Alumni Join Board of Trustees

Leadership Transitions

Dr. Steve Eckman was named chancellor by the York College trustees effective July 2020. Eckman stepped down this summer after serving since 2009 as the College’s 20th president in its 129year history. Managing Hulitt Hall renovations will be a primary focus for Eckman and one that is close to his heart. When asked about the next phase of his life, Eckman Eckman stated, “I have spent most of my career in Christian education and look forward to having more time to interact with students and work on renovations to Hulitt Hall.”

Alumni Agree to

Serve as Trustees

Three new members have joined the York College board of trustees, according to board chair Dr. R. Wayne White ’63. YC alumni, Dr. C. Shawn Bengtson ’80 of Bellevue, Neb., Dr. Scott Abraham ’99 of Kansas City, Kan., and Dr. Aaron Fletcher ’02 of Woodland Park, Colo., became the college’s newest trustees this summer.

“Each of these three has demonstrated their loyalty for the college and its mission,” White said. “They are vocal about good memories of their personal York experiences; they have been consistently generous in their financial support, and they all represent the college in an exemplary way professionally and spiritually. I am thankful for the talents and experiences these three alumni bring to the board.”

Dr. C. Shawn Bengtson ’80

Bengtson is vice president, investment with Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society. She holds a Ph.D. in business with an interdepartmental focus in finance, investments and banking from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1982 and has also served in faculty and administrative roles in higher Bengtson education with Creighton University, College of Saint Mary and Bellevue University, all in the Omaha area. Bengtson was one of the original members of the York College President’s Council when it began in 2009 and served as council chair from 2015-2019. Bengtson was a member of the acappella chorus and East Hill Minstrels during her student days at York College.

After serving as chancellor for more than a decade, Dr. R. Wayne Baker has been named chancellor emeritus by the York College trustees. Baker served as president from 1996 to 2009, accepting the role of chancellor at his retirement.

Regarding the transitions Dr. R. Wayne White ’63, YC board chair, said, “We wanted to acknowledge Dr. Eckman's contributions to York College, and we are grateful for his willingness to continue Baker using his considerable talents for the College in the years ahead.”

White added, “Dr. Baker led the college during much of our transition to a four-year college in the 1990s, and we are pleased to

recognize his legacy and love with emeritus status.”

Dr. Scott Abraham ’99

Abraham, who resides with his wife Beth, two sons and a daughter in Bucyrus, Kan., is an orthopedic surgeon with Apex Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in the Overland Park area. He was among the first students to receive a bachelor’s degree in the sciences from York College when four-year programs were added in the 1990s. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas-Wichita and completed Abraham his residency at the University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic in Memphis. While a YC student, Abraham played four years of varsity Panther basketball.

Dr. Aaron Fletcher ’02

Fletcher serves as managing director of Bios Partners, a life sciences venture firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the founder and president of Bios Research, a financial services firm that provides healthcare industry research focused on the biotech and med-tech sub-sectors. Fletcher is also a visiting professor at Dallas Baptist University. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Colorado Fletcher State University after he completed his bachelor’s degree at York College. Fletcher was a distance runner for the track and cross country teams throughout his undergraduate years. Aaron and his wife, Holly (’03), have two daughters.

“These new members strengthen our board and its position to support York College on so many levels,” White added. “We are indeed fortunate to have the degrees of expertise and varied perspectives that they bring to the table. I am excited about what their additions mean to the future of York College.”

In His Own Words...

Dr. Sam Smith accepted the role of president of York College earlier this year and took office on July 6. He moved from Nashville with Lisa, his wife of 19 years, and their three children, Brooklyn (16), Bear (12), and Boden (9). Four months into his new role, President Smith sat down for a visit about his move here, what he has found since he arrived, and what he dreams for the future of York College.

photo by Bob Dehart '95

What is your dream for York College?

My dream for York College is very simple: To reflect what God wants for York College. I truly believe that the mission of this institution is what drove my family to be back here at York College. My dream is to make sure that we are living out what God wants with our faculty, our staff, and our administration, making sure that Christ is always at the center of what we’re doing. I can talk about dreams of having new buildings or a certain number of students, but at the end of the day if Jesus isn’t at the center of it, it doesn’t mean anything. What challenges does YC face?

