500 College Hill Liberty, Missouri 64068-1896
ACHIEVE M
A
G
A
Z
I
N
The magazine magazine for for alumni alumni and and friends friends of of William William Jewell Jewell College College The Spring 2012 2012 Spring
DR. MARK
WALTERS Expanding horizons, horizons, enriching enriching lives lives Expanding
Jewell faculty faculty member member named named one one of of Princeton Princeton Review’s Review’s “Best “Best 300 300 Professors” Professors” Jewell
E
Springtime on The Hill often means spectacular lightning displays.
Contents
Features
6
12
14
Expanding Horizons, Enriching Lives
Dr. Mark Walters, Oxbridge Chair of Language and Literature at William Jewell, is named among Princeton Review’s “The Best 300” Professors.
2012 Celebration of Achievement
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin helps Jewell celebrate achievement.
Playin’ It Smart: Scholar-Athlete Troy Green
Troy Green, a senior biology and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry major, scores points both in the lab and on the pla ying field.
16
An Enduring Musical Tradition
William Jewell’s Concert Choir spreads musical good will on a tour of England and Scotland.
Alumni in the Spotlight
11 Excelling from Classroom to Courtroom
24 Never Surrender: A Jewell Alum’s Strength
Our Mission William Jewell College promises students an outstanding liberal arts education that cultivates leadership, service, and spiritual growth within a c ommunity inspired by Christian ideals and c ommitted to open, rigorous intellectual pursuits.
From the President Going beyond content On the cover of this issue, you see a photo of Dr. Mark Walters, recently selected as one of the Princeton Review’s “Best 300 Professors” in a new college guidebook. We are, of course, both very proud of his selection and blessed that he has in vested his teaching career at Jewell. His selection reminds us of the primacy of the t eacher in our kind of educational experience, particularly in a day when the public has come to believe that higher education is about collecting information (content) and that one can collect information from any number of reliable sources. Collecting information is being commoditized. If content is a commodity and the public belie ves that is all there is to education, colleges like Jewell face the question of how to compete with cheaper, more convenient methods of collecting information (delivering content). We have always been committed to value-added experiences: personal involvement with faculty members and other students, in-depth engagement with the subject matter, internships, study abroad, theater, debate, student government, athletics, Greek life. However, the development of online options and for-profit colleges, along with the cost of providing the full range of collegiate experiences, have made it imperative that we clearly discern and describe the v alue of the academic experience we provide. At a place like Jewell, delivering content is only one small par t of the educational experience. That is where people like Mark Walters come in. The real value of faculty and of the educational experience is “beyond the content.” That value lies far beyond learning the historical facts or the periodic table or the structure under which the U nited Nations functions. The real value of a place like Jewell lies in faculty members like Mark Walters not simply knowing students well and challenging their capacities, but also in creating experiences beyond the content that take advantage of how this generation of students learns best. Mar k, and the rest of our faculty, understands that education is about learning more than it is about teaching. The Jewell faculty has embraced a brave new world of education that builds on the timeless aspects of education and goes f ar beyond those aspects. They have seen both the value and the fun in going “be yond the content.” They have seen that this generation of students is dif ferent, that these students want to “co-create” their experience, not just “receive” the content. We must continue to produce graduates whose writing skills and communication skills and overall cognitive skills are exceptional, but thanks to Mark Walters and 75 other committed teachers, we do the work today in a way that fits this generation of students par ticularly well.
ACHIEVE MAGAZINE SPRING 2012
PRESIDENT David L. Sallee salleed@william.jewell.edu VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Clark Morris ’91 morrisc@william.jewell.edu DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Robert A. Eisele eiseler@william.jewell.edu DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Andrea Meloan ’99 meloana@william.jewell.edu
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND NEW MEDIA Cara Dahlor dahlorc@william.jewell.edu WEB DEVELOPER Jonathan Dickson dicksonj@william.jewell.edu MANAGER OF PRINT COMMUNICATIONS Kari L. Perry ’94 perryk@william.jewell.edu DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES AND SIGNATURE EVENTS Susan E. Arbo ’86 arbos@william.jewell.edu CAMPUS PHOTOGRAPHER Kyle Rivas ’08 rivask@william.jewell.edu Achieve is produced three times a year by the Office of College Relations and Marketing at WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE 500 College Hill Liberty, Missouri 64068-1896 webmaster@william.jewell.edu www.jewell.edu Visit us on Facebook facebook.com/jewellalumni
Campaign Update Shaping the Journey: The Campaign for Jewell has surpassed by more than $1 million its goal of $55 million, with more than $56 million in gifts and commitments to date. “We are deeply grateful to the more than 12,000 generous supporters of William Jewell College who have made these gifts in spite of some of the most challenging economic conditions in history,” said President David Sallee. The top funding priority in the campaign, the Pryor Learning Commons, is nearing its fundraising goal. The project gained momentum last year with the generous naming gift for the Pryor Learning Commons from alumni Fred Pryor and Shirley Pryor. In August the College received notice of a $1 million challenge grant fr om the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The terms of the challenge grant provided that $1 million would be given toward construction of the new Pryor Learning Commons if the College could raise the remaining $2.5 million needed to fund the $15 million project by July 2012. Commitments of more than $13.6 million are now in place, with just over $300,000 needed to meet the challenge. The Hall Family Foundation led the way by making the first leadership gift to the project in 2008. Additional significant gifts for this visionary project came from other leaders in the Kansas City philanthropic community, including the William T. Kemper Foundation. Plans are underway to celebrate the success of the Shaping the Journey campaign. At the College’s annual Opening Convocation ceremonies on September 7, a ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled to take place. “This project will not only reshape the heart of the campus physically, it will also alter the way we interact with one another and with the world beyond the campus,” Dr. Sallee said. “This technology-rich learning environment will support engaged and experiential learning initiatives across the curriculum in response to the needs of the 21st-century learner.” To respond to the Mabee Challenge and make the Pryor Learning Commons a reality, please go to the “Giving” section of the web site at www.jewell.edu/giving, or contact Steve Kilmer at kilmers@william.jewell.edu; 816-415-7564.
Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese-American poet and author of The Prophet, once described the qualities of an effective teacher this way: “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom,” Gibran wrote, “but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” By that measure, William Jewell College English professor Dr. Mark Walters has been busy extending the intellectual horizons of Jewell students for more than two decades. That process of expanding world views within a dogma-free environment is evident as the veteran English professor paces before a class of some 20 first-year Jewell students on an overcast winter day in a small classroom just off the Quad entrance to White Science Center. Dressed in a navy pullover sweater and jeans, with sandy, gingerbrown hair brushing the collar of an untuck ed gray shirt, he is on this day at the center of a discussion on the Bhagavad Gita,
“How does the denial of a material reality lead to the denial of individualism?” Walters asks as he pushes students in the fir st-year Critical Thought and Inquiry class toward new and deeper insights, a calling he has been fulfilling at William Jewell since 1991. The Oxbridge Chair of Language and Literature and chair of the College’s English Department commands the room with unpretentious professorial authority, while at the same time encouraging each student t o find his or her own voice. He is plain-spoken but precise as he helps students make their way through a thicket of complex ideas and questions. This month, the well-regarded Jewell English teacher and widely published writer is receiving recognition on a broader stage with his selection in a new national publication as one of Princeton Review’s “Best 300 Professors.”
“I want to instill in students a
desire for and sense of the
meaningfulness
of engagement with ideas that can deepen their lives.” – Mark Walters Sanskrit for “Song of God,” a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is par t of the ancient epic, the Mahabharata. He sips Aquafina as he navigates a lively 70-minute conversation that takes a circuitous route from “Sesame Street” to cell phones, from duality to paradox, and from Camus to St. Augustine to get at the differences and similarities between Western and Eastern culture. Outside, the sky is gray. But inside, the room is illuminated with the bright light of ideas being shared and belief systems examined.
“I want to instill in students a desire for and sense of the meaningfulness of engagement with ideas that can deepen their liv es,” Walters confides. “The thing I find most rewarding about my work is the size of the college and its interdisciplinary emphasis, the movement into and the connections made between different ways of thinking.” Prior to the beginning of each new semester, Walters re-reads each of the texts contained in the syllabus—sometimes more than 20 works for a single class. “My continued study of literature and, for instance, religion and
science and philosophy, and my frequent conversations with colleagues in those disciplines, has informed and energized my own work,” he says. “Having the opportunity to engage small groups of very bright students in these ideas is deeply rewarding.”
A deepening understanding of craft The Ph.D. from the University of Kansas is not only a teacher; he is also an acclaimed writer. His essays “Control” and “Touch,” which appeared in Brain, Child in the spring and fall of 2003, were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His short stories have appeared in publications as varied as The Atlantic Monthly and National Lampoon, and his poetry has been published in Cottonwood. A novel is also in the works. “I think one can be a good writ er without necessarily being a good teacher of writing,” Walters continues. “Both require specific understanding of the conceptual and technical features of fiction— what makes a story work and not work. For the writer this may be unconscious or intuitive. But for the teacher, this understanding must be conscious and also articulable. A strong teacher can both articulate this understanding and write well. I know some very fine teachers and editors who are not great writers themselves. But my best teachers were always those who were actively and successfully writing. In part what made them good was that they were wrestling with and resolving certain matters that deepened their understanding of the craft.” The military brat was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and spent his childhood shuttling between Air Force bases in Phoenix, Denver, Tucson, Goldsboro (North Carolina) and the Netherlands. When his father retired, the family returned to their native state of Kansas, and Walters completed high school in Russell. He arrived at Jewell by way of Fort Hays State University, where he received his B.A. in English in 1982 after an aborted attempt pursuing a degree in business. He was awarded an M.A. in English and an M.F.A. in creative writing, fiction, from Wichita State University before earning
learning about Faulkner or Updike from Dr. Walters that didn’t include a fair bit of learning about myself. There was no
- Toby Goostree’03 his Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas in 1991. His dissertation, defended with distinction, focused on “Faulkner’s Revenge Comedies.” Walters credits an English professor at Fort Hays with helping him find his way to writing. “At the same time I was fouling my accounting worksheets, I was finding joy in my English compositions,” Walters remembers. “My professor was a man who wore Birkenstock sandals and madras shirts and sat Indian-style on top of the desk at the front of the classroom and taught us to write. He brought to his students a knowledge of and enthusiasm for the discipline that provoked even the most sluggish to movement and understanding. He made the radical suggestion that I consider majoring in something I enjoyed and was fairly good at, believing that I might perhaps be happier and more successful in both the long and short runs if I were to do this—to follow my heart and abilities.” Walters’ tenure at Jewell has been marked by such distinctions as the Academic Advisor of the Year Award in 2011 and the Carl F. Willard Distinguished Teacher Award in 2001. He is married to Barb Walters, a former Hallmark manager who now serves as finance director in the business office at William Jewell. They make their home in Liberty with their three sons: Landon, 17; Reid, 14; and Holden, 12.
Celebrating the life of the mind When students leave his classes and depart from the Hill, Walters hopes he will have instilled in them the ability to observe and communicate the essence of human behavior. “I’d like to impart to my students not only the objective criteria that determine the success of a story—the mastery of which will make a writer merely proficient—but a sensitivity to the small details of life about them: the sweet rot smell of the kitchen trashcan, a spoon breaking at the sur face of a glass of water, the way someone tenderly touches her hair while talking,” he says. “I remind them that Henr y James said a writer is ‘someone upon whom nothing is lost.’ And so ideally these students will ultimat ely be able to see and render the extraordinary in the ordinary. By doing so, they will not only deepen and enrich their lives by becoming more aware of them, but they will also be able to write stories with characters and situations we identify with and care about. Paying attention will become a habit of being. “Ultimately, I’d like to instill in students the necessity and pleasures of intellectual curiosity, the discipline and desire to engage ideas openly and critically, and the developing capacity to render these ideas with precision and grace, which in turn will clarify and deepen their sense of them.
“Our emphasis at Jewell is on the connections among Toby Go ostree ’0 disciplines, which 3 with Dr. Mark W (left) meets mo creates this crossalters to n discuss thly cultivation of ways of seeing. his writi ng and career. The student who develops a facility with the ideas and arguments and languages of a number of academic disciplines is in a much better position to solve actual problems, to think creatively and critically. By having engaged a range of complex evocations of the human condition, our students are more lik ely to live a reflective and conscious life, one that’s often informed by questions of justice, and desire for service. I believe that what a liberal ar ts education provides students, particularly here at William Jewell, is the intellectual ability and courage to discover and pursue their passions, wherever they lead.”
