’Southern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Fall 2013 Volume 39, Number 2

Turning the traditional classroom experience on its head BSC tests innovative approaches to learning

BSC Birmingham-Southern College BSC Snapshots Hitting the book (store)—Students loaded up on supplies at the BSC Bookstore during the first week of fall term classes. Inside’Southern ’Southern magazine / Fall 2013 / Volume 39, Number 2 A Publication for Alumni and Friends

BSC 25 Departments Features 27 2 Editor’s Note 12 Welcoming the Class 4 Community News of 2017 7 Faculty News 20 Turning the traditional 10 Student News classroom experience on its head 12 Features BSC tests innovative approaches 32 Alumni Affairs to learning 36 Philanthropy 38 Athletics 25 College kicks off Panther 43 ClassNotes Partnerships Mentoring Program

56 ’Southern Voices 27 Celebrate game day with these tailgating recipes On the Cover Today’s college students have grown up with technology. They’ve never known a world without computers, cellphones, and other wireless electronics. To keep up with this computer-savvy generation, Birmingham-Southern has broken new ground and delved into new technology trends to provide greater student engagement and classroom learning. Read more about the college’s technology advancements, including the new Olin 205 classroom pictured on the cover, on page 20.

fall 2013 Gen. Charles C. Krulak, President Dr. Wayne Killion Jr. ’72, Chair, Editor’s Note Board of Trustees ’Southern magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Affairs Looking forward and the Office of Communications at Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 35254. There have been some really interesting conversations going on here on campus lately. Non-profit postage paid at B’ham., AL Permit No. 2575. Postmaster: Much of the talk revolves around how we can use the latest technology to make Birmingham-Southern Send address changes to: Alumni better and involves faculty, staff, and administrators at the highest levels looking at how we can stay Affairs, Birmingham-Southern ahead of our peers. That ranges from our newly-redesigned home page on the web to a brand-new College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box high-tech classroom (see more on page 20). 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254; telephone 205/226-4912; or access Some of the dialogue digs into what makes BSC special as we dive into the college’s new Quality at www.bsc.edu/alumni. Enhancement Plan, or QEP, which focuses on engaged learning. Along with that comes a renewed focus ©2013 Birmingham-Southern on experiential education and a promise that all Birmingham-Southern students will have opportunities College. to apply what they learn in the classroom through internships, research, travel, and service. Editorial Offices: In a third category comes the college’s ongoing strategic planning process, which is asking the question 10 Stockham Building “Who do we want to be?” As we map out where BSC should be a decade from now, know that alumni 900 Arkadelphia Road Box 549004 input matters! You can follow along with the process or volunteer to take part at www.bsc.edu/stratplan. Birmingham, AL 35254 Phone: 205/226-4922 But for me, perhaps the most exciting moment of conversation came when I watched about 20 BSC Fax: 205/226-4931 professors gather over the summer to learn about the newest learning technology—and they ended up E-mail: [email protected] spending hours joyfully sharing their best teaching tactics, even though they came from all different disciplines. Executive Editor: Hannah Wolfson, Director of What that told me is that the old adage is still true: The more things change, the more things stay the Communications same. Even as we step forward into a brave new future for BSC, the things that matter most haven’t Managing Editor: Pat Cole, altered: fine teachers who care deeply for their students; great young people living and learning together; MPPM ’11 staff providing support and energy; and all of it happening right here on the Hilltop. Communications Specialist Come see for yourself! We’re in the full throes of plans for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, Nov. 1-2. Or stop by anytime to take a tour of some of the new and re-visit the old. Until we see you… Director of Visual Identity and Publications Forward, Ever! Contributing Writers: Pat Cole MPPM ’11, Communications Specialist Hannah Wolfson Sarah Erreca, Director of Sports Information Director of Communications Lisa Harrison MPPM ’85, Director of Alumni Affairs Dr. Duane Pontius ’81, Morris T. Hackney Professor of Physics Erica Crump Sellers ’05 Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Hannah Wolfson, Director Are you missing e-mails of Communications Photography: In an effort to better serve our subscribers and Wynter Byrd from BSC? Thomas Coiner protect your privacy, Birmingham-Southern John Consoli adopted a new policy in July for the college’s e-mail Cari Dean subscriptions. Anyone who has not opened an email Melinda Mercer Jimmy Mitchell from BSC in six months will be unsubscribed from Hunter Nichols future mailings. If you find that you are not getting Frank Poulin BSC emails and would like to re-subscribe, please Howie Rowling contact Mike Hamilton at [email protected]. Vianca Williams ’15 Archived Photos Submitted Photos www.bsc.edu BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE HOMECOMING/REUNION November 1-2, 2013 Extra special weekend

Graduates from across the country are planning to come “home” to the Birmingham-Southern campus Nov. 1-2 for Alumni Reunion/Homecoming 2013. This year, classes ending in “3” and “8” will be celebrated. There will be so many exciting events and activities, including a reception with the president, campus tours, class parties, and a tailgate contest. The football game vs. Rhodes College kicks off Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. at Panther Stadium. There will also be parties for each of the college’s honor classes, including the 50th reunion Class of 1963. Other highlights include:

Nov. 1 Annual Alumni Awards Luncheon This annual awards luncheon is the kickoff for this special weekend. All alumni are invited to bring a guest to hear remarks from our Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients. The Hilltop Singers will entertain. All classes celebrating 50+ years since graduation will be specially honored, and the 50th reunion class will be seated together and recognized. Attire: Coat and Tie | Noon, Bruno Great Hall, Norton Campus Center, 3rd Floor

Nov. 1 “Onward & Upward” BSC President Gen. Charles C. Krulak will talk about the college’s successes, challenges, and goals as we move ever forward. 2 p.m., Norton Theatre, Norton Campus Center, 2nd Floor

Nov. 2 BSC Alumni BBQ For alumni not celebrating a reunion this year, come by the Alumni BBQ to avoid lines at the concession stand. 11 a.m., outside the tennis and softball complexes All tailgating will be catered by Full Moon Barbecue. Honor Class Parties Classes celebrating reunions will host events at venues across Birmingham.

Hope to see you at your BSC alumni reunion in November! Register quickly and easily at www.alumni.bsc.edu/homecoming2013. BSC COMMUNITY NEWS

Stultz in forefront

Award-winning teaching—Nearly 300 students graduated May 18 at BSC’s 154th Commencement. At the ceremony, Provost Dr. Mark Schantz named Chemistry Professor Dr. Laura Stultz Professor of the Year. Stultz will be the Commencement speaker in 2014. Schantz praised Stultz, who has been at BSC since 1997, for her stellar teaching, service on almost every college committee, commitment to interdisciplinary research, and her “levelheadedness and keen intelligence.” The college also conveyed an honorary doctor of letters to Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, who recently served as BSC’s chief of staff.

BSC again included in annual Fiske Guide to Colleges

Birmingham-Southern is among the 300-plus colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain highlighted in the 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges released this summer. Compiled by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, the Fiske Guide examines a broad range of subjects such as academic climate, social life, campus setting, financial aid, and extracurricular activities. The book is now in its 30th year of issuing annual evaluations of colleges and universities. It is available in bookstores and online.

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Battle Boatright Gray Selman Four named to Birmingham-Southern Board of Trustees

Birmingham-Southern College has selected four members for its Board of Trustees. The new BSC trustees are Brooke Tanner Battle ’96, founder of SMART Party LLC; Shane Boatright, president and CEO of Boatright Companies Inc.; Dr. Samuel E. Gray ’82, obstetrician and gynecologist at Alabama Women’s Specialists; and Scott Selman, chief financial officer of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. The selections were approved in June at the annual meetings of the North Alabama and Alabama- West Florida Conferences of the UMC.

BSC partnering with Project SEARCH to improve employment outcomes for the disabled

Along with incoming BSC students, there are a few more new faces on campus this fall. This semester, Birmingham-Southern began providing on-the-job training and work experience to young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities through Project SEARCH, a collaborative effort between the college, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, Birmingham City Schools, and Alabama Vocational Rehab. The one-year transition program teaches participants (called interns) workplace skills that can lead to employment within the community. The interns are working Monday through Friday in multiple departments across campus, practicing repetitive and systematic job skills while learning to communicate effectively with members of the BSC community. “Many new graduates often say ‘I want to get a job, but I don’t have the required experience,’ and it is difficult to find an employer willing to provide on-the-job training,” said Angela Harrill, associate director of human resources at Birmingham-Southern. “We’re thrilled to offer this service.” There are 10 interns assigned to BSC’s Project SEARCH class of 2013. They are students who, because of their special needs, may remain in the K-12 school system up to age 21. The interns have a Project SEARCH teacher and job coach to support their training. They also get continual feedback and end their day by reflection, problem-solving, and journaling what they’ve learned. A formal graduation ceremony will be held for the interns in May. Project SEARCH was formed in 1996 by Nurse J. Erin Riehle, then the director of the Emergency Department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This is the organization’s first step in the development of a pilot program to provide “on-campus classrooms.” BSC is the first college or university in Alabama to partner with Project SEARCH in this effort. fall 2013 / 5 visual & 14 - performing arts UPCOMING EVENTS 2013

BSC FINE ARTS SOCIETY ENTERS ITS 33RD YEAR

WITH EXCITING PRODUCTIONS OF PLAYS,

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, AND ART

We look forward to seeing you!

Whether you want to take in a theatre or musical performance, check out an art exhibit, connect with alumni, or keep up with today’s critical issues—BSC has an event for you. Explore the college’s upcoming events at www.bsc.edu and discover how much we have to offer.

Web connect: To view the 2013-14 Visual and Performing Arts brochure, visit: www.bsc.edu/academics/fas/calendar

BSC Birmingham-Southern College FACULTY NEWS

Cole in his studio with his dog, Twombly. Cole confronts prevalence of intolerance through “Hate Project” art installation

Just what does “hate” mean? How does it spread? opening a community-wide dialogue about hate, it How can intolerance be stopped? was designed to give BSC students an opportunity to Those questions and more were raised by “The help craft the piece and to get hands-on experience Hate Project,” an art exhibition by BSC Art and planning an exhibition, from organizing the gallery Art History Professor Steve Cole that debuted at space to dealing with storing and shipping the work Birmingham-Southern’s Durbin Gallery Sept. when it travels to other locations later in the year. 6-26. Timed to launch the same month as the 50th “The Hate Project” was part of “Forward, anniversary of the racist bombing at Birmingham’s Ever Birmingham!,” BSC’s commemoration of 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four girls, the Birmingham’s pivotal role in the movement for and installation depicted the prevalence of intolerance toward global human rights. and hate nationwide. As part of the commemoration, best-selling author The installation mapped the 1,000-plus hate Sena Jeter Naslund ’64 visited campus in September groups currently active in the United States for a “Four Spirits: Presentation, Reading, and Book as identified by the Southern Poverty Law Signing.” Naslund’s novel, Four Spirits, is set in civil Center. Groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, White rights-era Birmingham and takes its title from the Nationalists, Christian Identity, Neo-Nazis, Anti- Sept. 15, 1963, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Gay, Racist Skinheads, and more were represented Church. by 10-inch cast figurines arranged state-by-state on a On Nov. 2, a ceremony will be held to honor 42-foot gallery floor. Ulysses “Skip” Bennett ’67, the first black student The project was supported by a grant from to matriculate at BSC, during halftime of the the Associated Colleges of the South. As well as Homecoming football game at Panther Stadium. Birmingham-Southern College

fall 2013 / 7 FACULTY NEWS

New faculty, tenure and promotions announced for 2013-14

Birmingham-Southern faculty recently awarded tenure and/or promotion, along with new faculty and staff, were recognized at the college’s 2013 welcome event in New faculty (left photo, l to r): Tyler Dart, Dr. Joseph Chandler ’03, Dr. Greta Valenti, Dr. Chunbei Wang, August. and Dr. Will Hustwit. (Right photo, l to r): Dr. Leon Couch, Dr. George Klersey, and Dr. Peter Van Zandt.

• Promoted to full professor: The new faculty members are: Dr. George Klersey, Associate Professor Dr. Scott Dorman (chemistry) Dr. Joseph Chandler ‘03, Assistant Professor of Accounting and Dr. Duane Pontius ’81 of Psychology Dr. Greta Valenti, Assistant Professor (physics) Dr. Leon Couch, Assistant Professor of Music of Psychology • Promoted to associate professor Tyler Dart, Instructor of Physics Dr. Peter Van Zandt, Assistant Professor with tenure: Dr. Amy Cottrill Dr. William Hustwit, Assistant Professor of of Biology (religion), Dr. Mark Rupright History Dr. Chunbei Wang, Assistant Professor (physics), and Dr. Kelly Russell of Economics (education)

Duncan’s first book explores Alabama’s biological diversity

A forthcoming book by BSC Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Scot Duncan has received a grant from the Nature Conservancy to help defray publication costs. The Nature Conservancy has donated $20,000 to the University of Alabama Press to help support the printing of Duncan’s book, titled Southern Wonder: Alabama’s Surprising Biodiversity. The book is due for release in November. The book takes readers on a journey through the ecosystems of the state that ranks fifth in the nation for biodiversity. With insightful prose and 132 beautiful color illustrations, Southern Wonder ranges from the coastal dunes of the Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee River Valley; interweaves ecology, meteorology, evolution, and geology; and introduces unique species found only in Alabama, including the beach mouse. Duncan’s book has already been hailed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and naturalist Photo courtesy of Hunter Edward O. Wilson as “one of the most important books ever written about Alabama . . . a Nichols call to Alabama’s people to treasure and protect the state’s living heritage.” It is the featured book in the University of Alabama Press’ upcoming catalogue, and the Nature Conservancy’s support shows that the book is important in the preservation of the state’s natural beauty.

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Styers receives grant, buys specialized microscope equipment

BSC Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Melanie Styers ’99 has been awarded a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation that will give Birmingham-Southern students hands-on lab experience. The $164,250 grant runs three years, but it will benefit BSC for far longer, because Styers was able to use it to purchase a high-tech confocal fluorescence microscope—a piece of equipment few undergraduates ever get to use. “This is a great opportunity,” Styers said. “Not only will we be able to use it in our lab and in biology courses, but other faculty members are discovering ways they can apply it to their research.” With four lasers and the ability to create 3D images, confocal microscopes cost as much as $300,000. But Styers found a gently used one that didn’t sell in an Atlanta auction, and the firm agreed to sell it for the reserve price of just $20,000. The grant covered the microscope, but Styers still had to get the massive and delicate piece of equipment home. She hired a specialty firm from Philadelphia at a hefty cost. To her own money, she added a generous donation from her parents, David and Kathy Styers of Decatur. (Styers’ sister is Hartselle physician Dr. Sarah Styers ’03.) The microscope and other equipment purchased by the grant will help Styers’ research into membrane trafficking, which she describes as “the cellular postal system.” Her work focuses on understanding how pathways in cells are co-opted by viruses for their own replication.

