MAGAZINE SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY Focus on Alumni Involvement Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Fall 2004 Council of Trustees A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Robert Marcus, Chairperson Dennis E. Murray, Vice Chairperson Suzanne Vessella, Secretary Kenneth B. Blair Richard Christofer Martha King Rex Martin Orvan B. Peterson Arlene Quinlan Robert S. Taylor John Thornburgh Angele Waugaman Judy G. Hample, Ex-Officio President Robert M. Smith 1 A View from The Rock: 3 Major Themes for the Future 2 Catching up with SRU’s 15th President Administration William F. Williams 4 SRU Alumni Association Charts Future Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 8 Alumni Excel in Professions, Find Time to Support Students, Academics Charles T. Curry 10 Council of Trustees Keep Alumni Active Vice President for Finance and Administrative Affairs 11 Alumni Give Back Through Service Robert J. Watson 12 Students Gain Advice from Rock Solid Businesswomen Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students 14 News from The Rock Robert J. Mollenhauer Vice President for University Advancement 18 Nationally Recognized Alumni Return Ross C. Feltz Are You an Insider? Director, Public Relations 35 Rock Scoops Jane Fulton, Dean, College of Health, Environment 36 College of Business, Information and Social Sciences and Sciences 37 College of Education Bruce Russell Dean, College of Business, Information 38 College of Health, Environment and Science and Social Sciences 39 College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts C. Jay Hertzog Dean, College of Education 40 Athletics William J. McKinney Dean, College of Humanities, 44 Advancement: Capital Campaign News Fine and Performing Arts 48 Donor Report James Kushner Dean, Lifelong Learning Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Charles A. Gomulka Chair Vision Statement R. Benjamin Wiley Slippery Rock University will excel as a caring community Vice Chair Kim E. Lyttle of lifelong learners connecting with the world. Vice Chair Matthew E. Baker www.SRU.edu John M. Brinjac Marie A. Conley Lammando The Honorable Jeffrey W. Coy Paul S. Dlugolecki Regina M. Donato Daniel P. Elby About this Issue Alumni add an important dimension to a Rock Solid Education. This issue of The Rock Magazine presents many of David P. Holveck the ways in which they contribute. Vincent J. Hughes Christine J. Olson The Rock Magazine Governor Edward Rendell Slippery Rock University publishes The Rock Magazine to keep alumni and others informed about its The Honorable James J. Rhoades activities and programs and to encourage support for the University. Members of the Slippery Rock University David M. Sanko Alumni Association receive an additional section of the magazine, The Rock Insider, which contains news and feature articles about alumni and association activities. University Public Relations, John K. Thornburgh 201 Old Main, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. Editor’s e-mail is: [email protected] Chancellor, Pennsylvania State Credits System of Higher Education Design: Vance Wright Adams and Associates Inc. Judy G. Hample Photography: Visual Perceptions, Inc., ADM Photography, University Public Relations, Liz Ellis The Rock Magazine is a National Admissions Marketing merit award winner VIEW FROM THE ROCK major themes for the future by Robert M. Smith, President 3 Chancellor Judy G. Hample, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors and Slippery Rock University’s Council of Trustees are pleased to introduce Dr. Robert M. Smith as the 15th president of Slippery Rock University. Inauguration ceremonies will take place Nov. 5, 2004, in conjunction with the installation of the University’s Phi Kappa Phi honor society. I am excited to be your president. I am We need to assert our presence as a premier humbled by the responsibilities, but regional public residential university. elated by the opportunities. I view this The word “residential” is major. We know appointment as affirmation that the faculty, 2best how to be a single campus where administration, staff, students and traditional students in the 18-to-22 year constituents of this University have come age range come to live and learn. together as one united team moving the We will make an unswerving commitment institution forward in a positive direction to be the best possible competitor and to continue building a great university. provide the most value to our students. After 17 sets of interviews during the To that end, we are working on an $83 search process and fielding questions from million construction program for new every University stakeholder group, I’ve student residences that will dramatically learned that we have three major themes transform our campus. President Smith (left) welcomes Pennsylvania’s that compel attention. I am confident of our ability. After all, Gov. Edward Rendell as commencement speaker we have 115 years of