Muskingum Thrive: Advancing Muskingum University
Dear Muskingum Alumni and Friends,
“At Muskingum University, partnerships drive progress.”
This year’s Thrive Report reflects the spirit of our Thrive Strategic Action Plan—a commitment to student success, academic vitality, and institutional strength built through intentional collaboration. Thrive is not simply a plan; it is a shared framework for action. And across this report, you will see how partnerships are helping us bring that vision to life.
With the support of dedicated alumni, we are revitalizing our Art and Design program—investing not only in creative spaces, but in the confidence and imagination of the next generation of artists and designers. Through generous alumni support, the entrance to and auditorium in the Boyd Science Center have been completely updated, enhancing a space that supports learning, discovery, and community gathering for years to come. These investments reflect Thrive’s focus on strengthening signature programs and re-imagining learning environments.
Our external partnerships are also expanding access and opportunity. The Knowlton Foundation’s support of STEM scholarships advances Thrive’s priority of increasing careerconnected learning in high-demand fields. Collaborations with business leaders are creating meaningful civil engineering experiences that connect theory to practice and position students for immediate impact after graduation. In partnership with Genesis, we are expanding nursing programming to meet urgent regional workforce needs while preparing compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals. And,
through partnership with local school districts, our Education program is also helping lead the implementation of the Science of Reading—an evidence-based approach to literacy instruction. After proactively revising our curriculum ahead of state mandates, Muskingum earned 100% alignment on the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s rigorous review of educator preparation programs, positioning our graduates to make an immediate impact in classrooms across the state.
Partnership, however, is not only external. It is also internal.
This year, we strengthened collaboration across enrollment, academic affairs, advancement, and external engagement through the implementation and deeper integration of the Slate CRM system. By working together around shared data and coordinated communication, we are creating a seamless and individualized communication system that not only serves our students but allows us to effectively connect with alumni and partners as well.
We are also investing intentionally in leadership development—for students, faculty, and staff. Thrive challenges us to cultivate adaptable, ethical leaders prepared for complexity and change. Through expanded mentorship opportunities, professional development initiatives, and high-impact student leadership experiences like the NSLS program, we are building capacity across and beyond the institution. Strong leadership—at every level— ensures that progress is sustainable.
Each of these efforts reflects a shared conviction: education flourishes in relationship. When alumni invest in facilities,
foundations expand opportunity, businesses open doors, healthcare systems collaborate on workforce needs, school partners advance literacy, and campus colleagues align around shared systems and strategy, momentum builds.
At Muskingum, we are not simply preparing students for the future. Through the vision of Thrive and the power of partnership, we are shaping it—intentionally, collaboratively, and with confidence.
Thank you for playing a powerful role in this essential work. Together, we will continue to ensure that Muskingum thrives long into the future.
With deepest gratitude,
President Susan S. Hasseler
Muskingum University Thrive Copyright ©2026
Muskingum University, 260 Stadium Drive, New Concord, Ohio 43762-1837, muskingum.edu
Advancing Muskingum University Thrive
Learning & Innovation
Implement strategies for all learners that include relevant programming, increased engagement opportunities, and emerging technologies.
transformative growth
Recruit a continuum of learners across generations through the development and enhancement of re-imagined educational programming and state-of-the-art systems and facilities.
Visibility & Collaboration
Establish strategic partnerships, drive stronger awareness, enhance visibility, inspire action, and deepen engagement within our community, across our region, and throughout the world.
Institutional Prosperity
Optimize financial, technological, and personnel resources to ensure Muskingum is well-positioned for a prosperous and sustainable future.
Retention Recruitment Relationships Revenue
Mission: Muskingum University prepares a continuum of learners to think critically, excel professionally, grow personally, and contribute ethically to our changing world.
Learning & Innovation
Implement strategies for all learners that include relevant programming, increased engagement opportunities, and emerging technologies.
A New Canvas for Art & Design
Art & Design at Muskingum University is embracing a fresh look and renewed energy. Reimagined spaces, curriculum, and experiences are strengthening student belonging and recruitment.
Thanks to generous alumni support, our studios and galleries look better than ever. Upgraded drawing desks, 25 new easels, and optimized workspaces create a stimulating environment where students produce work that is both personally expressive and professionally strong.
The department has also invested in curriculum revision. In partnership with the Education Department, Art & Design enhanced its program so future art teachers are better supported as they hone both their creative practice and pedagogical skills. Student co-curriculars have also been revitalized. The Art & Design Club now hosts campus events such as cookie “canvas” decorating and crafting with Religion and Philosophy. Junior and senior majors engage the community by jurying regional art contests, including East Muskingum Schools’ annual “Chalk on the Walk” and the Cambridge Lions Club Peace Poster competition.
As in years past, Muskingum’s gallery spaces are vibrant hubs of creativity and connection. Recent exhibitions have featured work by Muskingum faculty, regional artists, and local and international high school students, all of whom were invited to apply their talents at Muskingum through an art scholarship offer. In February,
the gallery hosted Voices of Change, an interdisciplinary project with Music and History highlighting how the arts elevate underrepresented voices and shape culture.
Recruitment remains a priority. Prospective students are encouraged to meet one-on-one with faculty for tours and conversations. Collaboration with Admissions has streamlined the scholarship offer process, ensuring Muskingum remains timely in the student decision-making process. The department also co-hosted a “Get Hooked on the Arts” event with Music and Theatre, welcoming more than 30 local high school students to campus. Visual arts participants had their work fired, glazed, and personally delivered back to their high schools by Art & Design faculty and Admissions staff, a gesture that reflects the individualized attention and relationship-building deeply valued at Muskingum.
Whether recruiting, guiding majors, or introducing general education classes to the arts, professionalism and personal engagement define the Art & Design experience. Students work with professional-grade materials, such as in-house clay formulas, oil paints, and gallery-wrapped canvases, while faculty cultivate a culture of mutual respect, thoughtful critique, and mentorship. Newer students learn from advanced peers, who in turn grow as leaders, creating the close-knit community Muskingum is known for.
For junior Amelia Shaffstall, that environment has been transformative. “Before I came to the Art & Design Department at Muskingum, I thought art was just a hobby. Now it’s my future career.
I have grown as an artist thanks to the support of the faculty and my fellow students.”
Through modernization, encouragement, and alumni-supported excellence, Art & Design is empowering current students to unlock their talents and inspiring future members of the Long Magenta Line.
Inside Muskingum University’s Hands-On Civil Engineering Track
At Muskingum University, civil engineering students develop the knowledge and expertise to build both structures and solutions. The track is grounded in a simple idea: Students learn best when theory is paired with practice and relationships matter as much as credentials.
All engineering students work together during their first year at Muskingum, gaining a strong foundation before embarking on the specific pathway that best fits their goals: civil, general, or mechanical. EAC-ABET accreditation ensures the curriculum meets national standards while preserving the personal scale that defines the Muskingum experience. Small classes allow faculty mentors to work closely with students, cultivating relationships that shape both coursework and career paths.
A flexible curriculum allows every engineer-in-training to gain the analytical, technical, and design skills needed for professional practice. Students engage with multiformat lectures, hands-on labs, and project-based learning that mirrors real engineering work. By rotating through traditional and computer-assisted labs, design studios, and manufacturing environments, students gain experience with tools such as Computer-Aided Manufacturing, Computer-Aided Design, and emerging AI-enhanced technologies.
These experiences help students graduate with tangible, indemand skills. Along the way, they may earn microcredentials
that document specialized competencies in areas such as programming, design tools, and advanced manufacturing. Every student also completes a required internship and a senior design project in which they solve a real-world engineering problem. Mandatory attendance at one career development event per semester ensures that technical knowledge is matched with professional readiness.
Because Muskingum’s engineering major is designed to launch students directly into the profession, all students prepare for and are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam relevant to their track. Taking the exam is an essential step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer.
Muskingum’s engineering graduates enter the workforce with confidence, and employers notice. The major has a 100% job placement rate, reflecting the strength of the curriculum and the preparation students receive. Many alumni continue on to become licensed professional engineers, leading infrastructure projects, design firms, municipal engineering departments, and technology companies across Ohio and beyond.
The civil engineering track reflects Muskingum University’s longstanding investment in rigorous preparation, close mentorship, and applied learning. The result is an education that equips graduates to step confidently into their professional lives as both innovative builders and community leaders.
Leading the Literacy Revolution: Muskingum University a Statewide Model for the Science of Reading
When Ohio launched its 2023 legislation to ensure every child learns to read using the most effective, research-based methods, Muskingum University was already well ahead.
In 2021, long before state mandates, Muskingum’s Education Program began a full revision of its literacy curriculum with one goal: to give future teachers the tools proven to make children successful readers. Grounded in decades of research, the Science of Reading provides a clear understanding of how reading develops, why some students struggle, and how targeted assessment and instruction can improve outcomes for learners of all backgrounds.
Muskingum’s early commitment to this evidence-based approach has positioned the University among Ohio’s leaders in educator preparation.
In 2025, the Ohio Department of Higher Education began reviewing all educator preparation programs to ensure they were effectively training teachers in the science of reading. The audit involved 73 rigorous metrics, assessing everything from coursework to clinical practice.
Muskingum’s results were extraordinary.
The University received 100% alignment with all state requirements, with no areas for improvement, placing Muskingum among the highest-scoring programs in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine’s office highlighted these results in a statewide announcement.
For Muskingum, the achievement affirms what students, alumni, and school partners already know: The University is preparing teachers who are ready to make an immediate, meaningful impact in their classrooms.
Muskingum’s literacy excellence extends beyond campus. The University has forged two school-university partnerships that provide teacher candidates with authentic, high-impact field experiences while directly improving reading outcomes for K-12 students.