Harrison receives 2013 faculty development award

Dr. Mary Harrison, assistant professor of marketing at Birmingham-Southern, has been named this year’s recipient of the Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award, given by the Provost’s Office. The announcement was made at the opening-of- school faculty and staff assembly in August. Named for the professor emeritus, college alumnus, and former longtime chair of the education division at BSC, the annual award Harrison (center) with Dr. Bob Whetstone ‘55 and his goes to a non-tenured faculty member for excellence in teaching. wife, Janelle. The cash component of the award is for professional development and travel. In addition to teaching marketing, Harrison has presented her research in services and retailing at numerous national and international conferences. Her work can be found in the Journal of Service Research, the Journal of Business Research, and the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice. “I am honored to receive this award,” said Harrison. “Birmingham-Southern has amazing students who make teaching a rewarding experience.” Harrison joined the Birmingham-Southern faculty in 2011. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College and her MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. Read more about the award on page 36.

fall 2013 / 9 STUDENT NEWS

The 2013 Hess Fellows are (front row, from left): Chandler Grace Terry, Katie Green, Hope Lloyd, Joe Moultrie, Samantha Bisese, and Liz Wallace; second row (from left): Hess Center Director Kent Andersen, Peter Raffanti, Catie Gilliland, Susan Tuberville, and Eman Abboud; (back row, from left): Will Fagan, Jenny Lewis, Joe Stanford, and Leadership Studies Coordinator James Randolph ’10. Not pictured are Taylor Bain, who studied abroad in Japan for a year, and Jennie Phillips, Bunting/Hess Center assistant.

Eighth annual class of Hess Fellows pairs hands-on community engagement with advocacy

The Hess Center for Leadership as the agencies—from coordinating their experiences with the campus and Service at Birmingham-Southern lobbying events on Capitol Hill and community. introduced its 2013 class of Hess building a retail development plan for Hess Fellowships are supported Fellows, who are dedicating an downtown Birmingham to launching by the Dixon Foundation, Joseph S. academic year to exploring advocacy statewide communication programs Bruno Charitable Foundation, Ronne for social justice in a three-phased on affordable housing and developing and Donald Hess, the Independent training and internship program. publications to help educate Presbyterian Church Foundation, and The 14 BSC students spent eight immigrant youth on ways to become several private donors. weeks this summer working as full- involved in the community. time staff members at leading advocacy In addition to the summer advocacy Web connect: Read more about the organizations in Birmingham, internships, the Hess Fellows Hess Fellows’ summer experiences Montgomery, San Francisco, New York participated in pre-internship seminars here: www.bsc.edu/communications/ City, and Washington, D.C. Their in the spring. During the 2013-14 news/2013/20130617-hess.cfm internship projects were as varied academic year, the fellows will share

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Recent BSC graduate wins Fulbright teaching assistantship to Taiwan

Birmingham-Southern’s longstanding success in earning Fulbright scholarships carried into 2013, when senior Daniel Rucker received the nation’s flagship international education award. Rucker is using her award to spend 10 months assisting English teachers of a non-native English background in Yilan, Taiwan. She is spending at least 30 hours per week in the classroom teaching and organizing language- related activities. Her interest in Taiwan grew from her study-abroad experience her sophomore year at Hong Kong Baptist University. “I feel so fortunate to have received this amazing opportunity to teach abroad,” said Rucker, a native of Nashville, Tenn., who graduated from BSC in May with a degree in economics. “I’m also excited to be immersed in the Taiwanese culture while exposing their students to a bit of American culture.” Once she returns from Taiwan, Rucker plans to pursue a graduate degree. Rucker “Teaching is not my first passion,” she said. “But who knows? After my year in Taiwan, that could all change.” Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the highly selective, merit-based Fulbright scholarship provides funds to seniors and graduate students who plan to conduct research, teach, or exercise other talents abroad. Some 5,000 applicants competed for this year’s awards.

Memphis student wins college’s top scholarship

Andrea Vancil was heavily involved in student activities and academic life while at White Station High School in Memphis. Now that work has paid off: Vancil was selected earlier this year for Birmingham-Southern’s highest award to incoming freshmen, the Rushton Scholarship. The award, now in its sixth year as BSC’s preeminent scholarship, honors Col. William James Rushton, a Birmingham insurance executive, and his wife, Elizabeth Perry Rushton. Rushton Scholars receive full tuition and room and board each year, plus a $2,000 annual stipend to be used for summer travel, internships, study abroad programs, or special Vancil projects. Vancil was chosen by a selection committee from national candidates based on her exemplary record of leadership and service. In high school, Vancil was president of the National Honor Society, pianist and saxophonist for the Jazz Band, founder of the school’s Humane Society, varsity cheerleader, and a Drum Corps International color guard member. She also served as an elementary school chess coach for her community and volunteered for library summer reading programs. The daughter of Mark and Lori Vancil, she graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.6. Andrea Vancil is the great-niece of Edna Marie Wakefield ’64. Her grandmother, Ella Frances Wakefield, also attended BSC.

AAICU awards UPS scholarship to Birmingham-Southern senior

LaTonya Owen, a senior at Birmingham-Southern, recently received a $2,400 UPS scholarship provided through the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAICU). Owen is a psychology major and a member of the Psychology Club, Psi Chi international honor society in psychology, and the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society. She is the daughter of Gloria and Michael Owen of Birmingham and the sister of Reginald Owen ’02. The AAICU is a statewide association for private colleges and universities that is affiliated with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). At the national level, the CIC teams up with the UPS Foundation to distribute funding of the UPS scholarship. This year, the CIC awarded nearly $1.5 million in scholarships from its UPS Educational Endowment Fund to private institutions of higher learning across the nation. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of students’ academic achievement and financial need.

Owen fall 2013 / 11 Welcoming the Class of 2017 Newest students arrive on the Hilltop BY PAT COLE This fall, the newborns of 1995 turned into the Class “We are so very excited about the new students we are of 2017. A remarkable 383 new students and transfers welcoming to our BSC family this year,” said Sheri Scholl began their college careers at BSC—representing an Salmon ’85, associate vice president of admission. “The almost 10 percent increase in incoming students from fun part though is watching them grow from move-in the previous fall. day to graduation. BSC will truly change their lives.” The students come from 234 high schools, 26 Following a whirlwind four days of orientation states, and six countries with an average grade-point activities in August, the new students are getting used to average of 3.5. And they are all here to experience the their surroundings and calling the Hilltop home. Here extraordinary education offered at BSC. are some tidbits about the new students and a few scenes from their arrival.

Seeing double—The Class of 2017 includes identical twins Amanda Ready to begin—Move-in Day for and Emily Ballew from new students was celebrated Aug. 24. Hoover and Ashley and The students spent the morning moving Tiffany Leonard from into their residence halls with help from Chepachet, R.I. Both returning BSC students, staff, faculty, and the Leonard twins and administrators and attended an Opening of Amanda play on the School Convocation with their parents that BSC softball team. afternoon. The college’s signature color was in full bloom, from the yellow T-shirts on athletes unloading cars to the water bottles handed out by BSC’s welcoming Tiffany and Ashley Orientation team members. Leonard

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Engage: Service in the City—More than 350 first-year BSC students ventured out into the community on the last day of Fall Orientation to volunteer at 24 sites throughout the Birmingham area, including Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, the Exceptional Foundation, homeless shelters, and food pantries. Service is integrally tied to the mission and ethos of Birmingham-Southern and provides a powerful way to introduce new students to their new city—Birmingham. One group of new students (right) relocated plants to different areas at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to prepare for a plant sale. Senior Jenny Lewis was the group’s orientation leader. Another group (above) visited the Ronald McDonald House, where they cleaned the playground and common room spaces, packaged baked goods, and counted and organized pop tabs. Senior Christie Connolly was the group’s orientation leader. Newest students arrive on the Hilltop

The New Student Convocation kicked things off with students and their families hearing from BSC President Gen. Charles C. Krulak, Provost Mark S. Schantz, Associate Vice President of Admission Sheri Scholl Salmon ’85, and SGA President Raul Gonzalez, among others. The new students proved to be quick studies at BSC traditions, belting out the college’s alma mater during New students gather in front of the Edwards the ceremony. Bell Tower.

fall 2013 / 13 Here’s a look at the new first-year students BY THE NUMBERS

up 5% from last year 1,931 356 27 APPLICATIONS new students transfers BSC

56% 44% 22% MALES FEMALES IDENTIFY as Asian American, Hispanic, African American, Pacific Islander, Native American, or multiracial

BSC’s first-year students entered with a variety family and plays the electric guitar; he also just finished of noteworthy experiences. They are talented, very writing his first novel. Clayton Crawford of Birmingham accomplished academically and athletically, and are wrote, directed, and starred in his own one-man play. givers to their communities. Lukas Isenhart of Goshen, Ky., and Mary Lovelady of For example, Daisa Baker of New York City went to Birmingham each have eight siblings. Turner Collins school on Wall Street. Tracey Vu of Norcross, Ga., has a of Birmingham started a morphsuit team (the full-body love (and talent) for solving the Rubik’s Cube and has spandex costumes popular among hard-core sports fans), won competitions for solving the cube in 30 seconds. while Emily Fleisig of Birmingham is in the Guinness Connor Hayes of Nashville is in a band with his whole Book of World Records for participating in the highest

14 / ’southern Here’s a look at the new first-year students BY THE NUMBERS 3.5 average high school GPA (unweighted) % 1are international (representing six countries) 50% are participating in intercollegiate 50 athletics 26 are ranked in the top 10% of their high school class

states represented (51% from Alabama)

number of pianos to be played simultaneously. Noah public speakers; varsity athletes; SGA presidents; Eagle Rowe of Newnan, Ga., has a second-degree black belt Scouts and Girl Scout Gold recipients; winners of and is a champion martial arts instructor. And Jada numerous civic and community public service awards; Cato of Ellenwood, Ga., sang the national anthem at an and those who have provided military service in this Atlanta Braves game and also performed at the Georgia country and abroad. Governor’s Mansion and in New York. Also within this group are valedictorians; National Merit finalists and Achievement finalists; award-winning participants in music, theatre and dance; champion

fall 2013 / 15 FEATURES

Objects of Affection As they begin their college journey, freshmen bring with them a bit of home BY PAT COLE

College freshmen go through a range of emotions people they’ve shared most of their life with. The objects once they’ve left home. Many are a little nervous, but vary, and each has a story of its own. They lend a bit mostly excited, as they build their feelings of confidence of familiarity to the students’ new surroundings as they and independence. begin their lives at Birmingham-Southern. These new students often bring keepsakes or souvenirs Here are a few freshmen who have brought at least one with them to remind them of fond memories and the thing they just couldn’t leave behind:

MEREDITH BROWNING Hometown: Mobile Major: Undecided, leaning toward English Object: T-shirt blanket “My T-shirt blanket was a high school graduation present from my parents and was made by a family friend. I love it because it represents my life and memories in my hometown of Mobile.”

JONAS HEIDRICH Hometown: Nordhausen, Germany Major: Undecided Object: Guardian angel “›e guardian angel is from my mom, and ever since my birth, it has hung over a picture of me at home. On the last night before I left for college, my mom gave it to me. She told me that I must hang the angel over my bed and he will protect me, even though I am far away from home.”

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President’s Reflections, by Gen. Charles C. Krulak

In my short time at Birmingham- expect to learn and grow and end up Southern, Move-in Day has already ready to face whatever challenges life become one of my favorite days of the throws at them. They’ve already chosen year. to come to a place that promises them a Each fall, it brings me joy to watch real education rather than simple training the newest crop of students start their in a subject. Training is preparation lives on the Hilltop. I love seeing their for the expected, while education is nervousness and excitement—and the preparation for the unexpected, and they same emotions reflected in their parents’ value that distinction. eyes. I love the hugs and energy our staff, What they may not realize is how much faculty, and students greet them with, they’ll learn, not just in their classrooms helping chase the jitters away. There is and from their incredible professors, but so much packed into that first few hours: also on the playing fields, backstage at meeting roommates, finding their way the theatre or recital, at lunch in the Caf, Gen. Krulak welcomes new students and parents personally around campus, learning about their or in a late-night dorm-room heart-to- on Move-in Day. classmates at Convocation, and, finally, heart. They’ll learn from their classmates’ saying goodbye to their families as they diverse backgrounds; they’ll learn while That combination of experiences— turn to focus on their future at BSC. traveling abroad or working in the building on the true character I see in The students know they’re in for the inner-city during Exploration Term; and all our students—is something that they adventure of their lives. they’ll learn from the professionals who can’t get just anywhere. They don’t know What they don’t know—what makes volunteer to be their mentors or give that yet. But by the time they graduate me smile most—is how much their BSC them internships that will guide them on four years from now, they will. And I experience will change them. Sure, they their path. can’t wait.

As you see it—First-year students took part in a fun contest to tap into their photographic genius and become familiar with the campus. Orientation groups were sent out to find objects in the landscape and architecture of their new home that spelled out B-S-C. The best version got a framed copy of their photographic finds. The winner of the contest was Team Black, led by sophomore Sarah Dolmovich.

fall 2013 / 17 FEATURES

JAMEICE HOLMES Hometown: Nashville, Tenn. Major: Biology Object: Hamburger pillow “I got this pillow for my birthday from one of my good friends back home. I couldn’t bear to leave it behind because it’s super comfy, and it’s also the perfect pillow for me because I love food and SpongeBob!”

ALEXANDRA SKENE Hometown: Littleton, Colo. HOLLY JONES Major: Business Hometown: Lenoir City, Tenn. Object: State flag Major: Undecided “›e Colorado flag Object: Teddy bear was given to me as a “My dad gave the teddy bear to my high school graduation mom when they lived in Germany gift. I wanted to bring during his service in the U.S. Army. it to college with me My mom had named it Edwin. to represent my home When I was very young, I found state.” the bear, asked if I could keep it, and gave him a new name: Bobby. Ever since then, Bobby has gone everywhere with me. I couldn’t ERIC CASSIMERE imagine going through this new Hometown: New Orleans experience without him.” Major: Sociology and economics double major Object: Wooden plaque with colored blocks of inspirational words “My freshman English teacher in high school was giving out old class items that she didn’t need anymore, and I decided to take the plaque because it looked pretty neat. She really made an impression on me that year. ›at was a good enough reason for me not to part with it when I moved to Birmingham.”

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Alma matters Twenty-five legacies join Hilltop family as new students

Birmingham-Southern is proud that each year a considerable Dr. Beverlye Brown Mann ’64; Lauren Moran of Huntsville, number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of daughter of Dr. Ellen O’Kelley Moran ’84 and Dr. Stephan alumni are found among the new students who’ve enrolled on Moran ’83; Bailey Phillips of Columbus, Miss., son of Susan the Hilltop. Dillard Phillips ’84 and David Phillips ’84; Elizabeth “Elise” At New Student Move-in-Day in August, the Alumni Office left Pittman of Vestavia Hills, granddaughter of Priss Baughman goodie baskets in the dorm rooms for all incoming children and Pittman ’85; Amanda Pullen of Huntsville, daughter of Mark grandchildren of BSC alums. Pullen ’86 and Sherry Green Pullen ’90; Rebecca Rhea of New students this year fulfilling a family legacy are: Gadsden, granddaughter of Marie Cannon Rhea ’49; Morgan Schneider of Hoover, son of Renee Yeilding Schneider ’86 Meagan Bailey of Huntsville, daughter of Philip Bailey and David Schneider ’85; Bradford Smith of Franklin, Tenn., ’89; Scott Barton of Albertville, son of Dr. Jeffrey Barton ’84; great-grandson of Neil Hanson ’36, Charis Smith of Mountain Savannah Bullard of Montgomery, daughter of Dr. Roy Bullard Brook, granddaughter of Dr. William M. Harris Jr. ’38 and Mary ’83; Peyton Clark of Brookhaven, Miss., son of Dr. Jeff Clark Richardson Harris ’44; India “Alex” Somers of Tuscumbia, ’85; Harper DeWine of Mountain Brook, daughter of Lane step-daughter of Wayne Melvin ’75; Hope Strawn of Gadsden, Jackson DeWine ’86; Christopher Groark of Huntsville, son daughter of Lisa Pate Strawn ’81; Mary-Stewart Wachter of of Sean Groark ’85; Douglass Hubbard of Mountain Brook, Auburn, daughter of Sonya Thomas Wachter ‘86 and Chad grandson of Trent Douglass Caddis ’71 and great-grandson of Wachter ’87; Wesley Walker of Homewood, son of Catherine Florence Nicholson Douglass ’34; Hannah Hudson of Hoover, Gunn Walker ’89 and Clete Walker ’90 and grandson of granddaughter of Dr. C. Nolen Hudson ’60; Tillman Hurst Elizabeth Scruggs Gunn ’60 and Rev. William Gunn ’59; Laine of Decatur, the son of Vernon Hurst ’88; Alex Makarenko of Whitaker of Helena, great-granddaughter of Harris Saunders Jr. Suwanee, Ga., the son of Nik Makarenko ’86; Briana Mann of ’43; and Anna Whitehead of Decatur, Ga., daughter of Robin Kansas City, Mo., granddaughter of Rev. Sam Mann III ’62 and Whitehead ’80.

