Ethos Volume 5, Summer 2014

ethos
Volume F I V E
P R I V I L E G E D
SUMMER
T O
Special Issue
THE POWER OF SERVICE
2 014
S E R V E .
L E A D I N G
W I T H
V I S I O N .
STUDENT SERVICE PLAYS VITAL ROLE
IN A HEALTHY LOUISIANA
From August 2009 to December 2013,
Our Lady of the Lake College students
supported communities across 16
parishes in Louisiana by providing
43,839 service hours. Inside this issue,
student service and engagement is
examined from multiple angles with a
special spotlight on service-learning.
Learning to Serve, Serving to Learn –
pages 4-5
Memory Books for Hospice Patients –
page 7
Mockumentaries about Infectious
Disease – page 7
Smoking Prevention – page 8
Partnering with Healthy Lives – page 8
Bonner Leaders Begin Service – page 9
Students from Our Lady of the Lake College assisting therapists at McMains Children’s Developmental Center— a multidisciplinary
treatment center that works with children with cerebral palsy and other developmental disorders. Photo by Marie Constantin.
The Carnegie Foundation and OLOL
College – page 9
Photo by Marie Constantin
HOLLAND BEGINS PRESIDENCY
Tina S. Holland, Ph.D., joins Our Lady of
the Lake College from Holy Cross College in
Notre Dame, Indiana, where she served as
the Executive Vice President and Provost and
also held the roles of Vice President for Student
Affairs, Director of the Conditional Acceptance
Program and mathematics professor. She
assumed the presidency on April 22.
The search committee was headed by
Judge Luke LaVergne, Secretary of the
College Board of Trustees, who stated,
“Dr. Holland is an eminent teacher who
demonstrates a profound faith in the
power of education to change lives and
add value to communities. She recognizes
the demand for a well-prepared healthcare
workforce and the important role Our Lady
of the Lake College has to train future
healthcare professionals. Her experience
will ensure the College continues
advancements in higher education while
remaining engaged with the community.”
When asked what attracted her to
the role, Holland commented, “I was
immediately intrigued by the description
of the College with its clear mission and
compelling purpose, particularly the College’s
commitment to its Catholic, Franciscan
identity and the focus on a curriculum niche
of healthcare in all its dimensions. To serve in
an educational ministry while also supporting
the healing ministry of the Franciscan
Missionaries of Our Lady is a wonderful
opportunity. I look forward to applying my
experience and years of preparation to
serving Our Lady of the Lake College.”
Dean Receives
Teaching Award
New Members
Join Board
Catholic Social
Ministry Conference
Institutional
Recognitions
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3
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INTERIM
PRESIDENT’S
FAREWELL
“The best way to find
yourself is to lose
yourself in the service
of others.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
It has been my
privilege to serve as
Interim President of
Our Lady of the Lake College. I was warmly
welcomed in October 2013 and have been
treated with respect and appreciation ever
since by our college family. I have been
impressed with the very competent and
engaged board members who provide so many
hours of leadership, guidance and expertise to
the success of the College. The collaboration
of the board members, college administrators,
faculty and staff creates academic
programming that is future-oriented, highly
valued by our community and well positioned
for continued growth and success.
I have never been associated with an
institution that does a better job of living its
mission. Our Franciscan values are present
in everyday operations: through prayer at
routine meetings, in the way that respect
is role-modeled among colleagues, in the
classroom where so much support is offered
teacher-to-student and student-to-student. Our
Franciscan values mesh well with the goals of
learning, reflection and meeting community
needs which we endeavor to accomplish
through the service-learning and civic
engagement activities we do.
I want to extend a warm welcome to the
College’s new President, Dr. Tina Holland, and
I know that this institution will thrive under
her leadership. I look forward to providing my
continued support to her in my role as an OLOL
College Board member. It continues to be my
honor to serve an institution that in turn aspires
to serve others.
Carol Seavor, Ed.D.
Interim President
Our Lady of the Lake College
2
ETHOS
V
E D U C AT I N G TO
DEAN RECEIVES NATIONAL
TEACHING AWARD
Phyllis L. Simpson, Ph.D., Dean of
Student Services, was recognized
earlier this year as one of the nation’s
“Outstanding First Year Educators” by the
Center for the First Year Experience and
Students in Transitions.
From her first day at OLOL College in
1997, Simpson has been committed to
the academic and personal growth of her
students. She revamped the College’s
academic seminar to incorporate learning
style inventories to improve testing and
study strategies. She created a tutor lab
at the College and enhanced the First Year
Student Experience program by meeting
with students one-on-one several times
during their initial year.
