’Sou thern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Spring 2007 Volume 33, Number 1

The Globalization of BSC

BSC Birmingham-Southern College Editor ’s Note USPS 087-600

“ … they truly do love the college” Dr. G. David Pollick, President James T. Stephens, Chair, Board o fTrustees Recently I was in a meeting on campus of trustees, alumni, and staff. It was the sort of meeting I’ve become accustomed to lately. It was about the future of Birmingham- ’Southern magazine is published three times a year in late spring, Southern. It was an afternoon of smiles and camaraderie —a time of insight and summer, and fall by the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of Communications at Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, purpose. There have been many of these over the past couple of years as the college Alabama 35254. Pre-sorted standard U.S. postage paid at sets its direction for the next decade. Enrollment growth and a strong fundraising B’ham., AL Permit No. 2575. Postmaster: Send address program are the cornerstones of that direction, but there are many other factors and changes to: Alumni Affairs, Birmingham-Southern College, initiatives that will drive our success. One of these is a broadening of the college’s 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254; study -abroad efforts—the focus of this issue of ’Southern . telephone 205/226-4909; or access at www.bsc.edu/alumni. At this particular meeting, a writer from a local marketing firm introduced an idea that the college could use over the next few years for one of its growth initiatives. Editorial Offices: This writer had spent the last year and a half learning all he could about Birmingham- 15 Stockham Building Phone: 20 5/226-4921 Southern College. He attended campus events ; he read the college’s history ; he 900 Arkadelphia Road Fax: 20 5/226-4931 Box 549004 E-mail: [email protected] memorized the facts and figures . He walked the campus to watch and listen. Birmingham, AL 35254 More importantly, he talked to dozens of students, and even more alumni, either in person or on the phone. He immersed himself in everything that comprises Editor: Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications Birmingham-Southern. “In the past 18 months, I ’ve spoken to a number of alumni—recent graduates and Managing Editor: Patricia Cole, Communications Specialist not so recent graduates,” he explained . “ There is a common sense among the people I’ve spoken with, a strong bond they feel with the college. In fact, I’ve noticed that the Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, longer the person has been away from school , the stronger the feelings they have—to Associate Director for Communications --Publications the point that they mythologize their experiences here. I’ve heard from more than a Contributing Writers: few that our marketing efforts have reminded them that they truly do love the college. ” Sarah Barbee, Assistant Director of Athletic His comments about the love that alumni have for this institution went on for Media Relations several more minutes, and it was refreshing to hear, just as it has been the two or three Patricia Cole, Communications Specialist other times I’ve heard the same presentation since that day. It wasn’t anything we Chad Graves, BSC student didn’t already know. But to hear it from someone with no connection to the Carol Cook Hagood ’70, Communications Specialist institution made it more meaningful, more important. By immersing himself in Linda Hallmark, Communications Specialist Birmingham-Southern, he, too, had come to a realization of what this institution is, Barrett Hathcock, Communications Specialist and that its alumni would do just about anything to support it. Fred Sington, Director of Athletic Media Relations The past year has been one of the most challenging in the 151-year history of Bill Wagnon, Vice President for Communications Birmingham-Southern. There have been church fires and athletics program changes. Photography: There has been preparation for growth. There has been change. Change brings Marc Bondarenko Dee Moore uncertainty and anxiety. But change is inevitable. The world changes daily and BSC Patricia Cole Donna Thomas must adapt or be left behind. Change will make us stronger . John Consoli Bill Wagnon Facing much greater competition today in the recruitment of top-notch students, Carol Cook Hagood Elizabeth Wilson Birmingham-Southern is changing not only to meet that challenge, but to grow into a Linda Hallmark College Archives more fiscally healthy and nationally recognized liberal arts college for the future. Mike Hamilton Office of Athletic Media Relations Change will be good. Barrett Hathcock Submitted Photos Yet, through all the adversity and change, and through all the change that is yet to Randy Lee come , one thing has and will remain constant and that is the great love the alumni www.bsc.edu have for this institution. We see it every day. And apparently , so do others. Send news of alumni weddings, births, and deaths, and other ClassNotes material to Carol Cook Hagood at [email protected] or 205/226-4913.

Bill Wagnon Vice President for Communications

’southern Ins ide ’Southern ’Southern magazine / Spring 2007 / Volume 33, Number 1 A Publication for Alumni and Friends

Departments

2 Community News 8 Faculty News 12 Student News On the Cover 34 Alumni Affairs A group of 32 Birmingham-Southern students, alumni, and staff, 48 Philanthropy guided by BSC Bishop-in-Residence Bob Morgan, explored the 52 Athletics Biblical and archeological journeys associated with the Apostle Paul in Greece, Turkey, and Italy during the January 2007 Interim. Here, 54 ClassNotes students are pictured in Athens, Greece, at the site of the Parthenon. 69 ’Southern Voices Feature

20 The Globalization of BSC College advancing international education in the liberal arts

spring 2007 COMMUNITY NEWS

BSC to create a student ‘village ’ with the purchase of adjacent apartment complex

“This will be a valuable addition A sidewalk to campus also will be to our campus and a great benefit constructed. After all non-BSC for our current and future students . student leases have expired, the Expanded apartment offerings satisfy apartment complex will be enclosed a need of our students while at the within the greater BSC fence. same time reinforcing our residential Future plans also include a campus focus which is so important renovation of the club house and to the BSC educational experience. ” the addition of a convenience store The Hilltop Village will fully inside the complex, much like a Hilltop Village Striplin Baseball become a part of the college ’s store currently located on the Complex student residential community residential hall quad. after all current leases of non-BSC Pollick adds that the complex will The Hilltop Village is located just north of the Striplin Baseball Complex. students expire. Several BSC Birmingham-Southern greatly students resided enhanced its on-campus student there prior to the living alternatives with the purchase purchase, and in December of the Hilltop Terrace BSC ’s Office of Apartments adjacent to campus and Residence Life is is in the process of converting the allowing other complex into a residential “village.” students to move In fact, the students recently voted into apartments to rename the complex as The as units become Hilltop Village. vacant. Located on Hilltop Parkway just In addition to north of the Striplin Baseball upperclassmen Artist's rendering Complex, The Hilltop Village and honors contains 16 buildings and will students, a portion of the complex allow the college to close Goodwin provide living space for about 350 will be open to students participat - Hall next year, as well as provide students once the conversion is ing in theme housing —where housing as the college continues complete. students live and study around a the initiatives in place to increase The property also has recently particular subject or interest. enrollment. been renovated. The complex includes a club The 198-bed Goodwin Hall, built “Our students have appropriately house, tennis courts, and a pool. in 1972 , is in need of major named the apartments, because we Birmingham-Southern Campus renovation, making it more cost want the complex to have the feeling Police began patrolling the area 24 effective to replace it in the future of a village, a community within hours a day as soon as the purchase than repair it, Pollick explains. itself where our students can live, was formalized. study, socialize, and grow from the A road that runs directly from experience,” says Birmingham- campus near the Striplin Baseball Southern President Dr. David Complex into the apartment Pollick. complex was completed in March.

2 / ’ southern COMMUNITY NEWS

Speakers named for spring ceremonies at BSC

Birmingham-Southern Professor of History Dr. Bill Nicholas will address the class of 2007 during the college ’s 148th Commencement ceremonies May 26 at Boutwell Auditorium Nicholas Stinson Coon in Birmingham . Nicholas was named the Birmingham-Southern Outstanding Conference of the United Methodist Church . A native of Ozark, Educator of the Year during 2006 graduation ceremonies she served 19 years as a co-pastor at Grace UMC with her in recognition of excellence in all aspects of teaching. The husband, Judd Stinson. Their oldest daughter, Rachel, is a award includes a cash stipend and an invitation to speak at the junior English major at BSC. following year’s Commencement. The speaker for Honors Day April 2 6 will be Jill Balch Coon , a A member of the BSC faculty since 1984, his areas of academic 1992 BSC graduate and director of education and programs for interest are United States and Latin American history. Nicholas the nonprofit organization ENACT Inc. , which uses creative earned his bachelor ’s degree magna cum laude and his master ’s drama and drama therapy techniques to teach social and degree from Trinity University , and his doctorate from Tulane emotional skills to New York City public school students and University . their families. Rev. Libba Stinson , a member of the BSC Board of Trustees In addition to her work with ENACT, Coon works as an since 1999, will deliver the annual Baccalaureate address that actress and serves as a dialect coach for theatre, television, and same day at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in film actors . downtown Birmingham. Stinson is the pastor of Grace United A native of Huntsville, she graduated from BSC with a double Methodist Church in Auburn and previously served as director major in English and theatre. She also holds a master of fine of Connectional Ministries for the Alabama-West Florida arts degree in acting from the University of Florida .

BSC selected ‘Best of the Best for Birmingham-Southern names Working Families ’ for fourth straight year new members to Norton Board

Birmingham-Southern was selected for the fourth consecutive year as the “Best of the Best ” winner in the education category in “Birmingham ’s Best Birmingham-Southern has announced five new members Companies for Working Families” by Birmingham Parent magazine. of its Edward Lee Norton Board of Advisors. The publication ’s annual survey seeks out, encourages, and offers public New members are Jeffrey Cross of Homewood, president recognition to organizations in the Birmingham area that have adopted of 2B Solutions; Carol Herrmann-Steckel of Mountain family-friendly policies and practices —both the standard, long-accepted Brook, commissioner of the Alabama Medicaid Agency; policies and the new, innovative ones. The winners of Birmingham Parent ’s Robert Pless of Mountain Brook, senior vice president of “Best of the Best ” 2006 survey were honored at a special awards luncheon in Regions Bank; Marsha Smith of North Shelby County, vice November . president of human resources for Colonial Properties Trust; “Experience, along with research, has shown that family-friendly policies and John Thompson of Vestavia Hills, vice president and lead to better balance, more creative and dedicated employees —workers who director of human resources and training for EBSCO usually remain loyal to their employer and are Industries Inc. more committed to their jobs,” states a Established in 1974 to honor the memory of the late Birmingham Parent article announcing the businessman and Birmingham-Southern alumnus, the winners. Edward Lee Norton Board provides “a perpetual forum for Birmingham-Southern was cited for its family mixing the academic and theoretical wisdom of the college atmosphere, partnership with community with the practical advice of the Birmingham business and organizations, state-of-the-art fitness center professional community .” and wellness programs, full tuition reimburse - ment , child-friendly programs, health and safety, campus police, full range of financial benefits and options, campus events, and flextime options, among other features . spring 2007 / 3 COMMUNITY NEWS

BSC growth —Birmingham-Southern students returned to campus this spring term amidst a flurry of construction activity for several new projects scheduled to open in the 2007-08 academic year. Top photo: The college ’s new Urban Environmental Park is under construction on the west end of campus adjacent to the residence hall quad. The donor- funded park will be completed in phases and serve as both a place of recreation and leisure for students, as well as an academic laboratory for the study of environmental issues. Future phases will include a pavilion, amphitheatre, boat house, and terraced seating. Bottom, left photo: A new donor-funded Admission Welcome Center is being built next to the Striplin Fitness and Recreation Center . This stately manor will serve as the welcome center to campus and host prospective future students and their parents as they visit BSC during the college decision process. Bottom, right photo: Construction crews also are clearing the land located on the northwest side of the campus to make way for the new athletics complex . The complex will be completed in phases and will feature a stadium with state-of-the-art artificial turf and with an eight-lane regulation track surrounding the field. An athletics building will be constructed that will include a training room, a weight-training room, and locker rooms for football.

4 / ’ southern COMMUNITY NEWS

Birmingham-Southern College Pollick elected to Boy Calendar of Events Scouts executive board

April 26 Honors Day recognizes Birmingham-Southern ’s outstanding Birmingham-Southern President Dr. David students and their academic accomplishments , 10 a.m., Pollick recently was elected to the executive Munger Hall Auditorium, 205/226-4650. board of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America. April 26-29 Ah, Wilderness! Theatrical Production , Eugene O ’Neill ’s The announcement of new board members, classic comedy about small town values , April 26-28 at including Pollick, was made at the council ’s 7:30 p.m. and April 29 at 2:30 p.m., College Theatre, business meeting in December . Mainstage, 205/226-4780. He began his service for a one-year term Jan. 1, 2007. April 26- Annual BSC Juried Student Competition , 8:30 a.m. to May 18 4:45 p.m., M-F, Durbin Gallery, Kennedy Art Center/Azar Art Studios, with reception at noon on opening day, 205/226-4928.

April 27-28 BSC Alumni Reunion Weekend 2007 . For events, locations, dates, and times, refer to the BSC Office of Alumni Affairs Web site at www.bsc.edu/alumni or see pages 36-43 in this issue .

April 28 Planet Patrol Planetarium Show (produced by the Sudekum Planetarium ), 2 p.m., Robert R. Meyer Planetarium, 205/226-4771.

May 7 Southern Chorale Spring Concert , 7:30 p.m., Hill Recital Hall, 205/226-4950. A Grand Master of journalism — May 8 Hilltop Singers Season Finale , 7:30 p.m., Hill Recital Hall, Acclaimed journalist and author Gay Talese 205/226-4950. (second from right) was Grand Master of the 2007 Writing Today conference held March 9-10 at May 25 Senior Capping Ceremony , 6 p.m., Bruno Great Hall, Birmingham-Southern. Pictured with Talese are Norton Campus Center, 205/226-4908. (from left) BSC President Dr. David Pollick; Nabella Shunnarah, this year ’s writer ’s conference chair; and Don Noble of the Alabama Public Television May 26 Baccalaureate Service , 10:30 a.m., First United Methodist show Bookmark , who interviewed Talese in a live Church in Downtown Birmingham, 205/226-4650. taping at the closing session of the conference. Writing Today annually brings together writers, May 26 Galaxies Planetarium Show (a production of the Hansen editors, publishers, playwrights, poets, journalists, Planetarium), 2 p.m., Robert R. Meyer Planetarium, and other literary professionals for two days of 205/226-4771. panel discussions and lectures on the literary arts, as well as practical information necessary to the May 26 Commencement , 3:30 p.m., Boutwell Auditorium, craft of writing. BSC alumna Rebecca Gilman, a downtown Birmingham, 205/226-4650. highly acclaimed playwright, was a major speaker at the conference.

spring 2007 / 5 Asking questions LOUDLY ? The interrobang. It ’s a rarely used, non-standard punctuation m! ark —an exclamation point and a question mark superimposed over each other or used side by side to indicate a question being asked with excitement, or asking a question LOUDLY .

Much like an interrobang, students at Birmingham-Southern College have been asking questions LOUDLY with excitement for more than 150 years, seeking knowledge, truth, and non-standard answers while leaving their non-standard marks on the world. It ’s a LOUD excitement that continues today, not only with our students, but with our entire college community.

Please visit our newly redesigned Web site at www.bsc.edu often , and while you ’re there, click on the interrobang symbols to learn more of what makes Birmingham-Southern LOUD with excitement.

BirminBSCgham-Southern College COMMUNITY NEWS

Environmental leader —Jerome Ringo (second from left), current chair of the National Wildlife Federation Board of Directors and the first African-American to head a major conservation organization, lectured on “A Changing Environment, A Sense of Urgency” at Birmingham-Southern March 15. Shown with Ringo prior to the lecture are (from left) Pat Byington, senior associate with the Wilderness Society ; Jeanne Jackson, director of leadership and environmental studies at BSC; and Roald Hazelhoff, director of BSC ’s Southern Environmental Center. The lecture was sponsored by the college’s Hess Center for Leadership and Service.

BSC offers a variety of summer day camps for youth

Birmingham-Southern will provide fun experiences for girls and boys to enjoy this summer while being introduced to college life or learning valuable sports, acting, and music tips from a collegiate team of coaches and teachers. Youth ranging in age from 7 to 18 can attend sports camps during the months of June and July at BSC. Information on baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and track and field camps can be found by clicking on the camps link at www.bscsports.net. The 14th annual Student Leaders in Service program , sponsored by the college ’s Hess Center for Leadership and Service, will be held June 17-22. This residential program will expose current high school juniors to leadership theories and provide opportunities to practice leadership through community service projects. For more information , contact Dragonfly lands BSC Admission Counselor Ashley Frohock at 205/226-4690 or [email protected]. at BSC —The PBS Information on the program also is available at www.bsc.edu/academics/hess/leadership/ national program slis.htm . DragonflyTV , where kids For information on the BSC Intensive Summer Dance Workshop for ages 12-18, which is explore the wonders of scheduled in June, call 205/323-5390. science, held an open Birmingham-Southern also hosts camps each summer for youth interested in music and casting call on the theatre. For more information on these camps, contact the BSC Conservatory at 205/ Birmingham-Southern 226-4960 or visit www.bsc.edu/academics/music/conservatory-summer.htm . campus this past fall for Application deadlines vary for all of BSC ’s summer youth opportunities. Printable area youth between the registration forms are available online for all of the programs. ages of 11 and 14. About 30 to 40 youth were video - taped , while only two were selected to appear in the taped program , which took place at the BSC Southern Environmental Center in December. The segment was scheduled to air in April. Shown here is Drag - onflyTV host and actor Eric Artell (left) and SEC Direc - tor Roald Hazelhoff.

spring 2007 / 7 FACULTY NEWS

Professor Edward LaMonte : Teaching BSC students to be politically responsible, globally minded

by pat cole

an instructor in the college ’s Master of Arts in Public and Private Management Program. He also serves as the coordinator of BSC ’s international studies major. “Very important to my work as OIP director is the presence of Anne Ledvina [associate OIP director], who is a passionate and dedicated international educator,” says LaMonte. “My primary role is to work with Anne and the college administration to develop policies for study abroad that are appropriate for Birmingham-Southern and for the world in which we send our students to study.” Since starting his work with OIP in 2000, LaMonte has been constant in his push to move Birmingham- Southern forward in keeping with its international focus. His contri- butions include helping to develop LaMonte grants for international study , Though Dr. Edward LaMonte often pointed out is the sincerity he conducting site visits to universities considers his role as Howell Heflin exhibits toward the needs of people overseas to establish partnerships , Professor of Political Science at and his desire to make a difference. and serving as an advocate for the Birmingham-Southern to be the “One of the gifts I have definitely Study-Abroad program to faculty most rewarding, his interests and tried to develop over the years is to colleagues. “I think it is important influence reach far beyond his take other people very seriously, to prepare young people not only to lectures about the theory and especially my students, and to live and function economically in practice of politics. And he has convey a sense of real interest in and the world, but also to prepare them taken on many roles over the years respect for them,” says LaMonte. “I to become citizens of the world in a to prove it. try to make my teaching as much a way that I certainly wasn ’t at that age This gifted teacher, administrator, personal experience for my students and that most people of my scholar, advocate, and mentor also as an academic one. I really enjoy generation were less inclined to be, ” directs the college ’s Office of talking to people and learning more he remarks . International Programs (OIP) and about them.” LaMonte grew up in Columbus , maintains active partnerships with Along with balancing his part-time Ohio , in what he calls “a very non - several community-based organiza - work with the OIP and teaching political family,” and says his tions. But perhaps the most stellar undergraduate students about the parents placed a high priority characteristic of LaMonte that is world of public affairs, LaMonte is instead on educating him and his

8 / ’ southern FACULTY NEWS

two older brothers. He studied hood Growth, and A+ Education and Sisterhood Award from the history at Harvard and earned a Foundation. National Conference for master ’s degree and Ph.D. in Last year, LaMonte joined the Community and Justice. political science from the University Alabama Council for Excellence in A great support to LaMonte ’s of Chicago . Education, to which he brings a professional career is his wife, Ruth, “My first introduction to personal perspective from his an Episcopal priest and chair of Birmingham and the civil rights experience in 1996 as interim Birmingham ’s Sister City Commis - movement occurred through a superintendent of schools for the sion. “My wife has a strong inter- service -learning project at Harvard in Birmingham Board of Education. “I national background and experience 1964,” he explains. “That summer, realized that the city of Birmingham from both her former and current Harvard teamed up with an organi - is basically an all-black school work,” he says. “I travel with her as zation at Miles College, and we lived system and that there are others in often as I can to assist in her work of and worked together on their its surrounding areas who are developing relationships with cities campus. I became acutely aware of overwhelmingly white,” he notes . around the world.” how limited my own background “While we are much further down Since he has traveled somewhat and experiences were and how the road than we were decades ago extensively overseas and worked in important it is for people as they in terms of diversity, still so many of the world of politics and public grow to be around others who are us live separate lives from people affairs, LaMonte believes he brings a different from themselves in who are fundamentally different unique strength to his students . significant ways .” from us. We need to explore com - “Traveling and working in city Between getting his graduate mon ground, rather than division.” government has added sensitivity to degrees and joining BSC, LaMonte While serving as superintendent, my teaching, and I try to draw on it directed UAB ’s Center for Urban LaMonte took a half-year leave of in appropriate ways and incorporate Studies through its first decade, and absence from his administrative that regularly into the classroom. ” later served eight years as a senior duties at BSC, but maintained his LaMonte readily admits that his staff member for Birmingham ’s first teaching load. “That still proved to desire to teach at a small liberal arts African-American mayor , Dr. Richard be a real problem,” he recalls. “One college has always been stronger Arrington Jr. “The opportunity to cannot be an adequate school super - than any of his thoughts toward work with Mayor Arrington during intendent and have a competing becoming a career civil servant . “ It two of his terms at the same time claim like that. I learned that lesson is a real privilege to be a part of the that Birmingham was undergoing from hard and painful experiences.” educational community at Birming - profound economic, social, and Following those tough months, he ham-Southern where the lives and political change was a remarkable returned to teaching full-time and well-being of its undergraduates are personal and professional experience became dean of the former Adult the primary focus, yet where there is for me,” he expresses. “It was during Studies Program at BSC, a position a deep respect for the responsibilities that time that I began my interna - in which LaMonte says he was and opportunities connected with tional travel as a representative for delighted to serve . “I was very the community —both in the the city.” attracted to the quality and impact immediate neighborhood and the These types of cross-cultural of that program,” he says. “I think it world at large .” experiences are what guided made a tremendous difference for LaMonte to many of his off-campus many adults in the Birmingham pursuits in urban development and metropolitan area.” his efforts to bring people together Both in the city and the state, from diverse backgrounds . His LaMonte has received many leadership over the years in local academic and civic honors during business, social, educational, and his career for his contributions , civic organizations is impressive and published articles for newspapers too numerous to list completely, but and journals, and has worked as a includes the Birmingham Chamber consultant to several local groups. of Commerce, Operation New He is a past recipient of the college ’s Birmingham, Alabama Symphonic ODK Excellence in Teaching Award Association, Partners in Neighbor - and garnered the 2004 Brotherhood

spring 2007 / 9 FACULTY NEWS

Longtime religion professor Wells to retire after 40 years

1957 with a major in classical Greek. favorite part has been “the discovery He continued his education at the of watching people realize how good Vanderbilt University Divinity they really are ”— how capable as School , where he earned a bachelor ’s scholars, how filled with promise. degree in Biblical studies in 1960 “I enjoy watching students become and a Ph.D. on completion of a colleagues, ” he says. A number of dissertation in Old Testament in his students have gone on to fill 1969 . At Vanderbilt, Wells was distinguished roles in academia. recipient of the Founder ’s Medal, the His teaching positions have in - Divinity School ’s highest academic cluded fellowships at Vanderbilt recognition, and the Owen Prize in Divinity School and Vanderbilt Biblical Studies. University and instructor positions Wells has a formidable reputation at St. Luke ’s Seminary at Sewanee for scholarship, with his primary and Austin College in Sherman , research area being the prophetic Texas . He joined the BSC religion literature of the Old Testament. He faculty in 1967. has presented papers and written Wells is quick to acknowledge the articles and reviews and has traveled importance throughout his career of in Israel and Jordan on research his wife, Laura Stephenson Wells ’59. grants. As a member of the Society High -school sweethearts, the two of Biblical Literature, he has been recently celebrated their 50th invited to participate in a consulta - wedding anniversary. Together they Wells tion on the formation of the Book of have raised three children and now When Dr. Roy Wells, Birmingham- Jeremiah and is on the steering enjoy a grandchild . Southern professor of religion, committee for a research seminar on Wells also cites the importance of retires at the end of May, he also will the formation of the book of Isaiah. fellow faculty during his long career be celebrating his 50th anniversary Wells was a minister in the North at BSC, a faculty, he says, that is as a graduate of the college. Alabama Conference of the United distinguished by its ongoing quality Wells grew up in Birmingham and Methodist Church for many years and substance. “My colleagues have knew that after graduation from and conducted services and offered kept me alive,” he says, “stimulated, high school he wanted to study seminars and workshops for clergy energized.” Close colleagues return ministry at Birmingham-Southern . and lay people. In 1996, he was the compliment. Dr. Earl F. Gossett But, he had no idea where the confirmed in the Episcopal Church Jr. ’54 , BSC Canterbury Professor school was located. A short bus ride and was ordained a priest in 2000. Emeritus of Religion and Philoso - later, he found himself in Munger He serves as priest associate at St. phy, says “Roy is a brilliant Biblical Hall and knew he ’d come to the Andrew ’s Parish in Birmingham and schola r .. . his students have benefited right place. In the hallway, he met as a Diocesan supply priest for area from his challenging and careful the legendary English Professor Episcopal churches . scholarship and teaching. My own Richebourg Gaillard McWilliams. But his first ministry, Wells says, theological understanding has been Wells said to himself, “Now that ’s a has been teaching. In his more than enhanced by dialogue with him. ” college professor!” four decades of engaging students in He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in divinity studies, he says that his

