Alumnae Magazine (Beginning on P.2), We Focus on a Topic That
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. 1 ^ W SETr asm — 'V N A E M A G A Z I N E i Excellence in Teaching Founders' Day Annual Report of Donors ^ w^ --' ir— - *» » ' . • ' Winter 1999 Vol C-Xj^slw'si write this, the brilliant colors of another Virginia autumn have almost faded, and students are buckling down to work on final term papers and studying for exams. The fall semester has been exceed- ingly full; a number of important events have engaged our students. We started the year with a visit from Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP and longtime civil rights activist. At Founders' Day, we honored our Distinguished Alumna, Katharine Milton, and in turn heard her give a fascinating talk about her re- search in the Amazonian rain forest. Poet Maya Angelou came early in November; more than 1,300 peo- ple poured onto the campus to hear her speak. We relived the Civil War through Mary Boykin Chesnut's eyes in a compelling one-woman play. Each of our fall athletic teams celebrated a Vixen Spirit Day that was great fun—complete with popcorn, pompons, the "president's party" and lots of students cheering on their teams. In my judgment, the vitality evident on the playing fields and in Babcock Auditorium reflects the vital- ity in our classrooms. In this issue of your Alumnae Magazine (beginning on p.2), we focus on a topic that should be of utmost importance to you: excellence in teaching. Since my first trip to Sweet Briar, I have been impressed with the quality and achievement of this faculty. From my earliest conversations with them, they have wanted to talk about their teaching: what happens in their classrooms, new courses they would like to teach, their work with individual students, the ideas they have developed with fellow faculty members. I have been intrigued with the innovative ways they are incorporating the best technology and latest research into the classroom. Our new General Education Program is the result of these efforts, interweaving the best practices in lib- eral arts education into the fabric of Sweet Briar. First-year students have settled into the rhythm of col- President Muhlenfeld in the classroom lege life and, for the first time, begun their academic careers with one of 16 First-Year Seminars, interdisciplinary courses that focus both on an interesting and multifaceted topic that makes students think, and also on developing skills in written and oral communication and, in several cases, in quantitative reasoning. These seminars have added an interesting new dimension to teaching first-year students. Faculty are experimenting with teaching across disciplines, and many are learning ways to teach writing and oral presentation in disciplines that have not traditionally focused on these skills. As for students, the chance to dive right into an intellectually demanding college seminar is both exciting and challenging. Lots of first-year students have told me they can't believe how much reading they have to do! When I hear comments like that, I'm delighted: what better statement could we make about what will be expected of them, and the intellectual values of this college? Sweet Briar's curriculum is evolving as fast as the world is changing; you will read about a number of new offerings in addition to the General Education Program. A computer science major, building on our suc- cess in the sciences and technology, and a new Spanish/business major both will position our students to take their places in the forefront of tomorrow's professionals. A new minor in archaeology, buttressed this summer by the first Sweet Briar Field School in Archaeology, has literally enabled our students to discover the past for themselves. Our faculty is responsive to the educational needs of a whole new generation of students, and I am delighted at the level of interdepartmental brainstorming and collaboration that allows this to happen here. I hope this issue of the Alumnae Magazine is one you will share with a prospective student. It talks about the very lifeblood of the College. Elisabeth S. Muhle President — weet Briar Alumnae Magazine Contents INSIDE FRONT A Message from the President 2-10 Excellence in Teaching By Mary Molyneux Abrams '86 11-12 Sweet Briar College We're Not "Just Liberal Arts" Anymore By Catherine Lumsden '78 13 New Kids on the Block: Some Notable Statistics Alumnae Association President Kathy Garcia Pegues 71 presents 1998 14 Orientation 1998 Distinguished Alumna Katharine Crommelin Milton '62 with her award. By Katie Wright '00 15-19 Founders' Day/Opening Convocation Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine Policy The Alumnae Office Staff One of the objectives of the magazine Louise Swiecki Zingaro '80, Director, 20-21 Mini Reunions is to present interesting, thought- Alumnae Association, Managing Editor, provoking material. Publication of ma- Alumnae Magazine; Ann MacDonald '97, terial does not indicate endorsement of Assistant Director; Kerri Rawlings '97, 22-25 In the Spotlight the author's viewpoint by the maga- Assistant Director; Sandra Maddox zine, the