Summer2024
NancyGleasonMemorialIssue
Provenance
Provenance:fromtheFrench“provenant”:theplaceoforigin,averificationoforigin
ThenewsletterofPierreLacledeHonorsCollegeattheUniversityofMissouri-St.Louis
PROVENANCE CONTRIBUTORS
Student editor: McKenzie Lamos, BS Biology, May 2024
Special thanks to all who shared memories and photos of Nancy Gleason – especially Kimberly Baldus, Geri Friedline, Bob Bliss, Audri Adams, Josh Eckhoff, Fred Fausz, and Nancy’s family: husband, Pat, daughter, Kate, and son, Dan.
Front cover: Honors College Orientation, 1996, Normandie Hall. Photo courtesy of Fred Fausz
Provenance isastudent-produced publicationofthePierreLaclede HonorsCollege.Itsgoalistohelp keepalumniandfriendsconnected withthecollege,currentstudents, andeachother.
Which prefer? Are you reading this online and prefer physical media? Are you reading a hard copy and prefer the electronic edition for easier access version of Provenance do you to web links? Contact Dan Gerth at gerthd@umsl.edu if you would like a format of Provenance other than the one you are reading.
Back cover: Honors College Orientation, 2018, Provincial House Chapel. Photo courtesy of Ann Torrusio
Summer2023
Winter2023
Spring2022
Visithttps://issuu.com/pierrelacledehonorscollegeforallpreviousissues of Provenance,aswellas
PIERRE LACLEDE HONORS COLLEGE
University of Missouri-St.Louis
Honors 4900: Independent Study in Honors: Provenance
Interestedindevelopingyourwriting,communication,ordesignskills?Wanttohelpnurturetherelationshipbetween alumniandthePLHCstudents,faculty,andstaff? Provenance islookingforstudentsforFall2024orSpring2025.Youwillbe partofateamthatdevelopsideasforfuturearticles;interviewsalumni,students,orfacultyforarticles;collaborateson editorialdecisions;andgainsvaluablewritingskillsingenresthatyoumaynotalwaysbeexposedtointraditionalwriting classes.Credithoursanddutiesarenegotiatedsoastoprovideyouwiththebestpossiblelearningexperience.Dutiescan beginimmediatelyorinthespring,dependingonyouravailability.Non-creditvolunteerpositionsarealsoavailable.Contact Danformoreinformation:gerthd@umsl.edu Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
1-3
Letter from the Editor
Dearfriends,
IthasbeenoverayearsinceNancyGleason,ouremeritaassociatedeanandteaching professor,passedaway,almostfiveyearssincesheretiredforthesecondtime,andnearlyten yearssinceherfirst(failed)attemptatretirement. Andyetwhensomeoneheredoesa beyond-amazingjobatsomething,westillcallthemNancyJr.
Iamverysorrythatithasbeensolongsincewehavecommunicatedlikethis. Whileplanning ournext Provenance asaspecialNancy-themedissuesoundedlike(andstillis)awonderful idea,asyoumightguess,itwasnotaneasytask. Butwhileitwasdifficultandpainfulattimes, itwasalsooftenjoyful,continuouslyremindingusofourfriend,colleague,mentor,andongoinginspirationforallthingsHonorsCollege. Ipromisethatitwillnotbeanotheryearbefore wetalkagain! Infact,youcanseeasneakpreviewofthenext Provenance (November2024) laterinthisissue. Aftertwospecialeditions(lastsummer’salumnidirectoryandthis summer’sNancyGleasoncelebrationissue),wewillreturntoourtraditionalcoverageof alumni,students,andallsortsofimportanthappeningsintheHonorsCollege.
So,weareproudtobringyouthisneweditionof Provenance,collectingasmuchaswecan aboutNancy–fromalumnimemoriestofamilyphotos,frommemorialserviceeulogiesto neverbeforepublishedpoetryfromNancy. WeevenhavesomeessayexamsfromNancy’s timeatUMSLandalotofpapersthatherkidswroteinschool–althoughthoselasttwoaren’t thingsyou’llfindinthisissue,aswewouldprefertostayongoodtermswithPat,Kate,andDan Gleason! We’realsobeyondthrilledtounveilpubliclyforthefirsttimetheresultsofour Bellerive digitizationproject,allowingyoutoreadalltwenty-fourpreviousissuesofthe amazingpublicationthatNancystartedallthoseyearsago. Butdon’tworry! Youcanstillget hardcopybackissues,andyoubetterbelievethatthetwenty-fifthissuewillbeforsalein paperbackinFebruary. Withoutfurtherado,welcometothenewestissueof Provenance.
DanielGerth DirectorofStudentServices andAlumniRelations
Nancy Gleason: An Introduction
BornandraisedinSt.Louis,Nancyearnedher undergraduatedegreeatUMSLin1972(right).Her careerinteachingbeganimmediately,andaftersix yearsasahighschoolteacher,Nancytooktimeoffto startafamilywithherhusband,Pat.Nancyreturned toUMSLin1983tobeginworkonherMaster’s degree,alsoworkingasateachingassistantinthe EnglishDepartment.
