SPRING 2014

The Magazine of East Tennessee State University

Going Green: new green space is a place for reflection and recreation

In This Issue: An Artist of a Teacher Who’s Going to ETSU? In Memory of Dave Walker Supporting the Arts TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRING 2014

1 President’s Message 25 Who’s Going to ETSU ETSU President 2 Parking Garage Passion 28 Only at ETSU Brian Noland Replaces Parking Panic 29 Difficult Decisions Executive Editor 3 ‘Chloe Glass’ Fred Sauceman 30 Student Focus Vital for 4 Reporting Crime from Libraries’ Success in the Managing Editor Both Sides of the Camera Information Age Joe Smith 6 An Artist of a Teacher 32 Reading the ET Leaves Advancement/Alumni Editors 8 ETSU Professor 34 Drum Echoes, SCUBS, Jeff Anderson Strives to Remove and Scholarships Bob Plummer Assembly-line Thinking 35 Where Is He Now? Contributing Writers from School “Reform” Kevin Brown 36 Business Professors’ 10 Looking Up, Looking Back Karen Crigger Legacies Live on Lee Ann Davis 12 The Essence of Emmett Through the Arts Susan Epps 14 A One-Year Promise 37 Alumni Awards Carol Fox Extended 40 In Memory of Jennifer Hill 16 A Back to the Dave Walker Brad Lifford Future Look at Preview Randy Sanders 42 Tennessee’s “Mr. Science Fred Sauceman 17 “Happy Campers” Educator” Honored Joe Smith with Scholarship 19 Encircling the Globe Karen Sullivan 43 Class notes/Obituaries 22 From My Notepads Rebecca Tolley-Stokes Michael White 24 Connecting and Reconnecting Wayne Winkler at the Archives of Appalachia Graphic Designer Jeanette Henry Print Coordination 4 10 ETSU Printing and Publications Photographic Services Ron Campbell Jim Sledge Larry Smith Charlie Warden Printed by Kingery Printing Co. Franklin, Tennessee

On the cover: The newly created green space in front of Brooks Gym is the perfect 17 25 place for reading, for reflection, and for simply enjoying the day.

East Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution and is fully in accord with the belief that educational and employment opportunities should be available to all eligible persons without regard to age, gender, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. TBR 160-018-13 85M East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500, or Web site: www.sacscoc.org with any questions regarding the accreditation of East Tennessee State University. THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

EAS SITY T TENNESSEE STATE UNIVER

The President’s Perspective

As you receive this edition of ETSU Today, the campus of East Tennessee State University is a wonderland of color. Spring in East Tennessee is unforgettable, and our campus abounds with pink and white dogwood blossoms and brilliant redbuds that are so gorgeous they almost take your breath away. I believe that a university campus should offer something beautiful around every corner and that environment is clearly evident at ETSU in the spring.

One of my responsibilities as President is to ensure that we accentuate that natural beauty and give our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community more opportunities to slow down and enjoy all that our campus has to offer. On the cover of this magazine, for example, you will find a photograph of Veterans Memorial Lawn, our newly created green space located in the heart of the campus. Stepping into that area, you immediately feel a sense of calm. The lawn is a place for reading, reflection, and simply enjoying the day, as the fascinating life of a university surrounds you.

In the months and years ahead, you will be hearing and reading more about our efforts to make our university an even more inviting place. From new facilities that provide a home for the arts, to enhancements in our student center, we are actively engaged in efforts to enrich our great university. In this modern and often frenetic world, as we are tugged constantly by technology, it is vital that we as educators preserve and protect the sense of serenity that universities uniquely offer. Come spend time with us and reconnect with your ETSU.

Best wishes, Godspeed, and go Bucs!

Brian Noland President

ETSU TODAY | 1 SCENE ON CAMPUS Parking Garage Passion Replaces Parking Panic tudents at ETSU tend to be happy, easy-going, dedicated, Sand diverse—except in one area. They all become animated and agitated when discussing the difficulties of parking garage. The size is impressive. putting up safety fences, blocking finding a place to park. The building encompasses 424,933 off roads, and keeping the building Freshman Elizabeth Saulsbury square feet, capable of handling 1,224 growing at a steady pace. drives to campus from Jonesborough. vehicles. But there are more amenities Bill Rasnick, ETSU’s Associate Vice She says, “I am always concerned in addition to parking. President for Facilities Management, about getting to campus in the Hena Yakoob, a health sciences Planning, and Construction, is mornings and not being able to find a major from Lebanon, Virginia, says, especially proud of the garage project. parking space and being late for class. I “Even though I’m within walking “The new parking garage brings to try to get here 30 minutes early, but it distance of campus, I’ll probably still culmination years of planning regarding would be really nice if I didn’t have to spend some time in the parking garage parking, vehicular flow, and pedestrian be in such a panic about parking.” since we’ll be getting some new places access on the west end of campus,” he In response to those difficulties, a to eat.” notes. “Not only does the garage provide new student parking garage has been There will be two dining options in parking spaces, but it improves the built along State of Franklin Road, next the new building. A Subway sandwich traffic flow at the west campus entrance. to Warf-Pickel Hall. shop will offer made-to-order Students can park in the new facility Alicyn York, Secretary of the sandwiches. A Provisions on Demand and access the campus core along a new Student Government Association and (POD) Market will offer fresh food and and improved sidewalk system without a junior majoring in political science, produce, prepared meals, and everyday crossing any vehicular flow.” says, “I cannot wait for the parking essentials. A subsidiary of ARAMARK Kimberly Cox, a Human Resource garage to open! All of the students on Higher Education, POD Markets are Management student, predicts that campus are excited, too. I am so proud also found at schools such as New the entertainment value of the garage of our campus for extending services to York University, the University of will not end when it opens. She says, benefit students.” North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the “The parking garage will be a big Students have been a part of the University of Tennessee. change to parking at ETSU, and it will project from the hot day in August of Also attached to the garage will be interesting to see how it all plays 2012 when ground was broken for the be the first-floor Welcome Center, out. Will there be a spot for everyone $26.1 million garage. They volunteered moved from its former location in the attempting to park? Will we still to greet dignitaries, handing out D.P. Culp University Center. The new remember there are other places to programs and guiding visitors out of facility will house staff to greet visitors park besides the garage? As a student the sunshine and into the shade of a and provide campus tours. The Public who lives on campus, I won’t rely on tent for the ceremony. Safety Office, located on the second the new garage, but it will be fun to Since that time, students have level, will handle all campus safety watch what happens!” endured even less available parking issues. The Parking Office will relocate Student leader and senior Adam while the new facility was under to the former Public Safety home base Jarvis summed up student sentiment: construction, but they are looking on the eastern edge of the campus. “I think now is an extremely exciting toward a rosier future. Sadie Miller, a The Knoxville architectural firm time on campus, not just with the junior, says, “I love that we are finally of BarberMcMurry designed the parking garage, but with the whole getting a parking garage! It is going garage. Nursing student Caitlin Cherry campus environment. Many changes to make my life a lot less stressful notes, “I’m excited about how pretty can already be seen on our campus, when I’m trying to park. I’m a dental the design is for the garage. I love and many more, like the garage, are hygiene major, and it will benefit my the incorporation of brick to make it coming along. As a student, I’m excited patients who are coming to see me, match the rest of campus instead of the to see ETSU growing.” since there will be more places to park typical ‘concrete monolith’ appearance around campus, thanks to students of most garages. Ours looks inviting. Carol Fox came to the University using the garage.” Little touches like that make campus a Relations Office as a graduate assistant As they drove past the site watching lot more attractive.” in 1996 and has remained on the staff the building’s progress, students Rentenbach Constructors Inc. has in various capacities since that time. gradually realized this is no ordinary been responsible for construction,

2 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ‘Chloe RESEARCH Glass’ Puts ETSU on Leading Edge of Medical Education ike many of her classmates, Ragini Shyam is caught in a Lconundrum. To learn the skills necessary for her career, she needs to practice—she needs hands-on learning. But hands-on experience for a student who is studying to be a physician, however, presents a catch-22. “The data clearly show that tasks performed under pressure have better Dr. Martin Olsen with outcomes if those tasks have been Chloe. routinely practiced to the point of rote muscle memory,” Shyam says. female, the casual observer might by someone practicing a procedure “Unfortunately, in medicine we don’t think she is a woman at first glance. so instructors and fellow learners have the opportunity to practice Inwardly, Chloe possesses a simulated can view the procedure remotely, certain procedures or scenarios over circulatory system, lung and heart or by Chloe herself, so students and over on live patients to the point sounds, a trachea, and different uterine and residents can review a patient of muscle memory. The closest we can and abdominal wall inserts that can encounter with Chloe and learn by come is by providing simulations of be interchanged to teach a range of reviewing a video recording from the those procedures or scenarios.” medical procedures. patient’s vantage point. Fortunately for medical students Google Glass looks merely like a “This allows medical education and residents who hone their skills at pair of odd eyeglasses—except anyone to be more learner-driven,” Olsen East Tennessee State University, the who wears these glasses will see a tiny says. “We know now that medical James H. Quillen College of Medicine computer screen in the upper corner of students and residents learn better has an agreeable subject to fill that the right lens. by doing and by hands-on practicing. practice gap. She goes by the name of “Because the Sim Lab is only By allowing learning on the simulator Chloe, and she is one facet of a high- able to simulate real-life situations,” and recording a video from the user’s tech training experience that started Shyam says, “the more realistic the perspective, Google Glass makes with the birth of this lifelike surgical manikin and continued when Chloe donned Google Glass to offer students “When we put Glass on Chloe, the video was shot from a and medical residents a distinct sense patient’s-eye perspective, and the learners saw after the of the patient perspective. patient encounter that their eye contact with the patient was Shyam is among those who have not what it should be.” gained first-hand experience on the manikin that is officially known as Surgical Chloe™, the world’s first full- simulations can be, the better it is a wonderful self-evaluation tool. body, high-fidelity surgical simulator, for the observer. Glass enhances the The learners can watch the surgical one used for training in obstetrics realism of working with Chloe and procedure they performed, and, if they and gynecological procedures. The helps the student better prepare for make a mistake, see that mistake and concept for Chloe and the patented core these situations in real life. correct it next time. technologies within her were developed “With Glass and Chloe, we’re “When we put Glass on Chloe, the and created by a team of scientists and coming closer to making the most video was shot from a patient’s-eye engineers at ETSU, including Dr. Martin realistic situations possible, and that is perspective, and the learners saw Olsen, who took this experience to why they’re such unique teaching tools, after the patient encounter that their greater heights when he became one of particularly in the field of medicine.” eye contact with the patient was not a few thousand people around the world In medical teaching, Google Glass is what it should be. The next day, they who were chosen as beta testers for the used by Olsen, director of the residency self-corrected. Their eye contact was wearable computer called Google Glass. program for the ETSU Department of exactly what it needed to be.” Shyam says Chloe and Glass marry Obstetrics and Gynecology, in various It has been quite a year for Olsen, well together. Because she is a life- ways, but they boil down to two who conceived of and developed Chloe sized, anatomical facsimile of a human distinct branches: Glass is either worn with three ETSU colleagues over the

ETSU TODAY | 3 RESEARCH GREAT GRADS Leslie Almaroad Earhart ’02 course of nine years: Dr. Paul Sims and Bill Hemphill, faculty members in the College of Business and Technology’s Department of Engineering Technology, Surveying, and Digital Media, and Dr. Martin Eason, an associate professor and director of Quillen’s Center for Experiential Learning, which operates the Human Patient Simulation Lab. Gaumard Scientific, which specializes in manufacturing simulators for health care education, purchased the rights from ETSU to mass produce the Chloe prototype and is marketing Surgical Chloe to teaching facilities. Institutions across the country have purchased the manikin, and she is even being used as far afield as Russia and Poland. As for becoming one of the world’s first 8,000 users of Google Glass and pairing it with Chloe, Olsen won the right to become a Glass “explorer” based on a short poem he wrote about how he would use the tool for medical education. Olsen is one of the few physicians in the world using Google s the public information officer since she graduated from ETSU in Glass, and the list of doctors using for the Sullivan County Sheriff’s December 2002. For eight years, she the computer for medical education is AOffice, Leslie Almaroad Earhart worked at WCYB-TV in Bristol and even shorter. ’02 fields calls 24/7 from reporters covered numerous high-profile crime Olsen’s use of Google Glass about breaking news and recent crime stories across the region. together with Chloe has drawn not only events. She works with investigators “I was so grateful to get hired by widespread media coverage across the to release information to the media WCYB because my goal was to be a region but has also led to interviews about ways the public reporter, and I was really with writers from such national and may help solve cases. hoping to find a job international publications as National She also oversees “I walked in the opportunity that allowed Journal, The Economist, and Canadian the anonymous tips shoes of a reporter me to stay close to this Medical Association Journal. program and takes for several years, area,” Earhart said. calls from citizens Olsen laughs when recounting how so I know how “Tammy Hayes, who was he became a winner in the Google offering news about a one of my broadcasting Glass contest. He calls his entry crime. And, she also important it is to faculty members, was “bad poetry,” but he is serious when helps promote events get interviews and very encouraging when I assessing this technology’s place in sponsored by the get information got the job and told me to teaching. He says such devices are the sheriff’s department, in a timely fashion, use it as an opportunity such as the Toys from to get my foot in the door future of medical education, and even especially when he has benefited. Cops program or a 5K and learn as much as “I reviewed video of myself run to raise funds for it involves possible.” teaching,” Olsen says, “and I realized canine officers. breaking news...” Earhart went to work I was talking too much, that I needed So while the world of at WCYB one month to listen more. It has made me a crime is certainly filled after graduating from better teacher.” with its share of bad people, it has its ETSU. She started as a videographer good ones as well, and reporters, law and was taught how to operate the A native of Hawkins County, enforcement personnel, and citizens microwave van which transmits news Tennessee, Brad Lifford formerly across Sullivan County, Tennessee, are stories and live shots with reporters served as Media Relations glad Earhart is one of them. from remote locations to the studios. Coordinator in ETSU’s Office of Earhart joined the sheriff’s staff Eventually, she became a member of University Relations. He has also in 2011 as the first full-time public the reporting team and was assigned been published in Now & Then: The information officer, but she has been a videographer. For several years her Appalachian Magazine. following Sullivan County crime ever primary beat was Sullivan County,

4 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY GREAT GRADS and rarely did a week pass that she Earhart’s cell phone stays on, no us are like family, and when you hear wasn’t on the doorstep of the sheriff’s matter if it is in the middle of the that a member of that family has been department following up on stories. night or during the holidays or a wounded, it’s just awful.” “I walked in the shoes of a reporter weekend at home. Thankfully, the officer wasn’t for several years, so I know how Sometimes information can be seriously injured. important it is to get interviews and passed along over the phone, but Earhart understands as well as get information in a timely fashion, other times she may have to issue a anyone the risks that police officers especially when it involves breaking news release or even go to the scene of take each day. She too carries a badge. news,” Earhart said. “As the PIO, the incident. In addition to serving as the PIO, one of my goals is to be available to One call that Earhart says she will Earhart has also gone through the reporters at all times. When I first never forget was the first time she got police academy and is completing her started as a reporter, I worked the a call about an officer being involved field training as an officer. evening/weekend shifts. Not as many in a shooting. “When Sheriff Wayne Anderson people are working during those “When I first got the call we didn’t hired me, he requested that I do this hours, and it can be challenging have any details,” she said. “All I was because he felt it would make me a and frustrating at times if you are a told was that an officer had been hit better PIO if I knew what it was like reporter on a deadline and are trying to by a car which resulted in shots being to walk a mile in the shoes of a police get an interview. fired at the suspect. I was not given officer,” she said. “So, if there is something I can do to many details about the extent of the “And it definitely has.” make a reporter’s job easier, I will.” officer’s injuries, but that I needed to And though she wants to help come in right away. Joe Smith is the Executive Assistant facilitate the release of information, “I can’t describe what a terrible to the President for University Earhart says part of her job is also to feeling it was getting that news. I was Relations at ETSU and is the Chief educate the media about why there are so scared as I was driving to work. Communications Officer. times information is withheld. The officers, the dispatchers…all of “There are a lot of misconceptions in the media when a sheriff’s office Earhart with Sullivan County does not release specific information Sheriff Wayne Anderson about an incident,” she said. “It makes some reporters suspicious, but, in reality, there are reasons why we hold back at times. Because I’ve now served in both roles, I hope I can help reporters understand there will be times that we can’t disclose everything we know.” For Earhart, a typical day on the job begins with a review of police reports from the previous evening. Some of this information may be passed on to the news media, especially when there are trends, such as a rash of automobile burglaries or car break-ins. She also works with the office’s “Most Wanted” list and monitors tips that come in from the website, social media channels, or over the phone. She says the vast majority of cases for the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office begin with and are solved by information that is obtained from the public. Earhart adds that the local media have gone above and beyond to assist law enforcement personnel by showing mug shots and “Most Wanted” lists or reporting news about a case. “We are very fortunate to have such loyal support from the media,” she said. Because crime doesn’t just occur during the hours between 8-5,

ETSU TODAY | 5 THE ARTS An of a Teacher

uring So he switched to studio art and school, he was awarded the 2003 “I had no idea his says he “learned a bunch of things” he Outstanding Student Achievement I had such an D didn’t know. Award in Contemporary Sculpture, impact on my childhood And it was more than just artistic presented by the International students and and teen techniques. Sculpture Center. years, Travis “My undergraduate experience When he arrived on the ETSU that I was able Graves in studio art gave me a broad campus in 2005 as a faculty member, to navigate says he understanding of who I am, where I he says he hit the ground running. such a positive was always stand in the world, and what I want to In addition to his teaching load, experience for drawn to do with my life,” Graves said. “And, it he was appointed as the foundations objects and gave me the self-confidence to go try it coordinator for the introductory level them.” “stuff.” When and not to be afraid to fail, because if studio art program for the Department he received you are an artist, you are going to fail of Art and Design, a task that involves a model car a lot. coordinating as many as 22 sections or airplane, he would put it together “People who make it in the arts each semester of foundation courses but then take it apart and assemble it are those who failed continuously but required for all freshman art majors a different way, or he would take two were not afraid to try it again until they but that are open to all students. models and merge them together to succeeded.” Enrollment in the foundation make a hybrid, because “it was more Graves went on to earn a master courses can reach as high as 300 interesting than just following the of fine arts degree in sculpture from students per semester. Graves was directions.” the University of Wisconsin-Madison. responsible for hiring adjuncts and He also liked to take things apart During his final year of graduate assigning graduate assistants, creating that were broken, not for the purpose of fixing them but rather to see how they worked. And he loved rock music—listening to it, performing it, and even designing covers for records. He didn’t participate in any coloring contests or art classes, but this young man from a lower middle-class family in Iowa was destined to become an artist, one who would eventually join the faculty of East Tennessee State University and within a matter of years receive the institution’s highest teaching honor. Graves, an Associate Professor of Art and Design, received the 2013 ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching. He earned his bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art from Iowa State University, but when he arrived there as a freshman, he had no plans to be an art major. “My original intentions were to study graphic design, but I realized after the first semester that it wasn’t for me,” said Graves. “I didn’t want to make work for others and have them dictate to me what they wanted. I was more interested in making work for myself.”