Maintaining our identity as York College is one major challenge. The world is constantly trying to push culture away from anything faith-based, and we are putting our heels in the ground and saying, “We’re not moving away from that.” We are excited about that. We believe it is one of the things that makes us unique. Even though it is a challenge culturally, it is something that helps us strive on our campus as we introduce students to Jesus.

(above) Twenty-five years from when he was a student at York College, President Smith stands on Kiplinger Avenue with his past residence – Thomas hall in the background.

Another challenge of the 2020s, and we’re in it right now, relates to questions about the relevance of higher education. Why do I need to go to college? Why do I need to spend so much money when I can go to a trade school or I can start working at a local industry? We need to make the case for the relevance of a liberal arts faith-based institution where students become wellrounded because of the experience they have at York College.

Maybe the biggest challenge that will affect all institutions is the forecasted decline in the number of college-eligible students by the end of this decade. In recent years, there has been somewhat of a bubble, with more students nationwide, but now that number is on the decline. A lot of institutions are going after the same students, and the competition is increasing. So we have to be competitive, we have to have a competitor’s mindset, and we have to keep a competitive price.

US News & World Report gave York College a top10 ranking in its new social mobility category for its annual college ratings – in both 2019 and 2020. What is this new category about, and what does that ranking mean for YC?

The social mobility ranking highlights schools who have shown a lot of success helping students from an economically disadvantaged background finish their degree. These back-to-back top-10 rankings in the Midwest Region reflect our intentionality to come alongside students who may be facing challenges, maybe lacking resources or a thorough college preparation. Simply put: We help them win. York has always been a place of second chances and new beginnings, so this ranking fits perfectly with who we are and what we want to be.

A recent example of YC’s history of new beginnings is the Second Chance Program at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. How did that program come about, and what does it do?

Dr. Terry Seufferlein, in our Bible department, saw an opportunity to teach inmates at the women’s correctional facility here in York. It took a lot of coordination between our academic office and the prison. But Terry persisted, recruited lots of faculty who were ready to volunteer, and launched the program back in 2016. The three-year program earning an associate’s degree was designed to help participants receive an education and redefine themselves. Or maybe more accurately, for God to redefine them. While individuals are being touched, it also serves to begin changing the culture at NCCW. Programs may not be able to do that. God can. The first cohort finished more than a year ago, and the second cohort is now almost halfway through. Everything about it matches our mission.

Another development in the last decade is York College Online. Its presence is growing with more than 200 students enrolled in one of YC’s virtual options. How does that further the college’s mission?

Our traditional mission is to shape the lives of students through education and specifically through Christ-centered education. We wouldn’t want people to believe that since we are online we’re losing our focus. Fulfilling our mission is always the priority. Making sure that happens starts with our provost, Dr. Shane Mountjoy, as he’s looking for teachers and professors for our online program. It is just like we are interviewing for any other position on campus. We want to make sure they are engaged in introducing students to Jesus through their programs and through their classes.

How is York preparing students to live and work in a world where they will be called to adapt to changing needs, evolving technologies, and more?

York always has prepared students to be adaptable. It is part of the traditional residential student experience where you can be involved in athletic activities, a social club, or a performing arts group. Students are stretched and challenged to try new things – getting way out of their comfort zone. Students have always been called to make changes on the fly for their team or their club – to do what’s best for others or for the institution as a whole. You also see this in the classroom when teachers present challenging material. I don’t believe that adaptability is new for students; in fact, it’s the norm for students now. What we have to do is provide them with opportunities to do that, and York College does a great job of making that happen.

How does York College compare to other schools where price is concerned?

One of the advantages that we have at York College is that when students compare us to other schools in the region, they will find the cost of tuition at York College is dramatically lower than other schools. This is intentional because we want to make sure that price is not a barrier for students getting the York College experience.

York has enjoyed a decade of stability that has included all but one year in the black and a tripling of the college’s endowment. What’s the next step?

