Inside Webster: November 2007

Inside Webster is published for Webster University's faculty and staff.

From Jennifer Willis, Special Events Coordinator

More than 2,100 Webster faculty, staff, students and alumni painted, raked, collected, shared, sorted, cleaned, hammered, planted, created, listened and responded to the needs around them during the University's 13th annual community service day Oct. 3 in St. Louis and throughout the month at extended campuses around the world. In the St. Louis area, a new record of 1,288 volunteers participated, with 891 students, 293 staff, 76 faculty and 28 alums. The extended campuses and alumni chapters contributed 839 volunteers helping at various projects. Globally, Webster volunteers served their local communities in Geneva, Leiden, Thailand and Vienna. A comparison of statistics through the years is available on the Webster Works Worldwide Web page.

To view WWW13 photo gallery click here.

While the number of volunteers and hours worked are impressive, the real measure of WWW13's success is written in the comments made by the volunteers and agencies that took part in the day. Here's a sampling:

Volunteer Comments
"For our WWW project this year we supported our military by sending care packages to soldiers in Iraq. Our campus collected 1,593 items, such as food snacks, DVDs, hand-held fans and other requested items, with more than 700 items being collected by Jon Roger's Advanced Corporate Finance class. Better yet, the unit we are supporting in Iraq is led by a Webster alum, Sgt. Melvin "Bo" Syphertt, Jr. I am so proud of our students, staff and faculty for the hard work and dedication they have shown our military and our campus."
— Vicky Moore, program secretary (Greenville Metro Campus, S.C.)

Agency Comments
"Awesome program. I am a Webster graduate and it was fun to meet Webster staff, students and alumni. We definitely want you back next year, and a special thanks goes to all of the volunteers who helped us with our project."
— Family Support Network

Click here for more volunteer and agency comments.

Thanks to everyone who participated in and supported the efforts of the 13th annual Webster Works Worldwide, the biggest and most successful Webster community service day to date. We look forward to celebrating the 14th year of Webster Works Worldwide with you next year. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 1, 2008!

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What would you talk to your students about if you knew it was the last time you would speak to them? That intriguing premise is the idea behind a series of faculty lectures organized by Campus Activities and aptly titled, "The Last Lecture Series."

Campus Activities — a student-run programming board — polled nearly 200 students about who their favorite professors are, which professors exhibit the ideal qualities a teacher should have and which professors they would recommend to other students.

The top eight chosen by the poll were then invited to give a lecture to an audience of students as if it were the "last lecture" of their career. The lectures will be presented monthly throughout the school year.

Professor Bernie Hayes (right) with Benny Roberts, Campus Activities program manager in charge of planning the Last Lecture series.

Bernie Hayes, adjunct professor, Media Communications, provided the first lecture in the series, "Is Thou Art Great?" on Sep. 19, and the October lecturer was Andrea Miller, adjunct professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences, whose topic was "Let's Talk About Sex, Race and Gender."

Hayes was elated when he was notified about being chosen as a favorite professor and "quite honored" to learn he received the highest number of votes. "It was unbelievable, actually," he says.

"I chose my topic because I know the harm that some rap music is doing to the community and to degrading women," Hayes says. "I wanted to compare that to what constitutes real art — not as a censor — but to bring about change."

Miller also wants to inspire change. "My goal was to help students stop thinking in absolutes and to instead consider how we create the world around us, and thus, we can also change the world around us," she says. "I wanted to inspire them towards social change and show them how absolute truths usually hinder social change and how they might play a part in this."

Professor Miller's audience with tape over their mouths to represent how people are silenced by society.

Future speakers in the series are Larry Baden, assistant professor, Communications and Journalism; Bob Chamberlin, associate professor, Music; Eileen Solomon, professor, Broadcast Journalism; Bill Sharpe, adjunct professor, Communications and Journalism; Don Love, adjunct professor, Math and Computer Science, and David Clewell, professor, English.

Choosing a topic to speak about has been somewhat daunting for some of them, as though the students turned the tables on them and gave them a difficult assignment.

Love is leaning toward the topic of art and mathematics because it has the potential for visuals and audience activities. He says being chosen for the series felt like winning the "People's Choice Award."

"I have lots of mini-lectures I've composed over the years, but never had the class in which to deliver them," he says. "The best guide for choosing a topic is what you always wanted to talk about, but never got the chance."

Love attended Miller's presentation and says he was touched by her genuine emotion. "She picked something she's passionate about and that's really what the Last Lecture series is all about."

