THIS ISSUE: D E PA RT M E N T S
F E AT U R E S
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THE BREEZEWAY New VP of Student Affairs Lacrosse and Track & Field Fullbright Award Winner
18 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Cracking Aces 22 INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT First Alumnus to Head Board of Trustees
PREPARING FOR A LIFE WELL-LIVED Flagler Launches New Strategic Plan Fearless At Our Core Voice For The Voiceless Incarceration & Emancipation Discovering Fort Mose
20 TORCHLIGHT STORIES First Generation Student Airea Johnson 24 ALUMNI WEEKEND Celebrating 50 Years of Flagler
26 ALUMNI NOTES 33 ALUMNI EVENTS (Above) A new student signs the Honor Pledge, symbolizing her commitment to the ideals of the Flagler College student body. ii
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PRESIDENT'S LETTER FLAGLER COLLEGE MAGAZINE DR. JOSEPH G. JOYNER President CAROL BRANSON Vice President of Marketing and Communications BRIAN THOMPSON, ‘95 Director of News and Information and Magazine Editor WE ARE CHARETTE Graphic Design TONYA CREAMER Assistant Editor CONTRIBUTORS Jayda Barnes, '19 Laura J. Hampton Michael Legrand Maiya Mahoney, '22 Leticia Martin Lauren Piskothy, ‘20 Scott Smith, '04 Bobbie Stewart Margo Thomas, ‘06 Zach Thomas, ‘00 Whitney Warren, '07 FLAGLER COLLEGE MAGAZINE is published for alumni and friends of the college by the Flagler College Office of News and Information, P.O. Box 1027 St. Augustine, Florida 32085-1027 (904) 819-6249 bthompson@flagler.edu
"The mission of our plan centers on fostering intellectual, social and personal transformation in our students. This is why we exist as a college, and it is the highest calling of any institution of higher learning." This year marked two significant milestones at Flagler College: the celebration of our 50th anniversary and the launch of our new Strategic Plan, “Preparing for a Life Well-Lived 2025.” This plan is the culmination of more than a year of work by a group of dedicated stakeholders who spent countless hours reviewing trends, gathering data, researching best practices and encouraging input. Their single-minded goal has been simply to move Flagler forward. Our new Strategic Plan is a vision for a brighter world guided by our students, faculty and staff, and it is based on these three principles: an uncompromising focus on our students; a sincere desire to honor the greatness of the past while preparing our students for the world they will inherit; and a concerted effort to be as inclusive and transparent as possible. The mission of our plan centers on fostering intellectual, social and personal transformation in our students. This is why we exist as a college, and it is the highest calling of any institution of higher learning. It is our obligation to prepare them for a diverse world that will need discerning individuals, responsible citizens and visionary leaders. Our vision is to become the very best we can be, and the constant theme throughout the plan is answering this one question: “What does greatness look like at Flagler College?” Throughout this magazine you will read stories about our new Strategic Plan, as well as projects and initiatives within it. But more importantly, you will see stories about our students, faculty, staff and alumni who are living the mission of the college and incorporating our core values into their own lives as they try to make this world a better place. As president, there is nothing more rewarding than to see this happening in our St. Augustine community, as well as communities across the nation and the globe. It is why I am so excited to see what the future holds as we begin to implement our new Strategic Plan.
Joseph Joyner Joseph G. Joyner President
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T H E B R E E Z E W AY
N E W VP OF S T U D EN T AFFAIRS D
r. Sandra Miles has joined Flagler College as the new Vice President of Student Affairs. Miles was previously Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. At Flagler she now oversees a reorganized Student Affairs division (it was previously called Student Services) that includes not only Residence Life, Student Activities, Health Services, the Career Development Center, Intramural Sports, the Ringhaver Student Center, but also Safety and Security, Counseling Services, Title IX and CARE (Campus Assessment, Referral, and Evaluation.) “I am thrilled to have Dr. Miles join the executive leadership team at Flagler,” said Flagler College President Dr. Joseph G. Joyner. “She has proven to be a leader who invests in the development and success of all students. She embodies the College’s core values and I am confident she will work collaboratively across all channels in carrying out our strategic plan.” Miles said she felt very fortunate to join the college, and that as a Jacksonville native, she was also “looking forward to coming home.” “Throughout my campus visit I was struck by the warm welcome I received and the genuine kindness and sincerity of the campus leaders, faculty, staff and students,” she said. “It is clear that President Joyner has cultivated a student-centered culture where honesty, professionalism and high achievement can thrive, and I welcome the opportunity to learn from and contribute to the great work of my new colleagues.” In addition to the University of Missouri-Kan2
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“Dr. Miles has proven to be a leader who invests in the development and success of all students. She embodies the College’s core values and I am confident she will work collaboratively across all channels in carrying out our strategic plan.” -Dr. Joseph G. Joyner sas City, Miles also served as Dean of Students at Indiana University Purdue University Columbus, as well as other important leadership roles at that institution. A Jacksonville native, Miles earned her doctorate from Florida State University, and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida. Her career has included all facets of student affairs from Director of Student Activities to Chief Diversity Officer. She has developed CARE Teams, enhanced interdepartmental connectivity focused on students and increased student participation and satisfaction in student services in previous positions. Miles is replacing Dan Stewart, who stepped down as Vice President of Student Services earlier this year and has assumed a new position as Administrator on Special Assignment.
T H E B R E E Z E W AY
GROWING TEAM SPIRIT Lacrosse and Track & Field Coming to Flagler
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lagler College Athletics will get some added competition in the coming years now that the college has announced the addition of two new NCAA athletics programs for both men and women: lacrosse and outdoor track and field. These additions will bring the total number of Flagler’s sport offerings up to 20. Flagler is in the early stages of implementation of its 2025 Strategic Plan, “A Life Well-Lived,” and the new sports are seen as important elements to the plan’s goal of furthering a vibrant campus culture. The new athletics programs are the result of an exhaustive study conducted by the Athletics administration and are in direct response to interest from campus leadership, student groups and community members. As another effort to bridge more community relationships, this programming endeavor includes a partnership with St. Augustine High School. Flagler’s track and field programs will practice and compete at the St. Augustine High School facility while various
sports teams from St. Augustine High will have the opportunity to play select games and matches at Flagler’s athletics facilities. As part of the new lacrosse program, Flagler is planning to construct a lacrosse facility at the Flagler College Athletics Complex on Old Moultrie Road. The facility will include a stateof-the-art synthetic playing surface, grandstand, locker rooms, concessions and parking. The anticipated completion date for the lacrosse facility is August 2021. “This is a very special day for Flagler College, our athletics program, and the St. Augustine community,” said Flagler Athletics Director Jud Damon. “It is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a great number of people, and it is also in many ways just the beginning of an exciting new era for us.” Flagler’s current head cross country and indoor track and field coach Brian Beil will assume head coaching duties for the outdoor track and field program. A three-time Peach Belt Conference
Cross Country Coach of the Year, Beil has spent the past eight years building the Flagler cross country programs into national contenders. Longtime Flagler club lacrosse coach Brian Duncan will become the first head coach of the men’s team. A former collegiate lacrosse standout at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Duncan began his coaching career at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex where he served as an assistant from 1999 to 2003 before ascending to head coach in 2004. That season, Duncan led CCBC Essex to a 19-0 record and the NJCAA national championship while being named National Coach of the Year. Duncan’s other coaching stops included Division I Jacksonville University, the Bolles School and Florida Tech before being named the head coach of Flagler’s club program in September 2015. A national search for Flagler’s head women’s lacrosse coach will begin in March 2020. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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T H E B R E E Z E W AY
RIGGS NEW DEAN OF FLAGLER COLLEGE TALLAHASSEE
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familiar face from Flagler College’s main campus has been named dean of Flagler College Tallahassee. Dr. Wayne Riggs, who had been an associate professor of History and associate dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences in St. Augustine, will now be responsible for helping to better connect the two campuses, campus operations, as well as strengthening existing programs and building new ones. Flagler College President Dr. Joseph G. Joyner called Riggs a stellar example of a teacher-scholar and a strong
FIALA RECEIVES FULBRIGHT AWARD
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or the f irst time since 2004, Flagler College has landed a Fulbright award thanks to International Center Director Lisa Fiala, who was one of 12 professionals across the United States selected for this particular award. Fiala traveled to France this fall to meet with representatives of higher ed-
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leader. “We are sorry that he will be leaving the St. Augustine campus, but we believe that he is the right choice to lead Tallahassee and bring the two campuses closer together,” he said. Through a successful partnership with Tallahassee Community College, Flagler has been providing a high-quality education for Tallahasseearea students for 18 years. The campus there offers six degree programs, and more than 2,700 alumni have graduated from Flagler College Tallahassee. “I’m really excited to help serve the needs of the Tallahassee community in my new role there,” Riggs said. “Not many seem to have heard of our campus in Tallahassee, so I’m looking forward to raising the awareness of the
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ucation institutions and international organizations in Bordeaux and Paris including Université de Bordeaux, Université de Paris, OECD and the Sorbonne, where she planned to learn more about higher education in France and discuss potential collaborations for Flagler College. “Having worked on international
great education we offer on Tallahassee’s campus.” Riggs holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Modern European History from Marquette University and a B.A. in history from Grove City College. He specializes in modern Britain, with a focus on British identity and religion during the First World War. Most recently, his research has examined the role of religious organizations in the formation of gender constructs. In addition to his teaching service to the college, he has also served as Coordinator of the Flagler College History Program and Chair of the Humanities Department. Riggs has been at Flagler College for 12 years.
