mag
WESLEYAN COLLEGE, SUMMER 2018
ADMINISTRATION Vivia L. Fowler President Melody Blake Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Andrea G. Williford Vice President for Institutional Advancement Clint Hobbs Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Matthew R. Martin Assistant Provost Christy Henry Dean of Students WESLEYAN MAGAZINE STAFF Mary Ann Howard, Editor Director of Communications mhoward@wesleyancollege.edu Brandi Vorhees Art Director Cathy Coxey Snow ’71 Alumnae Director csnow@wesleyancollege.edu Millie P. Hudson ’75 Director of Development Julie Jones Director of Advancement Services Jaime F. McQuilkin ‘06 Class Notes Editor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Betsy Martin Bunte ’68 Whitney Davis Kelsey Tinsman Ervin ’13 Lisa Sloben ’00 Amanda Wiggs Photography by Maryann Bates PRINTING: Panaprint SPECIAL THANKS Mary Kathryn Borland ’04, Ed Grisamore, The Telegraph, Jessy Whitley, Sean Alan Photography, and alumnae and friends for providing photos. Wesleyan Magazine is published twice a year by the Wesleyan College Office of Communications 4760 Forsyth Road Macon, GA 31210-4462 phone (478) 757-5137 Contents may not be reprinted without permission from the editor.
Dear Wesleyan Friends, What a year we’ve had at Wesleyan! With the recent completion of the May meeting of the board of trustees, we are ready to put into action a new mission statement and strategic plan developed this year by a team that included faculty, staff, and students with input from alumnae and trustees. This plan renews the College’s commitment to the undergraduate education of women and the graduate education of women and men. With this commitment the College will embark upon an aggressive three-year strategic plan designed to strengthen Wesleyan’s future through increased student recruiting and retention and through fiscal sustainability. The strategic plan can be viewed on the College’s website: wesleyancollege.edu/2018strategicplan. Much of our work this year has focused on curriculum revisions to make our academic programs more relevant to 21st century students and to align majors and minors with our signature “From Here to Career” program. We have improved the co-curriculum through new residence hall, campus ministry, diversity and inclusion, leadership, athletic, and service initiatives, and the strategic plan contains exciting goals for future initiatives. As we work to complete the Willet Library renovations, we are also focused on much-needed renovations to residence halls. These improvements will begin this summer, and not a moment too soon, as we anticipate welcoming a
large first-year class! We need your help to complete these projects, and you can expect to hear more about these campaigns in the near future. Why do we do all of this? The answer is singular, and you’ll see evidence of it throughout this magazine - our students. They are the reason we teach, coach, inspire, encourage, and mentor. They are the reason we provide work study, campus ministries, internships, service and leadership opportunities, faculty-led research, and study abroad. This summer edition will introduce you to students of different ages, majors, nationalities, and interests. They differ from each other and they differ from students of 20, 40, or more years ago. But, like Wesleyan students before them, they are focused, they are driven, they are called, they care, they want to make the world a better place, and they want to be successful in their life goals. They also want to be connected - to each other, to alumnae, and to Wesleyan. I hope you will join me in sincere appreciation to faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and trustees for all we have accomplished during the last year, and I hope you will join me in prayer for the future of Wesleyan, a future filled with hope and promise.
Dr. Vivia L. Fowler
Contents
W E S L E YA N M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 8
2 6 10
Today’s Wesleyan Woman
Understanding new demographics
Traditional undergraduate students Focused on their futures
Work-study students
Balancing classes with work
30 Class of ’68
40 Campus News
14 18 24
36 Commencement
Transfer students
Finishing their degrees at Wesleyan
Nontraditional-aged students Students who are older than 22
Students earning their BSN degrees 20% of our full-time undergraduate population
38 Why a Women’s College
44 Alumnae Weekend 46 Alumnae Awards 52 Class Notes Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Like many Wesleyan students, Jessica McCrory ’18 served in several capacities around campus. A psychology major with minors in educational studies and reading, Jessica had a work-study in the office of Student Activities and served as an orientation leader and WAVE member, among other roles. She is taking a gap year to serve as an intern in Wesleyan’s Division of Student Affairs. 2
CHANGE
HAPPENS At Wesleyan, too...
If you picture the average college student as a carefree 18 to 22 year-old who lives on campus, attends day classes, and is up until the wee hours of the morning eating pizza, all on her parents’ dime, you need to think again. Today’s students are more focused on their futures than any generation before them. Though students have always come from a variety of backgrounds with diverse needs, goals, and reasons for choosing a particular institution, the economic challenges of our rapidly changing world have contributed to a significant change in the demographics of today’s students. Nationally, nearly half of first-year students live at or below the poverty level, making finances a huge concern.
90%
OF WESLEYAN STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL AID.
31%
OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS HOLD WORKSTUDY JOBS ON CAMPUS.
According to Anthony Carnevale, director of Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, one reason for the change in student demographics is a decades-long economic shift that began in the early 1980s when post-high school education started to become a necessary qualification for a majority of jobs.
MANY WESLEYAN STUDENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE Photo courtesy of Sean Allen Photography
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
40%
OF WESLEYAN’S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ARE OLDER THAN AGE 22 AND DO NOT LIVE ON CAMPUS.
Without higher education, it’s less likely that today’s students will reach their full potential or get a job that pays livable wages. Wesleyan students have reported that they consider earning a college degree directly related to securing a good job after graduation.
While many students still arrive on campuses straight out of high school, an increasing number are older and have needs and goals that differ from those of traditional students. Some need to work part- or full-time to pay for their education; others are already in the workforce and have
returned to school to complete a degree, earn a different degree, advance their career, or train for a new opportunity. These students, many of whom have family obligations, need flexible and affordable programs.
A RESPONSE IS REQUIRED Fall semester 2017, Wesleyan introduced several new programs including the bachelor of fine arts, a major and minor in sport management, and new minors in equine assisted therapy, forensic science, and organizational behavior. These additions, while building on our liberal arts foundation, will make our students even more attractive to graduate programs and prospective employers. Recently, Wesleyan established a new partnership with the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Candler has agreed to automatically accept any Wesleyan student with a 3.0 GPA who majors in religious studies. Emory has also agreed to provide significant financial assistance toward tuition. Zamoria Simpson ’18 is the first student to be accepted into Candler as part of this new partnership. She will enter in the fall, seeking to earn a master of divinity degree. In October, Wesleyan partnered with Hanover Research to research program opportunities that speak to labor market demands and employment projections using the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) market data for the period 2016 to 2026. As a result of the findings, the College plans to offer several new courses beginning fall semester 2018. For example, the political science and international relations majors will join to create a new major titled politics and global affairs. The new arts management major allows students interested in the business side of their craft to take business 4
classes along with either theatre, music, or art. Additionally, a new major called applied data analysis will offer students the tools to further explore subjects within their chosen specialty by learning computational techniques for data retrieval, analysis, and reporting. Pending SACSCOC approval, the College plans to introduce the equine studies major, which will offer three tracks: education (for students who want to teach riding lessons), business (for students interested in barn management), and equine assisted therapy (for students interested in the therapeutic use of horses).
close student-faculty mentor relationships. Moreover, the course of study will emphasize the values of a woman’s liberal arts education, such as writing and verbal communication skills, ethical decision making skills, and global thinking.
For several years, the largest percentage of Wesleyan graduates have earned their degrees in business administration. BLS predicts that by 2027 there will be 208,063 Georgia vacancies in occupations such as sales management, management analysis, and construction management. In response to this information, the College is on track to offer women a chance to build their own bachelor’s degree in applied business through online courses (pending SACSCOC approval). The degree will combine core business classes with a specialization of the student’s choice. Specializations include strategic management, sport management, and organizational behavior. Credit will be considered for prior learning experiences and on-the-job training. The accelerated, eight-week sessions will remain true to Wesleyan’s commitment to interdisciplinary personalized learning, highly collaborative small class sizes, and
In a time when many liberal arts colleges face pressure to demonstrate that they adequately prepare students for the job market, Wesleyan College has risen above the competition to ensure superior career preparation and professional development for all students. The Office of Career Development works with every student to help her develop knowledge and skills that can transfer to the workplace and to demonstrate their application through a practical experience. The program is about more than just securing a job, getting into graduate school, or finding an internship. It is teaching students to understand how to navigate their own career development journey - from refining their interests and goals, to preparing a resumé, to succeeding in a job or graduate school interview. These are building blocks our students will use the rest of their lives.
The College is also working to develop a new graduate program (pending SACSCOC approval), the master of arts in applied psychology with an industrial/organizational (I/O) emphasis. The program’s unique focus on justice prepares graduates to offer solutions to workplace issues.
STICK WITH
WHAT WORKS THOUGH MUCH HAS CHANGED AT W E S L E YA N OVER T H E DECA DES, INCLUDING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR STUDENTS, YOU MIGHT FIND IT COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT MUCH HAS ALSO REMAINED THE SAME, SUCH AS THE REASONS ST U D E N TS CH O O SE TO ATTEND WESLEYAN. IN A RECENT SET OF SURVEYS M&R MARKETING OF MACON CONDUCTED F O R T H E C O L L E G E , A L U M N A E , CURRENT STUDENTS, AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS HAD THE SAME TOP THREE RESPONSES FOR THE REASONS THEY CHOSE TO ATTEND WESLEYAN: SMALL CLASS SIZES ALLOWING FOR CLOSE FACULTY RELATIONSHIPS
The next several pages of WESmag spring 2018 will introduce you to current students and recent graduates whose stories describe the Wesleyan woman of today. Their stories are inspiring and so are their words: ZOE NUHFUR,
“Coming to Wesleyan has absolutely been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Though sisterhood traditions are in a time of transition, the welcoming and supportive nature of the student body has not changed.” page 6
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE A WELCOMING SENSE OF COMMUNITY
OT H E R TOP R EASO N S I N C LUDED MAJORS AND MINORS OFFERED AND THE FEELING OF BEING PREPARED FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL.
BROOKE HESTER
“Wesleyan has helped me find my passion for my life and career and empowered me to do the things I want to do.” page 16
67% OF CURRENT STUDENTS AND
54% OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS surveyed said they intend to go to graduate school.
AMONG ALUMNAE SURVEYED
59% ALREADY HAVE GRADUATE DEGREES AND 11% ARE CONSIDERING GRADUATE SCHOOL.
NINETY PERCENT OF PARENTS OF CU R R E N T ST U D EN T S S AI D THEY WOULD RECOMMEND WESLEYAN TO OTHERS. SO HOW DID THEY LEARN ABOUT WESLEYAN? 83% OF PARENTS OF CURRENT STUDENTS AND 60% OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS said they learned about Wesleyan by word of mouth from alumnae, current students, referrals, or at college fairs. Visiting campus is a major determining factor in selecting a college.
STACEY RICE
“Women benefit from being in an environment that promotes a healthy kinship between women. Women teach one another how they want to be treated and represented in the world.” page 18
CORNELIA SEYBOLD
“The sisterhood at Wesleyan is a great thing. Through stress and laughter, we are all in this together. It makes me feel safe and secure.“ page 24
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE
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finding the perfect fit Zoe Nuhfer (Class of 2019) admits that at first she was unsure about enrolling in a small college for women. She considered herself more of a big-city-school kind of student but decided to visit Wesleyan to make sure. She was interested in studying international relations, so after a campus tour, Professor of Political Science Dr. Barbara Donovan, “invited me to have lunch with her, a couple of other professors, and a few students. That invitation and my conversation over lunch completely sold me on Wesleyan. It was obvious that the professors cared deeply about their subject areas and about their students as individuals. The excitement I saw in the faculty and the students was contagious. I put in my housing deposit that night. I am so grateful to all the donors, the faculty, staff, and students who have made my Wesleyan experience possible. At Wesleyan I’ve found my family, and I’ve found myself.” Zoe is the recipient of the prestigious Mary Knox McNeill full-tuition scholarship, serves as a campus ministry assistant, and is a Wesleyan Disciple, but she is not an international relations major. “One day about a month into my first year I happened to wander into the model classroom in the Education Department. I immediately felt a calling. By the end of that week, I had quietly recycled my international relations declaration form and rung the bell in the Education Department.” Zoe enjoyed being an education major until the middle of her sophomore year. “I still liked my education classes, but while observing and assisting in local elementary schools, something wasn’t matching up. I knew I was passionate about
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education and youth development, but it was quickly becoming clear that I did not want to teach in a traditional setting.” That same semester Zoe was taking a biology class to fulfill a general education requirement and discovered it was one of her favorite classes. She credits Professor of Biology Dr. Holly BoettgerTong for helping her uncover her love for science. She changed her major to environmental studies, kept education as her minor, and looked for a new way to apply her studies to a successful and satisfying career. Associate Professor of Education Dr. Virginia Bowman Wilcox ’90 helped Zoe arrange two internships. Interning at Macon’s Museum of Arts and Sciences, Zoe says, turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences of her time at Wesleyan, but it was an internship at Montessori of Macon that reignited her love for teaching. After one semester teaching ecology, Zoe was invited back to teach for another semester. “The Montessori classroom fits so perfectly with my values and ideas about education and gives me countless opportunities to share my love of environmental science with my students. In March I accepted a part-time job at the school. It’s my first step toward becoming a certified Montessori teacher.” According to Dr. Wilcox, “Within the Montessori process, Zoe has found a place that allows her to combine her high standards of student behaviors and expectations with her innovative instructional ideas but also requires her to utilize her strong content knowledge in the activities and lessons she plans.”
of Wesleyan’s full-time undergraduate students will have an internship or professional development experience. (Beginning with the class of 2020) Wesleyan WesleyanMagazine MagazineSpring/Summer Spring/Summer2018 2018
TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE
Wesleyan Womanof the year When Monica Mohanty ’18 was a little girl, her father, a professor of plant physiology, molecular cell biology, and genetics at Paine College in Augusta, GA, would pick her up from school and take her back to his lab where Monica would help ready things for his next class. “From a very young age I was in my dad’s lab a lot. When I was six years old he let me swab my cheek and swab it onto a Petri dish. I watched the bacteria grow. Maybe that’s when my fascination with biology began.”
art, Monica credits Wesleyan’s liberal arts curriculum with allowing her to combine this unique set of interests. “To go into the ceramics studio and work creatively with my hands is an incredible escape from the rigors of the academics of biology. I have found that working with clay and 3D sculpting tools has made me better at using a scalpel during dissections in the biology lab. These transferable skills have influenced the way I hold my hand and the way I apply pressure.”
Monica’s father emigrated from India in 1970 to earn his Ph.D. in botany at Oberlin College. Her mother joined her father later and today serves as a special education teaching assistant at a high school in Augusta. Monica, an only child, was born in America and is fluent in the Indian dialect Odia.
As a leader on campus, Monica was asked to serve on the College’s strategic planning committee, the committee to interview applicants for the position of provost, and to participate in meetings with the board of trustees. She served on SGA all four years and as president her senior year, brought attention to the national All In campaign to ensure women’s voices are represented in politics, and organized I Stand With Immigrants to support the plight of students who are undocumented immigrants (DREAMERS). Monica says serving as a Campus Ministry Assistant (CMA) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. “I’ve worked to strengthen my faith and beliefs since coming to Wesleyan and I’ve made progress on my spiritual journey. As a CMA I often challenge students to think about what being religious means to them. I’m not a counselor by any means, but I try to help people get through their struggles. I listen.”
“I am fortunate to come from a family where women are encouraged to pursue higher education. That’s not the norm in India. There a woman might finish high school and even a little bit of college, but her focus is to get married, have kids, and take care of the family. All the women in my family have earned a master’s degree or higher.” Monica’s cousins Nita and Namita Mohanty, Wesleyan Classes of 1999 and 2003 respectively, both went on to earn their medical degrees at Mercer University and practice medicine today. Earning her degree in biology, magna cum laude, with a minor in studio
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Monica said her greatest accomplishment was presenting her research at the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, where she and her team placed 2nd in the undergraduate research category. Their research influenced Monica’s desire to become a primary care physician in rural Georgia. Determined to understand the details of a career in the field of medicine, Monica volunteered in hospitals during summer breaks in high school. During Christmas break her junior year at Wesleyan, she shadowed her cousin Namita, who practices internal medicine in Augusta. “Being a doctor is not as glamorous as I first thought. It’s hard work and it can be draining. It is a calling, actually. You have to really want to do it because every patient needs her doctor’s full attention.” During the spring of her junior year, Monica interned with Foothills Area Health Education Center’s Pathway to Med School program for undergraduate college students who live in Georgia, attend a Georgia college, and plan to attend medical school to become a primary care physician in Georgia. Observing the struggles people from different socio-economic backgrounds have in getting quality healthcare ignited Monica’s desire to practice in rural and underserved communities in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology. “The internship brought to my attention how privileged I am to have healthcare. I
met patients who drove two hours just to see a doctor, others who couldn’t afford their medication or don’t know the bad habits that can contribute to diabetes. A patient isn’t a set of symptoms. A patient is a person who grew up in a unique environment. I want to know where that patient comes from and understand her experiences. I want to hear her stories and decide the best way I can help.” Monica credits Professor of Biology Dr. Holly Boettger-Tong for uncovering her fascination with reproductive biology. In BoettgerTong’s class, students studied reproductive organs in mice, artificially inseminated and grew sea urchins, and through a hole cut in the top of their eggs,
watched baby chickens grow. “All these intricate things happen to make a tiny new life. I don’t know how else to describe it except beautiful.” This summer Monica will take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and afterward, she’s treating herself to a stage performance of Hamilton before joining her family on a West Coast tour of national parks. She is taking a gap year before beginning medical school, and moving to Washington, D.C. where she will work with Mobile Med through the Westmoreland Volunteer Corps, a year-long program geared to improve the health of low income people who face barriers to healthcare access.
“I HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD THAT I COULDN’T DO SOMETHING BECAUSE OF MY GENDER. FROM AN EARLY AGE MY PARENTS PUSHED ME TO TRY WHATEVER I WANTED. WESLEYAN SUPPORTS THE SAME THEORY. WHO DOESN’T WANT TO BE IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT?” At Honors Day in April, Monica received the highest studentnominated honor, Wesleyan Woman of the Year, for leadership, loyalty to the College, and friendship to others.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
A flourishing first year
WORK- STUDY STUDENT
When first-year student Tyler Walker (Class of 2021) came to Wesleyan in the fall of 2017, she became one of more than 110 other students to hold work-study jobs on campus. Working up to seven hours a week in the office of student affairs, Tyler also took a full class load, was STUNT Writing Committee chair for her class, ran cross country, served as manager for the basketball team, and was a President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion Board representative. “Sometimes, working at a job takes my mind off the stresses of academics. It’s a way to learn new things. It keeps me busy but I’ve been intentional about not letting my hours conflict with academics, campus activities, or social time.” Tyler says her work duties include organizing club activities, creating flyers, making copies, inputting receipt information, and keeping student files organized. Dean of Students Christy Henry said, “Ty is an outstanding student and employee. She is very hardworking, goes above and beyond what is requested of her, and is very personable. She brings joy to our department.”
