Gateway Magazine | Summer Edition 2023 | Virtual Issue

WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY 2023 Summer Issue

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gateway Staff: Everett Wiles, Simonique Dietz, Patrick Scriven, Shannon Smith

Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communication:

Everett Wiles

Director for integrated marketing and communication:

Simonique Dietz

design and layout:

Simonique Dietz

Copy Editing:

Patrick Scriven

Shannon Smith

Simonique Dietz

Photographers:

Simonique Dietz

Randolph Robin

Ross Patterson

Everett Wiles

Gateway is the official magazine of Washington Adventist University.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Washington Adventist University engages minds and transforms lives, and its core mission is to produce competent moral leaders to meet the needs of our world.”

To our faculty and staff for their outstanding nurturing and support to our graduates, who exited through the “Gateway to Service,” we appreciate you. You have provided moral leadership in communities throughout the world.

As we approach the 120th anniversary of our founding, I think of a number of programs where WAU has been an innovative force in Adventist higher education. We are the only Adventist university in the nation’s capital, with all of the unique opportunities it provides; the Edith T. James Nursing program was the first accredited nursing program in the state of Maryland; our Psychology program was the first in the Adventist system; and our excellent Music Department now has the first Music Therapy degree in Maryland, and the only such degree in the Adventist system.

WAU is also home to another innovative unit that I want to make sure people know about, namely the first – and only – Honors College in Adventist higher education. Most Adventist universities have Honors Programs, designed to enhance general education offerings, but WAU’s Honors College plays an expanded role, offering a number of curricular and academic degree options that are open to all high-achieving students on campus. The WAU Honors Program initiated Honors learning at WAU in 2004, but it was in 2015 that WAU Board of Trustees member, Dr. Albert Reece, approached me with the idea that WAU would be an ideal place for an Honors College to serve high-achieving students within an Adventist context. Since its inception in Fall of 2017, under the leadership of the Honors College Director, Professor Bradford Haas, and the Associate Director, Dr. Jonathan Scriven, the Honors College has made significant progress, and has shown agility to meet the changing needs of students and the higher education marketplace.

Each year at our Awards Chapel we recognize student leaders on campus. To illustrate the impact of Honors College students on the WAU campus, 73% of all of the students leaders recognized were from the Honors College, including 60% of the Student Association officers, including the SA President, 100% of the Sophomore class officers, 100% of the Senior class officers, 80% of the Junior class officers, 10 of 11 Student Senators and 10 of 16 Student Ambassadors. Honors students hold more leadership positions on campus, but this sampling should illustrate the vital contributions that these student leaders make to WAU.

I have been particularly pleased to see that the Honors College had a 100% first year retention rate in 2022, and it appears on track to repeat this feat. As Honors students participate in all departments across campus, it is a collaborative effort to retain these students, and I am proud that our faculty and staff are working to retain this key contingent of students at WAU. This is helping us trend towards the “bold goal” stated in Vision 2030 that WAU will retain 100% of all students by 2030. As President, I feel a bit like ‘The Good Shepherd’; I am not content to have 99% in the fold, as that means that one is lost. The Honors College demonstrates that through a student-centric approach and collaboration across units that we can achieve this goal.

It is my sense that the Honors College at WAU is a “hidden gem.” Many people I speak to seem not to know about the opportunities that it offers to students. To help remedy this, this issue of The Gateway outlines many aspects of the Honors College to help readers get a glimpse of all that it encompasses. Great things are happening at Washington Adventist University!

Sincerely,

Dr. Weymouth Spence

Class of Spring 2023

Takudzwa Madhovi, Class of Spring 2023 Honors College Graduate

Ministry

Ministry is on the move at Washington Adventist University! Over spring break, fourteen WAU students embarked on an immersive service-learning experience in Baltimore, Maryland. Immersion Trips are slightly different than we might typically think of “Missions Trips.” If we want to honor God in our efforts to love our neighbor truly, we must think about the long-term effects of our service. Immersive opportunities help students critically analyze the most effective ways to serve and meet the needs of a community. Students have the opportunity to be exposed to the needs and challenges of a community and the assets and methods to enable them to have a long-term impact.

This year’s immersive spring break trip explored the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. The students connected with local leaders, including Baltimore City Council members and community organizers. Gopi Sunkara, one of the students who participated, shared, “We were able to explore Baltimore and help out local nonprofits in that area. It was a fabulous time to hang out with friends and make a positive difference. I look forward to doing it again next year.”

As students served, they encountered people suffering from poverty, food insecurity, and in desperate need of help. Not only did the people of Baltimore benefit, but the students were also deeply impacted. Junior Aguilar shares, “The alternative spring break experience has opened my eyes to the reality of poverty in the United States. But there is hope. I can make a difference, not only when I become a professional but even today, by volunteering and serving those in need.”

Let us, as a university community and the broader

Christian community, speak about the importance of service and endeavor each day to serve others. Our Christian responsibility is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those suffering, marginalized, and forgotten. The world desperately needs people who will take tangible steps to alleviate the challenges and burdens of others. Let us continue to move forward and make a lasting impact for eternity. n

Our Christian responsibility is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those suffering, marginalized and forgotten.”

Students who participated in the Alternate Spring Break Project

Alternate Spring Break students in front of one of the green space housing projects

CULTIVATING TOMORROW’S LEADERS THROUGH HONORS EDUCATION

By Dr. Albert Reece

Ihave never run a marathon. However, one thing I have observed and long admired about marathon runners is that they train together, as a group, knowing they may be racing together and possibly against each other. But running groups are not inherently about competition, they are about individuals with similar drives and similar interests working together to each achieve their own personal goals. The exposure to the experience leads these individuals to push themselves in ways that never occurred to them, or they never thought possible.

In retrospect, this was my vision when at dinner so many years ago, Dr. Spence and I discussed the future growth of WAU. As we discussed several possibilities, I had this idea that developing an honors college would allow WAU a mechanism toward a dual mission; one focusing on the school at large and the other to further enable and enrich high achieving students. This would be the first and only such honors college in Adventism globally, and it could attract and educate high-achieving students as well as those students who wish to become high achievers. Since the Honors Program was already established, I suggested that WAU invest further in that program to transform it into a formal Honors College that could expand its learning environment to further cultivate those students with endless potential. By the end of dinner, we both agreed that it was a plan worth exploring.

Dr. Spence, following several internal discussions and engaging Provost Kinsuzu with the idea, fully agreed to the concept and together the leadership supported transforming the Honors Program into the Honors College.

The transformation has been incredibly smooth, thanks to Professors Bradford Haas and Dr. Jonathan Scriven, who truly took the idea and ran with it. They ensured that high-achieving

I had this idea that developing an honors college would allow WAU a mechanism toward a dual mission.”

students already part of the Honors Program would have a greater sense of belonging to a college. And those students not in the Honors Program, but who have the potential to be high-achieving and for whatever reasons have not yet launched, can experience the enabling and supportive environment of the new Honors College and push their boundaries to be great achievers.

I have had the pleasure and honor to stay abreast of the tremendous progress thus far while serving as chair of the Honors College advisory board. It has also been my pleasure to meet and interact with several Honors College students, including one who spent time doing a research internship in my laboratory.

As educators we must continue to build educational environments that cultivate the strongest students and ensure these students can achieve their fullest potential and maximally contribute to our society and communities. I look forward to the continuing success of the Honors College at Washington Adventist University and to the future leaders it produces.

E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.O.G., is Dean Emeritus and former University Executive Vice President of University of Maryland School of Medicine, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Endowed Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Research Training and Innovation.

