, Keith and Anne Richards, Red Green, Alan Egger, and, of course, Jennifer.
The greatest challenge in liberal arts education: It’s only been recently that we’ve had to articulate the value of a liberal arts education at all. In the history of the academy, it’s an odd question, because the fundamental reason the academy existed to start with revolved around the liberal arts. The liberal arts are the basis of a higher education, period, whether it’s for a professional degree or a liberal arts degree — no matter what we’re going to do, liberal arts means we’re educated to become members of a larger community. Liberal arts education means we understand the connection all universities share with communities: professional communities, social communities, disciplinary communities. Our greatest challenge is to articulate the fundamental worth of a liberal arts education at a time when people are starting to question the value of a university education itself, at a time when resources — state resources, particularly — are getting ever tighter. We shouldn’t have to do this, yet that’s the place faculty find themselves now, the place where, if we are successful in articulating that value, we insure that we have jobs in the future.
Dr. Stephen Adkison, provost and vice president of academic affairs, shakes hands with a Paul McCartney action figure at a recent meeting of the executive committee of the Henderson faculty senate. Lea Ann Alexander, associate librarian and director of Henderson Seminar, persuaded the new provost to pose as part of an ongoing photography project, for which she posts daily portraits of the diminutive Beatle on social media. “It shows that Dr. Adkison has a great sense of humor,” Alexander said. After the photograph was taken, Dr. Adkison confessed that he “was always more of a Stones fan.”
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By Cornelia Calin Design by Taylor Heinzelman
On the cold winter morning of December 15, 1989, I was walking to the train station. It was a Saturday, and I wanted to take the train to visit my parents in the village. I worked in Timișoara as a tailor, sewing winter coats from home for my own customers – that way I didn’t have to work seven days a week, like other people in factories. Because they worked so much during the week, they had vacation one month a year. I wanted to take a shortcut, but the street was blocked by police. I had to go around another way. As I approached the home of Laszlo Tokes, a controversial pastor, about fifty people stood in front of the house, talking. Curiosity made me stop for a moment to listen to the conversations. “What’s going on?” a man in a black coat asked.
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“They will deport the pastor and his wife,” a women in a red winter coat answered. “Where will they take them?” I asked. “Far away from here, in another state, to preach and live in a small village,” a young man with a mustache answered. I was in a hurry and did not want to miss the train, so I left. I had no idea that the next day a revolution would start from the very spot where I had stood. I did not attend that church; I did not know much about pastor Tokes or his beliefs, or that he had become a popular voice against Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romania’s brutal dictator. The Romanian Revolution started in the city of Timișoara in December 1989 and soon spread throughout the country. I was 21 years old. The revolution resulted in the violent overthrow and execution of Ceaușescu and his wife, and the end of the Socialist Republic of Romania. Of the many revolutions against communism at the time, it was the only one to forcibly overthrow the country’s government and result in the death
of its leader – and the deaths of many of the protestors. I came back to the city of Timișoara the day after the protest. On most Sunday afternoons, people went to the large square in the center of the city to talk about politics and sports. Today it is called Liberty Square. I saw hundreds of people gathered in front of the huge Romanian Orthodox Cathedral. It was as if they had gathered to speak to God about the suffering they had endured for so many years. They refused to leave even after the mayor fulfilled a few of the promises he had made to the pastor and the members of the church. Guided by an invisible desire for solidarity, the people of Timișoara stepped onto the path of freedom. On the street there was such tension, such a feeling of power, that one could almost touch it. Above all, the people of Romania could finally tell the tyrants: “Go to hell! We have had enough!” It was a now-ornever feeling in the crowd; they tasted the wine of freedom, no longer caring about the consequences.
The next day was December 17, 1989. My neighbor, Doru Buna, a 25-year-old married man with a one-year-old baby, came back from work and stood talking with another neighbor in the yard about what was happening in Timișoara. I was working my second job, taking care of an elderly man without legs, a veteran of World War II. My neighbors decided to go to Maria Square – a gigantic statue of Mary gives the plaza its name – to see what was going on. They had heard that an even larger number of protestors had gathered there than had gathered at the cathedral the day before. They didn’t get to the square. They got close and saw about fifty people walking toward the center of the city. The neighbors joined this group, walking and looking for the mayor of the city, who was hiding from the mob. More young people showed up and started shouting: “Down with communism!” In only an hour about 150 people gathered in front of the building where the mayor was supposed to be hiding. This group tried to get into the building by force. When they looked around, they were surrounded by policemen with guns and dogs. The policemen blocked the building as protestors tried to force their way in. The police released the dogs and attacked the protestors. About 5 p.m. the police chased them off, but they ran and came back again as an even larger group. The protestors divided into more groups and started roaming the streets of the city, intending to get more people to join them. They encouraged each other. From Buzias Boulevard, walking through half of the city, they got to the north
Photos: Associated Press
train station. Undercover policemen had infiltrated the group of protestors, following them step by step. Police cars followed too. The protestors attacked one police car and tried to turn it upside down. Any protestors that fell were put into the police cars and taken to jail. My neighbor’s wife stayed home with their baby. She did not know anything about her husband – whether he was alive, in jail or dead. Two protestors escaped from a police car. Others shouted at the police: “Go to hell! We aren’t afraid anymore! We have had enough!” Those who escaped the police tried to get home. It took two days for them to go around the city, so nobody would see them. That night my neighbor was arrested, beaten and interrogated. He did not know if he would see his family again. The first shots were fired on December 17, 1989. My neighbor was in jail at that time. The next day was his 26th birthday. He prayed for a miracle. The next day a miracle happened: the army turned against the police. The army didn’t want to kill civilians anymore. The protestors started shouting: “We are not afraid anymore. The army is with us!” By Christmas Day, the Ceaușescu family had been captured, tried and executed. Their rule and decades of communism had ended in Romania. � Even though 25 years have passed since the revolution started in Timișoara, I remember everything like it was yesterday. Today, the ancient town is blooming and has become a progressive, cosmopolitan city. In front of the Cathedral is a memorial to those who lost their lives during the Revolution, along with a nearby museum
dedicated to the citizens who were brave enough to stand up and say, “We have had enough!” My mother only completed the 4th grade, and my father only completed the 8th grade. My parents had eight children and they could not afford to keep me in school. I had to work in Timișoara to help my family. There weren’t any scholarships or grants in Romania to help students go to school. If the parents were doctors, then the child would be a doctor. If the parents were workers, then the children would be workers. Today Romania has changed. After the Revolution people were free to go visit and work in other countries in Europe. I have lived in the United States for the past 20 years. When I came to this country, I did not speak any English, but I learned fast. My favorite cousin, Leontina, became a physician at the age of 56. She inspired me to go back to college. I have always liked foreign languages and history. I never imagined that at my age I would be in college, in a foreign country, writing in English about the Romanian Revolution. But here I was, a mother of two young men, and once more a student – this time at Henderson State University. I graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and history, and I am very proud of that. English is not my first language, and I had to work very hard in writing classes. I still have problems with writing in English, and my children keep asking me when I will change my accent. I tell them never. I tell them that I will always speak English with a Romanian accent.
