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FULLFRAME P H O T O G R A P H B Y K AT I E L A N D I S
JMU and Harrisonburg welcome 4,200 new Dukes Downtown Harrisonburg welcomed JMU’s new students to the community at the annual Block Party in the ‘Burg. Freshmen and transfer students enjoyed downtown shopping, music, food and more during their final night of 1787 Orientation. Throughout the first week of fall semester, JMU introduced students to its new initiative Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action. The initiative will help prepare students for a complex world by teaching them ethical reasoning skills to utilize throughout their academic and professional careers. In welcoming JMU’s 4,200 new students President Jonathan R. Alger emphasized the importance of this new initiative to the students: “It’s a program that is going to help you think about and manage ethical decisions in your personal, professional and civic lives. You’ll become familiar with questions and processes to help you make good decisions and that’s a skill we want you to carry with you for the rest of your life.”
➜LEARN MORE about how JMU students are practicing ethical decision making in the feature article on Page 32.
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The Keys to Ethical Reasoning BY MARTHA BELL GRAHAM
The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is JMU’s new Quality Enhancement Program that will take the knowledge students acquire during their Madison Experience and deepen it with ethical reasoning. The Madison Collaborative is an ambitious plan — a high-minded challenge for a world in desperate need of individuals who think ethically. The universitywide plan seeks to instill in every JMU student — no matter their major — a competency for addressing life’s challenges based on thoughtful, ethical reasoning.
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Realizing Your Dreams
Choices, challenges, conduct and consequences. JMU is preparing students to navigate life in a complex world.
BY JAN GILLIS (’07)
JMU’s first-ever Hillcrest Scholars have gained life-changing, hands-on experiences through a new JMU Honors Program scholarship program. These mentored scholarships give honors students opportunities that will put them among the top undergraduates in the nation and vault their careers. Biotechnology major Carly Starke (’14) worked with researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and biology major Michelle Amaya (’14) worked with Child Family Health International in Bolivia.
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Creating Enlightened Citizens of the World JMU’s Study Abroad program, the Office of International Programs’ annual International Week celebration, globally focused internships and international faculty members give JMU students a clearer picture of their places as citizens in an increasingly complex global community. “JMU is serious about wanting students to be engaged with ideas and the world to learn how to be citizens, not just in the United States, but citizens in a global community and participants in a global economy,” says JMU President Jonathan R. Alger.
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Up Front 1 Full Frame
1787 Orientation introduces new students to the Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action
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6 Contributors 7 Reflections
JMU President Jonathan R. Alger discusses ethics, engagement and enlightened students, who are world citizens ON THE COVE R: Illustration by Keith Negley More at www.jmu.edu/MadisonOnline
M@dison 8
News JMU Dean of the College of Business Mary Gowan talks with Patricia May (’94M) about the role of ethics in business
17 By the Numbers The JMU Graduate School celebrates 60 years. What’s No. 2, 29, 205? What did 25,201 Dukes fans share?
26 Dukes Turf
BY DON EGLE, MARTHA BELL GRAHAM AND
KEVIN WARNER
Dukes fan profile, basketball court upgrade and a
consultant’s report on JMU athletics
Departments 18 Special Report
Ethics and the bottom line BY PAM BROCK AND BILL GENTRY
Thank you! More alumni than ever helped JMU raise a record $12.9 million. Betty Cinquegrana (’64) shares why she made a bequest to Madison
24 Connections Stay informed and make connections! JMU is on Facebook, Foursquare, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and WordPress.com
28 Bright Lights Physics major Emily Dick (’15), global textile entrepreneur Mike Boylan and JMU Fulbright Professor Sang Yoon
45 Professors You Love
BY MICHELLE AMAYA (’14)
on History Professor Steven Reich
College of Business Dean Mary Gowan talks about ethics in the business world. P A G E 8
Welcome back to the ‘Burg Thousands converge on campus Homecoming Week 2013 and enjoy football, fun, music, memories and reunions. P A G E 5 2
46 Mixed Media Book announcements and new software releases by JMU professors and alumni
Alumni
Fulbright faculty Fulbright scholar trio researching and teaching in Mexico, Korea and Cyprus rank JMU as a top Fulbright producer. P A G E 1 3
48 News JMU Alumni Association offers the Chapter Challenge, the new Student Alumni Association, Family Weekend and Homecoming 2013
49 Madison Milestones Jamie Jones Miller (’99) shares how the JMU Alumni Association is teaming with campus partners to help alumni stay engaged in the Madison Experience
52 Class Notes
64 Picture This JMU Special Collections: Then and Now
News from alumni and former faculty; scholarship thank-yous from students; and alumni highlights on Major League Baseball pitcher Ryan Reid (’06), JMU alumni win a Telley Award for promoting safety for young women, and six JMU alumni lead the City of Charlottesville, Va.
GET CONNECTED:www.jmu.edu GET INSPIRED TO BE THE CHANGE
The Be the Change website has stories and videos about students, professors and alumni changing the world. Sign up, connect, chime in: www.jmu.edu/bethechange Share your Be the Change story at madisonmag@jmu.edu
ALSO: Follow @JMU on Twitter
VISIT JMU:
Prospective students, alumni, community members, JMU friends: Find it all here. The JMU events calendar, campus map, area lodging and dining. Log on before you roll in to the ‘Burg: www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/visitor/
PARENTS:
Visit www.jmu.edu/parents
Quadcopter soars: JMU’s quadcopter images are popular on Facebook and Twitter. P A G E 2 4
I L LUS T R AT I O N BY K EI T H N EG L E Y, GOWA N A N D Q UA D BY M I K E M I R I E L L O (‘ 0 9 M ) ; F U L B R I G H T CO U R T ESY O F SA N G YOO N , H O M ECO M I N G BY CAT H Y KUS H N ER (’87); W I L SO N H A L L CO U R T ESY O F J M U S P ECI A L CO L L ECT I O NS A N D K AT I E L A N D IS
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BOARD OF VISITORS 2013–2014
J O S E P H K . F U N K H O U S E R I I ( ’99P, ’02P), Rector L O I S C A R DA R E L L A F O R B E S ( ’6 4, ’90P), Vice Rector S U S A N A L L E N ( ’10P) K E N N E T H B A R T E E ( ’83) M I C H A E L B . B AT T L E ( ’81, ’83M) PA B L O C U E VA S ( ’62 ) R O N A L D C . D E V I N E ( ’ 78 ) B A R R Y D U VA L ( ’81) C A R LY F I O R I N A L E S L I E G I L L I A M ( ’82 ) D O N J . R A I N E Y ( ’82 ) DAV I D A . R E X R O D E ( ’01) S T E V E S M I T H ( ’ 79 ) M I C H A E L M . T H O M A S ( ’ 76, ’ 77M) FRED D. THOMPSON JR. J AC O B D . M O S S E R ( ’14), Student Member D O N N A H A R P E R ( ’ 77, ’81M, ’86 Ed . S .), Secretary PRESIDENT
J O N AT H A N R . A L G E R SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS
A . JERRY BENSON Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Af fairs A R T D E A N ( ’93, ’99M) Special A ssistant to the President for Diversit y D O N N A H A R P E R ( ’ 77, ’81M, ’86E d.S.) Vice President, Access and Enrollment Management CHARLES KING Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance N I C K L A N G R I D G E ( ’0 0, ’07M) Senior Vice President, Universit y Advancement M A R K WA R N E R ( ’ 79, ’81M, ’85E d.S.) Senior Vice President, Student Af fairs and University Planning VICE PROVOST
T E R E S A A . G O N Z A L E Z (Academic Programs) DEANS
RALPH ALBERICO Libraries / Educational Technolog y DAV I D F. B R A K K E Science and Mathematics M A R Y G O WA N Business L I N DA C A B E H A L P E R N Universit y Studies DAV I D K . J E F F R E Y Arts and Letters R O B E R T KO LVO O R D Integrated Science and Engineering, interim REID LINN Graduate School S H A R O N L O V E L L ( ’85) Health and Behavioral Studies, interim
JMU HELPS STUDENTS G R O W P E R S O N A L LY A N D P R O F E S S I O N A L LY As a JMU alum, and former JMU faculty member, I always enjoy receiving Madison. One story in the fall 2013 issue made an important difference and the timing could not have been better. In fall 2011, a rural Virginia school burned down. Students at Messiah College started a book drive and planned a service trip to help start their new library. We needed help to collect enough books. JMU Assistant Dean of the College of Education Maggie Kyger (’80) directed me to Jenn Bailey (’12, ’13M), who did a wonderful job organizing a successful book drive at JMU. Her work and the book drive truly blessed this tiny rural school. Fast forward to this year. A group from Messiah College is planning a return service trip to that same school, but were waiting for the liability approval for such a
service trip. Just today, we received the district approval to come. And, I also received Madison magazine in the mail. On Page 17 of the fall 2013 issue, Jenn talks about the importance of that book drive service project as part of her service journey. Ta-da! What a nice article to share with the administrators on the very day we received approval for our next fall break service trip. How nice to be able to document for the school and school district that such service makes a difference, not just for the children, but also for the college students who serve. Thank you for this Madison magazine story. What cool timing! Melinda Burchard (’02), Mechanicsburg, Pa., Messiah College, Assistant Professor of Special Education and Coordinator of Special Education Internships
HAPPY 35TH AN N IVE RSARY ALPHA K A P PA A L P H A As a JMU alumna and staff member, I was ecstatic about this year’s Homecoming. I joined more than 75 JMU sorority sisters of the Lambda Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. to celebrate our 35th anniversary in pink and green style during Homecoming Weekend in November. The “Pink and Green Affair” of 2013 goes down as a very historic and exciting time for our sorority! Monyette L.F. Martin (’93, ’96M) JMU Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
G E O R G E S PA R K S Visual and Performing Arts PHILLIP M. WISHON Education ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
J A M I E J O N E S M I L L E R ( ’99 ) President L A R R Y W . C A U D L E J R . ( ’82 ), President-Elect PARENTS COUNCIL CHAIRS
R I C H A R D and T I N A T U R N E R (’13P, ’16P) Madison is an official publication of JMU and is produced by the Division of University Advancement for alumni, parents of JMU students, faculty, staff, and friends of JMU. Editorial office: JMU, 235 Cantrell Ave., MSC 3610, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. JMU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment or admissions, or in connection with its programs or activities.
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STORY IDEAS COMING! Madison welcomes letters in response to magazine content. The staff reserves the right to edit for clarity, length and style. Anonymous letters will not be published. Send to “22807” Madison, 235 Cantrell Ave., MSC 3610, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, or email madisonmag@jmu.edu.
{Guest Editor’s Note}
“I
t’s Complicated.” That’s what first-year students discovered when they could send only two available rescue teams to six devastated population centers during a hypothetical Category 5 hurricane scenario presented to them during Orientation Week. In small groups, students offered a variety of thoughtful reasons to send the rescue teams to one devastated area or the other. Some victims had no way to escape while others refused mandatory evacuations. Does that play a role in whether to save them? Most students said yes. “But why?” Challenged to explain themselves students engaged in deeper critical thinking by weighing ethical values such as liberty, empathy and responsibility. “Awesome.” “Truly significant.” “Incredibly rewarding.” That’s what students and facilitators said of beginning the fall semester — and for students their academic career — at JMU with an all-too-realistic hurricane rescue problem. Addressing ethical problems is not new at JMU. Doing so with a structured set of
ethical considerations — Eight Key Questions — is. Over the past two-and-a-half years, JMU faculty and staff members, and administrators, along with student representatives, designed a program to positively affect the entire university. The resulting program identifies Eight Key Questions that, when asked, will lead to deeper and more robust discussions and deliberations about what to do when faced with tough decisions.
‘JMU emerges as a leader of public universities squarely addressing today’s complex problems.’ “The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action” is JMU’s bold and innovative program designed to permeate the university — from general education to the majors and student life programming — with ethical reasoning skills. The “It’s Complicated” sessions during this fall’s Orientation introduced the Eight Key Questions to ask when facing complex
situations. The Madison Collaborative will develop a broad spectrum of projects to follow “It’s Complicated.” By creating a comprehensive curriculum of ethical reasoning, JMU emerges as a leader of public universities squarely addressing today’s complex problems. (Learn more about the Madison Collaborative on Page 32.) To be the national model for the engaged university is President Jonathan Alger’s challenging aspiration for JMU. I believe that a disciplined ethical reasoning skill set may become JMU’s signature asset for productive engagement. As an alumnus, parent, current student or friend of Madison, I hope you are as excited as we are about our new effort to Be the Change that we wish to see in the world. In a time when much of the public questions whether higher education and society, more broadly, have lost their course, JMU steps forward to lead the way to a brighter — and more ethically thoughtful — future. — William “Bill” Hawk Chair, The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR
A N D R E W D . P E R R I N E ( ’86 ) SENIOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE
PA M B R O C K MANAGING EDITOR
M I C H E L L E H I T E ( ’88 ) ART DIRECTOR
BILL THOMPSON ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
RINN SIEGRIST COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR/WRITER
CONTRIBUTORS Patricia May (’94M) has worked as the director of communications for the College of Business since 2011. Prior to that, she worked as communications director for the Charlottesville law firm of MichieHamlett. She has worked on several JMU projects over the years, including serving on the JMU Centennial Celebration Special Days Committee. May grew up in Fairfax, Va., and earned her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech. She has one son, Cody, who lives in Lexington, Ky., with his wife. May loves the outdoors and is happy to call the Shenandoah Valley home. Read her Q&A with College of Business Dean Mary Gowan on Page 8.
C O L L E E N D I XO N JMU WEB MANAGING EDITOR
JA N G I L L I S ( ’07, ’11P) BE THE CHANGE COORDINATOR
MARTHA BELL GRAHAM CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
M I C H A E L M I R I E L L O ( ’09M) K AT I E L A N D I S C AT H Y K U S H N E R ( ’87) CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS
LY N DA R A M S E Y C A R O LY N W I N D M I L L E R ( ’81) S A R A H JAC O B S E N ( ’13)
The inaugural winner of the JMU Honors Program Hillcrest Service/Leadership Scholarship, E. Michelle Amaya (’14) shares her appreciation for Steven Reich, JMU history professor, in this issue’s Professors You Love column on Page 45. A JMU Centennial Scholar as well as a Gates Millennium Scholar, Amaya says she is “committed to hard work and academic excellence.” She is the current vice president for the JMU American Medical Student Association and plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician abroad. Amaya, of Suffolk, Va., is a biology major.
EDITORIAL AND DESIGN INTERNS
S O P H I A R A M S E Y ( ’14) ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
FRANK AMEKA G I N NA BAU HAN M I K E B OY L A N ( ’ 76 ) S A M A N T H A C H A R N E Y ( ’14) B E T T Y C O E C I N Q U E G R A N A ( ’6 4) A L E X A N D R A A . DAC Z KO W S K I ( ’15) S A R A H DAV I S ( ’13) DAV I D D R I V E R DON EGLE J E N E Y R I N G ( ’14) D I A N E E L L I O T T ( ’0 0 ) K I M B E R L I N E W E N ( ’17) M O R G O N G A L E A ( ’15) BILL GENTRY R O S E M A R Y G I R A R D ( ’15) CHELSIE GORDON E R I C G O R T O N ( ’86, ’09M) W I L L I A M H AW K C A N D I C E H E AT H ( ’14) J I M H E F F E R N A N ( ’96 ) C O U R T N E Y H E R B ( ’15) J A M E S I R W I N ( ’06 ) B R E T T L E M O N ( ’06 ) M E AG H A N M AC D O N A L D ( ’13) M I C H E L L E M A N N I N 0 ( ’14) H O L LY M A R C U S ( ’03) J A M I E J O N E S M I L L E R ( ’99 ) H A L E Y M U R P H E Y ( ’17) A N A P I N T O ( ’14) PA U L A P O L G L A S E ( ’92 ,’96M) L A U R A Q U I N T E R O ( ’14) JOE RICE JUSTIN ROTH JA I M E SCOT T J A N E T S M I T H ( ’81) L I Z C E R A M I TAY L O R ( ’92 ) ANTHONY TONGEN K E L LY V I N G E L I S ( ’14) K E V I N WA R N E R M AT T H E W W O R D E N S C O T T W O R N E R ( ’81, ’85M) E L I Z A B E T H W R O N KO ( ’14) B I L L W YAT T S A N G YO O N CONTRIBUTING OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS
Alumni Relations, Be the Change, Public Affairs, Sports Media Relations, Marketing Photography, Videography
For address updates, email: advancementgr@jmu.edu or call (540) 568-2821
Contact the Madison staff: Email: madisonmag@jmu.edu Voice: (540) 568-2664 Madison Magazine, MSC 3610, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
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Kelly S. Sweet (’84) joined the JMU Office of Donor Relations in 2009. With a mission of stewardship, she coordinates the student thank you letter process, connecting students with their donors (See Page 58). With 648 students receiving scholarships annually, this is a very positive outreach for JMU. Sweet also coordinates finding JMU delegates to attend inaugurations at other universities when President Jonathan R. Alger is unavailable to represent JMU. Engaging JMU alumni across the nation to wear the regalia at inaugurations is a favorite part of her job. Sweet is married to Patrick Sweet (’82) and has three sons.
JMU Marketing Student Photographer Rachel Lam (’14) is a marketing major and studio art minor from Elkton, Va. The Blue Ridge Community College graduate transferred to JMU and loves capturing stories and creating images with her camera. An honor society member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Mu Kappa Tau, and Phi Kappa Phi, Lam serves as vice president of community service and historian for the Madison Marketing Association. She hopes to work in the field of search engine marketing, and she enjoys church activities, reading, hiking, ping-pong and volleyball. Award-winning illustrator Keith Negley created this Madison issue’s cover illustration and artwork for the feature on Page 32. Negley has a penchant for emotionally driven illustration and has been published in a wide range of major newspapers and national magazines. He is a regular contributor to The New York Times, and his illustrations have been featured in numerous publications including, Billboard, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest and the Wall Street Journal. His work has also appeared in annuals like American Illustration, Communication Arts and 3x3. Negley has won two silver medals from the New York Society of Illustrators and two bronze medals from the 3x3 Professional Show. See more of his original art at keithnegley.com.
PAT R I C I A M AY (‘ 9 4 M ) P H O T O G R A P H B Y K AT I E L A N D I S ; A M AYA (‘ 1 6) A N D L A M ( ’ 1 4) B Y M I K E M I R I E L L O (‘ 0 9 M ) ; S W E E T (‘ 8 4) C O U R T E S Y O F K E L LY S W E E T
DIRECTIONS
Ethics, engagement and enlightenment
Higher education has a critical role in helping solve society’s greatest challenges itting in the audito accelerate. Higher education ence at the Forbes often is accused of an unwillingCenter during Patti ness to change as economic and LuPoneÕs stellar soldtechnological forces disrupt and out performance transform other sectors of sociearlier this semester was one of ety. While this accusation may my proudest moments so far as be true of some institutions, it president of James Madison Unicould not be further from the versity. It was not just because truth at Madison. my daughter Eleanor is a huge You will read in this issue of Broadway and LuPone fan Ñ Madison example after example although it is always nice to be of how our approach to engageable to impress oneÕs teenage ment on multiple levels is leaddaughter. Rather, it was because In August President Jonathan R. Alger told 4,200 new students ing the way for how higher of how obviously impressed Ms. about JMU’s new initiative, the Madison Collaborative. “It’s a education can play a critically program that is going to help you think about and manage ethical LuPone was with Madison. This decisions in your personal, professional and civic lives,” he said. important role in helping face star of stage and screen does not societyÕs many challenges. The typically perform with student orchestras, but she agreed to share Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is a prime the stage with ours. Plus, a group of our musical theater students example (See Page 32). Teaching ethical reasoning skills to every sang back-up for her. At the end of the concert she praised our student who attends JMU is the sort of audacious commitment student musicians lavishly, pointed at the audience with a dra- that we make at Madison to confront societal issues. You will matic gesture and said, ÒYouÕve got a good thing going here, also read about how we celebrated Constitution Day and InterJames Madison.Ó I could not agree more. national Week during the same month (Page 40). At JMU we Yet another moment of pride came in the same venue a few believe that gaining an understanding of our nationÕs founding weeks later on that same stage. Carol Geary Schneider, president principles and other cultures gives our students a clearer picture of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, spoke as of their places as citizens in an increasingly complex global compart of a new universitywide lecture series. Dr. Schneider empha- munity. In our polarized society itÕs refreshing to see students sized the importance of a liberal education in a free society and thrive in their engagement with what often are portrayed in the how our country has largely lost sight of the civic and ethical pur- popular media as mutually exclusive ideas. Yes, you can have a poses of a liberal education (read more on Page 12). Her remarks good grasp on American founding principles and celebrate other were part of the Madison cultures. ThatÕs what we mean by enlightened. ‘Teaching ethical reasoning Vision Series: ContempoThe critically important work of the Madison Future Commisskills is the sort of audarary Issues in an Engaged sion also continues. I am happy to report that not only is the cious commitment that we Society, which is funded by work of the commission thoughtful and comprehensive, but it the donors to the Madison is also producing a level of engagement throughout the Madison make at Madison to conVision Fund. Her speech community that I find inspiring. An example of the quality of this front societal issues.’ came during the federal engagement is that nearly without exception, comments coming government shutdown this fall. After bemoaning the polarization to the commission via its website are well reasoned, constructive of political views leading to the impasse, Dr. Schneider praised and signed. Typically, opportunities to provide input via the web JMU as a ÒpioneerÓ in delivering an education that builds civic can produce some snarky anonymous sniping. Not at Madison. equity. ÒToday, we can carry the foundations youÕve laid and take The work of the commission will wrap up in the new year and them forward,Ó she said of our nationally recognized General Edu- produce a roadmap for where we are headed during the next six cation program. This was another proud moment to be part of the years. ItÕs an exciting time, and I am delighted you are engaged JMU community. with us. The pride many of us feel in JMU is not based simply upon the positive feeling of being part of an institution that is so often complimented. Our School of Music and General Education programs are just two examples among many that elicit such praise. Jonathan R. Alger More importantly, we can take pride in the fact that Madison is becoming more widely recognized as an example of how uniPresident, James Madison University versities must evolve as the velocity of societal change continues
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P H O T O G R A P H B Y M I K E M I R I E L L O (‘ 0 9 M )
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JMU’s new College of Business dean discusses developing principled business professionals B Y PAT R I C I A M AY (‘ 9 4 M )
Do ethics trump free enterprise and the
bottom line?