programs for more than 15 years now, I am very familiar with Fulbright and its excellent reputation, however, this is the first time I applied for a Fulbright award myself, and I am thrilled and honored to have received this opportunity,” Fiala said. She plans on focusing on learning more about the French education system and what possibilities exist for partnerships with other schools and institutions in France. “My hope is to make connections with institutions we could eventually form partnerships with for future projects, exchange and research programs,” she said. She received the Fulbright International Educators Administrator award from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign
Scholarship Board. Fiala is the first person at Flagler to receive this type of Fulbright award, as well as the first Flagler staff member to receive a Fulbright. Two Flagler faculty members have received Fulbrights, the last one being Craig and Audrey Thorn Distinguished Professor of Religion Timothy Johnson, who received his in 2004. More than 800 U.S. citizens will teach, conduct research and provide expertise abroad this academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. In the International Center, Fiala focuses on programming and student services such as guidance for international applications, immigration processing and advocacy on a variety of minority and underrepresented populations’ issues. With the launch of Flagler’s new strategic plan and its emphasis on diversity, cultural and student-focused initiatives, the International Center will play an even more central role on campus. Fiala said the center’s mission to internationalize campus is essential to achieving key goals within the plan. “It is exceedingly important for our students to graduate with a global perspective and have an understanding of the world around them,” she said. “Internationalizing the campus is crucial in our effort to graduate true global citizens – preparing students for a multi-cultural community in a global world.” The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s f lagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all disciplines, while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States.
O N L IN E NE WS PA PE R T H E GARG OYL E NA M E D NAT IO NA L FINA LIST Flagler College’s student-led online newspaper was a national finalist for an Online Pacemaker through the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), one of the preeminent national college media associations and contests in the country. Other finalists in the category included the University of Alabama, the University of Southern California, Penn State and several others.
FL AGL E R RA N KE D 4t h BEST CO L L EGE IN T H E S O U T H Flagler College ranked fourth in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges guide for the Best Regional Colleges in the South, and seventh on the Best Value list in the South regional category. In addition, Flagler was included in The Princeton Review’s 2020 guidebook, “The Best 385 Colleges.”
FL AGL E R WINS PE AC H BELT C UP On the back of strong performances by all six of its spring sports, Flagler College captured the 2018-19 Peach Belt Conference Commissioner's Cup for the first time. In addition to the Cup, Flagler won its eighth Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award.
IN T E RN AT IO N A L E XC H A N GE S GROW WIT H C H INA PRO GRA M S Flagler College has added three universities in China to its growing list of foreign exchange programs it offers students, including an agreement with China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), the preeminent university for producing diplomats and foreign affairs and policy specialists in China. The other Chinese universities are the Chengdu Normal University and the Beijing International Studies University. This brings the total to 10 partnerships Flagler has around the world, including the JuliusMaximilians Universität Würzburg in Germany, the European Business School in Paris, France, the International College Liberal Arts in Japan, Anglia Ruskin University in England, the Management Center in Innsbruck, Austria, the Munich Business School in Munich, Germany, and the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland.
The programs allow Flagler students and faculty to attend and even offer courses at the overseas institutions, as well as for foreign students and faculty to come to St. Augustine. This spring, Communication Department Chair and Assistant Professor Tracey Eaton has been selected as Flagler’s first faculty member to teach for a full semester at CFAU. “We’re excited to have these faculty and student exchanges,” said Flagler College President Dr. Joseph G. Joyner, who noted it fits with the college’s Strategic Plan calling for more diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness in its programming. Exchanges between the two countries have already begun, including the first Chinese faculty and students to visit Flagler. “The potential benefits for our students, faculty, staff and the local community are significant,” said Dean of Academic Life Dr. Art Vanden Houten. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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Preparing for a Life Well-Lived A
Flagler College Launches New Strategic Plan
fter more than a year of work, Flagler College has begun implementing its new Strategic Plan, “Preparing for a Life Well-Lived 2025.” Approved by the College’s Board of Trustees earlier this year, the plan is tightly focused on the intellectual, social and personal transformation of students. The plan lays out three priorities: creating a transformative academic culture, cultivating a vibrant campus community and building financial stability through strategic differentiation.
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“The objectives contained within the Strategic Plan serve as a road map to achieving these priorities,” said Flagler College President Joseph Joyner. “We all bear this responsibility as we chart a new path for Flagler College over the next 5 years.” The college has already begun implementing many initiatives within the plan. To read more about Flagler College’s Strategic plan, visit www.flagler.edu/strategicplan
Strategic Plan Priorities 1
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Transformative Academic Culture
Vibrant Campus Community
Creating a culture that transforms means looking at our educational models, high impact practices and student support methods through the lens of our global community and their needs.
Cultivating a vibrant campus community starts with building an engaged and diverse student-focused campus. It's at the heart of everything we do and believe in.
Financial Health through Strategic Differentiation Improving efficiencies, diversifying revenue streams and increasing philanthropic support are just a few ways we plan to build financial health.
Implementation At the core of what we plan to achieve is academic excellence and student growth. To do this, we must actively listen, think deeply and innovate. The phases below highlight how the College plans to accomplish these goals:
Phase 1 – Being Developed 2019-20
Phase 2 – Being Developed 2020-21
• FlagSHIP (Flagler Sophomore High Impact Program) - A Transformative Educational Experience that Puts Learning and Interacting Across Communities of Difference at its Core.
• Expansion of On-Campus Housing
• CORE Academic Experiences - Advance the Undergraduate Program through the Reform of General Education and the Addition of New Majors • Center for Advising - Expand Academic Advising and Support • Center for Teaching and Learning - Expand Support for Teaching and Professional Development of Faculty • Student Experience/Process Mapping - Build an Engaged and Diverse Campus Community • Adopt a Developmental Model of Student Life
• Expansion of NCAA Div. II Sports – Lacrosse and Track & Field • Develop Online Master’s programs • Innovation Center • Discovery Program • Increase Auxiliary Revenue • Future Development of Phase 1
Phase 3 – 2021-2025 • More plans to come! Stay up to date at www.flagler.edu/strategicplan
• Housing System Pilot – Expand On-Campus Residency and Strengthen Campus Life to Enhance the Campus Experience • Identify Efficiencies - Institute Campus-wide Procedures to Monitor Departmental and Program Costs and Improve Cost Efficiencies • Develop New Academic Programs for Adult and Online Education • Feasibility Study – For Comprehensive Campaign to Increase Philanthropic Support for Strategic Plan
Read on for
stories about Flagler's new strategic plan already at work.
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FEARLESS at our core. As part of Flagler’s new strategic plan, the college adopted four core values – Transformative Learning, Respectful and Inclusive Community, Citizenship with Integrity and Thoughtful Stewardship – that act as a compass to guide the institution as it seeks to achieve its mission. To better explain why they matter to the future of the college, we asked four people who have been deeply involved in each of the new core values to explain the importance in their own words. Here is what they said.
“From the moment I stepped on the campus of Flagler College, I was captivated by our commitment to stewardship. The idea of stewardship speaks to the preservation of our historic structures and that imperative will always hold a place of primacy. But in a larger sense, we are also charged with the stewardship of all the resources that have been shared so generously by our donors, alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and other benefactors. We hold these resources in trust for the benefit of our college and the students we serve. Finally, and most importantly, this means we are entrusted with being stewards of the college community itself — charged to care not just about, but for, each other. In this active caring we never forget the role of those who came before us in building our community, and we nurture the future stewardship of those who will come after us.” D R . J OSEP H J OYN ER President, Flagler College
“During first year convocation, as we celebrate the entry of a new class, we throw down a gauntlet – Build Your Legacy. Citizenship with integrity is not the legacy itself, but the thing that informs it. It’s an idea or a question that students refine as they read Plato and King and navigate roommate conflicts and declare a major and decide what their role is in each community they inhabit. Our job is not to define it for them, but to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to encounter diverse ideas and people and places where they can arrive at their own understanding.” J I L L DAWSO N Senior Director, Center for Advising and Core Experience (CACE)
"The courses in the FlagSHIP Program are great examples of transformative learning because students are placed in situations that expand upon concepts learned in a traditional classroom setting. These students apply academic content in real world contexts. In many cases they're actually transforming the world around them as well, and that is very empowering. In my FlagSHIP course where students work with incarcerated youth, each student has the chance to reach across social boundaries in a truly empathetic way. As relationships grow between my students and their incarcerated partners, the issues we've studied, like systemic racism, are no longer abstract, but very real. In addition to learning about history, politics, and educational practices, these students engage in a real way that allows them to grow as ethical members of society." L E SL I E RO B ISO N Kenan Distinguished Associate Professor of Liberal Education In Art
"To me, a Respectful and Inclusive Community is a community where all people are valued for their unique contributions. Often we accidently create homogenous communities by continuing to connect with the people who are most like ourselves because they make us feel the most comfortable. It takes real effort and openness to appreciate diversity of race, thought, culture, ability, gender identity and expression, etc. So when I imagine the most respectful and inclusive communities, I imagine that they are complete, having representation of every background, perspective and experience. Those communities sometimes have conflicts of values and understanding, but mostly they have creativity, opportunity and a true and legitimate appreciation (not tolerance) for all the difference that abounds." SAN D R A M I L E S Vice President of Student Affairs, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
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Youth on the Margins Flagler’s Youth Ministry program lands $1 million grant to help youth whose voices are missing from the conversation. TONYA CREAMER | PHOTO BY ZACH THOMAS, '06
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T
he legacy of the Flagler College Youth Ministry Program is one that begins at the margins. In the early years of the program, Martha Shinn began teaching classes on theology and youth ministry. It can be said that the retired program director’s most impressionable impact on the program was her steady focus on solidarity with people at the margins as an expression of Christian faithfulness. Fast forward to 2019 and the focus on marginal communities takes new shape in the work of The Missing Voices Project, a two-year innovative grant led by current director of the program, Justin Forbes, and Missing Voices Project Coordinator Mary Scine. As former students of Shinn, both Forbes, ‘02, and Scine, ‘99, launched her legacy into the future through the receipt of a $1 million grant to work with youth on the margins. The grant seeks to discover innovative expressions of youth ministry reaching people systematically left out by the church and society at-large. “There are gifts to be found in people that society has often left overlooked,” Forbes said. “There is a jewel there that needs to be uncovered and brought forth.” Two other members who make up the grant staff include Caitlyn Posey, ‘16, the project’s assistant coordinator, and Shinn herself, ‘78, who is returning as the congregational liaison between the grant staff and participating congregations.
