WINTER 2010 Unexpected Treasures Brenau’s Own ‘Spice Girl’ Debra Dobkins on Self-invention PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTENTS Board of Trustees 21st century Brenau’s first decade Peter D. Miller, Chair Philip A. Wilheit Sr., Vice Chair James Anthony Walters, Secretary Carole Ann Carter Daniel, WC ’68, Treasurer 4 Spice Girl Gale Johnson Allen, EWC ’91 Betsy Byrd never suspected her biology degree would land her Melissa A. Blanchard, A ‘88 access to Col. Sanders’ secret recipe or that she would have a Raymond H. Burch hand in running what amounts to the modern-day equivalent ithout renewing debate over whether the decade be- Roger Dailey Billy Howard of “the spice trail” as a global logistics expert for mccormick. gan Jan. 1, 2000, or Jan. 1, 2001, this is an appropri- Robin Smith Dudley, WC ’78 Kathryn (Kit) Dunlap, WC ’64 ate time to recount and celebrate some milestones Although the recession puts us at slightly less than 900 now, Elizabeth (Beth) Fisher, WC ‘67 W John B. Floyd 7 Creative Distraction on the quest for a 21st century Brenau University during the we are on track to stabilize enrollment at about 1,000 as the M. Douglas Ivester Charter schools prove their mettle by getting great irst decade of that century. I encourage you to add your own Brenau 2025 Women’s College transforms the single-gender John W. Jacobs Jr. results from bending the rules of traditional public choices, but here is my “Top 10” list: Angela B. Johnston, EWC ’95, ’06 school education. A new Brenau partnership with educational experience. Richard H. Leet, Ph.D. Ben E. Lilly mcever Arts Academy in Gainesville bends them A solId foundAtIon. That includes creating a clear, InteRcolleGIAte spoRts. no, it is not just a “guy thing.” James E. Mathis Jr. farther by involving more than just education concise mission as the cornerstone with framing outlined in an brenau Golden tigers not only compete at national champion- Katherine (Kay) McMaster, WC ’87 majors on practice-teaching assignments. James H. Moore exciting Brenau 2025 Strategic Plan. ship-capable levels in several sports, but they also are top per- Betty Verson Norton, WC ’52 fInAncIAl stAbIlIty. Brenau began the decade with formers in the classroom. Great competitive sports help attract Mary E. Raines, A ‘69 10 Nothing Less Than Self-Invention Gary L. Riley english professor debra dobkins helps create a “new tradition” at a need to boost endowed funds, make substantial physical great students and expose a wider audience to Brenau. Lawrence B. Schrage Erin McCabe Seng, EWC ’93 Brenau with a fall convocation address that provides a road map for improvements and enhance inancial incentives to attract and AcAdemIc RestRuctuRInG. The new structure of gradu- Robert L. Silverman Women’s College students to be “strong Southern Women” – even if retain top-light faculty. then there was the Great Recession. ate and undergraduate schools and the four colleges will help Gail A. Smith, WC ’83 they are not Southern women. Charles A. Smithgall III So, in the second decade, Brenau’s development needs persist, us more effectively deliver on providing liberal arts programs as Sidney O. Smith Jr. but having skillfully managed its way through the national well as professional preparation at all levels and across all educa- Shay English Stafford, WC ‘69 Jane Patterson Suggs, WC ’74 12 The Kindness of Strangers inancial crisis that deined the decade, the university stands tion platforms. Bob Swoszowski new orleans philanthropist and architect Henry shane knew now on solid iscal footing. multIple cAmpuses. They’re not satellites. They’re not Stuart R. Virgin nothing about Brenau before he decided to donate more than Trustees Emeriti $1 million worth of artworks by abstract expressionist Hunt GRAduAte pRoGRAms. on dec. 7 brenau’s accrediting regional. We have ive brenau campuses in Georgia pivotal in Alfred S. Austin slonem. the man who brought the “big blue dog” to metairie, agency approved the university’s request to become a doctoral growth and development of the university. We continue our Jane Wood Banks La., has now added plenty of parrots and presidents to Bre- Martha C. Edens, WC ’49 nau’s permanent collection. degree-granting institution. We are now recruiting candidates effort to fully integrate all campuses and all students and alumni June Cooke Hook, WC ’43 for the doctor of nursing practice degree in the sidney o. smith from all campuses into the Brenau culture. Mary Helen Roop Hosch, WC ’35 Henry S. Jennings Jr., M.D. Jr. Graduate school. brenau launched its irst terminal degree in onlIne. playing off the old new yorker cartoon punchline, Gwen Brown Mundy, Ph.D., WC ’49 23 One for the Books A James bond aicionado may be tempted August – an m.f.A. degree in interior design. the 960 graduate one might argue that “nobody knows you’re a Golden tiger on C.V. Nalley III Thomas H. Paris Jr. to use names of characters like “miss students enrolled