FOCUS Bold new things FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALL 2019 FOCUS | CONTENTS MORE EVENTS AND NEWS President Friends University Board of Trustees Check friends.edu Dr. Amy Bragg Carey Craig Bay Dr. Jace Hyder Dr. Kneeland Brown Dr. John Lewis for more news Vice President of Bob Casper Paul Moore Enrollment Management Dave Depew Jim Nagy Deb Stockman Purchase tickets for Kim Dugger Attwater Renae Ryan Associate Vice President Brent Edmisten Jeff Ramsey FINE ARTS EVENTS of Advancement Lynn Ghormley Dr. Kent Walkemeyer at friends.edu/event-features Brie Boulanger Kevin Henderson Dr. David Williams Dr. Kevin Hoppock C. Patrick Woods Director of Alumni Relations ATHLETICS EVENTS Michael Walz Follow the Falcons at friendsathletics.com 2 | FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FOCUS | CONTENTS Focus on Bold New Things Female professors 4 shatter glass ceiling in STEM positions New partnerships 6 help open doors for students PHOTO BY STEVE RASMUSSEN High-impact learning goes beyond the 10 classroom LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THE COVER Freshman Cory Harris and SGA At Friends University, we are stepping on dynamic learning through high President Kailee Murphy hang into many new things with energy impact practices. out at the newly remodeled and boldness. In this dynamic and While we continue to innovate, create Casado Campus Center. challenging time in higher education, and enhance Friends University, many we must foster innovation and promote things remain, such as our commitment PHOTO BY STEVE RASMUSSEN the implementation of effective ideas to ensure that students thrive and and approaches. succeed, and that our Christian mission is VOL. 42 | NO. 1 That’s why I hope you will catch at the center of all we do. Focus magazine is published two times per year by University Advancement/Marketing the excitement we feel about the and Communications, 2100 W. University development of new programs, the Ave, Wichita, KS 67213. It is published for the arrival of new faculty members and alumni and friends of Friends University. creation of new places. Additionally, Dr. Amy Bragg Carey friends.edu we are gratified to share our focus President, Friends University [email protected] FALL 2019 | 3 FOCUS | FEATURE Women lead the way in STEM BY CRAIG LINDEMAN PHOTO BY STEVE RASMUSSEN Dr. Nora Strasser is a professor of Dr. Teresa Miller is an assistant Dr. Ana M. Jurcak-Detter is an mathematics and division chair of Natural professor and program director of assistant professor of biology teaching Science and Mathematics. She earned a mechanical engineering. She earned courses within the conservation science bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics a Bachelor of Arts degree from the degree program. She earned a Bachelor from the University of South Dakota and a University of Texas and a master’s and of Science degree from the State doctorate of higher education from Nova doctorate from Wichita State University. University of New York at Oswego and Southeastern University. Dr. Strasser has a master’s and doctorate from Bowling been with Friends University for 32 years. Green State University. 4 | FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FOCUS ON | BOLD NEW THINGS This fall marked the debut of two new The new programs are not only being While women have been making academic programs at the university — led by women; they were inspired by strides in a variety of other areas, STEM- a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering them. In fact, it was the same women that related fields—especially engineering— and a bachelor’s in conservation are now in charge that first came up with have continued to lag behind. science. While each program is the idea for the programs. “(Opportunities for women) groundbreaking in its own way, it is the “The idea came from them (Terri have improved in a lot of areas, but people responsible for the programs and Nora) and they were instrumental engineering is that last strong hold we that are attracting their own attention. in putting it together,” said Lesage. haven’t broken into yet,” said Dr. Strasser. Nationwide, STEM (science, “Our job is to empower people to do technology, engineering and math) the work.” programs have been historically male As far as the attention they are ‘‘It really shouldn’t be dominated — both at the front of the receiving for their new positions, that big of a deal, it classroom and behind the desks — but the women themselves are thanks to program heads Dr. Ana M. somewhat bemused. should just be the norm.’’ Jurcak-Detter, Dr. Teresa (Terri) Miller “It really shouldn’t be that big of — Dr. Teresa Miller, assistant professor and and Dr. Nora Strasser, and the Friends a deal,” said Dr. Miller. “It should program director of mechanical engineering administration, that glass ceiling has just be the norm.” been officially shattered. That said, all three do acknowledge It’s a problem that all three women While all three obtained their positions the impact that having women in have found to be especially prevalent in based on their own individual merits, leadership roles can have on others — the corporate world. the university hopes that the symbolism especially those looking toward their “In academia you’re judged on your of having women in these positions will future career paths. merits, in the corporate world it’s way serve to inspire younger generations to “The lack of role models in any field is more subjective. When I was looking for Women lead the follow their lead. a detriment,” said Dr. Nora Strasser. “As a position after I got my Ph.D., I actually “Having role models is really we get more role models, that will get had someone tell me ‘sorry, we already important. It not only helps in the more participation.” have a female,’” said Dr. Miller. “Once learning process, but it also provides For years, the common reason people there are more leadership roles for way in STEM motivation — which is a big part of our have given for the lack of women women in corporate America, I think that job,” said Jasper Lesage, vice president studying and working in STEM fields will change drastically.” BY CRAIG LINDEMAN of Academic Affairs. “So, while it wasn’t was simply a lack of interest, but it’s an So, if the women’s new positions our mission to hire women for these excuse Dr. Miller doesn’t particularly buy. do hold a hidden meaning to positions, we’re very happy it happened.” “People say women don’t go into younger women looking to follow The promotion of women to STEM fields because they don’t love in their footsteps, Dr. Jurak-Detter powerful positions is nothing new at numbers but that’s just garbage,” hopes it is this: Friends and some believe it is a direct said Dr. Miller. “There’s something “You can do this. You have what reflection of the school’s forward- else going on.” it takes.” thinking Quaker roots. That “something else” may So far, the initial reception of the “We’ve had a tradition of females simply be the lack of open doors programs has been strong, and all three leading the way in math and chemistry available to women. women feel optimistic about their long- at Friends,” said Kenneth Stoltzfus, “It’s kind of like an old boys’ club and term success. dean of Academic Affairs. “I think it’s hard to break into it,” said Dr. Jurcak- “We’ve had an amazing response,” it’s linked to the Quaker tradition of Detter. “I’ve been lucky and have never said Dr. Miller. “Every day we get calls roles and attitudes toward women in been treated differently by my male asking about these new programs.” leadership positions—there’s a history colleagues, but I have personally seen To learn more about the programs, of the faith being progressive in terms other females bullied.” visit friends.edu/mechanical- of giving women opportunities when engineering/ and friends.edu/ others haven’t.” conservation-science/. FALL 2019 | 5 FOCUS | FEATURE Partnerships help students focus on the future BY AMY GEISZLER-JONES L to R: Dr. Jasper Lesage, vice president of Academic Affairs at Friends University; Dr. Amy Bragg Carey, president at Friends University; Sean Cash, assistant professor of Business Management at Friends University; Dr. Dennis Rittle, president at Cowley College; Lory West, former business faculty member at Cowley College and Dr. Michelle Schoon, vice president of Academic Affairs at Cowley College. Friends University has formed several to seamlessly transfer credits from For a non-Kansas resident coming partnerships — with a Kansas community Cowley into Friends University’s to Friends, that means a savings of college to a Midwest education Bachelor of Science in business about $2,900 annually, said Vernon consortium — that will help more administration program. Two added Dolezal, vice president of finance. students find opportunities and even bonuses are that the Friends business “This is a way to get our name out save money as they invest in their future. classes are offered at the Cowley in the region and attract students Among the agreements is one that County main campus in Arkansas City from places we don’t usually get many will keep Kansas students in the state for a special price of $260 per credit students from,” Dolezal said. to pursue studies beyond an associate hour, making the program convenient degree and one that will open up a and affordable. In a pilot venture, Friends and the new geographical market for students Fellowship of Christian Athletes Friends University recently joined who may otherwise not consider have teamed up to provide two the Midwestern Higher Education Friends for their education. Two student-athletes with FCA leadership Compact, a multi-state tuition provide leadership training for future scholarships and internships, along reciprocity program among more careers in specific ministries.