A GRANT TO UPLIFT OVERLOOKED VOICES The grant is funded by the Lilly Endowment, an organization whose work is serving the needs of people and communities experiencing growth and change in the areas of religion, education and youth. It focuses on grant-making in support of those causes, having donated $9.9 billion to various organizations over the last 80 years. The project will involve two years with 12 congregations across the state of Florida participating together to uplift the voices of youth who have been systematically overlooked in society and the church. Who are the young people who have been marginalized? Forbes said they come from all walks of life. Some include young teenage mothers, youth with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ young people and those struggling with poverty. The grant rests on the assumption that in recognizing the missing voices of these young people, there is an opportunity to learn from one another in an effort to create beloved communities. The project coincides with the college’s new Strategic Plan, which calls for creating “concrete ways to be connected and to serve the local community,” which in turn
creates an integrated campus and helps students lead transformational lives when they participate in programs hosted by the Youth Ministry program. With the college’s Strategic Plan and the $1 million grant to back up the concept, this is where the Youth Ministry program hopes it will make an impact. Issues of race and reconciliation, teen parenting, disabilities, foster care, mentorship and LGBTQIA+ will be at the forefront of the project. The voices of these young people will be heard and learned from in order to foster communities that are welcoming to all.
AN INTERSECTION OF YOUTH MINISTRY AND INNOVATION As one cohort, the 12 participating churches will explore the concepts of innovation intersecting with youth ministry through workshops, events, coaching and immersion trips. In addition, each congregation will be given $10,000 to help them dream, experiment and risk trying new things. One exciting event the grant will bring to Flagler’s campus is a design thinking retreat hosted by Justin Ferrell, director of the fellowship program at Stanford University’s Design Institute, and Princeton Theological Seminary Professor Kenda Dean, in the spring of 2020. The retreat will lead cohort leaders through the process of “humancentered design thinking” alongside theological reflection as they consider innovative ministry ideas. The Youth Ministry department is well-known on Flagler's campus for being relationship builders, and that knack for getting people together speaks volumes in Forbes’ mind, as he stressed the need for collaboration and overlap with other campus programming. Scine said that ultimately the program will bring speakers, workshops and discussions to campus, helping Flagler students with their “spiritual formation and the practical understanding of faith integrated within the community.” “Our hope is that the presence of these young people will push the broader conversation around Youth Ministry to new places of insight and understanding,” she said. While the push for innovation to reach and learn from youth at the margins is a good start, the deep hope of the Missing Voices Project is that insights gleaned from this experiment will actually transform what should be considered normative across the discipline of youth ministry for all. Why youth ministry and innovation? “Love! Love is why we innovate,” said Scine. “It is the love we have for the young people in our communities that forces us to always reimagine what ministry looks like.”
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VOICE for the voiceless LAURA J. HAMPTON | PHOTO BY MICHAEL LEGRAND
It’s hard to imagine what Autumn Stanish might accomplish in a lifetime. As a student, she raised awareness for St. Augustine’s homeless. In just a few years, she completed the course work to earn a bachelor’s degree this past spring, led a six-week seminar on financial literacy for the homeless and published her first book.
The book, “Street People: Monologues from the Homeless,” started as a desire to learn more about homelessness. Throughout the journey from curiosity to publication, however, Stanish developed problem-solving skills and leadership skills, as well as a nagging suspicion that our perceptions of the homeless are completely wrong.
Finding a Passion
Coming from South Florida, Stanish was no stranger to homelessness, but she was not prepared for what she found here. As she explored the campus and downtown St. Augustine, she couldn’t help but notice the many homeless, vagrants and panhandlers walking the city streets. “It was very concerning to me,” she said. “Especially as a small girl.” During her first few months at the college, Stanish’s interest in the homeless grew. While interning in the oral history department at The St. Augustine Historical Society, Stanish looked through the archives for information about the homeless. Though she found some quantitative data, she couldn’t find 12
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any documents or audio that addressed why the homeless found themselves on the streets. Early on in her college career, she met Cassidy Hartson, who was also the president of Enactus. The two became fast friends, and Hartson convinced Stanish to join the academic organization, which looks for entrepreneurial solutions to social problems. Through Enactus, Stanish volunteered at Home Again St. Johns during a day of service program, called Reach Out Raise Up. She was fascinated by what she learned there and asked if she could come back to learn more. “I kept coming back to it [homelessness],” Stanish said. “It just sparked my interest.”
Giving a Voice to the Voiceless
Around this time, Stanish was looking for an idea for her honors program senior capstone project. She decided to marry her interest in oral histories with her desire to understand the issues surrounding homelessness. Stanish wanted to hear their stories, and felt other people would want to hear them too. Stanish connected with Ellen Walden, Executive Director
The homeless population is a diverse group. Many of them have master’s or doctorate degrees. Many have been in highly responsible jobs, sometimes with six figure-incomes, and many have previously owned homes. “When I started this, I thought I could show them how they could be better — how they could do better. But they showed me how I could do better.” - Autumn Stanish
she made some surprising discoveries. Some of the homeless, Stanish discovered, were independent nomads who chose to live apart from society, and some were disabled veterans whose disability checks were too small to cover housing expenses. Of course, there were some who were drug addicts, but there were also some with ambition. Through listening to their stories, Stanish learned the homeless often have trouble holding down jobs. “A lot of them said they couldn’t keep jobs because as soon as their employer found out they were homeless, they would come up with a reason to fire them,” Stanish said. As a result, many said they would like to start their own business, but they didn’t know how. Once again, Stanish turned to the Enactus team. With the help of longtime adviser Donna DeLorenzo, who founded the organization 21 years ago, Stanish and Hartson developed a six-week financial literacy class for the homeless. DeLorenzo helped them connect with 18 homeless organizations in St. Johns County, and St. Johns Volunteers offered use of their facility for the Tuesday night classes. In addition to lessons on financial literacy, the Enactus members invited business professionals from the community to speak about the pros and cons of owning a business. In total, 24 individuals attended the classes.
Making a DifferEnce
PICTURED Flagler Alumnus Autum Stanish
of Home Again St. Johns, who was immediately on board and invited Stanish to use the facilities at Home Again St. Johns for her interviews. “I felt like it was a good opportunity for people to see the true faces of homelessness,” Walden said. Surprisingly, the homeless population is a diverse group. Many of them have master’s or doctorate degrees. Many have been in highly responsible jobs, sometimes with six figureincomes, and many have previously owned homes. “You have to learn not to judge,” Walden said. “They were just like you and me, and something happened to change their life — some crisis hit or something happened to cause a psychotic break or a depression.” Though it took a few sessions for the interviewees to speak openly, Stanish won them over with her compassion and a sincere desire to give them an opportunity to be heard.
Filling a Need
Over the next few months, Stanish recorded 12 individuals who volunteered to tell their story, and through the interviews,
As Stanish was compiling the oral histories, she realized the information was very compelling. “I just loved their stories so much I decided to collect them into a book,” she said. Published in the spring 2019, “Street People: Monologues from the Homeless” is a collection of interviews with seven of the homeless individuals who shared their story with Stanish. Their stories “paint an authentic picture of the daily battles many homeless people face every day.” More than a year has passed since Stanish started the oral history project, and the seven individuals featured in the book still check in with her from time to time. As of June, all of them have maintained their sobriety and five of them have reconnected with their families. A couple of the participants have made bigger strides toward self-sufficiency. One woman has started a mobile hairstyling business and has been off the streets for a year. One of the men has been employed full-time for more than two months. He recently received a promotion and bought a new car. “When I started this, I thought I could show them how they could be better — how they could do better,” Stanish said. “But they showed me how I could do better.”
To purchase a copy of “Street People: Monologues from the Homeless,” go to astanish003.wixsite.com/homeless-monologues/book. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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INCARCERAT &
A new socially-engaged art class led by Professor Leslie Robison takes students behind bars to help incarcerated Youth Academy teens
LAURA J. HAMPTON | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL LEGRAND & LESLIE ROBISON
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s soon as the guard slammed the cell door shut, sophomore Tiffanie White started to panic. “I had to fight with everything in me not to scream or start pounding on the door,” White said. Though jarring, the visceral reaction was exactly what Associate Professor of Art Leslie Robison was looking for when she planned the Incarceration and Emancipation Maymester class. In the socially-engaged art class, students partnered with an incarcerated teen at St. Johns Youth Academy to examine “the cultural factors that give or deny privilege to various citizens in the community.” The students engaged with their partners by sharing letters and images before they met faceto-face. Being locked up in their partner’s cell for several hours was the first assignment in the class, and the students reported having a variety of reactions to the experience. Some felt anxious; some felt isolated, and some were bored. White said she experienced all three. “You get very hypersensitive when you’re in there,” she said. “You can hear every key jingle, every footstep — and you would think, ‘Is this the time I’m going to be let out? Is this the time I’m going to be let out?’ I couldn’t imagine living that every day … waiting to be let out.”