Students sincerely appreciate her
commitment to their education. Biology
major Derek Wiltz said, "Dr. Simpson has
helped me grow in so many ways. She is
an exceptional leader and teacher, always
giving us great support that not only helps
academically but encourages us with our
career goals." Non-traditional student
Melanie Koscick who returned to school at
the age of 45 added, "As someone who has
been out of school for over twenty years,
Dr. Simpson has been my guiding light and
my anchor. She has not only assisted me
with how to handle college in this day and
age but has helped me to believe that I can
accomplish great things."
Simpson has been involved in various
areas of education since 1970 and
has authored teaching manuals for
postsecondary reading textbooks as well
as a strategy textbook for elementary and
junior high teachers.
The Board of Trustees welcomed two new
members during the inaugural 2014 Board
meeting.
Leo C. Hamilton: Partner in the Baton
Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson,
L.L.P., Leo Hamilton practices in the areas of
labor and employment law, administrative
law, constitutional law and government
relations. He currently represents the City of
Alexandria and the Parish of Pointe Coupee
and is General Counsel for the Louisiana
Community and Technical College System.
Edgar H. Silvey: During 40 years of
healthcare administration, Edgar “Ed”
Silvey has worked in both the investorowned and the not-for-profit hospital
sectors and is currently serving as the
Chief Executive Officer of the Baton
Rouge Clinic.
Recognized nationally for exceptional
Leo C. Hamilton
leadership and operational effectiveness,
Silvey was awarded the Harry J. Harwick
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 by the
Medical Group Management Association,
Edgar H. Silvey
an award that honors one individual who
has made outstanding recognized
contributions to healthcare administration,
delivery and education.
2014 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Phyllis Simpson
NEW SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
RESULT IN INCREASES ON CAMPUS
+1.4%
+2.3%
ENROLLMENT
CREDIT HOURS
Rebecca C. Cannon, M.Ed., Director of
Enrollment Management, explained that
the positive numbers are due to many
factors: the addition of online students
through Global Health Education—
an online educational network; an
increase in credit hours as the College
transitions from an Associate of Science
BOARD WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
in Nursing (ASN) to a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing (BSN) program; and
a strengthening retention rate thanks
in part to the newly implemented
Office of Advising and Retention and
to intensifying efforts across campus
improving the student academic
experience.
Members of Our Lady of the Lake College’s
Board of Trustees (BOT) make a year-round
commitment to serving the needs of the
College. Below in bold are those who have
taken on special leadership roles:
Mr. Charles Freeburgh, BOT Chair
Dr. Redfield Bryan, BOT Vice-Chair and
Strategic Planning and Mission Effectiveness
Board Committee Chair
Judge Luke LaVergne, BOT Secretary
Mr. Alden Andre, Finance and Facilities
Board Committee Chair
Dr. Thomas Flynn, Development Board
Committee Chair
Dr. Christel Slaughter, Academic and
Student Services Board Committee Chair
Sr. Margarida Maria Vasques, BOT Memberat-Large
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Alden L. Andre, Formosa Plastics
Corporation • William E. Balhoff, CPA,
Postlethwaite and Netterville • Redfield
E. Bryan, M.D., Consultant for the FMOL
Health System • Steve N. Carville, Milton
J. Womack, Inc. • John R. Clifford, M.D.,
Retired Neurosurgeon • Thomas B. Flynn,
M.D., Retired Neurosurgeon • Charles
P. Freeburgh, Axiall Corporation • Leo C.
Hamilton, J.D., Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson,
LLP • Tina S. Holland, Ph.D., Our Lady of
the Lake College • William M. Knobles, Jr.,
CPA, EXCEL Group • Judge Luke A. LaVergne,
J.D., Retired District Judge of the Baton
Rouge Family Court • Dolores N. LeJeune,
RN, Retired CEO of St. Elizabeth Hospital •
Reverend Matthew P. Lorrain, M.Div., Diocese
of Baton Rouge • Joseph E. Melancon, B.B.A.,
Cardio-Life Systems, Inc. • Ginger Miller, RN,
Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank • Michelle
G. Mitchell, Community Volunteer • Carol
M. Seavor, Ed.D., RN, Retired President of
Jefferson College of Health Sciences • Edgar
H. Silvey, M.P.H., M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E., The Baton
Rouge Clinic, AMC • Christel C. Slaughter,
Ph.D., SSA Consultants • Lani W. Smith,
Ph.D., RN, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional
Medical Center • Dale M. Songy, A.I.A.,
Coleman Partners Architects, LLC • Sister
Margarida Maria Vasques, FMOL, Franciscan
Missionaries of Our Lady • Melanie B.
