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Turner welcomed Dr. W. Richard "Rick" Stephens, Jr., provost, and Lois Williams, vice president of enrollment management, both of whom joined the college on January 1. Stephens later provided the convocation address for the event.
Stephens came to Catawba from Husson College in Bangor, Maine where he had served since 2006 as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Graduation and Professional Studies, and Professor of Sociology. Prior to his time at Husson, Stephens worked at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois, as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology. He also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Williams came to Catawba from Stetson University in Deland, Florida where she had worked since 2004, serving as Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Acting Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid and most recently, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. Prior to her time at Stetson, Lois worked at Pfeiffer University as Director of Financial Aid between 2002 and 2004, and at Emory & Henry College, serving as Registrar, Director of Financial Aid, and as a Transfer Counselor and Financial Aid Counselor.
Students Recognized
Members of the senior class of 2009 robed and processed at Opening Convocation. They will wear their caps again at baccalaureate and commencement on May 8 and 9.
Students making the Presidential Honor roll during the spring 2008 semester were asked to stand. Those achieving this distinction include day students in B.A., B.F.A., and B.S. degree programs who earn a 3.70 grade point average on 30 or more semester hours during the two semesters of an academic year, and evening students in the B.B.A. and B.A.E. degree programs who earn a 3.70 grade point average on 24 or more hours of an academic year.
Students on the Dean's List for the fall 2008 semester were acknowledged. They included day students earning a 3.50 grade point average on 15 semester hours and evening students earning a 3.50 on 12 semester hours in a given semester.
Fall 2008 inductees into Alpha Chi National Honor Society were recognized. This national honor society recognizes junior and senior students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and character in pursuit of a liberal arts education. Membership is limited on the basis of academic standing, and all members are elected by the faculty. Fall inductees include Seniors Christopher Goodwin Ahearn, Jill Rose Archambault, Derek Wade Freeze, Jessica Dawn Kitzmiller, Alesha Spring Roseman, Shahin Soltan Mohammadi and Caitlin Elizabeth Springs; and Juniors Jacqueline Renee Allen, Rebecca Leigh Chinnis, Andrea Elizabeth Clabaugh, Leslie Michelle Denton, Kyle Brandon Ganow, Alyssa Lauren Halter, Amanda Adele Lederer, Cyle Andrew Petersen, Eric Stearns Schmehl and Kristopher Watson.
Members of Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society that promotes academic excellence in non-traditional programs and recognizes the academic accomplishments of outstanding students in the School of Evening and Graduate Studies, were also collectively recognized.
Students involved with Catawba's Lilly Center for Vocation and Values as 2008-09 Year of Inquiry Participants, Scholars or Fellows were acknowledged. They include Adam Ridenhour, Philip Russ, Jenna Matthews and Erica Mickey, all members of the "Year of Inquiry" program; Kristopher Watson, Molly Williams, Kendra Joyner, Lucas Thore, Nathan Wrights and Leslie Denton, all Lilly Fellows; and J.J. Johnson and Cecilia Runge, Lilly Scholars.
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Junior Marshals, who are chosen from among the students with the highest grade point averages in the junior class, were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements. These students serve the community by assisting with all ceremonial functions of the College during their junior year. They include Melissa Alesi, Jacqueline Allen, Andrea Ayscue, Rebecca Chinnis, Leslie Denton, Kyle Ganow, Alyssa Halter, Katherine Hill, Amber Hughes, Amanda Lederer, Cyle Petersen, Eric Schmehl, Caitlin Springs and Kristopher Watson.
Theatre Arts students were recognized for their achievements. Students in that program have recently been recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for their expertise and outstanding achievements in several areas of theatre production, including performance, direction and design. They include from the department production of "Urinetown" Caitlin Springs and Jordan Ellis for acting, Sean Williams for lighting design and Shannon Kennedy for stage management; from the department's production of "The Last Journey of No. 6330" Aaron Ganas, Ryan Glidewell and Yolanda McClure, all Irene Ryan Acting Nominees; Corey Burckhalter, a Barbizon Costume Design Nominee; Miranda Smith, a Barbizon Make-up Design Nominee; Patricia Adkins, a National Stage Management Award Nominee; and Claire Alston, a National Dramaturge Award Nominee. Theatre Arts students recognized by the Metrolina Theatre Awards, given every year to honor outstanding production work in the Charlotte metropolitan area, include Yolanda McClure for acting and Nicole Bowles for costume design.
