challengin~ Minus from the

• SUMMER 2007

p r e s 1 dent THE MAGAZINE OF COVENANT COLLEGE The College of the Presbyterian Church in America

Published by the Office of College Communications

Editor Jen Allen Welco me once aga in to a "view" of Covenant Co llege' Designer Tad Evearitt '98 The Viel\' regul arl y prov id es glimpses of Covenant Contributing Writers peo pl e and path ways and pl aces to remind us of th e Andrew Baxley '09, Shannon Payne Bie lcik, remarkabl e fa ithfulness and provision of Go d and of Jenni DeJong '06, Miriam Godwin '09, Jay Green, th e Kingdom impact he graciously enabl es us to have. Amy Robinson '06

Contributing Photographers In thi i ue we foc u on Covenant alumni who are Tad Evearitt '98, Denis Fogo, Alicia Hanson

fo ll ow in g God's ca ll into hi gher edu ca ti on. It seems Contact the editor at: natural, d e n 't it, th at a good number of our alumni Editor, Th e View Covenant College wo uld pur ue such a ca lling, given th e tes timoni es of 14049 Scenic Highway so many to th e impac t of th eir own co ll ege edu ca ti on Lookout Mountain GA 30750 Phone: 706.419.1119 at Covenant. But it's al o a cru cial and strategic ca ll­ E-mail: [email protected] in g, in bo th hri li an and secul ar edu ca ti onal settings, give n our fo und ati onal startin g- point: th at Jes us Chri st Letters to the editor are welcome. i preem in ent in all things. Send alumni notes to: Alumni Office Covenant College Our co ll ege mott o continuall y reminds u th at in him 14049 Scenic Highway are hidden al I th e trea ures of wi dom and kn owledge Lookout Mountain GA 30750 Phone: 706.419.1649 (Colossians 2:3), and th at, th erefore, every edu ca ti onal E-mail: [email protected] and cholarl y pursuit ri ghtl y and neces aril y find s its Website: covenant.edu ori gin al impetu s, it sharpest foc us, and its ultimate © 2007 Covenant College end in th e truth and grace and glory of th e On e who is Articles may be reprinted with permission of the editor. Proph et, Pri est, and Kin g. Covenant College complies with federal and state requirements for nond iscrimination on the basis of age, race, May th e Lord enco urage us all as we con ici er th ese co lor, ge nder, handicaps, or national or ethnic origin in the adminis tration of its policies and programs. Covenant exampl es of th e declarati on and demonstra­ ti on of the preeminence of Jesus Chri st in th e academy. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editor, and do not nec ess arily represent the official position of the College.

MISSION STATEMENT The View's purpose is to: En courage alumni, parents and fri end s to keep Christ preeminent in all areas of their lives · Give alumni, parents and friends- our most important Niel N ielson ambassa dors-stories and information about the College, its student s, alumni, faculty, and staff· Provide alumni with an Pres ident ongoing connection to the Covenant community· Give God 's people news about Covenant that will encourage them to pra ise, thank, and petition our Heavenly Father.

COVENANT COLLEGE 2 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 IN 1\LL TIii 'GS C M RI ST PR EE :.\•IIN ENT COVENANT COLLEGE S UMMER 2 0 0 7

contents

4 Financial Highlights A brief overview of Co\·enant's finances for Lhc fiscal year 2005-2006.

5 New College Chaplain Appointed Rev. Aaron Messner joins Covenant this SU Ill Iller a College Chaplain.

6 Challenging Minds ABOUT THE COVER Meet a handful of Covenant's many alulllni who sc1Tc on Lhc Dr. Joe Kickasola '94 has directed faculties of colleges and univcrsilie arnund the countn. and produced television series, 7 Impact: A Life of Da ily Obedience films, and documentaries. He is Joe Kickasola '9'-1 directs the Baylo1· Comlllunication in ew York progralll.

10 A Passion for Stories Gwen Macall iste,- '95 n:lumed to he,· al Illa mater as assistant professor of English.

12 A Profession To Grow In Rachel Gleason '90 coordinates a new physical therapy doctoral progralll at the University of Kentuckv.

14 Studying the Creator's Creation Jan Dudt '76 teaches biology at Grove City College.

17 Faculty View Dr. Jay Green rene l on Alllerica's cultural heritage.

18 Campus Notes Scholarly aeh ievemenls by melllbers of Covenant's faculty.

19 Student Profile Michaela Ibach '07 is passionate about basketball and medicine.

20 Alumni of the Year Three alulllni are hono1·ed with awards fo1· exelllpla1-y service.

BUILD CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2007 COVENANT CO LLE GE THE VI EW 3 Financial Highlight s Fiscal Year July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006

