Have cameras, will travel

Sunday, July 17, 2005
Cameras, batteries, tripod, tapes and clothes. I'm packed and ready to head out for a very busy couple of weeks. First stop: Fly to Orlando, Fla., and drive to Cocoa Beach. I stepped out of the airport to rent a car and, wow, it was hot and humid—even more humid than in St. Louis. I chose my car, put my bags in and started it up only to find the maintenance light on…So I had to find my cart, grab my bags and find another car. Oh, the joys of traveling.

The Webster University Space Coast Campus

Monday, July 18, 2005
Got up this morning to a gorgeous day. I headed to Palm Bay to meet up with Campus Director Debbie Yannotti and staff. Palm Bay's campus is on the Brevard Community College campus, a nice facility. I interviewed Debbie as well as alum Annette Kauslik. Glenn Briggs, faculty coordinator and academic advisor, says he enjoys working for Webster—and the opportunity to go to Webster's Shanghai campus to teach each year.

Space Coast Campus Director Mandy Cosat and Karen Burch pose in the front lobby.

Around noon I left to go to Merritt Island, Webster's Space Coast campus. The campus was beautiful with a lovely view of the lake from the conference room. Here I met some great staff and faculty, as well as some outstanding students. Mandy Cosat is the campus director and with the help of her CRC and others, my short visit was a successful one. I stepped into some classes to videotape and take photos and my visit was done.

Bill Sloot, Academic Advisor and Faculty Coordinator, talks with student Eduyr Estrano, from Venezuela, and Mohamed Khalid Sedrati, from Morocco, secretary of WOMA and a Webster graduate.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Left Cocoa Beach to drive to Orlando. The North Orlando campus is located on the third floor in a busy business complex. The classrooms, computer rooms and the student services and academic advising offices are all impressive. Tom Janke is the regional director of the Florida campuses and was very helpful, keeping in touch throughout my visit to make sure all was going well. His executive assistant, Katie Williams, is a St. Louis graduate as well as a student at the North Orlando campus.

Tom Janke and Nick Dauher

I interviewed some impressive international students and alumni from Turkey, Morocco and Venezuela who recently created an organization called WOMA (Webster Orlando Multicultural Association). This organization supports international students by assisting them with housing, transportation and social activities. They started the organization in May 2005 and have a membership of 60. Bill Sloot is the adviser.

I interviewed Nick Dauher, the academic advisor for the campus, as well as, Kemper Award winning faculty, Jim Bunsa and Bonnie Manjura.

Jim Bunsa and Bonnie Manjura are proud Kemper Award-winning faculty.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005
This morning I went over to the South Orlando Campus, another great-looking campus. Took pictures of a new department associate, Alicia Peterson, and computer coordinator, Bob Hecht. These photos will go on their "Wall of Fame"…next to the other Webster staff photos. Many extended campuses display photos of their staff, which personalizes each campus. After interviewing some great students and alums, I discussed the project with Tom Janke and then headed out to the Lakeland/Brandon campus.

My first stop was Hillsbourgh Community College, near Tampa, where I met with Mike De Manche, faculty member at the Lakeland Campus. He set me up with students Michael Geraurd and Phyllis Thompson-Walters who turned out to be two very impressive interviewees. When I finished interviewing, the two Mikes helped me carry my equipment to the Hillborough Community College (HCC) administration building where I interviewed President Carlos Soto about the partnership Webster has with HCC.

Lakeland, Fla., campus

Later I drove over to the Lakeland campus and met Site Manager Elaine Bonner, who was coordinating my visit because the director, Sandra Chamberlain, was out of town. That evening I visited two very interesting counseling classes. Many times I go into classes and start taking pictures or taping and find myself really getting interested in the subject. I have to remind myself to move on and not to raise my hand to participate!

Instructor Dr. Rhett Brandt teaches "Techniques of Substance Abuse Counseling."

Thursday, July 21, 2005
I got to the Lakeland campus and set up for my interviews. First up was an impressive instructor, Frank Shultz, who recently published a book called, "A Language of the Heart: Therapy Stories That Heal." He co-authored another book, "Trauma Practice: Tools for Stabilization and Recovery." I also interviewed some very dedicated alums from Lakeland: Elaine Rentz wrote her business plan while studying for her MBA and hopes to start the business in the near future; while another alum, Stewart Chalmers, along with his wife, graduated from Webster Lakeland's Counseling program. (The two were voted students of the year and spoke at graduation.) Stewart had been in bank management for over 20 years, but he wanted to make a career change and spend more time with his wife.

Stewart Chalmers, Counseling graduate

While I was interviewing Stewart, he told me that he had just come from a job interview for a position as a guidance counselor at a school. When we finished the interview, I asked to take his picture. Just as I was taking the first photo, his cell phone buzzed and he said, "That's got to be my wife." It buzzed again and he opened his phone and said, "I am getting my photo taken." Just then, he realized it wasn't his wife on the other end, but the principal offering him the job. He told me that I must be good luck.

Unfortunately, I could not get to every campus in the area, however, some of the directors came to me, such as Karl Sterner, director of the Sarasota/Manatee campus. After interviewing Karl, we went across the street to a family-owned diner where hamburgers are their specialty. They were good.


