’Southern A Publication for Alumni and Friends Fall 2013 Volume 39, Number 2 Turning the traditional classroom experience on its head BSC tests innovative approaches to learning BSC Birmingham-Southern College BSC Snapshots Hitting the book (store)—Students loaded up on supplies at the BSC Bookstore during the first week of fall term classes. Inside’Southern ’Southern magazine / Fall 2013 / Volume 39, Number 2 A Publication for Alumni and Friends BSC 25 Departments Features 27 2 Editor’s Note 12 Welcoming the Class 4 Community News of 2017 7 Faculty News 20 Turning the traditional 10 Student News classroom experience on its head 12 Features BSC tests innovative approaches 32 Alumni Affairs to learning 36 Philanthropy 38 Athletics 25 College kicks off Panther 43 ClassNotes Partnerships Mentoring Program 56 ’Southern Voices 27 Celebrate game day with these tailgating recipes On the Cover Today’s college students have grown up with technology. They’ve never known a world without computers, cellphones, and other wireless electronics. To keep up with this computer-savvy generation, Birmingham-Southern has broken new ground and delved into new technology trends to provide greater student engagement and classroom learning. Read more about the college’s technology advancements, including the new Olin 205 classroom pictured on the cover, on page 20. fall 2013 Gen. Charles C. Krulak, President Dr. Wayne Killion Jr. ’72, Chair, Editor’s Note Board of Trustees ’Southern magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Affairs Looking forward and the Office of Communications at Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 35254. There have been some really interesting conversations going on here on campus lately. Non-profit postage paid at B’ham., AL Permit No. 2575. Postmaster: Much of the talk revolves around how we can use the latest technology to make Birmingham-Southern Send address changes to: Alumni better and involves faculty, staff, and administrators at the highest levels looking at how we can stay Affairs, Birmingham-Southern ahead of our peers. That ranges from our newly-redesigned home page on the web to a brand-new College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Box high-tech classroom (see more on page 20). 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254; telephone 205/226-4912; or access Some of the dialogue digs into what makes BSC special as we dive into the college’s new Quality at www.bsc.edu/alumni. Enhancement Plan, or QEP, which focuses on engaged learning. Along with that comes a renewed focus ©2013 Birmingham-Southern on experiential education and a promise that all Birmingham-Southern students will have opportunities College. to apply what they learn in the classroom through internships, research, travel, and service. Editorial Offices: In a third category comes the college’s ongoing strategic planning process, which is asking the question 10 Stockham Building “Who do we want to be?” As we map out where BSC should be a decade from now, know that alumni 900 Arkadelphia Road Box 549004 input matters! You can follow along with the process or volunteer to take part at www.bsc.edu/stratplan. Birmingham, AL 35254 Phone: 205/226-4922 But for me, perhaps the most exciting moment of conversation came when I watched about 20 BSC Fax: 205/226-4931 professors gather over the summer to learn about the newest learning technology—and they ended up E-mail: [email protected] spending hours joyfully sharing their best teaching tactics, even though they came from all different disciplines. Executive Editor: Hannah Wolfson, Director of What that told me is that the old adage is still true: The more things change, the more things stay the Communications same. Even as we step forward into a brave new future for BSC, the things that matter most haven’t Managing Editor: Pat Cole, altered: fine teachers who care deeply for their students; great young people living and learning together; MPPM ’11 staff providing support and energy; and all of it happening right here on the Hilltop. Communications Specialist Come see for yourself! We’re in the full throes of plans for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Art Director: Tracy Thomas ’92, Nov. 1-2. Or stop by anytime to take a tour of some of the new and re-visit the old. Until we see you… Director of Visual Identity and Publications Forward, Ever! Contributing Writers: Pat Cole MPPM ’11, Communications Specialist Hannah Wolfson Sarah Erreca, Director of Sports Information Director of Communications Lisa Harrison MPPM ’85, Director of Alumni Affairs Dr. Duane Pontius ’81, Morris T. Hackney Professor of Physics Erica Crump Sellers ’05 Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Hannah Wolfson, Director Are you missing e-mails of Communications Photography: In an effort to better serve our subscribers and Wynter Byrd from BSC? Thomas Coiner protect your privacy, Birmingham-Southern John Consoli adopted a new policy in July for the college’s e-mail Cari Dean subscriptions. Anyone who has not opened an email Melinda Mercer Jimmy Mitchell from BSC in six months will be unsubscribed