2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 Covenant College has been Net Assets prndent in its financial Unrestricted $31,917,359 $29,154,724 $28,332,704 management since its Temporarily Restricted 11,451,032 4,721,146 4,234,718 founding over a half century Permanently Restricted 13,465,930 11,222,131 10,840,276 ago. Covenant fully discloses Total Net Assets $56,834,321 $45,098,001 $43,407,698 its financial statements to maintain accountability. At Tuition and Fees $20,538,520 $22,257,014 $20,752,633 left is an overview of the Less Student Assistance (7,597,899) (9,402,652) (8,953,983) College's financial highlights for the fiscal year ended June Net Tuition and Fees $12,940,621 $12,854,362 $11,798,650 30, 2006. If you would like a copy of our most recent Gihs $7,640,847 $4,711,585 $3,305,052 audited financial statement, Auxiliary Income 4,123,012 3,921,699 3,539,533 please write Jen Allen, Office Independent Operations 1,065,172 1,037,088 1,285,113 of College Communications, Investment Gains (Losses) 1,221,715 1,149,990 1,882,066 Covenant College, 14049 Government and Private Grants 944,339 848,003 845,499 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750, or call Total Expenses $23,636,324 $23,143,585 $21,363,176 706.419.1119. Rev. Aaron Messner Appointed College Chaplain

e are pleased to announce that Re,·. W Aaron Messner will become College Chaplain beginning June 1. 2007.

"Rev. Messner brings to his new role a deep love for God's Word and for preaching, a passion for the gospel and for the implica­ tions of the gospel for every sphere of cre­ ation, and a strong commitment to Christian higher education and to ministry among stu­ What's reallv exciting about [the Covenant dents and faculty," said President Nielson. chaplaincy] is the opportunity to multiply ministry far more than I could ever do in a Messner comes to Covenant from Tenth local church context because [a chaplain is] Presb~·terian Church in Philadelphia, where he has served as the associate minister of investing in hundreds and thousands of stu­ preaching. dents who are going to go out all over the world. . . This is a great place to be able to "The great passion of my life," said Messner, make that kind of investment, and I'm grate­ "is to see the kingdom of God and to make ful for the opportunity." strategic investments in His kingdom work.

Covenant Nailled One Of Aillerica's Best Colleges

Covenant ranked high in several categories of Lhe 2007 ediLion of US.News & World Report' "America's Be L College ." U.S. News placed Covenant ninLh among besL comprehensive colleges offering bachelor's degrees in Lhe Soulh and named CovenanL the ninth best value in the same field. This marks Covenant's fourth consecutive year in the Lop ten best comprehensive colleges offering bachelor's degrees in Lhe South. Covenant holds the fourth highesL graduation rate among comprehensive colleges in its field.

SUMMER 2007 • COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 5 From pll\sical thLTaf)\ clinics to f1clds, CO\cnant alumni are engaging the hearts and challenging the minds of their m,n student .

kct a re\, alumni,, ho hm c follo\\"cd God's call to tran form hearts and minds in the wodd of higher education. Learn their stories, and be encouraged b_\ the good \\"orb the, arc doing in the name of Jesus.

6 THE VIEW COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 oseph Kickasola '94 i associate professor of everything and qualit is communication studies at acrificed for quanlil . And r lation hip that could be Baylor Univer ity and direc­ it is obviou a he speak developed with the people tor of the Baylor Communi­ that it' a le son he' learned that were Covenant. cation in ew York program, with lime and that the effects hu band to opera singer Lin­ of this lmth can be traced A Maclellan cholarship nea, and father of two-year­ throughout his life story. " ealed the deal" and Joseph old Bronwyn. He describes Kickasola came lo Covenant impact as daily obedience. Joe visited Covenant during in the [all o[ 1990, a highl high school, and it was after motivated Maclellan scholar Impact, he says, is doing conversations with faculty with lillle knowledge of what good work as we are enabled members that he began to it wa he ultimately wanted by the Holy Spirit for the look at the school with real lo do. His heart had ah,vays sake of Jesus Christ. That's a interest. He had ca ugh l a been drawn lo the imagina­ big statement in a time and a hint of what Covenant was tion, lo creativity and beauty, place where numbers mean about when he saw the real so he look on a double major

SUMMER 2007 • COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 7 of English and music to explore the realms of his lessons on pursuing knowledge biblically creativity and expre ion further. while till thinking outside the box.

When asked what he Look away from hi In a more particular sense, Dr. Foreman's Covenant College exp rience, Joe thinks for a first-ever film class woke Joe up to the pos­ moment and then an wers confident! , "Cov­ sibility of working in film. It was an exciting enant s howed me who I wanted Lo be." He time participating in a small pioneer class peak of the table in the Great Hall, the wa that watched films together and discussed sixteen people could cram in together and their hidden meaning with Dr. Foreman as a face e er. one at one , throwing around idea re ource. Jo began to wonder if film would and combating each other's dogma in a wa be a bigger player in his life than he'd once that shaped each of th m deep]_. thought.