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Henderson graduate receives prestigious fellowship By Joshua L. James and Steve Fellers
Cynthia Holland, a 2014 biology graduate from Alexander, has received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, earning the prestigious post in her first year of eligibility.
The fellowship provides a $32,000 stipend for each of three years, as well as a $12,000 cost of education award to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where Holland will be attending graduate school. The NSF awarded Holland the fellowship in April and notified her by email. At first, she didn’t believe it. “I get the email on my phone that morning,” Holland said, “and at the top of the message it says April 1, and then ‘Congratulations!’ And so my first thought was, ‘Okay,’ is this an April Fools’ Prank?’” It wasn’t a prank. Holland, who minored in chemistry, has conducted research with Dr. Martin Campbell for two years. She was a student-teacher in Intro to Biology lab and president of Gamma Beta Phi, an honor society.
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“This is one of the most prestigious fellowships a graduate student in the sciences can receive,” said Campbell. “A student is eligible to apply for it as a senior undergraduate or during the first two years of graduate study. To my knowledge, she may be the first Henderson student to receive such an award, especially during the first year of eligibility.” Holland said Campbell sparked her interest in research. “I didn’t know I actually wanted to go to graduate school or do any research work until Dr. Campbell mentioned NSF research programs, so I applied for several and got accepted,” Holland said. “After that, I fell in love with research. I spent the last two years working in his lab. It’s been a really good experience that has helped prepare me, along with my course work.” Under Campbell’s encouragement, Holland took an internship at North Carolina State University the summer after her sophomore year. Holland, who is chiefly interested in discovering the medicinal benefits that seemingly ordinary plants may be hiding, was surprised when she realized she would be engineering the camelina plant for use in a jet biofuel. “It was completely not what I expected,” she said. “Although it wasn’t exactly the research I was particularly interested in, it was still a start, and it got me interested in science.” The following summer, Holland went to St. Louis, where she worked with Dr. Tony Kutchan. This time she got to be passionate about her work. The same plant she had used to produce
biofuel, Camelina, was now being engineered for use in an anti-cancer drug. Her NSF proposal was based on this research. Holland conducted important research at Henderson too. Inspired by her experience at NC State, she convinced Campbell to allow her to work on an unconventional study. “I kind of created my own project,” Holland said. She and Campbell traveled to the Saline Bayou and collected samples of holly, a plant that grows particularly well in Arkansas, and whose chemical properties had heretofore been unexplored. They discovered ursolic acid, an anti-cancer agent, in the berries. Holland remains “very happy” she decided to attend Henderson. “I came to college thinking everything had been done and discovered,” she said. “But every professor has inspired me to think critically and dig deeper. Now I realize there is quite a bit left to be discovered.” The NSF only awards about 2,000 fellowships per year. Holland competed against undergrads and graduate students throughout North American in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. If this wasn’t daunting enough, about a month before the NSF proposal was due, Holland’s mother, Alice Turner, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. “It was terrifying,” Holland said. “And it was scary thinking I’ll be out of state, and not knowing how long her treatments would take.” She was conflicted about spending her time working on the fellowship, but was confident her
mother wouldn’t want it any other way. “I knew I had to finish my fellowship app and my grad school app,” Holland said. “So it was hard, but I knew that’s what she wanted for me.” In late May, Holland’s mother officially became a cancer survivor. “It’s nice going off to grad school knowing that she’s cancer free,” Holland said. “She was always my biggest fan.” Since receiving the fellowship, Holland has been congratulated profusely. The DemocratGazette printed an article about her achievement. Holland doesn’t think she is deserving of the attention. She insists that the fellowship has not made her anyone special, but instead “maybe a little more humble.” Holland plans to earn her Ph.D. in plant and microbial biosciences from Washington University, to continue her research, and to remain in academia as a professor. She wants her work to “contribute something to human health.” As an educator, she hopes she can inspire others to find their passion. “I think it’s important to be passionate,” she said. “Figuring out what my passion was took some time. So my advice would be to enjoy what you do. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from doing it.”
Above: Illustration of Ilex decidua based on Cynthia’s original photo used in her research documentation. Left and below: Cynthia Holland examine flora and readies an experiment.
