FALL 2019
THE MAGAZINE OF GORDON COLLEGE
STILLPOINT
A Gordon Heritage Her 130 years of female leaders, learners, movers and makers
Also Alsoin inThis ThisIssue Issue 716New Work Board Ahead: of Trustees Ready for Chair 2030 8 34 Celebrating Recovering Roger fromGreen the California 37 16,000 Camp Stories Fire
GOSPEL FAMILY UNITED IN WORSHIP
They may be one of the largest and most diverse student organizations at Gordon, but they call themselves a family. Founded and directed by Craig Ramsey ’13, God’s Chosen Gospel Choir unites nearly 100 students from across campus to sing, pray, study and share life together. As part of Founder’s Week in April, the choir hosted its seventh annual Gospel Experience, bringing together local churches and community members for two evenings of lively worship.
CONTENTS
FEATURE
A Gordon Heritage Innovative since its inception, Gordon College brought women into the fold before it was widely accepted (and expected). 130 years later, meet just a few of them.
Page 18
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT students, 16 Today’s tomorrow’s careers Work Ahead: Ready for 2030 brings senior thought leaders to envision and equip students for the workplace of the future.
IN EACH ISSUE Up Front with 6 President Lindsay Educating, equipping, empowering
Inspiration 7
Jewerl Maxwell Dean of academic initiatives and global education
Student Spotlight 8
Saliha Grace Shelton ’20
10 On the Grapevine
Campus news and happenings, including a note from the Alumni Advisory Council
14 Faculty Work
Accomplishments and accolades
38 Class Notes
Alumni news and stories
ARTICLES Samaritans in the 34 Good Burn Zone Five alumni share their experiences of the deadliest and most destructive California wildfire: the Camp Fire of 2018.
and Athens Forum 36 Jerusalem Essay Content JAF students tackle this year’s topic: “Christianity in the Majority World.” Read the winning essays. Pictured: Electa Sutton ’21, Yicary Melo ’09, Janel Curry, Lauren Becker, Anne Givens ’99, Donna Loy, Jody Gross, Maria Hale Gordon, Nancy Smith Re, Jacqueline Broberg ’14, Anita Coco, Grace Shaw ’19, Kate McMillan, Rachel Ashley ’13, Mei Wu ’15, Amy France ’01, Tatenda Makoni ’18, Emmy Short ’21, Quick Yun ’19, Alice Tsang, Sandy Doneski, Rachel Yoo, Mary Jacobs ’15, Rebecca Lindsay, Jan Carlberg, Winifred Currie ’45
ON THE COVER Standing (L to R): Andrea Lim ’20, Dorothy Boorse ’86; sitting (L to R): Elaine Phillips, Marina Bueno ’19, Shineika Fareus ’21
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FEATURE
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ALUMNI
UP FRONT with President Lindsay
Educating, equipping, empowering
Jasmine Ye ’19 makes her pitch for ShuDong, the winning startup at the sixth annual Social Venture Challenge. Read more on page 10.
“This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see.” —Corrie Ten Boom Just after graduation this past May, my family and I led a trip to Paris for the inaugural cohort of Gordon’s Global Honors Scholars. We were delighted to explore the Louvre, saddened to see the state of Notre Dame and encouraged to be surrounded by wonderfully inquisitive students. As my twin daughters excitedly explored the beautiful gardens of Versailles, I watched as several of the young women on the trip took an interest in them and, by the same token, saw my daughters try to emulate the Christhonoring virtues of compassion, prayerfulness and courage they observed in these students. A year from now, we’ll be deep in another presidential election season. As my daughters catch glimpses of the stump speeches, political advertisements and campaign rallies, they’ll see people who look like them. Already more women have announced
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candidacy for a single major party’s nomination than ever before. This milestone comes on the heels of 2018’s record-breaking number of women running for and winning congressional, Senate and gubernatorial seats. According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, the percentage of women on the boards of Fortune 500 companies has doubled over the past 20 years. In 30 years, the percentage of female university presidents has tripled. My own career journey has been shaped by a number of influential women, starting with my mom, Susan, who led an independent, coeducational day school in my hometown for several decades. It was a female youth minister who first saw and developed my leadership potential, starting in ninth grade (and who remains a great mentor and friend). And my wife, Rebecca,
president@gordon.edu
embodies so many leadership qualities that I seek to live out on a daily basis. These are the types of people I hope my daughters aspire to emulate—the types who have leaned into their God-given gifts, led with compassion and courage, and left things better than they found them. Slowly but surely, America’s workforce is bringing more of them into the fold. Our country has come a long way in educating, equipping and empowering women—and we still have a long way to go. That’s why I’m grateful to have strong women helping to shape the future of Gordon College through our new Work Ahead: Ready for 2030 initiative: Mary Beth West, senior vice president and chief growth officer at The Hershey Company; Rosa Whitaker, founder and president of The Whitaker Group;
www.gordon.edu/president
Twitter: @GordonPres
IN EACH ISSUE
INSPIRATION Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation; public policy expert Kay Coles James, president of The Heritage Foundation; and affective computing pioneer Rosalind Picard. The women of Work Ahead, along with their male colleagues, are lending their wisdom and expertise to help us envision the workplace of the future and equip the next generation to lead and thrive in careers that don’t yet exist. You can read more about this exciting work on page 16 and follow along at www.gordon.edu/workahead. But strong women aren’t new to Gordon. They’ve been part of founding and shaping the school for 130 years— from the gregarious and inquisitive co-founder Maria Hale Gordon to the first graduate and longtime faculty member May Hancock to the more than 250 female faculty and staff members whose valuable contributions continue to shape the College today. You can read more about the role of women in the early days of the College and meet the leaders, learners, movers and makers among us on page 18. Whether they’re skipping through the streets of Paris, walking toward great challenges or racing to lend a hand, I look forward to seeing where today’s students will lead us next.
A Forecast and a Plan Jewerl Maxwell, dean of academic initiatives and global education Like a meteorologist, Jewerl Maxwell assesses the climate and predicts trends. And like a fashion designer, he draws inspiration from the world around him and innovates new horizons. But instead of declaring snow or designing gowns, Maxwell envisions and enacts the future of academic programs at Gordon. Two questions drive his work: How can Gordon grow existing academic programs? What new programs will strategically benefit Gordon in the future? In Maxwell’s five years at Gordon, he has contributed to the creation and leadership of numerous initiatives, including Gordon Plus, the dual-degree nursing program with Curry College, and new graduate programs in leadership and financial analysis. His current endeavors include expanding opportunities in dual enrollment, online courses, study abroad and unique programs to reach nontraditional learners. A background in political science and a listening ear provide Maxwell with the ability to make change within the often-polarized field of academia. “You’re never going to get anything done if you can’t find common ground or bring people together,” he says. “I like the relational aspect of my job and getting to know people,” he says, “hearing perspectives I might not agree with, hearing why people believe what they believe, hearing why they think we should do one thing versus another.” If listening is the method, valuing is the goal. “Value what other people have to say and recognize that we are all created differently,” he says. “At a Christ-centered institution, you’re thinking in terms of the individual as someone who’s been designed by God and he’s given them their gifts, talents and abilities; he’s given them their way to think about whatever they come into contact with.”
D. Michael Lindsay is the eighth president of Gordon College and professor of sociology. He enjoys dining at "Good Stuff Café," the gourmet restaurant run by his 9-year-old twin girls who love making breakfast for family and friends. They are known for their pancakes and frosted lemonade.
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SPOTLIGHT
Saliha Grace Shelton ’20 THE FRUITS OF HOMESICKNESS
On the North Shore of Boston, there are sunflowers on professors’ desks, young adults bonding with older generations over a vegetable frittata, and fresh green beans on the plates of college students and homeless people alike—all because Saliha Grace Shelton first asked herself the question: What do I miss about my home country of Turkey?