Dr. Albert Reece and his team

THE WAU HONORS COLLEGE: AN OVERVIEW

In our capacity as the administrators for the WAU Honors College, we are often asked, “What, exactly, is the Honors College?” When faced with this question, it is sometimes hard to answer succinctly, as there is SO MUCH encompassed within the Honors College. Our “elevator pitches” tend to think about the specific audience and highlight some aspects of the Honors College that might make the most sense or appeal to the prospective student, parent, faculty member, WAU Board of Trustees member or senior administrator.

Hopefully this feature on the WAU Honors College in Gateway magazine will help to share a number of the facets that make this unique academic community within Adventist higher education more tangible.

Along with the specifics about the current curricular options, governance, and leadership structure, and overview of constituent centers of emphasis within the Honors College, we have included several more personal pieces that highlight both the student and faculty experience and what makes the WAU Honors College uniquely situated to be innovative and connected in ways that only a liberal arts program at an Adventist university in the Nation’s Capital can be.

Every day it feels as though new opportunities cross our desks, and so many of these work out in ways that we can only describe as providential. The Honors student community is both culturally and intellectually diverse, and each one of our students inspires us, even as we work to instruct them.

As the Honors College continues to expand along the lines of Dr. Albert Reece’s initial vision for our campus as a home for high achievers in Adventist higher education, we feel that God continues to guide us so that the Honors College is an innovative space for liberal arts education that is adaptable, customizable and sustainable.

We want to thank the WAU administration, including President Weymouth Spence, Provost Cheryl Kisunzu and CFO Patrick Farley for their continued support, and also our colleagues across the university with which we share Honors College students, including chairs of our two most populous areas, Dr. Samuel Perez, Chair of the Biology Department, and Dr. Daniel

Lau, Chair of the Music Department, as well as chairs in all other academic departments as we collaborate to train high-achieving students at Washington Adventist University.

Professor Bradford Haas, Director, WAU Honors College

Dr. Jonathan Scriven, Associate Director, WAU Honors College

WHAT IS THE HONORS COLLEGE ?

Curriculum, Culture, and Community in the Nation’s Capital. That is the WAU Honors College in a nutshell. It is designed to serve high-achieving students who are excited to be in school, who are intellectually curious, and who want more out of their university experience.

We know that students are individuals and are not defined by their majors. Honors students often have multiple curricular and co-curricular interests that can be customized into unique, individual academic pathways. Most Honors students combine various academic programs. For example: Biology + Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, Music Performance + PreMedicine, Psychology + Pre-Law, English + History, Health Business + Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and so on. Honors students study topics in more breadth AND depth, and are encouraged to think outside of academic silos to prepare them to be full participants in the ever-changing professional world. In addition to specialized major areas of study, all Honors College students share a core curriculum that ensures a common base of knowledge and that requires all Honors students to hone leadership and service skills.

The Honors College is also a place to explore culture in all its guises, whether in trips to museums and theatres, through Model United Nations, through Study-onLocation opportunities in the United Kingdom, in our local community, or even on campus. WAU is perfectly

situated for a rich and diverse cultural experience, and this helps our students to understand and appreciate perspectives other than their own, which is key to being a competent moral leader of the future.

Each one of our students is unique and contributes to our community. Students often tell us the number one benefit of the Honors College is meeting people that often become friends for life, often from disciplines unrelated to what they are studying. The Honors College is also fully integrated into WAU as a whole and mirrors the welcoming spirit of all God’s children embodied by the university. The Honors College is wellrepresented in student leadership positions across campus, and our students make a large impact on the WAU campus, the local community and beyond.

The Honors College is extremely fortunate to be part of the only Adventist university in the Nation’s Capital. Washington, D.C., provides unparalleled opportunities for Honors College students in terms of cultural experiences, leadership and service initiatives, internships and professional networking. Fifteen minutes from both the United States Capitol and the world headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Honors College is THE home for high achievers in Adventist higher education.

THE HONORS COLLEGE SEAL

The Honors College seal was developed in 2008 to reflect the mission and goals of the Honors College. The seal is in the shape of an arch, mirroring the WAU Gateway to Service, as the Honors College affirms leadership and service as core attributes.

In the arch itself is a Latin phrase that might roughly be translated as “so that others are better served,” confirming the idea that all activities within the Honors College are to serve others or to prepare for greater service to others.

Inside the arch are two symbols: the bell and the pomegranate. The bell symbolizes creativity and has a red ribbon with the date, in Roman numerals, that Honors education started on our campus (MMIV, or 2004). The bell also represents the dome of heaven, and it sits above the pomegranate, representing the world (the spiritual and the mundane). The pomegranate is a traditional symbol that represents unity (the whole fruit) in diversity (the individual seeds). Several Renaissance paintings (such as “The Madonna of the Pomegranate” by Botticelli) feature Mary with the infant Christ on her lap, holding a pomegranate, illustrating that Christ is the master of unity in diversity.

The Bible recounts in the Old Testament that the hem of the high priest’s robes featured bells and pomegranates. Ellen White also says that Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary wears the high priest’s robes and that the robe’s hem is lined with “a bell and a pomegranate.”

In the WAU Honors College, we prepare students for a vocation akin to a priesthood that emphasizes thinking that is as high as the heavens, yet connected to the world around us, “so that others are better served.”

Detail of Botticelli’s “Madonna of the Pomegranate”

WHAT DOES THE HONORS COLLEGE MEAN TO STUDENTS?

What do we mean when we say efficient curriculum?

Allison Sierra: “I never thought that I would be able to be in the Honors College and finish my Psychology degree early, but I did. The Honors College core general education curriculum streamlined my Gen Ed requirements, leaving more time for my Psychology class and my Honors Elective class. By mapping out my requirements early, I was able to graduate in three years, and that included participating in activities such as soccer, Model United Nations, Mock Trial and a study-on-location program in the United Kingdom.”

What do we mean when we say customized curriculum?

Gopi Sunkara: “I entered the WAU Honors College as a Biology Pre-Med major. After engaging in the MUN and Mock Trial programs and after taking a few Political Studies courses, I decided to change my focus during my Junior year. I’m still a Biology major, but I’m also pursuing a degree in Political Studies, and I’ve changed from a Pre-Med track to a Pre-Law track. The Honors College’s flexible curriculum allowed me to take classes like Model United Nations, Mock Trial, and a variety of Legal Seminar courses that worked for my schedule. It was exactly what I needed to make the change I wanted to make.”

What do we mean when we say interdisciplinary curriculum?

Tiara Best: “The interdisciplinary approach in the Honors College allows me to take a wider range of classes with a wider range of students. It’s the best of both worlds, really: I get to focus on my major—like in any traditional program—and explore other interests I have, all while engaging with friends I have from other majors across campus. When you have Biology majors and Music majors and Business majors and Psychology majors and Political Studies majors all taking the same class, it leads to a rich and diverse educational experience.”

HWADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY

Administration

Bradford Haas, Director

Jonathan Scriven, Associate Director

Shannon Smith, Administrative Assistant

English Program Coordinator: Bradford Haas

First-Year Composition Program Coordinator: Richard Grant

History and Political Studies Program Coordinator:

Jonathan Scriven

Pre-Law and Dual Enrollment Law Program Coordinator:

Nicholas Miller

Centers of Emphasis

Center for Law and Public Policy: Director, Jonathan Scriven; CoDirector, Nicholas Miller

David Jones Research Center: Director, Bradford Haas

Center for Global Programs: Director, Jonathan Scriven

Adventist Archives Lectureship: Coordinated by Bradford Haas in collaboration with David Trim, ASTR

Innovation Center: Director, Andy Howell

Honors College Advisory Board

Chair: Albert Reece, WAU Trustee

Bradford Haas, ex officio

Jonathan Scriven, ex officio

Weymouth Spence, WAU President

Cheryl Kisunzu, WAU Provost

Ronald Anderson, alumnus

Natalie Hynum, alumnus

Dr. Sandra Laughlin, alumnus

Les Pitton, alumnus

Ruth Prakasam, Suffolk University

David Trim, Director, ASTR

Honors College Student President, ex officio

Teaching Faculty

The Honors College is fortunate to have full-time faculty members from partnering departments offering courses, as well as dedicated adjunct professors, including:

Robin Anthony, Adjunct Professor of History

Alex Barrientos, Adjunct Professor of Religion

Michael Campbell, Adjunct Professor of History and Religion

Heidi Campbell, Adjunct Professor of History and Literature

Cecil David, Adjunct Professor of English

Sarah Garifo, Director, Weis Library, Adjunct Professor of Research Methods

Bradford Haas, Honors College Professor of English

Olive Hemmings, Chair, Department of Religion

Thomas “Andy” Howell, Director, Innovation Center

Beulah Manuel, Adjunct Professor of English

Lupita Matadi, Adjunct Professor of English

Nicholas Miller, Honors College Professor of Religion & Law

Samuel Perez, Chair, Department of Biology

Jonathan Scriven, Honors College Adjunct Professor of History and Political Studies

Bogdan Scur, Department of Religion

Melinda Villanueva, Department of Biology

WAU Honors College

Washington Adventist University

7600 Flower Avenue

Takoma Park, MD 20912

Phone: 301.891.4065

Email: honorscollege@wau.edu

CENTER FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY

Several centers of emphasis and academic programs are housed under the Honors College for the wider university—the Center for Law and Public Public being one of them. In 1998, Dr. Roy Branson, then a professor at the university, founded and became the director of the Center for Law and Public Policy. He valued a space for safe and open discourse, wanting to provide students with the resources to utilize the university’s proximity to the nation’s capital for their learning and future careers in leadership. Students interested in law and politics could use the center to access internships, mentorships and conferences in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.

The Center is now housed in the Honors College and continues Dr. Branson’s vision of being a premier resource for the study of law and public policy within the Seventh-day Adventist educational community and an interdisciplinary hub for faculty, students and professionals in the field of law and public policy on local, national and global levels.

The Center for Law and Public Policy hosted several events recently in collaboration with Liberty Magazine, including a debrief on the Supreme Court case, Groff v. DeJoy, addressing religious liberty and employment accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This upcoming 2023-24 academic year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Center for Law and Public Policy at WAU. In June, the Center received a significant donation from private and organization sources that will help fund the newly created Roy Branson Fellowships program. The Branson Fellowships will provide opportunities for Honors College students to intern/work directly with local and national civil rights and religious leaders on a variety of legal and public policy issues. Up to eight students per year will receive $5,000 per year stipends for this work.

Ajeya Watson and other students at Mock Trial

MOCK TRIAL

Under Dr. Branson’s leadership, in 2000, the Center also established the largest pre-law program amongst Adventist institutions and the university’s first Mock Trial Team, connecting with practicing lawyers in the area to act as coaches and mentors to the students. Students who wanted to participate in Mock Trial first took a foundational course called American Judicial System — a course taught by a practicing attorney in the area. The team participated in mock trial events around the country, including a trial where they defeated the defending National Champions, the University of Maryland. The team was not allowed, however, to compete in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) tournaments because many trials occurred on Sabbath.

In 2014, with Director Joan Francis, they entered their first regional competition under the AMTA at the University of Richmond. The competition featured 20 other teams, such as the University of Richmond, Mt. St. Mary’s University, Penn State University, Harvard University and more. It was the first time an Adventist institution competed in AMTA, made possible by an allowance for religious exemption during the competitive trials on Saturday, setting the precedent for future competitions.

After a bit of a lull due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WAU’s Mock Trial Team rallied together in February this year for the regional tournament at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. There they

WHAT IS MOCK TRIAL?

Mock Trial is a competition in which students simulate a real trial. The trial concerns an official case prepared by the American Mock Trial Association that remains the same throughout the entire academic year. The case alternates between a civil and a criminal case every year.

The case is entirely fictional, taking place in the fictional state of Midlands. Teams consist of six to ten members, but only six compete at any given timethree attorneys and three witnesses.

competed in the same region as other major schools, including Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

Student lawyer cross-examining witness Henrique da Silva (left) in Mock Trial

CENTER FOR GLOBAL PROGRAMS

Under the guidance of its director, Dr. Jonathan Scriven, the Honors College Center for Global Programs provides outreach opportunities to academy students interested in foreign policy and international relations. March 21st marked the fifth annual CAPITALMUN conference, welcoming 125 academy students from the Columbia Union to WAU’s campus to participate as diplomats in discussions surrounding significant global events and crises in various committees. This year’s theme was “Security in the Age of Modern Technology,” with the keynote speaker, Cassia Carvalho, the executive director for the US-Brazil Business Council at the US Chamber of Commerce. CAPITALMUN began in 2019 and has included three in-person and two virtual conferences. In 2022, the MUN program expanded to include conferences for WAU students. WAU now participates in the annual NATIONALMUN-DC conference, the largest university MUN conference in the country.

Model United is also going global at WAU! This past January, a group of students and teachers from Columbia Union academies traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, for The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference to participate in United Nations committees along with 2,500 other student delegates from around the globe. It is worth noting that WAU is the only Adventist college or university with a Model United Nations program.

WHAT IS MUN?

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation based on the activities of the United Nations. The simulation allows students to role-play as they discuss and debate important global events from the perspective of various countries and organizations.

At MUN conferences, student delegates come together over the course of one or more days to collaborate on ways to find solutions to global problems. Delegates work together to create, debate and adopt formal resolutions that address each issue up for debate.

The Honors College also provides outreach opportunities to academy students interested in foreign policy and international relations.”

DAVID JONES RESEARCH CENTER

Since 2018 the David Jones Research Center actively fosters scholarship and research focused on the life and works of British modernist artist and writer, David Jones (1895-1974). Jones also had multiple interests in the aspects of culture and faith, which made him a perfect focus for the Honors College. On July 10, 2023, the Center held an in-person seminar held in conjunction with the David Jones at Hill Rhythms Capel-y-ffin exhibition at y Gaer (formerly Brecknock Museum), in Brecon, Wales. Themed “Landscapes and Shapes of the Artist’s Imagination,” the event explored the transformative effect of landscape—particularly the British and Welsh upland landscapes—on the “shaping” of the imagination of David Jones and other artists.

High school students from different schools participating in CAPITALMUN

Exhibition catalogue by Peter Wakelin for the David Jones Exhibition at y Gaer Museum and Cultural Hub in Brecon, Wales, UK

MORAL SQUINTS AND HEALING LEAVES: MY HISTORY WITH ROY BRANSON AND THE CENTER FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY

By Dr. Nicholas Miller

Dr. Roy Branson

Photo credit: Spectrum Magazine

Twenty-five years ago, when I was a young lawyer at a D.C. Corporate law firm, I invited Dr. Roy Branson, founder of the WAU Center for Law and Public Policy, out for lunch to discuss the possibility of my teaching a class on constitutional law. Who would have known that this connection would have led more than two decades later to my moving back to the D.C. area and joining WAU as a faculty member to help lead the Center that he founded?

Dr. Branson had me teach that constitutional law class, then invited me to help him establish WAU’s first moot court trial team. That first year was challenging, and we were not even able to join the national competition, as the tournament ran on Sabbath. But we trained a team and had an invitational match with the University of Maryland. As it was an informal competition, I did not think it necessary to declare winners and losers, but Roy thought that we should make it as natural as possible and have judges who would vote on the outcome. This is how we beat the University of Maryland team the same year that UMD won the national championship at the official tournament!

