Inside Webster

Kit Jenkins, associate professor, School of Communications, has been named the new director of Webster University Thailand. Jenkins joined the Webster faculty in 1991. She has played a key role in the development of the School’s programs, especially in the areas of advertising, public relations and corporate communications. Before coming to Webster, she worked for AT&T and Maritz in the Performance Improvement Company. She is currently chair of the Research Foundation of the International Association of Business Communicators. She has taught at the Thailand campus on two separate occasions.

"She knows the country, the campus, the staff, faculty and many of the students," said Neil George, executive vice president and vice president, Academic Affairs, in his campus-wide announcement. "Characteristically, Kit has thrown herself wholeheartedly into this new challenge, even before her three-year transfer to Thailand has officially begun."

President Richard S. Meyers said that Jenkins’ professional credentials were another key factor in naming her director. "She goes over there with more opportunity for success than anyone else ever has," Meyers said. "We think that the challenges in Thailand fall within Kit’s areas of expertise in public relations and marketing, and that she’ll be very successful."

Jenkins says she’s eager to put her expertise to use. "There’s tremendous potential in Thailand," she says. "I’m thrilled that the Administration has given me this opportunity."

Meyers said that both he and the Board of Trustees remain committed to the success of the Thailand campus as a whole. "We want to see this campus make it," he said. "We’ve invested a lot of time and energy, and though it hasn’t reached its fullest potential yet, it’s getting closer and closer all the time."

Webster University Thailand started classes in the Fall of 1999 with 60 students. The campus now serves roughly 300 students.

Jim Evans, associate vice president, International Programs, says that for the campus to be fully self-sufficient, it needs to have about 500 students, with the optimal size about 800 students. "Those are very realistic numbers," Evans says, "and I think with Kit we’re back on track to be growing again."

A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Baht

Webster Receives Monsanto Grant for Inner City Minority Program

FROM CHRISTINE WELLS , UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Webster University will receive a $50,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, which will support a new program to help increase college attendance among St. Louis city high school minorities.

The Collegiate Outreach Recruitment and Exposure (CORE) Program targets economically disadvantaged minority students in selected St. Louis city high schools. CORE will encourage minority student success in higher education by exposing students and their parents to a collegiate environment; assisting students in their college academic preparation; and addressing the requirements of college applications, admission and financial aid.

Webster will select 25 minority students from among several city high schools to participate in two 16-week courses—the first during the student’s junior year (Spring semester of 2004), and the second during their senior year (Fall semester of 2004). To increase parental involvement in their children’s educational experience, participating students and their parents are required to attend all class meetings.

Webster University faculty representing each of the University’s five schools and colleges will lead the classes, which will meet every other Saturday on the Webster Groves campus. Students who successfully complete the coursework will be awarded one college credit hour and be recognized as Monsanto Merit CORE Scholars.

"We are pleased to partner with Monsanto Fund on this very important initiative that clears the path for young men and women in search of ways to better their lives," said Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean of the School of Business & Technology and CORE program director.

CORE program students will receive periodic follow-up calls for the remainder of their high school years, and a database will be created to track student progress through college graduation.

News from China

FROM RICK FORISTEL, DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI CAMPUS

I'm just back from teaching the final hours of an Organizational Behavior class the government had stopped about six weeks ago. We'd been quarantined in our cities in the wake of SARS. At the Shenzhen location, the very heart of where the SARS problem erupted, I asked some 60 Webster MBA students if they had personally encountered any SARS flu. Seemingly, no one was ill. That's the story from all of our campuses across China—Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu. The American business community says the same thing—no cases, which is not to say that there was no illness or death in this country of 1.3 billion people.

