Wesley Magazine Spring 2011

www.weare.wesley.edu

WESLEY A Magazine for Wesley College Alumni & Friends

SPRING 2011

Lewis Wells A Wesley Legend

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, Wesley College students, graduates, faculty and staff continue to make outstanding contributions to our world. In this edition of Wesley, you have an opportunity to reflect on the influence of Professor Lewis Wells and recently retired Professor Dr. Peter Angstadt, get to know Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president for academic affairs, and learn about Wesley’s close ties to the devastated area of Sendai, Japan.

At this year’s Founder’s Day on March 16, the campus community came together to “Recognize the Past, Enrich the Present and Celebrate the Future.” This theme is one that will endure long beyond Founder’s Day as we continue to honor the strong heritage of this fine institution, work tirelessly to advance Wesley, and aspire to an even brighter future for our College.

We are proud to share some of the campus highlights in this academic year.

• The Office of Institutional Advancement announced the results of the Dr. Joseph S. and Mary Bellmeyer Challenge that began in fall 2010. We are proud that 321 alumni and friends contributed toward the Challenge, resulting in a total amount of $135,664.

• Wesley students have been incredibly successful in showcasing their academic work at regional and national conferences. For example, 11 undergraduates had presentations accepted by the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

• As part of the Founder’s Day celebration, the College recognized 88 scholarship recipients and awarded $106,500 in aid. The audience received a sneak peek of our re-branding campaign. I encourage you to read the article in this issue for more details!

• Our Wolverine athletic teams continue to demonstrate their prowess. With a 12-1 season, the football team became conference champions for the sixth straight year and was again named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Team of the Year. Coach Mike Drass reached 150 career wins and received numerous Coach of the Year honors. Wesley field hockey had a thrilling victory over national power Salisbury University in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) semifinals, ending their rival’s 15-season conference championship streak, while Coach Tracey Short celebrated a milestone with 200 career wins. Led by Coach Jerry Kobasa ’69, the men’s basketball team wrapped up a successful season, advancing to the CAC Championships for the third straight year.

Your passion for and commitment to the Wesley community is instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. Together we can continue the Wesley legacy and provide a quality education to hundreds of students.

Thank you for all that you do for Wesley!

Most sincerely,

Dr. William N. (Bill) Johnston wnj@wesley.edu S E N I O R AD M I N I STR ATI O N

B OAR D O F TR U STE E S

Dr. William N. Johnston President Dr. Patricia Dwyer Vice President for Academic Affairs Chris Wood Vice President for Institutional Advancement Eric Nelson ’85 Vice President for Finance Mary-Alice Ozechoski Dean of Students Erica Brown Director of Spiritual Life and Community Engagement

Charles R. Dashiell, Jr., Chair Ann Burton, Vice-Chair Rev. Dr. James T. Seymour, Secretary Frank Andrews Dr. Basilio Bautista William E. Bazzelle Thomas W. Burn, Jr. ’79 Rev. Boyd B. Etter, ex-officio Robert V.A. Harra, Jr. Rev. Dr. Patricia Bryant Harris D. Wayne Holden Kathleen Jennings Rev. W. LeRoy Jones ’53 Edward E. “Ted” Kaufman Alan B. Levin Donald L. Masten Jane Mattern

Dorothy McLaughlin Gregg Moore Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner Ball William J. Strickland Harry “Skip” D. Willis ’70 William H. Willis, Jr. ’66 Dr. Rafael Zaragoza TR U STE E S E M E R ITI

Rev. Jonathan E. Baker ’70 Hon. Eugene D. Bookhammer Elizabeth M. Barber ’52 Lillian Burris Dr. George V. Kirk Dr. Thomas C. Roe ’31 Mr. Gilbert S. Scarborough, Jr. Bishop Peter D. Weaver

ALU M N I A SS O C I ATI O N B OA R D O F D I R E CTO R S

Stephanie Smith Christiano ’98, President Lynn Schmid Knable ’67, Vice President Anne (Pittinger) Buckler ’62, Secretary Tamra Antanaitis ’90, Treasurer Allison (Snyder) Gudeman '98 Barry Hawlk ’72 Kirsten Higgins ’98 Matt Lindell ’03 Jane (Kearney) MacDonald '60 Chad Robinson ’05 Kevin Yingling '96

Contents

WESLEY SPRING 2011 VOLUME XXXIXI, NO. 2 MANAGING EDITOR

Leigh Ann Coleman ’09

Cathy Anderson

COPY EDITOR

Director of the Wesley Society (302) 736-2410 andersca@wesley.edu

Amanda Downes ’06 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Cathy Anderson Doryann Barnhardt Leigh Ann Coleman ’09 Jessica Cook Amanda Downes ’06 Geoff Goyne Abigail Hill ’12 Amanda Kinkade Elise Knable ’09 DESIGN + PRODUCTION

MSK Partners, Inc.

Amanda Downes ’06 Director of Alumni Affairs (302) 736-2318 downesam@wesley.edu

Cathy Nosel Director of the Annual Wesley Fund (302) 736-2317 nosel@wesley.edu

Steve Clark Coordinator of the W Club (302) 736-2330 clarkst@wesley.edu

Leigh Ann Coleman ’09

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT STAFF

Director of Communications (302) 736-2315 colemale@wesley.edu

Dr. William N. Johnston

Geoff Goyne

President (302) 736-2508 wnj@wesley.edu

Director of News & Sports Information (302) 736-2450 goynegeo@wesley.edu

Chris Wood Vice President for Institutional Advancement (302) 736-2316 chriswood@wesley.edu

28 Features

Departments

17 A WESLEY LEGEND

0 2 HIGHLIGHTS

We celebrate the life and career of Professor Lewis Wells this year, which would have marked his 100th birthday.

28 SPORTS

22 A LEGACY OF HER OWN

35 CLASS NOTES 39 ADVANCEMENT

Kathy (Edmunds) Biglin ’78 discusses her time at Wesley and its lasting influence on her professional life.

24 Q&A WITH DR. DWYER Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president for academic affairs, provides insight into new developments at the College.

On the cover: Professor Wells left an indelible mark on the lives of his students.

In this issue we celebrate his legacy at Wesley College.

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU CAMPUS UPDATES, CLASS NOTES, EVENTS AND MORE

Correction: The previous issue of Wesley magazine erroneously named Chris Furrule ’94 the all-time leader in career quarterback sacks when he graduated. Ken Pippin ’92 was the all-time leader in this category with 44 career quarterback sacks, holding the record for almost 18 years. We apologize for the error.

WESLEY is published two times per year by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

POSTMASTER: Send Changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement Wesley College 120 North State Street Dover, DE 19901

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News and views from Wesley College

Steps in the Right Direction Winter Commencement 2010 & Spring Commencement 2011 Over 360 graduates walked the stage to become alumni in the 2010-2011 year.

To view photos from both Winter and Spring Commencement as well as other Wesley events, please visit www.flickr.com/wesleycollege.

From left: Faculty members Fairuz Lutz, Rebecca Walker, Mary Ann Lush and Adele Foltz show their support for Wesley's graduates.

Ashley Merget and BreAnne Platt prepare to walk the stage.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Patricia Dwyer and Executive Director of Wesley New Castle Dr. Zoann Parker hood Master of Arts in Teaching recipient Erica Braun.

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Assistant Professor of Music Dr. James Wilson, Davonne Ross, Wesley Dessesow and Megan Edwards provided an inspirational musical selection.

President Johnston delivers a congratulatory message to the new graduates.

MBA graduates Jade Martin and Shannon Reed show off their diplomas.

From left: Davonne Ross, Cory Boyd and Antonique Vinson are all smiles as they await the ceremony.

Governor Jack Markell addresses the crowd at Spring Commencement.

Graduates turn their tassels as they become alumni.

Lauren Hall is proud to receive her nursing pin.

Nina Vira and Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Julie Fisher share a proud moment.

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| students in action

From left: SGA Vice President Bryan Zarou, SGA President Tanner Polce and Director of Student Activities and SGA Advisor Sarah Smith try out the new dumbbells.

Work it Out SGA Gives Student Body Opportunity to Build Better Bodies by Staying Fit

BY AMANDA KINKADE

ON FEBRUARY 4 Wesley College’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a $55,000 renovation of the Malmberg Fitness Center facility in Malmberg Hall.

The renovation will provide Wolverines with new free weight equipment and total body weight machines, as well as new treadmills and cardiovascular workout equipment. The Malmberg Fitness Center is open to the approximately 2,100 students on the Dover campus.

“Last year, as vice president of SGA, students would always make statements to me about the Malmberg Gym. The majority of the students were concerned about the lack of equipment and space,” said SGA President Tanner Polce. “As President of SGA this year, the Malmberg Fitness Center became one of the top priorities for the SGA cabinet. I'm so very happy that we can finally make an impact in an area that is important to students.”

Preparation for the renovation began over one year ago, when SGA representatives turned to students to ask what positive changes they would like to see on campus. The answer came back loud and clear. After months of research and meeting with consultants from fitness equipment firms, Polce and his SGA executive board announced the good news.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the SGA to respond to student concerns and spend student fees exactly where there is a need,” said Director of Student Activities and SGA Advisor Sarah Smith. “The Malmberg Gym drastically needed a facelift and now Wesley College students can exercise in a place that has proper, working and state-of-the-art equipment.”

Hurricane Katrina Sites Visited

BY AMANDA KINKADE

Wesley College’s Student United Way organization were selected to represent the 2011 United Way Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program by traveling to Biloxi, Mississippi from March 6-12 to help rebuild areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Young adults from colleges and universities across the country assisted South Mississippi’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina and helped address basic community needs that existed before Katrina ever touched the Gulf Coast. “The opportunity to be in service to others is also an opportunity to learn so much about the world around us, not to mention the world within us,” said Director of Spiritual Life and Community Engagement Erica Brown.

“I believe this was a transformative

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experience for all involved.”

Undergraduate and Student United Way President Erica Howell initiated and helped plan the ASB trip by working with the United Way organization to receive approval for five students to visit Biloxi. Juniors Erica Howell, Nashi Watson and Tyron Simms; freshman Jasmine Oden; and senior Alicia Oglesby represented Wesley College.

“We are so happy to be given the opportunity to attend such a great event.

It has great potential to be a long tradition at Wesley College,” said Howell.

“This opens doors for students to network with hundreds of college students from all over the country.”

This is the first ASB trip that Wesley College students have taken in recent years. “I am hoping that this trip will be

From left: Alicia Oglesby, Nashi Watson, Jasmine Oden, Erica Brown, Tyron Sims and Erica Howell

a springboard for future Alternative Spring Break experiences,” said Brown.

“I would like to be able to offer several possibilities next year, of varying durations and destinations.”

“The Alternative Spring Break trip allowed us to be a part of something memorable that we can bring back and possibly implement in our own community one day,” said Howell.

achievements |

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A Historic Season

BY AMANDA KINKADE

The Wesley College club ice hockey team celebrates a win during its last home game on February 6 in Harrington, Del.

Nancy and Walter Everett, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Dr. Joseph and Mary Bellmeyer of Dover, present Wesley College Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chris Wood with a check for $50,000.

Up To The Challenge Wesley College Receives $50,000 Gift from Bellmeyer Family

BY AMANDA KINKADE

The Wesley College Office of Institutional Advancement received a $50,000 gift from Nancy and Walter Everett, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Dr. Joseph and Mary Bellmeyer of Dover. Dr. Bellmeyer was the vice president of Playtex Dover for 25 years, served as a Wesley College trustee for more than 20 years, and was a faculty member in the English department. He passed away in January 2010 at the age of 98. Bellmeyer is fondly remembered for his generous spirit and volunteerism. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and led various fundraising efforts at Wesley College.

Working in conjunction with the College, the Everetts decided to use proceeds from the Bellmeyer estate to provide a $50,000 challenge grant for the annual Wesley Fund.

During a fundraising drive conducted in the fall, 321 Wesley alumni and friends contributed more than $85,000 toward the Bellmeyer Challenge. 32 new donors stepped forward to have their gifts counted as well. With the addition of the Everetts’ gift, the total amount raised for the Bellmeyer Challenge was $135,664.

“As we discussed the possibility of a challenge grant, Joe’s daughter, Nancy, stated that she knew her dad would be smiling down upon us with the thought of his money being used to encourage philanthropy of others to benefit his beloved Wesley College,” said Chris Wood, vice president for institutional advancement. “Walt and Nancy Everett have honored Dr. and Mrs. Bellmeyer’s legacy at Wesley with this gift and benefitted our students in the process.” Money contributed to the Wesley Fund is used to support student financial aid and scholarships at the College.

“Dr. Bellmeyer was famous for regularly challenging the College to seek higher goals, thus he would have been thrilled with the success of the Bellmeyer Challenge,” said President Bill Johnston.

Wesley College’s first club ice hockey team made history in its Mason Dixon Collegiate Hockey Association (MDCHA) playoff debut on February 11 at the Hershey Park Arena in Hershey, Pa. “Being a first-year program, this has been an amazing ride, filled with highs and lows. Making the playoffs in our history-making season is certainly a goal we had from day one,” said Coach Charlie Pens. “This team is filled with character and grit.”

The Wolverines were ranked second in the Southern Division of the MDCHA with a record of 9-5-2 going in to the playoffs. They played American University in the first round on February 11 and won with a score of 4-2.

The Wolverines advanced to the semifinals and lost to Gettysburg College with a final score of 10-4.

The 2010-2011 ice hockey season was a first for the institution, and ice hockey is the only non-NCAA club sport at Wesley.

Home games were played at the Centre Ice Rink in Harrington, Del. where crowds of up to 300 people cheered on the blue and white-clad athletes.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of the hockey team in its inaugural season,” said Dean of Students MaryAlice Ozechoski. “Making the playoffs this year is just the start of a long, successful program at Wesley College.”