10 / ’ southern FACULTY NEWS

theatre productions with pro- opportunities that he says are fessional organizations such as invaluable and life-changing. Birmingham Summerfest. He Through other Interim projects, conducts the Red Mountain he has become a practitioner and Chamber Orchestra each year and student of Buddhist and Taoist has served as president of the contemplative practices, especially Birmingham Music Club. He also as presented in the curriculum Gibbs has served as organist and choir- for westerners called the New master for several local churches. Forest Way . Gibbs to retire “Principally, however, I ’m a At the end of May, Gibbs will teacher,” he notes. “And everything move to Marietta , Ga., where his after 37 years that I ’ve done over the years has partner, Steven Schneider, is at Birmingham- grown out of my teaching . The employed. He will work on music- climate at BSC encourages and editing projects, as well as complete Southern supports professional activity and a number of articles for professional community involvement.” journals. When Professor of Music Dr. When asked what he is most “I ’ve been reminding my Thomas Gibbs retires from proud of, Gibbs talks about the professional colleagues in the Birmingham-Southern at the end of achievements of his students, Atlanta area that I will be available May, he will leave behind a durable particularly those who have active for teaching and conducting,” says and tangible legacy of influence in careers as conductors and teachers. Gibbs. “I don ’t feel old enough to the lives of thousands of students He also notes that it is especially retire.” and colleagues. satisfying when former students stay A 1964 BSC graduate in religion in touch, continuing the dialogue and philosophy, Gibbs holds a that began in class. master ’s degree and Ph.D. in As far as offering general advice for Sprayberry recognized musicology from the University of current students, Gibbs says that he Texas . He joined the BSC faculty in encourages his students to think for as exemplary teacher 1970 and for 37 years has taught a themselves: “to value your own by United Methodist Church wide variety of courses in music engagement with the music, your history and theory. own observations, and your own Gibbs ’ teaching at BSC has responses , which are just as included conducting, choral important as what you read in Dr. Sandra Sprayberry, the Robert E. Luckie Professor literature, opera literature, hymn- books.” of English at Birmingham-Southern, has been presented ology, and theology and music. A native of Birmingham, Gibbs with an Exemplary Teaching Award by the Board of From 1980 to 1988, he served as grew up in the city ’s musical scene. Higher Education and Campus Ministry of the United chair of the college ’s former Division “My mother was a wonderful Methodist Church . of Fine and Performing Arts. composer and organist, and most of The award is presented annually to As teacher, conductor, vocal coach, our family ’s friends were musicians,” a BSC professor who is “characterized pianist, and organist, Gibbs ’ musical he recalls. “My parents wanted me by excellence in teaching; civility and leadership skills have extended to go to medical school after college, concern for students and colleagues; outside of BSC to the local but I could never disengage myself commitment to value-centered community and beyond. He spent from music.” education; and service to students, 10 years as conductor of the Even so, Gibbs is eager to cite the institution, the community, Birmingham Concert Chorale, an some of his experiences that do not Sprayberry or the church. ” organization that serves as the directly relate to music. He has been Having joined the BSC faculty in 1988, Sprayberry Alabama Symphony Chorus. Gibbs a faculty advisor to three BSC holds a bachelor ’s degree in English and a master of has conducted opera and musical Interim service -learning projects — fine arts from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in 20th-century poetry from Florida State University .

spring 2007 / 11 Dibya Thapa : Nepalese student follows a ‘mountain trail ’ to arrive at BSC

by pat cole

Coincidence can probably best Thapa. “He told me the people on the United States,” she says. “My describe Dibya Thapa ’s journey from campus were friendly , and that he parents had always wanted me to Nepal to Birmingham-Southern liked the size and the small student- work to become independent, to College . to-faculty ratio. He thought that strive be a leader, and to explore Were it not for her father being BSC would be a good fit for me opportunities in my life. ” invited to help with BSC ’s freshman because of the smaller schools and Following a lengthy wait, Thapa orientation at the start of the fall classrooms that I am used to.” received the phone call she wanted 2000 semester , Thapa is certain her from Pat Kidd in the BSC Admission dream of graduating from a U.S. Office . So before the start of the college or university would have 2004 spring term , she took a 22- been fulfilled elsewhere or not at all. hour flight from Nepal —located in Her father, Puran Thapa, was southern Asia, between China and among a panel of guests who led the India —to attend BSC as a freshman. freshman required-reading discus - Thapa is fluent in English, Hindi, sion on campus that year about Into and Sanskrit in addition to her Thin Air : A Personal Account of the native language of Nepalese . “I 1996 Mount Everest Disaster by Jon started learning English when I was Krakauer. He talked about his in preschool,” she says . “ But when I special connection to veteran first came here, I did have a difficult mountaineer Scott Fischer, who time understanding the Southern along with 12 other climbers, came accent. ” up missing. A senior business administration “My dad lost his best friend, Scott major, she is a member of the Fischer, during that expedition ,” college ’s Multicultural Awareness says Thapa. “He shared experiences Organization and does work-study too of his involvement in the travel/ for the Office of International trekking business in Nepal, where Thapa Programs . “My experience at BSC Mount Everest is located .” has been very positive,” remarks When her father returned to A few months later, during her Thapa, who also is a Nepalese folk Nepal , Thapa says he was eager to junior year of high school , Thapa dancer . “The students and faculty talk to her about the possibility of received a BSC admission packet are very helpful. The teaching style his daughter attending Birmingham- from then-president Dr. Neal Berte . is different though. In Nepal, Southern . “ My dad was very “That ’s when I really began to students sit in the classroom and impressed with the college ,” says prepare myself for study abroad in listen to the teacher and take notes.

12 / ’ southern STUDENT NEWS

But here, there is a lot of dialogue Thapa has returned to Nepal only and classroom discussion.” once during the four years she ’s As often as she can, Thapa been at BSC . “ International students ventures outside of the college ’s gate don ’t always go home for the with friends to visit the city ’s holidays, and it can get really lonely attractions and taste a variety of here on campus sometimes, ” she Southern foods. Her outings have expresses . “ For me, it ’s not so much included the Birmingham Civil the solitude, but the fact that I don ’t Rights Institute, Botanical Gardens, have a car or a driver ’s license .” and area shopping centers . “I like As a soon-to-be graduate of both the city and the food,” she says. Birmingham-Southern, Thapa “In Nepal, we eat a lot of rice and believes that getting a liberal arts curry and we don ’t put ice in our education is a necessity . “ Along with beverages. And there are no the education I ’m receiving, just fast -food restaurants in Nepal. coming to BSC from a completely We mostly cook and eat fresh foods different place , from a country so far every day.” away , and having to learn new things Thapa even traveled to Puerto Rico every day , has been a valuable during one January Interim term as experience in my life.” part of a business internship, and, during another Interim, participated in a local service -learning project . “I helped repair roofs on homes in the Woodlawn community of Birmingham and tutored at a nearby Thapa with Anne Ledvina, associate director of the school,” she explains. Office of International Programs. “Working in Woodlawn was an ‘eye-opening ’ experience for me. It helped me to realize that even people living in the United States struggle with poverty and need help.” She intends to work in the United States for at least a year after graduating before she decides if she will return to Nepal . “I want to travel to different places in the United States and the world,” she says. “And I would love to learn other Asian languages, such as Korean and Japanese. ”

spring 2007 / 13 STUDENT NEWS

A classic comedy —An ensemble of theatre students produced William Shakespeare ’s romantic comedy As You Like It from start to finish during Interim 2007.

Interim 2007 : travel, uncommon courses, experiential learning

For undergraduate students at and unusual internships —all for poverty in rural and urban Alabama . Birmingham-Southern, the Interim academic credit. Nearly 100 other students spent term is something to get excited about. More than 200 BSC students spent Interim term in individually contracted One of the most distinctive parts of Interim 2007 involved in faculty or study experiences across the state, the college ’s educational experience, staff-guided service-learning and study nation, and world, while others this “mini-semester” between the fall projects locally, nationally, and participated in more than 50 creative and spring terms gives students an internationally. Interim projects this course offerings on the BSC campus , opportunity to identify and pursue year ranged from doing environmental including “The Science and Art of their passions. research in the Pacific Northwest to Fermentation.” Some 120 students During the four-week period each exploring human rights issues in South completed internships . January , students explore one topic or Africa to studying the language and Although space limitations prevent interest through on- and off-campus culture of Argentina . Locally, a group featuring all of the students ’ innovative creative projects, cutting-edge courses, of students engaged in service in west experiences , the following varied independent study or research, foreign Birmingham and the Black Belt region snapshots will provide a glimpse study experiences, and challenging to gain a better understanding of of Interim 2007 .

14 / ’ southern STUDENT NEWS

Service learning in Birmingham —BSC student Claire Davis plays with a child at Urban Ministry in Birmingham , where a group of students lived and worked for a week to restore and renovate houses in a nearby community .

Interim at sea —BSC student Chris Luketic was among a group who spent three weeks in the Caribbean learning to sail aboard a classic two- masted schooner. Led by BSC Associate Physics Professor Dr. Duane Pontius, this travel opportunity has been a popular Interim activity for years.

A Biblical journey —Observing this breathtaking view from the Acropolis at Pergamum in Turkey are (from left) Birmingham-Southern student Maria Presley; Emily Mathis, a 2005 BSC graduate; and BSC Bishop- in-Residence Bob Morgan. They were part of a group of BSC students, staff, alumni, and guests—guided by Morgan—who spent the majority of the January Interim term exploring the journeys of the Apostle Paul in Greece, Murals of hope —Several BSC students Turkey, and Italy. and staff members helped paint murals on the walls of a school nursery during an Interim service- learning trip to Ecuador .

spring 2007 / 15 STUDENT NEWS

Conversations in Spanish —Students in the class “Y Ahora A Hablar ” ( And now, let ’s talk) on campus absorbed a unique Interim educational experience by getting a total immersion of the Spanish language through readings, music, and movies. The course was taught by BSC Spanish Instructor Kim Lewis (far right).

Medical mission —BSC students Caitlin Gordon (pictured , foreground) and Amanda Woods interned for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital in Birmingham and traveled with a medical team to Nicaragua for a one-week mission project.

Human rights examination —“After Apartheid: South Africa” was the focus of an Interim project in which 15 BSC students and two faculty members traveled to South Africa to study human rights issues. This was BSC ’s first group travel Interim to this country. Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former archbishop of Cape Town, is pictured with the students.

16 / ’ southern STUDENT NEWS

Two BSC students selected as 2007-08 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars

Two Birmingham-Southern seniors have been chosen by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to receive its prestigious scholarships for international cultural study. Eddie LaCour, a political science major from Dothan, and Kris Sornsin, an international studies major from Alexander City, each were awarded a one -year Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. LaCour plans to pursue a master ’s degree in international peace studies at Trinity College in Dublin , Ireland . Sornsin intends to travel to Budapest , Hungary , to work toward a master ’s degree in nationalism studies at Central European University . LaCour and Sornsin The Rotary Scholarships, which can reach up to $25,000, are intended to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The scholarships are sponsored by local Rotary clubs. The Rotary Foundation offers three types of scholarships: Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships for one year of post-graduate and cultural study, Rotary Cultural Scholarships for three months of overseas study, and Multi-Year Rotary Scholarships for two or more years of international study and exchange. Since 1990, 34 BSC students or alumni have been awarded Rotary International scholarships.

BSC student honored by Points of Light Foundation

Jessica Headley, a senior political science major from Hoover , has been selected for a national Daily Points of Light Award for her volunteer work in educating young people about the importance of character. The Daily Points of Light Award honors individuals and volunteer groups that have made a commitment to volunteer service to help meet critical needs in their communities and in the nation. It focuses on the goals for children and youth set by the President ’s Summit for America ’s Future. Each weekday, one volunteer or volunteer effort in the country receives a Daily Point of Light Award. Headley, who was showcased on The Points of Light Foundation ’s Web site March 21, was Headley selected for the prestigious award based upon the nonprofit corporation she founded in 2005 called P.R.A.I.S.E. Inc. (Promoting Responsibility, Awareness, Integrity, Service, and Education). She mentors students weekly in both large and small groups about the six pillars of character, works with schools on awarding certificates for students who demonstrate positive character, and raises funding for scholarships from businesses and civic groups to help train teachers in inculcating character into their curriculums. She also created a DVD on the merits of character that was distributed to Alabama legislators. Headley used the topic “P.R.A.I.S.E. ” as a community-service platform when she competed in the 2004 Miss BSC Pageant , and she will use it again when she vies for the Miss Alabama title in June as the reigning Miss Point Mallard. For more information about the Points of Light Foundation, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

spring 2007 / 17 STUDENT NEWS

Wang a finalist in Miss Chinese International 2007

Birmingham-Southern senior Sirena Wang of Madison was a top-five finalist in th e Miss Chinese International 2007 Pageant held in January near Hong Kong. She also won the Audience Favorite award for talent and the Webmaster ’s Choice award during the pageant. “The pageant competition was the experience of a lifetime,” said Wang. “I met 20 young women from around the world. Not only did I learn more about my own culture, but I learned about the cultures of at least 15 other countries.” Wang earned the right to compete at the international pageant after she took the national crown of Miss New York Chinese in August. A double major in international business and music, she is an accomplished pianist and a member of the BSC air rifle team. Wang

Two BSC students interning to help the environment

An interest in environmental activities and discovering the importance of green issues were at the heart of two Birmingham- Wright (above) and Southern students ’ decisions to take part in Bernreuter. the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) paid internship program for 2006-07. Jon Bernreuter, a junior music major from Vestavia Hills , helps organize and maintain BSC ’s recycling station . Bernreuter has spent the past semester tackling the mountain of recyclables that have accumulated on the Hilltop and making sure the recycling bins are in suitable spots to be picked up by city recycling crews. He also helped secure funding for new recycling bins at BSC by working with the Student Government Association . Brooke Wright , a junior Latin American studies major from Huntsville , assists at the Southern Environmental Center (SEC). In addition to helping youth with EcoArt activities, Wright reports to the ACS about environmental happenings at Birmingham-Southern. She served as the coordinator for this year ’s EcoFest fundraising event, which benefits the SEC ’s community garden program , and she represented BSC at a green conference at Rollins College (Fla.) this past fall. She also is serving as a student liaison for environmental initiatives within the ACS consortium. ACS is composed of 16 liberal arts colleges and universities in 12 Southern states that work cooperatively to strengthen academic programs of the member institutions and to promote to others the nature of a liberal arts education and the vital role it plays in society.

18 / ’ southern BSC ’s Ultimate Frisbee team STUDENT NEWS ranked among tops in nation

The Birmingham-Southern men ’s Ultimate Frisbee Club team finished the fall season with a 16-1 record and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in the November ranking , according to the Players Association RRI ranking ’s index. The team received the ranking following a tournament in Atlanta on the Emory University campus. In that Homecoming queen competition, the Panthers finished second, falling in the crowned —Sarah Glidewell finals to Georgia Tech after having beaten the Jackets earlier was crowned Birmingham- in the tournament. Southern ’s 2007 Homecoming Birmingham-Southern beat Auburn University , Berry Queen Feb. 24 during halftime College, Clemson University, and Emory prior to the loss ceremonies at BSC ’s women ’s to Georgia Tech in the tournament. The team also had basketball game vs. Radford. Glidewell, a senior religion major victories over Purdue, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, from Marietta , Ga. , was escorted and Tulane in the fall. by her father, Sam Glidewell, a The main season for Ultimate Frisbee is the spring. 1972 BSC graduate. Home- BSC is competing in five major tournaments this spring coming queen joins Glidewell ’s list of other accomplish - in Nashville ; Atlanta ; Memphis ; Starkville , Miss. ; and ments, which include membership in Kappa Delta sorority, Talladega. co-president of Students Offering Support, and vice Ultimate Frisbee is played by two seven-player squads with president of Mortar Board. a high-tech plastic disk on a field similar to football. The object of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponent ’s end zone. For more information, go to www.bscsports.net, or visit Whittington Competition www.upa.org . winners perform with orchestra

Three student winners of the seventh annual Whittington Competition at Birmingham-Southern performed Feb. 18 on campus with the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra, led by BSC Music Professor Dr. Thomas Gibbs, accompanied the 2007 Whittington Competition winners, who were Shelby Bowling, a sophomore vocal performance major from Mobile; Bonnie McClure, a junior music major and pianist from Fortson , Theatre excellence —The Birmingham-Southern production of Urinetown was selected to participate in the Ga.; and John-Mark McGaha, a Region IV Festival of the Kennedy Center American College senior vocal performance major Theater Festival held in February at Georgia Southwestern from Pratt City . University . It was one of eight productions selected for the The Whittington Competition festival out of over 55 in the eight Southeastern states that is named for Frances and Dorsey make up Region IV, each vying for an invitation to the national Whittington, who were leaders festival in April at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts of The Birmingham Conservatory in Washington, D.C. While the production was not selected of Music which later became the for the national festival, it was one of only 17 nationwide, and Music Department at the only one from Region IV, that received consideration. Birmingham-Southern. Birmingham-Southern theatre productions have a long- standing history of receiving invitations to the Kennedy Center Whittington Competition winners (from left ) regional competitions. Since 1986, the college has been Shelby Bowling, John-Mark McGaha, and extended seven invitations to compete against much larger Bonnie McClure, with BSC Music Professor institutions, including those with graduate programs Dr. Thomas Gibbs. in theater .

spring 2007 / 19 FEATURES

THE Glob al izati on OF

by pat cole

C OLLEGE ADVANCINBSCG INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS

The practice of providing an international education in the context of the contemporary liberal arts curriculum requires that students develop their “narrative imagination” and the ability to take on the perspectives of another culture as described by noted philosopher Dr. Martha Nussbaum in her book Cultivating Humanity .

This concept challenges educators in this era of increasing globalization and raises issues that faculty and staff at Birmingham-Southern are bringing to the attention of their students as they look upon the world and search for their place in it. Whether students travel internationally or engage in intercultural learning, BSC is setting a high priority on international education as part of every student ’s academic experience.

20 / ’ southern (Opposite page, left) Alumna Marta McLellan ’02 conducts a class session in China. (Right) Students pause to take in the beauty of Italy during the 2007 Interim “Classical and Renaissance Italy: The Major Cities and the Places in Between.” Photo by Herndon Rouse.