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As part of the Flagler Sophomore High Impact Program (FLAGship), the class was an interactive experience where students learned about “communities of difference.” The idea for the Incarceration and Emancipation class came out of Robison’s community-based project, “Cellmates.” As part of the project, she invites participants to collaborate with her by engaging incarcerated youth in St. Johns County. Robison chose this subject matter for her socially engaged art project out of concern for the culture of hate in the U.S. and one of its symptoms, which she believes is the “disproportionate number of people of color who are locked up vs. white people.” “I’m a pretty political person, and I can’t keep making artwork about things that are not of concern to the wider world,” Robison said. According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, 63.2 percent of juveniles living in residential detention facilities are AfricanAmerican, and black youth make up 51.6 percent of all juvenile arrests. These statistics fall within the scope of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC), since only 21 percent of Florida’s juvenile population is African-American. According to the Florida Depart-
T ION EMANCIPATION According to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, 63.2 percent of juveniles living in residential detention facilities are black, and black youth make up 51.6 percent of all juvenile arrests. ment of Juvenile Justice, DMC exists when “the proportion of juveniles detained or confined in secure detention facilities, secure correctional facilities, jails and lockups who are members of minority groups exceeds the proportion such groups represent in the general population.” During the three-week class, students learned through reading, classroom discussion and interactions with their partner, which started during that initial “lock-up” experience. For their first interaction, Robison asked the inmates to write to their student partner and leave what they had written in their cell. They could write anything they wanted, but the inmates had to include what their first night in lock up was like. Since the student also experienced being locked up (even if only for a few hours), the experiment provided common ground from which to start a dialogue. “It’s using something that
ABOVE Professor Leslie Robison with one of the young men at the St. Johns Youth Academy. LEFT Students working with their partners at the Youth Academy.
would be traumatic for any human to even the playing field,” Robison said. “It’s a way of making a totally empathetic connection. It breaks down barriers and creates this connection where they can be real honest with each other.” Since Maymester is only three weeks, Robison wondered if there would be enough time for the students and inmates to build trust and open up to each other. In the end, however, it “all jelled in a strong, real way.” Junior Cara Lenzi took the class not only because it fit with her Criminology major, but also because she has family and friends who have been incarcerated. Lenzi said some of her impressions changed throughout. In the beginning, she thought her partner was shy, but over time, she learned he was afraid to speak freely because he did not trust her. To get him to open up, Lenzi was very candid about some pretty bad situations she found herself in as a child. Eventually, it worked, and the two became friends. They plan to continue writing each other. “My partner taught me how to trust even when you don’t want to,” she said. “You have to share your story about what you’ve been through. If you don’t, you may never find out if you have things in common.” Lenzi said she felt “blessed to work with Leslie, her amazing classmates and the young men at the St. Johns Youth Academy.” “I would 100 percent recommend this class,” she said. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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DISCOVERING FORT MOSE Uncovering Fort Mose’s history through the power of collaboration J AY DA B AR N ES , '2 0 | P H OTO S BY MIC H AEL L EGRAND
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wo programs spearheaded by Assistant Professor of Anthropology Lori Lee, are in the process of uncovering the history of one of St. Augustine’s most important archaeological sites, Fort Mose. These opportunities offered students the chance to gain hands-on experience and collaborate in the field of anthropology. Fort Mose is a state park with centuries of history. Best known as a free African settlement in the 1700s after the Spanish sanctioned it for those fleeing slavery from the English colonies in the Carolinas, it was also home to ancient indigenous populations before that. The site’s rich history has made it a source of archaeology and anthropology projects since 1986. Lee brought Flagler students to join in on uncovering Fort Mose’s past. As part of FlagSHIP, the Flagler Sophomore High Impact Program, students had the opportunity to participate in a Maymester, a three-week term of intensive study. Lee’s class, called “Local Anthropology: Culture and Community,” enabled sophomores to study anthropological 16
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methods and explore the local community through the historical site of Fort Mose. The class focused on the theme of diversity and inclusion by examining it in St. Augustine’s past. Part of the class involved searching for evidence of domestic structures at Fort Mose, where students received first-hand archaeological experience as they uncovered artifacts and features of the site. Overlapping with the final week of Maymester, Lee also held a field school at Fort Mose. The project was a joint effort with Associate Professor James Davidson of the University of Florida. Flagler students were able to collaborate with UF students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. For the first week of field school, students from both programs were able to unite their efforts and work together. As a result of Maymester and the field school, students discovered details of those who lived at Fort Mose. Some artifacts included a medicine bottle made during the occupation of the site and military objects like gun flints and lead balls, as well as a Native American tools
made of bone. The oldest object they discovered was an archaic piece of native pottery estimated to be 4,000-5,000 years old. Students also found features of domestic sites, including post holes and wall trenches that indicate former building structures. Academic collaboration allowed student efforts to have an impact on research of the site. Lee’s ongoing project of reinterpreting history at Fort Mose opened the door to let students be part of the process. They were able to work together and offer their own contributions to scholarly research. “It’s a great way to get students involved in ongoing research,” said Lee of these student programs. “Their contributions are very significant. In a three-week timeframe, you’re able to build on what’s come before and keep adding onto that.” Even Lee has been building on the work of past archaeologists, like Dr. Kathleen Deagan, Distinguished Research Curator of Archaeology and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at the University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History. Deagan has been work-
ABOVE Students in Assistant Professor of Anthropology Lori Lee's Maymester class did archaeological work at St. Augustine's historic Fort Mose.
NEW FLAGSHIP PROGRAM As part of Flagler College’s reaccreditation, a new academic initiative launched this year called the Flagler College Sophomore High Impact Practice (FlagSHIP) Program. It is a new graduation requirement and Flagler sophomores will need to take a 3-credit course focused on diversity, intercultural competence and global citizenship.
Many courses will have experiential learning components which utilize High Impact Practices such as study abroad/ away, community integrated-education and undergraduate research. The goal is to expose students to diverse people and points of view, improve intercultural competence, foster dialogue across difference and build confidence in students’ abilities to participate as citizens in a diverse democracy. Flagship was piloted this past spring with a first-ever Maymester, a 3-week May term that included three FlagSHIP courses. The FlagSHIP program will be fully launched in 2021 with more than 40 courses.
ing at Fort Mose since its first excavation in 1986, where the primary goal was to verify the location. Since then, archaeologists have been joined by the efforts of invested community members to uncover the site’s history. United by archaeology, members of all different backgrounds have come together to mimic the cultural blending of Fort Mose’s past, where Native Americans, free Africans and Spanish settlers once lived together. “We’re finally catching up to the past,” said Deagan, who is also a Flagler College Trustee. Lee intends to analyze her data and prepare reports to renew her permit and continue working at Fort Mose. The collaboration with UF is expected to last three years, while other projects have begun to manifest, like a possible maritime investigation of parts of the site that have gone underwater. Lee intends to work with alumna Alex Garrett, ‘19, on analyzing ceramics for a paper they will present at the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology in April 2020. Sharing Fort Mose’s history creates a new narrative for black Americans, one of civilization rather than slavery. With archaeologists, students and community members invested, everyone is able to get more work done together. Each individual brings a different perspective to the table, creating a mix of expertise.
To hear more about this story, listen to Professors Lori Lee and Kathy Deagan on Flagler Footnotes, a WFCF Flagler College radio production, at www.flagler.edu/wfcf Read more on the new Strategic Plan at www.flagler.edu/strategicplan FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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Professor Tracy Halcomb talks about her documentary on female poker players BY LAURA J. HAMPTON | PHOTO BY ZACH THOMAS, '00
Not everybody gets lucky in Las Vegas, but Communication Professor Tracy Halcomb hit the jackpot in 2014 while attending the annual Broadcast Education Association Conference. Halcomb and H. James Gilmore, a colleague and former Flagler College professor, stumbled upon an intriguing tale of professional female poker players and spent the next four years documenting their story. In the past year, the award-winning documentary, “Cracking Aces: A Woman’s Place at the Table,” has been featured in nearly a dozen film festivals across the country, as well as the FICTS Sport, Movies and TV Film Festival in Milan, Italy. We caught up with Halcomb between classes to discuss what she learned during the filmmaking process, why gender stereotypes are changing in the poker industry and how anybody can win big in Vegas. Q. How did you find this story? A. Literally, the story found us. Jim Gilmore (co-director) and I were attending the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, and we went to Benihana’s for dinner. At Benihana’s, you’re seated at a big (hibachi) table, and there were two other ladies (Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher) seated next to us. We started talking to them, and we asked them what they did for a living. They said, “We’re poker players.” They gave me their business cards, and I saw both were in the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame and one of them was in the International Poker Hall of Fame. We were, like, holy crap!
Q. What does “cracking aces” mean? A. It’s when you’re in a poker game, and maybe your two hole cards (Texas hold’em) are just crap. You keep betting like you have fabulous cards, though, and you get somebody who has a pair of aces to fold. They had the hand that would win, probably, but you got them out of the game — you cracked their aces. Q. How are female poker players viewed in the industry? A. When Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher (the subjects of the documentary) started in the ‘70s, women were called every name in the book. Players would throw cards at them. Jan was a dealer for a long time, and she talked about dealers being urinated on under the table, or the dealer would reach over, and a guy would put his cigarette out on their arm if he thought the dealer was messing with the cards. The verbal abuse was just constant … all the time. Q. How has that changed over the years?