Since 2024, Muskingum has partnered with Ridgewood Local Schools to give teacher candidates hands-on experience with reading assessment and intervention. Students in EDUC 414
spend two days per week in K-12 classrooms using DIBELS and the Amplify platform to evaluate student needs, design interventions, and monitor progress.
These field experiences benefit everyone: Ridgewood students receive individualized, research-based reading support, and Muskingum’s teacher candidates have shown improved course grades and Foundations of Reading OAE exam scores.
In fall 2025, Muskingum established a new partnership with Cambridge City Schools (CCS) when the district received a $1.9 million Comprehensive Literacy Development grant. Together, the institutions designed a model that integrates Muskingum teacher candidates directly into CCS literacy initiatives.
Praised by local media outlets, this partnership provides CCS students with meaningful literacy support while giving future teachers opportunities to apply theory to practice, an experience that strengthens both confidence and competence.
Behind every successful partnership and curriculum innovation is a dedicated team. Literacy Professor Lisa Trigg and Fieldwork Coordinator Leigh Ann Atkins have played vital roles in building relationships, coordinating placements, ensuring quality, and keeping Muskingum candidates engaged in meaningful, current educational practice.
Their work reflects Muskingum University’s commitment to prepare educators who are not only ready for today’s classrooms but capable of leading tomorrow’s.
The science of reading movement represents one of the most significant transformations in American education, and Muskingum University is helping to lead it.
By grounding its programs in research, forging innovative partnerships, and exceeding the highest state standards, Muskingum is shaping educators who can unlock literacy for every child. The impact, already visible in classrooms across Ohio, will continue to grow with each new Muskie teacher who enters the field prepared, confident, and ready to change lives.
Transformative Growth
Recruit a continuum of learners across generations through the development and enhancement of re-imagined educational programming and state-of-the-art systems and facilities.
Transforming the Boyd Science Center
For more than half a century, the Boyd Science Center has helped inspire a passion for science in Muskingum students, and now an extraordinary legacy gift is revitalizing that tradition for generations to come.
The Boyd Science Center opened in 1970 as a state-of-the-art facility designed to showcase and serve Muskingum’s science programs. While those programs remain outstanding, the facility itself requires meaningful investment to meet the evolving demands of STEM education.
Enter Dr. Bill P. Lovejoy ’51 and his wife, Martha Johnson Lovejoy ’52, who included a $3.2 million gift in their estate plans, providing a powerful catalyst for reimagining the University’s science center.
“This generous gift from the Bill and Martha Lovejoy estate provides a powerful affirmation of Muskingum University’s essential place in educating students for high-demand careers in the sciences,” said President Sue Hasseler. “Bill understood that
there are significant needs and excellent opportunities in STEM for Muskingum students, and he wanted his gift to jump-start the reimagination of our science facilities to serve our students and the region in the future.”
Nearly 50% of incoming undergraduate students at Muskingum express an interest in STEM. Muskingum’s strength in STEM reflects not only robust programs in biology, chemistry, and environmental science, but also dynamic opportunities in engineering, such as data analytics, computer science, and a new civil engineering degree. The wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs available at Muskingum in the health sciences includes both an award-winning Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an innovative Master of Occupational Therapy.
Dr. Jim Dooley, the Bill and Martha Lovejoy Professor of Biology and department chair, described Bill’s passion for Muskingum. “Bill was genuinely interested in helping our students, especially those who were just getting started in science. Over the years, Bill’s support provided many first-year students with invaluable paid research opportunities. He made it possible for students to get hooked on science, and that became a great retention tool as well.”
From the first time Dooley and Bill met, the two scientists found a common interest in ecological fieldwork. “We had a natural chemistry that just clicked,” Dooley recalled. “Through the years, we would discuss journal papers we’d both read and liked. Our professional collaboration evolved into friendship, and over the years he gave me a number of field books that I treasure. I’m very happy that Bill and Martha’s gift will continue to fuel the sciences at Muskingum.”
Cheryl Carpenter ’86, chair of the Muskingum University Board of Trustees, sees a clear connection between this gift
and regional prosperity. “This gift will further Muskingum’s contribution to the vitality of our region by preparing students for high-demand jobs in STEM. Workforce development is a critical issue in our region, and Bill and Martha’s gift will help Muskingum meet that need.”
The Lovejoys’ gift has allowed Muskingum to transform the auditorium in the Boyd Science Center, the University’s largest lecture space, with modernized seating for more than 250 people, an accessible viewing platform to accommodate students and visitors, and updated lighting and sound. Additionally, the Boyd lobby space has been reimagined with new flooring and lighting, making it an appealing location to congregate, connect, and view student research. Restroom facilities off the lobby have been remodeled and made fully accessible and family-friendly.
“As we look beyond these initial changes to the Boyd Science Center fueled by Bill and Martha’s gift, we are continuing to plan additional improvements that will transform our core science facility,” President Hasseler said. “Our students and our region are counting on us, and we are making it happen.”
Muskingum University will dedicate the Bill P. and Martha Lovejoy Auditorium at the Boyd Science Center on March 23 at 3 p.m. Alumni and community members are encouraged to attend. The John Glenn Lecture Series featuring Dr. Maureen Raymo will follow at 4 p.m. RSVPs are suggested for the Glenn Lecture Series. Please scan the QR code to RSVP.
Register to attend here!
Elevating the Game: A New First Impression That Inspires
Two generous alumni gifts recently supported a refresh of the Steele Center Riggs-Sherman Atrium, reenergizing Muskie Pride and creating a more dynamic first impression, especially for those connected to athletics.
The facility enhancement has been transformative. “The atrium was stuck in the original mid-1980s design of the Steele Center, dominated by brick and ultimately lacking the excitement that a contemporary athletics space requires,” said Kari Winters ’08, ’10G Associate Vice President for Athletics. “We’ve updated the west wall leading into the gym, covering it end to end and floor to ceiling with highly charged, stylized graphics celebrating our current Fighting Muskies.”
Beyond aesthetics, the new look communicates an important message to Muskingum’s student-athletes: They are essential to the spirit and values of the University. Student-athletes spend countless hours training and competing in the Steele Center. By offering a space that reflects their dedication, the modernized atrium inspires confidence and visibly demonstrates the University’s investment in athletics.
The atrium also plays a critical role in recruitment, an effort the renovation has infused with new energy. “Every prospective
student-athlete who walks through this space will feel the excitement,” Winters said. The impact on recruitment extends beyond athletics alone. Scholarship Days and Muskie Preview Days frequently include programming in the Steele Center, inviting prospective students with varied interests to experience the revitalized space firsthand.
The Steele Center anchors some of the University’s most beloved traditions. Homecoming festivities and commencement ceremonies are often held there, making the updated environment meaningful to both returning and brand-new alumni.
As one of the most frequently visited spaces on campus, the Steele Center lobby also welcomes community members attending sporting and other University events, such as blood drives. As a result, the revamped atrium signals vitality and momentum to the local region as well.
“The Steele Center sees more foot traffic than any other facility on campus,” Winters said. “The Long Magenta Line is mighty, and I remain extremely grateful to our alumni who saw the power behind the vision of this project.”
Through their generosity, these alumni have helped create a space that applauds excellence, reinforces connections, and showcases the pride that defines Muskingum University.
Visibility & Collaboration
Establish strategic partnerships, drive stronger awareness, enhance visibility, inspire action, and deepen engagement within our community, across our region, and throughout the world.
Building Futures: The Knowlton Foundation at Muskingum
Muskingum students are gaining new opportunities to learn, lead, and serve thanks to a generous gift from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation.
Through two recent initiatives—expanded investment in the John and Annie Glenn Public Service Fellows Program (JAG) and the establishment of the Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship for STEM majors—the Foundation is strengthening both civic leadership and academic access.
Support for JAG is elevating programs that prepare students for thoughtful leadership. Campus events, immersive travel, and community-centered activities now have greater reach and depth.
One JAG fellow who attended a campus talk focused on civil discourse reflected, “JAG builds us to be responsible leaders with actual insight, and taking these lessons with me is vital in having productive conversations.”
The benefits ripple outward. Enhanced outreach and collaboration, for example, have improved operations at the Muskie Food Pantry, helping address food insecurity among college students. JAG fellows also organized a campuswide Veterans Day project honoring service members and participated in a community event raising awareness for survivors of domestic violence.
By increasing funding for high-impact experiences from $2,500 to $4,000 each, the grant empowers JAG fellows to pursue more ambitious ideas and extend their reach.
In addition to advancing civic responsibility, the Foundation’s generosity is broadening avenues to STEM education. The Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship supports students pursuing high-demand majors central to today’s workforce and the region’s long-term economic vitality.
For Muskingum, this scholarship represents more than financial assistance; it reflects a partnership rooted in shared values of access and innovation.
“We are grateful to the Knowlton Foundation for this generous gift and their support of Muskingum University,” said President Susan Hasseler. “This scholarship will further increase access to an excellent STEM education for students in this region and throughout the state.”
Awarded annually and renewable for four years, the scholarship prioritizes full-time, first-year students from Ohio. The inaugural awards benefited 20 current Muskingum students, immediately lowering their net costs and providing greater financial security.
“Providing financial access to our students is a commitment that Muskingum University is proud of, and receiving this gift allows us to remain focused on that goal,” said Amber Gump, director of student financial services.
The Foundation’s impact reflects the legacy of Austin E. “Dutch” Knowlton, a builder in both profession and purpose. As owner and chairman of the Knowlton Construction Co., he oversaw more than 600 major projects across Ohio and the Midwest. In 1981, Knowlton established the Foundation to expand educational opportunity for future generations, a mission that continues to shape students’ lives.