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This biology major and theatre minor, who earned a math and science scholarship, visited Wesleyan twice before applying but knew it was her number one choice after the first visit. “I chose Wesleyan because the school as a whole is committed to enhancing my skills and making me as well-rounded as possible. I like being part of a family. People here are truly dedicated to the students.” Tyler graduated high school in Richmond Hill, Georgia, but because her mother served in the Navy (now retired) Tyler was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in Iceland, Italy, and Japan. In her spare time Tyler practices her writing skills. So far she has written three novels and is working on her fourth. “I think the world needs more women’s colleges because the patriarchal system has not yet been dismantled to the point where women can truly flourish. Women bring significant change, improvement, and talents to the table and need to be heard.”
of incoming first year students Fall 2017 said they intended to work on campus.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Working for a future WORK- STUDY STUDENT
To say Lynette Hamilton (Class of 2019) is balancing a full load would be an understatement. In addition to taking eighteen credit hours, she is among the nearly one-third of Wesleyan’s full-time undergraduate students who hold oncampus jobs through the work-study program. Lynette holds two. She also serves as president of Baptist Collegiate Ministries, as an orientation leader, a member of the Council on Religious Unity, and volunteers with the Lane Center.
The summer after her first year at Wesleyan, Lynette went on a mission trip to Houston, Texas, where she worked with children in a vacation Bible schooltype setting. This psychology major, minoring in theatre, says her dream job is to work with children in a domestic violence shelter. “I want to help children find good homes and have better lives. I am shooting for the stars. I won’t stop at good enough. My future is what keeps me going.”
“Learning to balance work, study, and a social life is trial and error. I had to figure out what fits my life best and go with it. It isn’t always easy, but since I have found that balance I’ve been able to stay in the groove. It’s all about keeping my planner up to date!”
Lynette is certain her women’s college experience will play an important role in helping her achieve her goals. She says the leadership roles she’s held, the close relationships with her professors, and work-study have matured her thought processes and views. “I love getting to know prospective students and answering their questions. I love telling them that a women’s college will help them see the world with new eyes. Wesleyan is an empowering college that teaches women the importance of being a woman and that women are not less than men.”
Lynette’s work history includes three years in the office of admission. According to Enrollment Operations Manager Mary Ann Steinbach ’18, “Lynette is thriving at Wesleyan. She is involved in many campus activities and has blossomed from the shy young woman we met three years ago. She is outgoing and has the potential for a brilliant future.”
31%
of Wesleyan’s full-time undergraduate students have work-study jobs on campus. Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Pursuing
DUAL-DEGREE TRANSFER STUDENT
a dream
In 2014, Wesleyan College established a dual-degree program for qualified female students with Guangzhou University (GU) in China. Dual-degree students complete their first year of study at GU and their second year plus two summer terms at Wesleyan. They return to GU for their third and fourth years of study. Through this rigorous program, students complete all requirements for graduation from Wesleyan College and Guangzhou University in order to earn degrees from both institutions. Students admitted to the dual-degree program are required to major in business administration, economics, or psychology. Qishan “Valentina” Huang (Class of 2019) came to Wesleyan in July 2016 as part of the dual-degree partnership. She is from Jiangxi Province, China, and it was her first trip to America. She chose to major in economics but had dreamed of being a musician since she began playing piano at age seven. The exposure she had to Wesleyan’s musical opportunities led her to decide that spending only one year on campus was not enough, so she surrendered her dual-degree and transferred to Wesleyan as a full-time student double majoring in economics and piano performance. A member of the Concert Choir, Valentina studies piano and harpsichord with Dr. Chenny Gan and organ performance with Associate Professor of Music Dr. Michael McGhee. Though most of her free time is spent practicing 14
piano, Valentina also works as an accompanist for the music department, has performed in STUNT, and served as SGA senator representing dual-degree students. In the last two years, Valentina has won the Southeast Young Artist Piano Competition, Georgia Music Teachers Collegiate Concerto Competition, GMTA Collegiate Auditions, and most recently, the Rome Symphony Concerto Competition. Last summer she studied with Dr. Gan at the Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany and was selected as an Outstanding Performer. This summer she will attend the Brevard Music Festival, one of this country’s premier summer training programs. Dr. Gan said, “Valentina is the most ambitious student I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. She is eager to take on challenging new projects and accomplishes them in record time with impressive results. Her voracious appetite for knowledge and excellence exemplifies the Wesleyan Woman.” After graduating from Wesleyan, Valentina plans to stay in America to earn an advanced degree in performance. “I think women need to be encouraged to stand up and live for themselves, to fight for what they want, and to be open to embracing different views and experiences. Studying at a women’s college helps women be brave enough to step into the career they want and to make their voices heard.”
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Pushing to do more
TRANSFER STUDENT
Brooke Hester ’18 was studying at South Georgia State College when she decided to transfer to a college closer to her home in Rhine, Georgia. “I’ve always liked Macon, so I researched her colleges and that’s when I discovered Wesleyan. I scheduled a tour and fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere. Wesleyan was the only college I applied to when I decided to transfer.” In 2016 Brooke was awarded a Presidential Scholarship, declared psychology as her major, and immediately became active on Wesleyan’s campus. Along with approximately one-third of Wesleyan’s full-time undergraduate students, Brooke worked to balance academics and campus activities with her work-study schedule. She served as an orientation leader, senior class SGA senator, and SGA Student Life Committee chair in addition to being a work-study student in the office of institutional advancement. During the summer of 2017, Brooke completed two internships. At the Oconee district attorney’s office in Eastman, Georgia, she observed civil and criminal court cases. She also worked at Macon’s public defender office with Wesleyan alumna Kari Goellner Kitchens ’91. In addition to writing grants, Brooke worked on a large data project collecting
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information about poverty, education, and housing rates from all Georgia counties. Using the data, she helped prepare presentations for two judicial districts. Hopefully, the information will help public defenders create better defenses for their clients. Kari said, “Brooke was one of three students chosen to participate in this pilot project. She earned the slot based on her impressive resumé and professional interviewing skills. Brooke was able to articulate her desire to learn more about a field in which she knew very little. She adapted quickly to a fast-paced (and often chaotic) working environment.” Brooke’s work with the law offices confirmed her interest in practicing criminal law. For her senior seminar research project she created a program for victims of sexual assault that focuses on the psychological and religious aspects of the law. Having graduated magna cum laude, Brooke will begin working on her law degree at Mercer University in the fall. “Brooke exemplifies the spirit of the Wesleyan Woman – an intellectual woman fortified with the skill set to work through assigned tasks in order to become a part of something larger than herself,” said Kari. At Honor’s Day in April, Brooke was recognized with the SGA Leadership award and Honors in an Academic
of all full-time undergraduate day students at Wesleyan are transfer students.
Wesleyan WesleyanMagazine MagazineSpring/Summer Spring/Summer2018 2018
NONTRAD TRANSFER STUDENT
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Connecting with all ages As a senior in high school, Stacey Rice (Class of 2019) left her home in Bronx, New York, and moved to Durham, South Carolina, where she graduated in 1981. She got a job, but soon discovered there was not much room for growth. A friend who was serving in the Army and enjoying a good bit of traveling urged Stacey to give the military a try, so she joined the Air Force. “My initial plan was to serve only one term, or four years, but four years later the civilian job market was not promising, so I decided to re-enlist for another four years. Before I knew it, I was at twelve years, which is more than half way to retirement. I decided to just stick it out and do twenty years.” Twenty-three years, eight months, and one day after joining the Air Force, where she served in medical administration for twelve years, Stacey retired from Warner Robins Air Force Base as a technical sergeant in personnel administration. Deciding it was time to earn her college degree, she studied at Georgia Military College for two years before transferring to Wesleyan. She is on
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track to graduate with a degree in English next spring. Being a writer since a very young age, Stacey selfpublished a book of poetry and short stories in 2011 and is working on her first novella. Even though Stacey is a transfer student, is not of traditional collegestudent age, and does not live on campus, she says she’s found it fairly easy to connect with other students. “Since I don’t have a nine-to-five job, I can attend classes during the day. My life experience makes it easy to connect with students from all age groups. I try to participate in club activities as much as possible instead of just attending classes and leaving campus.” Wesleyan Assistant Provost and Professor of English Dr. Matt Martin said, “Nontraditional students are an essential part of Wesleyan’s incredible diversity. They bring a wisdom and range of experience that enriches a classroom. I always look forward to having Stacey in class. Her understated humor, sharp pragmatism, and depth of experience make her a joy to teach.”
of Wesleyan’s full-time undergraduate transfer students come from Georgia Military College. Wesleyan WesleyanMagazine MagazineSpring/Summer Spring/Summer2018 2018
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Earning
NONTRAD STUDENT
it for herself Macon native Katrina Skalko has been aware of Wesleyan College her entire life. She remembers visiting campus for events such as pageants in Porter Auditorium and the Cherry Blossom Festival Balloon Glow on the golf course. She knew Wesleyan was a small, private college for women, and she assumed, incorrectly, that it was too expensive and too hard to gain admission for her to consider. “I was wrong about Wesleyan on several levels, and I’m so glad I was!” Today Katrina is a Wesleyan student earning her degree in business administration with a minor in organizational behavior. She also works full-time in the admission office as the non-traditional prospect coordinator. “Being a non-traditional student definitely helps me in my job. I can relate to the students I work with and understand the obstacles they have to overcome in order to get back into school. As an incoming student, I completed Wesleyan’s application, went through the admissions process, completed assessments, registered for classes, and learned to navigate WesPortal. I’m in an ideal position to help students understand the entire admissions process.”
Katrina’s journey right out of high school led her to working full-time and starting a family instead of attending college. In 2008, she began taking classes at Central Georgia Technical College but again she put her education on hold. Nine years later, she decided to focus on getting her degree and, in August 2017, enrolled in her first class at Wesleyan. “Getting back into the swing of things was a bit difficult. Learning to balance work, homelife, a teenager, and a hobby of chicken farming is something I’m still working on, but I know it will be worth the effort. This time around I’m earning an education for myself and no one else. It means more to me now than it ever did before.” Katrina’s days start with a full shift at work and end with a class, a study group, lab work, or homework. So far, all her classes have been evening courses and she feels they are composed of a good mix of traditional and nontraditional students. “It’s so incredible to gain perspective from younger and older students. We can all learn from each other in one way or another.”
40%
of Wesleyan’s undergraduate students are older than the traditional college age of 18-21. Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
NONTRAD STUDENT
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Hard work makes you stronger by Ed Grisamore, December 2017 The only place you’ll find “success” before “work” is in the dictionary. Early in life, “work” always came before “Christmas” for Jermila Slocumb ’11. As a child, her Christmas mornings were like drill inspections. Before she and her nine brothers and sisters could run to the living room to see what was under the tree, they had to complete a list of chores longer than the wish lists they recited on Santa’s knee. “Everybody had to make up their beds, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, and clean the kitchen,” she said. “The house had to be straight before we could open our presents.” The Nowlin family had a strong work ethic – a hard-hat, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality that put food on the table and a sense of pride in their hearts. In the third grade, Jermila would help her grandfather clean office buildings. He used the experience as a teaching moment, instilling in his granddaughter an appreciation for hard work and doing the right thing. Her love of labor became a labor of love. Jermila Slocumb is one of the hardestworking women I’ve ever met. She has punched a time card at everything from being a nanny to working at a pet store to selling clothes to serving as a school paraprofessional. She returned to college to finish her degree in education, and graduated from Wesleyan College six years ago at age of 54 with a 3.7 grade point average. Jermila is now a second-grade teacher at Veterans Elementary in Macon. She constantly reminds her students about the importance of getting an education and making sacrifices. “I tell them working hard won’t kill you,” she said. “It makes you stronger. It helps you in all phases of life, from problem solving to time management. It makes you a more efficient person.”
This has been an extra-special year for Jermila. She celebrated her 60th birthday last September and became grandmother to Micah James Whidden in November. Her mother gave her the unusual name Jermila (pronounced Jerr-meela) after a man visited their church in Norfolk, Virginia. “He was from the Middle East – Jerusalem, I think – and Jermila was the name of one of his daughters,” she said. “My mother heard it and fell in love with it.” Jermila has never met anyone with the same name. A few years ago, she learned it means “beautiful” in Arabic. Jermila graduated from high school in 1975 and enrolled at Oakwood University, a Seventh-day Adventist college in Huntsville, Alabama, where she was a biology major. There, she met her husband Michael who was from Macon. Her mother was not pleased when she married in her junior year and did not finish college. She intended to go back, and even enrolled in a few classes at the University of Alabama and Macon State College (now Middle Georgia State University). But it was difficult to regain her traction once she began having children and started working a variety of jobs to help support her family. She and Michael moved to Macon in 1987 to be close to his family. She worked parttime at The Gap at Macon Mall and later began working as a parapro at Hartley, Burghard, and Springdale elementary schools. One day, a friend asked her to help with some housekeeping at the home of Dr. Mark and Mary Ellen Grossnickle. She became like a member of their family over the next five years. “If someone had told me I would become a nanny for a white family in the South I would have told them they were crazy,” Jermila said. “But it was such a unique relationship. There was a level of honesty and mutual respect. They trusted me to take care of their family, and that was not something I took lightly.”
Jermila told Mary Ellen Grossnickle she had two goals — to buy a home and to finish college. She enrolled at Wesleyan and began pursuing at degree in education, with aspirations of becoming a teacher. “I had always wanted to go back and get my degree,” she said. “I wanted to finish, and I kept stabbing at it. When I got to Wesleyan, that’s where I planted my flag.” No one said it was going to be easy. She would leave her job as a parapro at Springdale at 4 p.m. and attend classes at Wesleyan from 4:30 to 9 p.m. She would study at the library until midnight, then camp out in the student center until morning, working on projects and papers. There were times when she functioned on as little as an hour’s sleep. “Jermila is very goal oriented. She wanted to go to college, so after working two jobs to help pay for her children’s education, she did. She found ways to keep moving forward. Her determination, perseverance, and her faith called her to teach underserved children,” Grossnickle said. “Jermila is a remarkable person. She’s calm and steady and has a soothing presence. But she’s also demanding, so I’m sure she gets great results from her students.” Jermila is very proud of her children. Her oldest daughter, Mena Octavia, is a nurse at the Medical Center, Navicent Health. Mya Olivia has a master’s degree in global affairs. Her twin sister, Mia Ophelia, has a degree in psychology and a master’s in art therapy. Her son, John, is pursuing his degree in information technology and cyber security at Middle Georgia State University. A solid work ethic is their pedigree. Special thanks to Ed Grisamore who teaches journalism and creative writing at Stratford Academy in Macon, and to The Telegraph, where Ed’s column appears on Sundays, for allowing Wesleyan to reprint this story. Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
community
GAP NURSING STUDENT
Part of a During high school, Cornelia Seybold (Class of 2020) earned an associate’s degree in pre-nursing as a dual enrollment student at Georgia Military College (GMC). She was accepted to Wesleyan through the Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) for high school students interested in studying nursing and will begin working toward her BSN this fall. Cornelia learned about Wesleyan from a GMC professor whose daughter, Gabby Garcia ’18, was attending Wesleyan. Cornelia visited campus during a nursing open house. When she met the nursing faculty and learned about the hands-on learning and intimate classroom environment, she knew she had found her perfect fit. “A women’s college isn’t just about being all women. It’s about all being together as women. I don’t feel any negative pressure, just constant reassurance. I love the sisterhood at Wesleyan. Since day one, I have felt a part of a community.” Cornelia grew up listening to her father tell stories about serving in the
Air Force’s search and rescue division, which provides aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. His stories sparked Cornelia’s interest in the fields of trauma and emergency nursing. After a tour of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) last year she is also considering conducting bioterrorism research. Her plans include continuing her education to earn her master’s degree in public health and a Ph.D. Her goal is to establish programs that improve healthcare in remote areas. In preparation for her career, Cornelia has enjoyed summer internships at Boothbay Regional Health Center in Maine. The center’s purpose is to create a comprehensive primary healthcare system operating under community governance. At the clinic, Cornelia has developed a donor database, worked to establish relationships between board members and patients, and planned programs to better the community by offering accessible healthcare.
20% 91% 40% of all full-time undergraduate students at Wesleyan are in the nursing program.
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of Wesleyan’s nursing students are transfer students.
of Wesleyan’s pre-nursing students are transfer students.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
NURSING STUDENT
Achieving a dream
PRATIMA KHADKA ’18
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HOW LONG HAVE YOU WANTED TO BE A NURSE? I recently came across this line, “Service is the rent we pay for living.” Nothing could better reflect why I have always felt so strongly about becoming a nurse. I’d say my aspiration is more of a calling, driven by the dire need for a massive reform in healthcare services in my country, Nepal. The disparities in access to healthcare in Nepal are alarming. Some areas are so remote that people have to travel on foot along treacherous mountains for days to reach the nearest hospital. I’ve always known that being a nurse is the best way of achieving my dreams to help people and to advocate for patients. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE WESLEYAN’S FIRST NURSING STUDENT FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES? It has been an exciting experience, but challenging nonetheless! An incredibly supportive network of professors, friends, and family has been instrumental in my success, instilling in me the confidence and inspiration to keep going. I hope that my journey and experience as an international nursing student will motivate other international students to pursue this incredibly rewarding career. DO YOU PLAN TO WORK AS A NURSE IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER YOU GRADUATE? Yes. I plan to work for two to three years to gain experience and to advance my clinical expertise.
DO YOU PLAN TO ADVANCE YOUR DEGREE? Yes. I want to earn a master’s degree and become a family nurse practitioner. My ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate in nursing practice and then to use my educational and clinical expertise to improve and advocate for equal and easy access to healthcare in the places in Nepal where such needs are unmet. DO YOU PLAN TO SPECIALIZE IN A SPECIFIC FIELD? I am particularly interested in vascular neurology and I plan to work in a hospital for now. I completed my senior practicum in stroke certified neurology at the Medical Center, Navicent Health. This sparked my interest in understanding the brain and cardiovascular functions and the implications in controlling human physiology and different facets of human cognitive and social behaviors. I was also motivated to learn about different neurological disorders that result when structural integrity and functions of the brain, blood supply, and the nervous system are compromised. YOUR SISTER SUNADA ’16 IS STUDYING MEDICINE AT MD ANDERSON. AS A WESLEYAN STUDENT SHE SAID, “GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY WHERE BEING AFFLICTED WITH DISEASE IS STILL CONSIDERED A MISFORTUNE, I DETERMINED EARLY ON THAT MY FUTURE WAS TO STUDY MEDICINE SO I COULD EDUCATE PEOPLE AND IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN MY HOME COUNTRY.”
DOES THIS REFLECT YOUR CALLING TO BE A NURSE? Access to health services in most communities in Nepal is a privilege rather than a right. So, inarguably, this reality has influenced my calling in many ways. My sister and I grew up among the fortunate people. We always had access to the best education and healthcare services. However, we never let our privileges blindfold us to the existing socio-economic inequalities or the healthcare disparities in Nepal. I know the impact a healthcare professional can make in these deprived communities. I cannot see myself doing anything else other than being a nurse and living my passion to help the most vulnerable and poor people. WHAT ARE WESLEYAN’S SELLING POINTS FOR A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT? From my personal experience Wesleyan’s selling points are small-sized classes, domestic and international diversity, one-onone interaction with professors, leadership opportunities, numerous opportunities for professional and intellectual development, and an incredible alumnae network. In addition, Wesleyan graduates are accepted into renowned and competitive graduate programs and jobs after graduation.