Within a few years, I transferred to my firm’s Los Angeles offices to be near family, so I could not continue working with WAU. But Roy had nourished the seeds of academic interest in me, and I began to look for opportunities to get a Ph.D. in church history. Not too much later, I was approached by

Andrews University to study for a Ph.D. in religious and legal history and open up a church/state study center. I completed the degree and spent more than fifteen years teaching in the church history department at the Seminary, where I established a presence and program in the international religious liberty community.

But running a religious liberty center from a small town in the midwest had its limitations, geographically and resource-wise. I began thinking about trying to reconnect with a location that would offer more in the way of law, public policy, and religious liberty connections and resources. A little over two years ago, Dr. Jonathan Scriven, with whom I had co-taught a class at WAU in the Roy Branson days, approached me about helping with the Center again. Seeing the hand of providence at work, I moved with my family to the Silver Spring area about a year ago, in the summer of 2022.

Professor Nicholas Miller

Dr. Branson had me teach that constitutional law class, then invited me to help him establish WAU’s first moot court trial team.”

In the year that we have been in the D.C. area, I have been able to help re-establish the mock trial team after a COVID-19 break, seeing our students perform remarkably well at the national competition in Princeton, New Jersey. (Thankfully, accommodations are now made for Sabbath keepers!). We have had classes where students have been lectured to by church public affairs leaders, taken on visits to civil rights museums and visited a Congressman in his office on Capitol Hill. We have had webinar programs about Supreme Court cases involving the actual lawyers involved and had programs on issues from constitutional theory, the death penalty and assisted suicide, all with top scholars and practitioners.

Perhaps most importantly, we have experienced the generosity of the Adventist legal and public affairs community and raised significant funds to provide fellowship opportunities for talented WAU students to serve as the research and legislative policy aides to academic, church, and political leaders in the Washington area. This means that WAU, the Honors College and the Center for Law and Public Policy can serve as an educational and research center— not only for Adventist students — but also for church organizations that are seeking to understand and impact public affairs and policy in a positive, peacemaking, bridge-building way in our increasingly divisive times.

Roy Branson would be happy and proud of these developments. One of my clear memories of him was standing in the parking lot behind Richards Hall, where he talked to me about educating and inspiring a generation of public policy students willing to look at issues “through a moral squint in their eyes.” He was quoting from the movie “A Man for All Seasons,” which depicts the life of Sir Thomas More, who brought his moral and religious convictions to bear on the public policy issues of his day, especially the divorce and remarriage of Henry VIII.

Sir Thomas More famously lost his head for his convictions, and today, Roy is no longer with us. But the ethos of both, the desire to bring moral convictions and religious perspectives to bear on the great public questions of the day, will continue to guide the vision and practices of the Center. Of course, Roy came from a Protestant tradition that values the separation of church and state and would insist that moral and religious convictions should be directed toward genuinely civil purposes and goals in the public square, and we concur.

But there are plenty of these civil moral questions, as Roy himself demonstrated by his involvement in issues of racial justice (he famously marched with Martin Luther King at Selma), public health and welfare (he led political anti-tobacco campaigns) and advocacy for a morally and ethically informed health care and practices. Roy believed, and so do we, that Christians have a role and responsibility to bring a taste of Revelation’s “leaves ... for the healing of the nations” to our fallen, the conflicted world today. This redemptive and hopeful vision will help guide the activities of the Center in the years to come.

Nicholas Miller is the Honors College Professor of Law & Religion and the Co-Director of the Center for Law and Public Policy.

One of my clear memories of him was standing in the parking lot behind [Richards Hall], where he talked to me about educating and inspiring a generation of public policy students willing to look at issues “through a moral squint in their eyes.”

OUR HISTORIC SPACE

The Honors College is located on the second floor of historic H.M.S. Richards Hall, one of the older structures on campus that encompasses significant and sometimes hidden heritage.

Who was H.M.S. Richards?

The building is named after Washington Missionary College alumnus H.M.S. Richards, one of the most important and effective evangelists of the 20th century. Richards recognized the power of radio to transmit his program, The Voice of Prophecy , to millions of people. His innovative spirit and desire to serve others through the mission of radio evangelism is a model of servant leadership appropriate for the Honors College and the Fordham Department of Religion, which are both housed in Richards Hall.

But the building has an even earlier history. Built in 1938, it was originally Sligo Elementary School. In the mid-1950s, the elementary school was moved up Carroll Avenue to a new mid-century modern building next to Takoma Academy, where it still is today, renamed Takoma Preparatory School. Today, Richards Hall still has some signs of being a former elementary school, including the smaller-scale stalls in the original restrooms (if you took courses in Richards Hall and remember the stalls being fairly small, that’s why!).

Hidden history uncovered

In the late 1990s, when Roy Branson worked with the college administration to renovate part of the second floor to house the Center for Law and Public Policy, the renovators were surprised to find beautiful paneled wood folding doors encased in walls when the building was first converted from Sligo Elementary School to a college building. Just recently, a second set of doors, also encased behind walls and perfectly preserved, was discovered by Dr. Jonathan Scriven and Prof. Bradford Haas during the renovation of another office space. This second set of original paneled doors will now be a feature wall in the office of Prof. Nicholas Miller as he directs the Honors College Law program.

Another hidden treasure in plain sight

Visitors to the Honors College space immediately notice the walls of books. Far from being a random collection, it is the Presidential Library of B.G. Wilkinson, former president of Columbia Union College, now WAU. President Wilkinson gave his library to the college in 1969. Part of the library also includes a second collection of rare and unusual books that were purchased from a collector and given to the college to enrich its holdings. A longterm project is to assess the collection, preserve the books and use it to teach students about conservation, cataloging and digital humanities. In the meantime, they give the Honors College space its unique academic character.

Professors Scriven and Haas discover second set of doors, 2023

(From left to right) Roy Branson, Bryan Zervos and Doug Morgan discover doors in Richards Hall, 1997

DESTINATION UK: STUDY ON-LOCATION WITH THE HONORS COLLEGE

By Henrique da Silva

On May 3, 2023, Honors College students at Washington Adventist University embarked on a 14-day trip to the United Kingdom. Since 2016, the Honors College has collaborated with Newbold College of Higher Education to provide WAU Honors students the opportunity to study on-location in the UK each year. This was the first group from the Honors College to travel to England since the study abroad program was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020 and relaunched in the Spring of 2023.

During the spring semester, students attend online courses with subject matters spanning history, literature and religion. After the semester’s end, they travel to the UK to finish their classes at Newbold College and have the chance to visit historical sites mentioned in their research and explore the city of London. This year, they attended “Reformation to Revolution,” studying the English Reformation, and “Matrons, Magic and Holy Women,” about the influence of women during the English Reformation and the influence of Shakespeare in England.

Besides being on Newbold’s campus, the students used their extra time to explore and experience England as much as possible. Arriving the week of the historical event in Westminster Abbey, they had a chance to see the coronation of King Charles III, the first coronation since Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Later, they went to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theater and visited famous locations like Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Hampton Court, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Norwich, Bath, Tower of London and more places around Newbold College, such as Bracknell and Reading.

Alex Engelkemier, an alumna of Washington Adventist University and the Honors College, went along with the group and was fundamental to its relaunch this year. She had attended previous trips to Newbold College as a student and was a coordinator for the group that went in the Spring of 2019. “I don’t think there’s an experience like this anywhere else. You’re traveling with 11 students who have a similar academic drive and curiosity about the world to a beautiful campus to

learn about topics you would probably otherwise have no knowledge about. And these memories will provide greater context, greater breadth, and depth, to how you see the world.”

