38 minute read
Faculty/Staff News and Updates
LEC Names Executive Director of Student Affairs
Kimberly Robare was recently named the College’s Executive Director for Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator. In addition to her tasks as the leader of the student affairs area, Robare has been instrumental in handling the College’s COVID response, leading LEC’s Emergency Response Team.
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Most recently, she was the Director of Student Life and Title IX Coordinator for LEC. Her involvement with the College began in 2009 when she started as the Athletic Facilities and Game Operations Graduate Assistant and Resident Director. She has worked for the student life department since her time as Resident Director, as well as the athletic department, financial aid and accommodation support and counseling services office.
Robare’s role is pivotal to the recent restructuring that resulted in the combining of academic and student affairs, the point of which was to focus more on the holistic education of the student. According to Dr. Bryan DePoy, who now serves as the vice president for both the academic and student affairs areas, “Kimberly Robare has the range of experiences and a track record of commitment to excellence to guide and support the strengthening of the student experience. Her incredible work ethic combined with her deep love for Lake Erie College make her perfectly suited to this important leadership role.”
“Consistency is important. A student should be able to go into an office and feel supported and confident in the answer they are getting because employees have worked together to learn about other areas. I hope to start building a stronger relationship with others outside of Student Affairs who work directly with our students not only to improve the student experience, but the overall climate of Lake Erie College,” said Robare.
Robare is a graduate of Regis College and went on to receive her Master of Science in Education in 2011 from LEC. Her husband, Mike ’11, MBA ’16 also held positions at the College as the Assistant Director of Admission and was also part of the inaugural football team as a student in 2007.
Molly Hoffman has been named the Storm’s new Athletic Director. This move comes after Hoffman’s stint as interim athletic director, a position she has held since the summer.
New Athletic Director Named
“I am honored to be named the next leader of the Storm,” Hoffman said. “I would like to thank Dr. Posler and the leadership of Lake Erie College for entrusting me with this role.”
In a year rife with unexpected challenges and adjustments across all 19 Lake Erie athletic programs, Hoffman navigated those obstacles and placed athletes, coaches, and staff in a position to succeed.
“Molly Hoffman, in her interim athletic director role, has done a great job under very trying circumstances this year,” said Lake Erie College President Brian Posler, Ph.D. “Juggling all of the changing schedules, COVID
testing, precautions and uncertainty about competition has helped show she is the right person as our Athletic Director. I look forward to seeing where the department further succeeds under her leadership.” Prior to being elevated to interim Athletic Director in 2020, Hoffman served as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. Before that, she had worked as the Lake Erie College Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine. She had also been the Senior Woman Administrator for the Storm since 2016. Hoffman has been employed by LEC athletics since 2009.
During her time as an Athletic Trainer she aided in the supervision, instruction and participation of the prevention, care and rehabilitation of athletic injuries for all 19 Storm sports. As a 2007 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College with a bachelor’s of arts in athletic training and exercise science, Hoffman was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference softball player for the Yellow Jackets. She is currently pursuing her master’s in education with a concentration in coaching. “After working within the athletic department for the last decade, I am proud of the strides we have made within Division II,” she said. “I have an amazing group of coaches, support staff and, most importantly, student-athletes.”
Mary-Michelle Coleman-Walsh has been named the Director of Graduate Studies, a new position at the College. She comes to LEC from Notre Dame College where she served as Director of Academic Affairs. Previously, she taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor at both Gannon University and John Carroll University where she was also the coordinator of the Communication Management Program.
New director of graduate studies
She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from John Carroll University with a minor in Communication, a Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University, a Masters in Nonprofit Management from John Carroll University, and a Masters in Communication from Kent State University.
This position is a part of the college’s strategic focus on creating capacity and laying the groundwork for possible graduate program development, implementing the new Master of Professional Studies degree, and ensuring more logistical support for Lake Erie College’s current graduate programs. Dr. Bryan DePoy, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, says that “this position is vital to us looking to the future as it relates to providing relevant and in-demand graduate and professional education to a wide range of learners.” He also states that “Mary-Michelle Coleman-Walsh has the breadth of experiences and regional connections that align with key strategic goals of Lake Erie College. Also, her leadership and communication skills are an ideal complement to our outstanding and dedicated academic support team. We are fortunate to have someone with us with such an extraordinary professional background as Mary-Michelle.”
Giving Green Day A Huge Success
Wednesday, October 21st, once again highlighted the generous spirit of Lake Erie College Alumni and friends as the 24-hour giving campaign raised nearly $31,000, surpassing the goal of $30,000.
