Daniel Webster Society (DWS) Visionary Award Winners: 2008 - 2014
The Daniel Webster Society Visionary Award recognizes the unwavering commitment of
individuals who have been indispensable in advancing the mission of Webster University.
Jinny and Larry Browning
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2008 Winners: Jinny and Larry Browning
The 2008 inaugural Visionary Award recognizes Jinny and Larry Browning, whose 33 years
of service have not only advanced but helped to shape the mission of Webster University.
It is difficult to conceive of an aspect of Webster University that has not been
impacted by the leadership, foresight, and philanthropy of Jinny and Larry Browning.
Introduced to Webster through their involvement with the creation of Opera Theatre,
they developed a keen interest in the University's pragmatic educational model, international
initiatives, and capacity as an arts leader in the community. In the early 1980s,
the Brownings became benefactors of the University, where their tenure has since transformed
the campus and helped place Webster at the forefront of global education and the arts.
Larry joined the Webster Board of Trustees in 1986, and he and Jinny were charter
members of the Daniel Webster Society, established that same year. As board member,
chairman, and as Lifetime Trustee, Larry worked tirelessly to raise the University's
profile and help guide its development. During this time, the Brownings' philanthropy
was unparalleled; Larry encouraged and supported the University's early adoption of
educational technology and distance learning. This passion culminated in their leadership
gift toward the construction of the award-winning Emerson Library. Then in 2003, the
Browning Challenge grant catalyzed the successful partnership to expand the Loretto-Hilton
Center and Jinny's recognition of the power of music education to inspire students
is evidenced in her commitment to the Community Music School of Webster.
The Brownings were the single largest contributors toward the success of Webster's
transformational New Tradition Campaign, and where they once again helped to shape
the future for Webster through their support for the sciences. Their foresight and
philanthropy guarantee Webster will be a stakeholder in St. Louis' vision to be an
epicenter for bio-technology research.
George H. Walker, III
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2009 Winner: George H. Walker, III
The Visionary Award of 2009 is presented to Ambassador George Herbert Walker III (Bert),
whose energy and vision have helped shape a small liberal-arts college into a global
university that continues to break new ground as a pioneer in higher education.
The ties between Ambassador Walker and Webster were forged 35 years ago when Webster
College President Leigh Gerdine invited Bert, as he likes to be called, to join the
college's Board of Trustees. During his long tenure on the board, including two separate
terms as chairman, Webster opened extended campuses on military bases, in communities
around the nation, and abroad. As Webster College evolved into Webster University,
Bert joined the Daniel Webster Society as a charter member and served a term as president
of its board.
Bert was an active volunteer leader during Webster's 1988-1991 capital campaign, and
spearheaded the fundraising effort to endow the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts.
He took a leave of absence from the Board of Trustees while serving as ambassador
to Hungary, but during that time he remained closely involved with Webster through
the Vienna campus. Bert has since helped shape the School's Global MBA program, through
his leadership as chairman of the School of Business and Technology Advisory Board
for the past 15 years.
Bert and his wife Carol's philanthropy toward Webster has been transformative. In
October 2007, Bert made the single largest gift in Webster's history, designated to
the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology. He has since established
the Herbert Walker Scholarship, and in 1992, inspired the Board of Trustees to establish
an endowed fund, the George Herbert Walker III Prize for Leadership Award.
Marianne Knaup
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2010 Winner: Marianne Knaup
The Visionary Award of 2010 is presented to the late Warren Knaup and to our own alumna
Marianne Knaup, whose love and appreciation of her alma mater helped Webster College
become the worldwide university that Webster is today, enabling the creation of new
generations of thinkers.
Marianne Knaup BA '67 has been an active member of the Webster community for more
than 50 years. She enrolled as a nontraditional student at Webster College in 1954
and pursued her degree while raising a family and teaching. Following the completion
of her degree, Marianne continued to take non-credit classes on campus until President
Jacqueline Grennan Wexler pointed out that Marianne had been immersed in Webster's
culture too long and needed to pursue her master's degree elsewhere to truly grow.
With her late husband Warren's encouragement, after earning her MA from Washington
University in St. Louis. Then returning to become more deeply involved with Webster.
Marianne was Alumni Homecoming Class Chair for her class's 30th reunion and also served
on the Alumni Board. She and Warren were members of the Daniel Webster Society from
the Society's inception in 1986, and Marianne served on its board from 1990 through
1996. She served on the Board of Trustees for the University from 1998 to 2007. Through
it all, she continued to take advantage of the educational opportunities that Webster
provides alumni and the community.
In 1995 Webster recognized Marianne's leadership and service by presenting her with
the Mary Elizabeth Newell Award, which is given annually to an alumna or alumnus who
has demonstrated loyalty, commitment, and concern for Webster University over many
years. It is through the Knaups' personal successes that allowed enhancement of their
voluntarism at Webster with a commitment to stewardship. Their leadership gifts to
Webster have advanced the University endowment and signaled their confidence in the
future of Webster University. As an alumna, Marianne's involvement and commitment
to Webster has served as an example to alumni everywhere, inspiring others to invest
their time and resources in transforming the University.
