Gateway Magazine | Spring 2021 | Virtual Issue

2021 VIRTUAL ISSUE

GATEWAY W A S H I N G T O N

A D V E N T I S T

U N I V E R S I T Y

A Message from the President Washington Adventist University (WAU) has been an educational, inspirational, and spiritual resource for generations of students since 1904. From the beginning, this campus has witnessed students who have become invaluable to their families, communities, and the world. Our name has changed, but the intention to prepare excellent servant leaders has not.

WAU continues to stand as the only Adventist University in the nation’s capital. In the fight for social justice, our students have had the opportunity to be direct witnesses to history and participate in peaceful marches. Our students have the chance to walk through the Capital’s halls with the leaders of our nation.

Access is a commodity that has always been valuable to WAU. Our location doesn’t only offer close access to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the North American Division; we also have access to immensely abundant career opportunities in the northeastern United States. We are dedicated to preparing our students for the 21stcentury career field and a job market looking for well-rounded, moral, and conscientious leaders.

WAU also sits squarely in the center of a region abundant in medical institutions, namely by Adventist HealthCare. The partnership WAU has with Adventist HealthCare continues to grow. Students within our programs have an opportunity to practice in real-world situations and quickly find themselves hired directly after graduation.

These opportunities become an added value to a campus that continues to offer quality higher education in a Christian environment. Recently WAU moved from 79th to 22nd in social mobility in the northeast, offering students a chance to move out of poverty and grasp the dreams many of their families have had for generations. WAU will continue to support all of God’s children in these efforts WAU is proud of its historical legacies, but we continue to look forward and find ways that our students may thrive and add immense value to the world around them. Our university will continue to strive, knowing our calling and knowing that God is blessing in immeasurable ways— engaging and transforming lives.

THIS IS… Washington Adventist University Weymouth Spence

Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Communications: Richard Castillo

Photographers: Richard Castillo, Dachele Cuke

Director of Integrated Marketing and Communications: Dachele Cuke

Cover Image: Richard Castillo

Executive Director of Development: Jennifer Albury

The Gateway is the official magazine of Washington Adventist University.

Copy Editor: Shannon Smith

Design: Dachele Cuke, Richard Castillo

Writers: Shannon Smith, Ora Battle, Jennifer Albury, Filipe Cioni

wau.edu

Interviewers: Dachele Cuke, Richard Castillo

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7600 Flower Ave. Takoma Park, Maryland 20912 800.835.4212

CONTENT P3 VISION 2030

P11 SLIGO + WAU

P17 PUSH OR RIDE

P25 DR. LOUGHLIN

P7 BORN A SUPERHERO

P15 AWARDING NURSING EXTERNS SCHOLARSHIPS

P19 UNESCO

P27 ERNEST DANIELS

P21 ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

P29 LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Distinctive Excellence in Student Success.

Read Jenna’s story of determination and grace.

P9 A VISION FOR SERVICE

Michelle discusses her drive for service.

Take a look with Pastor Mcfarlane into the partnership between Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church and WAU.

Adventist HealthCare partners through scholarships.

SA President speaks on his role as a leader over the student body.

Mohammed speaks of his opportunities from being at a university near D.C.

Alumna Dr. Sandra Loughlin shares her experience at WAU and gives advice to others.

As a veteran and alumnus, Ernest Daniels has a story you don’t want to miss.

Join with us in celebrating the Dr. Anderson speaks of his views Alumni of the Year and learning and values on pressing forward in a more about what’s to come. world with issues of civil rights and racism.

P31 ALUMNI LETTER

An address from our Alumni and Advancement Executive Director.

P33 2020 DONORS

Thank you for your generous contributions that continue creating a positive impact!

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QUALITY

Partner with students to achieve a 100% graduation rate, as defined by the Federal Department of Education.

Re-engineer and develop academic programs of distinction and excellence that are aligned with mission, market, and margin.

Ensure the implementation of a rigorous academic and non-academic assessment plan.

Ensure the holistic development of all students by investing in niche academic programs enriched by a comprehensive array of co-curricular opportunities, experiences, and programming through student activities, residence life, leadership development, and other out-of-classroom initiatives.

Establish academic connections for degree/career completion.

Link internship with academic programs and provide internship for all students.

Achieve 100% successful entry into the labor market and/or continuing education into professional or graduate school upon graduation.

Continuous quality improvement for all operational units of the university.

PEOPLE

Provide market wages for all employees.

Partner with employees to increase employee engagement to 100%.

Intentionally embrace diversity and intercultural understanding.

Actively promote a learning environment where students, faculty, and staff feel valued.

Enhance faculty and staff development.

SERVICE

Partner with students to increase student satisfaction to 100%.

Create a culture around customer satisfaction.

Create a student-centered learning environment.

Implement a marketing and communication plan that support the Pillars of Excellence.

Create a culture of accountability that establishes priorities and desired outcomes.

VISION

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VISION 2030 FINANCE

Average student graduation debt at $20K. Move Composite Financial Index (CFI) score to five by: Producing budgets with margins for future stability.

Developing prudent cost-cutting or cost-containment measures and seeking to diversify revenue growth.

Establish working capital equivalent to nine months of operation.

Significantly strengthen the external funding of the university.

Align capital and operational budgets to the Vision 2030 WAUPLAN.

GROWTH

Increase while maintaining the diversity of the student population.

Achieve the optimal balance of numbers and types of athletic teams that is in alignment with mission, budget, culture, and student population.

Expand the summer academic course offerings.

Offer industry certification within existing courses/programs.

Acquire and develop the WAU site to be a revenue source for WAU.

COMMUNITY

Promote a culture of Christ-centered friendship, love, and wellness.

Create a campus atmosphere in which service permeates life and learning.

Connect with other like-minded institutions of higher education to engage in activities of mutual benefit.

