Madison Magazine: Winter 2023

THE MAGAZINE OF

underdogs

NO MORE

The success of Unleashed parallels JMU’s rise to national prominence and will enable the university to realize its potential

Bird’s-eye view

Purple Pride was on display from high above the Quad on Oct. 21 as students and alumni gathered to celebrate Homecoming at QuadFest. The event featured food, giveaways, games and performances by the Marching Royal Dukes and JMU a cappella groups.

Presidential Perspective

on investment

While it is often said that the most enduring tradition at James Madison University is change, one of our core principles has not changed since our founding. Our active vision statement, set forth in The Madison Plan, to become the national model of the engaged university — engaged with ideas and the world — can be traced back to this institution’s inception. The first course catalog published in 1909 carries a passage written by our first president, Julian Burruss: “ ... it is obvious that the work of the Normal School can no longer be confined to theory and books, but must seek its material in real things, in nature, in the practical activities of industry and commerce, the business, civic and social interests of life. Without depreciating the limitless stores of useful knowledge bound up in printed volumes, it must also draw from the outside world … ”

Our full lifespan as an institution of higher learning has distinguished itself in this way, uninterrupted for nearly 115 years.

And now, JMU is at a major point of inflection in its evolution. During the 202122 academic year — the culminating year of Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University we rose from a regional, master’s-level institution to a national, doctoral/ high research institution as established by the Carnegie Classification. In the last year of Unleashed, we arrived at the highest level of intercollegiate sports by joining the Football Bowl Subdivision and Sun Belt Conference. In the last year of Unleashed, graduates in the Class

of 2021 realized a positive career outcome rate of 95.8%, and student applications and enrollment for the incoming Class of 2026 reached new records. And in the last year of Unleashed, generous donors smashed our previous annual fundraising record by 44% and exceeded the overall Unleashed campaign goal by 25% — generously investing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in JMU!

This miraculous confluence of accomplishments, all in one year, is no mere coincidence. Guided by a vision that our donors believe in, we’ve deliberately and diligently worked toward these goals. Clearly, investors saw the value and the potential return on investment.

To understand how incredible these triumphs truly are, they must be considered against the broader landscape of higher education nationally. Because of our new Carnegie Classification, JMU moved from the regional to the national category in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings, landing at No. 72 among public universities. That ranking puts us in the company of longstanding state flagship institutions with annual operating budgets in the billions, while JMU spends just $680 million annually. Not only is this a testament to our excellence and committed stewardship, it’s also a solid valuation, assuring JMU benefactors — past, present and future — that their investments are wise and will pay strong dividends for years to come.

The university is now uniquely positioned in the higher education sector to truly become a national model, more fully realizing our vision.

An elevated return

The impact of Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE

On a more human and relational level, the specific and positive impacts of those who supported Unleashed can be seen in the very real lives of students and faculty members, in gleaming new campus facilities aimed at learning, innovation, competition and convening, and in our strengthened ability to deliver programming comprising the unique and superior Madison Experience.

And now that The Madison Plan and Unleashed have successfully concluded, what sort of future can James Madison University expect as a result? The university is now uniquely positioned in the higher education sector to truly become a national model, more fully realizing our vision. Our unshakable commitment to preserving the close relationships between students and faculty members — now in the context of greater applied learning and research opportunities as we more fully blossom into a doctoral/high research university — is not only a strong differentiator in the higher education marketplace, it’s an incredibly efficacious educational experience. So, to further guide us, initiatives such as these have begun in earnest:

n The Office of Research and Scholarship is establishing a network of new interdisciplinary centers to serve and support faculty and student research and scholarship, and to be agents and advocates for faculty and student interests and secure new resources, partnerships and collaborations with industry and government. These efforts will make further gains on JMU’s vision and mission.

n Premier campus learning and living environments — including Carrier Library and The Village residence halls — are being reimagined from the ground up to accommodate new and more flexible styles of learning and living brought about by new technologies and disruptive — yet enlightening — experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately preparing students for the new working world.

n University Advancement, in concert with the Office of Admissions and the eight academic colleges, will seek to more aggressively recruit the next generation of top students through a new series of scholarships aimed at attracting prospects who

might not have previously considered (nor could afford) attending JMU. This initiative includes an elevated institutional commitment to making JMU a widely recognized home for first-generation students.

n The James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, along with our continued involvement in numerous national organizations at the forefront of the nationwide dialogue surrounding the rejuvenation of our ailing democracy, will rise to a new level of relevance and influence by implementing new, inclusive programming and establishing a unique civic learning community, the likes of which, we believe, are unprecedented in higher education.

n The success of JMU Intercollegiate Athletics competing at the highest level will continue to distinguish the university as an institution where strong academics and competitive sports programs can complement one another and bring greater national recognition.

These are just a few of the initiatives that will be unleashed by the confidence our investors have instilled in us with their generous and necessary support during Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University. All our recent successes, rankings and recognitions are clear data points that we are elevated as a community by the enduring trust Unleashed donors placed in us and in our efforts at JMU. While the impact of their support is everywhere you look on campus, the impact on society is even deeper and more broadly important. Impelled by our mission, “We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead meaningful and productive lives,” JMU is now in a stronger position to deliver more thoughtful and active citizens who are committed to Being the Change in everything they do.

Jonathan R. Alger president, James Madison University

Donors gathered on the field during halftime of the Homecoming football game in October to celebrate Unleashed . The group included Silicon Valley power couple Paul Holland (’82) and Linda Yates (far right), who invested $5 million — a recordbreaking gift to JMU.

BY CALEB SCHLABACH

NICK

ALUMNI BAND PHOTOGRAPH BY OLIVIA SANTOS (’20); WALLS BY ELISE TRISSEL; WASHINGTON SEMESTER AND VALLEY SCHOLAR BY STEVE ADERTON (’19); GERMOND BY CATHY KUSHNER (’87)

A Message of Gratitude

Front-row seat to philanthropy

H“Here he comes … hide your wallet!” The jokes have been persistent — and some more creative — during my 22 years of meetings with individuals about giving to JMU. But really, the conversations I have regularly with donors are anything but forced. As a front-row witness to how Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University successfully unfolded, I am inspired by how incredibly generous the JMU community can be. I think about this a lot in my role: All of us work hard for our money. Yet, we are compelled to give it away. Why? I look to the derivation of the word philanthropy for the answer. It comes from two Greek words: philein, to love, and anthropos, humankind to love humankind.

During Unleashed , I saw many moving gifts in honor of a favorite professor. I even saw a professor make a gift in honor of a favorite student! I saw friends rally together to honor a fellow alum who passed too soon. I saw sons and daughters give to honor their mother or father, and create a lasting memory. I met alumni who overcame overwhelming odds in life and wanted to acknowledge JMU’s chapter in their formative story. I saw parents give to improve the environment for learning and applaud their student’s journey of growth. And I saw gutsy giving, like when a formerly homeless student pledged her first gift of $50 before she even started her first job after graduation. One of my favorite motivations for giving at JMU involves individuals who came here facing financial uncertainty and are now successful alumni, driven to hold the door open a little wider for the next generation of Dukes. There are countless “stories behind the stories” of giving, each emotionally stirring.

According to the World Giving Index, the United States has been the No. 1 country for giving over the last decade. Of those surveyed, 72% reported helping a stranger, 61% reported donating to a charity and 42% reported having volunteered their time to an organization. At JMU, we are the fortunate recipients of each of these giving categories due to the way our community cares for one another. It’s the power of people coming together, believing together in our purpose. That’s what got us here today. More than 63,900 unique donors believed and invested in Unleashed. That’s huge.

What’s more, donors gave to JMU amid myriad worthy causes beyond higher education. Yet you gave joyfully and with purpose. You saw JMU on its way up, and knew tuition and state funding wouldn’t be enough to help us be who we are capable of becoming.

As a front-row witness, I know that giving at JMU always has been about more than numbers. Today, we stand in gratitude for all who believed in JMU and gave to Unleashed, knowing that their gift ultimately contributes to the greater good toward which we work tirelessly.

WINTER 2023

Vol. 46, No.1

BOARD OF VISITORS 2022–23

Maribeth D. Herod (’82), Rector

Christopher Falcon (’03), Vice Rector

Richard “Dickie” Bell

Teresa Edwards (’80)

Jeffrey E. Grass (’92)

Matthew A. Gray-Keeling (’05)

Maria D. Jankowski

Deborah T. Johnson (’78)

John C. Lynch (’91)

Lara P. Major (’92, ’20P) Suzanne Obenshain

John C. Rothenberger (’88)

Michael Stoltzfus

Craig B. Welburn (’96)

Jack White

Xaiver S. Williams Student Representative

Donna L. Harper (’77, ’81M, ’86Ed.S.), Secretary

PRESIDENT Jonathan R. Alger

PRESIDENT’S CABINET

Jeff Bourne Director of Athletics

Brian Charette

Special Assistant to the President, Strategic Planning and Engagement

Heather Coltman

Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs

Mike Davis

Chief of Staff

Arthur Dean I I ( 93 ’99M)

Associate Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Hollie Hall Dean of Students

Donna Harper (’77,’81M,’86Ed.S.)

Vice President, Access and Enrollment Management

Jack Knight

Senior Assistant Attorney General and University Counsel

Nick Langridge (’00,’07M, 14Ph.D )

Vice President, University Advancement

Brent Lewis

Associate Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Student Affairs

Tim Miller (’96, ’00M)

Vice President, Student Affairs

Rudy Molina Jr.

Vice Provost, Student Academic Success and Enrollment Management

Towana Moore

Vice President, Administration and Finance

Elizabeth Oldmixon

Vice Provost, Faculty and Curriculum

Chris Orem

Director, Institutional Research

Andy Perrine (’86)

Associate Vice President, University Marketing & Branding

Caitlyn Read (’10, ’18M)

Director, State Government Relations

Narketta Sparkman-Key

Associate Provost, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Academic Affairs

Anthony Tongen

Vice Provost, Research and Scholarship

Mary-Hope Vass (’22M)

Executive Director of Communications and University Spokesperson

VICE PROVOSTS

Linda Cabe Halpern University Programs

Rudy Molina Jr. Student Academic Success and Enrollment Management

Elizabeth Oldmixon Faculty and Curriculum

Anthony Tongen Research and Scholarship DEANS

Robert Aguirre Arts and Letters

Bethany Blackstone Honors

Michael Busing Business

Rubén Graciani Visual and Performing Arts

Robert Kolvoord Integrated Science and Engineering Mark L’ Esperance Education

Fletcher Linder University Studies

Sharon Lovell (’85) Health and Behavioral Studies

Bethany Nowviskie Libraries

Samantha Prins Science and Mathematics

Nick Swartz

Professional and Continuing Education (interim)

Linda Thomas The Graduate School

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

OFFICER

Tripp Hughes (’09) President

PARENTS COUNCIL CHAIRS

Jeff (’90) and Beth Smith (’23P, ’26P)

Nick Langridge (’00,’07M, ’14Ph.D.) Vice President for University Advancement

It’s the power of people coming together, believing together in our purpose. That’s what got us here.

16 JMU Nation

50 years of Title IX; Bourne Dialogue on importance of sportsmanship; point guards talk steals, assists and more

Bright Lights

The Marching Royal Dukes celebrate 50th anniversary

BY KRISTEN ESSEX (‘22)

Campaign recap

Unleashed’s impact will be felt for generations to come

BY PAM BROCK

Regional events

Dukes came together to support the campaign

BY KHALIL GARRIOTT

30

Historic investment

Power couple’s $5M gift is the largest in JMU’s history

BY JAMIE MARSH

Valley Scholars Program offers proof of the value of scholarships

BY JAMIE MARSH

Professor finds funds to help student attend JMU

BY SADIE ARAM AND SARAH ECCLESTON

(‘04)

Faces of Unleashed Dukes from all walks of life share why they gave

Hartman Hall

Jim (‘70) and Carolyn Hartman’s gift names part of the new CoB Learning Complex

Business plan competition marks two decades BY

ANDY

PERRINE (‘86)

Filling the gaps

Startup takes a different approach to recruitment BY ANDY PERRINE (‘86) 40

By the Numbers Unleashed

donor profiles

BY SERENA JOHNSON (‘22)

44 Alumni for Life

Dukes Hike event; alumna gives up modern conveniences to become a nun; Alumni Association president’s letter; Dukes return to campus for Homecoming; Darryl Coleman (‘86) joins alumni board; ‘22 grad among first to serve in Peace Corps after pandemic; Mixed Media; Madison Alumni Conference

54 Class Notes

Staff Emeriti Association activities; Celebrations (weddings, honors and future Dukes); delegates attend inaugurations of college and university presidents; scholarship thank-you letters; CoB alumnus leaves corporate world to deliver fresh salads in Central Virginia; Faculty Emeriti Association news

Being seen for who we are.

Maryam Sharifian, director of early childhood initiatives and professor of early, elementary and reading education, advocates for equitable access to high-quality education in Virginia. With the help of a $3.6 million grant, she ensures hundreds of preschool slots are available, at no cost to families, to children facing barriers to formal school entry. JMU is the largest recipient of this grant in Virginia.

Our university is being seen for who we are — because of faculty members like Maryam. A new classification by the Carnegie Commission from a master’s-level to a doctoral/high research university moves JMU from the regional to the national rankings. That’s Being the Change.

Point your phone’s camera to the QR code at right or visit https://j.mu/seen to learn more about the classification.

37Music major Dylan Royal’s relationship with his saxophone professor, David Pope, began four years before he arrived on campus as a freshman.

Letters to the Editor

Yuri Nemoto (’46)

WINTER 2023

Great article

Thanks so much for the recent article in the Fall 2022 issue of Madison magazine about Yuri Nemoto (’46). I enjoyed the historical aspects of Meg Mulrooney’s writing, and knowing that the government put so many Japanese in concentration camps during the 1940s made the article that much more personal about Yuri Nemoto and her family.

Again, thanks for the great work in delving into Madison’s past. It’s important to recognize that history.

A small world

Thank you for the recent class note about my work at 38 Fresh Studio in Class Notes of the Spring/Summer 2022 issue. My wife, Gail Schalow (’90), and I were pleasantly surprised to read that.

Just want to add that after I worked with David Bowie, et al. on their projects, I also developed a music software ondemand prototype, having been inspired by working with my studio clients. Believe it or not, I presented the music architecture solution to Steve Leeolou (’78) before he sold Vanguard Cellular to AT&T, and to Dick Roberts (of CableVision and former president of the National Cable Television Association) in the early 1990s. He is one of the benefactors of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.

It’s a small world, I suppose. A lot has changed, and I am excited to see what the next

generation of JMU Dukes with backgrounds in Music Industry are going to do with the future! Cheers!

— Dale Schalow (’90)

Rodgers family

I’m sitting here in tears while reading the story about Morgan Rodgers and her family in the Spring/Summer 2022 Madison

I don’t know the Rodgers family, but I appreciate their candor regarding their mission to end the mental health stigma for student-athletes.

With recent news around us, we struggle to find the answers. I want to hug my student-athlete so close, and to tell him that any effort he makes on the field or in the classroom is a gift. It’s not

I just finished reading Meg Mulrooney’s amazing story on the Virginia journey of Yuri Nemoto (’46). It’s hard to imagine how she must have felt and quietly suffered with a country turned against her — and her parents locked up for no reason. You wonder how her later life did not devolve into bitterness. Thank you for resurrecting the life of this amazing woman and for sharing it with us.

Jeff Gammage

Vol. 46, No. 1

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Khalil Garriott (’04)

MANAGING EDITOR

Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M)

EDITOR Amy Crockett (’10)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bill Thompson

ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Windmiller (’81)

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Haley Garnett

DESIGN ASSISTANTS

Allyson Griffin

Serena Johnson (’22) Caroline Serrano

(’82)

EDITOR’S NOTE: While we love hearing from all of our readers, this Letter to the Editor is particularly notable because Gammage is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Sadie Aram Sarah Eccleston Kristen Essex (’22)

CONTENT PRODUCTION TEAM

Steve Aderton (’19) Olivia Santos (’20) Cody Troyer Julia Weaver (’21)

ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY Cathy Kushner (’87)

CAMPUS CONTRIBUTORS

Alumni Relations Athletics Donor Relations Parent Relations University Marketing & Branding

FOR ADDRESS UPDATES: Email: advancementgr@jmu.edu or call 1-855-568-4483

an expectation. I don’t want him to think his parents or coaches are pushing him to do things he’s not so comfortable with anymore, and that’s OK. He is struggling in his own way to find his confidence. Confidence he used to exude on the field, in school and in travel ball has now waned as he is experiencing other challenges in his life, on and off the field. I remember being a young adult, and given all the choices, opportunities and exposures, sometimes clarity isn’t there and it affects your mind. Bless the Rodgers family. I appreciate their mission in helping others while remembering their precious daughter and sister, Morgan. Thank you!

Linda Peay (’25P)

CONTACT THE MADISON STAFF: Email: madisonmag@jmu.edu or call 540-568-2664

Madison magazine, JMU, 127 W. Bruce St., MSC 3610, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

For Class Notes, go to jmu.edu/alumni Madison is an official publication of James Madison University and is produced by the Division of University Advancement for alumni, parents of JMU students, faculty, staff and friends of JMU.

Editorial office: JMU, 127 W. Bruce St., MSC 3610, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

James Madison University does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race or color, height or weight, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation or belief, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, parental status (including pregnancy), marital status, family medical or genetic information in its employment, educational programs, activities and admissions. JMU complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination, affirmative action and anti-harassment.

JMU prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault, and other forms of interpersonal violence.

The responsibility for overall coordination, monitoring and information dissemination about JMU’s program of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, Title IX and affirmative action is assigned to the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX.

