25 minute read
Alumni for Life
Alumni forLife
Aimee Cima (’02, ’03M) and her family enjoyed this view in Kirirom, Cambodia. The view was worth the 6-mile hike!
(Right): Emily Koenen (’12) struck a pose on her way into Nevada for a week of hiking the national parks.
Take a hike!
(It’s for a good cause)
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.
(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.
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 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.
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 Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee.
“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.
Thankful for you, Dukes!
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)
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.
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 cheer on the Dukes.
(Right): JMU alumni and students 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.
Meet Darryl Coleman (’86)
New member of the Alumni board draws on corporate experience
BY MADDIE JOHNSON, alumni relations student writing assistant
fter attending an on-campus recruitment event, Darryl Coleman (’86) went to work at Aetna A 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 con-
nected 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 accom-
plish 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.
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 definitely presented its challenges,” Kruse said.
Despite the unusual times, Kruse made the most of his Madison Experience. In addition to his campus involvement 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.
Kruse didn’t know what to expect in Uganda, but he was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming nature of the locals.
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. 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.
BOOKS BY DAVID XU (’90M) Mountain View Press
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. 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.
MAC chapter awards
nnually, JMU alumni chapters, regional ambassadors and volunteers are recognized for their exemplary volunteer service over the past year A 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/Fort-
Worth 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)
SHOW YOUR JMU PRIDE!
To show your Madison pride wherever you drive and support scholarships for Virginia students, visit www.dmvNOW.com to get your JMU license plate today.