It wa there, ·a:v · Joe, that the great st le on Still, Joe continued lo pursue a career in mu- f hi · college career were learned: in vibrant ic, applying to four prestigious conservato­ onver a ti on with faculty, staff, and especially ries following graduation. He laughed when fellow student ·. This was one of the earl he recalled all four of those applications fall­ ·tages in the trnth that can be traced through­ ing through and the way it pushed him into a out his biograph.\: that i111pacl is a dail. master' -level film course on Alfred Hitchcock obedienc - doing at Regent University

good ,1 1ork accord­ only two weeks af­ ing to our gift for "Excellent work that reveals ter graduating from th ake of Je us. truth and teaches of the Covenant. He'd Because it , a n't nature of God impacts taken the course one' brilliance a an exploratory people and points them on test or paper measure, wondering that brought about toward Jesus." if he could pur ue greatness; it wa further schooling in the humble arch film. He absolutely for truth, in daily conver ations, around loved it and never looked back. table in the Great Hall. That Hitchcock course catapulted Joe into Joe cites other influential agents of change a master's in communications from Regent at Covenant such as Dr. Foreman, with his University. From there he spent several years gift for looking past the surface to the hid­ producing and directing documentaries, com­ den meanings of life, and Dr. McLelland and mercials, experimental films, and television

8 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 series uch as PBS' Collecting Across America. who pecialized in practical filmmaking, theo­ He authored the book The Films of Krzysztof retical and hi lorical approaches to film, and Kiesloivslci: The Liminal Image in 2004, in the integration of faith and film. For all these which he discus ed the distinct ways Kies­ things, Joe was providentially and experien­ low ki pursued deep subject with abstract tial! prepared, he says, based on the exact image . When asked how thi work helped path hi life had followed. It was through act to impact the world for Chri t, Joe speak of o[ dail obedience, even when the direction daily obedience. Excellent work that reveal wa uncl ar, that Joe wa · equipped for the truth and teaches of the nature of God, he call to teach. says, impacts people and point them toward Jesu . Today, Joe continue to lead Baylor's com­ munication program in ew York City. Hi Still, with all these accompli hment , Joe ays per onal pursuits include research on the that he began to miss "the life of the mind." phenomenon o[ "·yne the ·ia" in film - th act An opportunity pre ented it elf when a pro­ of one en e inOuencing another. He has al o fessor in Regent's doctoral program encour­ begun lo develop an idea for an experimental aged him to further hi education, and Joe film focu ing on scene from hi n ighbor­ returned to Regent to study for a PhD in com­ hoo I and incorporating mu ic composed by munications. His dissertation explored the an ighbor about the same subject. And he' role of abstract images in film, a subject still working thi summer on a nlm ba ed on a prevalent in Joe's work and re earch today. hort lory written by a Bayl r Engli h profes­ He probed the idea that ab tract image en­ or. able communication v-rithout coaching. They are like pallets onto which the watcher can Joe continues hi effort toward excellent project his own emotions and through which work in the name o[ Jesu . He and Linnea huge, vague ideas like love and death can be are activel involved in their church's wor­ communicated without being cheapened. In ship program and in Redeemer Pre byterian's thi way, through the work of the Holy Spirit, Inter-Arts Ministry, a community open to all film interacts with one's faith. Joe connects believing artists in NYC. But a he ays, the these ideas with religious ritual, examining way he impacts the world the mo t effectively the way deep emotions are felt through simple is by doing excellent work and exhibiting actions like the breaking of bread. daily obedience to all who know him. In this way, the name of Jesus is declared quietly and It wasn't long after the completion of this dis­ humbly and extraordinarily well. sertation that Baylor University approached him with an offer. Baylor needed a professor

SUMMER 2007 COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 9 . '· .t ;'

u t ,_.. ! I '. · t A PAsS10N for STORI ]j S

b Miriam Godwin '09

n Dr. ,,en (We!->lencll '95) Macalli!->ler's path she wi ·hed to pur ue. She con idered a olf1ce "all hang!-> a photograph or a, isil she history major, but di covered that what he made to o\'enanl a.., a lhree-\ear-old. "liked about hi ·tory was the tory about people and about culture . . . that wa reall more my "M_\ lam ii_\ had al\\a_\!-> kno" n about Cmenant," pa sion." said wen. "M ., mom had a I ricnd who taught here" hen I "as a toddlcc" The, traveled to Gwen graduated from Covenant with Lookout Mountain one majors in Engli hand summer to visit this "I get to read for a living! interdi ciplinary tudie , [riend, and Gwen !->a\'!-> including concentrations her mother proclaimed, And I get to talk about it! in hi lory, philosophy, "Well , vou never kno\\ What could be better?" and Spanish. what might happen." Having alway loved reading, she knew he When it came time to appl_\ for colleges, would work with literature, and con idered Co cnant was the only college G, en the route o[ teacher or librarian. Her lifelong con ·idered. he was awarded the Maclellan pas ·ion for stories about people and culture -c holarship and came to Co enant becau c or gradually drew her toward teaching de pile her the school's unwmering commitment to biblical [car o[ public speaking. Her father wa a college principles. biology pro[e or and had always been quite content a a pro[es 01~ and this offered a certain Upon fir t arriving al Covenant, she wa un urc at lrac lion. o[ her major and the direction o[ the career

10 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 But it vvasn't until he b gan leading a discussion ection for a large undergraduate literature un,ey cla during her second seme ter a a grad tudent that he fell confidence in her calling. Though she ,,va tentative in approaching her first Leaching assignment, aften,vard she experienced a sense of confirmation that he wanted to spend the rest of her life teaching.

