FOUNDERS’ DAY CONVOCATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026
11 A.M. SLOAN AUDITORIUM, BROWN FINE ARTS BUILDING
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Founders’ Day Convocation Program
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Platform Party
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Faculty Marshals
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Crystal Kemp, ’91, Biography
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History of Lyon College
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Lyon College Board of Trustees
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Lyon College Executive Cabinet
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Lyon College Board of Visitors
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Lyon College Alumni Council
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Lyon College Faculty
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Emeriti Faculty
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Presidents of Lyon College
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Lyon College Regalia
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Lyon College Mission Statement
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FOUNDERS’ DAY CONVOCATION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
*Processional
The Lyon College Pipe Band James Bell, Director
The Class of 2027 The Staff The Faculty Faculty Emeriti The Platform Party *Marshal’s Opening
Dr. Scott Roulier John Trimble, Sr., Professor of Political Philosophy
*Invocation
The Reverend Margaret Alsup, ’11 Lyon College Chaplain
Welcome
Dr. Melissa P. Taverner President
Presentation of Awards Raft Race Winners
Dr. Montrose Streeter Dean of Students
Mr. and Ms. Lyon College
Dr. Streeter
“For the Beauty of the Earth” Lyon College Chamber Choir and Lyon College Alumni Reunion Choir Dr. Bethany Neese, Assistant Professor of Music Kristian Ameigh, Piano
John Rutter
Introduction of the Chair of the Board of Trustees
Dr. Taverner
Remarks
Victor Werley,’03 Chair of the Board of Trustees
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Dr. Taverner
"No Page Numbers: On Founding and What Comes Next"
Crystal Kemp, ‘91
Marshal’s Closing *Alma Mater
Dr. Roulier Lyon College Chamber Choir and College Alumni Reunion Choir Dr. Bethany Neese, Assistant Professor of Music Lyon, thy children laud thy name today. Unto thee we’ll offer our hymn of praise for aye. We shall ever love thee, loyal we shall be. May our memories hold us ever near to thee. Chorus: Lyon, all hail to thee, all hail thy standards bright! Forever we’ll adore thee and follow in thy light.
*Benediction *Recessional Toccata in D Minor, BWV 565 *If able, the audience is requested to rise.
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Rev. Alsup,’11 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
PLATFORM PARTY Dr. Melissa P. Taverner, President Victor Werley,’03, Chair of the Board of Trustees Rev. Margaret Alsup, ’11, Lyon College Chaplain Crystal Kemp, ‘91, Keynote Speaker Dr. Scott Roulier, John Trimble, Sr., Professor of Political Philosophy Dr. Montrose Streeter, Dean of Students The College Mace is borne by Dr. Fonzie Geary, Faculty Assembly president.
FACULTY MARSHALS Chief Marshal: Dr. Scott Roulier John Trimble, Sr., Professor of Political Philosophy Marshals:
Dr. Maryline Jones Associate Professor of Organismal Biology Dr. Matthew Lebrato Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the First-Year Experience Dr. Wesley Beal W.C. Brown, Jr., Professor of English and Associate Dean of the Liberal Arts Experience Dustyn Bork Professor of Art
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: CRYSTAL KEMP, ‘91 Crystal Kemp serves as chief customer officer for Conway Corp. She joined Conway Corp in 2000 as marketing/communications coordinator and was promoted to manager, marketing and public relations, chief marketing officer and, most recently, CCO. She graduated from Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in 1991 with a degree in media arts. Following graduation, she worked for the Forrest City and Conway Area Chambers of Commerce before joining Conway Corp. She has been recognized in her local community for her work mentoring youth, especially young women, serving as a Girl Scout troop leader for 20 years and volunteering with the Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute for more than 20 years. In 2023, she was named Friend of the District by the Conway Public School Foundation in recognition of her work with local youth and support of the Conway Band program. Professionally, she serves as chair of the Mid-America Cable Telecommunications Association and as the 2026 immediate past president of Arkansas Women in Power. Crystal was named to Cablefax’s annual list of powerful women in the telecommunications industry in 2020, 2024 and 2025, receiving the Mentor of the Year award in 2025. She was also named a Voice of Impact and Work Culture honoree in 2025. A conversation with her will most definitely include plans for national park travel with her husband, updates on her two amazing adult children and some mention of her favorite podcasts.