MEAGAN HAMILTON Hometown: Decatur Major: Business Object: Basketball collection “Basketball is my life, and I felt like if I left my collection at home, I would be missing a huge part of me. I wanted to remember all the good times and accomplishments of my high school basketball career as I start out with the Panthers.”

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e 21st century classroom BSC transforms teaching and learning with innovative uses of technology

BY HANNAH WOLFSON

BSC Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Genell Lewis-Ferrell shares a digital presentation to her Social Studies Methods class on the new InFocus Mondopad (giant tablet computer), taking pre-service teachers on a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

omething weird is happening in new material on their own—often said Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Associate Professor Dr. Heather through online video presentations— Melanie Styers ‘99. “It’s almost the SMeggers-Wright’s psychology class then spend class time in a guided opposite of what we do in the sciences at BSC. You could say it’s been turned exploration of the material via group traditionally, where we talk at them for upside-down. discussion or problem-solving. That’s an hour, then send them home to work The same thing is going on in a change from how many (but not all) with the materials.” biology and physics and education; in professors have traditionally taught: This summer, Styers organized fact, it’s spreading to classes all over introducing the students to new a discussion session for faculty campus as Birmingham-Southern concepts in class, then sending them on classroom flipping. About 20 faculty find new ways to employ the off to practice with the ideas on their professors from across disciplines— latest high-tech pedagogical technique, own through homework. including math, psychology, education, called “flipping the classroom.” “It’s about putting the content and theatre—attended to share ideas Sounds crazy, but flipping really just outside the classroom so students and talk about what has worked for means that students first experience come prepared to do in the class,” them. Much of the discussion centered

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An example of Dr. Meggers-Wright’s class material on YouTube.

on using new technology, especially of her presentations looks like a Many of the students liked it, too, online video streaming, to present PowerPoint presentation, with slides, saying they appreciated being able the out-of-class materials. That’s not with Meggers-Wright down in the to rewind their professor if they a requirement for flipped classrooms, corner talking directly to students and misunderstood something and take but it is a hallmark. It’s also a way to walking them through the 10-minute notes at their own pace. reach young students in a medium mini-lessons. Although it took some “I would suggest this be a continued they’re comfortable with. effort on her part up front, she said, practice. It also allowed for me to Meggers-Wright, for example, it helped the actual course run much learn the material on my own time,” prepared short YouTube videos on more smoothly. one wrote in the class evaluations. “It basics for her students—how to “It ended up being a very, very useful was convenient to be able to pull up conduct a reliability test or create a use of time,” she said. “It cut down on the video as necessary, and not to have conference poster, for example—so me having to run from group to group to wait for help,” another said. they could spend valuable minutes and remind them of things. Instead, Studies at other schools have also in class doing deeper work. Each we had a higher level of discussion.” shown positive results from classroom

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flipped engineering section had higher mid-term exam scores than traditional sections, even though the flipped class took a harder test. Data like that is just one part of why the flipped classroom trend is here to stay. The practice grew out of K-12 classrooms, where teachers are under increasing pressure to reach students with a wide range of abilities in a limited time. “As more and more students grow up with flipped classrooms, they’re going to expect the same when they get to college,” said BSC Associate Professor of Education Dr. Louanne Jacobs. The Mondopad allows Lewis-Ferrell to shift seamlessly from Microsoft’s PowerPoint to “They’re used to experiencing the Internet for a visual field trip. education this way. We have such great teachers here already. This is just flipping. In a large-enrollment engagement and better scores on a about quality teaching.” physics class at Vanderbilt University, multiple choice test than a control Humanities graduates may be a flipped group had increased student group. At San Jose State University, a scratching their heads, as many

What’s a MOOC? A MOOC, not a moose…

If you’ve been anywhere near a college campus lately, you’ve probably heard a conversation about MOOCs, the shorthand for “massive open online courses.” It’s maybe the hottest trend in higher ed, with institutions from MIT to the Museum of Modern Art offering these large, free, online courses, usually not for credit. Many are offered through companies, such as Coursera and Udacity, that organize the infrastructure for the faculty who teach them. Part of the goal of MOOCs is to share the information that often gets locked up in the towers of academe with the rest of the world. Because they’re free and entirely online, a broad range of people can access the classes, even if they

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disciplines Wacom tablets that can be used like a have long whiteboard, or a laptop with a built-in been webcam and special software called structured Camtasia that allows for easy recording this way; alongside videos and also enables after all, you faculty to embed quizzes in their can’t discuss online materials. The IT department a novel in has also bought 10 Camtasia licenses English class without reading it first. to enable faculty to install it on their But for the natural and social sciences, own computers, and would eventually class time is often used to break down like to expand that to every professor difficult new ideas or review concepts. on campus. And even those in the humanities “That said, there are other ways are also finding applications, such as to incorporate the ideas behind a explaining good persuasive writing flipped classroom,” said Jan Pontia, techniques or defining historical terms instructional technologist at BSC. via video. “There’s so much more than just video. To make this wave of the future If you’re just creating video, that’s not readily accessible, BSC has set up flipping a classroom. It’s getting them a battery of equipment for faculty to engage so you can take it to deeper members to try out this year. At the levels in the classroom.” college library, they can check out two Education students listen to an interview by a museum conservator as part of the Smithsonian virtual field trip.

don’t have the financial resources or time to go back to college. Even more, many MOOCs are about creating a new community of learners. Some professors require their POLL: WOULD YOU students, who may be from far-flung corners of the world, to TAKE A BSC MOOC? team up out of class to work on projects, usually via email, online video chat, or social media. Scan the code with your smart Will BSC offer a MOOC? Most likely. Faculty and phone or other device to take administrators are working now to research the best way our online poll. Or go to MOOCs can work for our college. With Olin 205 ready www.bsc.edu/features/mooc. to use this fall (see page 24), BSC professors have the technology to teach online at their fingertips.

fall 2013 / 23 The Mondopad easily converts to a whiteboard for note-taking during class discussions. Trading chalk for circuits—BSC’s bold new classroom

Welcome to the classroom of the future: Olin 205. a professor to share whatever’s on the screen to wireless devices Forget whiteboards—much less chalkboards—or overhead like tablets or laptops, so students can instantly see notes and projectors. The new classroom, built this summer as a pilot information—whether they’re in the room or across an ocean. project to find new ways to deliver classroom content, boasts They can even write on their own tablet and have the data pop four 70-inch high-definition monitors, one with a built-in up on the Mondopad, which also allows for all notes to be saved computer and touchscreen with broadcast capability; two HD and emailed to the entire class for easy reference. cameras, and the server storage and bandwidth to transmit and The other screen allows users to dial in from anywhere in the receive to up to three remote locations at the same time. world and appear in the classroom in high definition—making “This is really going to be something else,” said BSC’s even the hardest-to-book guest lecturers easy to invite. It can president, Gen. Charles C. Krulak. “It opens all kinds of connect up to three different locations at once, and it can also doors for new teaching methods and new opportunities for dial in to a series of live cameras around the world. To test our students and also for potentially bringing in new revenue it out during a recent education class discussion on teaching opportunities. And it really puts Birmingham-Southern out patriotism to elementary schoolers, Dr. Genell D. Lewis-Ferrell front.” asked her students to stand and say the pledge of allegiance. The new Olin 205, built entirely this summer, grew out of “Only let’s not say it right here in Birmingham, let’s say the conversations between the Provost and Information Technology, pledge somewhere else,” she said, pausing for just a moment to as well as research into what other colleges have—or wish they dial into a camera showing an ordinary-looking street scene in had. Washington, D.C. Then she panned the camera up in real time The $80,000 classroom, which seats 70 and is housed in the to focus on the flag flying atop the U.S. Capitol—eliciting gasps building used by the math department, puts BSC in the position of amazement and excitement from the class. to produce or receive content as part of the Associated Colleges The options for using the new classroom are almost endless, of the South’s blended learning initiative, which is encouraging organizers say. As well as getting BSC ready for blended ACS schools to share courses across the 16 campuses. Down the learning and the ACS initiative, Olin 205 can also be used by road, Birmingham-Southern students could take advantage of a faculty who want to flip their classrooms (see page 20) or for senior Chinese course at Rollins, or a student at Sewanee could videoconferencing for guest lecturers, meetings, and interviews. take a class in Urban Environmental Studies at BSC. Faculty and administrators are also looking into the possibility To start with, there are two screens at the front of the room of using it to offer summer school courses to students who may and two in the back, plus cameras pointed in both directions. want to take classes without living on campus. That means a faculty member can teach a group of BSC And it’s just the beginning. Krulak said there are already plans students on-site and have both the professor’s and the students’ to build four more high-tech classrooms across the campus. interactions instantly transmitted to, say, students at a peer “This is going to enable us to do remarkable things,” he said. institution eager to cross-enroll in a BSC course. “We’re going to learn a lot from other schools about how best to One of the front screens is actually an Infocus Mondopad, take advantage of it, but we know already that we can enhance which operates like a giant iPad with a touchscreen. It’s one of what professors do in the classroom and attract more students to the first Mondopads in use on a college campus, and it allows campus. Olin 205 is just the beginning.”

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Kopkin

Busby Panther Partnerships MENTOR ING PR OGRAM Intensive mentoring program pairs BSC juniors with local professionals BY HANNAH WOLFSON

As Brooks Busby entered his junior is to eventually make mentorships Appleton has worked to restructure year at Birmingham-Southern, he available to all Birmingham-Southern the board to re-focus it on providing knew he was on the right track. As a juniors. internships and other real-world business major, he was learning the “This is such an important program,” opportunities for BSC students. The skills he’d need after graduation. As said Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, BSC’s board now has seven committees— a soccer player, he was mastering former chief of staff, who founded— each with a faculty or staff advisor— discipline and leadership. And yet, he and generously sponsored—Panther focused on connecting students to felt like something was still missing: a Partnerships. “It’s a way to give our experiences in their fields of interest, mentor. students something they can’t get in including health care, law, education, “I wanted to have a mentor who the classroom: hands-on, one-on-one business, engineering, the non-profit could give me an idea of where I stood advice tailored to their pre-professional world, and fine arts. as a college student, could point out what I needed to work on, and also I have gotten more out of the mentor program than I might help me find some contacts ever planned on getting. My mentor helped focus me for a job after college,” said Busby, a Homewood native who’s now a senior. and pointed out my strengths and weaknesses so I “My mom has been my mentor my would know exactly what to work on. And I know it’s entire life, and sometimes it’s good to hear something from someone who a relationship that will continue.. BROOKS BUSBY hasn’t known you since birth.” He found just what he was looking needs. And it gets them ready to land “As soon as I came to BSC, I realized for in BSC’s new Panther Partnerships on their feet when they graduate.” the Norton Board was unique to this Mentoring Program, which began last Panther Partnerships is also a sign of college and had remarkable potential,” year under the auspices of the college’s the revitalization of the Norton Board, said BSC’s president, Gen. Charles Norton Board of Advisors. Busby was a group of some 250 professionals C. Krulak. “Now we’re finding a way one of just 10 students in the first year committed to helping Birmingham- to harness that strength to give our pilot of the program. This fall, 26 Southern and its students. This students direct access to the kinds of students have signed up, and the hope summer, current Chief of Staff Russ hands-on experiences they need to

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I set three goals—improving my résumé, working on my interviewing skills, and landing an internship—and we managed to do them all. It’s just so beneficial to have that help and to have somebody prepare me for life beyond college. MEGAN KOPKIN

become the professionals of tomorrow through their mentors. paid off,” said Megan Kopkin, who and the day after tomorrow.” Part of the reason for the success last year was paired with Birmingham Indeed, the national higher of the program, Flaherty-Goldsmith physician Dr. Greg Banks. Kopkin was education consulting firm Art & said, is that students and their mentors skeptical at first; after all, how much Science, which worked with BSC sign a contract committing them to could she, a psychology major, learn last year to analyze the needs of certain responsibilities. The pairs must from an OB/GYN? But she was quickly prospective students, singled out meet at least once a month; in the first convinced when Dr. Banks helped her the Norton Board as something session, they must lay out concrete polish her résumé and interviewing very special, calling it “central to goals for the year. There are also four skills and helped her land a summer the professional side of the BSC program seminars on topics such placement shadowing a doctor in experience.” The Norton Board as résumé writing, networking, and the psychiatry ward at Brookwood members, along with BSC’s prime interviewing skills, as well as kickoff Hospital—a position previously location in Birmingham, make it easy and closing receptions. reserved for medical students. to connect students with mentors in “The thing that impressed me most “I do not think I would have gotten a wide range of fields. During last about it was there was a clear set of this opportunity at another school,” year’s pilot, students were matched expectations on the mentee,” said Kopkin said. “This is so personalized with lawyers, doctors, financial experts, Colin Coyne, managing principal of and in touch with the students at BSC. business leaders, and others; several the Coyne Group and Busby’s mentor. At a larger school, I don’t think they landed summer jobs or internships “It’s a lot of work, but the investment would have the resources to do it.”

My mentor and I talked about strategies that would help me get into law school and just generally showed me the path. Most importantly, he was just there to help me and to talk to me whenever I had questions.

RAUL GONZALEZ Gonzalez

26 / ’southern Grills and gridiron Celebrate game day with these tailgating recipes from BSC alumni, parents, and staff BY PAT COLE At Birmingham-Southern, like so many other college These days, the menu goes way beyond hotdogs and campuses across the country, tailgating is a joyful scene. hamburgers. Game day revelers serve everything from Fans arrive early, setting up their grills and temporary boiled shrimp and pork tenderloin to casseroles and kitchens on the grass and pavement for a half-day cornbread. celebration of football and feasting. Some use tents and We asked members of the BSC family to share a few of tables and others use blankets, but the goal is the same: their go-to recipes for game days. Thanks to all of you to enjoy some good food with friends and family in the who submitted recipes! great outdoors.

Amanda Atkinson BSC purchasing coordinator

TOUCHDOWN FOOTBALL DIP Yields 20 servings 1 lb. ground 1 lb.beef ground sausage 1 package taco seasoning 1 small jar salsa 1 large block of Velveeta cheese Cook ground beef and ground sausage together in a skillet. Drain grease. Place in crockpot. Add taco seasoning and salsa. Cut Velveeta into cubes and add to crockpot. Cook on low until all cheese is melted completely. Eat with your favorite tortilla chips.

