Leadership - Winter 2013

WINTER 2013

The Magazine of Westminster College

It’s one of the most important decisions your family will make.

Choosing the right college determines a student’s future.

It shapes a student’s character and defines his or her opportunities. It reveals his or her path to success. At Westminster College, we provide more than a college classroom education. Westminster students engage in a full college experience – across academics, across student life, across the world – to reach their fullest potential for a lifetime of achievement.

Find out why Forbes, The Princeton Review and U.S. News rank Westminster among the country’s top liberal arts colleges for value, educational experience, and alumni success. Visit wcmo.edu/go/success.

www.westminster-mo.edu | 573-592-5297 Fulton, Missouri & Mesa, Arizona 2

Leadership winter 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

On the cover: Coulter Science Center by Sam Fentress, Fentress Photography

IN EVERY ISSUE

04 05 41 43 44 45

President’s Column Campus News Class Notes Baby Blue Jays Wedding Album In Loving Memory

Leadership Magazine, Winter 2013 Leadership is published twice a year. Please submit suggestions and comments to alumni@westminster-mo.edu.

Know a student who should attend Westminster? Call 573-592-5297.

Interested in advertising in Leadership? Call 573-592-5297 or email westminster@westminster-mo.edu.

Jennifer Bondurant, Executive Director of Marketing & Strategic Communication Rob Crouse, Director of Media & Public Relations Sharon Mather, Director of Alumni Engagement & Event Management Jamie Patterson, Marketing Manager RC Design Inc, Graphic Design Diane Hammerstone, Class Notes Dak Dillon and Enni Kallio, contributing photographers

09 10 12 15 16 22 26 34 36

A Westminster Legend Adds to His Legacy Jack Marshall’s Love of Westminster Lives On The Wilder Side of Westminster Alumni share their funny pranks and antics Celebrating a Transformational Moment in Campus History A Celebration of Wallace H. Coulter and the Science Center Giving the Gift of Education Bill and Katherine Felder Give Back to Students

We Cannot Stand Still Barney and Jane Forsythe’s Passionate Commitment to Westminster The Harrod-C.S. Lewis Chair A New Endowed Chair in Religious Studies Living Up to Its Name An Inside Look at The Center for Career Development Westminster Fund Making a Difference Through the Westminster Fund Alumni Weekend Plan to Reconnect With Friends and Classmates

www.westminster-mo.edu

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Dear Alumni and Friends of Westminster, We have already been blessed with much to celebrate this academic year. All the national experts in higher education are taking notice of the excellent education students receive at Westminster College and the great success our graduates experience.

U.S.News & World Report ranks us among the top national liberal arts colleges in the country, and its national panel of high school counselors named us one of the two liberal arts colleges in Missouri where students receive the best education. The Princeton Review calls us “Best in the Midwest” for the 11th straight year in a row. Washington Monthly places Westminster as one of the top liberal arts colleges in Missouri and 53rd in the nation.

On top of that, our own research proclaims how well our students and graduates are doing. Our 70 percent graduation rate is well above the national average and more than 95 percent of our graduates are starting their first job or enrolled in graduate or professional school within six months of leaving Westminster.

These accolades are a tribute to the strong commitment to excellence by our students, faculty, and staff and the tremendous support we receive from you – our alumni, friends, and parents. My thanks go out to each and every one of you.

In this issue of Leadership, you will learn more about some of the key reasons Westminster is such a highly successful educational experience and gaining so much notice in national circles. You will discover the personal care students receive from our Center for Career Development as our staff helps them find successful internships and career paths. You will find out about the nationally acclaimed resources our students have available in the magnificent Coulter Science Center. You will learn about the wonderful work some of our donors are making possible through new endowments. And we hope you gain some chuckles from several of our alumni who have been courageous enough to share their pranks and antics on campus.

Already this year we have enjoyed a fascinating and memorable Westminster Symposium (“Religious Experience in Global Society”), a terrific Homecoming weekend, an engrossing IBM lecture, a significant Global Agriculture Conference, and several prestigious Global Leaders in Residence. Now we look forward to important events in this second semester such as the Undergraduate Scholars Forum, Alumni Weekend, a celebration of Wallace Coulter’s 100th birthday, and Commencement for the Class of 2013.

I hope you will join us on as many of these occasions so you too can experience Westminster up close and personal!

George B. Forsythe, Ph.D. 4

Leadership winter 2013

CAMPUS NEWS

“Out of This World” was the theme for Westminster Homecoming 2012, which began with the Homecoming Parade on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 21, and after a week of campus activities, culminated with the home football game against the Greenville Panthers on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27. While the game’s final score was not pleasing to the loyal Blue Jay fans, the crowd enjoyed the recognition of 14 Westminster studentathletes that were graduating and the crowning of Homecoming King Michael Greaves and Homecoming Queen Courtney Darkow.

A Westminster annual holiday tradition, Lessons and Carols, was enjoyed by a large mid-Missouri crowd who filled the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury on Sunday, Dec. 2, for the service. www.westminster-mo.edu

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Thomas M. Hoenig, Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), delivered the IBM Lecture on the future of banking to a packed lecture hall Oct. 1.

Dr. Gary A. Chamberlain, an independent scholar, minister, and religious studies expert from Urbana, Illinois, speaking to a Westminster Symposium group on “Why Moses Wished He’d Never Become a Stoic.”

President Forsythe greets Peter Gattermeir, ’62, whose generous support helped make the President’s Dinner such a successful event.

Dr. J. Baird Callicott, Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Texas and instructor of the first course in environmental ethics, opened this year’s two-day Westminster Symposium on “Religious Experience in Global Society” September 18 with a presentation on “Religious Pluralism in Environmental Ethics.”

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As a part of the President’s Dinner program, Dr. Michael P. Williams, ’73 (left) honored Professor Bill Parrish (center), pictured here with President Forsythe (right).

Backer Dining Hall was transformed for the more than 180 guests attending the President’s Dinner Oct. 19.

For the third year in a row, Westminster hosted regional colleges and universities attending the Missouri Undergraduate Psychology Conference Nov. 9-10.

Westminster alumnus Brock Ayers, ’82, pictured here with his wife Laura and their four daughters, was honored Dec. 10 in Chicago at the Joint District Conference of The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) as the Volunteer of the Year for the colleges and universities in the eight states that comprise District VI.

Eric Koestner, ’98, who is a partner with Edward Jones in St. Louis and co-chairs the company’s United Way campaign, gave the Convocation Address to new students Aug. 12 in Champ Auditorium. www.westminster-mo.edu

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When major national educational experts recognized Westminster for its achievements this fall, President Forsythe brought the college community together in the atrium of the Coulter Science Center for a celebration.

College trustee and alumnus Major General Byron Bagby initiated a new leadership program for Westminster African American men this fall to help them cope with college life and adjust to a new community.

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Outstanding Blue Jay linebacker, Gus Lyles, was selected as one of the best from the NCAA Division III to play for the South Team in the 4th Annual D3 Senior Classic held in Salem, VA on Dec. 7. He helped his team achieve a 3721 victory over the North Team.

Giving Back, Making a Difference

A Westminster Legend Adds to His Legacy As you may recall, last winter’s edition of Leadership featured a moving tribute to the life of John E. “Jack” Marshall, Class of 1953. Jack was, and always will be, regarded as one of the great Westminster legends for his outstanding leadership and support of the College. Now more than one year since his passing, there is still more to Jack’s story to share.

Much has been said of Jack’s unending contributions of time and talent during his 55 years of service to Westminster, but little has been said about the third corner of the giving triangle, and that is Jack’s generosity through financial support – his gifts of treasure. Jack gave with his whole heart, and often sacrificially, to the organizations in which he was interested and involved.

The three Marshall brothers, Jack, Dick and David, were raised to be generous and to give back to the community, according to David. “Our parents were both very committed to civic involvement, philanthropic activity, and charitable giving,” he says. “It left a legacy for us to continue. Jack once told me that I had been given the gift of education by my parents and the College, and it is my responsibility to repay that gift in any ways that I was able to do so. Jack set a fine example, as had our parents.”

Brother Dick added, “Jack was one of the most generous, compassionate and caring men I have known.

He was my mentor, advisor and friend, as he was to so many people that he knew. Other people always came first in Jack’s life, which is what made him such a good friend to all. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him fondly and wish he were still an integral part of my life.”

The first record of Jack’s financial support to the College is found in the old pen and ink, blue card files, long before records were computerized in 1980. Jack made his first gift in 1954, just one year after his graduation, for $5 to the Annual Fund (now called the Westminster Fund). Jack made a gift each year thereafter throughout his life. So often, in fact, that his card file is 12 cards thick, dutifully entered in ink, single-spaced! He supported a variety of College programs over the next 50-plus years, to include gifts to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, countless gifts in honor or memory of friends and loved ones, the establishment of his own endowed scholarship, and endless capital campaigns and special efforts.

Jack was often the first person to make a gift to each new fundraising effort. No matter what the project, Jack was always eager to support the College.

“Mr. Westminster” also planned his giving beyond his own life to

leave a lasting legacy of support to Westminster College programs and services. Jack worked with College staff through the years to craft an estate plan that would benefit hundreds, if not thousands, of students, faculty and staff for generations after his passing. He was a wise investor, lived frugally, and seemed to plan his personal life and finances around his personal giving. In the end, Jack was able to leave the College and National Churchill Museum more than $670,000 through his estate in support of the Jack Marshall Endowed Scholarship and the Churchill endowment. That gift, combined with Jack’s lifetime of giving, totals in excess of $735,000, a wonderful testimony to Jack’s love for both institutions!

Jack Marshall, “Mr. Westminster,” will be remembered for many things. And now, he can be remembered and celebrated for his tangible legacy, gifts of his treasure. www.westminster-mo.edu

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THE

Fraternity houses are known for their escapades.

OF WESTMINSTER Getting a college education is serious business … but not always. Placing a group of college-age students in a campus social setting accompanied by the academic and personal pressures they feel at that age is an atmosphere ripe for pranks to lighten up life. Over the years Westminster College has had its share of college pranksters.

Leadership shares some of the more memorable hijinks.

“In the spring of 1968 when Dean of Men Jack Marshall heard of a party at the Beta House where the foamy beer seemed to be flowing out the front door, he came to see what was what. As he made his way from the landing between floors, an ever-vigilant Beta who was guarding the keg at the top of the stairs – wearing his Firestone Fire Chief hat with microphone and helmet-mounted speaker – saw the Dean approaching, sounded the general alarm, and accidentally tipped the keg over to roll down the stairs onto the Dean. The dean’s broken ankle healed nicely during the time the Beta House was on social probation.”

Alan Harrel, Class of 1969, Texarkana, Texas “It was Hell Week 1955, and I was a pledge of Delta Tau Delta. The actives had confiscated all of our snacks and goodies. So I had my William Woods girlfriend bake a big box of chocolate chip cookies and send them to me at the Delt House with my grandmother’s address on them, guessing the actives would never notice the postmark and confiscate the cookies the instant they arrived. As planned, they just grabbed the box and started gobbling down the cookies. My girlfriend had substituted Ex-Lax for the regular chocolate called for in the recipe so Hell Week was shortened considerably as the Delt actives spent most of the rest of it in the restrooms.”