(This page) BSC students spent three weeks sail training in the Caribbean aboard a classic two-masted schooner during the 2007 “Interim at Sea.” Photo by Courtney Bascom. FEATURES

ccording to the Institute of expand the study-abroad oppor- through offices like Multicultural International Education (IIE) tunities for our students, making Affairs and International Programs. A in its annual survey Open the full, rich, and secure experience Having these groups on campus is Doors , there has been an 8 percent of an educational semester abroad important for creating cross-cultural increase in the number of American a greater likelihood during the perspectives.” students studying abroad. And course of each of our students ’ And current students are not the Birmingham-Southern is well on top undergraduate careers.” only ones benefiting from the of this national trend as it relates to Birmingham-Southern ’s efforts to college ’s cross-cultural efforts. Many international study. prepare students to join the global BSC alumni have put their degrees BSC President Dr. David Pollick community are coming from all to work internationally. has shared much of the college ’s areas of the campus. The Office of Mitch Robinson, a 2001 BSC international vision and has given Admission, in collaboration with the graduate and former Student greater visibility to the globalization Office of International Programs Government Association president of the campus. He believes students (OIP ) and the Office of Multi- and Rotary Scholar, is just one cannot truly experience the value cultural Affairs, is working to example. Robinson studied abroad of a liberal arts education without recruit international students who in college and says his BSC immersing themselves in a different diversify the campus. The Provost ’s experiences led him to pursue other culture. Office, the college ’s international academic departments, and opportunities. “Since graduating from BSC in history, I’ve studied inter- national relations at the University of

“Creating the expec - the OIP are tation that every identifying oppor - student will have an tunities and funding international or sources to invite international multicultural scholars to campus and to add experience while in college international or human rights Edinburgh in Scotland and human guarantees the preparation of a more content to the curriculum. In rights law at the University of Wales thoughtful global citizen, rather addition, offering international in England,” he says. “Currently, I than a cultural isolationist,” says study -travel through the Office of am teaching Western Civilization Pollick. “Though one may say ‘I’m Interim and Contract Learning and and American Society and Culture at an American or a Lithuanian,’ the OIP gives students a chance to Tsinghua University in Beijing . This international exposure provides the explore the world as part of their has been an incredible journey for a student with a broader sense of place four -year degree. kid from Meridian , Miss., who didn ’t and global responsibility.” “There are many other things even know which way to turn on the Pollick began addressing the need Birmingham-Southern is doing well BSC campus the first time he saw it.” for enhanced international learning to promote internationalization ,” For Birmingham-Southern when he became the college ’s 12th adds Dr. Edward LaMonte, Howell students who wrestle with the “travel president in 2004. “Birmingham- Heflin Professor of Political Science itch” during college, both the Office Southern College will continue in its and director of the college ’s Office of of International Programs and the commitment to international International Programs. “Cultural Office of Interim and Contract education wherever appropriate awareness is being spread by having Learning hold the keys to the throughout its curriculum, including organizations such as the United popular study -abroad programs that the addition of new programming,” Nations Student Alliance repre- introduce students to new cultures he stated in his inauguration sented on campus, as well as each year. address. “Furthermore, we will 22 / ’ southern FEATURES

The OIP —connecting BS C and the world

he Office of International a curriculum in all academic about entering a new culture and the Programs, established on campus disciplines, including business, effect this experience will have on Tin the late ’90s by a grant from pre-health, history, economics, their world view.” the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor computer science, fine arts, and Ledvina also is the voice for a Foundation, is the “command post” Asian and Latin American studies. confidential, 24-hour BSC hotline, for international education at And the office is working on every day of the year, to address any Birmingham-Southern. Located on developing even more bilateral problem with a student or a faculty- the second floor of the Norton exchanges with foreign universities, led group abroad or any issue with Campus Center, the office is directed which allow students to participate an international student on campus. by LaMonte, who serves as the in a student exchange for a semester “We prepare our students to faculty director, and Anne Ledvina, or a year of study toward their encounter new cultures, and we also associate director, who is the full- degree at BSC. want to make certain that they are Ledvina time administrator for the OIP. “In the OIP, we focus on building safe and that they feel connected The mission of the OIP is to study -abroad programs that help to BSC throughout their experience develop study -abroad opportunities students grow academically, socially, abroad,” she says . “ This is that add an international dimension and personally ,” explains Ledvina. important not only for their well - to the academic program at the “All of our university partners and being , but this kind of support also college and that support students study -abroad providers have been helps them prepare for their re-entry and faculty in their international carefully reviewed , and site visits to BSC.” interests. The office also focuses on have been conducted by members of Returning home and to life developing international university the OIP staff or the BSC faculty.” on campus is often the most partnerships that allow for student The passion Ledvina displays for challenging part of a student ’s inter - exchange and faculty collaboration. her work at BSC is easily discernable national experience. OIP hosts an The OIP currently has 20 foreign and derives mostly from her annual “Welcome Back Retreat” university partners and select North extensive career in international and monthly re-entry dinners for American study-abroad providers education. She studied at Marlboro students who ’ve returned from their who offer Birmingham-Southern College in Vermont as an under- study -abroad experiences. “These students new perspectives on their graduate , and earned master ’s dinners have been helpful in majors and who expand the course degrees in Teaching English to responding to the students and the offerings at the college. Study Speakers of Other Languages extraordinary transformations that abroad helps students to complete (TESOL ) from the University of have occurred due to their the Asian studies major and offers Alabama and in cross-cultural train - international courses in areas like ing and simulation design from the economics, psychology, and religion, University of Michigan. She also has among many others. 15 years of teaching experience and “We ’ve been working closely the has taught and lectured in 11 past two years with the provost and countries, including France, Russia, the Office of Interim and Contract the Czech Republic, Japan , and the Learning to develop a uniform set of Netherlands. She is married to a requirements for every student who native of the Czech Republic . goes abroad under any program and Because of her experiences, for any purpose,” says LaMonte. Ledvina says she considers herself “These requirements are valuable as more of an educator than an students prepare to answer questions administrator. “I enjoy advising about their nation ’s foreign policy students before they go abroad to and to deal with health or safety learn about their hopes and expec- issues. ” tations and to find out what they BSC study-abroad students gather off campus for an annual, full-day The OIP has a number of new want from their experiences abroad,” re-entry retreat this past August. exchange affiliations that allow BSC she remarks. “I try to get students to students to participate in inter- focus less on what to pack in their national exchange and that support suitcases and more on how to think spring 2007 / 23 experiences abroad, ” expresses investing their own financial “We wish to remove as many of Ledvina. “When a student returns resources to make it happen. BSC is the financial barriers to studying and I am able to spend time with committed to helping students have abroad as possible,” says Pollick, them, I sit in the presence of a international experiences , but even who himself traveled to France last changed life,” says LaMonte. with the need-based scholarships year to meet with dignitaries, “Knowing we ’ve had the opportunity available, some students feel that educators, and BSC alumni con - to change someone ’s life in any way financial issues are a barrier to cerned with developing democracy brings me an extraordinary sense of international study. and human dignity around the accomplishment and gives a great Thanks to the Sklenar Scholarship world. “The Sklenar Scholarship sense of reward in our work.” Fund (see sidebar on this page), BSC Fund will provide wonderful Students at Birmingham-Southern now can ensure many more students assistance. Additionally, we hope who study abroad in such non- the opportunity to engage in the that we will one day be able to create traditional locations as Japan , South world through academic study and a means for every student ’s financial Africa , Argentina, and Turkey, are intercultural experience. aid to travel abroad with them .”

Couple donates $1 million to BSC to support international studies

When Birmingham-Southern Trustee and chief executive officer . Herb Sklenar sat and listened to BSC The Sklenars have been noted for their philanthropy and President Dr. David Pollick unfold his for their involvement in the local and national community, vision for international study at a board including his chairing of the initial capital campaign for the meeting last year , the words struck a Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Mr. Sklenar currently is responsive chord in him. president-elect of the Rotary Club of Birmingham and on the “BSC must get to the point where all of national advisory board of the National Czech and Slovak its students, regardless of their financial Museum in Iowa , and both travel internationally . He also is capability, are offered an international active with the Birmingham Committee on Foreign Relations study experience,” Pollick stated at the and is a member of the Board of Distinguished Advisors of the The Sklenars standing on the Charles Bridge meeting. American Committees on Foreign Relations in Washington , in Prague. After Sklenar talked to his wife, Ellie, D.C. they together decided to make a $1 million commitment The following responses from around the campus reveal the in December to BSC to support international study/ excitement and gratefulness the Sklenar ’s gift already has travel programs. generated : Their gift, which is the largest ever made to the college ’s Karoline Briggs, freshman art major from Raleigh, N.C .: “This is international programs, will provide financial support in the a great opportunity for students to study overseas. I know I form of scholarships for Birmingham-Southern students who would have had to work many jobs to go abroad without this wish to go on a semester-long or year-long study-abroad support. I think study abroad is a great experience and I plan experience or who want to study overseas during the January to jump at this chance.” Interim. Dr. Ed LaMonte, Howell Heflin Professor of Political Science and The awards will be distributed annually to full-time, degree- director of OIP : “This gift to further the internationalization seeking undergraduate students who are in good academic of BSC is magnificent. To me, this will put international standing. Students can apply for them through the college ’s education ‘on the map ’ at BSC in a way that is a most Office of International Programs or Office of Interim and welcomed addition to the recognition that already has been Contract Learning. given to the college.” “Our decision to establish the Herb and Ellie Sklenar Sheri Salmon , dean of enrollment management : “ Now we will International Scholarship Fund was motivated by several be able to market to prospective students about the factors,” Herb Sklenar says. “One was the benefits of a opportunity to do study/travel with our international semester abroad by our daughter , Susan , when she was a programs when they come to BSC, and without being student at Colorado College; another was the realities of the impaired by financial restrictions they might normally have globalized world we now live in; and a third was our had . This will be a great marketing tool for BSC both now and agreement with Dr. Pollick that Birmingham-Southern must in the future. ” remain competitive with its peer group colleges .” Dr. David Pollick, president of Birmingham-Southern : “ The Mr. Sklenar has been a member of the college ’s Board of donation by the Sklenars is at once both very generous and Trustees since 1990. A native of Omaha, Neb., he was born to inspiring. Their sense of the world and its needs merge in this parents of Czech heritage. After earning a bachelor ’s degree powerful commitment to preparing the right kinds of leaders from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and an MBA from for the next generation. In responding to the college ’s vision Harvard, he held executive positions in several corporations of what it means to provide a true liberal arts education, their before joining Birmingham ’s Vulcan Materials Co. in 1972 as generous leadership will light the way for others on our board chief financial officer. He retired from Vulcan in 1997 as chair and in the community .” FEATURES

Study abroad —an adventure in culture

tudy abroad allows students to “eat, sleep, and breathe” Sanother culture. Since the 1960s, Birmingham- Southern has offered a variety of study -abroad opportunities during its Interim term. In 1998 , BSC received a grant to develop an Office of International Programs with the hope that more BSC students would engage in international exchange for the semester or the year through study with university partners abroad. The OIP now sends BSC students to all regions of the world . The unique focus of international programs has always been to make BSC students participated in the “Black London” study-abroad project in 2005, study abroad an integral part of a where they studied African and Caribbean culture in England . student ’s academic experience at the college . Thus, BSC students are able Students of any major can apply opportunities both in the U.S. to attend foreign universities while to study abroad for a semester, a and beyond. In addition, it gives earning credit toward their BSC summer , or a year. The OIP works students a greater opportunity to degrees. with students on applying for the learn proficiency in a foreign variety of funding sources available, language. OIP encourages students including the college ’s Dr. Evelyn V. to go abroad independently and Wiley Travel Fund, Jenkins Family immerse themselves in a foreign Travel Fund , and the national culture to help advance their Freeman-Asia Award for Study knowledge of an academic subject or Abroad in Asia . a foreign language, as well as to grow The OIP also has been a leader in through the life-changing experience developing international education they have while abroad. initiatives within Alabama, such as “Students return from study the Alabama Study Abroad Fair abroad with a clear sense of how Week that now brings 15 to 20 important it is to be knowledgeable study-abroad representatives to global citizens,” notes Ledvina. BSC and to three other universities “They develop confidence from in the state. having been successful academically On average, about 200 BSC and having grown as knowledgeable students participate in Interim study- and resourceful individuals .” travel or study -abroad exchange each In addition to independent study, year. But with the support of gifts the OIP is embarking on a new set like the Sklenar International of study -abroad programs that offer Scholarship Fund, this number interested students the chance to could dramatically increase within study abroad in a group with a BSC the next couple of years. faculty leader. Unlike Interim For the past six years, Alexis Kendrick ’01 has been pursuing a career in acting Obtaining knowledge and programs, the courses these students and theatre in Paris . She originally experience of other countries take apply toward their major or traveled to Paris to study French at the through study abroad enriches minor and are taught by foreign Sorbonne through a study -abroad students ’ worldviews, helps them faculty from BSC ’s university partner program with The American Institute learn more about themselves, and institutions. This summer, two such of Foreign Study . can often lead to professional spring 2007 / 25 FEATURES

Oxford program. “They soon realize that it is not the 51st state, but rather a very different culture. Foreign study gives students perspective. It allows them to see that not everyone sees the world as Americans do, and that fact is not such a bad thing.” The major focus of the college ’s study -abroad program though is to provide international opportunities that meet the needs and interests of individual students as well as expand the internationalization of the academic programs at BSC. All majors and minors are enhanced through course offerings at the college ’s university partners. Computer science students now can study at Hogeschool von Amsterdam with Dutch students and work together on collaborative information technology projects within the European Union. Students interested in human rights have the chance to study in Costa Rica at Universidad Latina de Costa Rica or at the University of Cape Town in South Africa . Asian studies majors can meet students from all over the world while studying at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan . BSC student Johnny Croft, a junior chemistry major from Andalusia, Drew Clayton (right), a senior religion major from Springville, and Scott Grantland, a junior religion major from completed a semester abroad at the Panama City, Fla., stand in front of ancient ruins in Turkey during an Interim trip funded by the Dr. Evelyn V. University of Cape Town during his Wiley Travel Fund. fall 2006 semester. He took programs will take place in Russia mentoring to a group of BSC classes in religion and African and Peru . students who will complete Spanish literature and language while also In Russia, a group of BSC students language credits while studying at teaching with an HIV/AIDS will study with Russian faculty from Pontificia Universidad Católica del education program, and afterward, Herzen Pedagogical University in Perú in the capital city of Lima . spent a month traveling to Kenya. St. Petersburg. This group program Another popular summer program “My whole experience challenged will be led by Dr. Randall Law, for students is British Studies at me to re-think who I am and how I assistant professor of history , who Oxford, sponsored by the Associated fit into a global society,” says Croft. has personal experience living and Colleges of the South of which BSC “I ’ve found that it is so important studying in Russia . The Peru is a member. “It is a delight to see to learn from other cultures, and as Summer Language Program will be students experience Britain for the Americans, we all need to be guided by Dr. Jessica Ramos de first time,” says Dr. Mark Lester, W. prepared to understand the world Harthun, assistant professor of Michael Atchison Professor of from others ’ perspectives, not just Spanish, who is a native of Peru. History and Law, who is on the those perspectives portrayed in Ramos also will provide cultural faculty for the British Studies in American media.”

26 / ’ southern FEATURES

Interim at 37

big component of the inter- hesitate to study abroad for an entire national activities at BSC and term or school year or who do not A one of the college ’s most have the time or funds to do so, distinctive educational experiences is Interim offers an opportunity to the Interi m term, which began on experience travel in the context of the Hilltop in 1970. learning —enhancing students ’ During the four-week period each exposure to other ways of life with January , students are given the the faculty ’s intellectual guidance,” opportunity to explore one topic or says Elizabeth Blum, director of the interest through on- and off-campus Office of Interim and Contract creative projects, cutting-edge Learning, located in Munger Hall. “And many students who participate in an Interim travel-study course go on to spend a summer, semester, or longer abroad, or to create their own independent travel projects for subsequent Interim terms.” For the most part, Interim travel- study and other off-campus projects Students had an opportunity to observe dolphin behavior during the are graded as “satisfactory” or “Coral Reef Ecology and Dolphin Behavior” Interim in Roatan, “unsatisfactory ,” while on-campus Honduras . Photo by Bence Carter. Interim projects may use the latter schema or letter grades . Students helping build a school in Africa . must complete one Interim for each “Since I ’ve been at BSC, I ’ve heard year of attendance at BSC. For about how incredible the service - students who require financial learning international projects are,” assistance, the Office of Interim and says Joey Krekelberg, a junior BSC Professor of English Dr. Sandra Contract Learning, along with the Sprayberry traveled to South Africa in biology major from Birmingham January as part of a group study-travel Student Government Association, who traveled to Ecuador in January. Interim where she met Nobel Laureate disburses several thousand dollars “I was definitely not disappointed. and former archbishop Desmond Tutu . worth of travel scholarships I learned more by going to Ecuador each year. and participating firsthand than courses, independent study or Having the opportunity to learn I could ever have learned in research, foreign study experiences, by helping others is a special a classroom. ” and challenging and unusual characteristic of Birmingham- Since 1990, 48 Birmingham- internships —all for academic credit Southern ’s Interim program. During Southern faculty have led students (see Interim feature in Student News ). each Interim term , the Office of on an overseas travel experience Whether students are exploring Service Learning sponsors at least during the Interim or summer term. poverty in the Black Belt region of two projects that provide students Dr. Sam Pezzillo, professor of Alabama, creating plays, researching with the real-world experience of classics, has led several Interim trips the jazz history of Birmingham, serving others. Service -learning throughout the years. Pezzillo has tutoring schoolchildren in Harlem, projects usually are open to students , led student tours to England as well observing dolphin behavior in faculty , staff, and alumni and are as student tours to Greece , Italy, and Honduras, or taking a class in pop performed locally, nationally, or France with colleagues Dr. Natalie culture, all of these experiences, internationally. Past Interim service - Davis, professor of political science, whether local or international, give learning projects have ranged from and Dr. Michael McInturff , professor students a new lens through which repairing roofs on homes in west of English. Each of these trips to view the world. Birmingham to working in a offered extensive immersion in “For those students who might homeless shelter in California to these cultures.

spring 2007 / 27 FEATURES

Now , for their annual Interim trip readings submitted by guest Interim, many of whom had never to Italy, both Pezzillo and McInturff professors.” traveled outside the United States require their students to do an The Interim travel-study course before, report that it truly is a intensive “pre-trip study” before “After Apartheid: South Africa,” life-changing experience. they travel. In addition to preparing guided by Dr. Sandra Sprayberry , “The Interim trip to South Africa students for their overseas Robert E. Luckie Professor of had a great effect on me,” says experience, this work deepens their English, and Dr. David Smith, Natalie Ausborn, a junior chemistry understanding of particular topics professor of music, was offered for major from Gadsden . “ It is always related to the places they will the first time in 2007. The course great to be able to spend time encounter. enrolled 15 students in an intensive learning about a new subject, such Pezzillo taught an innovative three-week tour of South Africa to as apartheid and truth and Interim course on a few occasions explore the issue of human rights. reconciliation, but nothing can called “Symposium,” which brought With the University of Cape Town compare to the depth of the amount a student cohort together with as their base, students studied what you learn when you actually visit the Holger Thamm, a 2003 BSC graduate and former soccer faculty in Pezzillo ’s home . For one Nelson Mandela called “the long particular place you are learning star, stands in front of the week, in addition to class discussion, walk to freedom” from apartheid, about. The people I met in South Reichstag Building , the home students were taught the basics of reconciliation efforts afterwards, and Africa —from former Archbishop of the German parliament in preparing food for a gathering . the current state of affairs. They also Desmond Tutu to the other local Berlin, where he ’s worked for “Some professors came to the attended university lectures on citizens who shared their stories the past three years. Thamm cooking sessions to share cooking South African history, politics, and with me —made me realize that my is a political assistant for traditions from a culture they had culture, and visited local residents in memory of them would leave my life environmental protection, experience with,” Pezzillo explains. their homes. changed forever.” nature conservancy, and “The discussions focused on Students who go abroad during nuclear safety.

A cross-cultural curriculum

he appeal of having an inter- these majors and minors. The course is collaboratively na tional major or taking cross- International studies majors have taught by BSC faculty and staff who Tcultural courses has gained graduated from BSC and attended discuss intercultural concepts momentum among students in professional schools, gone into through literature, the immigrant recent years as the world becomes banking, and pursued careers in experience in the United States, more global . education and international economic issues, multinational The curriculum at BSC offers a development. And these are just organizations, and the media. As a major in international studies; some of the varied opportunities the major component of the course, majors and minors in Asian studies major can offer . each student is assigned an (in collaboration with the The international studies course individual research project related to Birmingham Area Consortium for “Pre-departure Topics for Study the history, culture , and politics of Higher Education), French, German, Abroad ” prepares students the country in which they will study. and Spanish; and a minor in Latin specifically for the experience of Marcie Howington, a junior American studies. Courses in these adjusting to and studying in a political science major from areas are designed to provide foreign country. The course was Covington , Ga. , is studying abroad students with a deeper cultural designed by Ledvina to introduce in Cyprus for the 2007 spring understanding of a region ’s students to concepts of intercultural semester. She recently e-mailed language, history, economy , and communication and to review Ledvina to express gratitude for the political system. Students may also information on the structure and college ’s pre-departure course. “I study foreign languages not function of relevant departments have to tell you that I am the only currently offered at BSC through within the U.S. government, the student in this program who was collaboration with other Birming - ethnic dimensions of U.S. culture required to take such a class. Thank ham colleges and universities. And and geography, and issues of U.S. you! I feel more in-tuned to my study abroad is encouraged for all of foreign policy. (Continued on page 30.)

28 / ’ southern FEATURES

Alumnus Allen Collinsworth : Networking skills lead to development of business ventures overseas

2001, where he started a banking consulting group with a Turkish partner. In addition, he became an advisor to the mayor of Istanbul, serving nearly three years. “My contacts and ability to network are my biggest assets,” Collinsworth points out. “Having people I can call upon to help me out and doing favors for others in return is the key to the experiences I ’ve had. ” His newest business venture in Turkey , begun about a year ago , is an independent project called DRUM — Dialogue, Respect, Understanding through Music. He is planning to host a DRUM kick -off party when the first concert is launched in May. “The organization uses musical events, songs, videos, and artists to promote the concept of harmony Collinsworth between cultures and civilizations,” Allen Collinsworth ’92, a Birmingham native , now lives and he explains. “My purpose is to help individuals from around works in Turkey, after following what he describes as a totally the world find a common identity through music and unpredictable career path. especially to enhance relations between Islamic and Western “I never dreamed I ’d end up in Istanbul,” says Collinsworth. countries.” “But even as I ’ve lived these incredible experiences, I can look Collinsworth believes working for the New York -based back and see how Birmingham-Southern prepared me for international policy institute (the East-West Institute ) was a big it all.” part of developing his network. “There, I engaged with leaders As a student at BSC, Collinsworth majored in business and from government and the private sector who were from the was an athlete on the tennis team, a sport he ’s been involved United States, Western and Eastern Europe , and Central Asia . with since he was four years old. His desire to converse with It also qualified me for my advisory work with the mayor of students from all over the world during college helped him to Istanbul , as well as my current work with DRUM .” develop a strong network of friendships . In addition to his time spent on developing creative “I always had a tendency to befriend the foreign students on business ventures in Turkey , Collinsworth has been working my team and on the teams we played against,” remembers diligently to learn the country ’s native language. “Learning the Collinsworth. “One of my BSC teammates from Sweden Turkish language is a lot of work ,” he says, “and I have to invited me to visit him there one summer.” constantly educate myself.” That friendship and subsequent travel to Sweden led to He also has to work at dealing with occasional bouts of networking opportunities for Collinsworth that enabled him loneliness. “Sometimes, when you go overseas, you can really to teach business and economics at an international boarding miss your family and loved ones,” he confesses. “Still, I think school in Switzerland, where he spent one year after that traveling and living abroad is a great thing to do.” completing his MBA at the University of Alabama . He left And he is grateful for Birmingham-Southern ’s part in his Switzerland and moved to England to earn a second master ’s experiences. “BSC ’s intense liberal -arts program prepares at the London School of Economics. students for whatever they may pursue,” says Collinsworth. After working in investment banking in London and then in “It certainly gave me a broader view of the world, while New York City, his networking skills brought him to Turkey in helping me understand my place in it .”

spring 2007 / 29 FEATURES

Benjamin Marsh of Birmingham participated in two service-learning Interim trips to Mozambique, Africa, and also studied abroad in London one summer. He graduated with a degree in psychology in December and won a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to teach in Hong Kong for one year .

surroundings and better prepared the value in a cross-cultural or the analysis of multiple cultures. for the challenges that lie ahead . …” education and has taken steps over “This is a very important In addition, the pre-departure the years to ensure that there is a component of our Foundations course includes discussions of bevy of quality academic General Education Curriculum,” says reorientation and assists students in opportunities in its courses, many Dr. Kathleen Murray, BSC provost. preparing for the often challenging with an international or cross- “We must prepare our students to return home. “Dealing with re-entry cultural focus . live and work in an increasingly begins before a student ever departs The Foundations General diverse United States that is part for study abroad,” remarks Ledvina. Education Curriculum , required of a dramatically more global “In class, when we talk about re- of all students at Birmingham- world view.” entry, students write down what they Southern , expands the liberal arts The college ’s Department of think they will or won ’t miss about mission to address the talents and Business and Accounting has their host country and consider why skills students will need to be internationalized its upper-level coming home might be difficult. successful in an increasingly curriculum and re-worked all of the One student expressed wisely how complex society. It includes a senior-level business courses in challenging it would be to stay requirement for one course or design and content. And it recently connected to her host country after Interim where the primary focus of introduced a Business Disciplinary she returns home.” study is the experience of an ethnic Honors Program in International Birmingham-Southern recognizes minority American culture, cultures Business available to outstanding other than that of the United States , business administration majors.