PRATIMA ON CAMPUS FIRST-YEAR SUMMER RESIDENT ADVISOR
MEMBER AND SECRETARY OF AXIS INTERNATIONAL CLUB SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 2017 ACADEMIC CENTER TUTOR FOR THREE YEARS: BIOLOGY, ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND STATISTICS BIOLOGY LAB TEACHING ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER FOR LANE CENTER, INCLUDING CAMP COUNSELOR FOR AMKT STUDENT WORKER: STUDENT AFFAIRS, IT DEPARTMENT (3 YEARS, HEAD ITA SENIOR YEAR), MATHEWS ATHLETIC CENTER, AND BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT TRUSTEE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT PRESIDENT’S LIST PHI KAPPA PHI HONOR SOCIETY JUNIOR MARSHAL
Why does the world need women’s colleges?
Women’s colleges do an incredible job of instilling confidence. I’ve made mistakes, taken risks, failed, and risen again, and at no point was I or anyone else allowed to question my fundamental worth. A women’s college creates an empowering “soil” where intellect, confidence, and potential can continue to grow endlessly.
Wesleyan Wesleyan Magazine Magazine Spring/Summer Winter 2017 2018
WESLEYAN ALUMNA
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Powerful,fearless,
& emotional
MELISSA RODRIGUEZ ’16 always knew she would go to college, but it wasn’t until she was in high school that she decided it would be a women’s college. “I was ready to be surrounded by a community of women who were strong, outspoken, and making a difference in the world. I was becoming more aware of the women who influenced me and I wanted to be part of that lineage in some way.” Wesleyan’s letter of acceptance was the first Melissa received, and it arrived on her birthday. Soon after, she and her mother drove from their home in Durham, NC, to attend Pioneer Weekend. Melissa fell in love with the College and knew it was where she belonged. Though she was attending Durham School of the Arts, Melissa wasn’t yet aware she wanted to be a musician. “I knew music made me happy and that I wanted it to somehow be a part of my everyday life. Music plays an extremely important role in Mexican culture. I grew up going to family parties and gatherings that always led to someone picking up a guitar and singing old, romantic ballads.” At Wesleyan, Melissa earned double majors in psychology and music, and minored in French. During her first year she was a member of the Concert Choir and in subsequent years performed with the Wesleyannes. “The Wesleyannes was a breath of fresh air amongst the rigor of academia. So many of my life’s frustrations at the time were healed the second our warm-ups began. Wesleyannes Director Professor
Nadine Cheek ’79 has a knack for choosing repertoire that, for me, was healing, inspiring, and soul-soothing.” Melissa’s voice teacher, Associate Professor of Music Ellen Futral Hanson ’83, said, “Melissa came to Wesleyan without a thought of majoring in music. Part of the beauty of a liberal arts education is that she was able to identify her extraordinary gift for and love of singing. I have no doubt that she will have a successful career in performance.” In May, Melissa graduated from the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University with her master’s in musical performance. Specifically, she studied classical voice, which encompasses opera and art songs. According to Melissa, art songs are a less formal vehicle for classical music; they are never staged though there are often stories and plots. Opera, on the other hand, is most often staged and one specific linear plot is developed and delivered. Opera integrates many different disciplines including languages, history, theater, dance, and voice. Melissa is fluent in three languages. Her grandparents were born and raised in Mexico. Her parents were born in Texas but spent periods of their lives living in Mexico. While Melissa and her siblings were growing up, her parents spoke to them exclusively in Spanish, so becoming bilingual came very naturally. Melissa began studying French in middle school. “The four principal languages used in classical singing are Italian, French, German, and
English. A working proficiency in all four languages is imperative for singers, so learning Spanish and French at a young age helped me develop a knack for diction and prosody.” During her first semester in graduate school, Melissa performed in the role of the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, The Gondoliers. She also participated in Harrower Summer Opera Workshop at Georgia State University, performing in the role of Mercedes in her favorite opera, Carmen. In December of 2017 Melissa was invited to perform in the role of Carmen in the Opera Festival of Oaxaca in Mexico. “I sent my resumé and a few audition videos hoping they would consider me for a small chorus part, and if I was lucky, offer me the role of Mercedes. You can imagine my surprise when I was invited to sing the title role. Carmen is my dream role because it’s powerful, fearless, and requires a physical, emotional, and vocal strength that I aspire to have. Young voices often can’t sing with the power required without causing vocal harm.” Opera is not an easy career to pursue. In an industry full of scrutiny and rejection, much of the validation a singer needs comes from within. “I have a very vivid memory of singing Habanera (Carmen’s big Act I aria) in the Benson Room during one of our Sunday master classes at Wesleyan. It was the first time I was given ‘permission’ to act confident, sexy, and to just be free in my performance. Almost every day I think about and cherish the advice I received.”
Melissa performing the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Mercer in April. Photo courtesy of Jessica Whitley Photography Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
FOR ALL THAT’S NOW by Betsy Martin Bunte ’68 In April 2018, eighty-five members of the Green Knight Class of 1968 returned to Wesleyan to celebrate their fiftieth reunion. Led by cochairs Betsy Martin Bunte and Ellen Beard Martin, the class spent over two years preparing for this special Alumnae Weekend. During this time, they raised $137,926 for their gift to the College, a collaborative learning classroom and a room for video and green screen equipment in Willet Library. After celebrating at the annual meeting of the Alumnae Association and class parties, the weekend concluded with the Morning Watch Service held in Pierce Chapel. The worship service featured performances by a vocal ensemble of ’68 sisters as well as talented pianists from the class. Betsy Bunte delivered the remarks for the occasion, some of which we are pleased to share with you here. Read Betsy’s entire reflection at: wesleyancollege.edu/morningwatch2018
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Miss Munck, I’m sorry but T. S. Eliot was wrong. April is not “the cruelest month.” For it is this April of two thousand and eighteen that has brought 85 of us together, from 15 different states, to Wesleyan for the 50th Reunion of the class of 1968. Why is it that so many have traveled so far for this event?...I think most of us have returned here this weekend to experience and celebrate one more time that sense of “belonging” we knew here so many years ago... Back in 1964 when we came to Wesleyan, we wore white kid gloves to church – and sometimes hats. The social standards board instructed us that “A Wesleyanne is always seated while smoking.” The student government handbook warned us that “Picking flowers on campus will result in a fine of $5.00.” And don’t even begin to think about going down the road to the Pinebrook Inn with a date!...
We lived together in Persons and in Porter, in Banks and in Jones, in Wortham and in Hightower. Living together 24/7, week in and week out, we developed such a sense of belonging to one another that, after returning to campus after summer vacation, we picked up right where we left off, hardly skipping a beat. It began that freshman year when we found ourselves slipping easily into the roles of sisterhood: playing a quick hand of bridge before lunch, sharing Twinkies from the vending machine at midnight, and loaning Villager outfits for a special date. When the Saturday curfew chimes rang out “midnight” across the campus and car doors slammed shut sending girls racing to sign in, we stood in the dorm hallways like a Greek chorus waiting to welcome our friends back home, either to lament or to rejoice with them. We were there – waiting and
belonging. We were at Wesleyan, where the sweet, warm breath of friendship became our companion: in the study parlors those late nights before exams, around the tables in the dining hall, on the soccer field wearing those awful green bloomers, at the fountain with Gayle Clark beating on that drum. We belonged with each other… …in our junior year, we became changed women. Betty Friedan marched across the stage in Porter Auditorium and told us we could “burn our bras” and be anything we wanted! By the time we left in 1968, we were ready to take on the world! And through it all, we still belonged to each other… Wesleyan became the tapestry of our shared experiences. It was here that we celebrated the brightly-colored threads of challenges met, goals
FOR ALL THAT’S NEXT achieved, and dreams fulfilled. But also, among those radiant colors, appear the darker hues of disappointment, failure, and even death. We claim ALL those shared experiences as our own, the warp and woof that made our sisterhood stronger, deeper, lasting – always belonging to one other. Wendell Berry in his novel Jayber Crow explains so well…the uniqueness of coming together at a special place, at a singular time. For us, it was Macon, Georgia, fifty years ago. He writes: “I have got to the age now where I can see how short a time we have to be here. And when I think about it, it can seem strange beyond telling that this particular bunch of us should be here on this little patch of ground
in this little patch of time… for better or worse, our lives are woven together here, with one another, and with this place.” (p. 210) We entered as a freshman class of 262 young girls and graduated as a class of 137 wiser women. Along the way since then, twentysix of our classmates have died. Grief is the price we have paid for love…we are diminished by the deaths of these friends we cherished, friends we remember and honor here today. Be assured, sweet sisters, “We carry your handprints on our hearts.” This weekend, eighty-five ’68 Green Knight sisters have traveled thousands of miles to be here. And why? We wanted once again to sing the Doxology a capella in the dining hall, to sing those fun songs and goofy class cheers, to walk the
sidewalks between Tate and Taylor, to sit in rocking chairs on Mt. Vernon Porch, and to smell the tea olive bushes in the courtyard. We understand what Emily Dickinson meant when she wrote, “That it will never come again / Is what makes life so sweet.” And so, for all that’s now… for ALL that’s NOW, we are grateful. We are so very grateful… Now, after this wonderful time of reunion, our charge is to uplift, to support, and to encourage the people in our lives, especially NOW the Wesleyan friends whose hands we have held again this weekend. No longer separated by years gone by or distant miles, may we promise to give ourselves to a newer and deeper chapter of sisterhood going forward…
PERHAPS A FITTING CLOSE TO THIS REUNION WEEKEND COULD WELL BE THE LYRICS FROM “FOR GOOD” IN WICKED. NOT KNOWING WHEN WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN, LET US SAY WHAT WE FEEL TODAY, AS GLINDA AND ELPHABA DID IN THEIR SWEET FAREWELL TO ONE ANOTHER: I’ve heard it said, That people come into our lives, For a reason… Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true. But I know I’m who I am today Because I knew you. It well may be, That we will never meet again, In this lifetime. So let me say before we part, So much of me, Is made of what I learned from you. Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better, But because I knew you, Because I knew you, I have been changed for good. Dear friends… For all that’s now, for ALL that’s NOW, we are grateful. And—for all that’s next, for ALL that’s NEXT, we are ready—together. “Hoddy Toddy!”
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
around the world Sculpting
By the time Wesleyan Assistant Professor of Art Alexis Gregg arrived on campus in 2014, she and her husband Tanner Coleman already had a burgeoning business creating and installing playable art, sculpture, and architectural tile work in community spaces around the world. The collaboration between the two artists began when they met as undergraduate art students at the University of Georgia and continues today as the creators and designers of AnT Sculpture in Macon. Tanner oversees the design and manages the large studio space for AnT, designing new installations and producing architectural and carved brick for each sculpture. Together they assemble and install their creations on site. According to Alexis, “We design the sculptures together. Tanner works full-time creating our public art brick sculptures at our home studio and I help when I am not teaching or caring for our one-year-old (daughter Campbell). Tanner installs the work on site with the help of masons and concrete professionals.” The artists share an interest in bringing art to underserved communities where their playful, interactive, and whimsical sculptures can be enjoyed daily. The sculptures often include tunnels, bridges, seating benches, and portals in an installation that is culturally specific and relevant to its space. Their latest works are commisions through The Downtown Challenge Grant at Macon for five sculptures in city parks throughout Macon. Alexis credits the time she spent in the UGA Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy, as the turning point in seguing her focus from painting to ceramics. There she learned to love the process, the materials, and the permanence of ceramic art. For her master’s of fine arts project at Cal State Long Beach, Alexis created a sixteenfoot architectural ceramic mural with two 32
ceramic door and window surrounds. After her graduation, Alexis and Tanner served as artists in residence in Idaho and Montana and around the world including South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan, Turkey, and China. To date they have created more than fifteen large-scale permanent public artworks in seven countries. Through the exploration of craft, culture, and a desire to connect with the surrounding community, Alexis says her work is a constant balance of research and implementation. “I am interested in the cliches of culture and how once meaningful and often sacred imagery becomes mass-produced or, in essence, lost in its overuse. I have a playful style that acts as the first visual utterance, and just beneath this layer, poetic questions of social significance are raised, seeking dialogue with the viewer or expressing a personal inner dialogue.” Dotted around Wesleyan’s campus you’ll see the creative work and inventive installations of art produced by Wesleyan students under guidance from Alexis with Tanner’s on-site help. Two large ceramic murals serve as portals flanking the entrance doors to the Murphey Art Building. Rich with meaning and storytelling, the murals represent the traditions of Wesleyan and the magic of creativity found in the art studios. On the banks of Foster Lake sits the Hurdle Memorial Bench, created by Alexis’s 3D ceramic students, in memory of Reverand Bill Hurdle, Wesleyan chaplain (1998-2015). Alexis played a key role in bringing the BFA back to Wesleyan after a twentyyear hiatus. Part of the expanded program includes a professional artist residency, which began fall 2017 with Jeni Hansen Gard. Gard worked with students on three projects during the 2017-2018 academic year. See WESmag, winter 2017 for her story.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Nurturing
spiritual lives As the Ackerman/Hurdle Chaplaincy Chair, Dr. Tyler Schwaller is charged with nurturing the spiritual lives of the Wesleyan community. In his first year, Dr. Schwaller has been working to establish Pierce Chapel as a center for faith and life on campus. Much of the activity centers around the work of the Wesleyan Disciples, students who commit to participate in an intentional program of Bible study, to complete at least 12 hours of volunteer service each semester (most Disciples complete many more hours than the minimum required), and to plan and present weekly chapel services, which are open to the entire Wesleyan family. Under Dr. Schwaller’s direction, the Disciples are envisioning new ways to collaborate with other student groups so as not to be insular but to be an integral part of building a vibrant, diverse campus community. The Disciples recently held a weeklong Diverse Yet United campaign to promote inclusiveness by representing the Christian values of hospitality, grace, justice, and love. Another campaign brought attention to the individuals employed by National Management Resources Corporation and Aramark, who care for Wesleyan’s facilities and who provide our meals. Students circulated a “thank you” video they made in which they interviewed employees who expressed gratitude for their service to the community. In addition to his role as Wesleyan’s chaplain, Dr. Schwaller also serves as assistant professor of religious studies. In these dual roles, he is working to bring about a new collaboration 34
between the chapel and the religious studies department. This year the chapel has brought a range of speakers to campus with a particular emphasis on ecotheology. The Student Government Association now holds their weekly meetings in the Lovick P. Corn Center on the lower level of Pierce Chapel, which has created new opportunities for increased collaboration between the chaplain and student leaders. Also, a new program called Tuesday Table offers hospitality and care for one another as students gather in the chapel for a homemade meal prepared by the chaplain. An important goal moving forward is to increase connections with The United Methodist Church. Dr. Schwaller and Dr. Fowler have been working with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry on a plan to allow pastors who have gone through the Course of Study to receive college credit toward earning a bachelor’s degree. Dr. Schwaller, Dr. Fowler, and Dr. Karen Bray, chair of the religious studies department, also are developing a more robust service learning program in coordination with United Methodist Global Ministries, which has recently relocated from New York to Atlanta. Already in place is a partnership with Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, which guarantees admission and significant tuition assistance for any Wesleyanne with a 3.0 GPA who majors in religious studies. Zamoria Simpson ’18 will enter Candler’s master of divinity program this fall as the first Wesleyanne to be accepted to Candler as part of the new partnership. “Through
such partnerships,” says Dr. Schwaller, “we hope to equip our students to make lifelong connections between the church, academy, and world.” Last fall Sarah Bellflower ’18, a Findlay Scholar who majored in religious studies, along with sophomore Jamie Fang ’20, attended a special program at Harvard Divinity School (HDS) called Diversity and Explorations, a three day, all expense paid program giving students an idea of what divinity school can offer. “The highlights,” according to Sarah, “were my interactions with the faculty of HDS. I got to sit in on a lecture and learn about what classes at HDS would be like. These interactions made me certain that I wanted to pursue divinity school after graduating from Wesleyan. Even though I’m not pursuing any sort of ordination or traditional ministry, the program showed me a wider scope of what ministry can mean. My experience in working at Willet Library and in the archives has made me realize the importance of uninfringed access to information. I hope to earn a master’s of divinity degree and eventually a master’s of library and information science. My goal is to improve public libraries and their educational programs in order to improve adult functional literacy in disenfranchised areas. Harvard Divinity’s Diversity and Exploration program showed me that divinity school is the right fit for me.” Sarah was accepted to several graduate programs – Vanderbilt, Union Theological, and Harvard – and will be attending Harvard Divinity in the fall.
Wesleyan WesleyanMagazine MagazineSpring/Summer Spring/Summer2018 2018
IT’S A NEW DAWN, IT’S A NEW DAY. B Y J U D G E V E R DA M . C O LV I N
The following is an excerpt from Judge Colvin’s commencement 2018 address. The address can be seen in its entirety at www.news.wesleyancollege.edu/videosandpublications Graduating women of Wesleyan College, the class of 2018, today marks A New Dawn, A New Day. There are three things I want you to remember as you leave these hallowed grounds:
FIRST, YOU ARE LITERALLY AMONG THE MOST PREPARED GRADUATES OF 2018.
Only one percent of all women attend women’s colleges, but this one percent is the elite among women. This stimulating community in which you have immersed yourselves for the past four years is a model of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inclusion and success.
YOUR LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IS THE REASON YOU WILL BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERS. That is because a liberal arts education teaches you to think broadly and
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provides you the tools to continue being a thinker throughout your life. It’s a new dawn and a new day because you, the Class of 2018, are leaving this institution and entering a world that desperately needs women to LEAN IN. You are needed to push our society to rise to the creeds and principals entwined in the universal moral code which guides who we are as beings living a human experience.
SECONDLY, NEVER ALLOW FEAR TO SUFFOCATE YOUR DREAMS.
Dream and then do. Wesleyan women are expected to think, explore, and dream big. There is a calling on each of your lives.
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT DOUBT KILLS MORE DREAMS THAN FAILURE EVER WILL. You must know and believe down to your core the
first point I made - namely that you are literally among the most prepared graduates of 2018. Pursue your respective disciplines with a fierce sense of urgency. Always remember, your career is what you’re paid for, your calling is what you‘re made for (an original quote by me). Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. To do this you must put purpose to your dream by benefiting others. If your focus is only on you and yours, you negate all that Wesleyan invested in you.
DON’T LOOK AT WHAT IS. ENVISION WHAT CAN BE AND TAKE ALL THE INTELLECT, SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE GAINED AT WESLEYAN AND MAKE IT SO. Leave these sacred grounds vowing that you will NEVER allow the naysayers to cloud your vision. Go
Verda M. Colvin is a Superior Court Judge in the Macon Judicial Circuit which serves Macon-Bibb, Crawford, and Peach Counties. She presides over the Mental Health Court for the Circuit, Family Violence Court, Family Treatment Court, onethird of the civil docket, conflicted domestic cases, and the narcotic cases for MaconBibb County. She was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal on April 16, 2014 and is the first African American female appointed to the Macon Judicial Circuit Bibb County. Colvin earned her bachelor’s degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, and her law degree from the University of Georgia. She practiced in a law firm and was a prosecutor on the state and federal level for twenty-two years.
through all the nos and all the closed doors to get to the open windows, the openings to fulfill your dreams. Never give in to no. If not you Wesleyan Class of 2018 then who? You must vow to say yes to your dreams.