NancyjoinedtheEnglishdepartmentasalecturerin 1988,winningtheCollegeofArtsandSciences’ LectureroftheYearAwardin1993andthe Chancellor’sAwardforExcellenceinTeachingin 1999.
WhileNancywasinvolvedinHonorsinthemid-90s, alongwithhergoodfriend,DennisBohnenkamp, wholaterbecamethefirstassociatedeaninHonors, hermajorinvolvementbegansoonaftershemet DeanRobertBlissin1997. Bobrecruitedherto createourWritingProgram,characterizedbynot onlyHonorsversionsofUMSL’sfreshmanandjunior writingclasses,butalsobyawidevarietyofcreative writingcourses,partnershipswiththeEnglish departmentfortheirWritingCertificate,our Bellerive publicationandseminar,otherpublications suchas Brain Stew and Provenance,andourrequired Portfoliocapstone. OurWritingProgram,intrue Nancyfashion,wasupandrunninglongbefore anyonethoughtpossible,andshequicklyjoinedthe
joinedtheHonorsCollegefull-time,firstas assistantdeanandlaterasassociatedean, alongwithanadditionalfacultypromotionto teachingprofessor.
NancyretiredfromHonorsandUMSLin2014. Sortof. Athree-yearpart-timecontractturned intosixadditionalyearsofservice,atarate thatnooneelsewouldconsider“part-time,” beforetryingretirementagainin2020. During hertimeinHonors,Nancywasakey contributor,ifnotdrivingforce,behindmany ofourmajorevolutions–includingthemove fromNormandieHalltoProvincialHouse,the transitionofourFreshmanSymposiumcourse intoitscurrentiteration(since2006)as CulturalTraditionsIandII,andthecreationof theOpportunityScholarsProgram,UMSL’s mostprestigiousscholarship,providingfull tuition,fees,room,board,textbooks,and mentoringtofivehighachievingstudentseach year. ShewonUMSL’sWomenTrailblazer Award(left)in2012foracareerofservicethat alsoincludedaccomplishmentssuchasleading theuniversity’sGeneralEducationcommittee andopeningupFacultySenateparticipationto non-tenuretrackprofessors.
AlumniMemories
Iconsidermyselfextremelyluckythatourpaths crossedattheHonorsCollege.Youweretrulyoneof thekindest,intelligent,andmostcalmingpersonI evermet.I’llneverforgetthesupportyouprovided memysenioryearofcollege;youweresuchasource ofcomfortduringadifficulttime.Ilovedyouroffice attheHonorsCollege,thecalmbluecolor,thebooks, andphotoshanging.Thankyouforeverything.
AnnMarieGarrison
Iamforevergratefulforthetimeandinterest Nancyshowedmeduringmytimeasastudentin thePierreLacledeHonorsCollege.Shehelpedme getadmittedeventhoughIwaslateinapplying; shehelpedmeregistertotestoutoftwocourses whichIotherwisewouldnothaveknownwasan option;sheshowedmehowtoapplyfor scholarshipswhichcutmytuitioncostsinhalf.As anUMSLstudent,Imetmanyhelpfulprofessors andadvisors,butnoneweresoimpactful,caring, andencouraging,asNancyGleason. BlakeSchliesser
Nancywasmyhonorscollegeadvisorand oneofmyfavoritepeopleatUMSL.I struggledwithsomeoftheusualstudent stressors:finances,jobs,careerprospects, etc.butshewasalwaysthereformeencouragingandhelpingmenavigate college.Sheencouragedmyloveofwriting, andshewasabigreasonInotonly completedcollegebutalsogotmyCertificate inWriting.
--Patricia
Lee
Iwasa“returninglearner”whenIenrolledat UMSLandattendedPierreLacledeHonors College.IwasmarriedandwhenIwasnearthe endofcompletingmydegreeprogram,my husbandwasdiagnosedwithGlioblastoma braincancer.Itwasaterminaldiagnosisandas thediseaseprogressed,hewaslessandless abletodothingsandIneededtobehomewith him.ProfessorGleasontookmeunderher wingandconvertedmyclassestoindependent studyclasseswithher.Iwouldmeetwithher inherofficeregularlyfordiscussionsover whatIwaslearningandcompletingthe requiredassignments,allunderherwatchful eye.Shewassympatheticandkind,butalsoa strongteacherwhomadesureIwasstill learningeverythingIneeded.Iwillnever forgetherandwillalwaysbethankfulforthe significanttimeandeffortssheputintohelping mesucceed.
KellyAskey
IamsorrytohearaboutNancy’spassing.She wassomeonewholivedagreatlifethat helpedothers.
