All-American: for Men’S Basketball Scott Nikodemski Forging Professional Connections in Chicago SECTION HEADER
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SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 1 INSIDE: Faculty — Alma’s heart and soul A record-breaking year All-American: for men’s basketball Scott Nikodemski Forging professional connections in Chicago SECTION HEADER Spring 2016 | Issue 1 editor Mike Silverthorn features designer is published for alumni, Rachel Salazar parents, students and photographers other friends of Alma Ben Tigner College. Send comments Katie Keaton ’14 to Mike Silverthorn, Ac- contributors cents editor, Alma Col- Jeff Abernathy lege, 614 W. Superior St., Matt vandenBerg ’02 Alma, MI 48801-1599, Alexandra Bourne ’18 or e-mail: silverthorn@ Erica Shekell alma.edu. alumni notes compilation Shelly Buschle Cory Embrey printing McKay Press board of trustees D. Michael Sherman ’74, Chair Eric P. Blackhurst ’83, Vice Chair Darryl Schimeck ’82, Secretary Thomas K. Andison Larry R. Andrus ’72 Erika K. Powers Appelt ’91 Karen M. Asner ’89 Brian E. Bartes ’87 MISSION David E. Bowen ’73 Alma College’s Patrick G. Byrne ’85 mission is to prepare David K. Chapoton ’57 graduates who Charles A. Deacon ’80 think critically, David A. Devine ’90 serve generously, Candace Croucher Dugan Nancy E. Gallagher ’80 lead purposefully Glenn D. Granger ’83 and live responsi- Douglas B. Gross ’77 bility as stewards Greg Hatcher ’83 of the world they Thomas J. Haverbush bequeath to future Cardell Johnson ’02 generations. David P. Larsen ’84 John McCormack James T. McIntyre ’69 Stephen F. Meyer ’80 Roger L. Myers Marcia J. Nunn ’73 Elizabeth D. Parkinson ’84 Carolyn E. Schultz ’84 Bryan K. Segedi ’81 Ron R. Sexton ’68 << Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert, dubbed the “Happiness Kirk L. Smith ’81 Check us out on Flickr! Matthew E. Steinmetz ’84 Professor” for his research on the science of happiness, keynoted the flickr.com/almacollege Danette C. Taylor ’84 2015-16 Alma College Speaker Series sponsored by the Responsible Leadership Institute. He spoke to a full house in Presbyterian Hall. 2 www.alma.edu 3 WELCOME Bob Garcia, Vice President for Enrollment: Today marks 6 yrs for me @almacollege “Fortunate” doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about working with so many great FACULTY — ALMA’S HEART AND SOUL students & coworkers of their peers at other regional private col- recent reception with Board of Trustees The faculty are the lifeblood of any relationships with faculty that make leges. First-year students gave high marks members and alumni, Dr. Nichols shared institution of higher education, and Alma Alma College such a wonderful place for the college’s “emphasis on providing about his Alma experiences, why he loves has much to be proud of with its faculty. to learn and grow. Certainly, the support for your overall well-being” and teaching and why he believes that faculty They are dedicated scholars, excellent faculty are masters in the classroom, for “analyzing an idea, experience, or line play a key role in recruiting students. It teachers, conscientious advisors and en- laboratory and performance stage. of reasoning in depth.” was one of the most compelling accounts gaged citizens. In this edition of Accents, However, they also create excellent about the impact that faculty have on we highlight just a few of our faculty and out-of-classroom opportunities through students — and vice versa — that I have share the compelling work they are doing developing amazing travel spring term ‘GO FORTH AND BOAST ABOUT ALMA COLLEGE’ ever heard. I’ll devote the rest of my in advancing intellectual discovery in courses, bringing in guest lecturers, and column here to some excerpts from Dr. Will Nichols, Secrest Professor of Music their fields. organizing service learning and critical Nichol’s comments. research experiences in the community. and conductor of our wonderful choirs, Examples of faculty expertise are many. is just one of our many fine faculty. At a Author Robert Vivian wins high acclaim Every three years, Alma College admin- PRESIDENT ABERNATHY for his dervish essays. Communication isters the National Survey of Student Jeff Abernathy CAN BE REACHED expert Joanne Gilbert is nationally Engagement (NSSE) to our students. President SEVERAL WAYS: recognized by her peers for her studies This is a widely respected survey that on humor, gender and culture. Political asks students to report on several scientist Bill Gorton researches micro- dimensions of their educational experi- [email protected] targeting and its effects on presidential ence. Alma’s seniors’ responses on the This is how I think of Alma College — I outstanding liberal arts college. Even College! People need to hear our story! facebook.com/almapresident campaigns. Anthropologist Megan student-faculty interaction dimension think we open doors for young people. more than that, we are a college where Think of the doors you will open by telling every