IN THIS ISSUE Feature Articles
cover story:
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Green Carthage From both macro and micro levels, Carthaginians tackle environmental challenges.
38
Act Two Award-winning actress Marie Tredway ’17 took a nontraditional route to the stage.
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Wall Street West The recession motivated financier Cassie Lau to make a career leap to teaching.
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IN THIS ISSUE Departments
THE CARTHAGINIAN Volume 97, Number 3
6 12 20 42 52 15 45
Carthage College combines an environment of reflection and self-discovery with a culture of high expectation so our students uncover and ignite their true potential. A four-year, private liberal arts college with roots in the Lutheran tradition, Carthage has a prime location in Kenosha. The campus, an 80-acre arboretum on the shore of Lake Michigan, is home to 150 scholars, 2,600 full-time students, and 400 part-time students.
On Campus
Six new fellowships provided an encore to Carthage’s three-peat as a top Fulbright producer.
Faculty/Staff Notes
New chief academic officer David Timmerman brings a record of innovation.
Carthaginian Editorial Team
Athletics
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Could thrower Mia Bennett ’18 reacclimate after a memorable study tour? Her NCAA trophy says yes.
Christine Sanni
Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Class Notes
Alumni share milestones in their careers and families.
Elizabeth Young
Page From the Past
Managing Editor Mike Moore
Biology professor Walter Suter sure knew his bugs.
Design/Art Direction Steve Janiak Kim King ’06
Reflections from Pastor Kara
Production
Notes from the Alumni Director
Photographers Luke Bajda ’18 Mike Gryniewicz Steve Janiak Sam Payton ’20
Contributing Writers Jason Bennett Ben Clohesey ’18 Kate Jerome William Kurtz Karen Anne Mahoney Mike Moore Traci Parker Kurt Piepenburg ’77 Emmy Schwerdt ’19 Cynthia Wolf Linc Wonham
Dana Moore
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jeff Hamar ’80
President John R. Swallow Vice President for Institutional Advancement Thomas Kline
CMYK
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
Transparent PMS
For More Information The Carthaginian Office of Communications 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140 262-551-6021 • editor@carthage.edu
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Join me in this vital expedition Pledging to fulfill the duties of his office “faithfully and with great enthusiasm,” John R. Swallow was formally installed as Carthage president in an inauguration ceremony April 21 at A. F. Siebert Chapel. Jeff Hamar ’80, first vice chair of the Board of Trustees, presented him the traditional presidential medallion. President Swallow became the 23rd person to hold the office in Carthage’s 171-year history. Former presidents Gregory Woodward and F. Gregory Campbell were among the distinguished guests, along with delegates from more than 30 U.S. colleges and universities. Speakers represented Carthage faculty, students, alumni, and trustees, as well as the institutions where President Swallow previously honed his skills. The ceremony was one of several events held during the inaugural weekend, celebrating the link between Carthage’s storied past and its promising future. President Swallow’s wife, Cameron, their two children, and other relatives joined in the celebration.
This article consists of excerpts from Carthage President John Swallow’s inaugural address on April 21.
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n the truest sense, a college is more than a campus. More than an endowment. More than a business. More, even, than a community of common purpose. It is a movement, and more still: not just a movement, but an expedition — an expedition of astonishing magnitude — incorporating
thousands upon thousands of lives past, present, and future: students and parents; faculty and staff; alumni and friends; neighbors and partner organizations, spanning decades, generations, and even centuries.
In a time of increasing individualism, a residential college offers the best hope to educate students to learn how to interact, to confront difficult topics together, and to be able to work productively with others.
Expeditions such as ours are fraught — fraught with uncertainty and, of course, with the possibility of failure. Colleges, particularly private four-year colleges, face very challenging times.
We might next look for a college with a religious heritage and identity. Colleges with a religious affiliation are often unafraid to express values, even as they debate them. Students need both the challenge to values and the assertion of values.
Demographics are not in our favor. Fewer high school students, particularly in the Midwest, will be entering four-year colleges in the years to come. Colleges are competing among one another as rarely before. Nor are economic forces in our favor. Colleges’ ability to raise tuition is constrained, as it should be. The more expensive colleges become, the fewer families can consider the sort of education they provide. And there’s more still. Colleges work within an American society that has begun to distrust colleges, just as trust in many of our society’s institutions has fallen. But, if the expedition is difficult, it is because it has never been so important. You know this.
And so, among the many colleges in this country, among the many expeditions into the future, in which should we invest ourselves? Which would have the best chance of success? We might first look for a residential college.
If we are looking for our expedition to succeed in a diverse future, we might look for a college that, through its long history, has welcomed students that other schools would not enroll — a college that enrolled women in 1870, and its first black student in 1946. If we are looking for an expedition that can succeed when resources are constrained, we might look for a college that has been a bold steward of its resources, spending far less on investment management than others while producing percentage endowment returns that exceeded Harvard’s. And, if we are looking for an expedition with a history of success, we might gravitate toward a college with a pioneering tradition in the arts, in the sciences, and in athletics.
By now, you know where I am going. The college I have described is one that has become very precious to me in a very short time, as it already is to you. Continued on the next page.
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Presidential Inauguration
There is something unusual here at Carthage College, in Kenosha, in southeastern Wisconsin. Our students are committed not just to coursework in their majors, but to passions well outside their fields of study, and to activities outside of class, because all of these things are part of their journey. The devotion of our faculty and staff ensures that no student will make that journey alone. Those who work at Carthage give of themselves more than I have ever seen. Our graduates are known for rolling up their sleeves and getting things done, not waiting for the world to come to them. How will this unusual college, in this unusual place, look toward the future? We will seek new programs and new opportunities to express our history and build on our extraordinary legacy.
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We will go into the woods, explore the unknown. And we will not be afraid. We will deliberate nimbly, we will experiment boldly, we will work together with integrity and trust. And we will act. We will not think in terms of “or,” but in terms of “and” — for what the world needs now is less “or” and more “and.” And that has been Carthage’s nature from the beginning. Art and science. Mathematics and music. Pre-professional and liberal arts. Classical foundations and career preparation.
But college is not just about the private good of an individual’s experience preparing for an individual lifetime. It is a public good as well. The work of society occurs in organizations, in which people come together to solve problems creatively, carefully, and compassionately. We will prepare students not only for their lifetimes, but for the lifetimes of all those with whom they will come into contact. This expedition, this journey, is a worthwhile one. If anywhere the world’s needs can be met, it is here. If by anyone, it is by us. If by any college, by this one. You are witnesses here, in this chapel and in this ceremony, to my dedication to this expedition and its success. Join me. The world is waiting. And there is so much good we can do.
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Thank you.
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
“The liberal arts college has proved to be remarkably resilient and remarkably adaptable. You have chosen a leader who understands that.” – John M. McCardell Jr., vice chancellor at The University of the South
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“After being on campus for only a few weeks, he was able to distill the state of the College in five minutes. I’m not kidding.” – Leslie Cameron, professor of psychological science at Carthage “This is the most exciting time in Carthage’s history. … I wholeheartedly believe that John Swallow is the right person to take Carthage to new heights.” – Hoyt Harper II ’77, member of the Carthage Board of Trustees
6. 1. A fter his formal investiture, President Swallow wore the traditional presidential medallion. 2. Carthage’s campus pastor, the Rev. Kara Baylor, gave the invocation. 3. President Emeritus F. Gregory Campbell (left) and his wife, Barbara, returned for the Inauguration events, along with former president Gregory Woodward and his wife, Penny. 4. S pecial guest John Kuykendall, president emeritus at Davidson College, spoke at the Inaugural Dinner. 5. A fireworks display lit up the night sky. 6. T he Swallow family sang together at Fusion, a performance space in Kenosha. 7. The Carthage Wind Orchestra, conducted by Professor James Ripley, was among the musical ensembles that performed.
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“He has fostered conversations about student experiences and brought challenging issues right to the table so we could discuss them together — as a community.” – Ellena Ignacio ’18, president of Carthage Student Government “We all here bear witness: A good person and a good college have pledged their allegiance to each other.” – John Kuykendall, president emeritus of Davidson College “(Cameron) recognizes the leadership role Carthage plays in southeastern Wisconsin, and she is already nurturing relationships that will strengthen both our College and our community.” – Jeff Hamar ’80, first vice chair of the Carthage Board of Trustees Read speakers’ inaugural remarks at carthage.edu/inaugural-remarks.
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ON CAMPUS
A glimpse of what’s happening in the Carthage community
Giving Day 2018: A true team win! Five distinct categories of Carthaginians pitched in to make Giving Day 2018 a home run. Carthage exceeded participation goals for alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, and friends of the College during the third annual fundraising sprint on April 5. That broad support unlocked a $250,000 “challenge” gift from the Board of Trustees and an anonymous benefactor. “I’m incredibly proud of and grateful to our team and the entire Carthage community for stepping up to support the mission of Carthage College,” said Thomas Kline, vice president for institutional advancement. “The results exceed our expectations in every way, ensuring that many areas of the College receive funding that will continue to provide amazing opportunities for our students.” All segments of the community stood #redandready to support Carthage’s mission. Over the 24-hour period, the College received gifts from:
814 alumni (goal: 800) 330 students (goal: 300) 261 parents (goal: 250) 133 friends (goal: 100) 135 faculty and staff members (goal: 75) A full slate of 12 mini-challenges also succeeded after Carthaginians pledged to match gifts from classmates or like-minded donors. Targeted programs included experiential learning for multicultural students, the Center for Faith and Spirituality, and Model United Nations. In all, Giving Day 2018 raised more than $450,000 for student programming and financial aid. That surpassed the previous high of $326,000 from the 2017 event. The giving spirit proved contagious on social media, evident in a handful of spontaneous “flash challenges.” The Music Department earned a small bonus as the top-raising academic program, and Alpha Chi Omega won top honors among Greek organizations. The daylong celebration featured a full schedule of activities on campus, plus events that Carthage alumni hosted in a dozen U.S. cities.
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
New milestone reached with 6 Fulbrighters Cementing its status as a pipeline to prestigious fellowships, Carthage reached a new peak as six recent or impending graduates won 2018-19 overseas placements through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Peter Sproule ’16 received a Fulbright Study/Research Award to expand on previous scholarly work in Germany. He will produce a monograph examining the life and contributions of 20th century Bavarian fashion illustrator Hans Fischach. Five others were awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships to help local educators with language instruction and serve as cultural ambassadors: TJ Gaertig ’18 (Germany), Amerin Idell ’17 (Germany), Samantha Johnson ’18 (Bulgaria), Zoe Rodriguez ’18 (Colombia), and Skye Rutherford ’18 (Malaysia). Supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program is the premier source of cultural and educational exchange fellowships for American students. Each recipient
progressed through an on-campus interview and two stages of selection by review panels in the United States and in the host countries. The newest cohort breaks Carthage’s previous record of five Fulbrighters in a single year. The College has had 20 Fulbright fellows since 2015. “It is wonderful to see so many Carthage alumni serving around the world as Fulbrighters. They are really making a difference in the lives of their students and members of their host communities overseas,” said Dan Choffnes, Carthage’s director of student fellowships. “The six Carthaginians offered placements this year are adaptable, bright, and culturally sensitive teachers and scholars. They exemplify a spirit of international engagement that is so highly valued on our campus and in the Fulbright Program.” In 2017-18, Carthage extended its streak to three straight years on the exclusive list of top Fulbright-producing institutions in the United States. It was the only school in Wisconsin to make the list, which is published annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Campus springs to life
Foxconn pros and cons
A key attraction
Internship wrap-up
Tower progress
Hundreds turned out for a series of panel discussions Carthage hosted in February and March to assess the potential impact of the Foxconn manufacturing facility soon to be built in nearby Mount Pleasant. Panelists included community leaders and Carthage professors.
Classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein performed Bach’s “Goldberg Variations,” the work that gained her a loyal international following, Feb. 22 in A. F. Siebert Chapel through the Chamber Music Series.
Closing the book on a three-year grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, Career Services invited interns and their employers to a celebratory breakfast May 11. Carthage created 212 new paid internships through the program.
Workers entered the final stages of construction on The Tower, a new, eight-story residence hall. All rooms in the building filled on the first day of housing registration for 2018-19. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned during Homecoming weekend at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, with guided tours available from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
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COMMENCEMENT 2018
“Don’t let any single cable
tell you what to think.”
network or Twitter feed
A total of 577 members of the Class of 2018 participated in Commencement on May 27. In addition to the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education, Carthage awarded Master of Science degrees to the first cohort in its business design and innovation program. Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham gave the Commencement address on the same day his new book, “The Soul of America,” became No. 1 on the New York Times nonfiction best-seller list. A day earlier, he conducted a live question-andanswer session on campus. Other events on the weekend schedule included the New Alumni Convocation and Dinner, as well as the Baccalaureate service.