AbiKleinsmith
Ifyouareinterestedinadigitalcopyoftheentire NancyGleasonMemoryBook,pleasecontactDan Gerthatgerthd@umsl.edu
MyyearsattheHonorsCollegeweresomeofthe hardestyearsofmylifeforanumberofreasons -morethanIcanwriteoutfully-butNancywas alwayssomeoneIcouldgositandchatwithand feellikeitwouldallworkoutokay.She’s probablyalargepartofthereasonIdidn’tdrop outandjustgiveup,thatIpushedthroughand spentmoretimelearningtobecontentwith myselfagain.She’salotofthereasonIdidn’t giveuponmycreativepursuits,andsomeoneI thoughtaboutanytimeIsawaparticularly movingartpiece,thinkingtomyselfshe would’velovedit.Idon’tevenknowifshe thoughtIwasjusttheretochat,butheroffice wasoneofthefewoncampusthatIdidn’tfeel horriblyoutofplace.Ihopetoothers,especially thoseclosertoherthanIam,arecontinually comfortedthatherlegacyliveson-that everyonesheinteractedwithwasbetterfor knowingher,andthatatleastinmyself,her calmingpresencemeanttheworld. F.S.
Asastudent,ProfessorGleasonencouragedme totellmypersonalstoryandtowritewithout fearofjudgement.Hermentorshipledto publicationofmyessay“BaxterPlace,” in In Defense of Angels, Bellerive,no5.Irecallher statingtoourclass,“Pleasedon’tbeafraidto writeforme.”Sheeasedourfears,freeingus studentstowriteandlearnfromherandto shareourideaswithoneanother.Embodying intelligence,humility,andkindness,everything shetouchedwasmadebetter!Professor Gleasonwillremaininmyheartforever,my mentorandfriend.IthankGodforplacingher inmylife.
DanaAustin-Cooper
Nancytrulywasanamazingwomanwhowe areallsomuchbetterforhavingknown. LindaDeposki
Nancywasoneofthosepeoplethatjustradiated positiveenergy.Imethertowardstheendofmy timeatUMSLandthePierreLacledeHonors College,butshetouchedmyheartforever.She offeredmehercellphonenumberandwasan amazingguideinmylifewhenIreallyneeded one.Shewasevenonmyreferencelistonmy resumeuntilacoupleyearsago.Shewasjust someonewhoseopinionyouvaluednomatter whatitwasabout,andpeoplerecognizedthat. Nancygaveamazingadviceandconnectedwith peopleinawaythatwillneverbeforgotten.All thelovetoherfamily.
RachelM
Nancywasoneofthemostinfluentialpeopleat acrucialtimeinmylife.Nancyalmost immediatelyralliedaroundme.Sheworemany hatsthroughoutmytimeattheHonorsCollegeshewasanacademicadvisor,aguide,a soundingboard,andsometimesevenmy therapist!Howsheevermanagedtodosomuch atonceforsomanypeopleisbeyondme!From helpingmefigureoutmycourses,tohelpingme getajobatthecomputerlab,tohelpingme draftmylawschoolpersonalstatementand listeningtomecomplain-Nancywasalways theretohelpeverystepoftheway.Nancy helpedmereachmyfullpotentialasastudent, beyondacademia.ShewasagiantatPLHC,at UMSL,andinSt.Louisingeneral.Shemaynot bewithusnow,butsheleavesquitethelegacy behind.Shewillbemissedsodeeply,gravely, andfiercely.Here’stoNancy.
BriEhsan
Iamsosorrytohear[ofNancy’spassing]You alwaystoldmetowrite,evenwhenIworried thatitwasn’tgoodenough.EvenwhenIworried aboutmistakes.Iwillmissyousomuchand wishIhadwrittentoyouonemoretime.
Anonymous
ColleagueMemories
Ihadtheprivilegeofworkingwith NancyintheHonorsCollegefora coupleofyears,andshehadsucha positiveimpactonmeandmycareer. Shesupportedme,advocatedforme, andencouragedmetopursuemy passion.Nancytrulycaredaboutthe students,staff,andfacultyatUMSL.I feelgratefultohaveknownherand willdomybesttohonorherlegacy.
JennaAlexander CenterforTeachingandLearning
Nancywasadearfriendandcolleagueformanyyears.We sharedmanyconcernsandfoughtmanybattlestogether abouthowtoteachandevaluatewriting.Shewasoneofthe mostconscientious,dedicatedacademicsIevercameacross inmy50yearsatUMSL.
--MartyRochester PoliticalScience
Nancywasanamazingpersonwhoalwayshelpedand supportedallpeopleinneed,especiallyourstudents.We willallmissherverymuch!
BirgitNoll CollegeofArts
andSciences
ThankyousomuchforyoursupportineverythinghereattheHonorsCollege.Iseeyouasabig mentorwhohasreallymadeanimpactonmylife.Youwereagreatfriend,colleague,androlemodel forme.Iwillneverforgetyou.
--RobWilson HonorsCollege
Throughallofhermanyworksasa professor,advisor,colleagueand mentor,Nancyhasleftanimprintthatwill bewithUMSLalways.Itis clear,also,thatshelivedherfaiththrough herwork,demeanor, interactions,andwords,bothwritten, spoken,andjustbyher presence.Inherlife,sheprovideda wonderfulexampleofhowone mayworkintheserviceofothers.In particular,Iamverygratefulto Nancyforherinfluenceonacademic advisingatUMSL.Mydeepestsympathy forherfamily.RestinpeacedearNancy.
GraceDerda CollegeofArtsandSciences
Atruelossfortheentireuniversity.