Meanwhile, all of our campuses are working overtime to catch up on past and future classes. Normally, we hold classes all day on either Saturday or Sunday, but as soon as the government allowed us to resume studies on campus, we doubled the classes to all-weekend and used take-home examinations to buy additional time. Summer usually starts at the end of May, but we are just now starting classes on July 5. Fall 1 will start on schedule August 30. Some of the Webster faculty, who had been scheduled for Fall 1, e-mailed to tell me they would not be able to come, which was certainly understandable given the fear they must have felt when they read the press accounts about SARS. We immediately raked the list of Webster business professors from around the world and, within a week, were able to replace these positions with other faculty members.

In my view, the truly amazing story is America itself. All throughout the SARS scare, hundreds of people from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore left Asia to find shelter in the United States. My own primary research shows that, once in the States, people walked off the plane in perfect health, and there were only a few suspected SARS cases, at most. During the entire episode, I have been thinking about how well the United States and Europe fared through the spread of this flu. While I can’t claim to know for certain, I would hypothesize that—at least for the United States—the real tribute is to excellent health science, first-rate public health and hygiene and the availability of a wide variety of wholesome food.

Already, we're beginning to see government data indicating that SARS did not bring a halt to industry, export and agriculture, as feared. Obviously, there was a decline, and certain segments—especially airlines and tourism—nearly folded, but things appear to be on the mend.

For now, the SARS flu in China, just like so many past illnesses, seems to have dissipated into the lifting fog.

Did You Know?

Reviving a 'Lesser' Degree in the Sciences

**FROM THE ONLINE CHRONICLE, JUNE 17, 2003/BY CHRIS WOOLSTON**

In a recent issue of Webster World, College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Wilson said: "One thing I learned very quickly when I got here was that St. Louis sees itself as being a leader in plant and life sciences internationally...but the so-called "BioBelt" needs a better-educated workforce. Webster can fill the gap...by educating the bench scientists and outfitting the workforce with bachelor's and master's of science degrees."

Like advisers everywhere, Charles MacCluer has recruited a few students who just didn't fulfill their promise. He gave them expert guidance and training, but, as he puts it, he couldn't keep them from "getting sucked in by the dark side." His "failures" decided to pursue a Ph.D. when they could have had a perfectly fine master's degree.

Historically, scientists haven't had much respect for the master's degree. "It's always been a consolation prize, an off ramp to a Ph.D.," says MacCluer, a professor of mathematics at Michigan State University. That off ramp often leads to fulfilling careers, but the traditional master's degree in science still doesn't have the prestige of a master's in business, journalism, or architecture. In MacCluer's mind, it's time to buck that tradition.

A New Degree

Michigan State and many other institutions around the country now offer "professional science master's degrees" for people who love science but can't see themselves taking the Ph.D. track. Instead of totally immersing themselves in a narrow field of research, students get a multidisciplinary education that typically includes courses in business and management. Many educators hope the professional science master's will soon become the MBA of the science world, a prestigious degree that can take students to the upper reaches of industry and government.

MacCluer's program in industrial mathematics at Michigan State typifies the new breed of degree. In addition to advanced math courses, students receive training in accounting, business administration, business communication and management. They also must complete an internship that includes solving real-world problems for local companies.

The students end up well-rounded and highly employable, MacCluer says. Recent graduates include an actuarial analyst, a government transportation planner, an information technologist and a quality-control engineer. According to MacCluer, the starting salary of recent graduates is about $54,000.

Sadly (from his point of view), a few of his students have decided to go on for their Ph.D.s. These students will most likely end up in academe, not government or industry, and they won't be in a position to hire future graduates, he says.

Featured Faculty

John Wylie, professor, Theatre and Dance, has received the Woodie King Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for his work on "It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues," which was performed by the Saint Louis Black Repertory Company March 12 - April 13. The play, a musical history of the blues from Africa to Chicago, has received four Tony nominations, including Best Musical.

Known as "The Woodie," the award is named after legendary African-American producer Woodie King Jr., widely known as "The Godfather of Black Theatre." The winners of the Woodies are determined by Black Rep season subscribers, who vote on a dozen or so different categories, including lighting, acting, scenery, costumes and other criteria, at the close of the Black Rep’s Mainstage season.