Giving Green Day began back in 2016 as the College’s version of the national day of giving, GivingTuesday is traditionally held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving as a way of supporting the nation’s non-profit sector. The College instead holds this initiative in October as a way of reducing the clutter of so many non-profit organizations all vying for support in a single day.
Tony Fulgenzio, Vice President for Advancement at LEC commented, “This year, we partnered with Storm Athletics and created hourly contests among sports teams and alumni. The result was healthy team competition and plenty of fun.”
Adding to the excitement was College Board of Directors member, Steve Perry, an alumnus from the class of 1978 who offered a $25,000 match. Also stepping up was College President Brian Posler and his wife Christy, who offered a matching challenge in the final hour of the event.
Special thanks to the many Painesville area businesses like 1922 Coffee and Brew, Bada Bing Pizza, the Sidewalk Café and Clean Eatz that donated gift cards as donor incentives and prizes. Thanks to the various challenges from individuals and teams and a bigger social media presence, the 2020 effort was the most successful so far. Look for more fun and prizes in 2021.
If you are interested in donating prizes, offering challenge dollars or helping with spreading the word on social media, reach out to Director of Development, John McCreery, jmccreery@lec.edu.
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GIFT FROM ALUMNA AND BOARD CHAIRPERSON CREATES NEW SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, Lake Erie College announced the Stillwagon Challenge, an endowment challenge offering donors of $25,000 or more to have a named endowment scholarship. Prompted by a $1 million gift from Board of Trustees Chair, Nancy Krehl Stillwagon ’70, the program will match each new endowed gift to the school, creating additional financial aid for students.
Stillwagon, a long-time supporter and alumna of Lake Erie College became the College’s Board Chair in October 2019. Graduating from Lake Erie College in 1970 with a degree in music and visual art, she will be celebrating her 50th reunion this year. In honor of her 50th reunion, a gift of $1 million will match $25,000 endowed scholarships. “I urge individuals to follow their passion and trust themselves to realize their dreams. As Picasso said, ‘anything you can imagine can be real,’” said Stillwagon.
“Nancy’s Board leadership and generous gift is good business for LEC. Her gift will help leverage other endowed scholarships which will ultimately help students attain the dream of earning a college education,” said Tony Fulgenzio, Lake Erie College’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Stillwagon, a long-time advocate and alumna of Lake Erie College graduated in 1970 with a degree in music and visual arts. She went on to earn her Masters of Fine Arts degree at Kent State University and eventually a Ph.D. in American Art History from Case Western Reserve University. Stillwagon has been involved with the College since 1983 when she joined the National Alumni Board (NAB) as Vice Chair and became Chair for the organization in 1986. Stillwagon’s love for the fine and performing arts remains her passion. She taught drawing, painting and printmaking at the Canton Art Institute and art history at various colleges including the University of Warsaw and John Carroll University. She is a student of jazz piano and plays professionally. In her free time, she also enjoys hiking, biking and gardening as well as international travel with her husband, Jon Stein.
To date, the Stillwagon Challenge has raised $115,000.00 in endowed gifts and matching funds For more information on contributing to the challenge, contact Vice President of Advancement, Tony Fulgenzio, at afulgenzio@lec.edu.
The National Alumni Board announces the winners of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards
jean makesh mba ’00
Jean Makesh MBA ’00 was honored with the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding career. He is the founder and CEO of the Lantern Group. He designed a state-of-the-art award winning Alzheimer care facility in Madison, Saybrook and Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His fascination with and passion for the aging were the impetus to design and create a personality-centric rehabilitative care program that is one-of-a-kind in the country and in the world. Some of his honors include Entrepreneur of the Year and the Model Practice Award. Jean was featured in various local and international media.
Before establishing Lantern Group, he held various senior executive positions with a Fortune 500 company. During his tenure with that company, his day-to-day responsibilities included ensuring best operational practices and compliance to the highest quality of care. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy as well as an MBA from Lake Erie College.
Jean designed and developed a patent pending, retro-virtual time capsule to nurture and facilitate memory and to promote functional independence. The care delivery model is the only care program in the world that is therapeutic in nature. The program utilizes the individual’s environment, learning and activities to activate repressed memories and stimulate newer learning.
Makesh is on a personal mission to support, educate and equip caregiver’s, family members, healthcare professionals and the elderly with knowledge and resources about Alzheimer’s disease, its prevention and treatment. His goal is to continue designing, developing and constructing state-of-the-art facilities and therapeutic care models in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
Ricky Volante ’12
Ricky Volante ’12 was honored with the 2020 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. He is Co-Founder of the Professional Collegiate League and serves as its Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the League, while focusing on business, operational growth and the benefits created for the athletes.