– Jon Meacham, 2018 Commencement speaker
“ Turn as many goodbyes into
see-you-laters as possible.”
– Andrew Seymour ’18, senior class speaker
A SAMPLING OF FIRST DESTINATIONS FOR THE CLASS OF 2018
LEA PERRINO
hometown: Cudahy, Wis. major: Biology
what’s next: A two-time participant in Carthage’s J-Term excavations at Omrit, Israel, Ms. Perrino will take that passion to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She will pursue a Master of Science in osteoarchaeology, a subfield that examines skeletal remains to shed light on past demographic shifts, environmental changes, epidemics, and wars.
what’s next: This summer, Mr. Grams is an intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in California, where he continues to research antibioticresistant bacteria that reside on the International Space Station. In August, he’ll enter a biomedical sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Florida.
BRADLEY RUTTER
AUSTIN WINTER
what’s next: In September, Mr. Rutter will head to the western highlands of Guatemala to serve as a healthy schools coordinator for the Peace Corps. Preparing for a career in public health, he will work with school superintendents, teachers, and community leaders on health, hygiene, and nutrition initiatives.
what’s next: Based on his audition
hometown: Eau Claire, Wis. major: Political Science
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TRISTAN GRAMS
hometown: Oak Forest, Ill. major: Classical Studies
hometown: Milwaukee major: Music Theatre
and a faculty recommendation, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan, welcomed Mr. Winter for a part-time internship as an actor and costume designer.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
TROY KENDREX
LINDY FLICK
what’s next: Mr. Kendrex, who
Marketing
graduated in December, landed a position in his hometown as a chemist for Akorn, a company that develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceuticals and other health products. Fellow Carthage lab workers tipped him off to the opening.
what’s next: Even in her initial career in cosmetology, Ms. Flick showed business acumen by winning sales awards. After completing the Adult Undergraduate Studies program, a marketing internship, and a full-time inside sales position, she was hired in April as an account executive with All Integrated Solutions in Franksville, Wisconsin.
GRANT DUNHAM
LAUREN PRATHER
what’s next: Having passed
Cross-Categorical Special Education
the required proficiency exam last summer, Mr. Dunham accepted a job as a compliance examiner for the National Futures Association. The regulatory body works to ensure the integrity and transparency of the U.S. financial derivatives system.
what’s next: Admitting she redrew her career plans “roughly six times” at Carthage, Ms. Prather found the right fit. In June, she started work in Naperville, Illinois, as a high school special education teacher for Camelot Education, a company that partners with public schools to serve at-risk students.
MACKENZIE CURRY
MEGAN RIVARD
hometown: Decatur, Ill. major: Chemistry
hometown: Inverness, Ill. major: Finance
carthage.edu
hometown: Racine, Wis. majors: Management and
hometown: Hoffman Estates, Ill. majors: Elementary Education and
hometown: Minneapolis major: History
hometown: Brookfield, Wis. major: Graphic Design
what’s next: She didn’t know it at the time, but Ms. Curry had on-thejob training for three years as a tutor for Carthage’s history and Spanish courses. Shortly before graduating in January, she learned her boss was leaving. Encouraged to apply, she got the job as Carthage’s director of tutoring services.
what’s next: Starting a few weeks before Commencement, Ms. Rivard put her skills to work as a graphic designer for Klement’s Sausage Co. in Milwaukee. She’ll contribute to a variety of projects, including wall murals, package design, and logos and promotional materials for the company’s new partnerships with the Milwaukee Bucks and Summerfest.
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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Updates on faculty and staff achievements
Board transition comes at high-water mark Dear Members of the Carthage Community, As I conclude four years of service as chairman of Carthage’s Board of Trustees and seven years as a member of the board, I have been reflecting on the progress of this beloved college on the shore of Lake Michigan. Witnessing Carthage’s progress as a model of higher learning has been a joy, and I wanted to share some observations with you. In the years that I have served on the board, Carthage has enjoyed the highest retention and graduation rates in its history, achieved its highest enrollment in College history, received its largest philanthropic gifts, enrolled the largest number of students from diverse populations, and exceeded the goals of our most recent fundraising campaign. We introduced the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a new Master of Science in business design and innovation. Both programs are booming. A number of important scholars joined the Carthage ranks, including an Oscar winner, a former network TV producer, an options trader, and a number of faculty with promising lines of research. Carthage's athletic teams have won 27 regular season conference championships, and our
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student-athletes have earned 76 individual All-American honors. We invested more than $100 million in campus facilities, including the recent Tower residence hall, the Nursing Learning Laboratories, the Science Center, the Campbell Student Union, and the establishment of the College's first international field station in Nicaragua. Our endowment has reached a record high of approximately $120 million, and our endowment returns beat out Harvard! This is nothing short of amazing, given the size and resources of this small but mighty college. And it is due, in large measure, to the people in our community who care deeply about Carthage’s success and our future: our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends, and trustees. Today, I want to take a moment to recognize two individuals who have made a remarkable difference at Carthage in recent years: trustees Loren Semler ’65 and John Sladek ’65. Loren and John are retiring from the board after a combined 51 years of service to Carthage. For 29 years, Loren has provided bold leadership to his alma mater. As chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the board, he guided the College through its recent strategic planning process, laying out a roadmap for our future. Additionally, over the years, thousands of students have led healthier lives due to his generosity in establishing the Semler Fitness Center. Loren also endowed a Bridge Scholarship to provide funding for students whose financial situations change while they are in college. For his part, John has served Carthage as a board member for 22 years. As a distinguished scientist, John was an early advocate and funder for the spectacular Science Center, a room of which is named in his honor. As chairman of the Academic
Planning and Resources Committee, John saw great value in the development of new programs across the College. A champion for our faculty and their research, John also supported students by establishing an endowed scholarship. In addition to Loren and John, I would like to recognize trustees William Madden, Craig Deaton ’72, and Tom Bolger for their many years of service on the board. William, Craig, and Tom have served the College with distinction and dedication, and we are grateful for their many contributions of time, talent, and resources. As we bid farewell to these trustees, we welcome two new trustees to our ranks: Alan Mills ’79, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in Indianapolis, and Jeff Neubauer, executive director of Higher Expectations in Racine. Additionally, I am pleased to announce the election of our new Executive Committee: Jeff Hamar ’80, chairman; Gina Madrigrano Friebus ’76, first vice chair; and Hoyt Harper ’77, second vice chair. The trustees and I are confident Carthage will continue to flourish under the leadership of this new team. And now, it is my turn to thank you all for your faith in my leadership as board chairman. It has been my honor to serve Carthage College these past years. I could not be more proud of the College, of all that it is and all that remains to be realized. With gratitude,
David A. Straz Jr. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ambassador at Large and Honorary Consul General, Republic of Liberia Honorary Consul General, Honduras
Summer Carthaginian 2018
SHOW YOUR PRIDE! Barnes & Noble at Carthage is the official campus bookstore. Find Carthage apparel and souvenirs, reading or textbooks, and an assortment of gifts and gift cards, in addition to all of your supply needs!
Visit us online at
carthage.bncollege.com or in the Campbell Student Union!
FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Anthony Barnhart, assistant professor of psychological science, and student researchers appeared on “The Nature of Things,” an iconic Canadian documentary TV show. The episode premiered in March, showcasing his ongoing studies in the science of magic. One of the highlighted projects was also described in the academic journal Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics, with Mandy Ehlert ’18 and Alison Mackey ’17 as co-authors with Prof. Barnhart.
Leslie Cameron, professor of psychological science; Mark Mahoney, associate professor of computer science; and Joy Mast, professor of geospatial science, were the first recipients of Carthage’s Wagner Teaching Fellowship. They
will explore, implement, share, and evaluate new teaching practices in collaboration with the College’s Teaching Commons.
International invited academic and religious leaders to discuss how to equip Christians and Muslims to create safe, just, and vibrant American cities.
Jacqueline Easley, dean of the Division of Professional Studies, contributed a chapter to the 2018 edited volume “Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools: Lessons from the Field.” Prof. Easley’s chapter explores beginning readers’ interaction with the Newberry Award-winning children’s book “Last Stop on Market Street.”
Richard Heitman, associate professor of philosophy, classics, and Great Ideas, retired after 15 years of service at Carthage. He wrote and lectured about the great Greek philosophers and, in recent years, taught courses examining the intersection of religion, philosophy, and topics like death, love, and beauty.
Fatih Harpci, assistant professor of religion,
Andrea Henle, assistant professor of biology, recently published results from her research into uveal melanoma, the most common type of eye cancer, in the journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research. Prof. Henle and colleagues at MIT have developed a zebrafish model to study the disease’s development and progression. Thus far, no treatment is available for the advanced form of this cancer, which typically spreads to the liver. The researchers’ long-term goal is to identify new therapies.
participated in “Seek the Peace of the City,” an interfaith consultation at Duke University in April. Coordinators from the organization Peace Catalyst
Carthage closed the academic year by presenting its two annual awards to distinguished employees on May 24:
E. Edward Kawakami, assistant professor of music and director of orchestral activities, received the 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award. Nominators gushed about his “compassionate ways of interacting with students” and praised him for establishing “the most inclusive environment [they] have seen on campus.”
Nick Winkler, associate dean of students, received the 2018 Distinguished Staff Award for exceptional service, teamwork, attitude, and reliability. What sets Mr. Winkler apart as a conduct officer, the announcement stated, is his “talent for turning a potentially negative situation into a positive interaction.”
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Michelle Hobbins, associate vice president of information technology, was a featured panelist at the 2018 CIOsynergy conference April 26 in Chicago. The Women in Technology panel focused on ways to promote the field of information technology to women and girls. Colleen Kappeler, adjunct assistant professor of communication and digital media, received a Susan B. Anthony Women of Influence Scholarship. These awards are offered to nontraditional female students in Kenosha County who show promise for advancement through higher education. Prof. Kappeler is enrolled in a Ph.D. program. In addition, she was selected as a writer for the “My Turn” column in the Kenosha News.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
KARA BAYLOR
Stewards of the earth we’ve been given
Romwald Maczka, professor of religion, retired after 29 years of service. An authority on the study of Christianity and Marxism, Prof. Maczka also taught courses in theology, world religions, church history, and the Holocaust. He co-led J-Term study tours to the Jewish Cultural Festival in Poland and Reformation landmarks in Germany. A former missionary, Prof. Maczka won the College’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1995-96. Jennifer Madden, assistant professor of management, had her research on successful affordable housing cross-sector collaboration profiled in the online resource “How Housing Matters.”
Mark Petering, associate professor of music, wrote “Lament” for tuba and orchestra, which conductor Christopher Warren-Green and the Charlotte (North Carolina) Symphony premiered in May. The following week, Mr. Warren-Green served as music director for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Jean Preston ’02, director of the Brainard Writing Center, wrote “Like a Small Bird Soaring,” a book of original poems that was recently published. James Ripley, professor of music, presented his research on the band music of Germaine Tailleferre in February at a College Band Directors National Association regional conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
carthage.edu
David Rhoads was one of my favorite professors when I attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Little did I know when I was learning about the New Testament from him back in the 1990s that someday I would serve as campus pastor at Carthage, where he taught religion from 1963 to 1968. I learned a great deal from Prof. Rhoads. He taught us about the power of hearing the story of Scripture — not by looking at the book and following along, but by memorizing Scripture and hearing like they did in the 1st century. He memorized the entire Book of James for one of the New Testament courses. He also shared with us his passion for caring for creation, a movement grounded in Scripture that emphasizes our duty to protect the Earth. Prof. Rhoads lived it out through teaching all of us, and by working with a group called Lutherans Restoring Creation. For all of his contributions to society, Carthage awarded Prof. Rhoads an honorary doctorate in 2009. I’m thankful for what I learned from him, and I’m always looking for ways to live a more sustainable life. Recently, I heard a news story about the damage that discarded straws do to the environment. Apparently they’re tough to recycle, so the straws enter the waste stream. Many end up in the ocean, endangering birds and turtles that ingest them. I have a daily Starbucks habit, and my regular order of a venti green iced tea with no sweetener required a straw. So I was part of the problem. Soon after hearing the story, I was in Starbucks again and was thrilled to find the new, $3 reusable plastic cup with a reusable straw. I purchased the cup, and I’m thrilled to say that I haven’t lost or cracked it as of writing this column.
