QUEENSSUMMER 2012 THE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE Keeping the Faith Gen Y and the Search for Spirituality Also Professors Reed and Thompson Reflect on History McColl Students Win with Penguin Case Knight School Outreach Explaining William James Women’s Volleyball Soars CONGRATULATIONS to the 725 members of BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2012-2013 the CLASS OF 2012! Michael Marsicano, Chair Thomas Reddin Sallie Moore Lowrance ’70, Vice Chair M.A. Rogers Elizabeth Rivers Curry ’63, Secretary David Singer On May 35, 2012, Queens celebrated the largest graduating Caroline Sink Howard Bissell Michael Tarwater class in our 155-year history. We are honored to share this special Angeline Massey Clinton EMBA ’01 Brent Trexler time with our brand-new alumni, their friends and family. Kevin Collins Marjorie Knight Crane ’90 Cynthia Haldenby Tyson Jesse Cureton, Jr. EMBA ’02 Ruth Anne Vagt ’69 David C. Darnell F. William Vandiver, Jr. Donna Jones Dean ’73 Manuel L. Zapata Frances DeArmon Evans ’59 Pamela Davies, ex officio Anthony Fox Derek Painter ’92, ex officio, Ophelia Garmon-Brown Alumni Association President Kathryn Taylor Grigg ’87 Saray Smalls ’13, Student Liaison Carson Sloan Henline ’81 to the Board Lyttleton Rich Hollowell ’67 Benjamin P. Jenkins III Sandra Levine Life Trustees Thomas L. Lewis ’97 Cathy Loevner ’71 Irwin “Ike” Belk Bailey Patrick Dorothy McAulay Martin ’59 David Pope Hugh L. McColl Jr., Chairman A. Alex Porter Emeritus Myrta Pulliam ’69 Virginia Gray Vance ’49 QUEENS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2012 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Anderson Sara Blakeney 704-337-2485 Rebekah Ahrens Davis ’00 [email protected] Adelaide Anderson Davis ’61 MANAGING EDITOR Dr. Norris Frederick Jenn Q. Goddu Laurie Prince Eleanor Hatcher ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Jen Johnson Stacey Kammerdiener David Owens-Hill MA ’12 Patrick Lynch PRODUCTION AND Cindy Manshack DISTRIBUTION MANAGER David Owens-Hill MA ’12 Stacey Kammerdiener Laurie Prince Dana Robles PHOTOGRAPHERS Lindsay Kay Tice ’05 Jeff Cravotta Vanessa Willis Chris Edwards Miller Yoho Jamey Price Jon Strayhorn Daniel Sutton PRINTING ON RECYCLED PAPER: The Queens Magazine is printed on a paper which is 10 percent post- consumer waste fiber and 10 percent total recycled fiber. Elemental chlorine-free pulps, acid-free and chlorine-free manufacturing conditions meet and exceed archival standards. Using 10,341 lbs. of paper for this project, here are the benefits of using post-consumer recycled fiber instead of virgin fiber: 26.06 trees preserved for the future 11,069 gal wastewater flow saved 1,225 lbs solid waste not generated 2,412 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented 18,458,685 BTUs energy not consumed CONTENTS 2 3 10 12 13 18 24 44 Departments Past Present RETIRING HISTORY PROFESSORS 13 From the President 2 CHARLIE REED AND BILL THOMPSON SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON HISTORY, Campus News 3 BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL Investing in Queens 10 Interview by Jenn Q. Goddu Happenings 12 Alumni News 24 Keeping the Faith GEN Y AND THE SEARCH FOR 18 SPIRITUALITY Class Notes 27 By Vanessa Willis Parting Thought 44 SUMME R 2012 OnDanielle Phillips the ’13 holdsCover: a Bible. The story on Gen Y and faith begins on page 18. 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT Your Letters In the winter 2011 issue, Queens Magazine carried a profile of Betty Johnson Gray ’51. Gray’s singing career, which began as a child with her parents and brothers in the Johnson Family Singers, continues today. Her latest CD a collaboration with her two talented daughters was released last summer. After the magazine came out, Rev. Coit Auten ’48 saw the article and commented on it to his daughter, Kathy Roberts. Auten was Queens’ first male graduate he enrolled after World War II on the GI Bill following service as a B-25 tail gunman for the Army Air Corps. His comments gave his daughter Kathy an idea, so she contacted Gray with a special request. Below is an edited account of their exchanges on December 19. Dear Alumni and Friends, Ms. Johnson, The feature article in this edition ofQueens Magazine focuses on how faith impacts our work here on campus and beyond. As you read that On May 26, 1942, you sang at the wedding of my article, you will learn that the Presbyterian Church founded Queens parents, Coit and Ann Auten, at Thrift Baptist in 1857. Way back then, the seeds of faith were planted and they Church in the Paw Creek community outside of are being nourished still today. You’ll read about our campus chapel Charlotte. Many times in my life they have told service. Although