March 2005
Des Lee Lecturer Arrives for Busy Spring II
Community Music School Wins Arts and Education Award
Urban League Honors Webster University
Webster Staff Enjoy A Day for “Me”
St. Louis Calendar Highlight
Employees of the Month
Kampus Kudos
Service Anniversaries
New Employees
Des Lee Lecturer Arrives for Busy Spring II
by Dominik Jansky, Contributing Writer
Leonard Suransky, the 2004-2005 E. Desmond Lee Visiting Lecturer in Global Awareness, has hit the ground running for a busy Spring II term in St. Louis. Suransky, an authority on global politics, regionalism and conflict resolution, will participate in several public lectures on international conflicts and the effects of globalization and regional conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. He is also teaching an undergraduate International Relations Seminar on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. (For the latest schedule of Suransky’s activities, click here).
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| Leonard Suransky |
The E. Desmond Lee Visiting Lectureship in Global Awareness was established by St. Louis philanthropist E. Desmond Lee to bring scholars in the fields of ethnicity, international economics, international relations, and global diversity to the St. Louis community. Visiting lecturers collaborate not only with Webster but also with other local cultural organizations in projects promoting global awareness.
Since arriving in St. Louis March 17, Suransky has already been heavily involved in planning and delivering several global awareness activities. He spoke to members of the World Community Center about the latest in Iraq and the Middle East, and he gave his lecture “Globalization: The Scourge of Africa” for the Center for International Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
In his first event related to the lectureship, Suransky paid a one-week visit to Webster's St. Louis campus last fall, when he spoke on the need and possibility for compassion and cultural understanding as globalization continues to affect cultures. “This is a newer concept of interest for me,” Suransky says,“I look forward to talking with people here to see how I might pursue it further.”
Highlights of Des Lee Lecturer in Global Awareness Leonard Suransky’s visit. For a full schedule, click here |
Another highlight of Suransky’s lectureship here is the March 31 visit by Ali A. Mazrui, an expert on African geopolitical issues. Mazrui’s visit includes a speech to Suransky’s International Relations Seminar class, a public forum with Suransky at noon in the Sunnen Lounge, and a formal lecture, “Africa Between Globalization and the Clash of Civilizations,” at 7 p.m. in the Emerson Library Conference Room.
“He is an old friend and mentor of mine,” Suransky says of Mazrui, who is a professor of humanities and director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
A signature to Suransky’s lectureship will be a semester-ending conflict simulation exercise with the students in his seminar on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the weekend-long exercise, students will represent different real-world interests and actors in the conflict. They will be presented with new conflict scenarios that project several months into the future, and the students will have to respond and react to each party’s actions based on real-world diplomatic tendencies.
Suransky is a known designer of such simulation exercises and has taught them throughout the world in both academic and governmental settings. Before Suransky’s lecture last fall, David Carl Wilson, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, joked that some of Wilson’s biggest conflicts had been with people who list “expertise in conflict resolution” on their resumes. “But Leonard talks the talk and walks the walk,” Wilson said. “We’re very proud to have him here.”
Suransky currently serves as head of the department and faculty mentor in International Relations for Webster’s Leiden campus. Prior to that, he taught political science for many years at the University of Durban-Westville in South Africa. He received his Ph.D. in political science and education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Community Music School Wins Arts and Education Award
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| The A&E 2005 Award for Excellence in the Arts is displayed in the lobby of the Community Music School. |
The Community Music School of Webster University received the Arts and Education Council’s 2005 Award for Excellence. President Richard S. Meyers accepted the award on Jan. 31 at a ceremony at the Chase Park Plaza attended by more than 600 arts supporters and community leaders. “The Community Music School is a regional treasure,” Meyers said. “The Arts and Education Council has a long history of supporting the Music School, and I appreciate both that support and the honor bestowed upon the Community Music School.”
Carol Commerford, director of the Community Music School, said, “It’s wonderful to have the Arts and Education Council recognize the Community Music School for Excellence in the Arts in our 80th year. I attribute the School’s success largely to our outstanding faculty and staff who cultivate the joy and skill of music among very dedicated students and their supportive families.” Commerford also expressed her appreciation to the many volunteers who have served on the School’s board over the years.
