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Publication for Alumni and Friends of Maryville College A VOLUME ONE-HUNDREDTWO, NUMBERONE FALL2001 Page 2 liAL Greetings ESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ^ Campus the Maryville College froTTi Thefirst requisite about such teachers asArdaWalker '40, Art technolog)'strictlyas a toolfor teaching, a Bushing '43, Horace Orr '12, Fred Griffitts hanmsingoftechnology tor teaching, not a '25, Edwin Hunter '14, Margaret Cummings substitute for teacher-student interaction. ofa school is a ^^ ^"^ — the list is long, and recent graduates could The introduction of "smart classrooms" •^ quoting teacher. ^^ MaryviHes fifth readilDyr.adRdaltpohit.Lloyd, in his sesquicentennial aancdcotmhpeanIniteedrnbeyttornaionuirngcianmpthuesirhparsobpeeernuse president again, MC histor)', notes that "everygood teacher torMaryville's faculty. The Sl.75-million someone who has provided mewith both becomes a betterone it engaged in some cre- InstructionalTechnologygrant that wewere quotes and inspiration over the past eight ative activit}' ofhis awarded trom the U.S. Department of years. Dr. own." 1 am convinced Education in 1999 has made a tremendous SamuelTyndale that this is one keyto difference in teaching techniques on the Wilson, in his the effectiveness of Marwille campus, but it has not diminished centennial Marxaille's facultyof the commitment to and enthusiasm for historyofthe today Articles in this teachingat all. Quite the contran,'. College, was issue report on taculr,' Myown teachingcareer spanned 17 describing the sabbatical projects and years, and while I won't make claims ot being needs lacing Dr. MC oft-campus research in thesame leaguewith the teaching IsaacAnderson activities, as well as legends that alumni remember so fondly, I do in the days of student-facult)' claim sufficient experience to knowwhat a founding. research collaborations. great profession teachingis. It demands much I believe We also publish, some- ot thosewho choose it, but it also brings much that both times as a part of satisfaction, satisfaction that is hard to match PresidentWilson FOCUS, a more exten- in other professions. I often describe education and President sive account ot tacult)' as the "transforming business."Teachers are Anderson would professional involve- not infrequendy trustrated and disappointed take immense mentand stories about in theirwork, butthe greatest payofffor their pride in the individual teacher- efforts is to witness the changes in the students qualityof scholars. who come into theirclassrooms, the transfor- Maryville's Through wit- mations wrought by good teaching. I missed 21^'--century nessing the continuing that when I left teaching foradministration, teachers. In this intellectual and but I haven't forgotten the experience. issue o{FOCUSwe highlight activities ofour creative vitalityot thosewho teach them, When I visited Bill Arlington '70, Senior current faculty, andwe lookaswell atways in many Maryville students come to see learning Vice Presidentfor Human Resources atJohn which their teaching techniques are being as something that happens, not just in the Wilev & Sons in NewYork Cit)'a few\'ears shaped by technolog)'. classroom during college, but in myriadways ago, almost the firstwords I heard from him Having in our family two recent gradu- throughout a lifetime. The typical Maryville were abouthis gratitudeforwhatArt Bushing ates ofMar)'\'ille College, Rachel and I can teacher, aswe enter the 21st century, is surely had taught him aboutwritingwhen Billwas a vouch personally for the qualitv' ol the "engaged in some creative activirv'," and student at Mar)'\'ille 30 years before. "I still Maryville faculty and for the qualityofteach- Maryville's students see in them, notjust use his approach today, and I've taught it to ingthat current students are receiving. And pedagogues, but paradigms. mysons," Bill said. I'm confident that, ifour alumni were asked The pedagog}' is, ofcourse, changing for That's the kind oftransformation that about their experiences during college days, our 21st-century faculty.Technology has pro- good teachers bringabout. And it's still