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HISTORY OF LYON COLLEGE For more than 150 years, Lyon College has been shaped by the people who believed in its promise, the students whose lives it has changed, and the communities it has served. Founded in 1872 as Arkansas College, Lyon is the oldest independent college in Arkansas. Its story is one of perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities while remaining true to the enduring value of a liberal arts education. The College began on a downtown block in Batesville, now occupied by First Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Isaac J. Long. He served as president from the College’s founding until his death in 1891. His son, Eugene R. Long, continued the family’s leadership, serving as president from 1891 to 1895 and again from 1897 to 1913. From the beginning, Arkansas College welcomed both men and women. In 1876, the first graduating class included eight students, three of them women who became the first in Arkansas to receive the same bachelor’s degree awarded to men. This early commitment to educational opportunity helped establish a tradition that would continue to define the institution across generations. The College maintained a classical course of study and operated its own preparatory academy into the early 20th century, laying the foundation for a rigorous academic experience rooted in the liberal arts. Growth brought new possibilities. Following World War I, administrators purchased land in Batesville’s East End Heights section, later known as the middle campus. But the prosperity of the 1920s gave way to the hardships of the Great Depression, and by the early 1930s, the College’s very survival was in question. Batesville supporters, devoted alumni, and generous Arkansas Presbyterian families rallied to preserve the institution. Their determination carried the College through one of its darkest periods and positioned it to welcome the thousands of veterans pursuing higher education after World War II. That spirit of resilience became a defining part of Lyon’s identity. In 1952, Dr. Paul M. McCain succeeded the Rev. John D. Spragins as president, beginning a 17-year tenure marked by steady progress. The College moved to its present campus in 1954, earned accreditation from the North Central Association in 1959, and expanded its physical facilities throughout the 1960s. Its student body also grew more geographically and racially diverse, reflecting a broader understanding of the opportunities a college education could provide. During the 1970s and 1980s, President Dan C. West guided significant curricular reforms, introduced innovative fundraising strategies, and helped cultivate the Scottish heritage that remains central to Lyon’s character today. A transformative bequest of more than $14 million from Miss Jean Brown of Hot Springs in 1981 strengthened scholarship support and helped establish endowed faculty positions. The College also began a study-travel program in the early 1980s that eventually became the Nichols International Studies Program, made possible through the generosity of trustee Shuford Nichols and his wife, Laura. These investments expanded the horizons of Lyon students, connecting the classroom to the wider world. In the 1990s, President John V. Griffith led a strategic planning effort that advanced Lyon’s aspirations as a nationally recognized liberal arts institution. Curriculum changes and campus improvements reflected a commitment to providing students with the intellectual foundation, practical skills, and personal growth needed to thrive beyond graduation. Holloway Theatre opened in 1991, followed by Young House residence hall and the Lyon Business and Economics Building in 1993. Bradley Manor, the president’s residence, was completed in 1994. In 1992, Lyon established the state’s only student-run honor system, entrusting students with a meaningful role in sustaining a community built on integrity and personal responsibility. In 1994, Arkansas College became Lyon College, honoring a family whose members had served the institution with distinction for more than half a century. The new name marked a milestone in the College’s history while preserving the legacy of those who had helped it endure and grow. As Lyon’s reputation strengthened, recognition of its faculty reflected the quality of teaching and mentorship at the heart of the College. Fourteen Lyon faculty members received Arkansas Professor of the Year honors from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education during the award’s 35-year history.
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Dr. Walter Roettger, who became the College’s 16th president in 1998, continued the institution’s development. The Derby Center for Science and Mathematics opened in 2003, followed by the Kelley Baseball Body Complex in 2004, further strengthening the academic and extracurricular experience. In 2009, Dr. Donald Weatherman, a former Lyon professor of political philosophy, became the College’s 17th president. That fall, Lyon launched the Lyon Education and Adventure Program, known as LEAP, drawing on the natural beauty of the Ozark foothills and the surrounding rivers, lakes, caves, and trails. The program offered students another way to learn through experience, discovery, and an appreciation for the world beyond the classroom.