“Cracking Aces” out there. “Cracking Aces” is a positive story. It’s about overcoming a lot of bias, a lot of stereotypes … just a lot of physical and mental abuse and then coming out on the other side. It’s a happy ending, and the changes these women helped affect in the poker industry are good for all players, not just female players. The fact that you can’t smoke in a poker room anymore, Linda and Jan were instrumental in getting that stopped in the World Series of Poker, so they’ve helped affect change by calling out bad behavior and just not accepting it anymore. I think that is what the Me Too and Times Up movements are all about. They’re saying, “It’s got to stop, and we have to figure out a better way to do things.” And I think we have. Q. What surprised you most during the process? A. Probably how well the ladies get along. A lot of the female players know each other, and they actually like each other. I think that was a shock because they’re competing against each other for money, and sometimes, lots of money. They do try to take care of one another. I mean, if one of them has a medical emergency or something, the others will look after her. That was wonderful to see, but I just wasn’t expecting it. Q. Were you a poker player before, and if not, did this experience convince you to start playing poker?
A. A lot of that behavior is not tolerated anymore. It will get you thrown out of poker rooms, and it will definitely get you thrown out of games. It’s been this group of women banding together to say, “We’re done. You have to make changes.” And the poker industry is responding.
A. No. I’m a slot player. I learned enough about poker to know that I’ll never play for a living. I just don’t have the guts. Unless you really take the time to study it, you’re just throwing your money away.
Q. How does the film relate to the Me Too and Times Up movements?
Q. What tips do you have for winning big in Vegas?
A. The Me Too and Times Up movements were just exploding when we were putting
A. If you want to win big in Vegas, don’t play. Go home with your money. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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Torchlight Stories First Generation Student Airea Johnson is defying the odds and thriving at Flagler. Johnson, along wtih alums and staff have been working to help firstgeneration college students fight Imposter Syndrome and succeed at Flagler. LAURA J. HAMPTON | PHOTO BY MICHAEL LEGRAND
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hen Airea Johnson struts across the stage in black cap and gown draped with crimson hood in May 2021, she will be the first person in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree. She is, in fact, the first person in her family to attend college. Before arriving on the Flagler College campus, Johnson had never heard the term first-generation student, but being one, she was invited to a First-Generation Workshop during the first few weeks of school. Led by Flagler alumna Jeanette Vigliotti, class of 2011, the gathering in Spring 2018 was the first of its kind for the college. “I was so moved I emailed Jeanette and told her she was awesome,” Johnson said. “We got to talking, and we’ve been friends ever since.” Through the first-generation event and her friendship with Vigliotti, Johnson began to learn how special it is to be a first-generation college student, but she also learned it has some pitfalls. Jill Dawson, Senior Director of the Center for Advising and the Core Experience, said first-generation college students start out at a disadvantage and face continuous challenges from acceptance through graduation. Many of these students do not even consider college because
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it was not a part of the daily conversation, Dawson said. “If your parents went to college, it’s probably talked about in the home,” she said. “Parents who went to college are also much more adept at navigating the system and understanding what you have to do to apply to college.” Statistically, first-generation students are more likely to drop out. According to a study by the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, first-gen students are more than twice as likely to leave school within three years than students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree. Like most 18 -year-olds, first-gen students are likely to turn to their parents for help. However, if a first-gen student is having trouble navigating college and their parents don’t understand the role of tutoring services, counseling services or resident advisers, they cannot help the student navigate the process. Sometimes, unfortunately, the parent will recommend the student leave school. Many first-generation students don’t know how to deal with the “imposter syndrome” – when students feel like they don’t belong in college or they don’t have a right to be there. Though all students can have imposter syndrome, Dawson said firstgen students have it more often. When Vigliotti entered the Ph.D. program at Virginia
freshmen who identify as first-generation college students attend a special event during their first semester where they network with other first-gen students (both student and faculty) and learn about the resources available on campus. Dawson said educating the students about available resources is crucial.
“I’m here, and I’m thriving and it’s great” Commonwealth University, she and her cohorts, who also happened to be first-gen students, were stumbling through the first course of their first semester. Frustrated, they had an open conversation about not feeling prepared for where they were, which led to a discussion about not having familial help to navigate higher education.
“It was a very liberating moment to know that other people also felt like they were imposters in this environment,” Vigliotti said. Vigliotti wanted to find a way at Flagler to engage the first-gen student population. Since spring 2018,
Now aware of this subcategory of students and proud to identify with it, Johnson is following in the footsteps of Vigliotti, whom she considers a mentor. In her desire to work with f irst-gen students, Johnson created the oral history blog “Torchlight Stories: Conversations with First Gen Students.” For the blog, Johnson interviews students (and some faculty) who discuss their journey to an institute of higher learning, the pressure they feel to succeed and the determination that drives their quest for a bachelor’s degree. As for Johnson’s story, the rest is yet unwritten. Though very open about growing up in poverty in rural Alabama and rebelling at age 15 — against her mother’s wishes, she left home and moved to Florida to live with an aunt — the now 20-year-old is smart, ambitious and upbeat, despite the odds against her as a first-gen student. “I’m here, and I’m thriving and it’s great,” she said. Read Johnson’s blog here: torchlightstories.blog/ author/aireajohnsonfirstgen/
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Groux Becomes First Alum to Head Flagler Board of Trustees BY BRIAN THOMPSON, '95 | PHOTO BY ZACH THOMAS, '00
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t’s a milestone that hasn’t been lost on Richard Groux Jr. In a year that Flagler College celebrated its 50th anniversary, he also became chair of the college’s Board of Trustees – the first time in Flagler history that an alumnus has held the distinction. For Groux, ‘79, it’s made even sweeter by the fact that his daughter, Margaret (pictured right), also started Flagler as a freshman this past fall. “I’m really excited and she’s excited,” he said about his daughter following in his footsteps at his alma mater. “I think it’s a good fit for her and I’m glad it’s worked out.” It continues his strong connection to the college where he has served on the Alumni Board and was first elected to the Board of Trustees in May 2009. Joining the Trustees is something he calls one of the highlights of his life. “It was absolutely a huge honor,” he said. “It’s a great way to serve, it’s a great way to still be involved and it’s really enjoyable.” He said it a significant achievement for Flagler to have its first alumnus take the chairmanship, but noted he just happened to be “the guy in the seat,” as there are several other alumni on the board. For him it is more about the opportunity to continue to give back to the college and find new ways to make a difference. Groux said his experience at Flagler as a student is why he has always wanted to stay involved. Like so many other alumni, he said he felt an intimate educational connection to the college, something he calls “relational education” that is a hallmark for Flagler. “For me it was just a great place to be involved academically and
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meet some great people,” he said. “It was always about relationships.” He credits the college with forming the foundation for many of his successes in life. He also has a J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law, and served as an Assistant Judge Advocate General in the 49th Armored Division of the Texas Army National Guard. He is a partner in Dominion Construction Group, a firm involved in the planning and constructing of commercial and churchrelated projects in Maryland and Virginia. With his wife, Leigh Ann, he is also co-owner of Hart Song Farm, a 400-acre organic farm in Iowa where they raise various crops and Red Devon beef cattle. With Flagler coming off its 50th anniversary and now with a new strategic plan in place, Groux said he is excited to lead the Trustees, especially after a year that saw constituencies representing all elements of the college come together to develop the plan that lays out goals and priorities for the next 5 years. “To have that unity and commonality of purpose, to reach a point that we come up with a strategic plan that everybody was in agreement with moving forward, I think was very important for the college,” he said. “We have an opportunity to say, ‘The next 50 years of Flagler College, what are we going to look like? What can we do to improve and to re-adjust things that we see in the educational marketplace?’” Groux called the experience enlightening and invigorating, and said it will allow Flagler to focus on its primary mission of great teaching and great learning. “The classroom really is the most important part of the college, so how do we enhance that and enhance the student life experience at the college? Then what programs do we tweak so we can take advantage of our position in Northeast Florida?” he said. “I think it’s an exciting time for the college.”
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Students walking to class alongside trolleys full of wide-eyed tourists through historic St. Augustine is all part of the Flagler College lifestyle ...
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Ponce Hall Renovated Kitchen and Serving Area Ready for Students Ponce Hall’s kitchen and serving area got a major renovation this summer that dramatically changed the look, as well as dining options for students. In addition to modernizations, the new serving areas now offer more made to order options including grill, stir fry and vegan stations. The former P-1 classroom has also been converted into a location that offers late-night food options. In addition, the renovations increase sustainability and green initiatives thanks to a biodigester that converts 400 lbs. of food waste a day into gray water and the extension of recycling capacities. There will be an open house for the Dining Hall on Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine 23
ALUMNI WEEKEND honorING the past and celebratING 50 years of Flagler PHOTOS BY MONARCH STUDIO
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lagler College’s Alumni Weekend in May celebrated the college’s 50th anniversary with special events recognizing Flagler’s 50 Alumni of Distinction, as well as annual traditions like the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the always popular Markland Reception and the 34th Annual Hugh Shaw Memorial Surf Contest that brought out longboarders of all ages. The 20th Annual Alumni Awards
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Luncheon acknowledged members of Flagler’s Charter Classes of 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, the first four classes of students. The event also presented Dr. Beverly Copeland Carmichael, ‘72, with the f irst ever Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors a graduate who has dedicated over 20 years to a chosen career, engages in support of Flagler College and distinguishes themselves in their community. Carmichael earned
the honor through her work in higher education development and continued support of Flagler through her work in institutional advancement, overseeing fundraising and establishing the Women of Vision scholarship. She retired as Flagler’s vice president of Institutional Advancement in 2018. Cathy (Forson) Rhoten, ‘72, Nancy Sirmons, ‘72, and Steven Shafer, ‘03, were inducted as the 16th class of the
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1. Nancy Sirmons, ‘72, Cathy (Forson) Rhoten, ‘72, and Steven Shafer, ‘03, were inducted as the 16th class of the Flagler College Athletics Hall of Fame this year.
