GUILFORD COLLEGE April 2022 | www.guilford.edu
Right Man, Right Time President Kyle Farmbry Leads a College at a Crossroads
MAGAZINE
Friends, LAST JUNE, AFTER SEEING AN ANNOUNCEMENT for the presidential opening at Guilford College, I emailed a colleague who I had come to know through some collaborative projects. Diya Abdo, as many of you probably know, is Lincoln Financial Professor of English and founder of the Guilford initiative Every Campus A Refuge. I asked her to give me a call. When Diya called, I told her about my interest in Guilford’s presidency and asked her to tell me a little about her school. Diya never hesitated. “I love Guilford,” she said, before going into a long list of everything she knew and loved about the College. Diya spoke about Guilford’s curious and mindful
Thank you for accepting me into your community. Now let’s get to work.
staff colleagues. She shared with me the deep interest in social justice and community that was woven through much of Guilford’s institutional ethos. It was clear Diya had been sold on this College long ago. By the end of our call, so was I. Now all I needed to do was get the job. Over the next several weeks, as I read all that I could about Guilford in preparation for interviews, I learned more about all of the virtues of this wonderful place. I was growing increasingly enamored with the campus, and all that it represents. These days, as Guilford’s new president, I have daily opportunities for listening, reflecting, and learning about the College’s impact on the lives of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. I’ve learned about the journeys that brought many of you to our school, and about how our College has influenced the worldviews
PHOTO BY JULIE KNIGHT
AT HOME, AT GUILFORD
students, and admiration she has for her faculty and
of so many Guilfordians who are making important
reflection has helped shape some of my early thinking
impacts in their communities.
on strategic planning that I hope many of you will join
One of my favorite stories has been that of Laura
me in over the next several months. This process won’t
Tew (page 4), a neighbor with no direct ties to Guilford.
be easy. Few discussions this important ever are. But
Neither she nor any of her relatives ever attended
I believe they will enable our broader community to
Guilford. She simply lived down the road. Friends and
imagine an exciting future for the College, one that we
family say Laura would stroll our campus, perhaps
can all take an active role in shaping.
taking in its flowering azaleas in the spring and its majestic oaks in the fall. I like to imagine her sitting for a spell in one of our rocking chairs outside Founders, occasionally engaging with students as they made their way across campus to classes. But, in truth, we know very little about Laura. What we do know is that Guilford touched her
We began our strategic planning
“Every day I learn new ways
that Guilford has inspired individuals to do for the community and to be of service to the greater good.”
in ways that ultimately inspired her
process several weeks ago. We want to hear from as many Guilfordians — faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and friends — as we can. We’ll be framing our discussions around a set of themes: academic engagement and student success, communication, community building, financial stability, and partnerships.
to leave over $1 million to benefit the
This is where you come in. I want all
College after her death. Laura asked only that her gift be
members of our community to imagine and contribute
used as a scholarship for Guilford County students who
to building a Guilford that we will be excited to call our
wished to attend our school.
own. I hope you’ll visit www.guilford.edu/envisioning
Every day I learn new ways that Guilford has inspired individuals to do for the community and to be of service to the greater good. Laura’s example is but one of many.
for more information on how you can have your voice heard. In the meantime, I look forward to meeting many of
She indirectly became a part of Guilford — and the
you in the very near future. Thank you for inviting me
strength of her bond to our community ultimately
to be part of this amazing Guilford community.
inspired a degree of generosity that we appreciate and know will impact scores of students for years to come. My conversations with Guilfordians during my first months in this new role have led to a lot of opportunities to reflect on the broader Guilford community — a community that extends far beyond this beautiful
Kyle Farmbry
campus in a wooded corner of Greensboro. This
President W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1
EDITOR Robert Bell ‘11, Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing CONTRIBUTING WRITER Habin Hwang DESIGN Chris Ferguson PHOTOGRAPHY Robert Bell ‘11 Lynn Hey COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING TEAM Ty Buckner, Interim Vice President of Communications & Marketing Abby Langston, Senior Director of Marketing Robert Bell ‘11, Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing Michael Crouch ‘10 & ‘12, Associate Director of Marketing LaToya Marsh, Bryan Series Associate FUNDRAISING TEAM Danny Gatling, Vice President for Advancement Ashley Raper, Director of Annual Giving
Bringing Guilford Together, One Story At a Time I recently ran into a friend, John Crane ’80, who asked how we find the stories we publish in Guilford College Magazine and its sister e-publication, The Gazette. I told John what I’m telling you here: The heart and soul of this magazine and The Gazette are you and all the alumni of Guilford College who allow us to shine a light on their
CONTACT US Office of Communications & Marketing New Garden Hall Guilford College 5800 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410 P / 336.216.2239 magazine@guilford.edu
passions, their pursuits, and the purpose they’ve found in their lives after Guilford. Because Guilfordians are involved in nearly every field and vocation around the country, the stories we cover enjoy tremendous latitude. A common theme to all is that they’re about people using the skills they mastered — maybe even discovered – a long history of responding and reframing to societal challenges, and by making an impact in their
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respective communities. We’re interested in stories about alumni exploring new frontiers, tackling social problems, stoking economic engines, or simply putting their talents to work in unique ways.
twitter.com/guilford_alum
That’s why I want to hear from you. The relations you built
linkedin.com/school/guilford-college-alumni
at Guilford shouldn’t end when you walk out the door of this College. Just the opposite: We only want those relationships to grow. So keep in touch. Drop us a note. Shoot us an email.
Guilford College Magazine is published by the Office of Communications & Marketing. The views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the College. Guilford College does not discriminate on the basis of sex/gender, age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, military status, veteran status or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation. For our complete statement, please visit www.guilford.edu/nondiscrimination.
Pick up a phone. We want to hear from you.
— Robert Bell ’11 Editor
IN THIS ISSUE
08
4 A letter and a mystery
12 Ready to lead
Laura Tew's love of Guilford lasted
Kyle Farmbry will have a lot
nearly a half century. Her gift to
to say about Guilford’s future.
the College ensures it will go on.
But first, he’s listening to others.
6 Here comes Mandy
18 ECAR turns 7
Mandy Cohen, the former
As the refugee crisis grows in
N.C. health sercretary, will
America, so does the need for
speak at the College's May 14
Every Campus A Refuge.
Commencement.
7
22
A familiar face
20 New provost, same Maria Maria Rosales is Guilford’s
Danny Gatling is the new
new provost, but she's still
Vice President of Advancement.
a teacher at heart.
8 New chair, new ideas
April 2022 On the Cover Kyle Farmbry is Guilford College’s 10th president.
22 On the brink of the bigs
Ione Taylor ’76 hopes to bring
Mitchell Stumpo '19 almost quit
the success she had in business
baseball at Guilford. Today he’s
to her new position as board chair.
competing for an MLB job.
10 Fighting the good fight
12
25 Campus Notes
Three Guilfordians say their
Kyle Farmbry announces a new
time at the College helps shape
forum at Guilford—one he hopes
their stories as journalists.
leads to change in the world. W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 3
PHILANTHROPY
GUILFORD’S SECRET ADMIRER Laura Tew never attended the College. Neither did anyone from her family. All of which made her $1.16 million gift to Guilford even more endearing. Friends and family say Laura and
BY ROBERT BELL ’11
Guilford College were quite the couple. THE LETTER AR RIVED A FEW DAYS
Who knows how many times she
before Christmas. There was nothing
strolled the College’s leafy campus,
on the outside suggesting importance
plopped down in a rocking chair at Hege
or urgency, nothing that made it stand
Library to watch students hurry to and
out from the rest of the morning mail.
from classes, enjoyed an Eastern Music
Gordon Soenksen, Guilford College’s
Festival concert on a summer afternoon
former Interim Vice President for
or Bryan Series lecture at Dana
Advancement, put the letter along with
Auditorium on an autumn evening?
the rest of the mail on his desk and
Monte Bredal, Laura’s niece,
logged into his computer for the day.
says there was always a special
A few minutes later, the letter
connection between Guilford and her
sitting on the top of a stack of others
aunt. “She talked about the College,
caught his attention again. He
the buildings, the trees all the time,”
recognized the envelope’s letterhead
says Monte, who lives in Kernersville,
of Higgins & Benjamin, a Greensboro
N.C. “Whenever she was lonely or
law firm, so he opened it.
feeling anxious she would head over
Guilford's Office of Advancement
to Guilford. I think being on campus
and Alumni Engagement connects with alumni and friends of the College — and raises money on behalf of the school, too. Gordon read the letter once, then, after relaxing a bit, again. “It’s
made her feel better. It really was like L AU R A T E W S P E N T N E A R LY A H A L F CENTURY IN A HOME NE AR GUILFORD C O L L EG E . FA M I LY M E M B E R S S AY S H E LOVED SPENDING TIME ON CAMPUS.
not every day you get a letter like that,”
a love story.” Laura Peeples Tew died at a Greensboro nursing facility in December of 2020 just 10 days before turning 101. It wasn’t until Gordon
Gordon recalled. “Believe me I wish
Guilford, nor did anyone in her family.
opened the law firm’s letter a year later
we did. It would make my job a whole
She was not Quaker — she and her
that the College discovered how much
lot easier.”
husband Jim helped found Guilford
Guilford meant to her.
Gordon immediately picked up
College United Methodist Church not
Laura's gift comes with a catch, a
the phone and called then-Interim
far from the campus — and College
provision Guilford College officials
President Jim Hood '79. “I’ve got some
officials say there are no records of the
are all too happy to honor: The money
good news,” he said.
school ever reaching out to her.
must support scholarships for Guilford
“Like a love story”
out a place in her heart for Guilford,
Even now, all these months later, the
which seemed like a second home just
woman who donated $1.16 million
down the road from the wood-and-
superintendent of the school system,
to Guilford remains something of a
brick rambler on Horse Pen Creek Road
said Laura's gift will benefit so many
mystery. Laura Tew never attended
where she lived for nearly 50 years.
students.