Inquiries or complaints may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX: Amy Sirocky-Meck, Title IX Coordinator, 540-568-5219, www.jmu.edu/oeo oeo@jmu.edu (REVISED JANUARY 2020)

“I want to hug my student-athlete so close, and to tell him that any effort ... on the field or in the classroom is a gift.”

— LINDA PEAY (’25P)

Steve Smith (’71)

Student photographers and filmmakers play a key role in telling the story of JMU. These students not only work hard in the field, filming and capturing images of people, places and happenings on campus; they also work hard behind the scenes, editing photos and video content to share with the Madison community. (L-R): Sharara Faisal, Courtland McQuillan, Judahpraise Achaempong, Ibrahim Azad, Diego Alejandro, Nick Le

Sadie Aram, an editorial assistant in University Marketing and Branding, is a senior double majoring in Communication Studies and Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She currently serves as president of Note-oriety, JMU’s premier upper-voices a cappella group. She is also involved with Bluestone Communications and the RhetTech journal. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in public relations or marketing. Check out her feature on Tristan Kruse’s (’22) delayed journey to becoming a Peace Corps volunteer on Page 51.

Jeff Bourne has served as director of athletics since 1999 and guided the program to unprecedented heights, headlined by JMU’s transition to the Sun Belt Conference last year. Under his leadership, the Dukes were a perennial contender in all sports in the Colonial Athletic Association, totaling 79 conference championships, and have become the NCAA model of the student-athlete experience. His Bourne Dialogue on the value of sportsmanship appears on Page 17.

Staff Soundbites

It’s been said that “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” How have you exemplified that?

“This adage has held true in my personal and professional lives. Yes, I’ve had singular accomplishments, but the ones I’m most proud of, and have been the most rewarding, have involved family members, friends and co-workers. Strength in numbers!”

JIM HEFFERNAN (’96, ’17M) managing editor

“I’m a team player and value working with a group of people to accomplish a common goal. Life is a journey that’s best experienced with family, friends and co-workers.”

Sarah Eccleston, an editorial assistant in University Marketing and Branding, is a senior Media Arts and Design major from Herndon, Virginia. She also writes and photographs news stories for The Breeze After graduating, Eccleston plans to continue telling stories as a journalist. Her interview with Elly Hart (’10), a former gymnast and two-time American Ninja Warrior contestant who runs a sports medicine clinic in Boston, is our Being the Change profile on the back cover.

CAROLYN

WINDMILLER (’81) art director

“ I consider myself a ‘chronically extroverted’ person, so I find ways to work and connect with others at every opportunity. Two (or 10) heads are always better and more fun than one!”

OLIVIA SANTOS (’20) associate content producer

Maverick is a diabetic alert service dog to Julia Weaver (’21), photographer and filmmaker in University Marketing and Branding. Weaver has Type 1 diabetes, so she must constantly monitor her blood sugar levels. Maverick uses the smell of her breath to alert her when her sugar is high or low by pawing her leg. He started training for the assignment when he was 4 months old. Maverick is Weaver’s life-saving companion, and he brings joy and enthusiasm daily to our work at Madison

For more about how this good-boy goldendoodle saves lives, visit https://j.mu/maverick.

STUDENT GROUP AND MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHS BY JULIA WEAVER (’21); ARAM BY CAMERON HOUCK (’22); BOURNE BY CATHY KUSHNER (’87); ECCLESTON BY SOFFIA NUNEZ (’22)

&News Notes

Carrier Library renovation to begin in May

James Madison University is unveiling plans for a newly renovated and expanded Carrier Library on campus. The renovation will ensure the library is universally accessible, easy to visit, environmentally responsible and welcoming for Dukes and the local community.

The new building will include a 24-hour student study space, beautiful reading rooms, outdoor terraces, a café, and consultation and group study rooms. Other features include a makerspace and experimental technology classroom, video and audio podcasting studios, new collections areas and Special Collections facilities, and a lab for the conservation of books and manuscripts.

The expanded building will include a beautiful and accessible new entrance facing Grace Street, making it easier for the campus and the community to visit.

“Whether you enter through the preserved 1939 historic entrance or one of two new grand entrances designed for

maximum accessibility, you’ll find light-filled, airy spaces where you can read, research and create,” said Bethany Nowviskie, dean of JMU Libraries. “We want to create a welcoming library for all members of our community.”

Furious Flower Poetry Center will also have a new home inside the library, merging the work of the nation’s first academic center devoted to Black poetry with ongoing efforts to digitize and preserve the center’s unique audiovisual, print and manuscript collections held by JMU Libraries Special Collections.

The renovation and expansion are supported by funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Construction is expected to begin following May Commencement and will include the addition of 56,400 square feet and renovation of 121,200 square feet. Plans are to re-open the building for the fall semester of 2026. During the renovation, patrons will continue to have access to expert help, study spaces, books and resources at Rose Library, the Music Library, the Educational Technology & Media Center and other locations on campus.

— Ginny Cramer

To get the latest on the renovation and expansion, visit https://j.mu/renovate

Artist’s concept of the redesigned entrance facing D-Hall

The hallmark building will undergo a major transformation designed to make it more open, accessible and environmentally responsible.

JMU PREMIERES IN TOP

In its first ranking as a national university, JMU landed at No. 72 on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools list. JMU recently was reclassified by the Carnegie Commission from a master’s-level institution to an R2 doctoral university with high research activity.

— Ginny Cramer

The space will be named for Angela (’90) and Carl (’88) Reddix, who committed $1.1 million to support firstgeneration students at JMU with scholarships and programs.

Center for First-Generation Students opens in SSC

MU held a grand opening Nov. 10 for the Center for First-Generation Students, located in the Student Success Center.

“We are proud of the firstgeneration students at JMU,” said Donna Harper (’77, ’81M, ’86Ed.S.), vice president for Access and Enrollment Management. “It is the university’s vision to provide educational opportunities that inspire, motivate and edu -

cate. First-generation students bring unique perspectives that enrich the campus experience.”

This year, approximately 12% (2,391) of undergraduate students are first generation. At JMU, first generation is defined as the children of parents or guardians who have either no college experience or have not completed their degrees. Often, first-generation students navigate their own path toward attend-

ing college and completing their education. This center will provide another resource to not only support these students, but also ensure they succeed.

“The Center for First-Generation Students is an important addition to the academic support services and career-readiness tools that drive JMU’s holistic approach to fostering student success,” Harper said.

— Mary-Hope Vass (’ 22M)

Engineering students compete in a boat race in UREC’s Main Lap Pool.

A Constitution for your pocket

Just after Constitution Day in September, JMU social media lit up after posts showed purple pocket U.S. Constitutions emblazoned with the university’s logo being distributed to students in political science, history and justice studies courses in the General Education program. Requests for copies came flooding in.

The idea of giving students hardbound, keepsake editions of the Constitution came from the late Lynn Z. Lang (’64) and Jeffrey M. Lang, who approached President Jonathan R. Alger about furthering civic engagement on campus. “Might we find a way to get them to give

the Constitution a home on their bookshelves?” they asked. Alger agreed, and the Langs committed a generous gift to fund the project.

Distributed by the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, the purple Constitutions will continue to be given to students in the hopes of “further developing a culture of civic engagement among JMU students without imparting a particular partisan

political viewpoint,” according to the Langs.

Sadly, Lynn Lang died before the Constitutions arrived on campus. Upon receiving copies, her husband wrote in return, “This little book will serve for me as another memorial to my beloved, and, indeed, a way she can continue to educate young people, as she did her entire life.”

— Andy Perrine (’86)

Washington Semester celebrates 25

The JMU Washington Semester program celebrated its 25th anniversary on Nov. 12 at the university’s home in the District, 1400 16th St. NW. Since 1997, the program has offered internships, on-site courses, panel discussions, cultural activities and networking opportunities with JMU alumni working in the D.C. area.

POCKET CONSTITUTION PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLIVIA SANTOS (’20); LANG (’64) BY ELISE TRISSEL; WASHINGTON EVENT BY STEVE ADERTON (’19)

“We hope to aid in developing a culture of civic engagement among JMU students without imparting a particular partisan political viewpoint.”

LYNN Z. (‘64) AND JEFFREY M. LANG, donors

The James Madison Center for Civic Engagement distributed purple pocket Constitutions to students in their General Education classes.

Lynn Z. Lang (’64)

years

FACULTY FOCUS

Spotlighting JMU professors through the lenses of scholarship, awards and service

L. Renée ENGLISH

L. Renée, assistant professor of English and assistant director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center, won the 2022 Rattle Poetry Prize, receiving $15,000 and publication in the winter issue of Rattle. Her poem, Shoes, was chosen out of approximately 15,000 poems submitted by 4,010 interna-

“I’m completely humbled by winning such a prestigious prize open to writers across the world,” L. Renée said. “It’s hard to imagine something that you’ve made standing out in a crowd of so many worthwhile pieces of art. I’m full of boundless gratitude. I also hope this award will bring more attention to the great work that Furious Flower Poetry Center has been doing under the dedicated leadership of founding director Joanne V. Gabbin, and now with the tremendous poet and scholar Lauren K. Alleyne at the helm.”

The Rattle Poetry Prize attracts a wide range of writers from diverse backgrounds, and accepts poems of any length. “I appreciate that Rattle gives poets freedom to take up the space they need in order to explore

Dee Weikle COMPUTER SCIENCE

Amy Connolly COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS

Weikle, associate professor of Computer Science, and Connolly, assistant professor of Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics, received $204,039 from Northeastern University to increase the representation of women and minorities in computing majors.

Corey Cleland

and

Bisi Velayudhan BIOLOGY

Cleland, professor of Biology, and Velayudhan, assistant professor of Biology, were awarded $445,741 from the National Science Foundation for an REU to broaden participation in by supporting the career progression of community-college students into sci ence, technology, engi neering and math at four-year universi ties, facilitating the transfer and retention of students from under represented

Dmytriyev BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Dmytriyev, assistant professor of Business Man agement, is co-editor of Humanizing Business: What Humanities Can Say to Business book is part of the highly regarded Issues in Busi ness Ethics series published by Springer and includes contributions from leading business scholars from around the world. It explores how creative pursuits ranging from philosophy to filmmaking can help make business more humane. The book aims to show that people, far from needing to suppress their feelings, aspirations and beliefs in the work place, should instead look to business to redefine itself by the norms of human beings.

Sergiy

“It’s hard to imagine something that you’ve made standing out in a crowd of so many worthwhile pieces of art.”

— L. RENÉE

Pair of JMU alumni selected as Virginia Management Fellows

Edward Cronin (’20) of Springfield, Virginia, and Karli Foster (’22) of Collinsville, Virginia, were among the 10 students selected from around the state for the 2022-24 Virginia Management Fellows program.

A c ollaboration between the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management and Virginia Tech, the program addresses the commonwealth’s need for talented, trained and prepared government leaders.

The fellows work with 10 state agency mentors who guide projects as well as offer hands-on agency work and research efforts.

During the two-year leadership and man-

agement development certificate program, Virginia Management Fellows learn and practice technical and generalist skills that are important to state agencies.

Three eight-month agency rotations give fellows day-to-day work experience, and they also learn financial management, public budgeting and other key competencies needed in state government.

“This cohort marks the fifth anniversary of the VMF program, an important milestone for the state. We are demonstrating our commitment to Virginia’s future leaders,” said Lyn McDermid, secretary of administration.

— Eric Gorton (’86, ’09M)

Debaters make history

The JMU Debate Team finished the 202122 season ranked No. 4 in the nation, its best finish in program history. The team also received more named or merit awards than any other school in the country.

Adonis Ortiz earned the Outstanding Newcomer Award, and Ian Lowery (’22M) received the Matt Grindy Outstanding Graduate Student Coach Award.

The CEDA Alumnus Award went to departing Assistant Director of Debate Chaz Wyche for his work addressing political, philosophical, social and psychological challenges facing students of color and second-language learners.

— Arts and Letters Review

Towana Moore is new VP for Administration and Finance

Towana Moore is JMU’s new vice president for Administration and Finance, succeeding Charlie King. Moore was interim vice president and has worked at JMU since 1999, most recently as associate vice president for Business Services. Moore is also a member of the Women for Madison Executive Advisory Council and an Amethyst Circle Founder.

During her tenure, Moore oversaw areas in Administration and Finance, including the Office of Budget Management, Dining Services, Facilities Management and Capital Construction, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Moore also has served on JMU committees addressing university policies, diversity, strategic planning, the master plan, enrollment,

sustainability and accreditation.

“Towana has done an exceptional job of helping the university plan and manage its budget and finances during a turbulent time, while enhancing support for our educational mission,” said Jonathan R. Alger, JMU president. “She is widely respected by colleagues across the institution, and her willingness to continue in this important capacity will allow the university to move forward efficiently and effectively.”

Moore said, “I’m honored to carry on the work of Administration and Finance at JMU.”

— Ginny Cramer

(L-R): Karli Foster (’22) and Edward Cronin (’20)

“The people in this division are extraordinary, and I look forward to working with them in this new role.”

— TOWANA MOORE, vice president for Administration and Finance

FRONT ROW (L-R): Matthew Dim, graduate assistant coach Ian Lowery (’22M), affiliate coach Abhis Sedhai (’18), Abby Harlow, Jenna Wright. BACK ROW: Michael McKim, Adonis Ortiz, Jameson Balda, Eric Pelletier, Roy Rinehart

TALKING POINTS

As loyal Madison readers, you are also brand ambassadors for James Madison University. This page highlights some of JMU’s recent rankings and recognitions. Use it to brag about JMU and help spread the word!

Students’ app takes first place in national competition

A student duo won first place in the Large School (10,000-plus) Individual/Team/Single Class app category of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s 2022 “Best of the Web/Best of Digital” competition. Their app, BookBuddy, offers a centralized location for buying and selling textbooks.

The students, Madeline Miller and Lyndsay Criscitello, designed the app as part of a SMAD class after identifying difficulties with current textbook selling platforms.

“As rising seniors, Lyndsay and I have bought our fair share of textbooks and have tried almost everything to find affordable

textbooks without having to spend hours looking for them,” Miller said.

The average student spends $400 a year on textbooks, and many students are eager to pass on books no longer in use, the students found.

“Bookbuddy is an app that will connect students on their college campus and allow users to buy the exact textbook they need from students who already used them and sell their books to the people who need them next,” Miller said.

The app includes features such as pick-up hubs, contactless payment, school verification and background checks, direct messaging and price matching.

Media Arts and Design professor Chen Guo, whose class inspired the app, said the award is an acknowledgment of the students’ hard work, dedication and passion for user experience design.

The award carried a cash prize, and Miller and Criscitello traveled to Michigan to present their work at the AEJMC conference.

JMU is No. 51 in Washington Monthly’s 2022 National University rankings, which are based on social mobility, research and service.

The social mobility portion includes measures such as graduation rate, number of Pell graduates, net price of attendance for families earning less than $75,000, and percentage of loan principal remaining five years after graduation.

The research portion is based on five measures: the total amount of an institution’s research spending; the number of

science and engineering doctorates awarded by the university; the number of undergraduate alumni who have gone on to receive a doctorate in any subject, relative to the size of the college; the number of faculty receiving prestigious awards, relative to the number of full-time faculty; and the number of faculty in the National Academies, relative to the number of full-time faculty.

The service portion of the rankings includes data on graduates who go on to serve in AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps and the U.S. military, and in careers such as health, education and social work, as well as the institution’s community and civic engagement. JMU ranked

Harrisonburg was rated one of the 10 Most Livable College Towns in America by Strategistico. The research firm evaluated more than 800 college towns based on their cost of living, vibrancy of their arts and culture scene, dining and entertainment options, outdoor amenities, walkability, unemployment rate, crime rate and overall atmosphere.

Class of 2021 success

95.8% of bachelor’s degree graduates and 98.1% of advanced degree graduates reported a career outcome within six months of graduation, defined as working, continuing education, military or post-graduate fellowship/internship.

Connect with us

For a complete list of all university social media, please visit https://j.mu/socialmedia

Harrisonburg makes list of ‘Most Livable College Towns’

in top 75 National Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report

Madeline Miller and Lyndsay Criscitello

JMU ranks highly for social mobility, research, service

NATION

50 years of Title IX

BY KEVIN WARNER (‘02), assistant athletic director for communications

omen have been at the forefront of athletics at James Madison University since its founding. As the institution grew and evolved from a college for teachers to a co-ed university, the emphasis on women’s sports never wavered. Pioneers like Dean Ehlers and Lee Morrison passed the baton to future leaders,

Wand that commitment to equity in athletics program offerings has stood the test of time.

As the nation marks 50 years of Title IX, the landmark legislation that ensured intercollegiate athletics opportunities for women, JMU Athletics celebrates its rich history of opportunity and achievement with sport-by-sport recognition throughout the 2022-23 academic year. At the same time, any reflection must be paired with a look ahead. JMU is committed to

further expansion and exploration of the many benefits of women’s sports.

JMU’s women’s teams have accounted for two national championships, a Women’s College World Series appearance, 70 conference championships, numerous Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and NCAA postseason appearances, more than 100 All-Americans, and countless milestones and memories. Another 50 years of progress lie ahead.

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Bourne Dialogue on sportsmanship

BY JEFF BOURNE , director of athletics

One of the great things about being a college sports fan is that you truly feel part of the action and have a role in the game. The 12th man, sixth person — there are a variety of monikers, depending upon the sport. Energy, passion, deafening noise, gamechanging moments — this is what we love about college athletics!

As we move up to the Sun Belt Conference, we’re seeing tough competition every week. The margin for error is so thin that one play can make a difference. The energy from our fans can give our Dukes that little boost to break a big, momentum-changing play. We need you there, loud and cheering for our student-athletes!

