The Mandel
Spotlight The Biannual Newsletter of The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center At Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Volume I, Issue I
Fall 2018
Presidential Scholarship Luncheon The annual Presidential Scholarship Luncheon took place Nov. 1, 2018, at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in downtown Cleveland. This year’s speaker was Robert M. Gates, Ph.D., who served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Appointed by President George W. Bush and serving through most of President Barack Obama’s first term, Gates is the only secretary of defense in American history to have been retained in his role by an incoming president. He has also served as president of Texas A&M University and as chancellor of the College of William & Mary.
Prior to the luncheon, Gates spent time with students in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, answering their questions about his career and the lessons he learned about the nature of leadership. After the meeting, students attended the scholarship luncheon, rubbing shoulders with leaders from throughout Northeast Ohio. “Meeting with someone like Dr. Gates is an extraordinary opportunity for our students,” said Matthew Jordan, Ph.D., dean and chair of The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center. “Events like this one illustrate how unique this program is and underscore Tri-C’s commitment to ensuring a worldclass experience for the Mandel Scholars.” Both the Presidential Scholarship Luncheon and the Q&A session were organized by the Tri-C Foundation.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, Ohio 44122 | 216-987-2601 | mandelcenter@tri-c.edu
The Mandel Spotlight
The New Dean Is Here! Alumni and friends of the Mandel Humanities Center are probably aware that our inaugural dean, Lauren Onkey, Ph.D., accepted an invitation to become senior director of music for National Public Radio in late 2017. A national search was conducted to find her replacement, and in August 2018, Matthew Carey Jordan, Ph.D., became the new Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Dean and Chair for the Humanities. The Mandel Spotlight sat down with Dean Jordan to ask him about his background and how he wound up at the center.
TMS: What did you do before you came to Tri-C? Have you always worked in higher education? MCJ: Prior to becoming dean of the Mandel Center, I was director of the University Honors Program at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM), in Alabama. I spent nine years as a philosophy professor and administrator at AUM, following a year of teaching at Quincy University in Illinois. Before that, from 2000-2009, I was a graduate student and part-time teacher; and before that, I spent ten months in the management training program at Enterprise RentA-Car. So I can’t say that I’ve always been in higher ed, although it feels like it.
TMS: You mentioned that you were a philosophy professor. Was that your original career goal? Why did you choose that field? MCJ: Becoming a philosophy professor was definitely not what I set out to do. I actually went to college to study broadcast journalism; my goal was to be on the evening news. Early in my freshman year, however, I became very interested in religious questions, and I started taking philosophy classes and reading a lot about arguments for theism and atheism. It struck me that few people think very carefully about what they believe and why they believe it, and I realized that if I could get a job as a philosophy professor, I would be in a position to help them do that. The same conviction, along with a desire to be involved
with a more interdisciplinary approach to education, is what made me interested in becoming honors director at AUM and, eventually, dean of humanities at Tri-C.
TMS: Tell us more about that. Why did you decide to work at the Mandel Center? MCJ: The mission of the Mandel Center resonates very deeply with me. The integration of the humanities into a program designed to cultivate students’ leadership skills has the potential to yield some amazing results. The fact that it’s here in Cleveland, and that it’s designed to produce leaders for this region, is icing on the cake. I was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, and it’s always been my dream to come back home.
TMS: What’s next? Should we expect any big changes in the future? MCJ: Honestly, the center’s foundation is very sound. I don’t anticipate any significant changes. We are formulating a systematic plan for recruiting new students, working on developing a more formal support network for our alumni and developing a series that will bring prominent scholars and speakers to Cleveland for public events that support our mission; but those are all instances of looking at what we’re already doing and taking them to the next level. We have a couple of big events planned for 2019-2020, including a literature-oriented event focused on the writings of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and a discussion of “civic friendship” featuring Cornel West of Harvard and Robert George of Princeton. Anyone interested in the center’s work should certainly keep an eye out for details on those events.
TMS: What do you do when you’re not “deaning”? MCJ: I’m a big sports fan, and I spend way too much time reading about and watching Cleveland and Ohio State sports. I do a little bit of cooking, and I try to make sure that I’m spending quality time with my wife and our kids. We have seven children, so that takes up quite a bit of my free time.