Caring for creation is one of those issues that can feel overwhelming. When studies predict that plastics in the world’s oceans will outweigh fish by 2050, what can one person really do? Will my Starbucks cup really make an impact, in a positive way, on the environment? Will composting at home or yelling at my kids to take shorter showers make a dent in the growing mountain of garbage or the lowering water tables? I hope so. One person can make a difference, and I believe what Prof. Rhoads taught us in seminary: Part of our call is to be good stewards of creation. Peace,
Rev. Kara Baylor Campus Pastor
GREENER CONGREGATIONS The Lutherans Restoring Creation website offers discussion points and action plans to develop a greener congregation, along with a variety of resources for pastors, members, and others committed to this ministry. lutheransrestoringcreation.org
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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
Julio Rivera, professor of management,
Christine Sanni, vice president for marketing
marketing, and geospatial science, gave an opening keynote presentation on “Integrating GIS in the Business Curriculum” at the Leadership Workshop on Location Analytics. Geographic information systems company ESRI and the University of California, Santa Barbara, hosted the workshop from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.
and communications, joined Carthage’s executive staff April 30. She came from a similar position at Tufts University in suburban Boston, where she implemented Tufts’ first integrated communications and marketing plan, developed fundraising strategies, and strengthened the protocol for communication in crisis situations. Ms. Sanni’s higher education career also encompasses six years at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and three at Boston College.
Lance Thompson, assistant director of student involvement and campus activities, was appointed to the National Association for Campus Activities’ live event action group. He will provide guidance and direction for NACA events, including national and regional conferences.
Penny Seymoure, professor emerita of
Yan Wang, associate professor of modern
Isabel Rivero-Vila, assistant professor of modern language, was a contributing writer for a new publication that presents original research into the concept of “plurilingualism” and how to promote it in various stages of education. It features co-authors from France, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, and Algeria.
Pascal Rollet, professor of modern languages, received Carthage’s 2017-18 Adult Undergraduate Studies Teacher of the Year award. Recipients demonstrate excellence, both in their fields and in their work with nontraditional students in the seven-week evening program.
psychological science, was a reviewer for a new edition of “Cognitive Neuroscience.”
Mark Snavely, professor of mathematics, will receive the Mathematical Association of America’s
Certificate for Meritorious Service at MathFest in Denver this summer.
Jeff Teague, assistant director of financial aid, gave presentations on the PROSPER Act and Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to three congressional committees on Capitol Hill in June. He was one of three higher education professionals selected by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators for its annual advocacy effort in Washington.
languages and Asian studies, recently published an article in a book about Japanese pragmatics. That subfield of linguistics examines how context influences meaning. Her chapter appears alongside cutting-edge papers from many other prestigious researchers in Japanese sociolinguistics.
active alumni
attend regional events Carthage alumni are spread out across the country. Keep the Carthage spirit burning brightly from wherever you are! 16
Summer Carthaginian 2018
Carthage hires innovator David Timmerman as provost David M. Timmerman, dean and vice president of academic affairs at Monmouth College, will become Carthage’s provost and chief academic officer Aug. 1. While overseeing the development of the academic program of Monmouth, a private liberal arts college in western Illinois, Mr. Timmerman helped create interdisciplinary programs in global food security, global public health, arts management, and peace and social justice. “Colleges need to prepare students for society as it exists, not as we wish it existed,” he said. “At the same time, faculty and administrators should work in thoughtful, reflective ways to develop programs that are consistent with institutional values and that seek a better society for tomorrow. “This approach is what impresses me about Carthage College and is one of the many reasons I am excited to join the Carthage community.” He succeeds David Garcia, who rejoined the Carthage faculty in February as a professor
request an alumni id Your Carthage alumni ID provides: • A ccess for you and a guest to the N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center • D iscounts on tickets to Carthage Theatre performances
of English. As provost, Mr. Timmerman will guide the College’s educational programs and direct the allocation of its academic resources. “One of the many ways that David impressed the Carthage community was in his deep commitment to faculty development, which runs alongside a devotion to students and an appreciation of the need to both honor the liberal arts tradition and innovate,” said Carthage president John R. Swallow. During Mr. Timmerman’s eight years at Monmouth, the school significantly revised its general education curriculum, implemented inclusion and diversity initiatives, and secured grants from major foundations to support innovations in the first-year student experience. His scholarship has focused on rhetoric in ancient Greece, as well as how rhetoric developed
as a discipline in conjunction with the birth of democracy and the liberal arts tradition. Mr. Timmerman has contributed to a number of books on the subject, most recently as co-author of “Public Speaking and Democratic Participation: Speaking, Listening and Deliberating in The Civic Realm.” Ordained in a nondenominational church, he has served in various ministerial roles at three Evangelical Covenant Church congregations. Called to Wabash College in Indiana for a temporary assignment, Mr. Timmerman fell in love with teaching and the liberal arts experience. After earning a doctorate in communication from Purdue University, Mr. Timmerman began his formal academic career at Wabash in 1994. There, he worked in roles of increasing responsibility for 16 years, receiving the McLain-McTurnan-Arnold Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2005.
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FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
A new window to the Roman Empire After more than a dozen years of archaeological research at Omrit in Israel, Carthage professor Dan Schowalter was ready for something new. This year, the professor of religion and classics has moved his effort to France. He and his students will work on excavation projects at Mandeure, not far from the country’s eastern border with Switzerland. The first Carthage study tour to the new site is scheduled for August. “This was a chance to work in the western Roman Empire,” says Prof. Schowalter, “after almost 30 years working in the eastern Roman Empire.” Excavations have gone on for more than a century at Mandeure. Prof. Schowalter is especially excited about the site of a Roman temple, where formal excavation is expected to start by the end of the decade. He hopes that finds at Mandeure will provide greater insights into ancient Roman religious belief and practices. Prof. Schowalter believes Carthage is its American partner school. A team from the University of Strasbourg in France is in charge of the excavation. Two Carthage students who went with him to Mandeure last summer reported a very positive experience. “We've hit it off very well with the leadership team over there," he says. "There are a lot of
Carthage students had participated in the Omrit excavations since 2006.
Roman sites, but these people are really super.” Macalester College opened the Omrit dig site in 1999 about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, and Prof. Schowalter joined the following year. Carthage sent its first group of students in 2006, where they assisted in the excavation of a Greco-Roman temple complex and surrounding settlement. Prof. Schowalter became the primary administrator in 2012, working with faculty and students from the University of North Carolina, Williams College, Queens College, and St. John’s of Minnesota. Shortly after Commencement in May, he returned to Omrit. “There's a lot of work to be done” to close down the site, he says, including properly storing
finds from the excavation and publishing the research findings. As he’ll do at Mandeure, Prof. Schowalter focused on the first three centuries of the Christian era at Omrit. Until 2011, the work was done on the site of a Roman temple. Since then, the team has worked north of the temple in the settlement area. "We found evidence of some nicely decorated domestic space, with painted plaster walls," he reports, as well as evidence of a Roman bath complex. Prof. Schowalter stressed his gratitude to donors who have supported the efforts in Israel, and he believes that backing will continue at the new location.
Carthage’s new dig site in Mandeure, France, shifts the focus to the western Roman Empire.
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
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No matter where you are in the world, stay connected with Carthage Athletics. Watch dozens of free, live video streaming events all year on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
ATHLETICS
Scenic route to medal stand
Choosing J-Term travel over early meets, thrower Mia Bennett still wins NCAA title
A
ssistant track and field coach Greg Raimondi had worked with Mia Bennett ’18 enough to appreciate the thrower’s uniquely powerful blend of talent and work ethic.
After earning All-America honors in discus, weight throw, and hammer throw in her first three years with the Lady Reds, Ms. Bennett had some promising preseason workouts. Both coach and student-athlete justifiably entered the 2018 season believing a national championship was possible. So the senior’s decision to skip three earlyseason meets altogether — and take a J-Term study tour to South Africa instead — wasn’t immediately popular with Coach Raimondi.
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“When I first found out, I was very frustrated,” he said. “We both had big goals in mind for her senior year, and missing several weeks of a key training phase made me nervous for the rest of the season.” After several talks with Ms. Bennett, his concern eased a bit. The course, Global Perspectives of Business and Education, dovetailed with her plan
to begin graduate studies this fall in Carthage’s business design and innovation (BDI) program — and her ultimate goal to work in the nonprofit industry. Professors Jennifer Madden and Michele Hancock led students through South Africa, a country full of contrasts. It has one of the largest and most developed economies on the continent,
Summer Carthaginian 2018
but also staggering unemployment levels and educational struggles rooted in apartheid. “I’d never get the chance to go on a trip like that, under those circumstances, again,” Ms. Bennett said. “With the level of confidence I felt going into the season, it wasn’t a difficult decision.” Thousands of miles from campus, she didn’t forget about the challenges to come when she returned. “We found places in Africa to work out,” said Ms. Bennett, who traveled with Lady Reds teammate and fellow BDI enrollee Elanta Slowek ’18. “Some were pretty rudimentary — just bars and weights — but we texted pictures back to my coach, and he gave us some workouts to do.” After a brief illness caused her to miss one more meet, Ms. Bennett returned from the two-month layoff to take first place in the weight throw at a Feb. 10 invitational. Two weeks later, she won the same event at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet with a school and conference record. Ms. Bennett was one of six Carthage athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships at Birmingham, Alabama, in March. Her fifth throw of the day traveled 18.01 meters, which stood through the rest of competition and secured the national championship. “The first moment I realized I’d won, I felt superrelieved,” she said. “This has been a realistic goal of mine since the end of last indoor season, so it felt amazing to accomplish it.” The quest began in 2013, when former throwing coach Jeff Rebholz saw Ms. Bennett compete in a high school meet at Carthage and invited her to continue her career here. “Carthage was the only college to send me a recruiting letter,” she said, “and I was excited to continue competing.” Doubling as a sprinter until her high school coach suggested her long arms were ideally suited for throwing events, Ms. Bennett started her college career with little fanfare. “Out of high school, she had some decent marks, but nothing that was super-impressive for her to stand out at our level,” Coach Raimondi said.
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Since then, he has witnessed her dedication as she grew into a national contender in all three throwing events. Two months after her indoor title, Ms. Bennett took second at the NCAA outdoor meet in the hammer throw, which replaces the weight throw in outdoor competitions. She also competed in the shot put and discus, joining J-Term classmate Ms. Slowek and fellow throwers Sarah Schmidt ’20 and Elizabeth Willis ’20 as double NCAA qualifiers. In turn, Coach Raimondi was voted the Midwest Region’s top assistant this year for both indoor and outdoor track and field. Ms. Bennett gives Carthage much of the credit for her success as a student-athlete, noting that quality coaching and encouraging teammates have helped her to grow and mature. She became taskoriented, which was a new approach for her. “When I started putting my energy into small-picture things, my whole mindset kind of switched up,” Ms. Bennett said, listing examples like the weightlifting program, drills, and her own physical and mental health. “At some point in my college career, I started approaching life in that same way.” Gradually, the NCAA trophy began to seem more and more attainable. “My freshman year, being a national champion was definitely something I’d hoped to do, but it seemed so far away,” Ms. Bennett said. “Back then, it was more of a wish or dream than a goal. Actually doing it in March was a nice ‘We Made It’ moment.”