I’m thankful I chose WAU and the Honors College as a place to start my academic journey, and I will always remember this trip and how it has helped me to understand not only history and literature but also how to use it to make an impact in society. I would definitely go one more time if I had another opportunity and advise others to do so if they ever get the chance.

Henrique da Silva served as Student President of the Honors College in 2022-2023, and will serve as the WAU Student Association President during 2023-2024.

Right: Honors students entering Hampton Court Palace

Below: Henrique da Silva taking a selfie with Honors College students in London

STUDENT AMBASSADORS: LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

By Shea Standish

As a Student Ambassador , my role is to represent Washington Adventist University to the world. I’ve had the opportunity to tell others about my experience at WAU, learn about their lives and interests, and help them take advantage of the amazing opportunities I’ve found here. Every student ambassador has the opportunity to travel state-to-state, speaking to academy students and college hopefuls about their experiences at WAU. Whether you’re a singer, a speaker or a musician, there’s always an opportunity for you to use your talents to inspire others.

Honors College students (from left to right) Catusha Desjardins, Henrique da Silva and Shea Standish serve as WAU Student Ambassadors

When I first heard that the student ambassador position was available, I couldn’t sign up fast enough! Having the opportunity to tell others about the remarkable experiences I’ve had at WAU, learn about their lives and interests, and help them take advantage of the amazing opportunities we offer has been just as fulfilling and exciting as I thought it would be.

When I came to the university as an incoming freshman, one of the first things I heard about was the Honors College. Once I learned about its focus on

interdisciplinary studies and experiential learning, I was hooked; so, I decided to apply as a Political Studies and Honors Interdisciplinary major. Now, in my junior year, I don’t think I could have made a better decision. I’ve grown not only intellectually, but in character and confidence. I’ve learned to express myself in ways I never thought possible and had experiences I never imagined. My involvement in the Honors College has uniquely prepared me for a place of leadership, and as a student ambassador, I have the chance to share those experiences and help others gain the voice that I have.

I’ve been a student ambassador for two years now, and during those years, I’ve had many experiences with many different people. Out of all of them, one, in particular, stood out to me. My first assignment as a student ambassador was traveling across state lines to New York for a camp meeting. I’d never been to a camp meeting before, but as we set up a booth next to the youth tent in the scorching sun and listened to gospel music being sung at the top of everyone’s lungs, I decided that I definitely enjoyed them. We stood there for hours, and I spoke to every person who came within shouting distance. When it came time to pack up, I didn’t want to leave. The atmosphere was electrifying, and the ability to speak with other young people — most of whom hadn’t even considered college beforeand — showing them the opportunity that we have, was incredible. I couldn’t get enough!

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to meet young people from all around the world, who come to WAU looking for a place that will lift them up as they grow and learn, and a community that will embrace them and help them on their journey through life. I can always say with pride that the place they are looking for is Washington Adventist University.

HONORS ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

BIOLOGY and HONORS COLLEGE STUDENT CHYNNA SMITH

Chynna Smith, a first-generation college student, graduated in 2020 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. During her time at WAU, she took full advantage of the opportunities presented to her.

She was on the Women’s Basketball team all four years, the secretary for the Student Association, a teacher’s assistant for the Biology and Chemistry departments, and part of HOSA and the Honors College. Smith also served as the Deputy Secretary General for the 2020 CAPITALMUN conference held on the WAU campus.

With her family experiences, especially her grandmother passing away from ovarian cancer, Smith wanted to pursue a career in cancer research. Smith’s family has worked in different fields of research, so Chynna was exposed early to that environment. In June 2020, just weeks after graduat-

ing, she started a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she was able to delve into her passion even more. This post-bac fellowship is coveted by students all over the country, and only about 10% of applicants are accepted. Chynna also, perhaps unknowingly, started a trend for Biology students at WAU. In each of the years that followed, another WAU graduate participated in research programs at the NIH: Anu Sunkara in 2021 and Ava Movahed Abtahi in 2022.

Last year, after the completion of her fellowship, Chynna began an M.D./Ph.D at the prestigious Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where she is in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), which is fully funded by the NIH and other organizations. While she was thrilled to be accepted, ultimatly, she is focused on her personal success rather than the stature of the school she attends. “Your environment

matters,” she said, “so don’t worry about prestige. Are you going to be supported and comfortable?” She added that “med school is hard already, so you don’t want to be in a place where you don’t feel welcomed or heard.”

As a physician-scientist, Chynna intends to include research that aligns with the issues and groups that are underrepresented in medicine, such as access and care.

You can see Chynna talk about her experience as a Biology major in her own words on the WAU YouTube page by scanning the QR code below.

BECOMING: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL WRITTEN, DIRECTED AND PERFORMED BY WAU HONORS STUDENTS

When Music Department faculty member Dr. Deborah Thurlow, the Artistic Director of the WAU Performance Workshop, heard that two students were writing a musical about their freshman year experience at WAU, she said, “Great! We will produce it!” Little did she know, Becoming would be the first time in her 30-year tenure at the university that the Performance Workshop mounted a full show written BY and FOR students.

The two students at the center of the production were Anna Karla “AK” Carreno, ‘22, an English and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies major, who wrote the musical score and lyrics, and Jenevieve “Jenna” Lettsome, ‘22, a Music, Pre-Law and Honors Interdisciplinary

major who produced the show and co-wrote the script with Anna Karla. Together along with a cast of friends and fellow students, they produced a full-length musical that debuted in the Peters Music Center in March 2022. Most of the writing of the musical was done during the nearly 12 months when WAU was “virtual only” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With original songs like Flying on My Own, Today Ohio, Tomorrow the World and Just Be Free, the musical explores the ups and downs of being a college freshman in a new environment — something that almost everyone can relate to. Becoming was a true collaboration across campus.

Becoming creators, Anna Karla Carreno (center-left), Jenevieve Lettsome (center-right), along with cast members Sofya-Albina Puyul (left) and Erin Greenlaw (right)

Becoming playbill cover art by Nathaly Jacobo

2023 GRADUATION SPEECH: ALLISON SIERRA

Greetings to the Honors College members and Washington Adventist University community and loved ones,

My name is Allison Sierra, and I am honored to be representing the unique and carefully structured community of our Honors College at WAU. Does anyone know what studying interdisciplinary studies really means? Well, I sure didn’t when I started; I could barely say that entire word in one breath ... In summary, the definition of interdisciplinary is combining a multitude of academic subjects together to engage in critical thinking activities and knowledge. Essentially, you are exposed to an infinite field of knowledge in endless subjects, making you a key individual in a society that has knowledge of just about anything. Some might wonder what credibility I have to speak highly of this college, so I’ll tell you a little about what it’s done for me.

Being an Honors College student was the reason I initially connected with my current closest friends and acquaintances here at WAU. They say that you become the people you spend time with the most, and for the first time in my life, I have had a solid group of peers around me striving with the same potential and sense of purpose.

Being an Honors College student is the reason I was able to complete my four-year, double major degree in just three years. And for those wondering, yes, I did still have a personal life with this much schooling acceleration. Sort of!

Allison Sierra delivers graduation speech at Washington Adventist University’s 2023 graduation ceremony

Being an Honors College student, I was motivated to maintain a GPA of over 3.80 while also being taught the skills to multitask in many other extracurriculars. Being an Honors College student has introduced me to subjects and interests I never imagined I would enjoy, let alone be good at. I’ve served as a chair and secretary general for our Model United Nations conferences that we hold for high school students, I have been an NMUN delegate twice, representing both Belgium and Lybia, I have been a witness on both the plaintiff and defendant side of a mock trial team competition at Princeton University and I even got invited as a guest of our very own Dr. Spence at the annual Visionaries Gala.

