Alumni & Friends Publication of Williams Baptist College THE NEXT 75 Looking Ahead to WBC’s Future PAGE 4 Thinking Ahead WHAT’S IN STORE NEXT FOR WBC? The vision, commitment and clear divine providence that brought Williams to this point have the institution poised for a very bright future. PAGE 2 The Crusade: Dr. H. E. Williams and the 1960 Race for Governor of Arkansas Dr. H. E. Williams believed firmly in the principles of education, free enterprise, and, above all else, the Christian faith. PAGE 6 PAGE 4 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 03 Weaver Returns to Launch New Programs 06 Alums Lead Lady Eagles to 7th Place NAIA Finish 08 Collin Whitney: Williams Is Molding Me... 12 Around Campus 16 Letter from the President FALL 2016 VOLUME 25 // ISSUE 1 THE NEXT 75 Looking Ahead to WBC’s Future BY BRETT COOPER // Vice President for Institutional Advancement hat will the next 75 years look like at establish priorities, goals, and objectives that as the dean of graduate and online programs. WWilliams Baptist College? focus our efforts on our vision.” Weaver was the first director of the Williams Teacher Education Program in the 1990s and As WBC celebrates this diamond anniversary, Making the planning process both more began the college’s widely respected Bachelor of its proud history is also its launching pad. important and more challenging is the rapidly Science in Education degrees. changing landscape of higher education. The vision, commitment and clear divine Practically every institution in the country faces Williams will soon launch other programs to providence that brought Williams to this point the challenges of keeping college affordable, a attract students, as well, including sports. have the institution poised for a very growing phalanx of government regulations, bright future. campus safety issues and large-scale “We are on track to greatly expand our athletic cultural shifts. offerings, both in collegiate competition and “Williams Baptist College’s strong position would in club sports. These aggressive programs will be the envy of most institutions in the country,” Jones notes that while some societal changes help us not only attract students to Williams says Dr. Tom Jones, WBC’s president. “We actually help Williams meet its goals more Baptist College, but also help us retain students are financially sound with a nominal debt, a effectively, others directly oppose WBC’s by engaging their particular interests and skills,” nationally recognized excellence in our academic scriptural position as a Christian liberal Jones says. programs, and a price that is affordable for most arts college. hardworking families.” And the president notes that programs will be “A Christian college doesn’t become a Christian added beyond athletics. But harnessing the potential of Williams for the college by accident. It is intentional. And it next 75 years requires diligent – and prayerful doesn’t remain a truly Christian college by “We also will look to expand specific interest – planning. Jones notes that careful planning accident, either. Maintaining our Christian areas, as we now do with our PBL business helped WBC reach this point. identity is intentional, it is ongoing,” he says. students, The Cast drama team, Williams Singers, praise and worship and other activities that “The college community has always made the highlight and engage the skills and interests of most of the resources provided through a prudent “There are always worldly forces at these students,” he notes. and intentional commitment to stewardship of work that would push us away from our the Lord’s resources. Careful planning keeps One notable example is the new WBC Honors us faithful to a long-standing commitment to Christian moorings. Williams Baptist Program, which has begun this fall under the responsible, fiscal management that has long College holds steadfastly to the biblical leadership of Dr. Kenneth Startup. The first Coe been a part of the college’s core values,” he says. principles and the Christian commitment Honors Scholars were chosen earlier this year to participate in the program. Planning for the coming years at Williams has upon which it was founded.” involved the Strategic Planning Committee, a “Regardless of a student’s interest, these types of broad cross-section of the college, including The planning process has revealed strengths at programs are needed at any college to attract high faculty, staff, administrators and students. Jones WBC and market niches which the college is well quality students and to retain them throughout convened the committee in 2012 and again in suited to fill. That has led to plans for the first their college career. Our plan is to provide a top 2015 to perform institutional analysis, prioritize master’s degree program at Williams, as well as level experience in all of these areas,” says Jones. strategic initiatives and create core objectives. an online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. The progress to come