THIRD, FIND JOY IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR WORK. As
important as it is to remember that you are the most prepared graduates of 2018 and that you never allow anyone or anything to suffocate your dreams, you must also find joy in all that you do - both in your personal life and in your work. Joy is that emotional fulfillment that comes from within and
exudes outward. It is not based on momentary highs of excitement but instead on those basic tenents that makes one’s life well lived - something to do, something to give, and someone to love. Those are the emotional components that make a life of joy. Remember, as you are defining yourselves professionally, cultivating a personal life is an important part of being joyful. Cultivate and cherish your personal relationships with family and friends. Take time to come to know your parents in a mature way as you explore life more fully. They will always be your strongest supporters.
WESLEYANCOLLEGE.EDU
DARE TO FIND JOY AND MAKE PEACE WITH WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE, AND WHY YOU ARE HERE IN THIS SPACE IN TIME ON EARTH. WHEN YOU MAKE PEACE IN THIS WAY YOU WILL ULTIMATELY FIND JOY. CONGRATULATIONS! Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Hearing
our voices by Kelsey Tinsman Ervin ‘13 Last year during an alumnae event, someone posed the question: Are women’s colleges relevant anymore? I suppose in a world where Pantsuit Nation, the #MeToo Movement, and countless examples of women empowering themselves are seen in the media, it’s a question worth asking. In my opinion, the answer is obvious. Of course women’s colleges are still relevant. Perhaps more so now than in the last decade. The importance of Wesleyan wasn’t something I realized until after I had graduated. Obviously I knew the historical importance—Wesleyan history is something I can still rattle off at the drop of a hat—and I was proud to have graduated from such a prestigious institution. But I did not fully realize the weight of my experience there until graduate school when I found myself back in a co-ed classroom. Oddly, though women dominated the classrooms in numbers, my male classmates’ voices rang the loudest. Male teachers were considered borderline oracles and female professors with longer tenure were more easily written off, their knowledge somehow less important. I was the only graduate student in my cohort to attend a women’s college as an undergraduate. I was dismayed at how quickly I was labeled as an “angry feminist” by my peers. Looking back, I wish I had worn that label like the badge
of honor it was instead of letting their negativity shape my actions and diminish my voice. I found myself holding back in classes and in my personal interactions with my male classmates. When confronted with unwarranted comments and the casual sexism that women experience every day, I remained silent. I worried about speaking out against my fellow classmates and professors, and convinced myself it was better not to say anything. “Keep your head down and make the most of this opportunity.” That is what I told myself. I constantly reminded myself that the opportunity to go to graduate school was a privilege; these challenges were just something I had to endure to study what I loved. Once I graduated and had a chance to reflect on my experience, I was angry. Angry with myself for allowing chances to stand up and demand respect go by. How was I so easily cowed? With all the knowledge and power I received from Wesleyan I couldn’t help but feel like I had failed my alma mater. In realizing how easy it was for my own voice and opinions to be dismissed, I can’t help but wonder about the women who attend co-ed colleges and universities. I don’t mean to suggest that women who don’t go to Wesleyan will fail or are more likely to fall short of their personal goals. But I do wonder if it will take them longer to learn the power of their own voice. The biggest gift Wesleyan gave me was a classroom where the loudest voices were female. That gift
could easily be overlooked, but it was probably the most important part of my time at Wesleyan. Women leading discussions, women making decisions, naturally and as easily as breathing. Wesleyan allowed me to envision a future where women can lead and speak freely without a fight. Though that future has not been realized, my time at Wesleyan has given me a specific goal, something to fight for. There are so many women who are pushing and publicly demanding to be heard. They are fighting for something they believe can exist that they haven’t found yet—equality. Wesleyan provides a place where young girls can practice hearing their voices and prepare themselves for a world where they will always have to work harder than their male peers. That is a truth every woman has faced. Through the hard work of the women who have come before us, women have more opportunities than ever before. Despite that, many of the challenges our mothers and grandmothers faced are still prevalent. As a student I had no idea how much Wesleyan was preparing me for life after graduation. Now, working in a field far removed from my major, I see the true worth of going to a women’s college. Why is Wesleyan still relevant? Because it gives the women who will shape the future a glimpse of the world they have imagined: a world where their voices will be heard.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF RECOGNIZED ON HONORS DAY On Honors Day, Wednesday, April 19, 2018, Wesleyan College bestowed awards, prizes, and recognition to students, faculty, and staff at a ceremony held in Pierce Chapel. Monica Mohanty ’18 (page 8) received the highest student-nominated honor, Wesleyan Woman of the Year, for leadership, loyalty to the College, and friendship to others. Kylie Lovett ’18 was honored as Wesleyan Woman of Success, an award given annually to a graduating senior who stands out in Fowler, Parker, Donovan, Lease, Heaton, Provost Melody Blake
extracurricular activities, community service, and academics. In the fall, Kylie will be attending Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island, and is working toward a career in criminal defense. Brooke Hester ’18 (page 16) earned the SGA Student Leadership Award for outstanding leadership skills and leadership potential. Theresa Abercrombie, student affairs program coordinator, was honored with the SGA Faculty/Staff Workhorse Award and, for the second consecutive year, Tonya Parker Abercrombie and Fowler
’01, assistant dean of students for diversity and inclusion, was honored as SGA Staff Member of the Year. Faculty award winners included Professor of Political Science Dr. Barbara Donovan, SGA Professor of the Year; Professor of Art History Libby Bailey, recipient of the Ann Munck Excellence in Teaching Award; Assistant Professor of English Dr. Joe Lease, Quillian Distinguished Teaching Award recipient; and Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Randy Heaton, recipient of the Vulcan Materials Exemplary Teacher Award. Lovette, Fowler, Mohanty
WESLEYAN’S JILL AMOS ’87 IS HONORED WITH THE JEFFERSON AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Jill Amos, director of the Lane Center for Service and Leadership at Wesleyan College, has been honored with The Jefferson Awards, a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public volunteerism in America. Local winners are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition. The Jefferson Awards Foundation is a non-profit organization that “recognizes, inspires, and activates volunteerism and public service in communities, workplaces, and schools across America.” The Institute was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard to establish a Nobel Prize for public and community service. A 1987 graduate of Wesleyan, with majors in psychology, social services, and religious studies, Amos has spent most of her professional career serving children, youth, and families through foster care initiatives in Georgia and throughout the United States. For 30 years she’s helped place children with severe emotional and physical needs in the foster care system into loving homes. Amos estimates she’s worked with more than 2,000 children in Georgia’s foster care system during her career. As director of Wesleyan’s Lane Center, Amos mentors student servant leaders who volunteer in approximately 50 local community agencies each year. During the academic year 2017 – 2018, Wesleyan servant leaders served more than 7,000 hours, 40
Amos with Lane Center Servant Leader SaVana Cameron ’18 who was instrumental in acquiring performers for Woman with Purpose, an event benefiting Crisis Line and Safe House. including working at Aunt Maggie’s Kitchen Table (AMKT). AMKT is Wesleyan’s signature outreach program serving children and youth who reside in Macon’s Anthony Homes. In partnership with The Fuller Center for Housing of Macon, Amos recently led more than 100 Wesleyan student volunteers in making improvements to two homes and several vacant lots in the Napier Heights community.
PREVIEW DAYS, RAMPED More than 145 prospective students and their families visited Wesleyan’s campus during three Preview Days this academic year – in December, February, and April. A typical Preview Day includes breakfast for students and their guests, a campus tour, an information session for parents, and a student life session for students. During the academic session, students are encouraged to meet with faculty in their areas of interest. The day ends with lunch and a closing session in Pierce Chapel. Students receive a Wesleyan T-shirt and parents are given a Wesleyan notebook and pen as parting gifts.å The office of enrollment reports that 277 seniors have visited campus this academic year.
DR. PHILIP DAVIS TAYLOR RETIRES After almost three decades of dedicated service to Wesleyan College, Clara Carter Acree Chair of Social Sciences, Professor of Economics, and Chair of the Department of Business and Economics Dr. Phil Taylor retired in May. His undergraduate and graduate instruction at Wesleyan focused on financial economics, international trade, and economic development. Taylor played an integral role in establishing the Executive MBA program at Wesleyan and served in the director’s position for fourteen years. Known for his expertise in the classroom, his guidance, his mentorship, and his good humor, Taylor organized study abroad programs to Russia, China, Central Europe, and South America. He was the recipient of the Ann Munck Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001 and 2008. Taylor earned his bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his master of arts and doctorate degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Taylor says his first priority after retirement is to complete the construction of a beach home on Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and then to spend as much time as he can fishing, sleeping, reading, and traveling – in that order.
“During almost 29 years with Wesleyan, I have had the daily privilege of teaching talented young women and working with dedicated colleagues. I treasure the friendships that have developed over the years, and my hope is that I can strengthen these relationships now that I will have a more flexible schedule. In this vein, I welcome any opportunities to assist in strengthening our international ties and utilizing the myriad talents of our alumnae.” Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
HOLI FESTIVAL ON THE QUAD In March, students celebrated the traditional Hindu festival Holi by throwing colored powder called gulal at each other. The bright colors represent the many colors of spring. Holi is celebrated in early spring to signify the triumph of good over evil. The event was organized by the Council on Religious Unity, whose purpose addresses spiritual needs on campus by providing resources and information to promote tolerance, diversity, and unity among all religious groups.
Take Back the Night
Wesleyan students made t-shirts for the Crisis Line and Safe House’s annual sexual assault awareness event Take Back the Night. The event was held in April at Washington Park, downtown Macon. The shirts were displayed as part of the Clothesline Project which helps increase awareness of domestic abuse by sharing an individual voice of validation and encouragement for victims. This year’s theme was “Shine the Light,” to symbolize shining the light on the issues of sexual assault. The event consisted of a speaker and a candlelight vigil where survivors of sexual assault and supporters were invited to speak about their own experiences. 42
WOW! A Day for Macon
More than 100 students volunteered for The Lane Center for Service and Leadership’s WOW! A Day working with The Fuller Center for Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit working in 60 U.S. cities and 17 nations throughout the world. The Macon organization works to repair and rehabilitate owner-occupied homes for families who, due to economic circumstances, cannot otherwise afford a simple, decent, and affordable home. Lane Center Director Jill Amos said, “Vast improvements were made to two homes and several vacant lots in the Napier Heights community. This was by far the best rebuild in which WOW has participated.”
CURATING COLLECTIONS As Wesleyan’s Curator of Collections, Lisa Sloben ’00 cares for and exhibits Wesleyan’s small but choice collection of art, furniture, decorative art, silver, and historic costumes. For three weeks in January she had a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, MA, including their collections management. “Wesleyan’s diverse collection ranges from an Italian Renaissance altarpiece to an Andy Warhol silkscreen. As I worked in the collection areas of the Harvard Art Museums, I was delighted to see similar objects in their collection. It speaks highly of our collection.” Lisa worked with Harvard Art Museum’s collections care manager devising custom, long-term art storage and choosing safe materials based on the size, shape, and composition of the art objects. She gained new expertise for storing Wesleyan’s textiles and learned Harvard’s processes for logistical arrangements for exhibitions and the functions that support curatorial, conservation, and program initiatives. “Though Wesleyan does not have the resources of Harvard, we can use the same processes and standards in museum management.” Currently, Lisa is working on her master of liberal arts in museology/museum studies at Harvard University and plans to graduate in 2019.
Wesleyan’s FIRST BFA Graduates
Ceramist Keondria Epps ’18 (shown above) has excelled at many things during her years at Wesleyan, but changing her degree from biology to the bachelor of fine arts (BFA) in ceramics in her junior year might be her boldest move. Transitioning almost seamlessly from one degree to another while maintaining her President List and Provost List academic honors, Keondria earned her degree magna cum laude from the newly-minted BFA program. Double major Lianne Ashton ’18 earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communication and her bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art. Lianne held an internship at the Forsyth Road Goodwill store in Macon working as coordinator of artists’ exhibitions. According to Comer Professor of Painting Frances de La Rosa, “Lianne has amazing talents as an illustrator, and always excels in any art medium she sets her hands and mind to.”
Nguyen wins state award
Congratulations to Thu Nguyen ’18 for the honor of receiving the Jack Mangham Experiential Learning Award sponsored by the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers. This is the second consecutive year that a Wesleyanne has won this prestigious accolade (Catherine Tang ’18). The winner of the Jack Mangham Award is determined based on a student’s exemplary experiential learning experience (internship, coop, etc.), academic success, faculty recommendation, and commitment to on-campus leadership. Nguyen won for her self-designed project using experimental theatre in Vietnam to effect social change and facilitate intercultural dialogues. Other Wesleyan nominees who made it to the state finals for consideration included Seychelle Hercules ’18, Anjola Uprety ’18, and Liana Mikaelyn ’18.
Diveristy and Inclusion
Two student DID Facilitators, Jamie Fang ’20 and NyAnna Miller ’18, participated in Wesleyan’s presentation at the University System of Georgia Teaching & Learning Conference. Led by Associate Professor of English and Diversity Liaison Dr. Melanie Doherty and Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Tonya Parker ’01, the session provided an overview of Wesleyan’s Diversity and Inclusion Discussions (DID) program, explained elements of the discussion methods we use, and examined how student-led discussions have helped us improve campus climate and student engagement.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
A Letter from the WCAA president “So many moments … so many memories”
sums up a weekend full of smiles and stories and sunshine! It’s difficult to adequately
relay the excitement of Alumnae Weekend or to recount the events and reunions in a
few short paragraphs, but that is the beauty of it. I don’t have to put it into words for
Wesleyannes because you all know what I’m
talking about. You’ve been there, you’ve lived
it, and you’ve loved it. The weekend was picture-perfect Wesleyan, in all her springtime glory.
There were two notable “firsts” for Alumnae Weekend 2018. We had the first live streamed annual meeting as well as the first
annual meeting with the 25th President of the College, Dr. Vivia Fowler, in attendance. I’m sure our sisters who could not attend
cheered with us as we showed our Wesleyan spirit, watched with
pride as we honored our distinguished alumnae award recipients, and missed us as much as we missed them.
We also welcomed a brilliant and inspiring group of young
women into our sisterhood. I was thrilled to induct new sisters, the Purple Knight Class of 2018, into the alumnae association. These Wesleyan women are bright, spirited, and ready to take on the
world. I can’t wait to see what amazing things they will accomplish. Our sisterhood has been enriched by their inclusion.
Finally, let me say that it has been a true pleasure and honor to
preside over the annual meetings for the past three years, along with our wonderful Alumnae Weekend Chair Carol Bacon Kelso
’73. All of you, my sisters, have been an amazing support network in my tenure as president of the Wesleyan College Alumnae
Association. I am looking forward to supporting the leadership of our newly elected president, Abbie Smoak Lacienski ’01.
Melanie Filson Lewis ’93 President, Wesleyan College Alumnae Association
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CHECK OUT MORE ALUMNAE WEEKEND 2018 PHOTOS AT flickr.com/wesleyancollege/albums
2018ALUMNAE AWARD RECIPIENTS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY Beth Koon ’83
Beth has a long history of service to social work and volunteerism beginning when she was a student at Wesleyan majoring in pre-professional social work. In graduate school, Beth served as president of the Florida State University’s Association of Student Social Workers. After receiving her master of social work in clinical work, she continued her service through involvement with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). NASW has more than 150,000 members worldwide and is the primary professional association for the social work profession. Beth’s service in NASW includes two years as president of the Florida chapter board of directors. In 2009 Beth was honored as NASW Heartland Unit Social Worker of the Year, and in 1992, NASW Central Florida Social Worker of the Year. In 2006, she was
recognized with the prestigious Winter Haven Hospital Community Mission Award. Beth has testified on behalf of clinical social workers to the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling and before the Florida Legislature to advocate for the civil rights of mentally-challenged citizens. She has represented Florida social workers’ interests in the development and revision of policy statements and by-laws of the association in Washington, D.C. Beth is currently active on six boards: Your Polk County HUB Inc., Institutional Review Board of Polk State College, Humane Society of Polk County, Angels Care Center of Eloise, Winter Haven Charity Challenge, and the Amaryllis Club of Bok Tower
Gardens. She has served on the CURE Human Cancer Awareness Ribbon Planning Committee, as a member of Symphony Guild of Winter Haven, the Community Foundation, and is a past member of the board of directors of Women’s Resource Center of Central Florida. Since 2016, Beth has been employed as performance improvement project manager at BayCare Health System/Polk Region in Winter Haven. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Beth facilitates improvement teams in problemsolving efforts using Six Sigma, Lean Kaizen, FOCUS-PDSA, and Work-Out methodologies. She works with multi-functional teams and leadership to develop, execute, and complete selected improvement projects by providing a hands-on approach to problems.
Now is the time to Nominate for 2019 Alumnae Awards:
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Distinguished Achievement in a Profession • Distinguished Service to Community, Church, or Wesleyan • Young Alumna Award. For nomination forms contact the alumnae office (478) 757-5173 or download forms from our website. Deadline to nominate January 1, 2019.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO WESLEYAN Bryndis W. Roberts ’78
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO WESLEYAN Priscilla Gautier Bornmann ’68
YOUNG ALUMNA AWARD Oluwatoyosi Fatunase Onwuemene ’03
For 44 years Bryndis has called Wesleyan her second home. From the moment she arrived on campus for the Governor’s Honors Program in 1973, she knew she had found a place that would guide her to her destiny. Bryndis was only 16 when she entered Wesleyan in the fall of 1974. A natural leader, she became a member of Mortar Board, Pi Gamma Mu, Chancellor of Honor Court, and was designated a Wesleyan Scholar. Bryndis was awarded the Alumnae Scholarship for Leadership and the STUNT scholarship and graduated magna cum laude. Bryndis attended the University of Georgia School of Law where she distinguished herself as the executive editor of the Georgia
Law Review and was named Outstanding Woman Law Student. She earned her J.D. cum laude in 1981 and at 31 years of age, Bryndis became vice president for legal affairs at UGA with responsibilities for overseeing legal matters involving the University. Currently, she is a partner in the firm Jenkins and Roberts LLC in College Park, Georgia. As a young attorney, Bryndis overcame challenges and broke color barriers and commited herself to helping other women overcome issues she faced. An active Wesleyan volunteer and mentor to Wesleyan students, Bryndis has served as a convocation speaker, panelist, student recruiter, and career advisor. She has spoken to students
during Black History Month and today she mentors through her Facebook group, Sisters of the First Five, where she provides career advice and life lessons to her Wesleyan sisters, both students and alumnae. She also served on the presidential search committee that selected Ruth Knox ’75 as Wesleyan’s 24th president. In 1991, Bryndis was elected to Wesleyan’s board of trustees. At that time she was the youngest member of the board and the only minority member. She has served as vice-chair of the board and of several committees. She also chaired the Student Affairs Committee. Bryndis is a charter member of the Society for the Twenty-first Century.