Visit From Hollywood On Oct. 16, 2018, The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center hosted David Paul Kirkpatrick’s “The Power of Story.” Kirkpatrick is a former president of Paramount Pictures and served as chief of production at both Touchstone and Disney. Among the many films produced under his oversight are Top Gun, Pretty Woman, The Little Mermaid and the first three Indiana Jones films. His presentation examined the role of story as a source of inspiration and empathy, incorporating lessons about perseverance and cooperation from Kirkpatrick’s own experience as a Hollywood executive. Students in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy received complimentary copies of his new book, the dog, and Kirkpatrick spent time signing copies and chatting one‑on‑one with students and community members in attendance. Continued on page 5. 2
Volume I, Issue I | Fall 2018
Mandel Scholar
Profile
This issue spotlights Harry Quinones, a Mandel scholar since fall 2017. He will graduate from the Mandel Scholars Academy and Tri-C in May 2019.
TMS: When did you decide to attend college, and why did you select Tri-C? HQ: My senior year in high school. My parents had always stressed education, but I wanted to start a business right away. I applied for a permit at the West Side Market and got turned down — that’s when I realized that I needed to learn a lot more! I knew I could get a good education at Tri-C without having to spend a lot of money. Also, my Spanish teacher referred me to Tri-C’s Hispanic Council. Esther Kraft and Sylvia Royle helped me a lot.
TMS: How did you learn about the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, and why did you apply?
Harry
Quinones
HQ: When I applied to Tri-C, I learned about their Academic Excellence scholarship. The application requires an essay, so I wrote about my desire to start a business — not just to make money, but also to support the Hispanic community in Cleveland. Right after I found out that I didn’t get the Academic Excellence scholarship, I got an email inviting me to attend an information session about the Mandel Scholars Academy. I wasn’t that interested because I didn’t really understand what the humanities were and what they have to do with business. But my mom kept saying, “Come on, let’s go — what do you have to lose?” So I gave in and went. I listened to the presentation, and the description of the Scholars Academy matched everything that I had written about in my essay! I decided right then to apply to the academy, and I was lucky enough to be accepted.
TMS: Talk about an experience you’ve had as a Mandel Scholar that has made an impression on you. HQ: The “My Path to Leadership” talk by Randell McShepard. I was impressed by how much he’s accomplished at RPM, and he really inspired me to get more involved in the community. He talked to me after his presentation and suggested I contact Victor Ruiz at Esperanza. I had a great one-onone conversation with Mr. Ruiz, and now I’m participating there. It feels good to contribute!
TMS: What is your major, and why did you choose to pursue that field? HQ: I’m getting an Associate of Arts degree from Tri-C with a concentration in business. I plan to transfer to a university for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and, hopefully, an MBA. Business drives me. I think it’s a good platform to do whatever I want. I hope to become a “serial entrepreneur,” maybe start out running a Latin bistro or coffee shop, then a family-focused arcade. I really like Cleveland. It’s a welcoming, family-friendly place, so I like the idea of family-friendly businesses. I also learned about the clean energy industry through the Mandel Academy, and I’d love to develop that in Cleveland’s inner city to make life a little easier for the residents there. Each business will have a social cause — that’s really important to me. My goal is not to be remembered for the money I made, but for my contributions to my city and for being a positive role model in the Hispanic community.
TMS: What advice would you give to a high school senior thinking about applying to the Mandel Scholars Academy? HQ: Definitely apply! The academy has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. Take advantage of every opportunity you can. Be actively involved, and get to know your peers. Don’t be afraid to network; it’s really a small world out there, and you never know what one new connection might lead to. Have fun!
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The Mandel Spotlight
Continuing Scholars Program The Mandel Continuing Scholars program, which provides special opportunities for selected graduates of the Mandel Scholars Academy to apply for admission to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College at Cleveland State University, has 21 students in its 2019 cohort. These Continuing Scholars met individually with their student liaison, Emily Quayle, at the beginning and end of the fall semester, reviewing their progress to degree completion and the process for seamlessly transferring to CSU. Special programming gave them a detailed look at what it means to be an honors student at Cleveland State University and the chance to explore CSU’s campus with current Mandel Honors College students, including alumni of the Mandel Scholars Academy. Looking ahead, recruitment efforts for the next class of Mandel Continuing Scholars began in earnest during the fall semester, with the expectation that 35 students will participate in the 2020 cohort.