Dave Whitney, Class of 1958, Lakeland, Florida “Rick Ottinger was the President of the Phi Gamma Delta chapter in the spring of 1972 when he decided it was time to get into the new water bed craze. So one sunny afternoon Rick hauled his new water bed and mattress into his room on the second floor of the Fiji House. All went well until he tried to fill the mattress with a hose that had been lying out baking in the hot sun all afternoon.

Unfortunately, for Rick, this was before such things as Six Sigma or ISO standards. The hot water caused the mattress seams to fail, flooding Rick’s room, and of course, the room below.”

Bob Milner, Class of 1972, Lawton, Oklahoma 10

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“My magnus opus was the phantom student, Rick Vergaman. After acquiring enough signatures, I was able to get ‘Rick’ on the ballot for SGA Vice President, and he made it to a run-off race! No one seemed to want to admit that they had never actually seen him.

A bit later, Rick submitted a series of ‘controversial’ articles to The Columns. The jig was up when a faculty member got involved and began submitting responses to Rick. The exchange got rather heated, and rumors were flying about who ‘Rick’ really was.

The professor especially wanted to know, as she was basically engaging in an ongoing printed debate with ‘him.’ To the best of my knowledge, other than a few people, no one ever knew that I was the real ‘Rick.’ I did hear the professor in question figured it out a few years after I graduated … which was lucky for me, as she was on my senior thesis committee!”

Anne Zimmermann Reich, Class of 1995, Winter Park, Florida “I think it was 1949 the SAE chapter received their charter. In the winter months, several of our members, led by Bob Longstreet, secured a grass spreader filled with fertilizer and went to William Woods about two in the morning. On the large lawn north of the pond they made letters two-feet-by-twenty-five that said ‘SAE.' When spring came, on the lawn were large letters where the grass was taller and greener.”

Frank O. Bittner III, Class of 1950, Manchester, Missouri “When I was a DTD pledge in the fall of 1951, some event took everyone out of the house late in the day. Our pledge class came back a little early to institute a ‘lock out’ of the members. The members found all the outside doors locked, but our amusement turned to concern when after a period of frustrated pleas, the members broke in at the basement level. As we scattered, I remember going out the third floor window on the north end of the house, sliding down the roof of the ‘card room,’ and leaping to the ground.”

T. Guy Spencer, Class of 1955, Sarasota, Florida Westminster women were capable of high-spirited antics as well.

“The first class of women needed a Christmas tree in 1980. As with all college students, money was an issue so we decided to ‘find one.’ Lucky us, when we found the perfect tree on campus growing next to the maintenance shed. We chopped it down and brought it back to the dorm. Unfortunately, the perfect tree was the ‘baby’ of Maintenance Director Jess Revels. He was not happy that his tree he had carefully raised for years ‘disappeared’ in the night. When he went to Dean of Student Life Pat Kirby to find the culprit, Pat visited each and every fraternity house searching for the tree. It never occurred to him the culprit could be the first class of women.

Needless to say, once we were found out, we were in trouble!”

Betsy Schultz Humphreys, Class of 1983, St. Louis, Missouri

Anne holds the record for prevalent prankster for the number of stories she submitted. She even posed as a journalist once handed in a paper in Greek font, left mysterious voice mails on answering machines around campus, and even posed as a journalist once from the nonexistent ‘Maritime Magazine,’ spending several hours interviewing out-of-town visitors who had camped on campus overnight to see Gorbachev speak. One has to wonder if now that she is teaching English at Rollins College whether her students are as inventive.

And occasionally even Westminster professors.

“Dr. Bill Parrish was known for his intolerance to late arrivals for his 8 a.m. class. The door was closed at 8:00 and woe to the man who attempted to arrive late. He also did not appreciate men who slept through his lectures. Usually, there was no problem staying awake, but one time this one guy just could not keep awake, and to make matters worse, he was a snorer. Dr. Parrish paused, thinking the silence would awaken the sleeper. When this tactic did not work, he wrote on the blackboard: ‘Everyone please leave the room quietly.’

We left for another room, and I’ve always wondered what the guy’s thoughts were when he awoke in an empty room.”

David H. Park, CLU, Class of 1971, Cincinnati, Ohio Leadership can only wonder what other incidents of mirthful mayhem remain untold that would reveal more of the wild side of Westminster. We hope you’ll share your story with us during Alumni Weekend in April! www.westminster-mo.edu

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Happy Birthday, W e s t m i n s t e r t o C e l e b r at e a T r a n s f o r m at i o n a l Moment in C ampus History Wallace H. Coulter (1913-1998) spent his freshman year of college at Westminster – an experience he said inspired his lifelong love of learning. While his time on campus was brief, his legacy is longstanding. Thanks to the generosity of The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, Westminster students today enjoy a state-of-the-art teaching environment, the Coulter Science Center.

On April 18, Westminster will host a special 100th anniversary of Wallace H. Coulter’s birthday with the Coulter Foundation and celebrate the transformational moment made possible by the foundation.

A $30 million grant from The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation in 2004 expanded and rebuilt the Wallace H. Coulter Science Center into an 80,000 square foot cutting-edge facility, inspired alumni giving, created scholarships, and made possible a “campus makeover” into the beautiful grounds enjoyed today. The generosity of the Coulter Foundation still represents the largest gift in the history of Westminster, and Wallace Coulter’s philosophy to “dream big and do your best” is instilled in all Westminster students who pass through The Columns every year.

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As a child, Coulter was fascinated by electrical devices and crystal radio sets. In fact, on his eleventh birthday, when he was asked if he wanted a bicycle, he said he would rather have his first radio set. That preoccupation with electronics led to his greatest discovery.

While holding down a job with Mittleman Electronics in Chicago, he set up a laboratory in a garage near his Chicago home and began experimenting. One of his projects was to try to develop a method to assure uniformity of color for paint used for battleships. His plan was to run the paint through an aperture and then count the particles by using an electric current. However, he came home to find the paint had dried.

Not wanting to go back out in the cold, he looked for a substitute and came up with the idea of using his own blood with a needle and some cellophane. With that sample, he found the blood cells that went through the aperture interrupted the electrical connection and gave off pulses that could be measured. Thus the principle was born which made his invention of the Coulter Counter possible.

Previously, if a doctor wanted to assess a patient’s blood count, a lab technician had to manually count the patient’s blood cells on a slide through a microscope. This process was lengthy and often inaccurate.

Thanks to the Coulter Counter, doctors today are able get a speedy, affordable, and accurate blood count, and the Coulter Corporation, headquartered in Miami, Florida, became one of the largest private diagnostic companies in the world. In 1997, the company was sold to Beckman Instruments, Inc. Even though his time at Westminster might have been short, he learned the lessons of the College well. The Coulter Corporation he established was known for its diverse team of employees, representing many nationalities, and was a global company long before this approach became common.

Yet Coulter himself did not fit the mold of CEO. Known for always wearing a battered canvas fishing hat, he lived modestly, loved practical jokes, and always flew coach class. He often loaned his employees money to help them with financial problems or to buy a new house. He once paid for an employee’s bone marrow transplant because in its early stages, these transplants were not covered by his company’s health insurance. When the company was sold, Coulter was instrumental in putting aside $100 million to be paid out to every one of his employees worldwide based on their years of service so his family of employees could be “taken care of.”

The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation was established by Wallace Coulter before his death, and funding began in December 1999.

Initially, foundation funding was used to benefit colleges, universities, and professional organizations that Wallace Coulter was associated with in his lifetime, including Westminster College.

In the case of Westminster, $28 million was originally funded in grant money. Almost $1.5 million was allocated for minority scholarships and another $1.6 million was used for substantial landscaping and beautification across campus. One million dollars was used to help to build the new Mueller Leadership Hall. An alumni challenge grant as a part of the Campaign for Westminster and improvements in sports facilities were also made possible by the grant.

The majority of the money, $18 million, was earmarked for the renovation and expansion of the Coulter Science Center. Built in 1967, the original Coulter Science Center was overcrowded, in need of repair, and woefully inadequate for students and faculty by the end of the ‘90s.

“Cold, harsh linoleum was on all floors, technological limitations prevented the faculty from even being able to show PowerPoint in their classes, students were unable to do independent research, offices were scattered all over the building, asbestos was on the lab tables, and a gap in the wall in one of the biology labs on the west side was so wide you could hear and feel the wind blowing in,” says Dr. Mike Amspoker, Biology Professor and Cameron Day Chair. “The newly renovated Coulter Science Center took Westminster into the 21st century.”

Instead of using his substantial resources for personal enjoyment, Coulter established The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, dedicating his wealth to improving health care through medical research and engineering and nurturing education.

Visualizing the old Coulter Science Center seems impossible when standing in the midst of the magnificent new center today – a structure which has won national architectural awards and been featured in architecture magazines.

Today, the Coulter Principle he discovered impacts all our lives in some way – from blood tests, house painting, drinking a beer or glass of wine to swallowing a pill or applying makeup. The concept is even used to test the purity of rocket fuel for space travel.

From the moment The Coulter Foundation approved the $18 million to rebuild and expand the Science Center, the project became unique. Because Scott Wilson, Class of ’74, was at the helm of the architectural firm selected for the project, S.M. Wilson Company, the renovation and expansion was undertaken with meticulous study and www.westminster-mo.edu

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special care. In partnership with Reinhardt Construction Company, Wilson worked with the College to take an innovative approach that turned out to be a brilliant idea. The building was designed with extensive input from the science faculty that captured the special learning experience found at Westminster.

“Faculty from the sciences discussed how we wanted to teach and interact with our students,” said the late Dr. Tammy Stiller, Associate Professor of Biology, who was deeply involved in the planning stage.

“The architects designed a building that would facilitate our goals of creating an environment where learning could occur in and out of the classroom and where interaction between faculty and students would be fostered.”

The final plan involved the renovation of the 40,000-square foot existing space and an expansion of an additional 40,000 square feet.

Major areas designed in the new building included 18 teaching laboratories, 11 research laboratories, 12 classrooms, 31 faculty offices, and a 200-seat teaching auditorium. However, the consulting group designed more than space. They designed a learning environment that eliminated all of the deficiencies of the old building.

Technology is king in today’s Coulter Science Center. All classrooms have Internet, satellite television, and other technology necessary for multimedia presentations, demonstrations, and interactive simulations. Every classroom and most of the teaching laboratories include data projectors which display computer presentations, simulations, or video. The teaching and research labs all have

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Leadership winter 2013

With its first gifts in 1999, The Coulter Foundation made tremendous impact on higher education institutions across the nation, including Westminster College. Since that time, The Coulter Foundation focused its main objective on making improvements in health care that would be available and affordable through translational research.

Translational research differs primarily from traditional research because its objective is to be practical and usable. Translational research usually addresses a specific clinical problem or need.

However, The Coulter Foundation did not forget those institutions that had been so important to Coulter. Westminster College is grateful to continue to benefit from the support and generosity of The Foundation.

In the words of The Foundation: “The Foundation is delighted to have made its early grants to those entities that Wallace Coulter was associated with during his lifetime. Consistent with Mr. Coulter’s long association with many of these organizations, the Foundation will continue to work with and support many of them as well as additional worthwhile organizations. Without exception, the Foundation is proud of the progress and continuing work of these entities.”

computers for students and professors to run experiments, log data in real time, analyze the results, and store the files on the campus network. Four computer labs provide a wide range of computer platforms, software, and environments where students in Westminster math, computer science, or management information systems can work on class assignments. Pockets of wireless technology are available throughout the building for the convenience of students and faculty.