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Mary A. Gowan, dean in the JMU College of Business, has extensive consulting and executive education experience with private and public organizations in the areas of leadership, human resources management and organizational behavior. Gowan is only the third female academic dean among the 15 top public undergraduate business schools nationally. Her previous research has focused on corporate reputation and career transitions. She served previously as dean and a faculty member at Elon University. On behalf of Madison magazine, Patricia May (’94M), director of communications in the College of Business, talked with Gowan about ethics in business. Gowan also
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addressed JMU’s cross-disciplinary initiative — the Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action. The Madison Collaborative’s coordinated curricular and co-curricular opportunities employ an eight-question ethical reasoning framework and are applied in three domains: personal, professional and civic life. The initiative’s goals include elevating the campuswide understanding and discourse on ethical reasoning as a teachable, evaluative process; and the Madison Collaborative will provide a unifying framework that aligns campus efforts to teach and assess ethical reasoning. In the following Q&A, Gowan talks about ethics in business.
P H OTOGR A P HS BY M I KE M I R I EL LO (’09 M)
Madison: The Madison Collaborative prepares enlightened citizens who apply ethical reasoning in their personal, professional, and civic lives. Why is this important? Gowan: We all encounter ethical dilemmas in our lives — at work, at home and in our communities. The Madison Collaborative provides students with a framework, or set of lenses, through which they can identify and assess ethical dimensions in decision making. This approach also helps students understand that many times there is no one right answer in an ethical dilemma. What you may see as an appropriate and ethical response in a particular situation may not be the same for me. What is important is making sure you have thought through the consequences of the decision from an informed, ethical perspective.
Madison: Could the Madison Collaborative’s Eight Key Questions be easily integrated into business courses? Gowan: Absolutely. In fact, Bob Kolodinsky, a College of Business management professor and founder of the JMU Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership, was instrumental in the development of the Madison Collaborative. The collaborative’s Eight Key Questions focus on evaluating the ethical dimensions of a problem and thinking about outcomes. They offer insight about using multiple lenses to see the situation and arrive at an informed and reasoned response rather than having decisions driven by one’s own biases and/or limited experience and knowledge. This framework provides a tool for studying business issues, which is extremely important for future business professionals and leaders. Businesses are largely human systems, thus decisions made often affect others in the organization. The decisions may affect the environment and the community in which the business operates as well.
Q&A
These Eight Key Questions should be addressed in all of our business classes, not just the obvious ones like Business Law and Management. Doing so ensures our students understand their applicability across multiple settings and types of issues.
Madison: Should ethics be taught in a college of business? If so, what is the JMU College of Business doing in this area?
Gowan: Businesses and business schools have come under a lot of fire in recent years because of poor ethical decision making on the part of some corporate executives. Including in our curriculum conversations and exercises focused on ethical decision making gives students a greater awareness of the kinds of challenges they will face in future careers. Also, our AACSB accredited programs are required to cover ethical understanding and reasoning in the curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The goal is to ensure students can identify ethical issues and address them in a socially responsible way. Currently we are engaged in a strategic planning process in the College of Business. As part of that process we are having a conversation about how well we are addressing ethics in the curriculum and asking ourselves if we are doing enough.
Madison: Why is it important for the College of Business to have the Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership under its umbrella?
‘The goal is to ensure students can identify ethical issues and address them in a socially responsible way.’ — M A R Y G O WA N
dean, College of Business
A L U M N I E V E N T P H OTO G R A P H BY M AT T H E W W O R D E N
College of Business Dean Mary Gowan has met with student from numerous majors and programs, and with alumni across the nation to discuss the College of Business, which houses the Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership.
Gowan: The presence of the center signals that we see ethics as an important part of the conversations and activities in the College of Business. The resources provided by the center enable faculty members to engage in scholarly activities related to ethics, provide funds to support student engagement in ethical conversations, and allow us to bring to campus executives who can share their experiences related to ethical decision making. The center, along with the College of Business, Madison Collaborative, and offices of the president and provost hosted Cynthia Cooper, the WorldCom whistleblower, for a presentation to our students on Nov. 13.
Madison: Tell our readers more about The Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership — are free enterprise and ethical leadership competing concepts?
Gowan: I believe that free enterprise succeeds when business executives exercise principles-based leadership which has a strong ethical component. These leaders recognize the value of their human resources and their businesses’ role in the local and larger communities. We run into problems with free enterprise when leaders are so focused on making money that they fail to engage in ethical and socially responsible decision making. Thus, our goal in the College of Business is to develop principled business professionals and leaders who can embrace and profit in a free enterprise economy. The Madison Collaborative and activities supported by the Gilliam Center assist us in that endeavor. M ➜LEARN MORE on the Madison
Collaborative at www.jmu.edu/ mc/index.shtml and the College of Business at www.jmu.edu/cob W I N T E R
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By Bill Gentry, Jan Gillis (Õ07), Eric Gorton (Õ86, Õ09M), Jim Heffernan (Õ91), Courtney Herb (Õ15), Michelle Hite (Õ88), Michele Mannino (Õ14), Janet Smith (Õ81) and Bill Wyatt
ABET accredits JMU engineering on a fast track
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Employers have been lauding And the program’s youth is the JMU engineering proone of its strengths. “This is a gram since its first graduates curriculum designed in the 21st hit the job market in spring century for 21st century needs,” 2012. Now, the AccreditaPaterson adds, noting students tion Board for Engineering get a heavy dose of design expeand Technology, the leading rience beginning in their freshaccrediting agency for techniman year. “I think the curricucal and engineering programs lum resonates with prospective in the United States and students because it’s very hands around the world, has given on. You learn engineering by The Accreditation Board for Engineering Technol- doing engineering.” its stamp of approval. “It’s an external assessment ogy has accredited the JMU School of Engineering In addition to design, JMU of our program and by getting on a fast track, aligning JMU’s program with the engineering students take best engineering programs in the nation. it, it suggests Madison engibusiness courses and work on neering is meeting the rigor that the engineering proprojects requiring them to work with clients. During fession expects,” says Kurt Paterson, head of the JMU their sophomore year, the students meet with physically Department of Engineering. disabled children and their families, design mobility The accreditation puts Madison engineering with the devices to meet their needs, such as custom bicycles, best programs in the country and will benefit students then build and deliver them. Such experiences, Paterson and alumni seeking jobs, graduate school opportunities says, position JMU engineering graduates to be problem and licensure. “When you tell others around the world solvers who understand people while also having the that your program is ABET accredited, it’s understood technical knowledge required of engineers. M what that means,” Paterson explains. ➜LEARN MORE at www.jmu.edu/engineering
Behind the stage Renowned Masterpiece Season performers mentor students The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts’ Masterpiece Season presents many renowned performers each year but it’s not all just for show. The Masterpiece Season is as much an academic experience for JMU students as it is watching these legends of stage and song perform live. Recently, two such performers — Broadway legend Patti LuPone and country singer/songwriter and JMU alumnus Phil Vassar (’85) — took 10
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Country music star Phil Vassar (‘85,), inset, and Broadway star Patti Lupone met with and mentored JMU students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
time during their campus visits to work with budding artists from JMU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. “The very first time she heard us play, she told us it was so beautiful
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she wanted to cry,” says England McDaniels (’15), a music industry major and a violinist in the JMU Symphony Orchestra. “To have someone as talented and accomplished as Patti LuPone say something
like that at this stage in our careers is unbelievable. It really makes us feel like everything we’ve been taught and worked toward is really beginning to pay off.” M ➜ www.jmu.edu/arts
VA S S A R (’ 8 5) P H OTO G R A P H BY K AT I E L A N D I S; L U P O N E BY M I K E M I R I E L LO (’ 0 9 M )
‘this is a curriculum designed in the 21st century for 21st century needs.’ — tiM PaterSOn,
head, JMU engineering department
Kritika Vayur (‘13) worked with JMU engineering professor Olga Pierrakos to characterize the flow past heart valve prosthetics. Vayur is completing her master’s degree at Penn State University.
e n g i n e e r i n g P h o t o g r a P h s b y t i m b o r n y ( ’ 1 3)
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Scholarly insight Rhodes Scholar A.E. Dick Howard, the first Madison Vision Series lecturer is regarded as one of today’s top constitutional law experts. “If this nation is going to survive, prosper and compete, we have to have people who are creative and know how to think moreso than those who have only mastered a subject,” Howard told students and faculty members.
directed the commission that re-wrote Virginia’s current state constitution and is in his 50th year on the University of Virginia Law School faculty. Scholars address liberal arts education and According to Howard — regarded as one of today’s top concontemporary issues in an engaged society stitutional law experts — drawing added attention to concepts such as the need to become familiar with the U.S. Constitution The Madison Vision Series is destined to make a difference in that was so heavily influenced by JMU’s eponym is a marvelous the lives of JMU students. example of the intrinsic value of this JMU speaker series. The scholars, thinkers and leaders participating in this inau“It would be a great tragedy if the generation of people who gural year of the lecture series are a generation from now will be this delving into issues that strike at the country’s leaders and its citizens turn heart of why it is important to be their backs on politics,” Howard well-grounded in liberal education says. “If that happens, they are basino matter a student’s particular acacally bailing out on what matters in demic interest. American life.” Take it from A.E. Dick Howard, As Howard sees it, a stronger who knows a bit about what impact understanding of the basic tenants of can be had from a liberal arts and scithe Constitution is a must, especially ences education. today. “One of the challenges for peoThe first speaker in the Madison ple who are teachers, professors, city Vision Series, Howard is a Rhodes councilmen, state legislators, jourThe lecture series continued during October with Scholar, clerked two years for former nalists and other leaders is to try to a visit from Association of American Colleges and Universities President Carol Geary Schneider. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, draw young people into this national
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M A D ISO N V IS I O N S ER I ES, GE A RY SCH N EI D ER A N D H A L P ER N P H OTOGR A P HS BY M I KE M I R I EL LO (’09 M)
Scholar trio ranks JMU as a top Fulbright producer list
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MU was named a top producer of U.S. Fulbright Scholars for the 2012–13 academic year. Among the national Fulbright professors, Anthony Tongen, JMU professor of mathematics, spent time in Mexico at the University of Colima researching and teaching in the area of mathematical biology. Sang Yoon, JMU professor of art, design and art history and a two-time Fulbright award winner, is teaching graphic design at Kyung Hee
‘... the leaders of this great country need to be grounded in subjects that have really pressed them to think, understand and analyze.’
conversation because ject,” Howard says. they will inherit this “You need to take system,” he explains. specific majors “And if they just bail obviously, but the out and say it’s all leaders of this great corrupt and we want country need to be nothing to do with grounded in subit, then they forfeit jects that have really their own future.” pressed them to JMU’s trademark think, understand liberal education and analyze. — A.E. DICK HOWARD curriculum — an “It’s really what approach that includes big-picture perspective James Madison University and other universiand broad, challenging conceptual thinking ties are all about,” Howard says, adding, “Part as necessities to problem-solving — is vital, of the fabric of a good liberal arts education is Howard says. that people come away understanding some“If this nation is going to survive, prosper thing about the Constitution. They don’t have and compete, we have to have people who to be experts, but they must understand what it are creative and know how to think moreso is and why it matters; hence, the true value of a than those who have only mastered a subseries such as this one.” M In addition to her Madison Vision Series lecture, Association of American Colleges and Universities President Carol Geary Schneider (left) sat down with JMU Vice Provost for University Studies Linda Halpern to discuss the importance of a liberal education. Both Geary Schneider and Halpern have been recognized with the Joseph Katz Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Practice and Discourse of General and Liberal Education. ➜ SEE THEIR CONVERSATION at www.jmu.edu/connect. B U T T E R F L I E S C O U R T E S Y O F A N T H O N Y TO N G E N
Migrating Monarch butterflies at the Piedra Herrada Santuary in Mexico. One of Tongen’s research projects was to mathematically model the unique migration of the Monarch butterfly.
University in her native South Korea (Read more about her Fulbright experience on Page 33). Charles Bolyard, JMU professor of philosophy and religion, is studying medieval philosopher Henry Harclay at the University of Cyprus. His research grant will allow him to study under Christopher Schabel, one of the world’s foremost Harclay scholars. Over the past several years, Bolyard has developed a strong interest in Harclay and has presented his findings at international conferences in Freising, Germany, and in Toronto. M
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JMU Community Service-Learning Director Rich Harris leads a discussion group at new faculty orientation for fall semester.
JMU’s new faculty members answer ‘Why Madison?’ The Madison community welcomed approximately 125 new full-time and part-time faculty members for the 2013–14 school year. The group hails from across the United States and around the world, and its members bring an impressive array of academic and professional experience to the classroom. Many cite JMU’s reputation for quality teaching, research and engagement as primary factors in their decision to come to Madison. Four new professors share why they chose to work and teach at JMU:
‘I believe strongly in JMU’s motto Be the Change. Professors have the power and, therefore, the responsibility to empower students and give them the tools they need to make a difference in this world. I value JMU’s commitment to community outreach and service learning, and its commitment to giving students an international and global perspective. I think here at JMU I will grow as a person and professor, and I look forward to watching my students’ transformation during this special time in their lives, and in this special community.’ — NOORIE KELSEY BRANTMEIER,
assistant professor of Learning, Technology and
Leadership Education
‘JMU offers a perfect blend of teaching in the classroom and in the research lab. Plus, everyone seems so happy to be a part of the JMU family. I absolutely wanted to be a part of this place!’ — C AT H E R I N E L O W R Y F R A N S S E N ,
➜LEARN MORE about JMU’s newest faculty members at ww.jmu.edu/news/new-professors 14
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assistant professor of psychology
N E W FA C U LT Y P H O T O G R A P H B Y R A C H E L L A M ( ’ 1 4)
‘JMU is the perfect place for both my research and teaching. The department is not just interested in teaching students, but also having them be an integral part of the research performed in the department. While I really enjoy teaching undergraduate students, I am also looking forward to engaging their interests in physics by exposing them to new and interesting concepts. I feel that through the department at JMU I can grow both as a researcher and a mentor.’ — J A S O N T. H A R A L D S E N ,
JMU’s first lady chairs community READ to Succeed program MU first lady Mary Ann Alger is chairing a new reading initiative designed to improve literacy among elementary school students in the local community. “We READ to Succeed” is a partnership among JMU, the United Way, Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Smart Beginnings and Project Read. The goal of the program is to have 100 percent of city and county students reading on grade level before leaving third grade. Faculty members and students from the JMU College of Education and the Department of Political Science are assisting in collecting and analyzing data from the reading program. M
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Mary Ann Alger, JMU first lady, reads to local students in the READ to Succeed program, founded to improve elementary school literacy.
assistant professor of physics and astronomy
‘While my oldest children were looking at colleges, I fell in love with JMU almost as much as they did. I had been considering a career in academia and decided that JMU was a great fit for me. I’d like to think I’m a great fit for JMU, too!’ — LISA J. CARMINES,
instructor of nursing
Madison
May 2–4, 2014 Bluestone Reunions
EVENTS
Celebrating the Classes of 1964, 1959, 1954, 1949, 1944 and 1939
SAVE THE DATE
Join the Class of 1964 as they celebrate their 50th reunion from Madison College and are inducted into the Bluestone Society. Participate on your class reunion committee, by contacting Stephanie Whitson at whitsosh@jmu.edu.
March 20, 2014 Madison Vision Lecture Series Jeffrey Rosen, CEO of the National Constitution Center, presents “Contemporary Issues in an Engaged Society”
March 19–20, 2014 Intelligence and the Transition from War to Peace, A Multidisciplinary Assessment JMU is inviting people from both academia and government to a conference examining the CIA docu-
ments on intelligence support to U.S. decision-making on Bosnia, 1992–96. Featuring scholars from the United States and abroad presenting papers exploring the role of intelligence in war and peace, and the multidimensional nature of conflict resolution, as well as eyewitness accounts from individuals who actively participated in the Bosnian War and Dayton Peace Accords. Conference schedule: www.jmu. edu/war-to-peace-conference
R E A D TO S U C C E E D P H OTO G R A P H S BY K AT I E L A N D I S; R O S E N C O U R T E S Y O F T H E N AT I O N A L C O N S T I T U T I O N C E N T E R ; B L U E S TO N E R E U N I O N BY M I K E M I R I E L LO (’ 0 9 M )
May 30 – June 1, 2014 Madison Alumni Conference An annual, weekend-long program designed to recognize alumni volunteer achievement and build a network of graduates who are informed, involved and invested in shaping the future of JMU. ➜LEARN MORE about other
events and events and events at www.jmu.edu/events
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A passion for service
Inaugural Gandhi Center Community Service Award recipients, the late Vida Huber and Howard Zehr.
JMU Gandhi center honors two with inaugural service award
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he Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence presented the inaugural Community Service Award to former JMU associate dean of the College of Integrated Science and Technology, the late Vida Huber. The center also recognized Eastern Mennonite University Professor Howard Zehr with the service award. Huber played an integral role in the creation of JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services, whose purpose is to connect
JMU President Jonathan Alger presents Vida Huber’s posthumous award to Harold Huber.
the academic and research resources of JMU to the health and wellness needs of the community. Jerry Benson, JMU provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, describes Huber as “a person with vision and a passion for service.” Recalling her remarks upon receiving a previous award, Benson quoted his friend, “Service is at the heart of my philosophy of life, and I believe that it is through service to others that we ourselves become more whole.” Huber’s husband, Harold, accepted the award on her behalf. M ➜ www.jmu.edu/gandhicenter
Planting peace The JMU Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence presented its sixth-annual Children’s Global Nonviolence Summer Peace Camp on August 12–16. Counselors, JMU students and administrators shared the theme, “Planting peace,” with area children ages 6 to 13. The goal of the camp is to foster an appreciation of the value of nonviolence, the potential of nonviolent action to address conflicts, the value of social responsibility, the interconnected nature of human experience and the planet’s natural environment. ➜LEARN MORE about the JMU Gandhi
Center at www.jmu.edu/gandhicenter.
A JMU student interacts with local children during the Gandhi Center’s 2013 peace camp, “Planting Peace.”
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Z E H R , H A R O L D H U B E R A N D P E A C E C A M P P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT I E L A N D I S ; V I D A H U B E R B Y D I A N E E L L I O T T ( ’ 0 0)
Bythe numbers 2 205
March 4, 2014 marks the 205th anniversary of the inauguration of President James Madison at the House chamber. James and Dolley Madison began the tradition of the Inaugural Ball with a gala at Long’s Hotel including 400 guests.
JMU continues to get rave reviews as an outstanding place to learn and live. JMU is among the universities profiled in The Princeton Review’s The Best 378 Colleges: 2014 Edition and is ranked No. 2 for best campus food and No. 16 for best college newspaper. JMU is also the No. 2 public regional university in the South in U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 edition of Best Colleges.
60 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the JMU Graduate School. The master’s program was established in 1954, when the State Board of Education authorized
The average undergraduate class at JMU has 29 students.