Additionally, Ricky is an attorney at The Volante Law Firm, LLC. He has primarily focused on legal issues related to professional and amateur sports, film and television, music, business formation and regulation, intellectual property, digital media and philanthropy within sports, film and music. Ricky also co-founded Sixth City Sports & Entertainment, a sport and film consultancy based in Cleveland, OH, and is an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University.
Ricky graduated summa cum laude from Lake Erie College with a B.S. in Sports Management, and received the Class of 2012 Academic Excellence Award for the School of Business. Ricky completed his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
denise molesch ’95
Denise Molesch ’95 is the 2020 Distinguished Alumni honoree for outstanding service to the College and community. One of the longest serving members of the National Alumni Board, Denise has served as National Alumni Board (NAB) president, representative to the College’s Board of Directors and in other officer positions under three LEC college presidents.
Volunteering with other alumni and the Lake Erie College community has been gratifying to her. Denise is an avid photographer who is active on the board of the Western Reserve Photographic Society. Her photographic work highlights community cornerstones such as the College, Lake MetroParks and a local Senior Center, all of which have been featured in many publications and at many local art shows.
Earning a business degree with a concentration in information technology from LEC was extremely beneficial to her IT career at Progressive Insurance. Balancing classes while working full-time was a worthwhile experience which led to a lifetime of friendships and continued involvement with the College.
Alumni Spotlight brad harmon LEC Graduate
Remains on the Cusp of the Digital Age of
Newsgathering
Not many young people know exactly how they plan to spend their professional careers, but at age 12, Brad Harmon had a pretty good idea. The father of Harmon’s childhood friend helped lay the groundwork for an exciting career in the newspaper industry. “I was intrigued by his father’s profession as publisher of the Willoughby News-Herald. It was impressive, exciting and mysterious to me as a young boy.” Dudley Thomas once summarized the newspaper industry for a young Harmon, “it’s a very complex world, but let me capsulize it in four words, we inspire, entertain, protect (the communities we serve) and grow businesses.”
Harmon earned his degree in marketing from Lake Erie College in 1989 and today serves as Midwest Regional President of Advance Local overseeing all of Michigan and Ohio. He also serves as President and Publisher of The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com as well as the Sun newspapers. “Our business is really four in one, we are journalism, marketing, manufacturing and logistics all in one.”
The industry has changed considerably since the summer of 1982 when Harmon served as circulation intern at the News-Herald. “The consumer is in the driver’s seat in every aspect of our world. We are now in a 24/7 news cycle, with intense competition for readers’ and advertisers’ attention and serving customers on multiple platforms.”
communities and lives such as COVID-19, social issues, politics, sports and everything local news.”
Consumers no longer rely upon print as they once did for their news and information— something Harmon sees as a demographic/ lifestyle shift. “The industry has made great strides expanding our audience across multiple platforms such as mobile, podcasts, email, newsletters, subtext and print. I tell my staff often, don’t focus on the platform: focus on our impact we make on the communities we serve. We are more relevant and our audience is bigger than ever…we are just delivering our content differently.”
The return back home has provided the opportunity for Harmon and his family to become active within their Concord community. Harmon sits on the Boards of both the Greater Cleveland Partnership as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Rachel have two boys, Grant (15) and Gavin (12) and when he is not at the helm of NE Ohio news and information, he enjoys reading, traveling and collecting rare sports memorabilia.
Harmon encourages LEC students to make the most of their time in College. “You have access to more tools, technology and talent than any generation before you. Follow your passion, not a paycheck, and you will thrive in the future.”
What hasn’t changed over the years is the importance of credibility and remaining relevant. According to Harmon, “the key word in “newspaper” is “news.” That will always be part of our DNA.”
That may be a tough order given the myriad of informational platforms all competing for readers or “clicks.” According to Harmon, Twitter, Facebook, Google have all changed the news cycle forever. Before this digital revolution, the news cycle was set but now the immediacy of the internet means news is in real time. “The ability to compete and deliver content that is relevant and accurate in a 24/7 cycle is mind-boggling and takes a huge investment in people and tech resources to stay current.”
The pandemic has disrupted various business segments of the industry much like hundreds of other businesses across the world, while web-site audiences have exploded. “For example, readers are searching for credible sources on key issues that impact their
Brad Harmon’s love of news and telling a good story can be traced back to one of his favorite professors at LEC, Dr. Rob Citino. “His passion for teaching students and his storytelling ability were amazing, and he had an uncanny ability to connect with every student in a unique way. In short, he was BRILLIANT!”