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IN EACH ISSUE
Before she was adopted at age 12, Saliha Grace Shelton spent many of her formative years on a small, rural farm in southeast Turkey. There, she enjoyed the company of 300 sheep, a motley crew of other farm animals and a garden with every fruit and vegetable under the sun. But, as one of the 15 million Kurdish people in Turkey, she was an ethnic minority living in a country that made it illegal for her to use her given name (Solhe ŞekiráPahom), speak her native language or get a formal education. “They don’t want us to get an education. If we were educated, we would demand some rights,” says Shelton. Because surrounding countries fear that Kurdish people will, one day, make Kurdistan a real country—taking pieces of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria with it— these governments do everything in their power to impose upon the Kurdish people an illusion of powerlessness. But it’s not working. In recent years, says Shelton, the Kurdish people have received international recognition for their role in capturing Saddam Hussein and key al Qaeda figures (including Osama bin Laden’s messenger, Hassan Ghul), for their all-female unit of Peshmerga freedom fighters and for being the most successful military group to fight ISIS. This illusion of powerlessness is lost on Shelton, too. Even though the Turkish government did its best to squash her sense of personal agency, this 21-year-old has more joy and willpower than most people who’ve reveled in freedom their entire lives. In the three years Shelton has been at Gordon, she’s taken it upon herself to coordinate and raise money for a series of intergenerational cooking classes
and to revive and rename the College’s community garden, Newroz (which means “new day, new sun” in Kurdish)—all so that the Gordon community can enjoy the experiences from Turkey she misses most. By paying attention to what she wanted to hold onto, she also discovered what she wanted to give to others. So, she gave people a reason to be in the garden. Today, the Biology Department uses Newroz for their Crops and Society class and summer research projects. The Physics Club is putting in a rainwater irrigation system, and there’s been talk of the Art Department painting a mural on the garden shed. A language that has been banned elsewhere has been given new life here through a single word, and is now spoken freely by Shelton and all who come to Newroz. While her original question (What do I miss about Turkey?) stemmed from real homesickness and helped Shelton find her place in a new country, it also spoke to an even deeper form of homesickness—for a perfect world. Like Kurdish people living in a country that is, for the most part, brutally inhospitable to them, all people find themselves in a world that can feed into this illusion of powerlessness. Shelton’s example serves as a reminder that an illusion doesn’t have any feet to stand on and that personal agency comes from and is found in God. “I don’t give up easily,” says Shelton. “I think my whole experience taught me not to be afraid of things. Failure doesn’t stop me from pursuing what I want. I just go for it. Because I’ve already lost a lot in my life and in my family, I’ve said to myself, ‘What have I got to lose? Just do it. It’s all thanks to Jesus. He is in control.’”
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NEWS: ON THE GRAPEVINE
CAMPUS NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
Men’s Basketball Places Second Last season, the Men’s Basketball team placed second in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) for the second year in a row, with a record of 13–3 in the CCC (and 23–5 overall). Garrisson Duvivier ’19 ranked first in the conference for his 343 total rebounds; Noah Szilagyi ’19 scored the most three-point shots (48 points total); and Eric Demers ’19 earned second place in the league for the most points (655 points total).
Michael Wear Delivers Charge of Civility for Partisan Politics
SPECIAL EVENT
Social Venture Challenge Turns Six with Three New Startups In April, three new startups were awarded a total of $10,000 in seed funding as part of the sixth annual Social Venture Challenge. First place went to ShuDong, an online peer mentorship program for Chinese students, created by Jasmine Ye ’19 and Caleb Britton ’21. Second place was awarded to Rimo, a women’s undergarment company founded by Carita DeTellis ’19, Danielle Maneval ’20 and Elizabeth Koh ’20, that provides a stable job and a way out for women in the sex trade. And third place went to Nick Cannella ’20 and Luke Pollack ’20 for CreateBox, a startup which provides consulting and editing tips to YouTube creators.
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The Gordon community had the privilege of hearing from one of the youngest White House staffers in recent history, who was responsible for President Barack Obama’s faith outreach during Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. During his visit to Gordon, former National Faith Vote Coordinator Michael Wear counseled fellow Christians to engage in healthy discourse with those who do not share similar opinions, political or otherwise. “We must learn to move beyond relationships that are based exclusively on familiarity and intimacy,” Wear said. “We must learn how to behave among strangers, to treat people with courtesy—not because we know them, but simply because we see them as human beings like ourselves.”
ON THE GRAPEVINE
You don’t need to wait until STILLPOINT arrives to get the latest on Gordon. News and stories are published all year long on the College blog, The Bell (named for the iconic structure that sits just outside the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel). stories.gordon.edu
SPEAKER
Pastor Chip Ingram Reframes Identity in the Context of God’s Love During DEEP FAITH week, Chip Ingram, CEO and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, explored four questions that deeply shape the way Christians self-identify: How do you see God? How do you see yourself? What does God require of you? And what does God want to give you? Ingram challenged the Gordon community to understand their identity in the context of God’s love for and relationship with humankind.
IN MEMORY
Remembering La Vida’s Rich Obenschain Gordon College is heartbroken over the passing of Richard (Rich) Obenschain, founder of the La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership, on May 22, 2019. At 69 years old, Rich was a lifelong champion for the transforming power of outdoor experiential learning and a beloved member of the Gordon community for decades. He will be deeply missed. Rich’s vision for encountering God and building character in the outdoors propelled La Vida to become a staple of the Gordon College experience, and home to numerous programs for children, college students and adults. Thousands of Gordon students, alumni and community members around the world credit Rich as the man who created the very experience that sparked real transformation in their lives. But outdoor education was much more than a program to Rich—it was a way of life. For him, the words of Joshua 23:8 were a cornerstone: “But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.” To “belay” means to “hold fast”—a phrase now ingrained on the hearts of thousands, along with “be here now” and “commitment move.” A celebration of life service was held in the A. J. Gordon Chapel on June 21. The College has created a space for the Gordon and La Vida communities to mourn the loss of Rich and celebrate his indelible legacy: www.gordon.edu/richobenschain
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Podcasts
AT GORDON
Gordon College Launches Two Podcasts on Work The College launched two new podcasts— Honest Work and Boardroom Bound—to encourage and equip listeners in their career journeys. In Honest Work, staff from the Career and Connection Institute interview alumni and friends of the College about their work life, including seasons of fulfillment, frustration, complacency and victory. In Boardroom Bound, Master of Science in Financial Analysis Executive Director Alexander Lowry shares inspiring stories from brilliant business minds. Visit podcast.gordon.edu or listen via iTunes or Spotify.
Gordon’s Newest Graduates and Honorees On May 18, the Gordon community celebrated the achievements of 470 Gordon graduates, and honored five individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the global Church and public square. As part of the 127th Commencement ceremony, the College awarded honorary doctorates to entrepreneur Rev. Dr. Kwabena Darko, evangelist Beth Moore, education expert Fransisco Solano Portela Neto, talent acquisition guru Russell Reynolds and local church leader Rev. Dr. Wesley A. Roberts. Read more on page 44.
SPEAKER
Neighbors of Other Faiths During the spring semester, Dr. Ivan Satyavrata, senior pastor of the largest church in Kolkata, India, and visiting scholar with the Center for Faith and Inquiry, posed a challenging question to the Gordon community: Is it possible for us to stay true to the unchanging gospel in the midst of a changing world, especially as it relates to religious pluralism? “Conviction concerning this unchanging gospel can never be compromised,” he said. “To complement conviction, Christians must build connection by creating bridges rather than walls with friends and neighbors of other faiths.”