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Jane Lucas crafts a lasting legacy As I stepped into the newly renovated Group Living building, I spotted the open elevator. A man of about seventy held the door open. “I’ve never seen you here before,” he said through a smile. I would soon learn that the office Jane Lucas oversees isn’t filled with employees who constantly rush in and out or who lazily watch the clock – this place is a family, with Lucas as its matriarch. 10
Entering her office, I found Lucas at her desk, smartly dressed and full of energy. After we exchanged greetings, we both sat on chairs draped with crochet blankets that amplified the cozy ambiance flooding the halls. Lucas was excited to discuss Group Living and her long involvement with the nonprofit organization. Anyone who has strolled down Main Street in Arkadelphia and had a bite to eat at the Honeycomb or shopped at the Beehive, two high-volume downtown businesses, has come in contact with Group Living. Group Living is a private, non-profit organization that provides assistance and community service to people with developmental disabilities. Lucas, who started her career with Group Living as a manager of the Beehive, has served as executive director of Group Living Inc. in Arkadelphia for the past 40 years. She is a proud Henderson alum, graduating in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “I love both Henderson and Arkadelphia so much,” Lucas said. “You have no idea how Henderson has changed me. Some people go through life never finding their niche. It took me a few years, but I eventually found mine. I’ve been doing this job for four decades and I really love it. How many people can say that?” A native of Indiana, Lucas moved to Amity, Ark., at the age of 12. Her first attempt at college was at the University of Arkansas and was unsuccessful. “I really goofed around in school the first time around,” she said. “I went
from Amity to Fayetteville. It was a pretty big jump back then. I wasn’t focused and just wasn’t ready.” Lucas moved back home and did not return to school for another 10 years. Henderson, her second chance at education, proved to be the perfect fit for the future philanthropist. Henderson honored Lucas as a distinguished alumna, and presented her with the prestigious ‘H’ award. On Founder’s Day in 2011, the Henderson Foundation announced it had created an endowment scholarship, The Jane L. Lucas Scholarship, in her honor. The scholarship is intended to assist a non-traditional female student from Amity – as Lucas was when she attended Henderson. “I think this scholarship will give someone who really needs it a jump towards a better education,” said Lucas. “It’s hard to find any scholarship or financial assistance when you’re going to college years after graduating from high school. When I was in school, back in the ’60s, I would have loved to have a scholarship like this. I hope this will help change someone’s life.” The idea for the scholarship – like Lucas and her life – was nontraditional. “I was going to get Jane a gift, but nothing in particular was coming to mind,” said Vicki Stafford, administrative assistant. “I’ve been working with Jane for over 20 years, and we’re pretty much like family. I know how involved she is with Henderson, and I thought that it would be an awesome surprise for her. A few of us got
“… I’ve been
doing this job for almost four decades and I really love it. How many people can say that?”
A Giving Life
From top to bottom: By Ashley Dunn Design by Chris Weber together at the office and organized everything with the Henderson Foundation. When we told her, we didn’t know how she would react. She was so honored.” Lucas’ involvements with the community are plenty: She was the first female governor of the Rotary Club in Arkansas, has been on the president of the board of directors for the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, has been an active member of First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia for many years, and she served on the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities for six years. In short, Lucas embodies the spirit of community service. When we concluded our conversation, Lucas hugged me and said, “Some say that I have done a lot for Arkadelphia, but I cannot tell you what I owe to Henderson. There are no words.” Lucas, an alumna who has done much for the community that she has called home for decades, remains forever linked to Arkadelphia and Henderson. She has touched countless lives, and with her endowment scholarship, she will continue for years to come. If you are interested in donating to the Jane L. Lucas scholarship, or creating a new scholarship of your own, please send donations to HSU Foundation, Box 7550, Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001.
Jane Lucas with Mary Jo McCorkle, class of 1938, at the Henderson Christmas Gala; in Washington, D.C. with Chris Burke, the actor with Down Syndrome who played Corky on the ABC television series “Life Goes On;” with her dog Kodi and the Reddie “Golden Girls,” an active group of 1930s alumni; with Jane Ross and Senator Dale Bumpers at the ribbon-cutting of the Group Living, Incorporated, group home in 1980.
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By Kate Patrick Honors College Scholar 12
“...to the big bells as loud as the thunder, to the little bells soft as a psalm. And some say the soul of the city’s the toll of the bells, the bells of Notre Dame.” — The Hunchback of Notre Dame,Walt Disney Pictures
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e wound our way through the streets of Paris – thirteen college students looking like ducklings following the professors’ power walks. I wondered if they actually knew where they were going. The 2013 Henderson Honors College “European Experience” took us from London to Paris to Florence to Rome in two weeks. Dr. Steve Carter, professor of history, and Dr. Drew Smith, director of international student programs, organized the trip. Unlike the last wet week of the trip, the rain stayed in the belly of the charcoal clouds on this Sunday morning. Most of us wore rain jackets and coats to protect against the May chill. Suddenly, through the maze of gray buildings and alley-like streets appeared one of the towers of the Notre Dame Cathedral. My heart jumped at the There it is! moment. I ignored cars and passersby as we crossed the street, then the bridge over the Seine. I pulled Rocky, my brown stuffed elephant, from my satchel and placed him gingerly on the bridge asking Calynn, my roommate, to hold his tail. I crouched to snap a photo of him against the backdrop of the spires. I bought Rocky in New York City during my first “big girl” trip without my parents. Henderson’s newspaper staff travels to the College Media Association convention every year, and I had joined them during my spring semester as a freshman. I had almost refused to leave the car at the airport, nervousness twisting
my stomach. After a suggestion from a friend, I began carrying Rocky on my travels, taking pictures of him in iconic places. He seemed to smile in front of Notre Dame. The saints’ stone eyes looked down from their perches across its facade and as guards over the three arched doorways. Crowns and halos adorned their heads. They observed the stream of tourists and worshippers with looks of concern, pity, affection, and simple indifference. I looked back at them, curious about their stories. Rebels during the French Revolution destroyed many of these statues, cutting off their heads because they represented the monarchy. The body of the cathedral still bears the scars of political and social upheaval. We followed the crowd around the rim of the sanctuary as mass was carried on in the center, separated from us by stone archways. Columns and beams reached to the heavens, meeting at the vaulted ceiling like a spine. Lines of tourists and pilgrims flowed like her blood vessels. Tea candles flickered in stands along the walls, each lit by a visitor and burned as a silent prayer for a loved one. People have done this for hundreds of years. I lit one for my grandmother, who had traveled the world and now lay paralyzed in a nursing home. I lit two more for my grandparents on the opposite side, both suffering from cancer. (My grandfather died less than a year later.)