30 / ’ southern FEATURES

“Those accepted will complete Once fully developed, the center nities to provide services with and to the regular business major as well will operate out of an existing office other professionals within the global as a battery of special projects to on campus and employ a full-time community,” she says. “Studying include an approved international director who among other duties abroad is one way a student can experience outside of the U.S.,” says will seek creative ways to further develop the global personal and Dr. Stephen Craft, assistant professor incorporate into all areas of the communication skills required by of marketing and department chair. college ’s curriculum the concept of his or her profession.” “The disciplinary honors distinction advancing human dignity to all allows the business program faculty people across the state, nation, to recognize our best performing and world. students and affords a higher level of The OIP also has developed a additional and valuable preparation strong tie with the Fulbright Scholar to take place on the world stage. ” Program and Institute for Inter- Birmingham-Southern ’s main national Education and has actively approach to internationalizing the promoted the Fulbright to students. college ’s curriculum is to take Benjamin Marsh, a recent psycho- advantage of the international logy graduate, was awarded a expertise that many BSC faculty Fulbright Scholarship to teach in bring to their classes and to support Hong Kong for one year . And this and encourage faculty development year, BSC was awarded two grants to for those faculty who are interested host Fulbright Scholars during the in expanding their international 2007-08 academic year. perspective. Plus, the OIP has worked on OIP ’s collaboration with programs that integrated study Birmingham-Southern faculty to abroad into the curriculum for develop a course in civil rights/ majors that were less common for human rights culminated with a study abroad such as pre-med, art, grant this past fall from the and computer science. “We are see - Christian A. Johnson Endeavor ing a wonderful interjection of the Foundation for the new BSC course international dimension into areas “Introduction to Human Rights.” where it might not appear to be so The course is being taught for the self-evident,” notes LaMonte. “BSC first time this semester by Dr. Sandra science faculty have looked at the Sprayberry , Robert E. Luckie academic program at the University Professor of English , and Dr. Vince of Limerick in Ireland and are now Gawronski, associate professor of in a position to encourage pre-med political science . students to build a semester abroad It provides a critical examination during their undergraduate of human rights issues and their experience . We have also recently practical applications from the established exchanges in the perspective of a variety of disciplines computer science and fine arts areas . in the humanities and social There is now no area of the college sciences. The course also ties in with in which internationalization of the BSC ’s larger vision of establishing a curriculum doesn ’t apply. ” Center for Global Human Dignity Dr. Marietta Cameron, associate with the mission of investigating professor of computer science, what is required to advance human believes that success in the dignity in the world and helping computing fields requires the BSC students to develop an computer scientist and information appreciation of cultural differences technology specialist to be highly in both domestic and international adaptable . “The computing profes - This striking overhead view shows dye pots in Fez, Morocco, during a settings. sional will have numerous opportu - student’s pre-health internship in Morocco. Photo by Rachel Holzapfel.

spring 2007 / 31 FEATURES

Global approach to higher education

irmingham-Southern is serious reorientation programs for study about building international abroad which resulted in the Bcompetence among its student development of the pre-departure body and has been working to course for study abroad at BSC and expand international opportunities the reshaping of programs offered and significantly improve the through the OIP. In addition to the number of international students two symposia that brought faculty who are enrolled. and staff together from 42 colleges, But the latter goal hasn ’t always the OIP also was awarded two grants been that easy. International BSC student Xinyan Yan (center), a to bring visiting international students have faced some hurdles freshman accounting major from China , scholars and artists from the Czech due to tougher visa requirements is shown with friends in her hometown. Republic , and received funding for that were put into place after 2001. professional development oppor- “The ability to bring international would be an important experience tunities for a number of BSC faculty. students to BSC has recently been as in my life.” “The conferences we ’ve held much a matter of U.S. foreign policy BSC ’s current pool of inter- through the OIP have sought to and security as it has been national students represents several define study abroad within the recruitment,” says Pollick . “ The other countries including Germany, liberal arts context,” says Ledvina. events of recent years altered Korea, Nepal, Serbia, and the “It also became clear during these dramatically the processes for Netherlands. The Office of Multi- conferences that for a liberal arts foreign nationals coming to the cultural Affairs assists the inter- college to focus on internationali- United States .” national student population at zation, there must be support from More recent news though suggests Birmingham-Southern through an all areas of the campus.” that foreign students are beginning annual cultural immersion In addition, since 1993, the to encounter fewer problems orientation to address such topics as college has hosted a Latin American obtaining visas for study in the life at BSC , the American culture and Studies Symposium each year to United States than they were a few its educational system, banking , and increase awareness of Latin America years ago. The U.S. Department of religious life. “Our goal is to help and to foster undergraduate research State Bureau of Consular Affairs new students quickly gain as much in the area. The 2007 LAS Sympo - shows a strong rise in the number knowledge as possible about their sium, which was held in March, of student visas issued in the year new home to help them adjust to spotlighted the tango as a powerful ending September 2006, indicating their new environment, ” says Erica cultural manifestation of Argentine that foreign student numbers are Brown, director of multicultural identity. increasing in the current academic affairs. Ledvina believes that all of these year. And interestingly, the Institute Over the pas t decade, Birmingham- initiatives , when combined of International Education reports Southern has hosted unique inter- intentionally , put Birmingham- that more international students national conferences on campus Southern in a unique position to come to the U.S. than U.S. students through its membership in a liberal provide a valuable international go abroad. arts initiative which strengthens the component to a liberal arts Xinyan Yan (first name college ’s position in international education. “The majority of U.S. pronounced shin-yan), a freshman education . The Global Partners students who go abroad do not accounting major, came to BSC from Project, funded by a grant from the come from the South,” she says, the Zhengzhou , Henan Province in Mellon Foundation, brought 42 referring to the National Association China. “I became interested in liberal arts colleges from three of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA ) Birmingham-Southern after ordering consortia together to share resources, Association of International a copy of U.S. News & World Report expertise, and knowledge about Educators report. “BSC is poised to from online,” says Yan. “I was in internationalization in the liberal be that exceptional institution in the search of a high -quality education in arts context. South where internationalization a new environment and country , In 2004, BSC hosted its first of and human dignity become a part even though I was aware of the two Global Partners Best Practices of every student ’s academic challenges I would face. I felt that symposia on pre-departure and experience.” studying at an American college 32 / ’ southern FEATURES

Alumna Marta McLellan expanding international reach

China ’s commercial, diplomatic, and military activities around the world. McLellan has served as foreign affairs and energy analyst for the commission since May 2006. She facilitates the arrangement of hearings , invitations to witnesses, briefing of the commissioners, and the drafting of hearing reports to Congress. “As a policy analyst, it is my job to sift information and to find the most balanced and honest view on issues that, at times, may have many different perspectives, ” says McLellan, who holds a master ’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University . “I also work with commissioners to draft the Annual Report to Congress. And I often respond to requests from congressional staff seeking information or analysis on U.S.-China affairs , such as China ’s environmental problems McLellan teaching in China. or foreign investments in regions where the U.S . has strong strategic or economic interests. ” When Marta McLellan ’s eyes fell on the phrase “international After earning a bachelor’s degree with a double major in relations” while skimming through a career assessment test in political science and Asian studies at BSC , McLellan lived and high school, she describes the feeling that came afterward as worked in China for two years as an oral English instructor for something inherent in her. “From that point on, I knew that a language school, and later, for Anshan Normal University to was what I would do,” says McLellan, a 2002 Birmingham- train Chinese teachers in English . “ When I was a senior at Southern magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate. BSC, the Birmingham Mayor ’s Office contacted Anne Ledvina If there is power in forethought , it certainly has paved the on campus about their idea of starting a new language school way to a variety of international opportunities for McLellan. in the city of Anshan to promote a cross-cultural exchange Since then, she has traveled to Japan for an undergraduate between the two cities,” she explains. “I jumped at the chance semester of study abroad , to East Timor to monitor elections of being one of three teachers to have this experience of as part of an internship, and to China to teach English. working abroad.” “Along with winning a Truman Scholarship, support from But it ’s not the first time McLellan has lived abroad. “My the college ’s Office of International Programs has allowed me father was in the U.S. Air Force and moved our family to Japan to put my international interests into practice,” she says . “My for four years when I was a child,” she notes. “Though career has always been focused on Asia, and I have now turned traveling and living abroad is not always easy, I believe that it those interests into a specialty on Chinese political economy gives you a great opportunity to test your inner strength, your and foreign affairs.” maturity, and your openness to new experiences. ” Her attention to Asia , combined with plenty of smarts , is what landed McLellan on the team of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission located in Editor ’s Note : The Truman Scholarship is a federal Washington , D.C. Throughout the year, this bipartisan scholarship granted to U.S. college juniors for demonstrated congressional commission holds hearings on Capitol Hill to leadership potential and a commitment to public service. gather testimony of how U.S. global interests are affected by

spring 2007 / 33 ALUMNI AFFAIRS

First member of BSC golf team finds success all over U.S.

by barrett hathcock

looking toward college, specifically a scratch golfer … you actually get in the United States where he the chance to play with other wanted to study engineering. professionals .” Meanwhile, McDonald was so taken Orozco ’s solitude didn ’t last for with Orozco that, after returning long, however . By the next fall, there home, he told his father , Billy Mc - was a full golf team at the college, Donald , about him and that Juan which played five to six tournaments was looking for schools to attend in each semester. His fellow players the United States. The two decided became his best friends at the they must do all they could to help. school, Orozco says. Coincidentally, the McDonalds At BSC , he majored in mathe- had a long history with and affinity matics and took all the prerequisites for Birmingham-Southern. Will ’s he could for his pre-engineering father had attended BSC before degree. Along the way, he was going into the military, while his inducted into multiple honor grandmother, Peggy Spain societies, such as ODK, Phi Eta McDonald, also went to Sigma, and the Big South Academic Birmingham-Southern. His sister, All Conference team. He was even Maggie McDonald, works at BSC as asked to join Phi Beta Kappa —the the director of annual giving. only male inducted that year . “I guess he told his dad I was a “I have immense respect for what pretty good player and that I was Juan was able to accomplish at Orozco with Billy McDonald. [looking] for opportunities, so I BSC,” says BSC men ’s golf coach For Juan Orozco, coming to came up to Birmingham to visit ,” Tom Miller. “I ’m very proud of Birmingham-Southern was a lot Orozco says. everything that Juan has like fate. Originally from Cali , “At that point in time, for me the accomplished and thankful that I Colombia, Orozco came to Birming - most important thing was to get a had the opportunity to play a small ham to attend college after a good education, and Birmingham- part in helping him to achieve his fortuitous friendship with a Southern [was] in my opinion goals.” Birmingham family with BSC ties. probably the best school in the state After Orozco graduated , he Orozco had been playing golf in of Alabama, one of the best liberal attended Columbia University in his native country since he was eight arts colleges in the nation. ” New York where he completed his years old. In 2000, the Colombian When he arrived in the fall of degree in industrial engineering in Open was held in his hometown, 2000, Orozco became the golf team, just two years. He ’s now halfway which included four U.S. players literally —that first year , it was only finished with his master ’s in from the Future Masters Junior Coach Tom Miller and Orozco. But engineering management systems . Tournament. As fate would have it, the hours of solitary practice and “Industrial engineering is really a the tournament was being played at tournament play weren ’t new to field that allows you to work a wide the country club where Orozco was a Orozco. In Colombia , there are no variety of jobs, anywhere from being member , and the club asked if he teams and all tournament play is in a manufacturing environment to would host a player from the United open and based on the handicap,” an operations research type of States . That player was Will he explains. person for an airline,” he says. “It McDonald , a high school student “You ’re playing people that have gives you a wide range of from Mountain Brook , Ala. the same level of skills that you have. possibilities , which I really liked.” At that same time, Orozco was If you get to the point where you ’re Since July 2006, in addition to

34 / ’ southern ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Alum urges BSC students to work abroad

by barrett hathcock finishing his studies , Orozco has been working for International For one Birmingham-Southern student, Ethiopia ’s first law school. Paper as a process engineer in traveling abroad while he was a student While attending BSC, Mujumdar traveled to Indianapolis . Having lived in three wasn ’t enough —he wanted to make the jump Cuba during his senior year with Spanish different regions of the United completely . Professor Dr. Janie Spencer and Associate States —the South, the Northeast, “I think I ’ve always known that I wanted to Spanish Professor Dr. Barbara Domcekova as and now the Midwest —Orozco has live and work overseas while I was young,” part of an Interim trip . managed to transition between says Aron Mujumdar ’01. “BSC provided me with an opportunity that several different cultures within just Mujumdar currently lives in Ethiopia where I would not have otherwise had to travel to a a few years . he works as a law professor at Unity country where few Americans go,” he says. “I’ve experienced all the University College in Addis Ababa . After “This simply confirmed my longstanding extremes,” he says. “It ’s not to the receiving his law degree from the University desire to live and work in a foreign country.” point where you feel like it ’s a of Alabama in December 2004, he joined the Mujumdar has so enjoyed his time different country or anything like law faculty at Unity in June 2005, and except abroad —both professionally and that, but it seems like people are just for a few trips home, he ’s been living and personally —that he thinks everyone should so different that it ’s kind of hard to working in Ethiopia ever since . spend at least a few months in a foreign believe you ’re in the same country.” “When this opportunity presented itself in country. But Orozco is grateful for his March 2005, I realized that this was what I “BSC students should take advantage of the chance at education and now a had always wanted to do, except in a different many opportunities that the college provides career in the United States, and he form than what I had always imagined, ” for overseas travel,” he says. “They will hopes that he can take what he ’s Mujumdar says. understand the outside world with a depth of learned back to his home country. Born and raised in north Shelby County, understanding that can only come when you “Birmingham-Southern was a Mujumdar attended Briarwood Christian have set foot in another country. Addition - great experience for me. It has given School and followed his older brother Anil ally, they will develop an appreciation for the me a lot of what I have,” he says. ’97 to Birmingham-Southern, where he American way of life and for our continuing “I would stay as long as I need to majored in English. commitment to democratic institutions.” feel that I have done what I can for He got the chance to go to Ethiopia While abroad, Mujumdar says that he ’s that company and for myself. But through Dr. Norman Singer, a law professor noticed that far fewer Americans travel or eventually I do want to move back and anthropologist at the University of work abroad when compared with Europeans. and take back some of the good Alabama , who was one of the He thinks this is an opportunity too good to things I ’ve learned over here and mix earliest professors at miss, citing the vibrant culture, multiple them with some of the good basics I Addis Ababa languages, and natural beauty that Africa has learned when I grew up back there , University, to offer. and help the country overall. the “My advice to BSC students and graduates “When you leave the country, it location would be that they should not be afraid to opens your eyes to a lot of things of take a chance on living and working in a that you really don ’t know, and I foreign country after college,” he says. think that ’s the case in every “I believe that the vast majority of BSC country. ” students who choose to do what I have In the meantime, Orozco done —to live and work in a foreign country — continues to work at International will not regret the decision.” Paper and is helping his sister find a college in the United States . “She ’s extremely smart,” he says, “a lot smarter than I am.”

spring 2007 / 35

SPECIAL SECTION reunion ’07 the be st of times Alumni Reunion Weekend April 27 & 28, 2007

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As our graduates spread out across the world, they each share a common home in Birmingham-Southern, where the campus might have a few new buildings, but the BSC bond is still strong. It ’s the place where you found your calling, the place where you made lifelong friends —the place where you ’ve had some of the best times of your life. Come back and visit. Those good times are still here. schedule On Friday and Saturday, there are many activities going on and you may choose what you would like to do. We ’ve tried to make sure there ’s something for everyone. Choose the activities that are most appealing to you and your family. To register for events, visit www.bsc.edu/alumnet .

Friday, April 27

Morning

8:00 a.m. BSC Alumni Golf Tournament Scramble with shotgun start, featuring lunch and prizes. Location: Highland Park Golf Course 3300 Highland Avenue South

Evening

5:00 p.m.- Reunion Registration Desk Open 7:30 p.m. Location: Lobby, 2 nd Floor, Norton Campus Center

5:30 p.m.- President ’s Reception for Reunion Honor Classes, 7:00 p.m. ’Southern Society, Endowment Builders Society, and Special Guests The Pollicks open their home to members of the Reunion Honor classes and special guests. Location: President ’s Home, campus

5:00 p.m -. Popcorn and a Movie for Youngsters 7:00 p.m. (Babysitters provided) Location: Norton Theatre Second Floor, Norton Campus Center

7:00 p.m. Class of 1957 50 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1956, 1957, and 1958 invited. Location: The Summit Club 1901 6 th Avenue North, Suite 3100 Elegant seated meal.

7:00 p.m. Class of 1962 45 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1961, 1962, and 1963 invited. Location: Veranda on Highland 2220 Highland Avenue South Elegant cocktail buffet and cash bar .

7:00 p.m. Class of 1967 40 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1966, 1967, and 1968 invited. Location: Home of George Ann (’67) and Alton Parker 918 Essex Road Cocktail supper.

7:00 p.m. Class of 1972 35 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1971, 1972, and 1973 invited. Location: Home of Wayne (’72) and Sandy Killion 3321 Dell Road, Mountain Brook Cocktail supper. 7:00 p.m. Class of 1977 30 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1976, 1977, and 1978 invited. schedule Location: Home of Alan ( ’77) and Susan Rogers 86 Fairway Drive, Mountain Brook Hors d ’oeuvres and cocktails .

7:00 p.m. Class of 1982 25 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1981, 1982, and 1983 invited. Location: Home of Gayle Livingston Mills ( ’82) and Ted Mills 2048 Magnolia Ridge Featuring a Mexican buffet and margaritas .

7:00 p.m. Class of 1987 20 th Reunion Dinner/Reception Classes of 1986, 1987, and 1988 invited. Location: Home of Julie Carwie Bryant (’87) and Scott Bryant (’86) 1830 29 th Avenue South SoHo Flats South, Suite 440, Homewood Featuring a cocktail dinner.

7:00 p.m. Class of 1992 15 th Reunion Party Classes of 1991, 1992, and 1993 invited. Location: Billy ’s, 2012 Cahaba Road , English Village Featuring hors d ’oeuvres and cash bar.

7:30 p.m. Ah, Wilderness! Theatre Production Eugene O ’Neill ’s classic comedy about small-town values, young love, and the pains and joys of growing up is the quintessential family theatre experience. Location: BSC Theatre/Mainstage

8:00 p.m. Class of 1997 hosts Young Alumni Party Classes 1997 and younger invited. Location: Metro Bistro , 2125 2 nd Avenue North Casual drinks and music.

Saturday, April 28

Morning

8:00 a.m. Registration Desk Open Location: Lobby, 2 nd Floor, Norton Campus Center Continental breakfast provided.

8:30 a.m.- Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition 4:00 p.m. Location: Durbin Gallery, Kennedy Art Center/Azar Art Studios

8:30 a.m.- The Artwork of 1953 BSC Alumna Sally Wood Johnson 4:00 p.m. Location: Stephens Science Center Atrium

9:00 a.m.- Children ’s Art Camp 11:00 a.m. Special art activities for children and youth. Location: Art Annex (Old Science Annex), Room 227

9:00 a.m.- Pass, Punt, and Kick Contest/Workshop 10:30 a.m. Tips from BSC ’s football coaches. Location: Academic Quad 9:00 a.m.- Mini-College Presentations 10:45 a.m. Revisit classroom days and sit in on lectures and presentations by BSC alumni, faculty, and staff.

9:00 a.m.- “Predictions for the ’08 Election” 9:45 a.m. BSC Political Science Professor, pollster, and consultant Dr. Natalie Davis gives her witty and insightful comments about the upcoming presidential elections. Location: Norton Theatre

9:00 a.m.- “Charles Wesley: Sacred or Secular Poet?” 9:45 a.m. 1958 BSC alumnus, professional singer, author, scholar, United Methodist churchman, and publisher of global songs Dr. ST Kimbrough Jr. shares history and poetry of this great Methodist writer. Location: Art Building Auditorium

9:00 a.m.- “A Brief History of the Middle East Conflict ” 9:45 a.m. BSC History Professor Mark Lester explains why the turmoil in the Middle East was predicted by history and will most likely continue into the future. Location: Harbert Auditorium

9:00 a.m.- “NCAA Division III Athletics at ’Southern: 9:45 a.m. Meet the Coaches ” An introduction to our Division III program and coaches. Location: SGA Room

10:00 a.m.- “David Pollick: Unplugged II” 10:45 a.m. In a sequel to last year ’s popular “Unplugged” session, BSC President Dr . David Pollick reveals more about his interesting life and his hopes and dreams for the college ’s future. Location: Bruno Great Hall C&D, 3 rd Floor, Norton Campus Center

10:00 a.m.- “Defining Southern Style” 10:45 a.m. 1987 BSC alumna and editor of Southern Accents magazine Karen Carroll shares images and information on the best in Southern architecture and design. Location: Harbert Auditorium

10:00 a.m.- “Pool, Anyone?” 10:45 a.m. 1957 alumna and professional pool therapist “Ruby Alabama” demonstrates with her cue. She says, “Come visit and learn how not to play pool.” Location: Striplin Fitness Center

11 :00 a.m.- “Me, Build a BSC Alumni Chapter?” 11 :45 a.m. Special training session for alumni chapter leaders and those who wish to build a chapter in their city/area. Location: SGA Room, Norton Campus Center

11:00 a.m.- Memorial Service 11:45 a.m. Service of remembrance for BSC alumni, faculty, and staff we have lost in the past year. Location: Yeilding Chapel 11:00 a.m.- “Let ’s Get Rowdy” Festival 2:00 p.m. Fun for all ages! Musical acts on the Amphitheatre Stage including the BSC Jazz Band and the BSC One-A-Chord Gospel Choir, Inflatable Wacky World , Magic Castle of Oz, face painting, pie-in-the-face, putt-putt golf, whack-a-car, sports games, and more. Location: Academic Quad and across campus. Featuring a BBQ picnic and Rowdy the Panther hosting the activities.

12:00 p.m.- Alumni Awards Luncheon 1:30 p.m. Special luncheon featuring recognition of Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni Award honorees and retiring faculty members Dr. Thomas Gibbs ’64 and Dr. Roy Wells ’57. Update on the college by BSC President Dr. David Pollick. Entertainment provided by the Hilltop Singers. Location: Bruno Great Hall A&B, 3 rd Floor, Norton Campus Center

1:00 p.m. BSC vs. Troy Softball Double Header Location: BSC Softball Park

1:30 p.m.- Golden Decades Café 3:00 p.m. A great place to gather with old friends, enjoy coffee, and reminisce. Location: Cafeteria, Norton Campus Center

1:30 p.m.- Southern Environmental Center/EcoScape Open House 3:30 p.m.

1:45 p.m.- Film Screening of Company K 3:45 p.m. Based on the story of Alabama-born author William March and his experience as a U.S. Marine. Screenplay written and produced by BSC alumnus Bob Clem ’67. Location: Norton Theatre, Norton Campus Center

2:00 p.m.- Star Gazing: “Planet Patrol ” 3:00 p.m. Location: Robert R. Meyer Planetarium

Evening

4:00 p.m.- Service-Learning Reunion: A Reunion Rhapsody Celebrating the participants in the Chapel and Service Learning programs 1979-2007 and honoring the retirement of BSC Dean of Chapel Dr. Stewart A. Jackson. Featuring the music of “The Dill Pickers.” Location: Yeilding Chapel

5:00 p.m.- Special Group Receptions and Open Houses 6:00 p.m. (If you don ’t see your group and would like to hold a reception, contact the Alumni Office at 205/226-4912.)

5:00 p.m.- All-Alumni Open House 6:00 p.m. All BSC alumni are encouraged to stop by before dinner and visit with your friends. Location: Stockham Building Parlor

5:00 p.m.- Adult Studies Reunion Reception 6:00 p.m. Location: Stephens Science Center , 1 st Floor Atrium 6:00 p.m. Deep South Fish Fry Catered by The Fish Market Location: Academic Quad Rain Location: Bill Battle Coliseum

Dusk Alumni Reunion Fireworks Spectacular! Sponsored by: Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel, Larry Barr ’72 (manager) Location: North End of Academic Quad

8:00 p.m.- Band Party: 11:00 p.m. The Connection Band Sponsored by: BSC Student Government Association and Birmingham Beverage Co. Inc. Featuring R&B Motown sounds and classic dance hits. The Connection Band reunion registration information

Hotels Dietary Needs

Three hotels in Birmingham are holding blocks of rooms For special dietary needs, contact Karen Ellis for reunion registrants, including: at 205/226-4909 or [email protected].