"It’s kind of a scam," Wylie says, "because I get to sit and watch a private performance by some of the most talented performers in St. Louis and around the country, and then they give me an award for it!"

Given the selection process and the timing of the show within the season, Wylie said he was surprised that he was chosen for his work. "It’s kind of nice because the subscribers had to remember back about three shows—oftentimes it’s the last show performed that season that will win the award," said Wylie, who has won the Woodie award two previous times.

Not only that, but good lighting is generally imperceptible to the audience. "Usually people only notice the lighting when it’s bad—if the lights go out or something," Wylie says. "Lighting designers always say that if the audience notices their work, they haven’t done their job."

Wylie has designed for the Black Rep since 1995 and has done roughly 10 shows for the company in that time—generally their biggest productions, which Ron Himes, Black Rep founder and producing director, handpicks him for.

"They’re one of the most exciting companies in town—it’s really a privilege to get to work there," Wylie says. "They bring in lots of exciting people from all over the country, and also some of the best St. Louis talent. We’re really lucky to have the Black Rep here in town."

His Black Rep work concluded, Wylie is now heading to the Black Hills to do lighting for the production of "Of Mice and Men," being performed at the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota.

Frank Powers, adjunct professor, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., published "The Power of Positive Climate: Improving Middle School Climate," in the Journal of the New England League of Middle Schools (Spring 2003).

Linda M. Woolf, professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, continues to publish and speak widely on the topics of psychology, genocide, war and peace, and the Holocaust, often with colleagues Michael Hulsizer and Tracey McCarthy, assistant professors, Behavioral and Social Sciences. Woolf presented three sessions at the conference of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which was held at the Irish Human Rights Centre, in Galway, Ireland. She also presented several panels at the American Psychological Association convention.

Daniel Hellinger, professor and department chair, History, Politics and Law, had his recently published book, Venezuelan Politics in the Chavez Era (Lynne Rienner, 2003) translated into Spanish and published as La política venezolana en la poca de Chavez (Caracas: Nueva Sociedad). In addition, his study, "Paranoia, Conspiracy, and Hegemony in American Politics," has been published in Transparency and Conspiracy: Ethnographies of Suspicion in the New World Order (Duke University Press, 2003).

Sara Huter, adjunct professor, McConnell AFB, Kan., was promoted to assistant vice president, Bankcard, at Intrust Bank, Wichita, Kan. Huter also presented: "Minimizing Bankruptcy Losses in a Bear Market Cycle" at the Adaptive Control System User's Exchange; and "How to Battle Consumer Bankruptcy Today" at Interact: The World's Leading Business Conference on Really Hard Stuff.

Rebecca Ormand, assistant professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, received a four-star rating for her film "Jungle Gym" in Film Threat, where it was described as "extremely powerful and beautifully realized." Steve Schenkel, professor, Music, wrote the score for "Jungle Gym." Another of Ormand’s films, "Fix It Ticket" was shown at the Utah Film & Video Festival.

Peter van Krieken, adjunct professor, Leiden, published Terrorism and the International Legal Order: With Special Reference to the UN, the EU and Cross-Order Aspects. The book received a very favorable review in the January 2003 issue of the American Society for International Law’s UN21 Interest Group Newsletter. The reviewer called the book a "must have" for any international law collection and said that it will "occupy center stage in the reading and the successful waging of today’s ‘war on terrorism.’"

Julie Reitinger, adjunct professor, School of Education, received a 2003 National Teacher Award from the RadioShack Corp. A science teacher at Notre Dame High School in St. Louis, Mo., Reitinger was among 110 educators to receive such an award this year for "demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence in mathematics, science or technology." In addition to an individual cash award, Reitinger’s school will receive a $500 RadioShack Tech Tool Grant, which may be used to buy equipment, software or supplies that enhance the classroom learning experience. An educator at the high school level for two years, Reitinger teaches anatomy and physiology, general biology, human biology, field ecology and environmental science.