With the creation of the Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship and amplified investment in the JAG Fellows Program, Muskingum University joins a long list of institutions strengthened by Knowlton’s enduring commitment to education, one that equips students, enriches communities, and builds a better tomorrow.
Muskingum and Genesis Partner to Expand Access and Regional Impact
At Muskingum University, partnerships drive progress. A generous gift from Genesis HealthCare System is expanding the University’s nursing program, creating new pathways for students across the region.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the health care workforce while increasing access to high-quality education. Rooted in trust, innovation, and a deep understanding of regional needs, the collaboration between Muskingum and Genesis HealthCare showcases what is possible when institutions work together for the greater good.
Known for its rigorous curriculum, hands-on clinical preparation, and workforce-ready graduates, Muskingum’s nursing program consistently ranks among the top programs in Ohio. Enrollment continues to grow, driven by intentional outreach and the region’s rising demand for highly skilled nursing professionals.
Between 2021 and 2025, approximately 40% of Muskingum’s BSN and ABSN graduates began their professional careers at Genesis HealthCare. This outcome speaks not only to the quality of Muskingum’s academic programs but also to the strength and longevity of this partnership.
“Our relationship with Genesis demonstrates what is possible when higher education and industry come together with a shared vision,” said Molly Dunn, Associate Vice President of External Engagement at Muskingum University. “This partnership not only prepares students for meaningful careers but also strengthens the entire health care ecosystem in our region.”
Why Partnerships With Muskingum Matter
Expanding Access
said Dianna Leveck, Chief Administrative Officer at Genesis HealthCare System. “Graduates of Muskingum’s nursing program bring outstanding clinical preparation, critical thinking, and professionalism to our teams. They are superb nurses and trusted caregivers.”
Programs remove barriers and create opportunity, especially for rural and first-generation students.
Workforce Alignment
Programs are developed in collaboration with employers to meet real regional needs.
Exceptional Talent
Graduates emerge career-ready, highly skilled, and prepared to make an immediate impact.
Shared Value
Partnerships benefit students, employers, and communities alike.
Together, Muskingum and Genesis HealthCare are expanding access to nursing education through innovative pathways designed to meet students where they are.
Through the College Credit Plus nursing pathway, high school students can begin college-level coursework early and complete their degrees in an accelerated time frame. This approach reduces financial and geographic barriers, particularly for students in rural communities, while expediting the journey to a rewarding health care career.
For adult learners and career changers, Muskingum’s Accelerated BSN program offers a fast track into nursing, with completion possible in as little as 15 months. A hybrid format blends online learning with in-person instruction, balancing flexibility with the hands-on experience essential to exceptional nursing preparation.
“Muskingum University prepares nurses who are exceptionally skilled, thoughtful, and ready to make an immediate impact,”
This partnership advances Muskingum’s THRIVE Strategic Plan, particularly the Visibility and Collaboration Pillar, which focuses on strengthening awareness, deepening engagement, and cultivating partnerships that create shared value.
“Muskingum is committed to developing academic programs that respond to both student aspirations and regional workforce needs,” said Dr. Paul Szalay, associate provost. “By working closely with partners, we are expanding access, enhancing student success, and preparing graduates who are ready to lead in the health care field.”
More than a single initiative, the Muskingum and Genesis HealthCare partnership offers a powerful model for collaboration. It demonstrates how higher education and industry can work together to address workforce challenges, expand opportunity, and invest in long-term community vitality.
As Muskingum University continues to build innovative, solutions-oriented partnerships, this collaboration stands as an invitation to others: Join us in shaping the future, supporting students, and strengthening our region.
From Potential to Purpose
At Muskingum University, leadership is more than a title. It is an intentional process of empowerment, one that has been reenergized through the recent establishment of the Muskingum University chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), a thriving organization helping students grow into confident, capable, and community-minded leaders.
With 152 members, including 26 fully inducted, the Society is one of the fastest-growing student communities on campus.
The National Society of Leadership and Success is the largest leadership honor society in the country, partnering with more than 800 colleges and serving more than 2 million members. Unlike traditional honor societies, the organization works with each chapter individually, shaping membership criteria around local goals and student needs.
Every semester, the Society hosts three National Speaker
Broadcast Series events, each featuring an influential voice in business, media, health, sports, entertainment, or public service. Speakers have included former presidents of the United States, as well as prominent media personalities such as Oprah Winfrey. These are interactive experiences during which students can submit questions and engage directly with national leaders.
The Society intends to expand its impact in the near future by providing community service opportunities, giving Muskingum students additional ways to practice leadership and strengthen community ties.
With its national resources, interactive programming, and commitment to intentional leadership development, the Society is becoming a powerful launchpad for Muskingum students. It is a place where they learn to lead with purpose and begin shaping the future, one experience at a time.
Institutional Prosperity
Optimize financial, technological, and personnel resources to ensure Muskingum is well-positioned for a prosperous and sustainable future.
One University, One System: Slate CRM Powers Institutional Prosperity
At Muskingum University, transformation happens across the institution. Once a tool used only by undergraduate admission, Slate CRM has expanded into a universitywide digital integration effort supporting recruitment, student success, and alumni and donor engagement. This cross-divisional shift represents a powerful stride forward in the University’s Thrive Plan, especially its commitment to institutional prosperity: building sustainable systems that strengthen operations, communication, and long-term stability.
Muskingum’s undergraduate admission office once managed recruitment with a patchwork of systems, paper files, and manual processes. That changed in April 2019, when the University implemented Slate for traditional undergraduate admission.
Slate now brings nearly every admission-related function into a single, integrated platform, including:
• Application management and automated workflows
• Visit and event coordination
• Secure document processing and external data imports
• Automated email, text, and personalized print communications
• Real-time reporting that informs strategic decisions
With Slate, the undergraduate team can reach more students more efficiently, respond faster, and base decisions on current, accurate data, all without sacrificing the student-centered approach that defines Muskingum’s culture.
As Muskingum expands its graduate portfolio and strengthens recruitment for working adults, Slate has become the backbone of Graduate & Adult Learning (GAL). The CRM now supports the entire GAL enrollment funnel, from initial inquiry through application and enrollment.
Slate empowers GAL to:
• Streamline admissions steps and reduce barriers for busy adult learners
• Deliver automated, personalized communication flows tailored to student interests
• Ensure that prospective students receive timely, relevant information
• Allow advisers to focus on meaningful conversations rather than manual processing
As one GAL team member shared, “Slate allows us to scale with integrity. It gives us the structure to grow while maintaining the individualized support our adult learners rely on.”
The newest division to embrace Slate is Institutional Advancement, and the early momentum is strong. According to Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement Matt Andrew:
“We’re now seven months into the implementation of Slate, and we’re seeing significant benefits in records, reporting, data analytics, and alumni and donor communications. Very soon, we expect Slate to help us take significant strides in portfolio management, alumni engagement, and donor relations. It’s exciting.”
One impactful outcome is consolidation. Slate replaces multiple software platforms that previously segmented Advancement’s operations. By streamlining systems, the division is reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Shared systems also mean shared opportunities, strengthening coordination across Advancement, Admission, External Engagement, and beyond.
From high school seniors exploring their next step, to working adults returning for graduate education, to alumni deepening their connection to the University, Slate helps Muskingum deliver a more consistent, strategic, and responsive experience. Slate has become a shared digital foundation for Muskingum’s future.
Investing in People: Staff Development in Action
Muskingum University embraces professional development as a shared responsibility grounded in relationships and service. From on-campus learning to regional leadership engagement, the University continues to invest in its staff, recognizing that a thriving institution depends on the collaborative spirit of its people.
That spirit was on full display this past August during the inaugural Impact and Ignite Summit, a daylong professional development event planned by the Staff Council in cooperation with campus offices. Designed to foster learning and connection, the summit brought colleagues together for shared experiences that encouraged reflection and growth beyond daily routines.
“The goal of the summit was to create space for growth while also strengthening our sense of community,” said Staff Council Chair Tom Caudill. “We wanted staff to learn from one another, share expertise, and step away from daily routines to connect in meaningful ways.”
Required sessions addressed institutional priorities such as campus security and emergency response, anti-hazing education, and cybersecurity awareness. Participants also selected from a variety of optional workshops focused on leadership, wellness, technology, athletics, and campus history.
“The energy throughout the day was incredible,” Caudill said. “It was clear how much our staff value opportunities to come together, share ideas, and learn in a setting that celebrates who we are as a community.”
The summit concluded with a social gathering on the Quad. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and planning is already underway to continue the event in the years ahead.
While the summit nurtured connections on campus, Muskingum’s commitment to growth extends into the broader community. Through the University’s support, two staff members are participating in regional leadership development programs: John Soppanish ’20, Assistant Director of Athletics for Facilities, Recreation and Internal Operations, in Leadership Muskingum and Bri Kasinecz, Visual Design Manager in Strategic Marketing & Communications, in Leadership Guernsey.
Leadership Muskingum is offered in partnership with organizations such as the Muskingum County Community Foundation, the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, Zane State College, and Genesis HealthCare System. Participants meet monthly from September through May for immersive sessions focused on business, government, education, and community collaboration.
“Leadership doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community,” Soppanish said. “Every session gives me a deeper understanding of the people and organizations that make Muskingum County thrive.”
Leadership Guernsey, administered by the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, has been developing community leaders since 1995. Participants meet monthly from September through May for full-day sessions covering key sectors such as local government, law enforcement, education, health care, and social services.
“Guernsey County is a community with incredible heart,” Kasinecz said. “This program is opening my eyes to the partnerships and people working every day to make a difference. I’m honored to bring Muskingum’s voice to those conversations.”