Verges, Ed.D., Diocese of Baton Rouge •
K. Scott Wester, F.A.C.H.E., Our Lady of the
Lake Regional Medical Center
Charles P. Freeburgh,
Board of Trustees Chair
U
“This year the Board
of Trustees will
continue to build the
foundation to achieve
the goals of our
Centennial Compass
Strategic Plan.”
U
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LEARNING TO SERVE, SERVING TO LEARN
Service -Learning at Our Lady of the Lake College
about lab
the Brighton School learned
Fourth grade students from
ents.
stud
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nce
Scie
ory
orat
Lab
Clinical
or
analysis from OLOL College
min
e
hav
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ents
in part with stud
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learning disabilities.
“The thing that I did was so small,
but the benefits that I have reaped
are multi-dimensional. I feel so
small as one person facing such
monumental problems. How can I,
one person, alleviate the suffering
of millions? I can’t — but what I
can do is alleviate the suffering
of a few, one person at a time.”
– INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY STUDENT
“Don’t aspire
to make a career.
Aspire to make a
difference.” Kayleigh
Hull, a student in the
Human Medicine
Program, shares a
favorite quote as
she reflects upon
her service-learning
experiences at the
College. “Knowing
that service
activities through
Our Lady of the
Lake College have
an impact on somebody’s life makes me feel
as if I’ve made a difference. I love meeting
people in the community and seeing how
much it truly touches their lives to know that
someone cares and is willing to engage
with them.”
Service-learning is an educational
experience that combines classroom
teaching with community service.
Knowledge gained in the classroom is used
to address real needs in the community,
giving students an opportunity to translate
ideas into actions. In August of 2009, Our
Lady of the Lake College established the
Office of Service-Learning to ensure that all
associate and baccalaureate degree students
participate in at least one service-learning
experience before graduating and entering
the work force.
Since 2009, 3,375 students like Kayleigh
have completed service-learning courses at
Our Lady of the Lake College. As a Franciscan
college whose mission emphasizes service,
OLOL College strives to empower students
with both the skills and vision to make
the world a better place. Through servicelearning projects, students experience
first-hand how they can impact numerous
lives and develop a deeper sense of civic
responsibility that informs their future life
and career choices.
OLOL College conducts service-learning
projects in collaboration with community
partners. During the first year of the
service-learning program, the College
formed partnerships with 38 community
organizations and schools, primarily in East
Baton Rouge Parish. Today, the College
has 94 community partners in 16 parishes
throughout central and southern Louisiana.
OLOL College students work with these
community partners to provide service in five
major areas:
• Youth/K-12 Education/Special Needs
• Seniors/Eldercare/Special Needs
• Family support through animal welfare
• Underserved population
• Healthcare-related services
One of the key components of servicelearning at OLOL College is reciprocal benefit.
Students give their time, knowledge and
service to support community partners
3,375
OLOL College students
completed servicelearning courses
(2009-2013)
in addressing diverse needs within the
community. In return, students gain skills that
will assist them in their future careers and
professional lives.
OLOL College faculty structure servicelearning projects so that students can improve
critical thinking skills. Before engagement,
students examine the project from multiple
angles: Why is this service needed? Who
benefits from this service? What is the best
way to address this need? After performing
service, students conduct assessments
and reflect upon their experience: Was the
objective met? Did they contribute to the
community? What changes would make the
service more effective? This kind of exercise
enables students to think critically in any
situation and become better problem solvers.
Participation in service-learning also
helps students to develop as facilitators and
communicators. Service-learning projects
often bring students into contact with people
of diverse backgrounds. They meet people
of different ages, religions, ethnicities and
economic means. These interactions build
students’ capacity to see from others’
perspectives and to communicate more
effectively to broad audiences.
For their service-learning project, Physical
Therapist Assistant (PTA) students work with
Alzheimer’s clients at Charlie’s Place in Baton
Rouge each fall semester. Students visit in
groups of three every week for four hours. The
PTA students not only create and lead clients
in exercise sessions but also provide one-onone assistance for a wide variety of activities.
PTA Program Director Leah Geheber explains,
“This project allows students to develop
valuable interpersonal skills working with
geriatric clients — something many of these
students are doing for the first time.”
For some students, the service-learning
experience has profoundly affected the way
they relate to other people. An OLOL College
student in the Introduction to Theology course
says, “My perception of my life and the lives of
those around me has changed. I am learning
to see people for who they are inside and
not just who they appear to be or who their
circumstances have caused them to be. I
am thankful for the changes in my life this
experience has brought me.”
From 2009 to 2013, Our Lady of the Lake
College students completed 43,839 service
hours. Cumulatively, that is equal to service
performed 24 hours a day for over 1,826
days – approximately five years of continuous
service. Service-learning is an invaluable
component of the educational experience at
OLOL College that often reaffirms and redefines
how students view their roles as active and
contributing members of
society. As graduates,
many OLOL College
students continue to serve
both in their personal
and professional lives,
shaping the future of their
communities through
leadership, commitment
and service.