JMU’s Master of Science in Education program. JMU offers 52 master’s programs; an Educational Specialist degree; and the Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Psychology degrees. ➜LEARN MORE at
www.jmu.edu/grad
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The second largest Bridgeforth Stadium crowd ever — 25,201 JMU parents, students and fans — cheered on the Dukes in a 40-13 Family Weekend football win over the University of Albany on Oct. 5. The crowd cheered loudly for Teddy Cregger (’15P), who received the JMU Parent of the Year Award during half time. Cregger’s daughter Lori Cregger (’15), a junior from Dublin, Va., submitted the winning essay in the Parent of the Year contest. She wrote: “My dad is my hero for many reasons. After my mom died of breast cancer, he was left alone with three little girls. Not only did he decide to raise us as a single dad, he took on both roles. I was 4 years old and my sisters were a mere 18 months. He’s always been the person to push me the hardest, but also give me comfort in times of heartache.”
25,201 G R A D UAT E S T U D I E S P H OTO G R A P H BY H O L LY M A R C U S (’ 0 3) ; S A L A M A N C A BY M I K E M I R I E L LO (’ 0 9 M ) ; C R EG G E R (’ 1 5 P) C O U R T E S Y O F PA R E N T R E L AT I O N S
JMU has teamed with the University of Salamanca to offer a dual master’s program to provide teachers with Spanish language skills rooted in cultural understanding. JMU has a historic partnership with the university. JMU Provost and Senior The JMU Semester in Salamanca Vice President for Academic Affairs Jerry Benson program celebrated its 25th anni- signs the dual-master’s versary in 2013. The new dual agreement at the University of Salamanca. “We master’s program will combine JMU’s exceptional teacher edu- want to offer students who plan to teach more than just cation program with the peerless language skills,” he says. Spanish language instruction of the University of Salamanca. Program students will earn a master’s degree in languages and culture from the University of Salamanca and a master’s degree in education from JMU. W I N T E R
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That’s been Jon Alger’s consistent advice to the Madison community since he became JMU’s president. He has shared these words to inspire visionary thinking for JMU and emphasized that private giving will take JMU to the next level. As the next few pages reflect, Madison friends and donors have stepped forward with their own passion for JMU’s future. One alumni-parent couple explains how, for them, support for the JMU faculty translates into support for students. A professor’s gift, in turn, establishes the Cohen Center for the Study of Technological Humanism. The story of one alumna is so inspiring that Madison asked her to share why she made a legacy gift to JMU. Three Madison Forever Scholarship recipients, meanwhile, show the hope your gifts provide. And a telefund caller explains why he (and every other student telefund employee) has chosen to make a gift to JMU.
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We give because JMU has always made a point to hire professors who want to teach, who want to have contact with students, who want to guide them and mentor them. JMU is distinct in this way. By supporting the faculty we are also supporting students. So we have created two endowments in support of the wonderful professors here at JMU.’ — Robin (’83) and Clem Goodman (’84) Madison alumni, parents and donors of two Goodman Faculty Support Endowments
Thank you!
Your gifts and your participation count! Look what YOU did for Madison this fiscal year (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013).
A 10% INCREASE
JMU EMPLOYEE GIVING RATE
P H O T O G R A P H B Y K AT I E L A N D I S
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Making gray Why I made a legacy gift to Madison and why I hope others will too
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hile my classmates were reveling in their first taste of (relative) freedom and independence amid the beauty of Madison’s bluestone campus, I remember gray winter days and gray buildings. Quite frankly, my first student days at Madison in the early 1960s were not happy ones. I know that sounds like heresy among Madisonians, known as we are for our welcoming and positive attitudes. To be truthful, I did not even want to come to Madison in the first place. It’s just that I couldn’t afford to go anywhere else, and Madison was the only college to offer me the financial assistance I needed to attend college. My mother, a divorced mom raising two children, could only afford to give me $100 toward my college expenses, and she had to borrow that $100. I think the tuition was approximately $600 a year then, but — as today’s struggling college students know — when you don’t have it, any amount seems impossible to raise. As it turns out, Madison was exactly where I belonged. The experience gave me everything I needed to be successful. And my Madison days were happy ones, after all. I am Betty Coe Cinquegrana (’64) taught school and helped her husband, Paul, in business.
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BY BETTY COE CINQUEGRANA (‘64)
forever grateful that I was able to attend Madison. I thank my teachers at Louisa County High School who encouraged me to go to college. They helped me find local scholarships my freshman year so I didn’t have to work during my first year at Madison. I attended Madison for four years, graduating in 1964. My tuition, room and board were paid for by scholarships, primarily state teachers scholarships and work-study grants, which had me working in the library or in the dining hall. I would never have been able to attend Madison without the help I received. So today I give to JMU in appreciation of having been given to by others. I started out at Madison as a math major. I soon realized some business training would be very helpful in getting summer jobs to make some money for books, clothes and other living expenses. So I changed my major to business education, although math was thought to be a more glamorous major. That business major served me well in my teaching and in my personal life, helping my husband, Paul, in his business career.
P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y O F B E T T Y C I N Q U E G R A N A (‘ 6 4)
In the last year or so I have been prevailing through some health issues. As all of you who have attained my level of experience know, it’s a time of looking ahead to the lasting impact and legacy we will make with our lives. I look out over the world today, and I am often troubled by what I see. I wonder where we are headed as a nation and as a society. I am passionate about the need for free and ethical enterprise and an ethical citizenry. That’s what will drive a robust economy and a culture of innovation and discovery. I know a gift to Madison can help address the societal issues I feel passionate about and help make the world a better place. That is why my bequest will fund a chair and a scholarship for ethics and leadership in the College of Business. I am delighted to learn about the universitywide Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action program. To pick up on that insightful 2013 Orientation Week slogan, I know “it’s complicated.” That is why my bequest also supports future teachers and funds a presidential chair that will rotate around the university. Life is complicated, and we must prepare our students with the broad knowledge and skills to make wise decisions. When they graduate, the world will be in their hands. I’m giving to Madison because I know I’m helping JMU create a brighter future. M I urge you to do the same. Betty Cinquegrana’s scholarship helped prepare recipient Bethany Mann (’12, ’13M) for great things. The Phi Beta Kappa member majored in math as an undergrad, earned her master’s in teaching at JMU and now teaches math at Staunton River Middle School in Moneta, Va.
Therefore I want to give to Madison, to business students and to future teachers. Paul and I never had children, but I feel good knowing that because of our efforts, Paul and I can help some young people who want to get an education.
assets, Paul said he wanted the remainder of our estate to go to his high school, DeMatha Catholic High School, and his alma mater, the University of Maryland. I spoke up and said I wanted Madison in the mix. Paul wholeheartedly agreed;
A word of wisdom to my fellow Madisonians: Remember JMU when you and your spouse are preparing your wills.Õ — Bett y Coe Cinquegr ana (’64) Now I have a word for my Madison contemporaries. When Paul and I were preparing our wills and mentioning relatives who would be beneficiaries of some P H O T O G R A P H B Y D I A N E E L L I O T (‘ 0 0)
he just hadn’t thought of it. So a word of wisdom to my fellow Madisonians: Remember JMU when you and your spouse are preparing your wills.
CINQUEGRANA LEGACY JMU students who will improve business, teaching The Betty Coe (’64) and Paul Cinquegrana Legacy will fund • College of Business Chair in Ethics and Leadership • Presidential Chair to rotate through the university at the president’s discretion and recognize excellence in teaching, research or another core Madison value • College of Business Scholarship in Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership • Existing Scholarship in Education to support future teachers
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Cohen Center to bridge cultures of technology and humanism BY PAM BROCK
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uman beings have never been satisfied with the world as nature presents it. We keep inventing things — ways to stay warm, to go faster, to connect. We’ve invented technologies to make life easier and to save it. Anyone who has watched teenagers sit side by side and text each other on their smart phones, however, has glimpsed one of the more questionable effects of technology on us. “The connection between technology and the human has been an intimate one ever since we first began responding
All education is for the future.’ — R alph Cohen to our external environment,” says Larry Burton, director of JMU’s new Cohen Center for the Study of Technological Humanism. Take, for example, the lever, clothes or toothpaste. Consider cars, drones and buildings. Think of language, abstract concepts, ways of thinking, and societal structures like schools and governments. Technology is anything human-made — all of the things we build for and around ourselves. The complex questions that arise from this interrelatedness require intentional, rational human study, according to Burton. And investigating the implications of such a broad intellectual landscape
Cohen Center for the Study of Technological Humanism Technology: Anything human-made Activities: Research, fellowships, colloquia, symposia, speakers Scholars: Graduate faculty, students Outcomes: A national model of networked, collaborative and active scholar-citizens Funded by: A gift from Ralph and the late Libby O. Cohen Location: School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication 22
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requires the input of all the academic disciplines. That’s the reasoning behind JMU’s ambitious new graduatelevel Cohen Center, which has been funded by a gift from the internationally renowned scholar and donor Ralph Cohen and his late wife, Libby. The center will operate on the principle that “collaborative, networked and shared research that bridges the ‘two cultures’ of humanism and tech- JMU professor, donor and renowned literary critic Ralph nology is of utmost importance as Cohen (right), and Cohen Center Director Larry Burton. our society becomes increasingly technological, interconnected and global,” many rare volumes, to JMU Libraries. JMU announced. Through his work in WRTC, Cohen has Inspiration for the center began with found a university environment with the Burton’s recruitment of Cohen, his for- right ingredients for a donor and scholar to mer mentor, to teach in JMU’s School of make a difference. He notes the rich underWriting, Rhetoric and Technical Com- graduate Madison Experience that has led munication several years ago. Burton to a doubling in the last 15 years of the knew Cohen as a visionary scholar and number, and increased prestige, of JMU eminent literary critic who throughout graduate- and doctoral-level programs. his professional life has refused to stay in “The center will have a significant his own intellectual lane. impact on graduate education at JMU,” A former UCLA and University of Vir- says Reid Linn, dean of the Graduate ginia professor, Cohen established and School. “The potential is great for colthen edited for 40 years the respected laboration and linking hands across disjournal, New Literary History, so named, ciplines and fields of inquiry that are not the founder says, to keep scholars look- possible today. There will be a physical ing forward, not back. A prolific author, space and library, which will create a Cohen also spent years teaching around dynamic environment for our graduate the world — in Australia, China, France, students and faculty to meet and invesIsrael, Russia and Scotland — with his tigate significant trends and issues of the wife and intellectual partner of 73 years, day. That’s exciting.” Libby, who was a library science scholar Traci Zimmerman, interim head of and native Russian. WRTC, imagines the potential impact “That’s in the past,” Cohen says. “We among JMU graduate scholars in assessabsorb the past, but all education is for the ment, biology, business, communication future. If we do this right, we are going to sciences and disorders, education, inforfind out what a new kind of knowledge is. mation security, integrated science and Knowing how fields interrelate is something technology, music, nursing, and psycholthat a university education should provide.” ogy. “Think of the expertise the faculty Nearing 100 years old and impressed and students in our graduate disciplines with JMU’s openness to change and fresh can bring to bear on investigations into thinking, Cohen has found a home for his technology and humanism.” The Cohen Center will be unique in vision and his passion. “I came to JMU to be part of an exciting university,” he says. Virginia and sponsor research opportuni“I want to contribute. That’s all I care ties, fellowships and speakers. It will be about.” Two years ago, he donated much housed in WRTC in the College of Arts of his personal scholarly library, including and Letters under Dean David Jeffrey. M
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STUDENTS
helped by Madison Forever Scholarships (so far this year)
Scholarship program rekindles hope BY BILL GENTRY
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ifts to the Madison Forever Scholarship emergency student aid fund breathe life back into hope. Alecia Epp (’14) hopes some day to work as an executive at a top-ranked hospital. A health services administration major with a business minor, Epp knows the pain of losing hope. Her father died in March 2013 of cancer. Without the Madison Forever Scholarship, the Eldersburg, Md., native would have seen her dream of being the first person in her family to graduate from college vanish. “I was obviously so upset when my dad died, and then I was also upset because I didn’t want to not come back for my last year at this place that is my second home,” Epp says. “This scholarship is awesome to me. It has helped me stay here. I’m so incredibly grateful. It really has changed my life.” Jared Farnsworth (’16) deals in hope each waking moment. An interdisciplinary liberal studies major who is pursuing
$6,457
Average size of Madison Forever Scholarship award
The hope Madison Forever gifts provided to Jared Farnsworth (Õ16) will ripple outward: He dreams of a life spent Òreaching my goal of showing people that someone else cares about them.Ó
elementary education certification with a cas of design” thanks to a Madison Forever concentration in mathematics and science, Scholarship while her mother fights a secFarnsworth dreams of a life spent “reaching ond bout with cancer. my goal of showing people that someone “I am so grateful for this scholarship,” else cares about them.” says Matthews, who put on an art show at a One of five siblings, Farnsworth, of downtown Harrisonburg restaurant this fall Richmond, Va., found himself on the after being hand-picked by the restaurant brink of dropping out of school after his owner. “I have gotten a great education at father lost his job. “I feel so blessed to get JMU, and I would not have been able to the help from Madison Forever,” he says. “I finish here without the help,” Matthews was definitely blown away when I got it.” says. “I am super excited to get to the next Camisha Matthews (’14) knows about chapter of my life, yet will be sad to leave hope. She is a School of Media Arts and JMU because it’s been so good to me.” Design student with a concentration in Madison Forever Scholarship gifts graphic design. She plans to follow gradu- ÔI was obviously so upset when my dad died, and then I was also upset because I didnÕt ation by studying in Vienna next summer want to not come back for my last year at alongside William this place that is my second home. Tate, one of her favor— A lecia Epp (’14) ite JMU professors. The Purcellville, Va., native is finishing her academic career at help rekindle hope, and help a Duke M JMU and seizing the Vienna opportunity stay a Duke. to learn in what she calls “one of the mec-
Did you know?
100 percent of this year’s telefund student employees made a gift to Madison Forever!
I give because I love JMU and the Madison Experience. It’s about more than just the classes. It’s about the opportunity to get involved with students, professors and organizations that fuel your passions.’ — Jordan Williams (’16) Madison Connection caller
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jmu.edu/
CONNECT/ Stay connected to the Madison Experience JMU is on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Pinterest, YouTube and the Be the Change blog. Plan your visit to JMU, connect with friends, share your stories and photos, and get in on the conversations.
Orientation pep rally most “liked” This photo from the 1787 Orientation pep rally is the most “liked” JMU Facebook photo
2,980 likes, 553shares. 24
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Where in theWorld isYour JACard
➜ SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO at www.jmu.edu/connect/
where-in-the-world-is-your-jacard/index.shtml PHOTO CR EDIT H ER E
CONNECT Students and alumni share photos of their JACards at locations around the globe. See more photos at www.facebook.com/ jamesmadisonuniversity.
Have you seen images from the JMU quadcopter on Facebook and Twitter?
JMU on LinkedIn University pages Go to LinkedIn and search James Madison University, www.linkedin. com/edu/school?id=19581&trk=tyah &trkInfo=tas%3Ajames
(Above): A wordle of the most popular names for students in the Class of 2017. Learn more about the freshman class at www.facebook. com/jamesmadisonuniversity.
P E P R A L LY, F L O R E N C E S T U D E N T S A N D Q U A D B Y M I K E M I R I E L L O ( ’ 0 9 M )
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DUKES TURF
Consulting firm conducts FBS feasibility study for JMU athletics strategic plan By Don EglE
in april 2013 the JMU Foundation hired Carrsports Consulting to conduct a Football Bowl subdivision feasibility study and to assist JMU with its athletics strategic plan. The timing of this study was intended to coincide with the work of the Madison Future Commission. now that the study is complete, Carrsports continues to work with JMU athletics on further developing its strategic plan. although the feasibility study does not make a recommendation to JMU on whether it should change conferences, the study provides the university with the appropriate data to make an informed decision about athletic conference alignment if and when it receives an invitation from another conference. interest in conference alignment remains high and a significant amount of feedback has been received as a part of the Madison Future Commission. The JMU Board of Visitors met on oct. 4 to discuss several important topics including an update on the Madison Future Commission and the release of the athletics study from Carrsports. on behalf of the JMU Board of Visitors, Rector Joseph Funkhouser expressed appreciation for the care taken in the preparation of the Carrsports report. The board concurred with the administration’s recommendation that JMU release the report publicly and engage the various university constituencies in a dialogue on these issues within the larger context of the univer-
sity’s strategic plan. Funkhouser also commented on the board’s appreciation for the administration’s commitment to transparency, civil discourse and to an inclusive process that is grounded in facts and evidence. President Jonathan R. alger thanked board members for their support of the administration’s recommendation and thanked Carrsports Consulting for their thorough analysis. Beginning with the Presidential Listening Tour last year, alger expressed his continued commitment to fostering an environment in which members of the JMU community can learn from and with each other through open communications and civil discourse. alger outlined that as with all other issues and challenges facing the university, questions related to athletics and conference alignment must be addressed within the broader framework of the university’s mission, vision and strategic plan. The JMU administration and athletics leadership now have data and facts on which to base thoughtful and informed consideration and decisions. This data, along with the open and inclusive process that the university community has put in place, will M help in decision making about the university’s future. ➜ Review the work of the Madison Future Commission and read
CarrSports Consulting’s report at www.jmu.edu/madisonfuture
CarrSports Consulting conducted a FBS feasibility study for JMU Athletics to help the university make informed decisions on a conference alignment.
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P h o t o g r a P h C o u r t e s y C at h y k u s h n e r (‘ 8 7 )
Sporting a new look Dukes fans help with new look of the Convo’s basketball court B Y K E V I N W A R N E R
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ukes fans have helped JMU hoopsters and fans sport a new look in the Convo. An updated playing surface has been accompanied by a modernized look as JMU unveiled a new design for the Convocation Center basketball court beginning in the 2013-14 season. “Several months of planning and tweaking have culminated in a layout that is uniquely JMU while instilling heightened spirit and pride,” says JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne. “I’d like to commend our folks for their hard work to identify a bolder, more distinctive appearance while also thanking the many fans who participated in our social media design campaign.” The new design was the culmination of a fan participation process via the JMUSports Facebook page. Fans were given the chance to enter original designs for consideration. JMU Athletics narrowed the 65 submissions to a second-round list of 10 and asked fans to provide feedback on the different designs. After an extensive review of Facebook feedback, JMU settled upon the basic framework of a submission from longtime Shenandoah Valley resident and JMU supporter Becky Taylor, who also worked briefly on campus as part of the Forbes Center construction project. JMU men’s basketball head coach Matt Brady says, “I think the design embodies the original vision, which is a perfect blend of a modern or hip look combined with something that still has dignity and respect. We’re very appreciative of everyone who participated in the process to make this new court a reality.” The final design prominently features JMU’s secondary athletics logo, the head of Duke Dog, covering greater than half of the inside area of each three-point arc and extending beyond the sideline and baseline in each diagonal corner. The JMU block lettering used by athletics fills the middle of the court crossing through the jump circle. The court includes the signature of former U.S. President James Madison in two locations while the out-of-bounds area includes the JMU brand lettering and JMUSports.com advertising. Women’s basketball head coach Kenny Brooks (’92) says, “I think the new design is a combination of vintage and modern which can be enjoyed by all of JMU Nation.” “The floor is a marketing tool in so many ways,” notes Taylor, who frequently participates in graphic design contests. “The court attracts new young recruits, gets media attention and is seen by many. For example, when I saw the Boise State football field for the first time, I stopped and watched. The field design was intriguing, and it made me pay attention. This court will do the same thing. It will make people stop and watch.” M
Spotlighting Dukes fans BY MAR THA BELL GR AHAM
When Scott Worner (’81, ’85M) enrolled at Madison, it was before the Convo and before the bigger Bridgeforth Stadium. “Literally and figuratively,” he says, “athletics was the only game in town — the social media of the time.” He should know. In 1979, Worner entered the annals of the university as Madison Man by donning a purple and gold mask and caped costume with an “M” emblazoned on his chest and stealing the spotlight at Homecoming. Worner, who earned two degrees from JMU and a doctorate from Virginia Tech, spent 34 years in public education before retiring earlier this year from Spotsylvania County Public Schools. He’s still a Dukes fan. “Anyone who’s ever spent any time at Madison ... there’s a connection like family. When the box scores go across the screen, you stop what you’re doing and pay attention.” ➜ Do you know a Top Dawg Dukes fan? Nominate him or her to
be highlighted in the next issue of Madison magazine. Email your top fan nomination to madisonmag@jmu.edu.