Making an impact In his two decades at William Jewell, Walters has influenced the lives of countless students who have discovered through him a lifelong love of learning. Here are some snapshots of Jewell alumni (and current students) and their thoughts on the lasting impression he has had on their lives.
Toby Goostree ’03 met Walters when another Jewell professor, Dr. Ann Marie Shannon, showed him some of Goostree’s poems during his freshman year. “He called me in my dorm shortly after—which is actually rather remarkable considering we had never met and I didn’t even know he had seen my work—and we arranged a time to talk about the poems,” recalls Goostree, an Oxbridge Language and Literature major. “The conversation was very helpful—he is a very attentive reader, and it meant a lot to me at the time that he showed interest in work I was doing privately.” Those conversations both inside and outside the classroom continued as Goostree studied the work of American writers William Faulkner and John Updike in Walters’ classes. When it came time to consider graduate school, Walters recommended the University of Arizona’s Writers’ Workshop, where Goostree was accepted into the MFA program. Eight years after Goostree’s graduation from Jewell, the two still meet monthly for lunch to discuss each other’s writing and to keep in touch. Continued on following page
“Dr. Walters has had a major impact on my life,” says Goostree, who now works in the financial services business. “As a teacher, he was able to work through a poem or a novel in such a way that, by the end of the discussion, I realized I’d revealed—and discovered—something about myself. I think this is the way in which he embodies the liberal ar ts tradition—there was no learning about Faulkner or Updike from Dr. Walters that didn’t include a fair bit of learning about myself.”
Brittany Edwards-Franklin ’09, an English major who is now studying law at Duke University, also remembers Walters’ ability to engage his students, and his expectation that they would rise to the challenge. “He treats each of his students with the deep respect of an academic colleague, and rather than looking for them to supply
‘correct answers,’ he engages in a constant dialogue,” Edw ards-Franklin says. “He believes his students can contribute to academic conversations among scholars, and he expects nothing less from them. “When I arrived at Jewell, I wasn't sure what ‘liberal arts’ meant, but I found it during my time in the English program, under Dr. Walters’ direction. Even now I recognize that he embodies the spirit of a liberal arts education to a degree that is difficult to articulate. He teaches students various frameworks for analyzing a given worldview and then supplies calculated questions to spark intrigue and discussion. He teaches his students to develop the tools to understand themselves, their passions, and the world around them. I believe this to be the essence of the liberal arts: achieving confidence and developing critical thinking skills within an academic framework, which is then applicable in every arena. For Dr. Walters, immersion in the liberal arts is a lifestyle choice, not merely a teaching technique.” For English literature major Emily Chittenden-Laird ’05, the lessons Dr. Walters taught went well beyond the English curriculum. “As a parent, I often think about teaching my children the way Dr. Walters teaches his
students—encourage their curiosity, validate their individuality and let them arrive at their own answers,” Chittenden-Laird says. Now serving as executive director of the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network in Charleston, W.V., Chittenden-Laird continues to appreciate the role Walters played in her personal and professional development. “Working in the public service sector on the issue of child sexual abuse, I often see incredible pain, hope and inspiring resilience all in a da y’s work,” she says. “I feel certain Dr. Walters played no small part in my ability to process this darkness and light, give it a name and appreciate it for what it is—part of the human condition.” Walters’ current students are also enthusiastic about his ability t o help students develop as independent thinkers and learners. “He allows
students to flesh out their own observations about texts,” observes Cassie Dinges ’13, an English and psychology major at Jewell who hopes to become a manuscript editor for a publishing house. “We are not subjected to just following the opinions of others, and that is empowering. I’ve never been hesitant to pipe up in his classes. The atmosphere he creates in the classroom makes literature a discussion piece rather than just required reading.” Samantha Kendrick ’13 says Dr. Walters is the reason she became an English major: “His intelligence, command of language, and passion for the discipline are evident in the classroom as he always exceeds student expectations. His classes have enabled me to push myself to deeper levels of analysis that have produced some of my best work at Jewell. The things I appreciate most about Dr. Walters are his high expectations for my continuous improvement, as well as his genuine interest in my success and faith in my abilities.”
Excelling from classroom to courtroom
As a national champion debater and political science major at William Jewell, Lilia Toson-Dysvick ’07 often found herself posing arguments and defending her strategy. As a recent graduate and member of the Law Review at New York University School of Law, she will soon be taking those skills from the classroom to the courtroom.
Toson-Dysvick, who is currently serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Duane Benton, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Kansas City, recently learned that she has passed the bar exam in New York. She has accepted a position with Clear y Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in Manhattan, where she will begin practicing as a litigator in the fall of 2012. Toson-Dysvick was a member of the pre-law advisory program at Jewell, and she remembers the helpful advice she received from Jewell alumni at the law luncheons conducted by the College while she was a student. She also credits Jewell with helping her hone her writing and public speaking skills, and with fostering an awareness of current events and developing an ability to engage others in conversation. “I find myself thinking about the opportunities I had in my Responsible Self classes and as part of the Pryor Leadership Studies
Program,” TosonDysvick recalls. “Those experiences taught me to be introspective and to plan my life and goals. I learned to ask myself, ‘Is this the kind of person I want to be, and am I moving toward that?’ That’s something that gave me an advantage, and it’s a skill that I still rely on.” She remembers Jewell debate coach Dr. Gina Lane as being “hugely influential” in her Jewell experience, and Dr. Rein Staal, Dr. Gary Armstrong, Dr. Alan Holiman (professors of political science) and Dr. Lois Anne Harris (professor of communication and director of fellowships advising) as contributing greatly to the education she received. “At Jewell, it was not a possibility to fade into the background of a huge lecture class,” Toson-Dysvick says. “I really appreciate the level of personal attention I received there.” As a debater, Toson-Dysvick was named the top speaker in the nation at the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence in March of 2006. She also competed at Oxford University’s world-style parliamentary debate competition. That year she was also selected as a finalist in Glamour Magazine’s “Top Ten College Women” competition. Karen Page, award-winning author, founder of the Harvard Business School alumnae network and a member of Glamour’s judging panel, had high praise for Toson-Dysvick at the time: “I am so impressed with Lilia’s strong sense of self at such a young age,” Page said. “I look forward to seeing where her exceptional abilities will take her in the years to come.” Dr. Gina Lane, professor of communication and debate coach at Jewell, also had high expectations for the award-winning debate team member. “Lilia was a standout debater for Jewell,” Dr. Lane says. “She was fiercely competitive, extraordinarily intelligent and gifted in argument. Lilia impressed judges with her ability to see the entire debate and weigh the arguments as a judge would see them. More often than not, this meant a win for Jewell. I am very proud of everything Lilia has accomplished since leaving Jewell, but I am certainly not surprised.” Toson-Dysvick, her husband Chad Dysvick, and their son, Malcolm, currently reside in Kansas City, Mo.