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Flagler College Athletics Hall of Fame this year. Rhoten was part of Flagler’s first athletics teams and was a member of the inaugural graduating class. She played women's basketball and volleyball, and helped lead the Saints to their first state titles in basketball in 1970 and 1971. Rhoten also coached the team to a state title in 1975-76. Sirmons was a teammate of Rhoten's during those early years, including the state hoops titles. She followed in Rhoten's footsteps as a head coach and led that team to the 1976-77 state basketball
title. That team went 25-5 and still holds the program record for most wins in a season. Shafer was a two-time NAIA AllAmerican golfer in 2001 and 2003, and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament all four years (twice as an individual). As a sophomore, he finished in fourth place in the tournament held in Albuquerque, N.M. The Flagler College Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honor student-athletes and administrators who made a major contribution to the intercollegiate sports program while at
Flagler, as well as a significant impact in their community after graduating. Since then, 63 people and one team have been inducted.
2. Members of Flagler College’s Charter Classes from 1972-75 came together to celebrate the college’s first 50 years at a special luncheon honoring the first class to graduate with a Flagler degree. 3. Dr. Beverly Copeland Carmichael, ‘72, who won the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award, with Flagler College President Dr. Joseph G. Joyner.
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Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Nick De Bonis and his wife, Susan, have relocated from St. Simons to become the innkeepers at the York House Inn in Rabun Gap, Ga. They hope alumni will consider staying at the Inn!
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C L A S S O F 1975 Joan Noeldechen published a book, “Alpine Poems,” in 2018 with Lulu.com.
Vivian (Burrus) Todd is celebrating 15 years in the real estate business, earning the National Association of Realtors C2EX designation and named #5 in Q1 2019 RE/MAX of Texas.
Mignonne Pollard was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the Education Sector Outreach Manager for the 2020 Census as part of California’s Complete Count Office. She was sworn into office by Daniel C. Kim, Director of the California Department of General Services.
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Andrew McRae enjoyed being at Flagler College for Alumni Weekend to celebrate the college’s 50th Anniversary. Pictured are Boston-area alumni waiting for a flight home, including Jeff DiBona (Alumni Associate), Larry Sweazy (former admissions officer) and Adele Prairie, ‘81.
Michael Reamy and his partner, Andres, moved to Rehoboth Beach, Del., after 30 years of living in Washington D.C. Michael obtained his real estate license in 2017, and is working for a Sotheby’s Realty affiliate.
onsite Fitness Coach at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in April 2018. Brian’s son was a patient at this same facility 11 years ago, staying 10 days due to an accident and ultimately had his leg amputated at just 4 years old. “It’s an incredible opportunity to take care of the caretakers who took care of us.
Jerry Ricketson is retiring from the United States Air Force after serving 24 years as a medic.
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Bruce Allie is now working as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Premier Properties in St. Augustine Beach.
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Brian Gadowry met up with a Flagler buddy for the Rutgers vs. Ohio State football game in
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Laura (Marx) Doop retired from the United States Navy. Brian Johnston was named the
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Brooke (Gagnon) Filipovski celebrated her 10-year anniversary with Young Life in March 2019, and currently is the country developer for both North Macedonia and Albania. She lives with her husband and four children (ages 1, 3, 5 and 7) in Skopje. Eva (Van Buren) Gibson had her debut young adult novel, “Together We Caught Fire,” acquired in a two-book deal by Simon Pulse, a Young Adult imprint of Simon & Schuster. Publication is expected in 2020, with a second novel to follow.
Jonathan Crosby and Carrie (Vincent) Crosby, ‘04, welcomed their second son, William Dean, on Jan. 21, 2019.
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David and Nicole (McDonald) Arieti, ‘93, are thrilled their daughter, Hannah Grace, is a freshman at Flagler College in the Fall of 2019!
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Heather (Canada) Randall married Chad Randall on Jan. 26, 2019 in Jacksonville Beach and enjoyed a honeymoon to Asheville, N.C. Rosina (Lombardi) Paul and her husband, Dion, moved to Houston. They welcome guests!
pain management. Nicole is married to Patrick McDermott, ‘01, and together homeschool their 10-year-old daughter.
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Nicole (Kalogeras) McDermott left her job as director of a K-8 private school to pursue her dream, and opened Breathe Massage Family Practice in Tallahassee, Fla., in 2018. She treats patients exclusively for chronic
Brad Hooker joined Agri-Pulse in February 2019 to launch a new bureau focused on California agriculture and food issues. Brad has a master’s degree in magazine journalism from the University of Oregon and has previously served as the communications director for the World Food Center at the University of California, Davis. Jana Kunzová currently teaches at Charles University in Prague. She teaches English for international relations in the Institute of International Relations.
Delyse Pretorius started Tennis Safari, which combines African safari, immersion experiences and tennis into one eco-tourism
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Jessie Unruh Heads Up Caseguide JAYDA BARNES, '19 Born and raised in Florida, Jesse Unruh graduated from Flagler in 2004 with a degree in Philosophy and Religion. He then earned his master’s in philosophy from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. In 2011, he graduated second in his class from Florida State University College of Law. As a lawyer, Unruh worked on lawsuits in Miami, including complex business litigation. He decided to put his law experience to good use. With his longtime friend, Kyle Harris, who is a former Apple engineer, Unruh started www.Jet.Law, a firm meant to improve efficiency of the legal system. After working together for a year, they pitched their idea to Y Combinator, a startup accelerator that fosters business growth and development by investing in companies and providing a platform on
experience. Delyse serves as a Business Development Consultant to Teach with Africa, and this partnership builds awareness of her native South African heritage, combining the safari and tennis experience with immersion learning.
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Bria (Gomez) Burton and her husband, Brian, welcomed their first child, Luke, in December 2017.
Elizabeth Freedman gave birth to Hayden James in September 2018.
Cherish (Simonson) Nabil and husband, Shaun, welcomed a second son, Hudson James, on June 13, 2019. Big sister Blakely is thrilled.
which to pitch to investors. Among 11,000 applicants, Unruh and Harris were chosen to be part of the roughly 200 companies in the winter 2019 batch. The pair road-tripped from Orlando to San Francisco in three days to begin Y Combinator’s three-month “batch” where they worked to develop their business model. While in Silicon Valley, Unruh’s vision for Jet.Law evolved. It began as a legal tech startup for criminal law cases and became an employment law firm. Headquartered in Orlando, Jet.Law is the marriage of a law firm and a technology company. With Unruh as the law firm owner and Harris as the head of engineering, Jet. Law defends companies in employment disputes such as FLSA or ADA cases. Jet. Law uses data-driven analysis of previous lawsuits to provide clients unique insights into their own case. Through technology, they are able to predict the workload of a case and offer flat fees, rather than billing by the hour.
The family has recently moved from New York City to Kansas City to be closer to family. Sarah (Bokelmann) Saunders and her husband moved from South Florida to the mountains of Tennessee in March 2018. Sarah also recently celebrated her 15th year at Tambourine, where she works remotely.
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Justin Bergh has been the general manager for The CrossFit Games for the last eight years, with over 400,000 annually registered athletes. Justin was selected as a Fellow to the Ohio University College of Business to advise on curriculum development in the sport management MBA/MSA program.
Leon Cameron and wife, Jill, welcomed their second child, Henry Leon, on Oct 15, 2018. Older brother, Nathaniel, is adjusting well. Leon works for artificial intelligence
“We’re trying to provide a better and more user-friendly experience,” said Unruh. He believes Orlando will give Jet.Law a good environment to start the framework for the business, with the goal of rapid expansion to a nationwide market in the future. Learn more at: www.jet.law
company eBrevia as an attorney and project manager. Jenny (Meister) McFadden earned an Ed.D. in literacy from Salisbury University. She is currently assistant professor of developmental English at Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Md. Her latest work, “Negotiating Multiple Identities: Three Community College Students Write About Race,” was published in the June 2019 edition of The International Journal of Diverse Identities. Nicole (Rogers) Oval married Samy Oval in September 2018. The couple welcomed a son, Jace Aubrey, in October 2017. Nicole is starting her doctoral dissertation, and the couple have relocated to Colorado for Samy’s USAF duty location. Michelle Olson-Rogers and husband, Andrew Rogers, ‘07, celebrated their daughter Avery’s Kindergarten graduation from Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, Fla. Chad Carter ‘02 was also there for the celebrations.
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Nicole (Smith) Caven was married on Oct. 7, 2017.