6 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY THE ARTS the curriculum, scheduling all of not be the teacher I am today.” knew that education was important the classes, and holding everyone An undergraduate student added, and that it might provide me with accountable to make sure the work “Travis is always incredibly involved opportunities in the future I wouldn’t got done. with every project that we undertake otherwise have. I pursued the visual “That is a tall order, especially for as students. This continually baffles arts in my university because I loved a new faculty member, but it forced me to step up and to step up fast,” Graves said. “There were a lot of things “People who make it in the arts are those that needed to be put into place, and one of the things I started doing was who failed continuously but were not afraid to try it again to meet with the graduate assistants until they succeeded.” every couple of weeks and to talk about teaching strategies—those that worked and those that didn’t. We also me, due to the complex nature of to make art, not because I thought it discussed ways to motivate students, many sculptural processes and the would lead to a lucrative career. and some of the graduate assistants sheer amount of various processes and “As you go out into the world, I would bring in projects and we would techniques that must be performed for would say be prepared to work hard at review them and look at ways to maybe an entire classroom of students. He is what you choose to do, whatever that improve them.” a well of creative energy and always might be,” he advised the graduates Graves remained as foundations makes himself available to all students.” that day. “Know that bare minimum coordinator for four years before Weeks after receiving the effort is the bare minimum of your being named sculpture area distinguished teaching award, Graves potential. Believe me when I say your coordinator. During his tenure at received a letter from ETSU President peers, colleagues, and bosses will ETSU, he has taught 15 different Brian Noland inviting him to be the notice. If you are willing to commit courses, including studio art and keynote speaker at the December 2013 and have the confidence to do your sculpture classes at all levels, ranging commencement exercises. best, success is often the by-product. from introductory to graduate. He That too came as a major surprise to Mistakes are inevitable; the trick is has been actively involved in student Graves, who says words can’t describe to learn something from them, to advisement and has been a member how humbled he was by this request. build upon what you know is good of 29 bachelor of fine arts degree In addition to serving as the keynote and to show by example that you have committees and nine master of fine speaker, he also carried the Mace. something others would be foolish not arts degree committees. “I was the first from my family to to want.” And though he may have hit the go to college,” Graves told the ETSU ground running when he arrived at graduates on December 14. “I didn’t Joe Smith is Executive Assistant to the ETSU, he managed to make quite the have any grandiose ambitions of what President for University Relations and positive impression on those around college would provide for me. I only Chief Communications Officer at ETSU. him, as he later learned when he read the nomination letters his colleagues and current and former students wrote in support of him for the distinguished teaching award. “Getting the award was an honor, and it came as a huge surprise, but as passages from those nomination letters were read aloud during the ceremony, it affected me in a way I wouldn’t have expected and emotions just flooded to the surface,” he said. “I had no idea I had such an impact on my students and that I was able to navigate such a positive experience for them.” An ETSU alumnus who currently serves as a faculty member at another university wrote in a nomination letter, “Travis also allowed me to observe some of his courses to garner a better understanding of how to motivate my own students to think more critically and to inspire creativity. . . . Without Travis’s guidance and support I would Paper Bag #4 by Travis Graves

ETSU TODAY | 7 FACULTY AND STAFF BOOK BEAT

ETSU Professor Strives to Remove Assembly-line Thinking from “There are some failing schools serving children of poverty, but overall, School “Reform” our schools have improved.” churn out freshly- training program. In his book, Glover minted graduates. contends that the drive toward And then the process standardized testing and improvement n hour of conversation with starts all over again. through “accountability measures” is a Dr. Eric Glover on the topic It’s an ideal system for the reaction to the notion that our schools Aof education is an exercise in industrial world, Glover says. are failing. It’s just not true, he says. mixing ideas or words that seemingly Such mechanization delivered the “There are some failing schools have little or no association. automobile to the masses and produces serving children of poverty,” Glover Students as machine parts. machines that are essential for modern says, “but overall, our schools have Teachers working on assembly civilization to function as it does. improved. And they’ve improved lines. But it’s no way to build—or despite being hampered by the Classrooms and schools remade as retool—an education system, Glover installation of accountability measures factories. contends. His dismay at the trend that hinder them. Accountability-based An artist could take the concepts of standardization and assembly- reform policies actually limit student and craft a comic strip with panels to line concepts to improve school and teacher learning.” illustrate: Teachers are at the head of performance prompted him to write Glover traces the U.S. an assembly line of students revolving the book The Myth of Accountability: determination to “reform” education through the classroom; the students What Don’t We Know? back to the early 1980s. College are mechanized vessels with a finite Glover is a professor of Educational entrance exam scores—the SAT, capacity for holding a universal Leadership and Policy Analysis in specifically—had gone down. The measure of knowledge to be dispensed ETSU’s Clemmer College of Education, 1983 report “A Nation at Risk” by teachers. In the last panel, schools where he also coordinates the principal asserted that the American education

8 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF BOOK BEAT system had declined to the point we pour things into and call it teaching. In the context of education, those where it was failing to produce “Through standardization in words are not synonymous. students who could meet the needs of teaching, we’re going to have everyone “There’s a difference between a competitive workforce. be more and more alike, and it responsibility and accountability, The publication of that report reduces a human being’s ability to because if you’re responsible for touched off a wave of education adapt to variety.” someone else, that has moral and reform. The drop in SAT scores Education works best, Glover ethical implications,” Glover says. actually reflected a larger-than- asserts, when students recognize Holding someone accountable, he before pool of test-takers, Glover schooling as an extension of the adds, is a concept more suited for a says, because more people had set first and most successful human manufacturing assembly line. “The their sights on college. The resulting organization: the family. The Myth of more we enforce that management “reform” was an overreaction that Accountability includes Glover’s three- structure in education, the weaker the persists to this day, he adds. letter acronym—“LTL”—that underpins system becomes.” “The preamble to the report his thinking on the family unit as the Though not an advocate of essentially spoke to how our schools model for education. Those letters standardization, Glover said there does had become mediocre, and the rest stand for the “lead-teach-learn” triad. need to be an emphasis on common of the world had caught up and gone Glover said that leadership in core standards, such as English and ahead,” Glover says. “That was in the education is a crucial facet of the mathematics. Standardized testing, 1980s, and we’re still hearing exactly learning process: “LTL represents a though, reduces our overall potential, the same things today. With President more realistic model for improving he believes. Obama, we have ‘Race to the Top.’ school than accountability measures. “The whole framework limits “What school reformists do My idea is there’s a simple but human beings to less than what we with each cycle is penetrate what complex relationship within lead- are,” Glover says. teachers do in class and limit the teach-learn. We all practice those three Glover has encountered little ability of teachers to adapt to the things as human beings; sometimes ambivalence since the release of The needs of students. It puts teachers we do it in an educational setting, and Myth of Accountability, which was in straitjackets. And that’s not to say sometimes we do it in conversation published by Rowman & Littlefield that all changes made through school where the roles change in an instant. Education. He often gets positive reform have been bad. The problem In truth, the foundation of all human assessments from parents and is that our thinking is trapped by this organization and the common teachers, in particular, but he is aware market-driven, machine metaphor. attribute found among all successful that The Myth of Accountability is not We have this whole idea that the world human ventures is two or more perfect. is a machine, that even education is a individuals in an LTL relationship. In fact, Glover is already working machine, and that all the pieces must Leaders teach and teachers learn. And on a companion book, based on his fit together exactly right and exactly only learners can lead.” own self-criticism. the same way or the whole thing is a Glover was once a school principal “I have to make the concepts I pile of junk.” in New Mexico, and first-hand presented a lot more understandable,” Glover began writing his book experience informed him on the he says. “I need to make them around nine years ago, and he importance of the LTL equation in understandable especially for folks cites historic leaders—disparate education. who don’t come from a higher icons such as carmaker Henry Ford “I found my greatest success education background. and educational reformer John as a principal when I allowed two “Generally, though, when I’ve Dewey—as forerunners of out-of- young teachers to create a multi-age presented to teachers who are in the the-box thinking. Ford defined early classroom,” he said, noting that he classroom, to parents—to the Civitan assembly-line car production, but encountered resistance among some group in Johnson City a couple of his approach ran counter to then- parents and school board members months ago—I’ve gotten very positive accepted manufacturing theory. He when he first suggested a multi-age responses. When people who read shortened work hours and increased classroom. He tracked test scores over the book ask a question, that’s the pay to improve employee efficiency and the course of five years, and scores in beginning of a conversation. And satisfaction. Dewey understood, Glover that classroom went up drastically. open dialogue and honest questions says, that the assembly line didn’t work “In the multi-age classroom, have always been the forces that have in the classroom. the older kids eventually assumed driven change.” “John Dewey talked about responsibility for the younger kids, democracy in education and engaging and the younger kids wanted to be A native of Hawkins County, people in their learning,” Glover says. like the older kids. The older kids Tennessee, Brad Lifford formerly “Education was not a flat plane where became teachers, and it created a served as Media Relations all teachers taught the same way and culture of being responsible for each Coordinator in ETSU’s Office of all students received learning the same other in the classroom.” University Relations. He has also way. Dewey was opposed to the notion “Responsible” versus “accountable” been published in Now & Then: The that a student is just a human vessel that is an important distinction for Glover. Appalachian Magazine.

ETSU TODAY | 9 Looking RESEARCH

Up, Looking

r. Jay Franklin says he was first drawn to the Cumberland Plateau when the time came to Dbegin his master’s thesis project. Franklin, who was then a graduate student in the anthropology program at the University of Tennessee, studied what he describes as a “magnificent cave site” where, nearly 3,000 years ago, he says Native Americans hiked nearly 1 kilometer into the mountain wall to extract nodules of flint. “I met a lot of people while working on that project and eventually they began telling me about other rock shelters and artwork sites on the plateau they thought I should see,” said Franklin. “I soon realized that this area was home to thousands of shelters and caves that had not been investigated. So, I decided to stay around and find out what was going on there.” And for the past 18 years that is exactly what Franklin has been doing, “digging” into the past to learn more about the habits of people who lived long before the advent of the written record. On the plateau, that could have been as long as some 12,000 years ago, but Franklin is also involved in projects looking at Cherokee towns as recent as the early 1700s, as well as sites as old as 50,000 years associated with Neanderthals in France.

“It has taken us 17 years to piece a lot of this together, and our findings are significant in that they differ from what pre-historians have believed about life in those upland Cumberland regions.”

10 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH

“I tell students in my introductory and rock shelters he has discovered Paleolithic people were not up in those courses that we are interested in the features called bedrock mortal hole upland regions very much because cultures, behaviors, and interactions sites, where he says the aboriginal it was mostly glaciated, but we have of people from the past, but the trick people would leach red oak acorns and discovered that was not necessarily the is that we only get to study the things scarlet oak acorns to remove the bitter case and that people living there had they left behind, and that the real and acidic taste and then pound them long-distance contacts with people as challenge then becomes how much into meal. far away as 250 kilometers. information can we get from these “There have been early folk ideas “My work in France has allowed materials,” said Franklin, an Associate suggesting that these people ventured me to maintain my interest in the Professor of Anthropology at ETSU. into the upland areas on a seasonal Paleolithic, but it also ties in with “In most cases, we do not have the aid basis to gather nuts and hunt deer, but overall ideas and themes about people of textbooks or historical documents.” through our finer scale excavations who lived and made their living in Franklin joined the ETSU we have learned that they were highland regions,” he added. Department of Sociology and conducting a variety of activities in Franklin has helped develop an Anthropology faculty in 2004 and has these rock shelters that reflect entire exchange agreement between ETSU focused the majority of his archeological family groups,” Franklin said. “They and the Université Blaise Pascal in survey and excavation work on the functioned as residential groups and Clermond-Ferrand. So far Franklin upper regions of the Cumberland did things collectively as a community has led three study abroad trips in Plateau, approximately 1,000 feet of families. France, and a fourth one is planned higher than the river valleys. According “It has taken us 17 years to piece a for the summer of 2014. In the to Franklin, folk assumptions for years lot of this together, and our findings summer of 2013, a group of students have been that the majority of Native are significant in that they differ from excavated the stone foundations of Americans thousands of years ago lived what pre-historians have believed two houses, one 13th century and along the rivers. about life in those upland Cumberland one 16th century, and their work was “But we have several hundred rock regions,” he said. featured in a full-page story in La shelters in those upper areas that say “The people from those upland Montagne, a French newspaper. otherwise,” he said. “Not only have regions were not detached from those Franklin says having students by we learned that families lived there, residing elsewhere, but they lived a his side during these excavations is but we have more information about little differently,” Franklin added. part of the plan. what their goals were, how they were “They had different goals, they had “It is important to me that my organized, and how they made use of different activities, they had different students are part of this experience,” this landscape.” site configurations…they were different. he said. On any given trip to do surveys According to Franklin, the Native My students and I are now working to or excavations, he will have at least Americans in the upland regions used tell the story of those people and how five or six students with him, and there caves for extracting resources such as they lived in upland regions over the have been times when that number has flint and minerals as well as for shelter course of several thousand years.” been as high as 15. For two years he and habitation. Among the items he and Franklin says his decision to has offered a winter term field course, his students have discovered that are become an archaeologist began with and he also takes a group of students now kept in his ETSU lab are broken a love for the Paleolithic era, also during spring break. Most of the tools, debris, pottery, animal bones, and known as the Old Stone Age, which students are from ETSU, but some are charred nut shells from acorns. began approximately 2.5 million years from other schools. At times, he has The rock shelters and caves were ago and continued until some 15,000 had to turn students away. also used for the production of art. years ago. A professor at the University “Every year as I prepare to take a Franklin says “amazing” works of art of Tennessee who taught Paleolithic group for their first visit to the plateau, can be found on walls and ceilings archaeology introduced Franklin to I am very up front about what they are of caves, and because rock shelters a cave site in southwestern France in store for, and I tell them that they are often immune to erosion and where he spent four years excavating should expect a lot of rugged hiking weathering, many of these images middle and upper Paleolithic materials and that it is going to be rough. When have been well-preserved for hundreds associated with Neanderthals and early these students get there, they discover of years. modern humans in Europe. just how right I was, and I start to Though there were thousands of Franklin has since returned almost wonder if word might spread of how caves and rock shelters in these upper yearly, most recently during the fall tough it is and that it might discourage regions of the Cumberland Plateau, 2013 semester. future participation. Franklin has learned that most of the “This fits in well with my work in “But the students love it, and every early Native Americans chose to live in the Cumberland Plateau because we year, they keep coming back.” shelters that were in close proximity are exploring those upper highland to certain vegetation communities, regions of the Massif Central, an area Joe Smith is Executive Assistant to the including areas rich in hickory, red that has been severely neglected by President for University Relations and oak, and scarlet oak. researchers,” Franklin said. “There Chief Communications Officer Near these vegetation communities are historians who believe that the at ETSU.

ETSU TODAY | 11 TEACHING

ETSU History Department Veteran Marks 45 Years of Teaching

ention mules in Northeast Tennessee and one human Mname invariably comes up: Dr. Emmett Essin. Not that there are any similar personality traits between dissertation subject he boldly chose in says Williams was oblivious to the bad this man and these beasts. Essin is a the late 1960s. weather and rarely kept his eyes on the slow-walking, affable Texan known “I’ve been writing about mules ever highway, but Williams’ Mercury made for making his friendly rounds across since, and I’ve never been turned down it safely to the John Sevier Hotel, and the East Tennessee State University for a paper on the subject,” Essin says. Essin checked into a two-room suite. campus to engage in easy-going visits In 1997 the University of Nebraska Essin only intended to stay at with his favorite folks. Stubbornness Press published his book, Shavetails ETSU until he completed his Ph.D., is not an adjective that matches & Bell Sharps: The History of the but the campus and its culture took Emmett Essin. U.S. Army Mule, which he dedicated hold, and he is now on his way to a Mules are his life’s scholarly to Dr. Donald E. Worcester, the TCU half century there. passion, even though he has never professor who had the good sense “I was allowed to teach upper- owned one, or even a horse, for that to listen when Essin discovered how division courses from the beginning,” matter. His doctoral dissertation valuable these four-legged soldiers Essin says. “And the salary offer was at Texas Christian University was were to the U.S. military in the better here. Little did I know that they taking a different direction, toward nineteenth century. gave you a good salary to start with and cavalry horses. When he was hired Over the years, in addition to being then kept you there year after year,” he to join the Department of History found in fields and barns in a fleece- says with a grin. faculty at ETSU, he was what is known collared jacket analyzing mules, Essin He describes the students he in academia as an ABD, “all but has donned the black-and-white- encountered at ETSU as “eager and dissertation.” His dissertation was still striped shirt of a high school football smart,” and, he says, about two-thirds in draft form. official. And the former Abilene of them were the first in their families Digging through boxes in the Christian College track athlete was one to pursue college degrees. National Archives, Essin kept of several tuxedoed judges who worked Only days after accepting the noticing references to mules in ETSU’s Eastman Invitational Track ETSU offer, Emmett and his wife military campaigns. He convinced his Meet, which hosted the likes of football Sally welcomed into the world their dissertation director that his work greats Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, first child, Matthew, who now works should reflect his newfound fascination and Willie Gault in its heyday. at Cherokee Distributing Company with mules, and the decision has Emmett Essin has served with eight in Johnson City. In 1971, daughter largely defined his life of teaching, ETSU presidents. Burgin Dossett, Christin was born. After the children research, and public service. the school’s third CEO, hired him. were grown, Sally took a job in In the fall of 2012, Essin missed Consistent with the practice of the era, administration at Northeast State the university’s annual Service Awards Dossett interviewed Essin personally, Community College before retiring a Breakfast. Someone else had to pick up as he did with most every hire, from few years ago. Christin followed her his rocker, plaque, and pin recognizing dean to dorm mother. parents’ path in higher education 45 years of affiliation with ETSU. Essin well remembers his first visit and now teaches theatre history at Essin wasn’t taking a much-deserved to Johnson City, in late February of Vanderbilt University. tropical vacation. He wasn’t infirm. 1967. After landing on an icy runway Essin’s interest in the Trans- Instead, he was in a mule barn at Fort at Tri-Cities Regional Airport, he was Mississippi West is a natural Concho in San Angelo, Texas, with driven on the hazardous two-lane road outgrowth of his own family history. 200 people listening to him talk about to town by another campus legend, His grandfather came to the United cavalry mules. The 73-year-old Essin Dr. Frank B. Williams, Jr., Chairman States from Greater Syria on a French still finds fulfillment in that out-of-step of the Department of History. Essin ship when he was 16. He landed on

12 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING

L-R: Emmett as football official; as track and field judge; as sophomore at Abilene Christian College in 1960; and with former ETSU President Dr. D.P. Culp.

Ellis Island then headed west, for the and come to ETSU. It is still one of trees if the window hadn’t been there. farming community of Sherman, Texas, Essin’s proudest achievements. You could see a church group, people to meet up with an uncle. Robbed of “Sonny came down here for less looking up at us. As we were coming his pack along the way in Kansas City, money than he was making at Virginia in, the left engine caught on fire, and he arrived in Sherman only to discover Tech, but he realized this was his as we pancaked in, we went off the that the uncle had migrated to Brazil. big opportunity,” Essin remembers. runway because the tire, which was on In Sherman, Essin’s grandfather was “He promised me he would not leave fire evidently, blew out. taken in by a Syrian family and given until he won a Southern Conference “We did a total turn. The seats went a pack of trinkets—thimbles, sewing championship. And he did it in the off the moorings. My shoes went flying gear—to sell on the streets of town. Like second year and left.” off. I had my glasses in my hand, and many immigrants, he tired of the door- Smith had bought a house just four they went flying. I didn’t know where to-door life, opened a used clothing addresses down from the Essin family, I was. And I looked around and there store, and then one that stocked and Essin was one of the first to learn was nobody else around me, and there brand-new outfits. In his studies, Essin about Smith’s job offer at Auburn was smoke and fire, and somehow I found his grandfather’s story replicated University. Smith would go on to coach found myself out on a wing.” in dozens of communities across the the likes of Charles Barkley and Chuck With fire on either side of him South. That story of adaptation and Person at Auburn. and the heat intensifying, those who assimilation found its way into many of In 1984, President Ron Beller had jumped, fallen, or rolled out of his American history courses at ETSU. selected Essin to be Chair of the ETSU the aircraft were yelling for “Doc” to During free time between those jump. And so he did, as his left sleeve classes, Essin would check his mail caught fire. and meet a group of faculty and As we were going down Sciatica on his left side and a shot administrators in The Grill, located and during the crash, I kept for his back every three to six months inside the Student Center (now the hearing those hymns. remind him of the ordeal, and every Campus Center building) to sip coffee December 16, survivors gather for and “solve the university’s problems.” lunch to relive the crash and give At lunchtime, business manager Solon Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. thanks that they survived it. Gentry honchoed a bridge game. The decision almost cost Essin his life. Toward the end of our hourlong President Dossett’s successor, Just before the 1984 Christmas interview, I ask Emmett if there is Dr. D.P. Culp, rearranged all the break, Essin was invited to accompany anything about that accident that he committees on the campus and the ETSU Buccaneer basketball team, has never yet told anyone. tabbed Essin, a young assistant coaches, and media on a trip south. “Yes,” he answers, after a long, professor, to be a member of what The morning after a 15-point loss at the reflective pause. many people considered the most University of Alabama-Birmingham, “At Abilene Christian College, we prestigious and powerful committee, as the group was preparing to fly on to had to go to chapel five days a week. Intercollegiate Athletics. Essin says Oxford, Mississippi, for a game with The music was a cappella. The students the assignment was an intimidating the Ole Miss Rebels, Essin noticed a could really sing. As we were going one, especially considering the high- mechanic, who had gone to Alabama down and during the crash, I kept rollers from the community who with the group, working on the plane’s hearing those hymns. And I knew we served on the committee. right engine. were going to be okay.” When it came time to hire a men’s “About 20 minutes outside of basketball coach for the Buccaneer Birmingham, the right motor began Fred Sauceman holds a B.A. in English program in the mid-1970s, Essin was to smoke, and then it caught on fire,” and history and an M.A. in English picked to chair the search committee. Essin recalls. “The pilot started circling from East Tennessee State University. He and his group convinced Roan around a small airport. He did it three He feels fortunate to be on Emmett Mountain, Tennessee, native Sonny times, getting lower each time. The Essin’s campus visitation route. Smith to leave his post at Virginia Tech last time I could almost touch the ETSU TODAY | 13 PERSONALITIES PAST AND PRESENT A One-Year Promise Jean and Tommy Copeland and Their ETSU Life

Alumni director Basil Maltsberger and Jean run the concession stand at a Buc basketball game in Brooks Gym.

ommy Copeland was bound for North Carolina. A whole lot of people are Jean and Tommy on their honeymoon glad he didn’t make it. He had his heart set on a Ph.D. from the University at Hungry Mother Park in Virginia. Tof North Carolina. But his heart got hijacked by a plucky young woman from Lenoir City, Tennessee. That young woman wasn’t at home eating blackeyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day 1950. For her, it was just another work day, as it was for just about everybody else in Gilbreath Hall on the campus of East Tennessee State College. The World War II enrollment drop yielded to a G.I. Bill-funded boom, and government-generated paperwork demanded attention. Tommy’s major professor at Nashville’s Peabody College understood his protégé’s desire to be a Tar Heel, but he insisted that he at least pay a visit to the growing Johnson City school. Tommy’s professor was a friend of D.M. Brown, chair of the biology department at State. Tommy agreed to make the stop. If for no other reason, in those pre-Interstate highway days, he needed to get off the road for a while. Going through what he thought were just the motions, he stopped by the business office on that holiday, surprised to find it fully staffed, and he filled out the paperwork for a potential job on the faculty. He didn’t pay much attention to salary and benefits, but Jean Scott stopped him in his tracks. Seven days after she earned a business degree at Cookeville’s Tennessee Tech University in 1942, Jean was hired at East Tennessee State. She had worked in Tech’s business office and had mastered the intricacies of state regulations and requirements. At that time, both Tech and East Tennessee State were under the aegis of the State Department of Education, whose head, Burgin E. Dossett, would become president of the Johnson City school in 1949. When Jean was hired, in the midst of World War II, the business office was temporarily rudderless. The business manager had been drafted. Although she didn’t get his title, she inherited his duties. “I promised them I’d stay here one year,” Jean tells me, as she marks her 94th birthday. “I’m still here.” Jean’s work during the war years often involved processing refunds for students called for combat duty. Some she would recognize again; others left their higher education aspirations unfulfilled, on distant fields in defense of western democracy. Once the war ended, Jean’s work took another direction: making sure newly discharged veterans transitioned easily into the college classroom.