Club ice hockey is a part of the Intramural and Recreation Department and is guided by the MDCHA and the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

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| new directions

The Future Awaits

BY LEIGH ANN COLEMAN ’09

Above and right: Two sample advertisements which will feature Wesley student images

A preview of the revamped website with the new wordmark and brand line and various roles for navigation

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IT’S HARD TO define a college that has meant so many different things to each generation that has passed through its halls, whether those halls belong to Old Main or the Henry Belin DuPont College Center. One thing is for sure.

There’s a spirit that has always remained constant at Wesley College.

That spirit is demonstrated by the passion with which our faculty teach their students, the relationships that make Wesley feel like a second home, and the many ways our graduates carry out the mission of the institution by making a difference in the world around them.

This past fall, the College received a $113,150 grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Foundation, providing the opportunity to undergo an important initiative. Under the guidance of Performa Higher Education, a national consulting group from Burlington, N.C. specializing in private higher education, the College began a comprehensive marketing and re-branding study. In direct response to one of the priorities in Wesley’s strategic plan, this process sought to enhance the College’s niche within the marketplace through the development of a cohesive and consistent marketing approach, complete with a new logo and a revamped website.

In a fast-paced world where higher education institutions are in fierce competition for students, not to mention fundraising dollars, strategic and effective messaging is an essential ingredient in positioning oneself for a bright future. For Wesley, this meant being able to succinctly express what makes a Wesley education unique and communicate that across all channels, to attract prospective students and engage the various audiences of the College and the greater community. At

new directions |

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the core of this project was gaining a greater understanding of what Wesley means to all who are closest to the College— its alumni, current students and parents, employees, volunteers, friends and neighbors. After all, how could we tell Wesley’s story to attract the next generation without first weaving together the many threads of its history? Learning why Wesley is special to so many alumni and friends and the collaborative approach in defining its brand was the greatest benefit of the process.

“Great Things Await” The opportunities that exist at Wesley and what the institution provides to its students is at the heart of Wesley College’s new brand line, “Great Things Await.” It also signifies a rich institutional history and identifies a new era, with the anticipation of a thriving future. “Great Things Await” will be used on its own or to complement the College’s new wordmark.

A New Twist On Tradition The College crest has been a symbol of the core values that define the College and have been carried out since the adoption of the name Wesley. The new wordmark is a fresh take on the shield that makes up the center of the crest. This will replace the DuPont College Center sketch logo that has been used on materials and advertisements for the College since the 1990s. Within the shield, the shells symbolize the coat of arms of John Wesley’s family, each representing the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The cross is a symbol of the College’s Christian origins while the lamp and book represent knowledge and lifelong learning.

How To Tell The Story In order to tap into and hone the Wesley story, we enlisted the help of countless alumni, faculty, students, staff and parents to determine current perceptions and develop a clear, cohesive brand that could be communicated with consistent messages. Through a series of focus groups and surveys, Performa collected valuable feedback that guided decisionmaking toward the end result.

“Capture Your Dreams” is the tagline for Wesley’s new admissions recruitment materials. This concept resonated most strongly with prospective students, garnering close to 80% of the vote when tested against another potential tagline.

It will be displayed along with fresh photography on print advertisements, billboards, mailers, television and radio.

Perhaps the most significant overhaul in the re-branding process will be completed this summer. With the Internet undoubtedly being the most convenient and popular way to learn about Wesley College, improving this communication tool was high on the marketing priority list. In July, Wesley will launch its brand new website. Not only will the site provide a more modern and sleek design, it has been restructured to accommodate the individual needs of those who commonly utilize the site. When you visit wesley.edu you will

be easily directed to the information most pertinent to you, based on your relationship with the College. The roles will include: Prospective Students, Current Students, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Families and Community & Visitors. Once you have chosen your path, the site will provide relevant and organized menu items, making it much easier to navigate and find information.

Beyond the visual appeal of each piece of the new brand, the true value is in how it encompasses the many facets of Wesley, emphasizing its heritage while propelling the College forward as it seeks to educate the leaders of tomorrow. An important factor in attracting and retaining students is making sure they are the right fit for the institution. This is only achieved by being very intentional in our messages, effectively representing Wesley and the many opportunities that lie ahead for a potential student that would best benefit from and make the most of a Wesley College education.

A new brand alone will not raise the academic profile, raise money for student aid, or set our graduates apart in a tough job market. But telling the story of who we are, what we do, and what the College stands for in one unified voice will ultimately raise the bar for those already connected with the College and those with whom Wesley will play a future role.

Wesley College faces the same challenges that any other college faces, but it isn’t just any other college. It’s your college.

And we hope that you will join us in telling our story.

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| making a difference

MEALS AND HEARTS Fundraising and support for our sister-state in Japan

BY ABIGAIL HILL ’12

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I

T WAS ONE day before the scheduled departure of three Japanese students from Miyagi University of Education, headed for a visit to their sister school Wesley College, that a horrific earthquake struck Japan. The moment seized their travel plans and left their country in a whirlwind of chaos. On March 11, the tsunami that hit the Japanese coast line enveloped Kesennuma, a place that Dr. Bill Kroen, Wesley professor and member of the Global Initiatives Committee, remembers well from visits to Japanese students and colleagues. “I recognize places I’ve been,” said Kroen. “It’s kind of mind-boggling when you see the difference. The devastation is just unreal.”

Delaware has had a sister-state relationship with Miyagi Prefecture (equivalent of a state) in Japan for 15 years. The City of Dover has a sister relationship with a place called Iwanuma City within that prefecture, and has carried out a multiple school district exchange, with parents from both regions hosting visiting students in their homes. Over the years since the sister-state partnership was forged, families, students and teachers from Delaware and Miyagi have learned each other’s cultures, shared ideas and developed meaningful friendships.

Similar relationships have been built between Miyagi residents and the Wesley College community. For the last four years, students and professors from Miyagi have traveled to Wesley College through a formal exchange program between the two institutions.

Miyagi University of Education is a school of about 2,500 students, located in the western part of the city of Sendai. Through the exchange with Wesley, the Japanese students typically visit for two weeks during their March inter-school break and shadow host students on campus, staying in the residence halls and attending classes.

Evita Wade, vice president of the International Student Association (ISA) and a student host, explained, “We show them what it is like to be in America and help them to experience the campus with other students.”

Visiting students participate in academic classes, campus organization meetings and activities of their student hosts while also sitting in on some English classes and other Wesley events, including activities sponsored

by ISA. In order to get a full taste of American culture and some local flavor, the students have the opportunity to eat out at local restaurants, go bowling and take day trips to Washington D.C., Rehoboth Beach and King of Prussia Mall. Wade, who is still in contact with three of the four Japanese students who came last year, emphasized “the lasting connection that we have with the students there.”

Because of the close ties with the people of Miyagi, the catastrophic event that occurred on the other side of the globe has hit very close to home for a number of students and professors on Wesley’s campus as well as many Delawareans in general. Along with a number of organizations within the state, the Wesley community is doing everything it can to help in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The Global Initiatives Committee and the Office of Student Life hosted two fundraisers, Meals for Miyagi and Hearts for Miyagi. Throughout the week of March 28, members of the campus community could purchase a paper heart for $1 in support of the Miyagi disaster fund. These hearts were signed and hung on the walls of the DuPont College Center to show support for Wesley’s friends abroad. In conjunction with Aramark, Meals for Miyagi allowed students to donate a swipe in the cafeteria to go toward the fundraising efforts. The money collected was funneled to the state through Governor Jack Markell’s office and distributed to Japan as one lump sum from Delaware, to support Miyagi Prefecture’s most pressing needs.

Professor of Biology Dr. Bill Kroen with two undergraduate students of Miyagi University of Education in Sendai, Japan when he travelled to the coastal city of Kessenuma for a conference on Education for Sustainable Development in 2010

“There are a lot of students who want to help, but don’t have the funds or the ability to since right now we are just looking at monetary donations. It’s hard for students on a tight budget to donate,” said Ashley Travis, resident director of Malmberg Hall and graduate assistant for Greek life. “We are allowing students to donate where they are able, such as giving up a breakfast.

It’s a great opportunity for them.

Hearts for Miyagi allows faculty and staff as well as commuters who may not have a meal plan a way to donate.”

On a broader scale, Wesley joined forces with other Delaware state organizations to raise funds for relief and rebuilding efforts within its sisterstate. State and local leaders, including Governor Markell and First Lady Carla Markell, Lt. Governor Matthew Denn, President Pro Tempore of the Senate Anthony J. DeLuca, Speaker of the House Robert Gilligan, Senate Minority Leader F. Gary Simpson, House Minority Leader Gregory F. Lavelle and City of Dover Mayor Carleton E. Carey Sr., hosted a luncheon fundraiser on April 14 at the Dover Downs Diamond Ballroom. Those in

attendance contributed generously to the Delaware Fund for Miyagi, which was established by the state and the Delaware Community Foundation.

“Despite everything, we are looking forward to next year. Everyone that is there at the university now is ok. The Japanese have a very communal society; they like to look out for the good of everyone, they conform as a group and will surely come together to rebuild as a nation,” said Kroen.

The $4666.74 raised by Wesley for the Delaware Fund for Miyagi has already been put to use in the relief efforts. As the country and its residents recover from the devastating blow, they know they have the support of many friends around the world, including those in the First State.

With true friendship often revealing itself in times of adversity, Wesley and other groups in Delaware will continue to reach out to their Japanese colleagues, sending letters, care packages and whatever else the Miyagi people may need in the coming months, in hopes that the relationships, and the country itself, will emerge stronger than ever.

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| campus update

Welcome Aboard

BY JESSICA COOK

Wesley College’s Board of Trustees recently welcomed four new members. “Each of our new board members has outstanding professional accomplishments and will bring an expertise that further enhances the Wesley Board of Trustees,” said President Bill Johnston. “I am delighted to have them join this esteemed group of leaders and look forward to working with each of them.”

Among the four new members is William E. Bazzelle, a retired DuPont manager with a wealth of international experience. He holds a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Wayne State University. Still a part-time consultant at DuPont, he is a results-oriented leader with more than four decades of management experience. A champion for youth, Bazzelle has been involved in mentoring programs and youth achievement activities, including serving as the chairman of Forum for Advancement of Minorities in Engineering (FAME) since the late ’90s.

He currently lives in Bear, Del. Another addition is former college professor and U.S. Senator from Delaware, Edward E. “Ted” Kaufman, who has been a long-time advocate of education. Although he was born in Philadelphia, Pa., his loyalty and commitment to the state of Delaware are well-documented throughout his career in politics. A graduate of Duke University, he earned his Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After moving to Delaware in 1966 for a job with the DuPont company, he got involved in politics on a volunteer basis and ultimately became Senator Joe Biden’s chief of staff. That role lasted for 19 years before Senator Biden became the vice president and Kaufman filled his senate seat. He and his wife live in Wilmington, Del. New board member Jane Mattern has been heavily involved with Wesley

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College for more than 25 years as the unofficial “sports nurse” helping her husband, Dr. Michael Mattern, in his role as team doctor. A registered nurse, Mattern continued her education to specialize in medical management and runs Mattern & Associates as the office manager. She has been very active in local community service as a long-standing member and leader of the Colonial Rotary Club. Other organizations in which she has been involved include the Biggs Museum of American Art, the American Heart Association and Meals on Wheels. Mattern also knows Wesley as a student, having pursued her interest in painting through several art classes on campus. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., she made Delaware her home more than 30 years ago and currently lives in CamdenWyoming.

The board also welcomes Gregg Moore. As vice president and Dover operations manager for the architecture engineering firm Becker Morgan Group, Inc., Moore has played an active role in his home state. A long-standing member and past leader of the Greater Dover Committee, he was instrumental in creating the Downtown Dover Partnership and serves as president of its board of directors. As part of the advisory committees for both Delaware Technical & Community College and Caesar Rodney School District, he has helped shape educational programs and opportunities throughout Kent County. An excellent student himself, he was valedictorian of his graduating class at Dover High School and currently resides in Dover.

William E. Bazzelle

Edward E. “Ted” Kaufman

Jane Mattern

Gregg Moore

new places |

A Dream Come True Wesley Department of Nursing Finds New Home

BY ABIGAIL HILL ‘12

THE FINAL HURDLE has been cleared in Wesley College’s quest for a new space to house its Department of Nursing.

Now that one of the largest acquisitions in the institution’s history is complete, Wesley will officially take ownership of the J. Allen Frear Federal Building from the federal government at no cost to the College. The 36-year-old, 36,000-squarefoot building is located at the corner of North and New streets in Dover and sits on 2.5 acres of land. The facility will provide classrooms, offices and laboratories to better serve current nursing students and faculty, and offers some room for future growth of the program.

“The acquisition and use of the Frear Building is a monumental accomplishment for the College and underscores the commitment by Wesley to continue to build a vibrant educational environment for our students,” said President Bill Johnston. “The fact that it will be dedicated to nursing and health sciences illustrates Wesley's support to these growing career fields.”

Currently the department works out of the ground floor of Dulany Hall, with only 5,500 square feet of space.

Nursing is a competitive program at Wesley, admitting approximately 50 students annually out of an applicant pool of close to 600. While demand for

a Wesley nursing degree continues to grow among prospective and current students, facility space has been an ongoing concern and limiting factor in the program’s admissions. Now that the federal government has approved Wesley’s request to take over the Frear Building, the department will be able to reach its full potential for student acceptance and growth, consolidate its resources and expand its reach within the community. “Nursing will finally have a home where we can have faculty in one place, learning space for all of our students, and a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit everyone,” said Department of Nursing Chair Dr. Lucille Gambardella.

The process began well over a year ago when the federal government announced in 2009 that the Frear Building would be declared surplus property. First chance to claim the building was given to federal or state agencies, but since none came forward, priority went to non-profit organizations such as Wesley. Working with the State of Delaware’s Department of Education, the College was able to acquire the building free of charge because its Department of Nursing qualifies as a worthy use that will benefit the public. The assistance of Senator

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Carper, former Senator Kaufman, former Congressman Castle, Governor Markell, the Kent County Levy Court, the Dover City Council, the Greater Dover Committee, the Dover Downtown Partnership, Bayhealth and countless others greatly contributed to Wesley’s ability to obtain the facility.