C O U R T P H O T O G R A P H B Y C AT H Y K U S H N E R (‘ 8 7 ) ; T O P D AW G C O U R T E S Y S C O T T W O R N E R (‘ 8 1 , ‘ 8 5 M ) 1 9 7 9 H O M E C O M I N G C O U R T E S Y O F S P E C I A L C O L L E C T I O N S W I T H C O L O R I Z AT I O N B Y S A R A H J A C O B S E N (‘ 1 3)
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The professors , students and alumni who shine in M a d i s o n’ s c o n s t e l l a t i o n
Broadway, Va., native Emily Dick (‘16) is a physics and astronomy major and a Second Century Scholar. She has worked with Anca Constantin, JMU physics and astronomy professor, to look at megamasers at the far reaches of the universe. 28
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Lights [Emily Dick (‘16)]
Finding out what’s at the end of the universe
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B y M e ag h a n M ac D o n a l D (‘ 1 3)
hysics majors are in high demand across the job board, whether it’s engineering, graduate school, medical school or working for companies. Sophomore emily Dick (’16) credits the appeal of physics majors to their never-ending quest to both ask questions and to make connections of the unknown to the known. “You have to justify the connections that you are being taught,” Dick says. “You can see the equation, but unless you understand why and how to get there, you’re not going to remember it. And you’re not going to know why it’s like that. … Making those connections really helps things stick.” Dick says that professors who teach the fundamental skill of “making connections,” and JMU’s small class sizes, are two things that drew her to the JMU physics and astronomy program. A local student from Broadway, Va., Dick says a physics major — and even JMU — were not her first choices until she visited campus and met professors in the JMU Department of Physics ‘JMU is unique in that and Astronomy. “i v isited a l l my it gives undergrads the other college choices, opportunity to work but a f ter i toured in the labs as soon as JMU, i knew i wanted their sophomore year.’ to come here.’” Dick was accepted for admission at the College of William & Mary, Christopher newport University and embry-riddle Aeronautical University. She also made the interview round at Princeton University which, she says, “was an honor. However, the name of a university isn’t enough to base a final college decision on,” explains Dick, who also is a JMU Second Century Scholar. “Most of these universities have graduate schools that give graduate students first choice of all the research laboratory positions. But, JMU is unique in that it gives undergrads the opportunity to work in the labs as soon as their sophomore year,” she adds. “this really appealed to me.”
Dick, who plans to study astrophysics further after graduation, was one of three undergraduate students to complete active galactic nuclear research with Anca Constantin, JMU physics and astronomy professor. the summer 2013 research was part of a $10,000 grant from the Jeffress Memorial trust to continue Constantin’s project — finding water megamasers suitable for measuring distances from earth to the galaxies they reside in and for measuring the mass of these galaxies’ supermassive black holes. “For the whole history of astronomy, we wanted to get estimates of these,” says Constantin, who is part of the national radio Astronomy Observatory’s Megamaser Cosmology Project. “We do have some other methods for weighing supermassive black holes, but this method gives us the most accurate estimate on how massive they are.” JMU Physics and Astronomy Professor Shanil Virani says, “JMU physics and astronomy undergraduate students get to complete hands-on research early in their academic careers and this makes them more marketable. it also gives them an advantage for their futures careers in physics and in their continued educational careers.” Dick plans to pursue both a master’s and doctorate degree, and says she feels she has a “head start” on graduate school because of her JMU undergraduate research experiences. “My mom says when i was 4, i asked her what was at the end of the universe,” Dick says. “i was always thinking about it. i always loved math and science, and i like figuring out stuff for myself, so physics was a perfect choice. now, working with Dr. Constantin this summer, i have been studying black holes at the far reaches of the universe — hands-on research looking beyond my 4-year-old imagination!” Dick also likes the collaborative nature of physics and astronomy studies. “Answering science’s greatest questions is up to everyone — all fields of study. When people think of physicists, like Albert einstein, those are the great leaps and bounds everyone needed to make. But now, it’s going to be everybody working together to figure stuff out. We already have the equations; we just have to analyze things and discover more.” M ➜ learn more about Constantin and Dick’s megamaser research
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BRIGHTLIGHTS
[Mike Boylan (‘76)]
Personal relationships are central to success B Y C O L L E E N D I XO N
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ike Boylan’s degree in early childhood education launched his career as a kindergarten teacher. But to hear him describe his journey of starting and building his own global textile business, it is obvious that he has valuable lessons to give beyond the classroom. Boylan (’76) owns PEKA Textiles Co. Ltd., with offices in Shanghai, Bangkok and Hong Kong that offer imported textiles, global sourcing and distribution, and custom product development. An international success, Boylan’s path to his textile empire was not a straight seam. “I’ll never forget my dad’s words as they dropped me off at JMU’s Eagle Hall,” recalls Boylan: ‘Son, we have done the best we can do; now it’s up to you.’” His first semester was a disaster. An admitted “social misfit,” Boylan struggled with studying in the college environment. To make everything worse he contracted mono as the second semester began. At that time, students with mono were confined to the health center. “This was huge for me,” says Boylan, who
literally learned how to study during his illness. “I really had nothing else to do except sleep, eat and read. This was a true crossroad for me.” At the same time Boylan was learning how to be a good student he was also learning how to teach. “JMU’s education department was really terrific. The quality of our major professors, Dr. Leonard, Dr. Davis and Dr. Dickenson, was world class.” Boylan was hired by the Lynchburg City School system as its first male kindergarten teacher. “I had fun every day,” he says, “but the system pushed me to go into administration and I wanted no part of public school administration.” Boylan taught kindergarten for two years, and then moved into a job in the textile business in Brown Deer, Wisc., a suburb of Milwaukee. During the next few decades, Boylan worked for several textile and manufacturing companies. After a less than successful attempt to start a textile trading company, Boylan tried again in 2009. He started his own company with $10,000 cash and additional funds from an IRA. “Persistence and timing are key ingredi-
PEKA develops and sources custom stuffed animals, charm bracelets, watchbands and fabrics. “We have the resources to create new products from a sketch, a picture, a design or a sample,” says Mike Boylan (‘76). “Our customer has the ultimate choice in decision making.”
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‘We decided to invest in people first.’ M I K E B O Y L A N ( ‘ 76) ,
entrepreneur and owner of PEKA Textiles Co. Ltd.
ents to starting a company. You make your own luck,” says Boylan, who got his first textile orders from a colleague who worked for Springs Industries. And Boylan also hired several staff members from Spring Industries who were about to lose their jobs when a company merger closed the factories. “An important thing I learned at Madison is that personal relationships are central to success, from everyday life to major negotiations,” Boylan says. “This is essential for any international business. Each country handles things differently.” During one of his first visits to Indonesia, Boylan and a colleague visited the Pekalongan Batik Museum located in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia. “We ended up developing excellent relationships with the people in factories in this region,” he says. “We were so impressed with the beauty of Indonesia and the skill of our factory partners that we decided to promote the name PEKA® Brand fabrics and renamed our company PEKA Textile Co. Ltd.” Boylan’s company experienced tremendous early growth in the first two years of existence but it was unsustainable as the business was then constructed. “We grew too fast and did a poor job with our resources in China. We had to make some changes quickly. We decided to invest in people first.” The result was a technical staff that was continually present at the factory while PEKA products were made. “Never say no to an opportunity to develop something. You become an expert on the subject, especially if no one else is doing it. Also, make sure you and your company become so important that your current and prospective customers want to work with you.” Sounds easy, but it is not. Boylan explains, “Always return phone calls. Overnight samples, even if you don’t think you need to. Treat customers like they are the only thing that matters. Finally, have the best team you can find and fund.”
P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y O F M I K E B OY L A N (‘ 76) A N D S A N G YO O N
BRIGHTLIGHTS
[ Sang Yoon]
JMU double Fulbright awardee teaches in Korea B Y J A N E T S M I T H (‘ 8 1 )
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ang Yoon, professor of graphic design in the JMU School of Art and Art History, is teaching in South Korea for her second stint as a Fulbright Scholar. According to Fulbright records dating to 1998, she is JMU’s first two-time Fulbright award winner. Yoon is teaching as part of the Core Fulbright Scholar Program and sharing her talents and knowledge with students at Kyung Hee University. Her previous Fulbright experience was as a 2007 Fulbright Research Grant recipient. The fruit of her three-month study was “The Street Graphics of Seoul: A Culturally-focused Contribution to the Study of Urban Graphics,” a project she has presented at three international conferences in Hawaii, Venice and Athens. While Yoon taught one course in 2007, her current Fulbrightsponsored residency focuses completely on teaching graphic design to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. A native of South Korea, Yoon is teaching in English since students are required to take several courses within their programs of study in the language. She is using revamped content from courses she teaches at JMU to accommodate the curriculum and culture in South Korea. In addition to teaching typography in English and Korean alphabets, Yoon was asked to add Chinese and Korean characters and fonts to the mix. “Since I have worked with English fonts only, it was a challenge to find out what kinds of Korean and Chinese fonts are available for my students,” she says. Yoon is sharing both her work and her JMU students’ work with her Korean students, and she says she looks forward to shar-
ing her Korean students’ work with her JMU students upon her return to campus. “My KHU students were inspired by the JMU senior students’ advanced technical abilities and the professionalism of their pieces,” says Yoon. A JMU tradition of student portfolio reviews by professional graphic designers and art directors intrigued Yoon’s colleagues. “KHU Professor Mee-kyung Jang and I are planning to invite five KHU graduates now working in design firms to a KHU senior portfolio review.”
“In addition to my Korean students, I have several foreign students from China, Indonesia and Romania,” Yoon says. “These students’ ways of approaching design objectives and strategies are rich and intriguing; and I am excited to share their multicultural and alternative perspectives with my JMU classes.” Yoon is collecting and photographing more samples to continue her research that began in 2007. “I am looking forward to writing a paper to discuss my newest insights into the M visual culture of Korea.”
Last year PEKA added the major product line Batik Fabrics. “This product line helps balance our business,” says Boylan. “And our website is an invaluable tool when I make initial contacts with prospects. ... It’s important to put people first. The textile industry is very old, especially the decorative fabrics business, so we try to be innovators. We specialized in
developing a series of bundles of fabric and Do-It-Yourself kits. Our most recent project was developing printed burlap.” Boylan says he is “honored to have earned a degree from Madison. Even during some not so good times, I was always fortunate to have had the help to get through the bad and embrace the good. My college relationships
are life long and truly special. I come back to campus for Homecoming as often as I can. Over the years, both the university and my fraternity have done a terrific job welcoming us back. There is nothing like the M JMU experience.”
Before coming to the United States in 1983, graphic design professor Sang Yoon worked as a corporate graphic designer. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia in 1988 and joined the JMU faculty that year.
➜LEARN MORE at pekatextiles.com
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The keys to ethical reasoning
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By MARTHA BELL GRAHAM
An ambitious program. A high-minded challenge. A noble goal. A university with a history of tacking differently. And a world in desperate need of individuals who think ethically. Put these together and you have the scope of JMU’s breathtaking new endeavor, Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action.
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In his bestselling book Blink, author Malcolm Gladwell wrote: ÒThe key to good decision making is not information. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are desperately lacking in the latter.Ó James Madison University wants to change that through an ambitious new program to teach critical thinking. The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is the universityÕs new Quality Enhancement Program that will take the knowledge students acquire during their Madison Experience and deepen it with ethical reasoning. The university-wide plan seeks to instill in every student a competency for addressing lifeÕs challenges and for making decisions and choices based on thoughtful, ethical reasoning. The heart of the Madison Collaborative is Eight Key Questions (see inset) that form a framework on which students will learn to probe and understand myriad situations they encounter. These questions and the practice of applying them will be deeply embedded throughout the universityÕs fabric.
T HE PRESSING NEED Uncivil discourse is rampant in the modern public square. Scandals in corporations, academia, government and nonprofits dominate headlines. Add to this, complex questions arising from modern life: How does one allocate limited resources for health care or food? How does one equitably select candidates for lifesaving transplant lists? What is a corporationÕs responsibility to its workers in developing nations? How does one balance human need with human want? Few would argue with the pressing need for ethical reasoning. A 2013 study published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities clearly defines the challenge for educators. Based on a survey of top level executives, 93 percent agreed that a job candidateÕs Òdemonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidateÕs] undergraduate major.Ó Ethical Reasoning in Action addresses that need. And the task, JMU President Jon Alger says, Ògoes right to the very heart of our educational mission. How do you translate ethical reasoning into decision making and effecting peoplesÕ lives?Ó The Madison Collaborative has three main objectives, says Lee Sternberger, associate provost for academic affairs, who led the large, university-broad committee to develop the program. These objectives are to elevate public discourse, to create a campuswide framework for teaching and assessing ethical reasoning development in students, and to use it in the real world. ÒWe want students to take these three critical thinking skills and apply them not just to the classroom but also in their personal, professional and civic lives,Ó Sternberger says. The Madison Collaborative is as necessary as it is ambitious. ÒWe know É that our most important function is to produce good leaders for the next generation,Ó says Meg Mulrooney, associate professor of history and associate dean of University Studies. Ethical reasoning Òhas to be cultivated in a rigorous academic,
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intellectual environment....One of the things we [JMU] have done since the beginning is to promote civic engagement. Ethical reasoning skills are absolutely essential to citizenship,Ó she adds. Clearly, however, the goal of the collaborative is not about teaching morals or making moral judgments. It is rather about actively assimilating the Eight Key Questions, which, says Alger, Òreflect thousands of years of philosophical development from a variety of different perspectives, different types of disciplines throughout human history. All of them together create a rich tapestry of how to think about ethics.Ó
From their first day on campus, members of the Class of 2017 were introduced to the Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action, JMU’s initiative to prepare students to navigate a complex world.
PROMISE TO PREPARE STUDENTS
In August, Alger announced that William Hawk, JMU professor of philosophy, and Lori Pyle (’94, ’96M), a graduate of JMU’s doctoral program in strategic leadership, will serve as chair and associate chair, respectively, of the Madison Collaborative and direct its full implementation. With the arrival of the Class of 2017, the program began in earnest during 1787, the weeklong orientation for firstyear students. More than 160 trained facilitators from all over campus led students through a fictional but realistic disaster scenario, directing probing questions that required students to apply the Eight Key Questions. (See card at right). One of the collaborative’s aims is to ensure all students benefit by targeting general education courses, major-specific courses, and by including co-curricular involvement. Ethical Reasoning in Action will permeate the Madison Experience — in residence halls, clubs and organizations, student government, faculty and staff relationships, and athletics. “We’ve done some of these things before,” says Josh Bacon, director of judicial affairs at JMU and a collaborative task force member, “…. But never have we intentionally made sure that all 4,000 plus freshmen understand this frame of looking at ethical decision making and choices.” Also built into the program is regular assessment of the program’s efficacy by JMU’s highly respected Center for Research and Assessment Studies. Using data they will collect, the collabor-
‘We know that our most important function is to produce good leaders for the next generation.’ — MEG MULROONEY, JMU professor of history P H OTOGR A P HS BY M I KE M I R I EL LO (’09 M)
ative will continually refine the courses and associated programs. The hope is that the Madison Collaborative will be the cynosure for the university’s goal to become a national model for the engaged university. As the planners wrote in their report, the collaborative “embodies and complements the university mission as we promise to prepare students to be ‘educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.’” Bob Kolodinsky, director of the Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and Ethical Leadership and who piloted a course last year in preparation for this fall’s launch, says, “JMU needs this. Every university needs this, but it is, perhaps, a way for JMU to stand out.”
JMU’S MORE
Teaching students to apply ethical reasoning as “second nature” would be the best outcome of the Madison Collaborative. To send 4,000 plus graduates so trained into the world every year is the dream. Their ability to replace “reflex with reflection,” as collaborative chair Hawk says, will serve them well. And it will have a ripple effect as students equipped with practiced understanding of ethical reasoning become citizens of the world. “JMU already values and promotes integrity within its community, as is reflected in our Mission Statement, Defining Characteristics, and motto ‘Be the Change,’” the task force wrote. “Yet the complex society which our graduates enter calls us to do more.” The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is JMU’s more. M W I N T E R
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Students and 1787 Orientation facilitators explain the Madison Collaborative in their own words
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A category 5 hurricane, Sharon, strikes the northeast coast of the United States. Millions are without water, electricity and basic survival needs of food and shelter. Thousands are totally isolated and hundreds are presumed dead. As part of 1787 August Orientation first-year students took on the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s regional response task force, assigned to direct the rescue and recovery of those whose lives remain at risk. There are more requests for immediate assistance than resources to help. Students debated sending aid to families who chose not to evacuate but are now in peril, a prison that is flooding whose inmates are in danger, personal friends who called to request assistance, government officials demanding resources for their constituents and residents with limited access to public transportation who are at risk. The point is, “It’s complicated.” Students and facilitators responded very positively to “It’s Complicated,” the 75-minute experience developed by Orientation and The Madison Collaborative, saying it was a valuable experience full of lively and thought-provoking discussion. The students used a talking piece and Eight Key Questions (8KQs) to evaluate the ethical dimensions of the scenario. The key questions explore outcomes, fairness, authority, liberty, rights, responsibilities, empathy and character. The goal is to teach students to use the 8KQs during their time at JMU and beyond to navigate complicated situations in all aspects of their lives. M
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BY PAU L A P O L G L A S E (’ 92 , ’ 9 6 M)
‘As a student and a citizen of a greater community, it will now be incumbent upon you to use the tools (the 8 KQs) you have been provided to evaluate and resolve challenging situations. In a world where we predominately react on reflex, I challenge you to react with reflection using ethical reasoning.’ — TISHA McCOY-NTIAMOAH , director of orientation addressing students
Ethics in action
Personal reactions to the Madison Collaborative
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ntering college all that I could think about was all of my newly gained freedoms. I would have freedom from parents, freedom to follow rules and even freedom to eat whatever I wanted. Anything truly seems possible, and in a sense it is. That is the scary part. We college freshman have spent the last eighteen years of our life constrained to limitations and so when we finally obtain freedoms, rarely do we see the ethical dilemmas that arise as consequences to our own decisions. That is what the Madison Collaborative succeeded in showing my overly ambitious 18-year-old brain. As we analyzed and discussed ethical situations, such as a mock hurricane, I saw the parallel difficulties that lie in almost every decision I will make with my newly gained freedoms. I may never have to choose to save one person’s life over another, but I will definitely have to consider the effects that my decisions have on other people. We live in such a technical world that we break everything down into numbers and with that we can miss out on the emotion that lies beneath every decision. James Madison University sees we sometimes neglect the other perspectives of a decision and miss the meaning behind the numbers; so through programs like the Madison Collaborative we go deeper than just those numbers. We gain a balance in our life of the technical and emotional aspects of decisions; so that when we graduate we do not just have a degree, but a well balanced understanding of life and empathy that will lead to us not just becoming the future, but creating a better future. — JOHN GULLETTE, physics major, Centreville, Va.
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always enjoy the opportunities I have to interact with students and facilitating one of the “It’s Complicated” sessions was a great experience. The energy in the room… there was a freshness, a curiosity, an openness that characterized the experience.
Responding to situations with intention is generally more positive than just being reactive. Sometimes, life moves so quickly though, that we are often reactive by default. “It’s Complicated” provided students with the opportunity to understand more fully that making decisions in life is not always as simple as black and white. Sometimes you have to use your gray crayon. The scenario had enough nuance and complexity to really allow students the chance to apply the Eight Key Questions. I thought the structure given by using the talking piece — when only the person holding it could talk — was a great device to help students focus on what the one person was saying without interruption. When they entered the room, the students may have thought that this exercise would be really simple, but going through the process, listening to others, and hearing different perspectives allowed them to leave having a richer appreciation for looking at multiple sides of an issue and dealing with competing priorities. More importantly, I also think they had a deeper understanding of themselves. — MARSHA MAYS-BERNARD, associate vice president, Multicultural Awareness and Student Health
‘I think this will help me with thinking about all sides of a situation instead of going into it headfirst; you think about how you effect other people, how it will effect you. It teaches you good values in life.’ — SYDNIE LONG (’17), Woodbridge, Va.
‘The students were so thoughtful in their consideration of the Eight Key Questions as it related to the Hurricane Sharon scenario. I was amazed at how willingly and deeply each group explored the issues surrounding decision making. I believe the students left the session energized to be a part of an academic environment that encourages healthy, respectful debate in the name of personal growth and community building.’ — STEFANIE WARLICK, assistant director of Rose Library
‘The It’s Complicated session helped a lot in understanding what the collaborative is about to get a fuller experience at Madison.’ — JAKE MULLHOLAND (’17), Swedesboro, N.J.