Dawn Powell
Alumnae Authors: Then and Now
Two Lake Erie College Bachelor of Arts alumnae, one from 1918 and one from 1980, offer an outstanding embodiment of the liberal arts education promised by the College.
Dawn Powell, novelist and playwright from Mount Gilead, attended LEC from 1914 to 1918. During her time at the College she was a writer, journalist, suffragist, actor, and served in many other roles as the early 20th Century seminary experience strove to produce well-rounded and well-educated women. Powell wrote and performed her first plays at LEC and entertained her classmates with an anonymous publication about events around campus. Most reviewers, when speaking of Powell, will first point out her talent for satire and quick wit, to which her classmates could testify. But Powell’s ability to capture humanity went deeper than satire. Her prose looked psychologically inward, as explained in a recent article in the New Yorker by Richard
Deborah Goodrich Royce ’80
Then and Now
Brody, “An Out-Of-Print Dawn Powell Novel Reveals her Misunderstood Art.” She could fill pages with insightful introspection into her character’s minds.
With Midwestern life in Ohio a regular subject in her works, there is no doubt her experience at LEC influenced and enriched her art. She herself described her arrival on campus as being “shot from a cannon into a strange wonderful planet,” in a campus publication, Nota Bene. Those strange, new experiences inspired her to pen her first stories in the campus quarterly, the Lake Erie Record.
Sixty-two years later, another future author walked the campus of Lake Erie, gaining experience that would inspire her first novel. Deborah Goodrich Royce ’80 is best known on campus as the namesake for the Royce Hall for the Fine and Performing Arts, and perhaps for her recurring role on the ABC soap opera, “All My Children.” She established the Humanities Legacy Endowed Scholarship Fund at LEC to recognize students majoring in the humanities.
Royce’s career has included time as an actress in both film and television, a story editor at Miramax Films, and, as of June 2019, an author. Her first novel, the psychological thriller, Finding Mrs. Ford, was received with rave reviews. Her second, Ruby Falls, is set to be released on May 4, 2021. Readers can clearly see how Lake Erie College influenced Royce when they read Finding Mrs. Ford. She was drawn to LEC by the study abroad program, and her experience did not disappoint. The main character of Finding Mrs. Ford is a Lake Erie College student, and Ruby Falls will feature references to her time studying abroad.
“I cannot overstate the influence Lake Erie College has had on every endeavor in my life. From my early career as an actress to my career as a writer, Lake Erie College has been foundational,” Royce explained. “When I arrived and was able to major in my languages of choice, minor in dance, participate fully in the theatre, take a wide range of classes, learn, study, and travel all over Europe—my aspirations were not only fulfilled, they were exceeded. That core liberal arts education has served me every day of my life. It has made me resilient enough to roll with the punches of life, and it has made me imaginative enough to recreate myself for the next chapter after I have received one of those punches.”
In addition to honoring her alma mater in her novel, Royce stays close with LEC by supporting the College through donations, her involvement in the fine arts and frequent visits to campus. During the 2019 Homecoming Alumni Weekend, the College honored her with a Distinguished Alumni Award. Royce joined in the Alumni Weekend festivities, including hosting a presentation and book signing for Finding Mrs. Ford. She regaled an audience with tales of the wonderful path to her novel and had everyone alternately rapt at attention and laughing with glee at her keen insight.
Jeanna Purses, Director of the Lincoln Library, led Royce and others on a tour of the recently renovated James F. Lincoln Library building. On the tour, Royce charmed staff and fellow alumni alike.
“Deborah Royce Goodrich was so many things,” said Purses. “Yes, she is talented, accomplished, famous and a delightful speaker, but what I noticed most when I met her was shining beauty from a life well-lived and with a down-to-earth interest in people and their ideas. She listened to me as if what I said mattered, and she gave generously as if she wanted to help however she might.”
These distinguished Lake Erie Alumnae showcase the fruits of the liberal arts education decades apart. In their own ways, each author drew from her experience in Northeast Ohio as inspiration for her writing. Both
had an appreciation for the theatre program. Royce’s acting career speaks for itself, and photos survive of Dawn Powell in what was described as inspired casting as Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. Though Powell struggled with grades, too occupied with all other aspects of college life, and Royce graduated summa cum laude, both received honorary Doctorates from the institution. Powell received a Doctor of Literature and Royce a Doctorate of Humane Letters. Their different paths to that honor prove that practical lessons learned at college are just as important as the letters attached to grades.
Lake Erie College students today are still inspired to write by the legacy of these alumnae. The Dawn Powell Prize in Creative Writing invites students to submit original poetry or short fiction for prizes. 2020 saw the addition of a faculty and staff category in the competition as well.