After a long waiting period, the College’s request to take full possession of the building was approved by the federal government in December. Wesley anticipates that plans to move in will be solidified in the coming months and hopes to begin renovations as soon as possible.

While the new facility will provide some extras, such as a large parking lot and an auditorium, it will primarily house needed classroom and laboratory space for students to better hone their skills. Right now, the department has space for mostly basic labs with hospital beds and only a few of the more complete simulation labs, consisting of medical equipment and computerized mannequins that mimic the physiological responses that a patient would have.

This makes scheduling class and study time a challenge. The more than 30,000 square feet of extra room will allow for many more of the high-tech, simulation labs to prepare aspiring nurses.

Lauren Koeper, a junior nursing student graduating next spring, said, “The nursing department has done its best to work with limited space, but the move will finally allow the program to grow to its full potential.”

Only four blocks from Wesley College’s main campus and 1.5 blocks from Kent General Hospital, the Frear Building may prove to open many doors for Wesley and the local community. Gambardella expressed, “I have been at Wesley College for 27 years and I can unequivocally say that this is the most exciting news for our department’s growth and future...we have been space challenged for quite some time and acquiring this building will enable us to move forward with our strategic plan that will support our students, academics and service to the greater Dover community.”

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Dr. Lynn Lofthouse, associate professor of speech communication, recently attended a conference for the International Academy of Linguistics, Behavioral and Social Sciences in New Orleans. Lofthouse presented a paper and monitored a panel discussion. She was notified that she had been selected as having one of the best papers presented at the conference, decided by “peer review on a competitive basis.”

Her paper was titled “Key Differences in Individuals’ Future Financial Decision Making Behavior as a Function of the Level to Which They are Accountable for Taking Financial Risks.”

Dr. Bruce Allison, professor of environmental studies, developed an outreach research program that allows environmental studies students to utilize their academic training in a “real world” environment. As summer research interns through the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Taylor Hendricks, Melissa Savin and Greg McKee began what will be a long-term collaboration with the Sassafras River Association (SRA). The interns began research projects based on

SRA needs, focusing on GIS applications, computer modeling and stream hydrology. Along with their professor, the students were invited to the fall SRA volunteer appreciation dinner and were asked to demonstrate their stream hydrology project and discuss the significance of their data.

Allison also has been asked to serve on the Science and Technology Committee at SRA. New outreach initiatives are being investigated with the Land Conservancy, Delaware Nature Society and the City of Dover Office of Planning. These are an integral part of Wesley’s environmental studies program involving the development of geospatial techniques for environmental planning.

Dr. Jack Barnhardt, associate professor of psychology; Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, associate professor of English; and Dr. Jessica James, associate professor of history and American studies, along with collaborators from Lebanon Valley College, presented at a conference of the Association of American Colleges and Universities in Raleigh, N.C. The session was titled “Developing a Research

Symposium at Teaching Colleges: A Mentor-Based Approach.”

In September, Dr. Malcolm D’Souza, professor of chemistry, received a $282,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Academic Research Infrastructure Program: Recovery and Reinvestment (ARI-R2) to remodel three research laboratories and install Wi-Fi access and smart boards in Cannon Hall. In January 2011, D’Souza collaborated with two Delaware State University faculty members, Dr. Qiquan “Josh” Wang of the Chemistry Department and Dr. Samuel Besong of the Food and Nutritional Science Program, to receive a $30,000 seed grant through EPSCoR to study indoor air pollution. D'Souza presented outcomes of his research at the following conferences in Fall 2010: the International Chemical Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii, December 15-20; the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) External Advisory Board Meeting, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Del., November 11-12; and the 2010 MidAtlantic Regional Space Grant Consortia Meeting, Lewes, Del., September 16-18.

In November, he and his fall semester organic chemistry class conducted a “Kids ’n Chemistry” event for approximately 450 elementary school kids at the Independence School in Newark, Del.

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Susan Redington Bobby, assistant professor of English, has signed a contract with McFarland and Company Publishers to write a scholarly monograph on Philip Pullman. Tentatively titled “Philip Pullman's Other Materials: Innocence and Experience Through the Art of Storytelling,” the book will critically analyze Pullman's entire body of work outside his famous trilogy “His Dark Materials,” on which Bobby published an article several years ago. Her book will cover a wide range of genres penned by this critically acclaimed British writer.

Bobby also was selected to present a paper at the 2011 Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) conference April 7-10 at Rutgers University.

Her paper, titled “ ‘A man [or woman] must have a code’: Heroes and Antiheroes in The Wire,” discusses three central characters in the popular HBO series and the impact of gender on heroism. She also will chair a panel at the conference titled "Donors and Helpers: Masculinity in Contemporary Fairy Tales." Wesley graduate Matthew J. Gallagher ’10 has been selected as one of three presenters for her panel and will present on Marxism and feminism in contemporary fairy tales.

Dr. Kraiwinee (Nok) Bunyaratavej, assistant professor of business administration, presented a paper at the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas in November.

This paper, titled "Reverse Offshoring of Services: The New Wave of Emerging Offshorers," is about the determinants of services offshoring from developing countries to other countries. It was coauthored by Dr. Eugene D. Hahn of Salisbury University.

On November 2, voters in the 9th Representative District elected Rebecca Walker, JD, MSN, visiting instructor of nursing, to the Delaware General Assembly to serve as a state legislator in the House of

Representatives. Walker has been a faculty member in the Department of Nursing for four years and is also a Wesley alumnus. She has experience in critical care and emergency department nursing, served as the president of the Delaware Board of Nursing and was a health care attorney in Philadelphia. Over the next two years, she will represent Odessa, Townsend, Delaware City and parts of Middletown in the state of Delaware.

On October 27, Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president for academic affairs, was part of the “Principal for a Day” program sponsored by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. This program is designed to give participants insight into the daily challenges and opportunities that principals encounter and to find out more about academic programs offered to Delaware students. Dwyer visited Woodbridge High School in Bridgeville, Del. and worked with Mr. Robert Adams, the high school principal. Accompanied by Adams, Dwyer met with students and parents on topics ranging from cyber-bullying to early dismissal requests. She also had the opportunity to observe several classes—a civics lesson on the Fifth Amendment, a mock election and an honors astronomy class. She enjoyed lunch from the high school cafeteria and ate in the teachers’ dining room with her “co-workers for the day.”

Several faculty members from Wesley’s Department of Nursing participated in the 2010 National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit in Las Vegas, along with more than 2,000 individuals from all types of nursing programs around the world.

As the largest nurse educator annual event in the country, the summit aims to mobilize new ways to build a strong and diverse nurse workforce, celebrate achievement, and develop partnerships that promote a national conversation on issues confronting nurs-

ing and nursing education. Dr. Karen L. Panunto, associate professor of nursing, presented a poster of her dissertation research titled “Simulation Technology in Nursing Education: Student Perceptions.”

Dr. Nancy Rubino, professor of nursing, and Dr. Lucille Gambardella, professor and department chair, copresented a session which included topics such as “Take This Job and Shove It” and “Top Ten Reasons for Negative Faculty Dynamics” to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 participants. The presentation discussed the factors that impact faculty leadership and productivity in nursing education.

Back in October, Rubino was invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the opening of the Sports Medicine Center at Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., joining guests such as Senator Tom Carper.

Gambardella serves as the chairelect of the Evaluation of Learning and Assessment Advisory Council for the NLN. She was also named honorary commander for the medical division of the Dover Air Force Base Command.

The induction occurred in January and she will serve in the role for one year.

Dr. Teresa Griffin, associate professor of media arts, co-presented at the International Working Class/Poverty Class Academics Conference in Arkansas in June 2010. Her co-presenters were Dr. Deb Cohen and Dr. Karen Tsukada, both from the University of Delaware. The title of their presentation was "The Impact of Low SES on Success for Undergraduates: Impressions of Faculty and Counseling Center Staff." A special feature of this conference was that new media technologies were used to webcast the presentations internationally to allow virtual participation by attendees who could not be in the United States for the conference.

Back in August, Griffin was the featured reader at a standing-room-only

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fiction reading sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Friends of Kirkwood Library. As a result of her individual artist fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts, Griffin had her work included in the "Award Winners X: Reunion” fall exhibit at the Biggs Museum in Dover and was invited to become a member of the Mid Atlantic Artist Registry.

Dr. Robert Contino, professor of nursing, was appointed to a three-year term on the Delaware Board of Nursing in April by Governor Markell. Contino will serve the board as the nursing education representative and will chair the Nursing Practice and Education Committee. In October, he presented at the Bayhealth Nursing Research Day on the topic of evidence-based practice.

Contino also was elected vice president of the Board of Nursing by his fellow board members in November.

The faculty of Wesley College's Education K-8 Program has been awarded two book contracts with Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The books will address constructivist teaching and change agency in the schools. The first book is intended for teacher educators and is titled “Preparing Change Agents for the Classroom.” The second book is for practicing K-8 teachers and is titled “Teaching the Way Students Learn.”

Dr. Jill Cole, associate professor of education; Dr. Marcia Lawton, professor of education; Dr. Patricia Patterson, professor of education; and Dr. Jamie Whitman-Smithe, associate professor of education, have written chapters for both books. These include “Writing Workshop for Teacher Candidates” by Cole, “The 20% Solution” by Lawton, “Beyond the Algorithm: Changing Teacher Candidates’ Learning Experiences with Mathematics to Create Constructivist Mathematics Teachers”

by Patterson, and “Story in the Classroom” by Whitman-Smithe.

Some of Dover’s Campus Community

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School teachers and administrators also were asked to contribute chapters.

The books are being edited by Cole, who also presented a session titled “Using Mentor Texts to Strengthen Writing Instruction” at the Diamond State Reading Association Conference in Dover this past fall. About 250 teachers from across the state attended the conference, and Cole arranged for 12 senior education majors to attend as well. They joined sessions and heard a variety of speakers, including the luncheon speaker, Steven Swinburne, an author of nonfiction children’s books.

Dr. Jessica James, associate professor of history and American studies, was selected to teach at Harlaxton College, the British campus of the University of Evansville this fall. Through Wesley’s partnership with the study abroad campus, she will spend a semester in Grantham, England teaching history and sociology courses.

On February 15, James presented a paper titled “Back to Our Roots: Integrating Service Learning in the African American Studies Curriculum” at the National Association for African American Studies in Baton Rouge, La. Drawing on her experience running a service learning program in Philadelphia and the 300-level Contemporary Social Problems course she taught in which Wesley students completed 25 hours of service with local agencies, she discussed the benefits of service learning, community partnerships and the compatibility with African American studies. She also was invited to present a workshop titled “Incorporating Undergraduate Research into the Humanities Curriculum” at SUNY Potsdam on March 25. Topics included partnering with university librarians, local historical societies and archives, and local community agencies, and designing research projects appropriate for a semester-long course.

Dr. Susan A. Cooper, director of global initiatives, returned to the Oxford Round Table in March to

present "Refocusing the Kaleidoscope: The Protagonists Who Illuminate Mollie Hunter's Journey." The invitation to return to England and share her research about Mollie Hunter, known as Scotland's “national treasure," was based on Cooper's contribution to the highly regarded book, “Adventures, Fantasy and Dreams in Children's Literature,” published by Linton Atlantic Books in 2010. “A Voyage of Discovery: Exploring A Kaleidoscope of Religion and Culture in the Writings of Mollie Hunter," was presented at the Oxford Round Table in 2009 and solicited for publication

by Linton Atlantic Books. Cooper also submitted the current paper to The Oxford Journal for publication.

Victor Greto, assistant professor of media arts and political science, had an essay titled “A Cigar at Rehoboth Beach” published this spring. It appeared in “No Place Like Here: An Anthology of Southern Delaware Poetry and Prose,” published by Doll’s Eye Press. Greto also had two profiles published in the December issue of Brandywine Signature Magazine, one about Annie Coons, the wife of Chris Coons, newly-elected Senator from Delaware, and the other about Jane Castle, wife of former Delaware Representative Mike Castle.

His profiles of Delaware of Education Secretary Lillian Lowery, author Rachel Simon and restaurateur Amiee Olexy ran in the February issue of Brandywine Signature Magazine. His work with the Wilmington News Journal in 2007 concerning Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell was cited on a dozen websites back in September.

On March 14, Greto presented a writing workshop in New York City at the College Media Adviser’s Annual Convention, after presenting one the previous day with Whetstone editor-in-chief Kim Manahan about publishing a student newspaper at a private college.

Fairuz Lutz, professor of nursing, became a medical expert for Pearson Publishers whereby she reviews books and makes suggestions for changes based on the latest evidence-based practice and research. She created test bank questions for examinations distributed to schools of nursing across the country to prepare students to take their nursing licensure boards. Lutz also serves on the Delaware Nurses Association (DNA) Continuing Education Professional Development Committee, made up of peer reviewers who have advanced degrees, certification in various nursing areas, and experience in staff development and formal or continuing nursing education. Through her committee work, she will promote ANA standards of practice and education; promote the use of research findings to support association activities, educational offerings and information disseminated to consumers; generate ideas for educational activities based on identified learning needs of the membership; and evaluate DNA educational activities. Lutz was accepted at the Medical University of South Carolina and will start her doctoral studies in nursing this fall.

Dr. Linda De Roche, professor of English and American studies, had her bio-critical study titled “Mary Higgins Clark: Life and Letters” published by Praeger Press in March. The study examines the connections between Clark’s life and her fiction, exploring, for instance, the personal basis for her treatment of the parent-child relationship and the grief experience as well as the creation of a heroine for her time. It also reveals the link between her life experience and the social criticism embedded in her novels of suspense, an unexpected element of her popular fiction. De Roche noted that Clark “was a most gracious subject, responding to email queries and telephone calls and permitting me to interview her at her Saddle River, N.J. home.” This is the sixth book that De Roche has published as a Wesley professor.

