-·-...- - ·-­. -- ---~"':.:----:...--- -.::_----- ......- ---~--.:--:,.. ·--~~--..:-- ---:..---_--.....~ ~::-.::s:~--~-~~----'-!!-::---~~----:~--~ -- ":.."':...-:.-=-=--"'=-- --------------: - .--· ----- --- - • • I CONTENTS VOL. 121 NO. 2 I WINTER 2021 FEATURES The Kohawk experience in the Legends of Coe: Mary Ann Kucera '58 President David Mclnally leaves legacy coronavirus era of making things happen Bringing campus back to life Encouraging the diverse future of Coe Coe students gain entrepreneurial experience through virtual Kohawk Startup Scientist championing for social justice: Honoring the life of Coach Steve Staker Robert Darryl Banks '72 Annual report DEPARTMENTS COVER David Mclnally retires as the 15th president of Coe College. CAMPUS BRIEFS SPORT SHORTS CLASS NOTES 2 I www.coe.edu WWW.COE.EDU LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR This has been quite a year for Coe, just as it has for all of you. The college has successfully navigated our way through the pandemic, the derecho and the turbulent economy. Members of the campus community - including Coe's loyal alumni - have been engaged in diversity and racial justice issues, have adjusted to a temporary academic calendar with a combination of in-person and online classes and even have managed to balance the budget. As you know, this year also brings a URIER transition in presidential leadership, which means this is my last letter in the Courier. I won't claim this year has been easy. But you may wonder how Coe managed to remain open, to Art Director continue to provide a rigorous academic program, to rebuild the campus following the August Melissa Kronlage derecho and to practice financial responsibility at a time when so many colleges have had to shut down temporarily or make deep cuts in their programs. Part of the answer lies in the position that Graphic Designers Coe occupied when these challenges arose, including: Katie Campbell Marc Valenta • Enrollment remains strong. The last eight years represent the eight largest enrollments in the college's history. Advancement Communications • Coe's student body and faculty/staff are the most diverse in our history. The college's appeal Coordinator to new demographic and geographic markets has grown substantially. Natalie Crall • New programs and facilities placed us in a good position as we entered 2020, enabling us to Content Writer enhance a variety of academic areas as well as key dimensions of student life such as athletics Fabiola Orozco and recreation, career preparation and community engagement. Marketing Specialist • Even when we take into account the many financial challenges of COVID-19, Coe's disciplined Lacey Jacobs financial practices have so far spared the college from the deep program and personnel reductions that have taken place elsewhere. Coe has balanced the budget every year - Director of Marketing & including running surpluses for the last three - and also has reduced spending from the Institutional Effectiveness endowment for seven straight years. Natalie Bordignon Milke '11 • The college had a clear vision and strategic plan that increased our value to prospective and Vice President for Enrollment, current students, so we were not in a position of reacting only to current events, but rather of Marketing & Institutional Effectiveness charting our course to the future. Julie Kleis Staker '93 • Above all, we are still a residential liberal arts college, with strong enrollments across the full Interim President range of academic disciplines. As many high schools and colleges moved on line this year, more David Hayes '93 students realized just how valuable a rigorous, residential, face-to-face academic program is. Director of Alumni Engagement Now we turn to Coe's next steps. There will be a period of recovery, but our prospects remain very Emily Ehrhardt bright - and here is one example of why I believe this to be the case. In a recent campus budget committee meeting, Interim President David Hayes said we have grappled successfully with these Alumni Council President challenges because "Coe exists for our students." That is why alumni will continue to support the Katie Lillibridge Dostal '99 college and why students want to come to Coe, and it also is the compass that guides our strategic plan, our academic and student life programs and our financial decisions. We may not know exactly Chancellor what the future holds - after all, who would have predicted the events of 2020? - but David's words David Mcinally remind us of why Coe has endured these tough times and will prosper in the years to come. Coe exists for our students. Contributors Ed Kempf We are in good shape as we enter this leadership transition. I can say only that Janice and I treasure Max Moore Coe College, we cherish the deep relationships with alumni, students, faculty and staff that have Pam Strumpfer enriched our lives, and we will remain close to you and to Coe. In fact, we may see even more of you Hunter Yrigoyen now! You are a blessing to us and to the college we love. AddresschangesandinQuiries regardingalumni recordsmaybe addressed to Kaitlin Andersen, David Mcinally OfficeofAdvancement (319.399.8745 or Chancellor [email protected]). Informationmaybe submitted onlineatwww.alumni.coe.edu. Contact the 2020-2021 BOARD TRUSTEES AlumniOfficeat [email protected] or OF 877.KOHAWKS(564.2957). WaleAdeosun '84 DennisGreenspon'68 SumIt NIJhawan '93 LIFE TRUSTEES JerreL Stead'65 Questionsandcomments regarding theCourier AlanAnderson '78 SarahHemming-Meyer'05 SigridReynolds '94 TerryJ. Abernathy 70 JohnD. strohm 79 canbesent to [email protected]. R.Darryl Banks '72 GeneHenderson '68 BrettRule '86 JackB. Evans '70 PeterBirkey '91 KentHerlnk '76 TimSagers '97 JohnGlrotto HONORARY TRUSTEE TheCoe Courier is published for alumni KevinBuckner '93 ShirleyHughes '67 WIiiiamSchalk '65 DougHyde 74 MaryNeff of thecollege, parents ofcurrent studentsand J.David Carson '72 MaryJorgenson '80 LarryL Shryock'65 WIiiiamP. Johnson '53 recentcontributorstoCoe's AnnualFund.The StevenL Caves StevenKline'76 KristinStrohm 'OS VinceMartin EX-OFFICIO nextissue will be published inthe summer by CoeCollegeina virtualformat. RobertChlusano MaryJeanne Krob '73 CraigStruve '70 ChuckPeters KatieLllllbrldge Dostal '99, AlumniCouncil President DougEden '77 KristinLenz '96 LoriSturdevant '74 JamesR. Phifer Visitthe Courier onlineat SamFreitag 78 DaveLusson '87 HankTaylor '75 JohnM. Sagers DavidHayes '93, Coe College www.coe.edu/courier. ChristineGalloway'73 JulieJohnson Mclean '78 CarsonVeach74 GarySchlarbaum '65 InterimPresident DavidGehring '89 CurtMenefee '87 EdWalsh '70 BruceSpivey'56 KenGolder '82 PaulMeyer '74 www.coe.edu I 3 E K ENR RD FOR EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW Over the past eight years, Coe College "This year we are welcoming a dynamic high school graduates ranking at the has welcomed the largest classes in incoming class. Students hail from 20 top of their class. And 99% of all Coe the history of the college. As we began states and eight countries with more than students receive financial aid, more often the 2020-2021 year, Coe welcomed the 55% coming to Coe from outside the than not, making it more affordable than largest domestic first-year class ever. state of Iowa. This class is also one of the a state school. In addition, we welcomed the second most diverse in Coe's history with nearly largest first-year class ever. 27% coming from underrepresented Coe College ranks as the best school for backgrounds. In addition, 40% of internships in Iowa and No. 16 nationally "Despite the challenges of the current incoming class members identify as first­ out of more than 4,000 colleges and public health crisis and the extensive generation college students," Kite added. universities, according to The Princeton damage sustained as a result of the Review. "Our location and alumni August 10 derecho that swept through The last few years have proven to be network allow students to have a unique Iowa, we remain focused on our mission a highly competitive market in higher college experience. The internship and of providing access and affordability to education, and the last six months have research opportunities available to students who want to pursue a nationally been no exception. Coe is bucking the students offer real-world application to ranked education," said Assistant Vice trend by providing academic excellence what they learn in the classroom," said President for Enrollment Josh Kite. at an affordable price. The school's Vice President for Enrollment Julie Kleis superior academics continue to attract Staker '93. 4 I www.coe.edu Students were photographed individually and digitized into one image for a creative socially distanced spin on the traditional photo. (Credit: Joe Photo). HOMECOMING 2020 Traditional alumni Homecoming festivities couldn't take place, but students still enjoyed Homecoming Week. From a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt and Kohawk Rock to virtual bingo and fall fest, Kohawks celebrated one of the best parts of Coe ...the community. This year's Homecoming court included Christa Yong '21, Kacey Baker '21, Emani Brinkman '21, Mady Fink '21, Noah Gronewold '21, Martha Jesuit '21, Lauren Steege '21, Chandler Robles '21, Ethan Alsop '21 and Simon Crocker '21. Chandler and Emani (pictured) were crowned Coe's Homecoming royalty. www.coe.edu I 5 2019-2020 • OUTSTANDING ATHLETES ANNOUNCED Jackie Feldt '21 and Taylor Mehmen tournament since the 2015-16 season. In Waskow said. "I'm thankful I've gotten to '20 are the 2019-20 Barron Bremner her junior season, Feldt finished second coach her and be a part of her journey Outstanding Athletes at Coe College. in the league in blocks, fourth in scoring, here at Coe. I look forward to her senior Feldt, a current senior on the women's sixth in rebounds, seventh in free-throw season!" basketball team, is joined by Mehmen, a percentage, 11th in assists and 19th in former member of the wrestling team. steals per game. Mehmen, who was a Bremner Award finalist last year, earned the award after Both Feldt and Mehmen were named all­ "Jackie had a huge junior year for us, taking first place at the Midwest regional conference in their respective sports, and leading our team in several statistical in the 197-pound weight class.