2009 2013
38 PARTNERS 94 PARTNERS
From 2009-2013, the number of OLOL
College community partnerships has
expanded from 38 to 94
43,839
service hours
=
$834,744
in-kind donations
(2009-2013)
Radiation Technology
student Kyle Champagne
showed a group of
middle-schoolers from
Big Buddy how a Geiger
meter detects radiation
in everyday objects
like granite.
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Service -Learning Spotlight
STUDENTS CREATE MEMORY BOOKS
FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS
COMMUNITIES
we SERVE
3
14
9
2
8
16
5
7
13
1
12
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15
ASCENSION PARISH
Central Primary School
D'Ville House Nursing Home
Dreams Come True of Louisiana, Inc.
Philippians Church
St. Mark Catholic Church
2
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH
Amedisys Hospice of Baton Rouge
Animal Protection and Welfare Society
Baton Rouge Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Baton Rouge Heritage House
Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative, Inc.
Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation
Big Buddy Program
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge
Boys Hope Girls Hope
Bridgeway Healthcare & Hospice
Capitol Area United Way
Cat Haven of Greater Baton Rouge
Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge
Charlie's Place Respite Center
Connections for Life
Diocese of Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Council on Aging
Flannery Oaks Guest House
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
Greater Baton Rouge Hope Academy
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge
Highland Elementary School
Hospice of Baton Rouge
Kid's Palace Inc.
Lane Rehabilitation Center
Louisiana Center for Health Equity
March of Dimes
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
McMains Children's Developmental Center
Moreau Physical Therapy
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge
Old Jefferson Community Care
OLOL Senior Residential Living
Park Elementary School
Parkview Elementary School
Southeast Ministries
Southside Garden Assisted Living
Southside YMCA
St. James Place
St. Joseph Hospice
St. Lillian Academy
St. Vincent de Paul- Florida Blvd.
Sunrise Assisted Living – Jefferson Hwy.
Sunrise Assisted Living – Siegen Ln.
The Arc Baton Rouge
The Brighton School
The Life of a Single Mom
The Rock Church
Volunteer Health Corps of Baton Rouge
Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS)
Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge
Volunteer United Baton Rouge
Wildwood Elementary School
Working Interfaith Network
YWCA Early Head Start Program
stories, and looked at cherished photos.
Using the material collected, the students
created a memory book for each patient
to share with his or her family. Through
this exchange, students became more
comfortable with the reality of death and
were able to bring joy and comfort to the
patients and their loved ones. One of
the participating patients passed away
during the project, and the family greatly
appreciated being able to share the
memory book with friends at the funeral.
“Working with hospice patients helps
you understand that there is a quality of
life that flows to the end. It’s important
for people to have the kind of care they
want during their final days,” says Sandi
Bongiovanni, Volunteer Coordinator at
St. Joseph. A student from the Dying
95%
of students are
more confident in
communicating with
people of different
backgrounds and ages
after having a S-L
experience
From a survey of 173 students in
Fall 2013 service-learning courses
and Death class shares a similar sentiment, “I
recently talked to both my mom and grandmother
about their living wills and what they would like
for their funeral… now I feel like I would be better
prepared if something were to happen to them.
This class helped me face my fears pertaining to
death and now I am able to embrace whatever
may happen instead of avoiding it.”
Service -Learning Spotlight
MOCKUMENTARIES EDUCATE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASES
COMMUNITY PARTNERS BY PARISH
1
OLOL College students
confront serious questions in
the Dying and Death course
taught by Pamela Behan, Ph.D., Associate
Professor of Sociology. They complete a
living will, research the implications of
having a terminal illness, and describe
their desired funeral. By imagining the
end of their own lives, students gain a
better understanding of the experience
of those who are approaching death.
The service-learning component takes
that understanding one step further
in a collaborative project with St. Joseph
Hospice in Baton Rouge.
St. Joseph Hospice arranged for OLOL
College students to visit patients in their
homes. Over several sessions, students
interviewed the patients, listened to their
87%
of students agree or
strongly agree that the
S-L experience increased
their understanding of
course material
3
EAST FELICIANA PARISH
9
Jackson Elementary School
Louisiana Veterans Home
4
IBERIA PARISH
Lakeview Manor
Pointe Coupee Council on Aging
10
IBERVILLE PARISH
City of St. Gabriel
Garden of Angels Learning Center
6
JEFFERSON PARISH
East Jefferson General Hospital
Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans
St. Joseph Hospice-New Orleans
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
7
LAFAYETTE PARISH
Brown Park Athletic Complex
Lafayette Habitat for Humanity
St. Joseph Hospice of Acadiana
8
11
ST. JAMES PARISH
St. Vincent de Paul G.L.P.