Bruce Bendler, adjunct professor of history, published “James Sloan: Renegade or True Republican” in the Spring 2010 New Jersey History, examining the career of the early 19th century Congressman from Gloucester County, N.J. Bendler also published “The Old Democrat Principles: Samuel Townsend and Delaware Politics” in Spring/Summer 2010 Delaware History, in which he looked at the career of a Democratic politician in Delaware whose career began during Andrew Jackson's presidency and continued through Reconstruction.

Dr. Kathleen C. Jacobs, professor of management, has closely studied the disparity between female salaries and those of their male counterparts. Her research highlights the fact that such disparity adversely affects American families and the economy as a whole because an increasing number of women are becoming breadwinners within their households. On November 16, Jacobs presented her findings to the Delaware Commission for Women (DCW), on which she serves as a gubernatorial appointee.

One month prior to her report, she was asked to represent the DCW on a conference call with the White House.

The purpose of the call was to discuss the President’s National Economic Council’s report on “Jobs and Economic Security for America’s Women.” Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the president; Cecilia Rouse, member of the Council of Economic Advisers; and Diana Farrell, deputy assistant to the president for economic policy, were the main speakers, along with other participants holding leadership positions in various agencies within their states.

After a decade of traveling to Italy and Ireland, Wesley College’s History and American Studies Department will be taking students south to Peru, starting next school year. Dr. Susanne Fox, professor of history, and Frank Gregory, instructor of history, have

expanded the student travel courses and plan to offer relevant material in their history, American studies, and women’s studies courses next year.

After many trips abroad, Fox and Gregory have seen students become more aware of the world and develop self-esteem and maturity. The trip they led to Italy last year attracted 50 participants, including students, parents and alumni. They anticipate that the Latin American trips will eventually include some service learning courses to work with the Peruvians in less developed areas such as Cusco, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Next May they plan to have their guide from Cusco, Karina Terrazas, who has advanced degrees in Peruvian history and art, be a guest lecturer for a course on the Incan Treasures of Peru. She will then accompany the group to Peru where they will visit Machu Picchu and other prominent Incan sites. Fox and Gregory hope to expand the travel program to other Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Chile.

Dr. Derald E. Wentzien, associate professor of mathematics; Mary Jo Benson, instructor in mathematics; and sophomore honors student Melissa Earley had a paper accepted for presentation at the 2011 Northeast Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada. The paper is titled "The Ability of Wesley College Students to Retain Student Learning Objectives from their Math Course to a Follow-up Course." A t-test was used in the study to analyze whether Wesley students were able to apply formulas learned in Intermediate Algebra and Math Concepts and Operations II courses to follow-up courses, which included a nursing course, an economics course and a chemistry course. The results indicated that the students were not retaining the information and as a result, the Mathematics Department is developing a different approach to teaching formulas in the Intermediate Algebra and Math Concepts and Operations II courses.

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Four Decades of Service Angstadt Honored as Faculty Emeritus

BY DORYANN BARNHARDT

I

N MAY 2010 Dr. Peter Angstadt retired from his position as professor of sociology after 43 years of service to Wesley College. A party was thrown in his honor at the home of President and Mrs. Bill Johnston. Those who worked beside him over the years gathered to celebrate his accomplishments and wish him a happy retirement.

The College, however, was not content with just a reception to commemorate Angstadt’s career at Wesley.

Certainly a professor who dedicated so many years of his life to the College deserved something else. So a long-time colleague asked her fellow faculty members for their support and nominated him for the honor of professor emeritus.

“The faculty was very enthusiastic about my recommendation,” said Dr. Susanne Fox, professor of history and American studies. Having worked alongside Angstadt for 34 years, she nominated him for the honorary title on the floor of a faculty meeting in May. “He was so much a part of my life here at Wesley and everyone who worked with

him. He will be really missed.”

Professor emeritus is an honorary title meant to acknowledge faculty who have left the College after making a significant impact. Wesley's Board of Trustees supported the faculty’s recommendation and bestowed Angstadt with the professor emeritus title in October.

He is one of only 17 former Wesley faculty members to be given the distinction.

Angstadt feels privileged to be named among the other faculty of distinction because he knew and worked with each and every one of them. “I am pleased to be counted among the others with the same honor,” he said. “I know how dedicated they were and I’m honored to be included.”

After devoting 43 years to his students and colleagues, Angstadt is now enjoying the pace of his retirement and the opportunity to dedicate time to his health and family. He works out five days a week at the YMCA, stays current on the stock market and his investments, and finally has time to read books for enjoyment.

“I am finally reading what I want to

Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Angstadt and his wife Patricia

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read instead of what I have to read,” he said. The latest book he has read, “The Match” by Mark Frost, examines the historical trajectory of golf from an amateur to a professional sport and its sociological implications. “It’s a delicious book,” he said with delight.

Perhaps the greatest joy of his retirement is spending more time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He and his wife Patricia, a retired teacher from the Capital school district, travel to Oregon, Washington D.C. and Wilmington, Del. to spend time with their children and grandchildren, including four girls and two boys between the ages of one and nine.

Although Angstadt’s young grandchildren are keeping him busy, he still has time for his Wesley family. The Founder's Day committee had asked him to be a part of this year's celebration by sharing his experiences of Wesley past and present. At the program in March, he reflected on the ways Wesley has changed since he started teaching at the College and the core values and characteristics that have endured. When he came to Wesley in 1967, it was a two-year junior college with about 850 students. He saw Wesley from the enrollment boom at the height of the Vietnam War, through the years of lean enrollment and changes in educational focus in the late ’70s and early ’80s, to the undergraduate and graduate liberal arts institution it is today.

After witnessing four decades of change, Angstadt values the one thing that has always remained the same over his years at Wesley. “Through all the periods of difficulty, stress and strain, the faculty, administration and staff remained dedicated to helping young people prepare for life’s endeavors and to be successful,” he said. “Their dedication has anchored Wesley through the highs and lows.”

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Lewis Wells A Wesley Legend

BY ELISE KNABLE ’09 AND AMANDA DOWNES ’06

“He would always reach out to people and bring the spirit out in us; his enthusiasm was contagious.”

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F

ROM 1947 TO 1982 the halls of Wesley Junior College were graced by a man named Lewis Wells. More than just a professor of English and dramatic arts, Wells was a legend.

He left an indelible mark on Wesley College history, molding countless students as he sought to spread a love of the arts, literature, religion and life to all he encountered. The Wells Theatre on campus is a lasting memorial and reminder of his influence. Close to 30 years after his retirement and since his passing in 1994, Wells has remained a name that creates a bond between a generation of young men and women who studied at Wesley. Alumni spanning five decades reminisce about the inspirational professor whom they will never forget, remembering him as a person who significantly shaped their life and the lives of many others at the institution and beyond.

After receiving his bachelor’s from Clarion State Teachers College, a master’s from University of Pittsburgh, and completing graduate study at Duke, University of New Hampshire and University of Maine, Wells began his career at Wesley in 1946.

Teaching English, public speaking and drama, as well as advising the extracurricular drama program known as Wesley Players, his ability to connect with students immediately took hold.

“He would always reach out to people and bring the spirit out in us; his enthusiasm was contagious,” said Gloria James ’73. Whether it was in the classroom, at theater practice or during infamous dinners hosted at his home, Wells was equipping his students with valuable lessons and skills that would enhance their future lives. James vividly recalls him helping students learn to execute lines correctly in order to get a message across to the audience. She attributes her success as a creative radio announcer to his message about the delivery of the words and how that delivery would impact others.

Affectionately known as Uncle Lewi, Wells had a special knack for bringing out the best in his students, academically and emotionally. “Mr. Wells had a gift for finding ‘strays’ and helping them find purpose. He literally changed my life,” said Ed Doherty ’76. When Doherty took English 101 with Wells, he was expecting to sit back and be miserable for the semester while hopefully pulling a passing grade. There was much more in store for him, however, thanks to Uncle Lewi’s immeasurable influence.

Doherty was a freshman in need of direction and “a serious attitude adjustment,” according to his self-description. “One day Mr. Wells asked me to stay after class and he said, ‘Follow me.’ He led me across the hall to the Little Theatre without any additional comment. Silently, we toured the run-down and cluttered facility. He finally asked me, ‘What do you see?’ I said, ‘A mess.’ That day, I began a major cleanout of old sets, props and costumes in the basement. I replaced lighting, cleaned dressing rooms and made general repairs. It took me weeks, and any free time I had, but I finally cleaned and uncluttered the Little Theatre.” Unbeknownst to

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Wells, his comment that he “needed someone to show it [the theatre] some love” and the experience that ensued re-ignited Doherty’s interest in theater from high school. And more importantly, it was an eye-opening and maturing moment for the young man. “That began a renaissance for the Little Theatre and a new beginning for me,” he said.

“I think some students who went to Wesley needed to be encouraged…he [Wells] toned me down. I certainly was not wild, but I didn’t lack self-confidence,” Ralph “Arky” Owen ’51 explained. Owen remembers how Wells’ nurturing but firm nature helped many students to mature and reach their full potential. “He was unquestionably the most liked professor in the school.”

Former students frequently remark on Wells’ unique ability to keep their interest in any subject matter, even in an 8 a.m. class. More than just teaching the course material, he took a

“…I wish there were more teachers like him.” sincere interest in the personal development of his students.

For Walt Reimann ’50, enrolling in Wells’ public speaking class helped him to overcome a stuttering problem. “My ability to communicate smoothly was interrupted with pauses. It was by chance that I got there,” he explained. The caring professor worked with him on his speech, instilling in him the self-assurance that he could conquer his challenge. “I was able to gain a lot of confidence for myself and express myself in my environment. As a result I went on to Gettysburg College, got an engineering degree at University of Hartford and a master’s in business at Drexel. I’m not sure if I would have gone on for more schooling and work if I hadn’t worked with him…I wish there were more teachers like him.”

Wells profoundly influenced the culture at Wesley Junior College as well as the individual lives of countless students whose creativity, confidence and love of the arts blossomed under his tutelage. Many alumni cite Uncle Lewi as their inspiration for getting involved with the arts. For some young men and women, their path to Wesley and into one of Wells’ classes provided a fateful first encounter with the theater. Bill Baxter ’68 recalls how Wells helped him to see that participating in an extra-curricular activity like drama “can be educational, fun and enhance the rest of the college experience.” He added, “I remember him always sitting partway back in the audience chairs, barking directions to the stage as if he was actually angry or disappointed; finding later that he was having the time of his life. And you know what, so were we.”

Even for those who already had an interest in the arts, the opportunity to study under Wells propelled them in their journey of artistic expression and self-discovery. “Some of my fondest memories include Mr. Wells, the theater and the Wesley Players,” expressed Jane (Alderfer) Rahn ’65. She describes one significant moment as “walking into his classroom and having

him hold up the palm of his hand and say ‘All the world’s a stage.’ That stuck.”

Throughout his time on campus, interest in the Wesley Players soared like it never had before. Hundreds of students found their niche at Wesley by becoming a Wesley Player and working with the talented Uncle Lewi. “He changed my life,” said Chris (Reich) Fleming ’62. “I had always wanted to be an actress, but at my high school they would never cast me in a role. I auditioned for him and he cast me right away.” She recalls how he demonstrated sincere interest in his students’ wellbeing, always listening and being there for them. “If you got taken under his wing, you just felt so cared for and safe.”

Another Wesley Player, Lynn Schmid Knable ’67, explained, “Uncle Lewi was our ‘Mr. Chips.’ His dedication to his beloved students was unexcelled. He helped us to believe in ourselves because he first believed in us. That's something I think each of us whose life he touched took away with us and hopefully carry across all that we do...his integrity and service. His expectations were high, but he somehow made it fun to reach the bar he raised.”

Pam Webster-Ward ’73, who had artistic talents in dance as opposed to drama, also attests to Wells’ sense of inclusiveness among the Wesley community. Remembering how he invited her to work on choreography for one of his productions which required dancing, she said of Wells, “I think one of his most important assets was the willingness to include everyone who wanted to be involved, and an unerring instinct to figure out where people's gifts and talents would fit in with what he was doing.” She also recalls that he wouldn’t let her get down when she sprained her ankle during one of the performances and felt that she ruined the show. Instead he had said to her, "Don't take yourself too seriously my dear, but always take your work seriously.”

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Lewis Wells Tribute Wesley College is celebrating the life and career of Professor Lewis Wells (1911-1994) this year, which would have marked his 100th birthday. Beyond the individuals interviewed for this article, we know that many others in the Wesley community have fond memories of Professor Wells, and we want to hear from you! We invite all his former students, colleagues and friends to help us continue to tell the story of Uncle Lewi and take part in the tribute activities, which will culminate with a program and display at this year's Homecoming— October 7-9.

Leading up to the special events this fall, we are kicking off a special fund drive in support of the Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship and collecting information and memorabilia associated with Wells and the Wesley Players. These will be part of the presentation at Homecoming, and donated items will be integrated into Wesley’s permanent archives, so that Wells’ impact will long be remembered at Wesley College. Alumni Association Vice President Lynn Schmid Knable ’67 is coordinating a scripted program which, along with the memorabilia display, will take place at the Homecoming All Class Reunion Dinner on the evening of Saturday, October 8. She and several classmates are looking for others that wish to be involved in this project.

The Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship is an ongoing tribute to the beloved professor, carried out through the many deserving students over the years that have been able to continue their education at Wesley because of the generosity of alumni and friends. In order to ensure that the legacy of Uncle Lewi will endure on Wesley’s campus, we are seeking gifts to financially strengthen and further the reach of the scholarship in his memory. Our goal is to boost the endowed scholarship to the $50,000 mark (currently close to $25,000) by Homecoming.

Please consider this opportunity to demonstrate your admiration for Wells by joining us for this special tribute and supporting these efforts.