The College also demonstrated its resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. On Oct. 26, 2010, a fire destroyed Edwards Commons, including the dining hall, student center, and student life offices. The loss disrupted the rhythms of campus life, but the Lyon community moved forward. A new Edwards Commons opened in August 2012, restoring a central gathering place for students and the broader campus community. That same fall, the College began a comprehensive review of its academic and administrative programs to strengthen its long-term sustainability and prepare for future growth. The French major was added to the curriculum. In 2015, two new residence halls, Whiteside and Wilson, opened their doors, and varsity football returned to Lyon after a 65year absence. A new five-year strategic plan, including a revised core curriculum, helped chart the institution’s next chapter. These changes reflected a continuing effort to create a college experience that balances academic rigor with community, belonging, and opportunities to discover new interests. Dr. W. Joseph King became Lyon’s 18th president in 2017. During his tenure, the College continued expanding its academic and student-life offerings. In 2019, the Faculty Assembly and Board of Trustees approved an ROTC military science concentration and an exercise science major and minor. Lyon also became the first pet-friendly college campus in Arkansas, celebrating with a leash-cutting ceremony at a dog park named in memory of the late Dr. Mark Schram. That year, the College established Arkansas’ first esports program endorsed by the National Association of Collegiate Esports, embracing new ways for students to connect, compete, and participate in campus life. Like institutions around the world, Lyon faced unprecedented challenges beginning in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people learned, worked, and gathered. The College adapted while continuing to focus on its students and its educational mission. The experience reinforced a lesson woven throughout Lyon’s history: enduring institutions are sustained not by standing still, but by drawing on their values to navigate change. Dr. Melissa P. Taverner became Lyon College’s 19th president in 2022, following her appointment as interim president in August 2021. Her leadership has ushered in an important period of growth and renewed possibility, building on the College’s longstanding commitment to a transformative education while extending its reach to meet the evolving needs of students, Arkansas, and the region. One of the early milestones of her presidency was the transition of Lyon College Athletics to NCAA Division III. The move reflects the College’s belief that academic achievement and athletic competition complement one another. It also positions Lyon alongside other selective colleges where students are encouraged to pursue excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, and in their communities. In spring 2022, Lyon announced an ambitious expansion of its academic offerings. The Faculty Assembly and Board of Trustees approved plans for graduate programs, including a Master of Arts in Teaching, along with an RN-to-BSN nursing program in partnership with White River Health. These initiatives opened new pathways for students seeking to advance their education and careers while strengthening the College’s connections with the communities it serves. Lyon College’s growth soon extended into professional education, with initiatives designed to address important workforce needs across Arkansas. In Little Rock, the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, Arkansas’s first dental school, received initial accreditation from the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation in February 2025. Its inaugural class arrived on June 30, 2025, and its Patient Care Clinic opened in summer 2026, marking historic milestones for both Lyon College and dental education in Arkansas. The school represents an opportunity to prepare future dental professionals while helping expand access to oral health care in the state. The College’s commitment to professional education continues with the School of Veterinary Medicine in Cabot. The school is pursuing accreditation through the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education and, pending the necessary approval, expects to welcome its inaugural class in 2027. Its development reflects a commitment to preparing future veterinarians and responding to the need for veterinary professionals in Arkansas and beyond. Together, these initiatives represent more than institutional expansion. They reflect a broader vision for Lyon College: preserving the personal attention, intellectual exploration, and sense of community that have long distinguished the institution while creating new opportunities for students at different stages of their educational and professional journeys. 7
LYON COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Victor Werley,’03, Chair John Beller, Vice Chair Suzanne (Evans) Blair, ‘68, Secretary/Treasurer Ben Brainard, '99 The Rev. Dr. William 'Bill' Branch, Jr. Jason Earley, '99 Sarah Fendley Tolar, '09, Alumni Trustee David Jones, '99 Dr. Terrell "TK" King, '00 Enid (Rorex) Olvey, '03 Chase Orf, ‘25, Young Alumni Trustee Zoe Papazoglou, '26, Young Alumni Trustee James L. "Skip" Rutherford III Jonathan Thompson, '02