“The more I’ve looked into her life and work, the more I’ve come to realize that Dawn Powell is more than just an alum of Lake Erie College-- she’s quite nearly its embodiment,” said Adam Stier, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Director of the Honors Program. “Physically small, but full of personality; accessible, yet intellectually invigorating all the same; deserving of wider recognition, but much loved by those who know her best. Powell is the epitome of LEC. It’s fitting that her legacy continues to inspire current students through the Powell Prize in Creative Writing.”
Royce herself had a message to aspiring authors at LEC. “To the wonderful Lake Erie College students who are English majors and also to those of you who might be secret writers, I would like to tell you that there are so many paths along the way!” she said. “My best advice to you is to pick one path and follow it with all your strength and effort. Give it your best shot. And do that more than once. Keep after a dream as long as you can. And then, sometimes, like me, if you need to reinvent yourself, do it. That is what liberal arts education is all about…being prepared (or being able to figure out how to prepare yourself) for whatever life gives you.”
The 2020 entries to the Dawn Powell Prize are available on the Lake Erie College website. Those looking for new reading material can investigate those, in addition to preordering Royce’s second novel, Ruby Falls. Or maybe it’s time to check out some works by Powell at the Lincoln Library. Lake Erie College is proud to celebrate authors from our past, present and future.
athletic update
There have been several staffing changes in the athletics department over the course of this school year. The new leader of the Storm is Molly Hoffman. Hoffman has been with the department since 2009, taking on the Interim Director of Athletics role in August of 2020. She became Director of Athletics in January of 2021.
Also in January, women’s head soccer coach Irenna Lawrence was appointed the designation of Senior Woman Administrator. In addition, Zachary Hoffman has been promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine adding to his head athletic trainer position. Makayla Dull was also promoted from assistant coach to head coach of the men’s and women’s golf programs in the summer of 2020.
Two new interim director tags were put in place in the Athletic Department. Dominique Maneice has taken on the role of Interim Director of Athletics for Sports Information and Steven Brown has taken the role of Interim Director of Athletics for Sports Operation. Both Maneice and Brown joined the Storm and served as Graduate Assistants in the fall semester of 2019. This past year student-athletes have learned to adjust to a “new normal.” While having practices and beginning competition, they have been following many COVID-19 protocols in order to have successful seasons. “Every detail of sports competitions has been rethought and adjusted. Things that generally come so easily during practice, such as high fives or even standing close to a teammate, needed to be changed,” explained Molly Hoffman. “Masks are mandatory for all practices. Benches are spaced out during competition to allow for better distances between teammates. Athletes are also regularly tested for COVID-19.”
“I would say that it challenged us to adapt to the constant changes, and we had to put extra work into not allowing it to overwhelm and tear us down,” said women’s soccer student athlete, Haley Scherer ’22. “We’ve had to focus on the good with all of the negative pressures surrounding us.”
Although no fans are allowed to watch indoor competitions for the 2020-21 year, LEC student-athletes
have been taking all the changes in stride. With all the uncertainty the pandemic has caused and with the loss of seasons last year, LEC student-athletes are just happy for the opportunity to be able to participate in the sports they love.
For a large portion of the pandemic and the stay at home orders in Ohio, coaches were only allowed to recruit. They could not attend tournaments or high school games the way they do in a normal recruiting season, so much of the process shifted to a digital format. When club teams and high schools began competing again, coaches took advantage of live-streamed events to evaluate athletes’ abilities. In addition, on campus large visits were not permitted as they usually are in the fall. The department adapted by minimizing the number of visitors taking tours at the same time, allowing recruits to connect on a more personal level with our athletic department while showcasing the institution.
All of the programs have experienced some sort of loss in their season. Last year winter student athletes ended their season during national championships. Spring teams were pulled from games and practices and no longer had a season. Fall sports teams had their seasons delayed, substantially shortened and moved to the spring while the NCAA Division II postseason was canceled. Winter sports teams have also had their seasons shortened.
The downtime due to lack of competition in the fall of 2020 allowed for student athletes to get more involved in campus activities. We have had great participation from our student-athletes in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The group raised $1800 so far this year toward the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Many athletes have also had the opportunity to join the Black Student Union. This group organized a peaceful march for social justice. Student-athletes, joined by the Lake Erie College community, walked through campus and downtown Painesville. Teams have also participated in socially distant volunteering, including the women’s soccer team, who organized a 100th birthday parade for a local veteran.
students sound off
college in the time of covid
Natalie Stokes ’22
“The biggest adjustment for me has been not seeing people in person. Before the pandemic I would have game nights with my friends or have dinner with my family. Fortunately, they are just a call or text away, and we can still spend time together online, but I miss being able to interact face-to-face.
