Legacy of Teaching Maria Calderone, Legacy of Equine Science (est. 1984) A yearning to teach led Maria Calderone, DVM, from the horse barn to the Otterbein campus in the fall of 1984. Calderone had been working at an equine-only veterinary clinic since graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. She taught all the veterinarian-related courses within the Equine Science Program, which, at the time, was part of the Life Science Department at Otterbein. Calderone, appointed director of the program in 1985, introduced systems courses, where students studied each system of the horse. Students also dissected a pony cadaver as part of their coursework. Under her leadership, the Equine Science Program flourished, eventually becoming its own department, initially offering majors in equine pre-veterinary medicine and equine
business management. Calderone served as department chair until 2006, and retired from teaching in 2015. The department has since added a major in equine veterinary technology. “I think the fact that I was a veterinarian helped equine science to be recognized as a more serious program,” said Calderone about her legacy at Otterbein. “Certainly, I was able to enlarge the curriculum quite a bit. What is interesting also is that one of my students (Sheri West Birmingham ’01, DVM) is currently chair of the Department of Equine Science. She is also a veterinarian. So it’s sort of come full circle, which is really nice.” Birmingham credits Calderone for much of her success in practice and teaching.“Dr. Calderone provided me with a handson equine education that created a strong foundation for future learning,” Birmingham said. “To this day, I still recall things she taught me while practicing veterinary medicine and teaching my students. You know you have learned from one of the best when you still hear her voice 15 years later.”
Jerry Jenkins, Legacy of Chemistry (est. 1972) The Science Lecture Series, the plus-minus grading system and the cum laude system can all be traced back to Jerry Jenkins, who taught Otterbein students organic chemistry for 43 years. Jenkins, however, considers growing the Department of Chemistry from three professors with doctorates to four — which allowed the department to apply for accreditation by the American Chemical Society — and then to six with terminal degrees, as one of his greater achievements during his 25-year tenure as chair of the department. He retired in 2015. “I think that was an important contribution to the credibility of our program in chemistry,” Jenkins said. “Like most 1948
Joanne Van Sant arrived on campus in 1948, and went on to become one of Otterbein’s most remembered and beloved administrators.
“Dean Van”
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fields, there is a lot of diversification in chemistry. There are five major subfields. You really need five or six professors to have representation in each of those specialty areas.” “Teaching and challenging students how to problem solve are the long-term benefits of what I have been able to do in teaching organic chemistry,” Jenkins said. “Students who do well in organic chemistry learn skills that assist them getting through advanced degree programs.” “Dr. Jenkins was smart and challenging,” said Melanie Butera ’81, DVM, one of four siblings who attended Otterbein, had Jenkins for organic chemistry and went on to medical careers (see Spring 2016 Otterbein Towers). “He made you dig deep and study hard.” Her sister, Dr. Sally Dillehay, said Dr. Jenkins was the best professor she ever had. “He spurred my love of science. The problem-solving skills he taught me have stuck with me.”
Stayed after graduation and coached many women’s sports, served as women’s athletic director and spent her entire career at Otterbein.
Marilyn Day ’53 | Ot t e r be i n To w e r s | Summer 2017
Vida S. Clements
A longtime benefactress to Otterbein, she served on the board of trustees for over 40 years and James Grissinger, Fred Thayer, created the Charles Dodrill Clements Under their direction, the Dept. of Foundation.
Theatre gained national recognition.