Though weighing only three and a half pounds at birth and never reaching five feet in height, when Pris arrived on our Rivoli campus in September of 1964, she became Wesleyan’s petite Goliath. She served as class president her junior year, as president of the YWCA her senior year, and was instrumental in bringing Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, to Wesleyan. After that coup in advocacy for women and graduating cum laude, Pris earned her master of science degree in 1969 from Purdue University followed by a J.D. degree from American University in Washington, D.C. For many years, Pris offered
pro bono legal advice to United Community Ministries in Northern Virginia, an organization that provides aid for indigent men, women, children, and immigrants. Her thirty-year career in law complemented her work at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Serving as the go-to attorney for any parish business that arose, Pris helped with property issues and led classes for the congregation on end-of-life issues and estate planning. Ever on the frontline of women’s rights, Pris became an early leader in La Leche League International as she fought to make breast-feeding in public an acceptable act of mothering. Pris has hosted alumnae
gatherings and student interns in her home, served as a career mentor, represented Wesleyan at college fairs, and contacted alumnae about supporting Wesleyan’s development goals. Pris played a key role in planning, fundraising for, and coordinating the first Alumnae Leadership Day in 2016. In addition, Pris has served her alma mater as an alumnae club leader for the D.C. Metro Area for thirty-plus years, Class of ’68 liaison, member of the Society for the Twenty-first Century, vice-chair of the Major Gift Committee for the Forever First campaign, alumna trustee on the WCAA’s board of managers, and in 2017 she was elected to Wesleyan’s board of trustees.
A Munroe Scholar, Toyosi was an academic star and a campus leader at Wesleyan. A biology and chemistry major, she was a dedicated researcher, presenting at professional conferences, authoring an honors thesis, and was selected to attend summer programs at Baylor and Emory Universities. She was awarded Outstanding Paper at the 2001 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science, the Lise Meitner Award in Physics, the Claire Boisfeuillet Jones Prize in biology, and the Outstanding Senior award from the science division. She also served as a computer resident assistant, a teaching assistant, a peer advisor, and a volunteer at KISMET, a Wesleyan summer science camp. Toyosi was selected as a member of Beta Beta Beta, Mortar Board,
and Phi Kappa Phi before graduating magna cum laude and being honored as Wesleyan Woman of Success. Toyosi earned her M.D. and completed her residency at Duke Medical School where she earned the Lecoq Award for Outstanding Senior Assistant Resident Talk. She also volunteered at community health fairs, served on the planning committee for the Student National Medical Association’s annual Martin Luther King Dinner, and participated in the Christian Medical and Dental Association’s ministry to the homeless. She also completed a residency in hematology/ oncology at Northwestern University, earning a M.S. in clinical investigation. Today she serves as assistant professor of medicine at Duke.
Toyosi was recognized with the Excellence in Education award from the department of medicine at Duke, and was selected as a Fellow for the Professional Mentoring Skills Enhancing Diversity Program. She has authored many articles for professional journals, books, and conferences, is a frequent lecturer, and a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society for Apheresis, Hemostasis, and Thrombosis Research Society, the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and the American Society of Transplantation. Toyosi is active in her church and has generously mentored Wesleyan students interested in science and medical school.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
AlumnaeCONNECTIONS
A Strategic Plan. Since December, alumnae events have focused on meeting with Wesleyan’s 25th president Dr. Vivia L. Fowler, educating alumnae on the College’s new strategic plan that promotes recruitment, retention, and financial sustainability, and connecting alumnae with each other through sisterhood events and with potential students through admission events. “To contribute to the strength and prosperity of our alma mater” is the pledge alumnae accept when they are inducted into the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association. Its call-to-action message to preserve the College is as relevant today as when it was written in the WCAA’s constitution in 1859. To explore the many ways you can be part of the plan to serve and strengthen the Oldest and Best contact the Alumnae Office at csnow@wesleyancollege.edu or the WCAA Board of Managers at WesleyanBOM@gmail.com.
Florida
Statesboro
Tallahassee
In January, area alumnae welcomed President Vivia Fowler to Tallahassee at a luncheon held at Goodwood Plantation, where she updated the group on current news from the College, her vision for Wesleyan’s future, and how alumnae can help in promoting Wesleyan’s strategic plan through volunteerism. Virginia Barber Perkins ’63 coordinated plans for the luncheon along with her committee members Shari Richardson Arrington ’71, Ermine Owenby ’61, and Martha Herring Stubbs ’68. Wesleyan staff members Cathy Coxey Snow ’71, alumnae director, and Whitney Davis, director of annual giving, also attended the luncheon.
Georgia Atlanta
Atlanta Club President Shanita Douglas Miller ’06 invited area alumnae to a Christmas Tea at the High Museum of Art to meet President Fowler. Wesleyan advancement staff guests Andrea Williford, Susan Brown Allen ’17, and Millie Parrish Hudson ’75 also attended the tea and enjoyed visiting with alumnae. Alumna Trustee Leesa Akins Flora ’87 hosted two events in her home, a winter Holiday Mixer and a springtime admission event for accepted and deposited students and their families, where Andrea Williford was on hand to greet alumnae. In March, Atlanta Young Alumnae had fun at an impromptu Wesleyan Meet-Up in Grant Park, and in April the FIRST Pioneers of Excellence Scholarship Luncheon, a fundraiser to benefit the Atlanta Club’s Scholarship Fund, was held at Davio’s in Phipps Plaza. Vivia Fowler was the featured speaker at the luncheon. Former Atlanta Club scholarship recipients Emiaya Rogers (2016 recipient) and Olivia Moore (2017 recipient) also spoke to the group. The Club surpassed its goal and raised more than $1500 dollars in scholarship money. Susan Allen and Millie Hudson from Wesleyan’s advancement office also attended the fundraiser.
Macon
In December, nearly 70 alumnae attended the annual Macon Holiday Coffee hosted this year by Richard and Vivia Fowler at Bradley House. Members of the Macon Pioneer Book Club, under the leadership of Jane Price Claxton ’68, continue to meet in new venues including in the Willet Library and in the Porter House. During Alumnae Weekend in April alumnae answered the call to serve as Candlelighters for members of the 2018 senior class. Local alumnae also hosted an admission event for accepted and deposited students at Travis Jean’s in downtown Macon.
GOT SISTERHOOD ? GET SOCIAL. @wesleyancollege and @wesleyancollegeAA 48
WCAA President-Elect Abbie Smoak Lacienski ’01 invited alumnae to a Dutch Treat Luncheon at McAlister’s in February, where area alumnae collected donations to the Annual Fund in memory of long time Statesboro club member Helen Proctor Morris Watson ’46. The group also discussed plans for presenting Wesleyan First Awards at local high schools this past spring.
North Carolina Raleigh/Durham
Members of the North Carolina Triangle Club kicked-off the New Year with a Welcome Luncheon (complete with Wesleyan china) honoring President Vivia Fowler at The Carolina Country Club, where Dr. Fowler discussed plans for the College’s future and alumnae involvement in those plans with luncheon guests. Club co-leaders Pamela Henry Pate ’71 and Linda Brown Walker ’73 organized the event and the Club’s WOW (Workers of Wesleyan) project, where alumnae donated gently used books to Book Harvest for the organization’s annual MLK Day book drive. Monthly meetings of the NC Triangle Pioneer Book Club, under the leadership of Karen Garr ’69 and Linda Walker, continue at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh.
Washington D.C. Metro Area
In February, area alumnae held a Meet & Greet for President Fowler at Proper 21 Restaurant in downtown D.C. Jessica Kendrick Thomas ’08 coordinated plans for the get-together with help from Ashling Thurmond Osborne ’05, WCAA VP for Development Jan Lawrence ’80, Trustee Pris Gautier Bornmann ’68, and Alumna Trustee Yehudi Self-Medlin ’96.
Sisterhood in Action:
Save the Dates and Volunteer to Help!
Candlelighting Ceremony for Guangzhou University Students: July 15 (3pm, Pierce Chapel). Serve as a candlelighter to one of our students from China when they are inducted into the WCAA. Move-In Day: August 10 (8am-11am) Help members of the Class of 2022 move into residence halls. Watch for an e-blast later this summer with more information. Contact awiggs@wesleyancollege.edu to volunteer.
For current updates on news of classmates, friends, and alumnae events check us out on Social Media.
@WesleyanCollege
Wesleyan College
CLUB
1. A Warm Wesleyan Welcome. Tallahassee alumnae welcome President Vivia Fowler to Goodwood Plantation in January. 2. Florida Luncheon Hosts. (L-R) Ermine Owenby ’61, Virginia Barber Perkins ’63, Shari Richardson Arrington ’71, and Martha Herring Stubbs ’68 greet Vivia Fowler (center) at the Tallahassee luncheon.
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3. High Tea. Atlanta alumnae welcome President Fowler to a Christmas Tea at the High Museum of Art. 4. Spring Chic & Scholarships. Atlanta alumnae at the Pioneers of Excellence Scholarship Luncheon fundraiser sporting suggested “Spring Chic” attire. 5. Grateful Girls. Atlanta Club President Shanita Douglas Miller ’06 with Atlanta Club Scholarship recipients Olivia Moore (L) and Emiaya Rogers (R). 6. Gracious Hosts. Macon Club Holiday Coffee hosts Richard Fowler and President Vivia Fowler pose with flowers sent by the Wesleyan Alumnae Association in honor of their first Christmas at Bradley House.
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7. Macon Holiday Coffee. (L-R) Christine Nicholas ’48, Janice Brice, Susan Thigpen McDuffie ’53 and Elaine Wilder Jones ’54 ring in the holiday season at Bradley House. 8. Welcome to Raleigh. Members of the North Carolina Triangle Alumnae Club welcome President Vivia Fowler at The Carolina Country Club.
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9. Well-Read in Raleigh. NC Triangle Pioneer Book Club members meet at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. 10. Friends & Fun. Atlanta Young Alumnae visit Grant Park for a March Meet-Up. 11. Mixin’ It Up. Alumnae pose at the Holiday Mixer & Ugly Christmas Sweater Party held at the home of Leesa Akins Flora ’87 in Atlanta.
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12. A Proper Welcome. Washington, D.C., alumnae “meet and greet” President Fowler at Proper 21 Restaurant. 13. Friends x Two. (L-R) Juliana Cabrales ’04 and Toyosi Fatunase Onwuemene ’03 visit at the Welcome Luncheon in Raleigh. 11 12
13 Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Sympathy
The Wesleyan College Alumnae Association extends sympathy to: Christine Florence Houseal ’40 of Augusta, GA, on the death of her sister, Wilma Florence “Pete” Darbyshire, on December 26, 2017.
Patricia Davis Smith ’69 of Atlanta, on the death of her husband, Julius Bell Smith, Jr., on December 22, 2017.
Mildred Fincher Efland ’42 of Dunwoody, GA, on the death of her husband, Mack Paul Efland, Jr., on March 31, 2018.
Kirsten “Kit” Johansen Welch ’71 of McDonough, GA, on the death of her husband, Judge Andrew J. “Buddy” Welch, Jr., on March 23, 2018.
LaNelle “Lynne” Rogers Kopp ’44 of Clinton, TN, and Jenny Kopp Curl ’70 of Madison, AL, on the death of Lynne’s husband and Jenny’s father, John Barton “Jack” Kopp, on October 14, 2017. Betty Smith Addison ’51 of Decatur, GA, on the death of her cousin, Evelyn Davidson Allen ’60 on November 28, 2017. DeRon McCurdy “Mac” Senna ’52 and Sher Senna Pollard ’72 of St. Simons Island, GA, on the death of DeRon’s husband and Sher’s father, Col. Jozef Fred Senna, on November 10, 2017. Anne Cappleman Donaldson ’55 of Jesup, GA, on the death of her husband, John C. Donaldson, on March 20, 2018. Joyce Bell Wade Dauler ’57 of Fort Washakie, WY, on the death of her son, Leo Joseph “Lee” Wade, Jr., on April 12, 2017. Katie Cawley Ashmore ’58 of Greenville, SC, Anne McGee Morganstern ’58 of Columbus, OH, and Willene McGee Castleberry ’47 of Forsyth, GA, on the death of Katie’s sister and Anne and Willene’s sister-in-law, Mary Joe Cawley McGee ’53 on May 7, 2018.
Jane White ’72 of Pensacola, FL, on the death of her sister, Judy White Sirmons ’70, on March 15, 2018. Sher Senna Pollard ’72 and DeRon McCurdy “Mac” Senna ’52 of St. Simons Island, GA, on the death of Sher’s husband and DeRon’s sonin-law, Michael J. “Mike” Pollard, on March 13, 2018. Hale Coble Edwards ’73 of Greer, SC, and Mary Coble Kirkley ’75 of Eastman, GA, on the death of their mother, Virginia Eskridge Coble, on April 18, 2018. Susan Paul Tyler ’73 of Florence, KY, on the death of her mother, Evelyn Peeples Gregory Paul, on December 30, 2017.
Amy Gillis Carlson ’05 of Louisville, KY, on the death of her mother, Karen Jordan Kennedy, on December 1, 2017. Josephine Martin Searcy ’07 of Macon on the death of her husband, Lester Searcy, on February 18, 2018. Courtney Mitchell Miller ’07 of Cusco, Peru, and Augusta, GA, on the death of her father, Stephen H. Mitchell, on June 13, 2017. Susan Brown Allen ’17 of Macon, on the death of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Jane “Janie” Allen, on March 23, 2018.
FACULTY, STAFF & TRUSTEE DEATHS
Lisa McKinney ’74 of Winder, GA, and Karen McKinney Renner ’78 of Bon Aqua, TN, on the death of their brother, Michael D. McKinney ’83, former technical director of Porter Auditorium at Wesleyan, on May 9, 2018.
Margaret “Laverne” Fender, retired ARAMARK food director at Wesleyan, died on May 5, 2018.
Deborah Bell Roberds ’75, of Savannah, GA, on the death of her mother, Muriel Hillis Bell, on January 22, 2018.
Joanne Jordan ’61 of Monticello, GA, on the death of her brother, Carl B. Jordan, on December 6, 2017.
Mary Margaret Dunn Griffin ’78 of Tavernier, FL, on the death of her mother, Brona Galloway Dunn, on July 28, 2017.
Virginia “Ginny” Bowen Maier ’64 of Lafayette, LA, on the death of her sister, Marjorie “Marjie” Bowen Graham ’71, on December 27, 2017.
Julie St. John Thornton ’78 of Coral Gables, FL, on the death of her mother, Alice Wickliffe St. John, on January 1, 2018.
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Tiffany Brannen Taylor ’89 of Dublin, GA, on the death of her father, Clint B. Brannen, Jr., on February 8, 2018.
Elizabeth “Betty” Bridge Risch ’74 of West Sacramento, CA, on the death of her father, Barton M. Bridge, on February 2, 2018.
Sarah Slade McDonald ’58 of San Diego, CA, on the death of her sister, Alma “Lou” Slade Murphy, on January 22, 2018.
Judy Haisten Gattis ’69 of Owens Cross Roads, AL, on the death of her grandson, Bradley James Gattis, on July 20, 2017.
Ana Fernandez ’88 of Orlando, FL, on the deaths of her father, Maximo A. Fernandez, on January 20, 2017, and her mother, Argentina G. Fernandez, on August 31, 2017, as well as many other family members.
Patti Morris O’Donnell ’79 of Savannah, GA, on the death of her aunt, Helen Proctor Morris Watson ’49, on February 3, 2018. Caroline Thomas ’81 of Munster, Germany, and Maddy Schwab ’20 of Tipp City, OH, on the death of Caroline’s father and Maddy’s grandfather, Blake Armstrong Thomas, on January 24, 2018.
Doris F. Fitzgerald, Ed.D., assistant professor of education at Wesleyan (1978-79), died on May 1, 2018. Helen Irene Glenn, former director of public relations at Wesleyan (1957-59) and assistant professor of journalism (1959-61), died on May 21, 2018. Bishop L. Bevel Jones III, trustee emeritus at Wesleyan (1979-2018), died on March 6, 2018. (See Page 65) Michael D. McKinney ’83, former technical director of Porter Auditorium at Wesleyan, died on May 9, 2018. (See Page 67) John F. “Jack” Rogers, Jr., former trustee at Wesleyan (1982 to 2002), died on January 24, 2018. (See Page 67)
Marriages
In Memoriam
Congratulations to:
Trudie Parker Sessions ’65 and William A. “Bill” Fickling, Jr. who were married on February 27, 2018. The Ficklings live in Macon.
Kathryn “Kat” Quirk ’10 and Dr. Alexander Bobbs who were married on October 14, 2017. The couple resides in Mishawaka, IN.
Cassandra Bagley ’90 and George Hosfield who were married on March 24, 2018. The Hosfields reside in Frankfort, KY.
Fran Landsman ’13 and Mary Thomas who were married on September 2, 2017, at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, GA. The couple resides in Atlanta.
Anna Nelson ’02 and Thad Clements who were married on October 20, 2017. The couple lives in Stillwater, OK. Virginia Dicken ’03 and Rev. Jennifer Gray who were married on November 4, 2017. The Gracens live in South Bend, IN.
Brittany Pye ’16 and Jay Wischmeyer who were married on April 7, 2018. The Wischmeyers live in Atlanta. Alyssa Flowers ’19 and Will Adams who were married on December 9, 2017, in Stockbridge, GA. Alyssa and Will live in Macon.
Births & Family Additions Congratulations to:
Pilar Wilder Lowden ’01 and Tony of Macon on the birth of a daughter, Tabitha Naomi Lowden, on November 3, 2017. Jody Swink Miles ’02 and Michael of Irondale, MO, on the birth of their first child, Ben Thomas Miles, on January 7, 2018.
Emily Dukes LeVan ’04 and Scot of Atlanta, on the birth of a second son, Simon Rose LeVan on December 19, 2017. Oldest son Emmet is excited about being a big brother.
Stephanie Hood Wittry ’08 and Eric of Lawrenceville, GA, on the birth of their daughter, AilaJo Wittry, on April 19, 2018.
Jen Robinson ’07 and David of Lawrenceville, GA, on the birth of their daughter, Harper Amelia Robinson, on March 11, 2018.
Please mark your calendar now and plan to join us next spring.
ALUMNAE WEEKEND 2019 APRIL 26, 27 & 28 REUNION CLASSES 1934 1939
1944 1949
1954 1959
1964 1969
1974 1979
1984 1989
1994 1999
2004 2009
2014 2018
Watch for more information in the fall about reunion. Alumnae Weekend – It’s not just for reunion classes!
NOMINATIONS FOR ALUMNAE AWARDS For nomination forms contact the Alumnae Office at 478-757-5173 or download forms from our website www.wesleyancollege.edu. Forms are due by January 1, 2019.
