Winter 2017 An Eisenhower Institute experiencein the MIDDLE EAST From the president Volume 108 • No. 1 • Winter 2017 When you live in Gettysburg, it’s Burton spoke about the through our focus on inclusion and Inside hard not to think about Abraham parallels between our nation in internationalization, and readying Lincoln. But this year I’ve been 1863 and today, noting, “We our students for a fast-changing thinking about him even more are indeed a house divided.” He world by incorporating a spirit of 14 Our unfinished work 2 News@Gettysburg A new strategic plan outlines the College’s next steps. than usual. urged us to “find the courage innovation into the work we do 12 Conversations As many of you know, we begin and conviction to heed President here at Gettysburg. each academic year with our First- Lincoln’s sage advice...to rededicate To learn more about our new 16 Eyes on the Middle East 28 Do Great Work Year Walk, where our new students ourselves to the proposition that, plan, our goals, and the action steps Students get a first-hand look at the region’s complexity. 30 Bulletins retrace the steps of President Lincoln in this country, all men and women that will make this vision a reality, to the national cemetery to hear the are created equal and as such see our feature on pages 14–15. 22 Crowning moments 31 Class notes Gettysburg Address. This year Chris we are all deserving and entitled There is no question that our Recalling Bullets Centennial Conference championships. 46 In memory Gwinn ’06, Supervisory Park Ranger to the dignity and respect that country has problems to solve, for the division of Interpretation we ourselves would want to be and some of those problems loom 26 Connecting college and communities 48 Parting shot and Education at the Gettysburg accorded. Otherwise, the dead large. However, when I talk with The Center for Public Service celebrates 25 years. National Military Park, spoke to which surround us here in this Gettysburg students, I always feel our students—reminding them place have died in vain.” optimistic about the future. Our will Cover photos by Carina Sitkus. that during their time at Gettysburg I found both of these events, students truly are the leaders of Editor: Sue Baldwin-Way they would be writing their stories centered on the words of Lincoln, tomorrow. They are our future Contact [email protected] in the same book as Lincoln. He to be inspiring. But my reflection physicians, judges, teachers, Address changes: Communications & Marketing, encouraged them to find their great on Abraham Lincoln was not entrepreneurs, artists, and policy- Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington St., task, to find what their great work limited to these two events. During makers— committed citizens who Box 422, Gettysburg, PA 17325 Gettysburg College assures equal employment will be (see page 48). the past year, as we developed a will generate solutions, effect positive and prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, Then on November 19, we new strategic plan for Gettysburg change, and ultimately help to bring race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. commemorated the anniversary College, over and over again we our nation and our world together. Printed in U.S.A. of the Gettysburg Address—as turned to his immortal words for Thank you for your support of © Gettysburg College 2017 we do every year in Gettysburg. I inspiration and direction. President their education and their Gettysburg For additional content related to this issue, have the privilege of participating Lincoln’s focus on action, on the experience. Your support enables visit www.gettysburg.edu/links in the ceremony since Gettysburg values of freedom and equality, and their preparation for the unfinished College is one of the community on positive change is every bit as work still before us. partners that helps to sponsor relevant today as it was in 1863. this annual event. This year’s Rooted in the ideals of Sincerely, keynote speaker was LeVar the Gettysburg Address, The Burton, known by many for his Unfinished Work: A Strategic various television roles—his Direction for Gettysburg College 1977 portrayal of Kunta Kinte will guide us over the next five Janet Morgan Riggs ’77 in Roots, his role as Geordi La years—advancing our students’ President Forge in Star Trek: The Next ability to use their education for Generation, and as host and positive impact, preparing our producer for 23 seasons of students for engagement in a diverse Reading Rainbow. and globally-interconnected world News Gettysburg Prof notes Political Science PROLIFIC PREPARER OF CAROLINE PHYSICS GRADS HARTZELL he American Institute of physics and physics concepts, and sciences are necessary,” he said. “A Physics listed Gettysburg that’s what I emphasize with my liberal arts education sets you up College