Along with state-of-the art technology, the renovated Coulter Science Center includes ideal teaching and learning environments.

Five of the teaching laboratories include lecture spaces so faculty can offer lectures and lab classes combined. Faculty offices are all grouped by department in suites on the second and third floors. Casual lounge areas are available throughout the building where students can study, visit, connect to the campus WiFi, write on a marker board, or just relax. Each of the science programs now has at least one dedicated laboratory where students and their professors can perform long-term research projects.

“In the old Coulter Science Center, overlapping labs made it impossible for anyone to leave research materials in place,” says Dr. Amspoker. “Today, thanks to the expanded laboratory space and lock system on the doors, once students receive proper security clearance, they can come and go as they please, even after hours or on weekends, to conduct independent research.”

Dr. Amspoker points out two signature programs at Westminster would not be possible without the new Coulter Science Center—the Westminster Symposium and the Undergraduate Scholars Forum.

He also emphasizes the popularity of the building’s beautiful atrium as a gathering place for social events.

When the Foundation learned that the Science Center was completed under budget and ahead of schedule and the Campaign for Westminster was so successful, the Foundation increased the total Westminster grant to $30 million.

Another of the significant outgrowths of the new Coulter Science Center and the Coulter grant was the establishment of the Cameron Day Chair, named in honor of Dr. Day who was legendary in the biology field and inspired generations of Westminster students from 1928 until 1961. Today Dr. Amspoker holds the Day Chair, which underwrites his academic research as well as the research of biology department students. Funding for the chair makes it possible for Westminster students to share their research at international and national conferences in locations such as Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and San Francisco. As a result, the quality of Westminster research is well known by the Missouri Academy of Science and the Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology.

The dedication of the new Coulter Science Center on April 17, 2004, was a red letter day in Westminster history. Sue Van, President and CEO of The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, was on hand to speak about the legacy of Wallace Coulter, and after the official ribbon cutting, blue and white confetti floated down from the top of the atrium to end the ceremony with a dramatic flair.

Holding the chair also provides Dr. Amspoker with the time outside his classes to counsel and mentor each of the biology students individually from the time they arrive on campus until the time they graduate. He meets with all students before they come into the program to inform them of what to expect and helps them select their courses of study. He is also instrumental in helping place students in highly sought internships in the health professions field.

New scientific equipment purchased included the cold room addition, making it possible for experiments to be conducted at any temperature, and facilities and resources necessary to offer Westminster’s acclaimed cadaver program.

“We also were able to purchase some additional state-of-the-art equipment due to a $600,000 grant from NASA,” says Dr. Amspoker.

Today the Coulter Science Center houses Westminster academic programs in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physics, psychology, computer science, and management information systems.

The impact this new facility has had on life at Westminster has been huge. As a result of the new facility, faculty in the disciplines offered doubled in size. The level and amount of scientific research being conducted by students and faculty greatly increased because now the Center is conducive to independent research.

Certainly, the evidence reveals that the new Coulter Science Center has been a major factor in improving instruction and resources for Westminster students and expanding the opportunities offered to them. The 100th anniversary of Mr. Coulter’s birthday will be marked with a campus celebration on April 18 as a part of the Undergraduate Scholars Forum, which the Coulter Science Center makes possible.

When the new facility was dedicated in 2004, Dr. Tammy Stiller said: “The reality of this building is even better than what we imagined.”

That statement still holds true nine years later. www.westminster-mo.edu

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We Cannot

Stand

Still

Partners in presidency, Barney and Jane Forsythe lead Westminster from the front with commitment, passion, and generosity.

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Leadership winter 2013

“If we are to live the Westminster experience fully, we cannot stand still – we must be evolving as individuals and as a campus community. Together we will make the journey of transformation meaningful and memorable.”

T

hose words were shared by Dr. George B. “Barney” Forsythe as he assumed the helm of Westminster College as its 20th president during his standingroom-only inaugural ceremony in Champ Auditorium on August 23, 2008. However, no one could have fathomed at that time how fully he and his partner in the presidency, his wife Jane, would commit to moving the Westminster experience forward or the depth of their passion for the College.

Today, after half a decade as the campus leaders of this sacred institution, Barney and Jane Forsythe have demonstrated in countless ways their strong commitment to and love of Westminster College. They not only believe in leading by example, but to use Barney’s Army General parlance, they “always lead from the front.”

On no occasion was that any more apparent than at the President’s Dinner Oct. 19, 2012, when Westminster Board of Trustees Chair Bob Muehlhauser announced to the delighted crowd – a public recognition that was a complete surprise to Barney and Jane – that the President and First Lady of Westminster had made one of the most significant gift commitments of any President’s family in Westminster’s 161-year history.

As Chairman Muehlhauser told the audience that night: “It is not often that any college benefits so tremendously, and in so many ways, from a leadership team like Barney and Jane Forsythe. Together, they never cease searching for ways to make Westminster a better place. Barney and Jane make ongoing improvements to the President’s Home at their own expense.

They are always looking for ways to add touches of elegance and function to every area of campus. They make the largest staff commitment to the Westminster Fund each year, along with a generous annual contribution to the National Churchill Museum. Barney and Jane also took an early and personal interest in the startup cost for the Mesa Campus project. They established a challenge match for tuck pointing the exterior of The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. They personally sponsored this year’s Westminster Symposium, which still has the campus buzzing. And perhaps most significantly, have made a wonderful estate commitment. Their personal commitment of more than $337,000 over the next several years is a true inspiration for each of us.”

One of the main reasons honoring the Forsythes at the President’s Dinner was kept as a complete surprise to them was because those in charge of the event knew that had the couple known about it, they would have probably stopped such a public pronouncement by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees from being made. Both are very modest people, and their many financial gifts to the College have taken place behind the scenes.

When asked about that reluctance to talk about their giving, Jane was even reluctant to say anything on the subject until she was convinced that doing so might encourage others to follow their example. As she states, with her characteristic enthusiasm: “Our financial commitment comes from our wanting to sustain Westminster College far into the future. We believe in what happens here. We want to be a part of this!”

From the day President Forsythe first arrived in July 2005 as Vice President of the College and Dean of Faculty, the Forsythes have been more than a part of the Westminster community … They have made Westminster their lives.

“Jane and I felt that it would be both challenging and fun to bring our experience to a new place, to help with the upcoming institutional self-study and vision casting for Westminster’s future,” says President Forsythe. “We were prepared to meet the challenges we would face, along with the many joys we were anticipating as members of a new community. We also made a commitment to learn the things we needed to learn to be effective leaders.”

As a retired Army Brigadier General with 35 years of service to his country, President Forsythe was more than ready to be an effective leader after more than three decades of learning and applying the principles of leadership. He learned about leadership as a member of the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets, training for a life of guiding others to meet their objectives. He then led men and women as he moved up the officer ranks, culminating as he taught up-and-coming leaders as Vice Dean of West Point. He has studied, written and spoken extensively about leadership, authoring more than 40 publications and presentations. Today he is a sought-after speaker on the subject and is now a regular participant in social media as a blogger on leadership for Huffington Post. And yet, as

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President Barney and Jane Forsythe, Board of Trustees Chair Bob Muehlhauser, and Vice President of Institutional Advancement John Comerford

an expert on the subject with a lifetime of noteworthy experience, President Forsythe has discovered that his philosophy of leadership continues to evolve to meet new challenges.

“Focus and transparent communication were a part of my leadership style then and still are today.”

One of the largest challenges would come in October 2007 when President Forsythe agreed to serve as Interim President during the search process after the previous President’s departure. Certainly, President Forsythe’s past experience paid dividends as he attempted to help the College community through the change. “As a part of the transition, I wanted to help the Westminster family stay calm, focused and connected through effective communication,” President Forsythe says. “Focus and transparent communication were a part of my leadership style then and still are today.”

However, he soon found the life of a college president required looking at his world in a different way. “While program assessment and faculty development, teaching and learning, departmental budgeting all were tasks that I was comfortable doing and I understood their impact on an institution, I needed to make some adjustments in how I viewed daily Presidential duties like academics, student life, making friends and raising money,” he recalls. “I had experienced all of those areas as an academic leader at West

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Point and here at Westminster, but my level of attention to these would have to be different as President.”

Obviously, that new level of attention worked because President Forsythe’s leadership during this time of transition led to his full appointment as President in February 2008. At that time President Forsythe’s life went into overdrive. “One of the things we learned very early on,” he says, “is the difference in demands on our time.

The Presidency has a much different pace of life than that of Dean, and I am away from campus much more now. It becomes really difficult to feel and stay connected to the pulse of the campus, which is very important to me. The protocol demands are pretty heavy, too. Everyone wants to see the President when they feel they have something important to discuss about the school, and I can understand that. So, I’ve adapted and I think Jane has adapted to the new pace. We actually enjoy all the company at the 'Prez Rez' (their humorous name for the official President’s home on Westminster Avenue)."

In spite of all the demands on his time, President Forsythe is always committed to interacting with students, and students enjoy that personal contact. “I’ve been very deliberate about making myself available to our students. I eat in the Backer Dining Room nearly every day when I’m

in town and on campus,” President Forsythe says. “I love getting to see students in a casual setting, and I really enjoy getting to see them grow and develop.”

As for his role as the #1 cheerleader and recruiter for Westminster, President Forsythe sees himself as being a recruiter of parents as much as their prospective students.

“I do just about every Welcome to Westminster program for prospects,” he says. “That means I get an hour-anda-half with families that allows me the opportunity to build relationships. I get to learn their stories, and their stories become our stories.”

Perhaps the most challenging part of being President from Dr. Forsythe’s perspective is the financial aspects of the job. “I constantly have to ask myself: ‘How can we be the very best college and attract the very best students and still balance the budget? How can we manage funds wisely in this economy? How can we use the funds entrusted to us in the most creative way possible? How can we channel creative energy in ways that are inexpensive yet effective?’” he says.

President Forsythe sees decision-making as key to his leadership and leadership philosophy. “Making decisions at this level becomes increasingly complex, and even more so during times of uncertainty,” he says. “My goal, as a leader, is to minimize that uncertainty as much as possible. I’m not reluctant to make decisions during uncertain times, but I want to make sure we are counting the cost of our actions, and that we are making choices in a coordinated way, with the best analysis possible.”

However, President Forsythe admits he has needed to adapt the decision-making process from his military days.

“Unlike the military, we can’t lead by ordering in education,” he explains. “And while the core of leadership skills for an Army general holds true for any leader – know your job, lead from the front, and take care of your people – the process to arrive at a decisive plan of action is really much more complicated.”

“In the military, an officer leads the people he is assigned to lead, usually for a finite period of time,” he elaborates. “In education, as in other non-military organizations, we have the opportunity to create our own group by choosing many of those we will lead, and it’s often difficult to make changes in personnel quickly and when they are necessary.”

Decisions on a college campus are further complicated by

political considerations, concerns by constituents, the need to network to build adequate data to analyze, and the need to involve key stakeholders who can have a positive impact on a program’s outcome, according to President Forsythe.