Establish strong, enduring, multifaceted relationships with regional, national, and international businesses and industries.

Fully integrate the resources of the nation’s capital into the WAU learning community.

Identify and cultivate partnerships with Sligo Church, Columbia Union, North American Division, and the General Conference to enhance the Mission.

Transform governance and the physical campus.

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STUDENT MOSAIC

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We are proud of our diversity, our cultural spectrum, and the amazing and wide-spread stories that each of our students bring to our Washington Adventist University Campus.

Our students are valued and loved.

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enevieve Lettsome, also known as Jenna, lives every day striving to do her best. From 2014, when she started at Washington Adventist University as a violinist in the New England Youth Ensemble, and currently as the junior class Vice President of the Class of 2022, Jenna is determined to work her hardest to accomplish the goals set towards her dream of becoming a lawyer. She attributes part of that determination to her upbringing as a Christian in the Seventh-day Adventist community. In Pathfinders, the Adventurer’s pledge, “Because Jesus loves me, I will always do my best,” stood out to her. Therefore, when presented with a task or leadership position, she will always give it her 100%, just how the saying encourages her.

This creed has been a part of every step in Jenna’s journey. Taking on multiple roles in her school life—as junior class Vice President, a staff member of the Honors College, an intern with Visitor Magazine, and as Chief Editor for the Columbian Journal—she also endeavors to use her opportunities as building experiences, lending a voice for those who need to be heard. As an ambassador for Christ, she believes in using her gift for public speaking and her capability to advocate for others to reach out to those within that sphere of influence.

Regardless of God’s plan for our lives, we make the choices that impact our society; our ability to serve makes the most incredible difference. That lesson is one of the biggest things that Jenna will come away with from being at WAU. As regulations are maintained to combat the spread of COVID-19, increasing isolation away from friends and family leave many feeling lost. As the Chief Editor of the Columbian Journal, Jenna hopes to create a space for students to feel heard and share their stories, uniting people together in raising their voices as a force for change.

Looking back at her younger self, she imagines the shock her former self would experience at seeing how far she has come.

Being older than most of the children she grew up with, Jenna was encouraged to set the example for others to look to. She always did her best, but over the years, she realized that being a good example does not mean that she has to be the perfect example.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, set the perfect example—all we have to do is love and live our lives through him. Jenna thinks her younger self would be very proud of where she is now and her ambitions going forward. “My younger self would say, wow, you’re a superhero,” she smiles—and that superhero lives in each one of us too.

Written by: Shannon Smith Click here to watch Jenna’s Hot Seat Video Interview Gateway Magazine | 2021 Virtual Issue

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Michelle Neyra, a student at Washington Adventist University, is a part of a new generation of leaders. Having started as a member of the Music Department’s New England Youth Ensemble and Washington Concert Winds in middle school, Michelle herself has witnessed the impact WAU had on its students’ success. Through their departure into the professional world, she watched each of them become more accomplished leaders in their communities. In turn, their stories encouraged her to start her journey on the path to becoming a leader in service to others.

Michelle has had the opportunity to intern at the WAU Admissions department, leading her to discover an innate passion for Public Relations. At the same time, her studies have helped her realize the increasing need for leaders in our community. The world is slowly being torn apart by the steadily rising rates of poverty and inequality—these are the types of complex issues that Michelle believes more people need to tackle. She hopes to do her part in public service on an international scale, joining the United Nations in the act of maintaining international peace and assisting the numerous children who need help.

Her vision for the future is guided by her dedication to service and the want to unite people in the spirit of community. The military programs she attended during high school have taught her how important it is to be an active force of change. Through action, one realizes the tremendous impact they can make in their environment and their communities. “You see the smiles that you create and the love that you spread…,” beckoning the will to continue creating a safe space in our communities. With a heart full of service, Michelle endeavors to complete her final years at WAU in anticipation of the good she can do for the world.

Written by: Shannon Smith

Click here to watch Michelle’s Hot Seat Video Interview

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WAU and Sligo Church work in tandem to develop a kindred connection by demonstrating the kingdom of God and leading others to accept Him.

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n October 14, 2020, Sligo Seventhday Adventist (SDA) Church partnered with Washington Adventist University (WAU), Montgomery County, and the City of Takoma Park to open a new site for COVID-19 testing.

Sligo SDA Church has continued to find ways to serve its community—the 2020 motto was “Beyond the Walls” to focus on the need to go beyond the church’s walls to the community. When the pandemic hit, Sligo saw the increasing demand in the community and sought to do what they could to help the local populace. One of the plans was to offer the church’s facilities as a COVID-19 testing site to Montgomery County.

Initially, the plan was to suggest the Sligo Atrium as a new testing site, but as the discussion went forward, there were better prospects with the parking lot adjacent to the church, behind Richards Hall. After several weeks, Pastor Don McFarlane, who initiated the conversation, received a request from Jessica Clarke, the Deputy City Manager of Takoma Park, to use the parking lot. However, it officially belonged to WAU; therefore, the institution was brought into the partnership. This

cooperation in preparing a new location allowed for the free testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals without the need for an appointment, insurance, or identification. As a result, numerous people from the community were able to get tested safely and efficiently.

In an interview with Pastor McFarlane, he established that the church’s motto to reach outside of its walls, in essence, is part of community outreach and offering the services and resources they have to those that need it. “Some people might say it is because we want some people outside our walls in the community to become members of Sligo Church. Let me hasten to say that as far as the pastoral staff and Board is concerned, that is not the motivating factor,” Pastor McFarlane said. “It would be wonderful if folks came to our church from the community, but we do this for the sake of people in the community. We see them as our brothers and sisters, and we feel that whatever advantages we have, whatever blessings we have, as a church and as members of the church, those should be shared with the community.”

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Sligo Church hosts several programs that they readily offer, not just to their church members but also to the community.