Being an Honors College student is the reason why I have become a wise and critical thinker in the world. By integrating the spiritual aspect of WAU and an interdisciplinary method of thinking, I have grown to know how to adapt my knowledge to real-world situations.

And here, in 2023, I am graduating and moving on to my next adventures. I have to thank all the Honors College staff, particularly Professor Haas and Dr. Scriven, for all their support and time in guiding me throughout the years — just know I’ll be around! I am excited to say that I’ve already started using my learned interdisciplinary skills to attain a job before I graduate and recently started a full-time job as a family case manager. Next, I plan to earn a graduate degree and doctorate in counseling psychology and work in private practice for adolescents.

Now, I am proud to be not just a graduate of the Counseling Psychology department at WAU, but a soonto-be Honors College Interdisciplinary graduate as well!

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

RELIGION AND THE LAW: WHERE ADVENTISM AND POLITICS INTERSECT

By Catusha Desjardins

Forthepasttwoyears,HonorsCollegestudentshavehadtheopportunitytoenrollinanAndrewsUniversitySeminarycoursethatistaughtatWAU.Thecourse,ReligionandtheLaw,istaughtatWAUinpartbecauseoftheuniversity’slocationneartheGeneralConference,theNorthAmericanDivisionandtheheartoftheUnitedStatesgovernment.NicholasMiller,whoteachesthecourse,arrangesforguestspeakersfromanumberofchurchorganizations andalsoplansanumberoftripswherestudentsengagewithchurchandpoliticalleaders.Belowisareflection paperhandedinaspartofthecoursefromCatushaDesjardins.CatushaisajuniorBiologymajorfromFloridaand oneofthreesiblingscurrentlyenrolledintheHonorsCollege.

In the final week of the Religion and the Law class, we visited several important places in Washington, D.C., and talked to influential people. Among these meetings, there were three that were the most memorable. We first had a class with Bill Knott, the representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the US Congress and White House and the associate director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department of the Adventist Church. Then, we visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C., where we observed the ties between religious and social engagement through the history of the African American race. Lastly, we visited a congressional building, the Rayburn building, and had the privilege of having a conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin.

We met with Bill Knott at the United Methodist building, which is right next to the US Supreme Court in D.C. He spoke about the history of moral and social advocacy in the Adventist Church and the history of Adventist

engagement with public issues. For example, when John Nevins Andrews published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald on April 3, 1855, “If ‘all men are created equal,’ why then does this power hold three millions of human beings in the bondage of slavery? Why is it that the Negro race is reduced to the rank of chattels person and bought and sold like brute beasts?” Or when Uriah Smith published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald on March 19, 1857, “Says the Declaration of Independence, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;’ and yet the same government that utters this sentiment, in the very face of this declaration, will hold in abject servitude over 3, 200, 000 of human beings.”

Knott’s presentation emphasized that during the early history of the church, Adventists were not afraid to speak out against injustice, specifically slavery. When Ellen G. White was only 27 years

old, she spoke about the Fugitive Slave Act in her book, SpiritualGifts . In it, she says, “the laws of our land require us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to obey, and we must abide by the consequences of the violation of this law. This slave is not the property of any man. God is his rightful master, and man has no right to take God’s workmanship into his hands and claim his as his own.” I completely agree with Ellen G. White’s statement and sentiment.

Then, we went to the African American History Museum in Washington, D.C., to learn about how religion and social engagement met throughout the history of the African American people. There were several exhibits that featured profound topics. One exhibit spoke about how in every heart of each human being, there is a longing for freedom and deliverance and a hate for oppression. In other words, that oppression (i.e. slavery) is unjustifiable by the very morality by which we were created. There was even mention of what happened during the Revolutionary War Era. As war broke

out, many African Americans acted out for justice. It was very inspiring to see the different ways they demanded the recognition of their rights from the government.

We also saw the hymnal of Harriet Tubman, which showed the undeniable faith of the enslaved and how they looked to God for guidance and help, and the Emmett Till memorial, where his mother, Mamie Till, said, “the murder of my son has shown me that what happens to any of us, anywhere in the world, had better be the business of all of us.” There are countless examples of injustice against African Americans in US history. In truth, I was actually so touched by this that I started to get emotional because I could feel the pain of my people. I’m glad we as a nation have made progress, but

there is so much more to be done. The enslaved petitioning for their rights, speaking out against injustice and the nonviolent marches are just some of the many examples of religion and social engagement I observed from the museum.

Last but not least, we visited the Rayburn Congressional building to meet briefly with Congressman Jamie Raskin, who represents the district where WAU is located and lives just a few miles from our campus. One of the things we discussed was that we should observe how we adhere to religion and its impact, and how many rules try to burden religion. He talked about how in the past, there were rules to only worship on Sunday and how it wasn’t made with the mutual understanding of the people governed at that time.

We also talked about when and how religion should help out the ethos of the community. I then made a supportive comment after Professor Reid mentioned the Fairness for All Act. It was a blessing to be able to contribute to a conversation with a US Congressman.

I have learned a lot from our class trips. This class overall has really helped me understand how religion and politics intersect, and I now have a new understanding of how Christians, especially Seventh-day Adventists, should engage with politics.

Dr. Nicholas Miller, Melissa Reid (NAD Office of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty), and Honors College students who participated in the Religion and the Law summer class pause for a photo with Congressman Jamie Raskin at his office on Capitol Hill

W H

CLASS 0F 2023

Atotal of 184 students from the Class of 2023 received diplomas from Washington Adventist University. Of those students, 25 finished in July of last year and 49 in December. The remaining 110 officially completed their studies this past April. The degrees awarded this year were diverse: 38 masters diplomas were handed out across six disciplines, including Nursing and Business leadership, Business Administration,

Education in School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Health Care Administration. The breakdown of the 138 baccalaureate degrees presented: 128 Bachelors of Science and 10 Bachelors of Arts. The university also presented 13 Associate degrees — one of Arts, two of Science and 10 of Applied Science. Additionally, one Honors Interdisciplinary degree was presented.

Students

Shawn McGuire

MY WAU EXPERIENCE...

By Shawn McGuire, ‘23

Some of the most growth and development an individual experiences occurs between their late teens and early twenties. In such a short amount of time, there is an expectation for you to make some of the most important decisions of your life while still figuring out who you are as a person. For me, those crucial years of my life were spent at Washington Adventist University. Coming to the university as an eighteenyear-old, I felt like I had an eternity of experiences awaiting me in my college years. Now, almost five years later, I am a graduate of the same university I started at, and I am still amazed at how fast time has gone by. Taking the time to write about this has given me the time to truly reflect on my whole college experience and all of the opportunities that I have been blessed with because of it.

My college experience at WAU began before freshman orientation and the first semester in the summer of 2018. The reason for this is the most authentic answer I can give when someone asks me why I chose to attend WAU: the soccer program. I was able to obtain an athletic scholarship to play for a legitimate program at an Adventist university, just outside the nation’s capital. As someone who was still very inexperienced in the sport but had the desire to continue to pursue improvement in the game, I could not pass up the opportunity. However, little did I know, my experience at the university would be described as much more than a college athlete.

Soccer is what pulled me in and kept me at the university for five years, including a year at home due to COVID-19. The soccer program gave me a sense of purpose and belonging at my now alma mater. I gave everything I had to the program despite having moments where I wanted to give up and move home. But sometimes, meaningful experiences in life will come with adversity, almost in the form of tests, literally and figuratively. The hardships of being away from home and trying to pave my own path are what pushed me to continue to grow, learn and develop as a human being.

