Spring 2006 - University Relations
Transcription
Spring 2006 - University Relations
Building a New Future VOLUME 13 NO. 1 Art, Theatre Moving to Downtown Columbus SPRING 2006 The Merging of the Communities What do we mean when we say “community?” On a college campus, we often refer to the academic community – and most of us know what that means. When we use that term in the place where we live, it refers to the broader population of our city and the surrounding area. No matter which definition we use here at Frank D. Brown Columbus State University, we are so fortunate in this “community” to have a profound sense of common purpose. Here, there is a community of interest, as it were, a pervasive feeling of partnership, teamwork, shared dreams and visions, all aided immeasurably by the drive to take action on opportunities that present themselves. This is the distinction of Columbus and our region: a community of one mind, determined to develop and enhance the lives of our residents, whether it be to improve the quality of life here or in another area that has attracted a CSU graduate. Community development is the part of economic development that builds a strong infrastructure and recognizes the value of education, recreation and the arts. That development, a strong and even-handed local government, the strength of family and other values so taken for granted that we often overlook them, are a vital part of what all of us engage in every day. I suggest to you that few communities, anywhere, of any size, can hold a candle to what we have done in this place. That has happened because so many people have joined the ranks of “the willing,” deciding to work and plan and dream about the Columbus, the region, the country that “could be.” Good things sometimes happen accidentally; great things, like what we see here, require deliberate action! When the community of scholars and the community of dedicated residents merge their thinking and their efforts, and share a vision of what might be possible, there is no force known to man that can prevent marvelous things from happening! That is the Columbus story. And what a wonderful plot you have written. It’s a tale that resonates on the streets of Columbus and with our students as they study, volunteer, learn from mentors, experience this culture, then take those lessons into the world as graduates. Columbus State University is so proud to be a part of the team changing the face of our nation in fairytale fashion! Thanks for all you do. Frank Brown Spring 2006 Contents FEATURES: 10 Writers/Editors John Lester Bill Sutley Greg Muraski Karen L. Johnson Art and theatre departments ready for move downtown Magazine Design & Layout Sally Morgan/Wendy Timmons Kis Creative, Inc. Contributing Photographers Roger Hart Kay Ingram About the Cover: Chuck Williams, project superintendent for Batson-Cook Company, shows Trish Ramsay, assistant professor of art, around the theatre in the art and theatre complex, under construction during a spring semester tour for faculty from the two departments. Address Correspondence to: Focus Office of Public Relations Columbus State University 4225 University Ave. Columbus, GA 31907 e-mail: [email protected] 13 Music professors displaced by Katrina impress CSU students 15 Vice President for University Advancement Kayron Laska Honoring “Mr. Ralph” with a $1.5 million endowment Executive Director of the Alumni Association and Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Ray Lakes Director of Public Relations John Lester 16 CSU junior spends her spring on the talk-show circuit 4225 University Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645 CAMPUS NEWS Capital Campaign Tops $100M After just four years of fundraising, Columbus State University’s second-ever capital campaign wrapped up in late 2005 with an astounding $100,326,928 in gifts and pledges. When CSU officials kicked off the campaign, they set a goal of $67 million and established a mission of using CSU as a catalyst for change in the community, while also elevating CSU’s stature on a regional and national scale. Jimmy Yancey, retired chairman of the board for Synovus Financial Corp., led the effort by serving as campaign chairman.That message resonated with volunteers and with donors, as evidenced by the more than 2,500 donors who contributed. Their generosity led to an amazing list of achievements. Current and retired faculty and staff doubled their goal and pledged more than $2 million. CSU Foundation trustees contributed almost $30 million. The BradleyTurner Foundation’s lead gift of $25 million was critical. National foundations – some with no previous connections to CSU – contributed up to $1 million each. Staff members wrote the university into their wills. Local companies contributed. Total alumni giving reached almost $17 million. Alumni and friends contacted by phone, some who had not donated in years, pledged almost $500,000. And 28 individual donors each gave $1 million or more. Close to $20 million is in deferred gifts, such as wills”It is truly astounding to be able to announce that we have raised more than $100 million with this capital campaign,” said CSU President Frank Brown. “This campaign is further evidence of the generosity of the community we serve, the students we have graduated and the friends we have made. It’s their belief in CSU that has made this possible. And through their confidence, we will continue to make a difference.” http://www.colstate.edu/campaign/ Sure Sign of Growth: First Parking Garage Going Up On Campus A concrete sign of CSU’s growth is forming next to the Lumpkin Center, as workers build the first on-campus parking garage that will bring an extra 500 spaces to campus this fall. “The plan for a parking garage has always been on CSU’s master plan. We knew at some point that this would come, We just had to wait for the right time,” said Associate Vice President for Business and Finance Tom Helton. The right time came after 2 much discussion and many student inquiries. In December 2004, the Student Government Association voted in favor of the parking garage and said the students would be willing to pay an extra fee of $39 each semester for the garage. The new $7.5 million structure is a collaboration between the University System of Georgia, CSU and CSU Foundation Properties, Inc., an independent organization that supports the university. Focus on Columbus State University Built into the side of a hill to be as inconspicuous as possible, the garage will have two ways in and two ways out, each on different levels. The student-only facility will be open 24 hours and equipped with security cameras and handicap parking. It will help relieve student parking woes as well as help accommodate visitors for special events on campus, such as graduation, which is held twice a year in the Lumpkin Center. Spring 2006 Stanton Named New Academic Affairs Vice President George Stanton has been a CSU faculty member since 1969, a professor, a department chair and dean of the College of Science. As of April, he has added vice president of academic affairs to his accomplishments. “He’s universally admired by the faculty who know him well, and I think that will stretch to the rest of the campus when they get to know him,” CSU President Frank Brown said. Stanton was selected for CSU’s top academic post from among about 55 applicants for the vice president’s post, which had been filled on George Stanton an acting basis by former College of Education Dean Thomas Harrison, who postponed his planned retirement in mid-2005. Harrison replaced Martha Saunders, who departed then to become chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Stanton, dean since 2004 after a year as interim, has served on several CSU search committees for the university’s top academic officer, but he never considered applying until colleagues approached him after Saunders’ departure. As science dean, Stanton oversaw one of CSU’s largest colleges, where 81 faculty and nine staffers work with undergraduate or graduate majors who comprise about a third of the university’s student body – far more than the 1,300 students enrolled in all of Columbus College the year he arrived. “Dr. Stanton’s understanding of our institution and its students will be invaluable to all of us as he begins his tenure in this office,” Brown said. Stanton served on the Muscogee County school board for 10 years, including two years as president. He was the Georgia Science Teacher Association College Science Teacher of the Year in 1997 and CSU’s 1972 Distinguished Professor of the Year. He’s proud that five of his science faculty have been named CSU’s Educator of the Year in recent years. http://aa.colstate.edu/ Intramural Basketball Team Wins National Championship CSU’s intramural basketball men’s team won its second national championship in April, defeating Clemson, 68-52, in the final game of a 29-team tournament. “I knew we had a good team but to accomplish another national championship, it’s like a dream,” said intramural coach Mike Speight, who also led the national championship team in 2003. The CSU team qualified for the national tournament by winning the state championship last month. The CSU women’s intramural team also won its state championship game and made it to the elite eight in the national championship round. Unlike the NCAA divisions, the intramural teams play against all colleges and universities, regardless of size. So CSU won their championship against schools that would traditionally conjure up images of athletic powerhouses. Spring 2006 Focus on Columbus State University Education Dean Knew of CSU’s High Standards CSU’s new College of Education dean, scheduled to start work July 1, is a seasoned administrator who became familiar with CSU as part of a national accreditation team. David Rock, a mathematics educator, had been chair of the Department of Education at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he also serves as director of the South Coast Regional Math Partnership, a coalition of Massachusetts school districts. He also serves on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education’s Board of Examiners and chaired the council team that visited CSU last year and reaffirmed CSU’s College of Education as meeting its high standards. Before moving to Massachusetts, he was coordinator of secondary education at the University of Mississippi, where he was recognized by its College of Education as an outstanding researcher, teacher and grants writer. Earlier, he taught at the middle and high school levels. “Dr. Rock has an outstanding record in teaching, research, administration and professional service,” said Thomas Harrison, who retired this spring after serving as interim vice president for academic affairs and College of Education dean. “He comes to us extremely well-qualified and highly recommended.” Rock earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Vanderbilt University before going on to earn a master’s in mathematics education and doctorate in curriculum and instruction, both from the University of Central Florida. Rock is the author of numerous books and articles that focus on mathematics education and the effective use of technology for teaching and learning. 