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Katie Welsh Shelton ’10 of Birmingham

HOT CORN DIP Yields 10-15 servings

1 15 oz. can white corn, drained 1 15 oz. can yellow corn, drained 1 can Rotel tomato and green chiles, drained (we prefer hot Rotel) 8 oz. cream cheese, diced and softened 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. garlic powder Chopped cilantro to taste

Combine all ingredients in an oven-proof dish. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

Jana Hill of Decatur Parent of BSC junior and football player Ty Keenum

BUFFALO WING DIP Yields 10-12 servings 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature 1/2 cup ranch dressing 1/2 cup hot sauce (we prefer Frank’s Red Hot Sauce) 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 2 12.5 oz. cans chicken Mix all ingredients together and bake at 350° for about 20-30 minutes. Serve with corn or tortilla chips.

Mary Catherine Richardson Phillips ’98 of Montgomery

FETA CHEESE GREEN BEANS Yields 20 servings 2 28 oz. cans of cut green beans 2 4 oz. containers of feta cheese 1 bottle of Ken’s sundried tomato salad dressing Empty drained green beans into 9 x 13 casserole dish. Generously pour dressing over beans. Sprinkle feta cheese and mix well. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

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Zandi Krulak BSC First Lady

CHILI Yields 6-8 servings 2 15 oz. cans kidney beans 2 large onions, sliced or cut in large chunks 2 green peppers, chopped 2 lbs. ground chuck 2 small cans whole tomatoes, drained 1 16 oz. can tomato sauce 3 tbsp. chili powder 2 tsp. salt 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp. vinegar 2 tbsp. sugar 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 dashes paprika 3 dashes tabasco sauce Brown the onion, green pepper, and chuck before adding the other ingredients. Simmer 2-3 hours. Put chili on top of Fritos corn chips and then place the following ingredients on top in the following order: shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream.

Melia and Trey Corcoran of Trussville, Ala. Parents of BSC senior and football player Cory Corcoran

PORK TENDERLOIN Yields 10-15 servings Whole pork tenderloin 1/4 cup lemon pepper 1 cup Moore’s seasoning 1/2 cup hot sauce (we prefer Texas Pete) 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup Sear the tenderloin on all sides and butterfly it down the middle. Pour seasoning mixture down the center of the tenderloin, then wrap in heavy duty tin foil and let it cook from the beginning of the game until about the end of the 3rd quarter. Take it off, let it cool, and slice it up. You can put it on dinner rolls and use the jus sauce on the sandwich, or eat it plain.

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e Hansard family (from left): Austin, Wesley, Cherie, Matt, and Darrell. Photo by Cari Dean

Cherie Hansard of Cumming, Ga. Parent of BSC juniors Wesley and Austin Hansard and BSC senior Matt Hansard (all three are on the football team!)

PASTA SALAD WITH GRILLED CHICKEN Yields 6 servings 1 box tri-color pasta 6 grilled chicken tenders 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 small can sliced black olives (drained) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise 3 tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. white vinegar Morton Nature’s Seasoning (the secret ingredient!) Cook pasta according to directions on the box and drain well. In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, and vinegar, and whisk together. Add pasta, onion, bell peppers, and olives and stir well. Fold in chopped grilled chicken and parmesan cheese (a pound of peeled grilled shrimp is a great substitute for chicken). Season to your taste with Nature’s Seasoning and cover and chill. Excellent when made the day before, so there’s no work to do on game day!

Valorie Cooper ’88 of Talladega, Ala.

COMPANY CORNBREAD Yields 8-10 servings 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar + plain soy milk to equal 1 cup OR 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tbsp. baking powder 1 tbsp. granulated sugar 1 tsp. onion powder 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/3 cup canola oil 1-1/2 cups frozen yellow corn niblets Place apple cider vinegar in glass measuring cup and add plain soy milk to equal 1 cup (or use a cup of buttermilk). Stir and let stand 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Spray a 9-inch round cast iron skillet generously with cooking spray and heat 3-5 minutes in the oven until hot. In a large bowl, mix together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, onion powder, and sea salt. Stir in oil, milk, and corn niblets just until combined. Pour batter into heated skillet and bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before cutting. *For Mexican cornbread, add 4 oz. chopped green chiles and 1/2 cup chopped jalapenos with the corn. Can easily be baked in a muffin tin rather than a skillet for easier tailgate serving; great at room temperature and with fried chicken or BBQ!

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Susie Talbert of Harvest, Ala. Parent of BSC senior and football player Grant Talbert

TAILGATE CAVIAR Yields 16 servings 1 can each of black-eyed peas without the pork and black beans, drained and rinsed 1 small can white shoepeg corn, drained 1 green pepper, chopped 1 tbsp. cilantro 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 large firm tomato, chopped 1 bottle of Italian salad dressing (fat free works well, too) 4 green onions, chopped 1 small onion, chopped Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss lightly. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 10 hours. Serve with your favorite chips or scoops.

Edward Forrester ’79 of Franklin, Tenn.

GRILLED DONUTS Krispy Kreme glazed donuts (even slightly stale will work fine) Ice cream Place the donuts over the dying embers of your grill or low setting on a gas grill. Grill until the sugar bubbles then flip to the other side. When that side is ready, allow to cool on a plate. Fill hole with ice cream and enjoy.

fall 2013 / 31 ALUMNI AFFAIRS

New National Alumni Association president wants fellow BSC alums to stay involved

When Brent Yarborough is passionate about something, he’s always ready to go the extra mile. He spends long hours at work with the Birmingham creditors’ rights firm of Zarzaur & Schwartz PC, but he loves the personal satisfaction he gets. The same applies to his alma mater. Since graduating from Cornell Law School, Yarborough, who graduated from BSC in 1997 with a degree in religion, has stayed in close contact with the college, serving on the alumni board and getting involved with the BSC Lawyers Club. He joined the alumni board as vice president of the chapter and affinity programs in 2009 and became president-elect in 2012. This June, Yarborough stepped into his new role as national alumni association president. Now, he hopes to inspire other alums to connect with BSC and to encourage their peers to get more engaged. Though his term is only a year, he and the board have come up with a vision for what they want to accomplish. “We intend to involve more alumni volunteers in our chapter and affinity groups, as well as in our reunion committees,” Yarborough says. “We’re also looking at how to better utilize technology and social media to inform alumni of events and opportunities to get involved with the college.” Yarborough says he wants alumni to know there are more ways to participate beyond just giving to the Annual Fund and attending Homecoming/Reunion, including mentoring students and recent graduates, providing internships, and talking about BSC with potential applicants. As a student at Birmingham-Southern, Yarborough threw himself into campus life. His activities included the Honors and Leadership Studies programs and Student Government Association. He also served as BSC chapter coordinator for Habitat for Humanity. “Birmingham-Southern played an enormous role in helping me determine my career path and molding me into the person I’ve become,” he says. “I have so many great memories of the college, especially my interim term trips to Israel and Greece my junior and senior years.” As president of the alumni association, Yarborough is poised to build that same feeling of BSC pride in more than 16,000 alums worldwide. “The college has faced many challenges over the past few years, but we are meeting them head on, thanks to the leadership of our president, Gen. Charles C. Krulak, and others,” Yarborough says. “But we can’t rest on our laurels. We have to keep on moving forward in terms of giving generously to the college, staying involved and engaged, helping bring in more new students, and helping graduates succeed.” Yarborough practices what he counsels, staying connected and giving every year to the BSC Annual Fund. “We have to do these things not only to maintain the integrity and prestige of our own degrees, but to honor the institution that helped mold us into what we’ve become,” he says. “We owe so much to Birmingham-Southern, and I encourage all alumni to step up and make a difference in the college’s future.”

2013-14 Alumni Association Executive Board members announced

The BSC Alumni Board is composed of a diverse group of people who volunteer their time, talents, and resources to serve as leaders and advisors within the alumni community on behalf of the mission of the college. Brent Yarborough ’97 of Birmingham is the new president of the BSC Alumni Association. Other members of the Alumni Executive Board are:

President-Elect: Christine Wenning Lambert ’86, VP/Advancement: Roger Ball ’03, Birmingham Birmingham VP/Enrollment: Mike Chappell ’82, Huntsville Past President: Terry Smiley ’94, VP/Marketing and Communications: Vicki Van Valkenburgh ’88, Birmingham Birmingham VP/Chapter and Affinity Programs: Mallie Searcy Hale ’07, VP/Reunion and Class Activities: Audrey Ann Prude Wilson ’68, Decatur Birmingham VP/Service and Outreach: Craig Langford ’00, VP/Athletics: Rodney Barganier ’94, Birmingham Washington, D.C. Chair/Young Alumni Council: Rebecca Beers ’04, Birmingham

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Future lawyers meet and greet

The BSC Birmingham Lawyers’ Club and the restaurant Veranda on Highland hosted a Social and Summer Send-Off in July for Birmingham-Southern graduates entering or returning to law school in the fall. Almost 30 were in attendance, including new and recent graduates (front row, l to r): Stephanie Gossett ’11, Jennifer Commander Gray ’12, and Anna Davis ’12; (back row) Art Richey ’09, Mary McDaniel ’12, and Ben Odendahl ’11.

Help us find BSC legacies!

Birmingham-Southern College has a long tradition of welcoming generations of families to our campus. We are so proud of our “legacies”—the children, step-children and grandchildren of our BSC alumni—and we hope they decide to follow in their families’ footsteps to the Hilltop when they make their college decision. We want more of our legacies to experience the life-changing Birmingham-Southern traditions that our graduates experienced as students. While we do our best to keep up with our legacies, we need your help. If you are the parent, step- parent or grandparent of a future BSC student, or if you know a BSC legacy, please complete the form at www.bsc.edu/alumni/form-prosleg.cfm. We want to make sure they get lots of BSC love and attention! Also, if you would like information about visits to the BSC campus for legacies, go to www.bsc.edu/admission/visit.cfm. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Lisa Harrison MPPM ’85, director of alumni affairs, at [email protected], or (205) 226-4912.

bsc legacies fall 2013 / 33 ALUMNI AFFAIRS

All-new format and new members announced for Young Alumni Council

Now in its fourth year, the BSC Young Alumni Council (YAC) is growing into a valuable resource for the college and for young Birmingham-Southern graduates. For the first time this year, the Alumni Affairs Office asked prospective members of the council (young alumni who’ve graduated in the last 10 years) to apply through an online form. Twenty-three general members were chosen from among the outstanding applicants (nine were founding members), 10 regional members were added, and 32 at-large members were named. To maintain consistency while the new format of the council is being developed and introduced, Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient Rebecca Beers ’04 was once again tapped to serve as YAC chair. A chair-elect will be named to shadow Beers and assume leadership next year. “I am honored to be leading BSC’s Young Alumni Council in my last year of being a ‘young’ alum,” Beers says. “We were overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of some 70 outstanding young alumni from Alabama and across the country—even internationally—who applied to join the council.” Beers said that the enthusiasm and dedication of the new YAC indicates that Birmingham-Southern has a dynamic and bright future ahead. “The new council is committed to ensuring that future BSC students will have an experience on the Hilltop that was just as rewarding and life-changing as their own,” she adds. “We have an exciting year of events planned for our young alums, and we are confident that the leadership of this group will raise our young alumni engagement to an unprecedented level.”

2013-14 YAC MEMBERS

Rebecca Beers ’04* – Chair *denotes founding member of YAC

Brittany Arias ’13 Nikki George ’05 Wilson Nash ’07* Andrew Bailey ’12 Jennifer Damian Hamrick ’06 Neal NeSmith ’10 Nancy Williams Ball ’04* Adam Israel ’06* Benjamin Odendahl ’11 Kristen Prince Brasher ’05 Emily Duggan Israel ’06* James Randolph ’10 Christopher Daniel ’08 Brett Janich ’10 Ashley Rhea ’11 Catherine Cummings Davidson ’09 Kelsey Grissom Johnson ’06 Zachary Richards ’13 Anna Davis ’12 Ben Lewellyn ’08 Danielle Ridgeway ’06* Stephen Denton ’13 Chad Long ’05* Herdon Rouse ’09 Laura Saliba Ellis ’05* Clay Malcolm ’11 Jeanie Sleadd ’09 Justin Fargason ’09 Brent Martina ’07 Katie Wilson ’08 Shema Mbyirukira ’05*

REGIONAL MEMBERS AT-LARGE MEMBERS

Casey Daniel ’07 – Boston Colin Alexander ’13 Lee Hopf ’11 Cole Rudder ’13 Susan Fant ’09 – Gadsden Brandon Bates ’05 Collin Janich ’13 Alexa Ruiz ’13 Elizabeth Mitchell Jones ’04 – Mobile Brittany Berkopec ’13 John McCarty ’08 Simone Schicker ’11 Rob NeSmith ’11 – Washington, D.C. John Boutwell ’09 Mandy McDaniel ’13 Michael Speigle ’09 Michael Popwell ’12 – Franklin, Tenn. Will Breland ’11 Alex Miller ’13 Lindsey Horton Sway ’07 Sunday Vanderver ’04 – New York City Devan Byrd ’13 Laura Moore ’13 Grace Sweeney ’11 Ellie Walker ’08 – Atlanta Christianna Denelsbeck ’13 Cal NeSmith ’07 David Talley, IV ’09 Anne Wood ’13 – Huntsville Faith Dorn ’12 Kristen Sornsin Osborne ’07 Daniel Wiggins ’13 Jessica Wood ’05 – Millington, Tenn. Jordan Duchock Goad ’08 Stephen Palmer ’05 Zaki Yazdi ’12 Nino Christopher Yu Tiamco ’13 – Chicago Emily Godsey ’08 Leslie Brown Plaia ’08 Rebecca Kornegay Yeager ’06 Chryseis Griffin ’06 Brent Pritchard ’04

34 / ’southern PHILANTHROPY

BSC alumni, parents, and friends contribute to another successful Annual Fund year

Thank you BSC alumni, parents, and friends! By the end of the last fiscal year, May 31, 2013, you gave more than $1.8 million to the Annual Fund, providing scholarship and academic program support for students and meeting the day-to-day needs of the college.

The alumni giving percentage increased another 2% last year, from 34% last fiscal year to 36%. That means that in two short years, our participation has made an astounding leap from 28% to 36%. This enthusiastic support from the BSC family played a significant role in our favorable accreditation review and showed our community how much BSC alumni care about their alma mater.

raised! c $1.8 million c as of May 31, 2013

36 34 28 2011 2012 2013

An increase of 8 percentage points from 2011 to 2013

e Annual Fund goals for this fiscal year, which ends on May 31, 2014, are to:

$2m 40% Raise at least $2 million from Reach an alumni giving alumni, parents, and friends percentage of at least 40%

Your gift to the Annual Fund supports a great BSC education for today’s students and provides the revenue necessary to meet the college’s daily needs. To make your annual gift to Birmingham-Southern, please go online to the secure giving site at www.bsc.edu/egiving, or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (205) 226-4909. Forward, Ever!

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Whetstone

The IRA Rollover Good Tool for a Great Idea

Dr. Bob Whetstone ’55 joined the BSC faculty in 1963 and has been giving back for more than 50 years. Inspired by Dean Cecil Abernethy’s encouragement and investment in improving his own classroom performance, Whetstone decided that he wanted to guarantee funds each year to support professional development for promising young faculty. Making a great idea even better, Whetstone took advantage of a tax law allowing donors who are 70 ½ or older to make a direct gift to Birmingham-Southern from their IRAs. That IRA rollover gift endowed the Bob Whetstone Faculty Development Award and ensured that the award will continue in perpetuity. (For more on this year’s Whetstone Award winner, see page 9.)

• What is an IRA rollover gift? As part of the fiscal cliff law, Congress reauthorized the IRA rollover for 2013. Anyone 70 ½ or older can make a charitable gift of up to $100,000 from an IRA. Your gift will qualify for your 2013 required minimum distribution, and you will not have to pay federal income tax on the amount given to BSC from your IRA.