14 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY PERSONALITIES PAST AND PRESENT

She had been hired by the college’s he treated every person as if they were “Everybody did. I wouldn’t miss eating second and still longest-serving part of his family. He did everything he in the cafeteria on the days he served president, Dr. Charles C. Sherrod, could for anyone who worked there. If squash. I don’t know what he did to it, the year after the Japanese attack on they were having a problem, he saw to but it’s still the best squash I ever ate. Pearl Harbor. Sherrod would guide it that they got what they needed.” And if people knew he was going to the school through depression and Jean says it was not unusual for have apple pie, they would line up for war, on the way to a 24-year tenure Dossett to come and see her while it. On Sundays, church would empty in the president’s office. “He was an she was working on the payroll. “If a out and people would come to the honest person if I ever saw one,” Jean person had a sick child, he would ask cafeteria on campus.” remembers. “He was genuine, he was me to add five or 10 dollars to their Bundy fed the campus for over 40 dedicated, and he expected everyone check that month.” years, beginning in 1915, just four years else to be that dedicated. And most of “He was so sincere about after the opening of East Tennessee us were.” everybody’s needs, and he saw that State Normal School. And so, New Year’s was just you were rewarded for everything you That one-year promise Jean made another work day. As were most did. And you felt like you could go to in 1942 has now turned into over 70 Saturdays. When former coal miner him with any problem, concerning years. Jean and Tommy eventually and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate business or your own personal life. As settled into a comfortable home Burgin Dossett became the college’s the saying goes, the door was always overlooking “Scholar’s Hollow” on the third president in 1949, the demanding open. If a family was having trouble city’s south side, with physics, English, work schedule continued right on. with their teenaged children, they’d go music, history, and political science After finishing paperwork in the talk to him.” professors as neighbors. Dorman and business office on that first day of Dossett was never hard to find. Jean Betty Stout, another storied ETSU 1950, Tommy returned to Ritter Hall, describes his walks across the campus, couple, live right across the street. a men’s residence on the campus which occurred at all hours of the day When it came to educating the where visitors and Copelands’ son candidates for Scott and daughter jobs often stayed. Becky, there was Tommy was hosted “I promised them I’d stay here one year. I’m still here." no question about by basketball coach it: They would Madison Brooks go to University and his wife Nelda, and he began or night, often with his young daughter School, just a couple of hundred yards asking them if Jean were “attached.” Ann tucked under his arm. No aspect of away from their parents’ offices, and They acknowledged that Jean dated campus life escaped his scrutiny. Jean stay there from first through 12th grades. but that they were unaware of any still recalls the night Dossett happened Heavily influenced by their father’s serious relationships. by Carter Hall when a young man was career as a scientist, Scott would go “I think that’s the girl I’m going to about to kiss his girlfriend good-night on to earn an engineering degree from marry,” Tommy announced to Madison at the front door. Dossett broke up the Auburn University and Becky an M.D. and Nelda, after only knowing Jean for encounter with a “what would your degree from the University of Tennessee a few hours. mother think” admonishment to the Center for the Health Sciences in “So we were married less than eight embarrassed man. Memphis. Scott works in the aerospace months later, on August 21, 1950,” In the post-war years, Dossett industry in Houston. Becky teaches and says Jean. oversaw ever-increasing enrollments treats patients as an internal medicine Tommy Copeland never thought and campus expansion. With his ties to physician at ETSU’s own James H. about North Carolina again. He would Nashville, he was a master at garnering Quillen College of Medicine. join the East Tennessee State faculty state funds for the school. “I remember For Jean and Tommy, that and complete his doctorate at the Mr. Dossett was so proud when we happenstance meeting set a series University of Tennessee. reached 5,000 students,” says Jean. of events in motion that neither of “He had job offers back home Among the pantheon of campus them would ever want to change. in Arkansas, but we loved it here,” personalities Jean admires was Coach Their story is replicated over and Jean says. “It has been a wonderful Madison Brooks. “If a basketball over throughout the history of East experience for us. Every day was a fun player didn’t have the proper clothes, Tennessee State. The litany goes like day. Looking back over all those years, he bought them out of his own money. this: Meant to remain a few years but I couldn’t criticize anybody.” He’d bring players blazers or new made it for a lifetime. The president with whom the shoes.” Jean and Tommy attended Copelands worked the longest was every athletic event they could. Fred Sauceman is Senior Writer and Dossett—Jean for 19 years and Tommy With entertainment provided by Associate Professor of Appalachian for 18. the Buccaneer teams and memorable Studies at ETSU. He came to work “He was a wonderful person,” Jean meals served up by Chef Hyder Bundy, at the university in 1985, meant to remembers. “He loved us and we loved there wasn’t much reason to leave the remain a few years, and has stayed him. He was strictly a family man, and campus. “I loved Bundy,” says Jean. for a lifetime.

ETSU TODAY | 15 SCENE ON CAMPUS A Back to the Future Look at Preview “I guess it’s time to roll up our Just a month before, the 20,000th student registered sleeves.” - Jon Bon Jovi for Preview, now in its 31st year. ednesday night before school starts: The Preview leaders Ware in the Culp Ballroom, dressed to the nines for a sit-down dinner to celebrate the end of their training and the beginning of the real work of Preview—connecting new students to ETSU. Two seconds in the room with these students is all it takes to know they are true Buccaneers. Having endured a rigorous selection and training process, they are the best of the best. The level of excitement and energy in that room at dinner could power a small city. Just a month before, the 20,000th student registered for Preview, now in its 31st year.

“Yesterday keeps coming ’round, it’s just reality.” – Jon Bon Jovi

Early ’80s: Bonnie Burchett, Steve Bader, and Dorman Stout are on a Melissa is no longer at ETSU, but she’s road trip to the National Association remembers. “We came back and Steve an alumna and remains connected of Student Personnel Administrators Bader tasked Sally Lee with putting to the program and comes back for and Southern Association for College the program together and by the fall Homecoming and Preview leader Student Affairs meetings. “I was like a of 1983, the first group of Preview reunions. Mary Jordan and Tony kid in a candy shop at the conference,” students came to campus.” Warner were also instrumental in the Burchett said. “There were all these Fast forward a few years to August development of Preview, and they are ideas and we had time in the car to 1989, and a young Jeff Howard is still at ETSU as well.” share them all.” sitting in a classroom in Rogers-Stout Preview’s longevity is a testament And boy did she have one. As a Hall with his Preview group. If you had to the strength of the program, but as freshman at Hiwassee College in asked him on that day if he could see Jeff acknowledges, one of the things Madisonville, Tennessee, she’d had himself responsible for the Preview that surprised him when he came back an orientation class, a convocation program one day, he’d have said, “I to ETSU was that some of the elements program, and a weekly assembly to think you’re crazy.” But after stints at of Preview had not changed. Brenda help her connect to the college. When Carson-Newman and the University White-Wright’s talk on diversity she transferred to ETSU, everyone was of Virginia-Wise, Jeff, now ETSU’s remains a highlight of the program in Brooks Gym, collecting punch cards Associate Dean of Students, returned and is still one of the highest-rated to register for classes, which started to his Buccaneer roots and served as events. Skit night is going strong. the next day. There was no transition the director of the Orientation/Preview Risque Business, which introduces period. She knew from her work in program for three years. students to some of the tough issues of dealing with life in campus residence college life, includes many of the same halls how many issues resident “The more things change, the more topics it did when Jeff was a student advisors (RAs) dealt with and how easy they stay the same.” – Jon Bon Jovi and a Preview leader. Students still it was for new students to get lost. have the same pride and enthusiasm So in the car, somewhere between “What’s pretty amazing about in being Preview leaders. Jackson, Mississippi, and Johnson Preview is that in 30-plus years of “My Facebook page blows up with City, she pitched the idea for a program the program, only five staff members messages from people who are decades to help students get acclimated to have been in charge of it: Dr. Sally removed from their time as Preview college—a program that had to be peer- Lee, Dr. Joe Sherlin, Melissa Dagley, leaders, but for whom the weekend to-peer and driven by students. myself, and now Heather Levesque,” before school starts still resonates “I guess I convinced them enough Jeff said. “Of those five, four of us are as ‘Preview weekend,’” Jeff says. He that it was something we could do,” she still in the Division of Student Affairs.

16 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY talks of former students—now judges, lawyers, doctors, and teachers all over the world—who remain connected to ETSU because of Preview. That’s really “Happy Campers” what Preview is about. It’s a way to help students make ETSU home. It’s about creating memories and making friends. Visit ETSU through The goals of the program have not changed in 30 years. Migrant Student “If you hang in long enough, they say you’re comin’ back.” Leadership Conference – Jon Bon Jovi his past summer, 40 Hispanic families, although a few were from Some things have changed, junior and senior high school Honduras and Guatemala. though. Dorman Stout, long-time Vice students arrived at East The children of migrant workers T face many difficulties in their pursuit President for Student Affairs, left a Tennessee State University from across vacuum when he retired because he Tennessee for the week-long Migrant of education. They may move from no longer teaches the students the Student Leadership Conference, which school to school as the family university fight song and Alma Mater. enables them to experience life on a relocates. English is usually not the Another Preview tradition that was college campus. These students, the language spoken at home. Most instrumental in promoting school children of migrant workers, gained would be the first in their families to spirit ended with the elimination of the a new, positive perspective on what graduate from high school and go on football and marching band programs their lives could be like in the future. to higher education. in 2003. The experience may best be summed One young man in the group One of the things Jeff misses up by the pledge the students repeated exemplifies overcoming cultural the most is the Pep Brunch. “The in unison at the final fiesta: “I am boundaries. Among the 40 students, new students would come into the somebody; I was somebody when one came from the Mixteca culture of ballroom in the Culp Center for brunch I came here, and I will be a better Mexico. He grew up speaking and at some point the doors would somebody when I leave.” Mixteca and realized that learning open and the band, cheerleaders, After a week of getting to know Spanish could open doors for him. mascot, football team, and coaches each other and learning from their Despite the negative comments would all come in and ring the room, differences and similar struggles, of some people in his village, he surrounding the students. It was a the students understood that they persevered, and soon he was bilingual. powerful experience.” are not alone. Juan Avila, one of the What he didn’t know was that his life After all, Preview is synonymous MLSC counselors, says, “I think one was going to change drastically. with spirit. Jeff smiled as he said, “One of the most important things that His mother, a humble but of the things I like about the program happened during the week was the courageous woman who only speaks is that it puts an ETSU T-shirt into the way the group members developed Mixteca and does not know how to hands of each student who attends, close, supportive relationships—even read or write, decided one day that and they start making the connection. I one student who had only been in this the biggest door she needed to open find myself walking across campus and country two or three weeks.” Most was to move to the United States. counting how many shirts I see—this of the students came from Mexican Soon, the young man realized that year’s shirt, last year’s shirt.” In fact, the two quilts on the wall in President Noland speaks with students participating the Student Affairs conference room in the Migrant Student Leadership Conference. are made of Preview T-shirts. “I think we might have enough shirts now for another quilt,” Jeff notes, although a bigger room might be in order. At least there will always be room for more Buccaneers at Preview.

Susan Epps was involved with Preview preparations over 20 years ago as an intern finishing her master’s degree in Student Development at Appalachian State University. She is now Associate Professor in Allied Health Sciences at ETSU.

ETSU TODAY | 17 CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY being bilingual was not enough. If he of Dr. Ardis Nelson, provided MEP During that whirlwind week, ETSU wanted a better future for his family, services to students in local schools alumna and program coordinator he needed to learn English. Now he is who benefited from one-on-one Tiffany Ann Taylor presented an in high school, focusing on his studies tutoring by ETSU students. Under academic component with the theme and improving his English skills. a new program initiated by TOPS in of “My Social Footprint,” investigating However, the best lesson he learned is 2011, in-home tutoring for migrant students’ impact on society and their that anything is possible as long as one children includes parents, who are own future professional life, through is dedicated. Currently, he is planning encouraged to participate in their what they include on their websites on furthering his education in college. children’s studying and progress. and Facebook pages. The workshop The federal government recognizes The highlight of the year in efforts inspired them to plan their future the need for opportunities for these to reach Hispanic migrant students and consider how they may better children. Through the Department is the summer MSLC visit, begun contribute to their communities. of Education, the Migrant Education in 2007 under the direction of Dr. Another ETSU alumna, Holly Program disburses funding to state Dorothy Dobbins of the Melendez, presented “Writing for a governments. In Tennessee, the ETSU Department of Social Reason,” encouraging students to MEP is overseen by Tennessee Work. For several years the MSLC look at their family and friends as Opportunity Programs. overlapped with the MEP during possible mentors and reflect on how to emulate the finest characteristics of those mentors. Students also had the opportunity to write about a career icon and to identify the qualities that led to the person’s success. Health screenings were conducted for the students, along with tips from ETSU student Meagan Batchelor about a healthy lifestyle. A Career Round Robin brought representatives from various professions and agencies to discuss professional fields such as health care, education, firefighting, law enforcement, and court interpreting. A tour of Northeast State Community College provided a discussion on alternative ways to receive an education and included a presentation of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) show, “Math Rocks,” by Northeast associate professor John Melendez. The closing program, held at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, featured students presenting their The format for MEP has changed the last week of its program. Today, website projects on laptop computers over the years since ETSU’s first however, the MSLC continues as the and reading their essays about mentors venture in 2002, but the goal remains only migrant student program and icons to guests, including ETSU the same—encouraging and supporting hosted on the ETSU campus, with the President Dr. Brian Noland. the children of migrant workers. For 2013 MSLC co-directed by Nelson Not all education takes place in almost 10 years this program has and Dobbins. the classroom, however. While dining planted a seed of confidence and The students had a fun-filled, during the week at the Market Place collaboration in many students who life-changing experience. During in the D.P. Culp University Center, came with low expectations about their one intense week, the staff instills students could absorb information own future. Through MEP, many have confidence in the students and they had learned about college been inspired to look for opportunities sees their attitudes change. The 40 admissions, financial aid, study skills, outside their environment. They have teenagers shared their battles and and career workshop tips. Then came chosen higher goals and learned to struggles with each other. They left some fun in the evenings, including appreciate who they are and where the program with the belief that they soccer training with the ETSU they came from. were capable of achieving anything women’s soccer team, a Zumba class, At ETSU, the Language and Culture they wanted, and that they could do a movie night, mentorship time with Resource Center, under the direction it together. counselors, and a planetarium show

18 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY presented by Dr. Gary Henson of the from King College, where he played she could see that the vast majority of ETSU Department of Physics and tennis for four years, also serving as these students have a clear insight as to Astronomy. assistant tennis coach part of that time. what they want to study in college. “I am just starting to get caught up He has coached children’s tennis at Many students recognized in their on my sleep after the summer camp,” the Country Club of Bristol and enjoys final comments that the program says Avila. “Counselors get up about 6 working with young people. had inspired them, that they have a.m. to prepare for the day. Activities His fellow LCRC graduate opportunities, and that the tools to continue all day and then again after assistant and MLSC counselor, achieve their goals are available. They dinner and into the evening. We would Carolina Quiroga, is a Colombian understand that improving their finally go to sleep by midnight.” student finishing a master’s degree English and technology skills will open A graduate student working on a in storytelling at ETSU. She worked individual doors, while teamwork will Master of Business Administration mostly behind the scenes. As the staffer open the door to success. degree through the ETSU College in charge of collecting all evaluations of Business and Technology, Avila and processing the data, she felt a Carol Fox is a University Relations is singularly qualified for the job as very significant finding was that the Office staff member and ETSU MSLC counselor. Born in Mexico City number of male students was equal alumna. She earned a master’s degree and raised in Cuernavaca, Mexico, he to the female number. And, while she in English in 1998. received his undergraduate degree was reviewing student assignments,

Encircling Bach, B.B. King, and the BBC – The Power of Public Radio 89.5 the Globe: and its Digital Descendants n 40 years, WETS-FM has grown upgrading the student-operated 10- house at 920 West Maple Street as from a single program stream, watt AM station to a 100,000-watt FM the “temporary” home of WETS (the Iserving a 100-mile radius from station. A grant from the Corporation station would reside there for 14 years). Johnson City 14 hours per day, to three for Public Broadcasting would cover WETS-FM went on the air on February program streams, 24 hours per day, most of the cost of setting up a new 24, 1974, operating from 10:00 a.m. heard anywhere in the world. station but would require the station to midnight. By July of 1975, the In the early 1970s, ETSU to be staffed with at least five full-time station was signing on at 6:00 a.m. and broadcasting instructor Tom Headley employees and to meet certain public broadcasting until midnight. Twenty- and others began the process of service requirements. So the concept four-hour broadcasting wouldn’t come of WETS-FM until the 1980s. The late Dick Ellis changed from As was At the end of put WETS-FM a student- typical for public on the air in 1974. operated training stations in 2010, station to a the 1970s, the the station professionally- programming received operated arm on WETS a CPB grant of the Office was primarily of University classical music, to establish Relations. played from three HD Longtime vinyl LPs. Cueing channels. Tri-Cities records was a broadcaster skill required Richard Ellis was of disc jockeys in those pre-digital hired to complete days, and damaged records could the preliminary sometimes skip or get stuck in a work, hire a groove, playing the same few seconds staff, and get the of music over and over until the DJ station on the air. fixed the problem. As the station grew, ETSU turntables were periodically upgraded. designated Network programming from a two-story National Public Radio centered on