4 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
None of that kept Laura from carving
County Schools high school graduates attending the College starting this fall. Sharon Contreras, then-
"Debt-free college eliminates barriers
As Sally tells it, Laura loved growing
to educational equity and economic
flowers in her yard. In the spring, she
equality," she said. "Guilford College
was always entertaining friends and
is deeply committed to creating better
neighbors with tea and homemade
communities and a better world, and
pound cake. If spring rains were
this gift will have a lasting impact on
generous that pound cake was topped
the lives of so many of our students.
with fresh-picked strawberries
who attend the College.”
from the backyard. “She was such a
Kyle Farmbry is somewhat a stranger to the College himself, having only taken over as Guilford's new president in January. Still he says he was moved by someone who watched from a distance as Guilford’s mission of educating students played out over the
wonderful friend
“(Laura) talked about the
college, the buildings, the trees all the time. Whenever she was lonely or feeling anxious she would head over to Guilford. I think being on campus made her feel better. It really was like a love story.” — Monte Brelan, Laura Tew's niece
last half century.
and hostess,” says Sally. “Laura loved music so we went to the Eastern Musical Festival at Guilford whenever we could. She could sit in Dana (Auditorium) for hours and listen to music.” It was only after her death that Laura showed off her wealth. “That just wasn’t how she
“That Ms. Tew was
chose to live,” says
so touched by what we do makes
Johnston. “She scrimped and saved and
a critical statement on who we are,”
lived a simple life.”
he says. In higher education philanthropy,
Kyle says Laura’s generosity reaffirms the mission that Guilford
where donations in the tens of millions
College undertakes every day, a mission
are not uncommon, Guilford's gift is a
that extends into the community.
relatively modest sum.
“What it tells me is that you never know
Who was Laura Tew?
who’s watching,” he says. “You never know who you might be impacting
Friends and family describe Laura as
today or tomorrow. I’m proud Guilford
someone steeped in her Methodist
made such an impact on Ms. Tew. I
faith, with a sly sense of humor, and
suspect there are many more like her
a friend to many — especially if that
who have felt Guilford’s impact.”
friend was available for an afternoon
On a Friday afternoon in January,
of bridge. Sally Johnston started out as
Kyle met with Laura's longtime
Laura’s financial advisor more than 20
lawyer to receive a check and learn
years ago, helping her invest in tax-
more about Guilford’s secret admirer.
free municipal bonds. What started as
Hearing more stories about a perfect
a professional relationship grew into a
stranger’s love for his new college
friendship. The two would frequently
made Kyle smile. He also says Laura
enjoy lunch together or attend an event
is no longer a stranger to the College:
at Guilford.
“She’s a Guilfordian now.”
Guilford Forward Fund easily reaches its $6 million goal With the support of nearly 3,000 donors, Guilfordians didn’t just reach the Guilford Forward Fund’s $6 million goal, they obliterated it. By the time the fundraiser ended on Jan. 31, more than $6.7 million was raised. Guilford College President Kyle Farmbry called the Guilford Forward Fund’s success “a truly collective effort.” “I’m humbled by what our supporters accomplished,” Kyle said. “So many friends and alumni came together to help us exceed our goal. In doing so they made their voices clear: They believe in Guilford and the role this College plays every day in discovery, teaching and service to our students and community.”
GUILFORD FORWARD FUND BY THE NUMBERS
$6.7 M Amount raised
2,986 Number of donors GIFTS INCLUDE:
$300,000
Margaret “Bo” Wooten ’56
$280,433
Laurence Russell ’68
$140,375
Violet Sharpe, wife of Jule Sharpe ’37
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 5
CAMPUS NEWS
COHEN TO SPEAK AT GUILFORD Mandy Cohen, NC’s former health secretary, will be Guilford's featured speaker for the May 14 Commencement, the College's first in-person ceremony in three years. MANDY K. COHEN, MD,
Mandy was recognized as a
MPH, and former Secretary
national leader during her four
of the N.C. Department of
years as the chief public health
Health and Human Services,
official in the administration
will be the Commencement
of Governor Roy Cooper.
speaker at Guilford College
In the final two years,
on May 14. The College will
concluding in December,
award diplomas to about
she had a prominent role in
270 graduates in an outdoor
encouraging North Carolinians
ceremony on its Quad for the
to wear masks, stay six
first time in three years.
feet apart, wash hands, and
Mandy will be presented
get vaccinated during the
with the honorary Doctor of
COVID-19 pandemic.
Science degree, recognizing
In February 2019, Modern
her thoughtful leadership in
Healthcare magazine named
managing the state’s response
Mandy one of the Top 25
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women Leaders in Healthcare.
In January, Mandy
She was awarded the
announced that she would
Leadership in Public Health
enter the private sector as
Practice Award from Harvard
Executive Vice President
University’s T.H. Chan School
Aledade, and Chief Executive Officer of its new health
M A N DY C O H E N WA S R EC O G N I Z E D A S A N AT I O N A L L E A D E R D U R I N G H E R F O U R Y E A R S A S N O R T H C A R O L I N A’ S C H I E F P U B L I C H E A LT H O F F I C I A L .
services unit, Aledade Care Solutions. “Guilford College is an institution
of Public Health in 2020. The Raleigh News & Observer named Mandy its Tar Heel of the Year in 2020 for her
Guilford Biology Professor Michele Malotky, director of the College's
leadership during the pandemic. A graduate of Cornell University,
that has conscientiously taught its
growing Public Health Major, says
Mandy received her medical degree
students to advocate for the well-
one of the few silver linings to the
from Yale School of Medicine and a
being of others and has recently
pandemic is that health officials like
Master’s in Public Health from the
developed a major in Public Health.
Mandy have made "science top of mind
Harvard School of Public Health.
It seems particularly fitting to grant
for a lot of people and students heading
She trained in Internal Medicine at
former Secretary Cohen this honorary
off to college."
Massachusetts General Hospital.
degree and have her speak to our
The Public Health discipline, which
Mandy has also served as an
graduating class,” says President Kyle
will have a new director next year in
Adjunct Professor in Health Policy
Farmbry, who will participate in his
Aleks Babić '07, has more than 30 Public
and Management at the Gillings
first Commencement after joining the
Health majors and is one of the College's
School of Global Public Health at
College in January.
fastest growing programs.
UNC- Chapel Hill.
6 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
•
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y T H E A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S
of a healthcare company,
LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS
PHOTOS BY TK
Guilford consolidates its Communications and Marketing units Guilford’s communications and marketing units have been consolidated, a move President Kyle Farmbry says will help the College better tell its story to future students and generate support for the College. The consolidation, announced in early January, was the first significant staffing move by Kyle in his presidency and signals his strong belief that the school’s growth is intrinsically connected to its message. Kyle says the Communications & Marketing team, as it is now known, will have “key partnerships with Admissions and Advancement in driving revenue goals in enrollment and philanthropy as well as strong working relationships with divisions across campus.” The new division will he led by Interim Vice President Ty Buckner (left). Ty has held leadership responsibilities in Advancement for many years, including as Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing from 2009-15, and most recently as AVP for Alumni and Constituent Engagement. Kyle says the consolidation of the College's two units will ensure that all communications, marketing products and messages produced by the new division will offer consistent and authentic impressions of Guilford. “Those impressions will build a compelling brand for the College not to mention strengthen our trust, engagement, and support among all our constituencies,” says Kyle.
COMING HOME Guilford names LaDaniel "Danny" Gatling, a former leader in Advancement , as the department's new Vice President. DA N N Y G AT L I N G H E L P E D R AISE MORE THAN $9.5 MILLION IN T WO MONTHS AT B E N N E T T C O L L E G E .
GUILFOR D COLLEGE DIPPED INTO its
learned about Quaker traditions. To be able
past to help lead the College’s fundraising
to bring some of the experiences and tools
in the future. LaDaniel “Danny” Gatling
I’ve developed through the years back to
II, who held leadership roles in Guilford’s
Guilford — this time in a senior leadership
Advancement office for seven years before
role — is exciting for me.”
leaving in 2014, was named the new Vice President for Advancement. Danny comes to Guilford from Bennett
Danny has enjoyed fundraising success at several colleges and universities. At Bennett, he helped raise more than
College in Greensboro, where he served
$9.5 million in 60 days. As a Director
as Vice President for Institutional
of Development at UNC Chapel Hill,
Advancement since 2018.
he worked to support the $4.25 billion
President Kyle Farmbry says, “I am
Campaign for Carolina. At Guilford, Danny
delighted Danny is coming home to
had increasing responsibility in three
Guilford. He has a strong track record
Advancement management positions
in higher education fundraising and
including as Associate Vice President for
administration.”
Philanthropy.
Danny earned an Engineering degree at
He succeeds Ara Serjoie as Vice
N.C. A&T State University. “Like my alma
President at Guilford. Ara led Guilford’s
mater, Guilford is a place very close to my
Advancement Division for five years
heart,” says Danny. “It’s where I first was
before taking a similar position at
acquainted with the College’s culture and
Haverford (Pa.) College last August.
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 7
Q&A
MORE THAN A GUILFORDIAN Ione Taylor ’76 brings new leadership to Guilford College’s Board of Trustees. Ione Taylor wasn’t going to Guilford College out of teenage stubbornness. Then, like so many students before and after her, she visited the campus. That, she says, made all the difference in her college choice. These days Ione is more than just a Guilfordian. She’s the College’s new Board of Trustees chair. Ione comes to her new position after a distinguished career in the physical sciences, energy and natural resources. She began as a petroleum geologist drilling wells in the Gulf of Mexico, and multiple positions at Amoco Production Co. and British Petroleum. Ione left the private sector for a senior executive position with the U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency focusing on the economic implications of natural resource management. Most recently she was on the faculty at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, as a member of the school’s Earth and Energy Resources Leadership Program. Ione sat down with Guilford College Magazine to talk about her management style, the role trustees will play during this new era at the College and how her experiences at Guilford helped shape the trajectory of her life.