theywouldspeak first about those teachers vided approaches to communication, illustra- happeningat Marwille Collegeas the21st who most touched theirlives, the men and tion, exercises and "homework" bevond any- centut}'begins. women who taught them valuable skills, thingwe could have imagined even a decade helped expand their knowledge and instilled in ago. Let me hasten, however, to assure alumni them values that they have carried with them who mightworryabouteducation becoming in all the vears since graduation. I'm thinkintr too impersonal at Mar)Tille thatwestill see MaryvilleCollege FOCUS magazine2001 (issn310) Publishedthreetimesayear Maryville College 502E. LamarAlexander Parkway Maryville,TN 37804-5907 (865)981-8100 wwv^.maryvillecollege.edu subscription price- none g Q n t fi n t q Page 2 3ntof iandeffective ms.Share Dr. Kathi Page 10 herquest Krystal Page 14 Students, idyand ....Pages ..Page 12 ..Page 13 .Page 16 ..Page24 PRESIDENT: Dr.Gerald W. Gibson aMARYVILLE EDITORIALBOARD: ifCOLLEGE MarkE. Cate,Vice PresidentforCollegeAdvoncement Karen BeatyEldridge'94, DirectorofPublicRelations Established1819 LibbyWelsh '59, DirectorofDonorRecords DESIGN AND LAYOUT: TracyN.Wiggins, PublicotionsManager M E S thel Thefirst requisite about s Bushin '25, Ed ofa school is a y« '"^ — the •^ quoting readily ^^ teacher. Maryvilles fifth D; presidentagain, MChi! someone who has provided me with both becomt quotes and inspiration over the past eight years. Dr. SamuelTyndale Wilson, in his centennial historyofthe College, was describing the needs facing Dr. Isaac Anderson in the days of founding. I believe that both PresidentWilson and President Anderson would take immense pride in the quality of Maryvilles 21^'--century teachers. In this issueoiFOCUSwe highlight activities ofour creativ£ current faculty, andwe lookas well atways in many } which their teaching techniques are being as some shaped by technology. classroc Having in our family two recent gradu- througl ates ofMarwille College, Rachel and I can teacher vouch personally for the qualityofthe "engag( Maryville facultyand for the quality of teach- Maryvi ing that current students are receiving. And pedago I'm confident that, ifour alumni were asked Tl about theirexperiences during college days, our 21; theywould speak first about those teachers vided a who most touched their lives, the men and tion, e> womenwho taught them valuableskills, thingV helped expand their knowledge and instilled in ago. Le them values that they have carried with them who m in all the years since graduation. I'm thinking too im| A Publication for Alumni and Friends of Maryville College MaryvilleCollege FOCUS magazine2001 (issn310) Publishedthreetimesayear rocus MaryvilleCollege 502 E. LamarAlexander Porkv^oy Maryville,TN 37804-5907 (865)981-8100 www.maryvillecollege.edu subscription price- none ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD g Q n t fi n t ^ JudyM. Penry '73 Faculty Get "Fit" for the 21st Century Page 2 Knoxville, Tennessee With helpfromaTitle ill grantfromtheU.S. Departmentof President Education,MCfacultymembersorelearning innovativeandeffective waysto incorporatetechnologyintoclassroom instruction. James Campbell '53 Destination: Global Village Page 6 Maryville, Tennessee Vice President Twoprofessorstravelto unique placesforunique reasons.Shore thestoriesandexperiencesofDr. PaulThreadgill and Dr. Kathi Carol Callaway-Lane '92 Shibo. Nashville, Tennessee Now Entering Uncharted Territories Page 8 Recording Secretary Researchcomestolifeasstudentscollaboratewithfaculty Tim Topham '80 memberstobring researchoutoftheclassroom and intoreal life. Read howthesegroupsfacetoday'schallengestogether. Maryville, Tennessee Past-President Role Model: Dr. Margie Ribble Page 10 CLASS OF 2002 Dr.Margie Ribbleservesasa role model tostudents in herquest forlifelong learning. Find outwhatshedid, andwhatKrystol JoeT. Gilliland'55 burgershadtodowith it! Marcia Williams Kling '56 Graduation 2001 Page 14 Rebeccah Kinnamon Neff '62 David G. Russell '72 EnjoythisphotographicmontageofGraduation2001.Students, WilliamF. Lukens,Jr. '91 facultyand guestscelebratetheaccomplishmentsofstudyand hardwork. CLASS OF 