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A (Boat)house to Call Home With the help of an anonymous donor, Gordon acquired two acres of land and a boathouse on Chebacco Lake. It’s now the home base for Gordon’s Club Rowing team, which has made a name for itself in recent years. Today, Gordon is one of 10 schools in the United States and the only non-state or Ivy League school with a program like this. Gordon rowers regularly compete against crews from MIT, West Point and Boston University.
ON THE GRAPEVINE
FOR ALUMNI, FROM ALUMNI
A Note from the Alumni Advisory Council Dear alumni, As your alumni representatives at Gordon, we care deeply for you and the College, and are making it a priority to play a role in the changing tides. As many of you are aware, the College underwent a year-long budget analysis and decision-making process guided by two dozen faculty and staff members during the 2018–19 school year, and in May the full results were announced, including both difficult and encouraging news to consider and digest. Prior to the official announcement of results, the Alumni Advisory Council and members of the College’s other volunteer councils had the opportunity to hear in depth from President Lindsay. Even as we wrestled with the process and its anticipated outcome, many of us left the meeting with more understanding of the many forces buffeting Christian higher education and an appreciation for the thoughtful, deliberate decision-making processes that are ongoing at the College. As you know, a major outcome of the process is the reconfiguration of some academic departments. These changes are incredibly challenging because they include the loss of personnel—our mentors and friends who have deeply shaped our lives. We mourn with you over the loss of the people and courses that made our Gordon experiences all that they were. At the same time, we are thankful that Gordon is not only paying attention to trends within higher education but responding to changing market demands (both current and future). Gordon is harnessing select programs to meet areas of increasing interest while remaining steadfast in its faith foundation and liberal arts core. We have clearly heard from the administration that after extensive consideration, they believe that these academic changes will ultimately strengthen the College and further enrich the options for students pursuing those fields of study. In addition to the immediate curricular changes, throughout the budget process the College also took time to imagine and construct new modes of education to ensure that the Gordon experience is more affordable and more adaptable well into the future—while remaining anchored in Christ. This is the story of where
Gordon is heading, and this is exciting. More information on these new offerings will be coming shortly. Gordon Traditional, which remains the core operation of Gordon as a Christian liberal arts college, will now incorporate more integrated academic offerings through several redesigned majors, as well as offer greater flexibility and experiential learning opportunities through the College’s Career and Connection Institute. Gordon Essential offers the opportunity to complete a Gordon undergraduate degree in three years through a combination of year-round academic programming and enhanced online/hybrid offerings. This will allow students to reduce the total cost of a Gordon degree by 10 to 15 percent. Gordon Global brings a Gordon education within the reach of a much larger segment of learners, both in the United States and around the world, through a digital learning platform that will initially serve adult learners but is designed to include a series of “stackable” credentials that range from certificate programs to graduate degrees. The structural backbone of Gordon Global will be a newly-created School of Graduate, Professional and Extended Studies, which will provide helpful revenue and enrollment enhancements to the College through pre-collegiate, alternative and graduate offerings at a significantly lower price. The discount on graduate programs for Gordon alumni still applies to this enhanced track. We continue to pray for the students, faculty, staff and administration at Gordon as the College makes changes to meet the realities of changing times and to better secure its future. We encourage you to do the same. Best regards, Lori Henderson ’84 Chair, Alumni Advisory Council Stephen Taylor ’07 Vice Chair, Alumni Advisory Council
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FACULTY WORK Accomplishments Kristen Cooper ’06 (economics and business) has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award for 2019–20. During the fall semester, Cooper will teach and conduct research at the School of Economics, Business and Tourism (Facultad de Economía, Empresa y Turismo) at the Universidad de La Laguna on Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. Her Fulbright research project, titled “Developing Wellbeing Science in an Economic Framework: Theoretical and Empirical Issues in Cross-Cultural Perspective,” continues work on an existing survey-based research project on measuring wellbeing.
Jamie Hillman (music) was invited to guest conduct the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s Western District Senior Choir Festival at UMass Amherst in January. He also served as a clinician for the Providence Singers Young Men’s Choir Festival at Rhode Island College.
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Elaine Phillips (biblical studies and Christian ministries) spent spring break in Kenya, teaching pastors from Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya; leading a women’s seminar in conjunction with the Gate of Light Church of God in Mombasa; and preaching at the same church.
In the spring, Ruth Melkonian-Hoover (political science and international affairs) was awarded a $4,000 curriculum development grant from the Global Religion Research Initiative of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame.
Bill Franson (art) presented his current photographic project, “Mason Dixon: American Fictions,” at the deCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA, in January, serving as the museum’s guest artist/lecturer in their Artist in Conversation series.
FACULTY WORK
Publications
In February, Bob Whittet (biblical studies and Christian ministries) was voted chairman of the board of directors of Christian Education Ministries in Greenville, SC.
Amy Hughes (biblical studies and Christian ministries) joined the podcast OnScript as a co-host. She will develop a theology stream focused on biblical scholarship.
February marked the month when David Lee (physics) received his 24th U.S. patent: “Feedstock Barrels Coated with Insulating Films for Rapid Discharge Forming of Metallic Glasses.”
Mary Montgomery Koppel (music) premiered a new piece, AR-15: America’s Rifle, by Juventas New Music in a February concert.
Ellen Ballock (education), pictured above, served as guest editor for Volume 4, Issue 1 of the Journal of Practitioner Research. Mindy Eichhorn (education), along with co-authors Courtney (Vitale) Lacson ’18 and part-time instructor in Graduate Education Barb Dennie, published “Building the optimal learning environment for mathematics” in Mathematics Teacher. Eichhorn also published “Increasing engagement of English learners through universal design for learning” in the Journal of Educational Research and Practice with two co-authors, including Kristen Burke ’12. Bruce Herman (art) published “A Hermeneutic of Humility: The Art of Jonathan Anderson” in Issue 99 of Image and “We Lift Each Other Into Light” in Issue 100. Additionally, the book for his collaborative project, Ordinary Saints, was released in the winter. In February, Damon Di Mauro (French) published “Haverhill’s Literary Graveyard” in The Essex Genealogist.
A paper by Henry Hao (economics and business), entitled “One Belt One Road Initiative and Chinese Faith-based NGOs,” won an honorable mention in the Boston Theological Institute paper competition in April.
Jess Modaff (music) successfully defended her dissertation at Boston University in March, and received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano in May.
In February, Mike Jacobs (political science and international affairs) co-authored and published “An Investigation of Variation in Bilateral Investment Treaties: Exploring Every BIT” in Transnational Corporations Review.
Grants In January, Priscilla Nelson ’74 and Janet Arndt ’68 (education) were awarded a grant of $25,000 by the E. Leslie Peters Foundation for their project, Enhanced Programming for Preservice Teachers and Elementary Students.
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Today’s students, tomorrow’s careers
BY 2030
85% of jobs that will be available don’t yet exist.1
800 million jobs could be automated.2
1/2
of the U.S. population will be racial and ethnic minority groups.3
Our workforce, our workplace and our work itself are all changing. What does that mean for students preparing for tomorrow’s careers and for the current (and future) leaders creating them? Earlier this year, Gordon College launched Work Ahead: Ready for 2030 to answer this very question. The yearlong initiative will leverage the expertise of more than a dozen relevant thought leaders to locate and build upon the knowledge, skills and aptitudes needed to thrive in future.