ETSU TODAY | 19 CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY its flagship afternoon news show, All through its printed program guide, inadequate wiring and structural Things Considered, a 90-minute report but in 1979, CPB and the Federal problems. Over a two-year period, that began at 5:00 Eastern time and Communications Commission listeners contributed enough money came to stations via telephone lines. permitted public radio stations to to build a new radio facility on the Other programs were fed by telephone solicit contributions from listeners on south side of campus. WETS-FM began lines, recorded to tape, and played the air. WETS-FM held its first on-air broadcasting from its new home in back as scheduled by the station. Music fundraiser in February 1979, raising December of 1988. programs, such as Composer’s Forum $15,742. The new building contained a or Folk Festival USA, were delivered In 1980, NPR became the first feature Dick Ellis very much wanted on reels of stereo tape that went network to distribute programs via to see incorporated into the facility: from station to station on a regular satellite. In addition to remarkably a studio big enough to set up musical distribution route. improved sound quality, the satellite ensembles for live broadcast. It took While WETS began as a classical opened the distribution system to a while to acquire the necessary music station, it quickly broadened its anyone who had programming and a equipment, but eventually live musical horizons by adding jazz, folk, few dollars to buy satellite time. music became a regular feature on blues, and other music forms. Local WETS got into national program WETS-FM, particularly on Saturday hosts, including several volunteers, distribution with Down Home Music, afternoons with Studio One, hosted by combined with nationally distributed a series of 13 one-hour programs Dave Carter. programs to give WETS-FM an eclectic recorded at the Down Home in Unfortunately, Dick didn’t live to musical identity. Johnson City. WETS program director see the studio meet its full potential. In the early days, broadcasts of Phil Leonard obtained a CPB grant to Diagnosed with lung cancer, he spent ETSU sports were a regular feature on create the series and was able to offer most of 1991 and 1992 undergoing WETS. Dick Ellis had been the play- a second round of 13 programs. The radiation treatment. On January 24, by-play announcer for the Bucs since series featured performances by Ralph 1993, university officials and local the mid-1950s. The 100-mile broadcast Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, dignitaries gathered in Dick’s big studio radius of the station made it easy for Doc Watson, J. D. Crowe & the New to honor him and dedicate the facility affiliate stations to pick up the games South, the Red Clay Ramblers, he built as Richard F. Ellis Hall. Two from WETS and re-broadcast them on Asleep at the Wheel, Doyle Lawson weeks later, he died at his home. their own signals. Sports broadcasting and Quicksilver, Willie Dixon, and Funding challenges continued on WETS ended in 1978 when the many others. through the 1990s, but listener support ETSU athletic department began WETS had long outgrown the increased and the station grew. Online selling its own advertising. WETS-FM’s old house on Maple Street when streaming began in 2000, allowing non-commercial license prohibited the state inspectors ruled the structure listeners anywhere in the world to broadcast of commercial messages, unsuitable for a radio station, citing hear WETS via the station’s website, and the Buccaneer Sports Network moved to another originating station. Funding for public broadcasting had become a political issue even before WETS went on the air, when President Richard Nixon, objecting to what he termed “liberal talk shows,” vetoed funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB outlasted Nixon, but funding has remained a political target for conservatives ever since. WETS had always solicited contributions

20 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY

WETS now carries daily network programs like The Diane Rehm Show, Fresh Air, Democracy Now!, Here and Now, and the BBC World Service, in addition to NPR fare like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Weekly offerings include This American Life, Inside Appalachia, and Bob Edwards Weekend. WETS also distributes its own programming to other stations, including Your Weekly Constitutional, created by Stewart Harris from the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia; Religion for Life, a program by local minister John Juan Chiu, host of Ritmo Latino. Shuck about the impact of religion on life and society; and American Variety www.wets.org. The website replaced for one year. WETS got through Radio, produced by Florida transplant the station’s printed program guide its bleakest year with few listeners Court Lewis. and also became a portal for listener noticing any difference, and most And music made a comeback on contributions. found that they liked the new hosts WETS as well. At the end of 2010, Listeners nationwide protested of Morning Edition, too. Financial the station received a CPB grant to NPR’s decision to remove Bob support returned to normal levels, but establish three HD channels. These Edwards as host of Morning Edition in station management and the university digital signals are carried on the April of 2004; many withheld financial administration recognized that those station’s analog signal at 89.5 MHz. support from their local stations, even levels were not sufficient. WETS-HD 1 is a digital version of the though local stations had no say in By this time, WETS programming FM signal. WETS-HD 2 is a full-time the decision. Since Edwards had just was essentially divided into thirds: Americana music service. And WETS- been at ETSU to celebrate WETS-FM’s NPR news and information, classical HD 3 is devoted to classical and jazz. th 30 anniversary in February, many music, and Americana (a mix of folk, All three services are also available regular WETS contributors boycotted bluegrass, blues, alt.country, and other worldwide as online streams at the station’s April fundraiser. The roots music styles). Research indicated www.wets.org. disastrous fundraiser was followed by that divided formats drew less listener As of this writing, the economy has an order from the state of Tennessee support than did more consistent not yet fully recovered from the 2008 requiring all departments, including formats, and that news and information crash, and public stations like WETS WETS, to have money for all formats were supported more than are still feeling the pinch. Federal commitments on hand at the beginning were music formats. That was clearly funding is threatened, as usual. But of each fiscal year. WETS had always the case at WETS; the financial boycott listener support is strong and growing, contracted for programming and by news listeners over the removal of and the station’s annual budget has raised the money to pay for it as the Bob Edwards in 2004 was not offset topped $1 million. Regional news is fiscal year progressed; now the station by contributions in support of the being reported along with national would have to have all of the money for station’s musical offerings. And this news, and student interns are working the coming fiscal year in hand on July was not just a local phenomenon. The with station staff to learn the art 1, 2004, and the station didn’t have it. trend among public stations nationwide and business of broadcasting. The The station could have easily was away from music formats and studios are busy late into the night raised the money over the course of toward news and information. After with production. The little station that its next two fundraisers, in the fall much research and discussion, station started in a house on Maple Street is and the following spring. But there management and the university’s 40 years old now and looking forward wasn’t that much time. There was administration finally made a difficult to the future. only about a month to work it all out. decision, and in February 2010, WETS- Without an emergency appropriation FM became primarily a news and Wayne Winkler is Director of WETS- approved by ETSU’s President, Dr. information station. FM/HD on the campus of East Paul Stanton, WETS as we know it Protests were expected, and they Tennessee State University. would have ended then and there. materialized, demanding the return of With that appropriation, though, a music. But the next fundraiser, only two bare-bones budget was worked out, months after the format conversion, one which required some personnel showed no significant change in the cuts and the loss of NPR programs. level of support from listeners. And At the last minute, program director listener support has grown since then— Dan Hirschi finalized an arrangement slowly, given the state of the economy, to obtain NPR programming free but still it has grown.

ETSU TODAY | 21 THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

From My Notepads – 2013 EAS SITY T TENNESSEE STATE UNIVER Brian Noland, President, East Tennessee State University February 14 – April 21 – Our men’s tennis team‚ led by Coach Yaser We announced Zaatini‚ captures the Atlantic Sun Conference regular our new Arts season and tournament titles‚ as well as an NCAA berth. Initiative today‚ with its May 8 – It was a great pleasure today to welcome centerpiece Brittney Ezell‚ new Head Coach of the Lady Buc being the basketball team. plan for a new performing May 26 – The Buccaneer baseball team and Coach Tony arts center on Skole win the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title or near our and an NCAA berth. campus. June 11 – Our conference affiliation will change. ETSU February 19 – I used will return to the Southern Conference in 2014. ETSU’s new mobile app for the first time today. June 13 – We receive a major $2.2 million grant from March 25 – An the National Institute on Drug Abuse‚ to inspiring‚ unforgettable help battle day. I took part in prescription the dedication of a drug abuse. fountain and historical marker in honor and June 21 – Today memory of the African we welcomed American students Head Coach who integrated East Carl Torbush to Tennessee State the Buccaneer College in 1956 and Football fold. 1958. July 29 – I am April 2 – It’s a blue-letter day! We just announced the so proud of our return of Buccaneer football! Public Safety officers‚ as ETSU becomes the first April 11 – Congratulations to our Generation Rx school in the Tennessee organization within the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy Board of Regents system for earning second place in a national competition of to earn accreditation by the chapters. Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. April 17 – Great job‚ July 30 – Good news out of Nashville! The Tennessee Coach Higher Education Commission approved our proposal Stefanie to begin offering a Master of Arts degree in Appalachian Shelton Studies. and the ETSU September 23 – We women’s just found out that golf ETSU was named team‚ among the Top for winning the Atlantic Sun 15 Animation and Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Game Design Schools in the South‚ for our digital media program.

22 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

September 27 – Kudos to ETSU’s own Dr. Beverly November 15 – The ETSU volleyball team prevails‚ as Smith‚ for a National Science Foundation grant of nearly regular season Atlantic Sun Conference champions. $134‚000 to study gravitational interactions and mergers Congrats to Coach Lindsey Devine and her fine team. between galaxies. November 17 October 3 – A very dark day. We are informed that the – Coach Scott U.S. Army is closing the ETSU ROTC program. The fight Calabrese to save it begins today. and the ETSU men’s soccer October 4 – Dr. Reid Blackwelder‚ Professor of Family team win the Medicine with ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine‚ Atlantic Sun is installed as President of the American Academy of Conference Family Physicians. title and are now headed October 14 – to the NCAA. The College of Pharmacy shines again! November 20 – Good This week news from the ETSU our student Department of History‚ as pharmacists Dr. Stephen Fritz receives captured a national book prize in the national military history for his championship of the American College book Ostkrieg: Hitler’s of Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacy Challenge‚ in War of Extermination in Albuquerque‚ New Mexico! the East.

October 29 – We are November 21 – so proud of ETSU’s Dr. ETSU begins a new Wilsie Bishop‚ Chief publication‚ The Operating Officer and International Journal of Vice President for Health Sciences. Thanks to Dean of Nursing Health Affairs. She was Dr. Wendy Nehring and Dr. Jacek Smurzynski‚ Professor just inducted into the in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. November 26 – Congratulations to Dr. Jonathan November 6 – ROTC Moorman‚ Internal at ETSU may be saved‚ I am happy to report! Today we Medicine‚ ETSU got word that the U.S. Army reversed its decision to close Quillen College of our program. While the program has now been placed on Medicine‚ and Dr. probation until 2015‚ John Yao from the we are confident VA on their National that we can meet Institutes of Health and exceed criteria grant of $438‚000 to to allow us to keep investigate hepatitis C. ROTC‚ one of our most admirable December 14 – traditions at ETSU. Recovering from an auto accident‚ I deliver greetings to the ETSU Class of 2013 via video. November 14 – It’s official: The ETSU Football Buccaneers take the field against Follow President Noland's Kennesaw State on September 3‚ 2015. "From my Notepads" video series at etsu.edu/president.

ETSU TODAY | 23 CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY Connecting and Reconnecting at the Archives of arbara Burns had never been Appalachia to ETSU. “In fact,” she says, “I had never been to Northeast “They had four, maybe five, B lawyers,” Burns says. “And they were Tennessee before our trip down for the reunion.” trying to outman us, intimidate us, Burns and her friend, Doug out-money us. They said that I had Jenkins, traveled south from Crawley, pursued Mr. Fazenbaker and, in fact, West Virginia, for a reunion that was had seduced him. Then they offered to not a Burns or Jenkins clan gathering settle with us, and I told Betty Jean, ‘I but rather a family assembly of a don’t think I should settle. Let’s take it different sort—the Women Coal to court.’” Miners Reunion. The first weekend In 1986, Burns filed a sexual Coal Employment Project records. in August 2013, Burns and Jenkins harassment claim against Smoot Coal. From 1979 until 1999, the nonprofit were joined by 61 women coal miners After a 13-year legal battle, the West CEP staff worked to end discrimination and supporters from three countries— Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals against women in the mining the USA, Canada, and the United ruled in her favor. But she had not industries and to address issues not Kingdom—and 12 states, from West been sitting around the house waiting being discussed at the time by the Virginia to Arizona. They met in for that ruling. United Mine Workers of America. Jonesborough, Tennessee, for their While raising two sons, Burns The organization’s first director was first national gathering in 15 years, earned a nursing degree—the goal Betty Jean Hall—the same Betty Jean choosing the town because of its that first sent her into the mines. She Hall who eventually served as Barbara close proximity to ETSU’s Archives of also obtained a real estate license Burns’ attorney. Appalachia, a unit of the Center for and helped her husband, Sammy, In August of 2013, with assistance Appalachian Studies and Services. build their home. After graduating from the ETSU Office of University From 1976 to 1984, Relations, the ETSU Barbara Burns worked as Center for Appalachian The ETSU Archives of Appalachia houses Studies and Services one of the first women coal one of the nation’s most extensive collections miners in the United States. captured on video the “I started in the mines of material related to women coal miners. stories of 11 miners, to save enough money to go including Barbara Burns. to nursing school. I didn’t Betty Jean Hall was also expect to love it like I did, but I loved from nursing school, Burns worked recorded as she gave a comprehensive being a miner,” she said. in a hospital before starting a home overview of the Coal Employment In 1984, after working for Island healthcare business—a business Project. These interviews are now part Creek, Pittston Coal, and Bethlehem she sold in 2005 when her husband of the Archives’ collection. Steel, Burns was recruited by company became ill. She cared for Sammy for “I am so glad I came for the President Paul Fazenbaker to work for five years until his death. reunion,” Burns said afterward. “I Smoot Coal. She took her job seriously In 2013, PBS aired the three-part, love the area and I was very impressed and thought her boss recognized three-hour television documentary with the ETSU campus—it’s really a her dedicated work ethic when he MAKERS: Women Who Make America. beautiful place.” promoted her to safety director. She Narrated by Meryl Streep, it tells the Burns will likely always have a was wrong. story of women who have asserted special place in her heart for that “One day, he made a remark that he their rights to a full and fair share of weekend. On that Saturday night, at was the king and that was his kingdom political power, economic opportunity, a concert sponsored by the Center for and we were his serfs, and if he wanted and personal autonomy. Alongside Appalachian Studies and Services, to hug us or kiss us, he would. I told features about Gloria Steinem, Hillary reunion organizer Marat Moore him nobody kisses me unless I want Rodham Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and announced from the stage that them to.” others was a segment about trailblazer Barbara Burns and Doug Jenkins were Fazenbaker began stalking Burns— Barbara Burns. officially engaged. generally making her life miserable. The ETSU Archives of Appalachia After months of sexual harassment, houses one of the nation’s most Randy Sanders is Managing Editor Burns contacted attorney Betty extensive collections of material of Now & Then: The Appalachian Jean Hall. Burns and Hall met with related to women coal miners. A Magazine in the Center for Appalachian attorneys for Smoot Coal. centerpiece of the collection are the Studies and Services at ETSU.

24 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SCENE ON CAMPUS

Who’s Going In each issue of ETSU Today, we’ll profile to some of our most fascinating students, who are ETSU? making the most of their university experience. Sheri Hamilton: “I think my best From the newsroom to the classroom experience at ETSU Sheri Hamilton spent many years as a newscast director with WJHL-TV, has been the people.” the local CBS affiliate. That might be enough excitement for most people, but ~ Sheri Hamilton she decided to seek a new challenge as a middle school teacher. A Johnson City native, she left home for Virginia to attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington and earned an undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communication. Her next step was a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Employment at WJHL followed. At the television station, Hamilton was in charge of the technical production of the morning and noon shows. Now enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program in the Claudius G. Clemmer College of Education, Hamilton says, “I think my best experience at ETSU has been the people, especially those in the College of Education. I am a graduate assistant in the dean’s office, so I have had a chance to work with and interact with everyone, from the students to the dean. I feel the faculty is very supportive, something that is especially important to me, since I am returning to school after being away for a while, and I am changing careers.” The recipient of a Claudius and Kathleen Clemmer Scholarship, Hamilton was also awarded a prestigious James H. Quillen Scholarship, created through a bequest to ETSU by the late congressman. For her residency placement, Hamilton only needs to walk across campus to University School, and she notes, “I love that ETSU has a laboratory school available to those of us in the College of Education.” She is well on her way to her new career. Jack Wesson: Making a Name in T-Shirts Many people on the ETSU campus have seen—or even worn—Jack Wesson’s work. The senior, a digital media major, has designed logos and T-shirts for quite a few organizations, including the Honors College, the East Tennessean student newspaper, and Dance Marathon. Wesson, who hails from Franklin, Tennessee, says, “ETSU was the only place I applied to go to college, even though the closest I’d ever been to Johnson City was Knoxville. I knew in high school that digital media was the field I loved, and the program here has the highest level of quality. Many of my friends have changed their majors a time or two, but I knew from the beginning that I was on the right path.” Wesson has made good friends among fellow majors. “The digital media program is small enough that the majors all get to know each other well. Also, I am a University Honors Scholar, and those of us in the program become really close through classes and activities.” Collaboration is an aspect of his field that Wesson enjoys, too. “I like seeing what others are doing,” he said. “Everyone is excited to share their ideas and work. An idea that one person passes along may spark many other projects for fellow students.” Currently, Wesson is working on completing his thesis research project for the "ETSU was the Honors College by creating a full 3-D environment for a video game. “It’s a great only place I applied chance to explore something outside of your normal class schedule, something you’re really passionate about,” he says. to go to college." Wesson hopes to enter the video game industry after graduation, and he ~ Jack Wesson knows that may require a move to California or the Pacific Northwest. “My preference,” he says, “would be to go to Seattle. I even like the weather there.”

ETSU TODAY | 25 SCENE ON CAMPUS

“...of all the attending universities, we were the only one to have our university president attend.” ~ Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith: Representing ETSU at the Highest Level of ROTC Competition Morgan Smith is a native of Bristol, an East Tennessee State University sophomore, a criminal justice major, and a U.S. Army ROTC Cadet. She was also on the ETSU ROTC team that won the Bold Warrior Competition at Fort Knox, Kentucky, last year, enabling them to go to the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at West Point in the spring of 2013. The tough Sandhurst competition began Allison Hawkins: “Many of the people I in 1967, when the prestigious Royal Military Finding a Sense met that first semester Academy Sandhurst presented a British of Community officer’s sword to West Point to use as a prize during Preview and in to promote cadet excellence. During her senior year at Tenafly High School in Sigma Kappa five years Smith says, “From the time we won the New Jersey, Allison Hawkins found that many of her prerequisite to going to Sandhurst, until the classmates had plans to head off to big schools in ago are still my close moment we left for Sandhurst, we trained. big cities. friends today.” Monday through Friday we would do physical And the big city wasn’t that far away. In fact, training in the mornings, then many evenings Allison could see the skyline of New York City from ~ Allison Hawkins we would do skills training, with several her window at home, and she went into the Big Apple weekend trips to prepare us physically and every Saturday for music lessons from the time she mentally.” was in the third grade until the eighth grade. Each Sandhurst team must have a female As for her own college search, Allison says she was looking for a university that offered a sense cadet. Smith was that cadet for the ETSU team, of community. She had family members living in the South, and with her dad and step-mother residing and she found the experience both challenging in Jonesborough, ETSU was not only the right size but the right place. In addition to being accepted to and rewarding. ETSU, she received a Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship through the Honors College. “Going to Sandhurst was one of the most “People may find this hard to believe, but I am a very shy person,”Allison says. “When I arrived at remarkable events I’ve experienced. I could ETSU, I did not know one person.” not have done it without my Battle Buddies in That, of course, changed in a matter of days. In addition to participating in the Preview program, the Eddie Reed Ranger Challenge Company. Allison signed up for Rush Week and later received an invitation to join Sigma Kappa sorority. There, she And, of all the attending universities, we were made friends for a lifetime. the only one to have our university president “Many of the people I met that first semester during Preview and in Sigma Kappa five years ago are attend. Also, we were the only team to have a still my close friends today,” she said. ranger challenge team named after a In addition to providing her the opportunity to meet some wonderful people, Allison says being part of fallen former battalion member, Eddie Reed. a Greek organization has allowed her to become engaged with the community through various outreach His son and our ETSU President, Dr. Brian efforts, such as working with the Alzheimer’s Association, helping with a local senior citizens group, and Noland, both accompanied us for the entire being part of cleanup projects. competition.” And though she came to ETSU uncertain about what her friendship circles would be like, she was Smith has a four-year ROTC scholarship definitely certain about her career objectives. and an Academic Performance Scholarship “Long before I became a Buccaneer, I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Allison said. “My mom is a with work placement in the Military Science music teacher, and I have been around kids all my life. I would even help her teach some of her classes.” Department. She plans to be a 20+ career Allison is majoring in Early Childhood Education and is in her final year of studies. officer, probably as a helicopter pilot or in “The Clemmer College of Education is outstanding,” Allison says. “One of the things I appreciate military intelligence. the most about the curriculum is that the professors get students into the classroom from the very She says, “I feel that my experiences in beginning.” the Buc Battalion and Eddie Reed Ranger For her senior thesis project in the Honors College, Allison conducted a study on the effects of music Company have already shaped my character and synchrony on the development of empathy in children ages 24 to 36 months. In addition to fulfilling and will continue to build me into the officer I her thesis requirement, the study also earned Allison a first-place award in ETSU’s Appalachian Student aspire to be.” Research Forum.