it’s no longer required, students and faculty gather people, “Betty Johnson of the Johnson Family sang at weekly to worship God together. You’ll read about the Guatemala our wedding.” You hold a special place in their lives. mission trip and other acts of service by our students, faculty and Several weeks ago Dad received his alumni mail staffe vidence that we are living out our Christian motto, “Not to be from Queens and was so excited to see the story served, but to serve.” regarding your CD with your daughters. As soon as You will also read that Queens has always been led by presidents he showed it to me, I ordered it from Amazon to who have been committed to their faith. In fact, prior to 1950, all give my parents for Christmas. I cannot wait until Queens’ presidents were ministers who served both the church and Christmas morning to see his face when he opens his college. In more recent history, our presidents have been laypersons gift. He will be 90 years old on January 15. in the Presbyterian Church. But all of our presidents, throughout our I would love if you could respond with an email 155-year history, have lived out their commitment to the Christian that I could give them along with the CD. It would faith by serving othersin t he church and beyond. mean so much to them. Thank you for being a part of As I have shared with many over the last 10 years of my service their special day. as president, I never felt that I was “hired” to lead Queens, but rather that I was “called” to do so. Being called to a role such as this is both a Merry Christmas, profound blessing and a sober reminder of the responsibility one has Ð Kathy Roberts, Heath Springs, South Carolina accepted. In Ephesians 4:1, Paul tells us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” To walk worthily of Dear Kathy, your calling is both intimidating, for we fall short, and exhilarating, for we find the grace we need. What an honor for me to write a message to your I’m grateful that my walk is here, with Queens. father. One of the great thrills to me is singing at weddings because it is such a spiritual time. Everyone Best wishes, attending feels the love and devotion of not only the MAGAZINE bride and groom, but of siblings and especially the parents. QUEENS Pamela Davies, PhD Have a wonderful Christmas. President Ð Betty Johnson Gray ’51, Haverhill, New Hampshire 2 CAMPUS NEWS Rushing the Rapids KAYAKER MICHAL SMOLEN ’15 IS AN OLYMPIC HOPEFUL ueens student Michal Smolen is of the three days. “It’s quite an honor to me to have that relationship.” Then he not your typical freshman. While train with past Olympians,” he says. adds with a grin, “Having a Starbucks other students might be In the April trials, he placed second on campus was also pretty appealing.” Qspending their free time playing video overall, which secured his spot on the Shawn Bowers Buxton ’01, MFA ’04, games or lounging around the residence US national team competing for the his CORE 112 professor and academic halls, Smolen is likely maneuvering World Cup this summer in Cardiff, advisor, says he was a spirited participant a one-man kayak around a series of Wales. However, he’ll miss the Olympic in last fall’s classes. “In CORE, we really hanging poles while dodging fiery river Games in London because he is in the focus on creating communities, and rapids. final stages of becoming an American Michal was often a big contributor. He He is an Olympic hopeful in the citizen. He’s not deterredh e hopes to made it evident that he was a student sport of the kayak slalom. Originally represent the United States at the 2016 first, and an athlete second.” from Poland, the 19-year-old student Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Smolen, a biochemistry major, comes from a family of accomplished Janeiro. admits that balancing his sport while athletes. His mother was a professional Assistant Director of Admissions completing a college degree is difficult. handball player on the Polish national Leah Beth Parsons helped Smolen “Many athletes I personally know team, and his father, now his coach, was a through the admissions process last year have sacrificed years of school in order member of the Polish national kayaking while he was deciding on which college to spend more time focused on their team. to attend. “Queens was a good fit for him kayaking careers,” he says. “For me, the Smolen made the USA Canoe/ because he needed a school that was built goal is to treat my athletic and academic SUMME R 2012 Kayak Team last year during the trials held upon relationships,” she says. As Smolen careers as equals, in order to have another n at the US National Whitewater Center explains, “It’s important for me to have career locked in for the future.” in Charlotte.