Dr. Smith, his runner’s frame bent and his Nikon camera against his glasses, captured pictures of the candles. He marveled at their simplicity in the midst of such ornate beauty. The voices of the choir, the breath of the church, rose and diminished and rose again as if angels carried their song in flight. We spoke in whispers, if at all, to avoid fracturing the sound. The altar rested at the heart, graced on either side by the Rose Windows. Stained glass shone throughout the cathedral, but these in their radiance seemed to sing with the music, the others dimmed in comparison. The famous South Rose Window is made of 84 panes in fours circles, graced by figures of the apostles, prophets, saints, and angels. It has been damaged and rebuilt many times over the centuries. After an hour, our group met near the center of Paris. In the sidewalk, a starburst in a bronze octagon marks the spot where all the roads of Paris once met outside Notre Dame. In cities and towns across the world, churches were erected as the highest buildings – the closest to heaven. Now steel towers dedicated to money rise higher. Construction of Notre Dame de Paris (literally, Our Lady of Paris) began with the city’s new bishop Maurice de Sully in 1160. He wanted to build a cathedral worthy of France’s largest city. It took over 100 years to build and recently celebrated its 850th birthday. The bells tolled, signaling the beginning
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of the next mass. Dr. Smith, my other roommate, Lexie, one of the two quirky Andrews and I decided to attend the service. Half of the group went in search of food. The sorority girls, Myranda and Miranda, along with their friend T.C., pranced off to shop, and a couple of the more adventurous boys got in the hour-long line to climb the 400 steps to the bell tower, probably hoping for a glimpse of Quasimodo. In the 19th century, Notre Dame had fallen to such disrepair that many Parisians wanted to tear it down. Architect Eugene Viollet-leDuc, however, wanted to save it, so he asked a friend to write a defense of the cathedral. His friend, a man named Victor Hugo, penned the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which rescued the church. � “Okay, uh, meet back here at noon,” Dr. Carter announced, his moon face nodding us away. The professors had finally learned to set defined schedules. We seemed to spend most of our time in a huddle, standing in people’s way like a clog in an artery, waiting for the professors to read a map or decide when to meet. I had to learn to go with the flow with two men organizing this trip for the first time. I was still getting used to the idea of following life wherever it took me. We sat near the back during the service. We barely understood the French scriptures and prayers, but we watched with appreciation for the history and the artistry cradled between the arches. People from across the world experienced the same ritual, our spirits connected, whether believers or unbelievers, whether tourists or pilgrims. Dr. Smith, who teaches a religions class, said that he failed to see how anyone could sit through a service and not walk away with an appreciation for that spiritual tradition. “It made me feel small,” Lexie told me. Little did we know how soon this scene would change, that human blood would splatter the altar where the priest prepared communion. Two days later, just a few hours after we left Paris for Florence, a man committed suicide inside Notre Dame. An NBC news story from May 21, 2013 described the tragedy: Before pulling a gun and shooting himself in the head, the elderly man placed a letter on the altar, The Associated Press reported. Its contents were not known. The man said nothing before he pulled the trigger, Reuters reported. He died just after 4 p.m. local time. Europe 1 radio and French media identified the man as 78-year-old Dominique Venner, an activist and historian known in France for his far-right political essays. A May 21 post on Venner’s blog criticized a law passed last week allowing same-sex marriage. Monsignor Patrick Jacquin, the cathedral’s rector, told the AP this was the first suicide in decades at the historic site. � We trekked across Paris to the Luxembourg Gardens. When Dr. Smith dismissed us by the
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entrance, we dispersed like drops of rain hitting the sidewalk. At the center of the gardens, miniature sailboats glided over a fountain’s glass-like surface. Away from the noise and musky smell of the streets, the fountain’s babble blended with visitors’ soft chatter. Wind blew slightly with the smell of oncoming rain and freshly trimmed hedges. Children bounced on tiptoe at the fountain’s edge. They guided sailboats with wooden poles and smiled at their parents watching over them.