Reflecting upon teaching that cla , Gwen shakes her head, laughs, and talks about the differences between her Leaching tyle then The fact that reading is ·uch a large part of and now. "The very fir t eme Ler that I taught, her career i , of course, another huge draw I dealt with the whole fear and anxiety of it for thi tory-lover. "That' wh:-, thi job is o by Leaching silting behind the desk that was great!" he exclaim . "I mean, I get to read for at the front of.the cla - which, orked oka. , a living! And I gel to talk about it! What could becau e it was a discussion ection o it wa be better?" meant to be more conversational. But now I think about teaching silting down, e peciall In addition to her work at ovenant, Gwen in front of a large class of twenty-five or more al o ha been quite involved in scholarly students, and I just wouldn't - I wouldn't pursuits, pre enting paper · at conference feel as engaged or sort of empowered sitting across the United late ·. down."

She and her husband live at the foot of Gwen joined Covenant College's faculty as an Lookout Mountain with their eighteen-month­ assistant professor of English in 2002 after old daughter. One mention of the name "Helen completing her master's and Ph.D. at the Grace" brings an immediate grin to Gwen's University of South Carolina. face and a fountain of tories about her cheerful, outgoing daughter. One of Gwen's favorite aspects of teaching is the interaction with students. "Even a The Macallister love to travel and have been class that I've taught a number of times can to forty-six stales, lacking only Arkan a , be totally new and different because you're Hawaii, Kansas, and Oklahoma to complete Leaching different people," she notes. "They vi its Lo each state in the union. "It's like my have different ideas and different insights, and little Midwest gap - which i not exactly that that's what I really love, that interaction. I love enchanting a vacation de tination but, a I when students bring up things that I've never said to my husband, we've just got to go! I've thought of . .. I learn from them." got to get there."

u

SUMMER 2007 • COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 11 felt that it would be a great phy ical therapy program, therapist has taken her on profe · ion that 1 would o he completed three a journe cri -cro sing really grow in, not ju ta year at Covenant and then the country. Following job," aid Rachel (White) received her bachelor' in graduation, he worked Glea on '90 of phy ical ph_ ical therap from the at an outpatient clinic in therap_. That' the inkling Chattanooga, served that catapulted her into "My faith really defines a a traveling physical the field - and has proven therapist, and then landed Lo be true throughout the who I am as a person. in West Virginia where fir Ldecade of her career. he took on contract My work is just an -~ work. Rachel volunteered in extension of who I am." several physical therapy She earned her master's practice while she was in physical therapy from a tudenl at Covenant and Univcr ity of Tennessee al Ohio State University in found her elf drawn Lo the Challanooga. 1999, and then practiced field. At that time, Covenant in Utah and Ohio before had yet Lo begin it pre- Rachel' career a a physical finally settling in Lexington,

12 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 BUILD: Sho, els were hoisted, camera-, resenl.Hi,es, and campaign leaders treat, joined by local dignitaries flashed, and onlookers ,,·atched gathered to co111memorale the ne,, and special friends or the College. ,, ilh enthusiasm, as ground ,,·a.., construction -,iles ,, ilh praye1· and broken on CO\cnanl's campu-, on lhL ..,inging of the college h,11111, All President iel ielson and Cam­ October 6, 2006. /01 ]C!\/1\ . paign hair Joel Belz introduced the public pha e or the 31 million Local media co, ered the land­ Late1· the sa111e e,ening, in an BUILD campaign and Jed a em· ma1·k momenl, while a crowd of e'-citc111cnt-f1lled ballrnorn at The bled guests in celebrating the past, ludenls, alumni, lni..,lec..,, laCLill,, hattanoogan, CO\enant alumni present, and future o[ Covenant staff, archilecls, construction rep- enjo_\ed a special homecoming ollege. IJ I//· t l / . t· o"i. t' II // 111 . t' ,/ II BUl:l1D:M i lest ones

Since the kickoff celebration, Cove­ Campaign Chair Joel Belz present the nant has been privileged to host sever­ BUILD campaign, supported by the al more dinners, not only for a second testimonies of students and alumni. time in Chattanooga, but also in Fort Myers, Florida; St. Louis, Missouri; These events have boosted the cam­ Durham, North Carolina; Washington, paign approximate!:> $200,000 closer D.C; and Annapolis, Maryland. to the five-year goal, and have also provided a tremendously enjoyable Parents, alumni, i:).nd friends of Cov­ time for the extended College family enant have gathered at these events to reunite and share in the work that Upcoming e\ents will be held in Atlan­ to hear President Niel Nielson and God is doing through Covenant todav. ta, Georgia, and Fennville, Michigan.

Covenant College was built on a foun­ Pray that God would ustain CoYenant Give thanks to God for His unfailing dation of prayer. It is vital that in every­ in its mission of equipping students for faithfulness to Covenant throughout its thing we do we earnestly pray that we lives of effective servant-leadership, so history and in this campaign. would be faithful to the College motto, that they might go out as His image­ "In all things Christ preeminent." bearers to transform the culture for the sake of Christ's kingdom. Excavation ha-. begun on the site \ ork sleadih progressc on the The new vehicular loop, part of or the ne\\ academic building, tar­ nC\\ residence hall, targeted for the initial pha e of the campus geted for occupa11C\ in ca,·h 200 . completion and occupanc\ in green project, i nearing comple­ Augus;t 2007. All the lloors arc in tion. The road ha been paved and place, and onlooker'> \\alch \\ ilh curbed, and worker are now e,<.ilcmcnl as the sln.rclurc placing pavers for sidewalk , a continues lo lake shape. well as constructing a beautiful new lone wall that will erve a the ba e for an additional : J CO\·cnan t College welcome ign. : \

: I1 11 A schematic de ign has been In what promises to be an excit­ completed for the new baseball ing, monumental undertaking, field, and the College is cutTently The Office of Jack Pyburn (OJP) evaluating the site selection and Architect, Inc., an Atlanta-ba ed design. firm, i developing a rehabilitation plan that will include building assessments, programming, co t estimates, and a pha ing plan for renovating Carter Hall.