3 Athletic Director Passes Coach Duties to Assistant After 25 years as head basketball coach at Columbus State and almost 40 years in coaching, Herbert Greene is hanging up his whistle. The longtime Cougar icon is stepping away from coaching but will continue as the school’s athletic director, CSU President Frank Brown announced in April. “The department and the basketball team both have grown to levels that each really require fulltime attention,” Brown said. Greene agreed. “Our athletic department has grown and gotten so big that it needs more attention from the athletic director …,” he said. “The time is right for me to make this move and leave the coaching to someone else.” Brown announced that Doug Branson, a CSU assistant for seven years, would step into the head coaching position on an interim basis for one year. He came to work for Greene as a graduate assistant in 1999 and has earned a reputation as a solid coach on the floor and a relentless recruiter off the floor. Herbert Greene tells reporters he won’t be coaching. “There should not be much of a difference in what people see on the floor next season,” said Greene. “After all, these are all Doug’s kids — he recruited them and has formed relationships with them, and I don’t think the team will miss a beat.” Greene came to CSU on March 25, 1981, after serving as an assistant at Auburn University under Sonny Smith. His claim to fame there was his recruitment and signing of Charles Barkley, who went on to what will likely be a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. He took over as basketball coach and athletic director at CSU in 1986 upon the retirement of Frank “Sonny” Clements. Greene, a Eufaula native, has amassed 481 wins in his 25-year tenure. His teams have averaged just over 19 wins per season and have made eight post-season appearances — including the last four years consecutively. CSU has become a dominant team in the Peach Belt Conference, which Greene helped found, and has won four regular-season titles and an unprecedented six PBC Tournament championships. Greene said he’s probably most proud of the academic achievements of CSU student-athletes. He was instrumental in forming a fifth-year scholarship program for athletes who had finished their eligibility but were not finished with their degree programs. To date, 97 of 101 student-athletes who have enrolled in the fifth-year program have earned degrees. Under Greene’s leadership, more than 90 percent of CSU’s student-athletes have earned degrees. CSU Servant Leadership Program Welcomes New Director CSU’s heralded Servant Leadership Program is under the direction of a new leader, Stuart Rayfield, who has a doctorate in leadership, policy and organizations from Vanderbilt University. She came to CSU this spring with experience in academia and in the business world, taking over the program from founding director Mary Sue Polleys, who retired. CSU’s Servant Leadership Program started in 1999 as a comprehensive initiative committed to developing leaders who practice the philosophy that power and authority are for helping others grow, not for ruling, exploiting or gaining advantage by promoting conflict. Program participants develop 4 skills through leadership classes, handson modeling of leadership practices, increasing self-awareness with a variety of comprehensive assessment Stuart Rayfield tests and participating in challenging community service projects. Rayfield had been at Auburn University since 2002, working on student programs, student life issues, enrollment management and leadership development. She’s also worked with students at Vanderbilt University and Middle Tennessee State Focus on Columbus State University University, teaching classes on academic success, leadership and the university experience. She’s also been at TSYS since 2004 as an instructional designer, designing classroom and Web-based education for TSYS employees and clients. She has a master’s in higher education administration from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s from Rhodes College. “What’s great about this job is that it takes all those pieces of the puzzle (in my background) and fits together so nicely to allow me an opportunity to do the things that I’m so passionate about,” Rayfield said. http://www.colstate.edu/servant/ Spring 2006 Spring 2006 Focus on Columbus State University 5 Plan Aims to Boost Quality of CSU’s Student Writing CSU has launched a five-year, $1.8 million project designed to improve student writing. The Quality Enhancement Plan is one of the most tangible results of CSU’s self study in preparation for a spring visit by an accreditation team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. “We know from nationwide studies that employers commonly identify ‘written communication’ as a frequently lacking skill among young professionals,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Gina Sheeks, who led the QEP effort. CSU was also motivated by the results of discussions at three forums last fall that drew 175 faculty, staff and students who identified writing as a “critical ability” and “area of improvement” for CSU students. Also, more than 1,000 campus respondents to an online survey identified “writing effectively in a variety of forms and contexts” as the greatest need for improvement in student learning. The CSU plan, projected to impact 4,000 students, features two components: “competent writing,” which helps lower-level writers with grammar and critical analysis, and “professional writing,” which helps better writers conform to professional writing standards of a given field. SACS will evaluate the effectiveness of CSU’s QEP effort in 2011. http://sacs.colstate.edu/plan.htm. Japanese Students Learn from Art Professor Trish Ramsay, assistant professor of art, offers a jewelry-making demonstration at CSU March 31 to high school students from Kiryu, Japan — Columbus’ sister city — as part of a March 26-April 4 visit by the group. Among other activities, the 10 visiting high school students went bowling with CSU students, participated in Asian Night at CSU’s International House, visited an American English class offered by Continuing Education and visited CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The students also visited Atlanta attractions such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke and CNN. Ramsay recently returned from leading a group of CSU students to Kiryu, Japan, which has enjoyed a special relationship with Columbus for three decades, for a special class on papermaking, coordinated by CSU’s Center for International Education. English Professor Honored With Lifetime Service Award CSU English Professor Jim Brewbaker has been honored with a lifetime service award from the Georgia Council of Teachers of English (GCTE). Jim Brewbaker The council presented its Louise Newland Capen Award for Lifetime Service to Brewbaker on Feb. 17, making Brewbaker just the fifth recipient of the award. “I started working with English teachers soon after coming 6 to Georgia in the 1970s,” he said. “Our organization was struggling at the time. Since then many people have contributed to its growth and present strength. I played a part along with many others.” The award cites Brewbaker “for his many years of dedication to the field as a teacher and professor of English education” and cites his “prolific scholarly publications, literary reviews, poetry, and prose; his service as poetry editor of English Journal; his service to GCTE as president for two terms; his leadership in GCTE workshops and presentations; and his dedication in serving GCTE as a leader Focus on Columbus State University and supporter.” A frequent presenter at state and national meetings of English teachers, Brewbaker has collaborated with graduate students in presentations at national or regional meetings in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington, Asheville, N.C., and Charleston, S.C. Brewbaker, a senior member of CSU’s teaching faculty, said he has seen many changes since her started at CSU in 1971. Regarding retirement, he said, “Retire? What for? I’m having too much fun to stop now.” http://www.gcte.net/ Spring 2006 Wakoko Honored For International Education CSU sociology professor Florence Wakoko is a first recipient of the Faculty Internationalization Award from the Georgia