• How do you make an IRA rollover gift to BSC? Simply contact your custodian and choose an amount to be directly transferred to BSC. Your gift could be $1,000, $10,000, $50,000, or even $100,000. You may want to support the Annual Fund, scholarships, faculty salaries, or the library. Or, like Bob Whetstone, you might already have a great idea that needs funding! An IRA rollover is an easy and effective way to make a significant gift to BSC.

• Questions?

Contact Martha Hamrick Boshers, assistant vice president for institutional advancement at (205) 226-4978 or [email protected].

36 / ’southern PHILANTHROPY

Late alumnus leaves $2.2 million endowment to BSC

In life, Buford Bowen ’30 was a he chose to continue his legacy of generous donor to his alma mater, generosity to ‘Southern.” setting up a scholarship in his family’s Bowen graduated from the college name and helping build the SAE with a B.A. in business administration. house. In his death, Bowen has made In 1939, he began working as a an enormous impact, contributing an stockbrocker with Fenner & Bean; he endowed trust of $2.2 million to the left that job in 1943 to serve in the college. U.S. Army during World War II. When “Mr. Bowen was a wonderful man, the war ended in 1945, Bowen was and he has made a wonderful gift discharged as a lieutenant commander that will give and began working at Merrill Lynch in students who Jacksonville, Fla. He retired after 37 might not years of service. otherwise be Buford outlived two wives and his able to afford only child, who died in a car accident it access to a when he was 8. He died in 2004; his transformative third wife, Beckwith Lockwood Bowen, BSC died this year, which released his education,” estate’s planned gift to the college. said BSC’s The Buford L. Bowen Family president, Scholarship Fund will be held in Gen. Charles trust in perpetuity, and will generate C. Krulak. “We approximately $110,000 a year for the are so thankful college to distribute. Bowen Bowen during his service in WWII

BSC hires new director of corporate and foundation relations

John Sweeney, an experienced development professional, is BSC’s new director of corporate and foundation relations. He began his position in August. In his new role, Sweeney is responsible for maintaining relationships with private foundations and corporations that support the college. In addition, he submits detailed grant requests to foundations. He previously served as state director for the Arthritis Foundation’s Southeast region, and as regional director for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama. “As a strong believer and product of a liberal arts education, I believe in the greatness of BSC,” said Sweeney, who moved to Birmingham in 2000 from Oxford, Miss. “There’s a wonderful history to this college, and I am excited to be a part of the legacy of BSC going forward.” A graduate of Millsaps College, Sweeney earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University.

Sweeney

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Coaching for gold BY PAT COLE Goldfarb leads Maccabi USA Open Men’s Soccer Team to historic win

After spending nearly a month overseas, BSC’s In the past 76 years of the World Maccabiah longtime Head Men’s Soccer Coach Preston Goldfarb Games, no USA open men’s soccer team had ever arrived back on campus in August, and he brought won the gold. The 1981 and 2005 teams made it the global spotlight with him. to the finals, but lost in the championship games. Goldfarb led the USA to its first-ever gold medal This was Goldfarb’s third time coaching in the in open men’s soccer at the World Maccabiah Games games, having led Team USA at the 18th World in Israel, held July 17-30. The team won behind tie- Maccabiah Games in 2009 and the Maccabi Australia breaking penalty kicks over international powerhouse International Games in 2010. Argentina. Tryouts for this year’s open men’s soccer team “It is very hard to explain in words just how truly began in Los Angeles last December. Goldfarb special this team is,” Goldfarb wrote on his team’s was on hand to help evaluate the talent for the blog after the historic win. “I’ve had the good fortune field, which ranges from pre-college students of coaching some incredible players, teams, and to professional players. Twenty athletes and 10 people over my long career, but I have never been alternates were selected. with any group that made me as proud or as honored “When we all met for the first time on July 7 in Tel to coach them as this team.” Aviv, I told the team to dare to dream the impossible, Thousands of Jewish athletes from around so they can achieve the possible,” Goldfarb says. the globe gather in Israel every four years for the “I told them to leave their egos at the door, and Olympic-style Maccabiah Games, the third-largest fortunately, they all bought in to my philosophy sporting event in the world. This year’s games had about how we would operate as one. I did not a record with 78 countries competing; 17 countries want to have ‘best players,’ but a team that was the participated in the men’s open division for soccer. superstar. Only three of the athletes had ever played

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Coaching for gold Goldfarb leads Maccabi USA Open Men’s Soccer Team to historic win

Photos courtesy of Howie Rowling

together. We only had 10 training sessions to get on was buried by U.S. team members. the same page.” “It was incredible,” he says. “There were so many tears The U.S. team went 2-1 in group play in the first of joy; I had tears in my eyes. This was their moment— round of this year’s tournament, losing to Uruguay, being the first. It still hasn’t really sunk in with me yet.” but rallied with defeats of Denmark and Mexico to “Before the final round against Argentina, I told them move to the quarterfinals. I did not want to talk about the game, but rather about “After the loss, our backs were against the wall,” life,” Goldfarb notes. “It’s very rare in one’s life that they Goldfarb continues. “We had to win every game by get a chance to do something no one else has ever done, five or more goals and then we had to beat Mexico in and make history doing it.” our last group game to advance to the quarterfinals. Goldfarb, who now holds more than 31 years of soccer And we were playing against some very good teams. coaching experience at the NAIA and NCAA levels, was But that loss gave us the impetus to win. We dared to elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2000. He says dream the impossible.” he has had an incredible experience at the Maccabiah The team shut out Germany 7-0 in the quarterfinals Games, but is ready to retire. to move to the semifinals, where they defeated “This year’s games have been the highlight of my life,” Canada 5-0. That advanced them to the final game says Goldfarb. “And it is a fitting end to my Maccabi against Argentina, which was held at Givat Ram Field USA career.” in Jerusalem on July 29. After 90 minutes of play, Visit the team’s blog page at http://pgoldfarb.blogspot. the game was tied at 2-2 and went into 30 minutes of com. overtime. After two scoreless 15-minute overtimes, the U.S. team won it 4-3 on penalty kicks. Goldfarb ran onto the field after the victory and

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Senior Women’s Administrator and Head Women’s Tennis Coach Ann Dielen (far left) and Athletics Director Joe Dean Jr. (far right) with the 2013 Larry D. Striplin Athletes of the Year: Tiarra Goode, Robert Willett, and Taylor Bassett (photo by Jimmy Mitchell).

Bassett, Goode, Willett named Athletes of the Year at annual awards banquet

Birmingham-Southern held its annual Athletic Awards Banquet in May and named the 2013 Newcomers, Athletes, Teams, and Man and Woman of the Year, as well as the Johnny Johnson Most Inspirational Senior Student Athletes. Junior sprinter Tiarra Goode and sophomore softball player Taylor Bassett were named Co-Larry D. Striplin Female Athletes of the Year, while senior runner Robert Willett was named Larry D. Striplin Male Athlete of the Year. BSC’s Athlete of the Year awards were named in honor of late benefactor Larry D. Striplin ’52, a member of the college’s Board of Trustees and the BSC Sports Hall of Fame, who passed away last year at the age of 82. Goode, who was also the Female Athlete of the Year in 2012, won three SAA individual titles at the 2013 Track & Field Championships and qualified for the national championship in La Crosse, Wis. Bassett was the 2013 SAA Softball Player of the Year after leading the nation in home runs and breaking the BSC career home run record as a sophomore. Willett was also a three-time SAA champion at the SAA Championship and won the NCAA Division III men's outdoor 800-meter national championship in La Crosse. (Read more about their accomplishments on page 42.) Freshmen Sara Cohen of women's tennis and Hannah Busk of swimming and diving were Co-Female Newcomers of the Year, and swimmer Duncan Bonney was the Male Newcomer of the Year. Cohen was 11-1 in singles and 10-2 in doubles play this year and was undefeated against SAA opponents. Busk was the SAA Swimmer of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, as was Bonney on the men's side. The Johnny Johnson Most Inspirational Senior Student-Athlete awards went to Raeann Lamere of women's tennis and Andrew Huffman of men's lacrosse. The Johnny Johnson Award is named for the late vice president for business and finance at Birmingham-Southern who was an avid supporter of BSC athletics. The BSC Man and Woman of the Year—new awards this year—were seniors Shelby Moore of volleyball and track and field, and Blaise White of men's basketball. Moore was First-Team All-Conference in 2011 and 2012, and is also an All- Conference athlete in track and field. White was the 2012 and 2013 conference Defensive Player of the Year. BSC also named its Teams of the Year, giving the award to football, women's soccer, and women's golf. Football and women’s soccer were SAA regular-season champions, while women's golf earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship.

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Naming rights—When Panther fans arrived for the first home football game of the season Sept. 14, they watched the team play on the newly named Battle Field at Panther Stadium. This summer, the college honored the contributions of University of Alabama Athletics Director Bill Battle III to BSC’s athletics program. He is just one member of the Battle family who has served and/or supported Birmingham-Southern for many years. His father, the late William Raines Battle Jr. ’30, was BSC’s athletics director from 1952-74 and a professor of physical education; he was inducted into the inaugural class of the BSC Sports Hall of Fame program in 1981, and the coliseum on campus is named in his honor. Other members of the Battle family with Birmingham-Southern ties include the late Dr. Jean Allen Battle ’36, a longtime educator and the first dean of the College of Education at the University of South Florida; the late Laurie Battle ’34, BSC Sports Hall of Fame member and four-term U.S. representative from Alabama; and Mary Virginia Battle Mudd, who attended BSC from 1943-44.

FALL/WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULES ARE ONLINE

Visit www.bscsports.net and click the links for football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball or navigate to those sports pages. Check frequently for stats, rosters, live streams, and more as the fall sports season continues. ‚e basketball season opens Nov. 15 with the men playing at home against Spalding University of Louisville, Ky.

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the 100-meter dash with a mark of 12.29 seconds, and eighth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.11 seconds. Sherrill placed fourth in the javelin with a mark of 65.44 meters, and Ballard was 18th in the nation with a distance of 57.50 meters. Goode and Willett earned All-American honors again, with Goode qualifying as an All-American in all three of her Goode (Courtesy of Jimmy Mitchell) Willett (Courtesy of Frank Poulin) events, one of only 15 student athletes in the nation to do Track and field runner brings home national championship; so. Sherrill was also named an All-American after his fourth- adds to banner year for program place finish. Goode went on to earn USTFCCCA Regional The Birmingham-Southern the 60-meter hurdles in 8.61 Ballard, a junior, and Aaron Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete track and field teams competed seconds to place second after Sherrill, a senior, who both of the Year honors, and Ballard, in seven indoor meets and eight winning the national title in the qualified in the javelin throw. Sherrill, and Willett were named regular season outdoor meets same event last season. She also All posted marks high enough to the USTFCCCA All-Academic this past spring, leading up placed third in the 60-meter to earn berths to the NCAA Team. to the 2013 Southern Athletic dash, earning All-America Division III Outdoor National “Having a family of student- Association Championship, accolades for both events. Championship held in La athletes who are willing to raise where the Panthers won seven Willett ran the 800-meters in Crosse, Wis., May 24-25. Willett the bar each year with their individual conference titles and 1:50.6, also finishing second, brought home the national unwavering desire to be the best medaled in 22 events. and was named Regional crown in the 800-meters, BSC’s in the conference, region, and At the conclusion of the Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of third national championship the nation makes me proud to indoor season, senior Robert the Year by the U.S. Track and at the Division III level, after be their head coach,” said BSC Willett and junior Tiarra Field/Cross Country Coaches posting a time of 1:49.95. Cross Country/Track And Field Goode repeated as NCAA Association (USTFCCCA) for Goode, who also won the Coach Kenneth Cox. “We have Division III All-Americans, his efforts. 100-meter hurdles national title experienced amazing growth placing second in their events Goode and Willett returned last season, qualified nationally each year, and I still believe that at the NCAA Indoor National to the national stage at the in three events, finishing second the best is yet to come for BSC’s Championship in Naperville, end of the outdoor season, in the 100-meter hurdles with a cross country/track and field Ill., on March9. Goode ran along with teammates Hank time of 14.24 seconds, third in program.”

Casey Kear tapped to lead BSC men’s lacrosse program

Birmingham-Southern has hired Casey Kear as head coach of its men’s lacrosse program. “We are very pleased to have Casey leading our men’s lacrosse program,” said Joe Dean, BSC director of athletics.“ He has been extremely successful as both a player and coach during his career, and we feel he is the right person to take our program to the national level.” Kear had been an assistant men’s lacrosse coach at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., since 2006. His main responsibility was coordinating the defense, along with recruiting. Kear coached two NCAA All-Americans at FMC and helped lead the Diplomats to top-20 national Kear rankings in each of the past three seasons and 21 total wins in the last two seasons. He is a 2006 graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, where he majored in history. He played varsity lacrosse there, helping lead the Great Danes to the America East championships in 2004 and 2005. Prior to SUNY Albany, he attended Herkimer County Community College, winning the 2003 Junior College National Championship; before that he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 2001-03. Kear has also helped direct Tom Cavallaro’s All-Star Lacrosse Camps in Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Texas over the past five years. 42 / ’southern CLASSNOTES

ClassNotes

’51 Charles Wesley’s Views for the The North Georgia Annual Twenty-First Century. Kimbrough Conference of the United is a Research Fellow of the Center Methodist Church, in partnership for Studies in the Wesleyan with The Foundation for Tradition of Duke Divinity School, Evangelism, presented its 2013 founder of The Charles Wesley Harry Denman Evangelism Award Society, and editor of its annual for unusual and outstanding efforts journal. He has taught on major to Rev. Richard Hunter. Hunter theological faculties in the U.S. is currently appointed at Sugar Hill and abroad. Kimbrough is also an UMC in Buford, Ga. He graduated internationally known baritone, and from Emory University’s Candler his newest CD, Die Jahreszeiten/ School of Theology and received a The Seasons (German folk songs), Doctor of Ministry degree from the was just released by VMS Records. University of Chicago’s McCormick Theological Seminary. He was ’59 ordained an elder in 1985. After 50 years of practicing dentistry in his hometown of ’55 Clanton, Ala., Dr. Curtis Baker has BSC professor emeritus Dr. Bob retired from Baker Family Dentistry. Whetstone of Birmingham has He graduated from the University released his sixth novel, Jacob’s of Alabama School of Dentistry Robe (Lulu Enterprises, 2013). The in 1963. His son, Dr. Chris Baker, AlumNews ’70 novel is about a young man who joined his practice in 1990 and is survives an auto accident in which continuing its operation. Dr. William Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art at the his twin brother dies. A nurse, the University of Georgia, received the American Alliance of Museums daughter of a local Cherokee chief, ’61 (AAM) Award for Distinguished Service to Museums in July during along with a local pastor, aid the Jonathan May of Sawyerville, the AAM’s annual conference in Baltimore. The award was instituted man in his Ala., recently published his second in 1981 and recognizes excellence and contributions to the museum recovery novel, Siren Song, which features profession for at least 20 years. as he strange goings-on concerning Eiland has been the director of the Georgia Museum of Art since struggles the old dead town of Erie in Hale 1992, a period of unprecedented growth for the museum. to retrieve County, Ala., and highlights the He has given his time for many years to such professional organizations as AAM, for whose accreditation program he acts as some small Black Warrior River. His first novel, one of six commissioners as well as a frequent site visitor to applicant glimmer of Rumors of Wolves, was published museums; the Southeastern Museums Conference; the Georgia his past. in 2006. May also published a Association of Museums and Galleries (GAMG); the Association of Art memoir, A Fever of the Mad, Museum Directors; the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Advisory Panel for ’56 written by his late friend Tom the National Endowment for the Arts; and the International Council of Jo Taylor is co-author of the fifth Canford Museums. update of Alabama Elder Law, a about his A Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Eiland has received several other 1,000-plus-page treatise on the work as fellowships, including the Danforth Teaching Fellowship at the practice of elder law in Alabama, a movie University of Virginia, a Museum Professionals Grant from the National published by Thomson-Reuters. publicist. Endowment for the Arts, and a Research Fellowship from the UGA Taylor resides in Birmingham. The books Center for Humanities and Arts. He has edited and contributed to more than 50 publications. She earned a second are available Eiland previously earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from undergraduate degree from BSC from GAMG in 2007 and Museum Professional of the Year from the same in 1958. Amazon organization in 2000. The Southeastern College Art Conference named in paper him Outstanding Museum Professional in 1999. He was inducted into ’58 and Kindle editions and are the Sigma Pi Kappa national honor society in 2010 and received BSC’s S T Kimbrough Jr. of Durham, downloadable from bookstores and Distinguished Alumni Award later that year. N.C., recently published the libraries. A native of Sprott, Ala., Eiland now resides in Athens, Ga. volume Radical Grace: Justice for the Poor and Marginalized—