On January 21, 2020, the United States logged its first confirmed case of a rapidly emerging novel coronavirus. Since then, 80 million people across the globe have been sickened, and over 1.7 million have died from COVID-19. In the US, there have been 27 million cases and over 500,000 deaths. (New York Times) Lake Erie College has recorded 183 positive cases for faculty, staff and students since March 2020 but no deaths.
The best efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 have been masks, social-distancing and isolated quarantine for positive and suspected cases. In a college setting, these methods may diminish the college experience by limiting sports, group activities and in-person teaching. As a result, many students delayed entrance into college last fall, and others chose to attend only virtually, negatively affecting college enrollment across the country.
Nationally, “more than 560,000 undergraduate students didn’t enroll this fall compared to 2019” (PBS et al). Lake Erie College VP of Enrollment Mike Brown reports that Lake Erie College’s enrollment drop of 12% was on par with the national average of 13% (St. Amour). “It was expected that we would drop due to the pandemic. But [Lake Erie College President] Dr. Posler’s commitment to safety balanced with our incoming students’ desire for inperson learning has contributed to the satisfaction of our students and overall campus morale. The faculty have done a great job making their classes accessible to everyone, whether they participated in-person or remotely.”
For students who choose to attend in-person, many report that the pandemic has affected more than just their college experience... “80 percent of students around the country say that COVID has negatively impacted their mental health, their spiritual health and their career aspirations” (PBS et al). At Lake Erie College, every student we spoke with reported similar experiences.
Graduate student Natalie Stokes ’22 in the PA program reports, “Starting graduate school is already a challenge in and of itself but adding a global pandemic into the mix makes it ten times harder. Because it’s recommended that we stay at home as much as possible, it’s tough to stay positive and motivated when you spend most of your day in one room.”
Environmental science/equine facility management double major, sophomore Abbot Brandt ’23 agrees. “I think the most challenging thing has been keeping a positive attitude and good morale. It’s extremely easy to get down about everything going on around you, and I have caught myself doing exactly that.”
For communications sophomore Michael Cox ’23, the fear of the illness itself has been most concerning. “It has made things tough on me due to the constant threat that any day you could get so sick that you won’t be able to move from your bed for who knows how long.”
The news from Lake Erie College students isn’t all bad. Academically, some report the online and hybridized learning helpful.
Equine teacher/trainer English freshman Lynnette Burg ’24 finds in-person classes draining. “[After an in-person class] I usually don’t have the energy to do much else, but I haven’t had to worry about that with online classes. Luckily I’m thriving.”
Human resource management/business administration double major, junior Jaylen Johnson ’22 has found the effort needed to stay motivated and productive in virtual classes particularly beneficial. “I’ve actually had my two best semesters with the pandemic. I had to push myself
Abbot Brandt ’23
Michael Cox ’23
more to be motivated so it actually helped.” Nevertheless, “the stress of not knowing what will happen day to day, as far as cases on campus or moving to full online learning has been challenging.”
Executive Director of Student Life Kim Robare has led Lake Erie College in managing the college’s COVID efforts. “Our protocols are set to be strict so we can ensure everyone on campus remains as healthy and safe as possible. We never ignore a positive test and have multiple stages of quarantine including 24-hour symptom watch, 3-day quarantine, exposure quarantine (7-10 days) and positive quarantine (10 days). We remain consistent with every community member and all of this together has put us in a great place to be able to provide our students an education that aligns with our mission.”
In a survey distributed at the end of the fall 2020 semester, 75% of the College faculty approved of the College’s communication regarding COVID plans and the College’s response to the pandemic. Their number one concern: the need for more testing. Robare and her team responded quickly. “The fall posed issues regarding availability of testing and overall research about COVID-19. As more time was dedicated to learning about and fighting the virus, we have gained more information and available resources to add to our already diligent protocols.”
Before beginning the spring 2021 semester, the college administered well over 800 tests, screening every member of the faculty, staff and student body. Students took notice of the College’s efforts.
“I feel like Lake Erie College has been successful in managing the pandemic. I think they’ve always tried to stay ahead of the cases with the daily symptom screening, and there is [sic] always disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer in our classroom so that we can prevent germspreading as much as possible,” says Stokes ’22.