• Share items or personal memoirs. Send electronically (digitally stored photos, audio or video clips gladly accepted) to alumni@wesley.edu or mail hard copies to: Office of Institutional Advancement Wesley College 120 N. State Street Dover, DE 19901 (Please indicate if you are donating or lending items. We will gladly scan and send back materials or return items after Homecoming.)

• Take part in the tribute program. If you have memories or anecdotes to contribute or would like to assist in some way, please contact Lynn Schmid Knable '67 at 302-697-9256 or professormom2@hotmail.com • Donate to the Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship.

To show your support, make a gift online at www.weare.wesley.edu/onlinegiving or send donations (please note Wells scholarship on check) in the enclosed envelope in this issue.

• For more information, please visit weare.wesley.edu/wellstribute or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 302-736-2467 or alumni@wesley.edu Thank you in advance for your support and participation. We hope to see you in October!

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“Uncle Lewi was our ‘Mr. Chips.’

His dedication to his beloved students was unexcelled.”

Webster-Ward expressed, “I never forgot that and realized that the saying could be applied to many, many areas of life, not just theater. He was a lovely, lovely man.”

Under Wells’ direction, the artistic scene on campus, and the Wesley Players in particular, reached new heights.

Wells’ reputation for theatrical productions drew in audience members from the tri-state area and attracted the attention of theater critics from nearby cities. At the same time, Wells helped establish a reputable presence for Wesley Junior College among peers in the artistic and the academic world. Former colleague and current Professor of Art Lon Fluman explained, “Part of the reason I was brought to Wesley College was because of Professor Wells.

Professor Wells and Professor Hughes were two of the people who made Wesley College the number one two-year college in the U.S.” Wells became a trusted advisor and mentor to many Wesley students over the years. He was the type of professor who not only wanted his students to learn, but had a genuine interest in seeing them succeed in every aspect of life. Al Stallone ’53 had his first meeting with Uncle Lewi at his high school’s college night. Although Stallone originally planned on going to a different college, unforeseen obstacles prevented him from taking that path and Wells opened another door for him at Wesley, where he could work his way through school with a job serving tables in the dining hall.

Years later, Wells was instrumental in another pivotal moment in his life. After graduating and finally deciding what he wanted to do in his future, Stallone was interviewed

by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Having maintained a close relationship with his former professor, he listed him as a reference. “Uncle Lewi got a letter in Delaware asking whether or not he would recommend me. When I got to the meeting for the interview, who was sitting there but Uncle Lewi. He came personally. He sat in the first row at the courtroom when I was sworn in as a judge 15 years later,” Stallone said. “That was Uncle Lewi.”

Stallone was one of many individuals who witnessed firsthand Wells’ incredible influence at both the College and the Wesley United Methodist Church (UMC) in Dover. Clearly demonstrating his faith and devotion, Wells served as a lay preacher, a Christian education teacher and a choir member in the local church. As a playwright, he also created many religious and historical productions, even after his retirement.

These included “The Valiant Men Walk Unafraid,” which depicts the founding of Barratt’s Chapel in Frederica, Del., “The Road Taken,” a play commissioned by the Peninsula Annual Conference for the Methodist bicentennial celebration, “We Are One,” which was presented in 1965 and highlighted the merging of the Delaware and Peninsula conferences, and “Unto This Generation” for Wesley UMC’s 200th anniversary. Religion was yet another sphere where Wells’ teachings and beliefs made a strong impression on his students. Stallone pointed out that Uncle Lewi taught a lot of people who went on to pursue careers in the Methodist ministry, and as one former student who strongly considered that path, he can personally attest to his professor’s influence.

Opportunities to interact with beloved Uncle Lewi were not just limited to the classroom, church or stage. He often invited students to his house for Sunday dinner, and many graduates still have fond memories of these special gatherings. “His Christmas get-togethers and spring galas in the parlor of his Governor’s Avenue home were renowned. We mingled with the faculty. We were gathered as his family. Indeed, his door was always open to any student who needed a wise, kind friend,” Knable explained.

Undoubtedly, Wells made a lasting impression on the Wesley College family as a whole. Among his contributions to the institution, he authored plays for both the 75th and 100th anniversary of Wesley College. Upon retiring in 1982, he received the Wesley Award for service to humanity. He continued his play writing and work with the Methodist church that he had begun when first arriving at the College.

At his retirement dinner, Wells said farewell to over 200 alumni and friends who attended the event in his honor. In an article written about the event by Owen, it is noted that “the theme for the evening was ‘One Little Candle’ which was a symbolic representation of the confidence instilled in so many of his students by the honored guest.”

In 1986 the Lewis Wells Endowed Scholarship Fund was established as a means for students to continue their education at Wesley. Based on contributions from friends and alumni of the College, the scholarship stands as a tribute to

“Don’t take yourself too seriously my dear, but always take your work seriously.” the legacy of Wells and all that he gave to his students and the greater community.

To further honor his dedicated service, the Wesley College Alumni Association inducted him into the Alumni Hall of Fame as an honorary member on May 2, 1987. At the ceremony, Wells was presented with an “Oscar” inscribed with a tribute to his work at the College. Holding true to the memories of many, he then “conducted class for some of his former students in Wells Theatre after the induction ceremonies,” said Knable.

On April 27, 1976 the Little Theatre in Slaybaugh Hall was renamed and dedicated in his honor.

Although Wells has passed on from this world, his ideals of education, faith and passion for the arts are carried on through the former students whose lives have been enriched by his lessons and guidance. Numerous alumni have followed his examples by pursuing work in the arts, education or in the church. And regardless of their individual paths, graduates of Wesley Junior College who had the privilege to know and form a bond with the professor have one thing in common: they attribute a part of who they are today and what they have achieved to Uncle Lewi.

As so many alumni have shared, Wells wanted more for his students than just an education. He wanted them to feel inspired by life, believe in themselves and most of all, find the humanity that drives us to become what we dream to be.

Some alumni like to believe that he still sits in the balcony of Wells Theatre waiting for the next play to begin. And while it is arguable that the arts at Wesley have never been the same since Wells’ era, his spirit is a lasting inspiration on campus and among all whose lives he touched. For beloved professor Lewis Wells and all who continue to live their lives with him in mind, “The play’s the thing.”

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F E AT U R E

| alumni profile

A Legacy of Her Own

BY ABIGAIL HILL ‘12

KATHY (EDMUNDS) BIGLIN ’78 found her way to Wesley Junior College in 1976, leaving her hometown of Linwood, N.J. for the first time. During her time at Wesley, she was actively involved in campus life, participated in various sports, and acquired many lasting friendships.

As a quadruple sport athlete, Biglin clearly stayed busy in her college career, successfully balancing academics and athletics. Coach Joyce Starkey-Perry, who coached field hockey, women’s basketball and tennis at the time, took her under her wing early on. More than just a coach, Starkey-Perry was a mentor to Biglin throughout her time on the Dover campus and she had a lasting influence on her professional life.

“She was my inspirational and motivational role model at Wesley College,” said Biglin. “She taught me how to set and accomplish individual and team goals. I credit Coach for the successful athlete, teacher and coach that I had become.”

Biglin played field hockey at Wesley from 1976-1978. In addition to being a captain, she received honors as 1st Team AllTournament, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Region, 1st Team All-American and Team MVP, all in 1977. She also played basketball for two years, earning similar accolades, and she was a member of both the softball and tennis teams for one year.

Her love of sports followed her long beyond her days at

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Wesley. In addition to being inspired by Starkey-Perry, Biglin cites James Wentworth, the men’s basketball coach and athletic director, as another influential figure at the College. “I learned a great deal from this Wesley legacy,” she said. She had absorbed so much, in fact, that the path to her future was clear. She knew she was well on her way to a career in athletics, instructing and coaching students just like the mentors she had observed.

Biglin graduated from Wesley with an associate degree in health and physical education. She went on to Pfeiffer University in North Carolina for a bachelor’s in the same field, finishing her certification for grades K-12 in 1980 while also playing field hockey and softball. Her field hockey team at Pfeiffer participated in the State Championship and NCAA National Tournament two years in a row.

Packing an impressive resume on the field, Biglin had equally remarkable accomplishments in her career. For 11 years, she taught health and physical education at Lawrence Township Public Schools at both the middle and high school levels. For 10 of those years, she served as varsity head field hockey coach at Lawrence High School, leading her team to countless victories. She was named Coach of the Year by The Trenton Times, The Trentonian, The Lawrence Ledger and

The Princeton Packet a total of four times. She also was the middle school girls’ basketball coach and softball coach for eight years each.

In 1992 she became varsity head field hockey coach at Mainland Regional High School where she maintained an impressive record over seven years, led her team to the Cape Atlantic League Championships in 1993 and 1995, and received Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year honors.

Then in 2007 she took on another post as varsity head field hockey coach at Holy Spirit High School, again earning a championship record and another Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year title.

Biglin’s passion for sports and dedication to teaching youth were evident in her daily commitments. On top of her demanding teaching and coaching duties at school and raising a family, she stayed involved in her community. She has served as a local softball coach and umpire, the travel basketball coach for the Linwood girls’ team, a recreational basketball league director and official, and camp director for Shore Elite Field Hockey Camp. In recognition of her many achievements, both as a coach and former student-athlete, she was inducted into the Wesley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.

These days, Biglin has put coaching on hold and has shifted careers. She is now closer to home, working as CEO of the family business, Edmunds Direct Mail, Inc., in Northfield, N.J. She works closely with her husband of 22 years, Kevin. Their daughter Lindsey followed in her footsteps by attending Wesley, and since she started at the College in 2008, Biglin returns to the campus often. Their other daughter Devon attends Widener University. As parents to two students away at college, the couple enjoys quality time with friends and relishes any time they can spend together as a family, whether it is during college visits, at sporting events, on vacations or at their home in Ocean City, N.J. Not surprisingly, considering her athleticism and active lifestyle, Biglin has taken up golf and bike riding to keep busy.

Shaped by her interscholastic athletic endeavors and the coaches that guided her along the way, Biglin has had the opportunity to pay it forward by being a role model for young athletes during her education career spanning more than 25 years and by contributing to athletic causes. Today she proudly supports the Wesley field hockey team, understanding both the needs facing Division III athletic programs, particularly women’s sports, and the benefits those programs bring to their student-athletes. As a long-time annual donor who has recently joined the Wesley Society, she explained, “I feel it is important to give back to a College program that had a positive impact on my life.”

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23

The Princeton Packet a total of four times. She also was the middle school girls’ basketball coach and softball coach for eight years each.

In 1992 she became varsity head field hockey coach at Mainland Regional High School where she maintained an impressive record over seven years, led her team to the Cape Atlantic League Championships in 1993 and 1995, and received Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year honors.

Then in 2007 she took on another post as varsity head field hockey coach at Holy Spirit High School, again earning a championship record and another Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year title.

Biglin’s passion for sports and dedication to teaching youth were evident in her daily commitments. On top of her demanding teaching and coaching duties at school and raising a family, she stayed involved in her community. She has served as a local softball coach and umpire, the travel basketball coach for the Linwood girls’ team, a recreational basketball league director and official, and camp director for Shore Elite Field Hockey Camp. In recognition of her many achievements, both as a coach and former student-athlete, she was inducted into the Wesley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.

These days, Biglin has put coaching on hold and has shifted careers. She is now closer to home, working as CEO of the family business, Edmunds Direct Mail, Inc., in Northfield, N.J. She works closely with her husband of 22 years, Kevin. Their daughter Lindsey followed in her footsteps by attending Wesley, and since she started at the College in 2008, Biglin returns to the campus often. Their other daughter Devon attends Widener University. As parents to two students away at college, the couple enjoys quality time with friends and relishes any time they can spend together as a family, whether it is during college visits, at sporting events, on vacations or at their home in Ocean City, N.J. Not surprisingly, considering her athleticism and active lifestyle, Biglin has taken up golf and bike riding to keep busy.

Shaped by her interscholastic athletic endeavors and the coaches that guided her along the way, Biglin has had the opportunity to pay it forward by being a role model for young athletes during her education career spanning more than 25 years and by contributing to athletic causes. Today she proudly supports the Wesley field hockey team, understanding both the needs facing Division III athletic programs, particularly women’s sports, and the benefits those programs bring to their student-athletes. As a long-time annual donor who has recently joined the Wesley Society, she explained, “I feel it is important to give back to a College program that had a positive impact on my life.”

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F E AT U R E

| interview

Q&A

with Dr. Patricia Dwyer Vice President for Academic Affairs

BY DORYANN BARNHARDT

After meeting Dr. Patricia Dwyer, it’s easy to understand why adjectives like “engaging” and “intelligent” are used by colleagues to describe her. In conversation, her demeanor is welcoming, her attention rapt and her speech articulate. As Wesley’s new vice president for academic affairs, Dwyer brings a new enthusiasm and years of diverse experience to the academic leadership of the College.

Since coming to Wesley in summer 2009, Dwyer has already made a lasting impact on the College. Stepping in as the chief academic officer at a time when Wesley was faced with accreditation concerns and an academic office in flux, she led the College to a successful reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 2010.

To be sure, no small part of Dwyer’s success lies in her ability to lead effectively. President Bill Johnston credits much of the College’s recent reaffirmation by Middles States to her management style and leadership abilities. “She is very inclusive,” he said. “She doesn’t just hand down edicts or operate in a vacuum.”

The faculty also appreciates Dwyer’s even-handed approach. Dr. Jeffrey Mask, professor of religion, philosophy and American studies, has worked with his fair share of chief academic officers: by his count a dozen in the last two decades. Mask believes Dwyer brings much needed professionalism to the post. He describes her as “intelligent, fair, somebody who strives to do the right thing.” Mask is particularly pleased with her willingness to consider multiple perspectives. “She listens to all of us,” he said. “She does a good job at trying to see what’s good for the whole institution.”

Recently, Dwyer gave Wesley magazine the opportunity to find out more about where she’s been, what she’s learned along the way, and her hopes for the College’s future.