THROWING THEIR WEIGHT AROUND
The basics on the women’s weight throw: • 20-pound weight • Consists of a ball (typically a plastic shell filled with lead) attached to a triangular handle • Thrower whirls weight around her body, making one to three revolutions before release • Indoor championship throw by Mia Bennett traveled about 59 feet — roughly like throwing a car tire from the pitcher’s mound to home plate on a baseball field
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ATHLETICS
New AD equipped for rising tide Culminating its first search for a director of athletics since 1992, Carthage has hired emerging leader Michelle Manning to guide its NCAA Division III sports program through the next phase in its growth. Ms. Manning brings a multifaceted perspective, with documented success as a senior administrator, coach, and competitor. She balanced multiple leadership roles at Ithaca (New York) College for the past seven years. Susan Bassett, Ithaca’s director of athletics and a prominent leader in Division III sports, promoted her in 2015 to associate director of athletics for finance and administration. Ms. Manning streamlined the budget process, launched student-athlete development programs, and assisted in a major facility renovation. At Carthage, she succeeds Bob Bonn, who retired as director of athletics in June after an influential 26-year career. “Michelle Manning is a wonderful addition to Carthage and its leadership team,” President John Swallow said in the hiring announcement. “Her steady advancement under Susan Bassett reflects her ability to serve as a valued partner on progressively more complex initiatives. I’m thrilled that Michelle will join us and build on the tremendous foundation that Bob Bonn laid over his long career.” She enters a thriving program that raised 117 banners — signifying conference championships and top-eight national finishes — on her predecessor’s watch. “I want to thank President Swallow and the search committee for this opportunity to work with talented and dedicated student-athletes, coaches, and staff,” Ms. Manning said. “I appreciate Carthage’s long-standing tradition of academic and athletic excellence and the important role athletics plays in the overall student experience.” One of a select few invited to participate, Ms. Manning completed a pair of highly competitive NCAA fellowship programs for future athletic directors in 2016 and 2017. “Michelle is a rising star in athletics administration,” said Ms. Bassett, her supervisor at Ithaca. “She has been
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
New coach fluent in football’s facets In five years as a Carthage football assistant, Dustin Hass transformed the Red Men into a premier defense. In 2017, his final year as defensive coordinator, Carthage ranked in the top 20 among NCAA Division III teams in total defense and No. 1 in turnover margin. His stingy unit also put up the program’s first back-to-back shutouts since 1969. Pretty solid for a former Big Ten quarterback, huh? When head coach Mike Yeager left Carthage in February to become the defensive coordinator at Tiffin University, Bob Bonn quickly promoted Coach Hass to the top job. In announcing the hire, one of his final personnel moves as director of athletics, Mr. Bonn cited more than X’s and O’s. “Dustin is poised to lead the Red Men to the next level through his creative football mind, ability to recruit, and capacity to relate to players and coaches,” he said. Still, it’s fair to ask, how did a guy who spent his entire playing career dodging tacklers become a defensive expert? For that, the new leader of the Red Men credits his own college coach at Indiana University, Bill Lynch, who in 2010 assigned the eager graduate assistant to work with the Hoosiers’ defensive backs. The decision was driven partly by necessity, but also to diversify the coaching prodigy’s skill set. “I’m glad he did it,” said Coach Hass (pronounced HAAS). “It worked out well. I have a much better understanding of both sides of the ball than when I started.” Kyle Rooker maintains his role as Carthage’s offensive coordinator, plus additional duties as the new assistant head coach. Still, holding ultimate
responsibility over all phases, Coach Hass is excited to return to his pigskin roots with a bigger role in the offensive game plan. A backup quarterback at Indiana, he saw game action primarily as a holder on kicks in 2007 and 2008. He received a “Team Above Self” award as a senior. “Everyone wants to be a starter in football,” Coach Hass said. “Not everyone can.” Raised in northeastern Wisconsin, Coach Hass returned to his home state in 2013 to join the Carthage staff. Coach Yeager moved on to Tiffin, a Division II program in Ohio, after leading a turnaround in fiveplus years with the Red Men. Carthage improved from 1-9 his first full year to 7-3 in each of the past two seasons under Coach Yeager. “One of (Mike’s) most significant contributions was creating a staff of outstanding assistant coaches,” Mr. Bonn said. “This has enabled us to immediately promote Dustin and Kyle from within.” Grateful for the vision his predecessor laid out, Coach Hass looks to build on the program’s recent success. He sees a program with talented and disciplined players, enviable facilities, and “an education that’s easy to sell.” His debut comes against a Division III powerhouse, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, on Sept. 2 at Art Keller Field.
Men’s Golf
Swimming and Diving
Men’s Tennis
Senior exits on top
A pair of pool powers
Abban goes 2 for 2
With a birdie on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff, Matt Meneghetti ’18 won medalist honors at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men’s golf championship May 5 in Joliet, Illinois. He closed with a round of 69 for a 72-hole total of 289, 1 over par. Mr. Meneghetti finished with six individual titles in the 2017-18 season.
Carthage asserted its dominance in the pool, as both the Red Men and Lady Reds captured CCIW championships in February. Snapping a streak of 13 straight runner-up performances, the women’s swimming and diving program won the first conference title in its 45-year history. The men’s team repeated as conference champion. Individually, Hannah Miles ’18 became the Lady Reds’ first national qualifier since 2013.
Herman Abban ’18 of Accra, Ghana, won his second CCIW Player of the Year award in the two years he competed for the Red Men. This season, he went 7-0 in conference matches at No. 1 singles and paired with Daniel Moore ’21 to go 7-0 in doubles. Mr. Abban, who came to Carthage from a junior college program in New Mexico, graduated in May with the highest singles winning percentage (.889) in team history.
instrumental to the success of every aspect of our comprehensive athletics program.” Before transitioning to full-time administrator, Ms. Manning coached softball, women’s volleyball, or both at four Division III schools. A longtime member of the national softball committee, Ms. Manning is serving a two-year term as elected chair of the NCAA panel. In her own athletic career, Ms. Manning was a first baseman who made the all-region softball team in all four seasons (1997-2000) she competed for Mount Union College in Ohio. She holds a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia University. The search drew more than 100 applicants. From that pool, a cross-functional advisory committee strongly endorsed Ms. Manning. “Michelle is bringing to Carthage extensive experience in coaching and administration at academically strong institutions,” said Professor Catherine Lau, chair of the search committee. “I feel she will be a unifying presence on campus, supporting our studentathletes and coaches, and leading our Athletic Department toward even greater success.”
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ATHLETICS
Eye of the storm urdened by destruction B back home, top rookie finds respite on court
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
ATHLETICS
By voting him Rookie of the Year in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League in late April, opposing coaches acknowledged the beginning of a promising Carthage career for Kelvin Rivera ’21. But his Red Men debut also represented a successful conclusion to a three-year odyssey marred by loneliness, bad luck, and natural disaster. The first leg of the journey that brought him to Carthage’s door came in 2015. Before Kelvin’s junior year of high school, the family made the difficult decision to send the gifted outside hitter from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland. There, they believed, he’d be more likely to catch the eye of an NCAA Division I program. On the advice of a family friend living in New England, he landed at Framingham High School in Massachusetts. Known for blistering serves and authoritative kills that belie his lean frame, Kelvin led the Flyers to a state championship in his senior year. When a scholarship offer came from a Division I program in Connecticut, it appeared the two-year, 1,700-mile separation from his family would pay off according to plan. But the offer fell through. Resuming the relentless pursuit of his dream, Kelvin returned home to a university in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan. As he prepared for his long-overdue college volleyball debut last fall, the homecoming turned nightmarish almost overnight. “Within a week and a half of classes,” Kelvin says, “Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico. That’s when my life drastically changed.” Starting over. Again. He wasn’t there when the Category 5 storm struck in September. Hearing of its impending arrival, Jocelyn Castro took action the way only a frightened mother can. She secured for her son one of the last available airline tickets off the island. Just three hours before Maria’s devastating landfall, Kelvin was on his way back to the mainland. “I didn’t want to leave my family there by themselves, but she didn’t give me an option,” he says. “I was to go back to Massachusetts and figure out a way to keep moving ahead with my life, because she knew the island was going to get destroyed and it was going to be extremely hard to get off it.” The next week was torturous for Kelvin, as he
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waited for contact with someone back home. While the news of their safety eventually came, it would take much longer to restore normalcy. “Two weeks after the hurricane hit, I was able to go to Puerto Rico to bring food and supplies to my family,” Kelvin says. “When we flew over the island, it looked like someone had dropped a nuclear bomb on it. “What used to be such a bright and colorful place was now a place where people struggle just to find clean water and wait in line for hours to get food and gas for their generators. A place where the whole island has a curfew at 6 p.m. because there are no lights and no power at all. A place where it’s so hard to sleep because it’s 90 degrees out and you don’t even have a fan. “It was definitely the saddest thing I have ever seen. It broke my heart into a million pieces.” Kelvin’s heart is now mending in Kenosha. Drawn by Carthage’s campus and facilities, he connected with Coach L.J. Marx and the College arranged his transfer in less than a week. Kelvin enrolled in January, with plans to major in athletic training. After an adjustment period, his talent started to shine through — right at the point of the season when injuries left a vacancy in the Red Men lineup. Kelvin compiled 10 or more kills in seven of the final eight matches and, as the Rookie of the Year announcement attests, “established himself as a lethal force” down the stretch. Carthage went 24-2, rose as high as No. 2 in national polls, and reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Over time, Kelvin’s infectious grin returned more frequently. “It was great to see him for multiple days in a row smiling and being more of himself,” Coach Marx said. “He got to lose himself in volleyball and have some fun.” Kelvin returned to Puerto Rico for the summer. During the season, though, he relied on his surrogate support system in Kenosha. “The most difficult adjustment has definitely been the fact that my family is still struggling back home and I am all the way here in Wisconsin without being able to help them, but my teammates and coach have been great to me,” he says. “Volleyball has given me another chance at life when I thought everything was ruined.”
A champion of NCAA hospitality Putting on its first national championship, you might say Carthage Athletics aced it. Although the Red Men came up one match short of their dream scenario — a chance to compete for the title on their home court — Carthage still validated its selection as host of the 2018 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball Final Four on April 27 and 28. “Carthage was a tremendous host and worked diligently to provide an exceptional studentathlete experience,” said Laura Peterson-Mlynski, NCAA coordinator for championships and alliances. “Putting on a championship takes a village, and the support of the College was very evident from the outset. A sincere thank you for such a great event!” Just days after Carthage hosted a pair of NCAA regional matches, athletics staff went back to work. They helped to install a custom court over the Tarble Arena floor, as the governing body directs. Carthage also organized a national awards banquet, which was held at Kenosha Country Club the night before the semifinal matches. The Red Men claimed their share of accolades. The American Volleyball Coaches Association voted setter Matt Reinsel ’19 to the All-America team for the third straight season. Matt, tops in the country with 10.84 assists per set, joined middle blocker Zack Lillig ’18 on the first team, and opposite hitter Evan Walsh ’19 made the second team. Top-ranked Springfield College (Massachusetts) hoisted the trophy, defeating Stevens Institute of Technology (New Jersey) in the championship match.
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COVER STORY
Imperceptible to the naked eye, Bill Hoare’s small steps add up to
a shrinking footprint P
ouring sewage onto corporate polluters’ desks isn’t Bill Hoare’s way. Neither is capping smokestacks — or any of the other radical, often illegal, tactics an almost mythical figure known as “The Fox” used in the 1960s and ’70s to protest Fox River contamination in northern Illinois. Patrolling the same river banks on weekend field trips with a high school mentor, Mr. Hoare sought to emulate the activist’s passion for protecting local waterways. The escapades? Not so much. In that respect, the Carthage administrator has been more sly than The Fox — or at least more subtle. Heading toward a planned retirement in October after 40 years at the College, Mr. Hoare reflects on a career that put him in positions to “nudge” many decisions toward more sustainable options. The associate vice president for business has shepherded every major Carthage building project to completion since 1990. He also oversees maintenance, janitorial, and security services, and
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other aspects of the physical campus. Quietly, his influence nudged Carthage ahead of the curve in a few ways. He embedded a footprint-shrinking mindset in purchasing guidelines: carpeting made of at least 35 percent recycled content, less toxic (low- or noVOC) paint, furniture from local sellers to minimize trucking. Now exclusively using Green Seal-certified products, all Environmental Services staff members are trained in safe cleaning techniques. That transition began in the ’90s, when administrators noticed more students suffering from allergies and sought alternatives to the harsh chemicals that then monopolized the market. “We, almost by accident, stumbled into green cleaning because of it,” said Mr. Hoare. Oh, there were flops, too, like the well-intended switch from plastic trash bags to ones made from soybean oil. They tore repeatedly, briefly fueling what he calls “a minor employee revolt.”
“Everybody wants
clean water and clean air and green trees.
And everybody wants somebody else to carry the
heavy water.”
Summer Carthaginian 2018
MICRO VIEW
GREEN DINING SERVICES Quiet conservation All in all, Mr. Hoare has backed up one of his core beliefs: It doesn’t take a splashy, headline-grabbing investment to make a green dent. “It’s the sum total of what I would call the ‘micro’ decisions that make the big impact,” he said. Like the kind you sketch out on a restaurant napkin. Appalled by a builder’s $3,000 cost estimate, Mr. Hoare once did just that to design an official Carthage podium. From that makeshift blueprint, a carpenter on staff built five podiums entirely from existing materials: extra residence hall furniture wrapped in leftover carpet. They held up for years until staff finally replaced them this spring. Dining services and the campus bookstore, now both managed by outside vendors, initially stood under Mr. Hoare’s umbrella as well. Those duties were reassigned in 1999, freeing him up to concentrate on the coming building boom. Originally educated as a biochemist, Mr. Hoare recalls with bemusement taking construction management classes to become comfortably well-versed in that aspect of his job. Considering Carthage has invested more than $250 million in facilities since the turn of the century, it’s safe to say those lessons paid off. Each building project offers a chance to incorporate newer features that conserve energy and reduce waste. Although the additional cost dissuaded leaders from pursuing formal certification, Mr. Hoare said all campus structures erected in the past decade have met LEED Silver standards. He also was an early adopter of Building Information Modeling, a technological tool that overlays various contractors’ plans in a 3-D model to identify conflicts in advance. The result? An estimated 70 percent drop in construction waste since 2004. Ted Fares, who joined Carthage in 2017 as director of buildings and grounds, has taken up the green torch. In requesting proposals for the next waste-hauling contract, he included a provision requiring bidders to recycle at least 50 percent of campus waste. Plus, funds are set aside to replace The Caf’s aging, steam-fed dishwasher (and its highly inefficient 1960s boiler) in the coming year. The water-saving model that staff selected does more than rinse plates; it dehydrates food scraps into pellets that can be used as fertilizer on campus.