Through initiatives like the Impact and Ignite Summit and participation in regional leadership programs, Muskingum invests in its people, ensuring the University remains vibrant, innovative, and engaged throughout the surrounding area.
Strengthening the Foundation: Three Campuswide Initiatives Position Muskingum for Its Next Chapter
Muskingum University is in a season of transition but not a season of pause. Three major initiatives, all supported through a new partnership with the recently merged RNL/Encoura team, are laying the groundwork for a more focused, more cohesive, and ultimately more successful enrollment future.
The first project, launched in early February, is an in-depth organizational assessment of the Strategic Marketing & Communications (SMAC) division. As leadership transitions prompt reflection, this assessment invites the University to take an honest, evidence-based look at how it builds and shares its brand.
RNL and Encoura’s work will examine SMAC’s daily operations, including conversations with staff, listening sessions with campus partners, workflow analysis, and identification of disconnects and bottlenecks that occur naturally in any organization. By spring, the University expects a set of actionable recommendations that will help shape the hiring process for the next SMAC leader and refresh how Muskingum communicates its value in a competitive higher education landscape.
While the SMAC assessment focuses on how students discover Muskingum, the second initiative examines the entire enrollment ecosystem. This Holistic Enrollment Review is the broadest of the three projects, bringing together voices from admission, financial aid, student success, marketing, faculty, and students.
The charge is ambitious: to trace the student experience from the moment Muskingum enters their world to the moment they walk across the graduation stage. Both a diagnostic and a roadmap-building exercise, the review’s ultimate goal is to develop a campuswide blueprint for a new Strategic Enrollment Plan, one rooted in data but shaped by lived experience. The review comes at no cost, an uncommon opportunity to gather insights that would typically require a major investment.
The third initiative, a search engine optimization and digital recruitment strategy for Graduate & Adult Learning, began earlier this year, and the impact is already energizing. Through revamped website architecture, stronger paid digital campaigns, enhanced lead generation, and Slatedriven workflow improvements, GAL enrollment has grown 2% compared to last year.
The results of these three initiatives will be shared with the Board in April. Taken together, they represent a comprehensive strengthening of Muskingum’s enrollment pipeline, from storytelling to structural alignment to digital outreach.
Muskingum is not only preparing for its future but actively shaping it.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Honoring a Lifetime of Leadership
Hal Burlingame, Trustee Emeritus
Harold “Hal” Burlingame ’62 championed Muskingum University with wisdom and conviction for four decades. Serving across five presidential administrations, Hal joined the Board in 1985 and became Chair in 1994, providing visionary leadership in that role for 25 years. A retired AT&T executive, Hal advanced groundbreaking human resource and workplace policies that influenced employers worldwide.
As an undergraduate, Hal majored in Speech Communication and founded WMCO, recruiting a pioneering staff of 40 students in 1961. That entrepreneurial spirit has remained central to his leadership and philanthropy. Hal and his wife, Sue Hussey Burlingame ’63, have generously supported countless facility, scholarship, and academic initiatives, including the construction of Caldwell Hall’s state-of-the-art broadcasting center.
Hal’s honors include a Muskingum Distinguished Service Award, a Muskingum Doctorate of Humane Letters, recognition from the National Academy of Human Resources, and induction into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence. In April 2025, the Board conferred upon Hal the title of Trustee Emeritus, with profound gratitude for his enduring impact on Muskingum University.
Celebrating 22 Years of Service
Walt Young, Trustee Emeritus
Walter “Walt” Young ’66 served Muskingum University from 2003 to 2025 as a member of the Board of Trustees, contributing thoughtful leadership on the Enrollment and Marketing, Executive, and External Relations committees. An expert in corporate governance and housing policy, he was named Industry Person of the Year three consecutive times by the Manufactured Housing Institute. Walt and his wife, Donna Higinbotham Young ’66, have continuously shown generous support for Muskingum University.
Congratulations and Welcome to the Board!
James A. McDonald ’73
is president and CEO of Allwell Behavioral Health Services, where he has served the region for more than five decades.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Muskingum, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from Ohio University.
As a civic leader, he serves on the board of Genesis Healthcare System and the Muskingum County Community Foundation. He is married to Zane State College professor Lisa McDonald. Together, they have two children and one grandson. James’ legacy reflects a deep commitment to strengthening families and communities across generations.
Muskingum Society
Members
Muskingum Society Members
July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
The Muskingum Society honors donors who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more, supporting student aid, scholarships, and other vital programs. Donor lists reflect giving from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. For more information, visit muskingum.edu/giving/muskingum-society .
Lottie Brown Aepli ’69 and Theodore Aepli
Dennis Alduk ’73 and Beverly Deluca Alduk
Jeffrey ’83 and Kerry McNenny ’84 Allenby
Kazi Mikawa Alward ’74 and Wallace Alward
Mary Cowden Anderson ’67
Craig ’73 and Debbie Hart ’74 Anderson
Aramark Corporation
Mary Phillips Arnett ’64
Robert Arno
Robin Arno
Rob Atack ’69 and Charlene Atack
Sue Cross Ausburn ’58 and Brian Ausburn
Mark Ayers ’85 and Lorri Ayers
Lynne Ayres ’70
Rick Bachhuber
Robert ’73 and Jennifer Shinn ’74 Bacon
Danielle Bafile
Winifred Johnson Baker ’71 and Fred Baker
Erica Booth Barricklow ’06
Robert Graham Barrows ’68
David ’74 and Kathy Lanham ’73 Bartley
Karen Bass ’62
David ’64 and Betsy Bennett
Chris Bennington ’01
William ’66 and Noelle Berry
Tom ’63 and Mikki Bixler
Katherine Fischer Black ’79 and Allen Black
Dennis ’64 and Deanne Kustes ’65 Blackburn
Mary Bloechl ’90
Bob ’69 and Fran Holekamp ’68 Boardman
Bruce Bollmer ’75 and Beth Brubaker Bollmer ’75
Frederick Bonkovsky ’61
Diane Doeringer Boster ’74 and Boster
Don Bovais ’63 and Sally Lamberton Bovais ’63
Meredith Bowman ’06
Douglas ’54 and Diane Brackenridge
Drew Braun ’85
Scott ’92 and Helen Vlk ’92 Briggs
Bryce ’96, ’05G and Jen Schultice ’97 Bronner
Peter Brookhart ’69
Margaret Brown
Kathy Brown
Gary Brown ’68 and Barbara Brown
Richard Brown ’90 and Michelle Neptune Brown ’94
Steven Brown ’69 and Elaine Perri
Marjorie McMorris Brueder ’57
Bob Brunner ’68
John Buhler and Paula McDermott
Hal ’62 and Sue Hussey ’63 Burlingame
Michael Busta ’72
Janet Tellman Campbell ’70
Keith ’77 and Shirley Campbell
Susan Canfield