Q. What attracted you to Wesley and why did you decide to come to this institution?

I certainly enjoyed my position at [The College of ] Notre Dame [of Maryland], but I wanted to be in a leadership position in which I could make a real difference. When I came for my interview at Wesley, I was told about some of the Middle States challenges and felt that my experience in directing assessment programs at both Shepherd and Notre Dame could be a good fit. I remember having a wonderful conversation with the faculty in the Carroll Room on the day I interviewed.

I left the College after a long day of meetings feeling energized. I thought that was a good sign. When I met President Johnston and heard more about his vision for Wesley, I felt even more confirmed. I’m excited to be part of this next phase of Wesley’s growth and development.

Q. You were a high school teacher and an English professor before you became an administrator. How did your experiences in the classroom shape your role and prepare you to be the vice president for academic affairs?

That’s a great question. I’ve taught literature for most of my life, and interacting with students about values, historical and political contexts, and the “big questions” has been so rewarding. At times, students came into the class, especially if the class was part of the general education program, ready to dislike reading poetry or fiction. I often felt that my purpose in those classes was to awaken a curiosity and interest about great writers. Believe me, I wasn’t always successful, but I tried to understand where students were coming from and what would

“I’m excited to be part of this next phase of Wesley’s growth and development.”

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make the readings and discussion relevant and meaningful.

As a chief academic officer, I have the privilege of working with many talented faculty members, all who come with expertise in their disciplines and a sincere dedication to our students. I feel my most important job is to tap the energy of the group, very similar to the students in those literature classes, and help faculty to see that the goals we are striving for are relevant and meaningful and not just another administrative hoop to jump through. I think our recent discussions of the core curriculum are a good example. Over the last eight months, we have had very energetic and insightful conversations about the skills, knowledge and dispositions our students need to be successful as professionals and good citizens.

Rather than simply seeing this as an exercise mandated by our strategic plan, I see it as energizing and exciting because we have tapped into what is meaningful to all of us: helping our students succeed by preparing them with 21st century skills.

Q. Why did you make the transition from faculty to administration?

My transition was a gradual one.

While at Shepherd University, I became director of the honors program, but I still held faculty rank in the English department. When I became a dean at Shepherd, I continued to teach. I’ve always thought that teaching while doing administrative work is a good way to stay grounded in what we are all about—the students. When I moved to College of Notre Dame, I was not required to teach, but I taught a first year composition class. Last fall, I was able to teach a Wesley Connection class for

undeclared students. Getting to know the students outside of my administrative role is wonderful.

Q. You earned your Bachelor of Arts in 1979 and your doctorate in 1995.

What did you do in the 16-year span between the two degrees?

After I finished my bachelor’s degree in English, I thought I’d like to go to law school so I volunteered for a period of time at a public defender’s office in Philadelphia and took a few law classes. That experience convinced me that law wasn’t for me, and since I thoroughly enjoyed my studies as an English major, I began exploring master’s programs in literature.

One of my college professors told me about the Bread Loaf School of English affiliated with Middlebury College. The master’s program is designed for people who were teaching during the academic year; classes at Middlebury are taught during the summer. Through this program, I studied in both Vermont and Oxford, England. I finished my degree in 1986

while I was teaching high school English. In 1989, I moved to Washington D.C. to start my doctorate at George Washington University.

I finished my dissertation and defended it in the fall of 1994 and graduated in the spring of 1995.

Q. What person or persons have inspired you the most in your professional and academic career and why?

My parents are the people who have most inspired me. My father was in advertising and also taught a marketing class in the evening division at LaSalle College in Philadelphia. My mother returned to school to become a nurse after raising five children.

As children, we were taken to musicals and museums, and I believe my love for the arts started early on because of them. My parents both so valued education and they made sacrifices to ensure that we received the best education possible. Most of all, they encouraged each of us to find the path we could be passionate about. They were great role models.

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“When it comes to Wesley, I ask myself, ‘What is it that will showcase what Wesley is great in?’”

Q. What are some of the greatest academic challenges the College faces and how do you plan to tackle those challenges?

We need more faculty to fully staff the majors we have. In some cases, we have only one full-time faculty member teaching in a major. That’s not good for the program or for the students. My plan is to develop a model for adding additional faculty and making sure our salaries are competitive.

We need to expand our offerings and choose new majors that fit with our mission as well as the needs in the marketplace. We can’t do everything. What are our strengths? As a liberal arts institution, I want to showcase the arts. I’m thrilled that our newest major is music, and I know, with the commitment of the faculty who proposed the major, that Wesley will create a first-class program.

And the arts can have such an impact on the community—Wesley could be a hub for the arts in Dover and the region.

As our offerings grow, we will hire faculty with the passion and expertise we

need and a commitment to the highest quality teaching.

We also need to attract students who are a good fit, who have ability, who want to be challenged, and who would thrive in the small college environment where close relationships with faculty are a hallmark of their academic experience.

I would like to see more of our students have the opportunity to study abroad. Opening new worlds to them can be a transformative experience.

We need to tackle impediments to travel, and that typically involves financial resources.

We must continue to develop and implement data-driven decision making and assessment. We’re getting much better with the addition of Dr. Chul Lee [director of data analysis and institutional effectiveness] and Dr. Colleen Di Raddo [assistant vice president for academic affairs] to our staff, but we could do more to use assessment data to continually improve our programs and institutional effectiveness.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Colleen Di Raddo and Dr. Patricia Dwyer enjoy taking part in one of Wesley's community service projects.

Q. As the vice president for academic affairs, you work very closely with the faculty. What do you think are the greatest strengths of the Wesley faculty? Are there any areas for growth in the faculty that you would like to encourage?

We have a very hardworking faculty who carry a heavy teaching load, serve on countless committees, and who stay current in their disciplines. They take students abroad and organize clubs and student activities. They show up for athletic events and stay after hours to work one-on-one with a student in need. They advise students in their majors and mentor students in undergraduate research, often without compensation. And the thing that amazes me is I have rarely had a faculty member say no when I’ve asked them to serve on a search committee or task force, or to just get together to pick their brains about an idea. I’m really inspired by them.

Q. Areas of growth?

I think when one has worked with colleagues for many years, it’s easy to jump quickly to assumptions about others. I read recently about a CEO who asked her colleagues to embrace what she called “the MRI paradigm”—that is, the Most Respectful Interpretation. I think if we all practiced this, including myself, we could enhance our collegial and productive atmosphere.

Q. “Accreditation” and “assessment” are two buzzwords heard on campus in recent years. Please explain to our readers what those words mean and why they are important to the future of the College.

The College is accredited overall by the Middle States Association, and in November 2010 we received the good news that Wesley was in full compliance with all 14 standards of excellence. The College also has discipline

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specific accreditations: NCATE for Education, National League of Nursing for the Nursing Department and the American Bar Association for Legal Studies.

Assessment is the process of measuring our success at helping students learn the skills, knowledge and dispositions that will enable them to be successful. I remember when I first started working in assessment and saying to faculty, “It is not so much about what we teach, but about what students learn.” Assessment of learning outcomes in our programs helps us measure these goals and adjust programs to better reach them. We also assess to measure our institutional effectiveness. Through surveys we give, focus groups we hold or exit surveys we administer, we discover what we are good at and where we need to improve. The assessment cycle is about continuous improvement both in academic programs and in the various offices throughout campus that serve our potential students or the campus community.

Q. Why is being accredited important to the College?

Accreditation is the stamp of approval from an outside evaluator.

Being accredited through Middle States legitimizes all of our programs at Wesley.

Q. More high school graduates are college-bound than ever before, making competition for students fierce among colleges and universities. What can the College do to attract talented students when those students are faced with so many options?

I was recently reading the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. In one section of that book, he writes about institutions discovering what they are great at. He talks about organizations that are good at what they do, but because they offer about the same thing that other “good” organizations offer, they will never be great.

From left: Board of Trustees Chair Charles "Chip" Dashiell, Delaware's Secretary of Education Dr. Lillian Lowery, Dr. Patricia Dwyer and President Johnston at Winter Commencement

When it comes to Wesley, I ask myself, “What is it that will showcase what Wesley is great in?” A few areas come to mind— faculty mentorship and undergraduate research. Wesley is doing excellent work in this across the disciplines. Also we have the potential to create a dynamic and innovative liberal arts core that challenges students and introduces them to new ideas and ways of thinking. We are the only liberal arts college in Delaware. We need to do a better job of translating why that is important and what we can offer that challenges and engages our students. Personalized education: our entire campus community works together on this, from the faculty in the classroom to those who work in the dining hall, from the offices that serve our student needs to student life’s outreach and activities, from the President and Mrs. Johnston’s invitation to students for dessert or breakfast in their home, to the community engagement opportunities we offer.

We are very intentional about making sure students know their responsibilities and reach for and achieve those dreams that first inspired them to come to college.

Q. You have been associated with spiritually-rooted schools like the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and now Wesley College. What has influenced your decision to be a part of churchaffiliated schools?

At both Notre Dame and Wesley College, I was attracted to the institutions because they communicated values as an integral part of the educational experience. As a Methodist institution, we emulate the virtues of John Wesley: social responsibility, compassion, inclusion and justice. I see these as a vital underpinning to all we do at the College. We educate the whole person.

Q. What do you think our readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

I was a Catholic nun for 20 years.

Q. Is there anything that you would like to add to our discussion or make sure our readers know?

I feel privileged to serve as the chief academic officer at this very exciting time in Wesley’s history, and I look forward to the College’s evolving growth and development as a truly exceptional liberal arts college.

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WOLVERINE SPORTS

BY GEOFF GOYNE

For all the latest scores and highlights, visit the athletics website at athletics.wesley.edu

Michael Liegey

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review |

S PORTS

FOOTBALL

What A Great Run MOST FANS WOULD not have predicted the season that the football team produced if you had told them that 18 student-athletes would go down with season-ending injuries. Even more remarkable about the team’s success was the fact that many of the injured players had titles such as AllAmerican, All-Region and AllConference attached to their names.

Despite the setbacks, the Wolverines showed they had as much depth as any team in the nation. Wesley overcame the rash of injuries to produce the program’s second straight undefeated regular season. The team not only earned a bid to the NCAA Championships for the sixth straight year, but was awarded the top overall seed in the tournament.

That meant the Wolverines had home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and Wesley holds some of the best home field statistics in small college football. The Wolverines rolled through the first three rounds, claiming the NCAA South Region Championship and the right to host perennial contender WisconsinWhitewater in the national semifinals.

Wesley took an early lead in the game, but the eventual national champion Warhawks proved too much, ending the Wolverines run at 12-1.

Defensive end Chris Mayes won nearly every defensive player of the year award imaginable, taking home honors in the D3football.com South Region, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South and the Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC). He turned in another dominant season as a junior with 32.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. He also was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, D3football.com and the Associated Press. Mayes helped spearhead a defense that led Division III in

Brandon Wright

total defense and placed two other players on All-America squads—linebackers Mike Asiedu and Jeff Morgan.

On the other side of the ball, backup quarterback Justin Sottilare was forced into action on the first offensive series of the year, but the Wolverines offense did not skip a beat. The junior threw for a school and conference record 38 touchdowns and was 14th in Division III in pass efficiency.

Many of those touchdowns went to wide receiver Ellis Krout, who topped 1,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns before suffering a knee injury in the South Region Championship. The 6’4”

senior has drawn interest from nearly every NFL team.

Senior guard Anthony West turned in an All-American season, helping keep opposing defenses away from Sottilare and opening holes for sophomore running back Brandon Wright, who rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season.

Head Coach Mike Drass also reached a milestone during the season with his 150th career win. After the season concluded, the Wolverines were proudly honored with the ECAC Team of the Year and Lambert Meadowlands Trophy, awarded for Eastern football supremacy.

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S PORTS

| review

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Strong Season Wesley continued its strong play in recent years with another impressive season in 2010-11. The team won 18 games, tied for the second most in the Division III era, and advanced to the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Championship game for the third straight year.

The season was fueled by a 9-1 record at the friendly confines of Wentworth Gymnasium, where the team enjoys one of the best home court advantages in the region. The team also put together an 11game win streak that included four victories by three points or less. Perhaps the most memorable win in the streak came against conference rival Marymount (Va.). The Saints held a 6867 lead with just nine seconds left, but Darrell Johnson got off a shot before the final horn that found the bottom of the net to give the Wolverines the win.

Wesley earned a bye in the first round of the CAC playoffs and dispatched Salisbury in the semifinals when Paul Reynolds stole an inbounds pass with just a second left to secure a 75-74 win.

The victory placed Wesley into the CAC Championship against nationally-

Darrell Johnson

ranked St. Mary’s (Md.). The Seahawks dashed the Wolverines’ NCAA hopes and eventually advanced all the way to the national quarterfinals.

A bid to the ECAC South Championships followed, where Wesley knocked off Misericordia in the quarterfinals before bowing to top-seeded Lebanon Valley in the semifinals.

After the season, Reynolds was named to the All-CAC First Team while Johnson earned a place on the Second Team. He also was recognized with D3hoops.com All-Mid Atlantic Region honors. A sophomore forward, Reynolds finished among the conference

leaders in scoring, rebounding and steals and was among the Division III leaders in field goal percentage with a mark of 61 percent.

Seniors Rudy Thomas and Kevin Johnson capped impressive careers. The duo won 68 games in uniform for the Wolverines, the most of any senior class in the NCAA history of the program.

Johnson scored over 1,000 points in his career, becoming just the 10th player at Wesley to pull the feat. Both seniors finished among the all-time leaders in three point field goals and at least one of their names can be found in nearly every statistical category in the record book.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Highs & Lows Sammi Nevin

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Wesley finished the season well, outscoring its opponents over the final four matches, but a midseason losing streak dashed the squad’s postseason hopes. The Wolverines posted a win and a tie in the first four matches of the year, but lost each of their next nine contests. Back-to-back home victories followed, however, starting the team’s better play down the stretch.