MichaelGriffin DepartmentofPsychological Sciences
IwasverysadtohearofthepassingofNancyGleason. Shewasindeedincrediblygenerouswithhertimeand hercare.Likemanyofthegreatoneswhowerealready herewhenIgothere,shetaughtustheUMSLideal.
TedFicklen
ThomasJeffersonLibrary
NancywithDavidGanzfromtheCollegeofBusiness–foundersoftheAssociateDeansClub,alongwithSharon ClarkinArtsandSciences.
Gleason:ACelebrationofLife,May2023
Nancy
AudriAdamsRemembersNancy
Audri Adams is an Honors College alum and former academic advisee of Nancy’s. She later worked in Honors as our Administrative Associate and continues now to work in Honors as our Senior Academic Advisor and Success Coach. She is also following in Nancy’s footsteps as our current instructor for our Bellerive seminar. Reprinted here are her formal remarks at our Celebration of Life
Iwanttostartbythankingeachandeveryoneofyouforbeingheretocelebratethelifeof NancyGleasonaswellasoffermysincerecondolencestoPat,Kate,andDan.Thankyoufor sharingNancywithusforalltheseyearsandthankyouforbeingheretoday.
IfirstmetNancyduringmyHonorsCollegeinterviewin2015.Irememberfeelingastrangemix ofexcitementandanxietythatnightbefore.Evenbeforesteppingfootinthecollege,IknewI wantedtojoin,butIhadnoideatheimmenseimpactitwouldcometohaveonme.TheHonors Collegechanged mylife,itchangedmycareeraspirations,itgavememorefriendsthanIcould everimagine,andmostimportantly,itledmetoNancy.Uponsittingdowninherofficethat afternoon,allofthenervousnessIfeltthenightbeforeinstantlyvanished.Itwasn’tuntillater thatIlearnedthiswasjusttheeffectNancyhadonpeople.Shewaseffortlesslywarmand invitingandmadeeveryonefeelwelcomeandsupported.
Likesomanyinthisroomtoday,Nancyhelpedustonotonlyrealizeourdreams,butalso achievethem.WhileNancywasn’tmyassignedadvisor,shewasmychosenadvisor.She introducedmeto Bellerive, andencouragedmetopursueawritingcertificate,supervised independentstudyprojects,andevenhelpedmelandmyfirststudentworkerpositionin college.Buthersupportdidn’tstopthere.WhenIstartedgraduateschoolatUMSL,shewasable toensuremypart-timepositioninHonorscontinuedalongsidemyteachingassistantshipin history.TheabilitytostayinHonorsmeantsomuchtome,butaboveallelse,Ilovedthatit meantmoretimewithNancy.Thedaysshewasintheofficeweremyabsolutefavoritedays. Shewouldstarteachmorningbysittingintheappropriatelynamed“Nancychair,”whilewe aimlesslychattedourlives.WhileIdidn’trealizeitatthetime,shewasalsousingthattimeto helpmegrowprofessionally.Ourmostfrequentwork-relateddiscussionscenteredaroundher advisingandcoachingappointments.She'dexplainthecoursesandschedulesshecreatedand providecontextaboutstudentsandinstructorsandhowtohandlecertainsituations.Atthe time,Iwasonlyagradassistant,withanextremelylimitedroleinstudentservices,butshe wouldbrushthatasideandsay,"Ijustknowyouwouldloveadvisingoneday."Andshewas right.ShestartedtrainingmeformyfuturecareeryearsbeforeIhadanyambitionofbecoming anacademicadvisor.Asistrueinthissituation,shealwaysknewwhatwasbestforothers, oftenbeforetheyrealizeditthemselves.
MyrelationshipwithNancymorphedovertheyearsfromteachertocolleaguetooneofmyvery bestfriends.Asexpected,sheexcelledatallthree.WhileIcouldn'tseeherinpersonas
oftenafterhersecond,somewhatmorepermanent,retirement,shemadesuretocalleveryday. WhileHonorsremainedacorepartofourrelationship,andsomethingweboth cherished,Nancycaredaboutsomuchmore.Shewouldaskabouteverydetailofmylife, absolutelynothingwasofflimits.Sheaskedafterallmyfriendsandfamily,notbecausesheknew thempersonally-manyshehadnevermetbefore-butbecausesheknewIlovedthem,soby extension,shelovedthemtoo.HercompassionforeverypersonissomethingIhavenever witnessedbefore,andsomethingIdon'tknowIeverwillwitnessagain.Shededicatedherlifeto herstudents;toherchurch;toherfriendsandfamily;toherhusband,Pat;andtoherchildren, DanandKate.Therewasn'taplacewecouldgoaroundtownwherepeoplewouldn'tstopherto sayhello.Everyonelovedher.AnyconversationaboutNancyissuretoendinsomeversionof, "sheisthekindestpersonIhaveevermet."Andit'strue.AsI'msureistruewithmanyofyou,I striveinbothmypersonalandprofessionallifetobemorelikeNancy.Iconstantlyfindmyself askinghowNancywouldrespondinanygivensituationanddomybesttoactinsuchawaythat wouldmakeherproud.Herpassionandcompassionwillstaywithmeforever.