a celebration The Pulitzer Prizewinning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin offered insights mined from a lifetime of what she called “leadership lessons” learned from the best and brightest U.S. presidents at William Jewell’s 68th annual Celebration of Achievement, held March 1 at Kansas City’s Westin Crown Center. The author of the current best-seller Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Goodwin also visited the William Jewell campus, where she had the oppor tunity to meet with students. “The questions they asked were so full of interest, vitality and intelligence,” she told the record-breaking Achievement Day crowd of more than 720. “They were terrific. There is something about a small school where the students get to know their professors, where their intellectual lives can be full of that excitement of learning together. I really could feel that in the room.” Melanie (Griffin) Cline ’78 served as event chair for the Celebration of Achievement, which also included an on-campus convocation in Gano Chapel. As par t of the
event’s 68-year tradition, honorees met formally and informally with students to discuss their individual paths to achievement. Reflections on Achievement from the 2012 honorees:
Patricia (Garrett) Campbell ’68, Independent National Sales Director (retired), Mary Kay Cosmetics “I knew only two things when I came to Jewell: I knew I wanted to be better, and I knew I wanted to help others be better. In 1964, as a woman entering William Jewell College, there were a lot of things we were not allowed to do. Even though I was a physical education major, there were no intercollegiate sports for women to compete in. And even though I was a tomboy, we were not allowed to wear jeans or slacks to class. Where Jewell did not restrict me was in my thinking and dreaming and yearning and learning. William Jewell College gave me not only confidence and courage but also the creativity, versatility and character qualities I needed to navigate in an ever-changing world. Who knows what the world will look like 20 years from now when you make your mark. I only know this: that if you follow your heart and pursue your passion, and work at it every day, you will be great.”
n achievement The Honorable Zel Fischer ’85, Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri “To say that William Jewell College broadened my horizons is a gross understatement. I have always been a goal-setter, but this place has not only allowed me to exceed my own expectations, but also the expectations of anyone who ever sat in high school or college class with me. The relationships you make and foster here will be with you the rest of your life. I was a KA, and one of my responsibilities was ‘House Mom Relations.’ Our longtime house mom was Thelma Moore. I took my position so seriously that when her granddaughter moved in with her after graduating college, I took her granddaughter to a Royals game. I married the house mom’s granddaughter the summer after college graduation. This July 13, Julie and I will have been married 27 years.” Dr. Ed Leonard ’79, President, Bethany College “As a Lutheran and president of a Lutheran college, we teach our students that reflection is vital to learning. We ubiquitously ask Martin Luther’s seminal question, ‘What does this mean?’ As a 20-year-old I began down a path toward a destination I could not have seen at that time. I
learned lessons about relationship-building that would last a lifetime. As I reflect back and ask, ‘What does it all mean?’ I conclude we are all students in a long line of students who were taught by wonderful and caring professors. We are students who were inspired by coaches, faculty and staff to reach well beyond ourselves. In the end I think it means we are all achievers because we attended the ‘Campus of Achievement’ and have become part of her DNA, and hers a part of ours.” Steven Stites ’82, Professor and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine “I came to William Jewell without a lot of expectations. But I began to get wrapped up in the environment here. It was a campus in which education may have been the primary thing, but it certainly wasn’t the only thing. We had a campus that was centered on values. It was a campus where love and kindness and respect meant something. This is a place that of fers a values-oriented education, and wherever you go, that will always go with you…If you want to make a difference in the world, reach out to someone who doesn’t look like you, think like you or act like you. We live in a fractured society. What we need is a whole lot more bridges and a whole lot less factions. Be the bridge.”
PLAYIN’ IT SMART
TROY GREEN: SCHOLAR/ATHLETE PROFILE
SCHOLAR/ATHLETE PROFILE
Troy Green Senior Lawson, Mo. Biology and Applied Critical Thought & Inquir y Major ACADEMICS: Troy Green was recently awarded the 2012 David S. Bruce Outstanding Undergraduate Abstract Award at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego. The peer-reviewed abstract submission was the result of a collaborative research project with the Muscle Biology Research group at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Some of Green’s work was completed at Jewell, where his research mentor was Dr. Lori Wetmore, associate professor of chemistry. Among the other award recipients this year were students representing the University of California-San Diego, Michigan State University, Washington University, Creighton University and Cornell.
things on my plate, so they were always supportive and easy to work with. I can honestly say that I would not have been able to play in a national tournament with a bunch of guys I consider br others and also have the opportunity to travel to California to present research that I conducted as an undergraduate if it weren’t for the small liberal arts experience that Jewell provides.
ATHLETICS: Captain of the Jewell soccer team, 2011 Named MVP for the 2011 season Named Offensive Player of the Year, 2011 Named Second Team All Conference Forward, Great Lakes Valley Conference, 2011 NAIA DI Men’s Soccer National Tournament “Final Four” – Orange Beach, Ala., 2010
Can you briefly describe the research for which you are being recognized? Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect around 26 million Americans; however, the leading cause of death in CKD is of ten cardiovascular disease. Certain “symptoms” that are often involved with cardiovascular disease can be things such as lef t ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Hypertrophy is the enlargement of muscle tissue. When you lift weights, the sarcomeres (the basic unit of muscles) in your skeletal muscles will get bigger--which is a good thing! This is no t necessarily a good thing when it comes t o your heart. Often an enlarged heart leads to a decrease in functioning. This is the case in many dialysis patients; in fact, about 90 percent of them have LVH. The research examines the possible relationship between people with failing kidneys and cardiovascular dysfunction.
Green recently shared some thoughts about his e xperience as a scholar-athlete at William Jewell:
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to continue my education at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in a one-year master’s program in Biomedical Sciences while continuing to work in the laboratory at UMKC. In addition to doing shadowing at hospitals, applying for medical schools and continuing my education in upper-level science courses, I am going to try to play professional soccer. This past winter I had the opportunity to play in the ProPace Combine run by the coaches of the Kansas City Brass, a Premier Development League team I am on in the summer, and a few doors opened for me. I will train with the Columbus Crew this summer in addition to training locally with Sporting KC.