student matters. Each day faculty McCullen collaborates with engineer- consistently exceed those of their peers The liberal arts mission we embrace a young person about Alma. You are our twitter.com/jeffabernathy and staff reach out to individual students ing colleague Victor Argueta-Diaz to at other quality baccalaureate-degree sends our students to doors in every conduit to the world outside the Alma corner of our curriculum. Each one opens — giving this student a hand, creating an Bubble. If you don’t speak up about Alma www.alma.edu/offices/president provide 3D prints of hominid fossils for granting schools. In the most recent to a new world of possibilities, and behind opportunity for that student. Where else College, who will? classroom discovery. administration of the survey, seniors each is a professor who cares about their does this happen? Please understand, I (989) 463-7146 reported that they had more experiences discipline just as much as I care about don’t mean that only a few elite students But wait — I actually said “the Alma Bub- Our faculty also are embarking on a working with a faculty member on a the choirs. Imagine coming to Alma with get this special treatment. I believe ble.” I despise that phrase! We should ban that every student receives this kind of it from our lexicon. Alma College is not a major curricular innovation study funded research project and more opportunities a phobia about science, and then walking by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon through Murray Borrello’s door. Imagine attention — one person at a time. How bubble; Alma College is a mountain top to discuss course topics, ideas or concepts wonderful — and how rare is this! experience in the life of a young person. Foundation. (See story on page 7). coming to college with never a thought with a faculty member outside of class about the economics and the politics of Alma College does not shield students …For years I’ve heard us say that Alma than their peers at other colleges. protecting our environment, and then from the world, we throw open the door College is Michigan’s best-kept secret and walking through Ed Lorenz’s door. and propel students into the world. Alma NSSE RECOGNIZES STUDENT- This satisfaction begins early in their I, for one, am tired of keeping that secret. College is not a place to delay growing FACULTY INTERACTION It’s high time we, the people who know academic career. Ninety-five percent But, as Ambassadors, how do we explain up; Alma College grows adults. We grow But even as we celebrate their scholarly Alma College best, start speaking proudly (95%) of Alma College first-year students Alma College — what stories do we tell? brave adults, we grow caring adults, we achievements, alumni and current and publicly about the good things that grow leaders. We really do grow the future rated their overall experience at Alma as happen to students here. students will tell you that it’s the One of our biggest challenges is to dispel of our state and of our nation. Believe “Excellent or Good” as compared to 88% the notion that we are a little university. this because it’s true — and tell people We are not a little university. We are an …I am going to leave you tonight with a charge. Go forth and boast about Alma about it. – Will Nichols 4 accents www.alma.edu 5 FACULTY – ALMA’S HEART AND SOUL Grant supports curricular innovation Alma College has received a $100,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to explore curricular innovation that leads to more Is microtargeting good for democracy? effective learning. THIS YEAR’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE USING DATA TO DEVELOP INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED POLITICAL MESSAGES TARGETED TO INDIVIDUAL VOTERS. BUT IS THAT A “Over the past several months, we have invited GOOD THING? NOT NECESSARILY, SAYS ALMA COLLEGE POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCHER faculty to think about innovations for the college BILL GORTON. and what might help shape the college for the years ahead,” says Alma College President Jeff To borrow from the old automobile geting involves culling publicly avail- ways,” says Bill Gorton, associate for democracy? He concludes it’s ads, and if anything was said that Abernathy. “Our faculty are asking: What do we advertising slogan: This is not your able data about individuals, including professor of political science at Alma mostly bad, for three reasons. was inaccurate or misleading, do when we do our best? What is distinctive about father’s presidential election-year consumer and lifestyle behavior, College. “We now have all this data the press would correct it. That what we do? campaign. New technologies have and then using the data to develop on voters, and campaigns have the “First, it channels voters into level of scrutiny is not there with changed the way candidates identify political messages that are narrowly ability to use data to identify small, informational silos — people personal ads.