Whiletheworldhaslostatrulyspecialperson,hermemorylivesonwithinusall.IseeNancy everydaywhenIwalkintothisbuilding.IgettoteachstudentsintheBelleriveseminareveryfall andthink"wow,thisisallNancy."IalsohavethepleasureofhelpingorganizeourOpportunity ScholarsProgram,afull-ridescholarshipspearheadedbyNancyovertenyearsago,andseeing firsthandthatherhardworkliveson.WhetherIammeetingwithcurrentorprospective students,attendinghonorseventslikeorientationoralumnihappyhours,orspendingtimewith formerstudentsandadvisees,Nancycanbeseeninitall.SheistheheartoftheHonorsCollege. Herloveforthisplace itsstudents,alumni,staff,andfaculty wasinfectious.Thankfully,the manytraditionsshecreatedarestillthrivingtoday.Andforthat,Ioweheryetanother overwhelmingthanks.
Iamsoveryblessedtohaveknownsuchabrilliantpersonwhotrulytouchedmylifeinevery way.ShewasthebestpersonIhaveeverknown,andwordscannotexpresshowmuchIloveand missher.
Nancy in the News: Bellerive Celebrates 10 Years
“Eye
onUMSL: Bellerive Encore”
ByRyanHeinz 0riginallypublishedMarch,2015
Bellerive hasgrownfromhumblebeginnings.Whenitlaunched10yearsago,theannual creativepublicationproducedbythePierreLacledeHonorsCollegeattheUniversityof Missouri-St.Louiswasoverseenbyafour-personstaffthatreceivedonlyabout40submissions.
Forthe2009edition,titled Archipelago,anentireclass,undertheguidanceofUMSLhonors facultyadvisersNancyGleasonandGerianneFriedline,fieldedabout360writingandart submissionsfromtheUMSLcommunity.The Bellerive staffculledtheblindsubmissionsdown to48piecespublishedin Archipelago,whichwasreleasedFridayatacelebrationfeaturing specialguestRichardCook,chairoftheDepartmentofEnglishatUMSLandGuggenheim FellowshipAwardrecipient.
Bellerive doesdoubledutyforourhonorsprogramandfortheuniversity,”saidRobertBliss, deanofthePierreLacledeHonorsCollegeatUMSL.“Itisahigh-valueexperience atoncea finestudentpublicationinbothcontentandpresentation,andahugelysuccessfulannual seminar,whichoffersopportunitiesforstudentstocontributeascritics,editors,designersand, Ihavetosayit,culturalentrepreneurs.”
Gleason,directorofwritingandassociatedeanofthePierreLacledeHonorsCollegeatUMSL, hasbeena Bellerive facultyadviserforeachofthepublication’s10years.Theconceptof Bellerive tookrootinherfirstfewweeksworkinginthecollege.Gleasonnotedthatshewas surroundedbyartisticstudents.“
TheywouldbringcopiesoftheirpoemsbymyofficetoaskwhatIthought.Severalstudents askedaboutinformalwritinggroups.Manyalsoseemedinterestedinphotographyandart,”she recalled.“Itseemedlikeanidealmatchforthecollege undergraduatesputtingtogethera creativewritingjournal.Thethreeco-foundingstudentswhometwithmeagreedweshould openittotheentirecampusforsubmissions,sothat’swhatwedid.”
ThosethreeoriginalUMSLstudentsincludedMatthewDunn,DavidBarberoandSamSnyder. AlongwithGleason,thetriodraftedamissionstatementthatfuture“Bellerive”staffershave closelyadheredtooverthedecade.
Bellerive acceptssubmissionsoforiginalpoetry,fiction,essays,photographyandartfromUMSL students,facultyandstaff.Studentsfromanhonorsclass,alsotitled Bellerive,areresponsible forchoosingcontenttofillthepublication,inadditiontoediting,layoutanddesign.Thepopular classbeganwiththefourthissueandhasfilledtocapacityeversince.
YoucanreadmoreaboutNancy’slegacyinUMSLDaily
HonoringNancy’sLegacy:The Bellerive DigitizationProject
Longavailableonlyinpaperback,weareproudtobringyoutheresultsofourdigitizationproject. Every Bellerive isnowavailableonlineatnocost. Clicktheindividualissuesbelow! Infact,there hasneverbeenmoreaccessto Bellerive. IthasbeenpartoftheSt.LouisCityLibrary’s“TakeaZine, LeaveaZine”project,andstartingnextmonth,backissueswillbeforsaleatReadABookSTL,an Honorsalum(BrianCheli,classof2012)ownedandoperatedbookstoreon3125MeramecSt. Plus, youcanalwayscontactAudriAdamsatadamsaud@umsl.eduforpurchaseonline. Ofcourse,please markyourcalendarsforthe25th anniversarylaunchonFebruary28.
PS–Nancy’sfavoritewas In Defense of Angels. Thatoneissoldout. Butclickbelowtoread!