You could have attended almost any college. In fact, you were looking hard at Duke, but you ended up at
community. But I also knew I wanted to be a scientist and a chemist. I knew that was going to take a lot of years of post college, a lot of years of graduate school on the technical and scientific side. So I knew that if I was ever going to get a liberal arts, or broad-based education, I needed to do it as an undergraduate. Guilford was a blessing for me because I learned how to think. How has a Quaker, liberal arts education impacted you? My family's Quaker on my dad's side. The thing about Quakerism that means so much to me is it really integrates spiritual aspects and religion. Some people call that Quaker mysticism. Quakers integrate that spiritual side everyday into their
“Our fiduciary responsibility
requires that we get a sustainable business model and a lot of the trustees are very, very experienced in business.” — Ione Taylor
Guilford. Why?
roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-towork way of living. I’ve always liked that combination. John Woolman is a famous Quaker from the 1800s who would say “let your life speak.” That is, have what you do in life act as a witness or testimony for what it is you believe about your existence in life. I've seen that it's such an important characteristic with so many Guilford students of different
I always thought I’d end up at Duke.
faiths that it's not so much a religious
My grandmother and grandfather
brother was there. But when I started
thing. It’s an idea of making your
on my mother's side went there, so I
doing the campus visits, there was
life and your actions and what you
thought I would, too. I was avoiding
just no comparison. I felt like I could
do in life a testimony to your beliefs.
Guilford or sort of didn't give it a
be who I was at Guilford. I felt an
Professionally, I've worked with,
lot of thought because my dad went
attraction with the place. I felt a sense
taught and supervised all kinds of
here. My granddad went on a baseball
of community. You hear that a lot
people. Give me an employee with a
scholarship back in 1919. My older
from Guilford students, that sense of
liberal arts education every time.
8 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
I O N E TAY L O R , W I T H HER DOGS SHIPLEY AND BISMARCK, IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO CHAIR G U I L F O R D C O L L EG E ’ S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
As chair of the Board of Trustees, you'll
college. Kyle recommends the budget,
revenue, grow income and manage
be leading a group of Guilfordians
for example. Maria oversees the
expenses in an efficient manner. It’s a
highly accomplished in their fields
academic program, tenure, promotion
balancing act.
ranging from business, education, law
of faculty, students and campus life.
and real estate. How would you describe
The board's responsibility is different.
How will the experiences you’ve had
your management style?
It's a broader, more zoomed-out
in senior leadership positions in the
Board leadership is different from the
oversight responsibility, fiduciary
public, private and higher ed sectors
other leadership roles I've held. I’ll
responsibility for the sustainability
help contribute to the way you lead
be leading accomplished, esteemed
of the College. We’re responsible for
Guilford's board?
volunteers who have mostly very
policymaking for the College. There’s a
Most of what I've done has been
demanding other jobs in life, and
lot going on, and the board in the recent
management and leadership in
they're stepping up because they care
past has had to do more of a zoomed-in
situations where there have been a lot
about the College. The challenge for
management over the last couple years.
of constituent groups with competing
me is how can I work with them and
We're trying to get back to that zoomed-
and conflicting interests, particularly
tap into the expertise and tremendous
out oversight responsibility.
when I've worked in natural resource,
insight and experience that they bring
land and mineral issues. There are a
across a host of sectors? And how can
What are the big issues the board faces
lot of different constituents who have
we tap into that and use that to the good
over the next 18 months?
different views about how natural
of Guilford College?
The board needs to achieve a stable and
resources should be used, and the impact
sustainable financial situation for the
of those uses and how you manage it.
You took over as chair of the Board
College where income and expenditures
The good news for the board leadership
of Trustees at a pivotal time in
balance out. Obviously that's been
and Guilford College is that we have
Guilford's history: President Kyle
a struggle not just for Guilford, but
many different constituent groups with
Farmbry and Provost Maria Rosales
all across higher ed. Our fiduciary
different types of interests in the College.
have long-range goals for Guilford's
responsibility requires that we get a
But they don't have a conflict of interest
future. What role will trustees play in
sustainable business model and a lot of
in their support of Guilford. We may look
reaching those goals?
the trustees are very, very experienced
at the ways we go forward differently, but
The President leads the College and
in business and have a high level of
the solid motivation and goal remains the
implements the board's policies. The
acumen and business development and
same: How can we make Guilford College
President is the spokesman for the
running businesses. We want to grow
the best it can possibly be?
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 9
AWESOME ALUMNI
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT Guilford encourages open-mindedness and the questioning of authority. These Guilfordian journalists practice those beliefs in every story they tell. B Y H A B I N H WA N G
The state of journalism is grim. Since 2005, more than 2,200 local newspapers have shuttered. Local and regional news organizations still around are under immense financial stress and are struggling to stay afloat. The last presidential administration with its seemingly daily attacks on media didn’t help. But to hear three Guilfordian journalists tell it, there’s nothing they’d rather be doing than sitting behind a microphone or in front of a laptop telling stories. Speaking of stories, here are theirs.
1 0 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
REBECCA GIBIAN ’13 Rebecca Gibian knew she wanted to become a journalist at a young age. It was college that she was having trouble deciding. She chose Guilford, in part, because of the late English Professor Jeff Jeske. “He told me I’d be a big fish in a little pond,” Rebecca says, laughing. “And in so many ways, he was 100 percent right.” With her enthusiasm for learning, as well as the further clarity in her vision that the College offered her, Rebecca quickly gravitated to The Guilfordian, the College newspaper. Rebecca served many roles at The Guilfordian before becoming editor-in-chief her junior year. “I learned so much about what it’s like to be a
part of a news team at Guilford,” she says. “We sat in the Pub Suite until 3 a.m. putting the newspaper together. The camaraderie that Guilford taught me has lasted through my career.” Rebecca is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. She focuses her writing on international women's issues. Rebecca may report from across the world but her writing is always grounded within the lessons and communities she formed at Guilford. “[Guilford taught me to] facilitate peoples’ voices instead of speaking for them,” she says. “It taught me the importance of meaningful, respectful listening.”
JOSH COHEN ’08 Josh Cohen wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he arrived at Guilford, but journalism was certainly not on the list. Since the College had few journalism classes and no journalism major, he was reluctant to pursue it. But like Rebecca, it was the community that surrounded him at Guilford that eventually roped him into the field. During Josh’s sophomore year, he sat next to an editor at The Guilfordian, Matt Hazleton ‘08, who persuaded him to write for the newspaper. Jeff Jeske, who also served as the paper’s advisor, helped Josh polish and distill his writing, giving rise to not only his interest in journalism, but also his interests in the types of topics he covers today. Josh is a reporter at Crosscut, a nonprofit news website in Seattle, where he covers the city’s government and
“Journalism, at its best, is
an opportunity to serve the community you live in.” — Josh Cohen
politics, and issues such as homelessness in the city. He says Guilford offers students a nurturing environment to pursue journalism. “Guilford opened me up to a world of diversity and subjects
and culture I might never have been exposed to at a larger university,” he says. “It's important for me to approach any issue with an open mind and that's what Guilford asks from its students every day." With a deep connection to the concept of “community” that began at Guilford, Josh likes to explore the communities around him through his writing. “Journalism, at its best, is an opportunity to serve the community you live in,” he says. “It's a great way to help the readers you serve understand what's going on in our world, or their city or community. It can track the
BR ADLEY GEORGE ’02 Bradley George’s journalism career began earlier than most. At 17, he began his first steps into radio, writing news and ads for a local radio station in his hometown of Elkin, N.C. Despite pursuing Theatre Studies and German Studies at Guilford, he resumed his career in journalism after he left the College. “I had never really been exposed to art or foreign languages,” Bradley says. “On a whim, I auditioned for a theater production and got a pretty major role. I put journalism off to the side for a while, and it kind of found me after Guilford.” Bradley has worked in Winston-Salem, N.C., Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta before moving to Florida where he works as a reporter and morning host for WUSF in Tampa. Despite not being a journalism or English major, Bradley says many of the skills he employs in his job today — writing, editing, asking questions that challenge the status quo — are lessons he learned at Guilford. “I think a lot about the Quaker values,” he says. “Treating each person with respect and seeing different viewpoints, questioning authority [are] essential qualities in a journalist.”
money, the power. It can elevate the folks who don't get heard from. In a way journalism really embodies what
Habin Hwang is a senior at Early College of Guilford.
Guilford embodies.” W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 1
Into the
1 2 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
LIGHT
K
Kyle Farmbry enters his office in Founders Hall without a hint of a flourish. It’s a modestly sized, almost Spartan room. The walls are empty of diplomas or art. Only a few books on shelves. It’s a room made all the more plain because Guilford College’s President is still new to the job and, given the challenges he’s inherited, interior decorating isn’t exactly a priority. Besides, if an office is supposed to reflect its occupant, you could easily envision revisiting this one a year from now and finding the same unadorned space. The man chosen to turn around Guilford College is just shy of 52. Kyle Farmbry is not imposing. He does not suck the oxygen from a room like more ego-driven leaders. Just the opposite. For now he is content to listen, not talk. No less an authority than Kyle himself acknowledges the silent treatment. “From a Myers-Briggs aspect I would be the classic introvert,” he says. “I’ve always been more comfortable listening than talking.” That’s just fine with Guilford’s Board of Trustees, who hired Kyle
Kyle Farmbry doesn’t demand the spotlight. Which is why so many people think he’s the perfect leader for Guilford College. BY ROBERT BELL ’11
last fall to be the College’s 10th President. Students and faculty who’ve encountered their new leader around campus are equally content. They’re less concerned with what Kyle says than does. Kyle understands this. “In the end I’m no different than any other
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 3
Into the LIGHT President who has come through here,”
Guilford has gotten itself into, look
he says. “I’m going to be measured on
at Kyle’s past. Bret Caldwell and Kyle
what I can do to grow Guilford.”
have been friends since the two were freshmen at The George Washington University. Bret has seen the quiet
Kyle has a faraway look in his eyes. It’s
side of Kyle. He’s also seen the side the
a look not of resignation, but rather
board and others are expecting.
anticipation. He understands what
“It’s easy to see Kyle the first few
he’s stepping into: A college struggling
times and think this guy’s a bit
with a revenue shortfall exasperated
reserved,” says Bret. “But I’m telling
by sagging enrollment, with a smaller
you he’s that way for a reason. He’s
faculty and staff to support fewer
listening and he’s listening, and then
students. That’s just on campus. Beyond
he listens some more. Except he’s
the corner of Friendly and New Garden,
not just listening, he’s processing
parents want a return on investment in
everything he hears. When he finally
their child’s liberal arts education.
moves Guilford’s going to move with
It’s enough to make anyone turn and run, yet Kyle’s not going anywhere.
him so get ready.”