Harrison Riggs ’21, marketing/business administration double major who graduates this fall also supports the school’s efforts. “I think the College has done a very good job of upholding its Covid policies/protocols throughout the year.” Riggs, a Lake Erie College basketball player, experienced quarantine first-hand. “The two-week quarantine was definitely a unique experience and a long time to spend alone without leaving my apartment.” Students who test positive and live on campus are quarantined in residence hall apartments with their own bathrooms. They attend their classes virtually and otherwise stay in their rooms, a policy which requires meal delivery from the cafeteria to the student. “(The College did) a great job of making sure students in quarantine get plenty of food!”
Vaccination is the big question on everyone’s minds these days. The development of an efficacious vaccine and the successful implementation of a global immunization plan offers the best hope for a return to normalcy. In Ohio, vaccines are currently available to those over 65, people with underlying conditions and K-12 educators. How confident are our students in the vaccines, and how soon do they believe Lake Erie College will return to normal?
Natalie Stokes ’22 feels positive. “Vaccinations will be an important part of returning to LEC. I think it is vital that as many people get vaccinated as possible so that we can try and get to the end of this pandemic as quickly as possible.”
Lynnette Burg ’24
how effective they are. If both of those things go well I’m pretty confident that things will be a little more normal,” says Burg ’24.
Other students remain skeptical about the vaccines.
Abbot Brandt ’23 has serious doubts, believing the vaccines are too new. “Of course it makes people feel safer knowing there is a supposed vaccine, but we won’t really know if that vaccine works until a year or so down the road. I will still feel comfortable attending LEC, but I will continue to keep my distance and be aware of the virus that’s still around us.”
Jaylen Johnson ’22 agrees. “If more people stop showing side effects and more research is developed, I would feel more comfortable.”
Cox ’23 also has a skeptical outlook. “The thing about [the vaccines] is that we don’t know for sure what could happen down the road. There is an infinite amount of possible things that could come from receiving one.” As the semester progresses, the college will begin performing surveillance testing, randomly selecting 10% of the faculty, staff and student population for PCR tests. Participation is not mandatory. The plan aims to monitor asymptomatic spread of the virus on campus and to “provide as much information as possible in regards to our protocols and safety measures,” says Robare.
For now, the College continues to hold in-person, experiential classes when possible and virtual learning, while everyone waits for a return to a pre-pandemic life. “Heading into nicer weather will give us the chance to resume some normalcy in programming, traditions and daily activities in a safer way,” says Robare.
New York Times. “A Timeline of the Coronavirus Pandemic.” nytimes.com, New York Times, 10 January 2021, https:// www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html. Accessed 7 February 2021.
PBS, et al. “How the pandemic is impacting college students’ mental health.” pbs.org, 19 January 2021, https://www.pbs. org/newshour/show/how-the-pandemic-is-impacting-collegestudents-mental-health?fbclid=IwAR2xrYAOZuqQXii0Mr GHup4OtsmiU_HXUaXkDM8oXVeNdpiA2iawlpkAHdY.
St. Amour, Madeline. “Enrollment Still Down.” insiderhighered.com, 12 November 2020, https://www. insidehighered.com/news/2020/11/12/enrollment-declinescontinue-national-student-clearinghouse-finds. Accessed 7 February 2021.
Jaylen Johnson ’22
Harrison Riggs ’21
“It was definitely a unique experience to be quarantined for two weeks. It was a long time to spend alone without leaving my apartment. I would say it made me more appreciative of simple daily activities.
Class notes
1950s
PAMELA JENNINGS GRELL ‘55
has many happy memories of her friends and professors at LEC. She and her husband lived in the Netherlands for many years with their four children. She has been, and still is, very involved with the breeding and showing of my Saddlebred horses. At 87 she appreciates the happy journey my life has been.
BARBARA ROSA D’ATRI ‘59
was browsing her 1959 yearbook, and was flooded with fond memories. She loved being a transfer student as a Sophomore (mid-term) and her memories center on past friendships and her WTA studies in France. She still remains in touch with her roommate, Jo Ann Hale, and also Sally Firebaugh Devney, who was a wonderful friend when she lived in Phoenix, AZ. During the time there, she went to Florence, Italy, to study Italian language, Italian art history, Italian opera, and also took a wonderful cooking class series at a local restaurant. She also met a number of cousins in Bologna and her father’s first cousin who lived on the Canale Grande in Venezia. She has often wished she had studied the language of my heritage, but a few years ago in Denver she led a group at her senior apartment building called “All Things Italian”. They loved the food and wine shared weekly as well as learning about the Italian culture and language.
1960s
SANDY LANE CROSS ‘68
found out there is a school in Colombia named after Isolda Ichavarria. She deduces that Ichavarria’s mother set up the school after she passed away. She was an especially lovely person and her death was a massive loss. She recalls Isolda was someone special.