Community Engagement Overview The Mandel Scholars Academy’s third course, Community Engagement, offers students the opportunity to work collaboratively with a community partner on a project that will benefit the organization and, through that organization, the community at large. Students work closely with faculty and their community partner to produce a successful deliverable by the end of the 16‑week semester. In fall 2018, one class of Mandel Scholars teamed up with the YWCA of Greater Cleveland to design the framework for a “Report on Race in Cleveland.” Students met with Baldwin Wallace University’s Community Research Institute to better understand data collection and report design. The final product was presented to the leadership team at the YWCA, including the board of directors and advisory council. Another team worked internally with the College’s Common Reading program to develop a Human Library wherein community members signed up to share their stories as human “books.” At the event, guests could check out a human book and hear the person’s story. This class also submitted an application to the global Human Library Organization to be recognized as an official Human Library location; as of this writing, results are still pending.
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Volume I, Issue I | Fall 2018
My Path to Leadership with
Dr. Johnson
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy kicked off its annual My Path to Leadership series with a visit from Tri-C President Alex Johnson. Moderated by second-year student Harry Quinones, the event was a conversation between Dr. Johnson and several dozen Mandel Scholars about lessons learned over decades of service in various leadership roles. Students attending the event received complimentary copies of Johnson’s new book, Change the Lapel Pin, and had the opportunity to talk with him about their career goals, the nature of leadership and challenges facing undergraduate students today.
Visit From Hollywood Continued from page 2.
Audience members described the event as both entertaining and inspiring. Commenting afterward, Mandel Scholar Spencer Murphy noted that Kirkpatrick’s presentation served as a powerful illustration of the importance of collaborative learning and the value of the humanities for fostering creativity, ingenuity and human understanding. In Murphy’s words, “Real learning doesn’t derive from sitting in a classroom for hours upon hours — it’s the collaborative and outof-class experiences where you can truly begin to mold your own thoughts about the world.”
Alumnus
Profile
Agustin
Torres
Class of 2018
Agustin Torres received his Associate of Arts degree from Tri-C in Spring 2018 and successfully matriculated at Case Western Reserve University through the Cleveland Humanities Collaborative, sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Torres continues to flourish academically at CWRU, earning the Dean’s High Honors certificate during the Fall 2018 semester. Majoring in Spanish with a minor in leadership, Torres appreciates the education he received at Tri-C as an inaugural member of the Mandel Scholars Academy. The advice he offers his fellow Mandel Scholars is to “always keep moving forward, and never give up on your dreams — everything begins with a dream.” He reports that the Mandel Scholars Academy helped him expand his reading ability, improve his writing skills and, most valuable of all, cultivate his critical thinking skills. Upon completion of his baccalaureate degree, Torres intends to pursue a Master of Nonprofit Organizations degree at CWRU’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Asked to share some words to live by, Torres shared a quote attributed to one of his role models, Nelson Mandela: “There is no passion to be found playing small — in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
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The Mandel Spotlight
Members of the cast and crew of Jane Eyre after its August run at the Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre. Mandel Scholars at the
first‑year student retreat at Pebble Ranch in Geauga County.
ACHIEVEMENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
ALUMNI • Alicia Kurtz (’18), Alice Legg (’18) and Amanda Lowe (’18): Dean’s List, CSU Honors College • Marisa DeMaria (’18): Intern and student guide, Cleveland Museum of Art
Civil Rights Tour of Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham, Alabama
CURRENT MANDEL SCHOLARS • Oktay Adatepe: Founder and president, Sports and Recreation Club • Anthony Ahmad: 2018 Democracy Fellow • Blair Austin: Intern, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown • Tracy Bellum: 2018-2019 Newman Civic Scholar • Morgaine Brennan: Illustrator, Fairy Pact School of Magic Vol. 2: A Talent Show Tail • Yeymi Cedeno Guerrero: Student speaker, Hispanic Scholarship Luncheon • DeAnna Creighton: President, Spanish Club • Kevin Jones: Intern, Cleveland Council on World Affairs • Danielle Pagarigan: Conflict and Resolution Peace Studies certificate • Kyle Ray: 2018 Democracy Fellow • Barbie Robertson: President, Joint Student Council
Feb. 14 - 18
March 8 First meeting of Mandel Center National Advisory Board
March 9 PenOhio writing tournament at Mandel Center
March 27 “Is the Natural World All There Is?” public dialogue
April 18 and 19 Public presentation and workshops on the life and work of Langston Hughes, with visiting scholar Stephen Tracy, Ph.D.
May 13 2019 Year-End Extravaganza
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, Ohio 44122 | 216-987-2601 | mandelcenter@tri-c.edu
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Noteworthy