2003 BeverlyAtchely '76 Alumni Profile: Melissa Walker. Page5 Sharon Bailey '69 Carol Callaway-Lane '92 Danny Osborne '76 Alumni News Page 12 James Skeen '64 CLASS OF 2004 Campus News Page 13 1 Rick Carl '77 Chris Lilley '87 Class Notes Page 16 Sylva Talmage '62 John Tanner '93 John Trotter '95 LetterfromtheAlumni President Page24 PRESIDENT: ABOUT THE COVER Dr.GeraldW.Gibson Dr. Scott Brunger, associate professor EDITORIAL BOARD: ofeconomics, uses the whiteboard (a modern-day chalkboard), to make a MarkE. Cote,Vice PresidentforCollegeAdvancement Karen BeatyEldridge'94, DirectorofPublic Relations point in a computer classroom in LibbyWelsh '59, DirectorofDonor Records Fayerweather Hall. Brunger is one of several faculty members using the DESIGNAND LAYOUT: state-of-the-art classroom thisfall. TracyN.Wiggins, PublicationsMonoger . "Maryvillegraduatesoreexpectedto hove 'communication,computing, Maryville College quontitotiveandsecond languageskillsthatenableeffectivecomprehension, analysisand expressions.' Graduatesarealsoexpectedto have'an abilityto Faculty Get "FIT" for retrieveand synthesize information andtocompleteindependentresearch.' the 21st Century Neitheroftheseskill areascan befullyrealized withoutthe incorporationof state-of-the-arttechnologyintotheteaching-learning process. Facultymustmodeltheseskillsaswell asteachthem .. In ordertoachieveall ofMaryville'sstatedoutcomes, students must know howtousetechnologyintelligentlyand effectively. Theywill onlylearn ifitisavailabletothem and ismodeledforthem." — takenfromtheApplicationforaGrantUndertheStrengthening InstitutionsProgram (H.E.A.TitleIII,CFDA84.031A),1999 Technology, on the True to academia, committees and task other hand, knows no forces pulled together to develop a plan that committees or task would address the technological deficiencies forces or policies. And on campus. The result ot several faculty and while clocks hang in the staff members' research and vision was a pro- halls ofacademia, it posal to the U.S. Department ot Education for seems that stopwatches hindingunderTide III ofthe HigherEducation hang around the necks Act. The formal proposalwas entitled In manyrespects, academiaandtechnology oftechnolog}'. "StrengtheningAcademic Programs by areworids apart. One is concernedwith the In the mid-1990s, many faculty members Incorporating InstructionalTechnology, pursuit ofknowledge; the other is concerned on the Mar^Tille College campus believed that Acquiring Equipment and ConductingFaculty with the application ofknowledge. One the technological revolution was passing them Development." thrives in an atmosphere ot collegiality; the by And theyhad proof- in 1980s-era, 8 MHz "Among faculty members, therewas a other operares in a world ofextreme competi- computers, no institutional fiinds to award to general recognition that technologycould be a tiveness. Arguably, the mostvisible difference facult)' members who wanted to learn new useful thingifused properly," explained Gina between the two worlds- academia and technologies and teaching strategies, and a Roberts, instructional technolog)- director. technology-lies in the rate ot change. growing number ofstudents who expected "Facult)' here focused first on the College's In academia, change usuallycomes slowly. access to better equipmentand newersoftware. mission, and then asked the question, 'How TEgifiCiXMmBP INSTRUCTIONAL "What theTitle Ill-funded Instructional TechnologyInitiativehas doneso far is Together, Roberts, Nichols andWentz The ITI team has also created- and now provide faculty memberswith an opportunity focus on thestatedgoals operates-an InstructionalTechnologyCenter, to have access to resources and and objectives ot the where facultyhaveaccess to morespecific and support that they'vewantedfor Title III initiative.They sophisticatedequipmentsuch as imageand years," said Gina Roberts, director order andhelp maintain audio/video captureand editing, CD-ROM ofinstructional technology. equipment, answer recordingandweb siteauthoring. Resources include hundreds of questions and teach tech- Ina recentprogress reportto the U.S. thousands ofdollarsworth ofhard- basedworkshops that are Department ofEducation, the