Sport Management Scores Across the Board
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The magazine for alumni and friends of Slippery Rock University TheROCK WINTER 2008 Sport Management scores across the board www.SRU.edu 1 VIEW from the ROCK TheRO CK Volume 9, Number 2 Council of Trustees: Suzanne A. Vessella, Chairperson Robert S. Taylor, Esq., Vice Chairman Grace O. Hawkins, Secretary Richard A. Christopher Nicholas DeRosa John A. Hicks Robert Marcus Scott R. McCaskey Dennis E. Murray John H. Thornburgh Joshua B. Young Judy G. Hample, Ex-officio President Robert M. Smith Cabinet Dear Friends; • William F. Williams Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs By any measurement of performance, 2007 was an outstanding year at Slippery • Charles T. Curry Rock University. Vice President for Finance and Administrative Affairs • Barbara Ender Again last year, the University continued to post record enrollments while simul- Vice President for University Advancement taneously improving the quality of the entering class. Our current student body of • Constance L. Foley more than 8,300 students is among the most accomplished and diverse of any in Vice President for Student Life • Rita Abent Slippery Rock University’s history. Executive Director for University Public Relations Another notable example of success was being awarded nearly $4 million for • Tina Moser reaching Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education goals. The University Assistant to the President demonstrated high achievement in every area. Most notably, the University’s fac- Academic Leadership ulty productivity and employee diversity goals returned more than half of the total • Susan Hannam money received. And, we are ahead of the target goals for 2009, having already met Dean, College of Health, Environment and Science • C. Jay Hertzog or exceeded goals for faculty diversity, faculty productivity, and the percent of faculty Dean, College of Education with an earned terminal degree. • James Kushner I am especially proud of our students, faculty, staff and alumni who continue to be Dean, Lifelong Learning • William J. McKinney recognized by state and national organizations. Among those honored in 2007 were Dean, College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Jay Hertzog, dean of the College of Education, who was named Pennsylvania • Bruce Russell Teacher Educator of the year; David Woten, ’91, who was named Pennsylvania’s Dean, College of Business, Information and Social Sciences Teacher of the Year; Sandra Scurle Kalin, ’64, who received the National Distinguished Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Principal Award from the U.S. Department of Education and Scott Patterson, ’80, who State System of Higher Education was named Pennsylvania State Police “Trooper of the Year.” For every person recog- Kenneth M. Jarin, Chairman Aaron Walton, Vice Chair nized there are scores more who do outstanding work everyday in support of our mis- C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, Vice Chair sion and through the contributions they are making in their careers and communities. Rep. Matthew E. Baker As alumni, friends and donors, you can be proud that SRU continues to deliver on Paul S. Dlugolecki Daniel P. Elby its promise to provide a Rock Solid education. Our challenge is to continue to find Ryan Gebely the resources that will keep Slippery Rock University competitive with our peers Rep. Michael K. Hanna and provide scholarship and program enhancement dollars to attract and retain Sen. Vincent J. Hughes Marie Conley Lammando outstanding students and faculty. Kim E. Lyttle In this issue you’ll read the stories of several leadership givers whose support has had Joshua A. O’Brien a significant impact on our students. And, you’ll see the list of your classmates and Joseph M. Peltzer Guido M. Pichini friends who have stepped forward and are part of our Lifetime Giving Societies. We Gov. Edward G. Rendell invite you to join them and to help the University continue to set new benchmarks. Sen. James J. Rhoades I feel incredibly blessed to be serving this outstanding University. It truly is Christine J. Toretti Olson Gerald L. Zahorchak “A great time to be at Slippery Rock University.” Best wishes, Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Judy G. Hample President President 2 TheThe ROCKROCK Fall WinterWinter 2007 20082008 Contents: Winter 2008 To our readers In this issue of The ROCK we take a look at Slippery Rock University’s mounting 8 Springboard to regional and national success. The proof is in the accomplishments Success of graduates such as “little lady” Sarah Patterson, ’78, winner of four national cham- 11 The green valley in pionships as the head coach of women’s SRU’s backyard gymnastics at the University of Alabama. 8 Heidi Tyline King, who writes for numerous national magazines, covers this dynamo’s 13 Rock Jock vault to success. hammers dual The sport management program is high- legacy of excellence lighted at its 30-year anniversary. Graduates work for some of the biggest names in sports, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. 