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’66 arts venue commemorating the AlumNews ’71 William Dawson Jr. recently 50th anniversary of the city’s civil joined the newly created rights movement. Entitled “Red Since graduating from State Blues,” his exhibit focused Birmingham-Southern with Community Law Office in on Alabama history, culture, and honors in music, Louise Hall Birmingham as the deputy politics. Northrop’s first career Beard has touched the American public defender in charge of trial theatre world with her creative management. He has been a was in journalism before he vision. criminal defense attorney for turned to teaching and school Beard was among more than more than 40 years in private administration. He served as a dozen producers behind the practice in Birmingham. He was executive director of the Alabama Broadway play A Christmas a founder of the Alabama Criminal School of Fine Arts until his Story, The Musical, which was Defense Lawyers Association and retirement in 2011. nominated for Best New Musical recipient of its Roderick Beddow of the Year as well as the book Award, which recognizes lifetime ’81 and score categories at the 67th annual Tony Awards in June. She achievement in the practice of Dr. Donald Stewart, an artist attended the awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New criminal law. Dawson graduated at DS Art Studio in Homewood, York City with her daughter, Lanford, who writes for Entertainment from the University of Alabama has published a new book, Past Weekly magazine. School of Law. Medical History: Recollections of “I ran into quite a few people at the awards ceremony like Alan a Medical Miscreant. In the book, Cumming, Bernadette Peters . . . the whole Broadway community was there,” she remarked. “I wore a copy of the same dress that ’68 he talks about his choice to exit Octavia Spencer had when she accepted her Oscar for The Help.” Laurie Brasfield Gearhart has the field of medicine and pursue a Though A Christmas Story, The Musical didn’t win any awards, retired after teaching elementary more fulfilling career in art. the production is still a big name. The musical began with a two- school in Houston, Texas, for 28 month run in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theatre in 2010, then years. She now resides in Franklin, ’83 launched a U.S. tour in 2011, followed by its Broadway debut during Tenn., and is enjoying her status as Dr. Angela Batey has been the 2012 Christmas season. The show will be back on tour this “Grandma” to three grandchildren. promoted to full professor and November and December in Hartford, Conn.; Boston; and at New She is active in St. Paul’s Episcopal named York’s Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York. Church, where she chairs the associate “It was so much fun to be involved in the show and to be Prayer Shawl Ministry. dean for surrounded by such a talented cast of people,” said Beard, who is diversity in married to John Beard and lives in Birmingham. Beard sang in Birmingham’s Independent Presbyterian Church Jim Humphreys was named to the College Choir for 34 years under Joe Schreiber—her organ professor at the 2013 Barron’s “America’s Top of Arts and BSC. She was a tap dance instructor to adults for 29 years at the 1000 Advisors: State-by-State” Sciences Time Step Dance Studio she co-founded. List. He is a senior vice president at the “Prof. Hugh Thomas, director of the music department and choral of wealth management for Merrill University of director at ’Southern, was a huge influence on my life,” she said. Lynch in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee “His wife, Barbara, taught me piano, but I switched over to organ in Knoxville. Batey is a recognized since I was really into choral and church music.” ’69 choral conductor, clinician, Her interest in theatre was piqued after seeing the musical Dr. Wayne Leaver retired in adjudicator, and teacher whose production The Decline and Fall of the Entire World As Seen 2012 from Hope Hospice in Ft. wide variety of experience Through the Eyes of Cole Porter at Birmingham Festival Theatre in encompasses professional, the ’70s. Beard’s big break came when a friend introduced her to a Myers, Fla. He served 20 years prominent member of the New York theatre world. as a United Methodist minister. university, high school, community, Since then, she has invested in about two dozen theatrical Leaver also served as dean of the and church choruses. She earned shows and Broadway plays over the years; she served as both undergraduate program of the a second undergraduate degree majority investor and producer for A Christmas Story. Because her Union Institute in Miami, and as from BSC in 1984, a master’s investment placed her above the title, her name would have been co-coordinator and faculty member degree from Florida State associated with a win. of the Counseling Psychology University in music education, and At age 63, Beard is eager to gain more co-production credits. program of Walden University. a DMA degree in choral conducting She recently traveled to Los Angeles to produce a film that He has published several books, from the University of South screened at the Outfest Film Festival in July. spoken at numerous national and Carolina. She’s also gaining some acting experience. Beard played a international conferences, and small part in the 2012 film Blues for Willadean, co-starring Octavia ’86 Spencer. Since then, she and Spencer have become good friends. traveled to more than 40 countries. “Now I will always be able to add Tony Award-nominated The National Council on Broadway producer to my résumé,” said Beard with a smile. “How ’72 Compensation Insurance (NCCI) great is that!?” John Northrop Jr. presented a recently appointed Katherine composite photographic exhibit Holt Antonello to the position of this past spring at a Birmingham chief actuary, to be based in Boca

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Raton, Fla. Phillips holds a JD degree from As a member Washington and Lee University of the senior School of Law. Her husband is management also an attorney, and they live in team, she Nashville. will actively participate ’92 in the Patrice Hobbs Glass received the development 2013 Margaret Rawlings Lupton and Award of Excellence from her implementation of NCCI’s alma mater, the Girls Preparatory corporate objectives and School in Chattanooga, for her strategies. She spent the last professional and volunteer 12 years as vice president of activities. Last year, she was Lumbermen’s Underwriting appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Photo by Melinda Mercer Photography Alliance, managing all aspects of Haslam to the Tennessee Civil War the workers’ compensation line of Sesquicentennial Commission, business. which is overseeing the state’s five-year commemoration of the From this day forward, ever—Mandy Barham ’04 John London was recently elected war’s anniversary. and Matt Stephens ’05 tied the knot on March 23 at The Beach to the city council of Irondale, Ala. Club resort in Gulf Shores. The couple’s wedding was attended by a ’93 host of proud Birmingham-Southern alumni. Groomsmen included David McCurry ’04, and bridesmaids included Kelsey Powell ’04 Jim Newman is the newest Hamp Baxley was recently re- and Rebecca Beers ’04, who submitted the photo. The happy couple member of the Village People, elected to a third term on the reside in Birmingham where both are employed as schoolteachers. performing as the band’s new Dothan City Commission. More wedding news on page 48. cowboy. He took over the role from Jeff Olson, who’s been ’95 wearing the chaps in the Village Last year, Bernard Assaf marked People since 1980. Newman is his 15-year anniversary with ’97 logistics for Walter Coke. He joined an actor in New York City who has Oracle America Inc., where he Dr. Susan Williams, soprano, is the Walter team (Sloss Industries) performed in six Broadway shows, was recently promoted to principal now assistant professor of voice in 1989 and has held several roles including The Who’s Tommy, applications developer. He works at the University of Alabama. of increasing responsibility in Minnelli on Minnelli, and this in the Atlanta office of Oracle’s She co-authored an article, “3D operations. season’s Hands on a Hardbody. In Retail Global Business Unit. Virtual Anatomy Technology in 2011, he returned to his hometown Oracle is a multinational computer the Voice Studio: A Pilot Study Jeremy Turner of Eclectic, Ala., of Birmingham to perform in technology corporation. to Evaluate the Functionality and was recently named publisher of the musical, Bubba’s Revenge, Limitations of Visible Body,” which Birmingham’s MD News, a custom produced by the Red Mountain Amanda Buck Varella recently appeared in the March/April issue magazine distributed to medical Theatre Co. made partner at Brown Rudnick of The Journal of Singing. She practitioners. Turner has 13 years LLP. She practices in the law presented on this technology at of experience in launching and ’89 firm’s Boston office in its Litigation the Classical Singer Convention in managing highly successful media, Joelle Phillips was recently and Arbitration Department. May in Boston. This past June, she marketing, and communication promoted to president of AT&T interned at the National Association strategies for clients in finance, Tennessee. ’96 of Teachers of Singing Intern healthcare, and other industries. Phillips is Kimberly Webster Harbison is Program at Vanderbilt University. a 12-year the principal of Hayden Primary ‘00 veteran of School in Hayden, Ala. She ’98 Jamey Grimes was one of two AT&T and its earned her master’s degree in George exhibiting sculptors whose work predecessor educational leadership from Canoles was presented at the Birmingham companies Samford University. Her sister, Jr. of Public Library in June. Grimes and was Kay Webster Veazey ’98, teaches Blountsville, describes his three-dimensional most recently high school English at Hayden Ala., was sculptures as “fragments of a general High School, and this past spring, recently conversation with nature.” He attorney for its Tennessee division. earned her master’s degree in promoted teaches design and drawing at She will oversee the company’s educational leadership from UAB. to general the University of Alabama, where work to build out the state’s manager he earned his MFA in sculpture. communications infrastructure. of purchasing and quality control/ Grimes and Natalie Dunham ’07 of

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The Rev. Allison Georgia Conference of the United Sandlin Liles is Methodist Church. Stacey is the the new executive Nearly a century old— pastor of University Heights UMC, director of the Vivian Harrington Whitt ’52 will and Dalton is serving as pastor of turn 100 years old Oct. 30. As Episcopal Peace North Decatur UMC. this milestone draws closer, her Fellowship (EPF) family is preparing for a grand in Ithaca, N.Y. Elizabeth Yost is now assistant celebration. Whitt was born in A graduate of professor of sociology at the 1913 in Ft. Scott, Kansas, as Virginia Theological College of William and Mary in the middle child of 10 children, Seminary, Liles Williamsburg, Va. experiencing an era that survives joined the EPF National Executive only in vintage film clips and black- Council in 2006—her ordination year ’06 and-white photographs. During as priest—and was vice chair for public Justin Hallock graduated from the World War II, she served overseas witness for three years. She served University of Tennessee College of in the Women’s Army Corps. two churches in Alabama for five years Whitt was a non-traditional student Medicine in May and is continuing at Birmingham-Southern and before resettling with her husband and his training as an orthopaedic graduated with a degree in biology. She worked as a hospital two children in Crozet, Va. surgeon at the Campbell Clinic in medical technologist in Birmingham for several years. Soon Memphis. after marrying in 1963, she and her husband, a U.S. Air Force ’03 chaplain, moved to England. Whitt now resides in Roff, Okla. Dr. Matthew Caine of Columbia, S.C., Rev. Kelsey Grissom Johnson She always enjoyed gardening and reading. Family members presented the interest session “Where of Birmingham was selected include niece Judith Smith Stacey ’63, of Hayneville, Ala., 10 or 12 Are Gathered: Strategies for to serve on the editorial board great-great niece Megan Stacey Snider ’12, of Tuscaloosa, and Smaller Church Choirs” at the 2013 of The Young Clergy Women great-great nephew Brett Snider, who is a junior at BSC. National Conference of the American Project, an international and Choral Directors Association held this interdenominational network of past spring in Dallas, Texas. James the youngest ordained female Seay ’02 of Northport, Ala., presided clergy. She is serving as an editor over the session. of Fidelia’s Sisters, which publishes Nashville will display their artwork promoted to partner at Roberts & fresh and evocative articles at BSC Nov. 1-26 at an exhibition Stevens P.A., a full-service law firm ’04 written by, for, and about young called “Chroma.” in Asheville. Dr. Michelle Downing completed clergywomen. a fellowship in cardiothoracic ’01 Mary Stewart Nelson has anesthesiology from Duke University Reese Julian Jr. is head of the Jay de los Reyes is the new transitioned to a full-time position Hospital in June and has returned to Circulation Department for Smith chief operating officer at Trumbull at the workers compensation Birmingham to join the faculty of the College Libraries in Northampton, Memorial Hospital in Warren, Ohio. defense law firm Fish Nelson LLC UAB Department of Anesthesiology. Mass. De los Reyes earned master’s in Birmingham. She has launched degrees in health administration a new Real Property division of the Lawyers of Dr. George A. Nelson IV was and business administration from firm, where she is offering services Color recently recently selected chief medical UAB. such as real estate closings as named 100 resident for the UAB Tinsley well as continuing her practice in early-to mid- Harrison Internal Medicine Program Watson Donald III is now director corporate and contract law. Tre y career minority for 2014-15. of government affairs for Southern Cotney ’09 recently joined the attorneys under Research Institute in Birmingham. firm as an associate, where he the age of 40 ’07 He previously spent 11 years in represents employers in workers’ to its inaugural Wedgworth Washington, D.C., including nine compensation matters. He also Southern Companies years as a congressional staffer for dedicates part of his practice to Region Hot LLC recently U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and planning and administering clients’ List. Maynard, Cooper & Gale P.C.’s hired Sean Jeff Sessions and Rep. Jo Bonner, estates. Stephanie Houston Mays was among Ballinger as and two years as a lobbyist with a them. Mays received her JD degree a realtor to governmental affairs firm. ’02 from Samford University’s Cumberland manage its James Drysdale was admitted to School of Law. She is an associate new projects Ann Patton Nelson Hornthal has the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in the Birmingham firm’s labor and in the Over been recognized again as a North on Oct. 3, 2012. He is an appellate employment practice group. the Mountain Carolina Super Lawyer Rising Star attorney with the U.S. Department area of Birmingham. Wedgworth in the practice area of civil litigation of Veterans Affairs in Washington, ’05 specializes in custom defense. She was recently D.C. Revs. Stacey Henry Rushing and homebuilding. Dalton Rushing of Decatur, Ga., were recently ordained during the North 46 / ’southern CLASSNOTES