12
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH
LifeHouse Daniel Academy
Southeast LA War Vets Home
West St. John Elementary School
13
ST. TAMMANY PARISH
Fairhaven Ministry
14
TANGIPAHOA PARISH
Hammond Council on Aging
Mater Dolorosa Catholic School
Restoration Pregnancy Resource Center
Tangipahoa Voluntary Council on Aging
LIVINGSTON PARISH
Albany Upper Elementary School
Denham Springs Animal Shelter
Generations Hospice
LaPlantation Retirement Community
Narconon Louisiana
Northside Elementary
Family Resource Clinic
ST. CHARLES
St. Charles Special Olympics
St. Charles Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital
St. Francis Diner
5
POINTE COUPEE PARISH
15
VERMILION PARISH
Animal Aid for Vermilion Area
16
WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH
Dow Westside YMCA
“The best way to learn
something is to teach it,”
explains Brian Rash, Ph.D.,
Associate Dean of the School of Arts,
Sciences and Health Professions. “You
can’t communicate an idea successfully
unless you really understand it.” Rash’s
students are tasked with educating middle
school students about an infectious
disease as part of their Pathogenic
Microbiology course.
Working in teams, OLOL College students
take on roles as writers, actors and editors
to create fictitious documentary-style
videos, or mockumentaries, about various
infectious diseases. Their videos are
evaluated for accurate portrayal of terms,
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Many of the students enjoy finding
creative ways to engage their young
audience. One mockumentary shows
two detectives learning about typhoid
fever during a crime investigation. Another
mockumentary has a rap sequence that explains
how gangrene affects the body.
In partnership with Boys and Girls Club of
Greater Baton Rouge, OLOL College students
screen their mockumentaries for seventh and
eighth grade students. The middle school
students are given quizzes both before and after
viewing the video to assess their understanding
of the content.
The mockumentary service-learning
project has been a part of Rash’s Pathogenic
Microbiology course for the past three years. In
addition to solidifying their comprehension of
course material, the mockumentary is a creative
communication exercise that encourages OLOL
College students to consider their audience and
how to effectively convey their message.
Scenes from mockumentary videos made by OLOL College
students to teach about infectious diseases.
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Service -Learning Spotlight
STARTING YOUNG: SMOKING PREVENTION AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“Patient education is crucial,”
says Kendall Beasley, B.S., RRT,
Director of Clinical Education
for the Respiratory Therapy Program. The
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Home
Care course taught by Beasley is designed to
introduce respiratory therapy students to the
care of chronically ill patients. “For example,
the greatest reason for student absence in the
East Baton Rouge school parish is asthma.
Part of a respiratory therapist’s duty is to
educate patients with chronic lung disease
about maintenance and home care. That helps
reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
Students stay in school, and patients stay out
of the hospital.”
Beasley’s students had the opportunity to
Respiratory Therapy Program student teaches elementary students
the function of cilia in the airways with an activity.
Photo by Sue Davis.
practice their teaching skills during a servicelearning project on smoking prevention with
fifth grade students at Northside Elementary in
STUDENTS PARTNER WITH HEALTHY LIVES
TO LEARN ABOUT POPULATION HEALTH
In 2011, the Franciscan
Missionaries of Our Lady
Health System (FMOLHS)
developed a program called Healthy Lives,
initially designed to improve the health of the
13,000 employees working in FMOLHS hospitals
and clinics. The program, which results in both
improved employee health and fiscal savings for
employers, has been so successful that to date
it has been adopted by 32 companies in nine
states, and now touches the lives of more than
80,000 individuals.
Leaders of Healthy Lives and OLOL College met
to develop collaborative opportunities to engage
current nursing students. Through this partnership
the College’s students have an ongoing servicelearning project to gather data on workers’ blood
pressure, height, weight and waist measurement as
part of the Healthy Lives overall risk assessment for
participating workforce employees.
“Working with Healthy Lives has been a
terrific opportunity for our students,” states
course coordinator Rebekah Bergeron, M.S.N.,
RN. “Beginning with the spring 2014 semester
student teams go to different workplace locations
each week to do health assessments. These
Denham Springs. They brought props and
visuals and conducted presentations and
activities to teach the fifth graders about the
ingredients found in cigarettes and damage
caused by smoking. Peer pressure and
strategies for handling such situations were
also discussed. The service-learning project
concluded with an assessment activity
for the fifth graders and a reflection of the
entire process from OLOL College students.