However, there’s an appropriate way and an inappropriate way to be a fan, and it’s critically important to define that distinction and make it a priority at JMU. Sportsmanship has been a topic at the forefront of my mind for quite some time, and I’m committed to addressing it proactively as we are in a new year in a new conference.

Last year, there were multiple incidents of poor fan behavior, including at one of our most memorable events in recent history, the home win over the University of Virginia in men’s basketball. Derogatory, expletive-laced chants directed at our opponent were distinguishable to anyone present. Similar inci-

dents occurred at multiple football games as well. Having a good time at a sporting event should never be defined by cursing the opponent, and there is no place for it at JMU.

For the 2022-23 competitive year, we have launched a “Dukes Do Better” campaign aimed at promoting positive fan behavior and sportsmanship. JMU has long embodied doing things the right way, and we want to not only maintain that image, but build upon it.

The campaign began in August. Since then, messaging and activity picked up, engaging fans at events such as Meet the Dukes Day, the Weeks of Welcome pep rally and more. Our games have regu l ar messaging on video boards and public address announcements at multiple intervals. Communication campaigns were activated across cam p us to reach as many dif f erent student groups as possible. We are also engag i ng targeted groups of stu d ent and nonstudent fans who can help us build and promote a positive game environment.

We live in a challenging world where animosity and confrontation toward another person or group is far too frequent. It is a conscientious choice to not fall into that trap in a competitive sporting environment, and to choose to be vocal and energetic in a manner that builds up rather than tears down.

I call upon everyone in JMU Nation to be part of this important initiative and help us promote a culture where “Dukes Do Better!” Go Dukes!

There’s an appropriate way and an inappropriate way to be a fan, and it’s critically important to define that distinction and make it a priority at JMU.

Running the point

BY KHALIL GARRIOTT (’04)

In basketball, point guards are in more control of the game than ever before. Madison magazine sat down with graduate student Caroline Germond and redshirt sophomore Terell Strickland to discuss this trend, and much more, in these Q&As.

French transfer likes to dictate tempo

Madison magazine: How different is the culture in France from the culture in America?

Germond: Food is the biggest [difference] — I love French food. But I also love E-Hall breadsticks! People in the U.S. are more welcoming and friendly, especially in Harrisonburg.

Madison: You transferred from Texas Christian University to JMU, both of which have purple in their school colors. What have you noticed about all the fans who have so much Purple Pride in JMU Nation?

Germond: I love seeing the passion of our fans at football games and seeing purple around town.

Madison: Why do you wear No. 20?

Germond: I was born in 2000, and everyone in my family (mom, dad, sister and brother) was born during the 20s of the month.

Madison: As a graduate student, can you talk about the experience level and leadership you bring to the team?

Caroline Germond: With five years of basketball across three teams, I’ve had opportunities to grow and gain valuable experience. I

believe these past experiences have helped improve my leadership abilities, which I’m excited to bring to the team.

Madison: The way basketball is played at the highest level has changed in recent years. As a guard, players like you can really dictate tempo, pace and strategy. Do you relish being a guard who can essentially control the game because of the position you play?

Germond: Of course! I like the system we run at JMU and feel that my style of play fits well with Coach Sean O’Regan’s, which I believe will lead to success on the court.

Madison: Student-athletes can now create personal brands for themselves. What is your personal vision for the future of those opportunities?

Germond: I think it’s great and will create opportunities, especially in women’s sports, leading to more recognition.

Madison: A steal or an assist — if you had to pick one, which do you enjoy more and why?

Germond: A steal that leads to an assist!

— John Bilello, assistant director for athletic communications, contributed to this report.

Son of NBA great sets the pace

Madison: Why do you wear No. 10?

Terell Strickland: That’s the number my dad, former NBA point guard Rod Strickland, wore in college. When he played in the NBA, he wore Nos. 1, 11 and 31 — there are four of us kids, so we each have a different number. My brother wears No. 13 because he switched the digits of 31, but I wear No. 10; my older sister wore No. 1; and my little sister wears No. 11.

Madison: What was it like growing up as the son of one of the NBA’s best point guards of his era?

Strickland: He was always just my dad to me. I didn’t know about how good he was until about seven or eight years ago. I only really saw him at the end of his career, so we would go watch him play and make jokes about his bad plays because he was our dad! Now I realize just how much I can learn from him, how much I can take from him in basketball and everyday life.

Madison: As a result of your dad’s career, you moved around a lot growing up. What was that like as a kid?

Strickland: I think moving around prepared me for college. I grew up used to finding ways to get comfortable in a new place. It’s made that part of things easier for me.

JMU NATION

Madison: You excel in the classroom. What’s your advice for people juggling their studies with their sport?

Strickland: My dad always had a slogan, “You’re never too cool for school.” Coach [Mark] Byington tells us to never turn away from the people who are trying to help you. We have so much support and so many resources available to us, so you can’t be afraid to use them.

Madison: How did you persevere after having season-ending surgery last year? Beyond the physical rehab, how did you strengthen your mental game?

Strickland: My mental well-being took a toll going through that, but during the summer I changed my major to Psychology. I started drawing more. I’m working on a clothing brand right now. I started writing a lot more — I found other outlets besides basketball to keep my mind sharp and really work on myself.

Madison: Why are you majoring in Psychology?

Strickland: I’ve met a lot of different people in my life. I’ve watched people in situations like I’m in now as a college basketball player, and I enjoy learning about people’s perspectives. I like learning about why people are the way they are and why I am why I am.

Madison: What’s the key to getting so many steals?

Strickland: It probably has to do with why I enjoy psychology! I like getting into people’s minds and anticipating their next move. I put myself in the ballhandler’s shoes and try to think [about] what I would do in that situation — I try to read and react to what I think they’re about to do.

Madison: A steal or an assist — if you had to pick one, which do you enjoy more and why?

Strickland: Oh, that’s definitely an assist. There are tons of pictures here at JMU with me in the background after I pass it to somebody, and I’m jumping up with them or celebrating while they’re dunking or hitting a shot. It’s just exciting all the way around.

— Jason Krech (’11), director for athletic communications, contributed to this report.

Bright Lights

MRDs mark milestone

‘Virginia’s Finest’ celebrate their 50th anniversary BY KRISTEN ESSEX (’22)

It’s no secret that JMU has pride for its award-winning band, the Marching Royal Dukes. In the fall, the MRDs, dubbed “Virginia’s Finest,” celebrated 50 years of accomplishments, awards, memories and performances.

The band kicked off in 1972, along with Madison’s new football team. It is now the largest student organization on campus, with about 485 members representing almost every academic department at JMU. “The band is an icon of campus participation and inclusivity,” said Alex Dumouchelle, a senior drum major. This community of music lovers is home for many Dukes as they embark on their journey at JMU. “We are a big persuasion for students to come to JMU and pursue music,” said Rachel Ferrell, a sophomore clarinet player. “I’ve been hearing about the MRDs since I was a child

because my parents met in the MRDs. I’ve always wanted to come to JMU, just to be a Marching Royal Duke.”

The band is open to all JMU students. “The MRDs is a place where you can feel safe and reassured despite how skilled you are,” said senior trombone player Ali Fahm. “I joined a section where I had no clue how to play the instrument. Regardless, everyone was so supportive and accepting.”

MARCHING ROYAL DUKES

(Clockwise from top): The Madison College marching band began performing at football games in the fall of 1972; the band soon turned into a local favorite, appearing in parades, and officially became the Marching Royal Dukes in 1977 after the renaming of Madison College as James Madison University; the Dukes practice in formation on the football field; during the 1980s, bluestone buildings and much of campus were still viewable from inside the stadium.

Josh Ariel (’10), a former drumline member, International Affairs major and Music Industry minor, said, “I think my biggest takeaway was the community. I made friends that I’m still very close with today. Later on, I started a rock band with another member of the drum-

A Marching Royal Dukes halftime performance. (Inset): Senior drum major Alex Dumouchelle gives a thumbs-up.

The Marching Royal Dukes performed in the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Parade for Bill Clinton in 1997 and were the largest band present. On that day, the Dukes posed in front of the Capitol.

In 1994, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the MRDs the Sudler Trophy, known as the “Heisman Trophy” of college marching bands.

MARCHING ROYAL DUKES PHOTOGRAPH BY IBRAHIM AZAD; 50TH GRAPHIC BY JENNIFER DEHOFF AND JUSTIN ROTH

ROYAL DUKES

line and played music all throughout my [undergraduate years] with people from the band. It was a huge social facilitator.”

Apart from halftime shows, the MRDs perform at events including parades, celebrations and inaugurations around Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region. They’ve also performed abroad, including London, Monaco and the Vatican.

Notable performances over the years include a halftime show during the NFC title game in 1983, as well as regular-season games in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The MRDs were also proudly featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2001, 2008, 2013 and 2018. The band even performed in the inaugural parades for former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in 1997 and 2001, respectively.

In 1994, the Dukes received the Sudler Trophy from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. This award is well-regarded among

the marching band community for its reflection of high musical standards and innovative routines.

The band has always been a strong ambassador for the university and the Harrisonburg community. “I think the main thing that makes the MRDs so important is the morale they bring to the JMU spirit. The MRDs always know how to hype everyone up,” said Joel Abbott, a sophomore trombone player.

“I have yet to meet an MRD mem b er who is not ready to scream and play their lungs off in order to entertain the crowd,” Fahm said.

The passion for the organization is unmistakable, from the enthusiasm of the students to the directors who give their all for school spirit. “The JMU Fight Song is one of the most unique school songs in American college fight songs,” said Pat Rooney, former band director (19822007). “It has an uplifting, ‘jazzy’ sound

(L-R): In December 2003, the Marching Royal Dukes toured Ireland and were the featured band for the New Year’s celeb ration in Dublin.

(Inset): An audience surrounded the Dukes as they performed by the water.

In 2004, the band traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to cheer on the Dukes in the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game.

“I think the main thing that makes the MRDs so important is the morale they bring to the JMU spirit.”

— JOEL ABBOTT sophomore trombone player

The band’s baritone line rallies Dukes fans during a Homecoming football game.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE MRD s MEDIA; TIMELINE PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JMU LIBRARIES; NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY CATHY KUSHNER (’87) AND MACY’S BY ANNEMARIE POYO FURLONG

that really matches the spirit of Madison and everything we are.”

Despite rain or freezing temperatures, the MRDs always put on a smile as they march onto the field to perform. “We’re crowd pleasers, and we give off enough spirit and energy to do so,” Fahm said.

For 50 years, talented students have played their hearts out in front of crowds of purple and gold, as fans sing along to the famous JMU Fight Song and cheer on the Dukes to victory — memories that alumni treasure years after walking across the Commencement stage. “The band will always be family, no matter if I’ve graduated or still at JMU,” Abbott said.

Consider giving to the Marching Royal Dukes Fund: https://j.mu/mrdfund

The percussion section performs on the courthouse steps at Block Party in the ’Burg for the freshman class in downtown Harrisonburg. (Inset): Band member Allyson Griffin waves to the audience before a performance.

(Left): In 2008, the Marching Royal Dukes triumphantly performed for the second time in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Below): During their last tour of Italy, the band participated in the 2014 Rome New Year’s Festival and performed at the Vatican. (Right): The MRDs played for a spirited crowd on the Quad during the first campus visit by ESPN College GameDay in 2015.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF

MRD s MEDIA; TIMELINE PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JMU LIBRARIES

Thank you for giving to Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University. Your generosity will impact JMU for years, decades, even generations to come.

By Pam Brock

underdogs

NO MORE

One of the centerpiece building projects of the Unleashed campaign was the College of Business Learning Complex, shown here from Interstate 81/ Port Republic Road.

In 2014, the Madison community started out on an ambitious journey — to set JMU apart and position it among the nation’s top universities. Through the generosity of nearly 64,000 donors who gave more than a quarter of a billion dollars for scholarships, programs and new buildings, Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University is helping to achieve that, while also making an incalculable impact on the lives of Dukes for generations to come.

Giving to JMU totaled more than $251 million, pushing the eight-year comprehensive campaign past all of its goals. It’s yet another instance of JMU defying the odds, with donors exceeding the goal of Unleashed by $51 million and exceeding expectations by almost twice that.

The campaign began July 1, 2014, with initial planning projections of $150 million. Going public in 2018 with a total giving goal of $200 million, Unleashed concluded June 30, 2022, riding a growing wave of alumni advocacy and generosity, and persisting through crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, associated financial hardship and social upheaval.

A

giving (Below, clockwise): Paul Holland (’82), Linda Yates and Maribeth Herod (’82); Cindy (’93) and Phillip (’92) Salopek; JMU President Jonathan R. Alger; Eric (’91) and Lara Parker (’92) Major; Patricia and Darnell Whitaker (’24P) with Anthony Tongen

D onors’ giving not only eclipsed the $200 million Unleashed goal 18 months early, in March 2021, but also continued for the rest of the campaign in response to JMU President Jonathan R. Alger’s call for more scholarships for more students and accounting for 25% over goal. In fact, the final year of the campaign was JMU’s highest year of giving ever.

(’00,’07M,

“This success is an incredible moment for JMU. It’s something shared by each person who gives, loves and cheers for JMU.”

— NICK LANGRIDGE

’14Ph.D.), vice president for University Advancement

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE ADERTON ( ’1 9); EVENT BY JULIA WEAVER ( ’ 21) AND SHARARA FAISAL

celebration of gratitude and

NO MORE

A decade ago, during President Alger’s “Why Madison?” Listening Tour, alumni, parents and friends began to see themselves as part of the university’s 10-year strategic plan, which called for a major fundraising campaign to increase the endowment.

After a tour stop in Reston, Virginia, the president was encouraged: “People told me, ‘We understand the need to give back,’ and ‘This is a new era for the university.’ I heard people say tonight that they were ready and willing.”

Business leader and entrepreneur Brian Bostic (’83) attended another “Why Madison?” event. “JMU is family,” he said. “It’s a huge part of our lives. It’s our responsibility to give back any way we can.”

As the Unleashed campaign took shape, vocal and passionate alumni made it clear they wanted to see their university on the national stage and they were ready to help take it there.

RHONDA PAGE (’94)

“It’s coming true,” Langridge said. “The big things donors wanted to see for JMU began to converge just as our donors were becoming a rising force in the life of the university. We became an R2 university and joined the Sun Belt athletic conference. Now we’ve landed at 72 in the national U.S. News and World Report Top Public Schools listings,

and in October we broke into the Associated Press football poll at 25. It’s time for donors to celebrate their role.”

THE BIG STORY— SCHOLARSHIPS

Of the five overarching goals of the Unleashed campaign, “Opening Our Doors” attracted the most support at $102.6 million, with donors expressing a universal desire to increase access to the Madison Experience for more students and reward their exceptional performance. Donors’ gifts funded scholarships for academics, athletics and Valley Scholars as well as student support.

“Philanthropy means ‘love of humanity,’ and clearly that sentiment motivates all of our donors,” Langridge said. “They are telling us they want to make a difference, to positively affect students’ lives, and to open a world of possibilities to as many people as possible.

Unleashed hit the $130 million mark in early 2019.

At an event in Atlanta, Georgia, JMU President Jonathan R. Alger explained how the campaign has helped JMU become more nationally known.

In

Amy Cortés, center, a member of the inaugural class of Valley Scholars, was a speaker during the Unleashed online event in 2020. Thanks to the scholarship program, Cortés, a Kinesiology major, is the first in her family to attend college.

2018, Levar Stoney (’04), the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, addressed 200 attendees and encouraged every Duke to join the campaign so “JMU can be Unleashed to the entire world.”

Alumni and donors came together at campaign stops in Baltimore, Maryland; Alexandria, Virginia; and Washington, D.C., in February 2019. President Alger emphasized the importance of interpersonal relationships, saying engagement at the university is about “the head and the heart.” Many successful alumni shared their experience of giving back to JMU.

Excitement, momentum for Unleashed builds at series of campaign stops

“I’m proud to give back financially year after year to help current and future students afford the opportunities JMU has to offer.”

—

Forever Loyal donor and Amethyst Circle founder

UNDERDOGS

This type of leadership shows us all how to live out JMU’s call for Being the Change.”

Donors invested in scholarships across campus, for specific academic programs as well as focused scholarship initiatives, including financial aid to make the Madison Experience accessible for promising students with economic need.

More than 770 Unleashed gifts totaling more than $22.4 million have provided academic scholarships for 6,212 students so far, making an even bigger and more lasting impact than statistics might show. Many of these students received renewable awards, which further compound the influence of donors’ gifts on student lives. Moreover, the number of student beneficiaries will continue to increase over time due to endowed scholarship gifts that are invested in the stock market and yield an ongoing yearly scholarship award. Further increasing scholarship giving, donors who gave to academic departments might also have supported additional

The success of the campaign hinged on gifts from across the spectrum. Here’s what JMU donors had to say about what inspired them to give.

faces of The

Kayla Ginette, Class of 2023

International Affairs major / Spanish-English Translation and Interpretation minor Senior advisor - Filipino Americans at Madison

“For me, the importance and benefits of donations have been instilled in me since high school. I was fortunate enough to attend the school I went to because of gifts from our alumni. As an out-of-state student at JMU, I wanted to give to help students who want to attend this amazing university but cannot due to financial reasons. Additionally, I wanted to give back to the place that has provided me with so much during my time here.”

Anthony Mujica (’13)

Modern Foreign Languages major / Health Services Administration major Pfizer Health Information Technology Solutions account director of the Mid-Atlantic

port the Valley Scholars Program. I’m also from the [Shenandoah] Valley, so I understand the challenges these students go through when entering college as a first-generation student.”