Urban League Honors Webster University
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| President Meyers receives the Urban League award from Lynn Beall, president, and Todd Schnuck, chairman of the board, Urban League. |
Webster Staff Enjoy A Day for “Me”
This year’s Webster Staff Alliance (WSA) Professional Development Day, “It's All About Me!" on March 16, focused on personal development. “We wanted to offer information to open peoples’ minds to things they might want to try,” says Nancy Higgins, WSA chair and special events coordinator, Executive Office. “Life-long learning is more than the academic; it’s broadening your recreational horizons.” Or, as the workshop brochure put it: “Life is all about balancing your mind, body and spirit.”
With that in mind, the usual array of workshops about conflict resolution, working smarter or polishing your presentation skills was replaced by workshops titled, “Five Habits Of Highly Successful Investors,” “T’ai Chi Chih” and “The Spirituality of Work: What the World’s Religions Say to Us.” There were also workshops on caring for aging parents, gardening, knitting, creating family videos, losing weight and how to play Texas Hold ’Em. “It seemed like everyone was having a good time,” Higgins says. “The presenters all worked very hard to put on thorough and informative programs.”
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| T’ai Chi class participants. |
Susan Wilborn, department associate, Health Services, who facilitated “Lose, Gain or Maintain the Healthy Way,” is soon to be a certified nutritionist. In addition, Wilborn has had personal experience with her topic—healthy eating helped her lose 170 pounds. “She is so honest about her success and failures and so inspirational,” commented one attendee to Wilborn’s workshop.
Ron Farson, training and development manager, Academic Distance Learning Center, says he found the workshops on caring for aging parents and spirituality at work to be very enlightening. “The Caring for Aging Parents presentation gave me some insights about how to prepare for difficulties that may come in the future, and the discussion about spirituality applies not only to work, but also to my life as a whole.”
“Like everyone else I only have so much time, so being able to attend a program like this while I'm at work is great,” says Geoff Janovsky, groundskeeper, Facilities Operations. Janovsky says programs like these help create a healthy work environment and that he enjoyed interacting with the people he sees around campus in the course of his workday.
“This was the first WSA staff development day I’ve attended, and I absolutely loved it!” says Diane Jeffery, business technology specialist, Administrative Information Systems, who has been employed at Webster for about a year. “The day was a mix of fun and information. What a great benefit.”
St. Louis Calendar Highlights
School of Business & Technology's Deans Speaker Series
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| Speaker Erin Smith |
Moore Auditorium
Special assistant to the chairman of the 9/11 Commission in Washington, D.C., Erin Smith, will discuss the 9/11 Commission Report, as well as emerging career paths in government and public service.
Admission is free, but reservations are requested. For more information or reservations, contact Molly Alter at ext. 7456, or alterm@webster.edu.
Webster University Dance Ensemble
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| Conservatory dancers in performance. |
April 29 and 30, 8 p.m.
Browning Theatre in the Loretto-Hilton Center
The Conservatory Theatre Dance Ensemble presents its spring performance under the direction of Gary Hubler, professor of dance, Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts.
For more information, call 314-968-7128.
Employees of the Month
March 2005 Spotlight Award
From Robyn Gaeta, Student Editorial Assistant
Larry Joireman, representative, Denver Metropolitan Campus, and Erik Palmore, instructional support specialist, User Services, share the Employee Spotlight Award honors for March.
“No matter what the task, Larry Joireman takes it on cheerfully and competently,” his nominator says, adding there are multiple reasons for Joireman to receive the award, especially his “incredible planning strategy” for the office’s recent move. “He talked to every vendor multiple times, had diagrams of every room and generally oversaw all aspects of the move,” his nominator says. “The weekend we moved, he worked through the night on Friday and Saturday. There were stacks of boxes in the lobby when I left on Friday afternoon and total chaos everywhere. On Saturday, I looked through the doors and everything looked perfect!”
Joireman says he was “completely surprised and honored,” about winning the Employee Spotlight Award.
Joireman came to Webster from the University of Maryland in College Park in August 2002, and says the experience of working at an extended campus at Webster is quite different from being on the main campus. “We may never meet 90 percent of the people back in St. Louis who help us every day, but you do feel this community connection with people.”
Joireman says the favorite part of his job is his co-workers and students. “I love working in higher education with students, and I definitely enjoy being in a university setting.“
Erik Palmore’s nominator says his availability is one of his greatest strengths. The nominator also commends Palmore’s technical knowledge and his accessibility to professors. “He is very proactive about offering personalized advice about computers and other technology, which makes the instructors’ jobs easier.”