God is already blessing Covenant tremendously through BUILD: the BUILD campaign. Take a look at campaign progress at our campaign website: build.covenant.edu. ~ BUIL1D:Partnerships

Meet Bill and Lynn Burdette, t\\O sa_ s Troy Duble, \'ice president into the College, boldly people who ha\'C an in rcdiblc ror ad, anccmen t. "They give of speaking to donor , passion ror Covenant ollcge. their time, talent, and money with parents, and prospec­ incredible freedom!" tive students about "We both kll in 10\·e with ov­ con idering Covenant. enant right off the bat," says Bill, ln 1985, Bill started un oasl The Burdelles' daugh­ "ho joined the ollege's Board or ontractors upph, with his tc1~ Heathe1~ graduated Trustees la trail. "From that point brother and rather, the late Lann\ in 2006, and their on, on, it's been head o,er heels!" Moore, Sr. O\\ co-o,, ned b\ Bill Kip, will enter and his brother Lanm J1·., un­ Covenant thi year. Bill,,, ho co-o\\ ns a prosperous Coasl has gro\\ n from 1.5 million lumber compan) in Fo1·t M\ers, gross sales in 1986 to SO million "Th re' · nothing better Florida, gives generously lo in 2006. than giving our Covenant out or a tithe account monc lo an in hi · company budget. Lynn, a "We decided at the outset that this in titution that is equipping young former Engli h teacher, de,otes company \\Ould be dedicated Lo people to engage the world with much of her time lo advancing God," Bill e'l:plaim. "Lt's all God' sound biblical thinking," a Covenantlhrough tudenl anvwa_; we have an obligation to Bill. "If you want to innuence the rcrerrals, parent connections, and the kingdom of Christ." world, give to Covenant. What it campaign rundraising. teache · i very, very rare." In addition to gift tithed from "Most people have boundaries their ramil company, Bill and Rc,1tl more 11t with how mu h they're willing Lynn al ogive generou I lo /,11,ltl.co, m1111t.ctlu/bun!t'ftc to give and do, but with Bill and ov nant out of their per onal Lynn, there arc no boundaries," finances. L nn pours her energy /,II, Id . .. f) ;· .. II ii II f. ,. "II

J------

CAPITAL PROJECTS ENDOWMENT $15 ,000,000 $5,000,000

ANNUAL COVENANT FUND $11,000,000

CAMPAIGN TOTAL= $31,000,000 ~~~- COVENANT COLLEGE

14-0-+9 SCF'-11(' IllGHWAY Loo1-.ovr ,\l• l 'N l AIN, GA 30750-9901 Kentucky, in 2002. At their education to earn a that time, she joined the doctorate. Teaching Lakes faculty of the University of place on.line and in periodic, Kentucky, where he has intensive classroom e sions. remained since. "We have had an xlremely po itive respon e fTom our Through 2006, Rachel was students," Rachel says of Rachel Gleason recalls three important things she has carried with her from her the associate director of the program's launch. "O[ clinical education in the course we are learning along time at Covenant. First: the relation­ university's physical therapy the way and anticipate ships she developed in college. "I am division. Physical therapy improvements ear lo year." not kidding when I say that at dinner (my students are required to In particular, Rachel is friends and I] would stay in the dining carry out a number of learning new technologies hall for hours [talking]," she exclaims. different internships - in and course design aimed al "Those were some of the best hours of ho pita.ls, outpatient clinics, the distance learner. my life.Those relationships - then and rehabilitation units - a a now - are very significant relationships part of their curriculum; She thrive on the in my life." one of Rachel's primary opportunity to expand roles was to establish those her knowledge ba e and Secondly, Rachel notes that she benefits internships. She also taught skills - afLer all, that' a key from the biblical framework she gained a variety of courses. reason she selected the fi ld at Covenant. "I think that the philosophy of physical therapy in the of education and the Reformed theology Recently Rachel assumed a fir t place. And her [ailh in general really taught me to think criti­ new position. In response is integral to her role as a cally and to put a worldview into place to the growing demand faculty member a well. that allows me to be a Christian and to for physical therapi t to "My faith really define operate in this world." Though she ac­ have a doctoral degree, who I am as a person," says knowledges she didn't appreciate this as the University of Kentucky Rachel. "My work i just an much when she was a student, she says fashioned the Transitional extension of who I am." she has come to recognize that the foun­ D.P.T. Program - a program dation laid during that formative time in that allows practicing In addition to being a her life has been a valuable one. physical therapists with professor, Rachel i a wi [e master's degrees to earn a to Archie and mother of a The influence of her Covenant profes­ clinical doctorate in physical toddler, Silas, whom she and sors - from Dr. Mclelland to Dr. Graham therapy. her husband adopted from to Coach Fitzgerald - is another blessing Guatemala. They are now for which Rachel is grateful. She reflects Rachel is the coordinator in the process of adopting on the two hundred students that pack of this program, which a baby girl, Ana, also from into an undergraduate class at large uni­ completed its first emester Guatemala. "We hope to versities and is thankful for the individu­ this spring. The idea is that have her home this coming alized attention she received from the therapists can continue their fall or winter," Rachel says faculty members who taught her small current practices while at with joy. classes on Lookout Mountain. the same time building upon