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Several teams received recognition for maintaining high academic standards while participating in sports during the fall 2008 semester. Members of the volleyball team had the highest academic grade point average – an overall 3.367 G.P.A. Members of the men's swimming team please were recognized for their overall 3.085 G.P.A.
New Provost Delivers Convocation Address, "Rick's Promise"
Catawba's new provost, Dr. W. Richard "Rick" Stephens, Jr. delivered the convocation address at the January 22nd event. His remarks, entitled "Rick's Promise," recalled his relationship with a former student as that student, Rick, blazed his career path. His remarks follow in their entirety.
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There was something about Rick I really liked, so I scheduled a JV match with his team so I could maintain the connection. He indicated to me that he would likely transfer over the summer and he did — to another community college. So I scheduled a JV match with his new team. I am also a bit of a grinder, like Rick. I think I wore him down, and he began his junior year at my college, becoming an integral part of my first national qualifying team. The promise I had seen in Rick was paying dividends. However, it is the promise I did not yet see that I want to share with you today.
My field is sociology and Rick ended up taking a couple of classes with me. We spent time focusing on local communities — much like Professor [Gary] Freeze does in history here at Catawba — and Rick seemed quite interested in how his family experience fit into the overall picture of the region. His mother was a phone company operator, and his father worked in the steel mills. Neither had completed education beyond high school, and Rick was their only child. While they were wonderful people, and supported Rick without reservation, they did occasionally wonder aloud what Rick would do when he graduated.
After two years, Rick had completed requirements for a major in sociology, and minors in political science and Spanish. He had spent one summer in an intensive Spanish language program in the Dominican Republic, and had learned basic conversational skills. Among other things, Rick was developing a particular interest in documentary film. To this end, I was able to arrange an opportunity for Rick to spend time with an alumnus in a multi-media production company, and see just what was involved. However, I am getting ahead of myself just a bit.
First there was graduation. I remember it quite clearly, as Rick's parents and I had developed a relationship closer than I had with most other parents. At commencement, there were all the usual special moments, photos, words of gratitude and encouragement that go along with such rites of passage. I remember particularly the family tears. They were happy tears, but this was their only child. Then I remember Rick's dad, Richard, saying, "So, now this part of your life is done. What's next?"
Unbeknownst to his parents, Rick had applied for, and been accepted into a master's program in communications. The alumnus with whom Rick had spent time came through with his connections and Rick was on his way to study documentary film production. More education wasn't really in the cards for Rick's parents. It was not the money, as Rick had a full ride for graduate study. It was just that they had expected college to be followed by a job. Nonetheless, they were supportive, just as they had always been, and in a couple of months Rick was on his way.
Over the next two years, Rick kept me posted on his studies, and even sent along a couple of film projects he had produced. While he enjoyed film production, he found that he was even more interested in the issues he was exploring than the techniques of film. In particular, he had encountered various immigrant communities during his project research. This caused him to rethink his goals. He called one day to ask me if I would be a reference for him on his application to the Peace Corps. Of course, I said, "Yes."
Coincidentally, within a few days I was also invited by Rick's parents to travel with them to his hooding ceremony for the master's degree. I gladly accepted. Again, there were the usual poignant moments, and especially more tears. Rick's parents could not have been prouder. Their only son not only had one college degree, but two. Then Rick's dad asked, "So what's next?" Rick told them about the Peace Corps. For people who left their small town in southern Illinois only a couple of times a year to spend vacations in Florida, they had a hard time imagining their only son spending the next two years in Central America.
During those next two years. Rick's mother would pass along letters she received from Rick, and would ask me questions about his work. She did not know that occasionally Rick would get to a location where he had Internet access, and he reported variously on his experiences there. With about three or four months to go, he e-mailed me a request to serve as a reference once again. His work had opened his mind to new possibilities, but it also demonstrated a need for something more; more study. He wanted to return to graduate school, but this time to study international relations. Rick was an excellent and well-qualified candidate, and there was little doubt that he would be accepted.
I was not there when Rick and his parents reunited after two years apart. But I learned later that his Dad did indeed ask the question, "So, what's next?" I'm not sure about the tears, but by this time Rick's parents knew they had raised a son with independent ideas. While they did not always understand, and even seriously questioned his thinking at times, they remained supportive.
Off to graduate school once again, Rick began finding his w