from Hunter Nichols future mailings. If you find that you are not getting Frank Poulin BSC emails and would like to re-subscribe, please Howie Rowling contact Mike Hamilton at [email protected]. Vianca Williams ’15 Archived Photos Submitted Photos www.bsc.edu BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE HOMECOMING/REUNION November 1-2, 2013 Extra special weekend Graduates from across the country are planning to come “home” to the Birmingham-Southern campus Nov. 1-2 for Alumni Reunion/Homecoming 2013. This year, classes ending in “3” and “8” will be celebrated. There will be so many exciting events and activities, including a reception with the president, campus tours, class parties, and a tailgate contest. The football game vs. Rhodes College kicks off Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. at Panther Stadium. There will also be parties for each of the college’s honor classes, including the 50th reunion Class of 1963. Other highlights include: Nov. 1 Annual Alumni Awards Luncheon This annual awards luncheon is the kickoff for this special weekend. All alumni are invited to bring a guest to hear remarks from our Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients. The Hilltop Singers will entertain. All classes celebrating 50+ years since graduation will be specially honored, and the 50th reunion class will be seated together and recognized. Attire: Coat and Tie | Noon, Bruno Great Hall, Norton Campus Center, 3rd Floor Nov. 1 “Onward & Upward” BSC President Gen. Charles C. Krulak will talk about the college’s successes, challenges, and goals as we move ever forward. 2 p.m., Norton Theatre, Norton Campus Center, 2nd Floor Nov. 2 BSC Alumni BBQ For alumni not celebrating a reunion this year, come by the Alumni BBQ to avoid lines at the concession stand. 11 a.m., outside the tennis and softball complexes All tailgating will be catered by Full Moon Barbecue. Honor Class Parties Classes celebrating reunions will host events at venues across Birmingham. Hope to see you at your BSC alumni reunion in November! Register quickly and easily at www.alumni.bsc.edu/homecoming2013. BSC COMMUNITY NEWS Stultz in forefront Award-winning teaching—Nearly 300 students graduated May 18 at BSC’s 154th Commencement. At the ceremony, Provost Dr. Mark Schantz named Chemistry Professor Dr. Laura Stultz Professor of the Year. Stultz will be the Commencement speaker in 2014. Schantz praised Stultz, who has been at BSC since 1997, for her stellar teaching, service on almost every college committee, commitment to interdisciplinary research, and her “levelheadedness and keen intelligence.” The college also conveyed an honorary doctor of letters to Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, who recently served as BSC’s chief of staff. BSC again included in annual Fiske Guide to Colleges Birmingham-Southern is among the 300-plus colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain highlighted in the 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges released this summer. Compiled by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, the Fiske Guide examines a broad range of subjects such as academic climate, social life, campus setting, financial aid, and extracurricular activities. The book is now in its 30th year of issuing annual evaluations of colleges and universities. It is available in bookstores and online. 4 / ’southern COMMUNITY NEWS Battle Boatright Gray Selman Four named to Birmingham-Southern Board of Trustees Birmingham-Southern College has selected four members for its Board of Trustees. The new BSC trustees are Brooke Tanner Battle ’96, founder of SMART Party LLC; Shane Boatright, president and CEO of Boatright Companies Inc.; Dr. Samuel E. Gray ’82, obstetrician and gynecologist at Alabama Women’s Specialists; and Scott Selman, chief financial officer of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. The selections were approved in June at the annual meetings of the North Alabama and Alabama- West Florida Conferences of the UMC. BSC partnering with Project SEARCH to improve employment outcomes for the disabled Along with incoming BSC students, there are a few more new faces on campus this fall. This semester, Birmingham-Southern began providing on-the-job training and work experience to young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities through Project SEARCH, a collaborative effort between the college, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, Birmingham City Schools, and Alabama Vocational Rehab. The one-year transition program teaches participants (called interns) workplace skills that can lead to employment within the community. The interns are working Monday through Friday in multiple departments across campus, practicing repetitive and systematic job skills while learning to communicate effectively with members of the BSC community. “Many new graduates often say ‘I want to get a job, but I don’t have the required experience,’ and it is difficult to find an employer willing to provide on-the-job training,” said Angela Harrill, associate director of human resources at Birmingham-Southern.