‘I liked that the session gave us a chance to think of real world situations and how we would do that. It’s already really different from high school – you’re not just a kid anymore, you’re in the real world.’ — KATIE HUNT (’17), Virginia Beach, Va. W I N T E R
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Hillcrest Scholarships vault honors students into promising futures
Realizing your dreams BY JAN GILLIS (’07)
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What if bright, engaged students could pursue their passions out in the real world and see what happens? Honors Advisory Council members established the Hillcrest Scholarships to give JMU honors students that opportunity, and the experiences of the inaugural award recipients Carly Starke (’14) and Michelle Amaya (’14) illustrate the potential these scholarships unleash. Starke, a biotechnology major and winner of the Hillcrest Scholarship for Research, had a very specific focus: “I love finding what no one else has discovered,” she says. Her scholarship experience working at the Food and Drug Administration on the development of a new typhoid vaccine gave her a chance to be at the forefront of discovery. Amaya, a biology major, had no doubts about what she would do if she won an award. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor,” she says. Through the Hillcrest
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Scholarship for Service/Leadership she gained training as a nurse’s aide and traveled to La Paz, Bolivia, for a hands-on experience with Child Family Health International. The experiences were empowering for both students. “FDA was my first experience in government research,” Starke says. “Every day was different. I could look at my results and change conditions of my research the next day to see what would work better.” She got the chance to share her work with leading scientists and researchers at a National Institutes of Health poster session. “I talked to people who I look up to. They were interested in what I did, how I conducted my research and my findings,” she says. Amaya’s work with doctors and mentoring impoverished and at-risk orphaned youth affirmed her childhood ambition. “CFHI in Bolivia was my first medical humanitarian trip and a milestone in my life. Without the scholarship, I
S TA R K E (‘ 1 4) P H O T O G R A P H B Y D I A N E E L L I O T T ( ’ 0 0) ; A D A M S A N D S T U D E N T S B Y M I K E M I R I E L L O ( ’ 0 9 M ) ; B O L I V I A I N T E R N S H I P C O U R T E S Y O F M I C H E L L E A M AYA (‘ 1 4)
wouldn’t have had that moment of affirmation — of knowing it’s my calling to serve others through medicine.” Both say their experiences helped them define their future. “I want to do vaccine development,” Starke says. “I enjoy the molecular biology aspect of it, as well as testing out conditions. My ultimate goal is a Nobel Prize. I know it’s a big goal, but I can push myself toward it.” Amaya says, “In Bolivia, I saw doctors who lacked the extensive equipment that is common in America use their hands to diagnose conditions. I knew I would like to do that.” Realizing that her hands might well be the only tools at her disposal in the future as a doctor abroad, she is applying to osteopathic medical schools. “Many of these schools have a mission of global health and serving others, while adopting a holistic approach to wellness. Your hands become your tools,” she says. In establishing these scholarships, Honors Advisory Council members were determined that the recipients would have the potential to make important contributions to society in the future. Certainly, the first Hillcrest Scholars have a firm grasp on their future direction. And, their goals make the future look brighter for us all. M
‘Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have had that moment of affirmation — of knowing it’s my calling to serve others through medicine.’ — MICHELLE AMAYA (’14) , Hillcrest Scholarship recipient
(Above): Biology major Michelle Amaya works with children via Child Family Health International in Bolivia.
HONORS ADVISORY COUNCIL
A philanthropic approach to the future
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In establishing the Hillcrest Scholarship program, the JMU Honors Advisory Council crafted the entire scholarship experience to hone skills and provide opportunities that would put JMU students among the top undergraduates in the country. Melinda Adams, assistant director of the JMU Honors Program and JMU prestigious scholarship coordinator, mentors applicants as they prepare their scholarship proposals. “The Hillcrest Scholarships help students figure out their future,” she says. “Putting together a proposal takes time and self-reflection. The resulting discipline clarifies students’ interests.”
Heather Tedesco (’94), Honors Advisory Council vice chair and selection committee panelist, says, “Even the process of applying for the scholarships is beneficial. Students connect with faculty and other mentors, think deeply about their own scholarship contributions, and practice important written and oral communication skills.” The scholarship process provides another vital element for student success. Honors Advisory Council Chair Steven Brown (’84) says, “Students network with JMU alums during the proposal process and after the award. Even those not selected for the scholarship obtain the networking benefit, which can be one of the keys
Melinda Adams, assistant director of the JMU Honors Program, talks with Michelle Amaya (’14) and Starke (’14).
for post-graduate education and future employment.” There seems to be only one drawback. “We’d love to expand the program,” Adams says. “By the time applicants get to the selection process they have done so much work, they’ve developed intense passion for their proposals. It is very hard to say ‘no,’” she says, “because,
frankly, they all are deserving.” Honors Advisory Council members saw the value of donating to scholarships that allowed students to take their interests out into the world and see what happens. Considering that the recipients are academically gifted, engaged with the world and anxious to contribute to society, the potential impact of Hillcrest Scholars is limitless. M
➜WANT TO HELP more JMU honors students take their dreams into
the world? Give now at www.jmu.edu/honorsprog/alumni/give.shtml.
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Study Abroad and International Week help students engage with ideas
Creating enlightened citizens of the world
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BY J I M H E F F E R N A N (Õ9 6) A N D M I C H E L L E H I T E (Õ8 8)
“JMU is serious about wanting students to be engaged with ideas and the world to learn how to be citizens, not just in the United States, but also citizens in a global community and participants in a global economy,” says JMU President Jonathan R. Alger. “I really do believe that study abroad should be a necessity and not a luxury for an institution like JMU. If
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we’re serious about wanting students to be engaged with ideas and with the world, there’s no substitute for this kind of experience. Study abroad opens the door to the rest of the world for our students. At James Madison, we encourage our students to see the world and to participate actively in it. I think that is a very exciting combination for any student.”
In July Alger visited faculty members and students participating in JMU’s Study Abroad programs in Florence, Italy; Salamanca, Spain; and London. “I am impressed with how organized our Study Abroad programs are,” says Alger. “We have staff and faculty on the ground in these cities who know the local culture and have valuable contacts with local universities in F LO R EN CE P H OTOGR A P HS BY M I KE M I R I EL LO (’09 M)
‘At James Madison, we encourage our students to see the world and to participate actively in it. I think that is a very exciting combination for any student.’ — JONATHAN R. ALGER , President
these countries. Many of our Study Abroad programs have been active for more than 20 years. JMU Study Abroad programs offer something for all students; so, students from all different majors and disciplines and interests can get something wonderful out of one of these programs. JMU students gain a clearer picture of their places as citizens in an increasingly complex global community.”
JMU also brings the world to campus every September. For 16 years, JMU has sponsored International Week and celebrated cultural diversity. This year, the JMU Office of International Programs presented International Week, Sept. 23–27 with the theme “Borders and Boundaries.” International Week 2013 was designed to emphasize ideas that span countries and cultures. “At first glance, ‘Borders and Boundaries’ does introduce an idea that relates to barriers that exist in the world,” explains Lauren Franson, assistant director of JMU Study Abroad. “The planning committee’s goal was to design a week that would help participants to transcend these barriers.” International Week 2013 events explored the historical, cultural and social constructs that create barriers. Students were offered opportunities to engage in discussions related to political change, social movements and appreciation of the differences that these borders and boundaries create. One of the community discussions, “The Ethics of National Borders,” was moderated by William J. Hawk, JMU professor of philosophy and chair of the leadership team for The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action, JMU’s bold new effort to teach ethical reasoning skills to the entire student body. The week kicked off with a bazaar on The Commons with street vendors, exhibits and a sampling of world cuisine. Other events included a public debate hosted by the JMU Debate Society, the annual Study Abroad fair, a concert in the Forbes Center featuring JMU faculty and student musicians, a photo contest and a world cup soccer tournament. M
➜LEARN MORE about President Alger’s “Why Madison?” Presidential Listening Tour stops at JMU’s Study Abroad programs by watching a video at www.jmu.edu/stories/ president-journal/2013/09/23-study-abroad.
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INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
Professors make a global mark on Madison BY JEN EYRING (’14)
Ehsan Ahmed, Economics department
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Samy El-Tawab, Integrated Science and Technology Samy El-Tawab has only been at JMU for two years, but he already has big plans for the future. El-Tawab, a professor of integrated science and technology, came to JMU in 2012 after earning his Ph.D. in computer science at Old Dominion University. “I used to come visit the Shenandoah Valley, four hours of driving, just to see the beautiful mountains,” he says. “To get a job here is really exciting.” He wasn’t always so sure that he would have a life here, though. After making the 6,000-mile trek from Alexandria, Egypt, to Virginia, he seriously considered turning back. “The first six months, especially, were really hard,” he says. “You have a complete life in Egypt, you have your friends, you have your connections, and now you’re coming here and starting from scratch.” But El-Tawab couldn’t be happier with his decision. “People are very friendly,” he says, “not only with [holding doors open], but really friendly. If you ask someone about something they will try to give you as
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much information as they can.” El-Tawab wants to offer new courses in ISAT and to get feedback from students to ensure they learn something new. He also likes to share his experiences from Egypt. “Sometimes I tell a story in my class about something that happened in Egypt that will teach you something you will not learn from an American professor,” he says. Outside of the classroom, El-Tawab is working with three undergraduates to create a mobile application that will allow students to find open parking spots on campus. “By the end of the project, the app should not only tell you whether or not a lot is full, but will also give you options for lots that are close and available,” says junior ISAT major Robert Spinosa. “I am glad for the opportunity to be a part of this project and see the process from idea to creation to implementation.” Spinosa says working with El-Tawab is like working with a friend. “He’s always in a good mood, likes to get down to business, and has some great life
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Integrated Science and Technology professor Samy El-Tawab (center) chats with ISAT students about his experiences.
stories. He brings a more global perspective to whatever we do.” El-Tawab says he is impressed with the work Spinosa and the other students are doing. “The quality of students at JMU is really high. I can compare a student’s quality here with master’s students [elsewhere]. So you can imagine a student in their senior year at JMU is really disciplined, active and really wants to learn.” For this, and other reasons, El-Tawab encourages other international professors to come to JMU. But he offers one piece of advice: “Try not to stay in your office and in your lab and just work. Be social, try to go out.” El-Tawab was also able to meet new people through social events hosted by the Office of International Programs, the same office that helped him secure his visa and file paperwork for his green card. Thanks to his friends, students and a strong desire to make a difference at JMU, ElTawab no longer thinks about turning back. “I feel at home,” he says. M
E L-TAWA B A N D A H M E D P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT I E L A N D I S
Ehsan Ahmed came to the United States in 1975 unsure if he would ever be successful. Thirty years, thousands of educated students and the creation of an entire Islamic community later, it’s clear that he has indeed made a difference. When Ahmed, now head of the JMU Department of Economics, left Pakistan and made the more than 7,000-mile journey to the United States, he had to leave his family and friends behind. “I didn’t know anyone,” he says. “I created my own world … it took a while.” This world centered around academia during his time at Roosevelt University and Michigan State University, where he earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. But when he came to Harrisonburg he had to fight a little harder to create a place for himself. “In 1983, when I came here, you could look at the telephone book and
Ehsan Ahmed, (right) economics professor, leads a classroom discussion.
INTERNATIONAL STUDY there would be one Ahmed in the whole region,” he recalls. Not only were there fewer ethnic groups than Ahmed was used to, but there were also less people in general. The population of Harrisonburg in 1983 was slightly more than 26,000. The population of Lahore, Pakistan, where he grew up, was estimated at almost 3.5 million. “When I came here JMU was half its [present] size,” Ahmed says. “Harrisonburg was the smallest place on the planet for me.” Ahmed decided to spark a change in the community. He teamed up with about 20 families in the area who shared his Islamic faith and started thinking about developing an organization and building a mosque. “We were a small community,” he say. “It was just a dream at the time.” But in 1997–98 Harrisonburg saw a large influx of Muslims who were coming here to escape the persecution of Saddam Hussein. Suddenly, they had the manpower necessary to make their dreams a reality. “We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had significant human capital — people who could work,” Ahmed says. With Ahmed’s organizational
leadership, the group worked for more than a year to handbuild the mosque that is now the Islamic Center of the Shenandoah Valley. Ahmed estimates that the once 20-family group has now grown into a 300-family community. Ahmed says that after 30 years there is a visible difference in both the Harrisonburg and JMU communities because of the efforts from the Islamic Association and a commitment from JMU to bring in more international students and professors. “A student was just talking about taking Arabic classes at JMU,” he says. “Ten years ago there were no Arabic classes.” Ahmed believes this is why it’s so important that JMU has international professors and students. “People bring in their experiences, and it enhances the quality of education here and quality of life in general.” Kaitlyn Paonessa agrees. A junior international affairs major and student in Ahmed’s macroeconomics class, Paonessa says, “I believe that having an international professor at JMU has enhanced my overall experience. International professors bring a new and fresh perspective to the classroom.” M
‘It enhances the quality of education here and quality of life in general.’ — EHSAN AHMED , Department of Economics
Seeing beyond boundaries
Summer enrichment experience in Bolivia confirms importance of a broad world view
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BY JAN GILLIS (’07)
Senior Michelle Amaya (’14) came to a full realization of the value of an expansive worldview in an unlikely place — a Bolivian orphanage. “Since I was a child, I’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor who helps others abroad,” she says; and her academic career have realized the importance has strengthened her passion of educating children about for the medical field. Amaya other countries at an early won a JMU Hillcrest Scholarage,” she says. ship, crafting her proposal Amaya noticed that children to allow her to work through at the hospiChild Family tal in La Paz, Health Internathough having tional in La Paz, the advantages Bolivia, helping of living with impoverished parents, were and at-risk chilnot familiar dren and adowith the world lescents. beyond BolivAmaya put ia’s borders. her fluency in Spanish to — MICHELLE AMAYA (’14), “When I told good use during Hillcrest Scholarship recipient them I got my Spanish accent her busy days from El Salvador where I came in Bolivia and found herself from, they did not recognize drawn to the unreserved, the country’s name. They outgoing nature of Bolivians. thought perhaps I was referMornings were spent accomring to another city in Bolivia.” panying doctors on their rotaYet, in similar conversations tions. “All were very kind and at the orphanage, children willing to teach us about what would run to the map and they were doing. I served as a show Amaya where El Salvatranslator for other students dor was located. who did not know the lan“They had gotten familiar guage.” Patients were equally with other countries and ways open, ready to share their perof living through the multiculsonal lives with visitors. tural volunteers that came to Afternoons and early work there.” Learning about evenings were spent at the other cultures was not simply orphanage Hogar Jose Soria mastering geography lessons. Para Los Niños, working with “They know there’s a world orphaned children. Amaya and out there. They think, ‘Maybe other student workers hailing I can be a pilot and fly to that from various places around country, or maybe I can be the globe worked together to a doctor and travel to that teach the children about their country,’” Amaya says. home countries and customs. Seeing beyond boundaries And the children were at allows children to have aspirathe root of Amaya’s epiphany. tions far beyond their circum“If I had not had this experience in Bolivia, I never would stances. M
‘I saw the importance of teaching kids about the world.’
BOLIVIA EXPERIENCE COURTESY O F M I C H E L L E A M AYA ( ’ 1 4)
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INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
Study abroad becomes a career abroad
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There are many “languages” one can claim fluency in, but how many people can say they are fluent in European Studies? JMU alumna Aimee Bateas can. A Double Duke, Bateas (’10, ’11M) completed her undergraduate studies in 2010 with a degree in communication studies and then moved to Florence, Italy, to begin work on her M.A. in political science with a concentration in European Union Policy Studies. As a rigorous one-year graduate program based entirely in Europe, JMU’s EUPS program is unique among graduate programs specializing in political science and European Studies. It develops students’ policy analysis skills and provides them with a comprehensive understanding of Europe’s role in global affairs. Bateas graduated from the program in 2011 and was recruited for a position as a senior consultant at Hanover Communications, a public relations firm based in London. “One of my main clients — and the reason I was hired — is the European Commission.
BY KELLY VINGELIS (‘14)
She [the recruiter] was specifically searching for someone with PR experience, but also knowledge of the European Union, as well as the ability to speak some European languages,” says Bateas. The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. JMU’s EUPS program requires students to attend lectures, network with European and American policy professionals, take Italian language classes, and complete an internship or a research project. “You’re taking classes with European experts in the EU and the transatlantic relationship. That’s interesting — in one
‘You’re taking classes with European experts in the EU and the transatlantic relationship.’ — AIMEE BATEAS (’10, ’11M)
semester you can have one class with an Italian, another with a Turk, a third with a Brit. You’re getting a really well-rounded international education,” explains John Scherpereel, JMU professor of political science and director of EUPS. Bateas learned Italian through her classes, but perfected it while completing an internship at The Florentine, Florence’s largest English-speaking newspaper. “It was a great internship because I got to see how a newspaper works, which is really important for me to understand as a PR professional, as we pitch stories to the media on a daily basis. I also got to write news and feature stories, which I really enjoyed, some of which were based off of translations I had done from the Italian news into English.” Bateas frequently travels to the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and has found her JMU degree to be extremely useful. “My colleagues have been hugely grateful for my knowledge of the EU for their clients,” she explains. “They don’t always have time to explain to their clients how the EU works.” Scherpereel adds, “The EU is the world’s largest economy. The United States and the EU continue to be each other’s biggest trade and investment partners; there is a big demand from both American and European organizations for people with deep knowledge of complex European regulatory and decision-making environments.” The need for professionals with extensive EU knowledge flows both ways across “the pond.” Scherpereel believes it is essential for American students, like Bateas, to understand the EU. “European companies are active in the American market, so our students who have the deep familiarity with the American context and politics can complement that with knowledge of the EU politics and economics. That’s a really unique set of skills that our students can bring to companies and public organizations.” M Aimee Bateas, (‘10, ‘11M), front row, center, takes a photo opportunity with fellow students in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
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PROFESSORS YOU LOVE
Somebody believes
Professor Reich’s confidence in my ability helped me succeed in ways I had not imagined B Y M I C H E L L E A M AYA ( ’ 1 4)
uring my acaand I wanted to know if demic career, you would be my mentor I have kept through the process.” in contact I don’t think he had an with many option; but, in the end, I professors. JMU is academibelieve he liked helping me! cally challenging, and my I found an organization professors have helped me in to work with and fleshed my struggles. I’d say the acaout my proposal with a demic rigor of JMU has been purpose, mission, timeline, the reason I’ve been able to methods, budget and all develop relationships with the details of my proposed so many professors. Yet even project. Dr. Reich’s support after classes have finwas particularly valuable ished, I still go and talk as I prepared my personal to them. statement and resume. Dr. Steven Reich Proposals had to be in the history departsubmitted in December of ment played a big role the student’s sophomore in my development as year. I remember staying a student. In his honin our residence hall while ors history class, Critieverybody was leaving for Michelle Amaya (’14), above right, says her cal Issues in Recent break so I could turn in history professor, Steve Reich, played a big role in her development as a student. (Left): Global History, Dr. my proposal the Saturday Amaya mentored children in Bolivia. Reich discussed with morning before I left. students a wide range I completed the application thinking, “Well, somebody believes of topics including the I qualify for the scholarship. We’ll see what happens.” Iraq War and illegal immigration. The class really expanded the As it turned out, I won the Hillcrest Scholarship Service/Leadway that I think, challenging me to think in ways I had not previ- ership Award. When I was considering whether to apply for the ously considered. scholarship Dr. Reich had told me, “It might really be of good use Sometime after the course finished, Dr. Reich emailed all the to you.” He was so right. class members about the Hillcrest Scholarships, which are awarded Through the Hillcrest Scholarship, I traveled to Bolivia on a to outstanding sophomore honors students. He told us that he felt global health internship to mentor orphaned children and shadow we were a class of good students, and he had enjoyed teaching us. pediatric physicians. The trip confirmed my call to serve in the He asked that we read the attached material on the scholarship medical field and allowed me to see the reward of the hard work I carefully. I felt like he was speaking right to me when he “strongly invested in my academic career. recommended” that we consider applying for the scholarship. As I helped the children, I saw firsthand the value of someone Wow! I hadn’t heard of the Hillcrest Scholarship, but it seemed who can motivate you to achieve your potential by helping you disclear to me that if Dr. Reich saw potential when I was a student in cover your hidden talents. While tutoring, I found myself saying to his class, then maybe I had a chance. the children, “Wow, did you do that by yourself? That’s beautiful. Students had to choose a faculty member to work with in the You are so smart.” Watching their confidence grow as I encouraged application process; a process that would require a significant them reminded me of the many professors at JMU, such as Dr. amount of work for the professor. I thought it only appropriate that Reich, who have believed in me, affirmed me and encouraged me to M I approach Dr. Reich and request his support. pursue my dreams. And so I wrote: “Dr. Reich, I want to thank you for letting us know about the scholarship. I’m strongly considering applying, ➜LEARN MORE about Amaya’s experience abroad on Page 43.
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About the Professor History professor Steven A. Reich joined the JMU
About the Author Honors student Michelle Amaya (’14) is a JMU
faculty in 1999. He teaches GHIST 225 United States History and GHIST 150 Critical Issues in the Recent Global Past as well as courses in labor, African American, and southern history and historical research methods.