"I don't usually give lectures," says Chamberlin, who is still considering a topic. "My classes are usually a mixture of discussion and workshop, going through music theory exercises. My best thought so far is to talk about the creative process in a general way — the way I view it — rather than relaying textbook analysis of the process."

Baden feels lucky that he has most of the spring semester to figure it out. "I've got about a thousand ideas running through my head," he says. "When the actual final lecture does come along — hopefully a long time down the road — I imagine I'll simply thank my students for all they taught me through the years."

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Faith Maddy. Photo by M. Kirk

Inside Webster recently sat down with Faith Maddy to learn more about her background and plans in her new position as head of Webster's development and alumni office.

IW: What was your most recent position before coming to Webster?
FM: I was vice president of development at the Saint Louis Symphony for five years, but prior to that most of my career was in higher education. I wasn't looking to leave the symphony, but this was an incredible opportunity to get back into education at an institution that I've always watched and had an interest in.

IW: What is your academic background?
FM: My undergraduate degree in radio and television is from Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., and I earned my master's in college student personnel administration from Indiana University. It's a degree in higher education with the primary focus on the development of traditional-age students.

IW: What attracted you to Webster?
FM: I've always had an interest in Webster and remember when it became a university. Webster's campus community reminds me a lot of my undergraduate school, in that it was a liberal arts institution inside of a metropolitan area that still had a campus feel to it.

But when I started this process, I began to understand the depth and breadth of Webster. I had known there were international programs, but I didn't realize the breadth and the history of them, which was amazing to me. I knew there were campuses in other locations, but I did not know how many. I learned about the military bases. So the breadth of Webster University and the way it touches the world I found very intriguing and fascinating and I felt like it would be wonderful to be a part of it.

IW: Now that you've been here a while, has your impression of the University changed?
FM: Again, the scope of it is what I really learned. One thing that hasn't changed, which struck me during my interview process and continues to strike me, is that the people affiliated with Webster are passionate about this institution and that is very exciting for me. It's the kind of environment I need to thrive in because it helps keep my passion alive.

Even though the main campus is in St. Louis, the University has a very global feel and that's exciting because that's the world we live in now. Continents are a nanosecond away via the Internet and the technology we have at our fingertips today. Having a better understanding of that world that we live in, regardless of where we live, is incumbent upon us as individuals to be great global citizens.

We're not just citizens of the country; we're citizens of the world, and I think Webster has really been a leader and a part of that.

IW: What are your goals/plans in your new position?
FM: Some of my immediate goals are to try and better understand the community that I'm now a part of. I've been meeting with the deans, the administrative council and my staff. It was great fun to be a part of the world directors' meetings because I had the opportunity to meet and talk with directors from other campuses.

I'm looking forward to visiting a military campus, a U.S. campus and a European campus, because each one of them has different populace and I want to gain a better understanding about how to articulate Webster's message to the population at large.

The development and alumni staff is an amazing group of people who are really committed to Webster and that's fun to be a part of. I want to continue working with our department and to continue to bring the alumni closer to our institution. People have a lot of different entry points for Webster, so the challenge is how to connect them and show them what their relationship as a Webster alumni can be.

We've got wonderful people, like Bert Walker, who believe in Webster. Being able to be here for the announcement of a transformational gift in Webster's history and listening to him talk about 'Why Webster?' is the kind of vision and commitment to an institution that serves as an example for others.

IW: What is the biggest challenge ahead?
The biggest challenge is being able to get my arms around all that Webster is and then figuring out how to message that to the broad populace.

People need to understand that their vision of Webster is critical to our success, but their understanding of the broader vision is even more important because it's challenging with the amount of things that go on in different locales.

The key to good development work is to be able to convey messages that bring people in so that they feel that they are part of the larger picture. That's probably my biggest challenge — to find a way to express all that Webster is.

IW: What have you learned in your career up to this point that you will apply in your new position?
I think that goes back to the fact that development is all about relationships and I see that as my role. But I actually see that as every member of the University's community's goal. Anyone who is a friend, a volunteer, a faculty member, an alum, a board of trustee member — all of those people help develop relationships with others that enhance the mission of Webster.

Everyone I talked to when I told them I was coming to Webster University told me what a great institution it is, and everybody told me a different reason why Webster is a great institution. That is wonderful, but figuring out then how to not limit yourself to one view of Webster presents another challenge.

I need to be passionate about what I do; I need to be passionate about the institution that I represent and that passion will carry through to others, and you also need to have fun.

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Brenda Fyfe, dean, announced Nov. 7 the School of Education has officially achieved NCATE accreditation for all its initial and advanced programs. More information about the accreditation will be in next month's issue of Inside Webster.