“I think the biggest shift I’ve made in my decision process is in learning which decisions I absolutely must make to move Westminster College forward, and which decisions to let others make in their own areas of leadership,” he says. “I believe everyone should be encouraged to make decisions and do work at their own level of authority, in an environment where there is safety to do that. Leadership is ultimately about change … managing change and sometimes creating change, and change can be scary.”

President Forsythe, citing the work of Dr. Ron Heifitz at Harvard, talks about two different types of leadership challenges – technical and adaptive. “Technical challenges can often be solved based on technical expertise and experience,” he explains. “Adaptive leadership challenges – and this is what we are facing in higher education today – comes from the notion that we may not always have experience or expertise to guide us. We then need to ask ‘How can we get through this together?’ ‘How can we think creatively and adjust to uncertainty?’”

He says, “My commitment now is to create an environment where we put the best players on the field, who are empowered to make decisions and carry out their work at their own level, and to be prepared to constantly adapt to changing circumstances. If we can do that as an organization, our students can take our lead and make their lives and careers more adaptive to the changes they will face in the future.”

The decision to enroll women at Westminster in the late 1970s involved that scary kind of change. It was an adaptive process, with no real experience or structure to guide those in charge. And it absolutely changed the future for Westminster. Now, under President Forsythe’s leadership, Westminster has made a decision with the same potential for that type of institution-changing possibilities: the opening of a second Westminster College campus in Mesa, Arizona.

“Mesa offers Westminster several opportunities,” President Forsythe says. “It offers us the chance to, at the very least, replicate our programs for a new population of students who don’t have access to a small, liberal arts college, which would be wonderful by itself. But we also now have the

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opportunity to create an innovation incubator in Mesa, where we can put to work in the classroom what we have learned and believe about leadership, collaborative planning and execution, where we can perhaps rethink what a nationally-recognized liberal arts program looks like for the future.”

Although more soft-spoken in voice, Jane Forsythe’s strong support for Westminster College and her husband’s vision for its future comes through loud and clear. “We hold very firm to the fact that Westminster is a very special college that has provided a wonderful education across the last century and a half,” Jane says emphatically. “We believe in what happens here. I’ve been excited to be a part of the last five years, because they have been so dynamic. Even during the most challenging times, we know that we immediately fell in love with Fulton and Westminster, and we love living the mission.

That sense of mission has gotten us through some challenging days. We have our commitment confirmed every day by interaction with students and faculty. I’ve also been gratified to get to know so many of our alumni who are concerned, supportive and dedicated. We’re committed to help continue this great tradition as a couple, because we are truly all in this together.”

With Jane’s support, and in partnership with the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, Cheerleader-in-Chief Barney Forsythe can point to a large number of Westminster achievements under his leadership. The College has maintained consistent enrollment and fundraising numbers, with several years breaking historical records; has unveiled a new strategic plan; has garnered many new national recognitions and accolades; has transformed the campus into a global community; and is implementing the largest number of new academic programs and initiatives in several years. But

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making decisions to move forward during what some would consider challenging times for higher education hasn’t always been easy.

As President Forsythe states, “By nature I tend to be risk aversive and personally conservative. Some days I come in the office and I think ‘We can pull this off!’ Other days, I ask myself ‘Can we really pull this off?'" he says with a grin. “But, I am convinced that even in the face of such dramatic change in higher education, we can ‘pull this off ’ if we remain true to our mission – to prepare leaders in a global community who live lives of success, significance and service. To prepare our students to be that type of leader, we must prepare them to be adaptable to their environment and to the needs of the world.

If we want them to be adaptive, we must be prepared to be adaptive as educators and mentors as we develop a successful environment in which they can learn.”

President Forsythe’s inaugural words, “we cannot stand still,” when he assumed the Westminster Presidency, as with all he says, were heart-felt and uttered not as pure rhetoric, but as a call to action for himself and everyone who loves Westminster. Barney and Jane Forsythe are never still. They live the Westminster experience as fully as any President and First Lady could and inspire others to do the same.

Whether with their donations, their involvement, their vision, or their words, they motivate all who share their love of Westminster to try harder. And as the Forsythes have evolved into the leadership team that the College needed these past five years, Westminster has evolved into a campus community with a clear vision and bright future. Barney and Jane Forsythe promised a “journey of transformation” that would be “meaningful and memorable.” They keep that promise every day.

Giving Back, Making a Difference

Felders Give Gift of Education

Bill Felder, Class of 1980 and a member of Delta Tau Delta, and his wife Katherine had a simple wish. “We want to help a student attend Westminster that wouldn’t otherwise have the chance,” says Bill.

Thus, the William D. Felder Leadership Grant was born.

Spencer came all the way from Arizona and loves Westminster. “Not only do I enjoy my classes and campus activities, the Felders are even sending me to a National Outdoor Leadership course this summer.”

The grant targets a high-potential student, in both academics and leadership, who wants to attend Westminster but cannot afford the expense. The grant provides the recipient with a full ride – tuition, fees, room, board, even social dues and a monthly stipend.

“I’m just happy to help out,” says Bill. Bill and Katherine hope to expand the scholarship each year until each class has a Felder grant recipient. “That would really be fun for us,” Bill says. “We have enjoyed getting to know Spencer, and the more students we can know, the better.”

“Imagine going from having to attend a local college that you didn’t really like, but could afford, to getting a call telling you that you have a full ride to Westminster,” says the grant’s first recipient, Spencer O’Gara, ’16.

Westminster Director of Financial Aid Aimee Bristow is thankful to have the new scholarship. “This is really going to make a difference for many future students and will help Westminster add a really high quality student to each class.” www.westminster-mo.edu

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An Honor of Legacy, Religion and Faith Westminster Benefits from New Harrod-C.S. Lewis Professorship in Religious Studies

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hose attending the opening ceremony of the Westminster Symposium on religion last September were treated to a special announcement when President Barney Forsythe took the stage. James W. “Jim” Harrod, Westminster Class of 1957, and his wife Sharon from Horseshoe Bay, Texas, had established the HarrodC.S. Lewis Professorship in Religious Studies.

“This professor will be a leader among the faculty, a mentor to the students and a prominent scholar in the field,” said President Forsythe. “Westminster has five other active professorships or chairs and adding a sixth is a huge step forward. This is happening purely because of the love Jim and Sharon have for the College and their support of it. I have no way to adequately thank them for this, but I thought 1,000 students, faculty and staff giving a standing ovation would be a fitting place to start.”

The Westminster endowed chair program was established originally to demonstrate how much Westminster values extraordinary teaching. This program is the hallmark of academic quality and provides a way to honor distinguished teachers. The goal of the program is to dramatically influence the future of education at Westminster. The five other Westminster faculty members who hold these cherished positions have national reputations for teaching, mentoring, research, and publication.

With this new, sixth chair, Jim and Sharon Harrod wanted to emphasize the dimension of faith in the whole-person education of college students and simultaneously to honor the legacy of the late British professor of medieval literature, C. S. Lewis.

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Named as first occupant for the Harrod-C. S. Lewis Professorship in Religious Studies, Dr. Cliff Cain delivers opening remarks for the 2012 Westminster Symposium on religion.

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From left to right, Jim and Sharon Harrod and Jane and President Barney Forsythe.

“We want to preserve faith as a viable part of the academic experience,” says Sharon Harrod. “C.S. Lewis epitomized academic excellence, and his name is recognizable to everyone and is respected. So it is a natural fit.”

Clive Staples (“Jack”) Lewis was a 1923 graduate of Oxford University, and Professor of English Language and Literature there from 1925-1954. Subsequently, he became Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University from 1954 until his death in 1963. A declared atheist at the age of 15, he converted to Christianity at the age of 33 and became one of the most prolific and distinguished advocates and defenders of the Christian religion in the last century. Heralded as the “Apostle to the Skeptics,” C. S. Lewis devoted himself to explaining the credibility of Christian faith and through these efforts was viewed as “one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential Christian writers of his day.” Through authoring more than 30 books of accessible and popular theology, children’s stories, and fantasy literature, he became internationally renowned and acclaimed.

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Meet Alumnus Jim Harrod, Westminster Class of 1957 Jim Harrod was born in Mexico, Missouri, and attended Fulton High School in Fulton, Missouri, where he was student body president. He started an Edward Jones office in Marshall, Texas, at a time when the company only had 70 offices. He became regional manager of five states and then a General Partner in 1974. In 1990, he became head of the Edward Jones training department in St. Louis and served on the firm’s management committee as well. He was a charter member of the security industry group that designed the securities continuing education program.

Jim Harrod is retired from Edward Jones and a member of the Westminster Board of Trustees since 1995. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Development Committee and a member of the Investment Committee on the Board. He was a biology major and a member of the Missouri Gamma Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity as a Westminster student.

The Harrod-C. S. Lewis Professorship in Religious Studies will contribute to this enduring legacy of Professor Lewis by advocating intelligent, mature reflection and discussion of relevant topics and issues of religion and faith, and will also celebrate Westminster College’s already-existent British connection through Winston Churchill’s epic “Iron Curtain Speech” in 1946, the Churchill Institute, and the Center for Engaging the World.

The Reverend Clifford Chalmers Cain, Ph.D., has been recently named as the occupant of the professorship. Having previously taught at Franklin College near Indianapolis, the University of Alabama, and Berea College in Kentucky, Dr. Cain has served Westminster College for the past three years as Professor of Religious Studies. He undertook advanced education at Princeton, The State University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Vanderbilt, and Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan. The holder of a doctorate in theology and a doctorate in ecology, he is the author of six books, six collections of sermons, and numerous articles and book reviews. Three of his latest books address the interface between theology and science, faith and ecology – An Ecological Theology (2009), Down to Earth (2010), and Many Heavens, One Earth (2012).

This summer he will serve for three months as Theologian-inResidence at the Church of the Holy Cross in Hilo, Hawaii.

The Harrod-C. S. Lewis Professorship will provide Dr. Cain with the opportunity to conduct research, engage in writing, and submit products for potential publication.

“The Harrod-C.S. Lewis Professorship in Religious Studies honors the legacy of C.S. Lewis – a creative thinker, gifted writer, highly-regarded teacher and widely-respected individual,” says Dr. Cain. “As the occupant of this professorship, I plan to use topics and issues that C.S. Lewis accented in his writings as a guide and springboard for the various programs. For example, he was very interested in how science and religion related, was personally affected by philosophical issues such as the problem of pain and suffering, and frequently used fiction to devise metaphors for the religious journey and the Christian faith."

Dr. Cain will also offer lectures, and arrange lectures by others, on themes that were accented by C. S. Lewis and that are pertinent to religious faith today. In that regard, he provided the inaugural lecture of what has been termed “The Lewis Legacy Lectures” on Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, on campus. This first lecture in the series is entitled, “Between Athens and Jerusalem: The Necessary Dilemma of Being a Thinking Christian.”

The Harrod-C.S. Lewis Professorship became active in January, and the chair will be fully funded in the future through a bequest.

“My wife and I initiated this professorship to give back to the College,” says Jim Herrod. “I’ve always admired C.S. Lewis, and because of the English connection, I thought it fitting.”