Palmore says he was really surprised to win the Employee Spotlight Award. “I didn’t feel like I’d done anything super special in the last few months, and it was really re-affirming.”
Palmore has been at Webster a little more than three years, and in that time says his favorite thing about working here has been the people. “Everyone here is really nice and really fun to work with,” he says. “I love working at Webster—it’s really a great job.”
Palmore chose a day off with pay as his prize.
Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award. Using the nomination form is easy!
Editor’s Note: Each issue of Inside Webster includes 10 Kampus Kudos listings, which appear in the publication in the order they are received by the Office of University Communications. If your information is not in this issue, it will appear in a future issue.
Carol Nelson, director, Memphis Naval Support Activity, has accepted the position of Chair for the City Beautiful Commission of Millington for 2005-07. She also serves as vice president of the Life Changers Community Development Corporation.
Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic & Photographic Media, recorded “La Vida Breve,” the new compact disc by the Hanser-McClellan Guitar Duo, in Studio A with audio production student Eric Joslin. Hufker also recorded the audio for a new DVD by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet with former Webster students, Patricia Tolentino and Sean Wilhite. The quartet won a Grammy this year for best classical crossover album.
Connie Milner, department associate, Memphis Naval Support Activity, was awarded the Competent Leader award for her participation in the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Program. She also earned the status of Advanced Toastmaster Bronze for her participation in the program. Connie has been a member of Toastmasters since 2003 and serves as president of the local club.
Peter van Krieken, adjunct faculty, Leiden Campus, co-authored, “The Hague: Legal Capital of the World,” (T.M.C. Asser Press/Cambridge University Press) with Webster alumnus David McKay.
David Brennen, associate professor; Donna Cartwright, adjunct faculty; and Pat Walsh, adjunct faculty; attended the 44th Annual Student Marketing Conference at Maryville University with eight Webster senior Marketing majors. “The Cutting Edge of Marketing” the conference featured presentations by marketing professionals.
Jo Clifford, director, Ocala Metropolitan Campus, participated in the Marion Cultural Alliance’s (MCA) “Artist Within” dinner and auction, which helped raise $44,000 to fund the MCA’s Endowment and Cultural Grants program. A jewelry ensemble Clifford crafted with local artist Mark Hershberger was auctioned for $2,000.
Melanie Gottlieb, international credential specialist, International Recruitment and International Services, presented two sessions: “International Admissions Resources and Credential Evaluation,” and “Hot Topics in International Admissions” at the Missouri International Educator’s Meeting in Columbia, Mo.
Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.
Service Anniversaries
The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have served the institution for many years:
March 2005
Ed Granich, supervisor, Facilities Operations, 25 years
Jim Ward, manager, Facilities Operations, 25 years
Linda Stroud, representative, Winghaven Campus, 15 years
Lawrence Case, general clerk, Pope Air Force Base, five years
George Wallace, community relations coordinator, Fort Sam Houston, five years
New Employees
We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:
LaMesha Brown, service clerk, Westport Campus, 314-968-5955, ext. 3411, replaces Jahara Davis.
Robin Taylor, public safety officer, Public Safety, ext. 6900, replaces Andrew Henderson.
Adrienne Norbury, PT, assistant volleyball coach, Athletics, ext. 7930
Kerry Conboy, coordinator/advisor, Sarasota Metropolitan Campus, Fla., 941-358-3840 or speed dial #6 114, replaces W. Botkin.
Kathy Marlock, director of academic assessment, Academic Affairs, ext. 8697
Teresa Sarai, department associate, Center for International Education, ext. 7432
Renee Wilcots, general clerk, Los Angeles Air Force Base, 310-297-4955 or speed dial #6 105, replaces Frank Borovilos.
Craig Gardner, representative/advisor, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., 843-767-2278 or speed dial #6 018
Pamela Aleshunas, service clerk, Winghaven Campus, 636-561-2400, ext. 3106 or speed dial #6 119, replaces Monica Johnson (Campbell).
Leonard Suransky, Des Lee Visiting Lecturer in Global Awareness, Politics and International Relations, ext. 8726
To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.
Inside Webster is published for
Webster University faculty and staff.
Marianne Kirk, Editor
Marketing & Communications
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Marketing & Communications
Student Contributors:
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Pete McEwen, Technical Advisor
Information Technology
Betsy Schmutz
Human Resources
Casey Conroy, Graphic Designer
Marketing & Communications
© 2005, Webster University