The team finished 3-13-1 and was led in scoring by Kim Fearnbach with 10 points on a team-best five goals.

review |

S PORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Records Fall A five-game midseason losing streak could derail postseason hopes for nearly any team, but the Wesley College women’s basketball team rebounded from the rough stretch to win seven straight and saved its season in the process.

The ensuing win streak propelled the Wolverines from a non-playoff team to host for the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) first round. After a win over Frostburg State, Wesley upset top-seeded Mary Washington with a bucket by Angie Owens with just 13 seconds to play to advance to the conference championship game.

In that contest, Wesley nearly overcame a 21-point deficit, but York (Pa.) held on for a 70-66 win. The Wolverines used the hot finish to gain a bid to the ECAC South Championships, falling in the quarterfinals.

The play of seniors Cory Boyd and Owens highlighted the Wesley season, which ended with 16 wins. Owens was named the CAC Co-Player of the Year and was joined on the AllConference First Team by Boyd. The duo went on to earn D3hoops.com All-Atlantic Region honors, with Owens earning a place on the First Team.

Between them, the two players have written their names among the all-time leaders at Wesley in every statistical category, including scoring, where Owens is third all-time, one place ahead of Boyd. Owens became the first player in school history with 1,000 career rebounds and also holds the school record in

Rachelle Allen

blocked shots. Boyd set the school record for assists before her senior year even began and ended her career with more assists than the next two players on the list combined.

Wesley’s third senior, Allison Beddia, joined Owens among the all-time blocked shots leaders and Boyd on the list for career three-point field goals.

MEN’S SOCCER

Close Calls

Joshua Chelleh

The Wolverines started the season off on the right foot with a season-opening victory, but a subsequent winless streak proved too much to overcome.

After a 2-0 win against Moravian, Wesley went 0-5-1 in its next six matches, but only one of the defeats was by more than a single goal.

The Wolverines went on to win consecutive matches on two occasions, but finished at 6-11-1. Junior Kyle Long was named to the AllCapital Athletic Conference (CAC) squad after putting up six goals and two assists for 14 points.

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| review

VOLLEYBALL

Hard Work Ashlynn Maloy

Brooke Tadlock (foreground) and Meggan Apgar

The volleyball team got off to a slow start and finished just 5-29 on the year after a 16-match skid to start the season.

Sophomore Carle Ax was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic AllDistrict team, becoming the first player in the volleyball program’s brief history to earn the accolade.

FIELD HOCKEY

Season of Success The 2010 season was one of firsts for an already highly successful Wesley College field hockey program. The Wolverines had come up empty in 16 tries against national power and conference rival Salisbury as they entered a Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Semifinal contest on November 3, along with a regular season defeat eight days earlier. A superb defensive effort by Wesley helped give the Wolverines their first ever win over the Sea Gulls and ended Salisbury’s 15-season stranglehold on the CAC crown.

Wesley fell in the CAC title game to Mary Washington, but earned a bid to the ECAC South Championships, advancing to the semifinals. With 14 victories, it marked the 14th consecutive year the Wolverines won at least 11 times. Also during the season, Head Coach Tracey Short reached the 200-win plateau, becoming one of just 10 coaches in Division III with as many victories.

After the season, senior Brooke Tadlock became the program’s first All-American, and she was joined by Madison Leone on the All-Region Team. In all, Wesley placed five players on the All-Conference squad. Tadlock was named the CAC Player of the Year and was joined on the team by Leone, who led the conference in scoring and assists as a freshman, as well as CAC assist leader Nicole Hill, Amanda Fisher and Sheree Pleasanton. Tadlock’s season capped a career in which she finished third alltime at Wesley in goals and points. Additionally, Dana Keller ranked second in Division III in defensive saves with 14 at year’s end.

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Twila McCrea and Kristen Sofia

CROSS COUNTRY Building Blocks Both cross country teams finished ninth at the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Championships. The women’s season was highlighted by Tristin Burris, who became the fourth fastest runner in school history with a time of 20:43 at the Delaware State Invitational. Nearly every runner on the men’s squad was a freshman, but the team showed great improvement over the course of the year.

S PORTS

| hall of fame

Front row, from left: Brandon Steinheim ’98, Shawn Money ’97, Wendy Smith ’02, Melissa McGarry ’00, Chasity Cole ’04, Matthew Sellitto ’67, David Harris ’03. Back row, from left: Nate Casella ’99, Brian Warren ’94, Demetrius Stevenson ’98, Bill Laphen ’99, Cliff Hatch ’99, Marshall Downes ’95, Petie Davis ’04, Joe Krajewski ’94, and Joe Mangano ’97/’00

Wesley Inducts Hall of Fame Class Wesley College welcomed 16 new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame over Homecoming Weekend this past fall. Inductees were honored at a ceremony held at the Schwartz Center on Friday, October 15 and were announced during the halftime show at Saturday’s football game at Scott D. Miller Stadium.

THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME tradition at Wesley was initiated by the College’s Alumni Association in 1983. It is designed to pay tribute to individuals with outstanding achievements in the field of intercollegiate athletics who also have helped bring distinction and excellence to Wesley College. The process involves a committee of athletic administrators, coaches and alumni and is now administered by Wesley's Intercollegiate Athletic Department.

The 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame induction class included the following alumni, listed alphabetically.

Nate Casella ’99 was a standout on the gridiron for Wesley. He was an American Football Coaches Association All-American and a two-time Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) AllStar. A participant in the Aztec Bowl after his senior year, he still ranks in the school’s top 10 in tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles. He was twice honored as the Wesley College Male Athlete of the Year and won the Joseph Murray Award as the team MVP. The versatile Casella was a team captain as a senior and played both offense and defense his junior and senior seasons.

Chasity Cole ’04 was a member of the field hockey and softball teams at Wesley. The two-time All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) pick helped lead the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament on the field hockey field and aided Wesley to PAC titles in both sports. Cole still rates as the Wolverines' all-time leading goal scorer in field hockey and remains in the record books for career points, ranking second, and for career assists, ranking sixth.

Petie Davis ’04 was an All-American football player at Wesley in 1994.

Division III's 10th all-time leading rusher, he holds the Wolverines' career record by nearly 600 yards. He also holds Wesley's single game rushing record and career scoring record, while ranking second in career rushing touchdowns. Davis also was named an ECAC All-Star twice and was the National Player of the Week on three occasions.

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hall of fame |

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Marshall Downes ’95 was Wesley's first All-Region honoree in men's soccer. After leading the team in scoring as a junior, he moved to defense to help bolster the Wolverines' back line. A team captain his senior year, Downes helped lead Wesley to the ECAC Tournament, where he was named to the AllTournament team. Beyond Wesley, he continued playing for a year with the South Jersey Barons, formerly of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL) division III professional league.

David Harris ’03 helped lead Wesley to its first conference championship on the baseball diamond at the Division III level. He was twice named as an All-PAC selection and set season records in doubles as well as batting average. Among all-time leaders in Wesley baseball, Harris rates second in games played and seventh in career hits. He also holds a spot in the team's top 10 in runs batted in.

Cliff Hatch ’99 led the Wolverines to a pair of ECAC Bowl Championships on the football field. He was an ECAC All-Star and a National Player of the Week recipient who ranks among Wesley's all-time leaders in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. After his playing career, Hatch became an assistant coach for the Wolverines.

Joe Krajewski ’94 was a two-sport standout at Wesley, leading the football team to a pair of ECAC titles and winning another on the baseball field. One of the Wolverines' all-time tackle leaders, he was a four-year starter in both sports and a dean's list student. After finishing his playing career, Krajewski helped coach both the baseball and football teams at Wesley.

Bill Laphen ’99 was named a Sporting News All-American as a senior and was a two-time National Player of the Week. He helped lead a 1995 defense that ranked second in Division III. An ECAC All-Star and an AllAtlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) pick, he led the team in sacks

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three times and set what at the time was the school's single season record.

Joe Mangano ’97/’00 was a standout football player at Wesley. As an ECAC All-Star, he blocked for a pair of All-American running backs during his time at the College and was named an All-American himself. He was a team captain and started every game in his football career. He went on to become a coach at Wesley and at North Stafford High School in Virginia.

Melissa McGarry ’00 played on the College’s first varsity women's soccer team and she still ranks among the school's all-time leading scorers. She rates second in the program’s record books for career goals and points, while ranking sixth at Wesley in career assists.

McGarry also was an All-PAC selection in 1998 and she was named the Wesley Female Athlete of the Year.

Shawn Money ’97 played on the 1995 defense that ranked second in the nation. He was named to the Division III All-Star Game and was an All-ECAC pick and All-America Honorable Mention as well. He still ranks among the football program's career leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and pass breakups. He was twice named the team's Defensive Player of the Year and also was a team captain.

Matthew Sellitto ’67 was a standout from the Wesley Junior College era. He was chosen as both a Junior College AllStar and All-Coastal Conference after leading the team in rushing during both of his seasons with the Wolverines. After his career, he earned a Distinguished American Award and coached at both Millburn (N.J.) High School and at Seton Hall University. Sellitto also was instrumental in establishing the Morris County (N.J.) chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Wendy Smith ’02 was an All-Region field hockey player for the Wolverines.

Also a two-time All-PAC pick, she ranks in the top 10 at Wesley in goals, points and assists. Smith led Wesley field hockey to its first PAC Championship and NCAA bid during her senior year, when she was named the Wesley Female

Athlete of the Year. Smith also was a team captain and a dean's list student.

Brandon Steinheim ’98 was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, given to the top football player in Division III. As a two-time All-American and National Player of the Week pick, he was third in the nation in rushing in 1996. He still holds the Division III season record for kick return average and set a Division III standard by rushing for at least 100 yards in 19 consecutive games. A dean's list student and team captain, Steinheim is Wesley's career leader in rushing touchdowns, ranks second in career rush yards, holds the single season rushing record, and holds the Wesley record for touchdowns in a game and in a season.

Demetrius Stevenson ’98 was a standout on the defensive line and also played on the Wolverines’ secondranked defense in 1995. He was a threetime All-American and a Division III All-Star game participant. He rates in Wesley's all-time top 10 in tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and holds the school record for forced fumbles. A two-time team captain, he went on to help coach the Wolverines after finishing his career.

Brian Warren ’94 was named an All-American as well as an ECAC AllStar after his senior year on the football field. He still rates among the Wolverines' all-time career leaders in interceptions and pass breakups and he set a school record with three interceptions in one game. As a two-time team captain, Warren also was a dean's list student a Wesley.

Former players or coaches of any varsity athletic program in the institution's history are eligible for nomination in Wesley’s Athletic Hall of Fame. A special category also exists for other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to intercollegiate athletics at the College. Nominations are accepted annually with a deadline of February 1 for consideration for the fall induction.

Please visit the Alumni section of athletics.wesley.edu for details on the eligibility criteria, selection process and to complete a nomination form.

CLASS NOTES To post your latest news, visit the alumni website at weare.wesley.edu/classnotes or include with the return envelope provided.

MBA graduate Jade Martin is hooded by Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Zoann Parker, executive director of Wesley New Castle.

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’47 Edna (Layton) Curry reports that although

she has very low vision now and is limited in activities, she and her husband Bill still travel from Largo, Fla. to visit Maryland and Delaware at least once a year. They have a daughter and four grandchildren who live on the western shore of Maryland.

Betty (Maynard) Pennock retired from Sun Trust Banks in 1990 and has resided in Tampa, Fla. for 42 years. She and her husband Morris have one daughter and two grandchildren, who also reside in Tampa.

’52 Frank D’Annolfo shared an update since

his college days. After leaving Wesley, he tried out with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team (who wanted him to finish college first) and was invited to work out with the Brooklyn Dodgers the following year. After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan in 1954, he served in the U.S. Army Military Police and was a member of the Post baseball team. He taught physical education in the West Hartford (Conn.) public schools.

He earned the Most Outstanding First Year Teacher award at the elementary level, taught at the junior high level and coached soccer, basketball and baseball, and spent the last 20 years of his career teaching and serving as head coach of soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse at Conard High School. He was the only coach of men’s teams to win two state championships in two different sports and also won Coach of the Year in 1986 in ice hockey. Frank married Suzanne Cordier, a former public school teacher and professor at the University of Hartford. In 1988 he retired to become “Mr. Mom” to his sons Casey and Matt, ages 3 and 4 at the time. He also has a daughter Debbie and son David from a previous marriage.

Frank writes, “My goal in life is to enjoy my family, especially after my successful aortic valve replacement last February, and to get my golf handicap in single digits again! I’ve been blessed with a great family, wonderful friends, good health and six days a week on the golf course!”

Barbara (Butler) Kellam reported on her

life since her Wesley graduation. After marrying a man from Livingston, Mont. and moving to Seattle, Barbara was a medical secretary for two surgeons. The couple

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From left: Gene Meredith ’58 and his wife Kathie, Ralph Vain and Gail (Hemhauser) Vain ’58 and Cordell Page ’58 and Janice (Yaglensky) Page ’59

then moved to Idaho, where Barbara was a homemaker and raised four children— Marilyn, Colleen, Michael and Jenny. They were active in church activities and were major players in establishing a new Methodist church which flourished. After a divorce and a move back to Maryland with her children, Barbara completed a threeyear nursing program at Peninsula General Hospital (PGH) School of Nursing in 1967. She married her middle school boyfriend and high school friend, Raymond Kellam, and began working as a staff nurse. She soon was asked to teach in the PGH School of Nursing, as they needed someone qualified to teach pediatrics and Barbara had an AA degree from Wesley. This led to many years of teaching nursing and earning additional degrees – a Bachelor of Science in 1972, Master of Science in 1980, doctorate in 1987 and pediatric nurse practitioner certification in 1995.

Barbara and Raymond had a daughter Shelly born in 1974, known as their “gift of God.” She writes, “All of my children graduated from college and now our nest is empty, but we still have each other. We are both retired and enjoying every minute together!”