Friday, July 22, 2005
Today I flew in a little puddle-jumper to Charleston, S.C., where I rented another car and drove two hours to Myrtle Beach. It's still very hot but not raining, which is nice. After settling into a motel located close to the campus, I went to dinner with Myrtle Beach Campus Director Tim Groza, where we talked about the plan for Saturday.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. campus

Saturday, July 23, 2005
Myrtle Beach is a unique campus—a campus all on its own—with two buildings and a nice small campus feel. Their weekend program is popular because it is convenient for students who can't take evening classes. Many of the students I met came from North Carolina. These students drive several hours to get to Myrtle Beach and stay in motels for the weekend in order to take the classes. Some of the faculty come in specifically for the weekend program,as well.

One student I interviewed, Nargues Khalil from Egypt, traveled a couple hours to get to campus. "I like this weekend program," he said. "It is the only one that fits my life and my schedule. I can enjoy one weekend and study another weekend."

Nargues Khalil, Counseling student

I asked Robin Ford what she liked about Webster Myrtle Beach and she said, "It's the people. It is a home-like atmosphere. The instructors knew my name. I wasn't just a number. They really made you feel welcome."

After interviewing a variety of students, alumni and faculty, I stepped into some of the classes to take photos and videotape. The energy around the campus was great. Some students were picking up their graduation caps and gowns in one room as others were on break from class in the computer room or outside enjoying some sun.

Columbia, S.C., campus

Monday, July 25, 2005
Today I drove to Columbia from Myrtle Beach. I went to the Columbia, S.C., metropolitan campus, which I learned is the largest extended campus in the network. Director Willis Hamm and Community Relations Coordinator Alice Jones worked with me to get the interviews I needed. Among many great interviews was Melvin Miller, a graduate and adjunct faculty member. "The best thing about Webster is that they put theory and application together," Miller said. "Most of the teachers have been out in the working world in corporate America, as well as academia, and they are able to bring that into the class."

Counseling graduate Aaron Ashford brought his son for the interview.

Aaron Ashford, a full-time counselor and graduate of Webster, felt Webster was the right fit for him because of class size. "For me, I am one who loses focus very easily," he said. "I know that about myself, but being in more of an intimate setting where it is not as easy to get lost was a tremendous help for someone like me."

I enjoyed interviewing Academic Director Tommy Spotts and Academic Advisor Samer Touma. It was nice to see a familiar face—Vince Stovall—who used to work in the business office at the main campus, and is currently the assistant director in Columbia.

Adjunct Professor Tony Dukes

Tuesday, July 26, 2005
This morning I went to Ft. Jackson in Columbia. Cassie Wilson is the director and, with the help of her staff, we were able to interview a variety of students, alumni and faculty in three hours. Tony Dukes, an adjunct instructor with Webster for more than 20 years, said, "I love the interaction with the students. They keep me fresh and challenge me in terms of maintaining my knowledge of the literature, the material in the discipline that I teach."

Military student Neftali Milian, from Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Army, feels he made the right choice because of the convenience. "I can complete my whole master's degree taking evening classes," Milian said. "I take some classes here on post or at the main (Columbia Metro) campus. It is very comfortable."

Student Neftali Milian

Brigette Fogel took a semester to study at our London campus where she enjoyed meeting a diverse group of students from many countries. "It is great being from a little, small town in Columbia, (South Carolina) going to London and meeting students from Nigeria, Morocco, Spain and Colombia," she said. "It's just amazing to see other students out there who are affiliated with Webster."

Charleston, S.C., Campus

When I finished all my interviews, I gassed up the car, got some lunch and was on my way to Charleston, S.C., the last leg of the trip.

It seemed that everywhere I went, there were record-breaking high temperatures. I got to Charleston's Metropolitan campus around 3 p.m. This was the first time I saw their new location, which has many classrooms and computer rooms and is located in a nice business complex, close to the airport.

Adjunct Professor Patricia Henley, Regional Director David Dunlap and President of Charleston's Alumni Chapter, Edna Edwards-Holt, take time for a photo.

While there, I got to see Patricia Henley, who I interviewed five years ago. She is still just as fun and very committed to Webster. And I met and interviewed Edna Edwards-Holt, president of Charleston Alumni Chapter.

When I interviewed David Dunlap, regional director for South Carolina, I learned about his new best friend, Mr. Calhoun—a cute Sussex Spaniel puppy. I also interviewed Rudy Swatzyna, Webster's community relations coordinator and academic advisor and Jack Shortridge, the faculty and Counseling Program coordinator.

Driving over the new Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, S.C.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Rudy picked me up this morning and we drove to the tourist section of Charleston where the mission was to locate the coffee shop where I had once had the "world's best croissant." In the heat and traffic, Rudy was there to please. He drove and drove until we finally found it. We sat down with our coffee and "to die for" croissants to discuss the DVD project in detail.

Later that day, Rudy took me to dinner in Mount Pleasant so we could go over the new Cooper River Bridge in Charleston. The bridge, which had just opened, is the longest cable stay span bridge with eight lanes for vehicular traffic and a shared pedestrian/bicycle lane that overlooks the Charleston harbor. Very cool.

Final Thoughts: The people I meet while traveling to these campuses really give me a true sense of Webster's mission. The three points I consistently heard when interviewing Webster students, faculty and alumni were: Webster offers real-world knowledge, Webster gives students the personal attention they need and Webster is convenient.

I think Stewart Chalmers (the student who got a new job while I was taking his photo) and his wife are true examples of Webster extended campus students. Many decide to come to school after being in the working world for 20 years or so. Others are striving to move up in their companies. Most are professionals, often with families, who are committed to their profession and their schoolwork. And, as I learned, they are also committed to Webster University. I was impressed with the quality of students and alumni I met. And the stories they told about their experiences at Webster made me proud to work for this institution.

© 2005 Webster University