15 Rock alumna shares You will also read about an alumna who upside of downsizing helps seniors transition into new homes. seniors And, you will learn about the impact of important University philanthropists. Sport management We hope you enjoy the Winter ’08 edition. 17 11 Gordon Ovenshine, ’88 program scores Editor, “The ROCK” across the board The ROCK The ROCK is published three times annually by the Office of University Public Relations for alumni and friends of the University. 13 Send address changes to: University Public Relations Sections 201 Old Main 1 Morrow Way 4 Rock Bytes Slippery Rock, PA 16057 20 College News 24 Alumni Association Report 15 Credits 28 Class Notes Executive Editor: Rita Abent, executive director, 30 Rock Athletics University Public Relations. Editor: Gordon Ovenshine, senior writer, 34 Advancement University Public Relations. 41 A Conversation with… Designer: Sandy Busch, publications manager, University Public Relations. 17 Contributors: Bob McComas, sports informa- tion director; Gordon Ovenshine; Michael Saraka, alumni director; and Heidi Tyline King. Photographers: University Public Relations, Alumni Relations. The Rock is a National Admissions Marketing merit award winner. University Vision Statement Slippery Rock University will excel as a caring community of lifelong learners connecting with the world. About the cover Brian Slais, a 1995 sport management graduate, is Slippery Rock University is a member group sales manager for the National Hockey League’s of the Pennsylvania State System Carolina Hurricanes. Hundreds of sport management of Higher Education. graduates work in the billion-dollar sports industry. (page 17) www.SRU.eduwww.SRU.edu 333 ROCK bytes University sets another Princeton Review names SRU math students bring enrollment record SRU to ‘Best Northeastern pyramid power to campus SRU completed the fall semester with Colleges’ list a record number of students enrolled – The Princeton Review’s survey of 8,325. That’s 1.2 percent more than a students attending SRU found them year ago and the eighth consecutive year bragging of growth. about “small “Our growth is testimony to the contin- classes,” ued efforts we have undertaken to increase a “great the value of a Slippery Rock University library” and education and to the dedicated work of “great ath- faculty and staff in ensuring our programs letic facilities” among other meet the rigorous demands of accrediting factors − all of which helped the bodies that set national academic stan- University earn a spot in the 2008 dards,” said President Robert Smith. edition of The Review’s book “Best Undergraduate enrollment stands at Northeastern Colleges.” It stands 10 feet tall, is made from 7,585, with graduate enrollment at 740. In a letter to SRU President Robert paper and toothpicks, and has become Figures show 4,749 women enrolled for Smith, Robert Franek, vice president quite a conversation piece. It also helps 2007-2008, up from 4,682 a year ago, of publishing at The Princeton Review, students learn about fractal geometric and 3,576 men, up from 3,548 a year ago. wrote, “Slippery Rock University of shapes, lessons future math teachers will Pennsylvania is one of 654 institutions pass on to their students. we feature on the ‘Best College Region Students in mathematics faculty by Region’ section of Princeton Review. member David Marchand’s “Elementary com, and one of 222 receiving our Geometry” class recently crafted a ‘Best of the Northeast’ designation. “Sierpinski Arrowhead” in Bailey Library, We salute each of these schools for based on the Sierpinski Pyramid. their excellent academics and other Fractal geometry is a new language, strong offerings and are pleased to rec- related to chaos science, that is used to ommend them to college applicants and describe and analyze complex forms their parents.” found in nature. The pyramid illustrates those varied shapes. Those looking at the pyramid from different angles see a vari- ety of shapes, not just triangles. Accountability ’08 Web site shows leadership SRU has launched a comprehensive institutional profile and accountability Web site Student, soldier, father, to provide potential students, parents, the public and policymakers with easy-to-find graduate beats the odds information about the health of the University. Talk about overcoming obstacles. After The site simplifies the search process for those seeking data on academics, costs, enrolling at The Rock in 2003, Adam T. transferring to SRU, campus living, educational outcomes and more. Wilcox was deployed as a soldier to Iraq, “The impetus for this site came from Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings’ got married, witnessed the birth of his first Commission on the Future of Higher Education’s final report – A Test of Leadership: child and bought a house. Charting the Future of Higher Education,” said Robert Smith, president. He never gave up on his education, “Among a number of recommendations in the report, the Commission was very though, and graduated in December with a clear that colleges and universities must become more transparent about cost, price degree in business.