Dr. Smith passed by tables of grey-bearded men playing chess. One, probably a grandfather, attempted to teach a teenage boy, probably his grandson, how to play the game. The adolescent’s eyes were glued to his cell phone. Alex, the philosopher of the group, who had once lived in Greece, listened to a playlist of Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, and Bach as he wandered the tranquil oasis. Several of us gathered in metal chairs near the fountain. An elderly couple perched beside us, their legs crossed, their hair silver, their creased hands cupped together. They wore plain Polo shirts under raincoats with khaki paints and worn Nike tennis shoes. They looked like grandparents. They heard our American accents and leaned toward us in curiosity. “Where are you from?” the woman asked in English. “We’re from Arkansas,” Katie, the friendliest girl in the group, said. “Oh, we’re from Colorado. Are you here on a school trip?” “Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you just visiting Paris?” “No, we came from London, and next we’re going to Italy,” answered Cheston, sitting next to his girlfriend, Heather. “That sounds like a neat trip.” “Have you ever been to Paris before?” one of us asked. “Yes, this is our second time,” the man replied. “We’ve never been to Italy, but we travel every year to Greece,” the woman added. “I would love to go to Greece,” several of us sighed. “It’s a beautiful place,” the man said. “But the secret is go to a part of Greece where the tourists don’t go.” Our entourage witnessed both sides of Paris. We jarred and flowed with the masses of wideeyed tourists, craning our necks to capture every piece of history and architecture. We disguised our citizenship by trying to speak in British accents, because we thought the French would be more accepting of us if they somehow failed to detect our Southern drawl. We stood out, but we also found quiet spots where we blended in seamlessly. These places rest away from the bustle, like the Luxembourg Gardens or a small park Lexie, Calynn, and I had discovered in London with perfect reading benches. The locals enjoy such havens right alongside the tourists, whether on their morning jogs, during stolen moments of relaxation, or at times of worship. � I thought of the man who killed himself in Notre Dame. Such tragedy within such beautiful walls – not that devastation is a stranger to the cathedral. I felt alive and fresh after walking the hallowed ground. I may never understand why some people scar the places that uplift us, that stir our spirits no matter our backgrounds. Dr. Smith lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, for two years with his family and camped across Europe. He believes that traveling and witnessing wonders like Notre Dame invoke appreciation and spirituality. People come together much like the South Rose Window in Notre Dame. We are pieces of broken glass stained by our experiences then pieced together into a mosaic and illuminated – for some, by the light of God and for others, by the light of peace, the light of history, or simply the light of life. As we chatted with the couple at the Luxembourg Gardens, they described their favorite island to visit in Greece, a place where they seemed to have their own private beach. I pictured myself sitting in Paris again one day, reminiscing about my worldly travels while watching children play at the fountain. The woman then said something that still resonates: “We like the quiet places.”
Designed by Megan Snoddy
By Sara Tadlock Design by Chris Weber On the third floor of McBrien Hall is a man who on any given day might be mistaken for a nineteenth century explorer. Or Teddy Roosevelt on safari. Or Panama Jack, if he decided to walk off your pair of shades and onto the Quad. Dr. Hermon Gibson – or “Doc,” a nickname he received from former students – is the chair of the sociology, human services, and criminal justice department at Henderson. Visitors are overwhelmed by all the things that fill his office. From the small dimmed lamp that barely lights his workplace to the ungraded papers cluttered across his desk, here Doc is in his element. Classical music plays softly in the background. His personal library covers two walls from floor to ceiling. The floors are lined with VHS tapes and blue CDROMs. The rest of his walls are covered with dozens of previous adventures with his family, photos of amazing hiking trips and many of his personal achievements. When scheduling time comes around every semester, students know that his classes fill up quickly. Some of his most highly prized classes are only taught when Doc decides that he wants to teach them, such as Sociology of Education and Cultural Anthropology. Doc was born on one side of the river, Natchez, Mississippi, and raised on the other – the rural town of Clayton, La, which had a population of roughly 1,500. In Clayton, he recalls, there was “nothing for miles.” Cotton and soybean fields were all the eye could see. “They stretch from one side of the flat bayou, all the way to what seems the Earth’s edge,” Gibson said. School was difficult for Doc as a child. He attended a little schoolhouse built in the 1920s, which held grades first through fifth. There was no kindergarten. “We were all in the same room,” Doc said. “The teacher would speak to one side
“Nothing like having the one person who influenced me to go on with my education going into the same program…” of the classroom, and then give us something to do, then go to the other side.” After elementary school, he traveled six miles to Ferriday where he completed junior high and high school. Doc’s family had high expectations regarding educational success, partly because he was an only child. His father and great-grandfather were the only physicians in their parish. Doc recalls many times watching his father treat local townspeople on their couch. He continued his education without hesitation, but knew he didn’t want to become the third-generation physician. After finishing high school, Doc attended Louisiana Tech University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. His parents dropped him off, placing the responsibility on him to tend to his college career. They deeply valued independence and a strong work ethic, so they took a hands-off approach to his secondary education. Doc became fascinated with sociology during the 1970s. He watched the Vietnam War, desegregation, and the civil and women’s rights movements. He realized he wanted to study social groups, which became his main focus. His mentor was Gary Stokley, who motivated Doc to attend graduate school. He attended Louisiana State University, earning a master’s degree in cultural anthropology. Then he was accepted into the school’s doctoral program in sociology. He attended class, taught class, and worked as a graduate assistant. His mentor, Stokley, joined him in the doctoral program. “Nothing like having the one person who influenced me to go on with my education going into the same program as myself,” Doc said. The masters program helped him focus on teaching. In 1979, at 27, Doc taught his first class at Drury College in Springfield, Mo.,
earning $13,000 a year. He was in a small department, behavioral sciences, that consisted of both psychology and sociology faculty. “It was tough teaching in those days because educators were underappreciated,” Doc said. One of the biggest changes in Doc’s life was coming to Henderson. While Doc was at Louisiana Tech, he met a young couple named Rob and Teresa Young. They were Henderson graduates and often told him how much they loved their alma mater. For years, they suggested he look into openings in Henderson’s sociology department. One day Doc did just that. He mailed his resume, and was called for an interview with school administration. After interviewing for almost two hours, he was hired as department chair. When he arrived, he found the sociology department was in complete disarray. The staff was in turmoil, and he knew he had to make changes to get the department back on track, but he feared their resenting him. He described the scene as “a war zone.” After a few years of rearranging, sociology became a successful program. Doc has given 18 years to the department. In September 2013, he helped with the expansion of its criminal justice program, a plan 10 years in the making. Doc and Don Wells started a chapter of the Sociology International AKD honors society in 2000. After many years of helping the department change and grow, Doc can look back and see how his hard work bred success. In “a couple of years,” Doc plans to retire with his wife. He wants to vacation across the world, travel the United States, and continue hiking in Yellowstone National Park with his family every summer. For now he will continue to hike across campus, looking for all the world like Indiana Jones.