Douglas ’87 and Julie Stermer ’88 Cantrell
Scott ’88 and Cheryl Hetrick ’86 Carpenter
Shane Casimir ’01
Pat Koster Caudill ’63
David ’93 and Tanya McGregor ’94 Cepek
Josh Chaney ’10
Joseph Chernisky ’73
Patricia Taylor Church ’76 and Philip Church
Rich Clark ’56 and Judy Clark
Jim Clausing ’84 and Sherry Randolph
Gloria Clayton
Jeff and Tiffany Clayton
Chad Coconis
Bev Coen ’68
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
John Connell ’75 and Deborah Long Connell
Bill ’61 and Sonie Green ’61 Cooper
Brian ’97 and Sarah Coryea
Bob Cowden ’54
Steve Cox ’80 and Dixie Blackstone Cox
James ’81 and Stephanie Brennan ’84 Crawford
Sherry Crawford-Eyen ’72 and Charles Eyen
Mike Crum and Marie Crum
Steven ’75 and Donna Dauterman
Phil Davis ’77 and Laura Davis
Laurie Deal ’93
Brent Dellacoletta ’75
Kelly Dempsey ’06
Nik Deogun ’91 and Allison Kimmich ’91
Molly Randall Devlin ’61 and Albert Devlin
Mary Ann Spitznagel DeVolld ’73, ’91G and Stewart DeVolld
Barbara Swartz Dickerman ’51
Joseph DiVittorio ’84 and Dina DiVittorio
James Dodd ’73
Jim Dooley
Richard ’67 and Susan Hunsicker ’69 Dryburgh
Ruth Ann Moore Duff ’59
Richard ’67 and Donna Duffield
Jennifer Dugan and John Wood
Richard ’72 and Joanna Mihok ’71 Duncan
Chris ’83 and Elaine Early ’85 Easterling
Stephen Ebsary ’73 and Cynthia Wilday Ebsary
$32 Million
in Scholarships and Grants Awarded in 2025
Sheila Ellenberger
Richard ’67 and Linda Ellinger
Jonathan Enlow ’01 and Kara Waibel Enlow
David Evans ’68
James Ewalt ’69 and Karen Ewalt
Al ’61 and Audeen Fentiman
Cheryl Davies Ficco ’04 and Ryan Ficco
Al Finley ’64 and Pat Smith
Robert ’72 and Patricia Finley
Michael Fodor ’58 (D) and Janice Fodor
Gene Folden ’81 and Robert Burns
Esther Case Fouts ’66 (D)
Delora Frakes ’71
Austin Frederici ’12 and Hannah Hilliard ’11
Patricia Wright Fridley ’76 and Gary Fridley
Eleanor McKee Fujita ’65
John ’68 and Therese Gardner
Sandy Graef Gately ’72 and John Gately
Bill Gegas ’79
Bob ’58 and Laura Geiger
David Gepford ’76
Tom German ’93
Mary Gerst ’75
Jeffery Gibbs ’78 and Alex Zuniga
Robert ’53 and Carolyn Swarner ’53 Giffin
Dean Gorsuch ’05 and Rachael Hrisak Gorsuch ’06
Rena Glover Goss ’58
Johnathan Graham ’89 and Jenny Bubb Graham ’90
Clay and Alice Graham
Jim Gray ’74
Nancy Gray ’62
Ronald Grim ’68
Barbara Weeks Gross ’70 and Charles Gross
Michael Gruber ’77 and Mary Phan-Gruber ’78
Prashant Gupta ’95 and Jennifer Pingledis ’95
Tom Hadden ’59
Gregg Hamilton ’77 and Kellie Grant
James ’62 and Jan Hamilton
Marjie Burlingame Hancock ’91 and Tom Hancock
Barbara and Drew Hansen
Ryan Harvey
Susan and Kenneth Hasseler
Edwin Hawk ’77 and Lorrie Zigman Hawk ’82
Peggy Hays ’65
Jim ’70 and Sherry Heacock
Brock Hefflin ’84
Ruth Champlin Hefflin ’60
Robin Heiser
Jim Heller ’62 and Dianne Thompson Heller ’65
Bob ’64 and Sue Heckler ’64 Henderson
Dick ’68 and Sheila White ’69 Henderson
Nick ’08 and Gail Hess
Todd ’87 and Linda Allender ’87 Hickerson
Steve Himebauch ’73 and Beth Shidemantle Himebach
Gary Hogue ’68 Hogue
Steven ’76 and Cynthia Hollon
John Hoopingarner ’76
William ’73 and Kari Moore ’73 Howard
Tom ’59 and Jeanne Purkey ’60 Howison
Gail Walsh Hudson ’81 and Kevin Hudson
Larry Humm ’64 and Dotti Caccamo Humm ’67
George ’64 and Eileen Lauderman Hupp
Alan Hurst ’75 and Beth Griest Hurst ’09
Barbara Birrell ’80 and Kirt Hyde
Lynn Jamieson ’68 and Stephen Wolter
Kay McGregor Jenkins ’67
Debbie Fogle Jenkins ’86 and Mark Jenkins
Roy ’60 and Maggie Jobe
Chuck Johnson ’71
Maureen McCauley Johnson ’64
Tom ’71 and Joyce Johnson
Margie Henderson Johnston ’66 and Edward Johnston
Carl ’72 and Kristin Kalnow
Christy Kaminski ’06
Sanjay ’86 and Rae ’85 Kapur
Mary Hetrick Kaufmann ’87
Barry ’73 and Brenda Roby ’76 Keim
Elizabeth Kaenzig Kellar ’71 and Kenneth Kellar
Parvez Khambatta ’05 and Jamie Riffle Khambatta ’02
Viren Khanna ’86 and Monica Nanda
Anuj ’86 and Susana Khanna
Jaideep ’85 and Rachel Khanna
Tarun ’90 and Saira Khanna
Dave Kiessling
Wayne King ’60 and Margy Steffler King ’60
Carol Williamson Kinsley ’59 and Ken Kinsley
Michael Klamo ’15
The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
Wayne Kodey and Geri Kodey
Nancy Kaye Koons ’68
David ’81 and Karin Collins ’82 Kratoville
Warner ’64 and Bonnie Glick ’64 Kugler (D)
Bob ’66 and Lynne Kuhn
Richard Kurth ’59
Beverly Smith Lacey ’69
Caren Hofstatter Lacy ’71
Edwin Lair ’75 and Pamela Lair
Diane Beynon Landers ’74
David Laraba
Christine Tucker Leeper ’72 and William Leeper
Ned ’70 and Patsy Karns ’70 Leibensperger
Jim Lenner ’03 and Sarah Smith Lenner ’04
Joanne Visnick Limbach ’62 and Jim Houglan
Lincoln Construction, Inc
Gary ’64 and Lynne Linn
Bud and Lynn Linn
Bernie Finley Litt ’55
Gordon ’80 and Susan Litt
Sally Smith Little ’67 and Gene Little
Tyler Little Family Foundation
Liz Files Livingston ’19
Gretchen Eckfeld Logan ’60
Allen ’69 and Donna Loomis
Tony Lowe ’88
Jayne Maerker ’73
David ’65 and Virginia Yonally ’65 Maharry
Ranjit Malik ’87
Steve ’83 and Marlene Manser
David Markley ’74 and Kathryn Power Markley ’75
Hub ’68 and Mary Marg Wallover ’69 Marquis
Jane Marshall ’75
Jonathan Marshall and Kay Marshall
Don ’79 and Danielle Mason
100% of first-year students received financial aid
Carole Smith ’60 and William Mason
Jeff Mathias
Jeffrey ’79 and Tamara Deibel Mathias
Michael Mayo ’85
James ’62 and Eleanor McBane
Tom ’76 and Darlene McCalmont
Keith McCauley
Amanda Williams McClelland ’14 and Paul McClelland
Dick ’60 and Joyce Shaffer ’59 McClelland
Jeanette McConagha
Elda McCoy ’68 and Allan Erbe (D)
Allen McFarren ’52
Gary ’62 and Roberta Koeppen ’64 McGovern
Glenn ’71 and Diane Williams ’72 McGregor
William and Beverly McKee
Greg ’04 and Katie Schoonover ’04 McKenzie
Granger ’62 and Kristen McKinney
Robert McManus
Ann Messersmith ’59
Susan Meyer ’95
Ray Miller (D)
Catherine Mizer Miller ’53
Gayle Lavelle Miller ’74 and Kurt Miller
Brent ’83 and Bonnie Miller
Margot Grubb Minor ’67 and Jon Minor
Jim Mitchell ’63
Diane Moffett ’78
Jack Montgomery ’56 and Anne Stallman Montgomery ’56
Barry Montgomery ’59 and Shauna Montgomery
Anne Morgan ’72 and Saul Morse
Constance Piersol Mori ’59
Philipp Mueller ’07 and Amy Santas
Jane Mykrantz
Leroy Neiman Foundation
Rob Nelson ’92 and Stefanie Duckworth Nelson ’92
New Concord Feral Cats, Inc.
Jennifer Noble ’03
Craig and Sally Nordlund
John ’59 and Kathleen Norris
Sue Ann Guillerey Norton ’63 and Dennis Norton
Rick Nutt and Mary Gene Boteler
Sandra O’Connell ’62
Sarah Olexsak ’05
Greg Ours ’86 and Brenda Ours
Krissy Oyler ’85
Suzanne Fontaine Pagels ’67 and George Pagels
Park National Bank
Penny Parnell ’99
Parnell & Associates Inc.
Marty Peak
Ed ’71 and Holly Culbertson ’71 Pearson
Cam Peden ’12 and Jordan Haynes Peden ’12
Louise Flower Pence ’65 and David Pence (D)
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company
Tom ’64 and Joanie Loudon ’62 Perkins
Jody Perkins-Ryan ’87
William S. Perper Foundation
Catherine Peters ’69
William ’54 and Lois Philips
Eric ’82 and Alicia Gratz ’83 Pohjala
Brian Polen and Tammy Polen
Anne Marie Shoemaker Poore ’86 and Gordon Poore
Bruce ’56 and Ginny Johnson ’56 Porter
Presbyterian Church Foundation
Howard ’71 and Cheryl Thornton ’71 Prince
Lin Prize-Fawley ’81 and Stan Fawley
James ’85 and Elisabeth Purdy
Debu ’83 and Anuja Purohit
Ann MacKay Randles ’61 and Doug Randles
Steve ’85 and Halle Schoener ’86 Randles
David Rankin ’69
Ginni Yeates Rassieur ’60 and Charles Rassieur
Rea & Associates, Inc.