“The Next Era of Human-Machine Partnerships: Emerging Technologies’ Impact on Society & Work in 2030,” Institute for the Future for Dell Technologies Report, 2017, http://www.iftf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/th/SR1940_IFTFforDellTechnologies_Human-Machine_070717_ readerhigh-res.pdf. 2 “Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages,” McKinsey Global Institute, November 2017, https://www.mckinsey. com/featured-insights/future-of-work/jobs-lost-jobs-gained-what-the-future-of-work-will-mean-for-jobs-skills-and-wages. 3 Jonathan Vespa, David M. Armstrong and Lauren Medina, “Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060,” U.S. Census Bureau, March 2018, https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/demo/P25_1144.pdf. 1
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SENIOR THOUGHT LEADERS AND ADVISORS
Andy Crouch
Heather Templeton Dill
Patrick Gelsinger
Kay Coles James
Partner for Theology and Culture, Praxis
President, John Templeton Foundation
CEO, VMWare
President, The Heritage Foundation
Kirk Perry
Rosalind Picard
Samuel Rodriguez
Diego Ruiz
President of Brand Solutions, Google Inc.
Founder and Director, Affective Computing Research Group, MIT Media Lab
President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, PepsiCo
Myron “Mike” Ullman III
Mary Beth West
Rosa Whitaker
Chairman, Starbucks Corporation
Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, The Hershey Company
Founder and President, The Whitaker Group
View the full lineup of speakers and access TED Talk-style videos and other resources:
www.gordon.edu/workahead
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A Gordon Heritage 130 years of female leaders, learners, movers and makers
It was 1889—nearly 50 years
times,” reported historians Thomas and
after the first female in the U.S. earned
Jean Askew.1 A. J. Gordon “tirelessly
a bachelor’s degree but long before
championed women’s suffrage and ‘their
educating women was the norm. In 31
entrance into every political and social
years, women would receive the right
privilege enjoyed by man.’”2 In one of
to vote, and more than four decades
his many writings, Gordon cited Acts
later, policies on equal pay and equal
2:17, “‘Your sons and your daughters
employment opportunities would
shall prophesy.’ Here is woman’s equal
be introduced.
warrant with man’s for telling out the
But in a church in Boston, a small, unconventional group swam against the tide. Local pastor Adoniram Judson Gordon, a visionary leader with a history of bucking cultural norms, welcomed
Gospel of the grace of God.”3 And in one of her many speeches, his wife, Maria Hale Gordon, exhorted “that spiritual gifts and qualifications were to be bestowed and exercised equally . . .”4
a woman into his fledgling missionary
Seven values exemplify the spirit
training institute. Ten were enrolled
and vision of A. J. Gordon—servant
within the first year, 19 in the second.
leadership, missions, worship, social
“Women were as welcome as men, a decidedly progressive policy for the
justice, evangelism, education and theology—and the following 34 women have modeled them in inspiring ways.
1
Thomas A. and Jean M. Askew, A Faithful Past, An Expectant Future (Wenham, MA: Gordon College, 1988), 9.
2
Thomas A. and Jean M. Askew, A Faithful Past, An Expectant Future (Wenham, MA: Gordon College, 1988), 14.
3
A. J. Gordon, “The Ministry of Women,” The Missionary Review of the World (New York), December, 1894, 911.
4
Maria Hale Gordon, “Women as Evangelists” (presentation, June 25, 1894).
Pictured (L to R): Abby Stroven, Sabrina Chueh ’19 and Orlane Destin ’21
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A GORDON HERITAGE
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Servant Leadership
Winifred Currie, 1945
Professor of education, director of the Reading Center, Gordon College (1963–1983)
Ordained minister. Missionary to former Belgian Congo. Licensed airplane pilot. Trained machinist and auto mechanic. Volunteer educational consultant for Wycliffe Translators. An expert educator with a big heart, an adventurous spirit and a dash of renegade, Winifred Currie advanced education—specifically reading education for students with learning disabilities—around the globe. And she taught herself several trades as a means of ministry, offering first aid, agricultural and translation work and machine repair on the side.
“Seek occasions for giving. Dig channels for your beneficence; make occasions for your benevolence.”1 —A. J. Gordon
Sabrina Chueh ’19
Business administration and psychology double major
Recent internships: CerconeBrownCompany (public relations firm in Boston) and Artrue International (art gallery in Taipei, Taiwan) Dream job: “Running an organization. It’ll revolve around experiential education, ministry and character development.” After her hometown in the Wulai District of Taipei City, Taiwan, was destroyed in a typhoon, Sabrina Chueh learned life-altering lessons in the importance of trusting God, having meaningful relationships, making hard decisions and tapping into leadership potential.
1
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Yicaury Melo ’09
Multicultural student service coordinator, Gordon College
Ambivert. StrengthsFinder fan. Casual tambourine player. Wants to “help people identify themselves by their strengths and not their weaknesses.” Because “students are not buckets to be filled but fires waiting to be lit!”
A. J. Gordon, “Untitled Introductory Article,” The Watchword (February 1891), 29.
A GORDON HERITAGE
Ann Seavey ’75
Christine Geiger ’90
Station support manager, NPR
Director of academic success, Gordon College
Eight-word bio: “I’m a get-things-done kind of person.”
Alternative job titles: counselor, negotiator, troubleshooter, wife, mother, grandmother, deacon, birdwatcher (“I wanted to be an archaeologist . . . I think I may have channeled that love of problem solving into the field of disabilities”).
19 years after graduating, “I still quote Wordsworth when I see daffodils. Thanks to Dr. Skillen.”
Someday might write a book about the theology of disability or “the parade of people that lived with us—foster kids, Gordon students, relatives—and the life lessons learned.” Biggest accomplishment: “being in on the ground floor of the implementation of legislation regarding the rights of people with disabilities” (Massachusetts Chapter 766, and later the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Fictional heroine: Harry Potter’s Molly Weasley, “the kind of mom who welcomes every kid into her home and fiercely loves and protects them.” Real-life heroine: her former department director, “a true believer in honesty in the workplace, transparency, teamwork, heart and fierceness . . . kind of like Molly Weasley.”
Kendra Seavey ’09
Clinical administrative director, care.coach
9 to 5 job: Helping older adults thrive, not just survive, with the use of virtual pets (artificial intelligence meets compassion to offer companionship as well as important reminders to take medication, drink water and exercise). 5 to 9 job: Mom to two toddlers, Malcolm and Piper. Biggest accomplishment: “Making it through the years 2016 to 2018,” which included earning a master’s in public health and having two children while working full-time and making her career shift to care.coach. FALL 2019 | STILLPOINT 21
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Missions “Scattered all over our land and in foreign lands are women evangelists . . . and the seal of blessing which the Spirit of God sets upon their labors is the best credential of their call to the work.”1 —Maria Hale Gordon
Olivia Buelow ’18
Wardrobe dresser, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Orlane Destin ’21 Kinesiology (pre-med) major
From Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Has researched pancreatic cancer at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital. Aspires to start an organization that provides pro bono long-term care for people in remote parts of the world. Wants to be known as a bridge-builder who loves against all odds and against all circumstances. “I am a girl who has been through a lot from the time she was young till now. But I am also the girl who survived—survived death, survived loss and survived change, and is thriving by the grace of God.”
Planned for medical school, found herself on Broadway. Most courageous thing she’s ever done: Moving to New York City alone. Covers up to four miles backstage during a performance. “Pinch me” moment: Working with leading actors from Hamilton and Grease Live! Her respite amidst working long hours, six days per week: Attending Hillsong Church NYC. “There’s so much going on in theatre that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in it. Maybe God wants me to help save some people, or bring them some peace, because this is an industry where there is a lack of belief.”
Alynne MacLean ’86 Founder and president, Science with a Mission
Tests for diseases like malaria, HIV and typhoid in developing countries by using technology similar to the home pregnancy test. Most courageous thing: “quitting my job when I did not have any other income in order to start Science with a Mission” (also sleeping next to scorpions, skydiving and staying in a tent in the Serengeti).