What do you think a small liberal arts college like Jewell offers to students in terms of being able to participate in both academics and athletics that a larger school might not? I believe that the mere size of William Je well is the foundation of its students’ success both on and off the field. By the time they graduate, Jewell student-athletes have not only excelled and participated in very prestigious Division II athletic programs but, more importantly, all Jewell’s students obtain a well-rounded liberal arts education. Being able to apply the learning skills taught by our professors, and the expectation of going beyond what it takes for success in the classroom, is exemplified in all athletes at Jewell. From personal experience, it is very hard to maintain the balance between school and sports; however, Jewell’s small school atmosphere and the cooperation of both coaches and professors allows us to do so. My participation on the soccer team for four years and the football team for a year and a half while pursuing a biology degree seemed impossible at some points. However, throughout the years I have built up relationships with my coaches and professors--an opportunity I think students at big schools might not have. Not only would professors give me life advice, they would come and support me in my games as well. My coaches and teachers all realized that I was a student-athlete and that I was juggling many
After my year of “searching” I hope to pursue one of two paths. One path would be to play a couple years of professional soccer and utilize my athletic ability before it fades away, with medical school in the distant future. The second path is an academic one. I hope t o complete the one-year program in Biomedical Sciences, obtain my master’s degree, and then begin my journey toward becoming a doctor of osteopathic medicine. I would like to go the medical school route while enlisted in either the Air Force or the Navy, graduating from medical school as a physician and officer in the United States Armed Forces. My long-term goals are hopefully ones of service. I would love to become a physician who travels and does mission work around the world, providing health care to patients who cannot afford it. I would like to start a medical mission company in which other doctors and nurses can volunteer their services for a year or so and provide health care to all. Most importantly, I hope to live my life like my older brother did: a life of joy, contentment and happiness – a life to serve others.
Dr. Dr. Ian Ian Coleman Coleman (standing, (standing, right), right), professor professor of of music music at at William William Jewell, Jewell, appears appears with with members members of of the the Octarium Octarium ensemble ensemble to to promote promote the the recent recent “Art “Art Local” Local” performance. performance.
Jewell has strong presence in musical premiere event Both students and faculty from William Jewell College were represented in a recent “Art Local” performance held at the Kansas City Community Christian Church. The event celebrated nine world premieres of vocal pieces performed by Octarium, an eight-voice a cappella ensemble led by artistic director Krista Lang Blackwood. Cara Wagnon, a senior music theor y and composition major at Jewell, and Dr. Ian Coleman, professor of music and chair, both had original compositions included on the program. Wagnon’s “Exploration” was inspired by a quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines and sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” “I chose to set this quote to music because it resonates within me,” Wagnon said. “I find it important to learn and discover as much as possible in this life, and to avidly pursue fulfilling my dreams.”
Dr. Coleman’s “Remembrance” set to music the poetry of Richard Harriman’53, the late founder of the Harriman-Jewell Series performing arts program that bears his name. The poem reads, in part: The rose is withered and the petals gone, And yet the fragrance is remembered still; The grass, once green, lies dead on dis tant hill, But in the minds of men it will liv e on. Remembrance is a thing they cannot kill, The noon cannot efface the thought of dawn,The artist lives in pictures he has drawn,The poem dies not though the poet will.
Explore Dream Discover
Dr. Coleman recalled hearing a reading of Harriman’s poem at a memorial service and asking for a copy. “I thought that at some point I might like to set it,” he remembered. “When I was asked to write a piece for the ‘Art Local’ project, this text came to mind. It just made sense to me that I should marry my contribution in music with the words of a local poet and, equally importantly, an arts advocate such as Richard Harriman.” Both Wagnon and Dr. Coleman had the opportunity to collaborate with the vocalists during the rehearsal process leading up to the premiere performance. “When an ensemble bringing the music to life collaborates directly with the composer who conceived it, there’s a special kind of magic,” said Octarium artistic director Krista Lang Blackwood. “It’s a magic very few ensembles, composers and audiences get to experience on a regular basis.”
An enduring musical tradition On May 14, members of the William Jewell College Concert Choir will depart Kansas City International Airport for the ensemble’s 10th triennial concert tour of England and Scotland. With the words of commencement day speeches still ringing in their ear s from the May 12 ceremony, they will be accompanied by President David and Mrs. Mary Sallee, director of choral studies Dr. Anthony Maglione, music faculty past and present and even some Concert Choir alumni singers.
Retired Concert Choir director Dr. Arnold Epley, now a professor emeritus, has fond memories of the first Concert Choir England/Scotland tour that he led in 1985. Although he will be present only in spirit during the upcoming 10th anniversary tour, he reflected recently on some cherished traditions of past Concer t Choir tours that will be carried forward for this year’s itinerary.
Can you spot the future Grammy-winning vocalist in the Best Opera Recording category in this shot from the 1991 England/Scotland choir tour? That would be Daniel Belcher of the class of 1992, pictured here in the far right on the fr ont row.
Save the Date:
“After settling in at Harlaxton [the site of one of William Jewell’s cooperative study-abroad programs], the choir’s first concert is at St. Wulfram’s Church in Grantham, a benefit for the church and the Grantham Music Club,” Dr. Epley said. “The days following will include some familiar places: Ely Cathedral (singing in the Lady Chapel with its four seconds of reverberation); Lincoln Minster (communing with the spirit of William Byrd); and then on to Edinburgh and the Choir’s eighth appearance on the St. Giles Cathedral’s concert series (John Knox’s church, the mother church of Presbyterianism). The next stops include concerts at the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral and enormous old York Minster, after which our students will wander the crooked little streets and be amazed at York antiquity (founded in 71 AD and site of the Roman fortress which is under the foundations of the Minster). In Oxford, the concert venue will be the chapel at St. Peter’s College of Oxford University, our first concert in a college chapel. Add to that Evensong sung at King’s College in Cambridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, and the totality of these experiences can change a life.”