Jeffrey ’70 and Sylvia Reed
David ’69 and Joan Resler
Robert ’65 and Julie Reveley
Wyatt Riggle ’23
Chuck ’91 and Kelly Kokovich ’91 Rinkes
Brian Rippel ’08
Marcy and Douglas Ritzert
Bill Robb ’59
Carole Klostermeyer Roberts ’59
Lukas Roddy
Stephen ’75 and Sissy Haas ’76 Rodgers
Sally Schulenberg Rogers ’68
John ’71 and Victoria (D) Romeo
Kim Gage Rothermel ’71 and Bill Rothermel
William Rothwell
Sylvia Rapp Sabia ’72 and Arthur Sabia
Sudha Srikrisheiv Saksena
Sandra Sanford ’01G and Jennifer Wardwell
Elinor Phillips Saunders ’66
Jim Schmotter ’69 and Daphne Jameson
Bill and Nancy Schultz
Scott ’73 and Debbie Kellogg ’73 Seaholm
Gaurav and Elizabeth Seth
Michelle Shaver
Bruce ’79 and Susan Shaw
Ken ’85 and Mary Sheetz
Rick Sherman ’68 and Jane Tedrick Sherman
Dan Shuey ’06 and Kristin Kenily-Shuey ’06
Barbara Johnson Siemer ’62 and Al Siemer
Ken ’98 and Kristie Radcliff ’97 Sigler
Kay Croxson Silk ’57 and James Silk (D)
Walt ’71 and Pat Silver
Dave and Becky Skeen
Rodney Skoglund ’88 and Renee LaRoche Skoglund
William Smith ’67
Kim Ronald Smith ’77 and Billy Smith
Lanny Snode ’71 and Susan Adams Snode ’71
George ’77 and Joanie (D) Snyder
Ted Sofis ’75 and Elaine Sofis
Marjorie Hazard Sonstroem ’70 and Roger Sonstroem
Mike ’99 and Tara Davis ’00 Spoon
John Stanchina ’87 and Lucinda Stanchina
Kate Goold Stanley ’65 and Wallace Weatherway
Susan Andrews Stark-Gigandet ’63
Preston ’64 and Sharon Christian ’64 Stover
William Strohm ’67
Stephen Struebing ’65
Taylor and Janet Stults (D)
Julia Krichbaum Swan ’54
Alan ’77 and Terry Swank
Ed Swanson ’57
Dennis ’91 and Dawn Swit
Paul Szalay and Shelley Amstutz-Szalay
Janet Blair Talmadge ’72 and Richard Talmadge
Tom ’70 and Suzanne Snyder ’70 Tewell
Nic Thomas ’19 and Katie Thompson-Taylor ’17
Ryan Thomas ’99
Bob Thomas ’64
Mike ’74 and Patti Mead ’76 Thomin
John ’71 and Sherry Stradley ’71 Torrens
Larry ’80 and Debbie Triplett
Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Co
Wendy Gates Troxel ’79 and Jerry Troxel
David Turrill
Janet Young Ummer ’67 and James Ummer
Linda Eyman Underhill ’63 and Wayne Underhill
James Utt
Brad ’96 and Kathy Van Sickle
Tim Vance and Roma Vance
Supporting our Student-Athletes
$46,400 in gifts from the annual golf outing $40,732 in gifts from Muskie Athletic Club, Parent Partners, and Corporate Partners
$133,467 in gifts from Athletic Day of Giving #ADOG
Jeffrey VanMeter
Rika Hess Wadsworth ’69
Kevin and Trudy Wagner
Brian ’89 and Christine Wagner
Julia Wallace
Ruth Wasem ’76
Bill Weimer ’74 and Maggie Sanese Weimer
Janet Weir ’66
Bruce ’62 and Jane Gensbigler ’62 Werner
Nancy Benter White ’75 and Bill McKee
Tom ’81 and Terri Whitman
Skip ’83 and Greta Cramer ’83 Wilday
Kayla Wilkerson ’19
Austin ’17 and Angela Darnley ’16 Wilkinson
Stan ’77 and Kathleen Willey
Barbara Cartwright Williams ’60
Ruth Myers Williams ’60 and Tom Williams
Don ’60 and Sue Bell ’59 Williams
Robert and Nancy (D) Wilson
Cliff ’86 and Carla Stalder ’89 Wiltshire
Richard ’69 and Deborah Wood
Jackie Dudek Woods ’69 and Jack Woods
Nancy Wyche
Kazuyo Yamashita
Miriam Bricker Yoder ’52
Walter ’66 and Donna Higinbotham ’66 Young
Susan Dykes Yutzey ’71 and John Yutzey
Jeff ’74 and Ginny Larter Zellers
Scott Zemba
Shala Lyons Zemba ’97
The Zemba Companies
Kunyu Zheng ’14
V. K. Schneider Ziegler ’74 and Zane Ziegler
Peggy Bennett Zinkand ’67 and John Zinkand
Lifetime Members of the Muskingum Society
Lifetime membership in the Muskingum Society honors those alumni and friends whose lifetime gifts to the University total $100,000 or more (includes gifts received by June 30, 2025).
R. Gregory Adams ’81
Eileen McComb Adams ’80
Estate of Audrey Marie Aikin ’24
Hannah McCleary Hutchison Amos ’35 (D)
Robert Amos (D)
Craig Anderson ’73
Deborah Hart Anderson ’74
Estate of Homer ’35 and Mabel Warren ’35
Anderson
Aramark Corporation
AT&T Foundation
Estate of Henry ’30 and Katheryn Ayers
Lynne Ayres ’70
Estate of Matilda Bailey
William Baker ’57
Nancy Baker (D)
Jaime Bermudez Cuaron ’44 (D)
Celia Bermudez
Suzette Morris Birch ’60
James Birch
Thomas Bixler ’63
Melissa Bixler
Judson Blaine ’80
Monica Blaine
Bob Boardman ’69
Fran Holekamp Boardman ’68
Charles S. Bolender, Jr. ’55 (D)
Virginia Bichsel Bolender ’53 (D)
The Boyd Estate
Kathy Brown
Estate of Thomas and Lois Brownlee ’27
Bruce
Helen Seeley Buchanan ’43 (D)
Lee Buchanan (D)
Henry Bullock ’77 (D)
Harold Burlingame ’62
Susanne Hussey Burlingame ’63
Philip Caldwell ’40 (D)
Betsey Caldwell (D)
W. Wilson Caldwell ’38 (D)
Eleanor Riley Caldwell ’38 (D)
Carol Elaine Campbell ’55 (D)
Keith Campbell ’77
Shirley Campbell
Willard Campbell ’22 (D)
Rosanne Campbell (D)
Estate of Melvern ’49 & Jean Ulbrich ’49 Campbell
Century National Bank
Walter Chess ’43 (D)
Marcia Chess (D)
Clay City Beverage
Estate of William Cobbett
Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Co.
Beverly Coen ’68
Estate of Arthur and Eloise Barnes ’33 Cole
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
William Cooper ’61
Sandra Green Cooper ’61
Lotte Copeland
William Copeland ’51 (D)
Willard Crawford ’49 (D)
Jean Caulton Crawford ’47 (D)
Marjorie Hlavacek Crockett ’64
Andrew Crockett (D)
Ruth Dalrymple ’37 (D)
Estate of Frederick Darner
William Dentzer, Jr. ’51 (D)
Celia Hill Dentzer ’52 (D)
Nikhil Deogun ’91
Allison Kimmich ’91
Molly Randall Devlin ’61
Albert Devlin
Robert Dickson ’63
Diane Dickson
$1,275,844
Class of 1975 Reunion Gift
Estate of Margaret Grosjean Dotts ’32
Dana Duff ’59 (D)
Ruth Ann Moore Duff ’59
Estate of George and Gladys Robertson ’32 Dunlap
Estate of Nancy Jean Ebert ’56
Estate of Eleanor C. Elder
Estate of John ’34 and Margaret Miller ’34
Erbey
Estate of Mary Agnes Erskine
David J. Evans III ’68
Jean Beucler Evans ’69 (D)
Robert Evans (D)
Exxonmobil Foundation
FAD Alumnae Association
Robert Fellers (D)
Leona Fellers (D)
Al Fentiman ’61
Audeen Fentiman
Frank L. Festi, Jr. ’75
Pamela Sardelli Festi ’76
Estate Of Orrin ’22 and Margaret Findley
Estate of Robert ’69 and Carole Fine
Charles Fisher (D)
Alice Fisher (D)
William Fisk ’41 (D)
Beatrice Sprague Fisk ’42 (D)
Estate of Lester E Flauhaus ’42
Ford Motor Company
Thomas Fox ’63
Ilona Moore Fox ’64
Dale Fridley
Carolyn Fridley
Patricia Wright Fridley ’76
Gary Fridley
The Gar Foundation
John Gardner ’68
Therese Gardner
General Motors
R. William Geyer ’52 (D)
Emilie Geyer (D)
Jeffery Gibbs ’78
Alex Zuniga
Estate of A. Bruce Gill (1896) and Mabel Gill
John H. Glenn ’43 (D)
Anna Castor Glenn ’42 (D)
GM Corporation
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co
Dennis Grant ’62
Martha Brouwer Grant ’62
James Gray ’74
Wilbur Gregory ’33 (D)
Prashant Gupta ’95
Jennifer Pingledis ’95
Estate of Romine and Helen Hill ’30 Hamilton
Susan Hasseler
Kenneth Hasseler
Joan Gabbert Hawkins ’55 (D)
Earl Hawkins (D)
Estate of David ’32 and Gene Hawthorne
Ruth Champlin Hefflin ’60
Charles Hefflin (D)
Janet Sue Faunce Heilmeier ’61
George Heilmeier (D)
J. Paul Herrmann ’61 (D)
Margaret McKelvey Herrmann ’61 (D)
Estate of J. C. ’31 and Martha Jane Allen ’32
Heston