Abby Stroven
Senior director, La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership, Gordon College
Facilitates growth, transformation and deepened faith— all through outdoor adventure. Prefers to be someplace where she can scale a mountain. Currently researching “how immersive-based outdoor experiential learning programs could help engender empathy toward refugees.” Helped save a life while living in Ecuador, despite the lack of a Good Samaritan law. Published a coloring book of the North Shore of Massachusetts. Worked at Sea World. 1 2
Maria Hale Gordon, “Women as Evangelists” (presentation, June 25, 1894). Nathan R. Wood, A School of Christ (1953), 153.
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Words of wisdom: “Through overcoming challenges and learning to hold fast to God, we can unlock our hidden potential.”
A GORDON HERITAGE
Carrie Tarbell, 1922
Professor emerita of missions, librarian, Gordon College (1925–1959)
Missionary to China just after World War I, where an accident left her crosseyed but didn’t deter her. Former College President Nathan R. Wood described Carrie Tarbell as “a trained and gifted teacher, librarian for many years, a great influence for foreign missions, and best of all an untiring power in prayer. Her public speaking and her devoted leadership in the Chinese Mission of Boston have carried her influence far beyond the walls of Gordon.”2
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Worship
“We are to rest confidingly in God’s love, warmed, encompassed, and comforted by it; not by our works trying to win that love, but yielding to the love which has won us.”1 —A. J. Gordon
Lydia Smith
Dean of faculty, dean of women, professor of Old Testament, Barrington College (1904–1961)
In the Gordon College Archives are hundreds of letters, telegrams and postcards addressed to “Dean Smith”— prayerful patron and devoted pen pal to countless of her former students throughout her lifetime. Superpower: Bringing comfort and counsel to those facing uncertain circumstances all over the world. Words to live by: “God has supplied all that we love.” Student testimony: “[Her Bible] was no object of beauty . . . for the first five books of the Old Testament were hardly readable through constant wear. It was then I realized the Word of God was more than a textbook . . . that it could be hidden in the heart.”
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Molly Lawry ’10
Veterinarian, Ocean State Veterinary Specialists
Seeing a dog’s intestines in an operating room for the first time pretty much sealed the deal for Molly Lawry. Animal medicine was her calling. Biggest accomplishment: learning to drive a stick shift (says the animal surgeon). Special talent: laughter. “[I’ve been told] my laugh makes others want to join in even if they didn’t catch the joke . . . of course I had nothing to do with developing the sound or quality of my laugh, but I think the Lord gave it to me because he knew how readily and often I would use it. And that it would inspire laughter and joy in others.”
A. J. Gordon, “Two Keeps,” The Watchword (April 1885), 23.
A GORDON HERITAGE
Marina Bueno ’19 Elaine Phillips
Harold John Ockenga distinguished professor of biblical and theological studies, Gordon College
Latest project: to write seven articles for the Lexham Geography Commentary—a commentary that helps readers visualize the places where the biblical narrative takes place. Real-life heroine: her mother. Not only did she live to be 100, “she was also way ahead of her time as a chemistry major in the 1940s; a widely read and thoughtful person; a person who was unfailingly thankful.”
Political science and economics double major
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil. Favorite animal: capybaras—“because they give other animals free rides on their backs.” Like the capybara, she cares about others. Her dream is to further the causes of humanitarian organizations, something along the lines of nonprofit consulting. “I believe in the power of organizations to do good,” she says.
Sarah Gordon ’04
Art director, Christianity Today
Think of her as a matchmaker for words and images. Sunday ritual: the New York Times crossword. Superpower: “I’m a woman in the workplace and a mom of twins.” In Sarah Gordon’s experience, art has been a natural equalizer. Gordon explains, “In design, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of talented women be given a voice—your work speaks for itself and your work isn’t gendered. It’s good or it’s not.”
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Social Justice
“It takes peculiar qualifications of generous public spirit, and the courage of conviction, to stand by a principle for its own sake . . . not that we may have our own way, but that we may make the way smoother and safer for those who come after us.”1 —Maria Hale Gordon
Maria Hale Gordon
Treasurer, Bible instructor, Boston Missionary Training Institute (1892–1914)
President of the Fatherless and Widow’s Society and the Boston Women’s Christian Temperance Union. An advocate for women’s suffrage, temperance, prison reform and the abolition of prostitution (also a teacher, financial administrator and mother of six), Maria Hale Gordon wrote, “I am determined that no one may truthfully say that I slighted my family responsibilities while working outside.”2 Widely praised for her public speaking skills, sharp spiritual vision and boldness to address the issues of the day. According to a news article from the time, “. . . she wishes to encourage other women to become leaders and well equipped for the different kinds of work. As a result of this wise management on her part, Dr. [A. J.] Gordon’s church has more women who are able leaders than any other in the city.”
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Shineika Fareus ’21
Political science and sociology double major
Clarendon Scholar. Presidential Fellow. Future civil rights attorney. Born in Haiti; raised in Connecticut. Co-founder of Dear Neighbor “to push people to fight against racism, inequality, segregation.” In her spare time, goes to the beach or creates social justice workshops.
“New England Annual Meeting,” The Woman’s Column vol. V, no. 22 (May 28, 1892). “In Memoriam: Mrs. A. J. Gordon.” Watchman Examiner (January 27, 1921).
A GORDON HERITAGE
Neema Kamau ’20 Finance major
Dream job: being president of Kenya and touring the world as part of a music band. Dream come true: studying in America. Wants to be known for being “a woman who is not afraid of constantly learning new things or challenging herself beyond any comfort zones.” Recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article about the role of small schools in preparing students for big jobs. “My desire for constant growth led me to pursue the opportunity to study in America; intern at an international private equity firm and in global markets analysis at Bank of America Merrill Lynch New York; and serve as a resident advisor, intern for the assistant controller, student ambassador, presidential fellow in the CFO’s office and leader of the Business Club. I hope to one day use the skills I am gaining to impact communities both in Kenya and around the world.”
Sharon Galgay Ketcham ’94 Professor of theology and Christian ministries, Gordon College
Author of Reciprocal Church. Currently working on reimagining Christian practices. Twitter description: Author, professor, wild-about-community theologian, family gal and over-the-top emoji user. Passionate about “empowering communities of diverse people to join God’s redemptive movement.”
Dorothy Boorse ’86
Professor of biology, Gordon College
Aquatic ecologist. “I’m passionate about trying to mitigate climate change and getting people to see addressing environmental degradation as a part of loving your neighbor.” Environmental textbook author. “I passionately love to learn.” Synesthete. “Letters are associated with color, especially vowels. I especially like ‘a’ which is a bright, sunny yellow, and ‘i’ which is a very dark, almost iridescent violet.”
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Evangelism “And in these ‘last days’ it would seem as if the Master were saying to every woman, ‘Behold, I have set before you an open door.’ Doors which have long been shut through a misapprehension of Scripture truth are now flung wide open.”1 —Maria Hale Gordon
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Maria Hale Gordon, “Women as Evangelists” (presentation, June 25, 1894).
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A GORDON HERITAGE
Martha Frost Philanthropist (1915–1925)
Benefactress of Gordon Bible Institute’s first facility in Boston. Known as vigorous, intelligent and independent.
Andrea Lim ’20 History and elementary education double major
Born in San Diego, California. Grew up in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Family is from Singapore. Andrea Lim proudly embraces life as a “third-culture kid” (TCK): “This identity has been a huge part of me,” she says. Sympathetic to the often-challenging experience of living abroad, she mentors international students at Gordon. “I love interacting with those with different views,” she says, “and challenging myself to think further than just ‘me.’”
Moved by a visit from A. J. Gordon, who described the school’s Christian mission and physical needs, Frost gifted the Institute its first large donation (equal to $3 million today) for capital purposes: a state-of-the-art facility in the Fenway area of Boston. The original Frost Hall opened on April 3, 1917, the jubilant dedication ceremony preceding the United States’ declaration of war against Germany by only one day.