As I continued to persevere through some of the hardships that come with growing up, I was able to have an experience at a small Adventist university that God knew I needed. My alma mater is by no means perfect. Nonetheless, as I have heard and begun to say myself, “No matter where you go, your experience depends on your outlook and what you make of it.” Thankfully, I was able to encounter amazing people while attending the university. The faculty and student relationships I made are things that I would not trade. Being on the soccer team gave me lifelong friends but also helped me branch out and improve my social skills to meet even more people outside the program. The people I met inspired me to develop a stronger care for the university, which motivated me to become more involved. In my final year, I had the opportunity to serve as President of the Student Association. This opportunity was both challenging and rewarding. I was able to contribute

to a team focused on student life at the university. Through the experience, my love and passion for WAU continued to grow. I developed more meaningful relationships, experiences and responsibilities that I would not have had anywhere else.

WAU was the best place I could have grown for the past five years. I was able to learn and gain experience through student positions and internships that led to immediate employment following graduation. I was able to encounter different cultures in the diverse area the university is located in. I was able to fulfill my dreams and goals of being a college athlete and work towards my athletic goals while developing lifelong friendships. On top of all of that, I was able to grow spiritually and meet faculty members who went above and beyond to ensure that I had everything I needed physically, mentally and emotionally. My family has always meant everything to me, and where they are is where home is. However, there is no other place I would rather call my second home and my second family than my alma mater, Washington Adventist University.

The Athletic Field at Washington Adventist University

Alumni

BENIN LEE NEW WAU ALUMNI PRESIDENT

My first experience with Washington Adventist University, then known as Columbia Union College (CUC), was during an eighth-grade graduation trip organized by the principal, Dr. Iola Brown (Class of 1971). While touring the capital attractions, we made a stop over to see the college campus. Four years later, two students from that trip would decide to attend the college.

I attended Blue Mountain Academy and was part of the large 1986 CUC freshmen class recruited by Wayne Judd. The university granted me a four-year music scholarship, which helped me grow with the talented members of the band and brass choir.

Here, I witnessed the transformation of many lives, formed lifelong bonds and was made aware of combining my passion with my interests. Deans like Betty Howard, Joe Dent and others gave that extra encouragement in academic and leadership pursuits. This university and those I met here had an irreplaceable influence on my life. Here

WE NEED “UNITY OF PURPOSE”

Singspiration worship services on Friday night gave me an opportunity to worship and praise with other students and allowed me to meet my future wife on campus. The best thing is that my faith grew, and I learned to interpret the gospel as a BIG TENT where inclusion and grace are reflected.

My BIG TENT philosophy is the way I see the gospel: it is open to all, free, and it takes time to ensure that people are engaged. It is where you want to be because you are valued.

As Alumni President, my primary goal is to build bridges with all our alumni, staff, students and surrounding communities. We are part of a treasured and successful university at a time when we have the opportunity to transform the whole campus.

Washington Adventist University is the BIG TENT. It is in need of some repair, and as we repair it, we are making it bigger to accommodate everyone!

ALUMNI GOALS

n To expand our alumni outreach to 6,000 participants and 1,000 friends of the university.

n To create a membership with benefits for our alumni staff, students and community.

is where my love of the sciences gave me many opportunities to explore. I worked in the hospital lab in microbiology as a phlebotomist and in the medical library. These hands-on experiences created even more job opportunities for me later on. The diversity of the students and the city allowed me to thrive and explore diverse cultures, attending events with my friends’ families, visiting several area churches and discovering Indian cuisine for the first time.

n To create a showcase to honor the professional successes of alumni, staff and students.

n To triple the percentage of alumni supporters to 9%.

In order to accomplish these goals we need “Unity of Purpose.” There are many ways to help. I’m asking that you support the school with your hearts and wallets to extend this excellent opportunity to more young people to accept the mission of service.

Praying believers who will pray for all those who are and will be influenced by this university ministry (Eph. 1:15-23).

Cheerleaders like Hur who will lift up the leaders and bare some of the burdens (Ex. 17:12-13).

Evangelists like Paul to travel write and share the word that Christian education at Washington Adventist University is life-changing (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

ABOUT THE WRITER

Benin lives in Ohio with his wife. He has two adult children and two dogs. Benin graduated from Columbia Union College/ Washington Adventist University in 1991 with a degree in Biology. He attended Kettering College of Medical Arts and received an associate’s degree as a physician assistant. He later received an MS degree from the University of Nebraska in PA studies. As a PA, he served in numerous roles with national organizations as a delegate, presenter and preceptor. In 2014, he was awarded Physician Assistant Leader of the Year and was recognised as a distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Physician Assistants in 2021. He currently specializes in occupational health and environmental diseases in veterans.

Arimetheans like Joseph - Believers in the mission dedicated to financial support (Matt. 27).

For those with barriers to your enthusiasm who haven’t experienced the joy of the Lord living in makeshift tents or feeling hurt from the past: We apologize for your experience. I invite you to connect.

Here is your irrevocable invitation to our tent, our campus and our community of faith.

Hope to see you soon at the 2023 Visionaries Gala on September 17 at 6 p.m. at Congressional Country Club. Join our Washington Adventist University alumni page on Facebook so you can be informed and included in our BIG TENT Community.

New WAU Alumni President Benin Lee and alumna Kathy Hecht

Alumni

TRUSTEE ROSEMARY ASCENCIO, CLASS OF ‘17

Dr. Rosemary Ascencio is one of many who have walked the hallowed halls of Washington Adventist University and passed under its totem, the Gateway to Service. As a first-generation college student, she was the second in her family to attend WAU, preceded by her older sister, Cindy. In 2017, Dr. Ascencio graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and

Management at Washington Adventist University. She then completed a Master’s of Business Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and later her Doctorate of Business Administration. Dr. Ascencio is an Academic Program Coordinator and adjunct professor at UMGC. Recognized for her passion for student engagement and success, she was nominated to WAU’s Board of Trustees, where she currently advocates for student success.

Dr. Ascencio first learned about Washington Adventist University from another alumna, a family friend from her local church—someone she considered an ideal role model for success. Dr. Ascencio’s mother also heard about the friend’s time at WAU and wanted that same experience for her children, encouraging them to attend the university once they finished high school. The Ascencios had never been exposed to private schooling, let alone Christian education. It was

Dr. Rosemary Ascencio from the graduating Class of 2017

Dr. Ascencio’s mother’s intent for her children to have an opportunity to grow in a community that would allow them to shape their beliefs safely. So, although she had planned to attend North Carolina State, Dr. Ascencio decided to give it a chance and applied to WAU as a freshman in 2013.

Inspired by her friend’s choice to major in business, Dr. Ascencio decided to try the field. But her uncertainty about what direction she wanted to take made the first few months difficult, and she started to fall behind in some of her courses. “I was not sure what I wanted to do,” she expressed. “I thought I maybe wanted to be a teacher, [but] business sounded attractive, [mainly] in that I would always have a job available.” However, after consulting with her professors and advisors, she realized that her goals not only led to teaching in elementary or secondary schools, but she had a more comprehensive selection of industries and other supportive roles to choose from, like those in higher education. With that in mind, she continued on the business track.