26 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SCENE ON CAMPUS "I would like to travel and become an international speaker, helping motivate people to delve further into their potential than they believed they could." ~ Matthew Pencarinha Matthew Pencarinha: Delivers Matt Pencarinha is truly making the most of his ETSU experience. And, he can be depended upon to “deliver” in any situation. A senior from Kingsport, he is a Roan Scholar and a business management major with a concentration in logistics/supply chain and a minor in leadership studies. “My most rewarding experience so far,” he says, “was using what I have learned in order to start a business on campus delivering fresh spaghetti to student residence halls, with the profits going to the Relay for Life.” Another opportunity came through his "Although the membership in the President’s Pride service responsibilities attached honorary. “I was asked to speak at the Distinguished President’s Trust Dinner, and that Hena Yakoob: to being in the University was an incredible and priceless experience,” Like Finding a Second Honors Scholars program he says. Family can sometimes get The Roan Scholars Leadership Program has overwhelming, it has been provided him with even more opportunities. “I had Hena Yakoob had complex reasons for coming the amazing experience of directing the ETSU to ETSU. She is a University Honors Scholar an incredibly rewarding Red Bus Project, raising money to give orphans and a junior majoring in health sciences with experience." a home,” he notes. “And, through the Roan a concentration in microbiology and a minor in program, I was able to work in an internship as a Spanish. However, the Lebanon, Virginia, native ~ Hena Yakoob corporate executive aide for State Farm Insurance says the Honors Scholarship was not her main reason for coming to ETSU. throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.” “To be completely honest, every time I am asked why I chose to go to ETSU, I pause. I pause In his “spare” time, Pencarinha is a College because this simple question does not come with a simple answer for me. In the past I have answered of Business and Technology Peer Advisor and a people simply with ‘I’m on a scholarship’ or ‘both my sisters graduated here,’ but in my heart I always member of the Entrepreneurs’ Club. Off campus, know that my real reason for coming to ETSU is much different than most would imagine. he is involved with the Summit Leadership “My father passed away a few days before my junior year in high school, and I realized that Foundation, which has provided opportunities to I would never be able to handle leaving my family so soon afterwards to attend some far-away speak to audiences locally and as far away as university. ETSU seemed to work well for my sisters and was within a reasonable distance from home, the nation of Panama. In addition, he joined the so I planted myself down in Johnson City.” John Maxwell Team, a speaking and coaching Yakoob is happy with her decision. “Although the responsibilities attached to being in the organization, as well as the Youth Leadership University Honors Scholars program can sometimes get overwhelming, it has been an incredibly Board for the Johnson City Chamber of rewarding experience. The Honors College has had a huge role in shaping not only my academic Commerce, which sends him to local high schools life but also my personal one. Some of the people I have met through the Honors College, both to give lessons in leadership. classmates and professors, have truly become like a second family to me. I never dreamed of finding Any moments left over might be spent that in college, but now that I have it, I would not trade it for the world.” working out at the Wayne G. Basler Center for A very active student, Yakoob is the President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students, Physical Activity or hiking, shooting, and hunting as well as a member of the President’s Pride service honorary, International Buccaneer Buddies, and with his grandfather. Coalition 4 Kids. Of the future, Pencarinha says, “I plan to get She especially enjoys her work with Dance Marathon at ETSU and serving as the organization’s my master of business administration degree financial chair. “Our cause with the Children’s Miracle Network has become a large commitment in my at ETSU. After that, I plan to work and gain life, but it is definitely more than worth it,” she says. “The moment I saw the smile on one of the faces of experience in the corporate world. Then I plan to our Miracle Kids at our first event last year was when I knew we were doing something great. Raising start and build my own company. When I reach the over $18,000 ‘For The Kids’ in our first year of existence on campus was only the icing on the cake.” point that I can sell my business or hire someone Yakoob plans medical school as her next step after graduation and a year off to work and travel. to run it, I would like to travel and become an She explains, “For now my goal is to become a doctor of internal medicine, but I may decide to go into international speaker, helping motivate people to some subspecialty as I get deeper into the field. I would like to look back on my life one day and know delve further into their potential than they believed that I have done some good for the world, and I believe being a doctor will help me achieve that. It they could.” may sound corny, but that’s where my passion lies.”

ETSU TODAY | 27 ● Our mascot, Bucky, raises school spirit at campus sporting events. And he also lends his name and brings his energy to an organization that reaches out to those in need. Bucky’s Food Pantry is a collection point for food resources and raises awareness of food insecurity and hunger on the ETSU campus. The work of the pantry is not restricted to edible items. Winter coats, diapers, and other life necessities are collected by students who work in the pantry.

● Think camps are solely for sports? At ETSU, you’ll find: Renaissance camps for children and teens, with specialty camps in such areas as computers, science and forensics, digital media, science and engineering, and art, music, and drama; a piano camp; and a Suzuki camp for flutists. Many of these are offered in the summer, which is anything but a “lazy” season on our campus.

● Thinking about going to graduate school? Is the thought of writing a thesis or dissertation holding you back? ETSU regularly offers a Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camp to get you ready. It’s a collaborative effort among the School of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Council, the School of Continuing Studies and Academic Outreach, the Writing Center, the Charles C. Sherrod Library, and the graduate faculty.

● The ETSU campus may be a bit hilly in places, but that does not prevent the Department of Public Safety from traversing it on bicycles. Since 1998, we have participated in C.O.P.S., Community-Oriented Policing Services. Bicycles make our officers more accessible, says Chief Jack Cotrel.

● The new Dean of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Dr. Robert T. Means, Jr., has strong local ties. His wife, Dr. Stacey McKenzie, grew up in Kingsport and graduated from Lynn View High School.

● Keep up with our President, Dr. Brian Noland, via Twitter: @ETSUPrez

● Be a Buc Hero. Administered through our Veterans Affairs office, the Buc Hero program is an enrollment initiative that provides financial assistance and scholarships to veterans who are considered out-of-state.

● Alligators in East Tennessee? At one time, yes, and the faculty and students working at the Gray Fossil Site have uncovered some striking evidence: a nearly complete skeleton with skull and jaws, along with several isolated bones nearby.

● In a typical year, over 1,300,000 people visit ETSU’s D.P. Culp University Center. Our fourth president, for whom the building was named, would be proud.

● There’s a new structure near Gilbreath Hall that did not require state funding or approval by the State Building Commission. What it required were a lot of hands, bending sticks. This innovative example of campus public art was overseen by sculptor Patrick Dougherty, who was an artist-in-residence at ETSU in November 2013.

28 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SERVICE Difficult What is a Snow Day Like for the Staff Decisions: in Facilities Management at ETSU? “If they’re saying a snow could be anywhere from two inches to a foot, we’ll assume this could be the one that’s going to be a foot.”

hen administrators close And when it’s time, Rasnick and first before concentrating on secondary the ETSU campus for wintry Gary Bishop, Director of Facilities sidewalks. Four “hand crews” help Wweather, it’s a welcome Operations, keep a close eye on the 10- with the walkways and the staircases break from the routine for most. It’s day forecasts. When inclement weather that are not attached to buildings. often a “catch up day.” Students might is imminent, they fine-tune their plans Custodians are usually responsible for catch up on sleep or homework, while and adjust staffing accordingly. the staircases leading into buildings on faculty and staff might catch up on “We generally take a conservative days when the university is open, but if housework or grading papers. It seems approach and look at the worst-case the university is closed and custodians far-fetched, though, to think that the scenario,” Rasnick said. “If they’re are not on the job, the hand crews administrators and Grounds Shop staff saying a snow could be anywhere from make sure one primary entrance to of Facilities Management look at a two inches to a foot, we’ll assume this each building is cleared. snow day as “routine.” But they do. could be the one that’s going to be a Crew members may end up working “That’s the goal—that it becomes foot. Then we gear up for that, hoping 12- or 18-hour shifts, and on rare routine,” says William “Bill” Rasnick, we don’t get anything.” occasions, they might even stay on Associate Vice President for Facilities Once inclement weather hits, crew campus 24 hours a day. Planning, Management, and members don several layers of clothing “We’re here either ’til it stops Construction. “That way, regardless and do their best to make sure campus snowing or we get ahead of it enough of what happens, there’s no panic, no drivers and pedestrians can get where to feel comfortable leaving,” Watson emergency reaction. Everybody knows they need to go without difficulty, no said. “Generally, if necessary, we’ll what their roles are, and they take matter the conditions off-campus. work ’til the end of evening classes. care of it.” A salt truck driver might need to When we’ve had extended snow or The preparation involved in come in overnight to keep the roads conditions that warranted constant reaching the point where a snow day is open, but usually on a snow day, attention, we’ve had to have two shifts routine starts months in advance, when Grounds Supervisor Travis Watson and each for the salt truck and the sidewalk Facilities Management staff estimate his crew are on the job at 5 a.m., with crews. The hand crews sort of get and order the amount of salt that will two hours to work before motor and spread pretty thin on those occasions, be needed and perform maintenance on pedestrian traffic starts picking up. so we concentrate on making sure that the snow removal equipment, including The operators of ETSU’s three one main entrance (to each building) two plow trucks, a backhoe, a Bobcat, sidewalk-sweeping machines begin is open and everyone can get to their and a front-end loader/grader. clearing and salting the main walkways vehicles safely and off campus.”

ETSU TODAY | 29 SERVICE SCENE ON CAMPUS Student Focus Vital for Libraries’ Success in the Information Age

Ice and freezing rain present difficult situations, as do snows that hit during the day when campus is full. “There’s not a lot you can do to remove snow with cars parked everywhere. You just have to wait until everybody slides out, and then we can come in and clean the parking lots,” Bishop said, adding that clearing sidewalks is difficult during the day, fter she and several ETSU administrators evidence” when they as well, with high pedestrian traffic. faculty members returned talk about the library. Van Zandt “When we know it’s going to snow at Afrom a recent visit to North credits previous ETSU Libraries night, which is a high percentage of the Carolina State University’s James B. deans for divesting the libraries time, we use a liquid pre-treatment on Hunt Library, Pat Van Zandt noted of physical collections in favor the roads and parking lots, and we lay that the $200 million building was of digital collections, thus better down brine on the sidewalks.” equipped with “the very latest in book serving distance and online students Watson recalled a day when storage technology.” The “book bot” and also making library resources freezing rain threw the staff for a loop. retrieves requested titles in minutes available when students need them, “We had worked all night, and when from a two-story storage facility independent of library building and Gary Bishop called about 5:30 for an housing 1.5 million titles, with a service hours. update on where we were and whether capacity of 2 million. There are media Enhancing partnerships across we were good to go for a regular production studios, a visualization campus and ramping up library campus opening, I said, ‘Everything’s lab and creativity studio, a gaming development are two areas Van good. It’s starting to rain, and we’ll be lab, 3-D printers, a single service Zandt incorporates into her weekly fine.’ Well, that rain turned to freezing desk that looks more like an Apple schedule. “During strategic planning rain, and it was a disaster when people store than the traditional circulation last October, Sherrod faculty started showing up!” or reference desk, and what seem and staff envisioned the library In spite of the hard physical labor like acres of computers and other as an integral partner within the and long hours, Watson says he and his technologies. While throwing university, and my experience with crew enjoy the work. Not only do they hundreds of millions of dollars at a ETSU students, faculty, staff, and relish the sense of accomplishment in challenge—keeping libraries viable in administrators gives every indication performing a valuable service to the a digital age—seems like the easiest that the university community university, they witness something solution, it is not a response every wants and needs us in that role. when they work overnight that few university achieves. We are currently partnering with others ever do on the usually bustling “It was clear from my visit to Student Affairs, Athletics, the Reece ETSU campus. “We get to see those North Carolina State, as it’s clear Museum, and ARAMARK, among very rare occasions when campus is here at ETSU, that what was once others, and plans are in the works for completely blanketed in snow,” Watson the most important role of the cross-campus and cross-community said. “No one has walked through it; no library—to be a storage place for partnerships in several other areas. snow has been pushed. It’s beautiful. physical collections—is no more,” I think that the ETSU senior staff, “Then, we get to see the students says Van Zandt, who accepted the however, is most impressed by our building snowmen and throwing position as Dean of University desire at Sherrod to facilitate student snowballs at the salt truck!” Libraries at ETSU in August 2012. engagement and retention.” Since she left Southern Methodist Students are cheered by the Jennifer Hill is Assistant Director of University Libraries in Dallas, she library’s outreach efforts. For Media Relations in the ETSU Office of has been “extremely gratified by the example, pet therapy dogs visit the University Relations. interest and openness that ETSU library during Dead Week. Allowing

30 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY students to relax in the library and such as spending reduce their blood pressure while revenue from the petting a Pekingese creates a positive student library fee; association with the space and reduces whether to refurbish the likelihood that students will Late Night Study experience library anxiety. Massage and add noise- therapists also offer their services dampening acoustic during Dead Week, when students tiles; replacement especially need peace of mind as they of carpeting in the publications, bringing all of the prepare for final examinations. An first floor information commons area; university’s research output into one unexpectedly popular student outreach or the need to furnish a completely easily accessible and freely available activity is working jigsaw puzzles at new space dedicated to silent study web space,” Van Zandt predicts. “We’re Sherrod Library. Librarians replace in the former Juvenile Books Room. limited in what we can do, given our the puzzles as quickly as they are Students gushed over completely new available staff and funding, as we have completed. Jigsaw puzzles are great space where talking, headphones, and lost almost a third of our faculty and conversation starters and quick earbuds are banned, and the décor staff positions since 2000, and our stress relievers. reminds them of a traditional library budget has been flat for several years. The library has thousands of reading room decked with long walnut Our top priority will be to repurpose eBooks and adds titles to its collections tables and elongated banker’s lights. current vacant positions to support the regularly. One strategy for seeing real “Our relationships with students Digital Commons, and, if necessary, to return on investment with library and student leaders have borne fruit reconfigure other positions to support funds is the demand-driven acquisition specifically in the passage of a student technological opportunity. Regarding of books. Van Zandt and the library library fee which funds our extended new revenue streams, support for an faculty investigated this new model as hours and provides additional money institutional repository would be an a budget maintenance strategy, rather for building improvements,” Van Zandt ideal opportunity for an interested than the traditional model of collection said. “We’re in the process of digitizing donor who believes in ETSU’s development wherein the library ETSU theses, dissertations, and honors research mission and wants to purchases titles without knowing theses, all of which are, or will be, showcase the research of our students, that they will be read or used. One of available at the Digital Commons@ faculty, and staff.” the library’s vendors, EBSCO, offers ETSU (http://dc.etsu.edu/), our Van Zandt believes that ETSU’s a Patron Driven Acquisition (PDA) institutional repository.” Sherrod Library will weather its way program that allows librarians to select Most institutional repositories through the digital age by being student titles of interest in a subject area or provide open, online access to the focused and responsive to their needs. from a publisher. Those records are products of a university’s research and Regardless of medium, the loaded into the library catalog. ETSU scholarship. They preserve these works Sherrod Library has always collected faculty, staff, and students discover for future generations. Institutional stories created by a range of writers. the titles by browsing the catalog, and repositories promote new models of Information travels faster than the a purchase is triggered when they scholarly communication, and they can speed of light as we click a mouse or download the book, view it for more facilitate understanding of the value of touch a screen. As our ETSU stories, in than ten minutes, view more than ten higher education. the form of students’ digitized works, pages, or print, email, or copy and In a few years Digital Commons@ find their way around the world, it is paste a portion of the book. ETSU should expand beyond student the library providing access to this Focusing on student requests work. “Ideally the Digital Commons legacy of storytelling and showcasing is a top priority. Aligning the will also include faculty and staff student dreams as they inspire and library’s space and services with transform global audiences. each generation’s priorities requires regular communication. According to Van Zandt, “What students want Rebecca Tolley-Stokes is Associate now is a place to gather, study, and Professor and Marketing and collaborate, on things digital and Communications Librarian. In not digital. Our building and its the dozen years she has worked at technology need to facilitate this—a Charles C. Sherrod Library, she has difficult prospect for Sherrod Library, met the library’s changing service in particular, as a building dedicated needs by cross-training in different at the end of the 20th century which departments to fill vacancies in now has to meet 21st-century needs.” reference, instruction, cataloging, Students of various demographics interlibrary loan, and outreach, comprise the Student Advisory and her prescience in social media Committee, which meets monthly with ensured that the library was the the dean and faculty to examine issues first unit at the university with a Facebook presence.

ETSU TODAY | 31 PERSONALITIES PAST AND PRESENT Reading the ET Leaves: Passing on the Mantle of Predicting Fall Colors from the late John Warden

ach fall, like clockwork, the Photographic Services division of the leaf color predictions for the media campus of East Tennessee State ETSU Office of University Relations. started, but once they did, John EUniversity and the surrounding “He loved it here,” the younger Warden was the established expert. region evolve into a brilliant, Warden recalled. “This area is very The Johnson City Press and other constantly changing palette of color. diverse botanically, much more so regional media, as well as the One man loved this, as well as other than in Lexington, because of the Associated Press, would call to get his aspects of the area’s biodiversity, so different elevations. For instance, Roan prognostications, and people from much that he picked up and moved Mountain is in the same zone that other states would tell the family they his young family here and eventually Canada is in, and as you go down in had seen the reports. became legendary for predicting the elevation, you hit all the zones. Both Charlie Warden and a former colors of the season. “He loved ‘botanizing.’ We couldn’t student agreed that John Warden The late John Warden taught in go anywhere without stopping and generally gave predictions of good fall ETSU’s Department of Biological taking leaf samples, and checking out colors. Sciences for 30 years (1966-96). what’s growing where.” “I recall a conversation in which During his tenure, he was the “go-to That love of botany extended to the Warden said something like, ‘You guy” for regional media requesting elder Warden’s management of what is never really want to give a bad color an expert’s predictions regarding the now the John C. Warden Herbarium, forecast for a season. You want to fall leaf colors, their intensity, and named in his memory following his say that it may not be great all over the locations where they might be the unexpected death in July of 1999. the place, but if you get out and drive most striking. The facility, located in rooms 330 around, you’ll find some spectacular Warden, a botanist who specialized and 331 of D.M. Brown Hall, now has local areas like Roan Mountain, Unaka in trees and wildflowers, earned his close to 25,000 dried plant specimens Mountain, or Shady Valley,’” said master’s degree at the University of and serves as a research center for Jamey Donaldson, one of Warden’s last Chicago and taught botany at the the university’s Biological Sciences students at ETSU and now an adjunct University of Kentucky in Lexington faculty and students and as a resource faculty member in the Department of from 1959 until 1966. That year, he for governmental agencies and Biological Sciences. “It’s never going to heard of an opening at ETSU and conservation groups interested in the be a complete disappointment.” “jumped at the chance to come here distribution of rare and endangered In the years since Warden’s because of the biodiversity of the area,” plants in the region. passing, much of that role has “fallen” according to his son, Charlie Warden, a Charlie Warden says he doesn’t upon Dr. Tim McDowell, an Associate photographer and videographer in the remember exactly when his father’s Professor in the ETSU College of

32 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY PERSONALITIES PAST AND PRESENT