practice at being a for Slippery Rock University’s 115th spring We must continue to raise the specific type of institution. commencement (see page 15). academic value of the Slippery Rock University degree. It is imperative that we intensify our Grateful to our alumni 1As we continue to attract more talented efforts to generate alternative revenue Much of the ingenuity, financial and other students, they expect more from us and sources to ensure our ability as a public support needed to continue our success we expect more from them. Our students 3institution to control our destiny. comes from alumni and other friends of expect to be challenged and to be prepared The last three years have seen zero, three- The Rock. We are very grateful for that to compete against the very best. They expect and five-percent reductions in the state’s support. high-quality faculty, the latest technology, allocation to its state-owned universities. This issue of The Rock Magazine first-rate facilities, international study and Our alternative has been to increase the highlights just a few of the numerous ways excellent career opportunities. two remaining sources of income: tuition our alumni add important dimensions to a We expect the result to be a graduate who and fees, or private giving. As the share of Rock Solid Education. They provide valued has effective habits of the mind and who the state support drops (now approximately assistance to our governance, application to can serve as an engaged citizen. As a public 34 percent of our budget), we are simply our teaching and resources we otherwise university, we have a special role to develop trading those dollars for tuition increases. would lack. capable citizens as well as people prepared There has to be a better way, and we have The final pages of this issue are devoted for their first career. It is far more important to find it. to thanking those who have contributed to have graduates leave us knowing how to Each of the past two years, we have financially in the last year. The percentage think rather than having been taught what found creative ways to reduce costs and of alumni who add to the culture of giving to think. improve efficiencies. We have been nimble, is an important measure of the value of a The value of our degree also is dependent responsive and prudent. Slippery Rock University degree. on increased market awareness of our To continue our success as a quality programs. While our unique name is well institution, we must create an independent Thank you for your support. known, we still have work to do in building source of funds that allows us flexibility in our reputation for academic quality. Alumni developing programs, scholarship support who stay informed and who are active for our students, resources for our faculty in creating a buzz about the Rock Solid and the ability to fund our own decisions. Education available at SRU are the foundation Our financial viability and ongoing health for building the reputation an SRU degree will depend on our entrepreneurship and Robert M. Smith deserves. ingenuity. One such example is our President Regional Learning Alliance, which opened in August (see page 3). www.sru.edu 1 Catching up with SRU,s th 15 President Catching up with President Smith on campus is no easy task these days. As the University’s top advocate for embracing technology, Smith began the school year wheeling from meeting to meeting on his personal high-tech vehicle known as a Segway. f there is one word that embraces the interests of the 15th president of Slippery Rock University, it is leadership. iiiiiiEven before being named president, Dr. Robert M. Smith was working in the trenches providing leadership to improve enrollment, pioneering a new workforce development engine to drive economic development in the region, playing a key role in the revitalization of downtown Slippery Rock and speaking to regional and national audiences—often on the subject of leadership. The beginning Smith and his wife, Ramona, arrived at The Rock in the summer of 1999 when he became provost and vice president for academic affairs. A native of Kansas, he worked 19 years at Wichita State University, where he began his academic career as an associate professor of communication, progressing through several administrative assignments. He next spent 12 years at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he was dean of arts and sciences before coming to SRU. Reversing a nine-year enrollment decline was the most important item on his ambitious SRU “To Do” list. “Although there were enthusiastic people ready to get started, there was no executed comprehensive strategy to recruit and retain students,” he explained. 2 The Rock Fall 2004 The former Princeton University debate coach set out to use those economic market. “It will put Slippery Rock University at the skills in speaking to group after group on campus persuading them forefront as a catalyst for economic growth in the region,” Smith says.