A B O V E : K Y L E 'S ( FA R R I GH T ) PA S S I O N FO R HEL P IN G O T HER S S TA R T E D AT GE R M A N TO W N F R IEND S S C H O O L IN P HIL A D E L P HI A . O P P O S I T E : GU IL FO R D M I GH T L AY C L A IM TO T HE O N LY F IR E- B R E AT HIN G C O L L EGE P R E S ID EN T.
Since accepting the position, he’s
A village in Philadelphia
been moving full speed toward — and
From the start, the odds of Kyle
these days all around — Guilford.
Farmbry even attending college, let
the Philadelphia School District. By the
Maybe that’s because he’s spent the
alone leading one, were long. Deidre
time she retired she was the city’s acting
past 30-something years living and
and Larry Farmbry were 18 and 19
superintendent of schools. Larry was a
working toward this moment, this
respectively when their only child was
Marine Corps reservist before segueing
College and everything both represent.
born. Fewer than 2 percent of teenage
into financial planning. Kyle remembers
In high school he was a trained fire-
mothers graduate college by the time
his mother paying former students to
breather, entertaining kids and adults
they turn 30, according to Department
watch him while she tutored others.
at private parties with his dragon’s
of Education figures. Their children
There were grandparents and aunts
breath. These days that fire is internal.
fare only slightly better. But those are
and neighbors pitching in when needed.
Friends and colleagues say he is neither
dense numbers on the crisp paper of a
A village, indeed. “I was the typical
cocky nor arrogant. What he is, they
government report. They don’t begin to
latchkey kid,” says Kyle, “but it always
say, is confident he is equipped for this
measure the impact Kyle's parents and
felt like I was around family.”
time in Guilford’s 185-year history. Just
their extended family had on him.
don’t expect him to say as much. Instead, for a glimpse into what
In Their Footsteps
was born a grown up,” says Larry. “He was always mature.”
Quaker archivist Gwen Erickson looks at the nine presidents who preceeded Kyle Farmbry at Guilford College. Lewis Lyndon Hobbs 1888–1915
A classical scholar, Lewis’ leadership set the model for Guilford as a college, including overseeing the construction of much of the physical campus today. 14 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
Deirdre spent most of her working life in education, starting as a teacher in
Not that he needed supervision. “Kyle
Thomas Newlin 1915–1917
Thomas's short presidency was fraught with controversy, including an inherited deficit budget, wartime inflation, declining enrollment and revolts by faculty and students.
Raymond Binford 1918–1934
Raymond built an innovative curriculum, recruited top faculty (many of whom remained until the 1970s), and stabilized finances with endowment campaigns.
P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y K Y L E FA R M B R Y ( R I G H T ) AND GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL (ABOVE)
Here you should know there’s not a whiff of uncertainty in those words.
That maturity served him well. He was 11 when he asked his parents if he
That was the case for me only instead
could spend a Saturday painting faces
of soccer it was social justice and
at a local street fair. Ten hours later he
well-being. Sometimes the passions
came home tired but $280 richer.
you find inside you in middle school
When it came time for middle school, the Farmbrys enrolled Kyle in Germantown Friends, a Quaker school in
In Kyle’s case, even further.
A rare gift
though he says the faith’s tenets still
Here’s what Leilani Martinez wants you
resonate with him. Attending a Friends
to know about her fiance. Kyle is funny.
meeting wasn’t easy for a seventh-
Maybe not Chappelle or Gaffigan funny,
grader. “Forty-five minutes sitting there
but funny enough to make Leilani and
in silence seemed like a long time,”
her 14-year-old daughter Eva smile.
learned a lot about myself.”
Like the time the three of them were shopping before Christmas and Kyle
Those lessons lasted a lifetime.
found a toy that made — how can this
The winds of change were swirling
be expressed in an esteemed college
across Africa in the early 1980s
magazine? — fart sounds. “Here’s this
eventually making their way to
college president who could not stop
Germantown. Classrooms were filled
laughing in the store over these silly
with discussions of Apartheid. The
noises,” says Leilani. “But you know
school brought in speakers from
what? He had us laughing, too. That’s
South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. With
what I love about Kyle. He’s very serious
every new speaker Kyle’s world was
and intentional about his work, but he
expanding beyond Philadelphia.
can have a good time, too.”
“The school alerted Kyle to the needs
Leilani and Kyle met at GW almost
of others,” says Deidre. “It taught him
25 years ago. They dated briefly before
about fairness and equity and how
life took them their separate ways,
disenfranchised people are often left
Kyle into academia and Leilani into
out of those conversations.”
communications. She’s now a digital
Looking back, Germantown forged
Over the course of Clyde’s 30 years, enrollment grew with both traditional students and a new downtown campus for working adults.
carry through to high school.”
their neighborhood. Kyle is not a Quaker,
he says, “but I managed to do it and I
Clyde Milner 1934–1965
game or if theater is your passion?
communications and content strategist
the notion of who Kyle is today. "You
for the federal government. They
know how when you’re in middle school
stayed in touch but it wasn’t until two
you're going to find out if soccer is your
years ago they started dating again
Grimsley Hobbs '47 1965–1980
Grimsley increased faculty in decision making and created a campus culture for students more in line with the expectations of a late 20th-century education.
William R. Rogers 1980–1996
Under Bill’s leadership, the college expanded its recruitment and added programs to place Guilford on a national radar with greater visibility.
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 5
Into the LIGHT after, as Kyle puts it, “I stopped being as
Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers
much of a nerd… I think.”
University School of Law.)
Besides, Kyle wasn’t looking for love
Stephen’s second impression of Kyle
consensus, watch him grow Guilford.” Kyle's first official day on the job was Jan. 3, but his first night on the job was
— not in college, at least. He had other
was a little deeper. The two became
Oct. 6, when his hiring was announced.
matters on his mind. In the summer of
mutual admirers, an admiration that
From that day on he taught at Rutgers
1988, he was a freshman when he ran
has grown into a close friendship all
University-Newark by day and studied
into another freshman of sorts. Stephen
these years later. Stephen says Kyle has
up on Guilford after the sun’s retreat.
Trachtenberg was a few months into his
the rare gift to see all the moving parts
job as GW’s new president.
to a problem because he knows when to
knowledge of Guilford even earlier.
talk and when to shut up and listen.
In 2017, he met Guilford English
Kyle made an impact on Stephen early. Like the time Kyle organized classmates to surround the World Bank with $3,000 in quarters for the United Nations Children’s Fund to raise awareness for global child poverty. And the book Kyle edited and published at 18. The String Bracelet, is a collection of essays from Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian students adapting to their new lives in America. Stephen formed
Professor Diya Abdo at a conference
“This is a great College.
A great College with great students and an even greater mission. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. ” — Kyle Farmbry
two early impressions about Kyle. The
on refugees and at-risk migrants. Diya runs Guilford’s Every Campus A Refuge initiative that helps refugees with housing and community support as they begin planting roots in their new country. With the support of a Fulbright fellowship — his second in eight years — Kyle had just spent four months in Malta assessing the global refugee crisis. That affinity for refugees kept them in touch.
first was that he didn’t think the skinny
Last summer when Farmbry learned
freshman from Philly would last long in college. Not because he thought
In truth, Kyle had a working
Guilford was in the market for a “That’s Kyle,” says Stephen. “Always
president, he sent Diya a cryptic one-
Kyle couldn’t handle the school’s
asking questions, always getting input
sentence email: Can we talk? Even
academic rigor. “I thought, ‘this guy’s
from others before acting.
before calling, Diya had an inkling of
too good-looking for GWU. He’s going
“Look,” says Stephen, “what Guilford
the subject. She thought Kyle would be
to Hollywood for movies or a career in
College is going through isn’t a problem
modeling,” Stephen recalls. “That wasn’t
unique to Guilford. There are a lot of
just me saying that. It was coming from
liberal arts schools hurting. But if
says Diya. “Typically there’s one person
who mattered — the girls loved him.”
there's a guy who can turn Guilford
with the power in a room and they take
around, it’s going to be Kyle and he’s not
up that space. That’s not Kyle. He’s the
but only after earning a bachelor’s in
going to do it alone. He doesn’t want to
most student-centric teacher I’ve ever
International Affairs, a master’s in
do it alone. He doesn’t need it to be about
met. He always wants his students or
Public Administration, and a Doctorate
him. Watch him build consensus with
colleagues to shine in the spotlight.
of Philosophy in Public Administration
faculty and alumni, with the city, with
He’s comfortable in the spotlight, but he
there. (In 2013, Farmbry earned his
stakeholders. And when he gets that
enjoys shining light on others.”
Kyle did leave George Washington
Donald McNemar 1996–2002
Don championed a comprehensive curriculum revision and increased focus on racial justice issues and recruitment of faculty and students of color.
1 6 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
Kent John Chabotar 2002–2014
Guilford’s first nonQuaker president, Kent brought skilled experience in higher education finance and saw an explosive growth in enrollment in his presidency.
the perfect president for Guilford. “He’s not like a lot of higher ed people,”
Jane K. Fernandes 2014–2020
Jane was Guilford’s first woman president, and the first deaf woman to lead an American college or university, She introduced the Guilford Edge to the College.
talking about Guilford’s untapped opportunities. A big reason he made the came to Greensboro is because he sees similarities between Guilford and those emerging universities in South Africa. That is to say, Kyle sees opportunity for Guilford to grow. He’s on a roll. He wants more faculty to explore federal funding for projects related to their discipline. “Those resources are out there and we can bring them in,” he says. “That also gives us more to talk about with Guilford. We can go to parents and potential students and say there's all this additional work and research we're doing at Guilford. And here's why you should think about joining us. When more students show an interest in Guilford, more money comes in and the cycle continues. “By no means do I want Guilford IN T HE W EEK S B EFO R E S TA R T IN G AT GU IL FO R D, K Y L E M E T W I T H S T U D EN T S A N D FAC U LT Y, IN C LU D IN G JAY M O N TAGU E ' 2 2 , TO L E A R N M O R E A B O U T GU IL FO R D.