SUMMER 2007 COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 13 the Creator's Creatio

by Shannon Payne Bielcik

ike man_ college tudent ·, him to realize the im­ Dr. Jan Dudt '76 portance of a Chri tian didn't begin hi col­ education. "They were lege . car kno\ ing what very eriou about their his ultimate career choice faith and communicated would be. "I reall:-, didn't that in a win ·ome wa . know what I wanted to do. I They encouraged u to wa n't like the pre-med gu:-, s go to Chri tian college , who ecm lo know from day even though they hadn't one that they are going lo done that them elve ... go into medicine and plan they aw the value o[ an their cour e selecti ns ac- edu ation where Chri l ordingly," a_ · Jan, no" an wa - central. The \ ere a - ociate pro[e or ol biol­ pica ·ed with my deci­ ogy al Grove Cit:-, College in sion to go lo Covenant Penn '), lvania. . .. [and] the_ certain! upported il and en our­ How \ et~ unlik his career aged the value in m life While at Covenant, there plan , Jan wa ertain o[ that would cau e a place like were many faculty member where he wanted to com­ Covenant to re onale with who influenced not only Jan's plete his undergraduate me," Jan ay ·. perspective on faith and sci­ work. A a junior in high ence, but al o how he now school, Jan had decided he Jan began cla e at Cov­ relates to his own student in wanted lo attend a Chri - enant in 1972, and cho e the clas room. "Academical­ tian college, and he was to major in natural cience ly, I took a lot from Dr. Jack acquainted with man with a concentration in Lothers, who i probably the tudent who had attended biology. He credits growing one I took most of m biol­ Covenant from his church. up on a farm and the influ­ ogy cour e from while I was "I really never eriousl con­ ence of his father, a chemi­ there. He influenced me a idered an other college," cal re earch engineer, with lot in terms of how to teach he ay. hi deci ion to major in the a course; he was always very science . "[Biology] was a prepared, very responsible, Jan wa rai ed on a [arm natural fit for me, ince it very fair ... he did not waste in outhwestern Pennsylva­ brought a couple of my val­ time. And that, I felt, was a nia, born to parents who e ue and intere t together." very important thing to bring solid Chri tian values helped into my classroom."

14 THE VIEW COVENANT COLLEGE SUMMER 2007 Though Jan's [ailh guy were in the Orthodox figure i l all ou l," he say . wa strong when Presbyterian Church and he entered college, they had enl a lot o[ people Then one day, Jan received he believes that al­ lo Covenant. So I gol lo an unexpected call [rom lending Covenan l know them, working with Covenant, a king him lo was an important them every day building come on board a an admis- part o[ his growth. basements, and they looked ions counselor. Jan erved "I never had a al me and said, 'Have you in that capacity [or a y a1~ string o[ questions ever thought about Chri Lian and finally decided that he thal troubled me. education?"' did indeed want lo pur uc But what I had leaching. Ultimately set­ wa an experi­ Teaching was, ironically, tling al Timothy Christian ence at Covenant a career choice Jan had cho 1 in the hicago area, that fleshed oul eliminated "right off the bat" Jan pent five years leaching the things I knew during hi undergrad years. high chool chemi lry and already lo be true "The e gu challenged me phy ic ·. from the home lo think of il in terms of that I had and the omelhing that Covenant till sear hing for the de­ church I attended had predisposed me lo - and finitive an ·w r of "what a a teenager. So lhal was, 'Given your gift arc you going lo do for the for me, there was and talents, what are you go­ kingdom?," Jan decided lo lhi coherence ing lo do [or the kingdom? fini ·h hi ma ler' · dcgr e that Covenant was Whal conlribu lion will you in science education al the a continuation of, make, where are you going Univc1-sily of Pill burgh. and that really, lo fit, how are you going lo While there, he seriously I thought, wa a maximize that talent and con idered d ntal chool, powerful model affect the culture for the but again decided that he for the way you kingdom?"' hould leach. Jan ace pted learn and the way you grow a po ition al a Chri Lian in the faith," he say . With this challenge renewed academy in Atlanta where in his mind, Jan began look­ he taught for Lwo years, and After graduating from Cov­ ing for leaching positions later began a PhD program enant, and still not know­ in a day when the Chri - in ecology al Emory Univer- ing exactly what career he Lian school movement wa iLy. Becau e of hi crealion­ should pursue, Jan found exploding across the United i Lviews and desire Lo in L - employment with a friend's Slates. "Two or three Chris­ grate hi faith and Leaching, father in Wisconsin. "This tian schools a day were com­ the Emory [acully was "a bit was an interesting event in ing into existence, and the curious about how all Lhal God's sovereignty, the way demand for science teach­ wa going Lo work oul, and it was all put together. I ers wa huge. Caught in my how I wa going lo be a a was working with guys who uncertainly and indecision, graduate student. Bul they were not college educated, il was a natural fit for me lo accepted me, and il did go but they had been involved con ider leaching as a way well," Jan says. in the start of a Christian to make a contribution, do school in the Milwaukee something important, while While in Allanla, Jan mel hi area," Jan explains. "These I took ome more lime lo future wife, Kalie, a malh ,.,