1933 1938 1943 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1956 1957 1958 1960 1961 1963 1964 1967 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1983 1990
Virginia Perry Buckner Pauline Willingham Moore Martha B. Garrison Dorothy DuPuis Mackin Melba Huggins Chiles Sara Green Fraley Phyllis Buttery Morese Bess Bledsoe Conley Jody Tomlinson Horton Louise Hotch McDonald Bernice Goode Scott Laura Jones Turner Helen Proctor Morris Watson Frances Callaway McCommon Emily Britton Parker Kathryn Priscilla Ginn Pridgen Rosa Schofield Spivey Edalleen Morgan Brush Christine Blatsios Ennis Ragan Morrison Ellen Rhett Jenkins Smith Beverly Folsom Dyer Frank Mays Hull Pride Anne Rehberg Miller June Veendall Miller William F. Toole Marianne Coleman Whiteway Dana Bedgood Jones MacMillan Joan Harris Riggins Madge Clifton DeMay Ida Few Bigbie Mixon Marilyn Wynn Carraway Ann Pasley Fletcher Betty Harden Shaw Artemisia Dennis Thevaos Margaret McCall McCormick Mary Joe Cawley McGee Sue Dent Phillips Tamara Dudley Shotwell Grace Maxwell Sparrow Sharon Smith Henderson Joan Clements Holland Jeannine Hinson Smith Margery Gleaton Fitzgibbons Nancy Counts Owen Betty Cantrell Groover Danette Smith Chapman Cecile Glausier Harrell Oreita Callan Radford Anne Stewart Raymond Evelyn Davidson Allen Mary Pilkinton Anderson Patricia Summey Joyner Nancy Williams Clarke Inez Elaine Vance Crystal Hunter Flathman Linda Janse Linda Saye Cook Margaret Mills Remy Judith Parker Schuler Judy White Sirmons Marjorie Bowen Graham Donna Darity Hale Margaret Allen Pauls Janet Carole Garrett Michael D. McKinney Leslie Yoder du Mont
Wesleyan Wesleyan Wesleyan Magazine Magazine Magazine Spring/Summer Spring/Summer Summer 2016 2018 2018
Class of 1948 (70th Reunion) (L-R) Jane Mobley Dickey, Rose Crockett McRae, Christine Nicholas, Doris Poe Anderson, Liz Hean Stone
1930s
1940s
Congratulations to Dublin, GA, native Maryan Smith Harris ’39 who celebrated her 100th birthday in April with family and friends at James Place Senior Living in Dublin. “I never thought I would live this long,” says Maryan. “I take life one day at a time. That’s all anybody can do.” Maryan’s mother, grandmother, and younger sister also attended Wesleyan. A World War II veteran, Maryan joined the WAVES in 1943 where her job was coding and decoding messages from PT boats and destroyers at sea. She married defense analyst John Joseph Harris Jr. and they had one child, Kenneth, who with his family attended the birthday celebration along with Maryan’s niece, Deedee Jordan, daughter of Maryan’s late sister, Dottie Smith Mahon ’44.
Wesleyannes love to give back to the community! Bettye Withers Barnes ’42 is living in a lovely retirement home in Jacksonville, FL, and serves on the mission committee at her church. She also volunteers at the food pantry known as the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council.
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Virginia “Ginny” Martin Lawrence ’45 of Cincinnati, OH, is 93 and “is hanging in there.” She still manages to do volunteer work and writes, “a younger 88-year-old husband helps.” Last December Sue Lott Clark ’46, well-known civic leader and author from Waycross, GA, donated a copy of her new autobiography, Let’s Talk About Me, 92 Years of Activities in My Life, to South Georgia State College. Sue has published eight books and with others submitted a successful application naming Waycross’s Lott Cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places. She also helped to found and create the Okefenokee Heritage Center and Southern Forest World in Waycross.
When the Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL, celebrated its 100th Anniversary in April 2017, Sarah Dukes McKay ’46 was front and center in an article in the local paper that recognized her impact as the first female chairman of the board (1988). In the article she shared memories of the hospital’s history and growth throughout the years. Another WESLEYAN FIRST!
1948 (70th Reunion)
College and Conservatory friends from the Class of 1948 shared 70 years of sisterhood during Alumnae Weekend, thanks to Reunion Co-Chairs Rose Crockett McRae and Jane Mobley Dickey who coordinated plans. Classmates also received a standing ovation at the WCAA’s Annual Meeting as members of the earliest class to attend reunion! Remembering all her past relatives who went to Wesleyan, Liz Humber Hean Stone ’48 of New Cumberland, PA, is happy to have memories of her mother, Petrona Garrard Humber Hean from
the Class of 1912, and her grandmother, Frances Garrard Humber, Class of 1892, who both lived on plantations at Dennis Station, GA, between Milledgeville and Eatonton. Liz enjoyed returning for her 70th reunion and she and husband Charles took time out to visit the site of her family’s plantations (now all pine trees and Lake Sinclair!). Jerrye Griffeth Short ’49 of Stone Mountain, GA, has fond memories of her roommate, June Veendall Miller ’49, who passed away in December. (See In Memoriam) Libba Cook Smith ’49 of Marietta, GA, and formerly of Statesboro, GA, reunited with long-time Wesleyan friends at the February funeral of her dear friend, Helen Proctor Morris Watson ’46 of Statesboro. Emma Lou Keaton Franklin ’62, Betty Tillman Hodges ’48, and Helen’s niece, Patti Morris O’Donnell ’79, were all a great comfort to her as they remembered Helen in special ways. (See In Memoriam & Sympathy)
Class of 1953 (65th Reunion)
(L-R) Row 1: Elaine Wood Whitehurst, Bebe Jarrell Oetjen, Edwina Hall Beall, Marilyn Welch Eastham Row 2: Frances Bruce Van Horn, and Claire HouserDodd after the Golden Belles Luncheon.
1950s Jo Ann Russell Campbell ’50 is a new resident at Atria Park in Tucker, GA, a senior living complex, and has enjoyed getting to know Julee Struby Burke ’47 who moved there in August 2017 to be closer to her daughter, Julia; son Ed III lives in Maryland. Julee, a Macon native and former elementary school teacher, traveled the world with husband Ed who was a professor of physics and astronomy at King College (now King University). Julee also was a student of the Native American Hopi Indian culture and even took courses in the Hopi language. Mary Baldwin Woodland ’51 of Beaumont, TX, remembers her Wesleyan Conservatory days, especially with Artemisia Dennis Thevaos ’52 who died in May. “Artie was a concert pianist and great artist who studied with Doris O. Jelks at the Conservatory. She and Claire Michaels Murray ’52 and I performed many times together.”
1953 (65th Reunion)
The Class of 1953 celebrated 65 years of College and Conservatory memories all weekend long, especially at the home of Susan Thigpen McDuffie who hosted the class party. Reunion Committee members Claire HouserDodd, Edwina Hall Beall, and Susan McDuffie kept everyone up-to-date on the latest news throughout the year. Susan represented her class at the Celebration Concert where she literally “jazzed up” the evening. The Class of 1953 enjoyed celebrating their 65th reunion in April, especially Merrilyn Welch Eastham ’53 from Marietta, GA! Claire Houser-Dodd ’53 of Fort Valley, GA, is proud to say her granddaughter, Denver Turner Payne, has been accepted to Wesleyan’s nursing program in August, adding to this multi-generational (6th) Wesleyan legacy in their family. Joan Jennings Norton ’53 of Green Cove Springs, FL, is recovering from a fall in which she broke both feet
(L-R) Row 1: Susan Thigpen McDuffie, Bebe Jarrell Oetjen, Edwina Hall Beall Row 2: Elaine Wood Whitehurst, and Frances Bruce Van Horn after the Annual Meeting.
but feels fortunate that her injury was not worse. She reports that her daughter, Jeanne Norton Rollberg ’79, retired from UALR as a Mass Media professor this year and immediately began her own internet business and other opportunities.
Bonnie Jo “Beje” Gardner Barnes ’54 and husband John of Waynesville, NC, have been happily retired at Lake Junaluska for 20+ years now. Beje reports, “Except for macular degeneration, I am healthy and walking on a new knee.”
Taking her class color to the max, Virginia Eidson Robertson ’53 of LaGrange, GA, is driving a red-red 2001 corvette these days!
James and Jeannice Hammond Clark ’54 of Glen Mills, PA, met at Wesleyan and celebrated 62 years of marriage before his death in April 2017. (See Sympathy, WESmag Winter 2017)
Caroline Eagerton Upperco ’53 lives in Wilson, NC, and has fond memories of working in the alumnae office as a student. “I continue to love Wesleyan and to be thankful I was privileged to attend.” Elaine Wood Whitehurst ’53 and husband Jim now live at Lenbrook Retirement Facility in Atlanta. They enjoy visiting with other residents Bettijo Hogan Trawick ’48 and Ada Morris Lamon ’55 and miss seeing Jane Mulkey Green ’42, who died in April 2017. Elaine and Jim attended Alumnae Weekend in April.
Leah Wallat Odden ’54 of Largo, FL, and her husband hope to be traveling again soon. Her husband had a stroke in August but is making good progress. Ann Parsons Odum ’54 (85) and Kathryn Parsons Willis ’53 (86) celebrated birthdays together in Duluth, GA, with some 500-600 friends attending, “probably because we had ‘The Varsity’ serving,” writes Ann. The Southeast Railway Museum recognized Ann for presenting two of her 4ft x 5ft original paintings of Duluth created in 2017.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 1958 (60th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Anne McGee Morganstern, Clarice Pittman Elder, Jensene Godwin Payne, Medra Lott Keyser, Nina Sheppard Terrell Row 2: Lu McElroy Steed, Doris Stone Wilder, Gloria Barwick Szokoly, Marie Girardeau Russell, Jane Howard Reinmuth Row 3: Bootsie Laslie Bird, Nan Cherry Baird, Jean O’Keeffe Fraser, Martha Carter Middlemas-Bryant, Temple Wilson Ellis Row 4: Betty Nunn Mori, Lorena Campbell Piper, Eleanor Adams Lane, Mary Louise Rose Ackerman, Nancy McCook Spence Not pictured: Emily Hardman Dickey, Louise Sawyer Whittle, Nancy Peterson Shaw
Whenever Libby Truitt Furlow ’55 and husband Leonard of Gainesville, FL, are in the Macon area, they enjoy visiting Wesleyan’s beautiful campus. “We still enjoy good health despite our advancing age,” reports Libby. From Savannah, GA, Frances “Frankie” Cassel Berry ’56 offers encouraging words to Wesleyan, “Keep up the good work!” “I’ve almost completed my bucket list,” says Lloyd Young Flanders ’56 from Darien, GA. In January, Lloyd took her daughter on a cruise to Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, and Tahiti!
1958 (60th Reunion)
The Class of ’58 had a truly significant 60th! Working overtime and all the time to ensure a great PK turnout, Reunion Committee members Eleanor Adams Lane, Nina Sheppard Terrell, and Emily Hardman Dickey delivered on their promise with 21 classmates who registered for the weekend. Classmates enjoyed the well-planned 54
festivities that included two class parties held at the homes of Emily and Eleanor, sporting special 60th reunion sashes (a la Miss America style), and being recognized for taking 3rd place in class giving participation at the annual meeting. Luleen Sandefur Anderson ’58 of Wilmington, NC, has fond memories of Wesleyan, especially when Professor Ann Munck ’38 served as her Candlelighter and when Luleen was elected Miss Wesleyan in her senior year. Today, Luleen remains active in her church and in her community following brain tumor surgery four years ago. After 29 units of radiation the tumor is now almost non-existent but damage to other glands requires many medications. Son Eric has been her rock and support throughout this illness. She invites all her Wesleyan sisters to look her up online for listings of her four Kindle books, short stories, and inspirational articles. Her website is luleenanderson.com.
Bootsie Laslie Brinson ’58 and Thomas Buckingham Bird, Jr. were married on December 28, 2016, in Monticello, FL, where they reside. In March, the birth of her ninth great-grandchild (and seventh great-grandson) made Nancy Doss Holcombe ’58 of Arizona City, AZ, very grateful and proud. Medra Lott Keyser ’58 of Fernandina Beach, FL, visited Park City, UT, last fall to attend a 100 Days Birthday Celebration for identical twin girls and future Wesleyannes, Celine and Reese Arnold, who are Medra’s 8th and 9th “greats.” Parents are Medra’s grandson Ben Arnold and wife Christina Kim. Christina enjoyed this tradition of her Chinese heritage. Grandparents are Medra’s daughter, Laura Wallace Arnold ’79, and her husband, Jim. Martha MiddlemasBryant ’58 of Panama City, FL, was so happy to hood her granddaughter, Alex Middlemas ’17, and to visit with Eleanor Adams Lane ’58 at graduation. She also traveled
to New York with Betty Nunn Mori ’58 and just got back from Russia. Quite the world traveler! Anne Swetnam Barton ’59 in Goose Creek, SC, enjoys being close to her granddaughters. “Some health problems but still going!” “Don and I continue to love our life on the coast of Maine – sailing, gardening, volunteering, and traveling next on our schedule is sailing in the Seychelles in October and Botswana in Spring 2019. Unfortunately, our combined 17 grandchildren live in the South and in upstate New York, so there’s no dropping by for dinner. But we’re blessed with a healthy, happy double family, and we’re proud to claim each one. All my progeny gathered here for the BIG 80 in August – and I sat back and gloated, basking in what this only child had produced,” writes Lee Brenaman Holmes ’59 from Sedgwick, ME.
Class of 1963 (55th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Cecilia McDaniel Brock Row 2: Karen Connor Shockley, Peggy Craig Bryant, Sylvia Hutchinson Bell, Tommie Sue Montgomery-Abrahams Row 3: Renate Butler Ryan, Sally Irwin Williams Row 4: Sylvia Maxwell Brown, Joyce Brandon Starr, Ann Ewing Shumaker
From her home in Palatka, FL, Beverly Cate Wiley ’59 says that “reading the magazine online brings back so many wonderful memories!”
1960s Congratulations to Mary Margaret McNeill ’60 of Southern Pines, NC, who was awarded a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, in May by Sandhills Community College (SCC) in Pinehurst, NC. The College cited her commitment, leadership, and service to the school, especially her work on the Sandhills Community College Foundation Board, and as chair of the Foundation’s Donor Recognition Committee. Mary Margaret received an associate’s degree in music from SCC and served also as a director of the SCC Alumni Association. In May, Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Sumerford York ’60 of Panama City, FL, was a panelist at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where the discussion was on the topic of immigration.
Sheila Leto Scott ’61 of Dunedin, FL, announces that her husband, John, retired from ministry in the Episcopal Church for the third time in June 2017 and that they enjoy living in their charming beach town.
campus. Bedecked in golden scarfs for the Parade of Classes, GHs showed they are still “winners from the start,” especially when they were recognized for taking 2nd place in overall reunion class giving at the Annual Meeting.
“In May I sang with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Chorus in a production of Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, Candide, a joint production of the ASO and the Alliance Theatre. I have enjoyed signing with the ASOC since Robert Shaw days,” writes Ellen Weldon Dukes ’62 from Austell, GA.
Professional volunteer and retired teacher Peggy Craig Bryant ’63 of Cumming, GA, has completed four years of Education for Ministry in the Episcopal Church and will be a mentor next year. She writes, “I am involved in prison ministry at Arrendale State Prison for Women and in Family Promise in which our church houses homeless families four weeks a year, rotating with 12 other churches. Still singing in three choirs.”
1963 (55th Reunion)
Class of 1963 Reunion Chair Karen Connor Shockley and Reunion Committee members Peggy Craig Bryant and Tommie Sue MontgomeryAbrahams (who traveled all the way from Canada) welcomed classmates back to campus to celebrate a funfilled 55th. Karen hosted the “formal” Friday night class party at her home and on Saturday classmates held an informal get-together on
Congratulations to Charlotte Thomas Marshall ’63 who was awarded the Augustus Longstreet Hull Award by the Athens (GA) Historical Society. The award recognizes and honors individuals whose long and extraordinary service to the Society and the community at large has significantly impacted the study and recordation of the
history of Athens, GA, and its surrounding area. Charlotte’s five decades of research and writing have resulted in several books, numerous articles, and speeches and presentations in addition to local and state awards and her stature as a leading authority on the intricate interrelations of Athens families. Charlotte has been a member of AHS for 51 years, has served as its president, and led the effort to obtain non-profit status for the Society. It’s a small Wesleyan world! In March, on a Colonial Dames trip to Savannah, Virginia Barber Perkins ’63 of Tallahassee, FL, met Anna Ferguson Duff ’75 of Ponte Vedra, FL, who is president of the National Society of The Colonial Dames in America. The meet-up was preceded by Anna’s email to Susan Woodward Walker ’70 in Franklin, TN, in which they discussed Savannah trip attendees who were from Tallahassee. Susan confirmed that Virginia was from Tallahassee and was also a Wesleyan alumna!
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 1968 (50th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Lynda Ogburn Hathorn, Ruth Anne Gray Randolph, Lash Lawton Woodcock, Brenda Wilhoit Elebash, Marsha Fernald Sichveland, Peggy Ray Sichveland, Ginger Sanders White, Pris Gautier Bornmann, Beth Rogero Bowen, Taffy Pate Atkinson, Betsy Martin Bunte, Anne Spring, Ginny Hiers Roebuck, Bee Bee Burns Hilliard, Andgelia Proctor Kelly, Betty Smith Hipps, Evaughn Lowery Balkcom, Mimi Tucker Taylor, Barbara Moore Purkerson, Ina Davis Temple, Janet Robinson Flanagan Row 2: Susan Jones Shulman, Michele Daniel Kelly, Martha Herring Stubbs, Peggy Graham Holland, Jane Kappel Ashley, Katherine Dickert Huffstetler, Anne Adams Atkinson, Dana Mitchell, Vicki Page Jaus, Ellen Beard Martin, Gail Fulton Murphy, Susan Cobleigh, Kris Cross Hawkins, Jenny Crapps Johnson, Kay Hafner Agnew, Cheryl Maund Page, Nancy Lowe Taylor Row 3: Jane Price Claxton, Babs Richardson Pirkle, Liz Reith Wyman, Barbara Castleberry Johnson, Charlotte Knox Canida, Mary Louise “Sister” Cole Kelley, Bunny Eddy Lancaster, Mary Abbott Waite, Carol Goodnow Snyder, Katherine Wilson Johnson, Susan Swain Goger, Lila Teasley Porterfield, Laura Byington Ludlum, Robin Hood Geisler, Jana Witham Janeway, Patty Pearce Cardin, Sara Walters Ingram, Helen Jackson Burgin, Nancy McMeen Freeman, Ginna Larson Schneider, Jo Sharon Slover Smith, Martha Pafford Schindhelm Row 4: Luanne Dunn Blair, Lynn Hays Davis, Beverly Mitchell, Katherine Walker Coker, Jean Barkley Russell, Suzanne Moore McGovern, Leila Kight, Judy Davis Powell, Mary Jo Fincher Plowden, Sally Plowden Stevenson, Eve Birmingham, Beverly Hodges Kitchin, Suzanne Sebring Moncrieff, Becky Beal Mathews, Sally Duskin Speckels, Mary Ann Ward Dudley, Mary Ann Bateman Spell Not pictured: Judy Floyd Bywater, Babs Battson Ferrell, Carolyn Curtiss Higgins, Stuart Hatch Jordan, Kathy Kelly Lynch, Jenny Agnew Orr, Nancy Goff Waits, Tyler Garland Watts, Judy Weaver Yielding 56
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 1973 (45th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Carroll Ricketson Bolton, Deborah Monds Davis Row 2: Kathy Olson, Linda Brown Walker, Rebecca Read Sullivan, Nannette Coco Row 3: Carol Bacon Kelso, Susan Paul Tyler, Margaret Matthews Row 4: Adriane Kelly Wood, Weize Anne Hayes Wright, Natalie Ryan Gemmill, Janice Mays Not pictured: Caron Griffin Morgan, Mary Graham Ponder Foster, Marsha Lynn Christy
Renate Butler Ryan ’63 of Miami, FL, is thrilled that her son, a Navy Seal, has been promoted to Admiral, a title he shares with his wife. In the history of the US Navy, they may be the first couple to become admirals who have both served on the front lines. Since her 50th reunion, Jane Silverman Mason ’66 of Verbena, AL, is still cheering “Hail Wesleyan” and is proud of the changes the College has made. Jane met her husband at Wesleyan and they have been married for 53 years. “We enjoyed military life which provided opportunities for travel and for long lasting friendships. After our military career we lived in Virginia until our retirement. Our three children are grown, married, and have given us precious grandchildren. We look forward to downsizing (one more time) and moving to the Birmingham area, where I hope to meet other Wesleyannes.” Last year’s 1967 Golden Belles are still celebrating. Barbara Ann Bryant of Jacksonville, FL, is retired! Pam Stott 58
Callihan moved to Colorado Springs, CO, last summer in order to be closer to family. Susan Kirvin Ogburn of Macon had an amazing time at the 50th Reunion!