The Association of Churchill Fellows Board of Governors invites you to the presentation of the

Winston Churchill Medal for Leadership

AwA r d r e c i p i e n t A m bA s s A d o r s t e p h e n f. b r A u e r Westminster College, Class of 1967

thursdAy, April 18, 2013 st. louis, missouri

The Winston Churchill Leadership Medal is presented to civic and business leaders who exemplify those leadership qualities demonstrated by Winston Spencer Churchill. Award recipients include Dr. William Danforth, Walter Cronkite, John Bachmann and Sir John Major.

For event and ticket information, please contact Kit Freudenberg at 573-592-5022 Kit.Freudenberg@churchillmemorial.org www.westminster-mo.edu

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Living Up to its Name: Westminster's Center for Career Development

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t’s impossible to turn on the news without hearing about the economic climate and current unemployment rate. While the current unemployment rate for the general population is high, Westminster College’s recent graduates have a strong history of securing meaningful employment or getting accepted into graduate programs of their choice. The beginning of that success in today’s Center for Career Development was born in 1974 when President Dale Purcell appointed Sally Reynolds as the first Director of Placement. She was promoted from an administrative assistant position in the Dean’s office to head the effort of assisting seniors secure employment. When Sally retired as Placement Director in 1998, she left behind a legacy that not only touched the lives of many of Westminster’s graduates but also helped launch their successful careers.

With a 95 percent “placement rate,” Westminster continues to carry on its tradition of helping students secure their futures, many of whom go on to be highly successful in their respective fields.

However, the term “placement,” implying a deliberative “matching”

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How does Westminster College actually prepare students to meet the demands of their first destination after college, whether it is employment or graduate school?

The success of Westminster students is a campus-wide and continual effort undertaken by all campus entities.

Faculty set high expectations in class and develop the problem solving, communication, and critical thinking skills employers seek in new hires.

More than 60 campus organizations allow students to develop and practice their leadership and interpersonal skills.

The Center for Career Development’s programs and resources prepare Westminster graduates to meet the needs of today’s employers and to lead lives of success, significance, and service.

The Center for Career Development works with Westminster students – freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors – to prepare them to secure employment or to enter graduate/ professional school through the following: Career advising

of an individual’s career across his/her educational experience. A recently revised vision and mission statement reflect a commitment to incorporate a dynamic developmental experience for students and an alignment with the College’s Strategic Plan and Concept for Student Development.

Career Advising, or “Help! I don’t know what to major in!”

Resume critique Mock interviews One-on-one meetings, workshops and guest speakers Internship help Electronic assessments and job boards

of a senior with an employer, is a misnomer and fails to describe the more interactive nature of the modern role of college career services. In the late 1980s, while Sally Reynolds continued her role of helping seniors find jobs, the College was expanding its role to include assisting students find internships and also providing career counseling. In 1989 an internship coordinator was hired to lead a burgeoning internship program previously spearheaded by faculty; this position also called for providing career counseling.

After Sally’s retirement and the internship coordinator's departure in 1998, the College hired Meg Langland to be Director of the Office of Career Services. Meg had experience working at the University of Missouri-Columbia Career Center and had also served as Director of Career Services at another private liberal arts college. Assisted by Barb McGee, who had faithfully served Sally as an administrative assistant, Meg began to manage the Internship Program and Career Services programs under one roof. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with more than 15 years of career counseling experience, Meg also assumed the duties of providing “undecided students” with career-counseling.

Many students enter college not knowing what to major in or end up changing their major. This is normal, and the decision-making often takes time and a variety of experiences to determine the best career path.

To assist with this process, all freshmen are introduced to career-related resources during their Westminster Seminar’s Leader Within class, allowing them to learn how they can further explore and fulfill their career goals. They are provided “A Four-Year Success Plan,” a guideline that specifies what they should be doing during each of their four years at Westminster in order to adequately prepare for graduation.

To help students identify personal traits that might fit with various occupations, the Center for Career Development offers three careerrelated assessments. In their first semester, freshmen enrolled in the Leader Within class are required to take Focus 2, an on-line assessment that matches their interests, values, and skills with various career fields.

This assessment provides “undecided” students with careers to consider, and may also confirm fields students have already chosen. Focus 2 guides students through a reliable career and education decision-making model to help them choose their major and make informed decisions about their career.

During the 2011- 2012 year, Career Development staff had 1,000+ contacts with students via appointments, walk-in assistance or on-line inquiries.

During the past 23 years, several internship coordinators have guided Westminster’s successful internship program, including Dan Hough, Dr. Beth Gold, Linda Lorenz, Dan Gomez-Palacio, and most recently, Abigail Manwell. In 2004 the Office of Career Services moved from Westminster Hall to the lower level of Newnham Hall, following a renovation of the space previously occupied by the psychology department. Thanks to College support, an anonymous donor, and the generosity of Greg Richard ’88, the former observation lab was converted to a working space for students and aptly named the “Greg Richard Career Resource Center.”

In the fall of 2012, the Office of Career Services changed its name to the Center for Career Development. Although no change in programming or office responsibilities occurred, the name change more closely reflects an emphasis on the on-going development

If students desire more in-depth career counseling, they may take the Strong Interest Inventory (SII) or the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) and follow-up with an individual interpretation with Meg Langland.

Occasionally, students decide to pursue another field they previously hadn’t considered just prior to graduation. Meg helps these students, most of whom are seeking individual assistance for the first time, explore their options and supports them as they come to a decision that is best for them. For example, Lee Goatley ’12 decided she didn’t want to go to medical school at the start of her senior year and through the assessment tools and guidance of the Center decided to pursue a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Kentucky.

Westminster’s Internship Program: A Foot in the Door The old adage “there’s no substitute for experience” could not be truer in today’s economy. In fact, 73.7 percent of employers surveyed prefer candidates who have had relevant work experience, according to a 2012 employer survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Since its inception in 1989, Westminster’s Internship Program has established a strong history of working closely with students,

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faculty and employers. More than 50 percent of Westminster students complete an internship before graduation, with the program currently serving over 200 students yearly. Students may now earn up to 12 internship credits throughout their time at Westminster.

Westminster’s Internship Coordinator and Assistant Director Abigail Manwell strives to maintain the academic integrity of the Internship Program, working with faculty to ensure that the experience is a true learning endeavor tied to reflection and classroom theory. Beginning with the internship search, Abigail encourages students to see how the experience will assist them in achieving their career goals.

The Internship Program makes a concerted effort to remain knowledgeable of current trends in experiential education.

Programs have been improved and added that help students prepare for life after the columns. Some examples include the Emerson Fellowship in our nation’s capital; a full-time internship option; donor-sponsored scholarships such as those offered by Trustees William Tyler and Greg Richard; and the new Capital Internship program at the State Capitol taught by former Senate President Pro-Tem Michael Gibbons ’81, and coordinated by Dr. Tobias Gibson, Associate Professor of Political Science.

Career Preparation Begins on Campus Although a degree from Westminster is highly esteemed, it alone will not secure employment or admission to a graduate program. How well prepared candidates are in terms of interpersonal skills, critical thinking, problem solving, experience in their field, and adeptness in both verbal and written communication skills are also of importance in actually getting hired or accepted into graduate school. Professionalism , one of the five domains under Westminster’s Concept for Student Development, includes the development of job-seeking skills that enrich a Westminster student’s total experience, truly connecting campus to career.

Every year, Westminster students have the opportunity to develop their professional or career preparation skills through attending numerous educational workshops and events offered by the Center for Career Development, some of which are targeted to specific groups or majors. During the 2011-12 academic year, the center hosted 67 events, some of which were co-sponsored with other departments or student organizations.

Mock interviews are also held regularly and prepare students for real-life interviews, whether they are for a full-time job, internship or graduate school. Student candidates for positions of campus leadership where an interview is required, such as becoming an Ambassador or Blue Blazer, have also taken advantage of the confidential mock interviewing service.

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Thanks to the donation of an anonymous alumnus, an elegantly decorated room, known as the Sally Reynolds Interview Room, is available to both employers who come on campus as well as those who want to practice their skills in this area. Nathan Moulton ’12, a first-year medical student at the University of MissouriColumbia School of Medicine, credits his practice interview with helping him be a confident and successful candidate for medical school.

Robert Marti '13 looks over GRE preparation materials in the Greg Richard Career Resource Center with Career Specialist Paula Moscoso '14 and Director Meg Langland. This fall Robert will pursue a PhD in Chemistry at Stanford University, one of the nation's top programs.

Job Searching Today

Gearing up for Graduate School

Fifteen years ago, students found jobs through networking and checking postings on a bulletin board outside Sally Reynolds’ office.

Since that time, Westminster has continued its strong tradition of maintaining contact with alumni but has also adapted the current trend of offering an on-line career management system to students, available on a 24/7 basis.

Approximately 32 percent of Westminster students from the Class of 2011 went on to graduate or professional school. Together with the faculty, the Center for Career Development offers guidance in deciding on appropriate programs, preparing for entrance exams, and writing personal statements. More than 50 books dealing with gaining admission to graduate programs and preparing for specific entrance exams are available for check-out in the Greg Richard Career Resource Center as well as through the campus Mobius system.

Columns CareerLink is Westminster’s venue for posting jobs and internships. With the ability to post jobs locally as well as to publicize national listings, Columns CareerLink lets students apply for jobs in the comfort of their resident hall and serves as a source of career information.

Other highly respected electronic resources available to Westminster students and graduates, most of which are password protected, include Going Global, Career Athletes, and Career Insider (also known as Vault).

Besides electronic resources, personal attention is given to students who wish to meet with a staff member on an individual basis.

Students are also referred to alumni and other contacts who will assist them in reaching their career goals. The Class of 2011-2012 found employment in a variety of organizations that included forprofit, non-profit and educational institutions.

“One of the joys of my job is seeing students I worked with in the past come back to campus to present a program as an ‘expert in their field,’” says Meg, who has helped hundreds of students over the years. “It is very rewarding to know that they chose the right path and used their Westminster experience as a springboard to fulfill their post-graduate aspirations.”

The Final Test: What do employers of Westminster graduates think?

It is not uncommon for employers to frequently comment to the Center for Career Development staff on the ability of Westminster students to successfully transition into the workplace.

This is often credited to a strong work ethic and the development www.westminster-mo.edu

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Top Ten Job Searching Tips for Westminster Alumni 4. Use at least three methods to look for a job. In addition to networking, search for positions listed through professional associations, by applying for county, state or federal jobs, by registering with your local state-funded employment office, or with reputable private employment agencies in your area (preferable for the employer to pay the fee).

5. Learn salary ranges and cost of living information through talking to employees and browsing websites such as payscale.com, salary.com, and glassdoor.com. This will equip you for salary negotiations and help you learn more about the industry or company.

6. Check the job postings on Westminster’s Columns CareerLink and also find a variety of career-related information. Contact the Center for Career Development for information on how to access CareerLink.

1. Target your job search to specific industries or employers.

Make a list of top ten employers you would like to work for and check their websites for openings. Network through friends, family, alumni and social media to find a contact who works there. Ask your contact for tips on navigating the application process and to pass your resume on to the person hiring. Apply on-line, and then follow-up to keep in touch.

2. Be able to identify your “transferable” skills and why you are qualified for the position. Too often applicants make the mistake of saying they are “open” and willing to do anything.