Arts and Sciences’ The late John Warden has used his Department of skills and love of Biological Sciences. trees to benefit McDowell the university arrived at ETSU and region in in 1998, two years another major after Warden’s way by guiding the retirement. He establishment of does not recall if and directing the he received his first ETSU Arboretum. call regarding a fall Through this leaf color forecast effort, signs during his first or were installed second year, but identifying all once he did, the the different tree requests have come species on the each year since. ETSU campus, “It was new species were something I hadn’t purchased and expected, but it’s labeled, and self- become something guided walking I’m quite familiar season in our area,” he continued. “And tour brochures with, having been here 15 years,” he I feel that the fall colors are always were published to guide visitors said, noting that he receives anywhere great here. There will be places that wishing to learn about the diversity from one to four calls each fall, usually will turn earlier or later, and trees that of trees on campus. The Arboretum starting in September. “I’m glad will turn earlier or later, but we always opened on National Arbor Day—April to do it. It’s a chance to talk about get a good month or so of tremendous 26, 2002. biology and the natural beauty of our fall colors. One of the great things about our region is that we have a environment in our region. Jennifer Hill is Assistant Director of genuine four-season climate, and the “I think the best suggestion I got Media Relations in the ETSU Office fall colors really make up for the switch was to do something along the lines of of University Relations. She holds a between summer and winter.” what Mr. Warden did, and to suggest B.S. in English and journalism and an In addition to taking on the mantle that it was always a good fall color M.A. in English from ETSU. of leaf color prognosticator, McDowell

ETSU TODAY | 33 BUCTALK Drum Echoes, SCUBS, and Scholarships Excitement Mounts as Football Returns

s a student at East Tennessee State University, Mark ANewland remembers waking up on Saturday mornings during the fall semester with only one thought: “What letter will I paint on my chest today? That was really the first thing I would think about, and then it would be the anticipation of getting ready for the football game and heading to Association, supported the Bucs’ those other communities was the the Dome.” remaining athletic programs, and noticeable absence of college football.” Having attended ETSU from quietly anticipated football’s return. However, when the decision to 2001 to 2005 and graduating with “Whether playing or watching reinstitute the football program was a degree in broadcasting, Newland football, I’ve always felt that adrenaline made in early 2013, Landon and was fortunate enough to enjoy three rush right before kickoff,” said Bill, Jennifer were quickly on board. They years of ETSU football before the whose brother Doug also played at attended the news conference when program was disbanded following ETSU as part of the famous 1969 Carl Torbush was announced as the the 2003 season. During those years, Grantland Rice Bowl team. “I’m program’s new head coach, they he was a member of a student spirit looking forward to feeling that again became Kickoff Fund members, and organization called the SCUBS (Bucs at an ETSU game and just hearing the they made a deposit toward season spelled backwards), a group known for band play our fight song. There was tickets in 2015. its ardent support of the Bucs and its always something about the echo of the For the Owen family, it’s about propensity to “paint up” before games. drums that I liked.” building community spirit and pride. As the Buccaneers prepare to As for Kathy, there is no doubt what “A campus and a community just feel reboot the program in the fall of 2015, she will be doing when the Blue and more vibrant, more alive when football Newland counts himself as one of Gold take the field again. “I plan to is present,” Landon said. “When ETSU those who will be emotionally moved cry,” she said. announced that the program was being on the day the Blue and Gold once But the fun will not be limited to revived, we both jumped on board again run onto the gridiron. those who remember ETSU football’s immediately. Jennifer and I could “I will probably lose it, to be honest past. There are also new fans who will not be more excited to be part of the with you,” said Newland, who today is be seeing the program for the first time. program and look forward to spreading a disc jockey for WXBQ-FM in Bristol. Landon Owen and his wife Jennifer a new version of Buc Pride throughout “I’m sure it will be a sellout crowd and moved to Johnson City two years ago, town, the region, and the country.” the atmosphere will be unbelievable.” and having lived in various college Newland is not alone in his towns and even having worked in Michael White is ETSU’s Associate excitement for the sport’s return. college athletics, they noticed that Athletic Director for Communications Football alumnus Dr. Bill Linebarger something was missing on the ETSU and has worked at the university graduated from ETSU in 1972, and campus. for 11 years. A 1996 graduate of the Johnson City endodontist and his “We chose Johnson City because, Milligan College, he came to ETSU wife Kathy have been supporters of after having lived in a variety of college in 2002 after a successful career as the Buccaneers ever since. Even after towns for our entire adult lives, it a journalist. He earned a master’s the program was disbanded in 2003, seemed familiar to us,” Landon said. degree in Business Administration the Linebargers remained members “The biggest difference, though, from ETSU in 2008. of the Buccaneer Athletic Scholarship between Johnson City and ETSU and

34 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BUCTALK Where Is He Now? Buccaneer Baseball Great Shares His Former Coach’s Lessons at Happy Valley

hen asked about what it meant to be a student-athlete at ETSU, Caleb Moore called it “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” W Moore, who was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, led all NCAA Division I players with a .455 batting average in 2004, and he still ranks near the top in several offensive categories at ETSU. The right-hander also recorded 18 career saves, which ranks second in the Buccaneer record book. The 2004 Southern Conference Player of the Year and Louisville Slugger All- American is now the head varsity baseball coach and a physical education teacher at Happy Valley High School in Carter County, Tennessee. “Coaching and teaching go hand-in-hand,” said Moore, who played three seasons in the Minnesota farm system. “I try to pass on the same traits Coach Skole taught me when I was at ETSU. He taught us to take care of business, pay attention to detail, and be accountable for our actions. I stress this each day to my students and players, because I want to make them better people and open doors for them down the road.” To this day, Moore is proud to be a Buccaneer and credits Coach Tony Skole and his teammates for that. He also says playing at ETSU helped him reach the professional ranks. “I decided on ETSU because when I was being recruited by Coach Skole, he instilled the importance of family. The team had great camaraderie and my teammates are some of my closest friends today. “I really think a lot of the things we went over in college helped me get drafted as high as I did. The coaching staff always preached hard work, have strong energy, and keep a positive attitude. This helped me take my game to the next level.” In his three seasons with the Twins organization, Moore played in 192 games, with 158 hits (27 doubles, six triples, and seven home runs), 57 RBI, and 68 runs scored. In 2007, he made 12 relief appearances for the Appalachian League’s Elizabethton Twins. The right-hander struck out 13 batters in 13.2 innings while finishing with a 2.63 earned run average (ERA). Moore spent the 2005 season with the Elizabethton team and then advanced to Beloit in the Midwest League and to Fort Myers in the Florida State League in year two. In 2007, the Knoxville native split time in Elizabethton and Fort Myers, but arm issues brought an end to his time with the Twins. After having “Tommy John” surgery, he finished his playing career in Australia before starting his coaching career at Happy Valley in 2011. “I’m extremely happy working at the high school level, but I would like to see what happens down the road,” said Moore, whose team made a 13-win improvement from year one to year two. “Each season I learn more about coaching, and hopefully one day I can coach at the collegiate level. But as Coach Skole always says, ‘Handle things day-by-day.’” Moore received his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and earned his teaching certificate from ETSU. He is currently working on his master’s in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from Bethel University’s online program.

Kevin Brown is Assistant Director for Athletic Media Relations and has been at ETSU since 2006. A 2004 graduate of DePaul University, he came to ETSU after working for the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox in 2005. Since joining the Bucs, he has covered nine championship teams at ETSU.

ETSU TODAY | 35 THE ARTS Business Professors’ Legacies Live on veryone has a favorite teacher— one who made learning fun, Eopened new worlds, or took time to make students feel special. That was Through the Arts the case for Ruth Gilly Baskette and Raymond M. Baskette, ETSU alumni Technology. Recently, they were recognized at the Distinguished President’s Trust from the Class of 1961. Dinner at the Silver Society level for donations to the Charles Sherrod Library and Ruth hails from East Stone public radio station WETS. As in the case of most philanthropists, they were also Gap, Virginia, while Ray came to searching for other unique opportunities to turn the spotlight on someone else’s East Tennessee State College from good works. Knoxville, Tennessee, following an Ruth and Ray heard about the “Now Seating” campaign through the ETSU Arts honorable discharge from the United Initiative and wanted to take part. This program allows individuals and businesses States Navy. Both were business to purchase seats in one of three facilities that will be located in the soon-to-be- majors and met at ETSC. Ruth was built ETSU Performing Arts Center. This facility is projected to include a 1,400- initiated into Sigma Kappa sorority seat concert hall, a 500-seat theater, and a 250-seat recital hall. The facility is and still remains active in its Atlanta expected to cost $38 million. Through the Arts Initiative, the university intends to Alumnae Chapter. Ray turned his love raise $9.5 million prior to June 30, 2014, with the hope that the remaining money of music into a job as a disc jockey for will be included in the state budget as a 3-1 match for ETSU’s efforts. WETS, the campus radio station, while Even though they have called Atlanta home for almost 50 years, Ruth and he attended classes full-time. Ray thoroughly support the Arts Initiative and the opportunities it will bring Amid the whirl of falling in love, to the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia region. And the initiative provided them being involved in many activities on with a unique way to honor their two favorite professors. Two seats in the ETSU campus, and hanging out with friends Performing Arts Concert Hall will be named in memory of Dr. Glenn Spanabel at The Grill, Ruth and Ray also took and Miss Margaret Stewart. their studies seriously. Two professors Ray says, “It was really important to us to honor Dr. Spanabel and Miss who made a difference in their lives, Stewart. These two people did more than educate; they gave life lessons that Ruth both academically and personally, were and I have carried with us far beyond our years at East Tennessee State.” Dr. Glenn Spanabel and Miss Margaret By bringing together the visual arts, music, theater, dance, storytelling, poetry Stewart. Both taught in the ETSC readings, film, and more, the arts center will touch students, faculty, staff, alumni, School of Business. When asked about and the entire region by serving as a venue for community artistic performances her fondest memories of these two and exhibits, national touring productions, and other special events. teachers, Ruth said, “Dr. Spanabel had Gifts of any amount are always appreciated. If you would such a great personality and always like to donate or would like more information about the included some humor in each of his ETSU Performing Arts Center or any of the upcoming classes. But he was very serious about Arts Initiative projects, contact ETSU University the learning process of his students. He Advancement at (423) 439-4242. Ruth and made our classes interesting and fun. Raymond Also, Miss Stewart was such a lovely Lee Ann Davis ’91, ’09, Baskette person and a great teacher.” ETSU’s Director of Ray added, “Miss Stewart was University Alumni a very soft-spoken person, but she Programs, is a took time with each student to make native of Kingsport sure they understood her teaching, who currently resides while Dr. Spanabel was such a good in Johnson City with instructor and way ahead of his her husband Tim and time. He was both an educator and a their cat, Jase. She has prognosticator.” worked in the The Baskettes have remained loyal ETSU Alumni to their alma mater, contributing Office for each year during the ETSU Annual 16 years. Fund to the College of Business and

Give to the ETSU Arts Initiative at etsu.edu/artsinitiative

36 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOCUS lumni Awards Racing, Government Service, and Coaching Among the Professions Represented by ETSU’s 2013 Outstanding Alumni

n May, hundreds of alumni and friends gathered for the East Tennessee State University National Alumni Association’s Evening of Distinction and Pride. The 2013 recipients Iat the annual Alumni Awards banquet were presented as part of the university’s spring commencement weekend festivities. The gathering of alumni on the evening before spring commencement dates back to a candlelight ceremony to welcome the Class of 1929. The ETSU National Alumni Association was established in 1915 and is the university’s first and longest operating organization of graduates and former students.

Outstanding Alumni

Dr. Nancy Lewis Mike Smith became Dishner began her the first coach in the professional career as history of the Atlanta an elementary school Falcons organization to teacher in Unicoi County, produce back-to-back Tennessee. Her last winning seasons (2008- position at ETSU was Vice 09), and he has had a Provost for Enrollment winning season every year Services and Director since. He has led his team of the Roan Scholars to consecutive playoff Leadership Program. appearances in 2010, 2011, She retired after 30 years and 2012. in Tennessee public Smith was named the education. Sporting News NFL Coach Dishner received of the Year for 2012. He a Distinguished Staff also won the award in member award from ETSU, was selected to receive the 2008 and 2010. Outstanding Freshman Advocate Award from the Freshman In five seasons as head coach, he has established Atlanta Year Experience Program at the University of South as a sustainable and relevant franchise in the NFL. During Carolina, and was inducted into the ETSU Clemmer College his tenure, the Falcons have compiled a 56-24 regular season of Education Alumni Hall of Fame. A street on the ETSU record, the second-best in the NFL during that time. His campus is named in her honor. teams have captured two NFC South Division titles. They Dishner and her mother, Edna Lewis, hold the distinction have tallied five consecutive winning seasons, making them of being the only mother and daughter to be selected as the only team in the NFC to produce a winning record in recipients of the ETSU Outstanding Alumna Award. each of the last five seasons. She is now Vice Chair of the Roan Scholars Steering Smith’s 56-24 regular season record since 2008 is the Committee, and she served two terms on the Board of second-best mark among all NFL coaches. His coaching Directors of the Johnson City-Jonesborough-Washington experience encompasses 12 NFL seasons and 29 total years County Chamber of Commerce, establishing and chairing in football. the Partners in Education program for Johnson City and Smith played college football at ETSU from 1977 to 1981 Washington County. A member of the ETSU Foundation and was named defensive MVP twice at his position. He and the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Executive Council, led the team with a school record 186 tackles as a senior. she is also the Executive Vice President of the Niswonger He and his wife Julie are members of the Distinguished Foundation in Greeneville, a post she has held since 2007. President's Trust. She and her husband Harold are members of the President's Trust Silver Society for their support of the ETSU Foundation.

ETSU TODAY | 37 FOUNDATION FOCUS

Honorary Alumni Distinguished Alumnus Paul W. in Public Service Montgomery joined Eastman in 1991 in the Senator Rusty Supply and Distribution Crowe began his Division and currently education in a North holds the position of Vice Africa schoolhouse. After President of Community moving around the world Relations and Corporate with his family until Services for Eastman his teen years, he was Chemical Company. sent home to Tennessee He formerly served on to attend Washington the Tennessee Board of College Academy. He Regents. He is on the East transferred to University Tennessee State University School on the campus of Foundation and Northeast ETSU and received his State Community College diploma in 1965. Foundation boards and is currently serving as President of He entered ETSU the Kingsport Rotary Club. He has served as a member of the and after two years of Kingsport Regional Planning Commission, President of the university life volunteered for the United States Army, Kingsport Board of Education, President of the Kingsport serving in Southeast Asia from 1968 to 1971. Senator Crowe Branch of the NAACP, President of the South Kingsport received the Vietnamese Service Medal with two stars and Optimist Club, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Kingsport Rotary the Army Commendation Medal. Club, President of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, and He then returned to ETSU and graduated in 1974 with a Chairman of the Tri-Cities All America City Partnership. degree in Criminal Justice. After earning his law degree from Montgomery is an active member of his church and a The Atlanta Law School, he worked for the Federal Bureau of volunteer with the Kingsport Rotary Club. He has been Investigation, before eventually returning to ETSU, where he given the Baleh-Doak Character Award, the Emory and spent 20 years in administration and served as President of Henry College Outstanding Community Service Award, the the Staff Senate. Distinguished Leadership Award by Leadership Kingsport, In 1987, he was asked by newly-elected Governor and the King College Distinguished Alumni of the Year Ned McWherter to become Deputy Commissioner of the Award in 2008. Tennessee Department of Corrections. In 1990, he won a seat in the Tennessee Senate, becoming the first Democrat elected from the Third Senatorial District in over 130 years. Larry Waters After consulting with Senator Howard Baker and with the attended the University help of his friend Congressman Jimmy Quillen, Senator of Tennessee and earned Crowe changed political parties in 1995. Now a Republican, a degree in Business he is the longest serving senator for the Third district. Administration in 1974. Shortly thereafter, he became a principal within Awards of Honor the Sevier County school system. In 1978, he was Raymond P. Flynn elected Sevier County was born in Longford, Executive, and in 1984 he Ireland, the oldest of nine completed the Tennessee children. He became the County Officials Certificate Irish and British schools’ Program. He continued 1500 meter champion in to serve as Sevier County 1974 and accepted a track Executive until 2003, scholarship to run for Dave when the title was changed to County Mayor. Walker and the famed Among his many awards are a Special Citation from the Irish Brigade at ETSU. Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Boy Scouts Sequoyah He became a champion District Great Smoky Mountain Council 2013 Good Scout runner and All-American Award. for the Bucs, setting school Waters played a significant role in increasing ETSU’s records which still stand presence in Sevier County, especially through his role as an today for the 1500 meter advisor and founding member of the ETSU-Sevier County and the mile. Health Sciences Partnership. Flynn graduated from ETSU with a degree in Business Management. After competing as a middle-distance runner

38 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOCUS on the track circuit, he went into business in 1989, setting Foundation, he is an enthusiastic supporter of the Roan up a professional sports agency. Flynn Sports Management Scholars Leadership Program and other programs. He has handles endorsements and competitions for many of the been recognized at the Silver Society level for his giving. world’s best track and marathon athletes. Flynn is a member of the ETSU Committee of 125, the When Deb Williams ETSU Foundation, and was a member of the ETSU National entered ETSU, her goal Alumni Association Board of Directors. He and his wife Jana was quite simple: obtain are members of the Distinguished President's Trust. a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with Jimmy Rhein earned a minor in Criminal a Bachelor of Science Justice. The education degree in Chemistry and she received at ETSU Biology from ETSU in prepared her for a career 1965. After graduation, she never envisioned, as a break from school led a motorsports writer. She him to job interviews and spent six years with United subsequent employment Press International and as a chemist at Eastman later joined Penske Racing Chemical Company. While South as its director of working at Eastman, Rhein public/media relations. did graduate work in She remained with Roger Penske’s organization until the end Business at ETSU. of 2007. Since then she has worked as a freelance journalist Rhein is chairman of and has written books about former NASCAR team owner the Jonesborough Regional and championship crew chief Ray Evernham and NASCAR Planning Commission and driver Ryan Newman. Her book The Evolution of NASCAR: a member of the town’s Parks and Recreation Board and A Historical Collection was released in 2010. Her work has Traffic Committee. He is a member and past president of appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR, NASCAR the Jonesborough Civitan Club and serves as a member and Trials and Triumphs, and American Racing Classics. past chairman of the Finance and Stewardship committees Williams was the first woman to receive the Henry T. at Jonesborough Presbyterian Church. He is a board McLemore Award for dedication to motorsports journalism. member of the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and She also is a two-time recipient of the National Motorsports Southwest Virginia and is a director for the Miss Historic Press Association George Cunningham Writer of the Year Jonesborough/Miss Johnson City Scholarship Pageant. Award. She has won more than a dozen NMPA awards for In addition to his many civic roles, Rhein is a supporter of news, features, columns, and magazine articles and a North the International Storytelling Center. A member of the ETSU Carolina Press Association award for sports feature writing. George L. Carter Award James C. Martin alma mater, and in 2009, he established the Mary B. adheres to the theory Martin School of the Arts at ETSU. He has continued to Science + Arts = give generously to fund the school, and the endowment Innovation. That is the now exceeds $5 million. Martin and the late Mrs. Martin reason why he is making are recipients of the Tennessee Board of Regents Award for a long-lasting impact on Philanthropy and the Chancellor's Award for Philanthropy. the arts at ETSU and in the Martin’s forward-looking stewardship and Mary’s living region. legacy have positioned ETSU to be the region’s leader for the After college, Martin broad enhancement of the arts for all people. As Martin says, moved to Kingsport, “Science without arts input is not productive. There is value Tennessee, where he in mixing science and arts together. With this combination, accepted a job as a the student is the one who wins because he or she has an Junior Research Chemist education that is of a higher value.” with Eastman Kodak The George L. Carter Award is bestowed upon graduates (an Eastman Chemical or friends who have made ETSU a more dynamic and viable Division) in the Research force in the world of higher education. Laboratory division. From 1986 until 1992, he moved up Eastman’s management ladder and ended his career as The ETSU National Alumni Association Awards are part of Director of the Chemistry Research Division. an annual program which began in 1970. A complete list of In 1966, he married Mary Beard, who had graduated award recipients can be found at ETSU.edu/alumni. from East Tennessee State four years earlier. In 2008, Mary B. Martin passed away. Her death cascaded Martin’s To submit nominations, contact the ETSU National Alumni philanthropic efforts to begin a legacy for the arts at her Association at 423-439-4218 or email [email protected].

ETSU TODAY | 39 BUCTALK

January 11, 2014 InETSU TrackMemoriam and Cross-Country Coach Dave Walker “The man who put Johnson City on the map as one of the best running locations in the world” ~ Johnson City Press, January 11, 2014

In the ancient model of the tripartite ideal of body, mind, and soul, seeking to win is required in the interest of excellence, and here Dave Walker’s record speaks for itself. What may not be so obvious is the influence of his character and soul upon his athletes. Having had several of them in class, I saw clearly that in this regard Dave too was a brilliant success. All were grateful for what he had done for them. A short time ago writer-editor Frank Greally called to say tributes to Dave had gone out across He coached Olympians, world record-holders, NCAA champions, and major-event marathoners. Ireland on the radio and in print. Oh, that nations in all endeavors could imitate Dave’s achievement!