1968 (50th Reunion)
It was a GREAT, GREEN, GLORIOUS, and GROUNDBREAKING 50th reunion for the Class of 1968 who returned to Wesleyan in record numbers with 85 classmates attending reunion, the largest 50th class turnout ever from the largest class ever to attend the College. Kudos to Reunion Co-Chairs Betsy Martin Bunte and Ellen Beard Martin and their Reunion Committee members and Morning Watch Committee members Beth Rogero Bowen, Helen Jackson Burgin, Judy Floyd Bywater, Patty Pearce Cardin, Jane Price Claxton, Lynn Hays Davis, Mary Ann Ward Dudley, Sara Walters Ingram, Katherine Wilson Johnson, Suzanne Moore McGovern, Beverly Mitchell, Cheryl Maund Page, Babs Richardson Pirkle, Mary Jo Fincher Plowden, Ginny Hiers Roebuck, Martha
Herring Stubbs and Lash Lawton Woodcock who pulled out all the stops to ensure a fabulous 50th! Green Knight spirit permeated the campus, especially when classmates donned green boas and garb and led the Parade of Classes into the Annual Meeting with Jane Kappel Ashley and Dana Mitchell serving as Grand Marshals and with the “famous” GK drum in tow, carried by Drum Bearers Beverly Mitchell and Mary Jo Fincher Plowden. Beth Bowen served as Class Flag Bearer. GKs cheered at the Annual Meeting for Trustee Pris Gautier Bornmann who received the 2018 Alumnae Award for Service to Wesleyan and cheered again when GKs were recognized as the top class in giving and for their special gift of $137,926 for a collaborative learning and video conferencing classroom in Willet Library. After three class parties, one hosted by Tom and Lash Woodcock and Lynn Davis, the weekend closed with a very meaningful Morning Watch service led by the Class of 1968 that included a 21-member vocal ensemble and special remarks by Betsy Bunte. (See Page 30 )
Although Nina Brewer ’68 of Saint Louis, MO, did not graduate from Wesleyan, she remembers Wesleyan fondly and is now retired (after 25 years) from the field of Vocational Rehabilitation. She also spent two years in Brazil with the Peace Corps and one year with Project HOPE. “It’s been a fun life,” writes Nina. Brenda Wilhoit Elebash ’68 of Pensacola, FL, retired from teaching in 2014. Dr. Barbara Marble Tagg ’69 of Camillus, NY, continues to guest conduct in the U.S. and in Hong Kong and serves on the Continuo Committee for Chorus America. Son Jamie is on the recording arts faculty at Indiana University.
1970s Ann Scott Terry ’70 of Catawba, SC, and husband Vernon were the first donors/ supporters to be inducted into the Winthrop University Athletic Department Hall of Fame. Recognized for their dedication to the student
Class of 1978 (40th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Bryndis Roberts, Janet Williams Sills, Carol Denise Lester, Nancy McDonald Terhorst, Darla Grinstead McKenzie, Rebecca Tatman Klase, Patilee Tate, Janet Friberg Jarrett, Janet Ort Row 2: Anne Shirah, Page Walker Payne, Janet Keys, Leigh Lambert Goff, Debbie Howington Carraway, Jamie Bestland Bryan Row 3: Kathy Harvin Gibbs, Candice Muehlbauer Shockley, Anne Scarborough Hughes, Janet Rumler Brooks, Dawn SappTaylor Row 4: Pam Risi, Cathy Bradach Rockoff, Carol Hindman Butler, Laura Shippey Gafnea, Kathy Bradley, Millie Smith Beverly, Mary Lou Pratt Taff
athletes, they have endowed three scholarships (men’s and women’s basketball and women’s softball) as well as endowed the University’s softball complex named Terry Tower and Field. Ann says her parents would be proud of how they have shared life’s blessings. Franklin, TN, resident Susan Woodward Walker ’70 is quite a Dame! As the current national corresponding secretary for the National Society of Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) she travels frequently. Her “job description” also includes other assignments such as planning for national meetings. She cochaired the national meeting last year and will again in 2019. “I thoroughly enjoy being this involved in the Dames. It is all challenging in the best way,” says Susan, who also served as president of the Tennessee Society from 2012 to 2016. Shreveport, LA, artist Ellen Newton Stetson ’72 spent a week last November in North Dakota raising awareness of the civil and human rights violations against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe by serving as an Oceti Sakowin camp medic,
where she provided massage therapy to those traumatized or injured during the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In the process, Ellen got a Sioux tribal tattoo to show solidarity with those trying to protect the earth’s resources.
1973 (45th Reunion)
Celebrating the strength of sisterhood, members of the Class of 1973 turned moments together into memories for the future as they celebrated 45 years of friendship at reunion. Linda Brown Walker, Alumnae Weekend Chair Carol Bacon Kelso, and Hale Coble Edwards served on the reunion committee and planned for a weekend to remember that included a Saturday night party at Pub Night in the Hurdle Café. Recognized at the Annual Meeting for having the highest giving participation rate of all classes, the Pirates of ’73 also garnered a 3rd place for highest dollar amount in giving. The next question is how to top those honors? Stay tuned for the BIG 50 in 2023 for the answer!
First-time grandmother Susan Paul Tyler ’73 of Florence, KY, will celebrate grandson Corbin Duncan Scudder’s 2nd birthday on June 26. Corbin is the son of her daughter Lauren Leigh Duncan Scudder and Lauren’s husband, Darin Scudder. Currently, Susan is a Ph.D. candidate in educational studies at University of Cincinnati and she hopes to graduate in 2019. In December 2017, Susan lost her mother, Evelyn Paul, “who was a great supporter of her 3 children Susan, Pamela, and Glenn.” (See Sympathy) For 10 years, Linda Brown Walker ’73 of Raleigh, NC, has worked as a children’s bookseller. She says Miss Munck would be happy to know she does the preschool story time for the store! Linda and husband Harry have four grandchildren, ages 6 years to 6 months. “My father, Barton M. Bridge, passed away in February at age 89. My mother, Corrine, will be moving back to West Sacramento, CA, with me. While I was in the Tampa Bay, FL, area I’ve been in touch with Wesleyan classmates Judy Hoffman, Gwen Ingram
Kedzierski, and Julie Baker,” writes Betty Bridge Risch ’74. (See Sympathy) Tina Farkas Williams ’74 of Tallahassee, FL (and Grand Rapids, MI), continues to enjoy running Young Actors Theatre. She splits her time between Tallahassee and Grand Rapids, where daughter Elizabeth Hages lives with her husband and Tina’s two grandchildren, Colette Hollingsworth Hages and John Zoltan Hages. Sally Johnson Jackson ’75 has been busy with mission work in Peje Armondo, Guatemala, where her family’s current project is raising funds for and building a well for area families to access water from their homes. Husband Kurt is building the water tower. In March, LuAnn Weeks Holden ’76 of Decatur, TN, directed the Bradley County Honor Choir’s 7th annual concert in which ten 4th or 5th grade students from each of the 11 county elementary schools participate in the mass choir. LuAnn is an associate professor of music education at Lee University and chair of the department of music
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 1983 (35th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Peggy Jones Hall, Beth Koon, Muffy Gordy Schladensky, Judith Lane Brown Row 2: Ellen Futral Hanson, Cyndi Bell-Lee, Ginger Caldwell Musser, Kim Barksdale Tyson Not pictured: Donna Ham
education. She frequently conducts state and regional honor choirs, adjudicates choral festivals, serves as a clinician for choir workshops, and writes choral music reviews in the Choral Journal. She was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus conducted by the legendary Robert Shaw. Newly retired from the mental health field, Wendy Eastman Becker ’77 and wife Jean of Evansville, IN, are planning a second trip to Ireland. Wendy also has started to paint and has her work on display at art shows and in a local gallery.
1978 (40th Reunion)
It was fantastic, fun, and fabulous! How else can you describe the 40-year reunion of PK78 sisters? Many thanks to Reunion Chair Janet Keys, CoChair Cathy Bradach Rockoff and Reunion Committee members Kathy Harvin Gibbs, Leigh Lambert Goff, Janet Ort, Judy Day Powell, and Pam Risi who set the stage for an uptown party at the Porter House and a down 60
home gathering on the patio at Jones Hall by the lake. Purpleto-the-bone pride showed at the Celebration Concert when author Kathy Bradley paid homage to the late poet Kay Stripling Byer ’66 by reading Kay’s poem, “In the Still Here and Now.” PK spirit continued to soar at the annual meeting when Trustee Bryndis Roberts received the 2018 Alumnae Award for Service to Wesleyan and where tiaras and purple hats were the accessories du jour. Janet Friberg Jarrett ’78 is back home in Louisville, KY, after a lengthy stay in a Macon hospital due to a fall during Alumnae Weekend. Fortunately, step-daughter Hillary Jarrett Maedel ’08, who was attending her own reunion, was on hand to help. Classmates rallied to assist Janet while she was healing and everyone sends best wishes to her for a speedy recovery. “I thank Cathy Bradach Rockoff ’78 for leading us in an exceptional reunion. Purple gratitude goes to Kathy Harvin Gibbs ’78 and Pam Risi ’78 for filling the tables at both class parties and to Janet Ort ’78 for
working as an incredible team for our PK 40th reunion. To all PK78ers who came: THANK YOU! To Casey Thurman ’65 and Louise Barfield, thank you for still caring. All of you PKs made our 40th the best yet. Cathy Coxey Snow ’71, there are not enough words to express our appreciation,” writes 1978 Class President Janet Keys ’78 from Vestavia, AL. Mary McMillan Mancin ’78 of Bartow, GA, is staying active in her church and in her community after the loss of her husband in 2016. “I’m still adjusting to life as a single woman for the first time since 1957. I enjoy family, reading, traveling, the arts, and especially music.” Loisanne Tatum Robins ’79 of Venice, FL, hopes everyone is healthy and happy. She writes, “We are enjoying retirement although I did an 8-week sub job for a high school choir and guitar teacher in Sarasota - interrupted by a hurricane! Bruce stays busy with tax season and covering high school sports for four papers – retired? I enjoyed a 2-week trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.”
1980s 1983 (35th Reunion)
Many thanks to Ellen Futral Hanson and Kim Barksdale Tyson who served as co-chairs for the GH83 reunion and who welcomed classmates back to Wesleyan for weekend festivities that included a GH “shout out” at the Annual Meeting to one of their own, Beth Koon, who received the 2018 Alumnae Award for Service to the Community and “hearty” applause at the Celebration Concert when Ellen Hanson took the stage to sing. Thirty-five years of memories made and shared at the class party hosted by Ellen brought a new perspective to the next question for the Golden Hearts. Are we ready for the 40th? Cyndi Bell-Lee ’83 and husband Albert enjoy retirement in beautiful Alaska where they are busy with family, church, camping, and the gym. With her husband she has three step-children, six grandchildren, and they had another grandchild due
Class of 1988 (30th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Stephanie Hooks Tinkey, Lynn Abney, Kecia Whitlock Cawthorne, Beth Herndon, Ginger McQueen Reeves Row 2: Julie Taylor Lee, Gwen Futral Gallagher-Howard, Ricky Rogers-Randall, Jody Bethea Riggs Row 3: Susan Baynes, Amanda Blakey Jacobsen, Chrystal Smith Sherwood, Pamela Lohr Hendrix Row 4: Dawn Christian Stevens, Cecilia Underwood Not pictured: Meredith Henderson Tyree, Susan DeBay
this past spring! “I had a great time at Alumnae Weekend. It was wonderful to spend time with classmates. I even won the ‘award’ for traveling the farthest to attend.” Associate Professor of Music at Wesleyan Ellen Futral Hanson ’83 is married to Jeff Hanson, Bibb County State Court Judge, and they have two college-age sons. Ellen also directs the Chancel Choir and Wesleyan Ringers Handbell Choir at Martha Bowman UMC in Macon. According to 2018 Alumnae Award Recipient Beth Koon ’83, “It was an awesome experience to return to campus for the GH83 35th reunion! I am still employed as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at my hometown hospital in Winter Haven, FL. In my “spare” time, I serve my community as vice president of the Humane Society of Polk County (Central Florida’s ONLY no-kill shelter) and on the boards of Angels Care Center (faith-based medical clinic in rural Polk County), Polk State College Institutional Review Board, Polk County HUB, and
the annual Pink Pampering Event. I also volunteer for the local Chamber of Commerce and other fundraisers. I’m a Bird Nerd, with a cockatiel and parakeet who bless my home. Such a blessed life!” (See Page 46). Maconite Kim Barksdale Tyson ’83 is teaching part time at Vineville Academy after retiring from full-time teaching in 2015. Recently, Hazel Bodner Berger ’85 relocated to Nashville, TN, to work in her family’s business Fresh Hospitality as the chief administrative officer. The group has 172 restaurants in 19 states, including Taziki’s, Big Bad Breakfast, Biscuit Love, I Love Juice Bar, Martin’s BBQ, and Grilled Cheeserie.
1988 (30th Reunion)
Class of 1988 Reunion CoChairs Lynn Abney and Gwen Futral Gallagher-Howard offered a “Hoddy Toddy” welcome to classmates who returned for the wearin’ of the green - with green hats, fascinators, and leis all included as standard 30th
reunion gear. While classmates traded news on families and careers at Friday’s class party at Carrabbas Italian Grill, GKs let their creative energy emerge at a Wine & Painting Party in Oval Hall on Saturday. All agreed that after 30 years, Wesleyan is still first for friends. Lynn Abney ’88 of Atlanta has worked with United Healthcare, Inc, as a behavioral health manager for 21 years. Daughter Katelynn (13) is in 7th grade at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Peachtree Corners, GA. “I feel so grateful for life as it is,” writes Lynn. “It’s not my plan but it is God’s.” In Columbus, GA, Kecia Whitlock Cawthorne ’88 works as the corporate compliance and quality improvement director for New Horizons Behavioral Health, the community MH/SA/DD service center. Kecia and Eddie Cawthorne have been married for 23 years and have two children, Win (18) and Mary Elizabeth (16).
Prayers go out to Ana Fernandez ’88 of Orlando, FL, who lost many family members last year, including her parents, Maximo A. Fernandez and Argentina G. Fernandez. (See Sympathy) Gwen Gallagher-Howard ’88 is married to Alan Howard and between them they share seven children and five grandchildren. Gwen is executive director and founder of Helping WIN Inc., a non-profit that provides emergency cash assistance to women battling poverty in Jacksonville, FL. The beat goes on with Beth Herndon ’88 of Decatur, GA, who plays drums in a jazz band and trombone in a concert band that are part of the Atlanta Freedom Bands community organization which increases LGBTQ acceptance through visibility as performing artists. “I love teaching my high schoolers about nutrition, interior design, and fashion. I also have become a Boy Scout mom and drive loads of boys all over. My husband and I have been married for more
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 1993 (25th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Jen Monjeau Sweat, Hallie Suber Prince, Eileen Gray Booth, Barbara Summers Blevins, Heidi Hacia Suydam, Melanie Filson Lewis, Daphne Nobles Markham Row 2: Ruth Powell Storts Row 3: Donna James Jackson, Paige Getty, Emily Adams Mowery, Beth Hastings-Hoover, Alison Charney Hussey Row 4: Ginger Holmes George, Jennifer Stiles Williams, Lanai DeVos, Melissa Bell, Lisa Theiling Stamey
than 27 years,” reports Ginger McQueen Reeves ’88, of Fayetteville, GA. Maricka “Ricky” RogersRandall ’88 lives in Palm Harbor, FL, where she works as a continuous improvement engineer and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with Ply Gem Windows. Ricky has a WESLEYAN FIRST as the College’s first dual degree engineering graduate with Mercer University. Stephanie Hooks Tinkey ’88 and David celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. They have lived in Macon for all of those 26 years and have three wonderful children, ages 22, 20, and 18. In May 2019 they will have three graduations to attend! Stephanie serves on the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival Think Pink Committee and attends two women’s Bible studies (at Ingleside Baptist and at First Presbyterian). At home she enjoys the company of golden retriever Toby and the family’s cat, Stripes.
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1990s On July 1, 2018, Anne Cordeiro ’92 of Midway, GA, will take office as the Rotary District 6920 Trainer but her preparation for the office began in February when she coordinated the Assistant Governor Training and the President Elects Training Seminar district breakout sessions. “This may be a WESLEYAN FIRST,” writes Anne. Dottie Hunt ’92 of Stockbridge, GA, is the senior program associate and lead ELMO/NEMO project manager for software development at The Carter Center in Atlanta. She previously worked at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a project manager and userexperience designer. She has a graduate certificate of user experience and interaction design from Rochester Institute of Technology where she researched the intersection of data visualization and user interaction. Dottie also holds a B.M. degree and an M.B.A. degree from Wesleyan.
1993 (25th Reunion)
Red is still the color of sisterhood for the Class of 1993 who returned to Wesleyan to celebrate a silver anniversary. And celebrate they did - at Kem’s Lounge, Holiday Inn on Friday night and at the home of Jennifer Monjeau Sweat on Saturday night. Reunion Chair Ruth Powell Storts planned for a terrific 25th with all the trimmings and classmates responded by engaging in a weekend filled with sisterhood stories and treasured memories that they will recall “time & again.” High school graduation coach Melissa Bell ’93 of Conyers, GA, is proud of her classmates. “I am blessed and honored to be a part of the Class of 1993 as it is FILLED with such phenomenal women who have incredibly large hearts for community and youth. The work these women do to provide emotional, spiritual, psychological, medical, and educational love and guidance for our world is truly the ‘Wesleyan way.’ They are changing the world. Thank you, ladies!”
In 2016 Eileen Gray Booth ’93 became program director of Children Services at Life Management Center, a community mental health center in Panama City, FL. After moving several times during their 25 year marriage, Ginger Holmes George ’93 and husband Lance have settled just outside of Chicago in Oak Parks, IL, as empty nesters. Daughter Harper lives in Baton Rouge, daughter Madison is in Chicago, and son William will graduate from Northwestern University in 2019. Ginger would gladly entertain guests at their home. Paige Getty ’93 has served as Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD, for the past 15 years. Her congregation is an active and vibrant liberal religious community with a mission to bring more love, justice, and connections to the world. She and Graham have two children, Hallie (12) and Sara (8).