At a premium no longer Over time, Mr. Hoare has connected with like-minded Carthaginians seeking to make their own departments run more sustainably. Carol (Hintzsche) Sabbar ’82, director of library and instructional technology services, has been a consistent partner in advocacy. “Bill and I would both agree that, in the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ mantra, ‘Reduce’ is really the brass ring,” she said. “If I can spend less on paper or he can spend less on electricity, that gives us more funds that we can use for something more interesting and, frankly, more noticeable.” Part of a frugal breed of tree-hugger, they’ve patiently emphasized the long-term dividends.
continues on next page
carthage.edu
Unused food donated to local shelter
three times a week Since March, food scraps converted to
animal feed for ag industry
Trayless dining saves
280 gallons of water each day
General manager Brian Smoko plans
farmers’ markets in The Caf
New software measures, categorizes food waste to inform future decisions
35 gallons of cooking oil recycled weekly as biodiesel fuel Vendors offer disposable
SpudWare utensils – which biodegrade in 180 days
FACILITIES Daylight, occupancy sensors among
Solar-powered compactor,
energy-saving features in new/renovated buildings
Wisconsin
one of three in
Bamboo or Marmoleum flooring used in place of hardwood. Out-of-circulation library books donated or recycled, videos/ electronics resold on eBay Print monitoring system
cuts paper waste
(students set free page limit)
85% of Seidemann Natatorium materials reused in Campbell Student Union
Computers automatically shut down in Hedberg Library and campus labs at night
Six geothermal wells heat and cool
most of Potente Chapel
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COVER STORY
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION 85 environmental science majors in 2017-18 (up 57% over five years)
Students seeking approval for chapter of national
environmental science honor society Group projects in environmental science case studies course and new geospatial science senior seminar focus on
campus sustainability Professors Jerry Mast and Ron Cronovich commissioned to write a book based on their collaborative, energy-focused
In spring sabbatical, Professor Joy Mast will study impact of forest
management
Power Hungry course
on reproductive bats
Students on J-Term Nicaragua tour will begin using drones to study island’s drinking
water system Horicon Wildlife Refuge among
outside clients for recent Applied GIS course projects
Professor Tracy Gartner co-founded Ecological
Research as Education Network ; three-year milkweed experiment is underway
Student-run Carthage United to Rescue the Earth (CURE)
coordinated furniture recycling effort during move-out
Campus wetlands preserved as Phil Sander Audubon Sanctuary, expanded in 2016 with land donated by Barca family
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“Both of us are pretty good at delayed gratification. That is, if we know that we can spend a little bit more now but it will pay off over the next three, five, seven years, then it’s worth it,” said Ms. Sabbar, who has worked at Carthage since 1983. “Both of us have been here for a long, long time, so I think it gives us a better long view of our impact on the institution.” It’s become an easier sell in recent years, as the tension between conscience and expense began to loosen. “The economics of it are changing,” Mr. Hoare said. “The decisions were difficult, because there usually was a cost with those [energy-saving] features. That’s not so much the case anymore.” These days, the up-front burden is generally less daunting — and sometimes nonexistent. Outfitting the Science Center, Carthage spent $100,000 less on LED lights than it would have on less efficient fluorescent fixtures. It’s a market-driven shift, and consumers in higher education have the same expectations. “Entering students are looking for institutions that are role models,” Mr. Hoare said, “and evidence of sustainability is one of many elements they’ll look at.” Bright, young minds conscious of their ecological footprint? That ought to sound familiar to him. It may have been required reading, but Mr. Hoare took Rachel Carson’s screed against pesticides in “Silent Spring” to heart as a young student. At 16, he was thrilled to win a seat in a weeklong ecology workshop. To deliver the requisite talk to the local garden society, he recalls, “I had to borrow a suit from my brother.” Through those weekend river cleanup field trips with biology teacher Robert Horlick, the teenager unknowingly met The Fox around 1970. Jim Phillips, who was unmasked decades later as the river’s controversial champion, wasn’t the betting favorite at the time; he simply struck Mr. Hoare as a quietly intense and knowledgeable instructor. Hired at Carthage in 1978, he’s seen campus operations from several angles. Starting as director of student activities, Mr. Hoare later managed conferences, the former student union, and auxiliary services before settling into the business office for good in 1990. So much for that five-year career stop the native New Yorker initially envisioned. “It’s a community. It’s a family. And it turns into your life,” he said. “And that’s what happened to me.” After tying up the loose ends on his last construction project, The Tower Residence Hall, Mr. Hoare plans to relocate with his wife to Charlottesville, Virginia. In retirement, he teasingly threatens to “grow a beard and be the guy at Lowe’s who sells you the wrong tool.” The truth is more interesting. He’s tempted to buy a hobby farm using another book that inspired him, “Five Acres and Independence,” as his guide. “I’m a bit of a tinkerer and a bit of a hermit,” Mr. Hoare said. And why not? He’s been training to go off the grid for a long time.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
The Carthage Fund
Enables 1/3 of campus to compete as varsity student-athletes in the classroom and on the field
Elevates 95 artists to share
their craft with international audiences at performances around the world
Supports 90% of students through financial aid, making their education possible
Empowers dozens of researchers to dive into their fields and advance their skills
Make your gift
carthage.edu/givenow
COVER STORY
No policy unturned Researcher Barry Rabe crosses partisan, academic divides in search of climate solution
I
f crossing intellectual borders required a passport, Barry Rabe ’79 would’ve worn through a bunch of them by now. A prominent University of Michigan faculty member with an especially keen eye for environmental policy, he’s willing to go anywhere in the realm of ideas that offers the best vantage point. In April, Prof. Rabe returned to campus through the Johnson Distinguished Visitors program to share insights from his newest book, “Can We Price Carbon?” It’s the first major political science analysis of the long-term viability of policies designed to curb emissions and slow the progression of climate change. Sandwiching a public lecture between visits to five classes, Prof. Rabe found it fitting to talk with faculty and students from a range of academic disciplines. “I’m most comfortable crossing boundaries,” he said. “That’s pure Carthage. I learned that in Kenosha, and I keep doing it.” On one hand, he explains, there’s a consensus among economists: Tying some form of financial penalty to excessive carbon emissions is the most effective way to address climate change. Politically, however, that’s become something of a landmine. Support for a carbon tax or cap-and-trade has torpedoed at least one U.S. presidential campaign, and many states that instituted laws have since repealed them. Taught at Carthage to seek out “exceptional cases that might offer a different path,” Prof. Rabe sensed there was a trove of information buried beneath the superficial debate. Digging deeper produced the 376-page book, an exhaustive study of policies that leaders from three continents enacted over a 20-year period. He extracted some valuable nuggets from that mountain of data: places from New Hampshire to British Columbia where marketbased policies have helped the environment without harming the economy. “Perhaps if we learn from those, we might increase our prospects of developing a more promising policy strategy over time,” he said. After his visit to campus in spring, Prof. Rabe received invitations to brief staffers for both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. He’s comfortable crossing partisan boundaries, too.
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Summer Carthaginian 2018
MACRO VIEW
GREEN
Through the National Academy of Public Administration, he served on commissions that advised federal departments in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. When policies go astray, he’s been openly critical of presidents on either side of the aisle. A nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a nonpartisan think tank, Prof. Rabe regularly fields questions from the media. Recognizing him as one of a dying breed of objective sources, journalists tap Prof. Rabe’s expertise on issues from fracking to gasoline taxes. “I don’t see my role as taking political sides. Mine is to offer what I know and have studied about what does and doesn’t work in the public policy sphere,” he said. “No one person or party has the monopoly on good political ideas — or bad.” Speaking at his alma mater for the first time since accepting the Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, Prof. Rabe confessed — with only a hint of exaggeration — that the book was the first publication he’d titled with a question since working for the campus newspaper, The Arrow, 40 years ago. As for the central query: Can we price carbon? The researcher answers with a resounding maybe. “The question mark’s still there,” he said, noting that it remains “a challenging political lift.” Still, the lessons of history — one of Prof. Rabe’s undergraduate majors — won’t let him abandon hope for a politically and fiscally tolerable solution to climate change. He can step back and appreciate the nation’s environmental progress. “There have been huge successes,” he said. “That’s what makes it easier for me to get up in the morning.”
Where We Stand Professor Barry Rabe ’79 and a collaborator from Muhlenberg College founded the National Surveys on Energy & Environment in 2008. Polls are conducted twice each year to gauge Americans’ opinions on energy and climate policies. Here are highlights from the Fall 2017 survey:
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Like what? Well, largely driven by a shift toward cleaner electricity, the United States has cut total greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10 percent in the past decade. And, despite the rising number of vehicles on the road, air quality is as good as or better than it was in Prof. Rabe’s college years. “That didn’t happen by accident,” he said, “and many in the 1970s thought it would be impossible.” Back then, as a first-generation college student, he found a career in higher education just as incomprehensible. Married to the Rev. Dana Runestad ’80, he holds an Arthur F. Thurnau professorship at Michigan — the highest honor the primarily research-focused university conveys for excellence and innovation in undergraduate education. Referring to the Carthage faculty as “transformational figures” in his growth, Prof. Rabe tries to forge similar connections in his public and environmental policy courses. “Had I landed in Ann Arbor or Champaign-Urbana or Madison to do my undergraduate [work], I highly, highly doubt that I would have pursued this path,” he said. As he moves on to other projects, another trend in energy policy has caught the restlessly curious researcher’s eye: governments’ use of special trust funds to invest (and grow) proceeds from petroleum taxes. Norway’s oil fund has surpassed $1 trillion since its establishment in 1996, and several U.S. states are trying similar things. Is the Norwegian system an isolated case or a model the rest of the world can replicate? Prof. Rabe intends to shed light. Crossing international boundaries just means more stamps in his dog-eared intellectual passport.
Solid evidence of global warming?
yes 78%
What’s causing it? Human activity Natural patterns Both
50 % 16% 25%
Require immediate government action? Yes No
76% 18%
Support for government options to reduce emissions: Increase subsidies for renewables Increase use of natural gas Implement cap-and-trade system Phase out coal-fired power plants Implement federal carbon tax Increase use of nuclear energy
84% 56% 49% 48% 47% 43%
no 18%
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COVER STORY
Work that appeals to
their better nature stop the aliens, save the gecko
one fish, two fish, not enough new fish
Pritpal Singh Soorae ’89 leads a team of scientists from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi that monitors rare and endangered species, as well as threats from invasive “alien” ones, in the largest of the seven United Arab Emirates. One creature that’s particularly at risk is the wonder gecko, named for its permanently wide-eyed look.
Stationed at the University of Georgia, Cecil Jennings ’81 is a research fishery biologist for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He works to determine what’s behind dwindling fish populations — often human activities like overfishing or degrading the habitat — and devise solutions. It’s vital to the health of commercial and recreational fishing and the whole ecosystem.
fewer bugs = bigger crops Senior analytical chemist Erin (Zimmerman) Gemperline ’11 and her team at Corteva Agriscience (the ag division of DowDupont) are developing new products to boost farmers’ harvests. They’re trying to do it more sustainably, using naturally derived molecules to combat pests and diseases that have become resistant to harsher traditional pesticides.
profit mongers, take a hike As director of leadership and sustainability in the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, Bill Mains ’95 aims to adjust the mindset of future leaders. He’s led students on daylong nature hikes and longer trips to Alaska, confident that those students -- mostly business majors -- will choose to protect, rather than pollute, the rivers and forests they’ve seen.
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“Simple things such as whether to recycle or not, turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth, thermostat setting in the home, the type of vehicle we drive, turning lights off when we leave the room for extended periods of time, walking up/down a flight of stairs instead of taking the elevator, where we source our food … all
of these decisions affect how much energy we use, which in turn affects our
carbon footprint and contribution to greenhouse gases (and eventually climate warming).”
Summer Carthaginian 2018
GREEN
ALUMNI
when the damage isn’t quite done
restoring brownfields to green
While working for a federal contractor, Matthew Baumann ’08 used predictive models to shape habitat restoration plans after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and projections of climate-induced erosion in Alaska — direst for Newtok, a coastal village that’s now forced to relocate. These days, with the state of South Carolina, he uses modeling to protect lakes and rivers from excessive wastewater discharge.