Sandra “Dutey” Dutemple (’62, ’67M)

Biology major Retired educator

— LORI MOWEN (’80) scholarship

“As a former Centennial Scholar, I donate to Valley Scholars and the Centennial Scholars, as both of these programs have the ability to truly change someone’s life. I was not a Valley Scholar, but what [Valley Scholars Director] Shaun Mooney and the staff do for the upcoming college students is something sorely needed, especially with students from challenged backgrounds. I wish something like Valley Scholars was around when I was younger, as it would have helped me answer many questions about college I had no answer for or didn’t know to ask. It’s an amazing program that helps underserved, hardworking students prepare for the next steps of their lives, and I truly think it has the potential to change the lives of deserving students. That is why I sup-

“My appreciation for JMU began in 1958, when, as a 17-year-old first-generation college student, I arrived in the ’burg … Madison College, my mentors and peers all helped to formulate me as a young woman and influence me throughout my adult life. Certainly, JMU has done the same for thousands of others. As a retired teacher, I want to help others to become members of a profession which I loved and which can impact so many. As a former student-athlete, I also want to support female athletes in sports in ways which were not available to women back then.”

Chris Falcon (’03)

Marketing major Deputy clerk and legal counsel / Civil division supervisor for the Arlington Circuit Court Clerk’s Office Vice rector, JMU Board of Visitors

“As a first-generation college student, JMU has had an enormous impact on my life. JMU has opened many doors and equipped me with the tools to succeed in courtrooms, board rooms and in all aspects of my professional and civic life. … I have made an effort to step up my support so that current JMU students and future Dukes can achieve their dreams as well.”

“Being able to help JMU students has made us feel like we are making a contribution to our global community. We take to heart the challenge of Being the Change we want to see in the world.”

donor

Nick Langridge (’00, ’07M, ’14Ph.D.), left, at the opening of the Center for First-Generation Students

student scholarships, as departments often use their general funds for a variety of student, faculty and program purposes.

Donors’ scholarship giving also addressed a larger strategic reality — the need to increase JMU’s competitive ability to recruit students in the higher education landscape.

“I’m grateful to our donors for wanting to help bring scholarship resources into line with JMU’s national academic reputation,” said Donna Harper (’77, ’81M, ’86Ed.S.), vice president for Access and Enrollment Management. “The Unleashed campaign has raised awareness and raised the stakes. Thanks to our donors, we are improving our ability to compete for the students who want the Madison Experience over universities that have deeper pockets to award scholarships. And we are not done!”

UNDERDOGS

NO MORE

In addition to Opening Our Doors, there were four more overarching Unleashed goals:

ADVANCING OUR UNDERSTANDING

With giving totaling more than $83.5 million, donors gave to support academics and the JMU faculty, many wanting to help sus-

tain the kind of professor-student relationships that they remember from their student years. Gifts toward the Advancing Our Understanding goal supported the Entrepreneurship Initiative, Faculty Success, Student Research and other academic areas to increase academic excellence and support the academic mission of the university.

Carolyn Hartman (’00P) of Rockingham, Virginia, made a substantial gift to name Hartman Hall in the College of Business. The striking four-story glass and brick building adjoins Zane Showker Hall to constitute the new CoB Learning Complex. “I think back to when I was in school here 50 years ago, and we didn’t have any really neat places to study or these incredible other assets of this building,” Jim Hartman said. “We are just thrilled that today’s students do have those to use and benefit from.”

Jim (’70)

HARTMANS AND EXTERIOR PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE MIRIELLO (’09M); INTERIOR BY HANNA SEARFOSS (’22)

and

THE IMPACT OF UNLEASHED

“I could not have completed college without the people who supported me. There’s no way I can pay anyone back for it, but I can pay it forward.”

— KATHY MUELLER THOMAS (’ 78) Dukes Pay It Forward scholarship founder

Plenty of room to think big

Professor John Almarode high-fives 2022 College of Education graduates.

BUILDING OUR SUCCESS

The Building Our Success campaign goal rallied donors to enhance campus facilities with giving totaling almost $40 million. Their gifts helped build the new Atlantic Union Bank Center as a home for JMU men’s and women’s basketball and community events. Donors also helped build the College of Business Learning Complex, including Hartman Hall, named for lead donors Jim (’70) and Carolyn Hartman, and the renovation of Showker Hall. CoBLC donors helped support more than 4,000 business majors, provide collaborative learning space and bring facilities into line with the academic reputation of the business school, which is consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Gifts to these facilities and to the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum expanded and enhanced campus by almost 481,889 square feet.

“I love having the opportunity to interact with extraordinary students and work alongside others who share my love for JMU.”

— SUSAN McGHEE (’80) Hillcrest Scholarship donor

FOCUSING ON STUDENTS, SILICON VALLEY POWER COUPLE INVESTS $5 MILLION DYNAMIC

DUO

While celebrating the finale of Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University, Paul Holland (’82) and wife and life partner Linda Yates announced the largest cash gift in the university’s history. They explain why they’re supporting scholarships and how “partnering wisely” has been a key to their success.

By Jamie Marsh

VVenture capitalist Paul Holland (’82) is a living illustration of JMU’s hallmark virtue of collaboration. “My simple oneliner for advice is to partner wisely,” he said. “If you’re fortunate enough to partner wisely and deeply, then you will have a more fulfilling life and more opportunities.” He has lived out this ethic in business, where he’s known for partnering with iconic CEOs and thought leaders, and in his personal life. “The partnership between Linda Yates and Paul Holland, together, is what is resulting in this gift,” he explained. The couple announced their $5 million investment in October, praising Holland’s Madison roots and saying they want to open doors for others.

HOLLAND’S MADISON EXPERIENCE

Holland’s college selection process led him to JMU as a 17-year-old freshman. “I had narrowed it down based on academics and location. I toured the campus, and I remember a moment — this beautiful, sunny day with people all over the Quad, Frisbee and laughter,” he said with a smile. “I knew JMU was the place for me.”

His instinct paid off. “When I look at JMU now, it really was the gateway to the rest of my life. First was academic maturation, and I think JMU did a very good job there. The second, which

Paul Holland’s senior portrait in 1982

I believe is more important, was social maturation — the notion of being able to go there and grow as a person. That’s where JMU excels, where it surpasses other schools,” Holland said.

Not one for down time, Holland took advantage of every opportunity while a student. He double majored in Public Administration and Political Science , pledged Sigma Nu , played intramural sport s and served as the inaugural vice president of the Public Administration Society. During the summers, he worked all kinds of jobs, from building roads around Harrisonburg to serving at Dukes Grill, and even joined his buddies on the crew of a North Carolina scallop fishing boat, Amazing Grace.

On his dad’s advice, he tacked on a Business minor, which turned out to be critical. “Developing business acumen was so important. The world is full of entrepreneurial types like me — artistic entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs — but they do other things because they’re starved for the business discipline and experience,” he said. “JMU is where I got the building blocks I needed.”

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

After Holland graduated, he set out for the University of Virginia, where he pursued a master’s in International Relations. There, he met Yates, a talented undergraduate on her way

on the weekends, Linda and I used to throw these great parties at her parents’ house — barbecue and a pool — just getting to know people.” While sitting in a hot tub at one of those parties, a mutual friend introduced him to Reed Hastings, which led to Holland’s entrepreneurial career.

BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR

As Holland developed his career in Silicon Valley, he helped talented founder-CEOs build two of the most successful software companies of that era. First, he partnered with Hastings, who later became famous as founder and CEO of Netflix, to develop Pure Software.

to earning a degree in the same field. Linda asked Paul to come visit her in California, where he has lived for the past 38 years.

“I had ambition and education but not a really strong direction until I followed a girl to California,” he said. Transplanted to Silicon Valley (the world-famous home base for Google, Facebook, Netflix and others), Yates’ family introduced him to their friends. “I instantly got a taste for these West Coast personalities,” Holland said. “I had stumbled into sales jobs because of my personality, and then

The second company was Kana Communications, where he worked with Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath, better known today as the founders of Strava. Pure and Kana eventually generated more than $12 billion in market capitalization. Later, Holland was recruited to Foundation Capital, a high-level firm in the Silicon Valley that has taken $5 billion of investor and partner capital, and generated more than $750 billion in market value by investing in companies like Netflix, Chegg, MobileIron, SunRun and many other successful initial public offerings.

Yates began her career at Smith Barney, and after completing a graduate degree at Stanford University, she became the youngest head of West

Coast operations for the MAC Group, a strategy consulting house. Later, at 32 years old, she was founder and CEO of Strategos, the first global growth consultancy where she partnered with leading strategists Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahalad. After Strategos, Yates was recruited to the board of New York Stock Exchange-traded Sybase, where she helped drive the company stock price from $3 to $65, and the eventual $6 billion acquisition of Sybase by SAP. Hastings nominated Yates for the Henry Crown Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. She later founded (at her kitchen table) Mach49, the growth incubator for the global 1000. Today, Mach49 employs more than 200 people on five continents and was recently valued at $300 million. She also authored The Unicorn Within, published by Harvard Business Review Press in 2022.

Holland met his life partner of 33 years, Linda Yates, in grad school at U.Va.

“... the notion of being able to go there and grow as a person. That’s where JMU excels, where it surpasses other schools.”

— PAUL HOLLAND (’ 82)

On the set at the JMU premiere of Holland’s play, Walls: An American Story, in 2020

Currently, Holland is the managing director of venture investing at Mach49, where he works for Yates, the CEO. He credits JMU with readying him to jump into multiple business fields and always hit the ground running. “When I left JMU, I was academically prepared and socially adept enough for any adventure I encountered,” he said.

Yates has also become a fan of JMU over the years. “When you’re walking around at James Madison, you literally feel like you’re in a top-tier global educational institute,” she said. “We’ve also hosted multiple students over the years who’ve literally lived in our home for a week, and we’ve set them up to tour Silicon Valley and to meet with top companies here.” She’s been impressed. “Every single JMU student and alumnus, every one of them, is inclusive. They’re welcoming; they’re a ton of fun. There’s a reason JMU is considered one of the happiest universities on the planet, and I get to see that every day getting to live with Paul. Being able to be part of the JMU Family has been very meaningful to me.”

HOLLAND YATES HALL: GATEWAY TO JMU, PASSPORT TO THE WORLD

The Holland Yates gift also renamed Madison Hall, which is visited by more than 60,000 prospective students each year and serves as home to the Office of Admissions and the Center for Global Engagement . That’s fitting, as their investment provides scholarships for student recruitment and study abroad — as well as entrepreneurship.

“We are proud to add our name to such an important centerpiece on a beautiful campus,” Holland said. “I’m an optimist, I’m a globalist and I’m an idealist. We are investing in entrepreneurship and global immersion opportunities as two key areas that have made a difference in our own lives.”

Holland and Yates have lived and worked in more than 74 countries. Now, they are providing study abroad scholarships for JMU undergraduates, an opportunity they believe is critical for current and future generations. “I think young people need the overseas experience, outside of

our American bubble, to view the world accurately. Exposure to people, on a person-to-person level, will not only help them see how the world works but also make them more understanding and more successful,” he said. “All of America benefits from more people having that chance earlier in their lives.”

Yates believes Madison graduates will be better equipped to look at the “big hairy problems” of our world — climate change, sustainability, water, disease, racism, poverty — because of their travels. “We hope to give them the opportunity to reach out, to really address those big problems and make a difference,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the pictures that are going to line the walls in that building as these kids go abroad and show what their experiences are like.”

GIVING FOR FUTURE PAULS AND LINDAS

Another piece of the Holland Yates gift is a scholarship endowment for students minoring in Entrepreneurship. Holland said he appreciates how JMU’s minor is not limited to business students but open across all academic disciplines. “There’s a certain type of person that comes out of a hardcore business school, and then there’s a certain type of person that is still entrepreneurial but is coming from a background of liberal arts, performance arts and other areas,” he said. “Linda and I believe that in the coming decades, there will be dozens more Pauls and Lindas, drawing from current and future students at James Madison University. These scholarships will be extremely critical for those students.”

“By getting more and more students focused on entrepreneurship, either inside large companies or with startups, this is very important to help improve the world,” Yates said. “We’ve been incredibly blessed, and I truly believe that we are meant to channel our gifts, not to keep them for ourselves.”

See what Holland and Yates said about JMU graduates’ superpowers and solving problems at https://j.mu/hy

Holland Yates investment

names Holland Yates Hall, home to the Office of Admissions and the Center for Global Engagement

Provides scholarships for: n student recruitment n study abroad n entrepreneurship n supports the faculty in honor of Holland’s mentor, B. Douglas Skelley, professor emeritus of political science n supports the Madison New Works Lab in the School of Theatre and Dance

BY JULIA WEAVER (’21); SKELLEY BY DIANE ELLIOTT (’00); HOLLAND YATES HALL BY ELISE TRISSEL

“We hope to give them the opportunity to reach out, to really address those big problems and make a difference.”

— LINDA YATES

Yates and Holland tour Holland Yates Hall, previously Madison Hall, with Donna Harper and CGE staff.

Proof of concept

By Jamie Marsh

JJoshua Morris (’24) grew up just 25 miles north of Wilson Hall in picturesque Mount Jackson, Virginia, but he never imagined stepping foot on campus. “Me? At JMU? Are you kidding me?” he said. “I can’t even say that I dreamed of going to college someday. It was farther away than a dream.”

Not many other people pegged the Minecraft -obsessed 12-year-old as a future Duke either — certainly not his family or school personnel — but he was a perfect candidate for President Jonathan R. Alger’s groundbreaking program, Valley Scholars. “There were two sides to Josh,” said Shaun Mooney (’98, ’03M), executive director of the Center for First-Generation Students. “His teachers saw a kid lacking general interest, with trauma in his background, but Josh was brilliant — taking apart old laptops and rebuilding them for fun.”

That’s how Morris was handpicked to join the first cohort of Valley Scholars, Alger’s presidential initiative challenging local students from low-income households to become the first in their families to attend college. Alger’s goal was “to increase access to JMU, unlock the true potential of students from less advantaged backgrounds and start in our own backyard.”

In 2014, 35 local middle-schoolers were offered a deal: If they completed the ambitious new program — taking the most advanced academics available plus monthly JMU programming like STEM experi -

ments and writing workshops — then their tuition would be paid at JMU. In May, 17 of those students are on track to earn a degree, with nine more graduating within a semester or two. The program is working — and growing. Today, 84 Valley Scholars attend JMU with 207 more in the pipeline. Their scholarships are being provided by the university and by 1,435 private donors to the Unleashed campaign who invested more than $5 million.

But eight years ago, preteen Morris was skeptical: “Are these people for real?”

MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE ADERTON (’19), ABIGAIL MOORE, ELISE TRISSEL AND HOLLY VEENIS

The first 26 Valley Scholars are nearing graduation, supported by 1,435 donors who have given $5 million to scholarships and programming

Valley native Joshua Morris found a home at JMU.

A graduate of Valley Scholars, Morris has been coming to campus since middle school.

FROM 8TH-GRADER TO JMU

Over the next five years, things got real. High school coursework was easy enough, Morris said, but other parts of the program were “super hard.” He was freshly inspired on two special occasions: touring the College of Integrated Science and Technology and meeting Alger, who “really seemed positive this was all going to be worth it.” Still, there were hiccups along the way.

In 10th grade, Morris was done — or so he thought. He’d “messed up” in a way he believed was irreparable, but the Valley Scholars team intervened. “I was on top of a house repairing a roof on a Saturday morning,” Mooney recalled. “Josh’s dad calls to tell me they’re leaving Valley Scholars.” Mooney sat down on the roof for the length of the call, listening and challenging them to stay on board. “One thing most of these kids learn during their time in Valley Scholars is resiliency,” he said. “One failure does not mean the end.”

Morris completed the high school program alongside 31 of his peers. Of those, 26 earned admission to JMU and five matriculated at other universities. The fundamental goal of getting them to college was achieved.

LIVING THE DREAM

“This program began as a dream,” Alger said. “And the remarkable success of the first cohort proved that if we can get to students early enough in their lives, and give them the tools and support to prepare them for college, they can and will succeed and thrive.”

During that moment of celebration, JMU was also busy fortifying the support base. National research indicates that first-generation students (those whose parents have not attended college) are missing not just funding, but also valuable “cultural capital” that helps them navigate higher education — everything from reading a syllabus accurately to getting along with a persnickety roommate. For Valley Scholars participants, this was evident as soon as they arrived at JMU. “We’ve had a few students show up alone for move-in day their first year,” Mooney said. “Their families want to be supportive, but they either have to work that day or just don’t think they’ll be of any help without knowledge of residence halls or campus life.”

For Morris, move-in day was so overwhelming it became a family joke. “My dad and I laugh about it a lot now because basically he drops me off at Jennings Hall with a quick hug, but then I realize I’m all alone and literally have no clue what to do. So I just take a nice, long shower — in the middle of the day.”

RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY

The Valley Scholars team learned to adapt quickly, deciding to be available for each student, as long as needed. “We know them very well,” Mooney said. “I get texts and emails all the time: How does dining work? How do I buy a car? Can you be a job reference? Can I drop a class if it’s too hard? We try to answer them all.” He said many Valley Scholars participants are like other first-generation students he sees on campus: on the edge of quitting.

The answer for not giving up? “Relationships,” Mooney said. From middle school through college graduation, they are offered guidance from professional and peer mentors. “That’s been the key. People want to know: Why is JMU’s formula for Valley Scholars fundamentally stronger than similar programs? Relationships.”

It’s working. Among these students are future doctors and software developers, with Biology and Computer Information Systems their most common majors; one-third are on the President’s or Dean’s list; five are in the Honors College; and their average GPA of 3.1 is a notch above their peers.

CS major Morris even earned a spot in the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, run by the U.S. Department of State. “I literally cried because I was so happy,” he said. “And so nervous.” As soon as international COVID-19 restrictions began to lift, he was on

The faces of Unleashed (cont.)