The 10th Triennial William Jewell College Choir England/Scotland Pre-Tour Concert will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th and Broadway in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Tickets are $10, or $5 for students.
strength of spirit Jewell alum faces adversity, but vows to never surrender Cory Wohlford was on his way home to pick up his baseball gear for practice after visiting a friend on a hot July day in the summer of 1985. The student-athlete was getting ready to enter his senior year as a physical education major at William Jewell College. He took a shortcut on a winding, unpaved back road—an impulsive decision that would have an enduring impact. After hitting some loose gravel, the grey Chrysler Cordoba flipped over. Wohlford ended up in a field at the side of the road. Through a groggy haze, he remembers being comforted by a high school friend who happened upon the accident site. A farmer working on a tractor in the field rushed to call for an ambulance. “The doctor told me I would probably never walk again,” Wohlford recalls. The diagnosis was a fractured vertebra. He was 22 years old, and now faced the future as a quadriplegic. From July until the end of October (the day after the Royals won the World Series, he remembers), Wohlford remained a patient at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. He then transferred to a hospital and rehabilitation center in Englewood, Colo., where he had to relearn basic skills. He had shed 50 pounds from his athletic frame when he was released in February of 1986 for further recovery at his parents’ home in Trimble, Mo. A back porch was remodeled Cory at his graduation from William Jewell to accommodate a with president Dr. Gordon Kingsley wheelchair-accessible shower, and Wohlford continued his rehabilitation program at home as he slowly began to regain his strength. By August, he was ready to go back to school to complete his degree at William Jewell. “The people at Jewell were very accommodating after I went back to finish my last year,” Wohlford says. “They moved some classes around so that I would have better access, and they built a ramp at the library. Family and friends made it easier, whether it was driving the van to get me where I needed to be or helping me with my books and taking notes for me during class. The faculty was also very helpful and patient when I took tests after my accident.” Wohlford’s mother, Rebecca (Lowman) Wohlford, a member of the Jewell class of 1961, drove him to campus and did wallpapering jobs in Liberty and the surrounding area while he was in class. Brothers Chris ’86 and Steve ’87 were also supportive.
Wohlford during his playing days at Jewell.
Wohlford offers coaching tips to Smithville players.
After receiving his degree in physical education in May of 1987, Wohlford learned to drive again and became more and more independent. He spent the next few years working as a substitute teacher. It was during this time that Bill Maus, head f ootball coach at Smithville, Mo., High School, recruited Wohlford to work as a volunteer coach for Smithville’s football program. “I was hesitant at first, because I
wasn’t sure how the kids would react,” Wohlford says. But the team embraced its new coach, and that initial volunteer experience led to his current position as the running backs coach at Smithville High. Be tween the volunteer and staff position, he has now been associated with the Smithville football program for 23 years.
“you can hate the world for a while, but eventually you’ve got to get on with your life.” “I’m a lot stronger than I thought I would be,” Wohlford says. “It’s a little like the ‘Lieutenant Dan’ character in the movie ‘Forest Gump.’ You can hate the world for a while, but eventually you’ve got to get on with your life. I’ve been blessed with a great family and great friends.” He was recently voted one of the Top Five Coaches in America by PowerBar and Takkle.com, and was named an Assurant Shining Star finalist. Wohlford’s story is the subject of a new book, Never Surrender: A Champion’s Fight, written by Bob Davidson, who grew up in Smithville and attended Smithville High School. “Cory’s life is a remarkable story that needed to be told,” Davidson says. “My goal was to find out how this young man could endure so much tragedy and hear tache and still be an inspiration to all.” A screenplay based on Wohlford’s experience is also in the works. Wohlford shrugs off all the attention his story has generated. “My experience at William Jewell just reinforced what my parents showed in their lives,” he says. “Don't ever give up in anything you do, and always believe in yourself.”
JEWELL facets
Service Learning model A service-learning program initiated by the Center for Justice and Sustainability at William Jewell College could become a national model for other institutions and organizations seeking to do service, community development and justice work. The continuity, multi-discipline aspects and mutually beneficial partnerships of the College’s Village Partners Project were examined at the Center’s annual Justice Summit in February.
Jewell and Embarcadero communities to examine possible points of adaptation.
Jewell faculty, staff and student participants gathered on the campus in Liberty with project partners from the Honduran village of Embarcadero to celebrate the five-year Jewell faculty, staff and students gathered with anniversary of the project and to discuss project partners from Honduras during the plans for the future. The Village Partners annual Justice Summit. Project is being viewed as a possible national The event marked a significant milestone in model for other colleges and service the history of the project, which brings providers. Representatives from area colleges together students and faculty from various joined in the discussion with members of the
disciplines at Jewell with community partners in the village of Embarcadero, Honduras. Plans for improving the Honduran community come from within the village, and the College networks its various disciplines to empower the village to reach its goals. To date more than 200 William Jewell College students, faculty, staff and alumni have traveled to Honduras to participate in the project. Past projects have included building homes, roofing a church, health education, building high-efficiency stoves that vent outside the home, assessing water quality and completing work on sanitary waste management systems. The project aims to accomplish its goals by creating a reciprocal relationship that benefits and strengthens both the Honduran and William Jewell communities. For more information go to www.jewell.edu/cjs.
Jewell’s Journey Grants provide enrichment opportunities receive funding for projects to be completed during the 2012-2013 academic year. Journey Grants fund life-enhancing, hands-on experiences such as selfdesigned research projects, study-away opportunities, internships, civic initiatives
or service projects at home or abroad. Journey Grants provide a minimum of $2,000, with the possibility of additional funding to be awarded on a competitive basis to support innovative proposals. Read more at www.jewell.edu/journeygrants
WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE
The new Journey Grant program at William Jewell College allows students who have completed their sophomore year to apply for funding for self-designed enrichment opportunities to enhance their academic experience.
RESEARCH
JOURNEY GRANT
The first class of Journey Grant recipients includes 116 Jewell students who will
STUDY-AWAY
JEWELL facets
Debate team wins state championship The William Jewell debate squad ended regular season competition with a major victory, winning the Missouri State Championship held recently at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. This year marked the fifth year running that a debate team from William Jewell won the competition. As a result of the success by all debaters, Jewell won the Top Debate School award for the second year in a row. Spencer Shanks (sophomore, Kearney, Mo.) and Tyler White (junior, Independence, Mo.) unanimously defeated a team from the University of Central Missouri in the championship round to win the state tournament. The team of Shanks and White won their second tournament in a row after emerging victorious at Webster University earlier this year, making this their third tournament win of the season. Other Jewell
Indianola, Iowa) and Stephen Ahal (first year, Chesterfield, Mo.) and Rosemary Loehr (junior, Kansas City, Mo.) advanced to the quarterfinal round of competition. Mellon earned the fourth-best individual speaker award and Reisener the fifth-best individual speaker award.