Kathryn Campbell Julian, a at Memorial Health University doctoral candidate in history at Medical Center in Savannah, Ga.; the University of Massachusetts Jones and Schlitz are neurology Amherst, received a Fulbright resident physicians at UAB research grant for the 2013-14 Hospital; and Moore is an internal academic year at Freie Universität medicine resident physician at UAB in Berlin. Her current research Hospital. focuses on religious communities and sacred space within socialism. Justin Fargason graduated from the University of Alabama School ’08 of Law this past spring. Megan LaRussa has continued her grandmother’s dream of outreach MotionMobs LLC, a Birmingham- at Oasis Counseling for Women based software development and Children, company, which has recently provided appointed mental Robert Choral reunion—Members of the college’s former Hugh Thomas Chorus met at Birmingham’s Ruth’s Chris health Hahnemann Steakhouse on April 24 to celebrate the anniversary of their services and as its chief Town Hall Concert in Manhattan in 1951, which received educational executive rave reviews in all the New York newspapers, especially programs in officer. The New York Times. Enjoying the memories were (left to Birmingham Hahnemann right) Jean Gilmer Simmons ’49, Janice Henry Williams since 1995. was ’52, Dorothy Griffis Jones ’47, Ann Armbrester Clark ’53, LaRussa is president of the Junior previously a project manager with and BSC friend Andrew Glaze. Glaze, who attended with Board at Oasis and chaired the the company. his wife, Adrianna, was recently named Poet Laureate of organization’s recent Art Card Alabama. Unable to attend this year’s reunion were Julia fundraiser. She also is the owner Rev. Miriam Smith completed Ann Gilmer Glenn ’51, Barbara Barnett Smith ’53, and of Southern Femme, a fashion her Master of Divinity degree from Frieda Roser White ’51. consulting firm that helps women Duke University in May 2012 and look and feel their best. is serving as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church of Hillary Hughes Turner is director Alabaster. literature, Kimberly Paige Farris ’11 of development for the Pensacola has begun a Ph.D. program in Anthony Bianchi graduated from (Fla.) Children’s Chorus. Theresa “Tara” Wohleber English literature at the University UAB in December 2012 with an Speigle, CPA, was recently of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MPH degree in epidemiology. He ’09 promoted on a Hanner Fellowship. This began studies at the Alabama Luquire George Andrews, one of to senior past summer, she worked as the School of Osteopathic Medicine in the Southeast region’s leading consultant AmeriCorps administrator at the Dothan in August. advertising, digital, and public in the YWCA Central Alabama. relations agencies, recently hired Assurance Brad Elsinger is a capital recovery Erin Cribb as junior art director in and Advisory Kelly Gronemeyer recently earned analyst for small business funder the LGA Creative Department. As Department a master’s degree in biology Kabbage Inc. in Atlanta. The a new resident of Charlotte, she is of Beason from John Carroll University in company is a leader among finance enjoying exploring and seeing the & Nalley Cleveland, Ohio. Gronemeyer companies worldwide. beautiful sights of North Carolina. Inc., a full- presented a portion of the results service accounting and consulting of her thesis, “Antimicrobial Ashley Pittman began graduate Kristen Kerr Cotney graduated firm in Huntsville. Speigle’s audit function of alkaloids in studies in clinical mental health from the UAB School of Medicine experience includes government geographically different populations counseling at Troy University in in May. She is an internal medicine contractors, local governments, of Oophaga pumilio (Dendrobatid) Troy, Ala., this fall. resident physician at UAB. employee benefit plans, and Melanophryniscus simplex manufacturers, biotechnology, and (Bufonid) frog skin,” at the 2013 ’12 Vishwanath Danthuluri, not-for-profit organizations. She is Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Katie Adams is serving as a Benjamin Jones, William married to Michael Speigle. Herpetologists in Albuquerque, TEFL teacher and trainer in the B. Moore, and Emily Schlitz N.M. This fall, she is teaching U.S. Peace Corps in Nicaragua graduated from the University ’10 high school biology at John until November 2014. She is of South Alabama College of After graduating from the Carroll Catholic High School in writing and sharing photos Medicine in May. Danthuluri is a University of Alabama in May Birmingham. about her experience at http:// general surgery resident physician with a master’s degree in English katiewandering.wordpress.com. fall 2013 / 47 CLASSNOTES

as a special education teacher at Best-selling Center Point Elementary School. author, speaker, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Qualls of Southern Decatur, Ala., completed her humorist 27-month commitment as a Melinda mathematics teacher with the Rainey U.S. Peace Corps in Guinea, West Thompson Africa, in August. She is now of applying to graduate schools in the Homewood U.S. wrote her fourth book last year, I’ve Had it Up to Here With Thomas Ray was hired last Teenagers. A collection of essays, fall as the first employee of the the book takes aim squarely at her Birmingham-based clothing brand three children. Thompson was a State Traditions. He manages member of BSC’s English faculty the company’s inventory, online from 1988-94. retail fulfillment, and wholesale fulfillment for more than 300 fine men’s clothing stores that carry the Weddings brand. A six-sibling success story—Madeline NeSmith Anne Maloney Spiece ’73 to graduated from Birmingham-Southern in May and sent us a photo Alex Wilson is the owner of Gerald Woods, May 5, 2012. of her and her five siblings on their family vacation in Carmel, Wilson Taxidermy in Franklin, Charlotte Kelly ’04 to Walker Calif., the week of the 4th of July. Five are BSC grads—soon to Tenn. He also does wedding and Wells, July 20, 2013. be six! Pictured (from left to right) at Julia Pfeiffer Beach in Big engagement photography. Jessie Wagner ’09 to Logan Sur, Calif., are Mary Brittain NeSmith Blankenship ’05, Cal Pippin, Feb. 9, 2013. NeSmith ’07, Neal NeSmith ’09, Rob NeSmith ‘11, Madeline Nathaniel “Nat” Yonce is working Galen Boehme ’10 to Robyn NeSmith ’13, and Andrew NeSmith, who is a sophomore at on a Master of Philosophy in Music Mielke ’12, Sept. 29, 2012. BSC. Thirteen of Madeline’s family members traveled to California and Media Technologies (sound Keith Gray ’10 to Jennifer this summer, including parents, grandparents, siblings and their engineering) degree from Trinity Commander ’12, Aug. 10, 2013. spouses, and a niece. Madeline is currently in Okayama, Japan, College in Dublin, Ireland. He was Katie Welsh ’10 to Andrew teaching English to preschoolers. one of 14 students accepted out of Shelton ’11, Aug. 31, 2013. an applicant pool of 70 and is the Samuel Bratt ’12 to Brittany only American in this international Wheeler ’13, June 7, 2013. program. Blakeley Childress ’12 to Lucas Strickland ’12, Oct. 6, 2012. Jesse Calvert is traveling around in the Apalachicola National Forest Jamie Hodge ’12 to Richard Bubb, the world and performing with and Tate’s Hell State Forest in Jan. 19, 2013. Royal Caribbean cruise line, having Florida. Friends Hannah Howell ’12 to Benjamin recently visited the Baltic Sea The award-winning documentary Johnson, June 2, 2012. Region. She previously danced Karly Kitabchi is pursuing her AROVA, featuring the late and and toured with the Atlanta Dance master’s degree in marriage and former BSC dance instructor Dame Connection. family counseling and also teaching Sonia Arova, was included in the full-time at the Hilltop Montessori Russian exhibit “The Enchanted Births Winston Crute has finished School in Birmingham, which “I Wanderers” held in February at his first year teaching math in love,” she says. A son, Brian Christopher the University of North Carolina Huntsville through Teach for Templeman II, Nov. 5, 2012, to in Asheville. Dame Arova, a America. He plans to start medical Sara Menton is completing a Brian Christopher Templeman Bulgarian-born ballerina, was the school at the University of South Graduate Teaching Fellowship in Jones ’90 and wife, Kandye. Alabama Ballet’s founding artistic Alabama in 2014. Asian studies at the University of A son, Henry Thomas, April 12, director and a faculty member at Oregon. 2013, to Rev. Dana Pender BSC along with her husband, Thor Julia Guyton is a wildlife biologist Brady ’94 and husband, Jake Sutowski, in 1976-77. Therese in a cooperative position with The Erica Ogle is the recipient of a (big brother, Jed). Roach Laeger ’79 served as Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest TransTeam grant from UAB’s A son, Nico Sebastian, March executive producer, Colleen Laeger Service, and Florida Fish and Department of Education. Ogle 25, 2013, to Nicole Bates was director and producer, and Wildlife Conservation Commission. is working full-time on a master’s Provonchee ’95 and husband, Brittany Laeger ’11 handled media Her work includes studying degree in early childhood special Zach (big brother, Luca). relations. salamanders, deer, and black bears education. She also is working

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A daughter, Elizabeth Laurens, In Memoriam in the Union Springs community Betty Ann Hard Rhodes ’42 of May 14, 2012, to Sarah Parker for more than 50 years. He was Marietta, Ga., on June 12, 2013. Scaffidi ’95 and husband, past president of the Alabama Rhodes earned a master’s degree Harriet Hanover Glasspiegel ’39 John Michael Scaffidi Medical Association and recipient in chemistry from Ohio State of Longboat Key, Fla., formerly ’96 (big brothers, Matt and of the Samuel Buford Word Award. University. During World War of Milwaukee, Wis., on Oct. 13, Will, and big sister, Emme). Emfinger served as a captain in the II, she did research to produce 2011. She enjoyed spending time Proud grandparents are R. Medical Corps of the U.S. Army a mold-free cloth used by the with friends and traveling with her Michael Parker ’68 and Trudy during World War II. “He was an military. Rhodes made her lifelong husband, who operated the John Jeffries Parker ’69. Other avid supporter of BSC and sang home in Cobb County, where she Glasspiegel Co. in Milwaukee with relatives include aunt Jennifer the college’s praises literally until was involved in local politics to his brother for some 40 years. Parker Graul ’98 and great- his last breath,” his granddaughter, improve the Cobb County school Her retirement activities included grandmother Mary Ruth Brooke Emfinger Reid ’03 of system. In later years, she was tennis, painting, and volunteer Franklin Jeffries ’41. Montgomery, noted. Survivors active in bringing inpatient hospice work. She is survived by three A son, Matthew James, Feb. also include a daughter, Sandra care to Cobb County, where she sons. 8, 2013, to Melissa Cotney Emfinger Fay ’71 of Pensacola, also served as a volunteer. She is Dooley ’98 and husband, Adam Fla. In addition, his son, John survived by two sons. Dr. Orizaba Emfinger ’41 of (big brothers, Jackson and Emfinger of Union Springs, and his Union Springs on June 14, 2013. William). daughter, Patricia Emfinger Shaner Dr. Ralph W. Wadeson Jr. ’43 of Emfinger was a graduate of the A daughter, Millie McK, Jan. of Montgomery, attended BSC. Washington, D.C., on May 11, Northwestern University School of 2, 2013, to Russ Parrish ’00 (continued on page 52) Medicine and practiced medicine and wife, Carol Jean “CJ” Alexander Parrish ’02 (big brother, Wilson, and big sister, Ally). A daughter, Elisha Marie, Dec. 8, 2012, to Lindsay Peck Denton In Memoriam ’40 ’01 and husband, Nathan. A son, Walker Haynes, April 2, Birmingham native and avid traveler Eulette 2013, to Ann Patton Nelson Francis Carter passed away July 17, 2013, at the Hornthal ’01 and husband, Lang age of 93. (big brother, Patton Ashe). Her passion for travel took her to 48 states and A daughter, Alice Holbrook, Feb. 43 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South 13, 2013, to Brooke Emfinger America. She was eager to understand different Reid ’03 and husband, Phelps. cultures, and she could recite each meal she ate A daughter, Savannah Grace, July during a trip. 15, 2013, to Stephanie Houston Proud of her Southern heritage, Carter worked Mays ’04 and husband, Bernard to end racism. She was the first secretary of “BJ” Mays Jr. ’04. Christians and Jews for Justice, a forerunner of Alabama Arise, an advocacy group for A son, Christopher Knox Jr., June civil rights and economic opportunity. She was a devoted member of Trinity United 30, 2013, to Christopher Knox Methodist Church. Friedman ’05 and wife, Anna Dedicated to lifelong learning, Carter was president of Les Meres, a study club for Russell. young mothers. After raising her three children, she taught math for several years A daughter, Catherine Favor, Nov. at Pizitz Middle School. Later she was a founding member of New Horizons, the 19, 2012, to Suelin Joe Schilleci learning community for retirees at UAB. At age 62, Carter learned tap dancing and ’05 and husband, Phillip. performed with “The Dancing Moms” at UAB and nursing homes. She was still active A daughter, Lillian Hartsell, Nov. 28, in Dialogues, a lively discussion group of well-educated women in their 50s through 2012, to Rankin Miller Langley 90s. ’06 and husband, Travis. At age 50, Carter earned a master’s degree in counseling from Samford University, A son, George “Quinn” A. Nelson and she was the first teacher/counselor at the adolescent day treatment center at the V, June 14, 2013, to Dr. George UAB Smolian Psychiatric Clinic. A. Nelson IV ’06 and wife, Dr. She lived at Greenbriar at the Altamont for the last 18 years of her life, and served Jennifer Turnham Nelson ’06. five years as president of the Residents’ Council. She is survived by two children. Proud aunt is Mary Stewart Because of her generous donations to Birmingham-Southern, the college’s speech Nelson ’01. lab is named in her honor. The family requests that memorial donations be made to BSC through the Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254.

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FromtheArchives Take a stroll around BSC’s campus in 2013, and you’ll find students checking their emails, sifting through Facebook and Twitter feeds, and tapping away on smart phones, tablets, and iPads. In the early 1900s, postcards were the medium of choice to send simple messages to loved ones and friends. Though postcards are still alive and well, here are a few records of campus and student life “back then.”

Birmingham-Southern College was formed during World War I by the merging of Southern University and Birmingham College. This postcard contains a personal, handwritten note by a student and has SU’s traditional purple and white colors. Notice the 1 cent stamp!

BSC’s former art building opened in June 1965 and enabled broadening of the art curriculum to include, for the first time, sculpture and graphics.

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BSC’s original fountain stood in front of the Snavely Student Center, the predecessor to the Norton Campus Center. The center serves as the hub of student life on campus.

Ramsay Hall, the college’s former science building, was torn down and replaced by the Harbert Building in the 1980s.

A road originally crossed the BSC quad where the Edwards Bell Tower stands today. The buildings pictured (from left) are Ramsay Hall, now the Harbert Building; Phillips Library, now the Phillips Administration Building; Munger Hall; and Phillips Science Building.