among the nation’s students, because they can use with a foundation for your career.” Mentoring T I went to a liberal arts college, myself—the top producers of undergraduate it in so many classes. And when physics majors. The College they get frustrated, I remember Michael Booz ’16 University of Puget Sound. It hadn’t occurred is among only 74 schools that being there. Even at Gettysburg, Booz received the Science, to me to get my PhD until I had faculty who graduated 10 or more physics I remember thinking ‘this is too Mathematics, And Research for said, “So, when you go to graduate school….” majors each year, between 2012 hard,’ but there was always one of Transformation—or SMART— To have that kind of influence on someone and 2014. The list includes schools my professors there to push me to Scholarship for Service. This is harder at a big institution. You can get to of all sizes—including several large do more, push me to keep working Department of Defense program know students here. universities—where a bachelor’s is hard—so I try to do those same awarded Booz a full scholarship The Gettysburg Cycle the highest degree offered in physics. things for my students.” and career placement upon In fall, we kicked off the first of a four- “Our alumni go on to do a receiving his master’s in electrical year cycle of themes based on policy issues. variety of things—supporting Russell Composto ’82 engineering at Rensselaer Each topic has global, national, and local NASA missions, engineering “Prof. Richard Mara was the Polytechnic Institute (RPI). implications; each can be considered through green spaces for urban areas, best educator I ever had across Gettysburg’s focus on multiple lenses; and each can connect the working in ophthalmology, the years, including my time at developing critical reading and academic and co-curricular. This year, we are running microbreweries, designing Cornell,” said Composto. “The writing skills was instrumental in looking at food and food justice. Next year, full-immersion audio hardware, enthusiasm he had for the subject helping his career. health will be our theme. just to name a few,” said Prof. matter influenced me to attend “Without these skills I would graduate school.” not have been selected for the Sharon Stephenson, W.K.T. Research and teaching Composto is Associate Dean SMART scholarship program Sahm Professor of Physics and My research is on contemporary (post- of Undergraduate Education and or have been accepted to RPI for department chair. WWII) civil conflict, which I became a professor in materials science electrical engineering,” he said. Here are ways a few alumni interested in because my mother is from and engineering at the University “Working with Prof. Sharon are applying their major, today: Colombia—a country that has had more of Pennsylvania. He returned to Stephenson on the Gettysburg than one civil war. I specialize in looking at Alana Allen ’15 Gettysburg to give a lecture and College Proton Accelerator negotiated settlements and, in particular, Allen teaches high school physics said that as a dean, he specifically definitely gave me an edge when power-sharing agreements to end civil war. at People’s Preparatory Charter looks for engineering students who applying for the scholarship and My research is very important to me, in part School in Newark, New Jersey, come from liberal arts schools. grad schools.” because of its policy implications. Connecting through Teach For America. “We don’t know where the to the relevant policy communities can be “In my first year at future of technology or science something of a challenge when one teaches at a Gettysburg, I learned about basic is headed, so core skills in the liberal arts college, but Gettysburg College has been very supportive. Peter Christ ’17 and Prof. Sharon Stephenson Prof. Caroline Hartzell is founding director of the College’s Globalization Studies program, current director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues, and editor of the journal Conflict Management and Peace Science. Her courses center on international relations. More about the Year of Food and the Gettysburg Cycle can be found online. 2 3 Voice of Experience Olivia Branco ’10 The 411 Mary Clare Lagno P’12 Nittany Lion • Mother of Robert ’12 and Elizabeth • volunteer and philanthropist • Retired Sr. VP Internship for Aetna • College trustee since 2012 • married to Christopher • Visionary Gettysburgians and Cupola Society • lives in NYC Most important life lesson SIRIUS-LY When you manage people, each is motivated uniquely, in their own way. In order to be a great leader, you must know and live this principle. Supports G-burg because a win-win I was impressed with how happy my son was while at Gettysburg College. I like President Riggs' leadership. I believe a liberal arts college education changes young people’s lives.