Recently, they ended a series to help people manage and cope with their grief, especially for those who have unfortunately lost much during this pandemic and cannot grieve in the way they would want. The turnout was more than expected, with attendees from the local community, across the country and around the world tuning in to listen. There has also been a resurgence of several small groups in Sligo Church. These groups have been meeting on a weekly to monthly basis due to the growing need for a closer community—to converse and support each other through hard times.

Establishing a direct relationship with the City of Takoma Park opens up new, exciting avenues for community outreach. This dialogue broadens the scope in offering Sligo Church programs to a larger pool of people who might benefit and how the church might provide to the community as a ready and available resource for them.

Similarly, WAU and Sligo Church work in tandem to develop a kindred connection

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in demonstrating the kingdom of God and leading others to accept Him—recently conducting two baptisms with a WAU student and staff member.

Pastor McFarlane stated, “When Sligo was initially established [in 1907], to a large degree, it was established because we needed space for folks who worked at the university—which was then a college— and folks who worked at the General Conference [of Seventh-day Adventists]. In a sense, you could say that Sligo Church was established for the university and for the other institutions that we had in the area. Without the university, it is doubtful that we would have Sligo Church.” In the future, Sligo Church and WAU hope to continue collaborating for the community and spreading the gospel to those who need it.

Written by: Shannon Smith

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ashington Adventist University (WAU) and Adventist HealthCare have enjoyed a long history as partners over the years. Most recently this was expressed through a series of scholarships presented by Adventist HealthCare to four worthy WAU nursing students: Tina Stone, Margaret Tin Zin, Yajaira Beletzuy, and Fiseline Jeannite.

“We are excited to provide these scholarships to four WAU nursing students who have shown exceptional abilities in extending God’s care to our patients and community members,” says Terry Forde, Adventist HealthCare President and CEO. During the virtual celebration, Dr. Weymouth Spence, WAU President, said that this scholarship “not only enhances the university in providing a pathway for employment for students but further establishes our relationship with Adventist HealthCare.”

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The graduating seniors received the scholarship after a detailed selection process, which began with a summer residency. All four of the young women participated in an externship at Adventist HealthCare, a special program for nursing students between their junior and senior years.

“We look for the best and brightest nurses from across the country to come and spend the summer with us,” explains Brendan Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Resources at Adventist HealthCare, “to give them a chance to experience what it’s like to be a nurse at Adventist HealthCare. It’s also a chance for us to see if it’s a good match on the quality competency side and on the character side. It’s paramount to our mission of extending God’s care to find nurses that demonstrate both high quality and high character in how they provide care.”

Adventist HealthCare offers externship spots for WAU students, who go through an interview process and must meet academic

criteria before acceptance. After the summer externship, the Adventist HealthCare Human Resources team discusses the externs with department managers, leaders, and the recruitment team. Will they be a great fit? Do they reflect our mission? And do they have good clinical skills?

This year, it was agreed that all four scholarship recipients are an ideal match based on their work and character qualities that are vital both to WAU and Adventist HealthCare.

During her rotation at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove and White Oak campuses, Beletzuy says, “I was never treated as a student, which made me feel more confident about myself. The staff was extremely helpful and encouraging, and that kind of drove me to want to work there.” But for her, the most important reason was the company’s mission, which is to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

The final scholarship recipient, Fiseline Jeannite, is from Haiti. She “The Adventist HealthCare chose to study nursing Tina Stone, a senior scholarship recipient at WAU because of the individual scholarships of from New York, just lack of nurses in her home $12,000 will pay for the wants to make a country. She did a few of graduates’ last semester difference. She chose to her clinical rotations at at WAU.” do her externship with Adventist HealthCare and Adventist HealthCare had an amazing experience, because she felt comfortable there. “I love Jeannite recalls. She saw nurses on her floor the fact that they have values. And being praying together, living the truth of their able to be an extern there, I was able to see mission. “I’m looking forward to growing and actually portray those…values towards there [Adventist HealthCare] and fully the patients.” accomplishing my purpose…in what God has called me for at this hospital,” she says.

Margaret Tin Zin, originally from Myanmar, Southeast Asia, chose nursing because she The Adventist HealthCare individual grew up with her grandparents, who both scholarships of $12,000 will pay for the suffered chronic illnesses. By age 11, she graduates’ last semester at WAU. Providing learned to take their blood pressure and they pass their board exams and finish give them their medication. She developed their degrees in a timely manner, they “a passion for caring for people.” “I like are guaranteed positions in Adventist to make a difference in society and the HealthCare’s Nurse Residency program, community,” she says. Tin Zin chose to intern which spans the Adventist HealthCare family with Adventist HealthCare because, she says, of facilities, according to Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu, “they foster…my independence and allow WAU Provost. nurses the freedom to make decisions as we provide care.”

Dr. Spence is impressed with the recipients’ diversity. “I have a tagline,” he says, “that all Guatemalan-born Yajaira Beletzuy decided God’s children are welcome at Washington to become a nurse after her cousin was born Adventist University. And it’s amazing that if and was rushed to the neonatal intensive you seek care at Adventist HealthCare, it’s care unit (NICU). The nurses who saved his very likely you will get care from someone life made an impression on her. “I wanted who looks like you. That’s a tremendous asset to be like them,” she says. “Someone who in order to have a diversity of well-qualified was…the bridge for someone’s recovery.” people that provide care.”

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y name is Filipe Cioni, and I am the Student Association (SA) President for the academic year of 2020–2021 at Washington Adventist University (WAU). I am an international student from Brazil, starting my second year of Theology at the university. In this letter, I want to share part of the journey that helped me discover what ‘being a leader’ means to me and encourage you not to give up hope.