’58 Gail (Hemhauser) Vain reported that she and her husband, along with Gene Meredith and his wife, attended “a delightful Super Bowl weekend at the home of Janice (Yaglensky) Page ’59 and Cordell Page in Swarthmore, Pa. Fortunately this year the weather cooperated so we could spend some time together, but not so lucky for Ed McGee because he was unable to get a flight out of Dallas. We are looking forward to another Homecoming in October and perhaps another Super Bowl weekend in 2012.”

’59 After retirement from PNC as a financial audit manager, plus 12 years and 12,000 hours of volunteering in activities with the Franciscan Care Center, part of St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del., Wesley Bennett has been traveling to Ireland and semi-annually to St. Pete Beach, Fla., keeping busy with yard work and writing to 55 friends around the globe, including former college roommate Robert Bruce Stores in Mexico.

’70 Pete Naputano, who played for Wesley Junior College’s nationally-ranked football team in 1968 as a tight end and in 1969 as a defensive end, was recently inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pete played outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Ironmen from 1975-1978. He earned a scholarship to Marshall University and was a member of the 1970 football team.

He is one of the seven surviving team members who did not make the fateful trip because of injuries. Pete graduated from Marshall in 1972.

Clockwise from left: Sue (Dyer) Hope ’61, Betty (Ware) Copp ’61, Barbara (Powell) Gibson ’61, Ann (Wright) Kearns ’61, Kathy (Barclay) MacNamara Pickering ’61, Bobbi (Stevenson) Herb ’61, Ruth Ann (Plitt) Miller ’61

’61 A group of classmates from the Class of 1961 got together at Irish Eyes in Lewes, Del. on September 23. The “girls” included Bobbi (Stevenson) Herb, Kathy (Barclay) MacNamara Pickering, Sue (Dyer) Hope, Betty (Ware) Copp, Barbara (Powell) Gibson, Ann (Wright) Kearns and Ruth Ann (Plitt) Miller. Collectively, they traveled from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in order to meet up. This year marks the class’s 50th anniversary, which will be celebrated at Homecoming – October 79. Bobbi, Kathy, Barbara and Ruth Ann are among the reunion committee and encourage their fellow alumni to join them back at Wesley this fall to celebrate this milestone reunion! Visit weare.wesley.edu/classof1961 for details.

great class academically, athletically and socially. In all of those years since leaving Wesley we have never had an organized reunion. It only took us 45 years to get organized, but this year a group of us have been attempting to contact as many of you as possible and are having a good deal of success. Some names of individuals that you probably remember and who are working on this project are Diane (Virtue) Morton, Karen (McLaughlin) Meacham, Dave Baker, Mary Beth (Potcner) DiEleonora, Carol (Betz) Dunn, Carolyn (Benjamin) Spencer, Carol (McDowell) McCoy, Kemp Vye, Tom Parker and Stephen Pound. Over 30 plus classmates have indicated they'll be there...let's DOUBLE, TRIPLE that number! Look for more info by logging on weare.wesley.edu/classof1966 LET'S MAKE IT A MEMORABLE WEEKEND!”

Megan '71 and Jim '71 Lyons with son Keith and daughter Kristen

’71 Jim Lyons sent in a photo of his family that was taken prior to the unfortunate passing of his wife of 36 years and Wesley classmate, Megan (Ebert) Lyons. Please visit weare.wesley.edu/classnotes for an obituary.

Barbara (Powell) Gibson and her hus-

band, Richard, have recently moved to Oaks, Pa. after spending 42 years in the MarpleNewtown area of Pennsylvania. They are busy finding their way around and making new friends. If there are any classmates in the area, their address is 110 Sloan Road.

As Mountain View High School principal, Jim Oliver ’75 receives a resolution for academic excellence from Fairfax Board of Supervisors.

’66 Bob Dahlhausen writes, “Save the Date!

Homecoming 2011...October 7-9. Say it ain't so...45 years! We're too young to be that old. Let's come back and share all that's happened in our lives since those ‘Happy Days’ on campus. We were a

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’75

Jessica LaRocca and Craig Parkes

Jim Oliver retired March 1 after 33 years of

William Rieck ’54 Jack Marine ’55 Jean (Von Hagel) Churn ’56 Robert Emerson ’60 Paul Martin Wiegand ’65 Megan (Ebert) Lyons ’71 Ralph Leitner

service in education. As principal of Mountain View High School in Fairfax Va., he recently received a resolution for outstanding service and dedication by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and The House and Senate in Richmond in recognition of academic excellence in working with the most at-risk students in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Mountain View has been a pioneer and model for alternative education throughout the state over the last seven years and was ranked 6th out of 316 state high schools on Standards of Learning (SOL) performance.

’98 Keith ’98 and Cathy ’96/’98 (MitchellMcQuade) DeFrance and their 12-year-old son, Austin, reside in Smyrna, Del. They announce the opening of their business, Alpha Team Computer Repair, in their hometown, offering free estimates for various services on personal laptops, desktops and both software and hardware. They will tell you if your computer is worth fixing instead of overcharging you and you'll get friendly, clear explanations of your diagnosis along with the quickest results and fairest price around! Check out ALPHATEAM.CO or call 302-514-9170 and ask for Keith. Cathy works as a research nurse coordinator at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at the Christiana Care campus in Newark, Del.

IN MEMORIAM

’03 Jessica LaRocca and Craig Parkes shared news of their engagement over the holidays.

Craig, from Wolverhampton, England, was visiting Jessica in New Jersey and popped the question while ice skating in New York City. The two were set up by Jessica’s sorority sister, Jennifer (O’Mara) Parkes, and husband Adrian Parkes ’06, Craig’s brother, and the couple has been in love ever since. After their April trip around Europe, Craig is relocating to New Jersey. A summer 2012 wedding is in the works.

Better Business Bureau, assistant vice president for First Union Bank and is a Delaware licensed real estate agent. After Wesley, she graduated summa cum laude from Wilmington University with a master's degree in organizational leadership. She also serves as the president of the Middletown Odessa Rotary Club, public relations chairperson for the American Cancer Society and is an adjunct professor at Longwood Gardens.

Ferguson is an active member of the Delaware Press Association and the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts. She resides in Middletown with her husband Kevin and children, Alexis and Zachery.

Addison Kathryn Parkes

We welcome all Wesley alumni at events, which are posted online at weare.wesley.edu/events and announced through our alumni newsletter via email. Please make sure we have your current email address by updating your profile on the online community or emailing us at alumni@wesley.edu so you don’t miss out on information!

SAVE TH E DATE! Homecoming 2011: October 7 -9

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Kristen Stewart and Chad Jones

’07 Jennifer (O’Mara) Parkes and Adrian Parkes ’06 welcomed Addison Kathryn Parkes into the world on December 10.

’05 Roxane Ferguson has recently been appointed as executive director of The Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC). She has previously served as the executive director for the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, marketing director for Diamond Technologies, director of sales and marketing for the Delaware

Kristen Stewart announces her engagement to Chad Jones. Kristen and Chad, who are both teachers at Delmar High School, got engaged on October 22. The couple is planning a wedding on June 18 in Ocean City, Md.

’09 Amanda Jackson is working part-time as an administrative and event assistant with Autism Delaware in Milton, Del. while attending graduate school at Delaware State University.

A D VA N C E M E N T

Opera singer and Wesley vocal instructor Britania Redington-Wilson is accompanied by husband Dr. James Wilson, assistant professor of music.

THE SECOND ANNUAL Arts in the Parlor fundraising event held on Saturday, April 9 almost doubled in size and in funds raised from last year’s inaugural event. Building from last year’s success, this black-tie optional affair offered various levels of sponsorship opportunities as well as expanded entertainment and culinary options, all to benefit Wesley College scholarships.

President and Mrs. Bill Johnston and the Wesley College Board of Trustees welcomed more than 140 guests to the historic Schwartz Center for the Arts for a unique experience that featured performance artists, musicians, visual artists, wine Student Nicholas Hancock sampling and culinary art creations. Premier Connie Imboden discusses her performs with the artwork with Wesley Dessesow.

Sponsors of the evening were Bayhealth Medical Contemporary Ensemble.

Center and Aramark Corporation. Finale Sponsors included Wilmington Trust and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware.

Several Encore Sponsors, Debut Sponsors and in-kind sponsors also helped to make the evening possible.

The event planning committee, composed of Trustee Ann L. Burton, Susan S. Johnston, Trustee Jane Mattern, Ali The Wesley College Gospel Choir performs.

Stark ’64, Okemah Strickland and Mary Jane Willis, all worked for months putting the details together.

Guests were treated to several main stage performances and entertainment throughout the Schwartz Center while enjoying gourmet food and wine. Performances featuring Wesley College student and faculty musicians and vocalists included the Contemporary Ensemble, Gospel Choir, Madrigal Quartet, Drumline, harpist and guitar duets. In addition, 16 artists from among the Wesley community and local area displayed their work, representing mediums such as flameworked glass, wood turning, mixed media, photography, watercolors, acrylic and oil paintings. The artists were on hand to discuss their creations with guests throughout the evening.

More than $26,000 in funds was raised to support scholarships for Wesley College students, compared to $15,000 raised at last year’s event. “We were thrilled to host friends of Wesley at Arts in the From left: Trustee Rafael Zaragoza, Trustee Jane Parlor,” said President Johnston. “This event brings the community Mattern, Dr. Michael Mattern and Claire Zaragoza and College together for a common cause.”

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A D VA N C E M E N T

The Wesley Society

A Celebrated Beginning

BY CATHY ANDERSON

THE INAUGURAL YEAR of the Wesley Society has been an incredible and highly successful journey. Since its inception in fall 2009 when 62 donors qualified as charter members, Society membership had grown to 155 members at the end of the charter year on December 31, 2010. This marks a 150% increase – a remarkable accomplishment in today’s economy!

The Wesley Society is the College’s premier annual giving group whose members contribute a minimum of $1,000 each year. Through generous gifts to the annual Wesley Fund, Society members allow the College to provide scholarships to students so that they can pursue their dreams. Donors also are welcome to designate their gift—to athletic programs, the Student Leadership Retreat, the Alumni Association, endowed scholarships and many more Wesley initiatives. Many Society members give multiple gifts a year to benefit both the Wesley Fund and their favorite programs.

Since the Society launch, charter members have contributed a total of $670,050 to Wesley. In the last fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the funds contributed by Society members made up 40% of the financial gifts, although representing only 8% of our donors.

Who are the members of the Wesley Society? 73% (113) of our membership are individuals or couples, 20% (31) are organizations and businesses, and 7% (11) are foundations. 20 members are Wesley faculty or staff and 16 are trustees. Wesley alumni make up about 46% of the individual Society members, with 9 couples who are both alumni— college sweethearts! The most generous

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WESLEY COLLEGE :: Spring 2011

From left: Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chris Wood, Wesley Society President and Trustee Bill Strickland, Board of Trustees Chair Charles “Chip” Dashiell, President Johnston, Student Government Association President Tanner Polce and Director of the Wesley Society Cathy Anderson display the Wesley Society charter members plaque.

decade of alumni Society members is the ’60s with 21 donors, followed by the ’70s with 10 donors. The other decades are evenly represented, all the way back to one donor from the Class of 1931.

Charter members come from 17 states, with predictably, Delaware being the most common—home to 55% of our members (86 donors), followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Other states represented are New York, Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maine, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina, New Hampshire and California.

To culminate the charter year, the College hosted the first annual Wesley Society Gala. Held on the evening of January 8 at The Outlook at Duncan Center in Dover, close to 100 guests braved the remnants of a snowy morning to attend. One highlight of the event was the participation of 12 outstanding Wesley students who showcased their accomplishments with presentation posters stationed throughout the reception area. The

program was emceed by Bill Strickland, president of the Society, and included testimonials from student Cassandra Cardenas ’11 and Society member, Senator Colin Bonini ’91.

President Bill Johnston concluded the program by unveiling a plaque listing all charter members, which will be prominently displayed on campus.

Wesley Society has celebrated a great beginning. The success of the Wesley Society speaks volumes about the Wesley family and the common bond—the appreciation for Wesley’s critical role in the lives of thousands of students over its long history, and its impact for years to come. In order to ensure a strong future, the College encourages charter members to continue their support with renewal gifts annually, and hopes that other contributors will consider joining the Society when making their 2011 gift!

To learn more, please contact Director of the Wesley Society Cathy Anderson at andersca@wesley.edu or (302) 736-2410.

A D VA N C E M E N T

Trustee Dorothy McLaughlin and husband George ’61 enjoy an elegant dinner.

Cassandra Cardenas ’11 shares her Wesley experience with Trustee Rev. Dr. J.T. Seymour.

President Johnston and wife Susan welcome Lee Beetschen and Diane Avery.

Wesley Society President Bill Strickland expresses his gratitude to fellow Society members.

From left: Harvey ’64 and Jeanne Kenton, Coach Mike Drass and Senator Colin Bonini ’91

President Johnston and Chip Dashiell unveil the plaque to commemorate the charter members of the Wesley Society.

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120 North State Street Dover, Delaware 19901-3875 A D D R E S S S E R V I C E R E Q U E ST E D

Visit weare.wesley.edu and find the friends you’ve been missing!

Potcner

Betz

“I don’t think everyone has grasped its true value. It is an excellent resource and far more interesting and useful to me than Facebook or Classmates.com. It was the only way I was able to reconnect with my old friends Diane (Virtue) Morton and Carol (Betz) Dunn. They were both missing from my life for over 25 years. We are now as ‘thick as thieves’—just like we were over 40 years ago. In fact, we now vacation together at least twice a year. We’ve been doing this since the online community made its debut.”

Mary Beth (Potcner) DiEleonora ’66

Virtue

Alumni users: Find your First Time Login ID number above your name on the mailing label of this magazine. Need help? Contact alumni@wesley.edu

From left: Diane (Virtue) Morton ’66, Carol (Betz) Dunn ’66 and Mary Beth (Potcner) DiEleonora ’66 on a recent vacation together.

w w w . w e a r e . w e s l e y . e d u