ITI team ware, software, and multimedia tech- (Above] open to all facultymem- reported thatgoals and objects forMaryville nology.The support comes mainly in CharlesNichols; bers, notjust Faculty College's instructional technologyefforthave theformofthe InstructionalTechnolog)' (TopRight) InstructionalTechnology been met on schedule-and in manycases, KarenWentz; Initiative (ITI) team, which includes (Right) (FIT) fellows. exceeded. Roberts; Charles Nichols, instructional GinaRoberts (Last yearalone, the "TheTitle III Coordinator, who has technolog)-supportspecialist; and Karen ITI team conducted29workshops, and more managedotherprojects on othercampuses and Wentz, theTitle III coordinator at the College than halfoffacultymembersparticipated in at has evaluatedseveral projects, has seldom seen andauthorot the grant proposal. least oneworkshop.) such asmoothandseamless integration of 2 FOCUS Fell 2001 " can technologyhelp us fulfill that mission?'" then transferring the Then Katrina While equipmentandsoftwarewere images to acetate Atchley had agreat important elements ofthe proposed overheads. At times, idea. Atchley, a InstructionalTechnology Initiative (ITI), sup- hewheeled televi- second-semester portfor the facultywas the major component. sions andVCRs into junior and asenior Without it, theCollegecouldn't meet the classroom for thesis advisee of MC2000 Plan goals for "instructional use of educational viewing. For many classes, O'Gorman, was interested in usingdata from technology that contributes significantly to the however, itwas still "chalkand talk." online polls in her upcomingthesis, but she educational experience ofstudents. "Wewerelimited, consideringwhere knewlitde about thesoftware or technological Facultydevelopment is theveryheart of technologywas," O'Gorman said. "The savvy required to conductsuch polls. (See the $1.75 million, five-yearprogram, and the infrastructurewas unable to accommodate us." related story, page 9). Faculty InstructionalTechnology (FIT) fellow- In previous teachingappointments, "I called the ITI people to see ifit [a ships arethekeyto developingmeaningful O'Gorman had seen other colleges laythe project usingonline polling] was doable," technology integration projects. groundworkfor instructional technology- O'Gorman remembered. Itwas. create and organizecomputer rooms, work- Like all FIT fellows, O'Gorman received When shops and technical support for facultv' and one course release time, one summerstipend, asked to rate some equipment. At Hamilton College in S1,000 travel allowance and supplies for his skillswith Clinton, N.Y., he even received a grant to developingand integrating applications of technology conduct a teleconference between anAIDS instructional technology in the curriculum. prior to being researcher and students in his classroom in He found a lot ofinformation about namedone of Clinton. pollingsoftwareon the Internet, so O'Gorman the first FIT Those experiences had piqued his interest chose to put his $1,000 travel allowance fellows. Dr. in usingcutting-edge technology in the class- toward the purchase ofaTestPilotsoftware Mark room, so he tookseriouslythe opportunityto programthatwould allowKatrinaandstudents O'Gorman, submit a proposal foroneofthe College's first enrolled in O'Gorman's PoliticalScience321: assistant four FIT Fellowships in the spring of2000. American PoliticalProcessclass to posequestions professorof Mulling aroundsome ideas fourdays regarding the 2000 presidential race andaccess political science, described before the FITfellowship applicationswete the data. himselfas an "advanced beginner." due to the Faculty' Development Committee O'Gorman's virtualvotingbooth and Soon after he began teachingat the forselection, O'Gorman couldn't settle on a related web pageswent up on the Marj^ville College in 1997, O'Gorman was puttingsome project andhad decided towait until the next Collegewebsite in October and November. classroom lectures into Mircrosoft PowerPoint, spring. "The election process became more vivid, TitleIII activities intothe overall fiinctioning loadedwith computers and multimediaprojec As partoftheITI, thelibraryin the Fine