AllUMSLstudents,faculty,staff,andalumniareinvitedtosubmitoriginalcreativeworksthathave notbeenpreviouslypublished.SubmissionsareacceptedfromJanuary1throughOctober1. We accept:
❑ Poetry:Submitupto5poems
❑ Prose:Submitupto2pieces(eachpiece4,000wordsorless)
❑ Photography/Art:Submitupto5digitalimages(withtitles)
❑ OriginalMusic:Submit2originalworksasaudiofiles.
Tosubmitto Bellerive,pleasereviewoursubmissionguidelines,andfilloutoursubmissionform.
Kimberly Baldus Remembers Nancy
Dr. Kimberly Baldus is the Associate Dean and a Teaching Professor in the Honors College. She started part-time in Honors in 1997 when we were in Normandie Hall and became a full-time faculty member in 2004. She, like Nancy, is a recipient of both UMSL’s Women’s Trailblazer Award and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Additionally, she has led our First Year Experience program and Oak Hall Living Learning Community. Reprinted here are her formal remarks at our Celebration of Life for Nancy last year.
InMemoryofNancy,mybossandfriend.
18yearsago,inMarch2005,Nancyspentweeksmakingnightlycallstomyhusband.I'dliketo sharethisstoryabouther,onethatIknowwasduplicatedinsomanysettingswithcountless individuals.Nancywasoneofthosepeoplewhowouldrespondwhenothersfoundthemselves suddenlydrowning-physicallyorpsychologically-overwhelmedbyatidalwaveofhealthor personalcrises.AndNancydidn'tjustthrowyoualifeline.Shejumpedrightinthosetroubled watersalongsideyou,treadingwaterwithyouuntilyoucouldsafelynavigateonyourown.No matterhowlongthattook.
ThosenightlyphonecallstomyhusbandstartedwithJimcallingherasmyboss.Ifoundmyselfin prematurelaborat26weeksandwasunabletocallwhileonbedrestandsignificantmedicationto haltlabor.
TherewasoveraweekwhileIwasonthosemedications,atraumaticearlybirthat27weeks,and thenmoretimerecoveringfromthebirthandmyownsurgery.Jimdescribesthistimeasoneofthe scariesthe'sexperienced,andoneofthemostupsetting.ButNancywasatherbestwhenwewere facingourworst
ThatfirstobligatorycalltoNancybecameanightlyritualforJim.Inthesepre-textingdays,he'd giveabriefingeachdaybycallingapointpersonforhisfamilyandthenformyfamily.Andthen he'dcallNancyGleason.WhenhecalledtotellherwhathadhappenedwhenIwentintoearlylabor, shekeptsaying,"OhJim,I'msosorry."Herresponsewasverycalm,comfortingandsincere."Tell Kimnottoworryaboutwork.Wehaveeverythingcovered."Thatmessageandtonewereincredibly comfortingforJim,lettinghimfeellikewehadanotherally,andonewhoasapersonoffaithalways lethimknowsheandherchurchwereprayingformeandoursonAidan.
After76days,AidanwasreleasedfromtheNICUandsenthometohisextraordinarilynervous parents.Withindaysofmyson'sreturn,Nancyjoinedus-plusJim'smother-atourhouseforsome pizzaandencouragement.
Duringthatsummerof2005,whilecaringforastillincrediblytinyAidanwhowasonoxygenfor monthsandreceivedweeklyoccupationalandphysicaltherapyvisits,Nancymetwithmefora lunchtotalkaboutmyfallteachinginHonors.Beforethiscrisis,Ihadveryhappilyjust transitionedtoafull-timefacultypositionafterseveralyearsofpart-timeteachingforthecollegejust8monthsbeforemyson'searlybirth.AtthetimewhenNancyandIgottogetherforthis summerlunch,Ididnotyethaveanyideawhatmyson'scognitiveorphysicaloutcomecouldbe, althoughwehadcertainlyencounteredmanyalarmingstatisticsandprognoseswhileintheNICU allthosemonths.IwashonestlynotsurethatIwouldeverbeabletotrulyreturntotheteaching professionthatIhadfinallyhadthechancetofullyenter.ButIhadalsoneverbeensosurethat teachingwascentraltomybestselfandmypersonalhappiness.Nancytalkedpatientlywithme aboutallofthoseconcerns,empathizingwithmyconflictingidentitiesasmotherandeducator withherownstories,helpingtovalidateandreassuremeaboutmyconcerns.Asweendedthat talk,shemadeitabsolutelyclearthatshewouldfindawayformetocontinuetobebothteacher andmotherofachildwithexceptionalhealthneeds.Shetemporarilyrearrangedmyteaching responsibilities,substitutingthemwithworkthatcouldbecarriedoutmoreflexiblywhileat home.Butmostimportantly,shesimplyreassuredmethatshewouldmakethisworkandthat teachingwouldnotsimplydisappearfrommylife.
Wetalkedmanytimesinyearsafterthatdifficultperiod abouthowthispersonalexperienceultimatelychangedmy roleasateacheraswell.Ifoundarenewedenthusiasmand empathyformystudents,anddeepappreciationforthe privilegeofdoingtheworkthatIdidwiththem.Eachclass, eachstudentfeltlikeagift,andIfeltkeenlythatNancymade thosegiftspossible.