SUMMER 2007 • COVENANT COLLEGE • THE VIEW 15 teacher. After gradu­ us the background for a ling from Emory in proper understanding 1992, Jan believed he of what these studies wa finally finished and results mean," with leaching. "But Jan says. every time I tried lo [move awa from Such understanding leaching], I kept gel­ "provides an ongoing ling called back lo framework for me to il in a real sense. I do my work here at would gel burned oul Grove City and I'm and I would gel di - also very fortunate couraged by il, but to be at a place that ultimate!_ peaking I encourages me and think the Lord want­ "This whole idea of actually wants me to ed me to [teach]," he develop that," he says. r Oect . God being the Creator "My days at Covenant, is just inescapable. both as a student and Jan and hi famil ,, later as an employee . • eventuall moved It's the central t h eme. . have given me a sense to Oklahoma where of working towards an h taught for eight end that's bigger than and looking al the implica­ year at Oklahoma We - myself. And I think that's tions of new knowledge, or leyan Univer it . He i now what happens when you're scientific knowledge that's in his third ear at Grove involved in a kingdom ef­ been around for a while, Cit College. "Covenant ha fort." how are we then lo re pond be n a ke thing in my ex­ to il? perience that has put many AL the end of the day, Jan of th principle into place o-oes home to his five chil- "This whole idea of God o that I draw on every da , dren, ranging in age from being the Creator is just in challenging my tudent thirteen to six, and in his ine capable. It' the central and my thinking as well," "spare" lime focuses on theme; it' a prime ratio­ he a building his family's future nale for why the modern home on fifty acres of land scientific movement has Jan has assisted in develop­ localed east of Grove City. been uccessful in the West. ing and leaching a required Though "you never know" ... When we understand interdisciplinary cour e where the future may lead, the Creator's creation, we called "Science, Faith Jan is satisfied in his teach­ therefore understand ome­ and Technology" at Grove ing career. 'Tm here to stay. thing of the Creator that City. The cour e ha been I've learned my lesson," he we would nol know apart designed "in the spirit of says. "I increasingly can't from that study - things we things we're trying lo ac­ see myself doing anything wouldn't even know from complish at Covenant," he else." studying Scripture. And yet, ays. "Looking at our faith, the Scripture is what give

16 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 Culture Wars

omeone once wi ely said "You can't know Faculty View g whe~-e you're going i[ • I ou don't know where vou've been." The way we see the pre enl-and lhe future-is informed by the storie we tell ourselves aboul the pa l. Faithful Chri tian re ponse to the culture are thus dependent on a careful and critical aware­ ness o[ hi tory.

In thi light, I have serious apprehensions aboul Christian ambitions to "reclaim America" for Christ. Embedded in this goal is a faulty understand- ing of American history. The slorv told by many prominent Christian leader uggests that America was once a morally righteous, Christian nation by Dr. Jay Green, Associate Professor of History whose consensus of belief must admit that these usually should begin by acknowledging began lo unravel sometime represented minority, often lhal the i u of dceplv em­ during the 1960s. Ever since, persecuted, per peclivc lhal bedded cultural ickne is a so the story goes, our sacred hardly con tituted an American problem a old a humankind. ideals came under allack, our consensus. True, \\e arc called lo peak godly institutions graduall boldly a agent of righteous­ di in legraled. Speaking Chri tianl into ne in the public quare. Bul context o[ diverse and deba ed I believe the call to "take back While this is a convenient story value ha been a con tant in the culture" urge us Lo carry that justifies the language of American hi tory; indeed, of all lhi La k forward in preci el "reclaiming" the culture, it is human history. Every genera­ the wrong way. a false tory. Although ignifi­ tion of Chri tians since (and cant Christian leavening was long before) America' founding American history is a mixed kneaded into American insti­ has believed that it culture was heritage in which Chri Lian vir­ tutions, such influence have in decline, and every generation tue never clearly reigned, and always included an unholy mix­ of Christians has lamented lhe where Christian often adopted ture of motives, cultural blind­ talus of public morality within po i Lion that hould in pire ers, and hubris that together its particular time and space. us Lo mourning rather than made our American experiment American Christians have had celebration. In Lead of over­ something far less than clearly a consistent (and con istently confident and historically mi - righteous. misinformed) predispo ition to informed agenda o[ "reclaim­ "take back the culture" in lhe ing the culture," let' confront One need only consider the name o[ Jesus Christ. While the world's maladie in light o[ deplorable treatment of Af­ such language may help Lo the cros o[ Christ. Ours is the rican Americans to illustrate "rally the troops" on behalf of \,vay o[ weeping with those who how minimally Christian virtue various cultural crusades, it weep; o[ loving our enemies actually shaped social action [ail to capture a deeper reality and praying [or those who throughout U.S history. It's of life on this planet. persecute us. Ours is the way true that Christian voices often of uffering, for "i[, indeed, we spoke prophetically on behalf A hi Lorically consciou ap­ share in his suffering, we may of "the least of these" through­ proach to cultural faithfulness also share in hi glory." out America's hi tory. But we