ofthecollege," thereportreads. tors, are availableforotherclassrooms. Arts Centerhas been fullyandelectronically Although the fundingwill continue TherebuildingofFayerweather and the cataloged. through2005, fewpeople on campus-ifany remodelingofAnderson Hallallowed the Newcomputers andlaserprinters have -wouldargue that thegranthasn'talready College's administrators to plan forcomputer been distributed to allfiill-timefaculty madeanoticeable difference in thewayfaculty classrooms, which are com- members and division ofTices.'" members are teachingin the classroom. pletelywireless.The class- And throughout thegrant, ButITI hasalsochangedthelookof room in Fayerweather, which cutting-edge hardwareand some classrooms andfacultyoffices, too. is nowin use, can accommo- software thatis discipline- Forstarters, all have been wired for date 30 students, eachwith a specificwill be available to Internetaccess. laptop computer.The class- facult)'members for use in the IntheCollege's four"smartclassrooms," room inAnderson isplanned classroom. overheadprojectors havebeen replacedbyceil- to open in2002. Maryville College intends ing-mountedmultimediaprojectors, screens Likesmartclassrooms, the computer to remain committed to the ITI beyond the havebeen loweredoverblackboards, instructor classrooms give facultymembers access to the lifeofthe federal funding.TheTide III grant consoleswith built-in computers have replaced Internetandthe abilityto projecttheirown proposaldetails how-and atwhatlevel - the wooden desks or lecterns, andspeakers have computerscreen onto ascreen forstudent College plans to maintain and fund an Ibeen mounted in theceilings to playaudio viewing. However, in the computerclass- instructional technologyprogram. f^omVHS tapesorCD-ROMS. rooms, students use thecomputers as an inte- For more information on MC's ITI, visit: Mobile multimedia units, which arecarts gral part ofinstruction. http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/iti.. FOCUS Fall 2001 " exposingstudents to the complexities ofsurvey frustrating. indicated that student course reviewswere design, question wordingandpollinganalysis Current Maryville Collegestudents learn better. as part ofcampaign strategy," theprofessor how to use the library during the spring "The research empowers students," said. "... The experiential semester of Nugentsaid. "That'stheexcitementofteaching." nature ofconstructinga poll their fresh- Faculty members who accessed Nugent's helped students recognize man year in a archived materials and joined in online forums the large amount of course told her that theywere invaluable to their resources committed to entitled teaching. campaigns. Early feedback Freshman Nugentsaid she has personallybenefited trom students echoed their Research from the confidence and comfort she nowhas appreciation to be exposed Seminar 140: with technoloOT. to new technologies and Perspectives on Although she doesn't update the library's gain a new understandingof theAmerican website, Nugent said she understands more of elections and the Internet." Communit]!. what's feasible andwhat's not; what's useful Looking back on the time he and other Because of the course's emphasis on and what's fluff students conducted the campus-wide online research, Nugent is a coordinator of the faculrv' "The FIT fellowshipgave me a language to poll, O'Gorman described it as an "amazing group teaching FRS 140. And as coordinator, talk," shesaid. "Plus, it's fun to haveaproduct." 10 weeks." Unexpected technical difficulties shewanted to make sure that all faculty-new and security issues had to be dealt with, but all and veteran -couldshare material, advice and At Maryville were overcome with help from staffmembers ideas from their classroom experiences easily. Where College today, ofthelTI. She alsowanted students enrolled in thecourse 11 faculty It's All O'Gorman said the experiencewas well to have the same opportunities to search class- members can Going worth the stress. room material (syllabi, reading, research guides claim techno- "With technology, the culture ofthe and links toweb resources forhomework ogical "fitness" classroom changes," O'Gorman explained. assignments and online