Consortium for International Studies, earning the honor amid a field of nominees from throughout the University System of Georgia. “The award committee (representing university system faculty and administrators) recognized her many contributions to international education, particularly her outstanding work in promoting African studies, including the African Studies Certificate and the Southeast Model African Union hosted by CSU last fall,” said history professor Neal McCrillis, director of CSU’s Center for International Education and CSU’s representative member of the consortium. McCrillis said CSU is fortunate to have Wakoko among its scholars of Africa. “During her rela- tively brief time at CSU, Dr. Wakoko has played a pivotal role in developing African studies at CSU and in the Florence Wakoko USG,” he said. A native of Uganda, Wakoko joined CSU in 2002 from Fort Valley State University where, during six years, she organized a summer, faculty seminar in Ghana and helped form the Southeast Model African Union that facilitates college student collaboration in developing solutions to key economic, social, and political-security issues facing Africa. Wakoko brought the model African Union to CSU’s Cunningham Center in November 2005 and about 200 students from 15 university system schools participated. http://cie.colstate.edu/SEMAU/ Future Alum? CSU Day volunteers came in all sizes this year, including Zaria Singleton, daughter of alumni Eric and Tashee Singleton. Almost $78,000 in CSU Day donations had been received as of April 18. More than 90 volunteers worked the phones during the effort leading up to the March 30 climax, when red, white and blue signs popped up around Zaria Singleton the Columbus area as a thank-you to individuals and businesses that made donations to CSU throughout the year. About 100 volunteers — mostly faculty and staff — helped deliver signs during the week of CSU Day. Sociology Professor Named Educator of the Year CSU has named sociology professor Richard (Rik) Newtson as its 2005-06 Educator of the Year. Meanwhile, senior English major Melissa Richard Newtson McDaniel, currently studying in England through the “CSU in Oxford” program, has earned the Faculty Cup as this year’s most outstanding student. The awards highlighted CSU’s Scholastic Honors Convocation March 31. Newtson, who has numerous journal publications and is currently writing a textbook, “A Sociological Suitcase: Sociology that you can take with you,” was honSpring 2006 ored in addition to English professor Jim Owen (recognized for faculty service) and library science professor Reagan Grimsley (recognized for faculty research and scholarship). Newtson joined CSU’s College of Science faculty in 1998 and teaches a wide range of gerontology and sociology courses. He also advises the student Sociology Club and directs sociology majors in professional internships. McDaniel, originally from Dallas couldn’t make the awards ceremony since she was finishing her second term at Greyfriar’s College, part of Oxford University in England where she lived in CSU’s Spencer House. She is a member of the CSU Honors Program and several national honor societies. Prior to departing for England, McDaniel Focus on Columbus State University was a member of the CSU softball team and poetry editor for The Arden (a yearly collection of published writings by CSU faculty and students). Her community service affiliations have included Big Brothers, Big Sisters; the Children’s Network and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to several faculty and student departmental recognitions, the Scholastic Honors Convocation also featured retired faculty and administrator emeritus designations to Earl Bagley (vice president for student affairs), Mario Mion (professor of political science), William Hamilton (professor of management) and Paul Vander Gheynst (dean of arts and letters). http://psysoc.colstate.edu/sociology/ newtson/newtson.htm 7 An Evening with Garrison Keillor Garrison Keillor counts himself among the fortunate as a former English major who enjoyed writing and still gets in daily practice 40 years later. The author of 12 books, Keillor is better known for A Prairie Home Companion, his long-running public radio show. In Columbus, he’s also known as the latest speaker in the annual Hunter Lecture Series, which attracted a near-capacity RiverCenter crowd April 13 for “An Evening with Garrison Keillor.” A few hours earlier, also as part of his appearance in Columbus, he regaled about 200 students and others at the Davidson Student Center with tales of growing up in Minnesota and his general thoughts on “The Craft of Writing.” Student fans applauded – and faculty winced – when, in response to a student’s question, he pondered aloud whether research papers were still a worthwhile practice. “I’m opposed to the wasting of young people’s time,” he said. “I mean, to write about Paradise Lost or Great Expectations, you just don’t have a lot of experience at the age of 21 or 22 to write much new.” Later, speaking to a small group of reporters before he took the RiverCenter stage, he said he enjoyed working with legendary director Robert Altman and a big-name cast on the A Prairie Home Companion movie, which premieres in June. Keillor plays himself and wrote the screenplay, learning to accept that actors would improvise and change his prose. “Woody Harrelson tossed in a couple of dirty jokes that I hope my mother doesn’t think I wrote,” he said. During his evening performance, Keillor made frequent references to the annual Hunter Lecture, made possible by a gift from Madge Hunter in memory of her late husband, James W. Hunter. The John B. Amos Lecture Fund was a co-sponsor of the 2006 lecture. “Well, this is the Hunter Lecture, so I guess I’ll have to talk about hunting,” he said, drawing one of his first of many laughs during a twohour appearance. CSU Student Joi Hughes talks to Garrison Keillor about her interest in publishing her poetry after his April 13 campus talk. McCullers Center Establishes Endowment CSU’s Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians has received separate, anonymous gifts of $100,000 and $50,000 to establish the Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellowship Endowment. Named in honor of the parents of Carson McCullers, the endowment will provide fellowships to gifted emerging, or mid-career writers and composers who will reside in McCullers’ childhood home in Columbus while they pursue their creative work. The first fellowship will be awarded to a writer who will reside during fall 2006 in a spacious private apartment in the Smith-McCullers House and receive a stipend to assist with transportation and other expenses. The individual will give at least one public presentation of his or her work during the residency. CSU English professor and McCullers center director Cathy Fussell said the writers’ fellowship is inspired by McCullers’ experiences at the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference in Vermont and the Yaddo Arts Colony in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The latter location, said Fussell, is where McCullers “wrote much of her work.” Subsequent fellowships will include composers in honor of the importance of music to McCullers’ writing, Fussell added. The goal for the center is to support two semester-long fellowships during the academic year and three shortterm fellowships of three weeks’ duration each during the summer term. http://www.mccullerscenter.org/ 8 Focus on Columbus State University Spring 2006 CSU Archivist Named State Journal Editor The Society of Georgia Archivists has appointed CSU Archivist Reagan L. Grimsley as editor of Provenance, the organization’s scholarly journal. Grimsley will oversee the management and publication of the annual journal from 2006 through 2009. He will work with an editorial staff of four and a nine-member board of editors to produce the annual journal that primarily publishes scholarship about theory and practice in the archival field. “The contents of Provenance are an important contribution to the archival field, and my first goal will be to maintain the high stan- Camping Out This Summer at CSU CSU Continuing Education, Centers for Excellence and Athletics will join forces this summer to offer a wide variety of camps and classes for children. From music for newborns to juggling for teens, CSU programs offer an escape from the daily summer doldrums, and this year’s 46 offerings represent a record total for summer diversions . The programs, weekly from May 22 through July 28, will feature weeklong, half-day and full-day sessions. Campers can become a “Comet Jumper” in science camps at CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center, experience nature and wildlife at CSU’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center or discover math with a twist of fun through CSU’s Columbus Regional Spring 2006 dards set by previous editors,” said Grimsley, an associate professor of library science at CSU. “I am fortunate to have a talented and dedicated team of four ediReagan Grimsley tors working with me who are committed to the mission of the journal and the organization as a whole.” Before joining CSU in 2001, Grimsley served as special collections librarian at Pikeville College (Ky.). He authored the 2004 image- Dylan Rice and Abigail Stone Math Collaborative. All three Centers for Excellence also will collaborate in one mega camp, “XTreme Teams: Where Science, Mathematics, and Technology Make a Splash!” Soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf camps offer opportunities for trying a new sport or for fine-tuning skills. For those not into athletic competition, other actionpacked alternatives include the 33rd annual Cheerleading Camp and