What’s next? Going all the way back to
but we do need to identify additional revenue streams, and some of those
assets on campus such as the farm, the
revenue streams are going to come
emerging makerspace in Hege Library,
from building new or different
Germantown Friends, Kyle has felt
the collective intelligence of faculty
opportunities,” he says. “Some will be
a connection to Africa, South Africa
for bringing in revenue streams.
research money, some partnerships
in particular. As part of his work at
O P E N I N G S P R E A D P H O T O B Y LY N N H E Y; T H I S PA G E : R O B E R T B E L L
turned into a research university,
“There are a lot of wonderful ideas
with state entities or foundations and
Rutgers-Newark, Kyle made several
that come out of smaller colleges like
some is going to come from increasing
trips to South Africa, trying to boost
Guilford,” he says. “Sometimes those
contributions from donors. I get excited
the number of PhDs among local
ideas can turn into entrepreneurial
just talking about it.”
universities’ faculty by strengthening
ventures. There are some opportunities
existing ties and fostering new,
that would benefit not just the College
can’t see all the moving parts to
entrepreneurial collaboration with
but businesses (in the North Carolina
their College’s transformation. Kyle
American universities.
Triad), too. If we can take some of those
can’t either. Not yet, anyway. It’s
ideas and work with businesses to
understandable to be suspicious,
similar entrepreneurial endeavors
make them profitable, that’s money for
too. Kyle Farmbry is hardly the first
at Guilford. Indeed, he asks, what’s
Guilford and Greensboro that might
President to try and reverse Guilford’s
stopping the College from generating
ultimately employ more Guilford grads
fortunes. But he sees Guilford in the
revenue, albeit on a smaller scale, the
and bring more jobs to the area.”
long view and sees the problems of the
He’s convinced he can replicate
way larger state and private research universities monetize their work? Kyle likes to talk business: about
Here, it should be noted, is where Kyle, the self-proclaimed introvert, is most animated. He has spent the
It’s understandable if Guilfordians
moment as surmountable. Kyle has that faraway look again. Farther than ever. “This is a great College,” he says. “A
Guilford’s investments — or lack
first 57 minutes of an interview
great College with great students and
thereof — in research and where they
guardedly talking about himself and
an even greater mission. I wouldn’t
should be heading; about using existing
his upbringing. Not now. Now he’s
want to be anywhere else.”
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 7
JENNIFER NYIR ANDIKUMANA, L E F T, L E A R N S E N G L I S H FROM AMELIA WELLMAN ’19, WHO EARNED A DEGREE IN PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES WITH A MINOR IN REFUGEE STUDIES THROUGH H E R W O R K W I T H E V E RY CAMPUS A VILL AGE.
ECAR AT SEVEN JENNIFER NYIR ANDIKUMANA
Republic of Congo for life as refugees
Solving and Excellence in Teaching
still remembers her 17-year-old self
in Uganda, where Jennifer was born
initiative that helps refugees ease
staring out beyond the refugee camp
and raised. Her family’s journey from
into their new world and lives. Looking
in Uganda she called home for most
one corner of the world to another has
back, Jennifer’s not sure how her family
of her life and soaking in the rolling
had its share of bumps and potholes.
would have coped with so much change
green hills and trees that were off
Almost overnight her family fled
and uncertainty. “Without Greensboro and
limits to her and her family. These days,
Uganda’s growing crime rate and food
Guilford I don’t know where we would
when 23-year-old Jennifer looks out
insecurities in 2018 for the United
be,” says Jennifer. “They rescued us.”
her apartment window she sees the
States, a country they knew little about,
buildings, parks and trees that blend
whose language was foreign to them,
the program still supports refugees
together to form Columbus, Ohio.
and where they had to start over.
like Jennifer and is growing in size
“It’s been a big change coming to
Fortunately the perils of the family’s
As ECAR turns seven this year,
and stature. Against all odds, ECAR
America,” she says. “But we are so happy
resettlement in Greensboro were lessened
has survived a U.S. presidential
we did come.”
with the help of Guilford College’s Every
administration that was less open to
Campus A Refuge (ECAR) program.
refugees only to transition to a global
ECAR is a Center for Principled Problem
pandemic. But the program has only
Jennifer’s parents fled their native country now known as the Democratic 1 8 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
PHOTO BY CHERYL DIA Z ME YER
In 2015, Guilford College began a campaign to help refugees coming to America. Seven years later the need — and footprint — of Every Campus A Refuge is growing.
grown stronger over the years. Guilford
ECAR BY THE NUMBERS
82
and ECAR have assisted 82 refugees since 2015. That number is only going to grow as Afghan evacuees living in temporary camps on U.S. military bases continue moving into more permanent homes. In March, 16 Afghan refugees were living on campus as part of the
Dominion (Va.), Russell Sage (N.Y.), Siena chapters. More are expected to come aboard as the flow of refugees grows. Associate Professor of English Diya Abdo when the plight of Syrian refugees
on campus. Guests have free range
average guest stays at Guilford for about
is a softer landing and more dignified beginning for newcomers,” says Diya. Guilford students also benefit from the program. They can minor in Forced Migration and Resettlement Studies
Countries of refugees hosted at Guilford:
and earn credit for hosting refugees on Guilford's campus and supporting them in their resettlement. The minor is unique to Guilford, says Diya. “I've talked to many colleges or
Syria
Uganda
DRC
many Americans to the refugee crisis.
universities, where this combination of being able to get a degree and get credit
A few days later she remembers Pope
for hosting refugees on campus and Rwanda
Burundi
Iraq
Europe to take in a refugee family.
supporting them in their resettlement only happens at Guilford because, well,
Diya took the Pope’s plea as a challenge: How is a parish with its
are financially ready (Diya says the
still have access to support. “The result
image of a drowned Syrian boy, face
Francis urging every Catholic parish in
cafeteria to the gym. Once refugees
off-campus housing of their choice but
gripped the world. Diya remembers the down on a Turkish beach, that awakened
over most of the campus — from the
five months) they transition to safe
Number of Chapters
(N.Y.), and Lafayette (Pa.) have formed
The program was started by Guilford
to a group of Afghan refugees living
9 9
Every Campus A Refuge is catching on beyond Guilford. A half dozen other schools like Wake Forest (N.C.), Old
meals and groceries were delivered
Number of guests hosted by Guilford's ECAR chapter through the years
College’s ECAR program.
recent Friday in January when warm
we’re Guilford.” Afghanistan
Venezuela
Colombia
She says the educational piece of
shared set of tenets any different than
ECAR extends beyond campus. The
the community at Guilford? In many
program provides opportunities for
ways, Diya says, the College and other
understands the plight of refugees. Her
the community to learn, whether it's
higher education communities are
parents escaped to Jordan in the 1967
through film screenings, exhibits,
better equipped to support refugees by
Palestinian exodus. Diya herself came to
conversations or presentations on
using resources unique to colleges and
the United States as a graduate student
campus or in Greensboro.
universities — unused beds and building
before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. As
space, dining and health centers — to
a Muslim Arab, she knows all too well
communities see that refugee
house, mentor and support refugees.
the stereotypes and labels affixed to
resettlement and support of newcomers
refugees. She knows the struggles of
is very much a part of what communities
infrastructure in place to support
grasping a new language and training
should be doing and what higher
refugees. Guilford and ECAR only
for a new job. And she knows the lengths
education should be doing,” says Diya.
enhance those agencies’ services by
newcomers make trying to blend into a
partnering with them. “It’s very much a
new community while still clinging to a
and goes a long way to making it less
higher education-based initiative,” says
culture rooted back home.
political as it should be. It's a national
Greensboro has always had a strong
Diya. “So many colleges already have
That’s what ECAR does best, says Diya:
“The more we do this, the more
“It normalizes refugee resettlement
concern, it's a humanitarian concern.
the resources available right on campus
“We give our guests the peace, support
The more higher ed plays a role in this,
and often those resources are going
and space to build a foundation.”
the more communities see that this is
unused or underused,” says Diya. She
That support was in full swing on a
not a partisan issue.”
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 9
Q&A
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Maria Rosales is Guilford’s new provost, but she’s still a teacher at heart. Guilford College Provost Maria Rosales grew up a foster child, moving from one family to another, a steady blur of instability until she was adopted at 10. If there was one constant in her life it was school and her teachers, always supportive, always affirming, and most important, always there. “My teachers were the most stable thing in my life,” she says. “I just found school to be this place where I could understand the rules and if I followed the rules I was okay. From a very, very young age, teachers were so supportive of me and so I wanted to pass that on. I remember thinking I wanted to be that type of an adult in someone else's life.” For 17 years Maria has impacted Guilford students as a Political Science professor and beginning last fall, as Provost. Guilford College Magazine sat down to chat about her new role and how she plans to make Guilford a better experience for students and faculty.
actually takes a lot of hours. I’m hoping
the first day that I could tell folks here
to set up a student advisory board so
and it would be OK. But it’s also the
that I can have frequent contact with
students I love about Guilford. I came
students to know what's going on with
here from the University of California,
them. My goal is to get a diverse group
Berkeley, where I loved my students
of students on the board including
a lot. But there was a very high level
people who are struggling and people
of grade groveling. Students cared
who are thriving so I can get a sense of
more about their grades than they did
what's going on.
about learning. That’s not how it is at Guilford. Here our students want to
What made you decide to pivot from
learn. They’re asking questions about
the classroom to more of an executive
what I teach and not, 'How can I get an
position in higher education?
'A' in your class?'.