research support mate- bytheir "Technology can be transforming, but it has rials through the library) and communicate selection as a hurdles. Students can get buried behind the beyond class time. FIT fellow computerscreen. We have to make aconscious So Nugent submitted a proposal to create Current effort to use technology in a thoughtful way- electronic space-web pages- for these two projects make sure thatwe're addingvalue, not just groups. range playing. "In terms ofweb publishing, I was a real from computer-assisted instruction for beginner," Nugent said. "I knew how to post a music theorytovirtual pilgrimages to According to syllabus on theweb, but that was about the computersimulation games for economics. Chris Nugent, extent ofit. I attendedseveral ofGina's When federal funding forTide III the ITI is a workshops [for instructional technology]." initiative concludes in 2005, 70 percentof dream come true Roberts also recommendedNugentattend faculty memberswill have been FIT fellows. tor librarians. a Syllabus-sponsored educational technology O'Gorman asserts that technology in the Not only did it conference in San Francisco, which offered 21St centuryis making teaching (and there- give her an several hands-on workshops. fore, education) better, but harder. opportunity to HavingattendedSyllabus during the "The concept ofthe classroom has he a FIT summerof2000 and spending the remainder changed," he said. "'Chalkand talk' will be fellow, it also of theseason developingweb pages for faculn' one part ofthe educational experience, and championed and staff, Nugent said shewas eager to utilize colleges will have to be readv to accommodate the cause of them in the FRS 140 class during the spring different learningstyles and learning modes. library research, which has seen drastic change 2001 semester. "There aregreat opportunities out there with the dawn ofthe Information Age. Referencing herweb pages in asmart forteachers," he continued, "but ifyou'rea The Lamar Memorial Librarywas classroom, Nugent clicked on links to Internet professor, these changeswill keep you thinking automated in 1994, but Nugent, an assistant sites like the LibraryofCongress' "American during the summer." professor and librarian, said the automation Memory Project" andhate groups to generate Forstudents enteringa 21st-century was just the tip ofthe icebergin information classroom discussion. She also logged into workforce, exposure tovarious forms of sciences. Online databases and othersources librarymaterials to teach research strategies. technology isvital, O'Gorman said. that are prevalent in libraries today make When asked ifher "post"-web page class "Beingcomfortablewith technologywill research more convenient, but navigating was receivedbystudentswithgreaterenthusiasm beso important to them aftergraduation," he through them can be overwhelmingand than her "pre"-web pageclasses, Nugent said. FOCUS Fall 2001 ALUMNI PROFILE MC Outstanding Teacher Was Shaped by Outstanding Teaching at ByMelissa Walker '85 — I came to MaryvilleCollege intending to literature to illuminate andenliven thepast interpretingthe sameevents in differentways. majorin English.Although I hadalwayswanted are centerpiecesofmyown courses today That's reallyinteresting." Dr. Lewis introduced to teach, I neverconsideredmajoring in history, Dr. Russell Parkeralso taught us that us to historiography, the literature produced by in spiteofhavinghad two research in primarysourceswas historians and the intimidatingcentetpieceof outstandinghistoryteach- the bestwayto understand the graduateschool courses. Like Dr. Lewis, 1 tryto ers (MC alumni George pastwith theexampleofhis introducemyhistorymajors to thestudyofhis- B. Henry'61 in elemen- own exploration ofthe history tofiogtaphy taryschool and Penny ofthe localALCOAplant. His The fine teachers atMCwere not restricted ProfFittPiper '69 in high classeswerelivelyplaces where to thehistorydepartment, ofcourse. Mostof school). I consideredliter- he mixed lectureswith thought- myMC professors wereengaged in research and atureandwritingmyfirst provokingquestions. I'll nevet passionatelyconveyed theirloveoftheirdisci- loves. forget thewayhis eyes