dance camps with the Columbus Ballet or CSU Dance Team. Music, art, and theatre camps at the Rankin Arts Center in uptown Columbus are another option. The Arts Explorers at the Rankin Arts Center will explore visual arts in the mornings and dance, music and theatre each afternoon. Explorers will join in activities inspired by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Focus on Columbus State University based work “Hattiesburg in Vintage Postcards,” as well as articles in both archival and historical publications. Grimsley also currently serves as an executive board member of the Georgia Association of Historians and on the board of trustees for Historic Westville, Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history, and master’s degrees in history and library and information science, all from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is pursuing his doctorate in history at Georgia State University. www.soga.org. Warhol. At the end of each week, campers will get an overview about a featured artist whose work will be reflected in an original composition and performance by the campers. For parents seeking a bit of everything, camps at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center for Continuing Education are a possible solution. These camps are fun, focused and led by experienced local educators. The camps are designed to challenge the participants’ creativity and enrich their minds, all in an environment designed for fun. These camps include “CSI Columbus” and “CSI Mystery” for kids who are interested in forensic science and clue finding; “Backyards & Beanstalks” for those who love playing in the garden; “Crank up the Volume,” allowing campers to explore dance through jazz; and “Food Mania,” to pique the interest of kids who enjoy creating edible art. To learn more about these camps, visit http://conted.colstate.edu or call (706) 568-2023 and request a summer catalog. To contact the Rankin Arts Center directly for information, go to http://rankinarts.colstate.edu or call (706) 641-4000. 9 T A Command Performance heatre Professor Steven Graver was hired at Columbus State University 10 years ago, just as officials began planning to move CSU’s fine and performing arts departments to a downtown campus. The vision was to add the energy of hundreds of art, music and theater students to an area already buzzing with cultural excitement. The Springer Opera House, private galleries and a planned spectacular performing arts center would complete the circle to create a downtown arts district teeming with new ideas, visitors and potential. While that dream is beginning to materialize, CSU’s departments of art and theatre have not yet been major contributors. Politics and finances played a role, as is always the case, and only CSU’s Schwob School of Music could go when the moving trucks backed up to Fine Arts Hall a few years ago. By John Lester Photo by Roger Hart Photo by Roger Hart Photo by Roger Hart CSU Art and Theatre Faculty Eagerly Await Move to Spectacular New Downtown Facilities Photo by Sally Morgan Art, theatre faculty posing in the Feighner Courtyard of CSU RiverPark campus before their move are Brandon Booker, Glen Giles, Steven Graver, Hannah Israel, Tina Reutenberg, Michelle McCrillis, Brenda May Ito, Kimberly Garcia, Tim McGraw, Trish Ramsay, Kate Musgrove, Susanne Howard, Orion Wertz, Kimberly Manuel, Erika Adams and 16. Jeff Kaller. 10 Spring 2006 Focus on Columbus State University This fall, it’s art and theatre’s turn. Construction crews are working furiously this summer to finish two new theatres, a costume shop; rehearsal room and lighting lab; Spring 2006 10 “The new Arts and Theater complex rising along the river [is] just the latest, though especially dramatic, part of CSU’s leading role in the restoration and transformation of downtown Columbus. “ —Columbus Ledger-Enquirer dressing rooms; teaching studios; galleries; lounge; courtyard; and a two-story glass-lined lobby that will offer gorgeous views of the sunset. The 125,000-square-foot complex borders a public park and the churning waters of the Chattahoochee River. When finished, CSU may be the only university in the country to have a separate campus devoted solely to the performing arts. “I come downtown at least three times a week to see the progress,” Graver said during a spring tour of the construction site. “I love watching every brick go into place. It’s really exciting to stand here in the middle of it and know it’s going to be real.” Walking around the gray shell of the 350-seat proscenium theatre, Graver actually let out a “Wow!” as he saw the pit built beneath the stage that will allow actors, scenery and props to literally rise out of the floor. Rendering of new student hosuing Spring 2006 Focus on Columbus State University Photo by Roger Hart “To say that the faculty, staff and students of the theatre department are excited about these new facilities would be a huge understatement,” said Kate Musgrove, chair of the department. “These facilities will make it possible for theatre faculty at CSU to fully exercise their talents without being hampered by a lack of space or equipment.” Art faculty members are similarly enthusiastic. Their new building, to be called the Corn Center for the Visual Arts, is a remodeled textile warehouse that will feature high ceilings, special wall panels for displaying artwork and studios built specifically for separate disciplines. “It’s going to be great to be teaching in these spaces designed for these specific uses,” said Jeff Kaller, interim chair of the art department. The new complex will feature several places for art students, faculty and visiting artists to display their work. The current gallery on main campus is small and doubles as a space for theatre students. It’s also showing its age, said Orion Wertz, a professor of painting. “We’ve got wooden boxes attached to bulletin boards attached to walls in our gallery now,” he said as he surveyed the cavernous room that will become the department’s new gallery, an important aspect in the teaching process. “It’s very valuable. We see it as part of the curriculum as well as something for the community to enjoy,” he said. “We’re trying to teach our students to be contemporary artists, and giving them a model like this [gallery] gives them the opportunity to be successful.” The art and theatre buildings are in what officials are calling the CSU RiverPark campus, an impressive collection of about a dozen university properties in downtown Columbus. The CSU RiverPark campus includes the Schwob School of Music in the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center and the historic Rankin building, home to con- The new 350-seat theater will be intimate and functional, said theatre professor Steven Graver. Rendering of new theatre lobby entrance Photo by Roger Hart Rendering of art and theatre complex A spacious new art gallery will invaluable for painting professor Orion Wertz. tinuing education classes and deluxe loft apartments. “It is not unusual for colleges and universities to establish branch campuses for the purpose of better serving the people of their area,” said CSU President Frank Brown. “And it is not unusual for colleges and universities to emphasize certain academic programs, such as the fine and performing arts. “What is unusual is the creation of a new campus, some distance away from the university, which will serve the fine and performing arts exclusively, including the provision of the complete campus experience of on-site housing, student services, facilities which are, by any measure, world class, and a faculty and staff dedicated to providing an enriching, growth experience,” Brown said. Across the street from the Rankin – scheduled to open this fall with the art and theatre complex – are two new five-story buildings for student apartments. Built right on Broadway in the heart of downtown, the new buildings will provide beds for up to 252 students. Combine that capacity with what’s already available in the Rankin, and CSU soon could have 360 students living in downtown, or as locals call it, Uptown. The university’s commitment to downtown can’t really be measured, 11 even after hearing CSU has invested about $65 million in the Rankin, Space Science Center, new housing and the art and theatre complex. The lofts created in the Rankin were among the first lofts built downtown. They have spurred a lot of interest in downtown living, and now many commercial developers are turning upper floors of other downtown properties into trendy places to live. Having CSU’s music school in the RiverCenter makes the facility a living, breathing building, with activity throughout the day and night. Performances by CSU students and faculty represent a significant number of the concerts offered on the RiverCenter’s three stages. It’s not just CSU bragging about its impact on downtown. The Columbus Renaissance Week committee presented Columbus’ inaugural Renaissance Award to CSU in recognition of contributions of the university to the community. In an editorial on March 30, 2006, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer said “The new Arts and Theater complex rising along the river [is] just the latest, though especially dramatic, part of CSU’s leading role in the restoration and transformation of downtown Columbus. Anybody who isn’t really up on CSU’s central role in the life of Columbus hasn’t been anywhere near the Broadway/Front Avenue area for some time now.” Richard Bishop was assistant city manager in Columbus for many years before moving to an office a few blocks from the Government Center to lead an organization called Uptown Columbus Inc., devoted to economic development in the downtown area. He’s had a front seat for CSU’s revitalization of the area. “CSU’s