I never considered being a higher-ed administrator until I was nominated for
How do you strike a balance of
this role. I talked to several people and
designing a curriculum that moves
decided we have a lot of opportunities
into 2022 and beyond yet still honors
to make things better. When you
Guilford’s core values and mission?
think about COVID and the financial
One of the great things about our
crisis, and just how tough things have
College is that we believe in the
been, I think a lot of our systems can
practical liberal arts. We encourage
What is a provost, and can you explain
be improved. Because I'm a political
students to ask deep questions about
your roles specifically for Guilford?
scientist, I tend to think in terms of
who they are, who they want to be in the
I am the chief academic officer. I have
systems. That’s when I started to think
world, what they want to help change
obligations for things like accreditation,
maybe I can actually help.
about the world, what they want to help
and making sure we are doing what we
preserve. These are questions we ask
say we're doing in terms of providing
You’ve been at Guilford for 17 years now.
daily as well as questions about science
the right educational experience
What is it you love about the College?
and art. We encourage the breadth of
for students. I oversee the academic
I have a partner. We’ve been together
learning so that students have a pretty
departments, but also the academic
since 2000. When I was applying for
good sense when they leave here of
student support like the Learning and
jobs, this was the only place I actually
what is out there in the world. And
Writing Center, Guided Discovery, Hege
came out. People were telling me you
because it's a practical liberal arts
Library and student affairs.
can't tell your boss, you can't talk about
education, we combine that with how
your partner. If you do, you won’t get
you might want to change the world.
Are you teaching?
the job. It's too dangerous, too risky.
Here are some skills, right? Here are
I was hoping to teach, but my job
When I came to Guilford I knew from
some things you need to know. And that
2 0 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
P R O V O S T M A R I A R O S A L E S WA N T S T O I D E N T I F Y T H E B A R R I E R S T H AT A R E FORCING STUDENTS TO DROP OUT OF G U I L F O R D . “ I WA N T S T U D E N T S T O H AV E E XC E L L E N T E X P E R I E N C E S A N D H AV E THE RESOURCES THEY NEED SO THEY WA N T T O B E H E R E ,” S H E S AYS .
means we have to be paying attention
on much longer than they thought it
family. So my priority is to identify
to everything – like what technological
was going to go on. I've heard students
those barriers. I want students to
changes are happening in the world
say that going back and forth between
have excellent experiences and have
that we need to be in front of, what’s
online and in person makes it hard to
the resources they need so they want
happening with information literacy,
get into a rhythm. I want to hear from
to be here.
what’s happening with the kinds of jobs
them about what’s bothering them but I
and passions our students have and
also want to hear from them about what
How do you define student success?
might want to have so we can help they
they really want us to protect. I want to
We want students to have the skills
in the future with what they want to
hear what's going well, that they want
and knowledge to accomplish whatever
accomplish.
us to make sure doesn't go away.
it is they want to accomplish. We want
What can you do to connect and
What’s your role in increasing
gave them the tools to go out and
engage with students who are not
Guilford's student retention rates?
do whatever it is they want to do.
leaving their dorms and are stuck
This is one of my main concerns
Sometimes what they want changes.
in front of a laptop?
because for me when I see low
We want them to understand their
I sit in on classes, I’ve got office hours
retention rates, it means that some
values might change or develop as they
that students can drop by and talk.
students are not getting what they
mature, but that the education they
I’ve done four or five guest lectures.
came to Guilford for or they’re facing
received at Guilford can help them with
All of this is to get out and hear from
some kind of barrier. Even if they're
whatever it is they choose.
students. A lot of them are struggling
getting what they came here for, that
in the pandemic. I've heard students
barrier might keep them from staying.
Editor’s note: Some responses were
tell me they’re lonely and this is going
It might be financial, it might be
edited for brevity.
PHOTO BY ROBERT BELL
them to succeed because Guilford
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 2 1
ATHLETICS
WAITING (AND HOPING) FOR THE CALL Mitchell Stumpo ’19 has always dreamed of being a major league baseball player. After an outstanding 2021 season, he’s close. And he has a wicked slider and his former Guilford College coach to thank for it. 2 2 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
PHOTO COURTESY AMARILLO SOD POODLES
MITCHELL STUMPO ‘19 ALMOST WA L K E D AWAY F R O M B A S E B A L L AFTER A DREADFUL FIRST S E A S O N AT G U I L F O R D C O L L E G E . T O DAY H E ’S O N T H E C U S P O F P L AY I N G I N T H E B I G L E A G U E S .
BY ROBERT BELL ’11
undrafted and toiled in independent
says Nick. “Mitch is a guy who wants to
baseball leagues just two years ago until
be pushed so I pushed him.”
HE HAS YET TO SIGN A MAJOR
one of those aforementioned scouts saw
league contract, yet to take his first
him in Florida.
steps onto a big league mound and yet
“Sometimes I stop and remind myself
Nick moved Mitchell to the outfield his sophomore season. Free of the defensive pressures at third Mitchell
to experience the toll of the unique
of what I’ve accomplished so quickly,”
thrived, hitting .360 that year and
brand of intense fan and media scrutiny
says Mitchell. “There are days where
earning All-Old Dominion Athletic
that will greet him when he does. But
I want it to slow down, but most of the
Conference honors. If Mitchell made
about Mitchell Stumpo ‘19 this much is
time I want just the opposite. I want to
Nick look like a genius his sophomore
clear: He might be the most intriguing
keep working hard because this is what
year, he cast him as a savant his junior
prospect in Major League Baseball this
I’ve dreamed of my whole life.”
season when he started pitching.
season, if not in years. That’s because until two years ago, most of the baseball world had never heard of Mitchell. This is not a knock on baseball’s cognoscenti. Scouts have a knack of digging up unpolished gems in the most remote locales. But even scouts can be excused for not dropping by tiny independent Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh, N.C., where Mitchell was demoted to playing with the middle school team when he was a freshman because the high school did not have a junior varsity. And four years later those scouts had better places to be than Guilford College, to watch Mitchell ride the bench the second half of his freshman season after accumulating
By every account, that dream was
Mitchell’s fastball topped out at
self-destructing after Mitchell’s first
a respectable 89 mph, but it was his
“Sometimes I stop and
remind myself of what I’ve accomplished so quickly. There are days where I want it to slow down, but most of the time I want just the opposite. I want to keep working hard because this is what I’ve dreamed of my whole life.” — Mitchell Stumpo
more errors playing third base (11)
laterally, and did so with such force that separated him from so many other Division III pitchers. That was the pitch that made him one of the Quakers’ best pitchers coming out of the bullpen. That was the pitch that kept Mitchell playing independent ball after graduating while his teammates and classmates went looking for 9-to-5 jobs. And the pitch that persuaded the Diamondbacks to offer Mitchell a contract. Mitchell says he might not have made it this far without his old coach holding him accountable for his poor
than hits (7). “I wasn’t very good,” says Mitchell,
slider, a lethal 82-mph pitch that moved
performance. “Coach Black always year at Guilford. Despite being a
told me the truth and what I needed to
who unblushingly admits now that
Division III program, there wasn’t a lot
do to get back to playing again,” says
he thought about walking away
of room on Guilford’s roster for a third
Mitchell. “Coach never held back. You
from baseball after that first year at
baseman who couldn’t field his position
always knew where you stood with him
Guilford. “The only thing I was good at
and was hitting .180.
and what you needed to do to move to
was being very bad. In baseball you’re
But Nick Black ’02, Guilford’s head
the next level. He’s a big reason why I’m
always going to experience a lot of
baseball coach at the time, wasn’t about
failure. You have to learn to deal with
to give up on Mitchell. Baseball players
that, but I was having a lot more failure
are ultimately defined by statistics, cold
undrafted at that, to sign a minor
than the average player.”
dense numbers on paper, but Nick saw
league contract? There used to be a
Those early days of failure only make
where I am today.” How rare is it for a Division III player,
beyond those numbers. Even though
major league draft consisting of 40
this spring all the sweeter for Mitchell,
Guilford was the only school to recruit
rounds; last year it was pared to 20.
who's expected to contend for a spot
Mitchell out of high school, Nick was
That left fringe players like Mitchell
on the Arizona Diamondbacks’ major
confident he hadn’t made a mistake. “We
competing for attention with hundreds
league roster this year after the baseball
never gave up on Mitch and his bat so
of undrafted players from more notable
lockout. Not bad for someone who went
that’s what we wanted him to focus on,”
collegiate programs. On top of that, W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 2 3
ATHLETICS the contraction of the
four years, Division III
minor leagues from
programs have the luxury
COVID the past two years
of letting players move
has limited every team’s
where needed.
player development system
“I might not have ever
to 180 players.
been able to step on a
“You just don’t see teams
mound anywhere else, but
signing players like that
Guilford and Coach Black
anymore,” says Nick. “Non-
made that happen for me,”
drafted guys don’t get the
says Mitchell. “Where I am
attention others get and
today? A big part of that
teams don’t always have the
goes to them.”
patience to stick with them the
Geographically speaking,
way they would a top player
where Mitchell is these
drafted. But Mitch didn’t give
days is in Arizona. He’s at
them an option. He has such a
the Diamondbacks’ spring-
work ethic and he kept getting
training facility after
better and better.”
owners and players reached
That determination — and
a new collective bargaining
some tough love from his old
agreement in early March.
college coach — is how Mitchell
Mitchell is trying to climb
got to the cusp of the big leagues in
that one last rung on
the first place, by pushing through
baseball’s ladder.
relative obscurity and ignoring low
He’s grateful to be playing
expectations to burst into stardom
baseball on any level, let alone
at nearly every minor league stop.
on the brink of the big leagues. He
Some players toil for years in
remembers all those bus rides with
the minors hoping for their shot at the big leagues. Mitchell’s journey is more condensed — five months to be exact. He started last season with the Diamondbacks’ low Single-A team in Visalia, Calif., where he overwhelmed most of the younger hitters. After three weeks, he moved up to high Single-A in Hillsboro, Ore. Two weeks of more
“You just don’t see teams
signing players like that anymore. [Mitch] has such a work ethic and he kept getting better and better.” — Nick Black
his college teammates. He remembers hanging out in the batting cages at Guilford, so many laughs, so many good times with teamates. He remembers the workouts and showcase games after college, hoping his arm and the slider it releases would catch the eye of a scout. “Who would have thought?” Mitchell
domination and Mitchell was on the
says. He knows that, much like in life,
move again. This time to Arizona’s
things work in mysterious ways with
Double-A team in Amarillo, Texas,
“He’s ready for the next step,” says
baseball. That his baseball arc, once in
before spending September with the
Nick. “There’s nobody who’s worked as
spiral, is now soaring. That everything
team’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, Nev.
hard as Mitch to get this far. He’s ready.”
he wants is right here. But Mitchell
With every promotion, Mitchell’s
Mitchell wonders if he would have
won’t stay complacent. He’ll keep
dominance only grew. His fastball now
made it this far without attending
working out. Keep earning his spot,
tops out at 96 mph and his slider hits 83.