CAROLYN KRATZ BORLO ‘69
is the Treasurer of an educational foundation: www.thewilsonfund.org. that gives funding for educational purposes to individuals — students and educators — as well as institutions.
1970s
JOHN WILLIAMS, PH.D ‘75
Upon retirement after 40 years in academia, Williams was promoted to the rank of Emeritus Professor at Western Carolina University. He is now serving on the National Alumni Board for Lake Erie College.
2000s
ELIZABETH TEKAVEC ‘03
Ashtabula County Juvenile Court Magistrate graduates from 2020 OSBA Leadership Academy.
STEPHANIE R. (JOEDICKE) FELDBAUER ‘07
married James M. Feldbauer on June 1, 2019. Fellow LEC alumni, Jane Roberts, Cassie (Stanz) Stronz and Erica Snyder-Masters attended.
SUSAN BEZEK ‘13
has been accepted and will be attending Northeast Ohio Medical School of Pharmacy program beginning this fall.
CHRISSY (DELANEY) AND JOE ALCHELE ‘14
Joe and Chrissy moved back to Ohio and started their family. Joe works for Ohio Wesleyan University and Chrissy works for The Sherwin-Williams Company. They currently reside in Delaware, Ohio and have 2 boys, Cole (2) and Patrick (7 months).
in memoriam
We offer our deepest sympathy and well wishes to the family and friends of our beloved alumni and friends who have passed. Memorial gifts may be made in their name by contacting V.P. of Advancement, Tony Fulgenzio at 440-3757255 or giving@lec.edu.
1930s
JOYCE S. DUGAN ’39
Elyria, Ohio. June 9, 2020
1940s
MARJORIE BELL BECKWITH ’44 Mentor, Ohio. September 24, 2020
BARBARA JENKINS ’45
Johnson City, New York. December 19, 2020
MADELINE BUERGER ’47
Pittsfield, Massachusetts. January 4, 2021
1950s
BETTY SMITH THOMPSON ’51
Newport, Vermont. May 24, 2018
CONSTANCE D. BOMMER ’51 Columbus, Ohio. August 28, 2020
JOAN HART ’51
Albuquerque, New Mexico. December 27, 2020
GENEVIEVE G. ANGELIDES ’53 Fremont, California. May 10, 2020
NANCY A. FIORE ’54
Warren, Ohio. October 7, 2020
MIA C. MILLER ’57
Akron, Ohio. September 4, 2020
EVELYN L. JACKSON ’59 Shelby, Ohio. June 28, 2020
MARY G. SMITH ’59
Cleveland, Ohio. September 28, 2020
1960s
RACHEL HENDERSON ’60
Bangor, Maine. December 30, 2020
DOROTHY W. BOTTOMLEY ’62
Hyannis, Massachusetts. September 17, 2020
DIANE TAYLOR ’66
Las Cruces, New Mexico. June 25, 2020
JOANNE K. SPEECE ’66
Willoughby, Ohio. August 3, 2020
DEBORAH DAVENPORT ’66
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. December 27, 2020
BARBARA J. KLECKNER ’68
Hearldsburg, California. May 7, 2020
JILL BYRD-BRETCH ’68
Columbia, South Carolina. September 10, 2020
1970s
RICHARD DROTLEFF ’70
Willoughby, Ohio. December 18, 2020
ANNE FEDAK ’70
Painesville, Ohio. January 4, 2021
PAMELA U. DAVIS ’71
Carbondale, Pennsylvania. September 4, 2020
WILLIAM IMKE ’71
Warren, Ohio. December 15, 2020
LAURA E. WILLIAMS ’73
Portland, Oregon. October 7, 2020
CHARLES IACOBUCCI ’75
Marion, Ohio. December 15, 2929
THOMAS W. CLIFFORD SR. ’78
North Royalton, Ohio. August 15, 2020
MARUERITE KOONS MSE ’78
Willoughby, Ohio. December 4, 2020
NANCY REGENSBURGER ’78
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. December 24, 2020
ROBERT P. INCORVIA ’79
Painesville, Ohio. October 1, 2020
1980s
ELVIRA JANZ ’81
Willoughby, Ohio. January 2, 2021
MARIAN A. SPRAGUE ’83
Jacksonville, North Carolina. June 10, 2020
GEORGE A. RANCICH ’83 Euclid, Ohio. October 1, 2020
DEBRA L. CARY ’86
Ashtabula, Ohio. August 6, 2020
2000s
JEAN ARNOLD-EVANCHUCK ’04
Painesville, Ohio. October 4, 2020
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