uptown development has played a major role in establishing Uptown as the cultural, educational and entertainment destination for the region,” Bishop said. “The cultural and educational venues created by CSU increase leisure activity in Uptown, which in turn helps support Uptown as the place to live, work and play for our community and the region.” Columbus State University’s RiverPark Campus Art and Theatre Complex by the Numbers: • Expected cost of academic building/renovation: $34 million (all from private support through the recently completed Investment in People capital campaign) • Construction began: Early 2005 • Completion date: Fall 2006 • Expected CSU enrollment in fall ‘06: about 500 (almost 200 in music and about 150 each in art and theatre) • Size of Yancey Center at One Arsenal Place: 90,000 square feet (40,000 to be used for CSU academic space) • Size of art and theatre complex: 125,000 square feet • Art and theatre complex features: 350-seat proscenium theatre; 150to 200-seat black box theatre, depending on configuration; costume shop; rehearsal room and lighting lab; dressing rooms; teaching studios; two galleries; scene shop; lounge; courtyard; and glasslined lobby overlooking the Chattahoochee River. CSU’s RiverPark housing features: • 24-hour security. • Secure access to buildings from city parking garage. • Full kitchen and common living room. • High-speed Internet access. • All utilities included. • Pest control. • Within walking distance of • Schwob School of Music and CSU art and theatre complex. • Recreation and fitness facilities. • Dedicated shuttle to and from CSU’s main campus. http://www.colstate.edu/riverpark/ 12 Focus on Columbus State University CSU Names New Associate Dean for Fine and Performing Arts As the departments of art and theatre prepare to join forces with the Schwob School of Music at CSU’s RiverPark campus, they will be unified Earl Coleman under the direction of Earl Coleman, new associate dean for the fine and performing arts. “We’re excited about this new position and believe that it will strongly benefit all three programs,” said Bill Chappell, CSU’s dean of College of Arts and Letters. “We’re very fortunate to have someone of professor Coleman’s character and experience.” Coleman said he sees his new role as moving beyond administrative duties and into one as an advocate for students and faculty who will help develop a stronger, student-centered, liberal arts education. “I look forward to seeing these programs breathe new artistic life into our students, our campus and our community,” Coleman said. “The atmosphere of excitement that surrounds our upcoming move is contagious.” A nationally renowned vocalist, Coleman has taught at Stephens College, Columbia College, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Bemidji State University, The University of TennesseeChattanooga, The University of Memphis and The University of Michigan, where he also served as a dean in the School of Music. In addition to his new position, Coleman will serve as interim director of the Schwob School of Music, when Larry Kaptain leaves CSU this summer to become dean at the Shenandoah Conservatory, a private institution near Washington D.C. Spring 2006 A Perfect Fit By Bill Sutley Two Professors Displaced by Katrina Land at CSU F Spring 2006 orgive Jim Atwood and Patti Adams if they feel a bit of “survivor’s guilt” when they compare their Hurricane Katrina stories to that of other New Orleans residents. While most of their professional musician colleagues were debating whether to depart the Crescent City, Adams and Atwood were wrapping up a summer-long retreat in the Colorado mountains, where the married couple has a cabin. “Whenever we’ve been (in New Orleans) and there were hurricane warnings, we always stayed and it was always OK,” said Atwood, 60. “We usually ended up on our front porch drinking a glass of wine. It was a good thing we were in Colorado this time. It would not have turned out well.” As it eventually played out, Loyola University’s temporary loss turned into CSU’s gain. The professional musicians and adjunct Loyola faculty were a perfect fit to offer relief to the Schwob School of Music as some of its key faculty took time off to welcome a new child. Adams was able to move into Andrea Martin’s role as the school’s primary flute and piccolo teacher, and Atwood offered some relief for Martin’s husband, Paul Vallaincourt, the Schwob school’s primary percussion faculty member. Both Martin and Atwood served onesemester faculty appointments during the spring. Their stint at CSU was just part of their hiatus from New Orleans, which lasted much longer than anticipated when the storm’s devastation and power outages prevented them from heading home. First, they moved from Colorado to Chicago. A chance meeting on Bourbon Street 20 years earlier produced a friend of a friend who offered use of a downtown Chicago high-rise apartment she had just vacated with a month left on the lease. From there, the “professional orchestra community” stepped in – offering them a series of guest performer positions and master class teaching assignments. But an old friend at Columbus State offered the most stable relief to the absence of steady employment with the Louisiana Philharmonic Symphony or music education work at Loyola. “I first thought of Patti because we needed a flute teacher,” said Laurence Kaptain, director of the Schwob School of Music. “I have known her professionally over 30 years, and her husband is an icon in the percussion world.” Kaptain, also a percussionist, had played with Atwood during a summer festival in the early 1970s and took his idea of offering temporary appointments to the couple to Bill Chappell, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, and Thomas Harrison, then acting vice president of academic affairs. They warmed to the idea. “I saw this as something that would be good for the students, but they saw the human side of it,” Kaptain said. “We would be helping some world-class people at a difficult time in their life.” Student response to the visiting music faculty has been “tremendous,” he said. Adams, who had met CSU’s Martin professionally, jumped at the CSU opportunity because, “I knew she was a wonderful player, and she would have wonderful students.” It helped, too, that they had a common teacher. Adams said: “I knew her students wouldn’t be surprised by anything I said.” On one spring afternoon, she was busy teaching a junior CSU Focus on Columbus State University 13 Photo by Bill Sutley Patti Adams, right, a professional New Orleans symphony musician, demonstrates technique to Kaelah Williams, a music performance major from Cumming, Ga. Adams was able to teach all of her lessons in the office studio of CSU music faculty member Andrea Martin, who Adams replaced for a semester while Martin welcomed a new baby. 14 the Mexico City Philharmonic. They say they will, likewise, miss CSU’s students — and the Schwob School of Music home in the RiverCenter. “You have such a great facility here,” Atwood said. “And the students have just been great.” http://music.colstate.edu/ Photo by Bill Sutley music performance student who hopes to make her living as a professional orchestra flutist, like Adams. “It’s very competitive,” Adams said, listening carefully while the student played Mozart’s G Major Flute Concerto. “Hundreds go for one position. It’s amazing how quickly they eliminate people.” In another studio deep within the RiverCenter, Atwood was preparing to teach another music performance major – this one hoping to someday become a professional timpanist, like Atwood. “He’s not like any teacher I’ve had before,” said Jenny Wagner, the junior from Carrollton. “He knows how to explain everything in a simple way. He doesn’t try and make everything complex. I’m glad he’s here.” Wagner, 20, has enjoyed Atwood’s instruction so much that she plans to make monthly trips to New Orleans for instruction after he departs in May. Atwood and Adams, who met in college at LSU, moved to New Orleans in 1982 after both played in They count themselves fortunate among the ranks of Hurricane Katrina survivors. CSU offered them steady income for a semester while they pieced together other work around their duties here. “Just about every time someone called and gave us a date, it worked,” Atwood said. This spring, they even managed to begin teaching part-time again at Loyola, commuting between Columbus and New Orleans. Their home in New Orleans’ Garden District came through Hurricane Katrina virtually unscathed, with minor roof damage. “But that’s almost worse than having a lot,” Atwood said. “Our damage will probably cost us about $2,000 to repair, but the way the situation is now, if you don’t have a $10,000 job, you can’t even get anyone out of their truck.” Regardless of such problems, Atwood and Adams will be glad to be back home – and can live out of suitcases when they want to, not when they have to. Over about eight months from last August through March, they calculate they have spent about 25 nights in the Big Easy. As Atwood put it: “This commuting deal looked good — on paper.” Jim Atwood, right, a professional New Orleans symphony musician, shows Kevin von de Bur, 18, a freshman music education major from Dalton, Ga., how to play a particularly challenging piece on the timpani. Focus on Columbus State University Spring 2006 E Martha Cunningham ven though his schooling never went beyond the sixth grade, Ralph King liked to say “the only thing you can be sure of leaving a child is a Christian name and a good education.” When King became a successful Columbus businessman in the 1940s without the benefit of a formal education, he worked tirelessly to ensure that future generations would have the privilege of attending college. In