LYON COLLEGE EXECUTIVE CABINET Dr. Melissa P. Taverner, President Dr. Anthony K. Grafton, Executive Vice President and Provost Marshall Butler, Vice President for Business and Finance Dr. Jeremiah Cherwien, Vice President of Information Services and Chief Information Officer Bailey Faulkner, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Thomas Newton, Vice President of Enrollment Management Kristi Price, Chief of Staff Samuel McLelland, General Counsel Amanda Echols, Director of Finance Carol Langston, Director of College Communications Randy Peterson, Director of Institutional Research
LYON COLLEGE BOARD OF VISITORS Dr. Joseph Smotherman, ’93, Chair Marlon Banks, ’03 Micah Beard Kendrea Benjamin, ’00 Mitch Bettis Monica (Day) Didion, ’11 Holly (Geis) Foster, ’11 Tiffany (Runyan) Garrison, ’95 The Reverend Brien Hall, ’92 Ginger (Townsend) Long-Smith, ’93 Ned Metcalf Robbi (Riggs) Rosenbaum, ’16 Matt Snyder, ’06 Andrew West Jason Zellmer, ’03
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LYON COLLEGE ALUMNI COUNCIL Sarah Fendley Tolar, ’09, President Rachel (Nicholson) Golden, ’06, Past President McKenzie Macy, ’14, Secretary William Belvin,’12 David Branscum, ’08 David Campbell, ’75 Riley Caraway, ’19 Amber (Simmons) Colvin, ’07 Taylor Fitterling, ’22 Carson Grant, ’18 John Hall, ’79 Lori Davidson, ’96 Marvin McCalman, ’16 Whitney (Simpson) Hill, ’12 Hannah (Ellis) Jones, ’13 Camryn “Calli” Long, ’23
Marvin McCalman IV, ’16 Leslie Milton, ’11 Adam Penman, ’08 Jay Powell, ’94 Megan (Holifield) Roulier, ’13 Luke Shackelford, ’20 Michael Springer,’74 Talli (Powers) Vance, ’04 Jeremy Chapman, Faculty Representative Donald Taylor, ’01, Staff Representative Sidney Milligan, ’27, Student Government Association President Emilee Simpson, ’28, Social Council President Atlas Wilbanks, ’27, Honor Council President Cindy Barber, ’85, Associate Vice President of Advancement
LYON COLLEGE FACULTY Dr. Wesley Beal W.C. Brown, Jr., Professor of English Dr. Alexander Beeser Associate Professor of Biology Dustyn Bork Professor of Art Dr. Allyn Byars Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Jeremy Chapman Professor of Mathematics Dr. Kimberly Crosby, ’92 Associate Professor of Education Dr. Pietro Dall’Olio Assistant Professor of Computer Science Dr. Mayron Faria Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Britt Florkiewicz Assistant Professor of Psychology Margaret Gayle Associate Professor of Art and Theatre Dr. Fonzie Geary Professor of Theatre Dr. Stuart Hutton Associate Professor of Physics Joseph Ivy Instructor of Spanish Dr. Melissa Johnson Assistant Professor of English Dr. Maryline Jones Associate Professor of Organismal Biology Dr. Mahbubul Kabir Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Jason Kennedy Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Matthew Lebrato Associate Professor of Anthropology Patrick Lynch Assistant Professor of Business Dr. James Martell de la Torre Associate Professor of French and Comparative Literature Dr. Melissa Merte Assistant Professor of English Dr. Robert Miller Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Irosha Nawarathne Professor of Chemistry Dr. Bethany Neese Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Mandy Northcutt Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Cody Norton Assistant Professor of Art Dr. Kieran O’Keefe Assistant Professor of History Dr. Cassia Oliveira Professor of Biology Dr. Jes Parker Assistant Professor of Psychology
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LYON COLLEGE FACULTY Dr. Wesley Perkins, ’15 Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Brandon Porter Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Wu Qu Assistant Professor of History Don Ray, ’91 Assistant Professor of Accounting Dr. Mónica Rodríguez Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Scott Roulier John D. Trimble, Sr., Professor of Political Philosophy Dr. Stephanie Saunders, ’02 Associate Professor of Spanish Rebecca Sharp, ’05 Instructor of English Dr. Eric South Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Peter Staples Assistant Professor of Business and Economics Dr. Jaeyun Sung
Associate Professor of American Politics Dr. Radek Szulga Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Terrell Tebbetts Martha Heasley Cox Chair in American Literature Dr. Edward Tenace Associate Professor of History Dr. David Thomas W.D. Bryan Professor of Biology Dr. Matthew Thompson Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Daniel Tuke Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Shensi Wang Assistant Professor of Accounting Dr. Tharanga Wijetunge Professor of Mathematics Dr. Scott Williams Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy Meredith Wright, ’04 Instructor of Mathematics Dr. Nikki Yonts Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education Dr. Mengfan Zhu Assistant Professor of Chemistry
FACULTY EMERITI Martha Beck, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Philosophy
David Sonnier Professor Emeritus of Computer Science
Ronald Boling, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of English
Russell Stinson, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Music
Paul Bube, Ph.D Professor Emeritus of Religion
Fred Wann, M.S.E.,’59 Professor Emeritus of Physical Education
Roberta Bustin, Ph.D., ’64 Professor Emerita of Chemistry