over the next few years, and “Their recommendations formed the basis for “Since late last year we’ve been working on two the next 75, is exciting. But Jones is quick to add the Diamond Vision Plan, which will guide new programs for the college. One, the Master that Williams will move forward with the same our priorities through the next four years. of Arts in Teaching will provide an alternative commitment that brought the college to this point. Continuing the momentum and direction of to teacher credentialing. A fully online program, earlier plans, the Diamond Vision Plan provides it will expand the number of Williams alumni “It is our repeated intention that our worldview steps for capitalizing on institutional strengths, serving in the public schools of our area,” the will be marked by a pronounced leading of the addressing areas for improvement, tackling president says. Holy Spirit, an unwavering commitment to God’s imposing challenges, and embracing strategic Word and rigorous scholarship, and a vigilant opportunities,” the president says. “The second program, the Bachelor of Arts in witness that boldly and consistently proclaims Criminal Justice, will provide easy access to a Jesus as the author of all truth,” he declares. The committee also developed the Williams curriculum for law enforcement professionals. vision statement, which serves as a target for This program will include the latest techniques “As we grow, as we improve, as we plan our future, WBC and its planning efforts: “To produce and approaches, as well as the values inherent in it will be with an eye toward establishing and exceptional graduates prepared to competently a Williams curriculum, thereby enhancing the implementing goals that will provide a course engage local and global cultures through a Christ- professionalism and quality of law enforcement whose completion will enable Williams to make centered worldview.” professionals everywhere.” an even greater impact on our region, nation and world for the Father’s glory.” Jones notes, “As we develop programs and To implement the new academic programs, Dr. policies, that statement helps guide us as we RoseMary Weaver has returned to Williams 2 FORWARD // FALL 2016 WEAVER RETURNS TO LAUNCH NEW PROGRAMS Dr. RoseMary Weaver to take over as dean of graduate and online programs. r. RoseMary Weaver is no stranger to After leaving WBC, Weaver served as curriculum “Dr. Weaver possesses the knowledge, leadership, Dprogress at Williams Baptist College. coordinator for the Pocahontas School District, and vision to ensure that the first graduate degree She led the way as Williams began its widely but she agreed to return to Williams starting this at Williams Baptist College receives identical respected teacher education program in the summer in order to help launch its graduate and success as all undergraduate degrees Williams 1990s. Now, Weaver has returned to WBC to online programs. currently produces,” said Baine. help launch other key programs, including the “During the last two decades, the Williams “Dr. Weaver’s superior leadership and unrelenting college’s first master’s degree. Teacher Education Program has influenced work ethic will undoubtedly lead to a noteworthy thousands of students and enriched the lives of Masters of Arts in Teaching program at Weaver took over this summer as WBC’s dean of countless individuals,” she said. “For this reason, Williams.” graduate and online programs, a newly created I am honored to return to begin yet another new role, where she will guide the implementation of a work, the online programs at Williams.” Dr. Tom Jones, president of WBC, said Weaver is Master of Arts in Teaching, as well as a bachelor’s the ideal choice to lead the new programs, which degree in criminal justice. Both programs will be Weaver also noted that the online program in he said will extend the college’s influence into new fully online. criminal justice will be a degree completion frontiers. program for individuals who want to advance in “The decision to offer the Master of Arts in the field of law enforcement. “These new programs will further Williams Teaching (MAT) is the result of research and data Baptist College’s ability to produce exceptional as well as the demands expressed through interest “There are myriad opportunities in this field. graduates prepared to competently engage local and inquiry,” Weaver said. “The MAT will be the Employment opportunities range from local, state and global cultures through a Christ-centered answer to individuals who have a bachelor’s degree and national social and legal services to private worldview,” Jones said. in a content area but now want to become licensed and corporate protective and security services, to enter the teaching profession.” and even training and mentoring other law Weaver and her husband, Dr. Tom Weaver, live enforcement officers,” Weaver said. in Pocahontas. They are active members of Weaver was the first chair of the Williams Teacher Pocahontas First Baptist Church.