Fortunately,thestoryofmyextremepreemiesonalsohasa happyending.HeactuallygraduatedthisMay[2023],andI wassoverysadthatIwasn'tabletoshareproudphotosof himinhisvaledictoriangearwithNancy.Shelovedseeing picturesofhimandmyolderson-onewhoremindedherof meinlooks,andoneshealwayssaidwasthespittingimage ofJim.Shewouldhavesmiledtoseehimadornedwiththe medalandspecialcordsathisgraduation,andshewould havebeenoneofthespecial
circleofpeoplelikemyfamilywhotrulyunderstoodhow extraordinaryitwasthattheboyIworriedmightnever beabletowalkorattendregularschoolwasheadingto UniversityofIllinoistodoaerospaceengineering.
Thankyou,Nancy,forbeingthatspecialpersonforso manyofus.
Josh Eckhoff Remembers Nancy
Josh Eckhoff began his undergraduate degree at UMSL in 2007. After three semesters, he left for military service. After suffering a severe combat injury and extensive brain trauma, he returned to academics, slowly, with independent study projects with Nancy before completing traditional coursework again in 2013. He finished his final class, Psychology 2232: Psychology of Trauma in 2017 to earn his Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree. Nearly half of his UMSL coursework came through the Honors College. Below are excerpts from his remarks at Nancy’s Celebration of Life. To read more about Josh, please visit UMSL Daily
Mybestfriend,andmosttrustedconfidantfor20ofmy38years,yourmotheringpresenceand unwaveringsupportandbeliefinmyabilitieswerenothinglessthanlifechanging.Wordswere neverasufficientconduitbetweenus,whichiscertainlyironicgiventhatwordsandwritingwere whatinitiallyconnectedusandthenyearslaterstrengthenedourfriendshipthroughhoursof patientyethardworkonmywritingendeavors.
I'mhonestlynotsurewhatIamfeelingasIwritethis.Iamhavingsuchadifficulttimeimagining mylifewithoutyouinitthatIthinkImaybeconsciouslyavoidingfacingthegriefandsenseof lossthatIcognitivelyknowaccompaniesamomentlikethis.
Ifthereisanycomforttobehadinthismomentandthistryingdayafteryourpassing,itisin simplyknowingwithallmyheartthatineverymomentbothspenttogetherandapartyouknew howverylovedyouwereandhowmuchyoumeanttome.I'mcomfortedbyknowingthatInever leftthemostimportantthingsbetweenusunsaid.
Iowesomuchofmyrecoverytoyou.Mostspecificallymyabilitytoreturntomyuniversity educationwithseverebraintrauma.Throughoutthefourteenyearsittookmetocompletemy Bachelor’sdegreetherewasneverasinglemomentorinstantofdoubtonyourpart.Thenafter thatslowandarduousprocessyouselflesslyagreedtoassistmeinmyendeavortowritemy book,whichunfortunatelydidnotgetcompletedbeforeyourhealthstartedtodecline.
Iwillbeforevergratefulforthenecessaryandcentralroleyouplayedinmylife.Yourunique combinationoflove,compassion,andserviceisevidentineverylifeyoutouched.Wewereallso veryblessedtohaveyouinourliveswhenwedid.
PleaseconsidersupportingHonorsfinancially. Yourgiftbringsmanygoodresults. Scholarshipsupporthelpsusattractmoreandstrongerstudentsandencouragesthosesame studentstorealizetheirfullpotentialatSt.Louis’sveryownpublic,researchuniversity.Gifts helpusseizeunexpectedopportunitiesforourstudents’benefit. Giftsworktogethertomake oursmallseminarshum,multiplyourindependentstudyandresearchprojects,andensure thecontinuedrelevancetoourstudents’livesofaliberaleducationandtheattitudesto learningitembodies.
Forthirty-fiveyears,we’vehelpedstudentswhomajorineveryUMSLprogramandenrichthe campuswiththeirdiversity. Theycomemainlyfromtheregionbutfromfurtherafield,too, andrepresentadozenstatesandaboutthesamenumberofforeigncountries. Buttheycome tolikeSt.Louis,andmoststayhereaftergraduation,whetheringraduateandprofessional programs,orteachinginourschools,orworkinginitsprivateorpublicsectorfirmsand organizations. Soyourgiftnotonlystrengthensourstudents;itmakesadifferencetoSt. Louis,too.
Ifwecanprovideyouwithfurtherinformationabouthowweuseyourgiftoraboutthe institutioninwhichyou’veinvested,pleaseask. Ourconversationswithourfriendsare amongourverygreatesttreasures. Someoftheoptionsforgivinginclude
Dean’s Pierre Laclede Honors College Fund. Thiscriticallyimportantfundsupportsall partsofcollegelife,particularlytheoneswhereuniversityfundsfallshort. Fundsfromthis account,forexample,havehelpedourstudentstravelto,andparticipatein,theNational CollegiateHonorsCouncilconference.
The Bellerive Fund. Bellerivecelebratesits25thanniversaryinFebruary!Yourfinancial supportforthepublicationismuchappreciated. Inrecentyears Bellerive hasexpandedto acceptmusicalcontributions(publishedviaQRcodes)andaswellasalumnisubmissionstoo. Yoursupporthelpsensurethepublicationcancontinuetoflourish.
