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Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 8-1996 UA11/1 On Campus, Vol. 6, No. 6 WKU University Relations Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the Higher Education Administration Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Public Relations and Advertising Commons, and the Social Influence and Political Communication Commons Recommended Citation WKU University Relations, "UA11/1 On Campus, Vol. 6, No. 6" (1996). WKU Archives Records. Paper 4377. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/4377 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. i Vol. 6 No.6. Publication For Faculty, Staff and Friends of WKU • August 1996 ... iii WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY The accessible professor 0 By Chris Abrell, junior print journalism major from Columbia, Ky. Dr. Lester Pesterfield's summer attire is blue jean shorts and a tee­ shirt, not a bow tie and jacket. His youth and excitement give him an appearance and personal­ ity more closely resembling the students he teaches than that of the stereotypical chemistry professor. Pesterfield, in his fifth year at Western Kentucky University, may be relatively new to the Hilt but he has already made an impact upon his shtdents. The winner of the 1996 Univer­ sity Award for Excellence in Teaching says that he was very surprised to receive the award. ''I'm honored," he said. "I really didn't think, being an assistant professor, I had enough time or material to stack up with some of the people who had been here 15 to 20 years." Pesterfield says he judges his success by the way students relate to him outside class. Dr. Lester Pesterfield, 1996 winner, WKU Faculty Award for Excel/ellce in Teaching ·Photo by lenn Wilfinger Though he said he sees the award as a recognition of his if they can't meet me then, call set class pattern are elements of research projects. He thinks teaching ability, Pesterfield says and we will set a time. If they his teaching style. independent research is a major he judges his success by the way need to be here at eight in the "I do a lot of demonstrations to component of becoming a good students relate to him outside morning, I'll be here. If they try and generate interest," he said. chemist. class. need to be here a t four in the "If we are going to do gas laws or "(Research) is the greatest " If the students are willing to afternoon, I'll be here." something like that, we blow up a opportunity that students have to come back and see me the next Accessibility is something balloon, or we explode a gas. If grow," he says. "It was a tremen­ semester when they don't have Pesterfield says he learned while we are doing thermal chemistry, dous learning experience for me. me in class anymore, or if they he was in school. I'll come in and do a torch or an Students learn more about your­ have a problem in another chem­ "It's something I picked up explosion. self and gain confidence in their istry class and they want to come from my graduate adviser at UT­ "I feel you need to break mo­ abilities to deal with subject back to me, that's one of the ways Knoxville. If you needed help, he notony. You can't come in and materiaL" that 1 use to measure my effective­ was more than willing to meet chalk talk all of the time. You've Not only college students ness," he said. with you outside of class or got to mix it up. Sometimes you benefit from Pesterfield's fervor According to Pesterfield, his beyond regular office hours to do use overheads. Sometimes you for science. Local grade school relationship with the students lies anything he could for you. use handouts. Sometimes you'll pupils love his chemistry magic in his open nature. "I try to get to know everyone's do a demonstration. Just try shows. "I don't know that 1 do anything name, high school or what his/ different things. The whole idea is "I got into the magiC shows differently than my colleagues in her major is. I try to make stu­ not to get into some repetitive because of Earl Pearson," he said, the chemistry department," he dents persons instead of num­ routine." referring to his colleague, a WKU said. "I just try to be very ap­ bers." Pesterfield works with students chemistry professor. proachable. I have set office Pesterfield also says spicing up in the summer too. He currently hours, but I tell everyone in class lectures and staying away from a has four students working on Continued on page two On Campus Western Kentucky University August 1996 Fred Hensley named Institutional Advancement VP Western Kentucky University president during this past year and hiring the remainder of his staff President Thomas C. Meredith has everyone has confidence in him," to move Western ahead even named Fred W. Hensley to the Dr. Meredith said. farther than we are now," said post of University Vice President Working closely with Vice Presi- WKU's President. for Institutional Advancement. dent Rutledge during his Staff to be hired will In addition to being Director of brief 20-month tenure at include two develop- University Relations, Hensley has Western, Hensley ment officers for the been serving as interim vice developed and wrote university's academic president since Robert M. the Communications colleges to assist in the Rutledge ill resigned in June 1995 Plan for WKU's university's fund- to become President of the Mose & first ever Major raising efforts. Garrison Siskin Memorial Founda­ Gifts Campaign, "An assessment of tion in Chattanooga, Tenn. and he also all current posi- As Western's Institutional authored the ,--_q tions in lnstitu- Advancement Vice President, Marketing Plan which tional Advance- Hensley will oversee the offices of began implementation ment will be under- Alumni Affairs, Development and last spring. taken to determine the University Relations. Fred W. Hensley The Communications most efficient and productive He will also serve as Executive Plan is aimed at keeping all staffing levels," Hensley said, Director of the WKU Foundation university constituencies, faculty, adding: and will provide leadership for Planning efforts for the cam­ staff, students and friends of the 'This is an exciting time at Western's first Major Gifts Cam­ paign have continued during the university, informed throughout Western. "We will be doing a lot paign. past year, and should be com­ every step of the Major Gifts of things we've never attempted The University's Board of pleted by the end of the fall Campaign. before. Our expectations are high Regents in January 1995 approved .semester. Efforts will be taken to enhance and I am confident that we will a strategic plan and a budget for a "Mr. Hensley has done an communication efforts with all be able to meet those expecta- Major Gifts Campaign. outstanding job as interim vice WKU constituencies. tions." The Major Gifts Campaign Hensley, a native of Kenova, ~;Stt;1~"ildr--~~;~;:~::--~~;~~:~i~:g ·I'I.n:l.. s. thr'''mlaj(:>r'--~.va.;camelowes(em1nT980L as-- Dr. Lester 1 priorities: Director of Public Information, ~o enhance the institution's which later became University Continued from page one image; Relations. "To communicate the needs of He was Director of Public "The first year I was here he he's asked me to help him do one. I fascinated the university to support the Major Information at Delta State Univer- had never done one before. You by rocks, Gifts Campaign issues; and sity in Cleveland, Miss. (1977-80); get a lot of feedback, more than bugs and otTo assist with student and Director of News Services at you would in a typical lecture lizards," he said. "We'll make faculty recruitment. Morehead State University in setting. It was a tremendous silly putty or slime at home and "It is a university-wide, compre- Morehead, Ky. (1976-77), and experience." he'll ask how it works. I don't hensive plan which will lead to Sports Information Director at Pesterfield is active in the gifted understand where people lose Western's self-awareness in all Morehead State (1973-76). studies program for Verbally and that curiosity." three areas of interest," Hensley He holds master and bachelor Mathematically Precocious Youth Love for his work and concern explains. degrees from Morehead State (VAMPY). for his students fuel Pesterfield. "Mr. Hensley has the knowledge University. "We have gifted eighth, ninth He says he thinks as long as he base to provide the leadership to Hensley is married to the and tenth graders," he says. "We remembers what it is like to be a cause a Major Gifts Campaing to former Mary Jane Reed of Russell, come in and talk about protons, student, he will continue to reach happen and he's in the process of Ky. They have two children, electrons and neutrons the first them. Drew and Anne-Walker. day of class - the fundamentals "Every other year I go to of chemistry. By the end of the faculty enhancement work­ second week, we are making shops," he says. "That allows CORRECTIONS Plexiglas, polystyrene and aspirin. me to sit in a classroom ... and By the end of the third week we sort of experience what it is like Last issue we left out Allen Murrell's are doing experiments that I do in to be a student again.

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