DePauw Digest

President’s inauguration set

President Lori S. White will be inaugurated Oct. 1 as DePauw’s 21st president, with celebrations continuing into the next day.

White assumed the presidency July 1, 2020, but her inauguration was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. that Friday, with a reception to follow. An inaugural picnic, which is open to all, is scheduled for 11 a.m. the next day, Saturday, Oct. 2, followed by men’s and women’s soccer games and a football game.

Two invitation-only events also are scheduled for Saturday: a breakfast for members of the Washington C. DePauw Lifetime and Annual societies and, that evening, an inaugural gala and scholarship dinner, which will raise money for the Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Scholarship for Public Service and Community Leadership, at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis.

1920 grad Julian joins the faculty

Percy L. Julian, the 1920 DePauw valedictorian and a renowned chemist who was denied a faculty appointment at his alma mater, was posthumously appointed to DePauw’s chemistry faculty in May by the university’s Board of Trustees. After he earned a doctorate degree, Julian was hired by DePauw to be a research fellow, but the administration denied him a tenure-track faculty position. He left DePauw for a corporate career in which he made numerous significant scientific discoveries and was granted more than 130 patents.

Community

A GoFundMe page, set up by Nipun Chopra, assistant biology professor, benefits Albertina Brown and Estell Brown, longtime employees of Marvin’s, after their house was heavily damaged by fire. To donate, go to https://gofund.me/a853ea58.

Integrity

Bill Fenlon, head basketball coach, was named the 2021 Jack Bennett Man of the Year by CollegeInsider. com, the president of which said “the coaching profession needs more guys like Bill Fenlon.” The award represents winning with integrity.

Roy O reno resumes

The $30 million renovation of the Roy O. West Library, paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed in June, the result of a decision by two Board of Trustees committees. The project, for which more than $23 million has been raised, will transform the library into a hub for multi-media, group collaboration, research, social interaction, advanced technology resources and individual study.

Space

When Joe Allen ’59, a former astronaut, and his brother David ’61, a physician who worked in public and private health care settings, visited with President Lori White in April, they came bearing gifts, including a photo of Joe taking one of his two space walks. The photo was emblazoned with this message: “A DePauw education lasts at least 60 years! It travels well. And it can take you far beyond the edge of the earth.”

DePauw’s new VPs

Welcome Anne Cunningham (right), our new vice president for development and alumni engagement. Cunningham most recently worked five years at Case School of Engineering, and previously spent eight years at Case Western University’s alumni association. Steven Setchell ’96 held the position until November 2019, when he took a similar post at Whitman College, and Dawna Sinnet Wilson ’82 held it on an interim basis since then. Also joining DePauw is Mary Beth Petrie (left), an Indiana native who will return to become the vice president for enrollment management. Petrie most recently was dean of admissions at Lawrence University.

Excellence

A record 103 student-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society for earning a varsity letter in at least one sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA throughout their junior and senior years. Chi Alpha Sigma was founded by the late Nick Mourouzis, DePauw’s former football coach.

Tops

Anne Moelk, second-year head women’s lacrosse coach, was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, a first for DePauw’s program.

Perfection

Cami Henry ’22 pitched DePauw softball’s first perfect game April 22 against Denison University, and was subsequently named North Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time in the season and eighth time in her career.