(from left) Sophomore Spencer Shanks, junior Tyler White and coach Kevin Garner ’07 celebrated recent debate victories. teams also made strong showings. Ben Boggs (first year, Lee’s Summit, Mo.) and Maigan Bridgette (first year, Leavenworth, Kan.) placed third. The team of Kyle Mellon (junior, Norman, Okla.) and Matt Reisener (junior,
“The amazing part of the victory at the state tournament is that we will not be losing any of our team members to graduation this year,” said debate coach Kevin Garner ’07. “This bodes well for our success in coming years.” Four Jewell teams received bids to the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, which gives bids to only the top 64 teams in the nation out of over 850.
Sallee named to NAICU board Dr. David Sallee, president of William Jewell College, has been named to the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Members of NAICU’s board of directors set the association’s agenda on federal higher education policy; actively encourage support of NAICU priorities and initiatives; and oversee the association’s financial administration. There are 44 members of the board and they serve three-year terms. According to the association’s web site, “NAICU serves as the unified national voice
of independent higher education. Since 1976, the association has represented private, nonprofit colleges and universities on policy issues with the federal government, such as those affecting student aid, taxation and government regulation. With more than 1,000 member institutions and associations, NAICU
reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. NAICU members enroll nine out of every 10 students attending private institutions. They include traditional liberal ar ts colleges, major research universities,
comprehensive universities, church- and faith-related institutions, historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, single-sex colleges, art institutions, two-year colleges and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business and other professions.”
JEWELL facets
Trustees named The William Jewell College Board of Trustees has named two new members to the national liberal arts college’s governing body. Garney Patricia Ann Garney is a leader in the Kansas City civic and philanthropic communities. Her board memberships include the American Red Cross, Friends of Gengelbach the Zoo and Heart of America United Way. She has also served the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, the Northland Division of the American Cancer Society and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. She was a co-founder of the
Harvest Ball, a black-tie fundraiser for Northland causes. She has served the Kansas City Symphony Guild, the Society of Fellows of the Nelson Ar t Gallery and the Kansas City Presidents Organization. Her philanthropic service also includes cochairing the Resource Development Committee of the Friends of the Zoo and life membership on the North Kansas City Hospital Auxiliary. Garney has served as chair of the Northland Fountain and Children’s Fountain committees and was the event founder and chair of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s “Music with a View” event. She was named a William F. Yates Medallion recipient by William Jewell College in 2001. Robert Gengelbach received his degree in chemistry from William Jewell College in 1969. In 2011, he retired as president of the Oxea Corporation, a global chemical
company headquartered in Germany and Luxembourg. The manufacturer of oxochemicals and derivatives had sales of over $1.6 billion in 2009. Gengelbach ser ved as one of four people on the company’s global executive management board with global responsibilities for purchasing and supply chain and regional responsibilities for the Americas. He previously held sales, marketing, business management, purchasing and supply chain responsibilities with Celanese, a Dallasbased global chemical company. Bob is currently serving the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on its Community Award Grant panel for Math and Science Education. He received the Citation for Achievement from William Jewell College in 2011. A native of Plattsburg, Mo., Gengelbach currently resides in Dallas.
Center for Justice and Sustainability grants The Center for Justice and Sustainability at William Jewell College has awarded grants to fund a variety of student projects. In 2010, three business students from William Jewell traveled to Embarcadero, Honduras, to begin conversations about improving economic stability within the village. In 2012, Cole Wrisinger (Oak Grove, Mo.), Keith Smith (Merriam Woods Village, Mo.) and Christian Zirbel (Branson, Mo.) are continuing the “Tienda” (“shop” or “store”) micro-enterprise project in Embarcadero to improve the living conditions of the villagers by providing them with funds and expertise to maintain their own store and to initiate other economic and business projects. The first part of this project was a January 2012 trip to Embarcadero to assess the business operations of the store including sales, revenue and expenses in order to provide a basis for forecasting the future growth and maintenance of the store. The second part of their project is to raise funds for
the most pressing economic/business needs of the village. During their January visit, the students learned that the most pressing needs are for a transformer to facilitate electrical power and a fishing boat to initiate a new commercial fishing cooperative. Wrisinger, Smith and Zirbel are planning and implementing a fundraising strategy for these two projects. The goal is to raise the needed funds by December 2012. All three are biology majors; Wrisinger is a senior and Smith and Zirbel are juniors. Chelsea Taff (Berryville, Ark.), Christopher Reimer (Emporia, Kan.) and Charlotte Belshe (Glendale, Colo.) are using their awards to provide a connection between William Jewell
and the “TOMS Day Without Shoes” annual event. TOMS matches every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes given to a child in need. The students planned a day for William Jewell students to be together as a community to raise awareness about the mission of TOMS. All William Jewell students were encouraged to go barefoot for an entire day in order for them to experience the pain of having no shoes. They planned a dinner picnic for all participants with an outdoor concert and an informational documentary about the cause. Taff is a sophomore nonprofit and international relations major; Reimer is a junior business, economics and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry major; and Belshe is a junior majoring in nonprofit leadership.
Jewell partners with Metropolitan Community Colleges
Jewell President David Sallee (center) and MCC Chancellor Mark James (right) sign dual admissions agreements while Jewell Provost Anne Dema looks on. Some area community college students now have an easier way to pursue a straight line to a bachelor’s degree, thanks to a series of agreements finalized by William Jewell College and Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. At a recent ceremony at MCC, officials
from both colleges signed a dual admissions agreement and 18 separate articulation agreements. The dual admissions agreement is among the first MCC has entered into with a private college. MCC students who declare their intention to transfer to William Jewell College are immediately afforded access to Jewell’s academic advising, scholarships and grants and reduced tuition for classes taken concurrently at Jewell during the last 30 hours of work on their associate degree. “This new agreement provides an outstanding opportunity for Metropolitan Community College students to have a clear path toward completion of their bachelor’s degrees in just two years at a selective, nationally recognized liberal arts college,” said Dr. David Sallee, president of William Jewell College. “Our admission staff is excited to begin work with
MCC students to make this experience possible.” Each of the 18 articulation agreements creates a seamless degree plan for students who complete a designated associate’s degree at MCC and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree at William Jewell. For the student, this means that credits earned at MCC will be accepted by Jewell when transferring from MCC. Students who have completed the prescribed set of courses at any one of MCC’s five campuses would then be eligible to transfer to William Jewell to pursue the corresponding bachelor’s degree.