Robert J. “Jack” Higgs, Professor Emeritus of English, ETSU Dave Walker created what came to be known as the Irish Brigade. He convinced many runners to come to East Tennessee by comparing the region’s natural beauty to that of Ireland. “He was the unifier of us all,” former Olympian Ray Flynn told . “He the Johnson City Press was the conduit that kept us together long after we left ETSU.” Neil Cusack (back row, second from left) won the NCAA individual cross country title in 1972 and the Boston Marathon in 1974.

40 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BUCTALK

Tuxedos were standard attire for officials working the annual winter indoor track invitational begun by Dave Walker. It attracted athletes from all over the world. Dave Walker earned 28 coach of At the first East Tennessee Invitational in 1979, Walker the year awards over a career that speaks here with Dan Russo, Assistant to President spanned five decades. Arthur DeRosier, and Bill McCarthy, the university’s Director of Development.

Posed action shots were part of the routine for college football players of the 1950s, and Dave Walker was no exception during his playing days as an East Tennessee State Buccaneer. He would go on to play professionally with the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns. Dave Walker held two degrees from East Tennessee State.

“His blue Buick cruised into the parking lot outside our dormitory at exactly 6:30 a.m. every weekday— the sign that it was time for our opening run of the day on the roads skirting the university.” –Frank and a Irish Runner Magazine Greally, Editor of member of the ETSU Irish Brigade

ETSU TODAY | 41 TEACHING Tennessee’s “Mr. Science Educator” Honored with Scholarship

dedicated, passionate, and education and has received more than $10 million in grant funding to support remarkable achiever in the math and science education in Northeast Tennessee. According to colleague Dr. Ascience education community, Diane Nelson, “Jack cares about the process of teaching. He is a multi-tasker Dr. Jack Rhoton has been a science supreme, he cheerfully accomplishes more things in less time than most people, educator for nearly 48 years. Twenty- and does those things right the first time. It will take six people to replace him.” seven of those years have been spent at Rhoton was called upon by the Obama administration in 2008 to provide input East Tennessee State University. For and recommendations on the future direction of STEM education for the nation. much of that time, Rhoton has been His work as a writer, teacher, researcher, and administrator has served as a catalyst Director of the Center of Excellence for for change in educational practice, particularly in professional development and Math and Science Education. All good curriculum development. things come to an end, however, and A productive author, Jack Rhoton has edited six books and has had more Jack Rhoton will be retiring at the end than 60 articles published. In addition, he is founder and creator of the Science of the summer. Educator Journal, which he served as editor from 1992 to 2010. He is also the Prior to joining ETSU in 1987, he current editor of the Handbook and Proceedings of the Tennessee Junior Academy logged 20 years of experience in public of Science. school settings, serving as a high school Rhoton has served as president of the National Science Education Leadership science teacher and a K-12 science Association, the Tennessee Academy of Science, and the Tennessee Science supervisor. Teachers and professors Teachers Association. He has also served as program chair for the National Science from all over America have benefited Teachers Association area conferences and as an NSTA board member. from his knowledge. He is a near- Rhoton is a recipient of the National Science Education Leadership Outstanding legendary figure in the field of STEM Science Education Leadership Award, the National Science Teachers Association Distinguished Service Award, the East Tennessee State University Distinguished Faculty Award, the Tennessee Academy of Science Outstanding Science Teacher Award, and the Tennessee Science Teachers Association Distinguished Educator of the Year Award. As a lasting legacy, the Jack Rhoton Scholarship Endowment for Science and Math Education has been created, to assist ETSU students who major in one of the STEM disciplines and who plan to become formal or informal math or science educators. To contribute, go to the ETSU webpage, etsu.edu, and click on “Give.” For more information, contact ETSU’s Advancement office at 423-439-4242.

Karen L. Sullivan, Director of University Advancement, contributed to this story.

42 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CLASS NOTES

John Snyder (RES ’11) joined The Augusta Heights. Jody spent the past years as a practicing CLASS NOTES Health Primary Care office. John is a board- veterinarian in Maryville, TN. ______certified internal medicine physician with a focus Kevin Fielden (MA ’05) was appointed to the 2010s on preventative care. Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System Autumn Davidson (BA ’13) is the new seventh Brent M. Burke (BA ’11) along with faculty (TCRS) Board of Trustees. Kevin has taught social grade science and English teacher at Millennium member Hunter Berry performed with Rhonda studies in Northeast Tennessee for 20 years. Charter Academy. Autumn graduated with a Vincent and the Rage on “Run, Mississippi” from Justin Stanton (BM ’05), member of the bachelor of arts. the Carl Jackson production “Mark Twain: Words Brooklyn, NY-based band Snarky Puppy, took Taylor Jefferson (MA ’13) is the recently and Music.” Brent is the first graduate from ETSU home the 2014 Grammy Award for “Best R&B appointed assistant director of athletics for Emory with a bachelor’s degree in Bluegrass, Old Time, Performance” for the song “Something” on the and Henry. He graduated with a master’s degree and Country Music Studies. album “Family Dinner-Volume One.” Justin has in sport management. Xia Zhou Gao (Joe) (BBA ’11) graduated with earned critical acclaim from the BBC, Village Allison Morelock (BS ’13) and Joshua Webb a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Voice, the Guardian, the Boston Herald and more. were married on June 23, 2013, at the picnic He has recently completed a master’s degree in He has performed in Asia, Europe, and Australia. pavilion on the grounds of Allandale Mansion. Finance from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School He has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Allison graduated with a degree in radiology of Management. Leno,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “The Ellen Show” and Joshua is employed at Aaron Engineering and “Good Morning America.” Development Complex. 2000s ______Jennifer Mongold (BS ’04, MA ’06, MA ’08) is Amanda Gosnell (BS ’13) and Brandon Carr James B. McNeillie (BBA ’09, MACC ’11) the new associate dean for social sciences at King were married on July 20, 2013, at Calvary Church passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant University. She is also assistant professor and in Johnson City, TN. Amanda graduated with her (CPA) Examination. James is in the audit program coordinator for criminal justice. bachelor’s degree in human services. The couple department of Coulter & Justus, P.C. in Knoxville, Dr. Katherine Dobie (MD ’03) was appointed resides in Johnson City. TN. James graduated with a degree in finance as the new Division Chief of the Division of Stephanie D. Funicello (BS ’13) and Nicholas and also earned a master’s degree in accounting. Ambulatory Anesthesiology. In 2009, Katherine O. Graff (BS ’10) were married on September 21, Lisa Cole (BBA ’09) and Matthew Hayes (BS joined the ETSU faculty as assistant professor of 2013, at Sherrill’s Inn, Fairview, NC. The couple ’11) were married on May 4, 2013, at the Martha clinical anesthesiology and was named medical will reside in Johnson City, TN. Washington Inn in Abingdon, VA. director of Vanderbilt Bone and Joint Surgery Center in 2011. Whitney Kirk (BS ’13) and Darius Hoese (BS Chris Carroll (BS ’09) has recently become the ’12) were married on July 6, 2013, at Cedar new press secretary and chief spokesman for U.S. Jennifer Evin Reed (BA ’02, MEd ’08) and Creek Church of God. The couple now resides in Congressman James Cooper (TN). He will be Patrick Kelly were married on October 27, 2012, Afton, TN. primarily based at the Capitol. at Hidden Hollow Resort in Chickamauga, GA. Jennifer graduated with degrees in education. She Amanda D. Tomlinson (BS ’12) and Seth B. Ryan Davidson Hill (BS ’09) graduated from LMU- is now working for Hamilton County Schools in Dill were married on June 22, 2013, at Thomas DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. Ryan Chattanooga. Village Baptist Church. Amanda graduated with a will be completing his residency in Emergency bachelor’s degree in history. Medicine at St. Barnabas in Newark, NJ. Keri Lyn Austin (BS ’01, MPH ’04) was married to Bo Lyons on April 13, 2013, at The Barn at Bradley Hartsell (BA ’12) has recently joined Cameron Shawver (BS ’09) graduated from Boone Falls, Johnson City. She graduated with the Newnan Times-Herald’s news staff, which is LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. degrees in public health. based in Newnan, GA. Bradley graduated with a Cameron will be completing his residency in degree in English. Family Medicine at Nellis Federal Hospital USAF. Dr. Todd Bell (BA ’01) joined a Kingsport dental practice with Dr. Andy Collins. Todd graduated in Aaron Woodacre (BS ’12) and Chelsea Myers Joseph Ryan McLain (BS ’08) graduated from May from the University of Tennessee College of (BS ’10) were married June 29, 2013, at First LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dentistry. United Methodist Church. The reception was held Joseph started his residency in fall 2013. at the Johnson City Country Club. Derek C. Fudge (BS ’01) became a personal Keith "Mr." Jennings (BS ’08) was inducted into trainer after finishing his Arena League football Dr. Monika Karakattu (RES ’11) was recognized the 2013 ETSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Keith is the career and in 2010 opened the Fudge Fitness as one of the top 19 medical practices physicians 1991 Naismith Award winner. He was also named Center in Johnson City. in Virginia for outstanding compliance in SoCon Player of the Year and SoCon Tournament immunization rates. Monika works in the Virginia MVP in back-to-back seasons. Dr. Mark A. Hurst (MBA ’00, EdD ’10) was Vaccines for Children program. appointed as vice president for College Zachary Andrew (Elton) Taylor (BS ’08) Advancement and treasurer of the Foundation at Mikella Maine (MSN ’11) joined Holston Medical graduated from LMU-DeBusk College of Walters State Community College. Group long-term care team as a family nurse Osteopathic Medicine. Elton will be completing his practitioner. Mikella has certifications in trauma residency in General Surgery in Stratford, NJ. 1990s ______nursing. Dr. Ahmad Hammad (RES ’07) joined Abingdon Sheila Reed (BS ’11) is the new marketing and Physician Partners and the Regional Cancer Steven James Huhn (MA ’97) released his public relations coordinator for Branding Iron Centers at Johnston Memorial Hospital and Smyth newest book The King in July 2013. It is the Advertising. Sheila will help with press releases, County Hospital. Ahmad completed a fellowship in newest book in his bestselling series The Bowers trade show and event planning, marketing oncology and a residency in internal medicine. File. He has written more than 20 books and is a full-time speaker. campaigns, and social media development for the Dr. Deidre Yowell (BBA ’07, MBA ’09, EdD ’12) Branding Iron team. was awarded a Best Paper Award for her paper, Malissa Trent (MS ’95) was named Northeast Aaron Rice (BBA ’11) and Suncica Svalina (BS “Support for Higher Education: Perceptions State Community College’s new dean of ’10) were married June 15, 2013, at The Charles. of Selected University Administrators and mathematics. Following the reception at The Charles the couple Legislators in Tennessee” that was presented at Bryan Daniels (BS ’95, MS ’97) was appointed to took a wedding trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia. the International Conference on Learning and the International Economic Development Council Eric W. Ross (BS ’11) earned the title of United Administration in Higher Education. based in Washington, D.C. Bryan is the president/ States Marine after graduating from recruit training Jody Thomas (BS ’06) is the new owner/ CEO of Blount Partnership in Maryville, TN. at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, SC. operator of Companion Animal Shelter in Colonial

ETSU TODAY | 43 CLASS NOTES

Maurice Kelly (BS ’94) is celebrating victory after including ETSU. She was also recognized at Col. Tim Damico (BS ’85) was promoted to the the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII. the 2013 Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioner rank of colonel. He earned a commission in the He is the Seahawks’ Senior Director of Player Conference. She is an avid member of the Norton U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant Armor Officer. Development. Lions Club. Fred D. Garrett (BS ’85, MA ’87) is the Director Mike Browder (EdD ’93) has recently received John Shulman (BS ’89, MEd ’92) has been of Risk Management for P&S Transportation, the Bristol Chamber of Commerce Lifetime named head basketball coach at Chattanooga's Birmingham, AL. He will direct risk management Achievement Award. Browder is the CEO and McCallie School. John was the former head and insurance for the company. general manager of Bristol Tennessee Essential basketball coach with the UTC Mocs. Dr. Judith Slagle (BS ’83, MA ’85) was recognized Services. He began working at the power provider Matthew H. Cooter (BBA ’89) and Melissa by the Bristol YWCA’s annual YW Tribute to Women. in 1972 and has served as the general manager Armbrister were married on Saturday, October 5, Dr. Slagle is currently the chair of the Department of since 1977. 2013, at the General Morgan Inn in Greeneville, Literature and Language at ETSU. She was named Laurn Jordan (BS ’93, MS ’95) is an assistant TN. The couple will reside in Greeneville. Notable Woman of ETSU in 2008 and received the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished professor of Mathematics at Georgia Perimeter Dr. Carroll M. Helm (EdD ’87) released his Research Award for 2007-2008. College in Decatur, GA. Laurn earned her degrees book God’s Mysteries and Paradoxes: Looking in mathematics. Through the Glass, Darkly. He is recently retired Penelope “Penne” Lane (BS ’83, MA ’96) Glenn Rosenoff (BS ’92, MCM ’95) was hired as as associate professor of education at Belmont was named the new executive director at Pine the new Erwin town recorder. He was unanimously Abbey College. Mountain Settlement School in Bledsoe, KY. voted by the board. Rosenoff had recently served Pete Peterson (BS ’87, MCM ’04) was presented Diana O’Neal (ADH ’82, BGS ’02, MAT ’05) was as director of planning at the First Tennessee with an Excellence in Community Progress Award named Tennessee Middle School Science Teacher Development District in Johnson City. by the Tennessee Municipal League. Pete is the of the Year by the Tennessee Science Teachers Dr. Keith E. Campbell (BS ’92, MD ’96) has City Manager of Johnson City. Association. joined the Tennessee Vein Clinic. Dr. Campbell Guy S. Trawick (BBA ’86) was recognized for his Dzever Ishenge (BS ’82) retired from government specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of vein leadership and service to the Wake County, NC, service as Health Educator. He is now a full-time disease and phlebology. Public School system. Guy received a degree in farmer in central Nigeria growing citrus fruits. He Shelia Newland (BS ’91) was named principal Management. graduated with a degree in health education. at Lincoln Elementary. Shelia has teaching Vicki Clevinger (BS ’85, MA ’91, EdD ’10) is Willie E. Church (MA ’81) has been inducted into experience throughout the Kingsport City school a teacher at Innovation Academy of Northeast the Carter County Imagination Library’s Educators system and internationally. Tennessee. Vicki was the former Lincoln Hall of Fame for his services in the Elizabethton John Rambo (BS ’91) was appointed as the First Elementary School principal. She will be teaching City school system. Judicial District Chancellor. John currently serves English and language arts. Dr. Darrell Moore (BBA ’81, MAT ’98, EdD ’08) as the county attorney for Washington County. Dr. James E. Venable (BS ’85) is an is the new principal at Sullivan Gardens. Darrell accomplished speaker and specialist in visual served as vice principal for the school prior to the 1980s ______care. He is a board-certified Fellow in Pediatrics, position change. Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy by the Annette Culbertson Watts (BS ’81, MEd ’85) Paula Meade (BSN ’89) recently received the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. has recently returned to Greeneville to coach 2013 Virginia AANP Nurse Practitioner State Sidney F. Sherman (BS ’84) was promoted to Greeneville High School basketball. She had Award for Excellence. She has over 23 years’ Division Branch Chief for the U.S. Social Security a successful career with ETSU and went on to experience as primary care provider, educator, Administration from a regional assignment in coach in Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama. clinical manager, and is an expert on rural health Savannah, GA, to the Washington headquarters. Lt. Mitchual Perry (ALE ’80, BS) has been care delivery. She has served as an adjunct Sidney graduated with a degree in mass promoted to serve the Operations Division faculty member for many academic institutions communications. (Patrol) as a platoon assistant watch commander

44 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CLASS NOTES of the Johnson City Police Department. Perry the lead partner in the firm of Tipton and Jones Fame. He served as the Buccaneers’ public has worked with the department since 1991. He of Bristol. address announcer for over 50 years. graduated with a degree in criminal justice. W. David Epps (BSW ’75) has been appointed James Stanin (BS ’63) and his wife Brenda the Chaplain for the Southeast Division of the celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 1970s ______Marine Corps League. This division includes August 16, 2013. James recently retired from Kathy Feagins (BA ’79) has been presented Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Science Hill as an art teacher. with the Bert C. Bach Servant Leadership Award. Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Garland “Tom” Chilton (BS ’61) is a Hall of She is the founding director of the Scholarship Dr. Robert W. Robertson (BS ’74) was awarded Famer in his native Indiana. Chilton was recently Office at ETSU. She joined the ETSU staff in 1983 a Post-Graduate Diploma in International voted into the Class of 2014 that was inducted on as an admissions counselor and then later was Management-China from the School of Oriental March 26 in New Castle, IN. Tom scored 1,801 promoted to assistant director of undergraduate and African Studies at the University of London. points in just three seasons at ETSU and was also admissions. Zada Church (BS ’73) retired as the principal of inducted into the ETSU Hall of Fame in 1980. Randy Hammer (BS ’79) retired as the president Sullivan Gardens K-8 School. Zada graduated Ray M. Baskette (BS ’61) was inducted into and publisher of the Asheville Citizen-Times. He with a bachelor’s in biology. the Georgia Lions Club Hall of Fame in October was with the Times for 43 years and started his James Holmes (BS ’70) has retired from Carter of 2013. Ray was a three-time President of the career in the newspaper industry in 1970. County Bank as President. He graduated with a LaVista Lions Club in Atlanta as well as a member Dr. Jimmie R. Williams (BSN ’79, EdD ’87) degree in management. for over 20 years. has retired after 43 years in health care, mostly Gordon Ball (BS ’70) was honored for his serving at the executive level. Jimmie moved to substantial financial gift toward the completion of a OBITUARIES Costa Rica after retirement. new indoor practice facility inside the ETSU/MSHA Barry Blair (BS ’78) has released his newest Athletic Center. Gordon Ball Court serves as a novel All for a Song. Barry graduated with a practice court for the ETSU men’s and women’s 2010s ______degree in journalism. basketball programs. Thomas Gash (BS ’11) in Greeneville on August Tom McCormack (BS ’78) broke the 8K ______9, 2013. Thomas graduated with a bachelor’s in Tennessee state record for his age. Tom was a 1960s criminal justice. member of the ETSU collegiate track team. Tom, Alfred C. Anderson (BS ’67) received Lions Samantha Deanna Reynolds (BS ’11) now 59, still runs a five-minute mile. in International’s highest award at a meeting of the Jonesborough on May 16, 2013. Samantha Gloria Oster (MA ’78) is the new associate dean Vinton, VA, Host Club. He was named a Melvin received her bachelor’s degree in public health. of the School of Education at King University. Jones Fellow in early 2013 for his lifetime work in She is also assistant professor of education and humanitarian services. Anderson served 28 years 2000s ______director of teacher education. as Roanoke County Treasurer before retiring in Pam Gilliam-Pearce (BS ’77, MEd ’89) retired 2003. He has been active in the Vinton Host Lions Dr. Robert E. Keith (RES ’08) in Kingsport on after 35 years with the Johnson City School Club for 45 years, having served as president August 18, 2013. He served in the U.S. Navy and System. Pam served as a teacher and guidance twice. retired as Captain of the Naval Reserve. He was counselor for a variety of schools in the community. Georgia P. Doubler (MA ’67) was recognized also president of the Sullivan-Johnson County Medical Association. Larry Hartsock (BS ’76) was inducted into the in the Artist’s Magazine’s 2011 over 60 art Breeders Hall of Fame. Larry received this honor competition for her tempera and ink resist piece ______by running a successful breeding operation that “Sisters.” Georgia’s works were also published in 1990s has made an impact on the American Saddlebred the book Incite: The Best of Mixed Media in late Joseph Clyde Poore (BS ’99) in Bluff City on breed and industry. summer 2013. August 22, 2013. Joseph graduated Magna Cum Glenna Pearl Riner Allen (BS ’76) has recently Chancellor Gerald Richard Johnson (BS Laude from ETSU. He spent his career with the celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary ’65) retired from the First Judicial District of U.S. Postal Service and retired as Postmaster in with Kenneth Ray. The couple was married in Tennessee. Richard has been practicing law since Abingdon, VA. He also served in the U.S. Navy Greenville, SC, on August 24, 1963. 1969 and has served Carter, Unicoi, Johnson, and during WWII. Washington counties since 1988. David W. Tipton (BS ’76) was the unanimous Debra “Debbie” Wynne (BBA ’99) in Kingsport choice of Bristol City Council members to fill the Dr. Norm Davis (BS, MA, EdS, EdD ’65) was on May 3, 2013. Debbie worked at Aid and Municipal Court judge position. David has been inducted into the 2013 ETSU Athletics Hall of Assist as a caregiver. Debbie was a member of