Guilford, whose last player to make
keep getting better.
He struck out 66 batters in 51.1 innings
the majors was Tony Womack ’92.
pitched last year, posting a 2.63 earned
Unlike Division I programs which
what his coach at Guilford College
run average.
target players at one specific role for
taught him.
24 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
That’s just how he likes it. It’s also
•
CAMPUS NOTES
Inaugural Guilford Dialogues Will Discuss Closing the Wealth Gap
New summer program will help students learn about Guilford
GUILFOR D COLLEGE WILL HOST
experience for students and parents
a national conference June 7-10 to
even more so coming out of a
discuss ways to better include all races,
global pandemic.
genders, newcomers, and workers in
APPLYING TO COLLEGE IS AN anxious, sometimes confusing,
From financial aid to in-person
a post-pandemic economy.
interviews, college admissions has
Guilford Dialogues: Building
changed. Guilford College Rise, a new
Strategies for Economic Inclusion is
rigorous three-week summer program,
a pilot program inspired by President
will help rising high school seniors
Kyle Farmbry, who envisions the
navigate the journey and give them
forum being an annual event. Kyle
a chance to earn college credits.This
says economic inclusion is a timely and
year's theme is Exploring Topics in
important topic for the first discussion.
International Affairs. The class will be
“If you look at the growing wealth
led by Associate Professor of History
gaps, the economic divides and the
Phil Slaby and at least two more fac-
social challenges that come with
ulty members. The program will run
those divides, there needs to be more
from June 27 to July 15.
conversations on economic inclusion,” says Kyle. “Not just conversations but solutions that can be implemented.” Economic exclusion comes in many forms, from segregation that isolates
Gemma Herrera A M A N DA S Z A B O - H U F F ’0 8 S AYS AT T END EE S TO T HE F IR S T GU IL FO R D D I A LO GU E S W IL L D I S C U S S EC O N O M I C IN C LU S I O N S O LU T I O N S R AT HER T H A N D EB AT E T HE I S S U E .
residents of poor neighborhoods
(right), associate director of the Intercultural Engagement Center, is organizing the
from jobs and better schools to
to work with and a network of people
program. She says
discrimination in housing, employment
with shared goals of using those tools
many rising high
and financial services that prevents
and working together,” she says.
school seniors
immigrants and people of color from
Kyle says future Guilford Dialogues
haven't even been able to tour colleges
moving up the ladder and improving
might explore topics like education and
in person because of the pandemic. ”We
their lives. Kyle envisions some of
health disparities.
want them ready for what's obviously
the world’s premier thought leaders
He also hopes Guilford Dialogues
gathering over four days in June on
will bring more awareness to the
campus to discuss solutions.
College. “I want to get Guilford on the
Amanda Szabo-Huff ’08, the
going to be a big transition for them,” she says. Gemma and others hope some of
radar across the country and around the
those students will consider Guilford
coordinator of ethical leadership at
world,” says Kyle. “I want people to know
after their three weeks on campus.
Guilford and event organizer, says the
who we are and what we’re about and
idea is to discuss rather than debate
our potential role in discourse. I want
Rise classes in the mornings and
the issue. “We want Guilford Dialogues
them to know about the education and
afternoons and participate in social
to be an event where people can listen
faculty we offer our students. Guilford
and instructional opportunities every
and learn from one another, to come up
Dialogues is a good way of introducing
evening. They’ll even get to explore
with better practices for businesses and
our College to a broader population.”
Greensboro during their visit.
communities. Guilford Dialogues will
For more information on registration
Students will attend Guilford College
Alumni who know a rising senior who
shift your perspective (on economic
and lodging, please visit www.guilford.
might benefit from Guilford College
inclusion). It’s going to give you the tools
edu/GuilfordDialogues.
Rise can visit www.guilford.edu/rise.
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 2 5
BRYAN SERIES
THE BRYAN SERIES IS BACK— AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WHEN JUSTICE
YUSELF SAL A AM OPENED G U I L F O R D C O L L E G E ' S 2 0 2 2 B RYA N S E R I E S AT TA N G E R C E N T E R . I T WA S T H E F I R S T I N - P E R S O N B RYA N SERIES IN MORE THAN T WO YEARS.
REFORM ACTIVIST Yusef Salaam walked onto the Tanger Center stage in
Ty says it is important to leverage the series in ways that increase Guilford’s visibility and
February, he was clearly
connection to the Triad
moved by the size of the
community.
audience who joined him to
Hosting one of the
kick off Guilford College’s
nation’s premier college-
2022 Bryan Series.
organized speaker series
Yusef paused, taking
gives Guilford a powerful
in the more than 1,300
platform. “There’s no
people in front of him
question the Bryan Series
wanting to hear his story.
extends the footprint and
“Wow,” he said. “I haven’t
visibility of Guilford,”
seen this many people
says Ty. “We hope that
together in, gosh, before the pandemic. This is awesome.” For Guilford College officials standing off stage and sitting
leads to more students and community members learning about this special college.”
in the crowd, the feeling was mutual. After the pandemic forced the popular series online last year, the Bryan Series is in person again for the first time since November 2019, and nobody — not even Salaam — is happier than Guilford College.
Ty says some people aren’t quite ready to be
For tickets to the rest of the 2022 Bryan Series please go to bryanseries.guilford.edu
“Tuesday night was thrilling,” said Ty Buckner, Guilford’s
back in large public gatherings just yet even as the pandemic seems to be ebbing, as was evidenced by people purchasing subscriptions and choosing to watch online, which is an option
this year. Guilford officials are doing their best to ease
Interim Vice President of Communications and Marketing.
concerns with extra precautions around Bryan Series events.
“Seeing people gathered enjoying a presentation by an
The College is requiring all attendees to show full vaccination
inspiring speaker was what we have been working toward for
or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours at the
months. We needed to get an event in Tanger under our belts
door of each event.
and move forward with the season.” For Ty and others at Guilford, now comes the hard part:
Judy Roberts and Ellen Campbell, longtime supporters of the Bryan Series, attended opening night in part to hear Yusef’s
Keeping the opening night momentum moving through
poignant story of a wrongful rape conviction as part of the
remaining events this season featuring José Andrés (April 26),
media-anointed Central Park Five before being rechristened
Steve Martin (May 10) and Rita Moreno (May 17) and into the
the Exonerated Five following a 2002 confession from the
2022–23 season and beyond.
actual attacker.
The pandemic has forever changed many things in our lives
But Judy and Ellen had other reasons for showing up
and the Bryan Series is no exception. “We have a wonderful
Tuesday, too. “We miss this,” said Judy, looking around the
tradition and a lot of dedicated participants, but Tuesday night
Tanger Center. “The Bryan Series has brought a lot of people
was a new starting point in many ways,” says Ty. “We want to
together over the years, people who become friends. We’ve
build from there in a sustainable way.”
missed seeing our friends.”
2 6 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
•
COMMUNITY NOTES
A BLUEPRINT FOR BEAUTY
Samantha Metzner '15 will spend the next seven months creating cyanotypes throughout Utah’s national parks.
BY ROBERT BELL ’11
SAMANTHA METZNER ’15 ENJOYS THE GREAT outdoors as much as she does photography. This month she’ll begin a year-long project that allows her to marry the two. The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group chose Samantha as the group’s 2022 Community Artist in the Parks. She is only the second photographer to be chosen in the program’s 14 years. Samantha, who majored in photography at Guilford, is excited about bringing her eye to Utah’s desert landscapes. She specializes in historic and alternative printing processes, most notably cyanotypes, a 181-yearold photographic printing process once used for copying architectural drawings, that delivers a cyan-blue print. “I really love the dream-like quality cyanotype gives a photo,” says Samantha. “There’s
“Guilford gave me the independence to help me find myself and my passion.”
a great vintage feel to them that
— Samantha Metzner ’15
I think captures the landscapes in a timeless way.” Samantha moved to Moab, Utah, in 2017 and fell in love with the desert landscape and vibrant art community. “I was working outside and living outside, and it felt like a natural next move to start focusing on making art based on the landscapes,” she says. Samantha grew up around photography. Her mother was a SAMANTHA METZNER SPECIALIZES IN CYANOT YPE PHOTOGR APHY. BELOW, ONE OF SAMANTHA'S CYANOT YPES OF THE COLOR ADO RIVER.
commercial photographer who built a darkroom in Samantha’s childhood home in Chapel Hill, N.C. Samantha was always intrigued by the art, but it wasn’t until she went to Guilford did she appreciate the medium could also be a way to make a living. It was at Guilford she discovered cyanotype printing. Former Guilford Art Professor Maia Dery introduced Samantha to cyanotypes her sophomore year and it was love at first sight. Typically, cyanotypes are printed on cotton-based paper. As part of the College’s Honors Program, Samantha’s senior thesis paper was on how to create cyanotypes on mirrors. She appreciates the guidance Maia and other professors gave her at Guilford. “I was able to create my own track and study that specifically, along with film photography,” Samantha says. “So that’s what set me on that path. And I’ve been doing it ever since. Guilford gave me the independence to help me find myself and my passion.˝
•
W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 2 7
COMMUNITY NOTES
Helping others find work — and so much more Danielle Harrison ’11 is one of three Guilfordians recognized with 40 under 40 awards. The business cards
to finding work. Triad
GuilfordWorks’ Danielle
Business Journal recently
Harrison hands out on a daily
honored Danielle — along
basis read Assistant Director
with two other Guilfordians
of Workorce Development,
— for their work. Mike Gatton
but they could easily and
’13, director of Piedmont
accurately say Dream Supplier.