H. Burt Hiester ’55 (D)
Mary Hiester
Glenn Hodges ’63
Carolyn Read Hodges ’64
Rex Hoon ’48 (D)
Joan Spillman Hoon ’51 (D)
Estate of Martha Hornbeck
H Larry Humm ’64
Dorothy Caccamo Humm ’67
M. Jean Lowery Hutchison ’57 (D)
Roy E. Hutchison (D)
George Jabol ’65
Estate of Iva Minnetta Jackson ’23
Richard Johnson ’52 (D)
Jane Chase Johnson ’52 (D)
Estate of Virginia H. Jones
Marilyn Malony Jones ’66
J. Paul Jones
Paul Jones (D)
Carolyn Jones
Mary Jones (D)
Carl Frost Kalnow ’72
Kristin Kalnow
Lawrence Kast ’53 (D)
Kellogg Company
Roderick Kerr ’60
Kenneth Kettlewell ’45 (D)
M. Jean White Kettlewell ’45 (D)
Jaideep Khanna ’85
Rachel Khanna
$93,398
Charleen Green Kirkpatrick ’50 (D)
David Covell (D)
The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
Steve Kokovich, Jr. ’63
Susan Wade Kokovich ’63, ’93G
David Kratoville ’81
Karin Collins Kratoville ’82
The Kresge Foundation
Richard Kurth ’59
Betty Lou Larrick ’59
Harry Laurent ’40 (D)
Mary Evelyn Cather Laurent ’42 (D)
Estate of Harriet B. Lawler
Estate of Hugo and Edna Galigher ’32 Libby
Estate of Arline and Clay Littick
The Longaberger Foundation
Allen Loomis ’69
Donna Loomis
Estate of Mary K. Lorenz
Bill Lovejoy ’51 (D)
Martha Johnson Lovejoy ’52 (D)
Howard Lowery ’51 (D)
Ellen Lowery
The Lubrizol Foundation
Estate of W. Kenneth ’42 and Elsie Porter ’42 Lydic
Estate of Lavelle and Elizabeth Reeder ’27
Lyon
The J.S. Mack Foundation
George Marquis, Jr. ’68
Mary Margaret Wallover Marquis ’69
James McBane ’62
Eleanor McBane
Estate of Wallace W. McBane
Estate of Dorman McBurney
Tom McCalmont ’76
Darlene McCalmont
Richard McCleery ’25 (D)
Estate of Glenn ’32 and Pearl Hook ’33 McConagha
C. Larry McCormick ’61 (D)
Nancy Tobey McCormick ’59
The McCune Foundation
Bernard McDonough (D)
G. Allen McFarren ’52
Jean Finney McFarren ’54 (D)
Thomas McFate ’63 (D)
Cheri McFate
Estate of Earl and Dorothy Leemon ’28 McGrath
Brent Miller ’83
Bonnie Miller
Larry Miller (D)
Vincent Miller, Jr. ’54 (D)
Alida Miller (D)
Wayne Miller ’56 (D)
Barbara Miller (D)
Margot Grubb Minor ’67
Jon Minor
C. Barry Montgomery ’59
Shauna Montgomery
Estate of Carl L. Moore ’25
Estate of Agnes Moorehead ’23
Estate of William P. Moorhead
Barbara Young Morris ’67 (D)
S. Elizabeth Rutherford Morris ’31 (D)
Dennis Morris (D)
Estate of Robert Munkres
Muskingum Presbytery
Estate of George ’40 and Dorothy Myers
Susan Roshong Myers ’70
Jane Power Mykrantz
Jake Johnson (D)
Peter Mykrantz (D)
Nat’l Endowment for Humanities
The NCR Foundation
Leroy Neiman Foundation
John Neptune ’42 (D)
Ruth Dorsey Neptune ’40 (D)
David Newberry (D)
Jean Newberry
Craig Nordlund
Sally Nordlund
Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges
Estate of Evelyn Osborne ’39 From
John and Mary McCune Charitable Trust
Estate of R. William Padgitt ’42
Robert W. Patin, Jr. ’64
Lorraine Cedik Patin ’64 (D)
William Vance Peacock ’47 (D)
Beatrice Almy Peacock ’47 (D)
Marty Peak
William S. Perper Foundation
Harlan Peterjohn (D)
Elizabeth Sherwood Peterjohn ’54 (D)
Beaton Pettengill ’47 (D)
Frances Bradley Pettengill ’45 (D)
Estate of Margaret Pettengill
Marshall Phelps, Jr. ’66
Eileen Phelps
Joanne Williams Pleska ’47 (D)
Paul Pleska (D)
Daniel Plumly ’75
Anita Plumly
Estate of Harry ’35 and Barbara Poppe
Estate of Louise M. Porter
Estate of Jennie Prentiss
Estate of Mary K. Prentiss
Presbyterian Church
Estate of John Pritchard
James Purdy ’85
Elisabeth Purdy
Estate of Joseph ’28 and Virginia Ralston
William Rapp (D)
Evelyn Rapp (D)
Rob Reveley ’65
Julie Reveley
Estate of Lois J. Richardson
Estate of Donald and Mary McDonald ’43 Ridenour
J. Merle Rife, Jr. ’50 (D)
Wanda Rife (D)
Estate of Kyle Riggs ’55
Estate of Robert ’43 and Mary Ritson
Marjorie Johnston Rivingston ’49 (D)
Bill Robb ’59
Linda Faulhaber Robb ’59 (D)
Lance Roepe ’70 (D)
Estate of Park and Frances Taylor ’28 Rogers
Rogge Memorial Foundation
Estate of Lillian Rosenblath
Kim Gage Rothermel ’71
William S. Rothermel, Jr.
Janet Brown Rothwell ’54 (D)
William Rothwell
Phyllis Moore Ryan ’68 (D)
Michael Ryan
Sylvia Rapp Sabia ’72
Arthur A. Sabia Jr.
Estate of Virginia Sauer ’46
Harold Saunders ’64 (D)
Elinor Phillips Saunders ’66
Anne Marshall Saunier ’68 (D)
Diana Klein Schein ’64 (D)
George Schein
Charles E. Schell Foundation
James Schmotter ’69
Daphne Jameson
Seward Schooler (D)
Edith Schooler (D)
Miriam Schwartz (D)
Estate of Irvin ’48 and Martha Seal
John Sears ’37 (D)
Audrey Sears (D)
Ben Shaver ’50 (D)
Alyce Cowan Shaver ’49 (D)
Estate Of Henry and Maisie Chevalier ’30 Shea
A. Katherine Roy Short ’39 (D)
Morris Short (D)
Barbara Johnson Siemer ’62
Al Siemer
R. Ellis Smith ’33 (D)
Roberta Arndt Smith (D)
Samuel W. Speck, Jr. ’59 (D)
Sharon Anderson Speck ’60 (D)
Estate of William and Dorothy Vickers ’40 Starling
Anne C. Steele
Rollin Steele Jr. (D)
Estate of Byron ’41 and Rama Groves ’44 Steen
Barb Johnstin Steiner ’54 (D)
Louis Steiner
Estate of Theodore and Mary Sawhill ’31 Stine
Alan Stone ’31 (D)
Audrey Stone (D)
Estate of Rachel Morrow Stormont ’21
Estate of Charles and Ruth Story
The J. William and Mary Helen Straker Foundation
Robert Straker (D)
Jean Straker (D)
Stranahan Foundation
Russell C. Swank, Jr. ’48 (D)
Rosemary Brown Swank ’48 (D)
Edwin Swanson ’57
Jane Stiers Swanson ’56 (D)
Dennis Swit Jr. ’91
Dawn Swit
Synod of the Covenant
Taylor-McHenry Foundation
Estate of Leonard Thomas ’52
Estate of Howard Thompson ’40
J. Stark Thompson ’63
Sandra Wolfe Thompson ’61 (D)
Estate of Herbert Thomson
Timken Foundation of Canton
Larry Triplett ’80
Debbie Triplett
Chris Tucker ’72
Jim Leeper
Estate of Martha Underhill ’42
Unizan Bank/Huntington National Bank
Estate of H. Chris Unruh ’51
USX Foundation Inc
Estate of Beulah Clark Van Wagenen ’24
Shirley Kimmel Wagner ’51 (D)
Donald Wagner (D)
Otto and Fran Walter Foundation
Holly Walters ’88
Stephen LeClaire
Alfred S. Warren, Jr. ’48 (D)
Jane Stepp Warren ’49 (D)
Estate of Ralph ’39 and Ruth Wells
Bruce Werner ’62
Jane Gensbigler Werner ’62
Wheeling Home for Men
Estate of Edward Whittemore
Estate of Sara Wilhelm
A. Everett Williams ’40 (D)
Mary Hunter Williams ’40 (D)
Estate of Elizabeth Wilson
Estate of Marjorie McCleery Wilson ’33
Robert Winn ’50 (D)
Karen Winn (D)
Jacqueline Dudek Woods ’69
John H. Woods, Jr.
Estate of JoAnn Poland Young
Walter R. Young, Jr. ’66
Donna Higinbotham Young ’66
Estate of Grace Zahniser
Zemba Companies, Inc.
Muskingum University Heritage Society
Members
Heritage Society membership recognizes living alumni and friends who have provided for the University with a planned gift or established an endowed scholarship through June 30, 2025. Planned gifts can be made through a bequest to the University in an estate plan or through establishing a gift plan which pays a lifetime income to the donor and then leaves the remaining assets to Muskingum. Other opportunities to support Muskingum include gifts of stock or mutual fund shares, real estate, insurance policies, and retirement assets such as IRA charitable rollovers. For more information, visit muskingumplannedgiving.org.