Until a recent, family-driven move to Switzerland, Justine (Petras) Stumpf ’08 was an environmental geologist for Ramboll U.S. Corporation in Chicago. Field investigations led her to Superfund sites and other contaminated areas. Analyzing soil, water, and air samples, she could compare pollutant levels to allowable standards and inform the next steps in remediation.
locavore chef takes a stand For Goose & Fox, his underground supper club and catering company in Chicago, owner and executive chef Greg Combs ’06 insists on organic and seasonal ingredients from local farms, as well as meat from humanely treated animals. It’s his way “to add to the momentum of a culture shift” toward sustainable food production that goes easy on the planet.
a long-term investment horizon Angie Prosek ’95 recruits funders and partners for the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business. Part of Seattle-based nonprofit Conservation International, it guides companies like Chevron, Disney, and Walmart to become model stewards through responsible mining, investing in forest carbon offsets, and other tactics. She also oversees a council of corporate innovators in sustainability.
“I believe the current climate crisis can be addressed not politically, but with a dramatic culture change.
what we eat and how we grow food is an easy place to start.” carthage.edu
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12 COVER STORY
11
7 3
9
8 1
4 5
1
10
6
2
Alice Moody Chapin Arboretum
tree tour A
1. Swamp White Oak 2. Dawn Redwood 3. American Hornbeam 4. Sweet Gum 5. Black Oak 6. Northern Red Oak
7. Serviceberry 8. Rain Garden 9. Heritage Elm 10. European Beech 11. Oak Grove 12. Bur Oak
GPS tree mapping by Michael Meke ’19
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fter earning accreditation from the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta in 1996, Carthage dedicated its Kenosha campus grounds as the Alice Moody Chapin Arboretum. Thanks to a bequest from the late Ms. Chapin, a 1935 graduate, the College committed to identify and mark plant species and develop a long-range plan for tree maintenance and replacement. Since then, Carthage has planted nearly 400 more trees — off-setting those lost to bluff restoration, construction, storms, and pests like the emerald ash borer and pine borer. Geospatial science professors Kurt Piepenburg ’77 and Wenjie Sun, along with their students, have begun to map the various species in the arboretum. Here are some examples of notable campus foliage:
Summer Carthaginian 2018
1 SWAMP WHITE OAK Quercus bicolor
• Two-tone leaves appear dark green on top, silvery white underneath • Attractive peeling bark, especially on young trees • One placed near rain garden on campus because of its flood tolerance
2 DAWN REDWOOD
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
•H as needles like an evergreen but loses them in fall like a hardwood •F ossil records indicate species up to 50 million years old • Very tolerant of wet, compacted soil and air pollution
3 AMERICAN
HORNBEAM
Carpinus caroliniana IN MEMORY OF: Professor Nelson Peter Ross • Slow-growing native shade tree with low crown • Hard wood can be polished to a high sheen; colonists made into bowls and oxbows • aka “musclewood” (smooth gray bark and sinewy limbs), “ironwood,” or “blue beech”
6 NORTHERN RED OAK Quercus rubra
• One of the fastest-growing oaks • Latin for “red,” the leaves’ fall color • Important to timber industry
4 SWEET GUM
Liquidambar styraciflua
IN MEMORY OF: Professor R.W. “Bill” Miller • Has star-shaped leaves and prickly fruit • Latin for “flowing with gum,” due to its fragrant sap (formerly used in chewing gum)
5 BLACK OAK
Quercus velutina
• Native to northern Midwest • Latin for “velvety” or “hairy” for fine hairs on buds, young leaves • Formerly called yellow oak for inner bark color
• Brilliant red, yellow, and orange fall leaf color
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12
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10
7 3
4 5
1
6
2
7 SERVICEBERRY
Various species of genus Amelanchier
• Understory plant, usually at woods’ edge, draws birds and other wildlife • A four-season landscape favorite • aka “shadbush” (blooms during East Coast shad spawning run) or “juneberry”
9 HERITAGE ELM
‘Regal’ from genus Ulmus
11 OAK GROVE
• L arge shade tree with finely textured foliage
• Clusters at Sesquicentennial Plaza
• I ntroduced by University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Tribute to College’s previous homes and frontier origins
• Various species
•S elected for its resistance to Dutch elm disease
8 RAIN GARDEN • Various species • Native shrubs, flowers planted in shallow depression • Retains runoff from building roofs and road so it seeps into ground
10 EUROPEAN BEECH Fagus sylvatica
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12 BUR OAK
Quercus macrocarpa
• L ong-lived shade tree species brought to U.S. in 1700s
• Majestic, broad-spreading shade tree native to American prairies
• Trunk looks like elephant skin
• Has largest acorns of all oaks
•B eechnuts are edible, ripen in fall
• aka “mossycup” for fringed top to acorns
Summer Carthaginian 2018
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continuing studies at Carthage
As a Carthage adult undergraduate, professional, or graduate student, you will gain the knowledge and distinctive skill set you need to take the next big step in your professional life. Carthage offers professional development opportunities, including continuing education for teachers and personal enrichment, in addition to graduate studies in education, and business design and innovation.
learn more carthage.edu/ocs Information Sessions | Career Services | Financial Aid | Veteran Opportunities CMYK
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FE AT U R E S TO RY
Stages of development T he “nontraditional student” label fit Marie Tredway ’17 more snugly than most.
From single mom to bartender to aspiring nurse and, finally, to award-winning theatre professional, rarely has her journey taken the traditional route. Ms. Tredway developed a love for the stage at an early age. “I started dancing when I was 3, and I thrived on being in the spotlight,” she says. Dabbling in theatre all through her school years, Ms. Tredway believed it was strictly for fun — in other words, not a viable career path. One of three children raised by a single mom, she learned to equate the American dream with a good-paying job that provides for your family. After high school, financial constraints forced her to delay higher education. At 25, she was tending bar in California to support a daughter of her own when her mom — who had recently relocated to Chicago — convinced her to follow and pursue a nursing degree. “She really wanted me to have a stable career in the medical field, because she was a single mom and her retail job was hard on her,” Ms. Tredway says. “We lived paycheck to paycheck. We never went hungry, but she really wanted better for us.”
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A sharp turn
During her first week on campus at Wilbur Wright College, a conversation with some theatre students in her English class reignited Ms. Tredway’s passion for performance. An audition that same week led to a part in “The Rocky Horror Show.” As Ms. Tredway’s love for theatre grew, she needed to make a decision. “I tried to juggle both nursing and theatre,” she says, “but I realized theatre was not only my passion, it was also a viable career — I didn’t need to try to do both.” A mentor at the college, Professor Theresa Ham, encouraged Ms. Tredway to follow her dream. “I knew I was good at it, I was passionate about it, and I was willing to do whatever it took to be successful,” she says. “Once I made that decision to open up the world for myself, that’s when the world opened up for me.” After officially declaring a theatre major, Ms. Tredway found her path rerouted again in 2013 when she attended the Kennedy Center’s regional American College Theater Festival. “I saw this beautiful play titled, ‘A Clamour of Rooks,’ and it really stayed with me,” she recalls. “I couldn’t stop talking about this show, and then I found out it was produced and performed by Carthage College.” Set to graduate from Wilbur Wright with an associate degree, Ms. Tredway was busy exploring theatre programs in the Chicago area. Suddenly, her college search expanded by one. “When I learned Carthage was just at the Illinois-Wisconsin border, I knew I had to apply,” she says. “I toured the beautiful campus, applied for the school, auditioned for scholarships, and ended up receiving a full ride.” Professor Herschel Kruger was there when she auditioned for the theatre program.
“Marie was a few years older than traditional-aged college students, but she definitely brought in a richer inner life and maturity than your typical incoming freshman,” he recalls. So, at 30, Ms. Tredway walked onto campus and began her next chapter as an adult student, taking classes alongside students 10 years her junior. “I loved it,” she says. “I felt great about being a natural leader, using my life experience to give advice and help motivate, but I also learned so much from my peers. They kept me young and energetic.”
Potent portrayal Twice, Ms. Tredway returned to the Kennedy Center regional festival with her new classmates — these times as a performer, rather than a spectator. Most recently, Carthage was invited to perform “A Seat at the Table” in Indianapolis this past January. Like “A Clamour of Rooks,” the show that initially hooked her in 2014, that production emerged from the College’s New Play Initiative. Ms. Tredway had the lead role as voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. A plantation worker for most of her life, Ms. Hamer lost her job for attempting to register as a voter. Threatened, harassed, and assaulted as she tried to help others do the same, she persevered to speak at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. The road trip to Indy presented a potential challenge for Ms. Tredway. Since the play’s original run ended in March 2017, she had graduated and settled into a new schedule as a full-time mom-slash-thespian. Ultimately, the knowledge she picked up in those first post-college months outweighed any logistical concerns.
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“I was able to see how other professional actors work and see the kind of gravitas and experience they bring to their roles,” she says. “It helped me to be able to add more dimension to my character of Fannie Lou Hamer.” The festival’s selection committee acknowledged that depth, recognizing Ms. Tredway nationally for Distinguished Performance by an Actress in a Play. Likewise, crew members Joshua Maloney ’20 (stage management), Conor O’Brien ’17 (sound design), and adjunct faculty member Maureen Chavez-Kruger (scene design) received individual commendation. The full company was honored for dramaturgy. The role Ms. Tredway describes as “life-changing” came during a period of insecurity and anxiety, as she searched for clues to her “personal identity — who I am as a woman of color, as a person of color in relationship to Carthage, in relationship to theatre.” By immersing herself in a character who was unjustly muzzled, Ms. Tredway discovered her own voice. She drew confidence from Regina Taylor, the writer behind “A Seat at the Table.” Best-known for her Golden Globe-winning TV role as Lilly Harper in “I’ll Fly Away,” Ms. Taylor successfully branched out to theatre. She became the first black woman to play Juliet (opposite Romeo) on Broadway, and her original plays have drawn critical acclaim. “She bolstered me, supported me, helped me to be unapologetic about who I am,” Ms. Tredway says. “I felt that self-discovery of my inner voice ran parallel to Fannie Lou’s story.”
Artistic activism The festival’s panel cited “A Seat at the Table” as a Distinguished Production of a New Work, the fourth time since 2012 the College has earned that national distinction. Carthage also won the new Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award “for insisting that
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theatrical production is central to the urgent community, national, and international conversations on the campuses of higher education nationwide.” That’s woven into the fabric of the theatre program, which taught Ms. Tredway to “challenge conventions and create art that communicates.” Other recent Carthage productions have dealt with themes like sexual assault, technology saturation, and finding a voice in today’s political climate. “Carthage is always pushing the envelope,” says Ms. Tredway, adding that the faculty “teach us how to be responsible artists, especially with the New Play Initiative productions.” Now married and working in professional theatre in Chicago, she gravitates toward productions that tackle issues she’s passionate about. “I’m a woman, I’m a person of color, I’m a daughter of immigrants — my parents came from the Philippines. The things that identify me are extremely important to me,” she says, “and I want to highlight those things in the works that I do.” Ms. Tredway recently directed the musical “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” a satirical rock musical about the founding of the Democratic Party. “I was invested in telling the side of the story that sometimes gets overshadowed
Marie Tredway ’17 portrayed the defiant Fannie Lou Hamer in “A Seat at the Table.”
because it’s a satirical, hilarious, irreverent take on Andrew Jackson,” says Ms. Tredway. “Instead of just highlighting the comedy, I also wanted to focus on the treatment of Native Americans during that time and bring that into the present, showing how America still sees them.” Immediately after that show wrapped, she simultaneously started rehearsals for two productions in different capacities — one as assistant director, the other for her first lead role in Chicago: Honey Girl in “Not One Batu,” which delves into the Hawaiian meth epidemic. You won’t find this alumna sitting still for very long. “I’m doing new work, classic work, acting, directing, and within all that I also have the ability to spend the days with my girls (Amaya is 9 and Alexis is 2) and see them grow,” she says. “The Theatre Department faculty members have been great examples of what it means to be working theatre professionals as well as kind and loving parents, and I will forever be grateful.”
where it all began To mark the 10th installment in the New Play Initiative, Carthage will welcome back Academy Award-winning writer Eric Simonson this fall. A Nov. 9 premiere is tentatively planned for “Up and Away,” which provides timely insight into the heroin epidemic through the eyes of an aspiring YouTube star. Mr. Simonson, an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, launched the initiative with “Honest” in 2009.