“Every day, almost 3,900 children under
the age of 18 try their first cigarette. More
than 950 will become regular daily smokers,
and half of them will ultimately die from
their habit,” adds Beasley. “Maintenance is
important, but if we can prevent the disease
completely, that’s even better.”
96%
of students agree or
strongly agree that the S-L
experience increased their
awareness and appreciation
of differences among
people in the community
An OLOL College nursing
student assisting during a
Healthy Lives risk assessme
nt session at East Baton
Rouge Parish’s office for Mo
squito Abatement.
students have an opportunity to hone their skills
while participating in a program that will have a
real impact on local health.”
Healthy Lives Vice President of Operations
Lesley Tilley adds, “Healthy Lives health coaches
are eager to work with the nursing students to
demonstrate how we manage the health of a
population, encourage self-management through
lifestyle behavior modifications and motivational
interviewing. This lesson in population health
management becomes increasingly important in
the ever-changing healthcare environment.”
86%
of students agree or
strongly agree that the
S-L experience increased
their awareness of social
problems in the community
From a survey of 173 students in
Fall 2013 service-learning courses
FIRST BONNER LEADERS BEGIN SERVICE
Joining a nationwide network
of more than 70 colleges and
universities, the Bonner Leader
Program at OLOL College has recently
been established to support intensive
undergraduate community service and
social justice initiatives. During the spring
2014 semester three students were named
OLOL College’s inaugural Bonner Leaders:
Gabrielle Perrine, Armon Tajdaran and
Shelby Thompson.
Bonner Leaders undergo a competitive
application process and agree to an
extensive service requirement of over 250
hours during the academic year and 300
hours during the summer in addition to
weekly meetings and leadership workshops.
“Not only will our Bonner Leaders have
the opportunity to significantly impact
community needs, but through training and
service they will be able to grow individually
as engaged citizens and servant leaders,”
stated Rhoda Reddix, co-director of OLOL
College’s Bonner Program.
The Bonner Leader Program is part of
a larger set of initiatives developed by
the renowned Bonner Foundation. The
Foundation was established to work with
institutions of higher education to build
community leaders and deepen community
engagement.
BONNER LEADERS
Gabrielle Perrine: A Baton Rouge native,
Perrine is studying at OLOL College to become
a nurse. Her goal is to work some day in
pediatrics or obstetrics. “I just adore children
and I love the idea of being there when they
need a helping hand.”
Armon Tajdaran: Born and raised in Baton
Rouge to a family originating from Iran,
Tajdaran is a fifth semester undergraduate
with plans to complete a Doctorate in Nursing
Practice (DNP). Tajdaran says he felt inspired
to pursue nursing after witnessing the
difference healthcare providers made in the
life of his mother after she was diagnosed
with cancer.
Shelby Thompson: Originally from
Reserve, Louisiana, Thompson is a
sophomore pursuing a nursing degree.
She saw firsthand the caring of healthcare
professionals when her dad was battling a
rare form of vasculitis and ever since has
been interested in a medical career so
she can make a difference in other
people’s lives.
Gabrielle Perrine
Armon Tajdaran
Shelby Thompson
THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION AND OLOL COLLEGE
Founded by Andrew Carnegie
in 1905 and chartered in 1906
by an act of Congress, the
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement
of Teaching is an independent policy and
research center. Established to improve
teaching, learning and policy initiatives, the
Foundation offers a prestigious Community
Engagement classification which has
recognized OLOL College’s service efforts in
the community.
The Foundation is aware that community
engagement is made more effective by
the partnership of college and university
knowledge and resources with those of public
and private sectors. Working together they
can enrich scholarship, research and creative
activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and
learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens;
strengthen democratic values and civic
responsibility; address critical societal issues;
and contribute to the public good.
The Foundation’s Community Engagement
classification is elective, based on voluntary
participation by institutions. Guidelines
explain that the classification is not an
award, but instead is an evidence-based
documentation of institutional practice to be
used in a process of self-assessment and quality
improvement.
“The Carnegie Community Engagement
classification has been significant for two
reasons,” explained Phyllis Simpson, Ph.D.,
Dean of Student Services. “Not only is this
classification a recognition of our previous
impact on the community but it is an incentive,
spurring us toward more significant service and
civic engagement efforts.”
Our Lady of the Lake College is one of only four
higher education institutions within Louisiana
to receive the Community Engaged Institution
classification: Louisiana State University (2008),
Loyola University (2010), Our Lady of the Lake
College (2010), and Tulane University (2008).
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BLESSING THE HANDS THAT CARE
For several years Our Lady of the Lake
College has been holding simple but powerful
Blessing of the Hands ceremonies to recognize
the compassion and competence required of
those who commit their hands to the service
of others.