The Redmont Hotel Registering 2101 Fifth Avenue North Birmingham , AL 35203 Registration deadline: Friday, April 20, 2007. Please 205/324-2101 make check payable to Birmingham-Southern College. Confirmation # 11992 Register online at: www.bsc.edu/alumnet and go to the Rate is $99 per night events calendar. For questions, call 205/226-4909 or 1-800-523-5793, ext. 4909, or e-mai l [email protected]. Hampton Inn Birmingham I-65/Lakeshore Drive 30 State Farm Parkway Babysitter list available upon request. Birmingham , AL 35209 205/313-2060 1-800-HAMPTON (426-7866) Confirmation # 85831405 Rate is $149 (April 26) $229 (April 27-29)

Hampton Inn Birmingham – Colonnade 3400 Colonnade Parkway at US 280 Birmingham , AL 35243 205/967-0002 1-800-HAMPTON (426-7866) Confirmation # 85831405 Rate is $144 (April 26) $175 (April 27-29 )

Reservations are under Birmingham-Southern College . joining us for the best of times so far ... (register now and add your name to the list)

Penny Prewitt Ralph Crowe ’72 Anna Swindle David Rains ’ 93 Cunningham ’36 Mary Kathryn Foxhall ’72 Roberson ’ 87 Pete Walker ’93 Lamar Osment ’45 Wayne Killion ’ 72 Stephen Craft ’88 Brooke Tanner Battle ’ 96 John M. Akin, Jr. ’49 Ellise Pruitt Mayer ’ 72 Vicki Van Valkenburgh ’88 Christy Laycock Joe Hughes ’49 Ellen McFerrin Mayer ’ 72 Judy Collins Allen ’89 Parsons ’96 Betty Rae Price Hughes ’50 Richard B. Yeilding ’73 Terry Gragg ’ 89 Karl Allen Swelling ’ 96 Willene Paxton ’50 Susan Lee Benton ’77 Amy Rudd Niesen ’89 Brian Cash ’97 Bob Sims ’50 Marleen Klip Bodden ’ 77 Bentley Patrick ’89 Brian Chapuran ’97 Betty Hightower Pewitt ’52 Marjorie Moore Jones ’ 77 Bert Allen ’90 Ashley Jean Duke ’97 Jane Pepperd Alan Rogers ’77 Abboud Thomas ’90 Alice Ottewill Jackson ’97 Thomaston ’52 Ken Waites ’ 77 Paul Burson ’ 91 Kim Malchow Lewis ’97 Earl Gossett ’54 R. Dana J. Barnes ’78 Judith Hayes Hand ’91 Nathan Lewis ’97 Mary Berry Gragg ’55 Karen Mitchell Algie ’81 John Hoar ’91 Meredith Jackson Bob Whetstone ’ 55 Scott W. LeCroy ’82 Melonie Major Sturm ’ 91 Matthews ’97 Bob Morgan ’56 Gail Livingston Mills ’ 82 Michelle Renee Scott Matthews ’97 Margaret Hines Patrick ’56 Jennifer Lambert Andrews ’92 Brent Yarborough ’97 Mary Hurt ’ 57 Tilghman ’82 Lori Reed Blanton ’ 92 Tacqua DeAnne Gulley ’97 Don Patrick ’57 Rev. Russell S. Hestley ’97 Ann Yates Rowell ’57 Anil Mujumdar ’97 Al Ray ’57 Ginny Michelle Fran Wamp Brindley ’ 57 Phillips ’97 Stanley P. Clark ’58 ’07 Joy Lashane Ryder ’97 Ernest Leon Waters ’58 reunion James A. Yonfa ’97 Kathryn Voigt Waters ’58 Patrice Michelle Kay Lowe Ray ’60 Harlson ’00 Randy Gray ’ 61 the be st of times Stephanie Stephens Pat Nix ’62 Keith Thompson ’83 Staunton Davis ’92 Miller ’00 Martin Kite ’62 Jefferson Vaughan Sr. ’83 Nancy Cobb Daws ’ 92 Melinda Toles Nation ’ 00 Martha Chafin Ross ’ 62 Paula Grace Andrews ’ 84 Patrice Hobbs Glass ’92 Rolanda Copeland ’01 Ed Hardin ’62 John Burton ’85 Kristin Allyson Harper ’ 92 Feeneishia Pleasant Tony Gunter ’64 Denson Franklin III ’85 Robin Horner ’ 92 Green ’01 W. Michael Atchison ’65 Lisa Sims Harrison ’85 Rajendra Kanuru ’92 Ronald Orange ’01 Betty Farrington Cook ’65 Rena Williams Ramsey ’85 Julie Van Valkenburgh Laura Brooks Bright ’02 Key Clarke ’67 Sheri Scholl Salmon ’ 85 Lockwood ’92 Sonya Edwards Eubank ’02 Kyle DeLoach ’67 Don Barnett ’86 Robert Lockwood ’92 Valerie Michelle Richard deShazo ’67 Scott Bryant ’ 86 Kristy Hager Lemmons ’02 Harriett Gaither Gram ’67 Adelia Patrick Lundstrom ’ 92 Joshua South ’02 Linda Wood Loeffler ’67 Thompson ’86 Tisa Moore ’92 Keith Randall ’ 03 George Ann Gibson John Watts ’86 Margaret Nicrosi Sunday Vanderver ’ 04 Parker ’ 67 DeLynn Moring Zell ’86 Mullen ’ 92 Amanda Marie Warren ’04 William W. (Bill) Max Blalock ’87 Laura Anne Ottaviani- Katy Beth Lewey ’05 Payne ’67 Julie Carwie Bryant ’ 87 Chacon ’ 92 Lauren Michelle Tom Rosdick ’67 James C. Camel ’87 Brad Parrish ’ 92 Mallory ’05 Richard A. Storm III ’67 Karen McElroy Carroll ’87 Jill Warren Robinson ’ 92 Kate Elizabeth Dale Kyle Head ’68 Harold Jones ’87 Grover Robinson IV ’ 92 Chandler ’06 Sandra Hendrickson Beth Golson Amy Simmons Scofield ’ 92 Julie Lynn Coffman ’ 06 Storm ’68 McGlaughn ’87 Ben Shelton ’92 Elizabeth Amelia Croft ’06 Susan Ellis Bethea ’70 Melissa Self Patrick ’87 Jennifer Sloan ’ 92 Elizabeth Bradford Larry Barr ’72 James C. Pennington ’87 Teresa Scruggs Thomas ’92 Frye ’06 Barbara N. Croft ’72 Kathryn Marie Ray ’87 Nelda Phelps Waller ’ 92 Jennifer Nicole Osland ’06 ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Five to receive Birmingham-Southern ’s top alumni awards

Five Birmingham-Southern alumni will receive the college ’s Distinguished Alumni Award or Outstanding Young Alumni Award at the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend festivities Saturday, April 28. Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award are:

Jean Pierce ’52 acting in community theater legislative activities , such as prepar - From top, Jean Pierce, If you ’ve seen any children ’s productions around town. Her first ing for hearings and coaching Elvin Hilyer, and theater in Birmingham over the past show was the title character in Anne witnesses to appear before Congress. Robert Clem. three decades, there ’s a good chance of the Thousand Days . She continued Hilyer also served as a liaison you ’ve seen a show written by Jean acting in Town and Gown, Summer - between the inspector general and Pierce. Pierce has been acting, fest, Terrific New Theatre, and later, the General Accounting Office for all directing, and writing for the Magic Birmingham Children ’s Theatre assessments, investigations, and City ’s theater scene for more than productions practically every year. inspections conducted for CDC 30 years. Along the way , she added directing programs. He chaired many task After attending Ramsay High and writing to her résumé, begin - forces, including one to improve the School in Birmingham, Pierce got ning with Backstage Baby!, which she status of women and minorities in her associate of arts degree with co -wrote with Betty H. Pewitt ’52. scientific and high-level positions , honors in 1950 at Gulf Park College The musical comedy was featured at and another to improve the grade in Long Beach , Miss., and came to the John F. Kennedy Center for the levels and career ladders of secre- BSC to complete her undergraduate Performing Arts in Washington , D.C. tarial/clerical coworkers. He also degree. She majored in drama with She has since written more than 25 developed a strategic plan for inter - a minor in English, graduated musicals and musical adaptations national health after consultation magna cum laude, and was inducted (many with Pewitt) for the with the World Health Organization , into Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Birmingham Children ’s Theatre — the Pan American Health Board. Afterward , she did graduate from Santa in Space to Ali Baba ’s Gold Organization , the U .S. Agency for work in theater at the University of to Bloomers, Bubblegum, and Brown International Development , the Utah in Salt Lake City . Paper Bags. Rockefeller Institute, and others. He Beginning in 1959, Pierce began retired in 1994 from CDC as a Elvin Hilyer ’60 member of the senior executive After graduating from Birming- service and associate director of ham-Southern with a degree in CDC for policy coordination. philosophy, Elvin Hilyer went on to After his long career with CDC, earn a master ’s in psychology at the Hilyer worked for the next 10 years University of Mississippi before as a resident technical advisor for the starting an illustrious 30-year career Carter Center in Uganda , Sudan, at the Centers for Disease Control and Ghana, advising on the develop - and Prevention in Atlanta. ment, implementation, and While at CDC, he essentially monitoring of national programs to served as a chief of staff for the eradicate Guinea worm and, in director of CDC, advising in all Sudan, to control onchocerciasis program areas and assisting program (river blindness) and trachoma. officials in resolving issues, in Along the way , he worked with addition to directing Atlanta-based officials in the various host

44 / ’ southern ALUMNI AFFAIRS

countries —UNICEF, the World and World War I veteran, whose Commission), as well Health Organization, and the UN autobiographical novel Company K is as the Congressional- Development Program. considered a WWI classic. Clem ’s Executive Commis - Since 2005 , he has worked at the feature-length dramatization of sion on China. Both MeKing Consulting Corp . as a Company K will be released this commissions serve as consultant to CDC. The job spring by Indican Pictures. independent federal involves an ongoing project in Currently, Clem is producing and organizations to conjunction with the National directing three new documentary monitor international Center for Infectious Diseases. films, all with Alabama themes: the threats to human soon-to-be-released John Patterson: In rights and funda- Robert Clem ’67 the Wake of the Assassins, The Gospel mental freedoms. After graduating from BSC with Highway , and Eugene Walter : The Last The Fourth Congres - a B.A. in history, Robert Clem Bohemian . sional District is attended Harvard Law School in made up of 14 counties and spans 1970 and practiced law in Washing - Receiving the across the northern part of Alabama ton , D.C. , from 1970 -79. Primarily from Mississippi to Georgia . engaged in trial and appellate Outstanding Young practice, Clem took part in a ground - Alumni Award are: Grover Robinson ’92 breaking study of the capital ’s Grover Robinson IV came to criminal justice system in 1976-77 Robert Aderholt ’87 Birmingham-Southern from and was appointed professor of Elected in 1996, Congressman Pensacola , Fla., where he attended criminal law at Antioch University Robert Aderholt currently is serving Booker T. Washington High School. Law School in Washington in 1977. his fifth term representing Alabama’s While at BSC, he majored in But in 1979 , Clem changed careers Fourth Congressional District in the economics, was inducted into Phi and enrolled at New York Univer - U.S. House of Representatives . At Beta Kappa, and graduated summa sity ’s graduate film school. A Vintage age 31, he was the youngest Republi - cum laude. He now is the president Thunderbird , his NYU thesis film , can elected to the 105th Congress. of Grover Robinson & Associates From top, Robert Aderholt based on a short story by Ann After graduating from Haleyville Inc., a commercial real estate firm, and Grover Robinson. Beattie, was subsequently acquired High School and attending BSC, which he began in 2000. He also by the A&E Network for its where he received a bachelor ’s serves as a broker and agent. Shortstories series. In 1987, working degree in political science, Aderholt Earlier, he worked for five years with BSC alumnus Norton Dill ’68, graduated from Samford University’s as a commercial loan officer at he directed the award-winning short Cumberland School of Law in 1990. AmSouth Bank. Since 2006, he has film Ready to be a Wise Man . After graduation, Aderholt practiced served on the Escambia County Clem later wrote and directed law and served as a municipal judge Board of County Commissioners, documentary films for the Discovery in his hometown. In 1995 and District 4. He also is an active Channel and Learning Channel 1996, before running for Congress , volunteer in the Pensacola Area before launching his own company, he served as assistant legal adviser to Chamber of Commerce, the United Waterfront Pictures, and a nonprofit the governor of Alabama . Way of Escambia County, and the foundation, the Foundation for New Aderholt currently sits on the Cordova Park Elementary School Media, in the ’90s. House Appropriations Committee, Advisory Committee. Along the way, he also has had which oversees the budgets of all In 1999, he was awarded the success as a playwright, theater federal agencies and departments. Junior Achievement ImpACT Award, director, and radio drama producer. He also serves on the subcommittees and, in 2001 , he received the Award Clem ’s first feature-length documen - for homeland security, transpor- for Emerging Leader of the Year and tary film was Big Jim Folsom: the Two tation, housing and urban develop - the Pensacola Area Commitment to Faces of Populism (1996) about the ment, as well as commerce, justice Excellence. Alabama governor who, in the ’40s and science, and related agencies . He also has served on the board and ’50s , was far ahead of his time Aderholt is strongly committed to for the Junior Achievement of on the race issue. Other documen - religious freedoms and human rights Northwest Florida, the Pensacola taries include War Birds: Diary of an issues, and is a leader on those issues Junior College Foundation, and the Unknown Aviator (2003) and two through his role on the Commission Baptist Health Care Foundation. films based on the life and work of for Security and Cooperation in Eu - William March, the Mobile author rope (better known as the Helsinki

spring 2007 / 45 ALUMNI AFFAIRS

BSC offers travel opportunities in San Francisco , Honduras

Biology Dr. Andy Gannon visiting coral reefs and dolphins at the Institute for Marine Sciences on the island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea . The trip will be a condensed version of one of the most popular of all BSC Interim trips —the month-long Coral Reef Ecology Interim project. The idea for an alumni version of the Interim project arose after Dr. Sean Groark ’85, a cardiologist who lives in Huntsville, accompanied the latest BSC trip to Roatan as a chaperone. The experience was much like Groark ’s Interim trip in The Birmingham-Southern Housing will be provided at the the mid ’80s when he traveled to the Office of Service Learning is Fort Mason Youth Hostel, which Galapagos Islands as a BSC student. offering a new opportunity includes dormitory-style rooms Such a meaningful experience was in San Francisco tailored with hall baths and a continental had by all that the college wanted to specifically for alumni. breakfast each morning. The open the opportunity to all BSC A service project has been location features beautiful views of alumni. Alumni will dive and planned at Glide Memorial United San Francisco Bay . The dates of the snorkel on one of the most beautiful Methodist Church, located in the project are from Saturday, July 21 , to reefs in the world , and they will get Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Sunday, July 29 . to participate in lectures and lab The project will be a miniature Transportation will be available exercises to understand what they version of what the Service Learning via San Francisco ’s historic streetcars, are seeing down below, as well as in Office has done five times before at as well as San Francisco Municipal ongoing reef biodiversity and water- Glide. Railway (Muni) buses and cable cars. quality monitoring projects. Participants will help serve meals The cost is $1, 000 per person, “We will also find time to swim at Glide, whose program serves over which includes the price of the with dolphins, kayak, explore a 1 million meals a year —three meals flight, lodging, ground transporta - botanical garden, ride horses, and a day, seven days a week. Or, to put tion , and a portion of your meals . participate in a limbo contest,” it in perspective, that ’s 800 lunches To register or if you have says Gannon. in two hours. questions, contact Harper at SCUBA certification is encouraged “We ’ve been talking about doing 205/226-4720 or [email protected] . but not required, and everyone must this type of project for a long time,” Come help meet the needs of a be able to swim. says Kristin Harper, coordinator of community while exploring one of Though the dates are not yet firm, service learning at Birmingham- America ’s greatest cities. Space is the trip will be in early August, and Southern. “It ’s a project that ’s just limited, so inquire early. the cost will be approximately for alumni , but modeled after our Or if you want to get out of the $2,000 per person. The college Interim service-learning projects. country for an alumni trip, BSC is needs a minimum of 12 to form a This is a great opportunity for offering a Coral Reef Ecology alumni group, but it can only take 24 alumni to connect with each other trip to Roatan , Honduras, this people, so sign up soon. For more and the college in a new way summer. information, contact Gannon at through service, which has always Participants will spend a week 205/226-4899 or [email protected] . been an integral part of the fabric of with BSC Associate Professor of BSC.”

46 / ’ southern ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Alumni events keep winter warm

Local Birmingham-Southern alumni participated in two informative events this past winter. In January, there was a Football Preview Luncheon with BSC Head Football Coach Joey Jones, who discussed the new football program at BSC. The event, which was held at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham, drew a crowd of all ages. In February, there was a Downtown Alumni Business Luncheon, also at the Harbert Center, which offered alumni time to visit and network before a lunch program which featured C. Dowd Ritter ’69, CEO and president of Regions Financial Corp. you ’ve made the friends . Ritter gave a speech entitled “A 2007 National and Local Outlook for the Financial Services Industry” to a packed house, where now keep t hem. he emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education. The concentration of financial services corporations in the Birmingham area continues to be a great benefit for BSC graduates, many of whom are AlumNet employed within Regions/AmSouth.
A searchable alumni directory Upcoming Chapter and Affinity Group events are posted on BSC AlumNet, as well as
A permanent BSC e-mail address in the monthly From the Hilltop e-newsletter. See what ’s happening next by visiting
Register for BSC events www.bsc.edu/alumnet. Are you interested in hosting an alumni
Make gifts event in your area? If so, contact Amanda Warren at 205/226-4908 or [email protected].

BirminBSCgham-Southern College

www.bsc.edu/alumnet

spring 2007 / 47 PHILANTHROPY

Wiley pictured third from right, bottom row, on an Interim trip to Paris. Students see world through the Wiley Travel Fund by barrett hathcock

“Take 12 callow, unsophisticated During her time on the Hilltop, endowment provide a perpetual source college students. Remove them from Wiley was an avid traveler. Among her of income to be used for future student the safety of a small college campus in journeys, she took a trip to China to travel. Birmingham and set them down in the explore its nationalist islands, studied According to Eiland, Wiley believed rarefied, heady atmosphere of Paris . Indian civilization at the University of that the art of teaching was the art of Watch them reenact history, have them Mysore in India, and traveled assisting discovery and that travel match action with fact, and then see extensively throughout Africa . Her abroad was a necessary step toward their lives change forever. Evelyn interest in travel dovetailed with her that discovery . Wiley did just that. ” involvement with BSC ’s Washington Referring to a $200,000 bequest This “recipe for greatness” comes Semester in the late ’40s, a precursor from Wiley ’s estate to the fund from Bill Eiland, director of the to Interim. During the first year of established in her own honor, Eiland Georgia Museum of Art and 1970 Interim, Wiley took a group of said, “This gift to Birmingham- Birmingham-Southern graduate, who students to Paris to study the French Southern College means that many delivered the 2005 eulogy for Dr. Revolution at the very site where more students will have the scales fall Evelyn Wiley. Wiley, a 1938 BSC historical events occurred. from their eyes; will benefit from direct graduate and longtime history profes - “Until I finally discovered that I experience, unadulterated, undiluted sor , helped begin the study-abroad would never win at this game, I used to through the words of others; and will education that has grown into today ’s interrogate her along the lines of: have life-altering sensations of other popular Interim term —regularly cited ‘Have you ever been to … ’” says cultures, in short, the chance to as one of the best experiences during Eiland, “and then I would name the develop a personal sensibilité that is a students ’ time at BSC. most remote, most exotic countries prerequisite for real education.” Wiley was a member of Phi Beta and cities in the world. The only two The Wiley Travel Fund not only Kappa, Mortar Board, and other honor places I remember she had not visited honors a wonderful member of the societies. She received a master ’s were Cuba and Yemen .” BSC family, but also honors current degree from Vanderbilt in 1939 and a The Dr. Evelyn V. Wiley Travel Fund students on the Hilltop, ensuring that doctorate from the University of was established in memory of the they see the world so that they can Pennsylvania in 1959. She joined the former mentor and world traveler in then go on someday to change it. BSC faculty in 1944 and served as chair 2001 by former students, colleagues, For more information on how to of the History Department from 1960 and friends with the purpose of establish a study/travel fund, contact to 19 68, retiring in 1972. She passed enabling BSC students to benefit from Martha Hamrick Boshers, director of away at the age of 88 in 2005. domestic and international travel major gifts and planned giving , at opportunities. Earnings from the 205/226-4978 or [email protected] . 48 / ’ southern BSC launches planned giving Web site Rising property values, investment growth , different types of life insurance , changing tax laws —good planning requires good information.

Find the info you need and the right plan for you —all at Birmingham-Southern ’s new planned giving Web site. Weekly articles Read weekly articles on estate-planning alternatives , including wills and trusts. Learn the benefits of giving a gift and receiving full income tax savings. Savvy senior column Learn the latest information you need to make informed decisions about Medicare, prescription drugs, Social Security, and retirement accounts . Gift-planning stories Read stories about actual donors who received tax benefits by making charitable gifts. Learn how a gift to Birmingham- Southern can lead to greater income for yourself and your family, a tax deduction , and a lasting legacy. Personal Web presentations View a personalized Web presentation that shows the income and tax benefits of setting up a gift plan using your assets and property values. Compare the benefits of setting up a unitrust, annuity trust , or gift and sale. Washington hotline Find out about changes in Washington that could affect your financial future. Read about the latest tax changes, ways to save on taxes , and important political news . Financial update Learn how the market affects your finances. Get the latest news on stocks, bonds, and interest rates. View current market quotes for the DOW, NASDAQ, and the S&P 500.

BirminBSCgham-Southern College Go to: www.bsc.edu/advancement/planned.htm PHILANTHROPY

Parents Fund progress report Will your ‘will ’ be known? The Parents Fund at Birmingham-Southern was established more than 25 years ago to give parents of It may have started the first time we took a deep current students an opportunity to assist with needs breath and blew out the candles, or perhaps it was when of the college and to directly support their children ’s we gazed upon a lone star in a dark sky. We would educational experience. quietly make a wish and take care to tell no one, in Some 258 families participated in last year ’s fund hopes that the wish would come true. drive, which was started with a goal of raising Wherever it began, the practice of keeping our most $25,000 —or roughly 150 families at $150 each in personal hopes and dreams to ourselves is a practice that honor of Birmingham-Southern ’s 150th anniversary. many of us tend to use when it comes to a final commu - The drive ended with more than $48,000 raised. nication with family and friends. This final communi- This year, BSC ’s goal is $65,000, and so far the cation is the Last Will and Testament —one last college has raised $57,000. But don ’t worry —there ’s opportunity to give expression to personal values still time to participate in this year ’s fund. You have and wishes. until May 31 to contribute to this year ’s goal. The charitable bequest affords a way for virtually “I realize there are many students within our state anyone to express specific philanthropic wishes. In fact, who have probably decided what college they will the bequest is the most frequently used method to attend before they even start kindergarten,” say Jim support charity in America . A bequest may take on a and Rasie Miller, parents of BSC student Ellen Miller number of forms, including naming a specific dollar ’08. “After our daughter decided she did not wish to amount , a percentage of the estate, or specific assets . go out of state, there was only one school on her The philanthropic spirit is given a voice when wishes ‘college list.’ Needless to say, it was Birmingham- are expressed in the will. While many may think Southern. We choose to go the ‘extra mile ’ and philanthropy is reserved for a select few, the truth is that contribute to the Parents Fund annually because we every bequest to Birmingham-Southern makes a mark consider it a privilege to say that ‘our daughter that will last in perpetuity. Many of the college ’s attends BSC.’” scholarships were established with bequests made by Gifts to the Parents Fund go to support the overall alumni and friends of BSC. Annual Giving Program, and thus have an imme- If you would like more information on wills, diate impact on current students through scholarship including sample language for making a charitable assistance, technology upgrades, faculty research, and bequest, we invite you to contact: other programs . And as always, all students benefit from the Parents Fund. Martha Hamrick Boshers For more information about the Parents Fund, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving contact Maggie McDonald in the Office of Annual 900 Arkadelphia Road Giving at 205/226-7737 or toll-free at 800-523-5793, Box 549003 extension 7737 , or [email protected] , or just Birmingham , AL 35252 use the envelope in this issue of ’Southern . Some 205/226-4978 employers have matching gift programs which could [email protected] double contributions to Birmingham-Southern and the Parents Fund.