l947, he became one of the first to support what was then called Columbus Community College. The idea was to establish a two-year college that area students, who were unable to go away to school, could attend to earn a college degree. King helped raise funds for the new school, especially the department that would become Schwob School of Music. King’s support and influence were important for the young college. “Mr. Ralph,” as he was affectionately called, founded and ran a successful grocery store chain and served on the boards of numerous civic and business organizations. Upon retiring, he was elected to the Muscogee County Commission and served two terms as chairman of the commission. “He was the kind of man that everyone wanted on their committee because he was a wonderful mediator,” says his daughter Martha Cunningham. “He loved people and had the knack of making everybody feel that they were the most special person.” King’s wife, Martha, was equally involved in the community. She taught commercial law at Industrial High School. Following the Depression, she and friend Weeda Matthews founded Open Door Community Home. “The two of them tutored and gave away food,” recalls Cunningham. “Daddy used to joke that if he could sell as many groceries as she gave away, we’d be a wealthy family.” Apart from community service, the Kings were passionate about their faith and church, St. Luke United Methodist Church. While the Kings were obviously devoted to their church, they lived out their deep faith in ways unseen. Granddaughter Brooks Dykes recalls the time Ralph King went to collect rent from one of his tenants. The family was unable to pay. After they explained the situation, King gave them money and told them to come get groceries at his store. The influence of strong Christian parents inspired much of Cunningham’s own life of service. Recently, Cunningham decided to continue her parents’ legacy of service and support of Columbus State University. In memory of their heart for education and their concern for the community, she arranged a $1.5 million planned gift to the university in her will. “Daddy got involved with Columbus State University in its early days because it was good for the community,” says Cunningham. “Supporting CSU is still good for the community, and I believe that my parents would be pleased and honored to continue to play a role in its growth.” Cunningham’s gift will establish The Ralph I. and Martha Brooks King Faculty Chair in the College of Education, which will allow CSU to attract a highly qualified faculty member with an established reputation in the field of education. “This endowment will provide the resources to recruit a professor who will embody, promote and enhance excellence in educator preparation through outstanding teaching, scholarship and professionalism,” says Tina Butcher, interim dean of the College of Education. “The individual will provide CSU students with opportunities to engage in collegial, collaborative activities on campus, within the community and at state, national and international levels.” Remembering the Kings By Karen L. Johnson Planned Gift Establishes Chair, Honors Parents Ralph I. and Martha Brooks King, on their August 1930 wedding day at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Columbus, are the namesakes of a new College. Spring 2006 www.colstate.edu/plannedgiving Focus on Columbus State University 15 Taking a Stand CSU Junior’s Story of Integrating Her Prom Draws National Attention A Columbus State University junior spent part of her spring traveling the country and reliving the national news story about how she helped integrate Taylor County High School’s prom in Butler, Ga. Lifetime, the cable channel, revived interest in Jerica McCrary’s story by airing throughout March its made-for-TV movie, Just One Night. The 20-year-old actress Raven-Symoné, known to teens as the star of Disney’s That’s So Raven and to older Americans as Olivia on The Cosby Show, portrayed McCrary in the fictionalized version set at a Louisiana high school.“I watch the movie, and I still get emotional, with all the chaos, all the changes,” McCrary, 21, a biology major at CSU, told one reporter during a whirlwind of publicity for the movie.She managed to keep up her B average at CSU while squeezing in trips to Louisiana, Los Angeles, Washington and New York City to promote the movie for Lifetime. McCrary also got to know Symoné, who she describes as “really funny and down to earth.” Her family in Butler supported her courageous stand in 2002 to end 31 years of segregated proms, even though many in the community quickly tired of the glare of national publicity. “Prom night for each and every one of us was very magical,” McCrary recalls of the dance held at a Columbus hotel. “The theme was, `Make it last forever,’ We wanted to have integrated proms from then on.” Media made much of the fact that about 50 people from the 420-student school organized a separate, segregated prom event the following year. But since then, Taylor County High School proms have been fully integrated, without incident. McCrary organized more than 20 meetings during her senior year, all the while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, to push for and plan all the details related to the integrated prom. “My greatest challenge would be convincing students to trust this decision and that we were doing something good,” she said. “It wasn’t easy keeping them on the same page. But we were a close-knit class and wanted to continue our tradition of being friends.” Today, many Taylor County High School friends also attend CSU, which she chose despite scholarship offers from several larger universities. Now, she’s nurturing her lifelong love affair with the sciences. 16 Story and photo by Bill Sutley CSU junior Jerica McCrary takes a break during an interview prepping her for an appearance on the Montel Williams Show. The poster promoting the Lifetime movie Just One Night, featured the actress Raven-Symoné, who portrayed McCrary. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve been interested in biology and how the body works,” she said. “I used to love to play with earthworms.” For nearly four years, McCrary has kept mostly quiet about her past moment in the national news spotlight — not that she’s ashamed of it. “I don’t bring it up,” she says. “Now I hear some people calling me, ‘the prom girl.’” She’s looking ahead to graduate school and a possible career in education. But she also has many other interests, ranging from criminal justice (her minor) to poetry. She’s an officer of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and vice president of CSU’s Greek Council. She also enjoys Westminster Fellowship, the Presbyterian ministry at CSU. “Hopefully the movie will help youth stand up in their communities and contribute to integration,” she said. “Even though you might have to stand up by yourself, be courageous. You can make a difference by standing up for what’s right in your heart and soul.” Focus on Columbus State University Spring 2006 Creating Learning Moments By Greg Muraski Mastering The Technology Side of Counseling Has Led to National Recognition for CSU A recent accreditation review by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs labeled CSU is a “national model” for “its use of cuttingedge technology in professional counselor training.” Professor Michael Baltimore A Dana Livingston Spring 2006 s the audience members, with popcorn in hand, finished taking their seats, the lights started to dim. Within seconds, the large screen at the front of the room illuminated the title: “Supervisory Ethics: the Movie.” Even film buffs who track the most obscure of independent releases may wonder why they have never heard of this movie, even though “the feedback was tremendous” from the audience. The filmmaker was counseling Professor Michael Baltimore and his audience was a national assemblage of his colleagues, who had convened in Chattanooga a couple years ago for the annual conference of the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Instead of a PowerPoint-aided recitation of his research, Baltimore put some digital video production skills to work. His audience viewed his presentation documentary-film style. The experience was complete with the popcorn, served by the conference’s hotel staff, and take-home DVD copies containing a menu of extra features exploring Baltimore’s work in further depth. “It was a fun change of pace, and much of the feedback indicated that the respondents felt they got more out of it as opposed to taking it in from a standard presentation.” said Baltimore, who credited colleague Lenoir Gillam as a collaborator. . Beyond a novelty, what Baltimore shared with his colleagues reflects what he describes as “creating learning moments” – a concept he has effectively instilled in CSU’s graduatelevel professional counselor training programs. Technology and counseling may not seem to be a logical fit, but Baltimore and his fellow CSU professors have shown their students and their colleagues that technology is not only a good accompaniment to the counseling curriculum, it has greatly elevated the quality of the teaching and the students’ ability to learn. In Focus on Columbus State University 17 his 12 years at CSU, Baltimore’s innovation has driven the department’s community and school counseling programs to national recognition. A recent accreditation review by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs labeled CSU is a “national model” for “its use of cutting-edge technology in professional counselor training.” The visiting officials also cited the online, peer-reviewed Journal of Technology and Counseling (http://jtc.colstate.edu) as “an obvious strength of the program.” The CSU-based journal