There was a point in my life when someone asked me what it means to be a leader. I didn’t know then how finding the answer to that question would become the lead focus of my next big challenge in life. This previous year marked my third year being in the United States. In my first year, I attended and graduated from Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, where I learned as much English as possible before heading off to university. It was one of the most challenging years of my life, but it prepared me for the next steps ahead.

When I was a freshman, I felt a deep connection to the students around me, and being outgoing was the way I chose to apply the connection I felt. The only thing was that motivating people didn’t feel like enough anymore. After experiencing WAU for myself, I saw how things could be improved and what it would take to move towards that vision.

Deciding to run for the Student Association President position as a freshman was not easy. The possibilities of being elected were low, but I was determined to succeed. My campaign ran smoothly, and I loved getting the chance to hear our student body’s concerns and ideas.

Their feedback helped build my campaign’s vision and goal—to bring awareness to mental health and uplift our campus community.

A critical part of SA is to connect the student body’s needs and the school’s vision—to be the students’ voice to the university. This past year has not been what anyone expected; however, the SA team has worked hard to plan hangouts, game nights, and even mental health programs to continue to encourage students. The most significant achievement was the school’s introduction of the virtual medical and mental health support platform Telehealth for undergraduate students.

Our student body’s mental health is important to our staff. And I appreciate them for taking a step towards providing available access to counselors, physicians, and health coaches for our students.

The Student Association wants to do more to empower and interact with our student body. Our team is currently working diligently to plan movie nights, worship livestreams, podcasts, SA talks, and many more.

We are always open to new ideas and opinions, so please always feel free to reach out to us at sa@wau.edu.

There was a point in my life when someone asked me what it means to be a leader. I didn’t know then how finding the answer to that question would become the lead focus of my next big challenge in life.

In closing, I would like to ask one favor, not just as your SA President, but as your friend. This past year has been challenging, and every day has filled with uncertainty, but do not give up.

Written by: Filipe Cioni

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ohammed Saeed Alqahtani was born and raised in Saudi Arabia.

Traveling to America in 2013, he started his undergraduate degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Intercultural Communications at Washington Adventist University (WAU). During his first semester, students had an opportunity to take a trip to visit the United Nations (UN) Headquarters. The students were able to tour the building, get their passports stamped, and even attend one of the UN briefings. “It was a really, really great experience. The folks, the atmosphere, and the environment were amazing. Since that day, I really wanted to at least do my internship with them,” Mohammed commented.

Mohammed also became WAU’s Saudi Student Association President during his time at the university. He was proud to represent the Saudi students, guide them, give them advice, and foster the link between them and the university.

Saudi culture is rich and vibrant; there are traditions from multiple tribes in Saudi Arabia that have been in the region for thousands of years and are kept even until now. They also have a ton of really delicious food to explore and enjoy.

Nonetheless, he finds that his favorite part of Saudi culture is the traditional lifestyles they live day-to-day. The people’s connectivity in how they spend their time together and live their everyday lives is different from other cultures in unique ways. Mohammed enjoyed sharing his culture and traditions with others.

Spring of 2018, Mohammed graduated and was officially ready to join the UN workforce. He had maintained his profile since 2013 and kept updating it over the years. Once Mohammed graduated, he received an email from the UN to come interview for them. It was a long series of interviews, but eventually, he heard of a position open at the field office in Beijing, China, set to start in August 2020. Mohammed had looked through their information and saw at the time that fires were spreading in Southern Asia. However, the prospect was still open, so he went ahead and started applying for his visa. He was almost ready to travel over to China when COVID-19 spiked.

The country suddenly shut down and closed down its borders, closing Mohammed’s new position with it.

Fortunately, the UN had the resources to transfer him to another field office. It took them about two months to offer him a position to work at the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris, France. It was fantastic news because usually, workers start at the field offices and then go to headquarters; therefore, he was given a chance most would not receive on their first job.

Living in Paris sounded like a dream, to be placed in one of the gorgeous cities in Europe, immersed in Parisian culture. Moving there, however, was difficult. The paperwork was slow and available apartments were hard to find; Mohammed ended up in a hotel for two months before finding an apartment to stay in. “I think Paris is the city that will reject you so many times until you get accepted,” Mohammed said. “But that’s the beauty of joining; you have to fight for it. So, I fought for it, and now I’m okay with everything.”

In August 2020, he started as an International Relations Officer at UNESCO. He is currently working with the UNESCO culture and emergency teams. His primary focus is on the Middle East and tracking heritage sites like the Painted Churches in Cyprus and Al-Hijr in Saudi Arabia.

His team also protects these sites from any further damage or looting. He takes his work very seriously and hopes—after he has completed his time in Paris—to transfer to a field office in Kenya, Africa, to continue preserving and protecting the world.

For students that want to work in the UN, Mohammed advises that they take advantage of their available resources, namely the Washington, D.C. area. While the classroom is a conducive environment for learning, sometimes it’s good to go out, explore, and experience the setting around you. Washington, D.C. offers that and more as the capital of the United States. If you go deeper into the heart of D.C., you can find plenty of conferences and events to attend. Even if they have an entry fee, it is worth the networking possibilities, meeting people from all over the world. Eventually, you will have the chance to make a difference in the world, but those experiences will make you all the more ready for it and catapult you to places you never dreamed of for your future.

Written by: Shannon Smith

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ALUMNI OF THE YEAR GRANT LEITMA

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n Alumni Weekend, Washington Adventist University (WAU) had the honor of awarding Dr. Grant Leitma, Chair of the Department of Psychology and Counseling, as the Alumni of the Year.

Dr. Leitma has been at WAU, formerly known as Columbian Union College (CUC), for 39 years, contributing his time as a professor and former CUC student.

Although he feels very humbled by WAU’s recognition, it is without a doubt that he holds a tremendous impact on WAU and the Adventist community.

