Excellence,” Is the Motto We Have Adopted to Reflect Our Transforming Journey from a Good University to A
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WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY The Spring 2014 Growing xcellenceWITH E4 Visionaries, 2 Alumni & 1 Student Model an Institution’s Quest P RESIDENT ’S P ERS P ECTIVE D EAR F RIEN D S, “Vision 2020 – Growing with Excellence,” is the motto we have adopted to reflect our transforming journey from a good University to a great one. It is an initiative to grow Washington Adventist University into a thriving and distinctive institution of higher education, defined by excellence in all that we do. Our Inaugural Visionaries Gala, held September 22 at the Congressional Country Club, in Bethesda, Maryland, officially launched Vision 2020 and captured the essence of what we want to become as an institution. I am grateful to all of you who supported the initiative and ensured the overwhelming success that it was. Ultimately, our four honorees: Mr. Dikembe Mutombo, Dr. Evelyn Bata, Dr. James Bingham, and Mr. Rory Pullens embody the character and competence that we want our students to model as we prepare them to serve communities around the world. We recognize that in order to do that, we must provide the resources they need and offer relevant and cutting edge programs that will ensure their competitiveness. We have been making steady progress evident by the completion of the Leroy and Lois Peters Music Center in 2011, the renovation of the dining hall in 2012, and the comple- tion this spring of the students’ activity center. Other critical projects are on the table. In a challenging marketplace, we need the support of our entire community to take these initiatives from vision to reality. I thank you for all that you have done for WAU and for Christian education and I look forward to your continued support. Sincerely, WEYMOUTH SPENCE , E D.D. P RESIDENT The GatewaySpring 2014 12 22 18 F EATURES D EPARTMENTS 12 Student Led As Jesus Would 2 WAU News On a cruise to the Caribbean in January 2013, Brittany Bower proved the perfect 12 Ministry News example of Christian humility and compassion. 26 Alumni News 18 Growing with Excellence: 28 Advancement The Inaugural Visionaries Gala 31 Class Notes Washington Adventist University’s Inaugural Visionaries Gala was held September 33 Scrapbook 22, at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. The gala is envisioned as an annual event to support Vision 2020, a blueprint for campus development over 34 Gifts the next seven years. 38 In Memoriam 40 Meet the Board 22 Charles McMillan, A Model of Excellence The director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and president of Los Alamos National Security: his journey began at WAU. Your Gateway to the Web WAU.EDU 29 John Chang, Businessman and Philanthropist Extraordinaire After a successful career alumnus John Chang (’62) is committed to giving back to Campus updates, sports, the University where he got his start. news and more Our Mission President: Weymouth Spence, Ed.D. Send class notes and other correspondence to: Washington Adventist University is a learning The Gateway, Washington Adventist University Vice President for Advancement and University community committed to the Seventh-day 7600 Flower Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 Relations: L. Roo McKenzie, Ph.D. Adventist Christian vision of excellence and Phone: 800-835-4212 service. This cosmopolitan institution challenges Director of Alumni Relations: Ellie Barker Email: [email protected] students to seize the opportunities for learning www.wau.edu Executive Editor: Grace Virtue, Ph.D. in the nation’s capital in order to become moral Design: Dever Designs, Inc. leaders in communities throughout the world. Copy Editor: The Write Design, LLC Printer: Cavanaugh Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD Our Vision Contributing Writers: Grace Virtue, Ellie Barker, To produce graduates who bring competence and and Mark Young Washington Adventist University has electronic moral leadership to their communities. Contributing Photographers: giving options. Please visit our website www.wau.edu and click the “Give Now” symbol. Our Values Charles Votaw, Victoria Turrentine, Al Peasley, We are happy to offer a convenient and easy Integration of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ Vladimir Corea, and Ron Ceasar way to donate to the University. Commitment to quality Cover Image by Charles Votaw: Washington Respect Adventist University’s Inaugural Visionary Honorees: Trust Dr. James Bingham, Mr. Dikembe Mutombo, Considerate open communication Mr. Rory Pullens, and Dr. Evelyn Bata. Accountability and integrity Our spirit of community The Gateway is the official magazine of Washington Adventist University. WA U N E W S Washington Adventist University Welcomes a New Provost of performance excellence and