Fellows, and Amanda Szabo-
Or Hope Provider. Maybe
Huff ’08, Coordinator of
even Community Builder. The
DA N I E L L E H A R R I S O N ’ 1 1
job descriptions are endless because she supplies endless
Ethical Leadership at Guilford, were also honored. Danielle loves the
possibilities to Greensboro teens, adults, veterans, dislocated
recogntion, but her job even more. “It’s the greatest feeling in
workers — anyone in need of landing a new or better job.
the world when you know you've helped that one person,” says
At Guilford Works, Danielle holds conversations with
Danielle, “because that one person might impact a household,
community leaders to name and eliminate systemic barriers
and that household might impact a community.”
David Hopkins ’91 was named one of the Hartford Business Journal's 2021 C-Suite Awards honorees. The awards recognized top executives for their commitment to excellence and guiding their companies through extremely difficult conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. David is President and CEO of the Urban League of Hartford, which serves 3,000 individuals and families annually with programs in education, employment, housing, health and social justice. Last year the organization was one of four affiliates selected by the National Urban League to implement a community-wide health initiative.
Virginia’s School of Law after graduating from Guilford, was previously the county’s chief deputy county attorney.
2 8 | W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U
Katlin Crooks ’18 is the new girls lacrosse coach at Dublin Jerome High School in Dublin, Ohio. Katlin, 26, played two years of lacrosse at Guilford. She was the coach at Grimsley High School in Greensboro for one season and as an assistant at Southwest Guilford High School as well. Matt Mason ’87 was named interim county attorney by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Matt, who attended the University of
Wayne Marsh ’14 was recently named one of Triad Business Journal’s 20 in their Twenties in Greensboro. Wayne, who earned a business administration and management degree from Guilford before obtaining his MBA at UNC Greensboro, was a supplier compliance analyst at Centric Brands in Greensboro when he received the honor. He’s now a regional retail manager for Ben & Jerry’s Primo Partners and will help open new franchises in and around Illinois.
•
Brian Perry ’98 is the new director of government relations for Kentucky’s Department of Education. Brian will serve as the primary legislative liaison for the agency and will coordinate the development of legislative policy and agendas, track educational legislation and coordinate legislative committee requests for information and testimony. Brian previously served as the legislative liaison for the state’s community and technical college system where he managed government affairs for the state’s 16 community and technical colleges. Don McTaggert ’21 is enrolled at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and is
pursuing a Master’s in Chemistry. Don recently completed a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sam Funchess ’98 has joined Guerrilla RF in Greensboro as vice president for investor relations. Sam is responsible for communicating the vision and value of Guerilla with its new
shareholders and the financial community. The company recently completed its transactions for becoming publicly traded. He will maintain his role as CEO at the Nussbaum Center in Greensboro. Jeremy Coble ’10 is the new customer service director for the city of High Point. Jeremy oversees the city’s customer
service department. Previously he served as assistant director of taxpayer assistance and collection for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
The award recognizes significant and original contributions to local history in Greensboro. Jim and Terry were the only award recipients honored by the museum this year.
Jim Schlosser ’65 and Terry Hammond ‘81 were recently honored by the Greensboro History Museum with its annual 2021 Voices of a City award.
We Want Your News Share your news with classmates and friends! Go to www.giving.guilford.edu to submit your Community Notes online through our Alumni Directory. The deadline for the October 2022 issue is August 16.
Note: Community Notes may appear in print or online. Please share information that is appropriate for all audiences.
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IN MEMORIAM
REMEMBERING GUILFORDIANS The following Guilfordians died between August 2021 and January 2022, and we offer condolences to their families and friends. A list of obituaries is available on the Community Notes page at www.giving.guilford.edu.
Bessie Carter: Guilford’s “Mom Away From Home” The first time Collie Bryant ’98 remembers running into Bessie Carter? That’s easy. Collie was a skinny first-year student trying to smuggle an extra dessert out of the Founders Hall. Bessie was the longtime Guilford College employee giving Collie, as he calls it, “the look.” The look? “Yeah,” says Collie, “you never wanted to get the look from Ms. Bessie. Time – in this case 28 years – has afforded Collie the ability to look back on that moment and smile, but not then. Bessie Carter stood all of 4 feet, six inches tall, but her presence grew with the look – bulging eyes and pursed lips that made her loom larger. “She told me, 'Don’t start making bad choices your first week in college,’ ” Collie recalls. “She said, ‘You’re going to be here for four years. Do I need to start watching you the first week?’” Collie shook his head, “I told her, ‘No ma’am, you don’t need to be watching me,’” sliding the dessert back onto the counter. As Collie tells it, Bessie cracked a faint smile and told him to go to class. “That was Ms. Bessie,” says Collie. “Always looking out for you. She was like your mom away from home.”
Gus Davis ‘72, a dedicated Board of Trustee, loyal Guilfordian and generous benefactor, died Jan. 7. In a career spanning decades, Gus, who graduated with a degree in History, rose to levels of executive leadership with several companies. Prior to serving as a trustee, he was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Guilford honored him with the Alumni Excellence Award in 2002. Gus was also a four-year member of the Quakers’ baseball team.
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Richard Lee Hall ‘50, a standout athlete at Guilford who enjoyed a long career in North Carolina’s textile industry, died Aug. 10. Richard joined Burlington Industries after military service in 1955 and ultimately retired as president of Burlington Socks Men’s Hosiery Division. At Guilford, he excelled in both basketball and baseball. He played professionally for the New York Yankees AAA farm team.
These days, Collie and other Guilford students are remembering “the look” but mostly the sweet spirit that was Bessie Carter, who died last fall at 89. Bessie spent 41 years as a housekeeper at Guilford. She cleaned the dorm rooms and bathrooms at Bryan Hall, changed bed linens and occasionally washed students’ laundry for them. Students say Ms. Bessie, as she was lovingly known, went out of her way to help keep their lives clean and orderly, too. “If she found out you weren’t going to class – and she always seemed to find out – she would be on you,” says Collie. “I couldn’t get anything past her so I just gave up and did what she said.” Harold Raleigh ’02, remembers Bessie as more than just a housekeeper. She was his grandmother. “She’s a big reason I went to Guilford and Guilford is so important to me and my life so I owe her a lot,” says Harold. He says some students might not have wanted their grandmother on the same campus for their college years. “It wasn’t that way for me at all. I enjoyed having her around. We would see each other and she always asked me how my day was going. But she didn’t just do that for me. She did it for all the students."
Claire Morse , a retired Professor of Psychology, died Sept. 8. Claire came to Guilford in 1976 and spent the next 35 years at Guilford before retiring in 2011. Claire was a powerful advocate for social justice and equity, building deep roots in Greensboro over the past four decades through her volunteering and advocacy.
Dewey Trogdon ’58, a loyal benefactor of the College, died Sept. 6. Dewey joined
Cone Mills Corporation shortly after graduation. He rose through the ranks and eventually served as CEO and chairman for 11 years before retiring in 1990. Dewey and Barbara Trogdon made lifetime gifts of more than $1 million to the College. Guilford honored Dewey with the Alumni Excellence Award and Charles C. Hendricks ’40 Distinguished Service Award. In 2020, Dewey and Barbara received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
Gregory Mello ’16, a former captain of the College’s football team who later served in the Army, died suddenly on Dec. 25. After being medically discharged from the military, Mello worked at Outback Steakhouse and Aberdeen Fabrics.
Florence Louise Brice Hardison ’53, a former elementary school teacher and bookkeeper, died Dec. 27. After graduating from Guilford, Hardison and her late husband Sidney lived less than a mile from the College for more
than 50 years. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Alumni Association.
Robert B. Foster ‘65, a Dana Scholar who spent years working for the Greensboro Public Library, died Oct. 20. Bob was a consummate musician, having mastered oboe, guitar and banjo. He also was fluent in several languages.
Randy Harold Sides ‘70, a lifelong public school teacher and coach, died Aug. 25. Randy began his teaching and coaching careers in Guilford County. He later moved to Pamlico
County where he continued to teach. Randy also had a music ministry at a local nursing home where he visited weekly and shared those gifts with the residents.
Shauna Clark ’97, who devoted much of her life to friends, family and traveling the world, died Nov. 9. Shauna loved to make people feel comfortable and valued. She listened with a sharp ear and mind, always with a bit of wisdom to offer when needed.
Wallace Pegram ‘69, who was once named the life insurance sales agent of the year, died Nov. 15. Wallace liked to say his life revolved around “the pitch,” first for Guilford’s baseball
team and later in sales, first for a food company and later in life insurance. Pitch was just as much the root of Wally's lifelong passion for playing his beloved baby grand by ear, for himself and for small gatherings alike.
Bill Guy ’91, an avid cyclist and runner, died Nov. 6. Thomas was deeply involved in athletics at Guilford both as an athlete and a manager. He played for the College’s baseball and rugby teams. Bill was also the team manager for the Quakers’ 1989 men’s basketball team.
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LAST LOOK
Mary Hobbs Hall,l October 19 65
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HOMECOMING WAS A BIG WOO-HOO WHEN I WENT TO GUILFORD. Gloria Phillips Turlington ’66 came up with the idea to turn Mary Hobbs Hall into a fort for Homecoming. She was able to get someone who worked with wood to donate the outer cuts. I remember them dumping three or four big bales of wood behind Hobbs. We renamed Hobbs that day Fort Stewart for John Stewart, the head football coach. All the dorms were decorated for the day and there was a parade of cars and trucks on Friendly Avenue. You never saw so much crepe paper! I don’t know that there are many colleges or dorms that form the life friendships and groups that Guilford and Mary Hobbs provided us. We still get together for lunch or beach trips. And if there’s an issue at the College we can have a bunch of women marching on campus in 24 hours. We’ve always been there for each other — always will be.˝ — Linda Mercer ’69
Do you have a photo and memory of Guilford you want to share for Last Look? Send them to Robert Bell at magazine@guilford.edu.
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GUILFORD HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND October 7–9, 2022 Save the Date, Quakers! We're less than six months from Homecoming & Family Weekend. Six months from food, fellowship and football! Six months from celebrating reunions for the Classes of '72, '77, '82, '87, '92, '97, '02, '02, '12 and '17. And in honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we'll be celebrating women's athletics at Guilford. More information will be coming soon. We can't wait to see you again!
Go Quakers!