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Stephanie (Borgert) Baird and husband, Taylor, welcomed their second child, Isaac Phineas, on May
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Paige Denkins & Corey Christian at Road's End JAYDA BARNES, '19 Paige Denkin, ‘11, and Corey Christian, ‘12, have taken their passion for media and photography to the road to start an educational tour called Road’s End Workshop. Sponsored by Canon and B&H Photo, the husband and wife duo are living out of a 1972 Airstream as they spend one year traveling across America to teach 35 workshops to beginning photographers. After graduating from Flagler with degrees in Communication, the couple moved to New York. In 2013, Denkin received a master’s degree in digital photography from the School of Visual Arts. She spent several years working for B&H Photo, while Christian worked as a camera technology specialist for AbelCine and assisted companies such as Netflix,
Joshua Johnson Is Hiking For A Cause LAUREN PISKOTHY, ‘20 To most people, hiking is all about experiencing nature up close, and embarking on a new and exciting adventure, but for Flagler alumnus Joshua Johnson, '06, it's much more than that. Hiking is also a way to give back. Working with several charitable organizations, he’s been able to combine his graphic design background with his passion for long distance hiking while raising money for causes. Most recently, he’s supported Ability Tree First Coast, St. Augustine’s local chapter of Ability Tree, which reaches out to families impacted by disabilities to supply recreation, education, support and training. To Johnson, there are two facets of long-distance hiking that drive him to support non-profits like Ability Tree. “There is a strong community/social network among hikers like none other I have seen,” he said. “Seeing vulnerability and community first-hand in hiking gave me the vision to identify this charity and 28
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Disney and NBC Sports. But in July 2018, they decided to quit their jobs in exchange for a year of traveling across the country, all the while teaching workshops and running their own wedding photography business, Going Home. “We get to pick and choose where we want to create,” said Denkin. Roads End is all about teaching photographers, especially beginners, how to get the most out of their industry, by un-
how they are putting them to work. Families impacted by disabilities are often a vulnerable group among us. Despite the impressive amount of strength they show as individuals and caretakers, it can be difficult to carry the demands of disabilities by yourself.” Johnson realized that this sense of community between hikers was bigger than his personal enjoyment and the bonds he’s made with fellow hikers, or as he would refer to them, his “Trail Family.” There was more to hiking than met the eye and he saw that much like marathon runners, hikers could raise money for others, too. “My family abides by a fairly strict budget, but I want to be benevolent. I look around at people doing 5Ks or marathons for a good cause and thought to myself, ‘I’m about to hike 80+ miles through the wilderness. Why not fundraise just like a 5K runner?’ That’s how the idea for ‘Hike With Heart’ was born.” His commitment to giving back grew from that point on. He’s used his graphic design experience to help spread his message and launch his personal site, hikewithheart.com. In addition to raising money for charity on the trail, his passion to give
derstanding how to use their gear. “You need to master the tool to master the craft,” Denkin said. Their workshops also cover the legal side of photography to help students understand it as a business. By offering students these skills and opening up the conversation, Denkin and Christian hope to enable younger generations to enter the photography industry and demonstrate their creative innovation. me Find them online: Roadsendworkshop.com
back is also driven by his love for conservation and environmental causes. When he’s not hiking, he also serves as the secretary for the Resource Developmental Council of Ability Tree First Coast which helps to aid Florida families in need. As a Grounds Keeper for Granite Gear, he helps to clean the trails he’s visited, which he feels is his responsibility as a hiker. Learn more at hikewithheart.com
A LU M N I N OT E S 13, 2017. Stephanie was named Associate Dean for Academics at Oklahoma Christian University in August 2018.
tique marketing agency. She and Brady Bigalke, ‘10 were recently married.
Shannon Ryan was elected president of Resort & Commercial Recreation Association (RCRA) and will serve a three-year term.
Cornelius Jackson received a specialist in education degree from Florida State University.
Craig Shoup was named executive director of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
manager of instructional design for sales development, training and recruiting at Wyndham Destinations HQ in Orlando, Fla.
Heather (Bechel) Cummins recently returned to teaching after taking five years off to raise her daughter. She is currently teaching first grade in central Florida. Jamie Wylam is the photovoltaics coordinator for Superior Solar in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
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Matt Armstrong received his master’s in public administration in May 2019.
Kristin Chambers launched Meerkat Media Group, LLC in 2017, located in downtown St. Augustine. Meerkat Media is a bou-
Ben and Jess (Oblaczynski) Meredith live in Maryland with their three daughters. Ben practices law and recently became an equity partner, and Jess teaches second grade.
Amber (Hannah) Duncan and husband, Jimmy, welcomed Eleanor Rae in December 2019. She joins big sisters Emma, 9, and Isabel, 8. Amber is a member of a specialized proactive monitoring team in conduct management with Wells Fargo Bank.
Bailey (Toombs) Bernius recently accepted a position as associate director, nonprofit strategy at ForwardPMX, a global brand performance agency. Gianna Corrao was promoted to
Alumna Elizabeth Pape Creates Fashion Line JAYDA BARNES, ‘19 A student of art history and political science, Elizabeth Pape graduated Flagler with a liberal arts degree in 2012. She turned her passion for art and storytelling into a business with the creation of Elizabeth Suzann, a fashion company that prides itself on authenticity, functionality and sustainability. Pape’s passion for clothing begin while she was still attending Flagler. “I became drawn to clothing as a medium through studying art history,” said Pape. “Learning about history through the lens of art opened my eyes to so much context and rich information about humanity.” As a student, she began thrifting vintage clothes and selling them at the local consignment shop, The Closet, where she eventually began working. After graduating from Flagler, Pape moved to Nashville. She opened an online shop in 2013, and within a few months was able to rent a small space where she created her merchandise. By the end of the following year, she had grown her solo operation into a team of eight. The next year, her team moved to a warehouse and has since
grown to 42 team members and over $5 million in sales. Elizabeth Suzann is revolutionizing the fashion industry by encouraging customers to make conscious decisions about their wardrobe. “Demonstrating that there is a way to live, work and dress mindfully is our primary goal,” said Pape. The company’s unique approach to business is also a key feature of its success. The shop began with a practical, madeto-order approach direct to interested consumers and continues to operate in this same manner. Pape’s dedication to increasing both her personal knowledge and her business has enabled her growth. “Our primary goal here at Elizabeth Suzann is to elevate the conversation surrounding clothing and raise the bar for how we interact with getting dressed,” said Pape. “We encourage our customers to buy less and use more of what they have, to invest in themselves by purchasing things they know are made well and are made to last, and to redefine their relationship with clothing,
the body and their expression of their inner-most beliefs.” Check it out at: elizabethsuzann.com FlaglerCollege.edu/magazine
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Maggie Dillon was featured on the cover of Art Quilting Studio’s spring 2019 issue. Her website is maggiedillondesigns.com
Tammy (Worcester) Durrett married Kyle Durrett in 2017, and owns Dizzy Doodle Face Painting. Sabrina Kelbert was promoted to Director of Gifts and Data Administration at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
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Jaclynn Cusell received a degree in business administration from Flagler in 2011, and in 2018 earned a second degree from Flagler in accounting.
Rebecca (Hurst) Perini graduated in May 2019 with a master’s degree in human factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She currently works in environmental health and safety with Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla.
Claire (Baraban) Zari and her husband, Tyler, welcomed Amelia Brooks into the world on April 23, 2019.
Kyle Jennette started a predoctoral residency in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Chicago Medical Center, focusing on complex medical and neurological populations, including oncology and neurosurgery. Kyle defended his Ph.D. dissertation in August 2019 at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee.
Jackie (Gubbins) Kotos is a Senior Manager at the Firehouse Subs Foundation, and recently passed the CFRE exam.
Kimberly Luce trained with brother Andy Luce, ‘07, and ran two marathons for Team World Vision while in Chicago before relocating back to St. Augustine where she taught at St. Augustine Public Montessori School. In February 2019, Kimberly started teaching at a bilingual Montessori school in Geneva, Switzerland. Kara O’Ferrell is the IT/office manager for Law, Redd, Crona & Munroe, one of the largest CPA firms in Tallahassee, Fla.
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Britt Hoyland started DayBreaker Solutions in 2017, and provides sports marketing, event management, marketing and public relations for clients.
John Sgromolo is the athletic director at Ridgeview High School, which won the 2018 and 2019 FHSAA 6A Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Award for the State of Florida.
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Stephanie (Lear) Kelly and husband Matthew welcomed a second child, Beau James Kelly, on Oct. 28, 2018. Big sister, Vivienne, is over the moon! Julie (Hirshan) Hart is the digital strategist and community news editor for The Laconia Daily Sun in New Hampshire. She splits her time between New England and Jacksonville, where she lives with her husband and two children.
track position as an assistant professor of communication and media at Manhattanville College.
Kimberly Carten welcomed a son, Landon Rosenblum, on May 25, 2019. He was 8 lbs., 5 oz. and 19 inches long. Katherine (Baggett) McKeehan and husband, Spencer, welcomed daughter Ryleigh on July 29, 2018. Katherine is currently the Senior Director of Merchandising Operations with Walmart in Bentonville, Ark.
Desiree Mendoza owns Pink Balloon Creative in Chattanooga, Tenn. She offers brand photography for businesses, as well as portraiture and graphic design services.
FLAGLER COLLEGE Magazine
Jeremy and Saira (Khan) Petty welcomed their second daughter, Evelyn “Evie,” on Oct. 24, 2018 and joins proud older sister, Audrey. Saira is a stay-at-home mom, and Jeremy is a medical sales representative with Invacare. Sarah Schmaus lives in Los Angeles and is working as an assistant director on a variety of television shows. Shows she has worked on include “Fuller House,” “FAM,” “Happy Together,” “Big Bang Theory,” “The Ranch” and “Living Biblically.”
Steffi Shook received her Ph.D. in mass communication from Ohio University and accepted a tenure-
Aubrie Simpson-Gotham started Fostering Connections St. Johns, a non-profit based in St. Johns County, Fla. Fostering Connections St. Johns provides support to children in foster care and foster parents through fundraising, volunteerism and advocacy.
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Marc Berenguer and Mary Keegan are getting married in Marc’s hometown of Barcelona, Spain in September 2019.