50 / ’ southern 192 acres 48 buildings 1,3 00 students 50 programs of study 33 states 16 foreign countries 1 li fe one The Power of One Birmingham-Southern Annual Fund

Maggie McDonald, director of annual giving 205/226-7737 [email protected]

Alumni Affairs 900 Arkadelphia Road Box 549003 Birmingham , AL 35254 www.bsc.edu/egiving

BirminBSCgham-Southern College

www.bsc.edu/alumnet ATHLETICS

BSC athletics adds indoor/outdoor track and field Porter Everett Birmingham-Southern Athletics Director Joe Dean Jr. announced during the fall semester the addition of men ’s and women ’s indoor and outdoor track and field. The addition of track and field brings BSC ’s total number of sports offered to 20. Head Cross Country Coach Lars Porter will add track and field to his current responsibilities at BSC. “Adding men ’s and women ’s track and field to our athletics program is a natural move for us and one which will complement our excellent cross country program,” said Dean. “I am excited that Lars Porter has accepted the challenge of building a quality track and field program for Birmingham-Southern. His leadership continues to be very impressive.” Porter tabbed three-time Olympian Mark Everett as the new assistant coach for the cross country and track and field program. Everett ’s track accomplishments include the 1988, 1992 , and 2000 Summer Olympic Games; the 1991, 1993 , and 1997 World Championships ; and the 1994 and 1998 World Cup Championships. He set the 600-yard Indoor World Record with a time of 1:07.53 and posted an American Record 1:45.67 in the 2000 Olympic Trials. “We are fortunate to have a coach of this caliber,” said Porter. “His athletic résumé speaks for itself with national titles and three Olympic appearances. What is most exciting is that he is as quality a coach as he was an athlete. ” The Pensacola , Fla., native attended the University of Florida where he was a 10-time All-American, a three-time NCAA champion , and a 15-time SEC champion. A 2001 inductee into the University of Florida Hall of Fame , Everett graduated in 1990 with a degree in sports administration. He was inducted into the Millrose Games Hall of Fame in 1999 and was voted one of Florida ’s top 50 athletes. The Panthers first full season will be during 2007-08 , and they will compete in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. BSC ’s first four years are under the mandatory NCAA compliance period before becoming eligible for post-season competition in 2011 -12.

Women ’s basketball future looks bright despite roller-coaster season

In their last season as a Division I basketball program, Head Coach Brad Hodge and the Panthers experienced what could only be described as a roller-coaster season. The Panthers kicked off the year with a huge win at home over Southern Miss, but then went on the road and dropped three straight against Jacksonville State, Alabama A&M, and Samford. The squad was up-and-down after that and stood at 5-9 heading into Big South Conference play, in which the Panthers started off 0-2 before getting their first league win against Charleston Southern on the road. After that, BSC lost five straight, including an out-of-conference home overtime loss to Savannah State, but rebounded with another win over Charleston Southern before losing two close ones to Coastal Carolina and High Point . The Panthers got their third and final conference win over Winthrop and closed out the regular season with three straight losses before heading into the 2007 Big South Conference Tournament as the sixth seed to face third-seeded Liberty . It was the third time that the teams had met in the postseason and the first time they had met on a neutral court. Although it was a close and hard-fought game, the Lady Flames prevailed, 70-58, to end BSC ’s season. Despite an 8-22 record, several Panther players received honors this season. Freshman point guard Junior forward Reba Ross led the Big Marisah Henderson of Kansas City, Kan., was named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week four South Conference and was ranked 27th times and earned a spot on the conference All-Freshman Team, while junior guard Mallory Morring of in the nation in field-goal percentage Huntsville earned a Player of the Week honor as well. Junior forward Reba Ross of Clayton was named to this season. the Sheraton Roundball Classic All-Tournament Team and earned First-Team All-Big South Conference honors, and freshman center Hali Moore of Fairfield was named to the All-Tournament Team of the Georgia State Invitational. Additionally, Ross led the Big South Conference and ranked 27th in the nation in field-goal percentage. 52 / ’ southern Henderson also ranked first in the league and 46th in the country in assists per game, and , as a team, the Panthers led the Big South and ranked 24th in the NCAA in steals per game. ATHLETICS

Jones completes football coaching staff

Birmingham-Southern Head Football Coach Joey Jones recently announced the hiring of Joel Williams , Brad McAbee , and Kelvis White to the football staff, bringing the staff to six coaches. Williams comes to the Hilltop following two seasons as offensive coordinator at Foley High School in Foley , Ala., and three seasons as offensive coordinator at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. He will serve in the same capacity at BSC , while coaching the quarterbacks. McAbee also spent the last two seasons at Foley High and will have the responsibility of coaching the offensive line. White, who played on the defensive line at the University of Alabama from 1996 to 2000, was the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Russellville High School in Russellville , Ala. , last season. He coached five seasons at Homewood High School before moving on to Russellville . White will coach the Panthers ’ defensive line. Eddie Garfinkle and Hindley Brigham joined the staff when Jones was introduced as BSC ’s new head football coach this past June . Garfinkle, who will be the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, comes to Birmingham-Southern following five seasons at Spain Park High School in Hoover. He coached 16 seasons in the college ranks at Jacksonville State and Georgia Southern before moving to Spain Park . Brigham was a standout running back at Furman University the last three years and will coach running backs. Dyer Carlisle also will be on the staff as a volunteer defensive assistant. Carlisle is the former principal at Homewood High and has previous coaching experience at Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State . Complete bios on the Panthers ’ football staff can be found on the football Web site at www.bscsports.net .

Women ’s golf on par with new coach

Casey Smith has been named the new head women ’s golf coach at Birmingham-Southern and will assume his new duties in June. Smith comes to the Hilltop from Pelham High School, where he served as the head golf coach since 2004 and the head varsity girls basketball coach since 2005. He previously served as assistant boys basketball coach from 2003-05 and assistant golf coach from 2003-04 . Besides his high school coaching experience, Smith became a Callaway Golf Clubs technology representative in 2006 and has been a part -time golf shop assistant for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail since 2003. He was an assistant golf professional at the Anniston Country Club from 2001- 02 , as well as an assistant golf professional at Silver Lakes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The Glencoe, Ala., native played collegiate golf at Gadsden State Community College from 1998-00 Smith before spending two years as a golf instructor. He graduated from Jacksonville State University in 2003 with a bachelor ’s degree in physical education. Smith ’s dad, Moe Smith, who is current principal at Glencoe High School , and his late grandfather, C.K. Gant, are both Hall of Fame basketball coaches .

spring 2007 / 53 CLASSNOTES Class Notes

Sports Hall of Fame at a March Couples, Dates, and Steadies” banquet in Montgomery. Striplin ’s includes a series of slides generous support of the Bryant- illustrating shifting ideas of Jordan Scholarship Program and courtship through the first half Foundation, as well as his of the 20th century. Robb ’s involvement in the creation of the second new program is based on Super 6 football championship “Encounters,” an exhibition of the and the State Finals basketball photography of her longtime friend tournament, were cited in the Kathryn Tucker Windham , which announcement of his selection. Robb curated for the Huntsville Museum of Art in 1995 . That ’57 exhibition subsequently has toured After 40 years as a professor of widely and has resulted in a book religion at BSC , Dr. Roy D. Wells of the same title. will retire in May (see page 10). Though he will continue his roles ’59 as scholar and Episcopalian priest, Aldridge Botanical Gardens in he and wife Laura Stephenson Hoover, originally founded by Wells ’59 also look forward to Eddie Aldridge and his family, has more time with family. Daughter announced a $6 million capital Megan Wells Agopian ’87, a campaign to support the Marker commemorates early history of pianist, now lives, teaches, and construction of new projects, BSC —In December 2006, an historic marker was unveiled at performs in Calgary , Alberta. Her including an environmental center, Talladega First United Methodist Church honoring the earliest history husband, Edmond , is a concert an amphitheater, an expansive of both Auburn University and Birmingham-Southern, which were violinist, distinguished professor of children ’s garden, and a 300-foot both initiated in Talladega in the December 1854 meeting of the music at the University of Calgary , waterfall supplied by treated Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. and director of the Calgary Youth wastewater, which will serve as a At an assembly on the church lawn, the marker was unveiled by BSC Orchestra. The two are parents dramatic showcase for the Trustee George Smith Jr. of Anniston, representing BSC, and James of the Wells ’ grandson , Emil . concept of water recycling. W. Heacock Sr. of Talladega, representing Auburn . Daughter Julianna is working and In a service following in the sanctuary, participants included Smith ; Dr. Stewart Jackson, BSC dean of chapel; Dr. O.C. Weaver Jr. writing in Birmingham . Son ’60 ’35, BSC professor emeritus and author of a history of the college; Kendrick Wells, who studied Dr. Charles Lambert has retired and Dr. William Crawford “Bill” Davis ’47, former pastor of Tal - music and composition at BSC, after 43 years of serving the ladega First United Methodist Church and a champion of the com - worked and performed in Athens community as a dentist. memorative effort. Davis, shown here with the new marker, has long Birmingham until his death in 2005. ties with Birmingham-Southern. His family proudly numbers gradu - ’62 ates of both Southern University and Birmingham-Southern, and his ’58 Albert Clayton grandchildren include present and future BSC students. Frances Gaulden of Osborn Sedona , Ariz., Robb of founder and ’41 resigned. She now is employed Huntsville, director of Elaire Cooper Fletcher and her part time at the Lampion Center an inde - The Sedona husband , Gordon Donald (a family and children ’s services pendent Intensive, has Fletcher, have moved from agency), doing what she likes to scholar published a Birmingham to a retirement do —psychological testing —at and new book, community in Sun City , Fla. age 75. member You ’re Not Who You of the Alabama Humanities Think You Are: A Blueprint for ’50 ’52 Foundation speakers ’ bureau, Retrieving Your Authentic Self , After working at Southwestern BSC Board of Trustees member has begun presenting two new available online, in which he Indiana Mental Health Center for Larry D. Striplin Jr. of Birmingham programs in her latest series of outlines eight life lessons for more than 32 years, Dr. F. Beth was inducted into the 2007 class talks to community groups around personal growth. Gaulden also Stone of Evansville , Ind., has of the Alabama High School the state. “Pairing Off: Courting is author of Clearing for the

54 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

Millennium and Signs and ’67 ’69 seat on the Madison County Wonders —Understanding the Filmmaker Bob Clem of New Paltz, Dr. George M. Adams of Tampa , Circuit Court. She now is serving Language of God. N.Y., recently named one of BSC ’s Fla. , has retired after 30 years as a her 17th year on the bench and Distinguished Alumni for 2007 family physician. He is pursuing a her ninth as a circuit judge. The Rev. Margaret Shepard now (see page 45), currently is second major in Italian at the is serving as priest in charge at producing three new documen - University of South Florida and ’76 St. John the Evangelist Episcopal taries in Alabama. The Southern hopes to teach English at a Terry Cooper has been named to Church in Robertsdale. Humanities Media Fund, a university in Italy during the the 2007 class of the Alabama consortium of humanities councils summers. High School Sports Hall of Fame ’64 from seven Southern states, and was inducted at a March A new play from Hubert Grissom recently awarded a major grant for Robert E. “Bob” Keller of banquet in Montgomery. Cooper of Tampa , Fla., premiered in Clem ’s documentary The Gospel Jonesboro , Ga., former Clayton has served for 31 years in the January at the Gorilla Theatre. Highway , about the golden age of County district attorney, has been Mountain Brook school system, as BapBomb (the FBI code name for African-American gospel quartets. named to the State Board of a coach for basketball, baseball, the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth The film will include the world Pardons and Paroles. His term will golf, and swimming, and as Street Baptist Church in Birming - famous Blind Boys of Alabama as expire Dec. 31, 2013. athletics director. ham ) is set in 1988 and deals with well as groups such as the Dixie hate crimes and the personal Hummingbirds and the Mighty Jayne McCain Prude of Florence, ’77 and political machinations that Clouds of Joy . an assistant professor of Paintings of Camilla Armstrong of surround them. mathematics at the University of Montgomery were displayed last ’68 North Alabama, has been named fall at that city ’s Stonehenge David J. Messer of Maywood, Howard Cruse of North Adams , to the Elizabeth Gaines Mann Gallery in an exhibition entitled N.J., former director of the Bergen Mass., was cover artist for the fall Professorship. “Everyday Sacred.” Museum of Art and Science in 2006 issue of The Handle , the Paramus, and now director of magazine of the UAB School of ’72 ’80 matching gifts for KPMG LLP, an Public Health. He was honored Hon. Laura Jo Wilbourn After 26 years in retail, Crystal audit, tax, and advisory firm at a January reception in Hamilton of Huntsville recently Underwood Sims has joined the recently named one of FORTUNE Birmingham . won re-election for the Place 5 Collegiate Licensing Co. in Atlanta . magazine ’s 2007 “Ten Best Companies to Work For,” is looking Wayne Lord of Atlanta has been forward to retirement in a year. He appointed vice president of Dr . Bob Whetstone, has begun formal studies in music governmental affairs for Pilgrim ’s composition at the Julliard School Pride Corp., the largest chicken professor emeritus, of Music in Manhattan and has producer in the United States and publishes first novel —Grave created a Web site featuring his Puerto Rico and the second- Dancin ’ is the first of several historical recent compositions. He praises largest producer and seller of novels planned by Dr. Bob Whetstone his music teachers at BSC: “I chicken in Mexico . ’55, professor emeritus of education at never forget that my musical BSC. Recently published by Lulu Enterprises, Grave Dancin ’ is set studies with Everette Pittman, Dr. Jack Sellers is professor and against the background of the early Hugh Thomas, Sam B. Owens, chair of the Department of Social 20th -century migration from cotton fields and Minnie McNeil Carr at the BSC Work and Criminal Justice at the to cotton mills in the Deep South. It tells the story of one Conservatory of Music have been University of North Alabama. He young man ’s dream to leave a crowded, run-down shack a springboard for achievement and recently received the 2006 to seek what he believes to be a better life as a mill hand. fulfillment for a lifetime!” Significant Lifetime Achievement Whestone, a native of Alexander City, has roots deeply in Baccalaureate Social Work embedded in cotton mill villages. He spent his childhood In January, former New York Times Education Award from the Associ - within the shadow of a mill, and, in addition, many of his editor Howell Raines of Henryville , ation of Baccalaureate Social Work close relatives worked as mill hands, thus surrounding him Pa., was the keynote speaker at Program Directors at its annual with colorful and sometimes tragic stories of life in and the 21st annual Martin Luther King conference, held in Los Angeles. around mill villages. The book is available online, and more information may Jr. Unity Breakfast in Birmingham . Sellers, founding chair of his be found at Whetstone ’s Web site. departmen tin1974 , will retir e at the end of Jul y afte r36year s of service.

spring 2007 / 55 CLASSNOTES

She is manager of non-apparel Regional Planning Commission of merchandise in the Marketing Greater Birmingham. He began Department. CLC was founded in his work with the commission in 1981 by Bill Battle Jr., a member of December 2006. the BSC Board of Trustees and the son of former BSC athletics Dr. Glenn Feldman has been director William Raines Battle. named director of the UAB Center for Labor Education and Research. ’81 Feldman joined CLEAR in 1996 as Dr. Jonathan M. Goodin practiced an assistant professor. A general pediatrics in Gadsden for recognized authority in his field, 15 years. He has relocated to he has published more than 25 Tifton , Ga. , where he has practiced academic articles; authored and in the Department of Pediatrics edited seven books; appeared on of Affinity Health Group since National Public Radio, local TV , and November 2006. Goodin has radio programs; and has been resumed his musical activities quoted in the Wall Street Journal Western alumnae extend warm by playing clarinet with the and other publications. welcome to Interim group —In January, community concert bands of the when 13 BSC students traveled to Washington State Abraham Baldwin Agricultural ’85 with Dr. Peter Donahue, BSC associate professor of College in Tifton and Darton Brigitte Celeste Johnston Knoll of English, and BSC staff member Carol Cook Hagood ’70 College in Albany . Carrollton , Va., obtained a for the 2007 Interim course “Discovering the master ’s degree in library science Northwest,” BSC area alumnae offered a warm After spending 16 years with from the Catholic University welcome. Reynolds Aluminum as an engi - of America in 2006 and is an Above, Martin and Helen Braswell Payne ’61 of Lan - neering director in Europe, Calvin elementary school media gley (front row left , center) visit at the Chinook Learning Center with Hagood (front row, right) and current BSC Wiggins, along with three other specialist for the Isle of Wight students. Days later, at their beautiful Whidbey Island aluminum industry entrepreneurs, County Schools in Virginia. home, the Paynes treated the visiting BSC group to a founded Service Center Metals in Husband William Sedgley Knoll luncheon also hosted by Callie Betancourt Daniell Richmond , Va. After three years in retired from active duty Navy ’62 of Port Ludlow, Barbara Gibbs Read ’60 of Langley, business, this aluminum extrusion (CDR) in 2006 and became a and Read ’s mother, Gertrude Gibbs, who worked in the company of 115 people was member of the Federal BSC cafeteria in the ’50 s and ’60s and who, at age 102, named by Entrepreneur magazine government ’s senior executive has happy memories of her time at the college. as the 10th fastest growing service for the National Nuclear In an afternoon that was one of the highlights of company in America. Wiggins Security Administration. The the Interim, the visitors enjoyed a feast including the balances his busy work life with Knolls have three children. alumnae ’s homemade soups, breads, preserves, and family time with his wife and three desserts ; a reading of Read ’s recent poetry ; lively conversation ; and stories giving the students glimpses sons , and with his sport of sky Maj. John of the Hilltop years ago. diving, which he began while Pendergast attending BSC. sends regrets ’83 that he will Charles be unable ’86 ’87 E. Ball, to attend The PBS Dragonfly TV ’s “garbo- Lawson Taitte, theater critic of The formerly the BSC logy” episode, which was filmed Dallas Morning News , says that director of Alumni Reunion this year. He says at the BSC Southern Environ- with a recent production of The planning that he will be serving in Kuwait in mental Center and now is airing Glory of Living by Rebecca for the city support of Operation Iraqi nationwide, is no doubt a favorite Gilman, the Second Thought of Gads - Freedom. of Sharon Robinson Holmes. Her Theatre of Dallas, “a comer on the den, has son , Joshua Lee Holmes , and local scene for a couple of years been Altamont School friend, Sean … has definitely arrived.” Gilman named executive director of the Tuteja , are the “stars” of the show. is a resident of Chicago .

56 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

Joey Lesesne of Washington , the media company and and implement public policy Dr. Kirsten Whitley of the National D.C., has been named vice automotive services provider Cox strategies for Cox businesses and Security Agency. Whitley is a president of government affairs at Enterprises Inc. He will develop represent the company before senior researcher in the Office Congress and federal government of Defensive Computing Research agencies. in Nashville , Tenn. , working on cognitive analysis and ’88 visualization. Last summer, the New York Concert Chorale, James Bagwell’s ’89 professional chorus, appeared on Michael and Gianna Bargetzi PBS ’s Live from Lincoln Center Gimenez of Madison, former during the Mostly Mozart Festival. composition and voice majors at In October, the Dessoff Choirs, for BSC, have opened the Ovation which he is conductor, appeared Performing Arts Center to serve with the NHK (Japan) Orchestra the Madison area. The center at Carnegie Hall. In December, houses the Oasis Theater, the Bagwell appeared as guest Helen Bargetzi Opera Hall (named conductor with the Jerusalem for Gianna Gimenez ’s mother, an Symphony in Israel in an all- ardent supporter of opera in Courtesy, Bob Farley/F8Photo.org Beethoven concert. He guest Huntsville and Madsion), and conducted two concerts there, several rehearsal rooms and BSC graduate named Birmingham ’s one in Tel Aviv and one in studios for teaching voice, piano, 2006 top business figure — Jerusalem. In March 2007, and other instruments. The Dowd Ritter ’69 was named Birmingham Business Bagwell guest conducted the Madison Community Chorus Journal ’s Business Person of the Year in the cover story Tulsa Symphony in a program will rehearse and perform in of its December 2006 edition. Ritter is president and of film scores. the center. It also will offer CEO of Regions Financial Corp ., a top 10 U.S. instructional space to local bankholding company headquartered in Birmingham . Brenda teachers of music. This past According to the BBJ , he is “the state ’s highest-profile Veal January, the center began its own banker.” Digges program of classes in music, Ritter served as president and chief executive officer has theater, musical theater, and at AmSouth Bancorporation prior to its merger with served as Regions in 2006. During his 37-year career at AmSouth musical theater dance. (and its predecessor, the First National Bank of director of Birmingham ), Ritter worked his way through the ranks adminis - ’91 of management in positions that included branch trative Rev. manager, group supervisor, and chief operating officer. services Patrick He began his career with the Birmingham bank for the city Friday of immediately after graduation from BSC. The BBJ of Venice , Fla., since June 2004. Birming - article quotes the former economics major as saying, A feature article in the Nov. 5, ham has “I graduated from college one Saturday, I got married 2006, Venice Gondolier Sun says been the next Saturday [to the former Susan Burke ’69], and that she is noted around town named I started at the bank the next Monday.” He later for her Southern charm and the new graduated from Louisiana State University ’s School hospitality —and for her white of Banking of the South, where he has served as an director instructor. 1959 MGA convertible, which of special Ritter was featured speaker at the Feb. 6, 2007, BSC she has nicknamed “Percival.” mission initiatives at the General Downtown Birmingham Alumni Business Luncheon, Board of Global Ministries of the where guests included his fellow BSC trustees David In December 2006, Director of United Methodist Church. He Smith ’79, Bruce Rogers ’80, and Denson N. “Dee” National Intelligence John D. formerly served as the North Franklin III ’85. His speech was entitled “2007 Na - Negroponte presented the second Alabama Conference director of tional and Local Outlook for the Financial Services In - annual DNI Fellows Awards to 10 mission and advocacy. He has dustry.” outstanding members of the been a GBGM missionary to intelligence community, including Belarus and Latvia. His dedication