twinkled plines. Dr.ArthurBushing'43, whowas deep All thatchangedin and his mustache twitched as in his own research on Sgt. AlvinYork, gave me thefall ofmyfreshman heplayed thedevil'sadvocate to asolidintroduction to the connections among yearwhen I walked into a oneofour (we thought) bril- the liberal arts disciplines in his freshmen Western Civilization class liant analyses ofhistorical inquirycourseoninterpreting literature. Dr. taughtbyDr.Arda events. Dr. Parkerwas my inde- Bushingwas nevertoo busyfotaone-on-one Walker'40. Dr. Walker MelissaWalr'85 pendentstudyadvisor, and now conference, usuallyto go overagarbled compo- broughteven thedusty, 1 ttyto model his gentle prod- sition and help me improve it. Dr. Elizabeth ancient past to life. She didn'tjust lecture about dingand high expectations when I directstu- FowlerplacedAmerican literature in historical dead people, dates, and battles; she told us sto- dent research. contextandeven brought in a friend to deliver — ries stories about real people facingreal choic- Dr. Marjorie Kratz introduced me to Jonathan Edwards' fierysermon, "Sinners in the esjustlikepeopleweknew. Aftera fewweeks in women's historywith an interim course. I had Hands ofanAngryGod," bringingdrylitera- herclass, I was hooked; 1 majored in history. always considered myselfa feminist but I had ture to life in a newway Dr. Charlotte Beck TodayI'm an assistant professorofhistory never reallythoughtabout the invisibilityof peppered herAmerican litclasseswith anecdotes at Converse College in South Carolina, asmall women in history.Thiswas theearly 1980s about herown research on Fugitive poet Randall liberalarts college forwomen. Conversereminds whenwomen's historywasstill in its infancy Dr. Jarrell. Dr. Marilyn Pollio applied the theories of meverymuch ofMC, so I tryto providemy Kratz and Dr.Walkeropenedup awhole new theeducational psychologyshe taught to her studentswith thesamerich educational experi- avenueofstudyforme. In mydoctoralworkat own classroom. Dr. Bob Ramger '56 raised my ence 1 received. All myMC historyprofessors ClarkUniversity, I focusedon Southern environmental consciousness bysharinghis shaped thewayI teach, but Dt. Walker's influ- women's history, and mybook,AllWeKnew Was research on limnology (freshwatersystems) with encewas thestrongest. Notonlydid she teach To Farm: RuralWomen in the UpcountrySouth, his introductorybiologystudents. us that historywas about real people, butshe 1919-1941 (Johns Hopkins UniversityPress, In theend, the thingthatall myfavorite also talked aboutherown research. Herstories 2000) examines theexperiences offarmwomen MC teacherssharedwasapassion fortheirdisci- about the search forclues to an elusive French in EastTennessee duringthe Depression years. plines.Theyembodied thehighstandards, intel- noblewoman in the archives and museums of Although I didn'tknowitatthe time. Dr. lectual curiosit}', and caringforstudents thatare Franceand England helped me to understand WallaceLewis provided mewith myfirst the hallmatks ofliberal arts colleges. Without howhistorians reconstructed the pastandgave glimpse ofthe natureofgraduatestudy in histo- myMaryville Collegeprofessors, I'm not sure Id me a thirstto conductmyown research. Dr. ry. As anyonewho hadan upperdivision history everhavedreamed ofbecomingahistorian. Walkerencouragedmyfirsteffortatoriginal coursewith Dr. Lewiswill remember, he used to Melissa Walker '85workedincollegeadministration research. lugthree-footstacks ofbooks into each and beforereturningtograduateschool In 19%,sheearned Dr.Walkeralso usedliterature to illumi- everyclass. He'dlecturebrieflyaboutsome con- herPh.D. inAmericanandwomen'shistoryatClark natehistory. In thesecondsemesterofBritish troversyoverhistofical interpretation andthen UniversityinMassachusetts. Currentlysheisassistant history, she asked us towrite a research paper hold up abookandsaysomethinglike, "Now professorofhistoryatConverseCollegeinSpartanburg, thatexploredthe historical background ofa Smith argues such-and-so about this." He'd S.C ConverseawardedhertheKathryneAmeliaBrown pieceof19th century British literature; I wrote workhiswaythrough thestackand through the