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FE AT U RE S TO RY
high finance to higher ed Cassie Lau lifts up field tarnished by recession
T
o the benefit of her many appreciative students, Professor Catherine “Cassie” Lau is making great use of her first career as the fulcrum for her second. The Carthage educator spent her earlier years in high finance in New York, holding such titles as assistant treasurer and vice president at Credit Lyonnais, senior director at Fitch Ratings, and senior managing director at Security Capital Assurance. “There’s an excitement in finance,” Prof. Lau said. “You do know that things could turn against you. You have to make the best decision you can with the facts that you have right then.” In the late 2000s, things turned against just about everyone. Although it triggered her layoff from SCA in 2008, Prof. Lau looks back on the financial crisis as “a good thing for me, unlike most people.” “It was during the crisis that I was considering what I should do,” she said. “I either had to get a new job or switch careers.” It would’ve been easy to stay the course. Already consulting for Deutsche Bank and Paloma Capital, she had the option to join either firm. But the allure of teaching proved stronger. Entering a Ph.D. program through the City University of New York system, she saw a chance to counteract the derision that the
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economic upheaval had brought upon her former field. “We need finance,” she said. “We need good, ethical people in finance. When there’s a big blot on it, it seems to drive those people away. ... I thought, if I could get into a school and teach people about what’s good about finance, I could maybe do a little bit to help the next generation.” This fall will mark her seventh at Carthage. Chair of the Accounting and Finance Department, Prof. Lau also teaches economics and serves as the College’s faculty athletic representative to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. She loves her second career every bit as much as her first — if not more. Prof. Lau integrates current events into her teaching at every opportunity and emphasizes ethical decision-making. “Sometimes the way to make the highest profit may not be the right way,” she said. “If you’re in a job or life situation and you’re thinking ‘This might be unethical,’ it probably is.” The professor bore witness many times to ethically sound decisions during her financial career. Financiers pooled consumer loans to reduce funding costs and expand consumers’ buying power, for one. Her bank also refused to handle “viatical settlements,” which allow third parties to buy life insurance policies for less than face value. “These transactions performed better when life expectancy decreased,” she said, “which we found repugnant.” Besides her insight into the subject matter, Prof. Lau has become known for her commitment to students’ welfare beyond the classroom. “She’s wonderful with the students,” said Michael
Summer Carthaginian 2018
Guided by Professor Cassie Lau, a team of Carthage students annually travels to Chicago to compete in the College Fed Challenge.
Phegley, a professor of management and marketing. “She relates well with them. She’s approachable.” Earlier this year, the two colleagues co-taught a J-Term study tour in London that examined “Brexit,” the United Kingdom’s impending withdrawal from the European Union. “She’s also got a lot of experience from her time in New York in the financial markets there. Because of that, she has connections,” Prof. Phegley said. “Sometimes she’s able to set things up because her firm in the past had done business with these places.” Benjamin Clohesey ’18 was thrilled to explore Brexit’s implications up close in January, against the backdrop of Big Ben, British Parliament, and the “Square Mile” financial district. Besides maintaining friendships with former colleagues in London, Prof. Lau spent her last semester of college outside Oxford. Such deep knowledge of the terrain was an asset to the students. “London is the financial hub of Europe, and that’s all going to change now,” Mr. Clohesey said. “She did a very good job of bringing in people to talk on the financial status, what’s happening with real estate, in parliament — both sides of it.” Economics major Nasreen Pournik ’18 took four classes with Prof. Lau. Two were tied to the College Fed Challenge, a competition where a small cohort of Carthage students presents rate-setting recommendations to a panel of Federal Reserve economists. “She’s super-intelligent, has an amazing backstory — so many experiences she can recall,” Ms. Pournik said. “She will always surprise you ... and is always trying to get as many students involved in the conversation as possible.” That’s high praise to Prof. Lau. “They’re human beings, developing young people, and I enjoy the interaction,” she said of her students. “A lot of people sometimes just need someone to listen. “Over time, as a [finance department] manager and now as a teacher, I realized you really have to step back,” she
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continued. “Sometimes, if you listen and ask the right questions, people will come up with the answers they seek on their own.” Prof. Lau recalled her own undergraduate days, when at first she was determined to be a psychologist. “I took an economics class almost like medicine — you know, I thought it would be good for me,” she said. “And I loved it.” A key professor encouraged her, suggesting she had a knack. Before long, she was in a bank management training program, attending evening finance classes at NYU with professors who worked on Wall Street. That’s the sort of applicable experience Prof. Lau — who previously taught at institutions in New York, Connecticut, and Shanghai — and her husband of 31 years, Alex, are determined to provide for Carthage students. An adjunct professor, Alex Lau advises student teams in equity and futures trading competitions and runs a practicum with RCM Alternatives, a registered commodity brokerage firm. After working in the financial nerve centers of the United States and abroad, the couple’s acclimation to the pace of Midwestern life is a process. “We’re still adjusting and need to visit cities every now and again,” Cassie Lau admitted. There’s a trade-off, and she pointed to walks in Petrifying Springs Park and trivia games with friends as favorite Kenosha area activities. Watching new financiers blossom provides the biggest rush, anyway.
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CLASS NOTES
1963
Yvonne (Pfabe) Juhl – St. Louis, went on a cruise on the Danube River in July 2017. After her husband, Bill, passed away in 2016, she decided she would go ahead with the trip they had planned together. The cruise included a three-day stop in Apatin, Serbia, where her maternal grandfather was born in 1891. She was able to meet two of her fifth cousins who have ancestral roots in that town.
1970
Jon Kukla – Richmond, Va., was one of seven finalists for the 2018 George Washington Prize, a major literary award, as the author of “Patrick Henry: Champion of Liberty.” The award, sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Washington College, annually recognizes the best-written works on the nation’s founding era.
Norma (Buth) Mortimer – Milwaukee, is retiring from Milwaukee Public Schools after a 28-year career. A pioneer in the integrative teaching of music at the middle school level, she taught high school English for the past eight years. Norma writes that she “does not intend to slow down once she has erased the last board and put the last chair under the last desk.”
1977
Karen Howery – Holyoke, Massachusetts, married Holly M. Palmer on Dec. 23 in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Allison Gruber – Flagstaff,
Greg Lampe – Oak Creek, Wisconsin, received a distinct privilege when Oak Creek High School named its softball field in his honor. Greg started the school’s softball program in 1987, guiding his teams to a 302-52 record over 17 years, and also worked as athletic director. Now retired, he serves as executive director of the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association, which inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jill (Brehm) George – Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was installed as principal at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran School and Early Childhood Center on Jan. 21.
1999
Kari (Schultz) Gribble – Arena,
1998
1984
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1985
Arizona, was selected as a finalist for the 2018 Kore Press’ Memoir Award with her second book, “Transference.” Her first book, “You’re Not Edith,” was a Lambda Literary Award finalist.
Wisconsin, was highlighted in the Wisconsin State Farmer publication in May. She and two siblings own a 2,000-acre Tri-Fecta farm with 400 cows near Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Kari is the farm’s chief financial officer.
Anil Thomas – Chicago, joined PPM America in January as a senior managing director. Anil is responsible for new client development in the Western region of the United States and is focused on the firm’s relationships with institutional investors and consultants.
2003
Sheb Muhammad – Kenosha, received the Mahone Fund’s Signature Award on May 5 at the Reaching for Rainbows Gala, which celebrated its 20th anniversary. Sheb, principal at Grant Elementary School in Kenosha, remains committed to the success of the fund, which provides programs, scholarships and access to opportunities to youths.
Cynthia (Fitzsimmons) Krueger – Milwaukee, married Carey Krueger on Feb. 4, 2017. Cynthia works as the assistant director of alumni development at Wisconsin Lutheran High School.
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Thank you, Fred ’83 and Joan Krull, for making Carthage one of your philanthropic priorities. Fred Krull has been a loyal donor to Carthage since shortly after graduation in 1983, when he set aside $20 for the College. Today, with the help of corporate matching gifts, Fred and his spouse, Joan, are recognized as members of the Leadership Circle at the Trustees Club level. Soon, the cumulative value of the Krulls’ gifts will qualify them for membership in the Enduring Gift Society. A member of the President’s Leadership Council since it was created in 2014, Fred now serves as chair of the group. As true leaders in the philanthropic community, PLC members make annual gifts at the Flame level or above, volunteer their time and expertise, and meet as a group with the president twice a year to provide critical input on current and future initiatives. This past year, Fred served as a member of the Tower Initiative committee, which has helped to raise more than $1 million. To learn more about Leadership Circle levels and the PLC, go to www.carthage.edu/give/recognition
Thank you, donors! With gratitude, we acknowledge and honor Carthage’s most committed donors for supporting Carthage through philanthropic contributions. Your partnership powers every aspect of education at the College, from financial aid and internships to faculty and program support. Every gift makes a difference, and every donor is unique. Find the society that matches your philanthropic goals. You can be a member of one, two, or all three societies. We also give special thanks to those who support the College through volunteer engagement, including the Board of Trustees, President’s Leadership Council, alumni board and club leaders, career mentors, and other entities such as the Tower Initiative and Reunion committees.
Leadership Circle members gave $1,000 or more in the most recent or current fiscal year. Tiers within the society recognize higher levels of giving, and graduated giving levels are available for recent alumni. Membership is renewable annually. Members of the Enduring Gift Society have cumulative lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more (exclusive of estate commitments). Tiers within the society recognize higher levels of giving. Membership is lifetime. Members of the Denhart Society have included Carthage in their estate plans. Membership is lifetime.
See honor rolls and learn more about all levels of giving at www.carthage.edu/give/recognition
live vicariously
through Carthage students.
Follow @mycarthage on Instagram to tag along on the adventures of Carthage students, both on and off campus.
ALUMNI DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
2004
Michelle (Handzel) Fournier – McHenry, Illinois, married Wade Fournier on Jan. 20.
2005
Brad Hentschel – Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, recently took over as city planner in Chippewa Falls.
2006
Cheering at the finish line I love summer on a college campus — but only for two weeks. Then I’m ready for students to be back! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of move-in. The anticipation is palpable in the days before the residence halls begin to fill. Move-out is different. There’s still excitement, but, depending on a student’s year in school, other feelings are mixed in: relief, anxiety, joy, regret, nostalgia. Participating in Commencement weekend was a wonderful way to wrap up my first year at Carthage. I was just a cog in the machine, but it was really rewarding to witness staff and faculty come together to celebrate and honor our graduates. Here were some of my favorite parts from the weekend: •W elcoming the Class of 2018 into the Carthage Alumni Association. Be on the lookout in your communities to help ease the transition for these wonderful Carthaginians! •C elebrating with new graduates at the Promenade Dinner in Hedberg Library … and learning firsthand that the sushi bar really is the best!
Connie (Ciway) Schaible ’06 and Ryan Schaible ‘08 – Carol Stream,
• L istening to faculty speaker Matthew Zorn, professor of geospatial science, talk about life and purpose at the New Alumni Convocation. It’s great to know he has that conversation each semester in his classes; students learn about
science and get the added bonus of discussing life and keeping things in perspective. •M eeting up with alumni volunteers who provided Carthage pins to our graduates on the morning of Commencement. What a special tradition! •S tanding beside the stage to ensure that graduates were in the correct order before walking across (and, of course, offering smiles and congratulations). •S aying goodbye to one of the alumni office interns who helped me settle into the office and learn the ropes. Rachael Felton ’18 is moving on to a full-time job doing what she loves. I hope you are thinking back to your own graduation weekend, when you celebrated with family, friends, faculty, and staff. Take the time to send a note to someone from your time at Carthage — maybe even the handwritten kind, as Commencement speaker Jon Meacham suggested. Chances are that person has been thinking about you, too. Warmly,
Eileen Baldwin Director of Alumni and Parent Relations ebaldwin@carthage.edu
Illinois, finalized the adoption of their two foster children, Shanayea Catherine (6) and Robert Derek (5), on Nov. 9.
Learn more about staying connected, upcoming events, and ways to give back at carthage.edu/alumni. carthage.edu
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CLASS NOTES
2009
2013
Ashley Pich – Lombard, Illinois, Kirsten Hedin and John Nerge – Eden Prairie, Minnesota, welcomed Peter William Nerge and Andrew James Nerge into the world May 18, 2017.
graduated in May from Eastern Virginia Medical School with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences (4.0 GPA). Ashley will continue this fall to The Ohio State School of Veterinary Medicine to complete a doctorate.
Rachel Page – Chicago, is working in Barcelona, Spain, on a second workshop of the original musical, “Survivor Story: A Workshop,” she composed and co-wrote with creative partner Lindsay Bartlette Allen.
2010
Danny Hernandez – Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, was hired as head coach of the Park High School football team in Racine, Wisconsin.