this term set a new record. the Internet.” so, the same challenge of full cultural assimilation Barbara Stockton Perry, WC ’47 moneypenny” and “dr. no” in reference to InteRnAtIonAl RecoGnItIon. On any Brenau campus applies to another high-growth area: Brenau-class education Sarah Crosby Reeves, WC ’39 brenau’s inancial watchdogs sandra thorn- Lessie Bailey Smithgall ton and Wayne dempsey. but they would be Nell Wiegand you are likely to meet students from around the globe. In ad- delivered to Brenau students anywhere in the world via the short-changing the accomplishments of this dition to attracting students from China, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Internet and other technology-based vehicles. this decade saw a President dynamic duo. Edward L. Schrader, Ph.D. denmark, Russia and many other countries, the brenau foot- six-year growth rate of more than 250 percent in online courses. Editor print expanded this past decade through academic partnerships By the end of the next decade, half our tuition revenue will David Morrison in china, Korea, mexico and europe. We will in the next two come from online. Creative Director years establish a funding mechanism to help students have a I’m naturally optimistic, but looking dispassionately at the Christie Gregory Director of Alumni Affairs “required” international experience during undergraduate days. past decade reveals great strides toward becoming 21st century Melissa Gardner Edge, WC ’02 VIsuAl And peRfoRmInG ARts. The opening of the brenau. this is not ed schrader’s report card. It belongs to you Contributing Writers – students, alumni, trustees, donors, faculty, staff and other Karen Rosen, Mary Welch WINTER 2010 cutting-edge performing arts center on the Gainesville campus For change of address, feedback or other communication with the staff, call 800 252-5119 launched a decade that saw great strides in theater, dance, music members of the brenau family. the irst decade proves that Photographers or 770 534-6167. Fax 770 538-4300, or e-mail [email protected]. Brenau University is Tom Askew, Billy Howard, Rudi Kiefer, Regina Fried, accredited by the Commission on Colleges and the Commission of Secondary Schools of and other arts disciplines. The university’s permanent collec- 21st century Brenau is a viable concept. We all have a responsi- Monica Lopossay, Barry Williams the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award secondary, bachelor’s, master’s tion of artworks continues to expand. We established the irst bility to continue toward the goal of full realization of all and education specialist degrees. Brenau believes in equal opportunity for all. WINTER 2010 academic partnership with the High museum in Atlanta. the that promises. WINDOW BRENAU Winter 2010, Volume 4, Issue 4 arts at brenau soared in the irst decade. Brenau Window (USPS 024-396) is published four times HIGH-WAteR mARK foR Women’s colleGe enRoll- a year in March, June, September and December by the COVER: PAINTING BY HUNT SLONEM Brenau University Office of Communications and Publica- ment. In fact, we reached high-water marks for all enrollments tions, 500 Washington St. SE, Gainesville, GA 30501. with a record of 2,780 in the fall term. more remarkable was the ed schrader, ph.d. Periodicals postage paid at Gainesville, Georgia, and 10% additional mailing offices. Please keep, share or recycle. BRENAU WINDOW Cert no. SW-COC-002556 906 enrollment two years ago for the Women’s College. [email protected] POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Brenau Window, 2 3 500 Washington St. SE, Gainesville, GA 30501. by women – “because it’s kitchen-like,” Byrd says – her and that it was imperative that we provide excellent mccormick jobs have been in male-dominated ields. service,” byrd says. “I told them that there wasn’t much She was the youngest management person on staff at I could do to eliminate the need to work the immediate the Atlanta factory, and she became the highest-ranking weekend, but that I would certainly take it on as my irst female plant manager, paving the way at the company for goal. feeling quite conident with my ‘pep talk,’ I ended other women in operations. my speech with that common southern phrase, ‘now get “she was impressive right from the start,” says mike your fannies in gear and go out and work.’” navarre, byrd’s mentor who retired two years ago as The men responded with snickers and giggles, taking vice president of operations. “Betsy has a unique quality Byrd by surprise. “An operator approached me, greeting where people just feel so comfortable with her that they me with the very english, ‘Hello, love Has anyone told open up, and she’s the best natural leader that I ever ran you about the word ‘fanny’?’ I said ‘no.’ He proceeded to across in business.” thanks to those qualities, navarre tell me that in england, ‘fanny refers to the female lower adds, “she became most valuable as a troubleshooter.