Consuelo E. Gallagher
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2011 Winner: Consuelo E. Gallagher
The Visionary Award of 2011 is presented to Consuelo Gallagher for her years of dedication
to international and native students of Webster University. Inspiring the love for
all languages and culture and fulfilling and advancing the mission of this institution.
Consuelo Gallagher arrived at Webster at the end of World War II, a 20-year-old Venezuelan
with a one-year fellowship to teach Spanish. She connected easily with the international
students who made their way to Webster, and Consuelo quickly recognized what they
needed to thrive on campus. "In the 1950s," she said, "Webster accepted foreign students
without knowing how well they knew English. There was no formal English as a Second
Language (ESL) program, so when the students got here it was sink or swim! Being a
foreign person myself, I naturally understood their problem."
In 1962, after researching programs at other institutions, Consuelo developed a basic
ESL curriculum for Webster. With no official budget for the program, Consuelo organized
a network of professors and work-study students who could help Webster's international
students navigate the strange waters of an American college. This program grew, and
Webster established a formal ESL program in 1976.
Through it all, Consuelo taught. She taught her students a love of all languages,
an appreciation for other cultures and tools for teaching others. When the University
compiled a memory book for Consuelo's retirement in 2004, dozens of notes and letters
came in from former students who spoke of their respect and love for her and noted
the impact she had on their lives and careers.
Marilyn R. Fox
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2012 Winner: Marilyn R. Fox
The Visionary Award of 2012 is presented to Marilyn R. Fox to recognize a prestigious
donor and longtime benefactor in recognition of her steadfast and energetic service
to and support of Webster University and its students.
Marilyn Fox's relationship with Webster began in 1988, with her husband Sam, when
they first supported Webster students through what has now become the annual Fox Family
Foundation Scholarships. These scholarships provide direct, essential support to financially
disadvantaged students and the Fox Scholarships have had a transformative effect on
the lives of the recipients. In addition to their generous annual support, Sam and
Marilyn made a significant leadership gift during the recent Webster Works Campaign
to support those scholarships in perpetuity.
Marilyn has dedicated years in service to advancing and promoting the vision of Webster
University. She continues to serve as a Board of Trustee member, first joining in
1990. Furthermore, she has also served on the Daniel Webster Society board of directors,
acting as board president from 2004 through 2005.
Jan and Ronald Greenberg
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2013 Winners: Jan S. and Ronald Greenberg
The Visionary Award of 2013 is presented to Ronald Greenberg and our own alumni, faculty
member, and former Trustee, Jan Greenberg, in recognition of their decades of committing
their professional passion, expertise, artistic enrichment and philanthropy with Webster.
Their example embodies what it means to share your time, talent, and treasure in unwavering
commitment to Webster's mission.
The story of Jan and Ronald Greenberg's relationship with Webster University began
in the early 1970s when Jan arrived in pursuit of her Master of Arts in Teaching.
At the same time, Ron, an avid art collector, opened the Greenberg Van Doren Gallery
in St. Louis. When Jan graduated with her MAT in 1973, it could have been the conclusion
of the Greenberg's Webster story, but their leadership, generosity and spirit made
it instead, only the beginning.
Jan received an invitation from Judy Aronson, a Webster faculty member in the 1960s
and 70s, and she was able to join as an adjunct faculty member in 1974. For the next
27 years, Jan provided invaluable instruction to students in the classroom as an adjunct
instructor and director of the Aesthetic Education Master of Arts in Teaching program
at Webster.
Jan started her donor relationship with the University 30 years ago with a gift of
$25. As an alumna of the University, it would have been possible for all of the family's
involvement to end with Jan; however, Ron has also gone above and beyond, in particular,
through their generous donation of art throughout the years. The first piece of art
they donated was in 1992, ‘Holiday X.' For over two decades their cherished gifts
of artwork have enhanced the University's collection, encouraged creative innovation
for students of the arts, and through Ronald's dedication and encouragement, inspired
others in the art community to support Webster as a center for culture and the arts.
As the Greenbergs expanded their leadership at Webster, Jan and Ron became charter
members of the Daniel Webster Society and Jan joined its Board.
Because of the Greenberg's philanthropic impact on Webster's art collection and due
to Jan's remarkable professional contributions in the literary field, Jan has been
recognized with many of Webster's highest honors. She was honored as the recipient
of Webster's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1986. She also served on the University's
Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2001, and was named the recipient of the third annual
Outstanding Alumni Award for the School of Education, which is presented to a Webster
alumnus who has made extraordinary contributions to the community through his or her
profession or field of voluntary service. This award recognized Jan's high achievement,
enthusiasm and remarkable track record as a true leader in her field, as both an academic
and as a prolific author of literature for children and young adults.