>> FROM PAGE 27

Abigail Valentin, Class of 2024

Nursing major / Chronic Illness minor “I believe it is important to give because JMU has provided me with countless memories and opportunities. Giving back is just a simple way I can say thank you and make an impact that will last on JMU, just as my memories will last with me. Also, working at Madison Connection opened my eyes to a whole new side of JMU. Being able to learn how much of an impact donor gifts have made on the school makes me proud to go to a school where alumni and current student support is huge.”

Gwendolyn Brantley (’07)

Communication Studies major Manager, Partner Operations - Services & SoftwareEast/South, Cisco Systems Inc.

“I am so thankful for the many opportunities I had at JMU to learn, lead and build incredible friendships. My first job opportunity came about through a Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sister connection. I’m so thankful to have had a 15-year career thus far in a variety of roles at that same company. That career has given me the ability to continue to give back. … I’m hopeful that my giving will impact another student’s ability to not only attend JMU but to maximize their JMU experience. … The JMU spirit is infectious and something I’m so thankful to have been a part of and continue to be a part of now through our Atlanta alumni chapter.”

Ari Garcia (’19)

International Affairs major / Economics major Booz Allen Hamilton data scientist

“If I hadn’t received a scholarship, I think it would have been very difficult for me to ultimately graduate. We all have that shared experience of being at JMU. I think it’s important to put ourselves in that place again, to remind ourselves of it and support other students. It’s impacting a person’s life.”

“The remarkable success of this first cohort proved that if we can get to students early enough ... they can and will succeed and thrive.”

— JONATHAN R. ALGER president

NO MORE UNDERDOGS

a plane to Europe. “My uncle dropped me off at the airport, and again I found myself alone and about to have a panic attack. But I’ve learned not to beat myself up; I just keep moving forward. The next thing I know I’m in Denmark, Rome and finally on a train to the southern tip of Italy.”

By the end of the summer, Morris was speaking conversational Italian, now a polyglot fluent in Spanish and several coding languages. “It was daunting, but I did it. And I want to do it again.”

EXPANDING A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE

As the first Valley Scholars stare down their final semesters of college, Alger said his vision has become a proven model of excellence: “We know this is life-transforming. It changes the trajectory of an individual’s life, and it impacts their family and their community. [First lady] Mary Ann and I believe strongly in this program, and it is one of our highest priorities in terms of our own time and treasure as we support JMU.”

A lger’s enthusiasm and leadership has inspired others to begin investing as well, including Dave (’91) and Marcy (’91) Kozlowski. “When we first heard about the program from President Alger about six years ago,” Dave said, “we looked at each other and were like, ‘We’re in!’” The total cost to fund scholarships for the first five cohorts of Valley Scholars has been about $7.5 million, divided between university funding and private donors like the Kozlowskis. They say it’s

been “fulfilling to see these students come to JMU and become well equipped and on their way to being engaged citizens.”

As more cohorts make their way to college admission, the promise of scholarships is critical to stabilizing the program, and the need for private philanthropy will continue. Local philanthropist Bill Holtzman, owner of Mount Jackson-based Holtzman Oil Corp., is also on board. “I’m very impressed,” he said. “For the money spent, I get the biggest return that I can imagine. I get to help kids in the central Shenandoah Valley and help them in a way I believe will have a significant, positive and lasting impact on our community.”

Alger agreed: “We’re creating pathways to JMU where none existed before. We seek to give not just the gift of an education, but also the gift of hope for a bright future.”

To learn more about the Valley Scholars program, scan or visit https://j.mu/vs

THE IMPACT OF UNLEASHED

Realizing one’s gifts

“JMU is not the same as it was before Valley Scholars; I’m not the same. What I perceive as possible is different after watching them.”

— SHAUN MOONEY (’98, ’03M) executive director, Center for First-Generation Students

Sean Tobin (’92) and his wife, Michele, established a planned gift in honor of Joanne V. Gabbin, retired English professor, founder of the Furious Flower Poetry Center and former Honors Program director. The Dr. Joanne Gabbin Professorship in what is now the JMU Honors College is intended to perpetuate in future faculty members the kind of caring and high expectations that Gabbin exemplified. “I was one of 10,000 students, yet Dr. Gabbin made sure I realized she believed in me,” Tobin said.

Note-worthy

Saxophone professor, student share special bond

By Sadie Aram and Sarah Eccleston

FFor most Dukes, the relationship with their instructor starts on the first day of class. But for one JMU saxophone player, it began four years before he arrived on campus.

Dylan Royal, a Music Education major, went to Magna Vista High School in Ridgeway, Virginia. He met professor David Pope in a master class at one of JMU’s summer band camps. After the class, his heart was set on attending JMU.

Pope saw “fantastic” videos on social media of Royal playing saxophone and was amazed to learn he had no access to a private teacher — he had learned to play solely from watching video tutorials on the internet.

“I taught myself saxophone by simply listening to professional players like Steven Banks, Otis Murphy and other greats through platforms like Instagram and YouTube,” Royal said.

Royal connected with some of Pope’s students, who tutored him online for free. “We all recognized very quickly that Dylan was someone we wanted to see at JMU,” Pope said.

But JMU was financially out of reach for Royal and his family. When Pope became aware of this, he wanted to help. “Losing Dylan to another university would be devastating,” he said. “No child should have to pick their college based on money alone.”

For more about Royal and Pope, scan or visit https://j.mu/duet.

At the last minute, Pope was able to find a pair of scholarships — the Madison Award for Academic Excellence and the Patsy M. Clarke Scholarship — to allow him to study Music Education at JMU.

“JMU’s music program has to be one of the best in Virginia,” Royal said. When you come here as a Music major, your level of musicianship will improve drastically.”

Pope and Royal worked together to prepare a duet, Royal Duke Tango Fantasy, which they premiered at the 2022 Stewardship Luncheon. The piece, which Pope composed, is just one of the many ways professors collaborate with JMU students.

“Having a student like Dylan elevates our whole music program,” Pope said.

For Royal, Pope’s influence goes way beyond the classroom.

“He teaches us about so much more than music. He listens to us when we need to talk, and he sets an example for how to be good people,” Royal said. “He wants us to be great musicians but even better people.”

Royal joined the Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, the Marching Royal Dukes and the top saxophone quartet — all in his first year at JMU. He has found a place to grow as a musician, and has made friends who have pushed him to work harder than he ever could have imagined.

Once Royal completes his undergraduate studies, he plans to further his education with the goal of becoming a saxophone professor like Pope.

“Now that I am studying at JMU, I am truly living

dream,” Royal said.

The faces of Unleashed (cont.)

>> FROM PAGE 35

Donna Ragsdale Dunn

(’94, ’00M)

SMAD major / Public Administration major President, Word Song Inc.

“I feel like I’ve grown up with JMU. It was the beginning of my story in so many ways — the place I made lifelong friends, the place I met my spouse, the place I discovered my career. When I graduated in 1994, JMU was a fantastic university, but it’s become even so much more. I’m proud to call it my alma mater, one that feels like visiting an old friend when I return. … When I graduated from JMU, I felt like I was graduating for myself but also for my parents — who both wanted to graduate from college but could not. It changed my life and theirs. As a first-generation college graduate, I want to support others coming after me. I know how life-changing it can be to attend JMU, and I’m so grateful.”

Rosie Chisolm, Class of 2023

SMAD major / Political Science minor

“I chose to give to JMU because I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to attend this school. Out of all the amazing experiences and opportunities that I have been given, I wanted to make sure that future students continue to have the same opportunities that I did. I know that giving back to JMU means helping to create a bigger, brighter and even better future for the school and its students.”

Daryl Cumber Dance

Professor emerita of English / University of Richmond Six-year Furious Flower Poetry Center donor “More African American poets and writers have graced JMU’s campus than any other university in this nation, indeed in our world — not just the giants, the state and national and Nobel laureates, the Pulitzer and MacArthur and Guggenheim and Langston Hughes award winners, but poets at every stage of development.”

my

“He teaches us about so much more than music. He wants us to be great musicians but even better people.”

— DYLAN ROYAL

Twenty years later, Rainey-Shepard Business Plan Competition delivers

results

Winning friends, influencing people

endowment that generates more than $25,000 annually in competition scholarships.

Upon the 20th anniversary of the competition this year, Rainey chatted via Zoom with several of the alumni who look back fondly on this formative experience.

“I talked to a bunch of competition alumni, and it’s very moving and meaningful to me when they talk about the impact and that it really did prepare them,” Rainey said. “Many have said to me that was a highlight of their experience in the College of Business. And I said, ‘Well, you know, clearly that’s far more than we would have ever hoped for.’”

Brett Danielson (’18), founder and CEO of BarTrack Inc., a global hospitality technology company, was among the alumni on the call with Rainey.

“The competition made me realize how much I love creating and solving problems, and how I’m going to put my all into it,” Danielson said. “Going through that process really makes you think differently and put us in a situation that we otherwise wouldn’t have been. And who knows, without the business plan competition, I could definitively say my life would be completely different.

By Andy Perrine (’86)

TThe beating heart of JMU’s College of Business curriculum is a 12-credit-hour course that integrates finance, management, marketing and operations known as CoB 300, which students take immediately following formal acceptance into the college their junior year. The course places students in cross-disciplinary teams and tasks them with integrating material from the four classes and developing a viable business plan.

The course looms large. Nearly without exception, students fear the rigors of CoB 300. Also nearly without exception, the college’s alumni praise what they learned in the course.

Twenty years ago, successful venture capitalist Don Rainey (’82) proposed a formal

competition that would invite students with the best business plans created in CoB 300 to compete for scholarships. Since its inception, nearly 600 students have participated in the Rainey-Shepard Business Plan Competition thanks to the generosity of Rainey and Russell “Rusty” Shepard (’86), who funded the

“I definitely view JMU as one of the biggest influences on my life, and the business plan competition is right there with it,” he said.

For Rainey and Shepard, the business plan competition endowment was intentionally designed to focus the minds of the competitors.

“The moment I hope for is that in 10, 15 or 20 years, they’re standing outside a boardroom, and they have to go in and convince people of their ideas, the quality of their work, the precision of their thinking,” Rainey said. “There’s big money on the line, and they’ve already experienced that because of the business plan competition. And so, the monetary component of the business plan competition isn’t lifechanging for anyone, but it’s important.”

Danielson said of the prize money, “The opportunity to win a scholarship, for us, was

Don Rainey (‘82) and Russell “Rusty” Shepard (‘86), below, funded an endowment to support the competition.

really important. I think it mattered to every single person on the team. You know, all of us have student debt. So, it was a big deal for us to compete on a level where there was some real reward for us if we did something good. It was a great experience.”

Rainey said many business plan competition alumni are now decades into their careers and have gone on to achieve great things. “And it’s wonderful to talk to them too,” he said, “to see that they remember it, and that they, in many cases, treasure it and feel it helped propel them.”

Filling the gaps

Startup approaches the recruiting space from a different mindset

By Andy Perrine (’86)

Where are all the workers? Procession Systems knows.

A s the United States emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have been desperate to hire. While demand for goods and services has rebounded, the supply of labor has not. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, more than 10 million job openings in the U.S. went unfilled for most of 2022. Employers in all sectors are having a tough time hiring as the economy recovers.

“A lot of people say this is something they’ve never seen before,” said Joe Barletta (’19), managing partner at Procession Systems, a red-hot, employee-recruiting startup.

“I think the main core driver is that it’s an employee-driven market. And employers have to react and adapt to that. People have options, and employers are feeling a lot of that pain, which is causing more urgency to hire.”

Barletta started Procession Systems with his friend, Kyle Blackburn (’15), in 2016 with four employees. Today, the company employs 44 people, and business has grown by 690%, undeterred by the pandemic.

Barletta said their rapid success is a result of approaching the recruiting space with a completely different mindset. “It’s a very transactional-heavy industry,” he said. “But our business philosophy — and how we’ve been able to grow — is not on extreme, short-term profits. Instead, it’s building deeper and longer-term relationships with our clients, and solving problems for them. We want our clients to be our clients for 10 years, not for 10 days.”

Both partners attribute their success and the unique corporate ethos they’ve created to their education in and out of the classroom at JMU. For Barletta, it was being on a team and building a business plan in CoB 300, and then meeting visiting entrepreneurs in the New Venture Creation class. As for Blackburn, he said, “One of my favorite analogies is holding the door open at JMU. In a very real way, we do that at Procession. From when I arrived at JMU for Orientation until I graduated, it was always about putting people first and looking out for one another, holding the door open.”

Joe Barletta (‘19) and Kyle Blackburn (‘15) each gave five-figure gifts to JMU in September. “There are so many really successful people of our generation who had great experiences at JMU but don’t know that their contributions are needed,” Barletta said. “Kyle and I wanted to create a call to action to our generation. Hopefully this is a great opportunity to be the catalyst.” Blackburn added, “I want to be an example by paying it forward, and I want people to follow what we’re doing.”

ZACH KULZER AND HOLLY VEENIS;

“All of us have student debt. It was a big deal for us to compete on a level where there was some real reward. It was a great experience.”

— BRETT DANIELSON (’ 18)

Only the best student business plans from CoB 300 are eligible for the annual Rainey-Shepard competition.

Numbers By the

63,976

TOTAL DONORS

■ More than half (39,802) of all donors made their first gift to JMU during the campaign.

■ Donors who gave between $50 and $1,000 collectively made the largest gift of the campaign at $17 million

■ 3,440 donors made a gift all eight years of the campaign.

UNLEASHED

Donors who gave on the six JMU Giving Days during the campaign accounted for $4.5 million

481,889 square feet enhanced or added on campus

$5 million

A gift from Paul Holland (’82) and Linda Yates led to the naming of Holland Yates Hall, formerly known as Madison Hall.

579 donors gave a collective $632,900 to commemorate their 50th Bluestone Reunions.

More than 20,000 donors gave small gifts for a $10.5 million impact on JMU scholarships.

The largest gift was the in-kind Peter L. Via Mineral Collection, valued at $16.8 million

36 seven-figure gifts

More than 770 Unleashed gifts totaling more than $22.4 million have provided academic scholarships for at least 6,212 students so far.

MORE UNDERDOGS

THE IMPACT OF UNLEASHED

The faces of Unleashed (cont.)

>> FROM PAGE 37

Ryan Corriston (’13M)

JMU associate professor of dance

Cinquegrana winners announced

Bernd Kaussler, professor of political science, was awarded the inaugural Betty Coe (’64) and Paul J. Cinquegrana Presidential Chair of Faculty Teaching Excellence and Research to conduct research on proxy war and civilian victimization in Yemen, and work with students to create a human security map. “It allows me to embark on some very exciting and important research in my field. I could not do this without this award,” Kaussler said.

Michael E. Busing, dean of the College of Business, received the Cinquegrana Endowed Chair in Business Ethics and Leadership. In this role, he leads an organization of more than 230 faculty and staff members and 5,000-plus students in JMU’s business programs, as well as the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management and the School of Strategic Leadership Studies.

“I love supporting students because my life was truly changed by the support of my dance faculty members as an undergraduate. I received a dance scholarship in college, and although it wasn’t a massive amount of money, it showed me that the faculty members believed in me and saw my potential. The encouragement of that award helped give me confidence to pursue a career in dance, even when doubt would creep into my mind. I also had a faculty member say they believed in me and knew I could work as an artist. Those simple words of belief were all I needed to keep working hard, even when I felt intimidated and fearful. It is my greatest hope that I can impact my students in the same way that my faculty members impacted me.”

Adora Williams (’95)

International Affairs major Senior benefits manager for the NFL Players Association

THE IMPACT OF UNLEASHED

Via collection revealed at JMU Mineral Museum

The university received a mineral collection valued at more than $16.8 million from the late Peter L. Via of Roanoke, Virginia. The Via gift affirms JMU’s status in higher education, given that just 25% of U.S. colleges and universities have geology departments. “We are so pleased to be able to make this remarkable collection available to the public,” said President Jonathan R. Alger. “This gift from Peter Via enhances the stature of science education at JMU.”

“I’m paying it forward. I was a student who needed financial help to go to and get through college. I was so blessed to have help, and now that I am in a position to provide that assistance to others, I’m just drawn to do so. I know of people who had to leave college because they couldn’t get continual funding; I could have been one of them without the aid that I received. I don’t want finances to be the reason a student leaves JMU and all it has to offer, so if I can be a part of helping students fill the gaps, I am happy to give.”

Wei Huang (’05)

Computer Information Systems major / Business Management major Real estate investor / operator / owner

“The culture at JMU is special; JMU embraces the people who come here. As an international student, I put myself out there and was welcomed with open arms. Even since graduating, when I come back to JMU, attend alumni events or events outside Harrisonburg, or sporting events on the road, I know I’m always part of the JMU Nation.”

BY MIKE MIRIELLO (‘09M); MUSEUM BY JUSTIN ROTH

Priorities met, potentialUnleashed

By Khalil Garriott (’ 04)

For nearly a decade, generosity from donors has transformed Unleashed: The Campaign for James Madison University into a record-breaking achievement. Here’s how they made it happen:

2014-15

A new spirit of possibility starts spreading

JMU first lady Mary Ann Alger notes the many ways that women give back at the Women for Madison Opening Doors Rally in March 2015.

JMU President Jonathan R. Alger expresses the critical need for women to be involved in the future of the university and in The Madison Plan.

2016

2017 Donors put students first by investing in spaces, scholarships

During FY17, donors set a record with 124 new majorgift commitments. Financial momentum for the Valley Scholars program, College of Business Learning Complex and Atlantic Union Bank Center builds in earnest.

2019

Breaking records, surpassing expectations

Unleashed hits the road, with several regional events highlighting JMU’s phenomenal rise.

2020

Maintaining momentum in pandemic headwinds

2021 Being Seen for Who We Are — the national model for the engaged university

The world takes notice of JMU’s academic excellence and national prominence. Its lofty vision statement comes to fruition.

