A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Spring 2013 Volume XL, Number 1 EDITOR Bob Qualls LAYOUT Nell Tebbetts, ’07 CONTRIBUTORS Bob Qualls Chandra Huston Samantha Jones, ’14 Lilly Hastings, ’13 John Krueger Terrell Tebbetts STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Chandra Huston SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER David Thomas ALUMNI RELATIONS Taryn Hill Duncan, ’91 Lyon College 2300 Highland Road P.O. Box 2317 Batesville, AR 72503 www.lyon.edu Lyon College offers a liberal arts education of superior quality in a personalized setting. A selective, independent, undergraduate, residential teaching and learning community affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Lyon encourages the free intellectual inquiry essential to social, ethical, and spiritual growth. With a rich scholarly and religious heritage, Lyon develops, in a culture of honor, responsible citizens and leaders committed to continued personal growth and service. PRESIDENT Donald Weatherman VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Jon Vestal
We began this school year cataloging what we do, assessing what we do, and prioritizing what we do, and now we begin the process of figuring out how we can do it better. American higher education is undergoing a time of rapid change, and we must ensure that we do not miss any opportunity that such change may present for Lyon. At the same time, change may bring us new obstacles and challenges. In fall 2012, we conducted an assessment process and looked carefully at how well we are doing what we currently do. In light of that, the Board of Trustees has already approved certain actions concerning the academic programs, including creating a Celtic Studies minor with emphasis on piping and drumming; bolstering the secondary education program, especially in the sciences; and redesigning the business major to focus more heavily on applied experiences such as internships and increased interaction with local companies and business people. It is critical that the College position itself for sustainability and growth. This can be accomplished by growing the student body, and the decisions we make now will be driven by that objective. This spring, we have embarked on the process of strategic planning: collecting and analyzing data; recruiting members for the planning team; drafting and refining a plan. In October 2013, we will launch our plan, the implementation of which will carry Lyon forward over the next five years. The process of strategic planning will certainly afford us the opportunity to examine and reexamine what we do and how we do it. Whether it is education, athletics, or administration, we will seek to improve every aspect of Lyon College. As always, we at Lyon remain committed to offering to each successive generation of students a liberal arts education of unparalleled quality in a personalized setting designed to nurture each student. Sincerely,
ON THE COVER Untitled work by Shea Hembrey, ’96, produced for Dr. Terrell Tebbetts’ Faulkner class. See full story on page 3.
Spring 2013