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President Meyers and the Gorlok with student Lakeia Ellison at the reception.

"The Denver Campus has enjoyed double-digit growth in enrollments for more than a year," says Brent Metzger, community relations coordinator. "And we've added new degree programs and launched several cohort programs on-site at some of Denver's better known employers."

Brent Metzger (left) visits with President Meyers at the reception.

Metzger shares photos taken at a reception Sep. 20, held in honor of President Meyers' visit to the campus. Students, alumni, faculty and staff participated in the event.

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The Grounds staff: (left to right) Jody Vogler, Geoff Janofsky, Willie Schweit, Matt Sullivan, Ray Holtzmann and Sarah Omstead. Photo by M. Kirk

Willie Schweit has worked with Jody Vogler, Grounds Supervisor, Facilities Operations, for close to seven years, longer than any other groundskeeping employee.

Since Schweit works part time through an agency, he isn't eligible to be nominated for the Employee of the Month award, but Vogler is so impressed by Schweit's work ethic and job skills, she wants to acknowledge the outstanding job he does for Webster University.

"Willie assists Grounds in many ways," Vogler says. "When he's finished with one job, he will jump in and do anything. He works with all of us, does all the jobs and is a real asset to the Grounds staff."

Schweit was surprised to be singled out. "Everyone in the department does a good job," he says. "Not just me."

Schweit gets up at 3 a.m., uses public transportation, and is on the job by 6 a.m. each day. An avid reader of The New York Times, he keeps the Grounds staff up with current events, the latest headlines and the day's weather.

"I enjoy Willie's personality and the knowledge he shares with us," says co-worker Sarah Omstead. "He's the trivia king in our lunchroom."

Co-worker Geoff Janovsky sums it up: "Willie is always helping out, no matter what."

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Health Plan Open Enrollment Period Coming Soon

Contributed by Gloria Barbre, Human Resources Coordinator

Soon we will be entering our health plan Open Enrollment period. In the next few weeks, you will receive an e-mail announcement containing the all the information you need.

Now is the time to be considering any changes you might like to make to your health plans, as well as enrolling in the Flexible Spending Account or the Pre-Paid Legal Plan.

Nancy Higgins, special events coordinator, shares the following about her experience with the Pre-Paid Legal Plan:

This year I signed up for the Met Law Legal Plan. My primary reason for doing so was to get four legal documents and I was very pleased with the service. On my first visit, my attorney took 20 minutes to get the information necessary to draw up the requested documents. He commented on how generous our policy was, adding that it was "better than Washington University's," which was nice to hear.

Within a week, my documents were e-mailed to me. I reviewed them, made changes where necessary and sent them back. The next week I went in to sign them, which again took only 20 minutes. In 40 minutes I had around $1,000 worth of legal work done. What a deal for $218 a year!

I highly recommend this plan.

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Theatre students Corinne Germain, Justin D. Cook and Israel Gutierrez in a scene from Tartuffe. Photo by Claudia Burris

Conservatory of Theatre Arts Production — Tartuffe
Molière's comedy concerns the lecherous, menacing title character, who schemes to marry his benefactor's daughter, seduce his wife and then defraud him of all he possesses, under the cloak of religious piety.

"We live in a conforming consumer-driven culture, filled with ever increasing mega-churches," says guest director Jane Page. "Tartuffe is the newest old play you'll ever see."

Tartuffe will be presented in the Browning Theatre, Loretto-Hilton Center, Nov. 14-18, at 8 p.m., except Sunday, which will have a 2 p.m. matinee only.

Admission is free to Webster faculty, staff and students with a Webster ID, and $10 to the general public. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Conservatory Box Office at 314-968-7128.

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OCTOBER 2007 SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Contributed by Ashley Marshall, Student Editorial Assistant

Carol Cornwell, executive secretary, Academic Affairs; and Deborah Straubinger, community relations coordinator, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, share the Employee Spotlight honors for the month of October. Jennifer Copeland, community relations representative, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, who was nominated with Straubinger, is a November Spotlight winner.

Carol Cornwell has worked at Webster nearly 18 years in the Academic Affairs office. "Carol is a consistently positive, long-time employee who offers everyone a calming influence amidst extremely hectic days," says Cornwell's nominator.

"Carol always takes time to see how others are doing, and it is a blessing to us that she is so patient and considerate of others when so many projects are under way. We are fortunate to have shared her presence at the University for so long."

Cornwell says the award was not something she expected and that she was surprised. "It is an honor, and my thanks to those who have supported me," she says.