Hillcrest Scholar, JMU Centennial Scholar and a Gates Millennial Scholar. JMU History professor Steven Reich describes Amaya as a “dedicated student who never shies from a challenge.”
R E I C H A N D A M AYA P H O T O G R A P H B Y M I K E M I R I E L L O (‘ 0 9 M ) ; B O L I V I A E X P E R I E N C E C O U R T E S Y O F M I C H E L L E A M AYA (‘ 1 4)
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MixedMedia
B O O K S M U S I C &F I L M
Borderlands Mobile BY CHRIS CARLSON (’05) APPLE, 2013
Chris Carlson (’05), a software developer at second story interactive studios in Portland, ore., has developed a music software application for tablets and smartphones. Carlson’s app, Borderlands, is a new interface for creating live music based on granular synthesis, and generates new timbres and complex textures by superimposing small fragments of sound (grains). a physics and astronomy major and mathematics minor, Carlson earned a master’s degree in computer research in music and acoustics from stanford University. His new app emphasizes gestural interaction over knobs and sliders and allows users to record, save and share performances via soundCloud. developed during his studies at stanford, Borderlands has won a 2013 award of distinction in digital Musics and sound art at the Prix arts electronica! Competition. The international exhibition celebrates electronic arts. With his win, Carlson was invited to present his music at sonar, Barcelona’s 20th international Festival of advanced Music and new Media art. “Chris’ outstanding achievements and his cutting-edge interactive research and work cross multiple disciplines — music, art and computer science,” says Maureen shanahan, JMU professor of art and art history, who taught Carlson in her Honors seminar on automatons, Robots and Cyborgs. “Chris is brilliant and successful; i consider him the Clark Kent of electronic arts.” ➜LEARN MORE about Carlson’s app at www.borderlands-granular.com/app
{Books} Murder of Sex BY G EO F F R E Y M . G LU C K M A N (’87, ’89 M) BO O K LO CK E R .CO M I N C . , 2013 IS B N: 978-1- 62646-302-8
Booklocker.com calls Murder of Sex “an incendiary tale of lust, passion, love, betrayal and loss.” When Josh Flagon, a professor of literature at liberal arts nevada University, is drawn to an irresistible co-ed, Rebecca Reaper, little does he know it will take him on a life-changing ride. it will also jeopardize all that he values — his career — and all that he seeks — freedom. While teaching classes and writing, Flagon uncovers a secret. Rebecca, a brilliant student, reveals a mystery and much more to the professor. ➜ booklocker.com/ books/6733.html 46
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TRENT MADDOX Heavenly Father: A God Complex Situation BY J U S T I N T H U R M O N D (’08) S EL F- P U B L IS H ED V IA X L I B R IS IS B N: 978-1-4 8 36- 6511-5 E BO O K 1-4 8 36- 6513-9
Justin Thurmond (’08), a school of Media arts and design cinema studies major, has released the conclusion to his trilogy, Trent Maddox, which focuses on the forces of good and evil. The latest installment picks up where TRENT MADDOX: Demonic Lullaby left off and greets readers with a “ravishing premise that develops to unpredictable story arcs and a finale that succinctly wraps up the series,” according to BooksWorld.com reviewers. Thurmond, of Prince george, Va., minored in creative writing and wrote film reviews for The Breeze. ➜ bookstore.xlibris. com
The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Travel Money is Worth a Fortune, 4th Edition BY T I M L E F F E L (’86) BO O K LO CK E R .CO M I N C ., 2013 IS B N: 978-1- 62141-947-1
Tim Leffel (’86) is an award-winning travel writer and blogger who has circled the globe three times. He is the author of three other travel books and has written his Cheapest destinations blog since 2003. “Warning: This book is hazardous to your ability to stay in one place,” writes Chris guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup. “With your Copy of The World’s Cheapest Destinations in hand, you can see the world while leaving your savings account untouched.” ➜ www.TimLeffel. com
Catch Rider BY J E N N I F E R H . LY N E (’92) CL A R I O N BO O KS , 2013 IS B N: 978- 0 -547-86871-4
Tough-as-nails 14-year-old sid may not have expensive boots like the privileged teen riders in Virginia, but she knows her way around horses. Working with her Uncle Wayne since childhood, she’s learned to evaluate horses, break and train them, care for them … and ride like a professional. amid turmoil at home, she dreams of becoming a catch rider — a show rider who can ride anything with hooves. Jennifer Lyne’s novel for teens follows small-town sid through an unexpected opportunity to ride at Madison square garden. ➜ www.hmhco.com/ shop/books/CatchRider/9780547868714
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Homecoming 2013
Inside: Madison Milestones Alumni News
a road map to success; alumni association challenges alumni to stay engaged By Ja m i e Jone s M il l er ( ’9 9 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
JMU student alumni association fund scholarship; alumni chapter challenge By Ja m e s Irw i n ( ’0 6 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Family Weekend 2013 Homecoming 2013 Class Notes Picture This
The ‘Burg was covered in a sea of purple and gold as thousands of Dukes came home Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. Students kicked off Homecoming week with Purple Out, and alumni, students and faculty and staff celebrated football, food, music, memories and reunions. (Inset): JMU President Jonathan R. Alger chats with JMU Alumni Associaion Board member Joe Showker (’79), right, and his wife, Debbie Showker (’79).
JMU parents put on the purple and gold and celebrate the Madison family By M ich el l e Hi t e ( ’8 8 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Music, memories, football, fun, purple passion and much more
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alumni notes, scholarship thank yous, faculty emeriti news, JMU Works and much more
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JMU special Collections Photoshop wizardry by sarah Jacobsen (’13) and Katie Landis
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p h otogr a p hs by J us t i n r ot h a n d M i ke M i r i el lo (’09 M)
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{Madison Perspectives}
A roadmap to success Alumni association joins campus partners to help alumni stay engaged in the Madison Experience by Ja M i e J o n e s M i l l e r (’ 9 9),
president, JMU Alumni Association Board
n her senior Convocation address to the Class of 2011, student speaker Kristin alexander (’11) talked about the JMU Mappy, a tool given to students on their first day at JMU as a guide to getting around campus. alexander said Mappy was more than just a map. she asked her classmates to look at Mappy as a reflection of their Madison experience and as a guide for their undergraduate years. Mappy was later immortalized in the JMU video, “a Way of Life,” as a challenge to students and alumni to reflect on our time at Madison — the memories we created, the knowledge we gained, the imprint we left on the community. The video asked us to consider how different our map of JMU might look today and how we can keep the Madison experience alive for those who follow in our footsteps. alexander reminded her classmates that there is not a “Mappy” for post-college life. i wondered, what if there were? The leadership of the JMU alumni association has taken on this very challenge. in the development of our strategic plan, we have created our own kind of Mappy — a guide for us to use to help alumni and students navigate the Madison experience. Whether you are a recent graduate or someone who has bled purple and gold for many years, this strategic plan “roadmap” will be used by the alumni association to enrich your Madison experience. our guide starts with the primary mission of the JMU alumni association: To engage alumni and cultivate involvement and investment in JMU. The association aims to be a leading alumni association that, through university, student and alumni engagement, is an essential partner to the advancement of the JMU mission. We will do this by fostering relationships with students that
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build lifelong commitments to JMU and positive identities as JMU alumni. We will give alumni opportunities to be ambassadors for our alma mater and inspire investment in JMU. We will extend the reach, effectiveness and efficiency of the alumni association by building meaningful and lasting partnerships with JMU colleges, schools, departments and organizations. and finally, we will create and foster meaningful opportunities for alumni worldwide to serve JMU and to connect with the university, its students, and other alumni. We will help JMU become the model of an engaged university. several key components of this roadmap have already fallen into place. The student alumni association, a philanthropic organization of student donors launched this summer, will provide opportunities for connections between JMU alumni and students. Many of our alumni chapters have accepted a Chapter Challenge to increase overall alumni giving beyond the more than 8,508 alumni donors who gave to JMU last year. our alumni chapter leaders are stepping up to the plate as well, and more than 54 percent made a gift to JMU in fiscal year 2012–13. and in keeping with the tradition of passing on the Madison experience, the alumni association awarded more than $67,000 in scholarships to 63 legacy students whose parents or grandparents are alumni. This summer, the alumni association announced that it is a new partner with JMU athletics and the office of alumni Relations to bring Madizone to JMU alumni worldwide. This sponsorship will ensure that alumni will be cheering on the dukes and experiencing the excitement of game day even if they can’t be in Harrisonburg. The award-winning JMU Leaders of Volunteer engagement program, facilitated by the alumni association in partnership with host
p h o t o g r a p h s b y J a i M e s C o t t a n d l a u r a Q u i n t e r o ( ’ 1 4) ; 1 7 8 7 M a p p y C o u r t e s y o F M e l a n i e r o Wa n d e s i g n
{Student Philanthropy}
Hitting high notes Student Alumni Association and Marching Royal Dukes members team up to fund Bill Posey Scholarship by J a M e s i r W i n (’ 0 6)
he JMU student alumni association, a society of student donors, is working to improve the culture of philanthropy at the university. in early fall semester the student alumni association partnered with members of the Marching Royal dukes to help raise funds for the Bill Posey scholarship. in a three-week fundraising push, the two groups accomplished some remarkable feats: ■ 196 students made a donation to the scholarship (by comparison, 270 students made a gift to JMU all of last year)* ■ 42 percent of Marching Royal dukes members made a gift to the scholarship ■ $2,950.98 raised in student gifts ■ 55 students made a gift of at least $25, making them a benefit-level member of the student alumni association. (*does not include student duke Club members)
T (Left): Jamie Jones Miller (’99) strategizes with Student Alumni Association Vice President Josh Humphries (’16) at an alumni board networking session. (Above): JMU Alumni Association Board member Carol Benassi (’82) talks to SAA President Pratt Templeton (’14). (Inset): The 1787 Orientation Mappy.
all students who donate to JMU are student alumni association members and students who make an annual gift of $25 or more are considered benefit-level members. The saa hosts events on campus and facilitates networking opportunities M between students and alumni. ➜ LEARN MORE at www.jmu.edu/alumni/
AlumniNews
programs across campus, is providing alumni with Madison-based, certified volunteer opportunities. These volunteer opportunities extend the JMU experience for graduates, benefit the university and strengthen ties between alumni and students. Finally, events focused on career networking and building critical skills desired by employers will be complemented by on-campus programs like The Madison Collaborative which will transform JMU into a community recognized for producing contemplative, engaged citizens who apply ethical reasoning to confront the challenges of the world. The Class of 2017 was introduced to The Madison Collaborative during 1787 orientation through a program called “it’s Complicated: ethical Reasoning in action.” This program, which will develop student critical thinking skills that can be tapped when facing difficult ethical decisions, will make JMU graduates stand out in the workplace. We are dukes from day one, but alumni for life. That’s why the JMU alumni association’s roadmap is based on the belief that alumni and students hold the key to the university’s future through their support. We can’t wait to see where it takes us. M
involved/SAA.shtml
driVe hoMe the
Purple PRIDE!
When you buy a JMU license plate, $15 of the $25 annual fee is transferred to JMU for Legacy Scholarships!
Now show off your JMU love on the road. Get your JMU plate today at www.jmu.edu/alumni/plates
➜ Follow Jamie Jones Miller (‘99) @
JMUJamie. W i n T e R
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{Alumni Chapters}
Rising to the challenge Alumni chapters face off for bragging rights
hapter Challenge: it’s based on a form of grassroots funds. donors choose their JMU program to support. There philanthropy, sort of like political candidates who raise are more than 2,000 fund destinations to select from, and the money through satellite headquarters. These grassroots freedom to choose where the money goes is something that resefforts go by a number of titles: crowd funding, peer-to- onates with alumni, says Kristen Malzone (’07), president of peer, the ground game. the new York/new Jersey alumni ‘There’s a real buzz around it is a major way to raise funds and Chapter. Malzone has been using awareness for a cause. the competition this creates. chapter events as a platform to and it’s arrived at a JMU alumni about the Chapter And designating where the money communicate chapter near you in a program called Challenge, as well as raff ling off the JMU alumni Chapter Chal- goes really resonates with people. items to donors and playing up lenge. its premise is simple: Pool It makes their gift unique, knowing the idea of competition. JMU alumni, volunteers and advo“Having an opportunity for a it goes back to something cates in 20 regions worldwide into donor to select where their money a single campaign that raises money goes has been something i’ve menthey really care about.’ for the university (any gift, of any tioned whenever i’ve talked about — a l l i s o n s M i t h (’0 8) amount, to any fund [the Chapter Chalcounts). an alum’s lenge],” she says. donation is tracked “and, of course, based on place of new Yorkers are Massachusetts✦ residence and counts pretty competitive.” Long Island toward the chapter New York City ✦ They are compet✦ New Jersey ✦ Philadelphia nearest that locaitive in Richmond, ✦ Baltimore ✦ Washington D.C. ✦ ✦ Chicago tion. For example, a too. Last year, the Charlottesville Richmond London Harrisonburg ✦✦ San Francisco ✦✦ ✦ Williamsburg JMU graduate living chapter had one of ✦ ✦ Tidewater Boulder Raleigh in Midlothian, Va., the highest alumni NC Triangle ✦ Charlotte ✦ ✦ counts as a member giving percentages Charleston ✦Los Angeles ✦ ✦ of the R ichmond in the country (10.9 Atlanta Chapter. percent). ✦ Dallas Jacksonville ✦ Fr om Ju l y 1, “The bottom line Austin ✦ ✦ ✦Tampa 2013, until May 31, is to ra ise money Houston 2014, JMU alumni for the university, worldwide will repget more people resent their chapters involved a nd to by making gifts to the university. create a bet ter understanding CHALLENGE ACCEPTED There are both prizes — and bragof why it’s important to give ging rights — on the line. back,” explains allison smith Alumni within a 30-mile radius of the 22 participating chapters are included in the Chapter Challenge (that’s more than “We’ve never really done (’08), giving chair for the Rich76,500 JMU alumni!). something like this on a national mond alumni Chapter. “There’s level,” says amanda Leech (’09), a real buzz around the competiHow can YOU participate? Simple: assistant director of alumni tion this creates. and designat■ Check out the JMU Alumni Chapter Challenge online at chapters in the JMU office of ing where the money goes really www.jmu.edu/chapterchallenge alumni Relations. “it’s a naturesonates with people. it makes ■ Make a gift to JMU by choosing a fund at www.jmu.edu/give ral fit that our alumni leaders their gift unique, knowing it ■ Check out the monthly standings at www.jmu.edu/alumni/ would be promoting to local goes back to something they involved/ccstandings.shtml alumni groups. They already are really care about.” ■ Tweet about the JMU Alumni Chapter Challenge trusted providers of information Ultimately, smith adds, the #JMUAlumniChapterChallenge to alumni in their communities.” Chapter Challenge is designed to The goa l, L eech says, is help private donations become a to raise funds for JMU, awareness of philanthropic needs in major fund source for the university. These gifts benefit scholarhigher education, and to increase JMU’s alumni giving partici- ships, programs and financial aid. “JMU can’t meet its financial pation. in 2012–13, 8,508 JMU alumni made a donation to needs on tuition alone,” smith says. “alumni want to give back. M Madison — the highest total in the history of the university. a and when you give back, it helps the university.” unique element of the Chapter Challenge is there are no target ➜ www.jmu.edu/chapterchallenge
AlumniNews
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by J a M e s i r W i n (’ 0 6)
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Family Weekend arents, family members and students — 25,201 strong — filled Bridgeforth stadium in the second largest crowd ever to cheer on the dukes in a 40-13 Family Weekend football win over the University of albany on oct. 5. The crowd cheered loudly for Teddy Cregger (’15P), who received the JMU Parent of the Year award during half time. in addition to the football game, JMU parents and families had the opportunity to tour campus, talk with university staff members, attend a son or daughter’s class and enjoy the annual Family Weekend concert. see more on Page 17.
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➜ Stay connected to the Madison family at www.jmu.edu/parents
p h o t o g r a p h s b y l a u r a Q u i n t e r o ( ’ 1 4) , r a C h e l l a M (‘ 1 4) a n d F r a n k a M e k a
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2013 {Homecoming}
Coming home J M U Nation celebrates football, fall and fun in the ’Burg
AlumniNews
by J a M e s i r W i n (’ 0 6)
housands of JMU alumni returned to campus for Homecoming 2013, oct. 28 to nov. 2, to celebrate a week full of events, reunions and memories. Homecoming Week 2013 kicked off Monday, oct. 28, with Purple out, presented by the student government association and the student alumni association. Midweek events included the Residence Hall Banner Contest (won by Huffman Hall), the Faculty/staff door decorating Contest, won by Learning, Technology and Leadership (Memorial Hall) and nightmare at UReC, which featured a haunted house and costume contest. JMU students, faculty and staff members, and alumni donated blood at the Homecoming Colonial athletics association Blood drive, which included donation centers on campus and in Richmond. Friday featured a pep rally on campus and the JMU alumni golf Tournament at Lake view golf Course, hosted by the Harrisonburg Chapter of the JMU alumni association. on saturday more than 100 people woke up early to run in the annual Homecoming dukes 5K run. Hundreds more visited the JMU alumni association’s Homecoming headquarters on godwin Field, where they enjoyed pizza, donuts, nitro ice cream, a photo booth and dJ. alumni and guests had the opportunity to meet with JMU President Jonathan R. alger and JMU College of Business dean Mary gowan. inside Bridgeforth stadium JMU nation cheered the dukes on to a 31–21 win over Villanova. The win was highlighted by junior defensive back deandre smith’s 86-yard interception return for a touchdown. Later saturday night, hundreds of alumni filled the Festival grand Ballroom for a night of dinner and dancing with the skip Castro Band, hosted by the Class of 1983 and 1988 reunions. The weekend wrapped with several sunday events, including a brunch for aK a reunion attendees. glennon doyle Melton (’99), author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Carry On, Warrior, spoke with alumni and signed M copies of her book. Thousands of alumni and their families joined students and friends
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➜ View more Homecoming photos and share yours on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JMUHomecoming p h o t o g r a p h s b y M i k e M i r i e l l o ( ’ 0 9 M ) a n d C at h y k u s h n e r ( ’ 8 7 )
AlumniNews
(Above): The Marching Royal Dukes rush the field at Bridgeforth Stadium before the Homecoming game. (Top right): Mr. and Ms. Madison 2013 celebrate with President and Mrs. Jonathan R. Alger and their daughter, Eleanor during half time. (Right): No. 11 Dae’Quan Scott (’14) tied the JMU career record for rushing touchdowns (32) with his first quarter 11-yard touchdown run. (Below): JMU alumni and Dukes fans enjoy warm weather, food and classmates while tailgating before the game.
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(Left): A spirited Future Duke gets ready for JMU Nation. (Above): Jim and Peggy Shaeffer joined thousands of alumni and Dukes fans donning purple and gold. (Right): Duke Dawgs come in all shapes and sizes. (Below): Homecoming banners line the Quad to welcome back alumni.
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p h o t o g r a p h s b y M i k e M i r i e l l o ( ’ 0 9 M ) a n d C at h y k u s h n e r ( ’ 8 7 )
Madisonevents DECEMBER 5
Piano4-té in New York City www.jmu.edu/alumni/calendar MARCH 10–14
Madison Week www.jmu.edu APRIL 19
The Big Event www.jmu.edu/alumni/calendar M AY 2
Alumni Candle Lighting Induction www.jmu.edu/alumni M AY 2 – 4
Bluestone Reunions www.jmu.edu/alumni M AY 1 0
Spring Commencement www.jmu.edu/alumni/calendar www.jmu.edu/JMUArts www.JMUSports.com For more information on events, please call the JMU alumni office toll free 1–(888) JMU–ALUM
(Top): Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters pose for photos and rekindle friendships at their 35th reunion brunch. (Above and right): Students perform for the CMSS Intercultural Greek Council’s annual Homecoming Step Show in Wilson Hall Auditorium. (Below): Alumni enjoy a night of dinner and dancing with the Skip Castro Band in the Festival Conference and Student Center Ballroom.
AlumniNews
www.jmu.edu/commencement
M A K E YOUR NEXT MOV E
ADMIRE DUKES.
H I R E D U K E S. INSPIRE DUKES. https://jmu-csm.symplicity.com/employers p h o t o g r a p h s b y k at i e l a n d i s a n d C a n d i C e h e at h ( ’ 1 4)
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ClassN Stay i n t ouc h, get i nvolved a nd be Ma d c ool
Virginia Hannabass 52 Saunders (’64M) is active in the United Method-
ist Women’s group at Emmaus United Methodist Church in Moneta, Va. A retired teacher, Saunders enjoys traveling and completed a three-week trip to San Francisco in early 2013. Dorothy Johnson Housden (’88M) retired as a reading specialist at Luray Elementary School in 1999, after teaching for 30 years. Beginning in 1991, she was a charter member of the Beta Nu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, a women educators honorary sorority.