Alumnae Association, or AH'59, Assistant to the Director; Nancy 26 Letters Sweet Briar College. The Sweet Briar Godwin Baldwin '57, Editor, Alumnae Alumnae Magazine reserves the right to Magazine; Noreen Parker, Assistant edit and, when necessary, revise all Director, Assistant Editor & Class Notes 27 Bulletin Board material that it accepts for publication. Editor, Alumnae Magazine, Tour Coordinator; Bonnie Seitz, Alumnae Contact us any time! Computer Programs Coordinator 28-31 Club Corner Boxwood Alumnae House, Box E, Sweet Briar, VA 24595; (804) 381 - Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine 32-34 Transitions 6131; FAX 804-381-6132; Production E-Mail: 1) (Office) [email protected]; Printed by Progress Printing, 2) (Magazine) [email protected] Lynchburg, VA 35 Notices Alumnae Association web site address: Graphic design by Nancy Blackwell http/Avww.alumnae. sbc.edu Marion '74, The Design Group, Sweet Briar web site address: Lynchburg, VA 36-48 Class Notes www.sbc.edu 49-84 Special Section: 1997-98 Honor Roll of Donors Winter 1999 Vol. 70, No. 2 INSIDE BACK In the Sweet Briar Tradition Kathleen Garcia Pegues '71: Cover Photo: Physics Professor Carlos Calle plans to bring a NASA Completing the Connection experiment to Sweet Briar (see p. 7). Professor Calle is chair of the Faculty Senate. Photo £ Jack Mellott BACK Reunion Dates Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine Winter 1999 —— . not guaranteed under the old re- graduate, your strengths will be quirements. recognized and swiftly rewarded." On a visit back to campus for In addition to skills, the new Alumnae Council, Cecilia A. curriculum acknowledges the value Moore '88, assistant professor of of experiences that complement or religious studies at the University amplify academic work. Self- ot Dayton, praised the new em- assessment, independent research, phasis on skills. Though she telt physical activity, and completing a in confident in her abilities through major are the main components of TEACHING graduate school and beyond, she a requirement that provides needed believes the College is right to time for reflection while promot- by Mary Molyneux Abrams '86 update preparation in this area. ing active, hands-on learning. Bv "Technology speeds the delivery identitving and formalizing the of information, but it does not many ways students participate in change the need for thoughtful learning both inside and outside May 1998, after two and Starting this year, faculty composition," says Cecilia. "If the classroom, Sweet Briar can Ina half years of intense throughout the disciplines are anything, the use of computers work effectively to expand oppor- research and debate, the emphasizing writing, oral com- exposes deficiencies more quicklv. tunities in both areas. The Sweet Briar faculty passed an all- munication, and quantitative rea- If you don't have solid writing, College's new Spanish/business encompassing General Education soning skills at every level. The reasoning, and presentation skills, major, summer research program, Program. This new program Class of 2002 and every class to your employers are going to un- and "Learning on the Land" ori- the first major overhaul of the follow will be required to take cover those weaknesses faster entation are just a few examples of curriculum in several decades skill-intensive courses, not only than they would have just 10 how this initiative is taking shape. envisions a Sweet Briar education as first-year students, but on into years ago. On the flip side, if (This issue of the Alumnae as a seamless process, beginning their majors. you're a capable Sweet Briar Magazine covers many others.) with Orientation and continuing through the senior year. All stu- dents will complete a set of re- quirements that will: • ensure the development of strong communication and quantitative reasoning skills, • help students clarify the ratio- nale for a strong liberal arts background, • provide a pattern for the ac- quisition of knowledge both in terms of breadth (under- standing broad areas of knowledge) and depth (the completion of a major), • engage in purposeful experi- ences that will enhance their formal learning, • encourage students to rou- tinely assess their progress, review their decisions, and align their undergraduate preparation with future acade- mic, career, and life goals. Ifthis were the year 1400, 1 could honestly say that II the points listed above look Dr. Alix Ingber, associate familiar, it is because Sweet dean of academic affairs and pro- we have developed something unique. What we really Briar's mission to provide the fessor of Spanish, describes the have here is a new version a Renaissance curricu- best possible liberal arts educa- new skills initiative as being of tion for young women has not "more intentional." While com- lum—a curriculum that gives you skills in speaking changed. What is new is the way munication and analytical skills these objectives are expressed and have always been important com- and writing to carry out into public life; that is implemented across the curricu- ponents of a Sweet Briar educa- adaptable to yourpersonal life.