Garry Wann, J.D., ‘59 Professor Emeritus of Business Administration
Robert Carius, M.S. Professor Emeritus of Physical Science and Mathematics
Donald V. Weatherman, Ph.D. President Emeritus
Bradley Gitz, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of International Politics
PatriciaWhitfield, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of Education
Bruce Johnston, Ed.D. Dean of Students Emeritus
Frank Winfrey, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Management
Alan McNamee, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Accounting
Virginia Wray, Ph.D. Dean Emerita of Faculty
Helen Robbins, Ph.D. Professor Emerita of English
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PRESIDENTS OF LYON COLLEGE Isaac Long Eugene Long John Cleland Eugene Long J. P. Robertson W. S. Lacy E. B. Tucker Ury McKenzie W. S. Lacy John Crockett
1872-91 1891-95 1895-97 1897-1913 1913-15 1916-23 1923-31 1931-32 1932-37 1937-39
John D. Spragins Paul M. McCain R. W. Wygle Dan C. West John V. Griffith Walter Roettger Donald V. Weatherman W. Joseph King Melissa P. Taverner
1942-52 1952-69 1969-72 1972-88 1989-97 1998-2009 2009-17 2017-21 2022-Present
LYON COLLEGE REGALIA The Marshals: The marshals are faculty members appointed by the president of the College to direct the order of procession. The chief marshal is the faculty member with the longest tenure at the institution. The marshals’ batons were made by Dr. Herndon McCain from the spindles of a stair rail in the Long Memorial Building, which stood on the College’s original campus, now the site of First Presbyterian Church in Batesville, Arkansas. The Mace: The College mace is carried by the president of the Faculty Assembly and immediately precedes the president of the College in the procession. The mace is made of a solid piece of Batesville walnut inlaid with three pieces of wood: one from the banister of the Long Memorial Building, one from the old Presbyterian Church in Batesville, and one from Alumni Hall, which was also part of the original College campus. The crown is made of sterling silver and features two pieces of black Batesville marble set in its center. The base bears the medallions from the College’s 50th and 100th anniversaries. The College Seal: The College seal takes the form of a coat of arms incorporating a Celtic cross, a lamp of learning, an open Bible, a lion rampant (adapted from Scottish heraldry), and a pattern of four stars (adapted from the center of the Arkansas state flag). The College’s motto, Perseverantia Omnia Vincet Deo Volente, translates as “Perseverance conquers all, God willing.” The Presidential Medallion: The medallion worn by the president of the College incorporates the College seal. The names of Lyon College presidents are engraved on the back. Academic Regalia: Although the pageantry and dress of academic processions originated in rituals and customs developed at universities in medieval Europe, most American colleges and universities, including Lyon, adhere to a system of academic attire standardized in 1895 under what is known as the Academic Costume Code. The code covers three elements of academic regalia: the cap, the gown, and the hood. The sleeves of the academic gown indicate the wearer’s highest earned degree: pointed sleeves indicate a bachelor’s degree, long, closed or oblong sleeves indicate a master’s degree, and full, bell-shaped double sleeves with three velvet bars indicate a doctoral degree. The academic hood is lined with the colors of the institution that conferred the degree. The color of the facing and edging of the hood denotes the subject area of the degree: white for arts, letters, and humanities; drab for commerce and business; copper for economics; light blue for education; brown for fine arts; crimson for journalism; purple for law; green for medicine; pink for music; apricot for nursing; dark blue for philosophy; golden yellow for science; and scarlet for theology.
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THE MISSION OF LYON COLLEGE
A selective, independent teaching and learning community affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lyon College offers both a challenging undergraduate curriculum grounded in the liberal arts and select graduate programs. In a primarily residential setting, the Lyon College experience is guided by the Honor System and enlightened by co-curricular programs, service and experiential learning, and opportunities for leadership. Together these foster critical, creative thought and ethical, spiritual growth that will prepare students for fulfilling personal and professional lives committed to lifelong learning and service. THE VISION OF LYON COLLEGE
Lyon College will be the premier institution in Arkansas for academic and professional advancement. THE VALUES OF LYON COLLEGE
Lyon College cultivates the curious mind and mentors students to explore widely and think deeply about the world and their role in it. We encourage integrity, well-being, and life-long success through study of the liberal arts. We respect individuals, differences, and shared experiences so that every student can take part in a nurturing academic, social, and personal educational journey. We foster robust connections and respect for others through purposeful collaboration with, and service to, both the local and wider community.
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