These ceremonies have become a tradition
for students in clinical programs at the College
to commemorate the milestone of stepping
into a first clinical rotation. Ceremonies have
also been held to bless the hands of local
community partner leaders and during campus
mission events to emphasize the healing and
spiritual presence of touch.
“The Blessing of the Hands ceremony
reminds students of the sacredness of touch
and the privilege of serving people at a
vulnerable time of their lives,” says Campus
Minister, Sr. Martha Ann Abshire, FMOL. “The
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (FMOL)
Student Brenna Moffett having her hands blessed by Sr. Martha Ann Abshire.
are a small group of Sisters who founded
Our Lady of the Lake College because they
care deeply about the health and well-being
of others. It is my hope that through this
blessing ceremony students will realize that
becoming part of the College means that
their hands in turn become an extension of
the FMOL ministry.”
U
“BLESSED BE THESE HANDS THAT HAVE CARRIED OUT
ENDLESS TASKS AS PART OF CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.”
—Line recited during the Blessing of the Hands ceremony
COLLEGE REPRESENTED AT NATIONAL
SOCIAL MINISTRY CONFERENCE
OLOL College students Authement and Burke (center right)
participating in a small group discussion about how to
help engage fellow students in campus ministry.
Students Angela Authement and Melanie Burke
joined Sr. Martha Ann Abshire, FMOL to represent
OLOL College at the Catholic Social Ministry
Gathering (CSMG) conference in Washington,
D.C. The theme, Connect-Learn-Pray-Advocate,
provided an opportunity for Catholic students
from all over the United States to learn more about
domestic and global challenges to human life and
dignity, justice and peace.
Held annually, the CSMG is a collaborative effort
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as
well as the Association of Catholic Colleges
and Universities and fifteen other national
partner organizations. At the CSMG conference,
Authement and Burke were able to meet
national Catholic social ministry and advocacy
leaders, learn about current priorities and
initiatives, develop advocacy skills, and voice
concerns directly to legislators about issues of
human life and dignity.
“At CSMG I had the incredible experience of
learning how I could help serve my brothers
and sisters in Christ,” explained Burke. “We
were trained to be advocates for people who
are served unjustly around our nation and the
world. During the conference, we visited our
state's legislators to talk to them about the
church's views on specific issues and ask for
their support. It was so empowering speaking
up for those who cannot stand up themselves.
I truly felt that I was fulfilling one of God's plans
for me by being a voice for his people.”
NEW BOOKS FROM
OUR FACULTY
• Marion Cahill, Ph.D.,
retired OLOL College professor
of psychology, has written
a new book entitled
Promoting Successful Aging:
Psychological Concepts
Applied to Nursing. The
book, scheduled for release
by Kendall Hunt Publishing in the
fall of 2014, is an interdisciplinary analysis of
aging that integrates psychological concepts
of human development and learning with
nursing principles and practices.
• Assistant professor of religious studies
David L. Whidden, III, Ph.D., is pleased to
announce the publication of his first book
Christ the Light: The Theology of Light and
Illumination in Thomas Aquinas, a July 2014
publication of Fortress Press which explores
the various ways that Thomas Aquinas uses
light language in his theological work.
CAMPUS ACCOLADES
• Two faculty, Albert N. Swafford, Jr.,
Ph.D., physiology instructor, and Serena
Sanford, M.S.N., RN, assistant professor of
nursing, were named during the past year as
Franciscan Service Award recipients.
Considered the highest award in the
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health
System, the award recognizes team members
who exemplify the Franciscan mission and
embody the core values of service, reverence
and love for all of life, joyfulness of spirit,
humility and justice.
• Several faculty presented work related
to service-learning at the 2014 Gulf South
Summit on Service-Learning held at Auburn
University: Elizabeth Berzas, Ph.D., master
of health administration director; Virginia
Engholm, Ph.D., English instructor; David
Murungi, Ph.D., health service administration
assistant professor; Rhoda Reddix, Ph.D.,
service-learning coordinator; and Eboni
Saurage, B.S., surgical technology director.
• Natalie Lenard, Ph.D., assistant professor
of biology, co-authored a research paper
entitled “Dietary Quercetin Supplementation
in Mice Increases Skeletal Muscle PGC1—
Expression, Improves Mitochondrial Function
and Attenuates Insulin Resistance in a TimeSpecific Manner” that was recently published
in PLoS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed,
open-access, online publication.