At the age of 15, Dr. Leitma committed his life to Adventism. He began to anticipate his chance to attend an Adventist school and was excited to start preparing for a teaching career past college.

In 1974, Dr. Leitma entered the CUC campus as a History major, minoring in Education.

When asked what made him interested in psychology, Dr. Leitma recalled his first year when he took an Introduction to Psychology course with a professor named Robert Schwindt. Psychology was not a subject he had enjoyed in high school, so he did not expect much from the class. However, he was intrigued by Professor

Schwindt’s lesson. He brought an entirely new perspective to psychology, and his approach to teaching thoroughly impressed Dr. Leitma.

So, after the class, Dr. Leitma immediately went across the hall to the Registrar’s office and declared a second major in Psychology.

He remembers his school years and his instructors fondly, recalling scenes of a different time. Sports were just beginning at CUC, though it only included intramural sports at the time and wouldn’t become competitive until a few years later. During his school years at CUC, one major issue was to another location, out into the countryside and away from the city’s influences. Other Adventist facilities had moved out of the Takoma Park area at that point; however, CUC and, now WAU, ultimately decided to stay within the city. Reflecting on the debate, Dr. Leitma commented, “Maybe that’s what our calling is, to be here. To be a witness to the city….”

Aside from Professor Schwindt, he also had the privilege of meeting Dr. James Hammond and Dr. William John Cannon. Dr. James Hammond, before Dr. Leitma, was the longest-lasting Psychology Department Chair, working for over 25 years. Dr. William John Cannon, a very prominent name in the Adventist community, started the first Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at CUC in 1961 and the Department of Psychology at CUC in 1970. Establishing psychology’s presence was a very courageous move for Dr. Cannon because, at that time, the church’s

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position on psychology was one of high suspicion. Christians regarded psychology as a satanic science, involved with facets like spiritualism, hypnotism, mesmerism, etc. As a result, though several schools offered psychology courses, it was not a popular subject to pursue a degree in. But Dr. Cannon believed that we, as Adventists, needed to train people in the right principles. Taking five years off to work in the General Conference, he also published a two-volume compilation of Ellen White’s writings about mental health. It was titled Mind, Character, and Personality and is still available today.

In the spring of 1978, Dr. Leitma graduated and continued to pursue becoming a professor. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees. About five years later, in 1982, he was accepted as the new psychology and history professor at CUC upon Dr. Cannon retiring that year. After around 11 years of teaching both subjects, he moved over full-time to the Department of Psychology as its chair in 1994.

As a WAU professor, Dr. Leitma is thankful that the school has allowed him to teach psychology from a holistic perspective— in mind, body, and spirit—that a public university usually wouldn’t have. He believes that part of psychology’s appeal is its multidisciplinary nature and its integration of the mind and body. It associates with several life sciences like biology and physiology and answers the big questions debated in philosophy applied to the scientific method. “It is a hybrid science—taking the best of all these fields and putting them together,” Dr. Leitma remarked. Psychology is one of North America’s most popular majors, continuing as the second largest department at WAU after Nursing and right before Business.

Dr. Leitma finds it very rewarding to incite the passion he felt attending CUC

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in his students and is proud to have accomplished many things in his time at WAU. He had the opportunity to co-author an article dedicated to Dr. Cannon’s legacy with a senior Psychology major student, now an alumna of WAU, Angelisa Andrade.

It was published in The Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. He also instated several running programs at WAU. In 2002, he started the Forensic Psychology minor and implemented Clinical Mental Health and Counseling Psychology in 2009. He also created the psychology master’s degree programs with a new Master’s in Education School Counseling. All these accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without his colleagues, some of whom he’d like to mention—Dr. Grethel Bradford and Dr. Thomas Luttrell—for their hard work as a team to better the department. “I’m pleased I could be the chair and keep the program going. To get what contribution I can to encourage students to get a good Christian, biblical foundation in psychology.

I want students to know that they can be both a scientist and a Christian at the same time.”

In the future, Dr. Leitma hopes to continue to push awareness for a model of mental health he calls “soul wellness.” He said, “Soul wellness is the integration of the mind, the body, and the will in terms of the soul. Psychology is derived from the Greek word ‘psyche,’ which means the soul.

It affects everything—our relationships, our work, our health, etc. These three things together, when they’re functioning properly, make strong soul wellness.” He has plans to start a new minor in Drug and Alcohol Addiction and is also working on a new course called Telehealth, where counselors learn to provide services virtually. “I want to grow the department and keep us challenged—provide more of the best programs we can for our students.

I want to see our school grow not just in psychology, but as a whole.”

Written by: Shannon Smith

“I want to grow the department and keep us challenged—provide more of the best programs we can for our students. I want to see our school grow not just in psychology, but as a whole.”

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DR. LOU D

r. Sandra Loughlin grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, with her younger brother. She attended Adventist schools from kindergarten through college, attending Sligo Adventist School, Takoma Academy, and later Washington Adventist University (WAU). Her father was a teacher and taught at each of her respective schools; her mother worked as a receptionist in Wilkinson Hall at WAU. Consequently, Dr. Loughlin was familiar with the Adventist school system, having spent her entire academic career and life growing up on the same street.

from her time at WAU was being a mock trial team member—the university’s very first mock trial team. Her experience was unique as everyone—professors included—worked and learned how to be a mock trial team. Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Loughlin said, “It gave me skills that I use in my career every single day. Not just in the way that I think, but my ability to present, think on my feet, and analyze and respond to an argument.”

When asked if there was anything she would have done differently during her time at WAU, Dr. Loughlin’s answer was simple.

There is a distinct difference between commuting and living in the dorms; if she could go back, she would have lived on campus for all four years. “Living in the dorms was when my experience as a WAU student started…I wouldn’t have had the same experiences or made the same lifelong friends as I did if I had continued to commute to school.”