AwardfordistinguishedclassroomteachinginJune aofbotuhtesCehaaprplersoaDcihceksen—s'aDsakvinigduCnodpeperrgfriaedlud.atBeosttho dweabyattehraomuognhgmhyisftiorsrtiacnosurtsheatwwitahyhIiwmaswhmeind-it 2W0o0m1.enHeirnbtohoekUpAlclouWnetrKynSeowutWha,s19to19F-a1r9m4:1Ruwraasl publishedbyJohnsHopkins UniversityPress. conductresearch in original sources and using occurred to me, "Oh, wow, thesehistoriansare FOCUS 12001 5 . Maryville College admin- ment program and special funds for sabbatical istrators placed emphasis on leoves, scholarly research and professional travel, intercultural understanding and faculty members like Dr. Paul Threadgill and Dr. values when revising the general KathiShiboaremodelingtheattitudesandcuriosi- Realizing education curriculum in 1995, tiesthey hopetheirstudentswill emulate. that the world is One of the nine "distinctive features" of the Several Maryville College faculty members getting smaller and that professionals of the 21st Maryville College General Education Curriculum is oretouringthe21stcenturyworld-and returning centurywould becommunicating inglobal villages a "strong global and cross-cultural dimension." tothe classroom with much morethan slide shows and buying and selling in world economies, Withtheencouragementofafacultydevelop- and souvenirs. From the Chilhowee Mountains to Mt. Kinabalu Mention the island ofBorneo to manyof Dr. PaulThreadgill's stu- workingon his doctoral degreeat the UniversityofOntario, thesabbatical dents, and theCBS realityshow"Survivor" probablycomes to mind .. began in August 2000 and lasted through November. Perumalwanted to alongwith tribal councils, immunitychallenges, edible ratsand castaways drawuponThreadgill's expertise in botanywhile promotinghis collegeas named Richard, Susan and Kelly. one that hostsvisitingscholars from theUnitedStates. Filmedon a remote island 40 miles eastot Kota Kinabalu, "Sur\'ivor" Priorto travelingtoThailand,Threadgillwas awardedaRuthLloyd introduced approximately 16 millionviewers to that part oftheworld. Kramer Facult)'Award to studyat the Harvard Universit)'Herbaria in But Dr. PaulThreadgill was notone ot them. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard houses the mostextensivecollection otplant Threadgill, a naturalist and associate pro- specimens from SoutheastAsia in thei\mericas. fessorofbiolog\' in MaryvilleCollege's "In afewofmyclasseshereatMar}'\'ille, I hadcovered Division ot Natural Sciences,was introduced tropical botany, but I knewso litrieabout it," theprofessor to Borneo through a friend from graduate explained. "At Harvard, 1 studied common plant families and school and awonderful opportunit)'to study genera ofSoutheastAsiaso I wouldn'tbecompletelyignorant the floraofSoutheastAsia. Hespent the fall otwhat I saw." 2000 semesteratMission College in Muak Funds from the Kramer Fellowship also Lek,Thailand, asamemberotthe enabledThreadgill to accompany Dn biologyfacultyand curatorofthe Perumal on an expedition otthecoastal college's first herbarium. rainforestofSarawakand the plant com- Mission College, foundedin 1986, is munities ofMt. Kinabalu. Alongwith accreditedbytheAdventistAccreditation somestudents and othertacult}' members, Association ofSeventh-DayAdventist Threadgill andPerumalgathered plant Schools, Colleges andUniversities, USA. It specimens forMission College's herbarium. offers two programs: Atraditional academic "Asbiologists,weallwanttogotoMt. program inThai; and an international Kinabalu,"Threadgillsaid, "It'samarvelous program taught in English. placeofdiverseplantandanimallife." "Setting up an herbarium was my Mt. Kinabalu stands 13,300 feetabove primarytask,"Threadgill said. "1 gaveone (Above)Dr.PaulTlireadgill sealevel andsupports approximately 300,000 seminar, but I didn't teachanyclasses." poseswitlifacultymembetsof differentspecies.Atitsbase, Mt. Kinabalu is Arrangedthrough Dr.John Perumal, MissionCollegeinThailand. tropical; at its summit, it'salpine tundra. Mission College's DeanofScienceand (Right)Specimensofwildotchids "Wealwaysbragaboutthediversity [otplant wetecollectedforthe BiologyandwhomThreadgill metwhile MissionCollegeHerbarium. life] in theSmokyMountains,"Threadgillsaid. 6 FOCUS Fall 2001