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Story by Joshua L. James Photos provided by Dr. Travis Langley
Therapist to superheroes
Travis Langley, to make an understatement, is a Batman fan. He grew up on it. He wrote a book about it: Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight. He often refers to Batman in the column he writes for Psychology Today. The Dark Knight that fans know, however, is not the Batman Langley grew up idolizing. Langley’s hero was, as Adam West dubbed the character he’s famous for playing, “the Bright Knight” of the 1960s campy television show. Most people don’t get to meet their celebrity heroes, but Langley gets to say that his childhood hero directly influenced his professional success. In the Comic-Con world, San Diego is Mecca. “It’s just full of stuff, and clutter, and interesting things you wanna waste your time with,” Nick Langley, Travis’s son, said. “It felt like walking around the Internet.” When Langley first contacted Adam West, through West’s daughter, Nina, he just wanted an interview. He didn’t expect West would join his panel on Batman at the San Diego Comic-Con. Nick and his brother, Alex, escorted West to their father’s panel discussion. As they made their way through the crowd of Trekkies, Cosplayers, and geeks of the general variety, heads snapped in their direction, whispers rippled through the room. “Look at ‘em,” West said to Nick and Alex. “They’re animals.” Dr. Langley, a professor of psychology, had met comic book artists, writers, and movie producers before. But at this particular Comic-Con, his sons and his colleague, Dr. Randy Duncan, professor of communication, remember him being a little star struck. The panel consisted of Michael Uslan (executive
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producer of every Batman film since 1989), the late Jerry Robinson (comic artist for the original Batman) and Adam West (mayor, Quahog). “There was definitely a kid in a candy store quality to him that time,” Duncan said. To most people, the names on that panel are vaguely familiar, but to comic book fans, they’re rock stars. Langley befriended them, then recruited them to help create and ultimately promote his book, which begins with one of the earliest conversations he had with Adam West: “Adam West once asked me if I thought Batman was crazy. This book is my answer.” Dennis O’Neil, who wrote the first Batman comic Langley ever read also wrote the introduction to Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight. Michael Uslan, who according to Nick Langley has become one of his father’s close friends, wrote the foreword. These men who help create the world of Batman, a world that has fascinated Langley since childhood, have now contributed to his personal creation. He calls that a reward in itself.
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Langley is, of course, more than a “Superherologist.” He’s a Henderson educator, and his office is an extension of his eclectic personality. Most of the shelves are appropriately stocked with graphic novels. There are not quite as many paintings of Batman as there are pictures of his family, but it’s close. A photo of his wife is placed one shelf above the frames featuring Langley and the legendary Stan Lee. Two dozen miniature incarnations of the Batmobile are parked upon the top of the filing cabinet. Behind his desk, hidden by a professorial mound of papers and clutter, sits a mini-fridge stocked with Diet Mountain Dew – he’ll drink two of them within the next 90 minutes.
Above the fridge, an army of Pez dispensers stands at attention, ready for war. In the Marvel and DC universes there is always war: between good and evil, heroes and villains. Yet these opposing forces depend on each other for their very existence. There may have once been war in the Langley universe – the comic book geek versus the academic – but unlike Harvey Dent, Langley’s two faces found congruity. His career as a “Superherologist” has taken off as a result of the book’s sales, but what drove him to the field on analyzing superheroes was a collage of experiences that gradually blended the two sides of the Langley dichotomy. Should someone ask which came first, he’ll show his Facebook picture. He’s nine months old and holds a comic strip bigger than he, his smile petitioning his face for more surface area. Langley’s mother was a fan of comics. He can’t remember a time prior to his own literacy when she did not read them to him. It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly Langley fell in love with comics because as long as his mind has kept memory, he has loved them. Psychology, however, entered his universe a little later. When he was in fourth grade, he checked out a library book on the topic. “I wanted to learn how to manipulate people,” Langley said jokingly (one hopes). “I was this nerdy kid who liked comics, so I wanted an advantage. I didn’t really understand what I read though.” Langley went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix and received both his master’s and doctorate from Tulane University. At Henderson he teaches courses in abnormal psychology, forensic psychology, and one media course per semester. He often introduces literary and comic book characters into the classroom. Not only does this give him the chance to combine his passions, but it
“Adam West once asked me if I thought Batman was crazy. This book is my answer.”
also makes for an effective teaching tool. “One thing is that it’s a hook,” Langley said. “It’s something interesting to the students. But another thing is that we can look at these fictional characters in a way that we can’t look at real people. I can’t know what you’re thinking. I can know what a fictional character is thinking sometimes. And the characters can’t sue me for talking about them.”