Lottie Brown Aepli ’69 and Theodore Aepli
Joel ’69 and Lidia Allen
David Almes ’59
Jim ’69 and Pamela Arganbright
Mary Phillips Arnett ’64
Thomas Atkinson
Lynne Wallace Ayres ’70
Rick Bachhuber
Robert Graham Barrows ’68
Keb ’58 and Barb Ramage ’57 Bell
Suzette Morris Birch ’60 and J. R. Birch
Tom ’63 and Mikki Bixler
Jud ’80 and Monica Blaine
James ’55 and Judy Bline
Douglas ’54 and Diane Brackenridge
Pete Brookhart ’69
Susan Hill Brown ’67
Robert ’59 and Carol Brown
Debbie Brunner and George Thompson
Bob Brunner ’68
Paul Bunting ’68
Hal ’62 and Sue Hussey ’63 Burlingame
Dan ’94 and Carrie Oertel ’94 Busby
Suzanne Laurent Buxton ’67 and Anthony Buxton
Bob ’63 and Judith Caldwell
Douglass Callihan ’73
Rhoda Campbell ’54
Douglas Campbell
Patricia Carter
John ’73 and Linda Villies ’75 Caspole
Louise Chapman
Rich Clark ’56 and Judy Clark
Nancy Clay
Bev Coen ’68
Bill ’61 and Sonie Green ’61 Cooper
Carol Copeland
Bob Cowden ’54
Don ’62 and Carolyn Aiken ’63 Crabtree
Phyllis Smailes Davis ’62
Phil ’77 and Laura Davis
Georgette Morris Delassus ’60
June Demmerle
Molly Randall Devlin ’61 and Albert Devlin
John DeWees ’47
Barbara Swartz Dickerman ’51
Carolyn Dickson
Pidge Leitch Diehl ’58
Barb Winter Draper ’63
Bill ’61 and Judy Dunn
Stephen ’73 and Cynthia Wilday ’72 Ebsary
Richard ’67 and Linda Ellinger
David Evans ’68
Sylvia Montini Faust ’61
J. K. Fawley ’73
Al ’61 and Audeen Fentiman
Norma Ferguson
Carole Fine
Charlie ’71 and Lynette Fisher
Gene Folden, Jr. ’81 and Robert Burns
Sherry Foster
James Foust ’60
Ken Fouts ’77
Nancy Crawford Frame ’62
Patricia Wright Fridley ’76 and Gary Fridley
Stan Frye ’59
Eleanor McKee Fujita ’65
John ’68 and Therese Gardner
Roberta Stevens Garrett ’38
Richard ’60 (D) and Christine Craven ’60
Gibson
Wilma Butt Gilkey ’54
Dennis ’62 and Marty Brouwer ’62 Grant
Charlie Gratz ’57
Jim Gray ’74
Edward Grigg
Doris Palmer Groves ’52
Donald ’77 and Phyllis Grubb
Michael and Rosanne Guy
Gregory Guy
Stephen Guy
Helen Kuver Haberlein ’53
Grant and Pat Hafley
Gregg Hamilton ’77 and Kellie Grant
Susan Hampton
Jeff ’83 and Jennifer Harper
Steve Hartman ’92
Katherine Hartung
Peggy Hays ’65
William ’70 and Cheryl Heilman
Paul Hemminger ’69
Mary Hiester
Lorma Weaver Hill ’59
Glenn ’63 and Carolyn Read ’64 Hodges
Kathryn Hovis-Younger ’87 and Todd Younger
Karen Steuart Howell ’62
Larry ’64 and Dotti Caccamo ’67 Humm
George Hupp Jr. ’64 and Eileen Hupp
George Jabol ’65
Barbara Jackson-Brown ’60
Marilyn Malony Jones ’66 and Paul Jones
Carolyn Jones
Mary Jones
William Junk
Robert and Rosemary Kabel
Martha Keil ’67
Jim Kelvington ’58
Roderick Kerr ’60
Jenna Khanna
Steve ’63 and Sue Wade ’63, ’93G Kokovich
Carol Kreager ’67
David ’48 and Dorothy Franklin ’50 Kreid
Beverly Smith Lacey ’69
William Lange
Betty Larrick ’59
Jane Anderson Larrick ’56
Lewis ’70 and Bonnie Dodd ’71 Liggett
Demetrios ’64 and Raynette Lyons ’64 Lignos
Ellen Lowery
Bob ’68 and Julia MacDonald
Robbin MacDonald ’66
Carole Johnson Marcy ’60
Mary Markley ’48
Hank ’70 and Pamela Martensen
Mary Neff Martin ’62
Nancy Nolin Mast ’54
Betty Balentine Matthews ’49
Patti Miller Mauro ’88
Keith McCauley
Amanda Williams McClelland ’14 and Paul McClelland
Nancy Tobey McCormick ’59
Lester (D) and Mary Ann McCormick
Sally McCracken ’64
Stephen McCutchan ’63
David McEwen
Allen McFarren ’52
Jean Welker McKendry ’63
David ’62 and Charlette Boburka ’64
McQuilkin
Susan Dalva Mills ’67 and Robert Mills
Grace Millspaugh
Margot Grubb Minor ’67 and Jon Minor
Lota Echols Mitchell ’56
Andrew Mitchell ’63
Grover ’74 and Teresa Montgomery ’76
Mollineaux
Dorothy Culbertson Montgomery ’53
Barry ’59 and Shauna Montgomery
John Knox Montgomery III ’56 and Anne Stallman Montgomery ’56
Carol Morell
Anne Morgan ’72 and Saul Morse
Barbara Young Morris ’67 (D)
Richard Munt
Susan Roshong Myers ’70
Jane Mykrantz
Mason Noble ’71
Craig and Sally Nordlund
Rick Nutt and Mary Gene Boteler
Sandra O’Connell ’62
Walter and Sarel Offinger
Wilhelm Ostern ’91
Suzanne Fontaine Pagels ’67 and George Pagels
Marty Peak
Catherine Peters ’69
Carolyn Shellito Phillippe ’53
William Phillippe ’52
Janet Phillips ’41
Dan ’75 and Anita Plumly
Leona Plummer
Marianne Griffin Plummer
Bob ’66 and Susan Prout
Ginni Yeates Rassieur ’60 and Charles Rassieur
Robert ’62 and Betty Rhoads
Robert Rish
Bill Robb ’59
William Rothwell
Craig Rush ’71
Sylvia Rapp Sabia ’72 and Arthur Sabia
Sudha Srikrisheiv Saksena
Dennis Salmon ’69 and Beverly Berry
Elinor Phillips Saunders ’66
Phillip Saylor
George Schein
Jim Schmotter ’69 and Daphne Jameson
Polly Schoonover ’73
Shirley Seabrook
Tom and Penny Selock
David Shane
Ken ’85 and Mary Sheetz
Nancy McCreary Smith ’55
Bob Spaulding ’64 (D)
Barbara Geyer Spencer ’52
Richard Spencer
Susan Stark-Gigandet ’63
Taylor and Janet Stults (D)
Christine Hovis Sukel ’83
Ed Swanson ’57
Marilyn Tate
Alva Taylor
Janet Huszar Thompkins ’61
J. Stark Thompson ’63
Daniel ’87 and Lisa Uhlenbrock ’85 Toomey
Bill ’59 and Helen Toward
Christine Tucker ’72 and Jim Leeper
David and Joan Turner
Sue Slevin Tuxill ’64
Nikki Montgomery Van Wingerden ’94 and Doug Van Wingerden
Chuck ’65 and Janey ’65 Walker
Theodore Wallace ’71
Michael E. Ward
Ruth Wasem ’76
Janet Weir ’66
Bruce ’62 and Jane Gensbigler ’62 Werner
Nancy Wheeley ’66
Marion White
Patricia Gerber Whittaker ’61
Donald ’60 and Sue Bell ’59 Williams
Jim ’72 and Susan Paul ’09 Wilson
Karen Winn (D)
Kevin Witucky ’96 and Jill Archer ’95 Witucky
Geraldine Bowdler Woodruff ’53
Janet Small Woods ’65
Karen Skemp Wright ’66 and Joseph Wright
Clyta Musser Young ’50
Jim ’74 and Marlene Zeigler
David Zimmerman ’65
Marilyn Kohr Zitar ’58 and Robert Zitar
THANK YOU!
In Memoriam
Jay David Aldridge, 1930-2025
Trustee
Jay was a trailblazer in economic development and played a pivotal role in Pittsburgh’s evolution from a steel town to a modern center for innovation. As founding President of Penn’s Southwest Association, he helped attract over 500 companies to the region During his teenage years, Jay spent several summers working in a steel mill, an experience that allowed him to connect with people from all walks of life. A graduate of Geneva College with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Jay remained deeply committed to education throughout his life.
Former Muskingum University Board Member
Jim (James Richard) Nichols, 1938-2025
Professor of English
Jim Nichols was Professor of English at Muskingum College before going to Georgia Southern in 1987 as Professor and Chair of the English and Philosophy Department, retiring in 2000. A Marine veteran, he was widely traveled and sponsored a travel scholarship for GSU faculty. He published major academic works, a novel, and a collection of poetry. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for many years. Jim was deeply interested in encouraging the arts and devoted himself to related causes, sponsoring annual dance events at the Averitt Center for the Arts, and music programs at GSU.
Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/james-nicholsobituary?id=59181680
Gretchen Ann Prichard ’58, 1936-2026
2022 Alumni Distinguished Alumni Award
Gretchen Prichard ’58 was a dedicated educator, coach, whose life’s work reflected her passion for learning and mentorship. A graduate of Muskingum College with majors in English and PE/ Health, she carried forward the University’s commitment to service and leadership throughout her career. At Bath High School, she founded the girls’ athletic program and coached volleyball, softball, and basketball, opening doors for young women and inspiring generations to believe in their abilities. Known to many as “Coach P,” she valued relationships above accolades, encouraging students to reach their full potential with effort and confidence. Her love of reading, teaching, and community defined both her professional life and her enduring connection to Muskingum.
Obituary: https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo1415794
Dr. Lorle A. Porter, 1938-2025
Regional Historian in Residence
Dr. Porter devoted 34 years to Muskingum University as a distinguished historian and educator, earning recognition as Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1998 by the Ohio Academy of History. Trained in European Medieval History, she later focused her scholarship on Southeastern Ohio history, publishing 10 books and receiving multiple state and national awards for her contributions to public history. Upon her retirement in 1998, Muskingum named her Regional Historian in Residence in honor of her lasting impact on the University and the region. A respected civic leader, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and was instrumental in several community initiatives, reflecting her deep commitment to both Muskingum and Southeastern Ohio..
Obituary: https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Lorle-A-Porter?obId=42530308
Leonard R. Tompos, 1935-2025
Professor of Sociology
Mr. Tompos began his academic career at Muskingum College, now Muskingum University, where he served on the faculty for three years as a sociology professor before continuing his 29-year teaching career at Lorain County Community College. A former journalist and columnist who studied news journalism and sociology at Kent State University, he brought professional experience and real-world insight into the classroom. His time at Muskingum marked the transition from journalism to higher education, launching a career devoted to teaching, scholarship, and mentoring students in the social sciences.
Obituary: https://www.heritagecremationsociety.com/obituaries/Leonard-RTompos?obId=42160908
Muskingum University
260 Stadium Drive
New Concord, Ohio 43762-1837
muskingum.edu
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