Jennifer Jukanovich ’94 Global leadership and change doctoral program, Pepperdine University
Mother of three internationally adopted children. Has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Most courageous thing she’s ever done: stood up to the authorities who threatened to take away her son. Reconciliation is a cause at the forefront of Jukanovich’s life. For 25 years she has built bridges across differences in pursuit of the common good—from the President of the United States and his advisors, to Western investors and Rwandan entrepreneurs. “Future leaders,” says Jukanovich, “will need to exhibit competence in crosscultural and global understanding, have skills in the practice of reconciliation and be faithful in mission.”
Kaye Cook
Professor of psychology, Gordon College
Wishes she could meet: A. J. Gordon. “I am pleased and impressed that [he] wanted women in his school.” Her job in five words: Caring, listening, learning, teaching, organizing. Previous employers: Harvard Medical School and Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. Current research: The psychology of forgiveness, which involved a recent trip to Indonesia to participate in interviews with Muslims and Christians, exploring their ideas on justice and forgiveness. How have women changed psychology? “They’ve only made it better.”
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Education
“We will gather all the beauties of art, all the treasures of music, all that is brightest and best in this world, and we will lay them down at His feet . . .”1 —A. J. Gordon
Julia Spruance ’11
Ann Ferguson
Program director, Waypoint Adventure
Professor of English, Gordon College (1955–2010)
Designs adventure education programs for youth and adults with disabilities.
Advisor to the Hypernikon, Gordon Herald and The Tartan.
Finds time to explore with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Thika, and take American Sign Language classes with her husband, Joel.
“Scrabble” was introduced the same year Ann Ferguson became a Gordon professor. Made Gordon history by starting women’s studies and the College’s first theatre troupe, Gordon Players, before there was a Theatre Department. Each course syllabus came with a secret menu. Ferguson often hosted writing and literature classes in her home, where the meal matched the topic. “When the Shakespeare class comes over, they have to eat without forks,” said Ferguson.
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Gave a TEDx Talk called “High Expectations” about her experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with three Kenyan teenagers—Fumo, Hassan and Mercyline—each of whom have a disability. In coordinating this trip with Kupenda for the Children, she helped shatter a stigma and show the teenage climbers and their communities that “a person’s perceived utility does not define their worth.”
A. J. Gordon, “The Central Cross,” The Watchword (July 1882), 229.
A GORDON HERITAGE
Priscilla Nelson ’74
Department chair, associate professor of education, Gordon College
In second grade, thanks to her teacher and author Cornelia Lynde Meigs, Priscilla Nelson met a young Louisa May Alcott in the pages of an orange book titled Invincible Louisa. It didn’t look like much on the outside, but inside Nelson found a friend in Louisa. It’s been her personal mission since then to make sure that all children can, also, recall the moment they fell in love with reading. Some of her greatest adventures outside of the classroom: Tobogganing down the Great Wall of China, speedboating across Norwegian fjords and being a grandma.
Julianne McKay ’19
Math and history double major
Senior honors thesis: Last spring, Julianne McKay put a contemporary spin on the obscure research of Dr. Charlotte Angas Scott (one of the first women to get a Ph.D. in mathematics, in 1886). In an effort to make Scott’s work accessible to undergraduate students, McKay translated outdated terminology, investigated enigmatic references to other papers, and presented Scott’s methods within their historical context alongside examples of modern solutions to the same problems.
Christine Frandsen ’18 Software engineer, ESPN
Hails from North Pole (in central Alaska). Bucket-list wins: Medaling in the Taekwondo World Championships and being the first Gordon student to study abroad as part of the Budapest Semester for Computer Science. Volunteer side hustle: Girls Who Code.
Her big dream, like Dr. Scott’s, is to further math education, but her contribution will be to tell the story of where mathematical concepts come from. “These ideas didn’t just drop out of the sky,” says McKay. “They had to be worked out over hundreds of years. If you can look at the history of mathematics, learning math makes a lot more sense.”
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Theology “Joy comes from the great and wonderful truth which God tells us in His writings, but which we could never have found out ourselves alone . . .” 1 —A. J. Gordon
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A GORDON HERITAGE
Brynn Harrington ’06
Senior associate pastor, Highrock North Shore
Gets excited about God’s Kingdom breaking in all over the community, encouraging others to live into their unique gifts and throwing massive parties. Recently tried learning to grow her food with husband Aaron ’07. “Some pastors say they felt God’s call and tried to run away. That’s not my story,” Brynn Harrington says. “This has kind of been my trajectory from a very early age. In fact, when I was an early teen, I started writing notes and journals for when I became a pastor as an adult, so I would see how a 13-year-old approaches Scripture. Now I’m seeing other little girls view themselves as capable, gifted leaders. As our culture and the Church embraces female leadership, this is becoming less and less of a question mark.” Since helping plant Highrock North Shore in 2012, Harrington has also developed an intensive workshop called Transforming Our Minds, which blends spiritual reflection and neurobiology with practical exercises in courage, compassion and connection.
May Effie Hancock, 1919
Professor emerita, resident director, Gordon College (1917–1956)
Claim to fame: First Gordon College (then Gordon Bible College) degree recipient —100 years ago. Taught Medieval History, Art Appreciation, Pageantry, Old Testament, Biblical Geography, Public Speaking and Parliamentary Law—but was best known for her course on Expression (vocal and physical training for public speaking). Motto: “God first, others second, self last.” During World War II rationing, “Miss Hannie” handled dining hall staff and purchasing (even when it meant standing in line for hours). She required students to put money in the missionary box if they spoke about exams during dinner.
Sarita Kwok
Adams endowed chair in music, Gordon College
Classically trained violinist; occasional dabbler in hymns and nursery rhymes. Born in Singapore; raised in Australia. Mom to three trilingual kids; wife to a French cellist. Fascinated by squirrels; terrified of sharks.
Amy Brown Hughes
Assistant professor of theology, Gordon College
Would love to be a fly on the wall at the Council of Constantinople in 381, when the early Christians established the final version of the Nicene Creed. Avid fan of Doctor Who and Thecla, a first-century heroine who risked death to follow Paul and his teachings.
On a mission to reach people who have never heard classical music before, and to explore music as a compelling form of nonverbal communication and collaboration. “This beautiful image of the Body of Christ is made so real in collaborative music making,” she says. “You really matter, but not more than the person next to you. Together you make a more beautiful whole.”
“The things that get me up in the morning,” says Christian Women in the Patristic World co-author, “are (1) the Trinitarian theology and Christology of Greek-speaking East in the third and fourth centuries, (2) women in early Christianity, (3) the look students get when they make a connection they’ve never made before, (4) a great sci-fi novel and (5) good coffee.”
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A. J. Gordon, “Why Written,” The Watchword (October 1878), 6. FALL 2019 | STILLPOINT 33
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Good Samaritans in the Burn Zone IT WAS A NORMAL THURSDAY MORNING AND THEN IT WASN’T. At 7 a.m., Katherine Sorich ’05 made breakfast for her two toddlers when it started raining. It took a moment for it to click—that the rain she was seeing through her kitchen window was actually ash and that the succession of booms she was hearing was the sound of her neighbors’ propane tanks exploding.