"I enjoy the friendly atmosphere at Webster and greatly appreciate my supervisors and co-workers," Cornwell says. "The variety of activities throughout the year makes my job interesting and challenging."

Cornwell chose the U. S. savings bond as her prize.

Deborah Straubinger

Deborah Straubinger has been with the Orlando campus for nearly two years, while co-worker Jennifer Copeland has been with the campus one year.

"Deborah and Jennifer joined the Webster Orlando marketing team near the end of 2006," says their nominator. "They were, and are, full of fresh ideas. Immediately they began implementing new strategies and procedures."

These procedures led to an increase in new inquiries, applicants and enrollments for the campus. The two created and maintain a comprehensive database, which helps contact and track potential students.

"I believe whole-heartedly that education equals power," says Copeland. "I am very pleased that I am in the position to help people realize their educational goals and aspirations."

Jennifer Copeland

"I think the best part of the job is during graduation," Straubinger says. "To hear that a student 'was the first in their family to earn a college degree' makes all those early morning education fairs worthwhile.

"I haven't been with Webster as long as some of my colleagues here in Orlando but I feel like we are all part of a bigger worldwide mission to help adults realize their potential in life and education."

Copeland and Straubinger agree it's an honor to have their ideas and hard work appreciated.

Straubinger chose the U.S. savings bond as her prize and Copeland chose a day off with pay for hers.

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OCTOBER 2007 KUDOS

Monika Schwaerzler, adjunct professor, Vienna, campus, presented the paper "Digital Worlds and the Sound of Violence" at the 6th Global Conference: Violence Contexts and the Construction of the Enemy held in May Budapest, Hungary. Schwaerzler's text "Exhibition Synergies" was included in the catalog for "futuresystems: rare momente," an exhibition at the Lentos Art Museum in Linz, Austria, which was launched at the Venice Biennale. In addition, Schwaerzler made a presentation at a museum workshop in Sarajevo, which included museum experts from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, the purpose of which was to enter into a dialogue with colleagues and art students in Bosnia.

Sarah Cormack adjunct professor, Vienna, campus, contributed the chapter, "The Tombs of Pompeii," to a newly released publication, The World of Pompeii, published by Routledge, New York-Abingdon.

Michael Schneider, adjunct professor, Vienna campus, was keynote speaker at the Printmaking Symposion at the Falun Triennial — 2007 Contemporary Print Art exhibition at the Dalarnas Museum in Falun, Sweden. In addition, his work was included in a group exhibition at the Triennial. In October, Schneider's work will be included in the Print International Graphic Triennial at the Kuenstlerhaus in Vienna, Austria.

Beverly Piersol, adjunct professor, Vienna campus, participated in the summer group exhibition, "Unsere Natur liegt in der Bewegung (Voellige Ruhe ist der Tod)" at the Galerie aller Art in Bludenz, Austria.

The Webster University Film Series was named "Best Art Cinema" in the RFT (Riverfront Times) Sep. 27, '07 "Best of St. Louis" issue. "The non-mainstream film work it brings to St. Louis is as compelling as it is varied," says the RFT.

Gary Gottlieb, assistant professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, moderated the panel "Studio Slave to Audio Professional" at the Audio Engineering Society's 123rd Convention Oct. 7 in New York, which focused on internships and entry-level positions. Panelists included Webster graduates Matt Brown and Matt Allen, along with Richard McIlvery from the University of Southern California, and John Krivit with the New England Institute of Art. In addition, Gottlieb serves on the AES education committee where he was recruited to develop student events for the 124th Convention in Amsterdam in May 2008.

Steve Schenkel, professor, Music, composed a new score for the Buster Keaton film, "Three Ages," which was screened opening night of the Film Series 'Kompletely Keaton' festival. The composition was performed by Paul DeMarinis, associate professor, Music, summer jazz camp faculty member, Ric Vice, and Schenkel. In addition, Schenkel played guitar for a 2-week run of the production, "The Rat Pack," at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. He performed a concert from his three CDs with Dan Rubright, adjunct professor, Music, for the concert series at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in St. Louis and at the national convention of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Schenkel also played guitar on the 30th anniversary CD of the Broadway musical "Annie," to be released by Warner Brothers in 2008.

Lyn Smith, adjunct professor, London campus, recently had her book, Young Voices; British Children Remember the Second World War, published by Viking/Penguin press in association with the Imperial War Museum. Smith's book contains testimonies from Second World War survivors — British children — who endured six years of deprivation and separations from their families, and who were exposed to physical and psychological human suffering when they were very young. Through the voices of more than 100 contributors, the resulting work is a powerful oral history of the war as seen from a child's perspective.

Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean, School of Business and Technology, delivered two keynote addresses this fall: "Preparing for the iPod Generation," at the 18th Annual Circle City Treasury Management Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. in September; and "Building a Bridge Over the Turbulent Waters of the 21st Century," at the 28th National Student Loan Renewable collection Conference in New Orleans, La. In October. Akande was appointed to the 2007-08 Board of Advisors of Deans and Provosts. The advisory board members participate in a variety of activities and help determine the content of Dean & Provost, a subscription-based, montly national newsletter, focusing on best practices for provosts and deans in higher education.

Scott Jensen, professor and director, Debate and Forensics; and Gina Jensen, associate director, Debate and Forensics, are congratulated on the Forensics and Debate Team's recent successes. These include many winning placements in several tournaments this fall. At tournaments held the weekend of Oct. 27 at the Metropolitan Community College at Longview, in Lee's Summit, Mo. the team qualified in three events for the elite national tournament, which takes place in April in Austin, Tex.

Webster's Conservatory of Theatre Arts is well represented in the Riverfront Times 'Annual Best of St. Louis List' (9/26/07): Best Musical: A Little Night Music, with costume design by Dottie Marshall Englis, chair and professor, Theatre and Dance; Best Children's Theatre: Hana's Suitcase, lighting design by John Wylie, professor, and Dunsi Dai, associate professor, Theatre and Dance; Best One Man Show: Via Dolorosa, directed by Doug Finlayson, associate professor, Theatre and Dance; set design by Dunsi Dai; Best Ensemble Cast: Noises Off, Bill Lynch, professor, Theatre and Dance; Best Stage Production: A Number, sound design, Tori Meyer, faculty member, Theatre and Dance.

Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, recorded four performances of the newly composed opera, "The Enchantment of Dreams," assisted by Jessica Engle, audio production student. The opera was performed at the Saint Louis Art Museum for children throughout the St. Louis area. Kathy Corley, professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, and Aaron AuBuchon, adjunct lecturer, Electronic and Photographic Media, videotaped the performances for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, co-commissioner of the opera. Hufker's audio will be used with the video. Hufker also recorded two performances of "Come to the Waters," performed by Bruce Vantine's Cornerstone Chorale and Brass at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, Mo., and First Presbyterian Church in Webster Groves, Mo.

Vera Parkin, pre-college preparatory program artistic coordinator, and co-director, Suzuki Ensemble, Community Music School of Webster University, was featured Nov. 2 on the "Friday Morning with the Arts" show on KFUO Classic 99 radio in St. Louis. The interview's focus was the Preparatory Program's Nov. 18 concert and the history of the program, current activities and alumni accomplishments.

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

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

OCTOBER 2007

Marilyn Heaven, director, School of Education, 35 years

Tom Janke, regional director, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, 10 years

Calvin Smith, director, International Recruitment and International Services, 10 years

Paula Aguilar, academic advisor, Academic Advising Office, 5 years

Vickie Fredrick, associate vice president, Finance Dept., 15 years

Veronica Grovener, general clerk, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., 5 years

Justin Stearns, financial analyst, Finance Dept., 5 years

Shelley Watson, community relations coordinator, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, Ark., 5 years

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We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

OCTOBER 2007

LaShana Lewis, help desk assistant shift leader, Information Technology, 314-246-5995 Replaces Shane Collier.

Lynn Dell, assistant volleyball coach, Athletics, 314-246-6984, replaces Matt Ryan.

Amber Arnold, department assistant, Space Coast Metropolitan Campus, Fla., 321-449-4500 or Speed Dia #6 008, replaces Kelly Kauffamn.

Nancy Collier, department assistant, Undergraduate Admissions, 314-246-7601, new position.

Tracy Carrasquillo, evening service clerk, Academic Advising, 314-246-7674, replaces Sharon McDonald.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.

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The University extends sympathies to Jim Brasfield, professor, Management, on the recent death of his wife, Lorraine.

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EDITOR
Marianne Kirk, Editor
Office of Marketing

MARKETING OFFICE CONTRIBUTORS
Claudia Burris, Sr. Editor & Photojournalist
Casey Conroy, Graphic Designer
Dominik Jansky, Writer/Editor
Patrick Powers, Writer/Editor
Pete McEwen, Technical Advisor
Ashley Marshall, Writer

HUMAN RESOURCES CONTRIBUTORS
Betsy Schmutz
Gloria Barbre
Amy Brockman