Building on the Legacy of Donald W. Maine
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FALL 2015 . VOLUME 8 . No. 3 Building on the Legacy of Donald W. Maine Alumni & Development Peg Luy Executive Vice President for Alumni & Development [email protected] Michele Davis FALL 2015 . VOLUME 8 . No. 3 Executive Director of Grant Development [email protected] Louise Kidd Executive Director of Leadership Gifts & Donor Services On the shoulders of greatness [email protected] Jason Madden, MBA ’08 The cover of this issue of DU Review features a man Executive Director of Alumni & Development [email protected] to whom this institution and its communities owe a Nick Glaser Director of Major Gifts great debt of gratitude, and for whom our College of [email protected] Business and the new building that will be its home Sarah Mitchell Director of Prospect Research and are appropriately named. When the new building is Scholarship Stewardship completed, it will be home for the Donald W. Maine [email protected] Courtney Sorrell College of Business and its Entrepreneurship Center. Assistant Director of Annual Giving [email protected] The creativity and growth that will occur in that new Sara Hop, ’09 building will be an appropriate tribute to a man who Assistant Director of Alumni Communications and Development tapped into a great amount of creativity to achieve [email protected] tremendous growth during his 23 years as President Erik Dane, MBA ’07 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Events and Chancellor of Davenport. [email protected] Among the many accomplishments achieved under Don’s leadership was the introduction Laura Macka Manager of Data Systems & Gift Processing of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the expansion of the Davenport systems across the state of [email protected] Mary Nelsen Michigan, the expansion of programs appealing to non-traditional students, the unification Executive Administrative Assistant of the University into one institution in 2000, and even the initial planning for what would [email protected] become DU’s new W.A. Lettinga Campus. He also brought higher education into the internet Marketing & Communications age when Davenport launched its online degree programs in the 1990s. Robin Luymes, MM ’15, APR Executive Director of Communications In the 15 or so years since Don’s retirement, Davenport has continued to grow and refine [email protected] as a quality institution, but the impact of Don’s leadership cannot be underestimated. As I Steve Landrum, EMBA ’13 Executive Director of Marketing have said often, we stand on the shoulders of the great leaders that have come before us, and [email protected] that includes Don Maine. We could not hope to accomplish our ambitious vision to be ranked Richard Crispo Creative Director among higher education leaders without the hard work that Don Maine first accomplished [email protected] between 1977 and 2000. Lyndsie Post, MBA ’11 Director of Communications We are about to enter 2016, when we will celebrate Davenport University’s 150th [email protected] Maggie Kennedy Anniversary. Throughout the year we will be acknowledging the leadership of great men who Communications Manager led this institution throughout the ages, like Conrad Swensburg, Michael E. Davenport, [email protected] Elizabeth Szubinski, MBA ’14 Robert W. Sneden and Randolph Flechsig. We also will see an amazing, tangible tribute Marketing Project Manager emerge on the southeast corner of the W.A. Lettinga Campus, paying homage to the [email protected] John Teichman tremendous leadership of Donald W. Maine. We hope you will join us a year or so from now Graphic Designer [email protected] when we dedicate the new facility in Don’s honor! Online davenport.edu/DUReview facebook.com/DUAlumni Sincerely, twitter.com/DavenportU flickr.com/photos/davenportuniversity Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D. youtube.com/davenportweb President DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY REVIEW is published by Davenport University, 6191 Kraft Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 2 | DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY REVIEW (L to R): DU students Julia Mayer and Andrew Habasevich, Rockford Construction CEO Mike Van Gessel, Board Vice-Chair Ken Yerrick, Board Trustee Michelle Van Dyke, Board Trustee Bob Hetzler, Dr. Rick Pappas, Chancellor Emeritus Don Maine, Board Chair Frank Merlotti, Board Trustee Carol Van Andel, DU student Jordan Neuhaus and Dean Pamela Imperato line up for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Donald W. Maine College of Business building. “I’ve been connected to Davenport for 44 Building on the legacy of Donald W. Maine years now. What we In December 2016, the new 60,000-square-foot Donald W. Maine College of Business building will open and continue the legacy of Donald W. Maine, who served as Chancellor have achieved is and President of Davenport from 1977 to 2000. His vision and the strategic initiatives he implemented helped make Davenport one of the leading private, non-profit universities in because of the the State of Michigan. Under Maine’s leadership, Davenport