Be prepared to give examples of your competencies, and how these fit with the position. Often the most experienced person doesn’t get hired, but the one with an ability to learn quickly, think analytically, communicate well, and problem solve does. Be able to communicate these traits and skills in your interview.

3. Reach out to alumni who have been successful in their areas of expertise. Join Westminster College Alumni Group on LinkedIn and our Facebook page (Westminster College MO) to network and connect with other alumni as well as faculty and staff. If you would like additional information on alumni in your area, contact the Alumni Office. Attend alumni events in your area to renew ties and to expand your network.

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7. Access the Center for Career Development’s resources such as Vault-Career Insider (for occupational, company and industry information) and Going Global (for international and local jobs/internships). These can be accessed through MyWC or by contacting Kristy Chitwood, Office Coordinator, at Kristy.

Chitwood@westminster-mo.edu.

8. Contact the Center for Career Development for assistance with a résumé review, mock interview, and/or career counseling (small fee for assessment; no charge for interpretation). Send resumes to be reviewed to CareerSrv@ westminster-mo.edu with “alumni” in the subject line and a note saying for what type of position you are applying.

9. Network, network and network! Join professional associations, volunteer with your favorite charity, or get a “stop-gap” job where you interact with the public and potential employers. It is much easier to get a job when you have a job or are currently involved in an activity – even if it is not paid – that expands your skills and builds your resume.

10. Keep learning! Show potential employers you are a lifelong learner through learning new skills. Enroll in a technology, or management class, often available through a local college, your public library, career center, or adult evening education program. Explore the possibility of earning an advanced degree or certification to open even further opportunities to you in an area of interest.

“Meg and her staff reviewed my resume before I applied to internships and to graduate school. Their help was invaluable, and I was offered an internship at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center.

Meg also advised me during my graduate school application process, including helping me with my personal statement. This guidance was once again very rewarding; I applied to six graduate schools and was accepted to all, including Rice University in Houston, TX from where I received a PhD in Chemistry in 2010.

Career Services helped me find an internship which was a perfect fit for me, and their help in completing graduate school applications was especially helpful. Additionally, the guidance from Career Services helped me years later when I was searching for jobs and postdoc positions after I graduated from Rice.”

Dr. Rizia Bardan, PhD Chemistry Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN Named to Forbes 30 under 30 List

of communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills.

Westminster’s small class sizes, the availability of professors to assist students individually, and the opportunity for quality oncampus social interaction all serve to develop a well-rounded individual who can adapt to the ever-changing work environment.

“We have a strong history of hiring Westminster graduates that goes back decades,” says Eric Koestner ’98, Edward Jones, General Partner – Taxable Fixed Income, St. Louis. “From legends of our firm to brand new hires, Westminster graduates have made a positive impact on our company and our clients. They have been perceived by other employees as having a strong academic background, leadership skills, and the ability to build relationships.”

The experience of attending a college where approximately 15 percent of the population is international and where learning outside the classroom is promoted through experiential learning develops a wider view of the world than many recent college graduates hold. Westminster graduates are proof that the model of liberal arts education is still alive and well, and more importantly, they are ready to enter the workforce or graduate programs as future leaders.

According to Brock Ayers ’82, Financial Advisor, CFP, First Vice President – Investments, for Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis, Westminster College graduates hired by Wells Fargo Advisors garner excellent feedback from recruiters and hiring managers.

“Our graduates appear to function very well as part of a team, they seem to enjoy significant peer respect, and they are constantly seeking more and better responsibilities,” Brock says. “I think they have represented Westminster quite well and have helped enhance the reputation of the College through its best calling card: the students and graduates themselves.”

“From legends of our firm to brand new hires, Westminster graduates have made a positive impact on our company and our clients. They have been perceived by other employees as having a strong academic background, leadership skills and the ability to build relationships.”

James Phiri ’12 recipient of the Greg Richard Scholarship (left) and Greg Richard ’88 (right)

“Sally Reynolds was responsible for improving the image of the Westminster Placement Office among top employers and graduate schools during her tenure as Director of Placement.

My favorite memory of Sally was when she was explaining how to dress for an out-of-town interview: She said we should buy suits that you could ‘wad up in a ball and pull them out of a suitcase without any wrinkles.’ My support of the Greg Richard Career Resource Center and the creation of the Sally Reynolds Interviewing Room stands as permanent reminders of the impact she has had on the personal lives and professional careers of many of the College’s alumni.”

– Greg Richard ’88, Trustee

www.westminster-mo.edu

31

"For me, the most helpful part about the Center of Career Development was the interview prep. Meg and her staff taught me how to interview well. I still refer to the interview notes I took, and I still remember many of the tips and suggestions they gave me. I have had several interviews since graduating from Westminster in May 2010, and I am confident in my interview skills because of the preparation advice I received from the Center for Career Development.

About a year after graduating, I contacted Meg for help with my resume. She replied right away with suggestions and tips as to how I could better present myself. This is just one example as to how dedicated Westminster faculty and staff are to their students – current and former. I am convinced that you would not find this dedication at a huge university.

I honestly would not be at Wells Fargo Advisors if it wasn’t for the interview prep and the resume suggestions provided by Meg and her staff. Furthermore, I would not have been able to secure a job a month after graduating if it wasn’t for the alumni connections that are made possible because of the close-knit Westminster community. " Jillian (Bone) Johnson ’10 Operations Specialist at Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis, MO

Where do Westminster graduates go?

2%

1%

4%

Law School Health Related Programs Other Grad Programs

9%

For Profit

23% 19%

Nonprofit Teaching Military

22%

Divinity School 44%

Based on 84 percent of 2011 graduates contacted within six months of graduation.

Total exceeds 100% as students may work while attending graduate school.

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Leadership winter 2013

ONLINE ON CAMPUS Whether it’s textbooks or the latest Westminster College apparel and gifts, you can find it all on the Westminster College Bookstore website.

Westminster College Bookstore

Mueller Leadership Hall | westminster-mo.bkstr.com www.westminster-mo.edu

33

Creating the Greatest Impact on Campus – The Westminster Fund Each day on the campus of Westminster College, every single student, faculty member, and academic program is supported by an unseen army of thousands of loyal supporters. These donors make a living and breathing difference on campus through their support to the Westminster Fund, fueling the people and programs at the core of the Westminster mission. Here’s a look at how your support to the Westminster Fund makes an important impact on campus.

Faculty ................................

Academic Programs .................................

The Westminster Fund allows the

Westminster offers unique academic

College to maintain a top-notch body

programming for students. From the

of more than 60 full-time faculty

new Global Leaders in Residence lecture

members. Our faculty engages

series to the Westminster Seminar

students through dynamic and close-

program, the Westminster Fund fuels

knit classes, with a student to faculty

meaningful academic programs to

ratio of 14:1.

enrich the student experience.

Scholarships .................................

In today’s highly competitive environment in higher education, scholarships are vital to the enrollment process. Offering solid financial aid packages allows Westminster to attract and retain the best and brightest students.

Support to the Westminster Fund allows the College to provide much-needed scholarship assistance to more than 80 percent of our current student body.

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Leadership winter 2013

Facilities and Grounds .................................

The best classes and faculty members are housed inside the four walls of academic buildings. The Westminster Fund helps to maintain buildings and grounds so that Westminster’s campus can be as impressive on the outside as the educational experience it offers.

Athletics .................................

The Westminster Fund supports more than 30 percent of the student body that participates in NCAA Division III sports. The College offers 16 varsity teams, providing opportunities for students to compete

Career Development .......................................................

as athletes while focusing

The Center of Career Development at Westminster

on academics. As soccer player

prepares students for real-world success through prestigious

Sean Peterson said, “My coaches

internships and placement in graduate school

know I’m a student, and my teachers

and employment. Within one year of graduation,

know I’m an athlete.” Westminster’s

74 percent of graduates secure jobs and 31 percent

Division III athletic program is an

enroll in graduate programs. As the numbers suggest, some

important recruiting tool to attract

graduates pursue graduate degrees while working. The

bright student who want a diverse

Westminster Fund helps the Center of Career Development

college experience that includes

host dozens of career workshops and seminars each

varsity competition.

semester to assist students.

From providing scholarships to supporting faculty and academic programs, you can play an important role in making all of these things possible at Westminster. Join the army of supporters by making a gift this year to the Westminster Fund. Give online at www.westminster-mo.edu/giving and watch your gift make an important difference on campus.

www.westminster-mo.edu

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A n

O verview

of

Visit Alumni Weekend

Central on Latshaw Plaza.

Friday, April 19: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 20: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

A lumni

W ee k end

2 0 1 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Champ Auditorium & Coulter Science Center Celebrate the tradition of scholarship and research. Current students will highlight their achievement and research on important current topics through paper and poster presentations and creative performances.

The Coulter 100th Birthday Celebration TBD, Coulter Science Center Atrium Alumni Award Winner Dinner 5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. dinner. By invitation only

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 Westminster/William Woods Golf Tournament 10 a.m., Shotgun Start (Registration begins at 9 a.m.)

Tanglewood Golf Course

Join your former classmates and other alumni for Alumni Weekend 2013 and celebrate your Westminster College days!

As we look forward to exciting times for the College, Alumni Weekend is the chance for you, as alumni, to gather, remember and share your Westminster experience. The 2013 theme – “What’s Your Story?” – is your invitation to step back in time.

Tell us – How did Westminster impact your life? What’s your favorite memory?

Email your tale to alumni@westminster-mo.edu before April 1. Or, during Alumni Weekend, stop by Alumni Central (under the tent on Latshaw Plaza) to share your story.

Old Guard Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Marsh/Jones Suite, Mueller Leadership Hall (Classes of 1963 and before) Catch up with fellow Old Guard alumni and learn about the new Churchill Institute.

Alumni Weekend Luncheon 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Mueller Leadership Hall Enjoy the new “dorm food” experience and meet current Westminster students.

Baseball 1 p.m. The Blue Jays take on Principia.

Campus Tours by Students 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., Meet at Alumni Weekend Central

www.westminster-mo.edu

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A n

O verview

of

A lumni

Westminster/William Woods Cocktail Party 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mueller Leadership Hall, Backer Dining Room & Patio Grab your old friends and make new memories in the Snapshot photo booth. Appetizers and cash bar.

Westminster Senior Soirée 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Mueller Leadership Hall, Backer Dining Room & Patio Seniors will be invited to Cocktail Party to network with alums. Senior Salute Program will begin at 7:30 p.m. – Alumni Council members need to attend.

Class of 1963 – Golden Anniversary Dinner 6:30 p.m., Bek’s Class picture, medals and dinner for the Class of 1963

2 0 1 3

Gathering of all Westminster Women 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., Johnson College Inn in Hunter Activity Center Celebrate more than 34 years of Westminster women – Westminster Graduate Speaker Westminster Alumni Awards Convocation 10:30 a.m., Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury Join us in recognizing the 2013 Alumni Award recipients and the Golden Anniversary of the Class of 1963.