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Lydia Hluszczyk Sin68 gura retired from Carteret High School after 32 years in education. The grandmother of four is the vice president of the Carteret Board of Education. Michael A. Cappeto has 70 been appointed interim president of SUNY Maritime College in New York. He most recently served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the college. “Michael Cappeto has been an oustanding steward of academic affairs, institutional research and assessment at SUNY Maritime College, and we are confident that he will provide excellent leadership,” says SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall.
National Republican Gold Medal of Honor and the Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom. He is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Robert R. Riley and 78 Katherine M. Foster (’91) have partnered to form
KickStart Specialists LLC. The Richmond company specializes in providing customized leadership development, executive coaching and team-building experiences. Riley and Foster are certified professional coaches, project and program managers, and facilitators. They especially enjoy working with other JMU alums. Learn more at www. KickStartSpecialists.com. Writer James “Jim” 79 Dawson is the film critic for BackRowReviews.com and FrontRowFeatures.com. He has also published several anthologies of his fiction through his website EroticaCollections.com.
Katherine A. Couper 84 earned an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from the
The Hendersonville, N.C., Family Practice Residency Program honored Gail Clary Pearce with its Community Faculty Award on June 3. The award recognizes community physician faculty members for excellence in teaching residents and in patient care. Pearce also received this award in 2007. She practices pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine in Hendersonville, N.C.
Seth Kerekes and his wife, Beth (’86), proudly report that the next generation of Kerekes Dukes arrived at JMU this semester. Their daughter, Emily, is a freshman this year and member of the Class of 2017.
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Don R. Beatty has served 74 Lisa Snider is an adminas an adviser to nine U.S. 82 istrative office specialpresidents and members of Conist in the JMU Department of gress. He has earned the National Congressional Order of Merit, the 56
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Health Sciences.
University of Virginia on May 19.
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, an account manager with GridPoint Inc. in Roanoke, Va., writes: “My son, Jacob Daniel Bowen (’17) sent me this awesome picture of an October sunset over the Bridgeforth Stadium. The photo was taken by JMU freshman Haley Murphy (’17). We thought
Freshman Haley Murphy (‘17) captured this image of sunset over Bridgeforth Stadium on Family Weekend, Oct. 5.
Madison readers would enjoy this beautiful photo.”✱ Maiyen Tran Hawkins is a gastroenterologist with Western Washington Medical Group. She writes, “After leaving JMU, I finished four years of medical school, two years for an M.B.A., three years of internal medicine residency, and three years of gastroenterology fellowship training. My husband, Jeff (’98), is a physical therapist; and our two boys, Holden and Walsh, have moved to the Seattle area to enjoy the Pacific Northwest. We always wear our Duke Dog pride!” ✱ Kathleen L. Wright was one of
Notes To submit a class note
or emeriti note to appear in Madison, read the instructions and fill out the form on the inside back cover or email madisonmag@jmu.edu
JMUWORKS
JMU alumni at the helm of the City of Charlottesville B y L I Z C e r a m I Tay L O r ( ‘ 9 2 )
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department that took on a lot of responsibilities, including the manageIn the land of mr. Jefferson and the University of Virginia, two JmU ment of our website and also the production and hosting of television alumni are at the helm of the City of Charlottesville. Maurice Jones programs for our government access channel.” after briefly leaving the (‘92) serves as city manager, and David Ellis ‘89 is the assistant city city to work for the University of Virmanager. They are two of about a ginia, Jones was hired as assistant dozen JmU Dukes working in leadercity manager for the city in 2008 ship positions for Charlottesville. and became city manager in 2010. as chief administrative officer for ellis, a psychology major at JmU, the city, Jones works with an elected worked as a mental health counselor city council to oversee operations, after graduating. He later worked ensuring that the mission, vision and prifor the housing authority in fairfax orities of the council are implemented. County, Va., which led to an interest One of the key ways Jones does in public administration. “I ended up that is by monitoring the city’s budgoing back to school at George mason get. “when you look at the types of and working in the county executive’s things that we invest in, the budget is office. around that time, I decided I was a direct correlation to what our vision ready for a change after having is and what our priorities are with our been there for about 20 years. city council. It’s a long process and a That’s when this position opened vitally important process, but it really up,” says ellis, who was hired as does get us to the point where we are assistant city manager in 2012. investing in the types of things that Dukes running the land of for ellis, the listening skills will make a difference in the lives of Wahoo’s: Charlottesville he learned as a JmU student still our residents and the businesses here City Manager Maurice Jones serve him well. “Being able to and visitors to Charlottesville as well.” (‘92), left and David Ellis (‘89), assistant city manager, listen to citizens, elected officials ellis, or “The fixer” as Jones calls review a city planning map. and business owners, and really him, serves in a role that puts him in (Inset): JMU alumni working for the City of Charlottesville being able to get at what they’re saydirect contact with neighborhoods and are (front row, l-r): Ryan Davidson (‘00), Nancy Jackson (‘82), ing and sometimes what they’re not community leaders, addressing their Erica Goode (‘03) and Kelly Logan (‘94). Back row are Mark Simpson (‘98), David Ellis (‘89) and Maurice Jones (‘92). really saying – that has really preissues. “It’s important that we make pared me for this work,” he says. ellis sure that all individuals in the commualso appreciates JmU’s diversity and says he still calls on JmU friends nity feel heard on whatever issue comes forward,” says ellis. “I work with from all walks of life to talk about what’s going on in their communities. department heads to assist them in any way I can and help maurice make with two JmU alums leading the city, Jones says he gets a little sure the organization is being run efficiently and effectively.” good-natured teasing, especially amongst staff, about the “JmU mafia” Interestingly, neither Jones nor ellis entered their JmU undergradurunning the city, but most people share his fondness for his alma mater. ate years thinking they would have a career in city management. “my “more often than not I get people coming up to me, and they’ll want to goals were a lot different 20 years ago when I went to JmU,” says Jones. say hi and talk about JmU,” says Jones. “we’ve been able to live well in “I was a communication major and my focus was getting into broadcast the land of the ‘Hoos.” journalism. I did everything I could at JmU to gain the experience necesaccording to Jones, nearly 30 JmU alumni work for the City of sary to put myself in a position to get a job in the broadcasting field, and Charlottesville. five JmU alumni assist Jones and ellis in leadership I was able to do that when I came out of school.” after several sports positions. They include ryan Davidson (‘00), budget and management broadcasting jobs and some political work, Jones was hired by the City analyst; nancy Jackson (‘82), benefits supervisor; erica Goode (‘03), of Charlottesville as director of communications in 1999. recreation program manager; Kelly Logan (‘94), benefits supervisor; “That’s the direct connection to JmU and my entrance into local government,” says Jones. “ I did that job for six years and was able to build a and mark simpson (‘98), GIs coordinator. M
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EMERITINOTES
and former faculty news The JMU Emeriti Association is a multifaceted organization open to all faculty and administrative personnel who have been granted emerita or emeritus status by the JMU Board of Visitors. The organization provides an opportunity for retired faculty to continue association with colleagues and to maintain ties to the university community. More than 130 retired faculty and administrative professional staff members are actively involved with the JMU Emeriti Association. The professional and social organization encourages the interaction of emeriti through meetings, special interest groups and trips to cultural programs. For more information, please contact Faculty Emeriti President Rex Fuller at rfuller@northriver.coop or Sherry King, director of Parent and Faculty Emeriti Relations at kingsf@jmu.edu or phone at (540) 568-8064.
ClassNotes
Paul E. Bierly, JMU professor or management, died July 4, 2013, after a long battle with cancer. Bierly taught in the JMU College of Business from 1998 until February 2013. He taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Strategic Management and Management of Innovation and Technology. He was the zane D. Showker Professor of Entrepreneurship, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, and later became director of the M.B.A. Program where he created the highly successful Innovation M.B.A. Program. Kenneth D. Bahn, JMU professor or marketing, died Oct. 10, 2013. Bahn served in the United States Navy as a data analyst from 1967 to 1971. He was a professor of marketing for more than 20 years at JMU and also served as director of the M.B.A. program at JMU from 1997 to 2008. He was instrumental in creating an innovative international M.B.A. program in information security. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Bartee Award for Teaching Innovation, the Rothenberger Faculty Fellowship and was honored as a JMU College of Business Madison Scholar. ➜ All former professors are encouraged to contribute an “Emeriti Note” at madisonmag@jmu.edu.
22 attorneys at Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore LLP named 2014 Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News & World Report. Wright graduated from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 2002.
development conference in July 2013. All four hold the designation of Certified Government Financial Manager.
92 Seth Kaplan
is director of mental training for the Baltimore Orioles.
John H. Lynskey Jr. was 89 elected and served as the In February 2013 Vonya 2012–13 national treasurer for 93 Philicia Alleyne was promoted to vice president of the Association of Government Accountants, a 15,000 member Human Resources for Cox Comassociation of governmunications–Virginia, serving approximately ment accountability professionals. Lynskey 2,300 employees. is a deputy director Alleyne oversees all aspects of Cox Virwithin the National Science Foundation’s ginia human resources Office of Budget, functions, including Finance and Award employee relations; compensation and benManagement. Kelly Stefanko (’94) also efits; recruitment and serves on the Associaretention; training and tion of Government Rick Eisenman (’93) organizational develAccountants National opment and safety; Executive Committee as a senior and risk and security. ✱ Rick Eisenman, founder and owner vice president. Lynskey and Stefanko joined fellow JMU of Eisenman & Associates Inc., accounting alumni Kerry Canbegan his consulting company in field (’94) of CACI and Charbet 1993 as a one-man operation with just two clients. Today the RichDuckett (’88), a partner with Williams Adley and Co. LLP, at mond-area company has more the AGA’s national professional than 30 clients and a staff of six.
SCHOLARSHIP THANKS :
Maurice Wolla Scholarship Endowment Created by JMU professors ISAT faculty and friends
A history of service and achievement For more than a century, James Madison University has consistently proven itself as a place where students are transformed into citizens ready to change the world. Know a great Madison alum who has excelled in his or her profession, or has made a difference for Madison through service? Nominate them for a distinguished alumni award today! www.jmu.edu/alumni/awards/ DAA_Nomination.shtml
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M A D I S O N
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Dear Dr. and Mrs. Wolla, My name is Elizabeth, and I am the recipient of the Maurice Wolla Scholarship for the second straight year. I don’t think that there are words to describe how grateful I am for your generosity and for this scholarship helping me to stay at JMU for my senior year. I am so proud to be a Duke and feel lucky to graduate from the best school in the world. I am happy that with your help I can take out fewer loans, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Once I graduate, I will hopefully (applications pending) move on to graduate school to complete an environmental or civil engineering degree. I hope to become a professor and share my passion and love of learning. This scholarship means the world to me, and, without your help, I would not be able to graduate. I am honored to be a Duke and will always bleed purple. Thank you so much for your help. Elizabeth Wronko (’14) Stanhope, N.J.
Former Diamond Duke makes the majors Ryan Reid (’06) is 12th alumnus to play for a Major League Baseball team B y D aV I D D r I V e r
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after pitching for Triple-a Durham in 2012 in the Tampa Bay former Diamond Dukes pitcher Ryan Reid (‘06) was with his minor system he was acquired by the Pirates and impressed front office league baseball team in Columbus in early June when he was sumpersonnel of Pittsburgh during spring training in Bradenton, fla., moned to the office of Dean Treanor, his manager with the Triple-a in 2013. “I was with the rays for a long time. It is kind of like a long Indianapolis Indians. reid was told he had been traded to Gwinnett, relationship with a girl; after a while you don’t forget the past. They the top farm team of the atlanta Braves. like me. But I am 5-foot-11, and I did not really fit their mold” among “well, it was nice playing for you,” said reid, a right-handed pitching prospects, he explains. “I learned a lot of good things, reliever with Indianapolis, the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates. and I was able to bring that actually, reid’s coaches to spring training with the were playing a little prank on Pirates.” reid. In reality he was being reid was back with called up to the major leagues Indianapolis when Pittsburgh but his Indianapolis coaches closer Jason Grilli, who had wanted to have some fun at his just taken part in the major expense. He wasn’t headed to League all-star game in new Gwinnett, a suburb of atlanta. york, was injured in a game He was headed to Turner field, in washington against the the home of the Braves, to nationals in late July. pitch for the Pirates. “we absolutely did conThe next morning reid, who sider him,” Pittsburgh General played for the Dukes for two manager neal Huntington seasons in 2005 and 2006, said, while in washington, of flew from Ohio to atlanta to bringing up reid to take the join the Pirates. “I got there place of Grilli. “He has been a and ate a quick lunch, though I hard worker. He is very profescould barely eat,” recalls reid, sional. we like his fastball, we who led the Colonial athletic like his slider. He almost made association in wins [the Pirates’ roster] out of with 10 in 2006. spring training.” That night reid The Pirates called up came into the game another pitcher when Grilli with the bases was hurt but reid was sumloaded and two moned a few days later for his outs and induced a second stint in Pittsburgh. groundball off the ray searage, the Pirates’ bat of atlanta’s reed pitching coach, says reid Johnson, the leading did a good job of inducing hitter in the national groundballs during his time League for much of the 2013 Former Diamond Duke Ryan Reid (‘06) — a right-handed reliever for with the Pirates in 2013. “He season. reid retired three batthe Pittsuburgh Pirates — is the 12th JMU baseball player to play for a major league team. comes to compete every day ters in his next inning that night when he gets out there on the without allowing a hit or walk. mound and that is what we like about him,” says searage. “He is not “It was a great experience,” says reid, who toiled nearly seven in awe of anybody. He did his job. we have depth now in our reliever years in the minor leagues before getting his shot at the majors. department and that makes us feel good. It is a nice story. you look In his sixth big league appearance out of the bullpen for the Pirates, at him and Jason Grilli and what they have gone through. It goes at home June 28 against milwaukee, he picked up his first major league to show if one door closes another happens. Keep banging and save as he threw three scoreless innings in a Pittsburgh victory in the one will open.” Pirates push for their first playoff appearance in 21 years. reid was drafted by the rays in 2006 out of JmU in the seventh reid, in his first seven outings for Pittsburgh, had a 1.64 earned-run round and worked his way up the minor league ladder. He throws a average in 11 innings of work before he was sent back to Indianapolis. two- and four-seam fastball, slider and change-up. “seven years is a long time for anyone to be in the minor leagues,” he reid, a JmU sports management major, overcame an arm injury says. “I always felt there was a light at the end of the tunnel.” early in his minor league days with the rays. In 36 outings with Indiareid worked a variety of off-season jobs to keep afloat financially, as napolis this past season he was 7-2 with a 2.73 era and two saves. minor league players at the lower levels make just a few thousand dollars “ryan has a real bulldog mentality, which we love,” says JmU veteran per month during the season. One of his winter jobs was running a bar in his native maine, where he has a friend in the restaurant business. baseball coach spanky mcfarland. “He went right after hitters.” M
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Saving the next girl JMU alumni help raise awareness on female abductions through Help Save the Next Girl By J a m e s I r w I n (‘ 0 6)
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Creating the public service announcement was uplifting. and having it recognized with a national award was gratifying. But for Bruce Bryan (’87) and Brett Winter Lemon (’06), what mattered most was the cause. The Psa for Help save The next Girl, a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting personal safety, recently won a 2013 silver Telly award, and has launched a massive public awareness campaign about crimes against young women. Bryan, Lemon and a dedicated team of creative professionals in roanoke, Va., have worked on media for the organization for two years, attempting to create a message of empowerment out of a brutal crime that rocked their community.
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A crime, and a cause
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“everyone knew the story,” Bryan recalls. “everyone wanted to help.” web advertising spread throughout the state, in richmond, Charlottesville, roanoke, Harrisonburg and Lynchburg. Bryan and Koehler pieced together a creative team to produce rich media. They brought in creative director Chris Henson and postproduction specialist Kirk wray. They also reached out to Jane Vance (morgan’s former art professor) and Laura schneider, president of the Virginia Tech chapter of Help save The next Girl. and they enlisted Lemon, a smaD graduate who grew up next door to the Harringtons, to serve as director of photography. “we wanted the footage to speak for itself, to be strong and emotional,” Lemon says of the video. “we all wanted it to revolve around young girls, and the idea that they had to look out for each other.”
morgan Harrington’s story has been widely chronicled. On Oct. 17, 2009, the 20-yearold Virginia Tech student attended a metallica concert Raising awareness in Charlotte sville. she was Bryan estimates the camabducted and murdered, her paign has around 2 million body found 101 days later in a web impressions in a little remote pasture six miles from more than a year, a testathe concert venue. The case ment, he says, to professionremains unsolved. als doing what they do best to nineteen months after her help the community. That idea abduction, Harrington was is something he and Lemon awarded a posthumous degree Brett Lemon (‘06) and Bruce Bryan (‘87) created bracelets and both say they experienced as T-shirts to promote the Help Save The Next Girl campaign. by Virginia Tech. Bryan, an madison students. advertising professional, and his public relations partner “my involvement and experience [at JmU] made this a natural stephanie Koehler — who assisted the Harringtons after morgan’s thing,” Bryan says. abduction — attended this small ceremony. There are still abductions. This is an uphill fight, to remove “I remember sitting there and thinking, ‘There are people the variables of violence against women before they conspire who may know something who aren’t news viewers,’” Bryan says. to occur, to prevent everything that can go wrong from going wrong. But it also is a fight of solidarity. The final frame of the “The idea came to use advertising to get the word out, in hopes Psa shows 13 young women, ranging in age from sixth graders of solving the murder, and to help save the next girl.” to college students, standing atop a small ridge, hands clasped, That phrase was one Gil and Dan Harrington had used often their outlines backlit by the evening sun. since their daughter’s abduction. amidst their grief, they founded “everything unfolded perfectly; right people, right day, the Help save The next Girl, hoping to raise the level of dialogue about crimes against women. weather was amazing, the light was perfect,” Lemon says. “It “The terminology [can be] so passive: missing, what does that doesn’t ever happen that way. This was a case where something even mean?” Gil Harrington says. “my reading glasses are missmagical was happening.” ing because I wasn’t paying attention. [But] none of us left our The group hopes that magic has a lasting effect. after all, daughters; they were abducted, they were stolen. that’s the point of Help save The next Girl — that because of the “They were robbed from us.” work of Dan and Gil Harrington, stephanie Koehler and Jane Vance, Chris Henson, Laura schneider and Kirk wray, and JmU Bryan had an idea to build attention-getting ads around alumni Bruce Bryan and Brett Lemon, girls and young women Gil Harrington’s stark message. The former TV sales manager in danger of abduction can prevent it from happening; that they approached local media and proposed they run Psas on their avoid the danger; that they are aware, protected. safe. M unused ad space. not a single outlet turned him down.
M A D I S O N
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P H O T O G r a P H C O U r T e s y O f B r e T T L e m O n (‘ 0 6)
The company offers full-service association management, meeting planning and consulting. Since its founding in 1993, E&A has helped more than 50 clients succeed by providing valuable business advice and event planning. Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Bolen 94 earned a Master’s in Nursing from the University of Alabama in August. The Nurse Corps officer is currently recalled to active duty with the U.S. Navy. Robyn Vining provides 99 lifestyle photography and fine art photography in the
Marissa Alexandra 03 Schuchat has decided on a career change and is pursuing a computer information systems degree at Long Island University Brooklyn. ✱ New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie bestowed the Governor’s Jefferson Award to Scott Zabelski
Robyn Vining (’99) (far left) is one of five recipients of the 2013 Philanthropic Award from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee. She was honored for her work with Exploit No More. Other recipients (l-r) are: Austin Ramirez, Kadie Jelenchick, Jeffery Roman and Christine Culver.
and his wife, Dana, of Lavallette, N.J. The award recognizes volunteers that have enhanced the quality of life through service. This year, the awards focused on volunteers who devoted time, talent and energy to the Super Storm Sandy recovery
efforts. The zabelski’s business,
Blue Wave Printing, produces screen-printed clothing for local businesses. The day after Hurricane Sandy, Scott printed a few “Restore The Shore” t-shirts for his family to wear to show support
of their community. Blue Wave Printing designated a fixed amount from the sale of all “Restore the Shore” items to donate back to those who needed it most, and to date nearly $500,000 has been donated to the community.
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greater Milwaukee area. And, she uses her uniquely artistic gifts as a photographer to give those facing challenges a chance to see uplifting reflections of themselves, at no charge. The owner of Robyn Vining Photography is one of the founding members of Exploit No More, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to establish a safe place for girls escaping sexual trafficking and slavery in Milwaukee. United Way of Greater Milwaukee honored Vining Aug. 21 as one of five winners of the 2013 Philanthropic 5 awards.