• Nursing assistant professors Stazel
Guerin, M.S.N., RN and Michelina Kite, M.N.,
RN successfully completed the American
Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Faculty
Learning about Geriatrics (FLAG) program at
the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
• Several faculty and students presented
work at the Association for Gerontology in
Higher Education (AGHE) Annual Meeting and
Educational Leadership Conference in Denver,
Colorado: Lindsay Bratton-Mullins, Ph.D.,
FNP-C; Nathan Campbell (student); Karen
Clark, M.S.N., RN; Stazel Guerin, M.S.N., RN;
Emily Lasseigne (student); Phyllis Simpson,
Ph.D.; Lisa Skemp, Ph.D., RN; and Xiomara
Zelaya (student).
• Campus Minister and alumna from the
class of 1972, Sr. Martha Ann Abshire, FMOL,
was honored as a Distinguished Graduate at
the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Schools
Awards Dinner.
• Fayron Epps, Ph.D., RN, assistant
Kristi (Tortorich)
Redmond, RN, ’09,
who served as SGA
President from 200708, is continuing a
life of service today.
Recognizing that New
York was supportive
in Louisiana’s recovery after Hurricane Katrina,
Redmond decided to “pay it forward” and
help the New York University (NYU) Langone
Medical Center after Hurricane Sandy
destroyed its Emergency Department, leaving
it to function temporarily from the 16th floor
of the hospital. With a grand-opening
scheduled for spring 2014, Redmond says,
“I have been honored to help . . . . I can't wait
to come home in a few weeks to share
my experiences!"
Franciscan Service Award honorees
Albert Swafford and Serena Sanford.
nursing director, has a research paper "The
Relationship Between Family Obligation and
Religiosity on Caregiving" which has been
accepted for publication in a leading peer
reviewed journal Geriatric Nursing.
• Dr. Amit Mitra, Ph.D., assistant professor
of biology, has co-authored a research article
entitled "NF-kB and CREB Are Required for
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Upregulation
in Neurons" published in the online journal
PLoS ONE.
• Zorabel LeJeune, Ph.D., chemistry
laboratory coordinator, co-authored a
research paper which was published in
Langmuir, a peer-reviewed journal of the
American Chemical Society.
Stazel Guerin and Michelina Kite
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ALUMNA SERVES
AFTER HURRICANE
SANDY
PTA PROGRAM A
REGIONAL LEADER
PTA Director, Leah Geheber (center) leading students in a
class exercise. Photo by Marie Constantin.
Congratulations to the Physical Therapist
Assisting (PTA) Program for successfully
completing its 2014 re-accreditation process
with the Commission on Accreditation in
Physical Therapy Education. Led by an
experienced faculty team, this program
produces exceptional assistants, with 100
percent of graduates finding work after
commencement and an outstanding three
year average pass rate on the national
certification exam of over 97 percent. The
program is gaining a reputation for excellence
with prospective students—competition for
acceptance into the most recent cohort was
strong, with a 3:1 ratio of applications to each
spot available.
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5414 BRITTANY DRIVE
BATON ROUGE, LA 70808
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JOIN US ON
FACEBOOK!
Facebook is a wonderful way for
people to stay connected. ‘Like’
the College’s new alumni page at
facebook.com/ololcollegealumni
or ‘like’ the College’s page at
facebook.com/ololcollege
to participate in lively and
fun news from our College
community. Questions?
Call (225) 490-1637.
Our Lady of the Lake College
students impact lives across
the Greater Baton Rouge region,
the state and the nation.
Have you thought about
how you can impact them?
ethos
E DUCATING
TO
H ELP OUR S OCIETY
PUBLISHER
Denise D. Bourgeois
Director of Institutional Advancement
ETHOS STAFF
WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER
D. Elaine Crowe
WRITER
Thien-Kieu Lam
DESIGN
EGBcreative.com
Send reader comments or concerns to
D. Elaine Crowe (225) 490-1637 or
[email protected]
For more information about Our Lady
of the Lake College go to ololcollege.edu
or call (225) 768-1700.
A gift to the St. Francis Annual Fund, no matter
the amount, will help create scholarships,
provide access to advanced training equipment
and technology, and create opportunities for
strengthening the Franciscan spirit.
See the envelope inside this issue
for details about how to give.
Inspired by the vision
of St. Francis of Assisi
and in the tradition of the
Roman Catholic Church,
we extend the healing ministry
of Jesus Christ to God’s people,
especially those most in need.
We call forth all who serve
in this healthcare ministry,
to share their gifts and talents
to create a spirit of healing —
with reverence and love
for all of life,
with joyfulness of spirit
and with humility and justice
for all those entrusted to our care.
We are with God’s help,
a healing and spiritual presence
for each other
and for the communities
we are privileged to serve.
Seeking to be faithful to the ideals
of its heritage and its sponsors,
Our Lady of the Lake College
is committed to meeting the
educational needs of the people of God.