spring 2007 / 57 CLASSNOTES

to global ministries also has led to music opera with Lookingglass lives in Montgomery with his wife was one of 19 Birmingham school - his involvement with several Theatre in Chicago; concerts in and two children. teachers who recently earned initiatives , including the Children Boston (televised) and Prague with national board certification. of Chernobyl program and Camp the Chicago Children ’s Choir; a live W. Wesley, a United Methodist facility television concert in Carnegie Hall Brantley A new baby (see “Births and in Latvia . with the Chicago Children ’s Choir; “Brant” Adoptions”) is not the only exciting a performance of Liszt ’s Phillips news at the home of Becky Smith John David Goodwin has been “Totentanz” with the Park Ridge Jr. of Moreno. Her husband , Jorge , and a much sought-after pianist, Civic Orchestra; and solo recitals Nashville Jeff Cross ’91 are working chamber musician, and accom- featuring the music of Nikolai has been together to build their company 2B panist in the Chicago area for the Kapustin. named Solutions, which focuses on the past 15 years. His recent projects legal technical and business needs of include a performance of Emery Kyle Kyser Jr. recently counsel small to large companies with Gershwin ’s “Rhapsody in Blue” completed a term as president of for the Tennessee Democratic mobile scanning solutions, with the Chicagoland Pops the Montgomery Lions Club, one Party. He has served as a customer relationship manage - Orchestra; serving as assistant of the largest in the country. He is volunteer for the party for several ment, retail, and mobile music director/keyboard for “Sita a third generation Lion ’s president. years and began this new role application development. 2B Ram,” a world-premiere world Kyser is a general contractor and with the party Feb. 1. Phillips, now Solutions is a Microsoft Gold noted as a “mover and shaker” by Certified Partner and was a finalist The Nashville Tennessean , is a for the 2006 Microsoft Partner member of the litigation and of the Year Award in mobility government relations practice solutions. areas at Bass, Berry & Sims. After graduating magna cum laude at Weily and Lauri Soong have BSC, he received his law degree returned to Birmingham after six from Washington & Lee and a years in Hamden , Conn. In June master ’s in public policy from 2006, Weily completed an Allergy Duke University . His wife is Joelle and Immunology Fellowship at James Philllips ’89. Yale University, and Lauri completed six years of teaching In August 2006, Dr. Darin Wade first grade in Marlborough , Conn. White of Jackson , Tenn., became Weily now is in private practice director of academic research for with Alabama Allergy and Asthma the McAfee School of Business Center in Birmingham. In other New vocal group includes BSC Administration at Union University. happy news, the Soong household musical talent —Sursum Corda, pictured above, In this position, he will develop now includes a daughter (see is a new vocal group formed in 2006 and directed by and implement the school ’s “Births and Adoptions”). Dr. Lester Seigel ’79, Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor program for scholarly output and of Music at BSC. The group ’s name comes from the assist individual faculty members ’94 opening of the traditional Great Thanksgiving, “Lift up with research to support academic Scott Berte of Birmingham your hearts.” The ensemble ’s mission is to present program reviews and grant recently was named a member outstanding choral works of both the Christian and the projects. White recently has of the firm at Dixon Hughes PLLC, Jewish liturgical traditions. While it is an independent published articles in leading one of the nation ’s top 20 choral ensemble operating under the aegis of business journals, including the CPA firms and the largest Canterbury United Methodist Church, there are a Journal of Business Ethics, the headquartered in the Southeast. number of BSC musicians, both students and alumni, European Journal of Marketing, on the current roster. BSC students included in the and the Journal of Business and Attorney S. Roderick Kanter has group are Elizabeth Ward, Paul Ward, and Tim Economic Perspectives . been named a partner at Bradley Beenken. Alumni include Ted Clark ’78, Virginia Lane Arant Rose & White LLP. He is Goodall ’79, Jane Sisson Seigel ’80, David Higgin- ’93 employed in the Birmingham botham ’88, and Joy Lashane Ryder ’97. David Cordes, a teacher at office ’s public finance and McElwain School in Birmingham, corporate and securities practice groups.

58 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

’95 Center in Colorado , John Allen David T. Royse recently was Baggett and his wife, Loren Leigh, appointed by the governor of have returned to Alabama, where Kentucky to serve as a special he now practices dentistry at justice on the Kentucky Supreme Mahan Creek Dental in Brierfield. Court in two civil actions. Royse is For more exciting news from the a partner in the law firm of Stoll Baggett family, see “Births and Keenon Ogden PLLC in Lexington , Adoptions.” where he concentrates his practice in civil litigation. Gerrit Jan “Jerry” Hinnen now is employed as a sports writer for ’97 The Saline Reporter in Saline, Sandra Page, a teacher at Tuggle Mich. School in Birmingham, was one of 19 Birmingham schoolteachers ’02 who recently earned national A feature article in the Jan. 29, Two alumni ordained in recent board certification. 2007, Montgomery Advertiser ceremony —In December 2006, Rev. Evan Douglas commends the work of BSC Garner ’02 and Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles ’02 were or - dained as priests in the Episcopal Church, in a ceremony Dane Peterson recently directed a graduate Byron Berry. Berry, who which took place at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in production of Fiddler on the Roof pastors a church in Montgomery, Birmingham. Garner currently serves as a priest at St. also has involved himself in urban at Birmingham ’s Virginia Samford John ’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery. Liles serves as a revitalization, by working to Theatre. priest at St. Patrick ’s Episcopal Church and Day School in convert two century-old buildings Washington , D.C. The two are shown here with Rev. ’99 near the federal courthouse in William S. “Bill” Blackerby Jr. ’75 (center), who was their Dr. Cathy Harkins Logan downtown Montgomery into Episcopal campus minister at BSC. graduated from the UAB School of residential lofts and retail space. Medicine in June 2006. She will Word of Berry ’s efforts was complete her residency training in shared with us by his sister, also will be lending support United Methodist Church and internal medicine at UAB Hospital Kelly Barry Parker ’93. throughout the years on its many presently serves as an associate in Birmingham . related events, such as the Side - minister at First United Methodist Following their December 2005 walk Scrambles, Sidewalk Salons, Church in Montgomery . Erika Smiley Mahan and her marriage, Lauren Bradley Humber and Sidewalk Cinematheque. husband, Reginald, now make and William Still Humber are mak - John Tyler Thomas is attending their home in Nashville , Tenn. ing their home in Tuscaloosa. In As a member of the Choir of medical school at the University of Formerly employed by WebMD, May 2006, Lauren completed a Washington National Cathedral, a Alabama. He and his bride (see she now is with Emdeon Business master ’s degree in social work at professional ensemble in which he “Marriages”) make their home in Services, as a hospital software the University of Alabama, sings four services weekly, plus Tuscaloosa . representative supporting graduating with honors. She re - major works and feast days, products for medical billing. cently accepted a position as a Daniel Seigel recently sang at ’05 Her husband is employed by social worker at the Rise School in former President Gerald Ford ’s Michael Dean completed a Publix Inc. Tuscaloosa, a preschool program funeral. Seigel makes his home master ’s degree in sports serving children with special in Baltimore . management at West Virginia ’00 needs and their typical peers. Will University in December 2006. He Joseph Aaron Cash recently was works for the Bank of Tuscaloosa ’03 was named the compliance promoted to the rank of captain and recently was promoted to When he graduated from the coordinator for the Rice University in the U.S. Marine Corps. He assistant vice president. Candler School of Theology at Department of Athletics in currently serves with the Marine Emory University with a master ’s October 2006. Special Operations Command in Natalie Hummel of Birmingham degree in divinity last May, David Camp Lejeune , N.C. has been named project coordina - Saliba received the First Career in ’06 tor for the Alabama Moving Image Ministry Award. In June, he was Kate Chandler, who graduated ’01 Association. Her main respon- commissioned as a minister and from BSC with a degree in After completing a dental sibility will be to help produce the probationary elder in the Alabama- business and a concentration in residency at Denver Medical Sidewalk Film Festival, but she West Florida Conference of the Chinese, has taken a position with (Continued on page 62.) spring 2007 / 59 CLASSNOTES BSC alumn i in th e news

Those who read ’Southern magazine each season know that at any given moment, our fellow Birmingham-Southern alumni, thousands strong, are busy making this a better, more interesting, more just, more beautiful, and more vibrant world. If you doubt it, pick up a newspaper or thumb through a magazine. We did, and here are some stories and reviews we found in the local, regional, and national press .

Donna Branch ’93 of McCalla was featured in a February 2007, details planned expansion at Café Dupont and quotes 2007 Birmingham magazine article about local artists whose Birmingham business leaders who praise Dupont ’s work was being filmed for the HGTV program That ’s Clever . energizing effect on downtown development. Material filmed in Branch ’s art glass studio will air in late 2007. Branch, whose colorful vases and other pieces have Dr. Luke J. Dollar ’93, assistant professor been shown at Magic City Art Connection and other shows of biology at Pfeiffer University, a private, across the country, is represented in the Birmingham area at liberal arts, Methodist university located Artists Incorporated and Gallerie Alegria. near Charlotte, N.C., has been named one of eight 2007 Emerging Explorers in the Allie Christian Butler ’44 of Decatur and her February 2007 issue of National Geographic husband, John, reminisce about their World War magazine. Each year this program “selects II experiences in a recent feature article in The rising talents who push the boundaries of Decatur Daily . While “John Butler flew 30 discovery, adventure, and global problem- missions over Germany with the 8th Air Force as solving … amazing individuals who are ional chief engineer aboard a B-24 bomber named Courtesy, Nat visionaries in their respective fields.” ‘Shoo Shoo Baby,’” Allie Butler, a music major at Geographic Dollar ’s work BSC, found herself teaching riveting, flight as a conservation scientist is physics, airplane mechanics, and more at Keesler praised in both the society ’s Field in Biloxi, Miss. You can read all about it in magazine and its Web site, the Nov. 11, 2006, edition of the paper. as he “fights to save animals endangered by predators, preserve threatened habitats and cre - ate new opportunities for the people of Madagascar .” The Butlers . His father, Jerry Dollar, an Courtesy, Gary Lloyd/ The Decatur Daily associate dean at Bevill State Community College, who has taught organic chemistry at BSC, brought this exciting news to our attention. Dollar . Courtesy, Luke Dollar

Attorney Ann Huckstep ’75 of Birmingham, earlier named one of Birmingham Business Journal ’s “Top Birmingham BSC classmates, roommates, and fraternity brothers Gray Women for 2005,” whose work has been recognized many Byrum ’87 and Chris Dupont ’85 are key players in times in “Best Lawyers of America,” has been elected chair Birmingham ’s nationally recognized culinary scene. Their of the executive committee of the law firm Adams and Reese achievements at their respective restaurants, The Restaurant LLP. It was noted in the press that she is the first woman at Culinard and Café Dupont, were featured in a Nov. 15, to hold this post. Her response in the Jan. 21, 2007, 2006, article in The Birmingham News entitled “A Tale of Birmingham News Point of View column “What spells Two Chefs.” A follow-up article in The News on Feb. 13, success for ‘first woman ’?” is an interesting exploration of various meanings and measures of success.

60 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

Friends and A Dec. 26, 2006 , article in The Birmingham News praises the admirers of work of Skye Stewart ’06 of Tuscaloosa and others in the artist Raeford FocusFirst organization, which trains college volunteers to Liles ’49 and perform eye screenings for children in Head Start programs. his wife, The work is “part of an effort coordinated by Gov. Bob the revered Riley ’s Black Belt Action Commission to detect, treat, Courtes BSC art y, B irmingham magazine and monitor the visual health of children and adults in historian and Alabama ’s Black Belt … where poverty rates are high and teacher Dr. Virginia Rembert medical services scarce.” Liles , will be interested to learn that the couple have returned

Artwork by Raeford Liles. Courtesy, to Birmingham and are living Birmingham magazine in the new SoHo Flats in Homewood. The December 2006 issue of Birmingham magazine features an article on Raeford Liles ’ work Great reviews for: and career. • Alabama Moon, the recently published Dr. Terry Neill ’93 was novel by Watt Key ’92 of Mobile , written featured in a Jan. 25, 2007 , for young adults but of interest to all Pensacola News Journal article who enjoy a good read. A Feb. 11, 2007, demonstrating Web techno- review in The New York Times praises logy that allows specialists the book ’s vivid portrayal of its forest at Sacred Heart Hospital in settings, its rich cast of characters, Pensacola to consult with and the lessons learned by the main doctors in other health care character in this coming-of-age tale. settings and to aid in cases in Don Noble, professor emeritus of which time is a crucial factor, English at the University of Alabama and well-known as in strokes. This news was book critic for Alabama Public Radio and Television, shared with us by former BSC outlines the story of Alabama Moon in a radio review Trustee Dr. Henry Roberts, reprinted in the Dec. 3, 2007 , Tuscaloosa News, and says who now serves as president that he “read [the book] with pleasure.” of the Sacred Heart Neill . Courtesy, Ben Twingley/ Pensacola News Journal Foundation. • Super-scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History by Dr. Anne Mitchell In its Nov. 12, 2006, edition, The Lexington (Ky. ) Herald- Whisnant ’89 of Chapel Hill, N.C. , Leader gives high marks to Shaye Rabold ’01 for her skill in an incisive account of the political managing Jim Newberry ’s recent successful campaign for and economic history behind one of mayor of Lexington. According to the article, “Newberry ’s America ’s favorite scenic roads. This victory has thrust Rabold into the spotlight, catapulting her book has received notices not only in from a little-known, first-time campaign manager to a rising The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and name on Kentucky ’s political scene.” Political consultant other newspapers throughout the Mark Riddle is quoted as saying, “She went toe-to-toe South, but in points as far-flung as against an incumbent mayor and an incumbent mayor ’s Anchorage , Pittsburgh, and Montreal. The wide interest in staff and proved herself a top political player dealing with the book is no surprise to Dr. Bill Nicholas , BSC professor the press, dealing with budgets, dealing with a staff with a of history, who remembers Whisnant as one of his most lot of experience.” able students.

spring 2007 / 61 CLASSNOTES

Opportunities International, a non - ’05 profit with bases around the Bridgette Long Turner recently world. Chandler will work in Hefei , was promoted to the rank of China, as a training manager captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. overseeing interns in a microfi - She serves as company nance operation, which loans commander for headquarters for small amounts of money to help the 427th Medical Logistics people start businesses or Battalion in Atlanta. Turner resides produce and sell products. in Birmingham and is employed at UAB Hospital as a human MPPM resources advisor. She received her bachelor ’s degree from ’90 Alabama A&M University . Jim Gordon of Birmingham now is corporate director of human Friends resources at Meadowcraft Inc., Dr. O. a manufacturer of wrought iron Lawrence furniture that employs approx- Burnette imately 2,000 associates in Jr. of Alabama. Gordon has worked in Lillian, a Young alums gather in D.C. —A group of the human resources area for former BSC alumni gathered at a wine-tasting event this past more than 30 years in a variety professor December in Washington , D.C., for conversation and of industries. of history conviviality. Pictured (from left) are C.T. Stevens II ’06, at BSC, William Holby ’06, Kate Drummond ’06, John Paul Wil- recently son ’06, Webb Lyons ’06, Jenny Hughes ’05, Tyler ’94 Davis’06, and Franklin Slaton ’04. Carl J. published Harper Coastal Kingdom: A History of has been Baldwin County, Alabama . In a named recent review, The Baldwin Times for which he has received Veeral Majmudar ’99 and Anuja acting praises the book, which is numerous awards, including the Athani, Aug. 19, 2006. chief of available on Amazon.com, for the 1996 State of Alabama Governor ’s Erika Smiley ’99 and Reginald the Birm - width and depth of its scope: Award by the Alabama Wildlife Mahan, Aug. 19, 2006. ingham “Burnette covers over 500 years of Federation for Wildlife Conserva - Lauren Elizabeth Bradley ’02 Fire and history with the precision of an tionist of the Year, the 1995 Legacy and William Still Humber ’02, Rescue Services Department, historian ’s eye, uncovering a Award for the creation of the Dec. 17, 2005. which now employs 700 men and substantial amount of information, Greystone Educational Wetland, John Tyler Thomas ’03 and Stacia women. Harper joined the depart - some unknown, which illuminates and BSC ’s 2006 Recognition for Marie Costello, June 17, 2006. ment in 1977. He most recently an engaging history.” Outstanding Contribution to Jonathan Drewry ’05 and Lyana served as assistant fire chief. Environmental Education. Jose Barahona, Jan. 6, 2007. Recently , the Alabama Academy Sarah Catherine Hibbard ’05 and ’95 of Science presented the 2007 Marriages Josh Leachman, March 25, Barry Morrison now serves as Wright A. Gardner Award —the 2006 . chief executive officer at Tri-Lakes highest honor bestowed by the Laura Greer Wikle ’89 and Wesley Medical Center in Batesville, Miss. academy —to Dr. Dan C. Holliman, Robert Jones, May 20, 2006. Births and He has served for more than 22 Ada Rittenhouse Snavely Edith Louise Monroe ’92 and years in hospital and health Professor Emeritus of Biology at Adoptions James Hunter Flack III, systems, in the areas of BSC. This recognition honors not only his exemplary career as July 29, 20 06. leadership, strategy, operations, A son, Charles Wallace, Jan. 30, a teacher and scholar, but his Erica Denise Mason ’93 and Jason finance, physician relations, 2006, to Craig Borden ’93 many signal contributions to Richard Steckler, July 8, 2006. and marketing. and wife Ruth Houston environmental science in Alabama, Dana Loerch Pender ’94 and Jake Borden ’94 (sisters Sara Waldon Brady, May 27, 2006. and Hannah).

62 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

A son, Jorge “Robie, ” Oct. 24, 2006, to Becky Smith Moreno ’93 and husband Jorge (brother In Memoriam ’38 and ’47 Taylor Bret). Robie ’s great uncle is Dr. David Smith , BSC music Birmingham-Southern lost two professor . good friends last fall when Ben Sims A daughter, Kathryn Ann, born ’47 died in September, followed Aug. 1, 2005, in Shang Rao, shortly by the death of his sister, Jiangxi Province, China, and Catherine Sims ’38. welcomed in May 2006 into the Benjamin Wilson “Mr. Ben” Sims family of Lauri George Soong of Punta Gorda , Fla., formerly of ’93 and husband Dr. Weily Atlanta, died Sept. 16, 2006. A Soong ’95. gardener and a lover and collector of A son, Wesley Wenters, March 16, art, classical music albums, and good 2006, to Mary Burgett Ashley literature, he was an avid supporter ’95 and husband Stephen of his community. In 1978, he com- (sister Mary Morgan). missioned Italian-born Atlanta artist A daughter, Elizabeth “Libby,” Athos Menaboni to paint a collection Oct.13, 2005, to William T. of pairs of birds native to Georgia. Johnson III ’96 and wife This collection of 20 paintings was Clare (brother John Parker). given to the Atlanta History Center as A son , Ethan Graham, July 2, 2006, a memorial to his first wife, the late to Karen Adolfson Novak ’96 Margaret Demmon Sims. He was a patron of the Frank Smith Memorial Garden at the and husband Steve (brother Atlanta History Center . Ryan). After a brief stay in He also was a supporter of Birmingham-Southern. His generous gift established the the NICU with “Aunt” Leanne John Erwin (Don) Sims ’36 Endowed Scholarship at BSC in memory of the Sims ’ late Vardaman Meyers ’96 looking brother. after him, he now is doing well. Survivors include wife Rebeca Lucero Avendano Sims. A son, “Grant” Michael, July 24, Catherine Anville Sims of Homewood died Nov. 13, 2006. Retired from UAB, where 2006, to Scott Speagle ’96 and she was employed in dental research, she was a dedicated gardener, who enjoyed sharing wife Gina Maise Speagle ’98 her knowledge and enthusiasm for the art of gardening, along with countless cuttings, (sister “Sydney” Charlotte). seeds, and starter plants. She was widely known as “The Plant Lady” of Homewood. In A daughter, Magdalene “Maggie” 2002, she was named “Homewood Citizen of the Year” for her many charitable and Patricia, July 13, 2006, to Herb horticultural contributions to the community. Williams ’96 and wife Amy Extending her gifts of beautiful plants and garden expertise to BSC, she was an active Freeman Williams ’97 (brother member of the Landscaping and Beautification Committee, donating trees and Clay). Proud grandparents are shrubbery from her own collection to beautify the campus. She was a supporter of the Dr. Phil and Patti Vogel Free- EcoScape and a member of the Endowment Builders Society. Her generous gift man (both ’73); aunt is established the Catherine Anville Sims Endowed Scholarship . At the direction of the Meredith Freeman ’00. Sims’ siblings, thousands of family books —at least 55 boxes of them —were transferred A daughter, Susan Hastings, Dec. to the library at Birmingham-Southern. 16, 2005, to Sara Cherie Plant Williams ’96 and husband Chris. A daughter, Alaina Leigh, Sept. 7, 2006, to Alan Simpson ’98 Dec. 4, 2006, to Robyn Moore 50 days in the NICU, but now is and wife Staci (sister Garrett ’00 and husband home and doing well. Marianne Lyles Wilder ’26 of Birm - Kayleigh Grace). Clint. A daughter, Lydia Claire, Sept. 22, ingham died Nov. 16, 2006. She A son, Joseph “Brake,” Sept. 18, A son, Conrad Guy Lowe III, Oct. 2006, to Dr. John Allen Baggett was a student of piano at the 2006, to Brock Lowell ’99 and 7, 2006, to Kristi Lyle Jones ’00 ’01 and wife Loren Birmingham Conservatory of wife Elizabeth. and husband Guy. Born 11 Leigh. Music and studied at Birmingham- A daughter, Eleanor Elizabeth, weeks premature, Conrad spent In Memoriam Southern before graduating from

spring 2007 / 63 CLASSNOTES

the University of Alabama. She lieutenant commander. One of his for Jefferson County Schools. 106 pilots who flew from Key was retired from the Birmingham wartime duties was supervising West to Cuba before Castro took public school system. the loading of the first atomic William Garrett ’37 of Raleigh , power. He was a member of the bomb, bound for Hiroshima, onto N.C. , died in April 2006. board of directors of Quality Helen Harris Walker ’30 of the USS Indianapolis. Following Courts . Birmingham died Nov. 5, 2006. the war, he served as a coach, Anderson Clayton Mercer ’37 of She received both bachelor ’s and teacher, and principal in schools in Panama City , Fla., died Dec. 9, J.B. DeLapp ’38 of Milton , Ga., master ’s degrees from Birming - Cahaba Heights . Hollis later 2006. He was a pilot, a member formerly of Birmingham, died ham-Southern and taught for served as assistant superintendent of the Civil Air Patrol, and one of Dec. 26, 2006. During World many years at Sullins College in Bristol , Va. In Memoriam ’41 June Haralson Robertson ’32 of Corpus Christi , Texas, died Sept. Mary Burks of Birmingham died Feb. 16, 2007. A 24, 2006. former reporter in an era when few newspapers em - ployed women, she became a champion of wilder - Henry Franklin Cantey ’33 of Birm - ness preservation and an inspiration and mentor to ingham died Dec. 20, 2006. After environmentalists in Alabama and beyond. Sur - graduating from Birmingham- vivors include her husband , Bob Burks, partner in Southern, he received a master ’s many of her efforts. degree from Vanderbilt University. At her death, Mary Burks was honored by U.S. During World War II, he served as Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama, who took the Courtesy, Beth Maynor Young a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Senate floor on Feb. 27, 2007, to read his U.S. Navy. Following the war, he memorial tribute, excerpted here, into the Congressional Record: became headmaster at Birming - “Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to Mary Burks, founder of the Alabama ham University School. After Conservancy, mother of the wilderness movement, and champion of the Sipsey Indian Springs School opened in Wilderness in the Bankhead National Forest. Last week, Mary Burks passed away in 1952, he spent 33 years there as Birmingham at the age of 86. Her passing is a loss, not just for Alabama or the instructor and administrator. His conservation movement, but for every person who has ever explored and enjoyed wife was the late Mildred Ryan Alabama ’s vast wilderness. She helped protect those natural areas, and, without her, our Cantey ’36. children might not be as able to enjoy them as they do today. Her lifelong struggle to protect and conserve sensitive lands provides a record of accomplishment that deserves Lurline D. Youngblood ’33 of Birm - both recognition and celebration . … ingham, formerly of Vestavia Hills, “Mary Burks did not simply sit and dream. She led a six-year campaign in the early died Dec. 28, 2006. ’70s to designate the Sipsey Wilderness area in the Bankhead National Forest as wilderness. In doing so, she won the support of the entire Alabama Congressional Robert Stokes Ferguson ’35 of delegation . … Huntsville died Nov. 15, 2006. He “After the campaign, not only was the Sipsey Wilderness created, but the Eastern held a master ’s degree from the Wilderness Area System was established when former President Gerald Ford signed the University of Alabama and was Eastern Wilderness Act. It is fair to assume that this success would not have been employed as a civil servant with achieved without Mary Burks ’ tireless efforts . … Describing the importance of Mary ’s the U.S. Army until his retirement efforts and the organization that she founded, the Alabama Conservancy, Floyd Haskell, in 1975. He then owned and former U.S. Senator from Colorado, stated , ‘ If not for the Alabama Conservancy, there operated the Humidor Pipe Shop would be no concept of Eastern Wilderness.’ for 30 years. “Mr. President, there is a difference between thinking that things ought to be a certain way, and actually making them so. Too often we are quick to do the former, and slow to Elmer Albert Hollis ’35 of Cahaba do the latter. But the protected resources in my home state and others are larger in size, Heights died Jan. 22, 2007. He great in quantity, and more secure in their protection because Mary Burks fought for held a doctorate in education from them all her life. She left a lasting legacy in Alabama that will forever be felt by all who the University of Alabama . During care about wilderness and natural places. World War II , he served in the U.S. “Mr. President, it is in her memory that I yield the floor.” Navy, retiring with the rank of