Alumni Weekend Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Latshaw Plaza BBQ at the tent – Alumni Council to host Campus Tours by Students 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. at Alumni Weekend Central

Tap Room Alumni Reunion All night, 1851 Underground (formally known as The Tap Room)

Baseball 1 p.m. The Blue Jays take on Principia.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013

NEW! Westminster Timelines

Westminster Triathlon 7:45 a.m. Start time Iron Phi 5K 8 a.m. Hosted by Phi Delta Theta Westminster Wake Up 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., Alumni Weekend Central Enjoy coffee and pastries while you read the newspapers, look at old yearbooks and visit with students Columns of Commitment Breakfast 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., Marsh/Jones By invitation only.

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Leadership winter 2013

3 p.m. - 5 p.m., Coulter Science Center A new and exciting event is taking place this year called Westminster Timelines!

Enjoy an opportunity to reach and reconnect with Westminster alumni from your own DECADE. Our timeline will be marked by classes of the 50/60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s! Celebrate with a cash bar, music of the decade, and an overall blast from the past! Decades will be divided in Coulter Science Center. Stay tuned for upcoming details!

DO NOT MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RELIVE THE WESTMINSTER EXPERIENCE.

President’s Reception 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. President’s Home, 250 South Westminster. By invitation only for members of the President’s Club and True Blue Society.

FIJI 2013 Pig Dinner

5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Mueller Student Center By invitation only.

Alumni Weekend Dinner 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mueller Leadership Hall Enjoy the new “dorm food” experience and meet current Westminster students.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013 Alumni, Student and Friends Church Service 10 a.m., Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury Alumni Council Meeting 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Marsh/Jones Suite, Mueller Leadership Hall Alumni Weekend Brunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Mueller Leadership Hall

ALUMNI WEEKEND ONLINE

WWW.WESTMINSTER-MO.EDU/GO/ALUMNIWEEKEND > ALUMNI WEEKEND SCHEDULE > AREA HOTELS & RESTAURANTS > LIST OF WHO IS COMING BACK FOR THE WEEKEND > REGISTER ONLINE

www.westminster-mo.edu

39

Westminster Welcomes Mather as Alumni Director

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Alumni Weekend

1 2 3 4 5

Reminisce and Reconnect with Friends and Classmates

See What’s New on Campus

The new year brought a new face to Westminster College as Sharon Mather began her duties as Director of Alumni Engagement and Event Management.

“Sharon brings 20 years of experience working in college advancement and alumni offices,” says John Comerford, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “We’re thrilled to have her on the team.”

Mather began her career in higher education at MacMurray College in Illinois, holding several positions in the advancement area which culminated with her becoming Director of Alumni Services for the college.

“We moved to Fulton in 2008 because of my husband’s new job,” says Mather. “And many of my friends and colleagues told me I should work for Westminster.”

It took a few years for the right position to open up, and Mather worked as Annual Fund Coordinator at William Woods University in the interim.

“I know Westminster and have long admired its traditions, national reputation, and strong alumni community,” Mather adds. “I can’t wait to help spread the word about how special this place is.”

Mather welcomes contact from alumni who want to get involved. She can be reached at sharon.mather@westminster-mo.edu or 573-592-6050.

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Leadership winter 2013

Enjoy Great Food and Fellowship

Pick-up Your Free T-Shirt

Share Your Story

6 7 8 9 10 Meet Today’s Westminster Students

Visit with President Forsythe

Tour Campus and Stop by the Bookstore to Get Your Westminster Gear

Party with Your Peers at the Westminster Timeline Party

Relive the Westminster Experience

class notes 1. Mike Jensen '62 and John Prater '63 2. Elizabeth Blackwell '93 3. Anna Shallenberger '85 1.

2.

3.

Dolph Bridgewater ’55 was featured in the summer 2012 issue of Washington University Magazine.

John Hauer ’86 published an article, “The Fat Man Always Slaps Twice,” in the magazine The Aikido Journal.

Mike Jensen ’62 and John Prater ’63 were featured in an article in the Centralia Sentinel about their reunion trip in Cincinnati. The story is entitled, “Old College Friends Meet for Trip on Ohio River.”

Tricia (Frerichs) Becker ’90 was promoted to Senior Vice President as a Credit Review Manager with Bank of America-Merrill Lynch in St. Louis, MO.

Robert Hamilton ’65 posted his novel, Dr. Dark, which details the impact of an academic sociopath towards her family, friends and colleagues, to Amazon.com.

Bob Paul ’69 was selected to the Governing Board of the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay. Mark Burroff ’76 is Director of Technical Services with the NCAA in Indianapolis, IN. Kevin Gordon ’81 was elected President of Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C., the oldest and one of the largest law firms in Oklahoma.

Scott McRuer ’82 is a member of the Board of Trustees at Park University.

Anna Shallenberger ’85 received an SLA Presidential Citation for her work with Special Libraries Association Headquarters at the 2012 Annual Conference.

Katherine Kim ’90 is currently seeking her Master of Science Degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA. Kim also has a Master of Arts Degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins University.

(Correction from last issue: Kim was

not personally featured on the TODAY show. The company she worked for, HealthyDiningFinder.com, was.)

Brian Sloss ’90 is the owner of Eleven Point River Canoe Rental and was recently featured in the August/September Issue of Missouri Life Magazine, in a piece written by Westminster student Lauren Hughes ’14.

Ruth (LeClercq) Pohlman ’91 was promoted to Director of Assessment and Secondary Education for Jefferson County Schools in Tennessee. Prior to accepting this position, she served as Principal at Jefferson Elementary School and Rush Strong School.

4.

4. Maddy Mayadunne '11

Elizabeth Blackwell ’93 was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the category of “Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action- Defendants.”

She is an attorney in the St. Louis office of Thompson Coburn LLP. John Rooney ’94 was appointed Vice President of Information Services with Shelter Insurance in Columbia, MO. Jennifer (O’Donley) Bondurant ’96 accepted the position of Executive Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications at Westminster College.

Ben “Ari” Foster ’96 was named to the board of Boeing Sikorsky Aircraft Support (BSAS). He is also the Senior Counsel to Integrated Logistics, a division of Boeing’s Defense Space & Security Business Unit in St. Louis, MO. He resides in Kirkwood, MO with his wife Kelly and sons, Hale and Harrison.

Dr. Casey Kayser ’01 is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of English at the University of Arkansas.

Betsy (Sharp) Lynch ’02 was selected by the Kansas City Business Journal as one of their 2012 Best of the Bar. Dr. Juris Pupcenoks ’04 is an assistant professor of political science at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. www.westminster-mo.edu

41

Ryan Dillon ’06 accepted a position with President of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. Eric Langland ’06 is now a captain in the Marine JAG Corps in Okinawa, Japan.

He received a Master in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics in 2007 and graduated from Tulane Law School in 2010.

Andrea Long ’06 was chosen to be part of the 2012-2013 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy, representing Springfield and the legal services of southern Missouri.

Danie Becknell ’07 recently accepted a position as Communications Officer at the Community Foundation of Morgan County in Martinsville, IN after finishing her Master of Arts Degree at Indiana University, in May 2011, and spending a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA in St. Louis, MO. Casey Coffey ’07 is an environmental engineer with Jones, Edmunds and Associates in Titusville, FL where she will be working on projects at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Nonkululeko Kunene ’07 is finishing a Master of Public Health program at Saint Louis University and is currently working as a data analyst at Berkeley School of Medicine.

Graham McGhee ’07 earned a Master of Science Degree in Education Administration and Leadership, and was certified as an educational specialist from University of Missouri Kansas City.

Ajit Balkawade ’08 graduated from Flame College with a degree in journalism.

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Leadership winter 2013

Dingani Beza ’08 was awarded Best Actor in a feature film at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase for his performance in 23 Minutes to Sunrise.

Evan McCormick ’08 was accepted into membership in the William J. Holloway, Jr. American Inn of Court, a select organization of attorneys affiliated with the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Brett Richman ’08 is an Assistant District Attorney for the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office in Kansas City, KS. Jenn Sanders ’08 is the DefoeGraham Hall Coordinator at the University of Missouri.

Marissa Tyler ‘08 is Client Service Consultant with Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis, MO, specializing in mortgages and working to support financial advisors in the Northeast and Eastern regions of the country who refer business.

Katy Emerson ’10 is the MLIS Fellow with Westminster College.

Ahmad Fahim Sahray ’10 works in the oil and gas industry as an indirect commodity tax analyst in Calgary, Alberta. He and his wife welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in July 2012.

Lauren Spizzirri ’10 has accepted a position with Cassidy Turley.

Maddy Mayadunne ’11 was named Miss Sri Lanka.

Bridget Overton ’11 is a kindergarten teacher at Mill Creek Elementary School in Columbia, MO.

Marlon Turner ’11 is Executive Team Leader at the Target Corporation in Overland Park, KS. David Berry ’12 was recently hired as a lobbyist with Pelopidas, LLC, a multi-specialty government and public relations advocacy firm based out of St. Louis, MO. Amanda Cicak ’12 is a Homemaker with Right at Home and a processor at Bynum Pathology Labs in Columbia, MO. Patrick Duffy ’12 is an Assurance Associate at Ernst & Young in Kansas City, MO. Katie Hasenmueller ’12 is the Interim Alumni Program Coordinator at Westminster College.

Vladimir Pazin ’12 accepted a position as Marketing Manager with Experience Herzegovina, an NGO in Mostar, dedicated to the promotion of organic foods produced in traditional ways, along with the promotion of rural and eco-tourism. He hopes to pursue an MBA in Public Administration and Management in the near future.

Chris Stiegler ’12 received two substitute teaching positions at Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs School Districts in Kansas City, MO. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in biological anthropology in Fall 2013.

Mark Wright ’12 is teaching social studies at Frances Howell North High School in St. Louis, MO.

baby blue jays

1.

6.

Jamie Patterson and husband Mike welcomed Avery Rae Patterson on July 17, 2012. The family resides in Tuscumbia, MO. Patterson is Marketing Manager at Westminster College.

Logan ’00 and Emily (Reid) ’00 Stanley welcomed Marianne O’Flaherty Stanley on August 21, 2012.

Marianne joins older sister, Reid, age 3. The family resides in Joplin, MO where Logan is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and Emily is Corporate Communications Coordinator with Empire District Electric Company.

Marianne is the granddaughter of Dan Stanley ‘67 and Mike Reid ‘68, and the niece of Sarah (Reid) Murray ‘93 and Anne (Reid) Curchin ‘97.

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

9.

5.

1. Avery Patterson 2. Marianne Stanley 3. Kaitlyn & Madeline Fisher 4. Kathleen Lynch 5. Harrison & Reid Holliday 7. Joshua Harlow 8. Mabri Mensing 9. Mason McGhee

Kansas City, MO where Lynch is Attorney/Owner with Lynch, Sharp & Associates, LLC. Kathleen is the granddaughter of Bill Sharp ’73.

Relations and Jenna is an accountant with Te-Ray Energy, Inc. Joshua is the nephew of Lindsey (Borgelt) ’04 and Justin Manning ’04.

Whitney (Locke) Holliday ‘03 and husband Michael welcomed Harrison Daniel Holliday on July 20, 2012.

Harrison joins older brother Reid, age 4. The family resides in Hannibal, MO where Holliday is Assistant Principal with Hannibal Middle School.

Lacey (Helmert) Mensing ’06 and husband Kurt welcomed Mabri Lynn Mensing on August 2, 2012. Mabri joins big brother Kaden, age 2 1/2.

The family resides in Eureka, MO where Lacey teaches third grade for Rockwood School District.