Dianne Koehnecke, assistant professor, School of Education, presented: "Understanding the Diversity of Childhood through Rites of Passage Novels for Young Adults" at the Children's Literature Association Conference.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

Employees of the Month

August 2003

FROM MARIANNE KIRK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Employee Spotlight for the month of August shines on Gayle Faucett, alumni secretary, Development and Alumni Office, and Larry Dempsey, lab assistant, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, Ark.

According to Gayle Faucett’s nominator, the Alumni Office, which consists of three program officers and a director, serving seven chapters and over 100,000 alumni, relies heavily on Gayle. "The alumni team couldn’t do it without her support in so many ways…Gayle is a quiet, but powerful, force in the office. She is not someone who seeks the spotlight, but definitely deserves to be considered for this award."

One of Gayle’s projects is to make arrangements and track attendance for over 50 alumni meetings and events each year. She also manages the Alumni House and "really keeps the place going" by working with maintenance and keeping the linens laundered, among other responsibilities. On occasion, she has even vacuumed and mopped floors when events were booked so close together there was no time for a crew to come in and clean. In addition, "Gayle manages the student workers for the Alumni House and cares for them like they were her own kids."

Another of Gayle’s responsibilities is to answer the alumni event hotline and e-mails that come to the department. "You can only imagine the number and variety of inquiries that come in on any given day!" her nominator says. Gayle "makes sure that even the call that has nothing to do with our alumni gets answered and/or sent to the correct department for an answer. I really don’t know what we would do without her thorough, conscientious support…She does all of this—and so much more—with such grace and quiet humor."

Gayle was a part-time employee in the Nursing Department for five years before moving to her current full-time position with Alumni two years ago. When told she won the Spotlight Award, Gayle says she was a "little shocked," even though co-workers often tell her how much they appreciate her. She says, "We are a small staff that does a lot, and it’s very nice to work in an environment where you know you’re valued." When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Gayle responded, "Planning events can be stressful, but when they happen, I realize all the work was worth it. The alumni are so appreciative, and I believe it helps Webster’s image to do events well."

Gayle chose a day off with pay as her prize.

Larry Dempsey’s nominator at the Little Rock campus says, "Larry has made significant improvements to our Web site" and also has helped other extended campuses with their Web sites. These improvements enable the staff members at the campuses to do their work more efficiently. By making information, such as financial aid, available to students online, the staff is free to be of more help to the students who need more individual attention.

Larry, who has been with Webster for two years, says he was "surprised and honored" to win the employee Spotlight Award. He gives kudos to Little Rock’s director for being "a very supportive and positive influence at our site" and says the other staff members he works with "are all well-versed in their jobs, and the students have nothing but praise for them, as do I."

Larry says, "My favorite part of the job is not any particular activity or function that I do, but rather the positive and friendly atmosphere that the entire campus has. I enjoy doing the kind of work I do in the computer lab and am fortunate to be able to do it at the Little Rock Metro site."

Larry chose the savings bond as his prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award. Using the nomination form is easy!

Service Anniversaries

August 2003

The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have ably served the institution for many years:

Bob Chamberlin, associate professor, Music, 30 years

Deborah Dey, vice president for Students and Enrollment Management, 30 years

Allen Larson, professor, Music, 30 years

Don Corrigan, professor, School of Communications, 25 years

Gary Coffman, associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, 20 years

Jeanette McRoberts, department associate, International Recruitment and Services, 20 years

Daniel Schene, associate professor, Music, 20 years

Susan Daily, director, Health Services, 15 years

Nick DiMarco, professor, School of Business and Technology, 15 years

Mary Gibbons, assistant professor, Nursing, 15 years

Jeff Hughes, professor, Art Department, 15 years

Kat Singleton, associate professor, Theatre and Dance, 15 years

Charles Smith, coordinator, Myrtle Beach, 15 years

Keith Welsh, associate professor, English, 15 years

Gwyneth Williams, professor, History, Politics and Law, 15 years

Linda Woolf, professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, 15 years