has contributors worldwide, and integrates video and graphic technology advances. Baltimore co-edits the journal that he created in 1998 with professor Martin Jencius, currently with Kent State University. The review further described “faculty productivity” as a program strength “highlighted by the high level of collaboration among the faculty (professors Baltimore, Ric Long, Walter Breaux and Lenoir Gillam) that has brought national visibility to the program.” But praise for Baltimore and the programs starts from within. “I’m not surprised to be part of ‘a national model,’” said Pete Martinez, a 47year-old Army chaplain and community counseling student whose previous degree in theology was competed through traditional lectures and library text research. “(Baltimore) is among the ‘movers and shakers’ of his peers, and the quality of training here has accelerated my ‘catching up’ technology-wise with my younger classmates.” Martinez is one of six chaplains and two civilians training as interns through CSU with Fort Benning’s Family Life Center, directed by Lt. Col. Thomas Waynick. “I can’t be more pleased with the skill-level these interns are being prepared with through CSU,” Waynick said. Such skills include utilizing “marital satisfaction inventory” software and related IT tools for marriage and family therapy. Traditionally, counseling students have merely “learned about” such tools for future application, But the collective, advancing skill level of CSU students has them already applying such instrumentation and sharing results in class discussions, said Professor Ric Long whom Baltimore cites as “adept as any of us in adapting technology into the curriculum.” Another, more widely demonstrated student skill has played out in multi-media, CD-Rom and DVD editing and production as an optimal means for presenting research. Community counseling major Tim Bolen, for example, has applied such skills to a Education professor Donna Pascoe, from left, counseling professor Walter Breaux and counseling graduate student Jennifer McGhee prepare for filming in Studio 212. 18 Focus on Columbus State University study on the effect of Internet addiction on marriages that he is submitting to the online Journal of Technology in Counseling. Bolen, who considers himself “tech-savvy,” said he was surprised at how his professors, particularly Baltimore, have guided his skills “to another level.” Bolen’s school counseling counterparts also are thriving with their newly developed skills. Dana Livingston recently delivered a “bullying” presentation via a digital “whiteboard” to the fourth and fifth graders of Upson Elementary School where, as an intern, she has access to one of a few Georgia schools that are using this cutting-edge presentation tool. Among its features, the whiteboard’s wireless student response system uses radio frequency signals to enable students to enter individual responses to the presenter, and instant graphic display of class data is presented on the computerinterfaced whiteboard for analysis and to guide further discussion. Meanwhile, Livingston’s classmate Rodney Rountree is exercising his software experise in supervising online SAT and graduation-test preparations in one of his many roles as a Columbus High School intern, said his professor and school counseling program coordinator Lenoir Gillam. Gillam said CSU also prepares its school counselors to produce enewsletters to target students and parents; use test score monitoring software and make data-driven evaluations and decisions about program development; and diligently monitor Web resources for ongoing trends in their fields and related legislative issues. Such student development stems in part from proactive and collaborative faculty development between both programs. The programs’ production facility, “studio 212” (http://coe.colstate.edu/tech) has spawned several multi-media faculty research presentations – from elaborate DVD productions (ie Baltimore’s Supervisory Ethics: the Movie”) to podcast interviews such as “Inclusivity in Multiculturalism” – produced from Gillam’s interview of colleague Walter Breaux. The podcast, among others generated from CSU, is downloadable from www.counseloraudiosource.net, a worldwide academic resource. http://celps.colstate.edu/ Spring 2006 Class Notes 1971 Paula Lavendar Norton retired from Watauga County Schools in Boone, N.C., as an associate superintendent in June 2005 after 33 years as an educator in the state. In August 2005, Norton began a second career in education in Tennessee when she became Safe Schools/Healthy Students Project administrator in Mountain City, Tenn. 1973 David Hay, manager of Boral Bricks, was named 2006 chair of the Phenix City/Russell County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. 1975 Elizabeth W. Hendrickson was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Double Churches Middle School in the Muscogee County School District. 1976 Roger W. Buterbaugh has been elected as state director, Georgia State Council, Society for Human Resources (SHRM) for the term 2006-2007. As such, he will provide leadership and guidance to the 19 SHRM chapters in Georgia. He served as president, SHRM Columbus Area, for 2005 and led the chapter in earning the coveted Pinnacle Award for hosting and teaching a group of 13 Russian human resources professionals in April-May 2005. The Pinnacle Award is the highest honor that SHRM can bestow upon a chapter and is awarded to recognize outstanding achievement in human resources. 1977 Clarel D. Fowler was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Hannan Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 1978 Carla D. Hubbard was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Harris County High School and was honored as the Teacher of the Year for the Harris County School System. Lloyd B. Teaster, M. Ed., has joined the University of Georgia System’s, The Fanning Institute as public service faculty associate. Fla. during Hospital Week in May 2005. She is a charge nurse in the Women’s Center. 1979 Wayne Joiner, vice president of Columbus Regional Healthcare System, was named Executive of the Year by the Port City Chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals for 2005. 1981 LeAnne P. Kennedy, was promoted to enterprise risk officer for Synovus, responsible for developing and implementing an integrated approach to identifying, measuring and managing risk across the company. 1982 Brenda E. Hancock was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Edgewood Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Linda L. Wakefield was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Downtown Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Barbara McCaskill has co-edited “PostBellum, Pre-Harlem: African American Literature and Culture, 1877-1919” with Caroline Gebhard of Tuskegee University. This collection of 15 essays will be published by New York University Press in June. She is also co-director of the Civil Rights Digital Library Initiative, funded by a grant of $761,427 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Harrold H. Miller, Ph.D. published “Vincit Omnia Veritas” in 2005. He was also elevated to Dignitario from Knight Commander, order of the honor guard of Santa Sofia by HIH Prince Hugo-Jose Tomassini-Paternó during 2005. 1983 Suzanne Allen has joined the University of Akron as director of development. Brent G. Braxton was promoted to vice president, commercial lender II, Financial Institutions Group of Columbus Bank and Trust. 1984 Durona R. Courington was promoted to director of accounting at St. Francis Hospital. Laura J. Chandler was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for the Woodall Center in the Muscogee County School District. Beth Thompson won the Nightingale Award at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City, Spring 2006 Focus on Columbus State University 1985 Lorri M. Blanchard was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Stower Elementary on Fort Benning. Mary C. Brooks was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Carver High School in the Muscogee County School District. Debra Rouse was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Midland Middle School in the Muscogee County School District and was one of 10 semifinalists for the districts 2006 Teacher of the Year Award. Carolyn L. Sumrall was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Fox Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 1986 Tami Lee was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Blackmon Middle School in the Muscogee County School District. 1987 Wanda J. Person was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Wilson Elementary on Fort Benning. 1988 Rebecca A. Kimbrel was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Blanchard Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 1989 Patsy Fuller Kerstetter has earned the designation of Project Management Professional. This certification is the project management profession’s most recognized and respected global credential. She is a technical director at TSYS. 1990 Kim Cason was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Northside High School in the Muscogee County School District and was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2006 district’s Teacher of the Year Award. Barbara A. Culwell was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Lloyd Elementary on Fort Benning. Lori H. Denham was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Key Elementary in the Muscogee County District. Nichole J. Hollinger-Foster was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Wesley Heights Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 19 the Year for Johnson Elementar School in the Muscogee County School District. Angela H. Hollis, along with husband, Tim Hollis, recently opened Home Care Services of Columbus, a personal care and companionship provider, serving senior adults, the disabled,and those recovering from an illness or injury. Lori R. King was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Mulberry Creek Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Debbie S. Moore was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Jordan High School in the Muscogee County School District. Gary Rothwell has published “Notes for the Occasional Case Manager” in the January issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. 