developed from a college offering only associate dedication and hard degree programs to a fully accredited university providing undergraduate and graduate work of the board, degrees in business, technology and health professions. Online programs were introduced at Davenport during his time, making the University the first in Michigan and among staff and faculty. the first in the nation to offer online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Also, Maine oversaw the unification of three separate colleges across the state into one University and laid the Thousands of students groundwork for the construction of the W.A. Lettinga Campus. have been prepared to “We all stand on the shoulders of this man who served as President and Chancellor of Davenport for 23 years,” said Dr. Rick Pappas. “Don remains actively involved with the take their future places University, and we treasure his friendship and his love for Davenport.” Necessitated by the growing enrollment at the W.A. Lettinga Campus, the new three- as industry leaders.” story facility will allow for continued growth of academic programs in the Donald W. - Donald W. Maine Maine College of Business. It will also free up space within the other academic facilities to accommodate the continued growth of technology, health and arts and science programs. A new Entrepreneurship Center will be developed and housed within the new facility to guide and advise entrepreneurs ready to build and expand their successful, high-value, DAVENPORT.EDU | 3 Above and Left: Renderings of the 60,000-square-foot Donald W. Maine College of Business Left (L to R): Dr. Rick Pappas, Board Vice-Chair Ken Yerrick, Board Chair Frank Merlotti, Chancellor Emeritus Don Maine, Board Trustee Michelle Van Dyke, Board Trustee Carol Van Andel, Rockford Construction CEO Mike Van Gessel and Dean Pamela Imperato. high-growth companies and create more jobs. There will be flexible space available to support up to three companies in the Entrepreneurship Center’s business accelerator program. The atmosphere, which will be modeled more as a corporate headquarters than an academic building, will engage business students in real-world settings to prepare them for their careers after graduation. “I’ve been connected to Davenport for 44 years now,” stated Maine. “What we have achieved is because of the dedication and hard work of the board, staff and faculty. Thousands of students have been prepared to take their future places as industry leaders.” On a beautiful day in November, Davenport President Dr. Rick Pappas joined with Board Chair Frank Merlotti, Chancellor Emeritus Don Maine, Dean of the Donald W. Maine College of Business and College of Technology Pamela Imperato, plus board trustees and others to break ground on the new building. “I am humbled and astonished my name is on this building,” remarked Maine. “It is an unbelievable honor, and I am deeply grateful.” 4 | DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY REVIEW Students participate in Panther Prowl team building activities. Pounce, staff and faculty welcome new students at Convocation. Panther Prowl 2015 Third annual Convocation To kick off the academic year, the Center for Campus Life kicks-off academic year planned a four-day transitional program right after students Convocation is the official academic welcome of students to moved in to help them ease into college. More than 400 students Davenport University, celebrated annually in academic regalia. The were led through daily activities by trained upperclassmen called 2015 Convocation was held at the W. A. Lettinga Campus in the Pack Leaders. Nationally recognized speakers presented on topics Student Activity Center for new, incoming students. This ceremony, 3 such as forming relationships, developing social habits, academic featuring messages from Dr. Rick Pappas and Dr. Linda Rinker, and financial success, maintaining proper health and wellness, Executive Vice President for Academics and Provost, introduced leadership development and familiarizing themselves with the students to their academic team and prepared them for their rich campus culture. Social activities were offered to break down and rewarding Davenport careers. barriers and build relationships. Events included a drive-in movie, capture the flag game, bonfire, dance party, team building trust course, scavenger hunt, mud run volunteer activity and night in the student center. 4 DAVENPORT.EDU | 5 Homecoming 2015 featured a plethora of fun-filled activities for alumni, faculty, staff and students. This year’s celebrations included a chili cook-off, a Zombie Run, 1 the Alumni Awards, the dedication of the expanded Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, a football game, the Panther Ambassador Campaign and more! 2 With the second phase of the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex complete, a dedication was held on Saturday, Oct. 3, before the homecoming tailgate festivities and game. The second phase, made possible by a gift of 45 acres from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, added a new competition field for football, soccer and rugby, plus track and field facilities.