Joyce Bork, associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, 10 years

Jay Cooley, financial aid counselor, Financial Aid Office, 10 years

Gary Glasgow, associate professor, Theatre and Dance, 10 years

Myrna Greer, coordinator, Athletic Office, 10 years

Cathy Heidemann, coordinator, Department of Religious Studies, 10 years

Steve Hinson, associate professor, School of Business and Technology, 10 years

Carole Tucker, associate professor, Theatre and Dance, 10 years

Karla Armbruster, associate professor, English, five years

Dan Ayres, coordinator, IT User Services, five years

Jamalh Bussey, manager, Public Safety, five years

Mary Ann Drake, associate professor, Nursing, five years

Doug Finlayson, associate professor, Theatre and Dance, five years

Anne McIlhaney, assistant professor, English, five years

Gary Renz, associate professor, School of Business and Technology, five years

Guillermo Rodriguez, director, Center for Managerial and Organizational Management, five years

Robbie Rossi, department associate, History, Politics and Law, five years

Brad Scott, assistant professor, School of Business and Technology, five years

Jill Silverstein, assistant professor, School of Communications, five years

Dan Viele, professor, School of Business and Technology, five years

Julia Walsh, assistant professor, History, Politics and Law, five years

New Employees

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Carol A. Marx, community relations coordinator, Space Coast Metro, 321-449-4500 or speed dial #6 008, replaces Holly Jans.

Maurine Andrews, representative, Albuquerque Metro, 505-292-6988 or speed dial #6 061, replaces Lori Berman.

Jorge Oliver, assistant professor, Electronic & Photographic Media, replaces Malaika Horne.

Stephanie Schroeder, assistant professor, Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences

Wolf Gruner, Des Lee International Visiting Scholar/ Professor, History Politics & Law, College of Arts &Sciences

Kimberly S. Lander, representative, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., 913-682-1922 or speed dial #6 107, replaces Emily Woods.

Tommy G. Burbage, community relations coordinator, Myrtle Beach Metro, 843-497-3677 or speed dial #6 028

Stephanie Letcher, representative, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., 573-329-6777 or speed dial #6 014, replaces Amy Wood.

Brajeshmoni Sundaramoni, web services programmer, IT User Services, 314-961-2660, ext. 8625

Brian Jones, Help Desk Assistant, IT User Services, 314-961-2660, ext. 5995

Carol Gilchriest, department assistant, Space Coast Metro, 321-449-4500 or speed dial # 6 008, replaces Elizabeth Treinen.

New Thailand Campus Director Named

Webster Receives Monsanto Grant for Inner City Minority Program

News from China

Did You Know?

Featured Faculty

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

Service Anniversaries

New Employees

New Thailand Campus Director Named

Webster Receives Monsanto Grant for Inner City Minority Program

FROM CHRISTINE WELLS , UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

News from China

FROM RICK FORISTEL, DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI CAMPUS

Did You Know?

Reviving a 'Lesser' Degree in the Sciences

**FROM THE ONLINE CHRONICLE, JUNE 17, 2003/BY CHRIS WOOLSTON**

Featured Faculty

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Convocation

Employees of the Month

August 2003

FROM MARIANNE KIRK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Service Anniversaries

August 2003

New Employees

New Thailand Campus Director Named

Webster Receives Monsanto Grant for Inner City Minority Program

FROM CHRISTINE WELLS , UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

News from China

FROM RICK FORISTEL, DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI CAMPUS

Did You Know?

Reviving a 'Lesser' Degree in the Sciences

FROM THE ONLINE CHRONICLE, JUNE 17, 2003/BY CHRIS WOOLSTON

Featured Faculty

St. Louis Calendar Highlight Convocation

Employees of the Month

August 2003

FROM MARIANNE KIRK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Service Anniversaries

August 2003

New Employees

**FROM THE ONLINE CHRONICLE, JUNE 17, 2003/BY CHRIS WOOLSTON**

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Convocation