64 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

Navy. He later was employed as a sports writer and editor for the In Memoriam ’84 Birmingham Post-Herald and public relations manager for Dr. John Marvin Akin Chemstrand Co., Burlington III of Mountain Brook Industries, and the International died Dec. 29, 2006. A Executive Service Corps. Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Survivors include wife Eleanor Board graduate of BSC, Longcrier Denham. he also was a graduate of the University of James Reese Farley ’43 of Hoover Alabama School of Medi - died Nov. 11, 2006. He was cine, completing his retired from the Southern Railroad internship at Baptist and the Easter Seal Society. Medical Center Montclair Survivors include wife Mary Glee in Birmingham and his Sharpe Farley ’42. residency at the Univer - sity of Virginia in Charlottesville. He practiced as an anesthesio-logist at Brookwood Dr. Howard Clyde Elliott Jr. ’48 of Medical Center with Anesthesia Services of Birmingham. Birmingham died Nov. 21, 2006. He was a lifelong member of Canterbury United Methodist Church . With his master ’s and doctoral Survivors include wife Sarah Reed Akin ’86 and his parents, Dr. and Mrs. John M. degrees in chemistry and bio - Akin Jr. ’49. His grandfather was the late Dr. John M. Akin Sr. ’22. chemistry from the University of Memorials may be made to Birmingham-Southern College, through the Office of Alabama, he taught chemistry at Institutional Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549003 , Birmingham , AL 35254. UAB for 15 years and was the biochemist for the Baptist Hospital for 27 years. He was author and co-author of a number of scientific papers and was the recipient of War II, he served in the Army died Jan. 15, 2007. A veteran of Following the war, he remained the Kimble National Medical Quartermasters Corps. Following World War II and Korea, he retired in the U.S. Navy and earned a Technology Award. Survivors the war, for more than 50 years , he from the Naval Reserve as a master ’s degree in aeronautical include wife Mary Claire Elliott. managed country clubs in the lieutenant commander and taught engineering from the California Birmingham area, including at the Naval Reserve in Miami. Institute of Technology in Elizabeth Lamar Eatman Haynes Mountain Brook, Vestavia, With a master ’s degree from the Pasadena. He then held ’49 of Tuscaloosa and Mantua died Birmingham , Altadena, and the University of Miami and a doctoral engineering positions at naval air Jan. 7, 2007. She served as U.S. Birmingham Athletic Club. degree in experimental psychology stations in San Diego and at postmaster in Mantua for 33 years Survivors include wife Jewell T. from Johns Hopkins, he taught at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and was active in community Mercer. the University of Miami from 1955 in Ohio. From 1963 until his affairs in Eutaw and Tuscaloosa. to 1987, serving also as assistant retirement with the rank of Survivors include husband Charles Genevieve Wood Harris ’39 of and associate dean of the commander in 1966, he served in Austin Haynes . Decatur died Jan. 15, 2007. graduate school. Survivors include Paris . Following retirement from She was active in civic groups in his wife Dorothy Crim Truss, the military, Wilburn was em - Joe L. Johnson Jr. ’49 of Panama Decatur, including the Women ’s brother Dr. C. Orian Truss ’43, and ployed for a decade in the City , Fla., died Nov. 17, 2006. Chamber of Commerce, and was cousin Anne Gardner Travis ’49, Engineering Department of A veteran of World War II, he past president of the Decatur who shared the news of his death General Dynamics in Fort Worth , served in the U.S. Army Signal Junior Service League. Survivors with us. Texas. Survivors include wife Corps. He held a master ’s degree include daughter Elizabeth Wood Elizabeth Pfeiffer Wilburn. in education administration from Conner ’69. William C. Wilburn Jr. ’41 of Florida State University. He was Baltimore died May 3, 2006. He Miles Edwin Denham Sr. ’42 of Panama City Parks and Recreation Virginia Mink Kindred ’41 of was a retired career naval officer, Aiken , S.C., died Nov. 24, 2006. director from 1954- 67. He was a Maggie Valley, N.C., died Dec. 17, engineer, and World War II combat He was a veteran of World War II, charter member of the Gulf Coast 2006. pilot, flying missions at Truk serving in the Pacific as a Football Officials Association, Dr. Carroll V. Truss ’41 of Miami Lagoon and Kwajalein Atoll. communications officer in the U.S.

spring 2007 / 65 CLASSNOTES

ingham died Jan. 2, 2007. He earned a bachelor ’s degree In Memoriam Friend from the University of Alabama and did graduate studies at BSC. John Henry Brewer of Mountain Brook died Jan. 31, 2007. He was a veteran of the He was a developer , entrepreneur , U.S. Army, serving in Africa, Belgium , Italy , and Germany. A graduate of the law school and later , a building contractor. at the University of Alabama, he served as a law clerk in the Alabama Supreme Court. For 25 years, he served as chief He was employed by First National Bank as a branch manager and was promoted to the building inspector for the city of Trust Department in 1956. Homewood. Survivors include Brewer opened a law practice at Office Park in Mountain Brook, dealing primarily wife Mary Jo Sherrill. with real estate and trusts, and continued in the practice of law until his retirement 10 years ago. Ruth Harwell Meadows ’54 of Mc - Survivors include wife Edna Earle Brewer. Calla died Sept. 28, 2006. Generous friends of Birmingham-Southern, Brewer and his wife established the She was employed by AT&T and, Clifford Blake Hollis Scholarship, which assists deserving students with financial need, following retirement, served as a as a lasting tribute to their late grandson. Gifts in memory of Brewer may be made to volunteer at the Birmingham the scholarship through the Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Museum of Art. Box 549003 , Birmingham , AL 35254. Dr. Barbara Ann Hanners ’56 of Columbus , Miss., died Jan. 20, 2007. With a master ’s degree in officiating local high school foot - Co. and Tom Gloor Chevrolet, as Howell. audiology from the University of ball for more than 20 years. He well as owning an automobile Tennessee and a doctoral degree became a teacher at Jinks Jr. High dealership in Atlanta. He sold Rev. Barrie F. Bodden ’52 of Board - in hearing and speech science School in 1968, later serving as the commercial real estate for Molton, man , Ohio, died Nov. 7, 2006. He from Vanderbilt University, she school ’s athletics director and Allen, and Williams and , for 40 held a master ’s degree in divinity served in the Birmingham public assistant principal, then as years , was owner of Griffis Real from McCormick schools and later at the assistant principal at Bay High Estate. He served as president of Theological Seminary in Chicago Mississippi University for Women School from 1979-91. He was a the Business Real Estate Board. and was ordained by the as a professor and director of the member of the Bay County Sports Survivors include wife Linnie Mae Presbyterian Church (USA). He Speech and Hearing Center in the Hall of Fame. Survivors include Griffis. served churches in Mississippi Division of Education and Human wife Anne J. Johnson. and Florida before accepting an Service. Thomas Brantley Head ’51 of Bay appointment as campus minister Herbert Madden Trotman Jr. ’49 Minette, formerly of Birmingham, at the University of Akron. Along E. Wayne McCain ’58 of Pelham of Vestavia Hills died Jan. 18, died Dec. 13, 2006. He was a with his work on campus , he died Dec. 18, 2006. In his more 2007. He was a veteran of World veteran of World War II, serving in served as an interim pastor to than 50-year career , he was War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air the U.S. Navy as an aviation churches in northeastern Ohio. president of McCain Boiler and Corps. He had a long career at machinist ’s mate for planes In 1978, he became pastor to Engineering Co. , and later served U.S. Steel in Birmingham and in headed to combat in Germany. Foster Memorial Presbyterian as a mechanical engineering Pittsburgh , Pa. Survivors include He held numerous management Church in Youngstown , Ohio, consultant. Survivors include wife wife Martha Grace Young Trotman. positions in the defense industry, where he served for 17 years. Lynne Palmer McCain. His brother was the late Robert W. with firms including Hayes Interna - He also taught for many years in Trotman ’51. tional Corp. and Ingalls Ship- the philosophy and religion Mitzi V. Sparks ’58 of Midfield died building. Survivors include wife departments at both the University Sept. 25, 2006. An organist at Gar - Jack Joseph “James” Griffis ’50 of Carol Ann Head. of Akron and Youngstown State dendale/Mt. Vernon United Bessemer died Nov. 26, 2006. He University. Survivors include wife Methodist Church for more than was a World War II veteran, serv - Richard G. Howell ’51 of Rebecca Battles Bodden and 40 years, she also taught music ing in the U.S. Navy. After Huntsville, formerly of brother Dr. W. Rupert Bodden Jr. from her home. attending BSC, he graduated from Birmingham, died Dec. 12, 2006. ’50. the University of Alabama. He He was the proprietor of Richard ’s Frank Lafayette Wade ’58 of was employed by Drennen Motor of Mountain Brook for many years. Jerry Frank Sherrill Sr. ’52 of Birm - Goldsboro , N.C., died Jan. 6, 2007. Survivors include wife Eileen With a lifelong interest in aviation,

66 / ’ southern CLASSNOTES

he served as a flight instructor Alabama, she received a master ’s died Nov. 28, 2006. She was sport. Survivors include wife with the U.S. Army Air Corps degree at BSC. She taught at retired from Alabama Power after Cumbee Wilson Tyndal. during World War II, a pilot for Jones Valley High School , Howard 26 years of service. Eastern Airlines, and manager College (now Samford University ), Renita Ford Austin ’85 of Pleasant of the Panama City-Bay County and Rice University in Houston. Charles Edward Porter Jr. ’71 of Grove died Jan. 26, 2007. She Airport in Panama City , Fla. She later taught and coached girls Mountain Brook died Feb. 9, 2007. was employed at Children ’s volleyball in the San Antonio He was an independent contractor Hospital and Brookwood Medical Alfred A. Hurst Jr. ’59 of Vestavia Independent School District, in areas relating to quality Center as a registered nurse. Hills died Nov. 25, 2006. After where her teams won a number assurance. Survivors include wife attending BSC , Hurst graduated of district championships. Renee Porter. His father was the Joyce Denise Cox ’90 of from Samford University. He was late Dr. Charles E. Porter Sr. ’40. Bessemer died Jan. 14, 2007. co-owner of Harbin Pharmacy. Rex Allen Brown ’64 of Cordova She was an accounting specialist Survivors include wife Lillie M. died Nov. 26, 2006. He served in Annie McCarty Bracknell Nobles with BellSouth for many years. Ryder Hurst. the Merchant Marines and also ’84 of Birmingham died Dec. 18, served twice in the U.S. Army, 2006. She was a member of the Willie Earl Ryans ’99 of Bobbie McClendon Snow Parnell completing his second term of Birmingham Board of Realtors. Greensboro died Jan. 5, 2007. ’61 of Sipsey died Nov. 14, 2006. service in Korea. Later, he owned He was employed by the Alabama She was an elementary school and operated Rex A. Brown James Edward “Jim” Tyndal ’84 of Department of Corrections for 21 teacher for 31 years in the Fairfield Appliance Co. in Cordova. He held Birmingham died Dec. 19, 2006. A years as a supervisor. Survivors City and Jefferson County school a master ’s degree from the cycling enthusiast and former include wife Vickey King Ryans. systems. She taught for 20 years University of Alabama. He taught owner of Crestline Cycle bike at Adamsville Elementary. Sur - choral music and English at Walker shop, he was one of the first local Lou Ann Wogamon ’99 of vivors include husband Nathan County High School in Jasper from retailers to introduce mountain Tallahassee , Fla., died Nov. 21, Parnell. 1967 until his retirement in 1986. biking to Birmingham and was an 2006. She held a master ’s degree Sharon S. Hobbs ’67 of Bessemer enthusiastic supporter of the in English from the University of Gordon Tatum Jr. ’62 of Mobile died Dec. 2, 2006. A leader in promotion of the arts and in In Memoria m Friend historical preservation in Mobile, of Tatum served many roles through - Frances Marion Brannan “Bunny” Hamrick Mountain Brook died Dec. 4, 2006. Active in many out a long career in that city. He areas of community life, she was a lifelong member worked for the Mobile Press - of the United Methodist Church and longtime Register for 34 years with the Fine parishioner of Canterbury United Methodist Church, Arts and Sunday edition. In 1983, where she provided leadership in many areas of he received the Governor ’s Award church life, such as education, missions, and United for fine arts in the state of Methodist Women. She was the first woman elected Alabama. He worked at Oakleigh, to serve as chair of the church ’s administrative board. served in the Historic Mobile She also served on the board of trustees at Lake Preservation Society, and was past Junaluska, a United Methodist conference and retreat president of the Oakleigh Garden center in North Carolina . District. He also worked for the At home, she was an avid gardener, passionate Mobile Convention and Visitor ’s cook, and mother of five children. Survivors include Center and served as the first her husband , , who holds an curator of the Mobile Carnival Dr. Leon Hamrick Sr. Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from BSC; Museum . Survivors include wife children, including Martha Hamrick Boshers, BSC director of major gifts and planned Katherine Tatum. News of Tatum ’s giving , , , and death was shared with us by Mary Hamrick Bostock ’80 Catherine Hamrick ’80 Peggy Hamrick- ; and 10 grandchildren, including , classmate Callie Betancourt Steele ’83 Sarah Frances Boshers ’02 Emily Anne , current BSC student Madeline Laborde, and former BSC students Leon Daniell ’62. Laborde ’06 Hamrick III and Miller Hamrick . Memorials may be made in her name to the Center for Ministry at Birmingham- Joanna Hahamis Carlock ’63 of Southern College , 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box 549050 , Birmingham , AL 35254. Vestavia Hills died Dec. 4, 2006. A graduate of the University of

spring 2007 / 67 CLASSNOTES

Alabama and was in pursuit of a died Dec. 18, 2006. A died Jan. 5, 2007. She was an ham died Jan. 9, 2007. Born in Ph .D. in English at Florida State successful entrepreneur and active member of Trinity United New York City, Roosevelt came to University at the time of her death. active civic supporter, he was a Methodist Church in Homewood Birmingham in 1950 as manager She was an English instructor at member of the BSC Norton Board where she served many roles, of the Birmingham Civic Jefferson State Community of Advisors. Survivors include including for many years as Orchestra. In 1954 , he became College , Tallahassee Community wife Frances Moses Cole. director of senior ministries. editor of the Shades Valley Sun. College, and Florida State Her husband was the late Rev. In 1960, he joined The Birmingham University. Survivors include Dr. John Alban Greaves Sr. of Herschel T. Hamner ’33. Survivors News, where he served as husband Ted Wogamon. Oxford, formerly of Mountain include her son, the Hon. Herschel reporter, fine arts editor, and music Brook, died Nov. 12, 2006. A Hamner Jr. ’71. At the family ’s critic until his retirement in 1992. Friends retired educator, he formerly request, memorials may be made For several years, he taught music served as dean of students at in her memory to the Herschel T. appreciation at Birmingham- Charlotte Esther Clasen of Birmingham-Southern. Survivors Hamner Memorial Scholarship at Southern . Homewood died Nov. 13, 2006. include wife Martha Sandifer Birmingham-Southern College, She was a member of the Friends Greaves. through the Office of Institutional of Birmingham-Southern College Lena Mae Hamner of Birmingham Advancement, 900 Arkadelphia Library. Road, Box 549003 , Birmingham , Samuel N. Cole of Mountain Brook AL 35254. Oliver W. Roosevelt of Birming -

In Memoriam Friend

Dr. Ernest Ikenberry of Montgomery, formerly of Union Springs, died Jan. 14, 2007. A graduate of Ottawa University, he held a master ’s degree in mathematics from the Uni - versity of Kansas and a doctoral degree from Louisiana State University, where he ma - jored in theoretical physics. As a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he served as aerological instructor and meteorologist. Following the war, he taught at LSU and did postgraduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago. In 1950 , he joined the faculty of Auburn University . During his teaching career , he published extensively in professional periodicals and participated in professional meetings throughout the country. His major work, published in 1962 by Oxford University Press, was Quantum Mechanics for Mathematicians and Physicists . A graduate text, written primarily for professors and doctoral students, it circulated widely, both nationally and internationally. In 1975, he took early retirement from Auburn University as professor emeritus , and, for a time , served as visiting principal research scientist in the Department of Mechanics and Material Science at Johns Hopkins University, before retiring to the Florida Gulf Coast and, later, to his wife ’s antebellum family home in Union Springs. Survivors include his wife, Janice Turnipseed Ikenberry, whom he married soon after beginning his career at Auburn, where she was an assistant professor of foreign languages. The Ikenberrys have been dedicated and deeply generous supporters of Birmingham-Southern, with distinguished historical ties to the school. Janice ’s maternal great-grandfather, John Walton, was a founder of Southern University at Greenboro, and her grandfather , D.C. Turnipseed , was a longtime trustee. Her parents, Orah Walton Turnipseed and William Owen Turnipseed, were both graduates in the Class of 1906, and their five siblings also were alumni. Her mother also received a master ’s degree from Southern University before doing further graduate work at the University of Grenoble in France , and her father obtained a law degree from the University of Alabama . In tribute to her ancestors, the Ikenberrys established the Turnipseed-Ikenberry Endowed Scholarship Fund at BSC. This generous gift is used to provide full -tuition, inclusive scholarships for juniors and/or seniors demonstrating high academic achievement and majoring in physics, mathematics, history, French, or German.

68 / ’ southern ’SOUTHERN VOICES

limited healthcare access for Costa Crossing borders to Rica ’s large undocumented immigrant population. Their main goal is the prevention of study human rights curable illnesses through education. by chad graves In hindsight, my trip helped me to realize how expansive and As an international studies major solutions to poverty, corporate social rampant the problem of poverty is here at the Hilltop, I studied abroad responsibility, access to education, just beyond our nation ’s southern in Costa Rica during the spring 2005 etc. The CIDH curriculum afforded border. The only word to describe semester. Before my trip, I visited us visits to government offices, it is unbelievable —to see the the Office of International Programs including the Ombudsman, the wealth disparities in the way one at Birmingham-Southern and several Inter-American Human Rights group of society lives and another study-abroad fairs on campus trying Court, and other similarly influen - subsists. to figure out exactly where I wanted tial offices in the field of advocacy. With the guidance of Dr. Jessica to go. I arrived in Costa Rica amid a Ramos-Harthun, BSC assistant The program I selected is in San volatile political landscape, at the professor of Spanish , and her José , Costa Rica, the capital of an center of which was the U.S.- published “Transnational eco-tourist ’s paradise. The country is sponsored Central American Free Classroom” model, two classes of best known for its large protected Trade Agreement. All of a sudden, BSC Spanish students were also rainforests and coffee plantations. everyone was interested in my able to benefit from the CIDH Graves in Costa Rica. My program was run by the CIDH or political opinions, wanted to know study-abroad trip. Four separate “International Center for Human which president I supported, and videoconferences were conducted Development,” which operates in asked me to accompany them to from the college ’s Foreign conjunction with the Universidad their street demonstrations. Languages Lab, via the Internet. Latina. It is a research organization As human rights students at My Costa Rican friends and I were that works with the Costa Rican CIDH, we were given the chance to able to receive updates on life at government and several experience humble rural life, city life, BSC, share our accounts of life in international aid agencies. and life amidst urban poverty, as Costa Rica, and discuss quirky My interest in the region came well as to develop comprehensive cultural differences between the from the Latin American Studies solutions to the social problems. two places. courses I have taken at BSC, and Some people might easily While I was studying in Costa from working with the Birmingham misconstrue our trip as “poverty Rica, I had to assimilate into their City Schools ESL program and the tourism ,” but what our group was culture, but I have returned home city ’s Hispanic Interest Coalition of doing was far from it. with a renewed sense of every - Alabama. I also had a strong desire For me, our studies of urban and thing that is so unique about my to become fluent in the Spanish rural poverty were the most interest - own culture. The opportunity to language. ing because they are two completely live abroad literally allowed me to I was instantly attracted to the different kinds of poverty. We spent see my own home country from CIDH program when I saw it dealt a week on rural farms in the humid the “other side of the fence .” I with themes of human rights, tropics, working with the EARTH feel grateful that I was able to poverty, and economic develop - University sustainable campus. study abroad. ment —very relevant topics in the As part of an exercise on creating lives of our own country ’s responsible social policy, we visited Editor ’s Note : Graves is a junior immigrants. The program consists public health clinics accompanied international studies major from of justice, gender, and political by local aid workers, within the Franklin , Tenn. Hallie Dyer, a studies. capital city ’s most deprived junior studio art major from Another important theme “barrios .” By doing this, we were McMinnville , Tenn. , currently is students examined was sustainable able to see how volunteer doctors attending the 2007 spring semester development for developing nations: are combating the problem of program at CIDH.

spring 2007 / 69 Fill it up —The college’s billboard adjacent to campus on Interstate I-20/59 recently underwent a much-needed overhaul. A new design was installed in April which features two Birmingham-Southern students and encourages travelers to exit and add “fuel to their minds.” Shown on the billboard are Noopur Vakharia (above), a junior interdisciplinary biology-psychology major from Hartselle, and Wilson Nash, a senior interdisciplinary political science-religion major from Mountain Brook.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Birmingham-Southern College BIRMINGHAM, AL BSC PERMIT NO. 2575 900 Arkadelphia Road Box 549003 Birmingham, Alabama 35254

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED www.bsc.edu