Harper College, Palatine, at our nation’s three Mal- Ill. She currently retains an colm Baldrige Award winning adjunct faculty position in the institutions, through which she doctoral program of leader- determined strategies used by ship at Andrews University. academic leaders of distinc- As the WAU chief academic Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, Ph.D., MSN, FNP, RN tion for anchoring change in officer she serves as profes- heryl Harris Kisunzu higher education. sor. Of significance is that has been appointed She has held senior Dr. Kisunzu believes in the C provost of Wash- level positions of progressive unique value and potential of ington Adventist University academic and administrative each student entrusted to the (WAU), effective August leadership, including grant University’s care. She consid- 2013. She is the former administrator at Eastfield ers it a joy to lead in a manner executive dean and director College in Mesquite, Texas for that ensures that learning pre- of nursing at Mountain View its historic $1.4 million Texas pares students for Daniel 1:20 College in Dallas, Texas. Workforce Commission Grant; distinctiveness such that their Kisunzu holds a Ph.D. in vice president for Human life service responds to the educational leadership from Resources and Organiza- needs of our global society in Andrews University in Ber- tional Development; as well a manner that is both relevant rien Springs, Mich.; an M.S. as the administrator for the and progressively enriching. in nursing as a family nurse Life Science Human Services Her husband, Dr. Phillip practitioner from Rush Univer- Division and director of the Kisunzu, is an independent sity, Chicago, Ill.; and a B.S. nursing program at Harper consultant in mathematics ed- in nursing, also from Andrews College, Palatine, Ill. She also ucation. They are blessed with University. Her special area has more than 14 years of two children – Jessica, who of interest is that of leading teaching experience achieved will be finishing her doctorate change for progressive excel- through faculty appointment in organic chemistry from Uni- lence in higher education as at Vanderbilt University, versity of California Berkeley in defined by Kotter’s 8-Step Nashville, Tenn., Loma Linda May 2014; their son, Conrad, is Model. Consistent with this University, Loma Linda, Calif., a sophomore student of engi- passion, the focus of her doc- St. Louis Community College neering at Stanford University, toral research is the analysis at Meramec, St. Louis, Mo. also in California. 2 ■ W ASHINGTON A D VENTIST U NIVERSITY University Embraces New Higher Education Network ashington Adventist membership in the organiza- addressing local and global Engagement, heeding the W University President tion is in keeping with WAU’s community issues through national call to action and Weymouth Spence, Ed.D., commitment to civic engage- student service, civic engage- fulfilling America’s promise as recently joined Maryland ment embodied in its mission ment, academically based outlined in the Association of higher education leaders at statement. “This cosmopolitan service-learning, and campus- American Colleges and Uni- Montgomery College for the institution challenges students community partnerships. versities’ 2012 report, A Cruci- inauguration of the Mary- to seize the opportunities The launch event celebrated ble Moment: College Learning land-DC Campus Compact for learning in the nation’s the expansion of this higher and Democracy’s Future. Dr. (MDCCC), the largest higher capital in order to become education network to include Richard Guarasci, president education association in the moral leaders in communities colleges and universities in of Wagner College, N.Y. and a region, comprised of the throughout the world.” Washington, D.C. member of the National Task presidents of 30 colleges The MDCCC is a consortium Presidents attending the Force on Civic Learning and and universities. of higher education institutions event signed the Declaration of Democratic Engagement, The president affirmed that committed to collaboratively Civic Learning and Democratic gave the keynote address. A Whole New Ethic 32nd Keough Lecture Calls for Profound Changes in the Approach to Global Problems “ e need a new ethic Embrace?—Justice and Provi- affairs of the world, one does vations and ingenuity the world W that will be committed sion of Global Social Goods in not need Nostradamus, nor can master,” said Mikov. to justice and equity in the an Era of Crises, Needs, and are SDA prophetic eschato- Paul Mikov is executive advisor for world… The narrative must Increasing Scarcities.” logical interpretations needed the Boris Trajkovski International shift from ‘national interest’ to He identified three mega to conclude that the future of Foundation and a visiting scholar what is just and what would be trends—defined as major our world does not look rosy,”