The Madison spirit of possibility unites Dukes as the stage is set for JMU to take the next step.

2018 Unleashed goes public, increasing excitement and giving

In October 2018, JMU announces and celebrates the public launch of its second comprehensive fundraising campaign.

An extraordinary donor response results in an increased goal of $750,000 for the Madison for Keeps campaign, which provides emergency scholarships to allow Dukes to stay Dukes. Donors raised $759,012 despite the disruption and upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022 A remarkable final sprint

Thanks to donors, JMU is thriving like never before. The campaign ends with more than $251 million invested from 63,976 investors. The original $200 million goal, which some said was too ambitious, is shattered.

For a timeline of Unleashed news, scan or visit https://j.mu/archive.

BY IBRAHIM AZAD, MIKE MIRIELLO ( ’09M ), ELISE TRISSEL AND HOLLY VEENIS

“It’s time” becomes a rallying cry for Dukes everywhere

RENEWING OUR CIVIL SOCIETY

Donors gave more than $13.9 million for signature JMU programs that educate students to embrace people across our divides, foster productive dialogue and advocacy, and restore the founding principles of the American Experiment. Programs included the African, African American and Diaspora Studies Center; the Center for ServiceLearning; the Ethical Reasoning in Action program with its proprietary Eight Key Questions ; the nationally recognized Furious Flower Poetry Center; the Honors College; the nonpartisan James Madison Center for Civic Engagement; and Study Abroad.

REALIZING OUR VISION

Savvy donors who understand the need to create a base of flexible funding gave more than $11.8 million. Their support has gone toward seeding new programs, retaining exceptional talent, funding strategic partner-

ships, improving campus safety and security, creating unique learning opportunities for students and enhancing diversity initiatives.

ATHLETICS

Intercollegiate athletics holds a special place in the hearts of many Dukes, who gave more than $45 million to support JMU teams and student-athletes. Their giving accounts for 18.7% of the $251 million campaign total.

Last year, fundraising for JMU Athletics surpassed $5 million from 4,695 donors — both records. Fans stepped up to the #DukesRise Challenge, with excitement building over JMU’s move to the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Sun Belt Conference. JMU

Athletics is today excelling on the national stage. In football, 7,582 season tickets were purchased — another record — and in October, the team was ranked 25th by the Associated Press. People around the U.S. are taking notice: From Google searches and media attention to paid media coverage and social media mentions, total impressions are skyrocketing.

GREATER THINGS TO COME

Perhaps modest in comparison to the endowments of the richer flagship schools JMU is compared to academically, the $251 million achievement of the university’s second comprehensive campaign is an important benchmark.

“It’s no secret that our university has big aspirations,” Langridge said, “so it’s clear philanthropy must play a significant role in complementing tuition and state funding. Donor investment in the Unleashed campaign is a signal that we’re on our way. It gives us the confidence to be ambitious, knowing that alumni, parents and friends have the passion, willingness and pride to sustain a bold philanthropic trajectory into our future.”

THE IMPACT OF UNLEASHED

research

Deaquan Nichols knew JMU was “the perfect place” after a summer Honors College program. Nichols began working with biophysical chemistry professor Oleksandr Kokhan to research the artificial acceleration of photosynthesis, and

was invited to present his findings at the 2022 Biophysical Society Conference in California. Nichols crafted his Independent Scholars major at JMU to focus on the neurochemistry of trauma. ”After graduation, I will be enrolling in VCU School of Medicine, being one of the youngest African American students they have ever accepted,“ he said.

“Every time I leave JMU, my cup is full. Every single time. My giving is simply an overflow of that feeling of gratitude.”

— BARBARA BOULDIN (’87, ’20P)

for Alumni Life

(Right): Emily Koenen (’12) struck a pose on her way into Nevada for a week of hiking the national parks.

More than 225 alumni laced up their hiking boots for the second Dukes Hike event, June 1-13. Hikers picked a location and distance that fit with their lifestyles, then headed out to enjoy the great outdoors. Collectively, hikers logged 315-plus miles over the course of 13 days. Proceeds from the event supported the Madison Vision Fund.

Aimee Cima (’02, ’03M) and her family enjoyed this view in Kirirom, Cambodia. The view was worth the 6-mile hike!

(Counterclockwise from top): Rebecca McAneny (’87) completed her Dukes Hike with the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter at Hillsborough River State Park, Florida; During her hike, Sarah Young (’92) hit some of the more local paths and showed off her Purple Pride to her George Mason University neighbors; Erin Conley (’06), with Tom Hardbarger, had her very own Duke Dog to lead the way through the Blue Ridge Tunnel in Afton, Virginia; Courtney Noctor (’11) hit the trails with her parents, Margaret (’79) and James Noctor, in Richmond, Virginia; There is always time to stop and smell the flowers. Tiffanie Rosier (’95) completed her hike in Niantic, Connecticut.

Bethany Vriesman (’92) and her family hiked 45 miles during their 10-day vacation, enjoying the amazing sights throughout Utah along the way. Vriesman paused for a picture in Arches National Park. Although it wasn’t the hardest hill she tackled during her adventure, it was one of the most breathtaking.

(Clockwise from top): David Taylor (’85) (right) and Weston Hatfield, both recently retired from University Advancement, scaled Mary’s Rock at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (retirement is treating them well); A little rain couldn’t stop Jade Hillery (’10) and her friends from completing their hike around Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C.; Alayna Stormer (’22) paused to take in the views on her way to Adam Falls in Linn Run State Park, Pennsylvania.

ALUMNI FOR LIFE

Nun other than a Duke

Alumna gives up social media, marriage for a new devotion

BY MADDIE JOHNSON, alumni relations student writing assistant

Sister Teresa Joy Berry (’15) graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance. But the highlight of her Madison Experience was Catholic Campus Ministry, which guided her on her journey into the sisterhood by offering Mass, Bible study, women’s groups and informational trips.

“One of the most beautiful things about CCM and the community that I found was that, wherever you were in your faith journey, you had a spot there,” Sister Teresa said. “It was just a very beautiful group of people earnestly striving for a relationship with the Lord, and then having the resources available to do that was really a gift.”

In the spring of her senior year at JMU, she was accepted into the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee. Upon entering the convent, Sister Teresa embarked on what’s known as “the formation process.” She was initially known as a postulant, committing to the virtues of her new community and to life as a nun, and questioning “Is this life meant for me?” or “Is this my calling from God?”

After one year of being a postulant, Sister Teresa became a novice for a year, followed by five years of temporary vows. Professing her final vows in July, after a seven-year process, culminated in her devotion to a new life of poverty, chastity and obedience.

In addition to her religious duties, Sister Teresa teaches the message of Jesus to children in pre-K through eighth grade at the congregation’s apostolate of Catholic education. She spent another two years obtaining her master’s degree in teaching at Aquinas College in Nashville and currently teaches fourth grade in Illinois.

Sister Teresa lives in the Mission Convent, a space for sisters to stay when they

Becoming a nun was a sevenyear process for Sister Teresa Joy Berry (’15), far left. (Inset): Sister Teresa, left, makes her perpetual profession of vows as a sister of the Domi n ican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee.

are sent to teach around the country. “The Motherhouse” offers additional living spaces where sisters can spend holidays, see family members, attend classes and hold fellowship with other sisters.

“It has been a great gift in my religious life — the true friendships and true sisterly relationships that I can have with my sisters. We might not agree on some of the superficial things, but we agree on the essentials, like we are here to get to heaven. And I’m here, as a sister, to help you get to heaven,” she said.

Sisters must give up many modern conveniences, such as handheld devices and social media. They also are not allowed to marry and have only limited contact with family. All these factors could make one reconsider becoming a nun, but Sister Teresa is willing to do so for her faith.

ALUMNI FOR LIFE

“One of the things that people often overlook is poverty of time. My time is actually not my own — it’s Jesus’,” she said. “I’ve given everything about me over to Jesus. I’m radically available to do whatever needs to be done. Our Lord said, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Facebook or Instagram, it’s a lot of ‘me, me, me, me.’ And I just can’t even think to do that.”

As a Duke, she went by Annie Berry but received the name Sister Teresa Joy Berry from the prioress general during the habit ceremony to becoming a novice. The origin of the name comes from St. Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish noblewoman within the Catholic Church. Taking a new name symbolizes her transition to a new, religious life, as does sacrificing the ability to express herself through clothing.

“Wearing the habit, it’s an outward sign that I have dedicated my life to Christ, and it’s just so humbling to me, where people — even if I really don’t know them — will allow me to walk on their journey with them,” Sister Teresa said.

Hardships are a part of life, yet she views these challenges as a sign from the Lord leading her to her true intention. When a plan goes wrong, she believes the Lord sends her signs to take a new path. Her faith has been the foundation for her satisfaction. Before becoming a nun, Sister Teresa was unaware of how her life would play out. Now, she is confident that joining the sisterhood was her calling.

“Before He called, I didn’t know it was even an option, which is the reason He put the desire in my heart, but there is such joy in following Jesus,” she said. “And even when I was discerning, my friends and my parents and my family recognized that, saying ‘Something’s different about you. There’s something joyful about you.’

“A life lived with the Lord, you’re going to grow in joy and grow in freedom, because we’re living very deeply with that radical call to discipleship,” Sister Teresa said. “And that gives us the love of Jesus, which makes us do what we do. It’s all about that relationship with Jesus. I mean, we sisters are called Brides of Christ. We put on our vows in a mystical way and espoused Jesus Christ, and so I give him total permission in my life.”

She finds pleasure in expressing herself though the Lord daily, regardless of the sacrifices. If someone is curious about becoming a sister, Sister Teresa encourages them to be brave and trust that the Lord has a plan.

“It doesn’t have to be a great mission trip. It doesn’t have to be a pilgrimage. It doesn’t even have to look like being a sister. If the Lord has a plan for your life and His plan is good and His plan is worth doing, the love of Jesus is to spread His love. It really doesn’t get better than that.

“And this is only one half of it. The venture continues into eternity. You start living that love now that we are going to live forever. It’s all about the Lord, and it’s all worth it.”

Irecently listened to a podcast in which author A.J. Jacobs described the premise behind his TED Talk and book, Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey. The idea was simple: Thank every person who played a role in his morning coffee. The execution of that idea, however, was far more complicated. Jacobs traveled all over the world to thank more than a thousand people, from the barista to the delivery driver, from the coffee farmer to the inventor of the coffee-cup lid, and so on. His journey led him to realize that so many people are behind each of our days, and that gratitude could be used as a spark to action for greater connectivity, generosity and happiness.

In contemplating Jacobs’ work, I began thinking not just about the people in my everyday life — family, friends, co-workers — but also of those involved in my Madison Experience and my work with the JMU Alumni Association. I also thought about who we, as a JMU community, might need to show our gratitude to more often. We all see that picturesque view of the Quad in our minds with the trimmed green grass and bright blooming flowers, but the workers who make our gorgeous campus a reality often go without thanks. While we were students, we were fortunate to have clean residence halls and buildings thanks to the housekeeping staff, delicious food thanks to Dining Services, and remarkable in-class experiences thanks to dedicated and passionate faculty members.

As alumni, our Madison Experience and love for JMU extends far beyond our years as students. Following Jacobs’ lead, I often think about the people behind our alumni experience — the hard work of the Office of Alumni Relations along with the dedicated volunteers of the JMUAA. These volunteers serve on the JMUAA Board of Directors, and as chapter leaders and regional ambassadors representing JMU worldwide. As president, I am especially grateful for these people who support and further the JMUAA’s mission, vision and strategic priorities. I hope that at the next alumni event, whether on campus or in your town, you will join me in thanking them for their work in extending the JMU alumni experience to wherever you are!

In the spirit of Jacobs’ work, I challenge us to convey our gratitude and appreciation with intention — however we can, whenever we have the opportunity. Go Dukes!

Tripp Hughes (’09)

JMU Alumni Association president

Thankful for you, Dukes!

“One of the most beautiful things about [JMU’s] Catholic Campus Ministry and the community that I found was that, wherever you were in your faith journey, you had a spot there.”

ALUMNI FOR LIFE Dukes return home

BY JESSICA SAVOIE (’14, ’20M) associate director, Office of Alumni Relations

From Oct. 21-23, JMU welcomed Dukes from around the globe, both virtually and in person, for Homecoming 2022.

(Right):

-

The week started with the Traditions Tailgate, where students learned about Madison traditions and painted the Spirit Rock in celebration.

During the week, departments, student organizations and alumni tapped into their creative sides to decorate yard signs with all the reasons JMU is home. After the online votes came in, the winning design went to the Advancement Gifts and Records team, followed by Aliece Carney (’20) and the Young Children’s Program.

Back for a third year, 300-plus Dukes laced up their sneakers for the Duke Dog Dash. Over 72 hours, Dashers logged more than 368 miles in support of the Dukes Pay It Forward Scholarship.

On Friday night, the Quad was the place to be. With performances from the Marching Royal Dukes, cheerleading and a cappella groups, as well as plenty of free food, giveaways and games, there was something for everyone.

For game day, homecomers enjoyed Bagels and Beer tailgating on East Campus before heading over to Bridgeforth Stadium to

JMU alumni and stu

dents enjoy all of the festivities at QuadFest.

(Above, L-R): Alumni enjoy the Bagels and Beer tailgating event; Aliece Carney’s (’20) homecoming yard sign; Duke Dog helps paint Spirit Rock at the Traditions Tailgate; clarinetists for the Marching Royal Dukes show Purple Pride before their QuadFest performance; cheerleaders raise spirits at the football game versus Marshall; a proud Duke runs in the Duke Dog Dash.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY IBRAHIM AZAD, JULIA WEAVER (’21) AND COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

ALUMNI FOR LIFE

Meet Darryl Coleman (’86)

New member of the Alumni board draws on corporate experience

BY MADDIE JOHNSON, alumni relations student writing assistant

After attending an on-campus recruitment event, Darryl Coleman (’86) went to work at Aetna Life and Casualty insurance company, launching his career in insurance claims. Currently, he owns an insurance recruiting firm in Atlanta, Georgia.

Maddie Johnson: Why did you choose to attend JMU?

Darryl Coleman: You know, it’s funny, because JMU had recruited me to play football, but I didn’t end up taking them up on it. I actually came Freshman Weekend back in the day, and I fell in love with the campus, people and the whole vibe. It was maybe two hours from home, so it gave me enough of a distance to feel on my own, but at the same time if I needed to get back, I was close enough. It just really fit.

Johnson: Where did you live at JMU?

Coleman: My freshman year I lived in Garber Hall. I don’t know if it changed, but Garber Hall did not have visitation during the week, so it was only weekend visitors. My parents wanted to make sure I was focusing on school, so that’s where I was my freshman year, and then sophomore year I moved to Chandler. My third and fourth year I was off campus. I had a great four years.

Johnson: What professor or class made the most impact on you?

Coleman: I would say Dr. William Nelson in the political science department. He was really knowledgeable, impactful, balanced and caring. Forrest Parker, former associate director of the Office of Admissions, had a great influence on me as well and was one of the people who was part of my process to come to JMU at the time.

Johnson: What is your favorite memory?

Coleman: I’d probably say my graduation. It was a combination of four years of hard

work and being able to have family and friends there, and watch them at their graduations and spend time with their families — some of whom we had met and hung with through the years but others who we hadn’t met. It was a beautiful May day, and usually at that time, it was always gorgeous. It was one of those crystal-clear, blue-sky days.

Johnson: What do you think makes JMU so special?

Coleman: Without a doubt, it’s the people. The campus is gorgeous, the facilities are impeccable, degree options are exceptional, but what brings it all together and leaves a lasting impression is the people. The students, professors, administrators and campus employees combine to form a collegial, collaborative and engaging community. I was able to forge, build and sustain relationships that have lasted almost 40 years! It’s rare for me to go more than two weeks without talking with alumni, and when catching up with another Duke, regardless of how long it’s been, it’s like no time has passed and you pick right up years later. I believe the Madison Experience is rare and unlike any other!

Johnson: What have you done since graduating from JMU?

Coleman: I started my insurance career in Northern Virginia, and ultimately spent 20 years and 10 moves working with six different insurance companies. When I returned to Atlanta in 2005, I joined Safeco

Insurance. When I was on the corporate side, I hired an executive recruiter to help me fill open positions, and he was always asking me why I hadn't considered becoming an executive recruiter. I’d say, “Nah, I’m not a recruiter; I’m an insurance executive.” He was quick to point out some things, so I said, “I’ll give it a shot.” And here I am 16 years later owning a recruiting firm and still helping others.

Johnson: How have you stayed connected to JMU and other alumni since graduating?

Coleman: Wherever I go, I try to reach out and connect with alumni. I was just down in Orlando, Florida, and had a chance to catch up with Dr. Julie Holland (’86). I’m also always talking to Lee Parker (’86), a Richmond, Virginia, lawyer. The list just goes on. Kyle Yeager, associate director of the Office of Strategic Gifts, was just at my house in Atlanta. I try to keep up with Chuck May (’83) and what’s going on with the whole school. I can always do more, but I’m talking to someone from JMU every week.

Johnson: Why did you decide to serve on the Alumni board of directors?

Coleman: To give back. To take some of my experiences from corporate America — the moves that I’ve made, the people who I’ve connected with and the knowledge that I gained — and pay it forward. I think being able to help the university from a macro-perspective is what I’m trying to do. The university itself is growing, and the fact that we are now a national university … alumni are going to be all over the world.

Johnson: What do you hope to accomplish during your term on the board?

Coleman: I’d like for the board to be a reflection of the students. We still have to make intentional efforts to make people feel included, valued and equal. I want to see how things pan out, what needs to be done and what I can do to help from that perspective.