Mark Laurenzi ’04 and wife Kylee welcomed Andrew John Laurenzi on September 24, 2011. The family resides in Dallas, TX where Laurenzi is a salesman with Boardwalk Porsche.

Graham McGhee ’07 and wife Kristen welcomed Mason Douglas George McGhee on February 13, 2012. The family resides in Blue Springs, MO. McGhee teaches biology, agriculture, coach’s football and heads the FFA and agricultural programs for Liberty Public Schools.

Brea (Foster) Fisher ‘02 and husband Michael welcomed Kaitlyn Claire and Madeline Grace Fisher on June 29, 2012. The family resides in Chesapeake, VA.

Susan (Sullivan) Demirel ’05 and husband Evin welcomed Eden Cara Demirel on August 14, 2012. The family resides in Little Rock, AR where Demirel is a pediatric physician in her third year of residency at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Betsy (Sharp) Lynch ’02 and husband Jake welcomed Kathleen Margaret Lynch on August 12, 2012. Kathleen joins older brother Jimmy, age 2. The family resides in

Josh ’06 and Jenna (Manning) ’06 Harlow welcomed Joshua Walker Harlow on July 18, 2012. The family resides in Yukon, OK where Josh is Vice President with Jones Public www.westminster-mo.edu

43

wedding album

1.

6.

Ryan Schlimpert ’02 married Amy Ohlau on July 7, 2012. The wedding party included Tim Miller ’02, Ryan Parks ’01 and Chad Ezell ’02. The couple resides in St. Louis, MO where Schlimpert is a BPM Software Development Manager with Mastercard.

Sara Bagley ’04 married Michael Gysbers on July 14, 2012 in St. Louis, MO. The couple resides in Dubuque, IA where Bagley is an assistant professor of psychology at Loras College.

Connie Young ’05 married Patrick Morris ’06 on May 19, 2012. The wedding party included Jeanette Bell ’05, Mariah Dreisinger ’05, Danielle Glenn ’05, and Bob Petersen ’06. The couple resides in Santa Rosa Beach, FL where Young is an office manager at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, and Morris is a tennis pro at Seaside Resort.

Madhav Reddy ’07 married Sarah Yates ’08 on September 29, 2012 in Tulsa, OK. The wedding party included Jason Chacko ’06, Jess Herd ’07, Brig Halpin ’07, Nich Mahn ’07, Dusty Booth ’08, Joey Hoflander ’08, Frank Soltys ’10, Alisha (Toti) 44

Leadership winter 2013

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

1. Ryan ’02 & Amy Schlimpert 2. Sara (Bagley) ’04 & Michael Gysbers 3. Connie (Young) ‘05 & Patrick Morris ‘06 4. Madhav ‘07 & Sarah (Yates) ‘08 Reddy and wedding party 5. Steven ’08 and Angie Lee 6. Sara Beth (Leininger) ’10 & Alex Smith 7. Julie (Welker) ’10 & Jeff Thielmeier 8. Rachel (Davis) ’12 & Nick Wilkerson ‘12

Hinds ’07, Erin Green ’08, Emily (Hunter) McKee ’08, Holly Sullivan ’09, Samantha Martinez ’09, Allison King ’09, Sydney Peck ’09, and Lauren Sergent ’09. The couple resides in Oklahoma City, OK where Reddy is an accounts manager with Maxim Healthcare Services and Yates is an associate attorney with Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau & Moon.

Steven Lee ’08 married Angie Kim on July 6, 2012 in Washington.

The wedding party included Derek Duncan ’07. The couple resides in Mountlake Terrace, WA where Lee is an account executive with Aetna.

Sarah Beth Leininger ’10 married Alex Smith on November 10, 2012

in Houston, TX. The couple resides in O’Fallon, IL where Leininger is an assistant with the First Baptist Church.

Julie Welker ’10 married Jeff Thielmeier on July 7, 2012. The couple resides in Montgomery City, MO where Welker teaches first and second grade at Immaculate Conception School.

Rachel Davis ’12 married Nick Wilkerson ’12 on October 27, 2012 in Fulton, MO at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. The couple resides in Fulton, MO where Davis is a customer service specialist with the Callaway Bank and Wilkerson is a supervisor with AP Green.

SHARE YOUR NEWS...

We encourage you to submit your latest news to be published in the Class News & Notes section of Leadership Magazine. Emailed photos should be taken in at least 300 dpi resolution in tif or jpg format. Submit class notes to: alumni@westminstermo.edu. The deadline for the next issue is August 1, 2013.

Class News & Notes Office of Alumni Engagement Westminster College 501 Westminster Ave Fulton, MO 65251-1299

5.

IN LOVING MEMORY

CORRECTION from Summer Leadership 2012 issue: Thomas E. Baumgardner ’60 of Columbia, MO on May 31, 2012. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant as part of Westminster’s ROTC Program and was a member of the United States Army and received the Army Commendation Medal. He earned an MBA in banking and finance from the University of Missouri and attended the Investment Banking School at the Wharton School University of Pennsylvania.

He spent 45 years with Edward Jones in Columbia, working as a financial advisor, regional leader and general partner for the firm.

Ernest H.K. Hillard of Fulton, MO on October 10, 2012. He taught Spanish and French and worked as a librarian for more than 33 years. After retiring, he still worked part-time in the library. His son Alan Hillard ’78 attended Westminster College.

Barclay Van Dyke ’36 of Daytona Beach, FL on July 3, 2012.

He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He served in the US Air Force. He worked for Shell Oil Company in St. Louis. His uncles, Percy 1898, J.R. ’12 and Paul ’14; brother, Leonard ’30; cousins, Jake ’41 and Paul Jr. ’49; second cousin, Jake Jr. ’69; and nephew Bob ’64 also attended Westminster.

Dr. Robert C. Buckner ’37 of Kansas City, MO on August 31, 2012. He was a member of Beta Theta Phi. He earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He served in the Medical Corps. He served as a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology and retired in 1985.

John “Jack” Jarvis ’41 of St. Louis, MO on July 13, 2012. He served in the US Navy. Jarvis was Manager and Director of Development at both Country Day School and Mary Institute, and later, was Business Manager at Villa Duchesne High School.

Edward C. Matthews ’43 of Sikeston, MO on July 11, 2012. He served in the US Navy. He worked for the Bank of Sikeston and retired in 1986 as CEO and President.

Dr. R. Raymond Lyle ’46 of Versailles, MO on July 3, 2012.

He served in the US Navy. Raymond worked as a physician.

His son Ray ’72 also attended Westminster.

James S. McClymont ’49 of Farmington, MO on August 26, 2012. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He earned

a Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He retired in 1993 after serving Presbyterian churches in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.

Dr. Milton E. Parks ’49 of Boulder, CO on June 16, 2012. He was a member of Kappa Alpha. He served in the US Army. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Illinois, a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, MO, and later, his Doctorate Degree in Education from St. Louis University. He worked for several churches in Missouri before working with Archway Communities, Inc. Dr. Carl Kester ’50 of Sarasota, FL on July 29, 2012. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He served in the US Army. He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He practiced family medicine in Dundee, IL for 35 years.

Dr. William V. McKnelly ’51 of Overland Park, KS on October 10, 2012. He served in the US Navy. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He earned his medical degree from St. Louis University’s Medical School. He was a professor of psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award from Westminster College in 1984.

Howard R. Jones, Jr. ’52 of Bartlesville, OK on October 29, 2012. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He served in the US Navy. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Oklahoma.

He founded Five Star, Inc., an agricultural equipment manufacturing company, where he served as President.

Eugene Aldridge ’53 of Richardson, TX on October 29, 2012. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He served in the US Air Force. He earned a geology degree from the University of Oklahoma. He owned Metro Insurance Agency where he served as an agent.

Ralph W. Grether ’55 of Overland Park, KS on November 15, 2012. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He served in the US Army.

He earned a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard University and worked in the construction and accounting fields.

Richard A. Lemler ’55 of Houston, TX on March 6, 2012.

He was a member of Kappa Alpha.

James T. Lacy ’60 of Kansas City, MO on October 20, 2012.

He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was involved in real estate development and construction and opened his own company, Lacy & Company. www.westminster-mo.edu

45

Kenneth D. Love ’60 of Fulton, MO on August 8, 2012. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was Managing Editor for the Olathe Daily News until retiring and opening Horizon Travel Service. His brother-in-law Dr. John Schultz ’58, niece and nephew-in-law Betsy (Schultz) ’83 and Steve Humphreys ’83, niece Margaret (Schultz) Boggs ’85 and great-niece Katherine Humphreys ’09 attended Westminster College.

in the US Army. He was an educator and served as a Director of the SBC Music and Arts Academy.

George “Bo” Close, Jr. ’70 of Antioch, IL on November 4, 2012. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He served in the US Army. He attended Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He was COO/Partner of Bandana Bandito LLC and CEO of Stonetree Marketing.

Raymond H. Allen ’81 of Corinth, TX on May 28, 2012. He served in the US Army. He earned his MBA from Webster University. He was a member of Mensa International. He most recently worked as Safety Manager with the Performance Contractor Group.

Anthony “Tony” Agee ’73 of Kansas City, MO on October 20, 2012. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was VP at Advance Mortgage Corporation in Overland Park, KS. Jack Coleman ’73 of Raleigh, NC on November 11, 2012.

He was a member of Beta Theta Phi. He worked for Robert Birch Appraisers in Raleigh.

Jerry L. Wilkerson ’73 of Rock Island, IL on October 21, 2012. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta. He served

Edmond B. Caldwell ’78 of Perry, MO on December 2, 2012.

He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He worked for the Missouri Department of Agriculture for 10 years before taking over his family’s farm.

Harrison T. Buford ’84 of Kansas City, MO on November 27, 2012. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He earned a BA in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

He spent many years in the mortgage lending business.

Dr. Jonathan “Mack” Payne, IV ’90 of Dallas, TX on October 11, 2012. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He received a periodontal degree from Baylor Dental School in Dallas. He joined his father in a practice before owning his own.

Harvey “Trey” B. Young ’67 of Chandler, AZ on June 26, 2012. He served in the military.

Have you thought about including Westminster College in your estate plan?

If so, we are here to help.

We would be glad to send you a FREE copy of our Wills & Trust Guide to help you gather information in advance of your visit to your attorney. We are also available to discuss gift options with you personally. All discussions are confidential and there is no obligation.

Please call or email us today.

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Leadership winter 2013

573.592.5020 wclegacy@westminster-mo.edu www.wclegacy.org

Online courses from June 3 - July 12, 2013

Interested in expanding your knowledge?

Need to take a summer course?

Available this year, online classes will provide you the opportunity to complete a Westminster course from home this summer.

Courses Include: • Financial Accounting • Advertising • Mythology • Introduction to Economics

• World Religions • Politics & Film • Music of the Western World • And more!

For more information on costs, course descriptions and how to enroll visit www.westminster-mo.edu/go/seizethesummer or call (573) 592-5213 www.westminster-mo.edu

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WESTMINSTER COLLEGE 501 Westminster Avenue Fulton, Missouri 65251

APRIL 19-21, 2013 – EVENT REGISTRATION RSVP by 4/12/13. www.westminster-mo.edu/alumni/events/alumniweekend