“Be able to think outside the box and try to solve problems that are hard to solve. Work on things that really matter to people…”

It became the reason why even though Dr. Loughlin was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she chose to go to Washington Adventist University because she wanted to connect with people of similar faith background. Dr. Loughlin started at the university as a Pre-Law major— participating in extracurricular activities such as mock trial, Student Association, and working on the Columbia Journal— but during her junior year, she decided to change her major to Education.

One of Dr. Loughlin’s fondest memories

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Following her graduation, in the summer of 2002, Dr. Loughlin began her teaching career. She then received her Master’s Degree in Education from

UGHLIN Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Human Development and Quantitative Methodology with a specialization in Educational Psychology from the University of Maryland (UMD). Throughout her career, Dr. Loughlin has shared her teaching gifts with many institutions, including WAU and UMD, and taught in the Montgomery County Public School system. She eventually shifted over into the administrative side of education at UMD, serving as the head of the Office of Transformational Learning in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Today, Dr. Loughlin works as the Global Head of Education for a major software company, helping executives of well-known firms learn software fundamentals and work efficiently.

As an alumna, Dr. Loughlin continues to help WAU in the ways she can, working on the Board of Trustees and the Honors College Board and providing insight, guidance, and mentorship to WAU students. She wants to show students the world of opportunities that await them outside of school, leaving students with this advice: “Be able to think outside the box and try to solve problems that are hard to solve.

Work on things that really matter to people…Spend your time looking outside of the textbook and outside of your syllabus and find opportunities to work and think hard. Do things that are impossible to do perfectly and walk away with the skills to attack things that are ambiguous and the resilience to keep going when it’s hard.”

Written by: Ora Battle

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E RD Na E n Si Te l s 27

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E

rnest Daniels, Jr., is an esteemed alumnus of Washington Adventist University. Born to Joyce and Ernest Daniels, Sr., at Riverside Sanatorium (the first Black Adventist hospital) in Nashville, Tennessee, he grew up as the son of a registered nurse and an optometry officer of the U.S. Army in the Medical Service Corps. Their relocations allowed Daniels to live in several places worldwide, moving from New York City to Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; and finally settling back in the United States at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. From there, the Daniels family moved to Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia, and finally Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where his father—Ernest, Sr.—retired.

Ernest Daniels, Jr.’s passion for nursing began when he worked as an orderly at a nursing home at the end of his high school sophomore year. During that time, his father hinted that getting a four-year degree in Nursing would allow him to join the military as an officer. Two years later, after graduating from Takoma Academy in 1976, Daniels chose to attend Columbia Union College (CUC)—just down the street from his high school alma mater and his own home. He chose CUC because of its four-year nursing program and its proximity to his house.

Though it has been 40 years since he last walked the halls of CUC, he remembers a crucial piece of advice he learned from his favorite professor—his OB/GYN clinical instructor. “…I always remembered what she told us,” he said. “She stated that she is teaching us one way, but it may be done totally different in the real world—so be flexible. I have worked [in] many places and have always followed her advice to be flexible when going to a new opportunity or a new nursing unit.” So, in the year 1980, Daniels graduated with his BS in Nursing and joined the military in July of that year— following in his father’s footsteps.

Daniels has shown flexibility throughout his career. His military and federal service career has allowed him to serve in many different places. He was first assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., transferred to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and finally, back to Walter Reed again until he left the military in 1994. Daniels stated, “I got out of the military on a Friday and started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the following Monday.”

As a nurse, Daniels has worked as a staff nurse on five different units: Orthopedics, General Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Urology, and Renal Dialysis. At Walter Reed, he worked as a nurse manager on three General Medicine Units and Renal Transplant.

He also worked as a chemotherapy infusion nurse in the Hematology/Oncology clinic at Walter Reed.

For 26 years, Daniels has continued to work for the Department of Veteran Affairs, working at the Providence VA Medical Center in Rhode Island. Daniels has lived a life full of worth and inspiring experiences; he is happily married and has three biological daughters, four adopted children, and eight grandchildren. His advice for current WAU students is to encourage them to move forward boldly, “While WAU is a small university, once you graduate, you have a wide world of opportunities before you. Grab onto an opportunity and see how far you go!”

Written by: Ora Battle and Jennifer Albury

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Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

At the cusp of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Ronald Lee Anderson was just one of several Pine Forge students who were asked to integrate the dormitories at what was then known as Washington Missionary College (subsequently named Columbia Union College, and presently Washington Adventist University) in 1959.

Dr. Anderson faced racial prejudices that made his college experience somewhat difficult, “Many of my college classmates had never been in a classroom with Black students.

They appeared to believe that Black people were intellectually inferior, and they did not have firsthand experience to counter that belief.”

However, Dr. Anderson didn’t let his peers’ underestimations stop him from achieving great things. Following his graduation from Columbia Union College, as the school’s first Black premed major, Dr. Anderson was accepted into the Howard University College of Medicine. There he decided to pursue and eventually joined a joint residency program in ophthalmology at Howard and Georgetown. With God’s help, Dr. Anderson went on to become the

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first Black Adventist eye surgeon. After completing his ophthalmology residency, he joined the United States Army as a major and served as the Pentagon’s eye surgeon until 1974. He also set up medical offices in the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and the Physician’s Office Building at the Washington Hospital Center.

Dr. Anderson has committed much of his work to aid and strengthen the Black community. Some of the actions that he took included “setting up a free eye clinic in a depressed area of DC, providing financial support for students to attain a Christian education, providing free ocular screenings throughout the Washington Metropolitan area, providing free eye care for uninsured patients, and sharing my ophthalmic techniques with colleagues of various races and ethnicities.” His commitment has also reached into other countries, ministering as a missionary in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and South America.

Last year, on May 25, the tragic death of George Floyd was captured on film, sparking a nationwide conversation

about the issues of systemic racism and police brutality in the United States.