Jewell summer offerings include online, traditional classes William Jewell College will offer the flexibility of online classes combined with the academic excellence of the area’s only national liberal arts college with its summer session running June 4-July 28. More than 25 online classes are a par t of the summer schedule, including classes in accounting, business, communication, education, English, history, philosophy, political science and psychology. Classes are competitively priced at $450 per credit hour with no additional fees.
“The course offerings are ideal for college students or adult learners wishing to pick up some elective hours during the summer months,” said Dr. Anne Dema, provost at William Jewell. “Because of the college’s outstanding national reputation, credits earned here are easily transferred to other institutions.” Among the online courses to be offered are financial accounting, business management, business law and ethics, marketing research,
media writing, principles of microeconomics and statistics, principles of macroeconomics, information technology, business writing, world history, introduction to philosophy, introduction to American government, basic psychology and abnormal psychology. Traditional classroombased course offerings are also available in many disciplines. For registration information and a complete list of courses, go to www.jewell.edu/summerclasses.
Pritchard Humanitarian Service Awards Two William Jewell College students have been awarded the 2012 Pritchard Humanitarian Service Awards. Caty Compton (Derby, Kan.) and Emily Gates (Pella, Iowa) will be using their award to travel to LaVictoire, Haiti, to complete mission work through Haiti Missions, Inc. They will spend the majority of their time teaching English to schoolchildren and adults. In addition, they will be educating villagers about the importance of sanitation and wellness in
preventable diseases such as cholera and malaria. Compton is a junior studying biochemistry and Spanish. Gates is a sophomore nursing major. The Pritchard Humanitarian Service Award is provided by and named for John and Mary Pritchard, the founders and nurturers of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, a provider of affordable housing for low-income
families. For more than two decades, the Pritchards sought strong and effective ways to interact with people in need. The a ward goes annually to William Jewell students who share the Pritchards’ commitment to serving the needy and developing relationships with people different from themselves while learning about their own unique gifts and calling.
JEWELL facets
Jewell Theatre offers U.S. premiere
Jewell Theatre Company at William Jewell College presented a U.S. premiere with its main stage production of Francis Warner’s “Living Creation” in April at Peters Theater. “Living Creation” is Warner’s tenth play. It tells the story of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s dominance over Florence, of his patronage of the poets and artists, and particularly of his relationship with the Early Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli, whose life unifies the action. It covers the death first of Lorenzo’s brother, then of Lorenzo himself, set against the background of religious and political reformer Girolamo Savonarola’s rise to power, fall and execution. The playwright was present for the premiere and a talk-back event with audiences. Warner was the founder of the Oxford Overseas Study Course, which provided students from William Jewell and other American colleges
with the opportunity to pursue tutorial studies in the university communities of Oxford. He received an honorary doctorate degree from William Jewell during the college’s weekly chapel service. “Living Creation” marked the final Jewell production by Dr. Kim Harris, professor of theatre. Dr. Harris joined the faculty in 1979 and will retire in May. He received his B.A. from Carson-Newman College and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.
Organ installation William Jewell College celebrated the installation of Quimby Pipe Organs Op. 62 with a program featuring the instrument in organ solos, chamber music and choral accom panying. The organ recently installed in Forbis Recital Hall was originally built for the residence of Linda and the late Jim Coleberd, D.O., of Hannibal, Mo. Thanks t o the generosity of Linda Coleberd and Jewell trustee Linda Roos of the Pillsbury Foundation, which funded the organ’s transport to Liberty and its installation in Forbis Recital Hall, a new generation of music students and audiences will have access to this superb instrument.
Dilts named AAAS Fellow
The American Association for the Advancement of Science Council has elected Dr. Judith A. Dilts as a Fellow representing the field of education. Dr. Dilts, formerly a professor of biology at William Jewell, is now associate dean and professor of biology at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. AAAS Fellows are recognized for their contributions to science and technology. The American Association for the Advancement of Science “Triple A-S” (AAAS) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.
The story goes on
Editor’s note: In January, Clark Morris ’91 was named vice president for institutional advancement at William Jewell College. In addition to his new duties leading the college’s advancement, alumni and college relations efforts, he will maintain his position as e xecutive director of the Harriman-Jewell Series.
By Clark Morris ’91
I came to William Jewell College seeking a liberal ar ts education that would prepare me for the world beyond the Hill. What I found instead was a life’s calling in a welcoming community rich with friends, mentors and people who would change the course of my life. I grew up in the small northwest Missouri town of Savannah, and had been active in debate, music and theatre in high school. I w as leaning toward a career path in law or business. During my freshman year, I attended a performance sponsored by the college’s presenting series (then called the Fine Arts Program, now known as the Harriman-Jewell Series), and my world was changed forever. I signed on as a w orkstudy student in the Fine Arts office, and soon I was completely hooked. When a full-time box-office position with the program became available during my senior year, I jumped at the chance to work for the series. In the years that followed, I performed a variety of tasks, from ticket sales and marketing, to event coordination and contract negotiation, to budget management and personnel supervision. I was thrilled to be named executive director for the Harriman-Jewell Series in 2003. Though the specifics of each story differ, I would suggest that my own experience at William Jewell has been shared by hundreds of students who came to the college not knowing exactly what they were looking for, and who found a world whose possibilities exceeded their wildest expectations. In my case, I was fortunate to find a mentor and friend in
Richard Harriman, a member of the Jewell class of 1953 who taught English at the college and who, along with Dr. Dean Dunham, established the performing arts presenting series that now bears his name. The mentors’ names are different, but there are countless William Jewell students who had their own Richard Harrimans—people who gently guided them to find the things that they were good at and the things in life that brought them joy. Those people have endowed us with great gifts. In Richard’s case, his life’s work was to bring us the greatest performing artists in the world, and those artists continue to come and be a par t of our lives. Richard’s refined values are ingrained in the Harriman-Jewell Series, and an aspect of his brilliance was in building something that would last beyond his own curatorial guidance. A part of Richard lives on in me, just as parts of William Jewell College faculty past and present live on in current and future generations of William Je well students. To be a part of a community in which that great work can take place is a joy and a privilege. I thank each of y ou for your role in continuing to build our college community, and I look forward to providing others the opportunity to enjoy the life-changing experience I found at William Jewell College.