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2013. He attended BSC and Emory University and graduated from the Medical College of Alabama. Wadeson served in the U.S. Navy In Memoriam ’55 as a physician assigned to a Marine unit during the Korean War. His Dr. Robert Thomas Cargo died on wartime experience motivated him Dec. 23, 2012, in Philadelphia, Penn., to select psychiatry as a medical at the age of 79. He was a longtime specialty. He began practicing resident of Tuscaloosa. psychiatry in the D.C. area in 1958, After graduating from Birmingham- when he moved to Bethesda, Md., Southern, Cargo earned a master’s and joined the staff at the National degree from the University of Alabama Institutes of Mental Health. Two and received his Ph.D. in French with years later, he opened a private a specialty in 19th century French practice in Bethesda and later in literature from the University of Clinton, Md., and D.C., before North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He retiring in 2007. was a member of the department of Romance Languages and Classics at Elsie McClain Clotfelter ’45 the University of Alabama for 25 years of Birmingham, formerly of until his retirement in 1990. Columbus, Miss., on March 8, Cargo was an avid collector of 2013. Clotfelter was a former Southern folk and outsider art and was schoolteacher. Her loves were her a supporter of many Alabama artists. He was the owner of the Robert Cargo Folk Art children, family, friends, flowers, Gallery, which remained in downtown Tuscaloosa for 20 years. and reading. He and his wife began a quilt collection in the ‘50s. Significant portions of the Cargo collection of African-American quilts are held in the International Quilt Study Dr. John Akin Jr. ’49 of Mountain Center in Nebraska, and their extensive collection of Alabama-made quilts is housed Brook on March 1, 2013. After in the Birmingham Museum of Art. BSC, Akin entered the University At the request of the family, memorial contributions can be made to the Helen of Pennsylvania Medical School, and Robert Cargo Scholarship for International Study at BSC through the Office of which was interrupted by a two- Institutional Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL year stint as a captain in the 35254. He established the scholarship in 2009 to support students in study-abroad U.S. Air Force Medical Corps. programs in France and other Francophone countries for a January term, a semester, After service, he returned to or a year. Pennsylvania for surgical training, where he was chief resident of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital from 1960-61. Afterward, Akin returned to Birmingham and began private practice as a Fame in 1985. He was a longtime traveled twice to Sicily to visit highlights, Walker served as surgeon. He was instrumental in supporter of BSC’s athletics relatives and trace her heritage. general counsel of the American the establishment of the Baptist program. Survivors include his Among survivors are two sons and Stock Exchange and was head of Health System Surgical Residency wife, Sara Killingsworth Oxford close cousin, Lucretia Giattina the legal department for Merrill program. Survivors include his ’50. Anderton ’59 of Birmingham. Lynch in New York. He also served wife and three children, including as chairman of the American Liver Kathleen Smyly Parsons ’78 of Antonia Rizzo Reed ’50 of James W. Walker Jr. ’50 of Foundation and was on the board Birmingham. He is predeceased Houston, Texas, formerly of Carrollton, Ga., on Jan. 29, 2013. of directors of the Philadelphia by his son, Dr. John Akin III ’84. Birmingham, on Feb. 26, 2013. He served as a lieutenant of Museum of Art. After retirement, After graduating from BSC, Reed artillery in the U.S. Army during he formed M.C. Investors, a Jerry N. “Buddy” Oxford ’50 of began working at the UAB Medical World War II and during the real estate investment firm. He Leeds on Feb. 24, 2013. Oxford Center. She loved music and occupation of Japan. Walker is survived by his wife and five was a longtime principal at Leeds literature. Reed was a supporter attended the Emory University children, including Michael Walker High School and an active member of the performing arts and loved to School of Law after BSC, and was ’74 of Pottstown, Pa. Michael’s of that community. As one of attend theatre, opera, symphony, later honored by both institutions grandfather, James W. Walker Sr. the top men’s basketball players and chamber music performances. as a distinguished alumnus. He ’74, was deemed the oldest living in BSC history, he was inducted She sang in the choir at Houston’s received a fellowship from Harvard BSC graduate before he passed into the college’s Sports Hall of First Unitarian Church. She University. Among his career away in 1992.

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She was a teacher and was active at her church and in her community. She was married to In Memoriam ’59 Charles Browdy ’54 for more than 50 years, and moved with him to Carol Clotfelter Golson of Gadsden, formerly Chicago; South Bend, Ind.; Atlanta; of Birmingham, passed away on April 11, 2013. and finally to her dream home She was 75. on Mobile Bay in the Ft. Morgan Golson was a schoolteacher who exhibited community. She was the mother a deep commitment to education through of four children and grandmother mentoring children and modeling lifelong of seven. learning. She taught first grade at Cleveland Elementary School for nearly 10 years and retired Larry Joseph Lamon ’69 of from the Blount County Board of Education in Birmingham on June 24, 2013. He 1998. had retired from Southern Natural Golson also taught and ministered jointly with Gas Co. with 20 years of service. her husband, Rev. Henry Golson ’60, now a Lamon was a member of St. John’s retired United Methodist minister. She enjoyed United Methodist Church, where homemaking, travel, camping, gardening, and he previously worked with the sewing. youth program. He is survived by In addition to her husband, survivors his wife. include a brother, J. Emory Clotfelter ’63 of Mechanicsville, Va., and daughters Rev. Clare Golson Doyle ’85 of Shelbyville, Tenn.; The Rev. Dr. Michael Morgan Elizabeth Golson McGlaughn ’87 of Birmingham; and Dr. Linda Golson Bradley Stewart ’74 of Hazel Green, Ala., ’96 of Milledgeville, Ga. formerly of Birmingham, on April At the request of the family, memorial contributions can be made to the George 18, 2013. He received a Master W. Clotfelter Scholarship at BSC through the Office of Institutional Advancement, of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254. George Clotfelter was University and a Doctor of Ministry Carol’s father. She was a lifelong supporter of and advocate for the college. from Chicago Theological Seminary. He was a United Methodist pastor, serving a number of pastorates in the North Alabama Conference of the UMC. He was ordained Joyce Elaine Powell ’52 of the Richard N. Robertson Prayer 549003, 900 Arkadelphia Road, an elder in 1979. He is survived Cherokee Village, Ariz., on Dec. Garden in his memory. Birmingham, AL 35254. by a son, Nathan Stewart ’02 12, 2012. She had retired from of Jacksonville, Fla., and two teaching in Texas and belonged Betty Godfrey Duncan ’55 of James “Jim” E. Gray ’57 of daughters, including Skye Stewart to the Cherokee Village United Tuscaloosa on July 15, 2013. Melbourne, Fla., formerly of ’06 of Somerville, Ma. Methodist Church, where Duncan’s husband, Gerald, was Birmingham, on March 8, 2013. she served as secretary. She a United Methodist minister and Gray and his wife moved to Elizabeth Chatham Hammond is survived by two adopted together they served churches Melbourne in 1961 when he ’77 of Decatur, formerly of daughters. throughout North Alabama. became owner of Space Coast Huntsville, on March 14, 2013. Wherever they lived, she taught Vending Co. He was a veteran of Hammond was a multitalented Rev. Richard Norris Robertson school, usually first grade, and she the U.S. Navy, where he served homemaker and stay-at-home ’52 of Columbus, Ga., born in had a passion for teaching children in the Hurricane Hunters. Gray mother dedicated to her family. Talladega, Ala., on March 9, 2013. to read. Duncan earned a master’s was a member of the First United She made friends wherever she Robertson was a graduate of degree in education from LaGrange Methodist Church of Melbourne, went and charmed many with Duke Divinity School and served College. After her husband’s death where he served in the choir for her compassion, generosity, and as a United Methodist minister and her retirement from teaching, many years, and was an active humor. She is survived by her and pastoral counselor. He was she moved to Tuscaloosa, where member of the Bull Creek Hunt husband and daughter. founding director of the Pastoral she remained active and enjoyed Club. Among his survivors are two Institute of Columbus, which now attending sporting events and brothers, Dr. Robert M. Gray Joe Corcoran ’79 of St. Bernard, employs more than 70 counselors. musical programs at the University ’54 of Sylacauga and T. Randolph Ohio, on Feb. 13, 2013. He was Robertson was instrumental in of Alabama. Survivors include a Gray ’61 of Birmingham. the athletics director at Roger advocacy for marriage enrichment, son and grandchildren. The family Bacon High School in Cincinnati counseling training for clergy, requests that donations be made Kathryn McDonough Browdy and a former BSC assistant and many other areas. In June, to BSC through the Office of ’59 of Gulf Shores, born in baseball coach. the Pastoral Institute dedicated Institutional Advancement, Box Birmingham, on Aug. 14, 2012.

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a lifelong animal advocate. Both were strong supporters of the college. In Memoriam Friend Claire Haines Fairley of Business leader Wayne W. Killion Sr. died on Birmingham on May 5, 2013. March 31, 2013, at the age of 87. He was a longtime A graduate of Connecticut resident of Birmingham. College, Fairley loved the arts Killion served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and flowers and was a patron as a line officer on the USS Ozark. He attended Tulane of the Alabama Symphony University and graduated from Howard College (now Orchestra, Alys Stephens Center, Samford University). Birmingham Botanical Gardens, He began his business career as a public accountant and Birmingham Museum of before moving into private accounting with Shook & Art. She and her husband lived in Fletcher Supply Co. in 1949. In 1964, Killion began Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Montreal working for Shook & Fletcher Insulation Co. as its vice before moving to Birmingham in president of finance. In 1967, he and five partners 1972. Fairley was a member of bought the insulation company. Over the years, he served as vice president of several garden and literary clubs, finance, president, and finally as chair of the board before his retirement in 2002. among her many affiliations. She Killion was instrumental in the company’s growth, including the establishment of was preceded in death by her a Marine division in Pascagoula, Miss., which insulated U.S. Naval ships at Ingalls husband, Albert Fairley Jr. ’34. shipyard, and the acquisition of Shook & Fletcher Supply Co., which specializes in They were generous supporters mining equipment. In 1993, he founded Sunbelt Insulation Co. He was a member of BSC. of the Southeastern Insulation Contractors Association and the National Insulation Association (NIA), serving as president of both organizations. Louise Ward Hubbs of Tuscaloosa In 2004, Killion received the NIA President’s Award, which is the highest honor on Aug. 21, 2013. When not bestowed by the association. In 2011, he was inducted into the Birmingham teaching math, she filled every Business Hall of Fame. moment by playing the piano, Killion was especially proud of establishing the Christine Cooper Killion singing in choirs, exploring new Scholarship Fund at Birmingham-Southern and the Christine and Wayne Killion places, helping in church, giving Student Progress Scholarship at the University of Montevallo, which have been selflessly, and making many responsible for helping numerous young people reach their dreams of a higher friends. Among survivors are education. He particularly enjoyed meeting personally with students who were her son, BSC Professor of the scholarship recipients. Library Dr. Guy Hubbs, his wife He is survived by his wife and two sons, Christopher Killion ’75 and Dr. Wayne Patricia, and three granddaughters, Killion Jr. ’72, chair of the BSC Board of Trustees. including BSC Admission Counselor Claire Ward Hubbs ’11. With her family, Louise endowed the Hubbs Award in 2006 that provides a generous Laura Beth Monroe Gill ’97 of Dental Medicine before eventually scholarship and cash award to a Birmingham on March 26, 2013. returning to her hometown of Friends student who best exemplifies the She was employed in the corporate Brentwood to open up her own twin principles on which BSC was Helen “Marge” Sleeth Butsch office of BBVA Compass. Among practice. She belonged to various founded: academic excellence of Birmingham, formerly of survivors are her husband, Eugene professional affiliations, including and selfless service. The family Dayton, Ohio, on Feb. 5, 2013. Gill Jr. ’95, two daughters, and the American Association of requests that memorial donations Butsch graduated from Ohio sister Meredith Monroe Kitey ’93 Orthodontics and American Dental be made to the BSC Library Fund State University with an MBA. of Dunwoody, Ga. Association. Survivors include a through the Office of Institutional She worked at Wright-Patterson brother, Dr. Brent Frisbie ’99 of Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Air Force Base in research and Dr. Rachel Frisbie Maidens ’00 Brentwood. Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, development where she met her of Brentwood, Tenn. on April 21, AL 35254. husband, Leonard Butsch Jr. ’40, 2013. Maidens graduated from the who is now deceased. She was University of Florida’s College of

54 / ’southern CLASSNOTES

In Memoriam Friend

Dr. Virginia Pitts Rembert Liles, noted art historian, died on July 5, 2013, in Birmingham at the age of 91. Liles’ teaching, scholarship achievements, and leadership in the arts spanned more than 45 years. She was a member of the Birmingham-Southern faculty from 1960-73 and was the first woman to chair the college’s Art Department. She held many other teaching and administrative appointments around the U.S., including Beloit College, the Massachusetts College of Art, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Liles earned her bachelor’s degree from the Alabama College for Women (now University of Montevallo); an MFA from Teachers’ College, Columbia University; a master’s in art history from the University of Wisconsin; and a Ph.D. in art history and archeology from Columbia. Marilyn Brown ’72 wrote about her former teacher, “I always remember her as a combination of awesome erudition and gracious elegance. She set me on my life’s course as an art historian. She made me realize that learning is not a chore or exercise, but a rich lifelong pursuit.” Liles wrote two books, one on Dutch painter Piet Mondrian and one on Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch. She was also a regular contributor to Art News and Women’s Art Journal. After retirement from college teaching, she lived in New York City from 1991-2006. In 1993, she married artist Raeford Liles. In 2006, they moved to their native city, Birmingham, where she continued to write and follow her secondary interests of drawing and painting watercolors.

Class Notes submissions You can send news of weddings, births, deaths, job changes, career highlights, honors, and awards directly to Birmingham-Southern through the college’s online alumni community at www.bsc.edu/alumni. Or, you may submit them via email to Pat Cole at [email protected].

fall 2013 / 55 ‘SOUTHERN VOICES

A spirited improvisation starring the students by Dr. Duane Pontius ’81, T. Morris Hackney Professor of Physics

To most students, a good class seems class from the perfect explanation of answer. I know the right answer. What to require a perfect lecture, one that the instructor to the muddled feedback I need to know is how my students are lays out the truth of the subject with of the students, for therein lies the thinking about the subject. such elegance that comprehension real value. The student’s brain arrives filled with a jumble of half scrawled Being able to enter the classroom and incompletely erased fragments with a basic understanding of where of conflicting ideas—a far cry from the students’ thoughts are that day a blank slate waiting to receive the is a great benefit for me. To assess truth. The teacher’s task is to engage comprehension during class, I have those ill-formed conceptions and force the students use electronic clickers to them into conflict with new insights. respond to a series of multiple-choice Resolving that conflict via vigorous questions. These seem deceptively discussion leads students to a robust simple because the incorrect responses understanding. Otherwise, those are deliberately targeted at common misconceptions lurk in the recesses misconceptions. I choose particular and re-emerge after the final exam to questions based on what I learned vanquish any gains made. from the pre-class exercises and I add or drop other questions as the class What is now called “flipping” (see progresses. page 20) simply means reorienting the classroom meeting away from This way, the real learning takes delivering material via lecture and place as students try to explain their toward activities that explore the reasoning to their peers. Any teacher subtleties and implications of ideas will agree that you learn best when introduced outside the class. For you try to explain something to example, terms and definitions, someone else! I play a supporting narrative exposition, and formal role, circulating among the groups, derivations are generally best addressing questions, offering covered in private at the student’s hints and prodding where needed, convenience and pace. If attempted and taking the pulse of the overall in the classroom, the resulting notes level of understanding. I poll the are generally copied verbatim from students again when I sense general the board with little comprehension. convergence. The responses typically After flipping, class becomes the nexus go from an initial scattershot of in which the outside portions of the guesses to solid understanding of the course come together and mesh. correct answer. Pontius Now, I post my former lecture notes Class is thus transformed from the is unavoidable. (Ideally, it should online for students to read before choreographed performance of a be entertaining as well.) However, class. To make sure they study them, professor to a spirited improvisation if knowledge really can be imparted students must complete a brief essay starring the students. Standardized by simply explaining well, then why assignment that applies the principles tests designed to assess genuine hasn’t someone else already achieved in a real-world example. Reading learning confirm that students using such a divine arrangement of words those essays also gives me insight into this method really understand physics and published them? Indeed, as whatever difficulties are troubling and aren’t simply memorizing a few Samuel Johnson said to Boswell, “I their comprehension, so I can plan examples. The rewards are improved cannot see that lectures can do so accordingly. Moreover, credit for learning and, frankly, a lot more fun. I much good as reading the books from these essays depends on students can’t imagine going back. which the lectures are taken.” conscientiously explaining their That realization set me to refocus my thoughts, not on them getting the right

56 / ’southern BSC Snapshots Daniel Whitecage, Steven Wilson, and Lexi Smith enjoy a dip in the Norton Center fountain following the May 2013 Commencement ceremony. This was believed to be the first year of the “senior splash!” BSC Snapshots Birmingham-Southern’s annual Honor Code Induction Ceremony was the culminating event of New Student Orientation. By signing the pledge, each first-yearParting student Shot made a commitment to themselves, and more importantly to each other, that they will abide by and uphold the Honor Code during their time at BSC. To read more about this year’s new students, see page 12.

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