Class of 1998 (20th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Laura Neff Fairchild, Piper Allen Ellis, Melinda Caspers Thompson, Shelby Smith Row 2: Kim Benoit, Amity Bibler, Amelia Armstrong Carmichael, Emily Carr Heath, Amanda Allen, Julie Houston Trieste Row 3: Lisa Bridges Hines, Kenithe Biggs, Erin Dallas, Lynn Shaver, Tori Houlberg McCollum, Alanda Hermann James
“For three years I served as treasurer for the Georgia Council of Teachers of English and had the opportunity to present at several national conferences. My passion also is working with a community read initiative in Rome, GA, where I live and where we bring authors, students, and book clubs together,” reports Emily Adams Mowery ’93. Ruth Powell Storts ’93 lives in Bixby, OK, with her husband, two children, Owen (10) and Carter (8), and two dogs. She is very busy with work, church, and youth sports. Ruth is a client specialist at Bank of Oklahoma. After serving as a homeschool mom for 18 years, Heidi Hacia Suydam ’93 of Valrico, FL, has started a new project as the author of the SOS blog (simplyoursociety.com). #sosblog has a special focus on midlife women but is a place for women of all ages who are recovering from eating disorders and hidden abuse. On Instagram: @ simplyoursocietyblog.
1998 (20th Reunion)
Members the Class of ’98 celebrated their 20th reunion with Reunion CoChairs Amanda Allen and Kim Benoit in charge of weekend activities. Class party destinations included Ocmulgee Brewpub on Friday and an AirBnB on Saturday which gave classmates plenty of time to “catch up” on hot topics (careers and kids) and on everything purple in between. Congratulations to Kathryn Smith Vinson ’99 of Knoxville, TN, who was named the 2017 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year for East Tennessee. Kathryn, husband Chris, and daughters Ella Kate and Amelia have had a busy year, completed with Kathryn running the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati and Chris celebrating 15 years with Homeland Security.
2000s By popular demand Tonya Parker ’01, assistant dean of students for diversity and inclusion and Title IX coordinator at Wesleyan, delivered the Baccalaureate address in May to very grateful members of the 2018 Senior Class.
2003 (15th Reunion)
Alumnae Weekend 2018 provided even more golden moments for the Class of 2003 to enjoy, especially during the Sister, Sister, Sibs Dinner at Ingleside Village Pizza on Friday and at the class party held on the Munroe Science Center terrace on Saturday - all planned by Reunion Committee members Tara Hatfield Crooms, Sherrie Randall, Rachel Garcia, and Elaina Winter. At the Annual Meeting GH spirit peaked when Toyosi Fatunase Onwuemene received the 2018 Young Alumna Award. And with their golden scarfs and gold rimmed heart-shaped sunglasses as accessories, the GH03 sisters were lookin’ good for the class photo.
Bundles of joy are to be celebrated! Emily Dukes LeVan ’04 of Atlanta welcomed her second son, Simon Rose LeVan, in December. “My oldest son is over the moon to be a big brother and we’re all excited to be a full family of four. Here’s hoping we ever sleep again!” (See Births) Congratulations to Dr. Nyasha GuramatunhuCooper ’06 of Marietta, GA, who has been selected to serve as the 2017-2018 Race and Ethnicity Faculty Fellow through Kennesaw State University’s Center for Diversity and Engagement! Nyasha proposed the creation of a digital exhibit that profiles members of the KSU community and their cultural identities and narratives. New beginnings continue for the 2000s. First time home buyer Jaime McQuilkin ’06 is excited to move into her new townhome in Atlanta. This past winter she traveled to Iceland. The WCAA thanks Shanita Douglas Miller ’06 of Snellville, GA, for serving as the 2018 Marker Ceremony Speaker, where she spoke to the Class of 2018 about life after Wesleyan.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
Class of 2003 (15th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Elaina Winter, Rachel Garcia, Tracy Baker-Rogers Row 2: Regina Wright-McCree, Sherrie Randall, Tara Hatfield Crooms, Nessa Cruthirds Griffin Row 3: Toyosi Fatunase Onwuemene, Meara Richter Lesho, Holly McMillian Klich, Latoya Mercer
Andy and Courtney Mitchell Miller ’07 live in Cusco, Peru, where Andy attends language school and Courtney is involved in medical ministry. Their desire is to help Peruvians know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Andy will focus on training pastors for the sake of healthy churches. He graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has pastored in TX and GA. Courtney will focus on relationship-building through medical ministry. She graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and is a pediatrician. They are being sent by Trinity Baptist Church in Vidalia, GA.
2008 (10th Reunion)
Reunion was “Great and Green” for members of the Class of ’08 who met at El Sombrero for a class party and enjoyed a ten year catch-up session. Reunion Committee members, Missy Poole, Jasmine Jackson, Vicki Johnson, Hillary Jarrett Maedel, Carla RuizNey, and Stephanie Hood Wittry kept classmates 64
connected by Facebook as they coordinated plans for a special weekend devoted to sharing sisterhood. Dr. Victoria L. Johnson ’08 of Birmingham, AL, is a psychiatrist and will be starting a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UAB Medical Center in July 2018. Vicki earned an M.D. degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2015. She is currently doing a general psychiatry residency at UAB Medical Center. Congratulations to author Lucy Guy Harrelson ’09 of McRae, GA, who has authored three books: A Wolf and the Trouble with Boxes, The Trouble with Curses, and Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea. Congratulations to Shanna Weaver Parks ’09 of Byron, GA, who has been promoted to payment recovery unit manager at Geico, where she began her career in 1998 as a sales representative and has completed all levels of claims.
2010s Helen A. Likins ’10 of South Hadley, MA, joined the Episcopal Service Corps, and is working as an intern for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. Betsy Herlong ’12 of Collierville, TN, teaches French at Middle College High School in Memphis. She reports, “I just bought my first home!” Here’s to wishing you many happy memories there!
2013 (5th Reunion)
Coming “home” to campus was just the start of a funtastic 5th reunion for members of the Class of 2013 who shared many “life after Wesleyan” stories with classmates during Alumnae Weekend. Chelsea Bolton, Marisa Arnold Pierce, and Kelsey Tinsman Ervin served on the reunion committee and made sure that the fun continued at Friday’s class party held at the home of Cara McHenry-Velasco. Before the party Kelsey performed in the Celebration
Concert where her soprano voice wowed her Wesleyan sisters. A Saturday party at Just Tap’d in downtown Macon was followed by a get-together for Pub Night in Hurdle Café and provided classmates with a taste of current Wesleyan student haunts. Kendal Binion ’13 and Amanda Holliday ’14 of Laramie, WY, are engaged with a wedding planned for this upcoming fall! Maconite Chelsea Bolton ’13 earned a master’s degree in instructional technology from Georgia Southern and works as an educational therapist at Elam Alexander Academy. Kelsey Tinsman Ervin ’13 earned a master’s degree in music from Mercer University. She works as a paralegal and is a staff musician at St. Luke’s Episcopal in Atlanta. 2017 was an exciting year for Marisa Arnold Pierce ’13 of Pooler, GA. She received her M.Ed. in adult education and community leadership in May 2017 and welcomed her first
Class of 2008 (10th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Charmin Green, Thuy Vo, Jessica Kendrick Thomas, Victoria Johnson, Catherine Dermody, Jessica Dermody Row 2: Adaobi Iheduru, Hillary Jarrett Maedel, Faith Sumpter, Tanya Parker, Leane Willis, Caroline Black
child, Xavier Pierce, into the world in October 2017. (See Births, WESmag, Winter 2017) In Hinesville, GA, Callie Rollins ’13 teaches 2nd grade. She received her M.Ed. from Armstrong State University. Congrats to Brittainee Lee ’14 in Green Cove Springs, FL, who earned her M.Ed. in inclusive learning in August 2017 and received a Florida teaching license. In March, Charline van der Beek ’15 visited Wesleyan and a political science class to discuss her work as an Austrian diplomat to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland (official title is Attaché, Permanent Mission Austria to the United Nations in Geneva). Charline grew up in Luxemburg, attended college in Paris for one year, then graduated from Wesleyan and went on to earn her master’s degree in European public affairs from Maastricht University in The Netherlands. She interned with the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva as part of her master’s program and now is a diplomat representing Austria.
Bishop L. Bevel Jones III July 22, 1926 - March 6, 2018 Bishop L. Bevel “Bev” Jones III (ret.), began his service as a trustee of Wesleyan College in 1979, moving to emeritus status in 1984 and remaining in that position until his death on March 6. A graduate of Emory University and Emory’s Candler School of Theology, Bev served six churches in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, including in LaGrange, Atlanta, Decatur, and Athens, before he was elected to the episcopacy in 1984. For 12 years he served as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference based in Charlotte. Upon his retirement in 1996, he returned to Atlanta where he became bishop-in-residence at Candler and Decatur First United Methodist Church. He served for several years as an adjunct professor at Candler, which now has the L. Bevel Jones III Chair in the Practice of Ministry in his honor. As a United Methodist and the husband of a loyal Wesleyan alumna, Mildred “Tuck” Hawkins ’49, Bev was always a strong supporter of Wesleyan, advocating for the College among his many relationships, which included the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation and the William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation. He was the featured speaker during the inauguration weekend Sunday service for Wesleyan President Ruth Knox in 2004. Those attending Mulberry Street United Methodist Church that morning heard a powerful message about the transformative experience of a liberal arts education combined with Methodist values. One of his last appearances in the pulpit was also at Mulberry, in 2011, when he officiated at the memorial service for his long-time friend Dr. Earl Strickland, Wesleyan’s 20th president. The two men had helped write the Ministers’ Manifesto of 1957, a response to the violence in Little Rock, Arkansas, over the desegregation of the public schools. The Manifesto was signed by 80 ministers and called for peace, the preservation of public schools, and dialogue between black and white leaders. As moderate as this language seems now, it was not a popular position at the time. During his years on Wesleyan’s board, Bev Jones’s was the same voice of wisdom and reconciliation. His Wesleyan family will miss his keen intelligence, his sharp wit, and his extraordinary capacity to make connections with everyone he met.
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
mergau: ion Play rial Cities
- 21, 2020
Vivia L. Fowler President, Wesleyan College
USA/BUDAPEST n our transatlantic jet. (meals aloft)
E 13 ARRIVE BUDAPEST est, formed in the late 19th e settlements of Buda on be merged with Pest to the kept a distinctive identity. was outgrown in the 19th vards were laid out, but the l the commercial, financial Across the river on the hilly , which grew on the narrow remainder of the day is at on your own. Dinner and (D)
St. Martin’s Cathedral, which hosted the coronation of Hungary's kings between the 16th and 19th centuries; Michael’s Gate, the only gate preserved from the city's medieval fortifications; and the Archbishop’s palace, now seat of the Slovak government. We continue to Vienna, where you may wish to take a stroll and shop on fashionable Kartnerstrasse. Tonight, mingle with the Viennese in cozy cafes enjoying some of the world's richest pastries, listen to Strauss waltzes in Danube Park, or seek the lights of Prater amusement park. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B,D)
Class of 2013 (5th Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Cara McHenry Velasco, Kelsey Tinsman Ervin Row 2: Mary Lindsey Brown, Callie Rollins, Chelsea Bolton, Nichelle Frazier Row 3: LaKeisha Howard, Rita Roberts Ingram, Marisa Arnold Pierce
DAY 5, TUESDAY, JUNE 16 VIENNA Baroque grandeur unfolds as our intriguing morning tour includes monuments to the great musicians and intricately carved St. Stephen's Spire. A visit to the treasures of enormous Schoenbrunn Palace highlights
4 BUDAPEST our of Budapest. Our tour h Buda and Pest. In Buda where we see the Citadella e Hill with its Royal Palace, man’s Bastion. Fisherman’s ular view of Pest and the nues as we explore Pest and re and the fashionable Vaci free to explore on your own, rafts and folk art. (B)
Congratulations to Brooke Bosley ’16 in Stone Mountain, GA, who graduated from Georgia Tech with a master’s degree in digital media. At Wesleyan, Brooke majored in integrated digital media.
15 BUDAPEST/ BRATISLAVA/VIENNA Budapest and travel to Slovakia. Here we stop to century castle that towers anube. We also spend some wn, including sites such as
The new director of development at Wesley Glen Ministries in Macon is Julie Benge Rogers ’16 of Juliette, GA. Most recently Julie worked as the program coordinator for Wesleyan’s Lane Center.
Brava to Melissa Rodriguez ’16 of Macon, who earned her master’s degree in vocal performance from Mercer University in June 2018. (See Page 28).
JOIN DR. VIVIA FOWLER ON A 10-DAY EUROPEAN JOURNEY Oberammergau: The Passion Play and Imperial Cities June 12 - 21, 2020 Travel to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic with President Vivia Fowler and Wesleyan alumnae and friends on a 10-day educational journey to Europe. Experience the rich history of the cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Oberammergau, Cesky Krumlov, and Prague while you explore historic sites and medieval castles and cathedrals. Discover the charm of picturesque villages and the breathtaking views of the countryside. Enjoy the music of Strauss in Danube Park, dine in cozy cafés, and witness The Passion Play in Oberammergau that has been performed since 1634. For tour details and projected price for this trip of a lifetime, visit wesleyancollege.edu/tour2020
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2017 (1st Reunion)
Wesleyan welcomed the Class of 2017 back for their very FIRST reunion. Reunion Chair and Class President Sidney King was on hand to greet classmates on campus and for dinner at El Sombrero during Alumnae Weekend. A Meet-Up at Pub Night in the Hurdle Café brought back many not-so-longago memories as classmates mingled with current students and with other alumnae. The weekend was all about hugs and smiles and enjoying sisterhood again with each other. DeSira Palmer ’17 of Macon, has spent the last nine months in Saint Malo, France, where she worked as a high school teaching assistant. “Teaching took me back to my years at Southwest High School because the students there (in France) are just as opinionated as we were. Yet, having to deal with overzealous class clowns makes me miss low-maintenance Wesleyannes,” notes DeSira. While overseas DeSira enjoyed the opportunity to travel and to meet new friends.
Class of 2017 (1st Reunion) (L-R) Row 1: Sidney King, Brooke Bray, Rut Leon Row 2: Sarah Berks, Jessica McCrory, Cristy Rodriguez, Rebecca Otwell Dove, Auburn Davidson Row 3: Catherine Roberts, Ashaunti Samms, Evelyn Mobley
Michael D. McKinney April 30, 1961 – May 9, 2018 Michael McKinney was a fixture on Wesleyan College’s campus for more than 30 years. Serving as the technical director of Porter Auditorium, including the Black Box Theatre, he helped many generations of Wesleyan women become successful in the professional theater world and in life. Michael literally grew up in Porter Auditorium learning about technical theatre under the guidance of his father, George McKinney. Father and son cared for the entire Porter Fine Arts building and taught students their craft for more than 50 years. Michael attended classes at Wesleyan while teaching classes in stagecraft, designing and building three or more sets a year, and acting in and directing student productions. He wrote and produced two plays at Wesleyan and was a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. In March 2016 Michael was honored with the American College Theatre Festival Meritorious Achievement Award for Excellence in Design by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for Wesleyan’s 2015 Festival of New Plays. Friend and former student Mo Guiberteau ’00 said, “Michael meant so much to so many and this loss is felt through generations of Wesleyan Women.” Today Mo oversees the Live Nation contract and union stagehand labor for all shows at Verizon, Chastain, and Lakewood theatres in Atlanta. Michael began his career at the age of six as a crowd scene actor in the outdoor drama Unto These Hills in Cherokee, NC. Over the next twenty summers he matured into the positions of actor, property master, and ultimately, technical director. He was also skilled in theatrical pyrotechnics. An integral part of campus life, Michael mentored many students who later found careers in the dramatic arts. He was a unique, funny, talented, and inspiring professional who will be missed by all who knew him. Dr. Vivia Fowler said, “Our thoughts are with the Wesleyan community, Michael’s family and friends, and hundreds of Wesleyan alumnae who knew and loved him.” Michael is survived by two sisters Lisa McKinney ’74 of Winder, GA, and Karen McKinney Renner ’78 of Bon Aqua, TN, who were constantly by his side the last two years of his life.
John Francis Rogers, Jr. March 7, 1929 - January 24, 2018 Former Wesleyan trustee (1982 – 2002) John F. “Jack” Rogers, Jr., died on January 24, 2018. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jack attended Georgia Tech, graduated in 1951, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps to serve in the Korean War. During his military service, he received the Silver Star for leadership and bravery in combat. As an employee of Proctor & Gamble, Sinclair Refining Company, and Southern Life Insurance Company, Jack refined his business acumen and started his own successful company, Rogers Oil, in 1960. He applied these same business skills to Wesleyan College while serving as a member of the board of trustees for twenty years. With Jack’s expertise, he was a valuable member of the finance committee during his tenure as a trustee and also served as assistant treasurer. His practical approach to business earned him membership on the bank boards of Family Federal Savings and Loan Association and Georgia Bank and Trust Company. He served also on Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning Commission and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. Jack is survived by his wife Laura, children John Frances Rogers III and wife Noreen, Fabia Rogers Butler and husband Geoff, and Reg T. Rogers and wife Suzanne; two stepdaughters, Elizabeth Logan James and Jeanie Logan Haselden; and ten grandchildren. Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
EVERY YEAR EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN CHOOSE WESLEYAN. Choose Wesleyan again by making a gift before June 30.
OF ALL THE DECISIONS I HAVE EVER MADE, THE ONE THAT TOOK ME THERE, THAT KEEPS ME THERE EVEN NOW IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE NEVER SECOND-GUESSED. PERHAPS I WAS NOT AS NAIVE, AS INSECURE AS I THOUGHT. OR PERHAPS I WAS SIMPLY, EVEN THEN, LISTENING TO MY HEART SAY, “NOW.” - Kathy A. Bradley ’78 68
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Alumnae: Join Mathews Athletic Center for just $25/month! Membership includes access to Cybex strength
2nd Saturday of every month, 9am-1pm
training equipment, free weights, recumbent bikes,
treadmills, steppers, elliptical machines, yoga, Tai Chi, Cycle, RIP barbell, ZUMBA, Barre, sculpting, Senior
Programming, tennis courts, and walking trails in the Arboretum. The center provides locker room areas with day use lockers, showers, and vanity areas. Call Kathy Malone (478) 757-3775.
Special Events at Wesleyan Whether you’re hosting an outside wedding reception or a large group for dinner, Wesleyan College offers an elegant backdrop for your special event. Historic, Georgian-style buildings updated with modern facilities are perfect venues for weddings, receptions, meetings, conferences, baby showers, and reunions. Accommodations range from 25 to 1,200 people, and our affordable catering options are unparalleled. Newly renovated guest suites offer overnight lodging and Wesleyan’s meeting spaces vary from elegantly appointed parlors and ballrooms to high tech conference rooms. Make your reservation today!
Hannah Doan, Director of Auxiliary Services- 478-757-5233 Tamara Hawkins, Campus Events Facilitator- 478-757-2068
wesleyancollege.edu/EventRentals
Wesleyan Magazine Spring/Summer 2018
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Save the Date The Inauguration of Wesleyan College’s 25th President
Dr. Vivia Lawton Fowler Saturday, October 20, 2018 11:00 am Porter Auditorium
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