ETSU TODAY | 45 CLASS NOTES the Student Social Worker Association and Phi Mark M. Broyles (MAT ’82) in Elizabethton Janet E. H. Roberts (BSN ’76) in Johnson City Gamma Mu. on June 16, 2013. Mark retired from the State on July 14, 2013. Janet earned her bachelor’s Wendi Womack (BSN ’94) in Kingsport on of Tennessee, Human Services Department. degree in nursing. January 30, 2013. Wendi graduated with her He was a member of First Christian Church in Thomas Nicholas Russin (BA ’75) in Kingsport bachelor’s degree in nursing. Elizabethton, where he taught Sunday school. on May 29, 2013. Tom studied music in college Patty L. White (BBA ’91) in Sellersburg, IN, on G. Ann Terrell (EdS ’82, EdD ’86) in Knoxville and traveled with gospel groups, performed on April 14, 2013. Patty was an active member of on May 14, 2013. Ann was a retired teacher and radio shows, and worked in television. He was a Evangel North Church in which she served as a administrator. member of Kingsport Masonic Lodge DeMolay. member of the Ministry Team. William Church (MA ’81) in Elizabethton on Steven Cantrell Sells (BEH ’74) in Birmingham, Sandra M. Munsey (BS ’90) in Johnson City August 20, 2013. He was a teacher, coach and AL, on May 22, 2013. Steven loved to cook and on July 8, 2013. Sandra was the director of administrator for the Elizabethton City School was an avid college football fan. programming for Bristol, VA, Utilities and also System. He also served as Dean of Students for Joseph Michael Gardner (A.S. ’74) in Athens, served as marketing director for Comcast Cable. Providence Academy in Johnson City. AL, on August 14, 2013. Joseph graduated with Sandra attended Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. James E. Brooks (BS ’80) in Mooresburg on an associate degree in law enforcement. July 23, 2013. James was a retired employee William F. Collins, Jr. (BS ’73) in Burke, VA, on 1980s ______of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and June 10, 2013. William worked for 30 years with dedicated member of Mooresburg Missionary Hubert Turner Nash (BS ’89) in Lebanon, VA, Washington Gas and retired at age 55. William Baptist Church. He graduated with a degree in graduated with a degree in accounting. on May 6, 2013. Hubert was a land surveyor and industrial arts education. owned his own survey company. Constance “Connie” Rose (BS ’73, MA ’79) Michael J. LaGuardia (BBA ’80) in Kingsport on William Aaron Burleson (BS ’87) in Roan in Johnson City on July 3, 2013. Connie was a July 1, 2013. Michael served as first attorney on teacher with the Kingsport school system, retiring Mountain on May 17, 2013. William was a U.S. the Kingsport drug court panel. Michael operated Army Veteran. He was a truck driver and a after 36 years. She attended University Parkway his own private practice in Kingsport and was a Baptist Church. member of Roan Mountain United Methodist member of Saint Dominic Catholic Church. Church. William Weaver (BS ’73, MA ’75) in Limestone Dr. Edwin Hudson (MD ’87) in Columbia, SC, 1970s ______on July 9, 2013. William was a retired industrial on June 11, 2013. Edwin specialized in internal engineer for Bosch. He was a veteran in the U.S. medicine. He worked at Palmetto Richland Benny L. Newberry (BS ’79) in Rogersville on Air Force. Hospital and Lexington Medical Center. July 19, 2013. Benny was a devoted member Martha Lee Bellamy (BS ’73) in Bristol on August of the Overton Lodge No. 5 F. & A.M. He also Michael Scott Baker (BEH ’86) in Lebanon, VA, 6, 2013. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree attended North Fork Baptist Church and New in education. on July 6, 2013. Michael received his divinity Hope Baptist Church. degree from Southeastern Baptist Seminary. He Robert Griffith, Jr. (BS ’72) in Johnson City on was the senior pastor of Bluefield Community Ernest L. Roberts (BS ’79) in Cleveland, VA, on August 2, 2013. Bob was a member of Munsey Church for the past 16 years. July 30, 2013. Ernest taught school in Russell Memorial United Methodist Church. Bob enjoyed County for 23 years and worked for V.E.A. for 12 Barbara Summers (BBA ’86) golfing and cooking. in Johnson City on years. Ernest was a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Robert Lawson (BS ’72) in Fresno, CA, on June August 17, 2013. Barbara served on the board during Vietnam and was a member of Weaver’s 18, 2013. Robert received a bachelor’s degree of directors in her family business, Summers- Creek Baptist Church. Taylor, Inc. in accounting. Robert loved golf, college football, Ginger L. Dean (BS ’78) in Church Hill on July Irma Lee Bishop (ASN ’85) and to travel. in Greer, SC, on 23, 2013. Ginger was a retired social worker with J. Norse Ottem (MA ’72) in Greeneville on July August 1, 2013. Irma retired as the director of the State of Tennessee Child Protective Services. 27, 2013. Norse served in the Marines before Sunrise Assisted Living. She was a member of She graduated with a degree in home economics. attending college. After college he served 36 Brushy Creek Baptist. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church years as an educator, teaching social studies and Bobby Jones (MBA ’85) in Mohawk on April 19, for 39 years. Spanish. 2013. He was a deacon at Philippi Baptist Church Jerry Wayne Honaker (BSW ’77) in Abingdon, Kenneth “Dan” Robertson (BS ’72) in and Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church. He had VA, on June 25, 2013. Jerry received a bachelor Morristown on May 14, 2013. Dan was a member retired from Lea Industries in Morristown, TN. of social work from ETSU. Steven Lee Seeger (BBA ’85) in Jonesborough of Cedar Grove Baptist Church. He served 25 G. Glen Light, Jr. (BS ’77) in St. Louis, MO, years as a member of the East Hamblen County on May 16, 2013. Steve worked for Greene on June 16, 2012. Glen was a veteran of the County Bank in Greeneville for over 20 years Volunteer Fire Department and as a member of U.S. Navy. He retired from Computer Sciences the Search and Rescue Team in Morristown. and served as an assistant vice president. He Corp. where he was an Information Technology David Lee Willis (BS ’72) in Telford on June 3, was an active member of Colonial Heights United Consultant. He was an active member of 2013. David was a member of New Salem Baptist Methodist Church where he served on the finance University United Methodist Church where he Church and was the owner of Olde Town Satellite committee and taught Sunday school. helped to create Kids’ Place, an enrichment in Jonesborough. Wiley Dale Helton (BS ’84) in Mosheim on program for at-risk children. Leon B. Wolford (MBA ’72) in Kingsport on June August 8, 2013. Wiley worked as an information Ernest Travis (BS ’77) in Johnson City on August 9, 2013. Leon received his master’s in business systems analyst. Wiley was a member of 17, 2013. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served administration. Carpenters Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and his country during the Vietnam War. He also was an ordained minister. served as President of the Tennessee Dirt Karting Charles Fredrick Crowgey (BS ’71) in Kingsport Janice Elaine Steele Sutter (BSN ’84) in & World Kart Association. on May 24, 2013. Charles graduated with a degree in marketing. Johnson City on May 27, 2013. Janice was a Janet Elaine Collins Harrison (BSN ’76) in nurse for a number of years while her husband Church Hill on April 22, 2013. She was an active Susan Galliher Berndt (MA ’70) in Corpus served in the U.S. Army. Janice served as the member of Gunnings Baptist Church. She Christi, TX, on June 27, 2013. Susan taught Head Nurse in the operating room at Mountain loved spending time with family, especially her English at ETSU, mainly at the Kingsport States Health Alliance and a parish nurse at grandchildren. University Center. Susan had a passion for Otterbein United Methodist Church. education and designed the “All About Women: Women in Perspective” seminar series at KUC.

46 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY CLASS NOTES

1960s ______Presbyterian Church. Ronald H. Dotson (BS ’65) in Let your Legacy Live Evelyn Davenport (BS ’69) in Mount Carmel on Morristown on July 18, 2013. May 30, 2013. Evelyn graduated with a degree in Ronald retired after 31 years of FOREVER AT elementary education. service with State Farm Insurance. William R. J. Fleming (BS ’69, MBA ’73, MA ’82) He graduated with a degree in in Bristol, VA, on July 22, 2013. William served in economics and was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Delta Sigma Pi. After studying at ETSU, he worked as a chemist Norma P. Martin (BS ’63) in ETSU for Beecham Labs and went on to be a tax auditor Kingsport on May 24, 2013. Norma Give A Planned Gift for the Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department was a school teacher in Kentucky • Bequest in last will & testament of Interior. for a number of years. She received • Charitable remainder trust/charitable gift annuity for lifetime income Barbara Gott Goodlett (BS ’69) in Kingsport on a bachelor’s degree in education. • Life insurance policy May 30, 2013. Barbara taught English at Dobyns- Karen W. Rife (MA ’63) in Bristol • Remainder gift from retirement plan • Real Estate/Farmland Bennett High School and served as an assistant on July 12, 2013. Karen taught at principal. Barbara served as a member of the •Visit www.ETSU.edu/Advance, Please Click on “Planned Giving” several area schools prior to her job for gift planning resources Kingsport Board of Education and was the author with ETSU as a physical education We welcome the opportunity to work with you and your financial advisors. of two books. teacher. Please contact Jeff Anderson, J.D., or Susan Kellogg at (423) 439-4242 Thelma Henderson (MA ’69) in Bristol, VA, on Charles Boyer (BS ’62) in ETSU Advancement Box 70721, Johnson City, TN 37614-1710 or email: [email protected] August 15, 2013. Thelma was a teacher and Kingsport on July 4, 2013. Charles principal at Hayters Gap Elementary School. She was a veteran of World War II. was a member of the East Bristol Baptist Church. He was a retired chemist from Richard Douglas Bray (BS ’68) in Naperville, IL, Eastman Kodak and a member of Ruby Lorene Banner (BS ’57) in Hampton on on June 10, 2013. Richard was a retired employee Cassidy United Methodist Church. May 17, 2013. Ruby was a graduate of Cloudland High School. She taught school and was a of IBM after 42 years. He was a member of Grace Mack S. Elliott (BS ’62) in Elizabethton on July member of the Centerview Church of Christ. United Methodist Church and a volunteer with 3, 2013. Mack was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Habitat for Humanity. and the former Fire Inspector for the Elizabethton Ann Love Balch (BS ’56) in Jefferson City on Pauline Coleman (BS ’68) in Gate City, VA, on Fire Department. He was chairman of the board May 14, 2013. Ann was a speech therapist with June 7, 2013. Pauline taught 8th grade before at Crossroads and a former member of the Lions Newport Grammar School. She was a member she became the operator of Coleman Reporting Club in Pound, VA. of First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City and was an avid bridge player and reader. Service. Pauline worked for the Scott County court Thomas A. Moore (BS ’61) in Johnson City on system and played piano for New Hope Methodist July 12, 2013. Thomas was a retired social worker Betty Lou Beeler (BS ’56) in Elkton, MD, on June Church and Gate City Methodist Church. for the Department of Human Services and the 4, 2013. Betty was employed by the Cecil County Hattie Kate Begley Harmon (BS ’68) in American Red Cross. Board of Education in 1956 as a teacher at North East High School. She finished her teaching Kingsport on April 25, 2013. Hattie graduated with Marvin Massey (BS ’60) in Plano, TX, on July 6, career at Elkton High School. She retired after 31 a bachelor of science degree. 2013. Marvin graduated with a degree in finance. years of teaching. Betty was a member of Elkton Janet Martin (BS ’68) in Oxford, GA, on June He spent many years at Citibank and retired United Methodist Church. 11, 2013. Janet was a retired counselor from from there. He was a devoted member of the Heritage High School and the Rockdale County Methodist church. John Shanks (BS ’55) in Greene County on School System. June 4, 2013. John was a member of the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. John worked Donald Hugh Salyers, Sr. (BS ’68) in Coeburn, 1950s ______for Gordon’s Inc. for 42 years, serving as the VA, on August 2, 2013. Donald graduated with a Robert Jack Morton (BS ’59) in Kingston on April vice president in charge of production. He retired bachelor’s degree in education. 24, 2013. Robert was a U.S. Navy veteran having and worked as a full-time farmer in the Sulphur Byron Craig Brown (BS ’67) in Peachtree served in Korea. He was the Kingston Elementary Springs Community. Corners, GA, on November 4, 2012. Byron School Principal until his retirement and was an Robert “Bob” Frye Smith (BS ’54) in Knoxville served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, receiving active member of Kingston United Methodist on May 14, 2013. Bob was a member of First multiple service medals including four bronze Church. Baptist Church Concord. He was a Navy veteran, stars. Byron was an avid runner, nearing his goal Charles Sydney Hovis (BS ’58) in Yorktown, serving in WWII, earning the Asiatic-Pacific and of 2,000 races. VA, on April 22, 2013. Charles was a graduate Victory medals. Lyman Burleson, Jr. (MA ’67) in Johnson City of ETSU when it was formally known as East George Douglas Buda, Sr. (BS ’53, MA ’71) on April 17, 2013. Lyman went to Officers School Tennessee State College. He went on to teach in Johnson City on June 3, 2013. George was in Camp Lee, VA, to become a trainee in 1944. in the Hawkins County, TN, school system for a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean He went on to graduate as 1st Lieutenant 545th a year. After moving to Yorktown, he spent 20 Conflict. He was a percussionist with the Johnson Quartermaster Depot. After earning his master’s years teaching, coaching, and serving as athletic City Symphony and was a music teacher. George degree at ETSU, he was ordained as a Christian director. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, was a lifelong Episcopalian. minister and served in various churches. He also cooking, and spending time with his grandchildren. Edna Curtis Purvis (MA ’53) in Kingsport on April spent most of his later years teaching at high John Francis Morton (BS ’58) in Cumming, GA, 27, 2013. Edna was a teacher and career librarian schools, Anderson College, and the Billy Graham on May 13, 2013. John was a lifetime member of in the Kingsport and Sullivan County schools. School of Missions and Evangelism. Central Christian Church. He was the owner of She was an active member of the Sullivan County James Billy Fulks (MA ’67) in Pennington Gap, Morton’s Grocery and was a U.S. Navy veteran. Teachers Association, Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers VA, on August 4, 2013. He graduated with a Stanley Winston Still (BS ’58) in Kingsport on Sorority, DAR Nolichucky Chapter, and a devoted master’s degree in education. July 26, 2013. Stanley was a partner with Dent K. member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church. William Hallum (MA ’67, EdS ’79) in Old Hickory Burk CPAs and also established his own practice Ned Irwin (BS ’51) in Jonesborough on April 19, on August 12, 2013. William was the former for several years. He was an active member of 2013. After joining the U.S. Navy at just 17 years principal of Fairmount Elementary and Tennessee the Civitan Club and First Broad Street United old, Ned served during WWII as a machinist High School in Bristol. He was a member of First Methodist Church.

ETSU TODAY | 47 CLASS NOTES

mate aboard aircraft carrier U.S.S. Takanis Marjorie Williams (BS ’51) in Erwin on July 28, school teacher for over 40 years. She was an Bay (CVE 89). He received the Asiatic-Pacific 2013. Marjorie retired from the Unicoi school active member of DAR and was a member of First Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign system after 42 years of teaching and coaching Presbyterian Church. Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and Asiatic Navy basketball. She was a member of First Christian Eleanor Rives Reid (BS ’40) in Abingdon, VA, Occupation Service Medal-Japan. After his service Church, where she taught Sunday school and on May 7, 2013. Eleanor worked as the secretary in WWII and the Korean Conflict, he attended helped with the choir. to the president, Dr. Charles Sherrod, at East ETSU, earning a bachelor’s degree and lettered Tennessee State for 10 years. She spent the rest in basketball. He also served at various local 1940s ______of her career teaching school. high schools as a teacher, coach, and athletic Phillip McDonald Thomas (BS ’49) administrator. in Johnson City on May 27, 2013. Phillip served as the Head 1930s ______Forrest Maloney (BS ’51) in Telford on May 13, of Interfraternity Council and was a brother of Pi Esther Bare (BS ’37, MA ’52) in Knoxville on July 2013. Forrest graduated with a bachelor’s degree Kappa Alpha. He served as a teacher and a dean in geography. 30, 2013. Esther was a member of Church Street at ETSU. United Methodist Church. She was a member of Ima Jean Scott (BS ’51) in Kingsport on July Geneva Norris (BS ’41) in Elizabethton on July the DAR. 26, 2013. After graduating, she began teaching 22, 2013. Geneva taught school for 27 years at Dorothy Dickey (BS ’37) in Johnson City on April at Sullivan Elementary School and then on to Eastside Elementary and was an active member Andrew Johnson Elementary School. She retired 18, 2013. Dorothy graduated with a bachelor’s of First Baptist Church. She graduated with a degree. She was an active member of First from the Kingsport City School System. She degree in English. participated in the Kingsport Retired Teachers Presbyterian Church and recently joined Asbury Anna Williams Thomas (BS ’41) Association and the WETS (Women’s Eating and in Johnson United Methodist Church. Talking Society). City on August 2, 2013. Anna was an elementary

Save the Date!October 3, 2014 ETSU College of Nursing 60th Anniversary Celebration As part of the 60th anniversary of the College of Nursing, the college will recognize 60 graduates of the ETSU College of Nursing programs who have demonstrated significant leadership in the nursing field. The alumni awards recognize graduates who have demonstrated leadership in education, research, service, and/or practice. Recognition may be awarded posthumously and nominators may self- nominate. Please submit all nominations by using the attached nomination form. Events are still in the planning stage but updated information can be found on our webpage http://www.etsu.edu/nursing/celebrate_60.aspx. ✁

Please cut and return form. Nomination Form To the Nominator: This nomination form may be used to nominate any Nursing graduate whom the nominator believes exemplifies contributions to the nursing profession as outlined in the criteria below. The nominator may fax, mail, or email the form to Teresa Feltner, College of Nursing at: 423-439-4543(fax), Box 70617 Johnson City, TN 37614, [email protected]. Please submit the nomination form by June 1, 2014. Nominator Name: ______Email: ______Preferred Phone:______Nominee Name: ______Email: ______Preferred Phone:______Professional Credentials:______Current Position / Title:______*Please attach a picture if available.*

Criteria for Selection of Award Recipient: Open to any graduate of the East Tennessee State University College of Nursing who has demonstrated significant leadership in nursing to improve the health of their community, state, and/or nation. Leadership may be demonstrated in the following areas: Significantly or uniquely contributes to the nursing profession in: (Check all that apply) N Education N Scholarship/Research N Service N Practice Describe in 1-2 paragraphs how the nominee has distinguished himself/herself in the profession of nursing. (Include specifics that will allow the nominee to compete with other submissions.)

48 | EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

ETSU Today East Tennessee State University Box 70709 Johnson City, TN 37614-1710

You are invited! East Tennessee State University’s National Alumni Association Spring Weekend 2014 May 9-10, 2014 Join us for several events: n Evening of Friday A • Class of 1964 Reunion Golden Distinction • Golden Fifties Club Annual Reunion •Tour of Campus and area 50s Club and Pride •Treats in Sherrod Library • ETSU National Alumni Association If you graduated in ’64 or before, ETSU National Alumni Association Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting please make plans to attend. We are honors superlative alumni and friends. adding an extra benefit to your Golden Since 1928 we celebrate ETSU in Saturday 50s Club membership. This year, ALL honoring our best! • Spring Commencement GOLDEN 50s Club members, not just 6:30 p.m. - May 9, 2014 (2 events split by Colleges) those celebrating their 50th reunion, Millennium Centre • Highlighted by address from will have the chance to lead in the (Tickets Required) ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland graduating class of 2014!

Please make plans to attend. There will be more details to follow. If you have any questions, please contact: ETSU National Alumni Association (423) 439-4218 • Fax (423) 439-5836 • Email: [email protected] Register in the online Alumni Community at www.ETSUAlumni.org