One thing that Dr. Ascencio missed most from her time as a student at WAU was its familial and spiritual community. As a commuter student, her school days mainly consisted solely of attending classes and returning home once they were done. Eventually, as her friends began to invite her to events on campus, she understood why her mother wanted her to attend WAU. “I started to feel the sense of community, and I think that’s what made it completely different for me, to be surrounded by people who believed what I believe,” she reminisced. “It’s a rightsized institution ... you feel that sense of family and of belonging, where you are not just another number and where if you are struggling academically, it’s easy to identify and figure out how to support them.” From then on, Dr. Ascencio became

more involved in campus activities, joining the Latino Student Union, beginning as a student senator and representative for commuter students, and becoming the Student Association President in her senior year.

Serving in a position where she could benefit students was one of many factors that motivated Dr. Ascencio to pursue a career in higher education. “Wherever life took me, I wanted to be in a place where I was in a position where I could help students in the same way I was helped.” After graduating from WAU in 2017, she later received a job offer from a previous mentor — who also gave her her very first job in high school — to work in admissions at UMGC. It was where she wanted to be, so she accepted and has continued to aid the student population there while completing her Master’s in 2019 and her doctorate in 2022.

In 2020, Dr. Rosemary Ascencio was nominated and invited to WAU’s Board

of Trustees. When she was a part of WAU’s student government, there were opportunities to visit board meetings and relay student concerns. Still, she never thought she would one day be on the other side of those meetings, amongst the university’s leadership. As an alumna, Dr. Ascencio has a unique perspective on how WAU’s policies and operations affect its community. She has walked the same halls and understands the barriers they may face and the experiences they need to do well. WAU President, Dr. Weymouth Spence, said, “the participation and contributions from alumni trustees, such as Dr. Rosemary Ascencio, influence positive change resulting from conversations and board actions that leads to excellence in student success and overall institutional outcomes.” Now, as one of its leading decision-makers, her goal continues to be to pay it forward, aiding students in their academic achievements, reaching their goals and becoming successful as it relates to them and their journeys.

Alumni

PASS IT ON…AND ON…AND ON

By Kathy Hecht ‘82, ‘84

The theme for the 2023 WAU Alumni Weekend was “Where We Began.” Agreed, this is where we alumni began … but began what? A college career, sure. Our first experience with employment, often. Exploring what we have to offer the world, definitely. Lifelong relationships with others and God, absolutely!

For those able to join us Friday afternoon, we had a look back at our first 100 years through yearbooks, scrapbooks and memorabilia at Weis Library. Then, on to the next 100 years with President Weymouth Spence sharing his vision for moving the campus forward. Tours of the campus were also available on Friday, and open houses of Halcyon and Morrison Hall were held on Sabbath afternoon.

After an alumni reception hosted by Dr. Spence at the Votaw House, those life-long relationships were touchingly evident at the Friday evening Vespers, a retrospective of praise music through the decades. Of course, we were all taken back to the “laughing Sligo’s waters” by Karla Rivera, a 2020 graduate, and Provost Kisunzu as they led us in the school song, Columbia. Alumni had chosen some of their favorite songs for the Vespers program in advance. In previ-

ous weeks they had sent in praise song after praise song that had touched their hearts during their time on campus, often accompanied by their testimony of how that tune or that verse had been there when they needed it. The song selections ranged from 1950s hymns to Singspiration days to the present, with the current WAU praise team sharing some of their own favorites. We old-timers — I mean “legacy” alumni — learned some new songs, and the Gen X, Y and Z’s heard something new as well, such as We Are One in the Spirit and Pass it On. But all decades and all generations came together and held hands around the sanctuary for Side by Side, raising joined hands that planned to “meet me in Heaven.”

Music is such a huge part of Washington Adventist University. The Friday evening program also included the WAU Jazz Band and the Sabbath church service and afternoon concert showcased the New England Youth Ensemble and ProMusica. Alumni of the music groups were invited to join the performances.

For the first time, the alumni weekend Sabbath speaker came as a husband and wife ministry team, Jose and Joanne Cortes. Each brought their own special word from the Holy Spirit interwoven

on how the Lord expects us to treat the “least of these” among us. The “least of these” being often hidden in plain sight.

Sabbath lunch in the Dining Hall was allyou-can-eat! Who remembers having to weigh their food? The portable Gateway arch was set up (not to be confused with the two-ton one on the Commons) and provided the backdrop for honor class photos and special moments with school days BFFs.

This year the alumni board deviated from the more formal award banquet theme and back to a more relaxed social setting at a local restaurant where we had a large gathering room and balcony reserved for us. Photos of years gone by, many sent in by alums themselves, streamed during the evening. The entertainment for this Saturday evening reunion dinner was just as eclectic as the Friday evening Vespers. There were door prizes, steel pan performances, mixer games, a poetry reading by Mark Tyler, ‘94, and even impressions from our own VP for Finance and alumnus,

Kathy Hecht presenting in Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church for the 2023 Alumni Weekend

Patrick Farley. Alumni board member Benin Lee, ‘91, served as emcee and also interviewed WAU President Weymouth Spence as an opportunity for alumni to get to know the man behind the office just a little bit better.

The Sunday morning business and information session unanimously voted Benin Lee in as the new Alumni Association President, and the annual Family

Fun Fest followed in the afternoon. The WAU Commons was bustling, colorful and musical. A stage with live performers was adjacent to a petting zoo, food trucks, a bounce house, lawn games, information tents and more. The dunk tank is always a big hit, but especially when the target is the security guard who hands out the parking tickets on campus. What a good sport!

Of course, the best part of every alumni weekend is watching alumni who hadn’t seen each other in years huddled together, chatting and laughing like it was just yesterday that they saw each other last. Whether you are an alum of Washington Missionary College, Columbia Union College or Washington Adventist University, the goal is and always has been to “meet me in Heaven.” Pass it on.

Ruth Francis and Kathy Hecht at the 2023 Alumni Weekend

New England Youth Ensemble performing during the 2023 Alumni Weekend

Current and former students gather for the 2023 Alumni Weekend Vespers

President’s Overview

PRESIDENT’S REFLECTION

To God be the Glory, we completed another successful academic year. Deep appreciation to our valued faculty and staff for their outstanding nurturing and support to the 184 graduates who exited through the “Gateway to Service” to provide moral leadership in communities throughout the world.

As I mentioned in my introductory letter, we are now preparing to begin the 120th year of Adventist Christian education in the nation’s capital. From Washington Missionary College to Columbia Union College and now Washington Adventist University, the purpose of this institution of higher education remains the same. It continues to be distinctively in alignment with the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education. George R. Knight states it very well: “The primary function (purpose) of Christian education is to lead young people into a transforming, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. In [the] context of that relationship, such secondary functions

as academic achievement, character development, the formation of a Christian mind, and education for social responsibility and the world of work must of necessity take place.”

We welcome a diverse learning community that allows the freedom of academic discourse and thought, but not to the extent of replacing biblical truth. Christianity is a revealed religion – God’s truth. We strive for a greater dependence on God and a welcoming of the diversity of faith, culture, race and learning styles. Every day, we are engaging minds and transforming lives. Shown in the feature story of this issue of the Gateway are some of the recent accomplishments of our students, alumni and our amazing Honors College. The WAU Honors College, the first honors college in the Seventhday Adventist higher-education system, offers exceptional students the opportunity to take unique honors interdisciplinary tracks, which contain a unique curriculum for students to enhance their individual degrees.

Together, we will continue growing to become the best place for students to learn and employees to work. Your support as a partner in Christian higher education in the nation’s capital will ensure that WAU will graduate all students on time with little or no debt and be ready for the workplace and eternity.

Thank you for being a valuable partner and for all you have done to help students obtain their educational aspirations in a Christian environment. We celebrate the richness of diversity in human resources, personality, culture and contributions. This is Washington Adventist University.

Sincerely,

Weymouth Spence

President Spence and the Honors College at the Libya Consulate

Alumni Update