FOR LIFE

Half a world away

Alumnus among first Peace Corps volunteers to serve overseas after pandemic

BY SADIE ARAM

Tristan Kruse (’22) knew he wanted to join the Peace Corps after he graduated, but when the global service organization conducted a volunteer evacuation because of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, his plan became uncertain.

Kruse, an Economics major with a concentration in Environmental and Natural Resources, had participated in JMU’s Peace Corps Prep Program and served as the university’s Peace Corps Ambassador during his senior year. Although he felt prepared to serve, he still had doubts about when Peace Corps operations would resume. “The pandemic has defi nitely presented its challenges,” Kruse said.

Despite the unusual times, Kruse made the most of his Madison Experience. In addition to his campus involve ment with the Peace Corps, he was a member of the JMU GIVE club, Environmental Management Club and Food for Thought club. These organizations played an important part in his Peace Corps journey.

In 2022, the Peace Corps resumed service. Kruse’s assignment began in July. He is more than 7,000 miles away, serving as a business development advisor in the Kayunga District in Central Uganda.

“I have never traveled much and have always wanted to see the world. The Peace Corps gives a unique experience in the sense that you can see a place for what it really is,” Kruse said. “You truly get to learn a new culture and get a deep understanding of your new home.”

Kruse didn’t know what to expect in Uganda, but he was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming nature of the locals.

“People always want to talk to you, know what you think of the country, where you’re from,” he said. “It’s also amazing to me how strangers will fend for you and feel a need to protect you.”

Kruse completed an intensive pre-service training that included learning Luganda, the language widely spoken in the central region of Uganda. On a typical day, he conducts needs assessments for community groups and helps establish and improve Village Savings and Loan Associations in the community.

At times, Kruse’s volunteer work can be demanding and frustrating. Resilience is a requirement.

“You have to keep pushing through the obstacles, as well as be flexible in the methods you use to approach your problems,” Kruse said.

“Working in a new culture and country means adapting your perspective and having to find creative ways to change your viewpoint.”

The Peace Corps has many restrictions in place to keep communities and volunteers safe. For Uganda specifically, there are cultural and social incentives to avoid contracting COVID-19.

“There’s the personal task of just feeling out how your community feels about COVID-19, how they were affected by the pandemic and what role I play in the situation,” Kruse said.

JMU is among the Peace Corps’ top volunteer-producing schools. Kruse urges aspiring volunteers to connect with a recruiter, start the application process early, and become involved with the university and Harrisonburg communities.

Kruse will continue serving in Uganda until October 2024. He hopes to attend graduate school and travel once his assignment ends.

“What I learned inside and outside the classroom at JMU prepared me for my role as volunteer,” Kruse said. “Without JMU, I would have never joined the Peace Corps.”

(Above): Tristan Kruse (’22) poses with members of his host family in Uganda. (Left): Kruse works with a colleague to build a permaculture garden.

MixedMedia

BOOKS, MUSIC FILM

George Kennan for Our Time

BY LEE CONGDON (’92P) Northern Illinois University Press

ISBN-13: 978-1501765186

George Kennan for Our Time examines the work and thought of the most distinguished American diplomat of the 20th century and extracts lessons for today. In his writings and lectures, Kennan outlined the proper conduct of foreign policy and issued warnings to an American society on the edge of the abyss.

Congdon, a former History professor, identifies the principles Kennan applied to U.S. relations with Russia and Eastern Europe, and to Asia and the Middle East. He takes particular note of Kennan’s role in formulating postwar policy in Japan, his measured response to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea and his opposition to the Vietnam War. Congdon also considers Kennan’s strong criticisms of his own country, its egalitarianism, unrestricted immigration and multiple addictions. He cites Kennan’s call for a greater closeness to nature, a revival of religious faith and a return to the representative government established by the Founding Fathers.

This novel describes the often-disastrous results of rejecting Kennan’s counsel, and the dangers, international and national, posed by an ongoing failure to draw upon his wisdom. In view of America’s foreign policy disasters in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world, Kennan’s realist approach provides important lessons for our current age.

Wildflowers of Shenandoah National Park

BY ANN SIMPSON (’04M)

Falcon Guides; second edition

ISBN-13: 978-1493060306

Wildflowers of Shenandoah National Park is an easy-to-use field guide to help you identify more than 230 of the park’s most common species, from the iconic large-flowered trillium, with its trio of white to pink petals, to the showstopping blooms that adorn the mountain laurel shrubs decorating trails in June. Information-packed and beautifully photographed, this field guide is an indispensable resource for identifying wildflowers in the park.

Ann and Rob Simpson are professional photographers, biologists and authors, as well as noted national park experts. Their books include Yellowstone National Park Pocket Guide, Yosemite National Park Guide and Born Wild in Shenandoah, and their work has been published in numerous magazines, including National Geographic. Ann, who earned a Master of Science in Biology, has co-written numerous books on national parks coast to coast that promote wise and proper use of natural habitats and environmental stewardship. In cooperation with American Park Network, Ann and her husband led Canon’s “Photography in the Parks” workshops in national parks including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Great Smoky Mountains.

Easy Rider: The Older Ones

ISBN-13: 978-0999903520

Twin brothers ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles from Ashland, Pennsylvania, to New Orleans, Louisiana, on the trip of a lifetime. The older brothers enjoy flossing, odd and friendly bikers, and David Mann motorcycle art from Easyriders magazine all along the way. Ford meets the love of a lifetime. Dan and his wife, Bee, rock down the highway of life together. They have a blast and remember the classic biker movie Easy Rider from 1969.

Cutting of Harp Strings: a novel

BY E.G. KARDOS (’82)

Pen It! Publications, LLC ISBN-13: 978-1639840106

Eli tells the story of his teenage-self in the 1970s when one person upends his plan, and his life is destined to change.

Forever to please, Eli follows a comfortable and preordained path but is unaware of the pounding message in his head that success, happiness and love follow a narrow path. He and Aiden, a polar opposite, are paired as roommates during their senior year in boarding school. They clash, not fully aware of their true selves, yet their friendship unfolds in ways neither has ever experienced. Caught off guard, their relationship deepens but like a gut punch — a promise Aiden made to himself changes everything.

Years later, fraught with regret, denial and his restless spirit, Eli treks to the secret location that he and Aiden once shared to search for his peace. Will he find his answers?

In Cutting of Harp Strings, Kardos, the former director of JMU Gift Societies, shows a creative imagination, a wicked sense of humor and a depth of characterization. If you enjoy a read that makes you think, really think, about the important questions of one’s life, this story is for you — an inward journey set in a very real world. Kardos’ view of spirituality, friendship, love and connection to the universe inspired him to write Cutting of Harp Strings. This novel is a poignant coming-ofage story of friendship, living in the moment, and love as a poetic mosaic of joy, heartbreak, self-reflection, but most of all, utter bliss.

Railway to the Front: The experiences of a WWI narrow gauge railway engineer

EDITED BY OLIN WEST (’91)

Independently published ISBN-13: 979-8887225579

In April 1917, the United States entered World War I. The British and French governments asked the U.S. to give top priority to deploying engineer units to France. Just four months after the U.S. declared war, nine newly organized engineer railway regiments, recruited largely from workers on the nation’s private railroads, had crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

The narrow-gauge military railways of World War I were miniature trains on tracks that were only 2 feet wide. They were the lifelines to the trenches, hauling fresh troops, casualties, ammunition, rations, medical supplies and heavy ordnance. Engineers laid the tracks to support the troops wherever they went. As the front changed, so did these railroads. It was hard work, digging, hauling, grading, laying and repairing tracks.

West was given two handwritten journals that his great uncle, Edward Reinsel, had written while serving in one of these units. This began a journey to transcribe the journals and discover the history of these men. One of the journals was a novel, Tank, based upon his wartime experiences. The other was his personal journal, which contained stories, poems, resolutions and notes from his fellow soldiers. The book contains these journals and some chapters that provide historical context. Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and PDF versions can be downloaded for free at https://bit.ly/railwaytothefront.

Redneck Dystopia

ISBN-13: 978-0999903513

Redneck Dystopia is a fictional tale about a brutal socialist U.S. beginning after the 2020 presidential election. The three equal branches are destroyed, totalitarianism sets in and the country splits again. The Supreme Court is the weak link to enabling oneparty rule after 245 years of free enterprise. Socialists run the nation with an iron grip, and throw many Christians and capitalists in jail or worse. Follow Sharon, Dale and others from the mountains of Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., in this dystopian world.

Orphans in the Barn: Seven Not-So Deadly Sins

ISBN-13: 978-0999903506

Seven orphans rent an apartment in a barn owned by a pair of mature but doting farm owners. The orphans love life in the Pennsylvania mountains; however, they struggle with the Seven Deadly Sins. They meet many colorful folks in coal country, enjoying a wonderful and Christian life together. A shocking ending awaits them all.

BOOKS BY DAVID XU (’90M) Mountain View Press

MAC chapter awards

Annually, JMU alumni chapters, regional ambassadors and volunteers are recognized for their exemplary volunteer service over the past year and beyond at the Madison Alumni Conference. Winners of each award receive $100 to contribute to the Chapter or Regional Ambassador Operating Fund of their choice:

■ Regional Blue Ridge Chapter of the Year: Williamsburg Dukes

■ Regional Shenandoah Chapter of the Year: MetroDukes

■ Affinity Chapter of the Year: Black Alumni Chapter

■ Regional Ambassador of the Year: San Antonio Dukes — Zach Rolfe (’12)

■ Chapter/Regional Ambassador on the Rise: New York City Dukes

■ Chapter Leader of the Year: Annamarie Frost (’13, ’14M), MetroDukes president

■ Leeolou Lifetime Service Award (new in 2022): Bryan Roberts (’95), Dallas/FortWorth Dukes president

BACK ROW, (L-R): Dave Williams (’06), Tiffanie Rosier (’95), Haley Jaeger (’12), Erica Traveline (’13), Simeon Deskins (’90) and Chiquita King (’09, ’11M). FRONT ROW, (L-R): Tyler Reskovac (’18), Annamarie Frost (’13, ’14M), Peg Noctor (’79), Carmen Jones (’05, ’06M) and Bryan Roberts (’95)

PHOTOGRAPH BY OLIVIA SANTOS (’20); DUKE DOG COMIC STRIP BY JOHN ROSE (’86);

JMU students, faculty, donors, alumni and friends gathered in spring 2012 for the Big Event, a day of community service.

CLASS NOTES

September 2022 by the Baltimore Business Journal as a Power 10 CEO.

RMH heart shining over our city, it makes me proud to be a part of this incredible organization.

It is a reminder of the good things that happen under that heart,” she said.

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Margaret Irene Sawyers Dempsey, a Music major, attended Madison College when Wilson Hall held all of the students, participating in Wednesday Night Singspiration, Stratford Players, the Opera Workshop, Glee Club and Chorus. She was also Chief Scribe of Scribblers. Dempsey has taught for 60 years, and directed theater and choirs. She is eager to connect with classmates: irenedempsey@aol.com.

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a bike trip around Puglia, Italy. They stopped for a JMU photo op in the town of Gallipoli. After the adventure, they returned to JMU, as they each had a graduating 2022 Duke!

“I am deeply honored to be recognized as a Power 10 CEO, and accept this award on behalf of a team of committed RMH professionals and volunteers who work tirelessly to create a compassionate, caring community where we provide a home-awayfrom-home for families and their children who come to Baltimore for medical care,” Pagnotti said.

IN MEMORIAM:

Sharon Lyn O’Hare died on Dec. 17, 2021. She graduated magna cum laude, completing her degree in three years with majors in Economics and Psychology, and taught for five years in the Department of Economics. Her mother, Nancy O’Hare, is professor emerita of speech pathology and audiology.

“Nancy is in the process of setting up an endowed scholarship in memory of her daughter,” said Michael E. Busing, dean of the College of Business. ■ After two years of postponements due to the COVID19 pandemic, a group of friends from Fairfax, Virginia, took

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Sandy Pagnotti, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maryland, was recognized in

Pagnotti has been president and CEO for more than 10 years, and oversaw the campaign for and development of the new Ronald McDonald House, which opened in 2019. “When I look up and see the big

90

Lisa Matthews, a Communications major, was inducted into the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter Hall of Fame in November.

Matthews, a 20-year veteran of The Associated Press, is the first active journalist to have been inducted. She is the assignment manager of U.S. video for The AP. In this role, Matthews implements video newsgathering efforts nationally, including coverage of the White

Sharon Lyn O’Hare (’82)

Sandy Pagnotti (’84)

Lisa Matthews (’90)

Nancy Scharno Paulus (’76) reunited in the spring of 2022 with Sigma Sigma Sigma friends from the Classes of 1974-78 for dinner in Washington, D.C.

Italy bike-trip Dukes (L-R): Chris Gagen (’96, ’15P, ’22P), Katie Baxter-Gagen (’95, ’15P, ’22P), Jay Whetzel (’22P), Lisa Paine Whetzel (’88, ’22P), Jim Mollenkopf (’22P), Brenda Young (’82, ’22P)

CLASS NOTES

Staff Emeriti Association activities

BY TINA UPDIKE (’73), SEA Steering Committee chair

Staff Emeriti Association membership — 286 strong at the end of last year — continues to grow as administrators campuswide are made aware of this designation through partnership with the Office of Human Resources. Attendance numbers also grew last year, as Steering Committee meetings and SEA events were again in-person.

The Steering Committee schedules events around its monthly luncheons that enlighten SEA members on the latest campus developments and provide continued engagement with the JMU community and one another. In addition, SEA members annually participate in a campus volunteer activity, such as CHOICES in April. Prospective students and their parents are always impressed that staff retirees sustain their passion for, and involvement with, JMU after retirement.

Recent Virginia activities included luncheons at CrossKeys Vineyards in Mount Crawford, the Cracked Pillar in Bridgewater and Romano’s Italian Bistro in McGaheysville. In June, the group enjoyed a guided tour of the JMU Mineral Museum hosted by geology professors Lance and Cindy Kearns. The tour was followed by lunch at Vito’s Italian Kitchen in Harrisonburg. August brought SEA members to campus once again for a tour of the new–est residence hall, Paul Jennings Hall, with lunch afterward at the Island Wing Company of Harrisonburg.

Also in June, SEA members were pleased to participate in the first Retirement Banquet for classified staff, hosted by Human Resources. This event had been in the planning stages for some time, and it was very rewarding to be a part of that special day. Members assisted with greeting and welcoming new retirees.

As 2022 draws to a close, the SEA Steering Committee has been busy setting up luncheons and events, including a tour of the new College of Business Learning Complex. It has been an exceptional year for the Staff Emeriti Association!

For more information about the Staff Emeriti Association and upcoming events, visit https://jmu.edu/staffemeriti or email staffemeriti@jmu.edu.

House, Congress and cabinet agencies.

Previously, Matthews served as the 114th president of the National Press Club. She led the club’s first all-woman leadership team. She expanded its outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, offering journalism and communications graduates free, one-year memberships. Before the AP, Matthews worked in public relations. From 2014-17, she was vice president at Hager Sharp, where she developed media strategies. With a lifetime commitment to combating misinfor-

mation and mistrust of the media, Matthews earned two Edward R. Murrow Awards — one in 2002 for outstanding coverage of 9/11, and her second in 2010 for Video Continuing Coverage of the Economy. ■ Michael S. Rosenberg, a Theatre major, was appointed CEO of New York City Center in November 2022. He was previously the managing director of McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey, and La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California. These jobs and more are the result of a Broadway internship that the School of

SEA members volunteer at CHOICES and tour the JMU Mineral Museum.

Rich Steinle (’93)

Kia Painter (’97)

Eric Major (’91) climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in October. Major is chair of the JMU Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.

1

Celebrations

WEDDINGS, HONORS & FUTURE DUKES 3

Theatre and Dance established during Rosenberg’s sophomore year.

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Rich Steinle joined Carium, a virtual care platform, as CEO in June 2022. Steinle has 30 years of health care leadership experience spanning primary-care delivery, integrated physician networks, electronic health

records and collaborative medical real estate solutions. Prior to joining Carium, Steinle was founding member, president and CEO of Innovista Health Solutions. Under his leadership, the team built the business to more than 500,000 providers, and returned more than $200 million in savings to payer and provider partners. Steinle majored in Economics.

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Kia Painter was promoted in January

2022 to executive vice president and chief people officer of Cox Communications. Throughout her nearly 25 years with Cox, Painter has been understanding and anticipating the evolving needs of the company’s diverse workforce. Previously senior vice president of human resources business part-

nerships, she has helped shape the company’s talent and leadership development programs; compensation structure; and inclusion, diversity and equity strategies. In her past role, Painter was responsible for leading HR business consulting and service-delivery functions. She also served as vice president of strategic HR solutions. She led the company’s

Anastasia Yuschak (’19, ’20M, ’21M) and Jonathan Baugh (’19) were married in Richmond, Virginia, on July 24. 2 Jennifer (Carver) Castilleja (’06) and David Castilleja (’07) are thrilled to announce the birth of their third daughter, Ava Claire Castilleja, born on March 29.

3 Chloe (Mapes) Lehman (’14) and Carter Lehman celebrated the birth of their second son, Maddox Lee, on May 25. 4 Sydney Elizabeth Arnold Wood (’19) and Chad Alan Wood were married on Sept. 10 at Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse in Timberville, Virginia.

key talent practices, including organization design, succession planning and employee engagement.

In addition to her workforce development work at Cox, Painter has impacted many people through her personal commitment to mentoring and sponsorship in the company and across the industry. She serves as a board member for Content & Connectivity Human Resources, the broadband connectivity and video-content industry association for HR professionals, and sits on the advisory board for the Consort Institute for Clark

CLASS NOTES

Atlanta University. She is also active in the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications, and Women in Cable and Telecommunications.

