President Shearer's 25Th Year
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TTSpringransylvaniaransylvania 2008 UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE PRESIDENT SHEARER’S 25TH YEAR Highlights will include: FRIDAY COMEAlumni TOGETHER Weekend T-Day Golf Outing April 25-27, 2008 Alumni Day at the Races Pioneer Hall of Fame Dinner Join your classmates, friends, and facul- Inducting Jeffrey L. Blandon ’88, Whitney O’Bannon Hankins ’74, ty members for a weekend of fun and Jerome C. “Jerry” Jenkins ’62, Dustin E. Meek ’88, Jill Brooks memories during Alumni Weekend. Pellerin ’75, and Evans D. “Jack” Tracy ’56. TGIF Kick-Off Party For more information, contact Natasa Pajic ’96, director of alumni programs, SATURDAY at (800) 487-2679 or [email protected]. Alumni Celebration Luncheon Special tribute to computer science and mathematics professor All alumni were mailed an invitation James Miller and sociology professor Richard Thompson to cele- and registration form in early March. brate their retirements. Presentation of the Morrison Medallion, Check the Transy Web site at Irvin E. Lunger Award, Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and www.transy.edu (For Alumni, News & Distinguished Service and Distinguished Achievement Awards. Events, Reunions/Alumni Weekend), for reunion class pages and a detailed SUNDAY schedule. Make your hotel reservations early as other events are scheduled in Robert Barr Society Breakfast Lexington that weekend. Alumni Chapel Service TransylvaniaUNIVERSITY MAGAZINE SPRING/2008 Features 10 A CONSTANT PRESENCE President Charles L. Shearer is unwavering in his dedication to students as he nears a historic 25 years in office 14 A TAXING SITUATION Attorney Cathy Creech ’84 works in the nation’s capital, specializing in federal tax issues for companies, associations 16 20 YEARS OF HONORING EXCELLENCE Transylvania’s Bingham Program for Excellence in Teaching marks its 20th anniversary of honoring top faculty members 18 EXPERIENCING THE LIBERAL ARTS IDEAL Five Transylvania students exemplify the advantages of a liberal arts approach to higher education page 18 Around Campus 2 Thomson Residence Hall construction on schedule 3 Couple establish Fordham Visiting Professorship 4 Community book project fosters discourse of ideas 6 Distinguished liberal arts leaders speak on campus Sports 7 Men’s soccer makes NCAA Division III Sweet 16 8 Women’s golf takes third in HCAC tourney 9 Women’s soccer makes HCAC championship game Alumni News and Notes 23 Class Notes 25 Alumnus Profile: Lee Rose ’58 On the cover 28 Alumna Profile: Jennifer Lail Wertman ’74 Being surrounded by students is a familiar role for President Charles L. Shearer as he nears the completion this July of a historic Director of Public Relations: Sarah A. Emmons ! Director of Publications: 25 years in office. See story on page 10. Martha S. Baker ! Publications Writer/Editor: William A. Bowden ! Editorial Students pictured are, clockwise from upper Assistant: Lori-Lyn Hurley ! Publications Designer: Barbara Grinnell right, Kim Rodgers ’10, Anthony Zanni ’09, Candace Johnson ’10, Danyel Wiley ’11, Transylvania is published three times a year. Volume 25, No. 2, Spring 2008. Ashley Ramchandani ’10, Mary Pat Baker ’09, Produced by the Office of Publications, Transylvania University, Lexington, Stephen Blankenship ’09, Aaron Brown ’09, KY 40508-1797. Send address changes and alumni news to Alumni Office, and Greg Tackett ’10. Transylvania University, 300 North Broadway, Lexington, KY 40508-1797, Photo by Joseph Rey Au fax to (859) 233-8797, or e-mail to [email protected]. Around Campus Black Achievers Parents Fund more than halfway to goal hold sessions on After a successful fall “This led to a very successful resources that the library pro- campus phonathon and follow-up calls phonathon and some really nice vides for students are intimately by students, the Parents Fund gifts.” connected to the quality of their The YMCA of Central Ken- has raised nearly 78 percent of Burlingham emphasized that research, their papers, and what tucky Black Achievers program the $93,000 needed to support all gifts, no matter the amount, they learn. The better our col- held sessions for middle and the Transylvania library. are important. lections are, the better the stu- high school students on motiva- “Parents Council members, “In the 2006-07 academic dents’ papers and research will tion and life skills on Transylva- other parent volunteers, and year, nearly 40 percent of what be.” nia’s campus in February. parents of alumni filled every we spent on both paper and Students continued to phone Though Transylvania has previ- seat during the phonathon,” electronic books and periodicals parents and grandparents early ously had ties to the Black said Lori Burlingham, assistant for the library came from the in the winter term to request Achievers program, this is the development director and coor- Parents Fund,” said Susan support for the Parents Fund. first year that events have been dinator of the Parents Fund. Brown, library director. “The held on campus. “We’ve partnered as far as gram, returns $10 to scholarship money with stu- New Transy license