SCHOLARSHIP THANKS :
Leadership: It’s a Madison thing Know an outstanding JMU alumni leader? Nominate them for a position on the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors. www.jmu.edu/alumni/about/nominations.shtml
Dukes from day one. ALUMNI for life.
Judith B. Blankenburg Endowed Scholarship Created by the late JMU professor Judith B. Blankenburg Stewarded by professor emerita Inez Ramsey
Dear Dr. Ramsey, Thank you so much for providing me with the opportunities from the Judith B. Blankenburg Endowed Scholarship gift. Every morning I wake up feeling thankful and blessed to be a recipient of this scholarship. You have made a remarkable impact on my college career, and I will do my best to spread the generosity and kindness that you have given to me. Thank you again! Sincerely, Alexandra A. Daczkowski (’15) Sterling, Va.
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Jessica Gyourko is serv12 ing in the Peace Corps. She lives in El Verde, Cajamarca,
Scott Zabelski (‘03)
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Air Force Capt. Lon 07 Hopkins earned a second master’s degree, this time in business intelligence from Saint Joseph’s University in January. Hopkins and his wife, Lindsay, relocated to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he is the deputy chief for senior leader management. He is stationed at Pacific Air Forces Headquarters. Kathryn Blake Daugh09 try graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in May 2013. Sarah Young is a 10 sixth-grade English teacher with Grafton Middle School, York County, Va., Public Schools. She is also a field hockey coach.
Peru, in the Andes mountains. Gyourko teaches English and health care education to families. ✱ Former Madison magazine intern Eric Wagner spent nearly five weeks bicycling across the United States in April and May 2013. His father, Ralph, originally got the idea and asked Wagner to join him. The duo battled the elements, terrain, and aches and pains but finished the trip of 3,456 miles from California to New Hampshire in 33 days. Wagner started a blog while he was training for the adventure. He detailed his training and then, once the trip began, documented the group’s progress and difficulties along the road in his blog at www. leavingitontheroad.com. Adam Wermus gradu13 ated with a double major in mathematics and physics and with four minors — astronomy, business, music and jazz. Wermus filmed an encouraging message video, Being Good to People, on location in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum on campus. He hopes to spread his message to a college-age audience. View his video at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=IU1YAjzD81Y.
SCHOLARSHIP THANKS
Helen VerStandig Scholarship Created by John D. VerStandig (’12P)
Dear Mr. VerStandig, My name is Ana Pinto, and I am from Arlington, Va. I am studying anthropology at James Madison University, and I would like to extend my deepest thanks for awarding me the Helen VerStandig Scholarship for the 2012–13 year. I am a senior, and until now, I had not received any of the scholarships that I’ d applied for throughout the years. Getting this unexpected award has been a wonderful gift and has given me the confidence that I had been lacking. Thank you so much! Ana Pinto (’14) A rlington, Va.
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Former Madison magazine intern Eric Wagner (right, with his father, Ralph) bicycled across the United States during April and May. He shares the experience in his blog at www.leavingitontheroad.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Weddings 1990s Dannie L. Diego (’99) to James Western, 7/4/13 ✱ Julie Oberle (’99) to Douglas A. Jones (’00), 1/17/13
2000s Cory Kline (’00) to Michael Pollock, 10/ 7/12 ✱
Heather Ann Raynes (’01) to Kyle Yeager (’03), 5/11/13 ✱ Danielle DeSilvis (’04) to Matthew Sapsford (’00), 3/9/13 ✱ Victoria Smith Gorczyk (’04) to Andrew, 12/29/12 ✱ Jenna Lynn Meshanko (’04) to Matthew Robert Conosciani, 10/27/12 ✱ Melissa Leigh
Tenenini (’04) to Rick Whalen, 6/15/2013 ✱ Ana Adinolfi (’05, ’07M) to Beth Myers, 7/13/13 ✱ Laura Bayarski (’05) to David
Macke (’03), 6/8/13 ✱ Lydia Michelle Oppe (’05) to Joran Kushel, 7/11/13 ✱ Melissa Scott (’06) to Daniel Pechulis (’06), 6/22/13 ✱ Erica Westcott (’06) to Dan Kelly, 8/13 ✱ Nellaney Meistrich, (’07, ’08M) to Matthew O’Brien, (’06, ’08M), 7/12/13 ✱ Melissa Seeman (’08) to Tim Pickering (’05), 5/3/2013 ✱ Molly Jenks (’08) to Michael Heidler(’08), 6/24/12 ✱ Emily VandeLoo (’08, ’09M) to Travis Anderson (’08, ’09M), 7/13/13 ✱ Jess Brophy (’09) to Joe Lake (’08) , 5/11/13 ✱ Holly Hansen (’10) to Andrew Molchany (’09), 6/22/2013 ✱ Paige Martin (’10) to Josh Miller, 8/24/13
Z aBeLsKI PHOTOGr aPH CO U r Tesy Of nJ.COm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FutureDukes 1990s Bill Jacques (’92) and Kim, a daughter, Vivienne Margaret, 6/29/13 ✱ Sean Christo-
pher Niehoff (’98) and Melissa, twins, Philip Gregory and Daniella Faith, 4/5/13 ✱ Jennifer Shane
Whitaker (’99) and Christian (’99), a son, Fletcher Thomas, 6/8/13
2000s Jennifer Mooney DesRoches (’00) and Paul (’00), a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, 10/29/2012 ✱ Patricia Kennelly Helsley (’00) and
(’00) and Dan (’00), a son, Samuel Cole, 5/14/13 ✱ Cory Kline Pollock (’00) and
✱ Meagan Boyd Grand (’02)
Michael, a son, Tillman Michael,
Ryman (’02) and Gregg (’01),
5/25/13 ✱ Sara Marie Ken-
a daughter, Anna Henley, 5/3/13
✱ Kelley Wolfe Boyer (’03M)
a son, Micah Kristopher, 6/19/13
and Matthew (’02), a son, David
✱ Stephanie Dubanowitz
Isaac, 2/1/13 ✱ Meredith Rachel
Burachinsky (’01) and Dennis,
Weiss Zeller (’04) and Jacob, a
a daughter, Vera Nadia, 6/27/13 ✱
daughter, Emerson Fay, 12/3/12 ✱
Rebecca Campbell Guzowski (’01) and John, a daughter, Francesca Leona, 3/16/13 ✱ Alison Manser Ertl (’01) and Daniel,
Kristopher Russell (’05) and
4/27/13 ✱ Melissa Sweeney
6/20/13 ✱ Wendy Peterson
4/18/13 ✱ Melissa Chewning
nedy Braden (’01) and Gerald,
a daughter, Brynn Elizabeth,
Neil, a daughter, Orla Maureen,
and Frank, a son, Frank James V,
Kelly, a daughter, Kate McKenna Russell ✱ Erin Walker-Ruth-
Kimberlin “Kimmy” Ewen (’17) Ashburn, Va.
MADISON ALUMNI! Make plans now to be on campus for
Bluestone Reunions 2014
For more info, call May 2–4, 2014 (540) 568–6234
www.jmu.edu/alumni/events/reunions.shtml
Todd (’98), a daughter, Claire Anderson, 12/22/12 ✱ Jennifer
Hoge Buchanan (’07) and Neal, a daughter, Addison Anne, 6/27/13
Sprouse (’05) and Scott (’04),
Christopher, 6/23/13 ✱ Michelle
Sonn Milam (’07) and William, a daughter, Abigail Milam, 7/20/13
InMemoriam Caroline Schaller Albert (’37) of Takoma Park, Md., 5/23/13 Lena Mundy Long (’38) of West Point, Va., 8 /1/13 Esther Leather man Cosby (’39) of Lynchburg, Va., 5/29 /13 Janet Largent Smith (’42) of Winchester, Va., 3/8 /13 Marguerite Mapp K nee (’45) of Matthews, N.C., 6/19 /13 Ger aldine Estep Sherwood (’47) of Fairfax,Va., 8 /5/13 Gladys Hostetter Burke (’48) of Penn Laird, Va., 9 /10 /13 Elizabeth Coyne Parkman (’48) of Norfolk, Va., 8 /24/13 Elizabeth Gregory Br een (’49) of Leesburg, Va., 8 /31/13 Phyllis Weaver Harpster (’50) of Fairfax, Va., w8 /5/13 Shirley Colbert Dent (’51) of Summerville, N.C., 9 /1/13 Alice Meredith Robbins (’51) of Cambridge, Md., 8 /10 /13 Betty Br eeden Browning (’54) of Woodbridge, Va., 9 /12 /13 Norris H. Simmons (’61) of Richmond, Va., 5/26/13 Mary Fr ances R eilly (’62) of Harrisonburg, Va., 8 /30 /13 Dennis Gr ason Case (’65) of Staunton, Va., 6/09 /13 Mary Doleman K night (’67) of Montross, Va., 8 /18 /13 Carolyn Gr avely Shiplett (’67) of Midlothian, Va., 5/31/13, Sam K. Robertson Jr. (’73, ’91M) of Greencastle, Pa., 5/25/13 Patricia Rowe Pr etlow (’74) of Suffolk, Va., 6/4/13 Martin Boyd Coyner (’76) of Norfolk, Va., 9 /6/13 Della Pettr ey Dale (’76) of Clifton Forge, Va., 6/12 /13 Janet Lee K ing (’78) of Charlottesville, Va., 8 /6/13 Sharon R itenour Stevens (’78) of Lexington, Va., 8 /9 /13 David William Ear man (’79) of Harrisonburg, Va., 8 /25/13 Edward L . McCallum Jr. (’79) of Inman, S.C., 9 /8 /13 Polly Holden Nunn (’80) of Bridgewater, Va., 9 /14/13 Linda K. Bakley (’85) of Greenville, N.C., 6/18 /13 Adam N. Baughan (’98) of Richmond, Va., 6/14/13 Unah Park (’98) of Fairfax, Va., 1/26/13 Joshua Allan Williams (’12) of South Boston, Va., 5/26/12 Jordan Matthew Shawn (’14) of Stephens City, Va., 9 /9 /13 W I N T E R
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Thank you for this scholarship gift! I am a freshman this year, and this gift will be a great help for my future. It motivates me to succeed in college as I did in high school. I am majoring in kinesiology with a concentration in the pre-physical therapy program. I hope to work as a physical therapist in the future. This will take hard work and dedication through many years of school. Thank you again for your support in this new chapter of my life as a JMU Duke.
Burrows Fleming (’07) and
(’07) and Dan (’07), a son, Davis
Suzanne Tarrant Ely (’05) and
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Malbon,
(’07) and Tim, a daughter, Pearl Frances, 5/21/13 ✱ Rachel Anne
✱ Rachele Douglas Jackson
a son, Hudson Sweeney, 8/31/12
Created by John F. (’74) and Harriet H. Malbon
(’06), a son, Aiden Christopher, 4/7/13 ✱ Lauren Kidd Barry
erford (’05) and Joseph, a son,
a son, Luke Michael, 8/6/13 ✱
James Madison Scholars – John Malbon Scholarship
Frances, 2/11/13 ✱ Megan Elder
Downey (’06) and Christopher
Samson Arthur, 8/1/13 ✱ Erin
Bowman (’02) and Ben (’03),
SCHOLARSHIP THANKS
Matt (’05), a daughter, Anne
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PICTURETHIS B Y K AT I E L A N D I S A N D S A R A H J A C O B S E N ( ’ 1 3 ) 64
Walking through time Many Madison student and alumni traditions have endured throughout JMU’s 100-plus year history. And, while the campus has expanded from two buildings and 42 acres in 1908 to its current 148 buildings and 721 acres, much of JMU’s campus also looks the same as it did in the early 1900s. (Above): With the help of Photoshop wizardry and JMU Special Collections, students walk through Madison eras. In addition to chronicling campus history via photographs, JMU Special Collections houses rare books and manuscripts, oral histories, and music collections. ➜ LEARN MORE at www.lib.jmu.edu/special.
M A D I S O N
M A G A Z I N E
2 0 1 3 P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT I E L A N D I S ; V I N TA G E P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y J M U S P E C I A L C O L L E C T I O N S ; P H O T O - I L L U S T R AT I O N S ( T O P ) B Y S A R A H J A C O B S E N (‘ 1 3) , ( B E L O W ) B Y K AT I E L A N D I S
WINTER 2014
Come! Play! Learn! Join!
Community Calendar Curious, ambitious or adventurous? JMU offers something for everyone. Lifelong Learning Institute Spring courses available Feb. 3 to May 23: An integral part of JMU, the member-driven Lifelong Learning Institute promotes lifelong learning by providing affordable, not-for-credit intellectual, cultural and social experiences to enrich the lives of local adults. Courses usually last five weeks and meet once a week for two hours. Instructors are drawn from faculty from various institutions and community experts. Brown-bag lunches are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month and are free and open to the public as a way to get to know LLI. There will also be several local and regional trips and opportunities to attend events at the Forbes Center. For more information, visit www.jmu.edu/ socwork/lli or call (540) 568–2923.
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Winter Highlights Terrarium Workshop
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Lecture
Feb. 12, noon to 1:30 p.m., in the Frances Plecker Education Center: Miniature landscape expert Pam Shank demonstrates and guides through the process of creating a succulents terrarium. Create a wee world to use as home or business decor. Register at www.jmu.edu/arboretum.
March 17, 6 to 9 p.m., in the FPEC: Held on St. Patrick’s Day annually; enjoy Irish cuisine and brew, and a virtual botanical tour to a new region of the globe with a guest lecturer. A per person cost covers a three-course dinner, tax, tip, beverages and a libation of choice. Advanced reservations required: go to www.jmu.edu/arboretum 30 days before this event or call (540) 568–3194.
Frances Litten Botanical Lecture Feb. 25, 7 to 8:30 p.m., in Festival Conference and Student Center, Ballroom A: Book sales and signing after the lecture. Notable botanist presents avant-garde botanical information at this free public lecture. Speaker and topic are announced at www.jmu.edu/arboretum a month ahead of this event.
TEAR ME OUT AND SAVE!
Madison Community Calendar is sponsored by
Greater Madison serves as a connection point between JMU and the communities of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Creating partnerships and fostering collaboration for more than 40 years, Greater Madison also serves as a clearinghouse for information about JMU. The organization is a primary point of contact for everything from internships, faculty and community resources to the arts and athletics, and welcomes your questions, ideas and opinions. To learn more, call (540) 568–4750 or contact greatermadison@gmail.com.
St. Patrick’s Live Highland Pipes March 17, 5 to 5:45 p.m., Jurney Stage Garden: Free live performance by piper Fred Holbrook of Massanetta Springs Conference Center.
Birding Workshop March 26, Noon to 1:30 p.m., in the FPEC: In partnership with the Rockingham Bird Club, avian photographer Diane Lepkowski lectures on songbirds to raptors. This workshop partners with guided birding trail walks in April or May.
John C. Wells Planetarium The planetarium in Miller Hall offers full-dome shows and special events for the public. Groups can schedule visits by calling (540) 568–4071. Visit www.jmu.edu/planetarium/ index.shtml for the latest information; free.
Forbes Center for Visual and Performing Arts Hubbard Street 2 Dance Chicago Tuesday, March 4, 8 p.m., Mainstage Theatre This renowned, professional dance company will demonstrate unparalleled versatility and virtuosity as dancers display a vast array of techniques and forms. Family Performance, Wednesday, March 5, 7 p.m., Mainstage Theatre This performance blends a dynamic presentation with behind-the-scenes insights into the choreographic process, stage production and dance technique. A one-hour exploration of dance. A Forbes Family Fun event.
New Voices in Dance featuring JMU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble Thursday, April 3, through Saturday, April 5, at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m., Mainstage Theatre Witness the blossoming of new dance artists in a concert featuring the work of selected dance majors showcasing diverse approaches and styles. Also features new work by New York choreographers Xan Burley and Alex Stringer, as well as JMU faculty members.
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Ryu Goto Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., Concert Hall Orpheus is a Grammy Award-winning classical music chamber orchestra that performs without a conductor. The group will take the stage with virtuoso violinist Ryu Goto for performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
Marimba Orchestra and Friends Saturday, March 29, at 8 p.m., Concert Hall This musical favorite returns to the line-up with performances by internationally acclaimed marimbist and percussionist Kevin Bobo, faculty guest artist Dr. Andrew Connell and JMU’s Orchestra. Don’t miss Bobo’s wizardry on the marimba and a Brazilian-style street parade! A Forbes Family Fun event.
The Frog Bride starring David Gonzalez Friday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m., Mainstage Theatre This critically acclaimed, hip adaptation of a classic Russian fairytale is brought to vibrant new life by the storytelling genius of David Gonzalez, who “has the gift of creating magical worlds and drawing his audience into them” (The New York Times). A Forbes Family Fun event.
Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris Tuesday, April 29, through Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m., Mainstage Theatre “Vital, sharp-witted and ferociously smart” (The New York Times), Clybourne Park pits Race against Real Estate in this 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony Awardwinning play. Two generations of characters dance around social politics in one house on two afternoons, 50 years apart. Features students from the JMU School of Theatre and Dance.
Rembrandt and the Mennonite Community Jan. 15 through Feb. 28, The Lisanby This exhibition displays, for the first time, a portrait of Rembrandt’s wife Saskia and etchings from the Madison Art Collection, as well as Dutch 17th century books from Eastern Mennonite University.
Daniel Sauter, Shannon McMullen, Fabian Winkler Encore Artists; Jan. 13 through Feb. 21, Sawhill Gallery From the University of Illinois at Chicago, Daniel Sauter is an artist who creates interactive installations and site-specific interventions pertaining to the cultural and social implications of emergent technologies. Shannon McMullen and Fabian Winkler teach at Purdue University. McMullen has an interest in art practice that engages and shapes the experience of urban spaces. Winkler is an artist working at the intersections of the moving image, sound, spatial structures and robotics. PHOTOGRAPHS BY HOLLY MARCUS (’03), RACHEL LAM AND COURTESY OF THE PLANETARIUM; FORBES CENTER BY TODD ROSENBERG, RICHARD FINKELSTEIN, KEN NAHOUM, BOB ADAMEK AND JULIE LEMBERGER; CLYBOURNE PARK ART BY RICHARD HILLIARD
A Book for the ’Burg A community partnership launches the common reading program “A Book for the ’Burg.” Based on the national model “One Book, One Community,” the program focuses on improving literacy and building a sense of community. JMU is partnering with Eastern Mennonite University, Massanutten Regional Library, Harrisonburg City and Greater Madison to present the first of what is envisioned as an annual event. The 2013–14 Book for the ‘Burg Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Pulitzer Prizewinning author Tracy Kidder, is about Paul Farmer, a Harvard professor and infectious disease specialist, and his work in rural Haiti and around the world. In addition to questions about poverty and health, the book addresses globalization and global resource distribution, equity, sustainability and service. To learn more about related events or to request a copy of the book, contact stewardship@JMU.edu or greatermadison@gmail.com.
Outreach and Engagement College for Kids Jan. 18 to Feb. 22 Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon; Memorial Hall Six-week workshop for middle-school and elementary-school-aged children Cost $125
Expanding Your Horizons Saturday, March 22 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Memorial Hall One-day workshop for middle-school girls Cost $5
Saturday Morning Physics Jan. 25 to March 1 Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon; Miller Hall Six-week program for high-school students Cost $45
Real Estate Pre-License Course Jan. 14 to March 27 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Memorial Hall, Hiner Room Cost $399
Passport to Retirement April to May Ice House Cost $75/person (includes course manual, bring a guest for an additional $10) For more information, visit www.jmu.edu/ outreach/passport.shtml To learn more about these and many other programs, visit www.jmu.edu/outreach
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A recipe for change Nick Geer (’13) is all about kids and dirt and food — and how they connect to improve lives. In September, the international affairs graduate with a minor in Arabic began an 11-month stint with FoodCorps, a nonprofit dedicated to healthy eating. Combining his love of growing food with a devotion to service, Geer is teaching the value of good nutrition and how to build and tend gardens to children in Lewiston, Maine. He’s also using his Arabic, as Lewiston has a large population of Somali refugees. FoodCorps places graduates in limited-resource communities to teach an understanding of healthy food and its sources. For Geer, it’s a recipe for change. “You can just help change one person’s life, and then maybe that person ends up helping someone else and it just adds up.” ➜READ MORE at www.jmu.edu/stories/2013/ 2013-07-19-nick-geer-profile.shtml
Nick Geer (‘13) is using his Arabic minor studies and his love of food to change the lives of children in Maine.
P H O T O G R A P H B Y H O L LY M A R C U S ( ’ 0 3)
Be the Change for a brighter future! www.jmu.edu/BetheChange