Painter has also received various industry awards, including the Horizon Woman to Watch Award, The WICT Network Southeast, CableFAX Diversity List, Top 40 Under 40 by Multichannel News magazine and the NAMIC Luminary Award for up-and-coming industry executives. She majored in Business Management.

99 Brian Boder, a Finance major, was recognized by Forbes

as one of the 2022 Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals. He is a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cretz (’03)

01

Lisa Johnson and Steven Purdy (’04), both Accounting majors, were elected partners in July 2022

Alumni delegates attend university presidential inaugurations

Kansas State University, Sept. 2, Manhattan, KS

Tan Nguyen (’92) served as JMU’s representative at the inauguration of KSU President Richard Linton. “It was an incredible honor to have been a delegate representing JMU at the K-State Presidential Inauguration! I had a great time talking with President Linton, the deans and Gov. [Laura] Kelly. This was enormously beneficial, as these very same people, including Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, are in full support of my NuWin Food Waste technology,” Nguyen said. “I was sure to tell them all about the foundation that was built through my time at JMU.”

Fayetteville State University Sept. 23, Fayetteville, NC

Heather Holston (’13) attended the inauguration of Darrell T. Allison, the 12th chancellor and chief executive officer of Fayetteville State University.

Northern Arizona University, Sept. 30, Flagstaff, AZ

Marcus Seiler (’96) attended the inauguration of President José Luis Cruz Rivera. “[It] was a great event. Thank you again,” he said. “I sat with the president of the University of Arizona and joked with him, ‘When are they gonna host JMU football?’ He said, ‘Bring it on.’  I think President Alger needs to make a phone call to Tucson!”

Radford University, Sept. 30, Radford, VA Mandy Adkins (’11, ’13M) represented JMU at the inauguration of Bret Danilowicz as the eighth president of Radford University.

Santa Clara University, Oct. 7, Santa Clara, CA Michael Ross (’92) represented President Jonathan R. Alger and JMU at the inauguration of Julie Sullivan as the 30th president of Santa Clara University.

Earlham College, Oct. 14, Richmond, IN Donnie Hill (’81) and his wife, Marcy, attended the inauguration of Anne Houtman as the 20th president of Earlham College and the Earlham School of Religion.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Oct. 14, Dartmouth, MA Deron Murphy (’98) attended the inauguration of Mark A. Fuller, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. “Unfortunately, due to weather, they had to move the ceremony inside, but it still turned out very nice and was well-attended,” Murphy said. “I even got to meet and talk with the president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy who has a daughter who graduated from JMU.”

Lisa Johnson (’01)

Steven Purdy (’04)

Brian Broder (’99)

at Gross, Mendelsohn & Associates, P.A., an accounting, wealth advisory and technology consulting firm with offices in Maryland and Virginia.

“It’s a great privilege to get to call Lisa and Steven my partners,” said Len Rus, the firm’s managing partner.

Johnson joined the firm in 2012, and has more than 20 years of experience helping nonprofits and businesses grow through audit, accounting and consulting services. Purdy joined in 2021 with nearly 20 years of experience. He provides forensic and litigation support services to attorneys in the areas of commercial litigation, marital dissolution and shareholder disputes.

03

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Cretz, a Media Arts and Design major, recently returned from his sixth overseas deployment. He served

in the Middle East for four months, half of that time as the commander of the 779th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, a 108-person unit that operated eight C-130H Hercules aircraft. The unit’s mission was to provide safe and timely movement of personnel, cargo and equipment across the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. ■ Marija (Sokolov) Nelson and her friends since freshman year traveled to Italy in May 2022 to belatedly celebrate their 40th birthdays. Joined by their husbands, the group explored Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, and basked in the beauty of Italy’s offerings. They are forever grateful to JMU for uniting them, and after 23 years, their friendship continues to bring them much love and laughter.

04Ann

with lifelong friends, 21 years after they met at JMU. The group often socialized together at Hoffman

Hall, where most of them lived during their first year in 2000. Despite living in various places along the East Coast, the friends talk almost daily

Espinoza reunited

Dukes in Italy (L-R): Kristin (Cilento) Carter (’03), Matt Carter, Patrick Braford (’02), Erin (Kennedy) Braford (’03), Elizabeth (Lachman) Mascherino (’03), Doug Mascherino, Marija (Sokolov) Nelson (’03), Jonathan Nelson, Alexis (Zellner) Oehling (’03), Paul Oehling (’97)

Kari Pabis Moss (’03, ’05M) and Jess Beard Thornton (’04) hiked the Koko Head Stairs on Oahu, Hawaii, 22 years after meeting on the JMU lacrosse team.

in their group chat, “The REAL Housewives of JMU.” No life updates are too big or too small to share. ■

Patrick O’Herron was appointed vice president of marketing and communications of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in June 2022. Previously, he was vice president of marketing and communications for four years at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his leadership, the BPO expanded its digital footprint, including website and e-commerce development, and achieved record earned-revenue levels.

Prior to the BPO, O’Herron held leadership roles in marketing and communications for the national arts service organization Americans for the Arts, and for the largest pri-

CLASS NOTES

vately funded arts program in the world, Arts Brookfield, the arts and events initiative of global real estate corporation Brookfield Properties.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Patrick to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,” said Mark Williams, CEO. “The skills, energy, creativity, and collaborative attitude he has employed throughout his impressive and varied career were a perfect fit for the needs of this institution. His knowledge of the patron experience and his love of Toronto will ensure that the work he accomplishes will be strategically aligned with the company’s mission-driven focus, especially as we move into our 2022-23 Centennial season.”

At the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, O’Herron is a part of

SCHOLARSHIP THANK-YOU LETTER

Tom Arthur Scholarship Endowment for Theatre

Dear Arthur family,

My decision to attend James Madison University was, and continues to be fueled by the unparalleled community support I see and experience every day, both on campus and off. I am so very grateful to be part of a community where compassion and empathy come first. I have learned and grown so much more in the past two years than I ever thought possible. I have discovered what it means to be an artist, friend, classmate and everything in between. The experiences I have gained through this environment will forever be cherished. I have also been very fortunate to be part of a number of shows and work in the costume shop while at JMU. Those experiences have taught me the most. None of my experiences would be possible if not for generous people like you. Thank you so much for your contribution to my education. It means more than you will ever truly know. Much like my mind and views of the world have changed since arriving at JMU, so have my dreams. I dream of social equity, inclusion and justice. I believe that art is the strongest path to community understanding, conversation and a way to inspire change. I also believe it is an artist’s role to push the boundaries and set standards for basics human needs and rights. I intend to make my dreams a reality by using my love of design and performance, and the tools I have gained through my education at JMU, to dismantle systems of oppression. Thank you so very much for giving me the privilege to do so.

Sincerely, Sabrina Simmons (’23)

Ann Espinoza (’04), left, and fellow Dukes reunited in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic. They thank JMU for bringing them together.

Patrick O’Herron (’04)

Growing greens

Virginia farmer serves salad lovers with subscription service

BY AMY CROCKETT (’10)

After two decades in the corporate world in Northern Virginia, Chris Couch (’96) wanted a change. He felt the need to return to his small-town roots and passion for horticulture. Born and raised in Rockingham County, he also wanted more room to roam. Couch relocated to King William County (outside of Richmond, Virginia) and bought 45 acres of land to put his green thumb to use at Dreaming Tree Farms.

“I started to see the food system was being stressed,” said Couch, a former vice president at Xerox and director at Accenture and Primatics Financial, both companies with large JMU contingents. “So much of our produce is grown on large-scale, agricultural farms predominantly on the West Coast and shipped across the country. In my heart, I knew there was a better way. One thing led to another, and the idea of a salad subscription model was unique.”

In 2018, Couch launched Farm-to-Salad, a locally grown and handcrafted salad delivery service. The venture is actually three businesses in one: the herbicide- and pesticide-free greenhouse at Dreaming Tree Farms, an on-site food manufacturing business and a delivery operation. In 2022, two more greenhouses were added, including a propagation house for germination and seedling development.

Each week, a team of drivers delivers more than 550 prepackaged salads to subscribers in the greater Richmond area. The salad of the week is announced every Sunday. “Our typical subscriber is someone who is open-minded to trying new things,” Couch said. Farm-to-Salad also offers a traditional garden salad and can modify ingredients for customers with food allergies. The basil vinaigrette dressing is a fan favorite.

The COVID-19 pandemic affirmed that Farm-to-Salad was the right business move. With the supply chain disrupted and consum-

ers avoiding grocery stores, Richmond-area residents searched for local food options. Word-of-mouth and social media helped increase awareness of Couch’s company. “We doubled in size in one week, and then we doubled again two weeks later,” he said. “I told our staff to hold on. We’re gonna ride this wave.”

In Central Virginia, the JMU Family is strong. Not a week goes by that Couch doesn’t nod, point or say, “Go Dukes!” to fellow alumni.

“I have a large number of JMU subscribers, and I know that by their license plate, a decal on their car or a flag in their driveway. It’s been amazing to see,” he said.

A Computer Information Systems major and senior vice president of Delta Sigma Pi, Couch graduated from JMU with a College of Business education that prepared him well for his professional life.

“Without a doubt, the business program at JMU led to the success of the [corporate] jobs over 20 years, which led to my confidence to be able to step away from that,” he said.

Couch’s family also bleeds purple. His father, James Couch, is a retired professor of psychology ; his mother, Linda Couch, is a retired professor of chemistry; and his sister, Emily (Couch) Kirby (’00), majored in Public Administration.

Being the Change is top of mind for Couch. Farm-to-Salad’s decentralized model of food production reduces carbon emissions and is more resilient in the face of economic hardship and climate change.

“I want to be a positive impact to the local community,” Couch said. “I hear all the time that the day we deliver our salads is the highlight of the week for a lot of people. It’s something special — something as simple as the salad that we pour so much work into. It’s very rewarding to hear that voice of encouragement from our customers.”

If you live in Central Virginia and love salads, try a new salad every week by ordering from Farm-to-Salad: https://dreamingtreefarms.com/order-salad

Chris Couch (’96) credits a large part of Farm-to-Salad’s success to his partner, Candice Zimmerman.

“I hear all the time that the day we deliver our salads is the highlight of the week for a lot of people.”

— CHRIS COUCH (’96)

the senior management group, reporting to Williams, and manages teams devoted to marketing, sales, design, communications, ticketing operations and patron services.

Growing up in the Southern Finger Lakes region of New York, O’Herron excelled in the arts, performing in local choral and theater productions and the Youth Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes as a flutist. Early in his professional career, O’Herron toured the world as a featured singer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines. He

Brett McLaren (’04), co-founder and chief strategy officer at MetaPhase Consulting in Reston, Virginia, was selected as a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Washington Business Journal. McLaren majored in Computer Information Systems.

CLASS NOTES

holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance.

05Johanna L. Orleski was promoted to counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in Richmond, Virginia, on the firm’s Capital Finance and Real Estate team. She represents clients on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, joint-venture negotiation and leasing. Orleski regularly represents real estate developers in connection with new real estate projects throughout the country, with a special emphasis on multifamily

and mixed-use developments. She also often represents borrowers seeking financing for multifamily projects from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

ously served as clinical supervisor at the facility. Metcalf also oversees the center’s Thrive program, which focuses on the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients.

Faculty Emeriti Association news

Dorothy Ann Boyd-Bragg, 79, of McGaheysville, Virginia, died Sept. 11, 2022, at Sunnyside Retirement Community. A professor emerita of history, she served as dean of the Graduate School from 1988-2001. Boyd-Bragg was also the senior research historian associated with the James Madison Center, and taught courses for undergraduate and graduate students in family history and genealogical research, local history, and documentary editing.

For more information about the faculty emeriti organization, contact Tracey Kite, interim director of parent and faculty emeriti relations, at kitetl@jmu.edu or by phone at 540-568-3193.

09

Cody Warner, a Philosophy and Religion major, recently started a criminal defense law firm in New York City: codywarnercriminal defense.com.

13

Julia Kunlo was appointed president of Evolution Safety Resources , an international workplace-safety consulting firm that serves the construction sector and other industries from Raleigh, North Carolina. She majored in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Corporate Communication.

“I am thrilled to continue delivering high-quality treatment and support with RCA Capital Region’s top addiction specialists in this new leadership role,” Metcalf said. “I look forward to further developing our relationship with the community, and ensuring our programs remain accessible and stigma-free for all those seeking recovery.”

15

Sister Teresa Joy Berry made her perpetual profession of vows as a sister of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 25, 2022. Sister Teresa, a former parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle, Virginia, in the Diocese of Arlington, earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance. ■ Victoria Metcalf was promoted to clinical director in June 2022 at the Recovery Centers of America Capital Region in Waldorf, Maryland. In her new role, she oversees the treatment center’s team of therapists and addiction professionals. She previ-

Metcalf has worked in the clinical treatment field for more than five years. Prior to joining RCA in 2020, she served in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics and hospitals. Metcalf is a licensed clinical professional counselor, focusing on the mental health treatment of adults and those with therapeutic issues such as substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma and personality disorders. She holds a certificate in nutrition for mental health disorders. Metcalf majored in General Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice.

16Breona Walker, a Marketing major, and Philip Wilkerson (’08), a History major, are recipients of the Eastern Association of College and Employers Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships, named

Cody Warner (’09)

Julia Kunlo (’13)

Victoria Metcalf (’15)

Sister Teresa Berry (’15)

in memory of Rick McLellan and Ernie Andrews, career educators who worked at Virginia Tech and Virginia Wesleyan, respectively.

Walker is a first-generation college student who understands the importance of having tools and resources available to overcome obstacles and contribute to student readiness. She is devoted to creating an open, inclusive, challenging, inviting and supportive mentoring environment for students to enhance their success. She utilizes counseling theories and skills to advocate for students and assist them as they begin their career paths and navigate life transitions, while also being mindful of intersectional identities and cultural influences.

Wilkerson was recognized as George Mason University’s Employee of the Month for September 2019, made the Forty Under 40 list for GMU Black alumni and received the Pillar Award for GMU staff who support Black students. He is also the faculty adviser for the Iota Alpha Chapter of

CLASS NOTES

SCHOLARSHIP THANK-YOU

Majors Family Scholarship Endowment for Valley Scholars

Dear Valley Scholars donors, I’d like to wholeheartedly thank you for donating to the Valley Scholars Program. This scholarship has allowed me to come to JMU and earn a degree without putting a hefty financial burden on my family or myself. I’ve been able to avoid taking out student loans, and fully focus on my studies and other JMU-related activities. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about how thankful I am to have this scholarship and the opportunity to be at JMU as a first-generation college student. I’m here to break the poverty cycle that has kept my family poor for generations. This scholarship aids me greatly in accomplishing that goal. It means so much to me that there are wonderful, kind-hearted people out there like you who have helped the Valley Scholars Program become what it is today. Without you and this program, I may not have been able to come to college, and even if I did, I’d have put myself into much debt to do so. Thus, to avoid those situations is truly a blessing, and I will be forever grateful. I greatly thank each one of the donors to the Valley Scholars Program.

Forever with gratitude, Briana Turner (’25) Computer Information Systems major

Scholarship recipients Philip Wilkerson (’08) and Breona Walker (’16)

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., The National Society of Leadership and Success, and the GMU NAACP chapter.

Bluestone Reunions

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Molly E. Rice joined the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, Virginia, in June 2022 as a cybersecurity analyst in the Information Technology and Security Directorate, located at IDA’s Alexandria, Virginia, headquarters. She majored in Biology at JMU and earned her master’s degree in software development from Boston University in 2021. IDA is a nonprofit corporation that answers challenging U.S. security and science-policy questions with objective analysis, leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical and analytic expertise.

IN MEMORIAM: Jacqueline Guerrier (’18M) died on Nov. 28, 2021. She was a research historian for Morgan, Angel and Associates in Washington, D.C.

Bluestone alumni are Dukes who graduated 50 or more years ago. This year, Bluestone Reunions will focus on the Class of 1973, our 50th reunion class. Register at https://alumni.jmu. edu/bsr2023.

BLUESTONE REUNION PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANNA SEARFOSS (’22), STEVE ADERTON (’19) AND JULIA WEAVER (’21)

WARRIOR BEING THE

Alumna’s passion is making gymnastics safer

Elly Hart (’10) estimates she had 15 to 20 injuries in her two decades as a competitive gymnast. Many of the injuries she and her fellow gymnasts and cheerleaders sustained could have been prevented.

“Though I had great medical care, I found it challenging to explain the complex elements performed in gymnastics and was frustrated that my medical team was not able to understand how I became injured,” Hart said.

Having to overcome knee surgeries, fractures and torn ligaments led her to the Athletic Training major at JMU and an eventual profession in sports medicine. Hart said her JMU education

laid the foundation for her career as a physician assistant. Hart added ninja training to her resumé as a two-time contestant on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. Although she has yet to complete the six obstacles, she plans to make another attempt at tackling the course next season. In the show’s 14 seasons, just two competitors have reached the finish and hit the buzzer to win $1 million.

Hart fondly remembers her four years at JMU and shows her Purple Pride by wearing the color every time she competes as a ninja, to remind herself of how far she has come since her days as a Duke.

Currently, Hart works at Boston Children’s Hospital at the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, where she created a sports medicine clinic that focuses on gymnasts, cheerleaders and ninjas — the only clinic in the U.S. specializing in these sports.

Along the way, Hart started a nonprofit, Gymnastics Medicine: Education and Research, to educate gymnasts, coaches, parents and medical providers on injuries and prevention using a multidisciplinary team approach. The organization also provides a sense of camaraderie for gymnasts who have faced injuries.

“It is always an honor to take care of such an incredible population of athletes,” Hart said .

Sarah Eccleston

A former gymnast, Hart has twice competed on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.

“I was frustrated that my medical team was not able to understand how I became injured.”

— ELLY HART (’10)