Ryan Buffa is an associate producer for “The Walking Dead” and premiered her short film, “Apples & Oranges” at the St. Augustine Film Festival in 2019.
Ryan Cinney recently started working as a Senior Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, where she will lead digital strategy for a
A LU M N I N OT E S project with the Department of Defense. Formally, Ryan has worked in communications with legislators on Capitol Hill, as well as with Fortune 500 brands.
Maggie Fegan married Evan Gardiner, ‘13, in St. Augustine on Oct. 20, 2018. Alumni in attendance include Kaitlin Gardiner, ‘11, Devin Cousins, ‘11, Philadelphia (Shoop) Zimmerman, ‘12, Sara Bliss, ‘12, Brittany Rubino, ‘12, Andria Marquez, ‘12, Ashley Cousins, ‘13, Nicole DelBene, ‘13, Oscar Maldonado, ‘13, Emily Morris, ‘13, Sarah Specker, ‘13, David Arreola, ‘14, and James McHugh, ‘14. The couple reside in Gainesville where Evan is a public defender and Maggie teaches fourth grade.
Santiago Martinez-Caro moved from St. Augustine to Chicago to be the project manager of the FC Barcelona Academy. Estefania Mones owns a hammock company called Todo Fino (www.todofinoshop.com) that donates 20 meals to children in Venezuela with every purchase.
Luke Newcomer, together with wife Sadie (Rimkus) Newcomer, ‘14, have built a real estate team consisting of all Flagler alumni in the St. Augustine and St. Johns County area, exceeding $55 million in sales. Danielle Ruckert is a senior PR associate at Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications. She
is engaged to JB Billimoria, who proposed in Seattle in October 2018.
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Hannah Bleau recently joined Breitbart News as a political reporter.
Jason Tetlak Creates Guinness Record Setting Mural JAYDA BARNES, '19 Katherine (Lombardi) Dunlop opened an online store for screen printed portraits of people’s pets on greeting cards (lucyandthepress. etsy.com).
Alexandra Iannone is engaged to Matt Clark. They are planning a February 2020 wedding.
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Emily McCully and Jose Martinez, ‘15, moved to Houston, Texas, where Emily is a Marketing Director for Adapt2 Solutions and Jose directs the Houston Tennis Academy and plays professionally.
Jason Tetlak, ‘00, took his interactive art to new heights by setting the Guinness World Record for the largest 3D mural. The painting is 90 feet wide by 22 feet tall, totaling 1,930 square feet in area. The mural features the faces of the Beastie Boys, including the band’s lyrics “No Sleep Til Brooklyn,” a clever reference to the site of the mural: a neighborhood in Jacksonville called Brooklyn. With a pair of 3D glasses, the image comes to life for viewers. “The process took almost a year,” said Tetlak, an interactive artist who incorporates mobile technology, augmented reality, and 3D imagery into his paintings. He first had to submit the record he wanted to set to Guinness, and then they had to decide if it was something they would certify. After agreeing, they gave him the parameters to meet to achieve his goal. Tetlak then embarked on finding a surface large enough to set the record. Over the course of one week, Tetlak painted the entire mural in 50 hours. To achieve the record, he submitted evidence to Guinness, including witnesses and measurements from a surveyor. Once the record was certified, he submitted photos to the Guinness publishing department for consideration to be featured on their website or in their book. His record can be viewed on Guinness’s website: www. guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/504650-largestanaglyph-3d-mural Angel Edelberto Reyes graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and will be working at Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Washington D.C.
Chad Collins successfully defended his master’s thesis at the
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Jessica Blythe is attending Virginia Commonwealth University for her master’s in social work.
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Remembering Robert Hall
University of Central Florida.
Flagler loses retired professor who had led Art Department in early years Aubrey Kemper is a master’s student at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she is studying natural resource science and soil science. She is a research assistant, and presented original research at the Soil Science Society of American Conference in January 2019.
Lauren (Trevino) Sanders was recently married and is the social media product manager from Campus Crusade for Christ.
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Eric Crosby works in digital advertising for OMD in Chicago, for Pepsi brands including Quaker, Tropicana, Naked Juice, Cap’n Crunch and Life Cereal.
Amanda Jarrell married Brenden Tarrada, ‘17 on Oct. 5, 2018.
Michele Lachner received a master’s degree in recreational management from SUNY Cortland and is participating in the Disney College Program in hopes of becoming a full-time cast member.
Michael and Kristen (Breast) Maiocco moved to Tel Aviv, Israel in August 2019. Kristen will be studying for a master’s in ancient biblical archaeology at Tel Aviv University, and Michael will be finishing his master’s in divinity and perform live art at festivals around the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Christopher Rhodes received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University. Yasmeen Anis, ’18, was there to celebrate the occasion.
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Madeleine (Hewitt) Edwards married her best friend, John, on March 16, 2019. Alumnae in the bridal party included Anny Meyer, ‘17, Erin Miller, ‘18, and Alyssa Strickland, ‘19. Madeleine and John live in Brooksville, Fla., where Madeleine teaches 9th grade English.
Daniella Milroy accepted a fulltime job with the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators, where she started after graduation as an intern.
Jordyn Truax presented her paper, “The Impact of Rock Climbing on Positive and Negative Affect,” at the Southeast Psychological Association Annual Meeting in March 2019. Her paper was co-authored by assistant professor of psychology, Dr. Tracy Litzinger.
Want to share your news? Please email us at alumni@flagler.edu.
FLAGLER COLLEGE Magazine
MAIYA MAHONEY, ‘22 Half of a half-pint of the darkest beer on tap. Bob Hall did not drink often when he came into The Social Lounge in St. Augustine, but when he did, it was always that. Sneaking away to the bar he called it, even though Gudrun, his wife of 61 years, knew exactly where he was. Grey-white wispy hair covered his head, glistening eyes peered through thick, circle rimmed glasses, his trousers held up by suspenders, wrinkles made up his face; lines that symbolized old age and that came with life experience. He spoke slowly and with purpose, but eager to tell his stories. “I’m going to belly up to the bar,” he would tell Scott Moulton, owner of The Social Lounge in St. Augustine. Never drinking more than half of a half-pint of the darkest beer on tap, he had to get home, he would claim, before Gudrun started looking for him. “He would look around and hold court, tell tales, and entertain the bar with stories of the past. He would tell stories of St. Augustine during the Spanish period and about riding his motorcycle through Europe, the Italian Alps, and the wine country of France,” said Moulton. An educator, mentor, artist, reenactor, U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, husband, father, and friend, Hall is best known to the Flagler College community as the former chair of the Art Department for more than 20 years and one of the college’s earliest faculty members. On Sept. 7, 2019, Hall passed at the age of 87. “He had a great sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye,” said Brian Bowman, a student of Bob’s at Flagler in 1975. “He was enthusiastic about knowledge and research. As a professor, he didn’t just talk, he was there to instruct and bring living history to others.” Most days Hall showed up to Bowman’s Art History class in his Revolutionary uniform, off to a reenactment, often sporting a mustache or goatee. Bowman recalls many years later bringing history to life with Hall in Puerto Rico for the National Park Service in the 90s and walking shoulder to shoulder with him down roads in historic St. Augustine, dressed as soldiers for reenactments. Hall was not only active at Flagler, but also worked to preserve the history of St. Augustine on the City Commission, Architectural Review and Planning and Zoning Boards, and the Historic Florida Militia. He was also a prolific artist, often found working creatively in his home, at Flagler’s art studio or outside with an easel. Alongside him would be his daughter Renda. Combining his passion for art and history, Hall’s artworks focused on the military, battles, and ships. One of his fondest paintings, according to Scott Moulton, was a timeline of his and Gudrun’s travels throughout Europe on his motorcycle when they first met. “He loved life and new experiences,” Renda said. “He loved to share these experiences with others and open people’s minds to the world. He encouraged travel, loved to read and collect books, especially about military history. He was humble because he did not sell most of his art. Art was for his pure enjoyment.” Mahoney is a sophomore at Flagler who wrote this story about Hall for a Newswriting I class.
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Orlando – Duffers and aces alike attended our Central Florida Chapter for a night of golf and mingling at Drive Shack on Jan. 29 in Orlando. About 40 alumni came out for this casual event. Atlanta – A night of reconnecting and networking took place on March 19 at Lure in Atlanta. Young Alumni Social – Over 30 of our Young Alumni – graduating between 2009-2019 – met up at Auggie’s Draft Room in St. Augustine on May 18. Jacksonville – Almost 50 alumni from our First Coast Chapter met up at River & Post Rooftop for a beautiful evening of food and friends in Jacksonville.
Move In Day – Many thanks to the 25 alumni volunteers who helped move in 600+ students to their new home at Flagler College on Aug. 24. The heat index that day was 99! Tallahassee – Over 90 alumni and Flagler College Tallahassee faculty and staff gathered at the University Center Club on Oct. 2 to socialize and meet the new Dean of Flagler College Tallahassee, Dr. Wayne Riggs. Alumni Board Dinner – Current and former board members enjoyed the annual Fall Alumni Board of Directors Dinner on Oct. 11. It was a lively night in the Solarium!
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74 King Street | St. Augustine, Florida 32084 904.829.6481 | www.Flagler.edu
In the fall of each year, a railroad spike is handed to every incoming freshman at Flagler College’s Convocation Ceremony. A symbol of Henry Flagler’s legacy as the founder of the Florida East Coast Railway, it represents the first spike in each student's college education as they begin their own life legacy.
PHOTO BY ZACH THOMAS, '00