Washington Adventist University joined this conversation on June 12 when it held a Zoom Town Hall Meeting; Dr. Anderson was one of the guests in attendance. In his letter to Dr. Spence, Dr. Anderson extended his gratitude for the “thoughtful and well-executed” Town Hall Meeting. “It provided an opportunity for participants, including myself, to vent a bit on experiences had while being Black at WAU or a predecessor college,” he wrote. “The occasion served to initiate a most needed conversation for such a time as this.” Dr. Anderson was especially fond of the participants’ diversity, noting that it “showed a wide range of participants and brought clarity to instances of discrimination.”

discrimination engrained in our society.

“Washington Adventist University has initiated the dialogue on systemic racism and discrimination, and that is a meaningful first step,” Dr. Anderson stated. He believes that discourse must continue amongst a diverse group, offering a perspective on what steps to take to make our world better today and in the future, rather than focusing on actions made in the past. Continuing the conversation will lend knowledge and a better understanding of what actions we must take to improve our communities. “I see myself as a member of the University and world team truly dedicated to the belief ‘that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty Today, Dr. Anderson continues in private and the pursuit of Happiness…’– From practice at the offices he set up in the Declaration of Independence, July 4, Physician’s Building at the Washington 1776. Similarly, I look forward to the time Hospital Center. Recently, he also agreed when our nation will sincerely pledge to: to fund a $50,000 endowment to WAU. ‘one nation under God, indivisible with A part of the still-ongoing fight against liberty and justice for All.’ It is my belief racism and discrimination, Dr. Anderson is that an improved America will have a very heartened by the changes in the nations’ positive impact on the world.” conscience regarding racial equality.

However, while these changes cannot Written by: Ora Battle and Jennifer Albury be denied, more growth is still necessary to combat the systematic racism and

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LETTER FROM OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS At the beginning of 2020, a nation-wide pandemic shut down the world, and our campus climate changed instantly. Students were sent home to learn virtually, events were canceled, and the University had to change how it interacted with our constituents.

As a result of the pandemic and the change of the environmental climate, the administration and departments campus-wide have joined together to help make virtual learning and connecting a reality.

At Washington Adventist University, the most effective way to connect and build relationships with our faculty, staff, students, donors, and alumni is by having face-to-face events throughout the year. In years past, we have held events such as Alumni Weekend, Annual Visionaries Gala, Family Fun Festival, and other various functions hosted by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. Each of these events helps to build long-lasting relationships crucial to helping the university reach its mission. The year 2020 tested our creativity and innovation, but with God’s grace and your support, we could successfully provide virtual versions of our annual events.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations at Washington Adventist University would like to thank the alumni, donors, volunteers, current administration, and the individuals who have attended our various virtual events over the last several months. We hope that you will continue to support us and join our upcoming virtual events until we can be together again in person. Please continue to frequently check our social media, website, e-mail announcements, newsletter, and other streams of communication for our upcoming events. We invite you to join our monthly Alumni Zoom Reunions—as alumni reminisce, engage, and look for ways to help support our students.

We look forward to what the year 2021 will bring and hope to see you soon as we highly anticipate the upcoming Alumni Weekend this April.

M. Jennifer Albury Executive Director of Development Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations

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Current times are challenging for higher education. According to the

Chronicle of Higher Education the higher education industry for the year 2020 lost 183 billion dollars. Washington Adventist University, likewise, is no different. Our enrollment for the fall has been impacted and revenue from residence halls and meal plans are down over one million dollars. However, God has been good and blessed Washington Adventist University. The Cares Act allocated last fiscal year approximately $800,000 to provide assistance to students directly as well as funds for the institution to provide personal protective equipment, lost revenue, and funds to prepare in a distance more sanitized world.

The Cares Act provided needed funds directly to our students and to our institution. Students have or will receive 50% of the $800,000 in direct support. In addition, the remaining 50% is being used to support personal protection equipment and supplies as well as help with loss of revenue. For the current semester, an additional $1.6 million has been allocated to Washington Adventist University from the Department of Education to help students and the institution with the effects of COVID 19.

Besides the above mentioned government grants, WAU receive $2.3 million last summer for the payroll protection act. These funds have provided payroll support to keep the majority of employees employed during this difficult time.

This May, we will be presenting our financial results to the constituency for the period FY 2015 through FY 2019. Washington Adventist University tracks growth in unrestricted net assets, which represent the difference between total assets and all debt, also known in for profit circles as the equity portion of the balance sheet. The cumulative financial performance for our unrestricted or operating net assets and our total unrestricted or operating assets are shown the diagram below.

While these results show progress in the growth of unrestricted net assets, we have a long way to go to improve our physical campus with over $10 million in deferred maintenance, residence hall renovations or replacement, and a much needed renovation of our Science Building, the one building that touches every student that attends WAU. This renovation of the Science building will go a long way to improving the quality of education and assist in overall student success. As we continue through our journey for distinctive excellence in student success, we thank you in advance for your support and prayers during this troubling time. “If God is for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31.