In 2002, to broaden his commitment to Webster and its esteemed arts programming, Ron
served as a member of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Advisory Board. For over
10 years, until he retired from his Advisory Board position in December 2012, Ron's
leadership helped guide and enhance the College's education and mission. Because of
Ron's leadership and status within the regional arts community, he keenly helped increase
the public awareness and support of Webster.
As an alumna at Webster and prolifically award winning author of numerous fiction
and non-fiction books, short stories, and book reviews, Jan took the lead by sharing
her literary passion and expertise with the University community at homecoming's Alumni
Authors program and has presented hundreds of lectures and workshops on writing, art,
and children's literature. The Greenbergs' story is still being written at Webster
as they continue to demonstrate their generosity and leadership at Webster's art community
through service on many different levels.
Jean Hobler
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2014 Winner: Jean Hobler
One of the Visionary Awards of 2014 is presented to Jean Hobler for her longtime support
of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, which allows the furthering of education
to students from all over the world who come to study here at Webster.
Jean Hobler's devotion to Webster University began as a proud Webster parent when,
Jean and her husband Wells' son, Edward, attended Webster University. Their daughter
Linnard (Nardi) followed suit, graduating from Webster with a BA in Art Media in 1970.
Currently, their daughter, Leigh Hobler Gerard, is enrolled in the MA Counseling program
at Webster.
It was Jean's friendship with Leigh Gerdine, of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine
Arts, who first engaged her personally with Webster University. As philanthropic leaders,
in 1986, Jean and Wells became Charter Members of the Daniel Webster Society. In 1987,
Jean was invited by her friends, Leigh Gerdine and George Herbert Walker, III, to
join the Board of Trustees, on which Jean maintained her service leadership for nearly
two decades.
In 1999, Jean and Wells began conversations with Peter Sargent, Dean of the Leigh
Gerdine College of Fine Arts, and Webster University's executive leadership, to begin
the idea of generously funding a portion of the expansion of the Loretto-Hilton Center
to benefit and enhance the excellent dance instruction of the department. Jean and
Wells wanted to ensure an inspiring learning environment for students and the proper
facilities to provide a studio that allows for observation, and the space needed for
the numerous teachers in the program to have a complete and inspiring space to teach.
They gave the supreme gift of the Jean and Wells Hobler Center for Dance, which has
acted as the catalyst for growth of the dance program.
Jane and Bruce Robert
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2014 Winners: Jane and Bruce Robert
The next Visionary Award of 2014 is presented to Jane and Bruce Robert.
A dedicated philanthropic leader on the College of Arts & Sciences Advisory Board
and long-time DWS member, Jane Robert began her collegiate studies at Webster University
in 1969, earning her BA in French Language and Literature.
Currently a member of Webster's Board of Trustees, Jane has stated on numerous occasions
that the defining point in her life was her year-long study trip in Paris, made possible
by a scholarship arranged by Webster University Professor, Jacques Chicoineau (1919-2004).
This turning point helped shape Jane's professional and personal pursuits.
Her studies in France paired with her robust career pursuits as an educator and as
a cultural and civic leader are the mainstays of the financial support that that Jane
and her husband Bruce have provided to Webster University for more than 20 years.
Bruce always credits the educational opportunities that he and Jane received in the
St. Louis area for instilling their interest in the world around them and putting
them on a successful path. Bruce's advocacy for education, combined with Jane's passion
for French, led to their creation of an International Relations thesis prize, and
their decision to establish Webster's first endowed professorship in 2010. Jane and
Bruce have brought Jane's passion to life by means of the work made possible through
the Jane M. and Bruce Robert Endowed Professorship in French and Francophone Studies.
Since its creation under the leadership of Inaugural Robert Professor of French and
Francophone Studies, Lionel Cuillé, Le Centre Francophone created an online hybrid course which concluded with a one week study trip in Nice,
France, and a dual-credit partnership with Ritenour High School. The Center has brought
numerous experts to lead discussions on topics of contemporary importance to French
and francophone communities in a global context.
Le Centre Francophone also includes community engagement as well as human rights studies and awareness
component. From engaging Webster's French students in the community by reading children's
books — in French — to young students of the St. Louis Language Immersion Schools,
to sponsoring and hosting The International Art Exhibition of St. Louis – Lyon Sister
Cities, Inc., the work of Le Centre Francophone is positioning Webster as a hub for French culture and engagement in the St. Louis
region. When possible, Webster's French students are invited to engagements for which
Cuillé presents as a field expert and are introduced to dignitaries such as the Consul
Général de France.
The financial support of the Robert Professorship have provided real freedom for Cuillé's
innovation and allowed for the Center to accomplish much in a short time, impacting
both the intellectual lives of growing cohorts of Webster's French students and countless
others in the St. Louis community.
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