“Saints” © 2008 Diane J. Schmidt Transitions Fall/Winter 2007 1 Contents Pulisher/Editor Mary Lin 2 Kathleen Stephens: from Arizonan to world citizen Associate Editor Ashley Mains 4 More Kids in the Woods Staff Writers Mary K. Croft • Mary Lin • Ashley Mains 5 Senator Tom Udall Continues Family Tradition Staff Photographers Sher Shah Khan • Mary Lin • Ashley Mains Travis Patterson • Bridget Reynolds 6 Adam Zemans Ph.D. Profile Contributing Photographers Richard Dance • Bill Feldmeier • Terry Ford 7 Joanne Oellers Master of Arts Profile Karl Hardy • Tim Hull • Doug Hulmes Jan Kempster • Judy Lewis • Richard Lewis Joanne Oellers • Rachel Peters • Diane Schmidt 8 PC People in Politics John Sheedy • Kathleen Stephens • Tom Udall Rick Wheeler • Fulton Wright • Vicky Young Adam Zemans • The City of Prescott 10 Prescott College Earns High Marks Committee To Elect George Seaman Common Cause • stevedieckhoff.com Mesa City Council Office • Topsy Foundation 11 Art Gallery at Sam Hill Opens The Official Jeff Carlson Website Sam Young for Vermont Governor Campaign 12 Diane Schmidt: Memoir of El Salvador Vice President for Development Joel Hiller (928) 350-4501 • [email protected] 13 US Stamp Features George Huey Photo For Class Notes and address changes, contact Marie Smith • [email protected] 14 What Democracy Looks Like Send correspondence, reprint requests and submissions to: Mary Lin Prescott College 15 Emma Howland-Bolton: Democracy in Action 220 Grove Ave. Prescott, AZ 86301 (928) 350-4503 • [email protected] 16 Paper Makes Strong Bricks Transitions, a publication for the Prescott College community, is published three times a year by the Public Relations Office for 17 Nelson Donation alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty and staff of the College. Its purpose is to keep readers informed with news about Prescott College faculty, staff, students and fellow alumni. Transitions is available online at www.prescott.edu. 18 Fond Farewells ©2008 Prescott College Prescott College reserves the right to reprint materials from 22 Development Dynamo Wins Fundraising Award Transitions in other publications and online at its discretion. Prescott College is committed to equal opportunity for its employees 25 Through A Long Lens: Legacy for the Future and applicants for employment, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex or sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or parental status, status with respect to public assistance, or veteran’s status. This policy applies to the administration of its employment 26 Thank You to Our Donors policies or any other programs generally accorded or made available to employees. Departments 17 New Faces 19 Faculty News 21 In Memoriam 23 Class Notes 29 The Last Word Cover photo: “Saints” Photo © 2008 Diane J. Schmidt President’s Corner Dear Friends, I am often asked what is special or different about education at Prescott College. At those times I think of the emails, personal notes, and thank- yous I’ve been privileged to receive from students over the years. These messages come in from all over the globe expressing gratitude for the work we do helping students to acquire skills and to fuel the fire of desire to serve the greater good. In those moments, my answer to the oft-posed question is that one of the most important things we do at Prescott College is to train activists. Prescott College serves best those who are interested in transforming the world. Many would argue that developing happier and more accomplished individuals is in and of itself a significant contribution to the greater good. (One’s personal self-improvement and happiness is a wonderful outcome of an education.) But these results are insufficient as a justification for the exis- tence of Prescott College. We want students to be successful and to attain personal happiness, but we also want our students to be effective. Prescott College is committed to positive change. We believe the mission of the College has always supported those who wanted to make things better. Our faculty understands the causes of problems, “[With the recent presidential the opportunities available, and steps necessary to turn problems into opportunity. Not only do we election] now is a time when help students understand the complex nature of questions facing our country and the world, we guide it is even more vital to be an them in the acquisition of tools that they will use to shape our collective future. activist. Many of our students and alumni work from within “the system,” as government employees and politi- “The face of what’s possible cal leaders. Others serve as agents of change by organizing grassroots efforts and exerting pressure has been completely altered. from outside the system. All of these students and alumni are the people John F. Kennedy was talking When I think of the genera- about when he said, tions behind mine being able “Some people see the world and ask, ‘why?’ Others see the world and ask, ‘why not?’” to grow up with an African American president, the As you read this issue of Transitions, we hope you’ll draw inspiration from stories of the many ways our implications are profound.” students are taking action to change the world, and recommit yourself to making a positive difference through your activism. Let one of your mantras become the simple question: - Emma Howland-Bolton ’09 “Why Not?” See story page 15 Warmest Regards, Leave Your Legacy Help Create A Sustainable Future Visit Prescott College on the Web at www.prescott.edu Read the latest articles on charitable giving, refresh your memory with our glossary of terms and calculate your income tax deduction for charitable gifts From Arizonan to Wor ld Citizen Alumna Kathleen Stephens ’74 recently named Ambassador to South Korea By Mary Lin and Ashley Mains “There was a deep fascination with Asia going on at the campus then ... [Robert’s] background and his compelling narrative of Asia, on top of the Vietnam experience of my generation and the way it divided us, intrigued me,” she said. “There were a lot of children of Foreign Service Officers at Prescott ... from international child- hoods. That opened me up to that sort of life.” By her second year Robert had helped Kathleen and a couple other students to secure positions as visiting students in Hong Kong. She enjoyed her stay so much she continued on as an Outward Bound instructor. When she finally returned to the US, her direction was set. After completing her bachelor’s in East Asian Studies, Kathleen served in the Peace Corps for two years, joining the Foreign Service in 1978. Her overseas assignments have included consular and public affairs officer in Guangzhou, China (1980-1982), chief of the internal political unit in Seoul (1984-1987), and principal officer of the US Consulate in Busan, Korea (1987-1989). During the 90s, Kathleen was assigned to the US mission in Yugoslavia, shuttling between Belgrade and Zagreb, during the country’s violent disintegration. From 2001 to 2003 Kathleen directed the Office of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation. This position allowed her to marry Ambassador D. Kathleen Stephens’ her personal interest in the environment with her swearing-in ceremony. She was sworn ecently appointed US Ambassador to professional passion for international issues. in by Secretary of State Condoleezza South Korea, Kathleen Stephens ’74, “It is very hard to sit down with 50 or 60 coun- Rice on September 8, 2008, at State Department headquarters in Rentered Prescott College in 1970 as “an tries and discuss ‘what are we going to do about Washington, DC. Arizonan,” she recalls, and graduated four years a illegal logging,”’ she said. “That kind of work later “a world citizen.” reminded me that whatever you are doing at a Kathleen grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., in the 60s. place like Prescott College, where there is a “The Vietnam War was very divisive,” she said. strong emphasis on the environment, there is “It made me want to understand more about the always a global dimension to what you learn.” US’s place in the region. From 2005 to 2007, Kathleen was Principal “You can see similar debates going on in this Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the country now. I see younger people coming into Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, with the Foreign Service asking the same kinds of particular responsibility for the management of questions I had – ‘What is our place in the US relations with Japan and Korea. world? How can we live up to our ideals and pro- On September 9, 2008, Kathleen was con- tect ourselves?’” firmed by the US Senate to be Ambassador of Briefly tempted to study anthropology at the United States of America to the Republic of Prescott, she was persuaded by retired British Korea, the first woman to hold this position. diplomat and instructor, Robert Bruce, to turn “It has attracted attention in Korea and, to some her intellectual drive and curiosity towards the degree, in the US. I am from the generation of realm of diplomacy. American woman for whom many of us have been 2 Transitions Fall/Winter 2008 r ld Citizen the first females in our positions of leadership and employment. Company. “After 30-odd years we’re still doing what we loved, Having been in this profession as long as I have, I’ve been the and we still have a great connection because of it.” first woman to hold many of the positions I’ve had.” As citizens in a globally engaged country, Kathleen insists it Kathleen will seek to adjust a security alliance that takes is important to always be aware of that engagement. She is on into account what both Korea and America currently repre- the front lines of US international engagement, and that’s sent in the global community and to bring North Korea into exactly where she wants to be.