An hour later, and a mile and a half away, Elizabeth Abrams ’48PBI and her son, Phillip, received a phone call from a family member, informing them that Paradise, CA, was on fire—moments before a spark touched down in their neighbor’s yard and set the place ablaze. At 8:30 a.m., three miles from where the Abrams had pulled out of their driveway, Kathy Machuga ’73 and her husband were just starting to notice a strange fog rolling in from the east. By nine, Sorich, Abrams, Machuga and their families were in bumperto-bumper traffic on one of the three roads out of Paradise, along with 26,000 other people trying to escape
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what is now known as the Camp Fire— California’s deadliest wildfire to date. A SUDDEN MIGRATION OF 56,000 NEWLY HOMELESS
to Paradise, took in evacuees who had no belongings and nowhere to go. Jo Anne (Cooney) Cripe ’76 and her husband opened their home to seven evacuees and adopted, both relationally and financially, a young family who had lost their house and relatives. “This kind of care is nothing unique. Within six hours, about 56,000 people lost their homes. They became sojourners overnight,” says Cripe. “People responded so quickly because they were our friends and neighbors. They were only 10 minutes away. It would be like Beverly or Salem for Gordon.” LOSING A HOME AND FINDING A SHEPHERD
On November 8, a small spark reached the size of 80 football fields in under a minute, burning at a rate of one football field per second. Firefighters couldn’t stay ahead of it and civilians couldn’t outrun it. Before it was contained, two and a half weeks later, on November 25, it burned up 150,000 acres (about the size of Chicago) and 14,000 homes, and killed 85 people.
A few weeks later, other Chico-area volunteers like Chad Fransen ’94 created reentry centers for evacuees who were returning to the burn zone for the first time to see what remained. They provided food, water, a working bathroom, a listening ear and cleanup kits, which made it easier for evacuees to sift through the ashes for personal belongings.
The community response was immediate. That first night, hundreds of people from Chico, the city next
Machuga was one of the evacuees to return home to an empty lot in her mountain town that now looked like “a war zone.” Then
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The American Red Cross and other disaster relief organizations have packed up and gone elsewhere—but the rebuilding has yet to begin. Many of those displaced by the fire are still at a loss for how to start over, but local churches and their Chico-area neighbors are showing up. They’re clearing burned areas of toxic debris. They’re serving as intermediaries between Camp Fire evacuees, home insurance companies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, so that evacuees don’t have to slog through the difficult logistics of following up on insurance claims or applying for disaster recovery assistance.
and today, the marks of the fire are still everywhere—in melted cars on the side of the road and piles of scorched and uprooted trees. The few things that still remain, rising up out of the warped metal and ash, are lonely brick fireplaces, bird baths, garden statues and filing cabinets. But the Machugas did recover something else. “We found our nativity set,” says Machuga. “It was burned, but mostly unbroken. One shepherd lost his arm. It was a nativity set that my daughter and I painted when she was in junior high.” Like the Machugas, Abrams lost her home. She still goes into Paradise every Sunday with her son and daughter-in-law. “Our church is still standing right in the middle of town,” says Abrams. “So, on Sunday, all of us who are evacuees go back to Paradise for church. We get to see all our old friends. That’s the happy part.” A MIRACLE HOUSE IN AN APOCALYPTIC LANDSCAPE
Now, the Sorich family is back in Paradise too, but not just on Sundays. Their home
survived; they moved back in April, a month before welcoming another child. But, it’s not been an easy transition. “Some people feel like we’re the lucky ones because we have our house, but it comes with its own set of issues,” says Sorich. “We are sort of feeling left behind, but you have to look at it like God spared us for a reason.” In a town that’s 85 to 90 percent gone, it’s easy to feel left behind. Their friends have moved away and the people in their church have dispersed. They now have three small children—and nowhere for them to play outside. Just recently, they found out that the city water is contaminated with benzene. THE WAITING GAME AND UNEXPECTED COMPANIONS
It’s been months since the fire, and people are still waiting—waiting for an apartment to open up in Chico, waiting to have their lots cleared, waiting for their insurance claims to go through, waiting to see if their water filtration systems are sufficient.
Local churches are even discussing the possibility of turning their Sunday school classrooms into bunkrooms so that out-oftown volunteers and mission groups have a place to stay while they’re helping. While many of these efforts are in motion, the results remain to be seen. For Sorich, Abrams and Machuga, the waiting game has been a real test of faith, but also reason for seeking divine companionship—to do the waiting with God and others, instead of enduring it alone. “Life isn’t ever going to be the same again, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good,” says Machuga. “We all have hard choices to make. God doesn’t promise it will be easy; he just promises he’ll be there.” “There’s people who want the church to be at the forefront of regrowth and see what God will do in that process,” says Sorich. To take part in what local churches are doing in Paradise and other communities that have been impacted by the Camp Fire, visit stories.gordon.edu/tag/campfire.
Photo Hector Amezcua, The Sacramento Bee, reprinted with permission
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Jerusalem and Athens Forum Essay Contest Winning essay
Christianity in the Majority World The first picture that comes up on Google Images when you search “Christians” is the headline photo of a New York Times article titled “The Passion of Southern Christians.” It focuses on a (mostly white) portion of a crowd in what seems to be an auditorium filled with people, with the caption: “Students and supporters sang Christian songs before Donald Trump delivered a speech at Liberty University on January 18, 2016, in Lynchburg, VA.” The passion of southern Christians that the author focused on was not of southern Christians of the Global South but instead those of mostly the Southern United States. Granted, this is a widely known American publication and a piece written during the height of the 2016 United States presidential election. However, it is an example of how white, western (arguably evangelical) Christians have become the face of Christianity, when in reality they are not representative of the widespread movement that is Christianity. While the world has seen a shift from the term “third world” to the term “majority world,” recognizing that developed, western nations are no longer solely representative of the world, Christianity similarly needs to see a shift in how we view ourselves within the world. Eight of the top 10 countries in the world with the largest populations of Christians are non-Western countries. And the Global South (the world excluding North
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Mirroring the Symposium 2019 theme, this year’s Jerusalem and Athens Forum (JAF) essay competition focused on Christianity in the majority world—exploring a shared faith within a worldwide context.
America, Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand) is home to 61 percent of the global population of Christians, according to the Pew Research Center. Why then is American society’s role model of a Christian the Franklin Graham-esque picture of a white (male) evangelical? And what effect does that have on Christianity? Arguably the above is our first thought of a picture of a Christian because that is what we see in America. Many of the heads of the prominent denominations and churches are white, despite Black and Hispanic Americans being the two biggest groups of American Christians, according to the Pew Research Center. The reality is, both in and outside of the United States, the picture of a white evangelical is not the only accurate representation of Christianity in 2019. We are called to make disciples of all nations. We cannot honor that command without first recognizing how integral the notion of a “Christianity of all nations” is to the foundation of our faith. We are a religion of all nations, and we commit a serious disservice to both fellow Christians and non-Christians when we pigeonhole ourselves into a narrow definition of what it looks like or what it means to be Christians. By recognizing that white, western Christians do not hold the monopoly on faith and only represent a single story of a Christian experience, we open ourselves up to 61 percent of Christianity’s stories and experiences. Faith is not faith without the ability to ask questions, understand different experiences and bask in the majesty of
the diversity of God’s creation. That’s what we deprive ourselves of when we accept the single story of Christianity offered by white, western Christians. This is not a damnation of those Christians. (I am one of them.) But when we limit ourselves to only defining Christianity based on how we recognize ourselves and our experiences within it, we are closing the door to anyone who offers a different perspective, a different experience, a different story. We are stifling our faith when we fail to connect with the wider Christian world, and we dishonor our brothers and sisters in Christ when we refuse to acknowledge these different experiences in Christ. Devon Leslie ’21 is from Baltimore, MD, and is double majoring in political science and international affairs with minors in economics and Spanish.