Written by: Patrick Farley

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2020

N DONORS 35

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Visionary’s Society $10,000.00+ Adventist HealthCare Columbia Union Conference

2010

Milton & Merrillie Morris

1964/1966

Network for Good Charles W. Scriven

Gerald L. Anderson Ronald & Beverly Anderson

1964 (Ronald)

Patrick K. Farley

1981

The Herbert N. Gundersheimer Foundation, Inc

Doris Suddarth Weymouth P. Spence Melissa L. Whitmill

2014 (Lois)

Harry L. Banks

1995

1967

Seth Bardu Charles L. Bensonhaver

1961

Mark & Sandra Coleman

Founder’s Society $5,000.00+ Matthew J. Nixon

1945

HMS Richard’s Society $500.00+

Medical Group Foundation, Inc. Leroy & Lois Peters

Jonelle Matthews

1999

Benjamin Y. Giang

1963

Stanley M. Grube

Michael T. Lee

1961

William E. Jackson

Vijayan Charles

1974

Esther Liu

James Lawheard Society $1,000.00+

2006

Timothy L. Nelson

2011

Anita N. Olsen Leslie H. Pitton

Anonymous Gifts Russel G. Arnold

1959

Phyllis C. Bainum

1949

LeRoy G. Cain Cory S. Chambers

Vilroy McBean

1968

1942

Rhino Squared Exccavation LLC Panarat Rohleder Genevieve Singh Bogdan Scur

Charles J. Goodacre Linda G. Howard

1987

Christine Ince Walter H. Ince John Iyanrick

1977

Gateway Society $250.00+ Edward Barnette

1971

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Paulos Berhane

Renee E. Battle-Brooks

1981

Yolanda Bulick

Keith E. Beatty

1994

Steve & Brenda G. Blackburn

1984

Dorothy M. Gardner

1964

Leon I. Garey

1964

Tijuana G. Griffin

1977

Juanita L. Gurubatham

1974

Kathy E. Hecht

1984

Marilyn J. Hermann

1965

William E. Jackson

1974

Cheryl H. Kisunzu Jessica Kisunzu

Arlene J. Canong Roland H. Caton

1984

Brenda Chase Sandra E. Coleman Marshall E. Conner Sharon R. Conway

1992

Raysa E. Creque

2017

Dorothy L. Creveling

1953

Lorena Martinez

2020

Gordon O. McWatters

2007

Llewelyn Crooks Harrietta Cush

1983

Oluwakemi A. Opanubi

2012

Shalini G. David

1999

Linda W. Oliphant

1996

Carmine J. Pino

1974

William Ellis Sandra E. FarwellWilliams

1985

Mark B. Sigue

2010

Richard D. Fearing

1974

Fitzroy T. Thomas

1976

Robert J. Wagner

1965

Elton Norman

Schwab Charitable Fund

Valanthea E. Washington

Larry E. Dematteo

Arlis R. Fink Ruth E. Francis-Williams 1988 Robin A. Froelich

1985

Betty S. Giang

Paul Weir

William H. Gottfried

Lloyd Yutuc

Richard Grant

1966

Damayanti Gurubatham Pioneer Society $100.00 + Scott Aijo Charles A. Albanese Sheila L. Barckley

2016

Becky Barker Kenneth W. Barney

37

Helgi Heidar

1962

Nancy J. Henie

1977

Misael Henriquez

1994

Alfred E. Hess

1952

Highland View Academy Denise R. Hinds

1962

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Welton L. Ingram

1995

Raymond Jimenez

1987

Vanessa Thompson

Andre Johnson

1997

Yvonne Tohidloo

Betty J. Kannenberg

1964

Robert Vanderman

Young S. Kim

1961

Tiangay Waines

2009

Edward S. Koeppen

1971

Russell J. Wetherell

1974

Linda J. Lundberg

1970

Dennis R. Williams

1990

Wilfred L. Madison

1997

Kathy L. Williams

1975

Elizabeth E. Matthews

1958

Stephen L. Williams Jr.

2014

McDowell Family Charitable Fund

1967

Helen Wilson

Milton E. McIver

1976

Raquel A. McKenzie

1994

Sanders Mompremier

1995

Rebekah S. Moore

1973

Angelic Yutuc

2010

Charlotte C. Zane

1960

Douglas F. Morgan

Friends/Donors $0.01 +

Evelyn Oliveria

Imogene Akers

Oliver S. Palmer

1964

Penny E. Perry

1979

Glenn Phillips

American Charities Distribution account Jean C. Arthur

1983

Lydee M. Battle

Rebecca Ratana Wilma J. Raub

1969

Ruby A. Rice

1956

Alice F. Rich

1991

Richardson School of Music

Willy Calderon R Dillard Cynthia D. Douglas

1967

Zelma Edwards William D. Ellington

Anne V. Saggurthi

1978

Herbert J. Fevec

1954

Vernon R. Schubert

1971

Marthanne L. Glenn

1976

Brian D. Show

1981

Lana L. GreavesBenjamin

2014

Charles Shyab

1970

Jon Harris

Brian & Claudia Smith

1979 & 1987

Maxwell B. HIll

1969

James R. Hoffer

1963

Deborah A. Strachan

1998

Paul E. Houmann

1976

Lois J. Suhrie

1969

IBM International Foundation

Lawrence R. Show

Tanya R. Sweeney

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Janice James Roland F. Johns

1952

Ralph Johnson Michael A. Jones

1968

Sherryl E. Jordan

1971

June L. Kentlein

1958

Charlotte A. Kyle

1963

Victoria K. Lawrence

1960

Doretha A. Leftwood

1998

Vivienne F. Lettsome

1992

Lighthouse Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist Church Albert Miller Laverne A. Morse

1996

Carol Onsuka

1964

Paypal Charitable Giving Fund Jonathan D. Peter

2010

Devie L. Phipps

2014

Lee M. Roberts Sean Robinson Delores Satchwell

1976

Robert W. Sauer

2004

Alise Schram

1969

BT Vibrations

39

Denise A. Williams

2009

Kathy L. Williams

1975

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Giving Report Year

Cash received # of gifts

New Donor Giving

# of New Donors

Alumni giving # of gifts from Alumni

2017-2018

$933,051.48

675

$77,105.79

90

$200,187.89

264

2018-2019

$740,988.61

648

$74,094.32

79

$63,906.94

261

2019-2020

$527,371.31

471

$36,510.00

60

$227,882.17

201

2020-Present

$494,073.39

385

$64,612.91

35

$81,353.57

161

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