1991 Wendy S. DuToit was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Rose Hill Center in the Muscogee County School District and was one of 10 semifinalists for the district’s MCSD Teacher of the Year Award. Pamela Siddall, president and publisher of the Ledger-Enquirer, was named to the Leadership Georgia class of 2006. Larry A. Stewart was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for South Columbus Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 1993 Sharon C. Anderson was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Gentian Elementary in the Muscogee County School District and was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2006 district’s Teacher of the Year Award. 1994 Mary Collier was appointed to the position of due process facilitator with the Muscogee County School District. Paige M. Pirkle was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Wynnton Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Evelyn W. Talley was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Rigdon Road Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. 1995 George A. Franks was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Waddell Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Amelia Stanelle was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Hardaway High School in the Muscogee County School District and was one of three finalists for the district’s 2006 MCSD Teacher of the Year Award. James C. Woodall Sr., senior vice president for operating and marketing at Communicorp, was promoted to executive vice president. 1996 Melissa A. Hill was named 2006 Teacher of 20 Paula C. Thompson was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Brewer Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Stephanie M. Wright was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Midland Academy in the Muscogee County School District. 1998 Josh A. Dunlap was promoted to vice president and commercial lender II, of the Financial Institutions Group of Columbus Bank and Trust. Tammy Hodo is at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee working toward a Ph.D. in urban studies. She has accepted a graduate research assistant position with UWM at the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research. Vernon Keenan, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, was selected as one of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in its January 2006 issue. 1999 Holli J. Hinkle, was promoted to vice president and accounting manager in the Synovus general accounting and tax office. Heather A. McCrone was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Double Churches Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Elizabeth L. Pettis, former Pennsylvania deputy attorney general, joined Eckert Seamans’ Cherin & Mellot, LCC, as an associate in the Harrisburg, Pa. office. She will focus her practice on corporate and business law and insurance regulatory compliance and enforcement. Kelley N. Taylor was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Richards Middle School in the Muscogee County School District. 2000 Jill L. Sammons was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Arnold Middle School in the Muscogee County School District. Focus on Columbus State University 2001 Stephanie A. Dalton was named Teacher of the Year for Eastway Elementary in the Muscogee County School District. Eric P. Grigsby was named Teacher of the Year for Rothschild Middle School in the Muscogee County School District. 2002 Pat Rayl, has accepted the position of second vice president for Technology Services at Aflac, responsible for Software Quality Assurance, Network Operations Center, Computer Operations Center and Technical Services organizations. Heather S. Tarver was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for New Mountain Hill Elementary in Harris County, Ga. 2003 Kay Agnew was named 2006 Teacher of the Year for Shaw High School in the Muscogee County School District and was one of 10 semi-finalists for the 2006 MCSD Teacher of the Year Award. Laszlo Stan toured the U.S. and Canada with an English Opera Company for ten weeks beginning in February, doing Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas. Brett M. Willis of Synovus was promoted to vice president and portfolio data manager, responsible for providing perspective on the portfolio to Synovus management, analysts and regulators. 2004 Helena C. Coates, managing partner of Media, Marketing & More! Inc., was named to the Leadership Georgia class of 2006. Joshua P. McCann of SunTrust Bank was promoted to banking officer, and will continue to manage the Publix in-store branch on Bradley Park Drive. Solange Navarrete-Wallace is a graduate assistant at the University of Florida. 2005 Amanda U. Allen, a first-grade teacher at Gentian Elementary School, was among 15 Georgia school teachers recognized for being among Georgia’s best and brightest new teachers and to receive a $1,000 New Teacher Assistance Grant from Georgia Power Co. The teachers were honored at an awards luncheon at the company headquarters in Atlanta. Spring 2006 Calendar of Events May 2006 – October 2006 August May 13 Oxbow Meadows. Second Sunday Series: “Wildflowers.” Learn about native wildflowers in the region. $2 per person. 2 & 3 p.m. 1 Schwob School of Music. Chorale. $5 RiverCenter Legacy Hall. 7:30 p.m. 6 Rankin Arts Center. Stained Glass. Two weeks; $140 Rankin Arts Center. 9a.m.-1 p.m. 8-9 Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center for Continuing Ed. Project Communication Management. $495 Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center for Continuing Education. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 13 Columbus State University. Graduation. Commencement Ceremony Lumpkin Center. 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 13 Columbus State University. Spring Commencement. Lumpkin Center. 10 a.m. 14 Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center. Second Sunday Series: “Hooray for Hummingbirds.” Oxbow Meadows. 2 p.m. 15 Columbus State University. Summer Term: May Session Classes Begin. 22-26 Rankin Arts Center. Arts Explorers Camp. Ages 5-10, $125 Rankin Arts Center. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8 Columbus State University. Summer Term: June Session Classes Begin. 10 CSU Coca-Cola Space Science Center. 10th anniversary celebration. 706-649-1470. 11 Oxbow Meadows. Second Sunday Series: “Gardens for Children.” Learn the basic tools to get children hooked on gardening. Design a radish garden! $2 per person. 2 p.m. 19 Alumni Association Meeting? 21 CSU Continuing Education. Professional Meeting and Event Planners luncheon. 11:30 a.m. $25 per person. 706-568-2023. 17 Columbus State University. Fall Term: Classes Begin. 20 Columbus State University. Freshman Convocation 2006. 4 p.m. Fine Arts Hall auditorium. September 1 CSU athletics. Cougar Invitation women’s soccer tournament at the CSU Soccer Complex CSU vs. Newberry. http://athletics.colstate.edu/. 4 CSU athletics. Cougar Invitation women’s soccer tournament at the CSU Soccer Complex CSU vs. West Georgia. http://athletics.colstate.edu/. 10 Oxbow Meadows. Second Sunday Series: “Feeding Backyard Birds.” Discover different ways of feeding our feathered friends. $2 per person. 2 & 3 p.m. October 5-8 Theatre Department. “Communicating Doors.” Times to be announced. 8 Oxbow Meadows. Second Sunday Series: “Going Batty.” Find out which bats live near you. $2 per person. 2 & 3 p.m. 16-17 Cunningham Center. Women’s Leadership Conference. The Women’s Leadership Development Conference will provide tools for effective leadership in the corporate culture for the 21st century woman. Cunningham Center. Time to be announced. 15-17 CSU Rankin Arts Center. Jonathan Simon Figure Drawing. $225 per person. 706-568-2023. 22-24 CSU Rankin Arts Center. Jonathan Simon Oil Painting. $225 per person. 706-568-2023. November July 9 Oxbow Meadows. Second Sunday Series: “Insectival.” Oxbow’s seventh annual insect festival. $2 per person. noon-4 p.m. 1 Columbus State University. Admissions Application Priority Processing Deadline for Spring 2007 semester. Plan Your Next Meeting or Special Event with Columbus State University! FULL-SERVICE CATERING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE Spring 2006 Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center • CSU Main Campus • Call (706) 568-2023 Rankin Arts Center • Uptown Columbus • Call (706) 641-4000 Focus on Columbus State University IBC1 Summer Camps at CSU Hunter Greene cooled off last year during “sliding practice” on the final day of summer baseball camp. To learn more about CSU’s camps this year, refer to article on page 8 or visit http://conted.colstate.edu or call (706) 568-2023 and request a summer catalog. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 10 Columbus, Georgia 31908 4225 University Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645 Address Service Requested Parents: If this issue is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer lives at home, please send the correct address to the Alumni Office at the address above. Thank you.