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His love of comics and fiction in general has allowed him to be successful in the classroom, but it’s not his day job that led him to the Comic-Con circuit. He gained fame in the field as a result of Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, which became an Amazon Bestseller in September 2013. Over the last few years, Randy Duncan – a well-known comics scholar and author – has worked closely with Langley both at Hendseron and the Comics Arts Council. Having coauthored The Power of Comics, Duncan can appreciate the long hours, days, weeks, months and years required to write a book, never mind a book that people actually buy. “I admire his vision and energy,” Duncan said. “He decided he was going to make this book a reality, and he did it.” It was at San Diego Comi-con that Duncan realized that his friend and colleague was really going to become an important part of the comic book-academic phenomenon. He had returned to the hotel room they were sharing after having left the convention. He knew Langley had gone out to
possibly give an interview. “I turned on the TV, and there’s Travis on one of the local news channels,” Duncan said. “So I’m switching channels, and like a few moments later there he is on this other channel.” He chuckled. “You could just sit in the room and watch Travis all morning long.” “Necessary Evil,” a documentary focusing on the role of villains in DC Comics was released in October 2013. The film features interviews with several experts, but it relies fairly heavily on Langley’s input. “It’s a little longer than it ought to be,” Langley said, “but those stretches that don’t have me could’ve been trimmed down.” Langley doesn’t confine his expertise to conventions and documentaries, though. Along with Randy Duncan, Langley is co-adviser to the Henderson Comic Book Club. Every Thursday, the group of students meet in Arkansas Hall to eat pizza and talk about comics. “It gives these kids a chance to talk about things they’re interested in,” Langley said, “things that might normally get them laughed at.” Behind the comic book expert, behind the forensic psychologist, what Travis Langley really is, is intensely smart. His son Nick wants people to realize this. He wants people to appreciate that his father chose to use his powers for good. “Dad,” Nick Langley warns, “could have very easily been an evil genius.”
Langley delighted by a comic book at age 9 months.
Book signing at New Orleans Comic-Con featuring Langley with Batman and Psycology.
Laughing with Adam West of Batman television fame at Comic-Con San Diego.
Langley in the Batmobile.
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A look at their achievements and future plans By Joshua L. James
With additional reporting by Stephanie Hartman (Addington), Scott McKinnon (Buys), Josan Lewis (Cooley) and Breanna Wells (Perez).
Design by Heath Sims
Dr. Ron Addington, professor of mass media communication, is a bit of a renaissance man. He has been the Oracle advisor, director of public relations, yearbook advisor, served in the Army, and owns a local business. Addington first came to Henderson as a student in 1964. After military service, he taught high school journalism before beginning graduate school at Indiana University. He taught at both Indiana University and Purdue University before deciding to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Arkansas. In 1975, Addington became Henderson’s director of public relations, but left after three years. In 1986 he returned to Arkadelphia to open Ron Addington Properties, a real estate company that he owns and operates today. He began teaching part-time at Henderson the same year and became a full-time professor ten years later. Addington has no intention of slowing down. He insists that he is not retiring; he’s focusing on the other aspects of his career. “I still
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plan on getting up at six every morning,” Addington said. “I want to have more time for running my business, my garden, and deer camp.” He’s also excited to spend time with his four grandchildren. Though Addington welcomes retirement, there is plenty he will miss about Henderson. “I really miss working with the good students,” he said. “I’m really going to miss the friendships I had with my department members.” For the next few semesters, Addington will continue to coordinate the internships for the mass media department. It’s one of the more rewarding tasks he has performed. “I really enjoy helping students get into an internship that can lead to a job,” he said.
Beverly Buys, professor of Art, graduated from Henderson in 1978 with a degree in art education. She found her true passion, photography, when she was in her 30s, pursuing a master of fine arts degree at the University of Memphis. “Every job I had or project I worked on, I ended up in the dark room,” Buys said. While her MFA was in progress, she became adjunct faculty at Henderson. In 1997, she was hired as full time faculty in the art department. Over the years, Buys has worked on several photography projects, but to her the most memorable is her most recent: “Delta in Blue.” The exhibit premiered at Henderson in January 2014 and showcases the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River Delta. Buys, who is from Hot Springs, prefers to photograph the
Martha Dale Cooley, assistant professor of English and director of Henderson’s Writing Center, was awarded emeritus status upon retirement. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Arkansas, double-majoring in English and social studies. She first came to Henderson in 1988 to attend graduate school. She was hired as an adjunct professor upon completion of her master’s degree. Cooley taught many English courses, specializing in the early literature studied in World Literature I, but perhaps her most important role was directing the Writing Center, which she began doing in 1991. She takes pride in embodying the Center’s Mission statement: “…by encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and articulate the materials they have read, enabling them to produce creative and scholarly papers that are logical, critical, and effective.” Cooley earned a reputation as an often merciless, but always constructive, critic of academic writing. She encouraged students of all majors and all levels of writing skill to seek guidance at the
Dr. David Etienne, professor of music, came to Henderson in 1971 to fulfill the music department’s need for woodwind instructors. Earlier that year, he earned his master’s degree in flute performance from Louisiana State University. While he was teaching at Henderson, he continued his education at LSU, earning a doctorate of musical arts. Etienne is an accomplished flutist. He is a former member of the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Arkansas Symphony, and the South Arkansas Symphony. In
southern Arkansas and Delta regions of the state. “I’m really drawn to the history of Arkansas,” Buys said. “My favorite photographs are vintage photos.” A few years ago, Buys and a friend took a road trip through the Delta. “The Delta region just really captured my imagination.” While working on “Delta in Blue,” Buys stayed in Helena, partly to make her subjects conveniently nearby and partly to absorb the area which she was trying bring to life through photography. Delta in Blue will be on exhibition at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, August through December 2014. “I’m really excited to bring the work back the area,” Buys said. She’s also excited about retirement, although she will miss her friends. “I’ll miss my colleagues in the art faculty and the students who have so much talent,” she said. “I’m sad I won’t be able to see what they do, but I’m really excited to continue my art, and to be gardening, and to spend time with my family.” She considers “Delta in Blue” to be a work in progress, and intends to continue photographing Southern Arkansas.
Center. “Everyone needs a fresh pair of eyes when writing a paper or poem,” Cooley said. “Even graduate students use the facility.” Cooley remains passionate about English. “I just love seeing students I’ve had, or those who worked in the Writing Center come back and tell me they’re doing well,” Cooley said, wiping the tear-induced fog from her glasses. Nevertheless, she is excited to retire. There are several things she wants to do: check out the colorful New England autumn, become a more active member of the Verna Garvan Garden Club, judge flower shows, and take a cruise down the Rhine – but she’s ecstatic about not having to do it by anyone’s schedule but hers. “I’ve been doing this so long,” she said. “I’m just excited to not have a plan.”