plates available Transy for each license dents who graduate from the plate sold or renewed. program and come to Transy,” Transylvania supporters living More than $22,000 coordinator of multicultural in Kentucky can show their went into Transylvania’s affairs Vince Bingham ’98 said, Crimson pride and also help scholarship fund during “and we’re pleased to have a fund scholarships at the Univer- the first five years of the greater involvement this year.” sity by purchasing a newly program. The aim of the program is to designed Transylvania license Even if you already connect seventh through plate. In 2007, Transy support- have a Transy plate, the twelfth grade students with ers purchased or renewed 601 first-time fee is $44 plates in stock. positive adult role models and Transylvania license plates—just because the new design will For more information, includ- provide exposure to career, edu- 3 shy of first place among Ken- replace your current plate. The ing contact information for your cational, and social opportuni- tucky’s 20 private colleges. renewal fee for subsequent county clerk, visit the Kentucky ties that enable the students to The Association of Independ- years is $31. It’s a good idea to Transportation Cabinet’s Division make informed decisions and ent Kentucky Colleges and Uni- call ahead to make sure your of Motor Vehicle Licensing at develop the skills necessary to versities, sponsor of the pro- county clerk’s office has Transy www.kytc.state.ky.us/mvl. compete successfully in life. The primary activities take place on the second and fourth Thomson Hall taking shape Saturdays of the month throughout the school year and Construction continues on house 31 suites, a large meeting offer two types of sessions: gen- Thomson Residence Hall, the room, and the 1780 Café. eral sessions designed to provide suite-style facility that is slated The building is named after guidance and motivate students, to be completed in August. The Joe Thomson ’66, a member of and cluster sessions that expose three-story building will be the Board of Trustees, and his students to specific life skills. heated and cooled with an wife, JoAnn, who provided the Cluster sessions that took place environmentally friendly geo- lead gift for the project. include Arts and Culture, Busi- thermal HVAC system, and will ness, Computers, Engineering, Medical, and Communications. “Many of our alums are Black Achievers,” Bingham said. “This is a program that ignites stu- dents’ thirst for knowledge.” The Black Achievers program culminates with an awards ban- quet at Lexington Center in April. In March, Bingham accepted the Service Award on behalf of Transylvania at the Urban League Young Profession- al Gala in recognition of work done with the Leading and Impacting Futures Today Confer- ence and Black Achievers. Lori-Lyn Hurley Lori-Lyn 2 TRANSYLVANIA COUPLE ESTABLISH FORDHAM VISITING PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP Lynn Fordham is passionate about the to the creation of substantial wealth in both need for leadership throughout society. His product and service businesses. world-view approach to the subject recently After surveying several locations in the found a local focus when the Lexington res- U.S. Southeast, he and Joellen chose Lexing- ident, a retired research scientist, corporate ton as their retirement home and moved executive, and entrepreneur, along with his here in 1995. They now focus mainly on wife, Joellen, established the Fordham Visit- investing and philanthropy. Fordham is wide- ing Professor of Leadership at Transylvania. ly read and keeps up with important political Fordham sees training and motivation in and cultural news and trends around the leadership concepts and skills as essential world. for college students preparing for meaning- “I consider myself to be a broad-based ful careers. The professorship will give Tran- technologist,” he said, “as well as a good sylvania students those opportunities. businessman, well qualified in a variety of “There are many college graduates who subjects such as income tax, estate planning, are bright, and nothing else,” Fordham said. healthcare, investing, asset protection and “That’s why I stress the importance of the philanthropy, all self-taught, using the basic non-intellectual aspect of leadership. It has beginnings I got in my education years.” been a critical quality for me throughout my Fordham has increasingly come to value career.” the liberal arts aspects of his college experi- The visiting professor program, which will ence at Western Ontario, even though his be funded through a charitable remainder major was in chemistry and physics. That was a motivation when he and Joellen were trust established by Lynn Fordham, will ! Lynn and Joellen Fordham bring leaders of international prominence to choosing a college for a major donation. Transylvania to teach and interact with stu- Also, they chose Transylvania in part dents, faculty, and staff. There will also be because of their appreciation of the Univer- well as for the Transylvania community and lectures and presentations to the wider pub- sity’s historic role in providing national lead- the public.” lic community.