For starters, we have to continue to focus on endowment growth. It has got to be front and center for the coming years. Beyond that though, we have to build on the stability and ramp up every aspect of how we compete for students and how we prepare them for life during their four years with us. We have no choice but to excel if we want to be seen as a viable option in the year 2030.

There are some big projects on campus right now with the renovations in Levitt Library and Hulitt Hall. What will those changes do for the campus, and more importantly, what will they do for our students?

With a nearly $6 million total price tag, major renovations are underway in Hulitt Hall and Levitt Library. Hulitt, the oldest building on campus, is being renovated to create a space that takes care of all the business needs for our students – a one-stop shop. Levitt Library is being reinvented as the Academic Resource Center at Levitt, a hub for academic support services. Students are going to find one-on-one mentoring, academic coaching, technology support, a research and writing center, and more. York College is at its best and students’ lives are changed in those personal, hands-on moments. Everything about this redesign is focused on creating that context.

What else do you see as a priority as far as the campus and facilities are concerned?

In order for us to compete with other schools we need facilities that will make prospective students say, “Hey, that’s a place I want to go, a place I want to attend.” We especially have to improve our residence halls. We have to create spaces on campus that are inviting for students that will get them here and provide a great home once they arrive.

For those who are already giving to York College or for others who may consider a gift, why should they invest their money in York? Why here instead of somewhere else?

For anybody who is serious about faith development of students, this is a prime place to give. We take very seriously the mission of transforming lives through Christ-centered education, and because we do that, it will push away some who have the means to give. But for those who choose to invest here, this is a place where every dollar is stretched to its maximum in an effort to impact students and the Kingdom.

What was it like moving back to York?

The move has been nothing less than a God-moment for our family. From the time we arrived, faculty and staff were at the apartment where we were going to live ready to unload our U-Haul and our truck. By the time my wife and I signed the paperwork and came out, all of our stuff was already unloaded. There was already a meal in our refrigerator and a calendar of events for us to go to people’s houses. People wanted to spend time with us and love on us. People made appointments to pray for me and support me. This is a place that has been very encouraging to me. Any word for classmates or teachers who knew you way back when?

For those teachers and for those students who were at York College when I attended, I would just echo what they would say to me, which would be, “Thank goodness we were in a place where we could be transformed by this institution, because we certainly weren’t finished products.” There were a lot of people that were instrumental in my development, a lot of my peers that were instrumental, and I’m glad that they didn’t give up on me.

Who has been influential for your family, faith, and career?

There is no way that I have enough time to run through an exhaustive list of all the amazing people who have either impacted me or my family. I can share with you a few who quickly come to mind.

Family: The Heronimus family (Lebanon, TN), the Jacobs family (Dickson, TN), the Mathur family (Nashville, TN), the Gilbert family (Chattanooga, TN), the Watson family (Brentwood, TN), the Crow family (Nashville, TN), and the Dugan family (Green Hills, TN) have been God-sends for my family. These families have poured out an abundance of goodness, kindness, wisdom and hospitality on my family throughout various seasons and have encouraged us to be a blessing to other families on our journey. Without their help through the years, my family would not have been prepared to serve in this role at York College.

Faith: Scott McDowell, Dave Clayton, Sam Parnell, Caleb Heronimus, Michael Guillen, Boothe Farley, Paulette Cathey, and Frank Scott are all spiritual giants in my book. Each of these people have influenced my life in ways that they will likely never fully understand. My faith is built on Jesus, but I’m certain that God used these spiritual giants as scaffolding in my own spiritual development.

Career: Sharon Waldbillig, Danny Taylor, Brian Eubanks, Randy Lowry, Jeff Wilson, Josh Roberts, and Kent Gallaher chiseled and shaped me through various positions in my career. They challenged me, taught me, and inspired me to use my gifts to bring glory to God. I observed all of these leaders in the trenches of their work, and I learned from their experiences in powerful ways that will help me be more effective for those I lead.

What do you do to unwind, unplug from everything?

When I’m able to, that will mean me getting my waders on, climbing down into a river, and doing some trout fishing. I am always open to invitations if anybody needs a fishing buddy. n

Listen to portions of this interview online at youtube. com/yorkcollegeneb. Search “Meet President Smith”