Photo Cait Ellis
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Story Firstname Lastname ’10
Honorable Mention | excerpt The Still-present Hope We Have in Christ
Surely, the Christian response to globalization must be to engage with the growing Church. Yet even within our local churches, we find that while unity is the desired end, division is more common. When we attempt to address unity in a global context, we are holding in tension the reality of relational brokenness that comes with sin . . . The growth of Christianity means that there are already local churches in the majority world, and these churches, in turn, can minister to the visiting church. Missions has become a mutual space of exchange. Narah Kim ’20 is a biology major and an intellectual omnivore who loves the beauty and order seen in integrals, chord progressions, axioms and, of course, organelles.
Honorable Mention | excerpt Grace to the Ends of the Earth
God’s people reflect God’s being; we’re made in the image and likeness of our Creator and Redeemer (Genesis 1:27). If we really believe God is as vast and infinite as we often claim, then we, God’s people, also must be vast and diverse. When we have the courage to give grace to the diversity of Christians in the majority world— that is grace to both their worship practices and theologies—we give ourselves the opportunity to encounter Christ in a renewed manner. We see Jesus in a different image, and this draws us deeper into knowing him . . . I implore all of you, then, to be brave. Explore the breadth of who our God is by exploring the diversity of God’s people. Wesley Tenney ’20 is a double major in Christian ministries and secondary education, with a double minor in biblical studies and theology. He has studied in Jerusalem and worked as a youth minister in Belarus.
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2019 Homecoming Awards Recipients Friday, October 4 GORDON ALUMNI OF THE YEAR AWARD
Deborah Lawrence Swallow ’74 Senior vice president, Bank of America Merrill Lynch For 26 years, a passion for business strategy and a heart for relationships has motivated Deborah Lawrence to help mid-sized companies achieve their business goals. As senior vice president of Global Commercial Banking, Lawrence empowers companies through treasury, credit, investment banking, risk management, international and wealth management solutions. She provides the bank’s full breadth of services, expertise and consultation to offer the best outcome for her clients. Lawrence also serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and the Governing Board of Mass Mentoring Partnership. F. L. CHAPPELL AWARD
including transportation to and from treatment, grocery shopping, childcare and meal deliveries. Ashley serves as president, and Nick is a board member. A. J. GORDON MISSIONARY SERVICE AWARD
Rich ’92 and Marla ’91 Henderson Asia area director, One Challenge; human resources director, Faith Academy, Inc. Rich and Marla Henderson reside in Manila, Philippines, where they serve through One Challenge. Rich is responsible for over 50 missionaries across eight countries in Southeast Asia, praying with, visiting, enabling and encouraging the teams of missionaries. Marla recruits, retains, empowers and develops the personnel of Faith Academy, a school for the children of missionaries located in Manila. WINIFRED CURRIE AWARD IN EDUCATION
Gordon Hall ’81 Chairman of the board, Archrock, Inc.; lead independent director, Noble Corporation
Beth Mollenhauer ’94 President and co-founder, Teaching, Training, Together
Gordon Hall has enjoyed a successful career in investment banking, corporate governance and international nonprofits. A Gordon graduate and parent, Hall has served the College on the Board of Trustees, as an instructor in the Master of Science in Financial Analysis program and, most recently, as interim chief financial officer.
When Beth Mollenhauer and a group of fellow teachers felt called to serve Haiti, they founded Teaching Training Together. Since its inception in 2010, the organization has equipped about 1,500 Haitian teachers with professional pedagogical skills, and they hope to train 6,000 more in the next five years.
GORDON YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
JACK GOOD COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Nick ’09 and Ashley (Herron) ’10 Schultz Founders, Miss Pink Organization With a mission to support women diagnosed with breast cancer, Nick and Ashley (Herron) Shultz are the founders of the Miss Pink Organization. Through Miss Pink, they provide basic medical and lifestyle needs for these women,
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Sada Andrews ’01 Founder and lead instructor, Mama Can Surf A surfer, mother, disaster responder, attorney and teacher, Sada Andrews uses her diverse skillset to serve widespread groups—from the ocean
to the courtroom. She is the founder of Mama Can Surf, a surf school on the California Central Coast, an attorney at her solo practice and a member of the Disaster Assistance Response Team for Samaritan’s Purse. ALUMNI ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
Josh Sturgeon ’07 Founder, EmberTribe Josh Sturgeon is the co-founder of EmberTribe, a digital marketing agency focused on customer acquisition for early and growth stage startups. He recently launched a podcast, and is in the process of creating a real estate tech company that will revolutionize the way that real estate investors connect with private lenders. MARV WILSON AWARD FOR THE CAREER AND CONNECTION INSTITUTE
Andrew Beckwith ’99 President, Massachusetts Family Institute At the helm of Massachusetts Family Institute, Andrew Beckwith serves as a shield to defend organizations’ and individuals’ religious freedom. Previously, Beckwith served in the Marine Corps and as a Homeland Security immigration attorney. A defender of faith, Beckwith was executive vice president at Massachusetts Family Institute before becoming president. The 2019 Homecoming Awards ceremony will also include the presentation of the George F. Bennett Leadership Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
UPCOMING EVENTS www.gordon.edu/calendar
THEATRE: Antigone Directed by Kimberly LaCroix ’08 September 26, 27, 28; October 3, 5 Margaret Jensen Theater
STILLPOINT
Homecoming and Family Weekend October 4–5
Heather Korpi, Editorial Director Mary (Hierholzer) Jacobs ’15, Staff Writer Bri (Young) Obied ’14, Staff Writer Rebecca Powell, Art Director Selina Taylor ’18, Graphic Designer Mark Spooner ’14, Photographer Marilyn Helgesen, Alumni News Rick Sweeney ’85, Vice President for Marketing and External Relations
HERRMANN LECTURE SERIES:
Dr. Praveen Sethupathy, associate professor of biomedical sciences, Cornell University October 7, 8 and 9 at 4:30 p.m. Chairman’s Room, Ken Olsen Science Center ALTON C. BYNUM RECITAL SERIES:
Lorelei Ensemble October 11, 8 p.m. Phillips Recital Hall FACULTY ARTIST SERIES:
Modaff, Yarrison, Kirkley, Bekkers November 1, 8 p.m. Phillips Recital Hall CFI LECTURE:
Dr. Jim Tour, T. T. and W. F. Chao professor of chemistry, professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and professor of computer science, Rice University November 7, 4:30 p.m. Chairman’s Room, Ken Olsen Science Center The Christmas Gala December 6 and 7, 7:30 p.m. The Department of Music A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel ALTON C. BYNUM RECITAL SERIES:
Neave Trio February 7, 8 p.m. Phillips Recital Hall
The Magazine of Gordon College VOLUME 35 NUMBER 1
SPECIAL THANKS Tom Askew, Kevin Belmonte ’90 and Sarah (Larlee) St Germain ’17 for their generous assistance with this issue. The Academy at Penguin Hall (and specifically Dean Tsouvalas) for graciously hosting one of our cover shoots. ADDRESS CHANGES Alumni Office | alumni.office@gordon.edu OTHER CORRESPONDENCE Editor, STILLPOINT | Gordon College 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984 stillpoint@gordon.edu PRINTING Flagship Press | North Andover, MA Opinions expressed in STILLPOINT are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Gordon College administration. Reproduction of STILLPOINT material is permitted; please attribute to STILLPOINT: The Magazine of Gordon College.
MISSION STILLPOINT magazine is one of two keynote communications (along with Gordon’s website) that exist to connect the extended Gordon community to the life of the College. STILLPOINT offers meaningful, relevant news and stories to educate, inspire and engage Gordon and Barrington alumni, parents, donors and friends. Send feedback and story suggestions to stillpoint@gordon.edu.
SPRING 2019 | STILLPOINT 47
255 Grapevine Road, Wenham MA 01984-1899 www.gordon.edu
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
October 4–5, 2019 Join us for a wonderful weekend on campus reconnecting with friends and catching up on life since graduation!
www.gordon.edu/homecoming