1994, McGraw-Hill published a textbook authored by Etienne entitled, American Popular Music and its Role in Society and Early Media. Etienne had a rewarding 43-year career at Henderson. He knows he is ending his role in developing the nation’s most valuable resources. “I will genuinely miss the students,” he said. Nevertheless, he is looking forward to a good rest. “I am going to do nothing,” Etienne said of his plans for retirement.
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Dr. Henry Perez, professor of Spanish, was born in Cuba. In his early childhood, his family owned a department store, El Telégrafo, but Cuba’s new communist dictatorship created an environment that was hostile, to say the least, to those making a living as small business owners. When he was 13, his family left the Castro-led country and emigrated to Massachusetts. As an adolescent, he had some trouble dealing with culture shock and the language barrier, especially in school. “The teachers just throw you in, and you either sink or swim,” Perez said. He and a group of foreign students, mostly Italian, got together and practically taught each other how to speak English. His linguistic education, borne from desperation and necessity, probably has something to do with why he became so good at teaching his
native tongue to American students. Perez attended the University of Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor of arts, master of arts, and doctorate degrees. It was there he met his wife, Pamela, who works in Huie Library. Perez taught at Manchester College in Indiana for ten years before arriving at Henderson in 1991, joining the faculty as a professor of Spanish. He has a reputation among the student body as an enthusiastic teacher and snazzy dresser. Students earning a bachelor of arts degree are required to take two years of foreign language. Dr. Perez made the task seem less daunting by making Spanish fun. Students who majored or minored in Spanish remember him for his passion about the language arts. Perez plans to do a lot of traveling in his retirement, and is considering retiring to Ecuador. One place he likely won’t be going, however, is his native Cuba. He views any visitation to the country as support for the Castro regime. “Not until all the [Castro] family dies,” he chuckled. “Then maybe I’d go back.”
Dr. Robert Steinmiller, professor of Communication and director of debate and forensics, is excited to spend time with his family. His wife, Georgine Steinmiller, was a professor of special education who retired from Henderson in 2013. It was Georgine’s desire to teach special education at the graduate level that brought the couple to Henderson in 1987. Robert had previously been teaching English and speech, and when his wife decided Henderson’s graduate school was the program she wished to join, he applied and was hired as Henderson’s director of retention. He remained in that office until 1996. Steinmiller earned his PhD in communication from the University of Iowa. He was English department chair and director of theater at Elgin Academy in Elgin, Illinois. For a while, Steinmiller taught English and speech three-quarter time at both Ouachita Baptist University and Henderson. Eventually he came to Henderson full time. Steinmiller has directed plays and enjoyed teaching theater, English and speech, but his passion is debate. He became Henderson’s debate coach in 1994. Arguing with students is what
he’ll really miss about Henderson. “If I don’t have ten people disagreeing with me, it probably wasn’t a good day,” Steinmiller said. He led the Henderson debate and forensics team to a remarkably successful year in 2013. They took home several team and individual awards. He was editor of the Journal of the International Public Debate Association, and although he has stepped down from the position, he continues to be a reviewer. Steinmiller plans to continue a small role at Henderson, pointing out that education is something that never truly ceases. He and his wife also plan to spend time traveling and visiting their oldest son Eric in Chicago and their younger son, Brian, his wife Ellen and their two grandchildren in Dallas. “I always enjoyed Henderson,” he said. “I would love to stay in Arkadelphia and help out where I can. Retirement is just a chance to slow down.”
Dr. Todd Wiebers, professor of psychology, began his career at Henderson in 1992. He served as department chair and was devoted to teaching psychology to his students, but what many students remember about Wiebers was his dedication to non-human subjects. For over 20 years, Wiebers has taken pet behavior to another level – the clinical level. The science has been largely confined to the coastal states, but Wiebers brought the therapeutic practice to Arkadelphia when he founded the White Bear Animal Clinic. The majority
of his pet-owner clients were students. He never received payment for his animal services. Wiebers treated pets for anything from phobias to hyperactivity to a tendency towards insubordination. The pet therapy process is fairly similar to the human therapy process. A vet would examine the pet to rule out possible medical factors. Wiebers collected basic and background information such as breed, any medical history and personality traits and then prescribed a therapy. For example, an animal suffering from a phobia would be gradually and increasingly exposed to the trigger until the pet was no longer sensitive to it. It is likely that Wiebers’s retirement from education will not mean retirement from helping animals in need.
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The Ellis College of Arts and Sciences 1100 Henderson Street Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
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Perfectly Detailed Douglas Gilpin, professor of theatre arts, was recently nominated for an Ostrander Award in set design. The Ostrander Awards celebrate the best in local live theatre from the professional, community, and academic theatre of Memphis. “The Ostrander Awards are like the Tonys, but for the Memphis community,” Gilpin explained, “with awards in design, acting, and direction.” This is Gilpin’s second Ostrander nomination in set design. His first was a 2008 design of “Noises Off” for the University of Memphis. This nomination came for scenic design of a New York City studio apartment for “Time Stands Still,” directed by Stephen Hancock. Chris Davis, Memphis Flyer entertainment critic, wrote that Gilpin had “designed a perfectly detailed Brooklyn apartment for ‘Time Stands Still’ at The Circuit Playhouse.” Gilpin’s inspiration came from multiple sources. “I used Pinterest to create research pins and boards,” he said. “Then I created the sketches, drafting and a model, and shipped it all to Memphis.” The Circuit Playhouse has asked Gilpin to design three additional shows, with the next opening in September.