The Robert and Paulette Bliss Study Abroad Scholarship. Namedafterouremeritusdean andhisspouse,thisfundprovidesscholarshipsforHonorsstudentsstudyingabroad–includingprogramsthatassistourstudentsincompletingourindependentstudy requirement.
Allfourofthesefundsprovide,amongotherthings,whatiscalled“stackable”supportforour students. Itdoesnotoff-setorreplaceanyotheruniversitysupport,butratheradds additional support.ThankyouforeverythingyoudotosupportHonorsandourstudents. To make a donation, online,pleaseseeourgivingsitehereor contactDeanEdMunn
Poetry
My Birds
Thepointedremindedme
Thatallhadleftthenest
Searchingforrobin-blueeggs
Gentlyspreadingtheirwingstofly, Perhapstheywillreturn?
Aworm,nodoubt,wouldteasethem back.
#4
“What’sthebigdeal, “Ithappenseveryday?”
Thewalkbackinsilence
Thephotoswillremindthem. But,then,itistoolate.
Newpicturesintheirmindscompete.
#1
Itmovedsoslowly–
Tickingoffthemomentsoftheday.
Hangingthere--suspended-Andthen,Imovedtotheshore. Itdroppedbelow.
Gone–
LiketheGoldenDayitleftbehind. Istoodsmilingforamoment–Then,I,too,disappeared. Beneathitall.
Gone—
This is just to say
Ihavedrankoneofyourdietcokes thatwereintheicebox.
Itlookedsogood. Icangiveyoumoney.
A post-it note Nancy left in the kitchen. Inspired by William Carlos Williams. https://poets.org/poem/just-say
Teaching
Becauseoffeatherslikeyou, whodancedinyellowed Classrooms,mylifeiswritten.
Asyourvoicetickled mymind,skirtedacross myearlobeswithlaughter, Imademusiconpaper.
Someday,youwillpress thatthoughtinDickinson, inWelty,andremember ourcollageofwords,oflife, ofimages,oflove. Now, letgoandwatchhowIrub
thesky,howyourwarmbreath remainsonmyneck, howyourrootsreachedout, wrappedaroundme, andgavemewings.
To Nancy, with love from your writers Spring 2001
Drawing by Nicole Gevers, 2018
Queen Nancy of Hearts: the Greatest Raffle of All-Time?
From January through August 2023, a group of six PLHC faculty, staff, and student workers competed in a weekly $1 version of a Queen of Hearts raffle. But only better! Because it was Nancy themed! The raffle went off the rails immediately, as Dan Gerth pulled the first card… and it was Queen Nancy of Hearts, winning him…. $5. This is not how these raffles are supposed to go.
Luckily our second try lasted for 35 weeks. The winner? Audri Adams, the person most likely to be called “Nancy Jr.” even before the raffle began. Has she bought us drinks yet? No! But she does spend a lot of her own money on Bellerive, which she teaches, so we guess that’s okay.
THANK YOU FOR READING! WewishwehadenoughspacetotalkevenmoreaboutNancy. Things wedidn’teventouchonincludeherwinningtheLegendaryTritonAward;foundingourannual Celebrating the Arts competitionandexhibition;,servingformultipletermsonUMSL’sAccreditation SteeringCommittees;teachingBusinessWriting,WritingforTeachers,WritingtheCity,Methodsof TeachingEnglish,aswellascoursesonEudoraWelty,EmilyDickinson,andmore;servingonthe university’sCurriculumandInstructionCommittee;andsupervisingHonorsCollegeadmissions, curriculum,academicadvising,andearlyalerts. NancyservedorledmorecombinedEnglish department,HonorsCollege,andUMSLcommittees,subcommittees,taskforces,andinitiativesthan anyonecouldkeeptrackof(includingher). DidwementionthatNancystillsomehowmanagedtoalso worktirelesslyfornumerouscauses,particularlyinherchurch,whereshetaughtRitesofChristian InitiationforAdultsatSt.MaryMagdalenparishandrantheirCAREprogram,dedicatedtoserving thoseinneedexperiencingfinancial,medical,personal,andotheremergenciesorhardships? Unfortunately,nowedidnot. Butthatstuffisawesometoo. Ofcourse,mostimportantly,Nancywasthe bestfriendthatanystudentorcolleaguecouldeverimagine.
NEXT ISSUE DROPS IN NOVEMBER! Featuresinclude…
➢ A profile of our new nursing curriculum, faculty, and alumni
➢ What’s next? A look at the 2024 academic year graduating class –the largest graduating class in the history of the Pierre Laclede Honors College
➢ Letter from Dean Ed Munn Sanchez about the new year, new students, and various and sundry things Honors – including campus renovations and a new home for Honors
➢ The Bellerive 25th Anniversary profile and launch
➢ Meet the new faculty: Assistant Teaching Professors Jason VasserElong and Lesley Sieger-Walls
➢ A profile of our Community Engagement and Service-Learning Program, including volunteer opportunities
➢ The ten-year anniversary of peer mentors in our First Year Experience Program