Samantha (Cruz) Yelk and David Yelk – Fox Lake, Illinois, Dan DeBoeuf – Ingleside, Illinois,
welcomed their daughter, Ellie, in May 2017.
has been hired as head coach of the football team at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
2011
Meade in Pittsburgh on Oct. 7.
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Margaret (Knowles) Kamm – Lockport, Ill., won the 2017 Ilana Diamond Rovner Appellate Advocacy Competition in November as a second-year student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Shortly before the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Carpenter v. United States, the law students argued the merits of the case — which hinged on whether the Fourth Amendment permits the government’s warrantless acquisition of historical cell phone records that may reveal the user’s approximate movements.
2014
Brian Schoettler – Kenosha, was featured on the American Public Media radio show “Pipedreams” on Feb. 5. Mr. Schoettler played Dieterich Buxtehude’s “Magnificat” at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, New York.
Lauren (Dixon) Meade – Aurora, Illinois, married Justin
Credit Chicago-Kent College of Law
Connor McCurrie and Rebecca Burns – Chicago, are celebrating their recent engagement. The couple met on campus in their freshman year, 2010, and will be married in August.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
IN MEMORIAM 1941 Ewald Kessler
Charlotte (Schaeffer) Frederick
Crystal Lake, Ill., Jan. 13, 2018
Upper Sandusky, Ohio, March 16, 2018
Donald Waugus
James Craig
Germantown, Wis., March 7, 2018
1942 Rudolph Hazucha Sleepy Hollow, Ill., Feb. 20, 2018
El Cajon, Calif., April 2, 2018
1945 Frances (Pervier) Swarbrick
1951 Keith Wickert
Dixon, Ill., Jan. 25, 2018
Sister Bay, Wis., March 28, 2018
1947 Mary Lou (Kreppert) Jeanmaire
1952 Mollie (Randall) Wyatt Winamac, Ind., Jan. 4, 2017
Racine, Wis., Jan. 15, 2018
1953 Ken Hurst
Betty (Bobb) Lucy Rock Falls, Ill., Dec. 13, 2017
1948 Paul Baughman
Mount Pleasant, S.C., March 10, 2018
1968 Gail (Karlovsky) Warren Kenosha, April 1, 2018
1961 Brady Jackson Fowler, Ind., Feb. 27, 2018
Earl Stanley
Oconomowoc, Wis., Dec. 17, 2017
Sterling, Ill., May 15, 2017
1970 Richard Finley
1962 Jon Novak Loves Park, Ill., Dec. 28, 2017
1955 Paul Johnson
Springfield, Ill., April 24, 2018
1949 Phyllis (Schreckenberg) Smith
1959 Gilbert Boese Pewaukee, Wis., March 22, 2018
Audree (Asmus) Nielsen Libertyville, Ill., March 14, 2018
Waukegan, Ill., March 13, 2018
1960 Leta (Merle) Behling
John Bickers
Urbandale, Iowa, Jan. 26, 2018
Hilton Head Island, S.C., Jan. 18, 2018
1983 George Sechler The Woodlands, Texas, Jan. 31, 2018
1984 Susanne (Sperduto) Doe Racine, Wis., Jan. 21, 2017
1969 Dale Hittman
1964 Carolyn “Cokie” Benanti
Roswell, N.M., Feb. 11, 2018
1950 Raymond Baxter
Horace Cook Jr.
Rock Island, Ill., Aug. 30, 2017
Waupaca, Wis., Jan. 15, 2018
Tacoma, Wash., April 4, 2018
Green Bay, Wis., May 2, 2018
Fredrick Waldbusser
Lindenhurst, Ill., July 4, 2017
1972 Carol (Lehman) Bender Tucson, Ariz., April 25, 2018
1973 Noel Johnson
1965 Ronald Grotegut San Jose, Calif., Jan. 14, 2018
Jacqueline Kruger Geneseo, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2018
1966 Judith (Musselman) Anderson
Mount Pleasant, Wis., Feb. 15, 2018
1975 Fay “Dolly” (Timm) Christensen Racine, Wis., March 30, 2018
Westerville, Ohio, April 5, 2018
Cynthia (Traeder) Vitale Racine, Wis., March 29, 2018
1988 Christine (Mianecki) Rodgers Racine, Wis., March 1, 2018
1989 Michael Rein Milwaukee, Dec. 20, 2017
1998 Gary Smith Racine, Wis., April 6, 2018
2003 Michelle Harris Naperville, Ill., March 18, 2018
Justin Jennings Martinsville, Ind., June 16, 2017 friends of carthage
Patricia Rapp Tallahassee, Fla., Dec. 24, 2017
Esther (Schafer) Finton Warsaw, Ill., March 29, 2018
Jean Martin
Ruth Fangmeier
Jean Martin, an environmental services technician who served as “mom away from home” to multiple generations of students in Pat Tarble Residence Hall, died May 9. She was 80. The Kenosha resident came to Carthage in 1969 and spent most of her 45 years in the custodial role at the all-female dorm. Ms. Martin demanded maturity from residents but also lifted their spirits. The College presented her several gifts at a 2015 retirement send-off, including a box of congratulatory notes from alumni and a framed picture of Tarble Hall.
Ruth Fangmeier, professor emerita of social work, passed away April 24 in Kenosha at age 69. She retired in February 2017 after 20 years on the Carthage faculty and in various administrative roles that included directing the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Prof. Fangmeier also taught a J-Term staple called The Social Context of Knitting. “She modeled for me what excellence was in the classroom,” said Professor Dani Geary ’00, chair of the Social Work Department, “and I owe so much of who I am to her guidance and support.” Outside of academia, Prof. Fangmeier’s documentary on age-related vision loss, “The World Through Their Eyes,” won numerous awards.
continued on page 50 See full obituaries at carthage.edu/alumni/inmemoriam/
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CLASS NOTES
2015
2015
Kristine (Krukowski) Heuser – Kenosha, joined students from the Carthage Microgravity Team to conduct research on a NASA-contracted zero-gravity flight in March. A science teacher at Lance Middle School, she collaborated with Professor Kevin Crosby to develop experiments and demonstrations for eighth-graders. The flight was funded by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, which is housed at Carthage, and Zero Gravity Corporation.
Ashlynn Rickord – Melrose, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a Master of Theological Studies in religion and the social sciences. Her graduate research focused on religious life at state mental hospitals and state schools for those with disabilities.
to associate level III at Mueller Communications. Ms. Morton’s responsibilities will increase as she moves to a more strategic level and serves as a core member of key client teams.
2017
Katrin Schwaber – Wilmette, Illinois, is featured in a unique new opera, “Svadba Wedding,” alongside Carthage voice faculty member Allison Hull. The opera is produced by the Milwaukee Opera Theatre, along with the Wild Space Dance Company.
2016
Daniel Istvanek and Samantha Dvorak – Kenosha, became engaged Jan. 7. They are planning a wedding for October 2020.
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Jennifer (Shelman) Morton – Solon, Iowa, has been promoted
Kayla (Clair) Flores – Kenosha, married Steve Flores on Aug. 5, 2017, in Kenosha. Joining in their big day was bridesmaid Tekla McCabe ’18.
Amerin Idell – Milwaukee, joined Mueller Communications as an associate. Her responsibilities include supporting the firm’s client teams with media relations and executing marketing and public affairs tactics.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
Austin Nelson ‘18 portrayed The Baker in Carthage Theatre’s spring production of “Into the Woods.” He lined up a live entertainment position for the summer at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
IN MEMORIAM Imogene Johnson
Help us honor 150 years of Carthage women
A major supporter of the College for decades, Imogene “Gene” Johnson of Racine, Wisconsin, passed away March 3 at age 87. She and her husband, the late Sam Johnson, provided an endowment that funded Carthage’s Johnson Distinguished Visitors Program, which continues to bring prominent speakers to campus. Early in her career, Mrs. Johnson worked to develop the first aeronautical computer as an engineer’s mathematician. The College awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1991.
Courtland Cornelius A transfer student-athlete who had just completed his first Carthage semester, Courtland Cornelius ’21 drowned while swimming in an inland Wisconsin lake May 25. “Court,” as friends knew him, made an early impact on the men’s track and field team. He ran on a 4x100-meter relay unit that set a school record. Professors remembered the 19-year-old criminal justice major from Palatine, Illinois, as a “likable, respectful, and hard-working student” who was dedicated to his family. The College is working with his relatives to plan a commemorative event this fall.
Griffin Schumow Remembered as “a quiet gem” with a quick wit and a passion for the outdoors, Griffin Schumow ’21 died April 26 after a vehicle struck him on Sheridan Road. The 19-year-old freshman from Lindenhurst, Illinois, was taking courses toward a degree in environmental science. He became a core member of the Cosplay and Pop Culture Club. A vigil for Griffin in A. F. Siebert Chapel drew more than 150 members of the Carthage community.
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A century and a half ago, a small Lutheran college on the Midwestern plains demonstrated a progressive and instinctive sense of what society needed and aggressively took steps to meet those needs. “The Diamond Jubilee History of Carthage College, 18701945,” provides the following description of the institution’s first days after moving to Carthage, Illinois, in 1870 and adopting its current name: At the end of the first week, twenty-four were enrolled and of these, nearly one-half were women. Thus, from its inception, Carthage College opened its doors to both sexes and thereafter adhered to its course as a coeducational institution. Beginning July 1, 2019, the College will host a yearlong celebration of “150 Years of Women at Carthage.” Stretching across all aspects of Carthage life — academics, athletics, student affairs, and alumni relations — it will incorporate the campuses in Kenosha and Carthage, Illinois. To help us plan a historically accurate, inclusive, and inspirational celebration, the College invites Carthaginians to submit ideas that highlight: • t he ways Carthage has distinguished itself with its vision for educating women. •n oteworthy Carthage women and their contributions. • the evolution of women’s fields of study. • t he challenges facing women pursuing college degrees in the past, present, and future. Elaine Walton ’79, associate vice president for institutional advancement, is coordinating the “150 Years of Carthage Women” initiative. To share your suggestion, contact her at ccwomen150@carthage.edu or 262-551-5703.
Summer Carthaginian 2018
Class Notes Submission Form Deadline for the next issue is Sept. 15, 2018
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Tear off this form along the perforated edge and mail back to: Carthage College, Alumni Relations, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140
Class notes and photos also may be submitted online: carthage.edu/alumni/class-notes
PAGE FROM THE PAST
A slice of Carthage history from the Staubitz Archives
One professor’s beetle-mania Insects never bugged the late Walter Suter. In fact, the longtime Carthage biology professor lived happily with thousands of them in his home. Joining the faculty at the dawn of the Kenosha campus, he taught in the Biology Department for more than 40 years. A renowned researcher in the insect world, Prof. Suter simultaneously provided years of service to Chicago’s Field Museum. Known as a kind, gentle, and funny man, he also had a reputation as a demanding professor. “I was told that if you scored 60 percent on a Suter exam, you probably got the high score,” says Scott Hegrenes, associate professor of biology. In high school, Prof. Suter showed enough academic potential to win the Outstanding Male Student Award for all of Chicago. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in biology from Northwestern University, where he specialized in ecology and entomology — primarily studying the millimetersized Scydmaenidae beetle. As a specialist on small insects found in leaf litter and soil, Prof. Suter used a method known as Berlese extraction to collect creatures. Through this heat extraction and funnel technique, he was able to collect more than a million insects each year — some reserved for his personal collection, but many sent to the Field Museum. In appreciation, the museum named Prof. Suter an associate and provided him with curator credentials. Only a handful of North American entomologists
Xylodromus suteri Image (copyright) Field Museum of Natural History
were researching the Scydmaenidae beetle, which Prof. Suter explained had value as a sort of ecological index. A lack of the beetle would indicate an unhealthy forest, whereas a plentiful number would indicate an undisturbed, vibrant one. Fellow entomologists named several insects in the Carthage researcher’s honor, including a few of his own finds and an entire genus (Suterina) of featherwing beetles — some of the smallest known insects. Jean Preston, director of the Brainard Writing Center and adjunct assistant professor of English, remembers coming to see Prof. Suter as he packed his supplies for retirement. He explained his method of processing insects for display, which
inspired “Professor,” a poem she dedicated to him (excerpted below): He’d pinned each one himself, careful not to damage transparent wings, miniscule legs and antennae. He’d labeled each insect with its Latin name, printed it out in his own hand. As his 2008 obituary noted, Prof. Suter collected other things — coins, stamps, and cans — but the insects set him apart. He joked in a 1980 Kenosha News article that all entomologists are nuts: “We talk to ourselves and each other. The only reward, I think, in this business is a tax deduction [for donated insects].”
Explore the rich history of Carthage at carthage.edu/library/archives
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Summer Carthaginian 2018