SUMMER 2007 COVENANT COLLEGE THE VIEW 17 CAMPUS NOTES ------======:::===::J

Brian Crossman, D.A. (Phy ical Education) was Kelly Kapic, Ph.D. selected chairper on o[ the Ethic /Sport man­ (Theological Studies) hip Committee o[ the ational Soccer Coaches authored the book Com­ A sociation o[ America, which over ee all ethi­ mwzion 1Vith God: The COMMUNION cal and port man hip is ue for all level of Divine and the Human WITH occer in the United State in the Theology of John O, ven, which has been GOD Bill Davis, Ph.D. published by Baker The Divine (Philosophy) authored Academic. Kapic and and the Human in the Theology of John Owen a book entitled Thoma We ley Vander Lugt '04 Reid's Ethic ·: Moral co-authored an article KELLY M. K.APIC ... ,., "' J L Packer Epi te111ology 011 Legal entitled "The A cen ion Fou11datio11 , which ha · o[ Jesus and the De cent of the Holy Spirit in been publi ·hed by Con­ Patristic Perspective: A Theological Reading," tinuum International. which was published in Evangelical Quarterly LXXIX, no. 1 (2007). Work on this article began William Dennison, Ph.D. while Vander Lugt was a tudent of Kapic's. (Interdisciplinar_ Stud­ ie ) authored an article Brandon Kreuze, D.M. (Music) composed an a entitled "In earch of a tarting Point and a capella SATB chorus entitled "Ubi Caritas" that Method o[ Interdi ciplinary tudie in the Con­ was performed a part of the annual conference text o[ Chri tian Thei m," which was publi hed o[ the College Music Society Southern Region in in Pro Rege, XXXV, o. 1 (September 2006). March 2007. Hi article " atural and Special Revelation: A Rea e ment" and "The Redemptive-Historical Larry Mehne, Ph.D. (Chemistry) co-authored Hermeneutic and Preaching" were publi hed an article entitled "Synthesis and Structural in Kerux: The Joumal of North1vest Theological Studies of Ruthenium(II) 12S4 Complexes with Semi11a1y. 4,4'-Bipyridine: The Crystal Structures of [Ru( 12S4)(bpy)Cl](Cl)•H2O and [(Ru(12S4)Cl}2-µ• Jim Drexler, Ph.D. (Education) authored an ar­ (bpy)](PF6)2 •2CH3CN," which has been pub­ ticle entitled "Feeding our Young: Helping New lished in Inorganic Chemistry Communications. Teachers Grow through Comprehen ive Induc­ tion," which has been published in AILACTE Journal (Fall 2006). To read more about the recent scholarly achievements of Kevin Eames, Ph.D. (Institutional Research) Covenant's faculty, go to authored the article "The Administrator as Sys­ COVENANT.EDU/FACULTYSCHOLARSHIP. tems Thinker," which was published in Christian School Education. (Fall 2006).

18 THE VIEW • COVENANT COLLEGE • SUMMER 2007 her in\'Ol\'ement with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Looking back, she savs her time with the .;.:} . te~ni taught h~ pline and the importance of intentional. supp011h·e relationships. Her assistant coach, Mandy Rol­ lins, had a special impact on her.

to meet more students ... COVENANT.EDU/STUDENTPROFILES SUMMER 2007 • COVENANT COLLEGE IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE INAUGURAL WEAVING OF THE COVENANT COLLEGE TARTAN!

LocHCARRON OF ScoTLAND, RENOWNED WEAVER

_,. AND MANUFACTURER OF AUTHENTIC TARTANS, IS . -·...,.._ CURRENTLY CUSTOM WEAVING OUR TARTAN...... ,... ..-.....__ ,. ..­ .,. ----- Delive1y of this fine fabric and your custom-made --- garments is expected by early smnmer 2007.

QUANTITIES OF THIS INITIAL WEAVING ARE VERY LIMITED. PRE-SALE ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS.

Items available include ties, scm·ves, hits, and wraps.

f oR A FULL LISTING OF GARMENTS AVAILABLE AND PRICING, PLEASE CONTACT KATIE HYMAN AT CRESCENT MooN IMPORTs,LTo. 866.826.8121 / [email protected]

~~ --.... .' ....._'-c ". ·- . " . - --.._ .. '...... ~- - ...... H .....,. 111.·"" ~ ., ...... , _. ~-

1.+049 SCENIC II1 GHW\Y NON-PROFIT ORG.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA 30750-.p64 U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOOKOUT MT., TN COVENANT Change Serv ice Requested PERMIT NO. 11 COLLEGE