|
Webster’s Study Abroad Programs Receive Special Recognition in U.S. News and World Report
Webster University’s Study Abroad programs rank in the top 2 percent of the more than 1,400 colleges and universities surveyed in the “America’s Best Colleges” 2010 edition of U.S. News & World Report. Webster is one of just 34 U.S. institutions to share this distinction, which recognizes study abroad programs that involve substantial academic work for credit and considerable interaction with the local culture. In addition to Webster, other schools cited for their study abroad programs include Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, New York University and University of Pennsylvania. Overall, Webster ranked 24th in the “Best Universities-Master’s” (Midwest) category. Nationwide, 572 universities are in the “Best Universities-Master’s” category; 142 of those are in the Midwest region.
‘Tweet Me’ in St. Louis: Twitter Co-Founder and St. Louis Native Jack Dorsey Speaks at Webster University
 |
|
Jack Dorsey
|
Twitter creator Jack Dorsey, the man behind the power of relaying precise yet concise (140 characters or less) details and staying connected, came back home to his native St. Louis on Sept. 18 as Webster University’s Success to Significance 2009 Person of the Year. A packed house filled the Loretto-Hilton Center at Webster’s home campus to take part in a “TweetUp” with Dorsey. The free event was presented by Webster’s School of Business & Technology and School of Communications. Dorsey shared his remarkable journey from St. Louis to creating, founding and serving as the chairman of Twitter Inc.
Webster and Eden Theological Seminary Plan New Collaborations
In December, Webster University and neighboring Eden Theological Seminary announced a new era of collaboration involving real estate transfer, greater library consolidation and shared athletic facilities.
 |
|
Eden Theological Seminary
|
Under a Memo of Understanding (MOU) signed by Eden President Dr. David M. Greenhaw and Webster President Dr. Beth Stroble, Eden will transfer 5.5 of 22 acres and three buildings—the Wehrli Center, Luhr Library and “White House”—to Webster for $5.3 million. With the transfer of Eden’s library building to Webster, Eden’s active library collection will be consolidated and integrated into Webster’s state-of-the-art Emerson Library. Webster will provide library services for Eden students, staff and faculty, who will have full access to Emerson’s extensive library resources.
Webster also will lease Eden’s athletic fields for recreation and intramural athletic activities for seven years. Eden students, faculty and staff will have full access to Webster’s Fitness Center, which contains a wide array of aerobic and circuit weight machines, and free weights, as well as the indoor swimming pool.
“This agreement is a winning proposition for both institutions,” said Dr. Stroble and Dr. Greenhaw in a joint statement. “It will allow Eden and Webster to continue to provide education in keeping with our historic core values, as well as to evolve to reflect changes in our student bodies, in the needs of a contemporary global society, and in the explosion of information and knowledge.”
Professor William Lynch Named Director of Webster’s London Campus
 |
|
Bill Lynch
|
Webster University Professor William Lynch has been appointed resident director of Webster’s programs at Regent’s College in London. He replaces Professor David Parrish, who, after holding the position since 2005, announced his intention to retire last year. Most recently, Lynch served as Professor of Voice in Webster’s Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, as president of the University’s Faculty Senate and member of Webster’s Administrative Council.
Lynch holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland and an M.F.A. from Florida State University. Prior to joining the Webster faculty in 1992, Lynch pursued a career as a professional actor, a vocation he has continued in parallel to his Webster University teaching.
Dr. Jean Paul van Marissing Appointed Director of Webster-Leiden
 |
|
Jean Paul van Marissing
|
Dr. Jean Paul van Marissing has been named director of Webster’s campus in Leiden.
Dr. Marissing comes to Webster most recently from Nyenrod Business University in the Netherlands, where he served as professor of European Competition and Policy. He also was managing partner and board chairman of the Dutch law firm Van Mens & Wisselink, and earlier served as a diplomat for the Dutch government to the European Union in Brussels. Dr. van Marissing holds a Ph.D. from Leiden University, and degrees from the Universities of Tilburg and Utrecht. He also completed the Executive Leadership and Strategies programs at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago.
School of Communications Takes Top Honors
Students in Webster’s School of Communications are on a roll. Over the past several months, they have received a bevy of prestigious awards and honors. “Creativity, quality and innovativeness are the hallmarks of Webster’s School of Communications,” said Dean Debra Carpenter. “These award winners have brought fame and honor to themselves, the School of Communications and to Webster University.”
 |
|
Emily Schmutz, Karen Burch & Alice Telios
|
• The Ampersand student magazine was honored twice. In November, the magazine received the Associated College Press (ACP) Pacemaker Award, which is the top national award for general excellence in collegiate feature magazines. Accepting the award were faculty advisor Karen Burch; last year’s editors, Elizabeth Miller and Anthony Hagan; and this year’s editors Emily Schmutz and Alice Telios.
• In January, The Ampersand also was named a finalist for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) 2010 Crown Award. The publication, which competed against hundreds of other collegiate magazines to become one of only 33 finalists, is guaranteed to receive either a Gold or Silver Crown Award at ceremonies in March. The CSPA is part of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
• The Journal student newspaper won third place in the ACP’s Best in Show competition among weekly collegiate newspapers. Last year’s editor, Nikole Brown; this year’s editor, Kelly Kendall; and General manager Jim Rodenbush accepted the award. The paper also won Honorable Mention in the Spot News Picture category.
Up In The Air: Webster Alum’s Song Featured in Movie
You could say Webster alum Kevin Renick is walking on air these days, thanks to his song “Up in the Air” and a certain movie of the same name. Renick wrote the song long before he had heard of the movie or that it was going to be filmed in St. Louis. After doing some research he learned that, coincidentally, the song’s theme mirrors that of the movie. Renick recorded the song onto a cassette and presented it to “Up in the Air” Director Jason Reitman, when Reitman spoke at Webster in February 2009. The rest is history…and “Up in the Air” movie audiences everywhere are hearing Renick’s song “Up in the Air” as the film concludes.
David Minnihan ’07 Nets People’s Choice Award for Best Film Pitch
 |
|
David Minnihan
|
David Minnihan (BA, Media Communications, 2007) will receive a People’s Choice Award as winner of the American Film Market’s 2009 Favorite Film Pitch contest. Minnihan’s two-minute video pitch for “Father John” was first selected from hundreds of submissions as one of five finalists by top industry experts. Then, tens of thousands of votes were cast for the top winner via the People’s Choice website. “Father John” is an adventure spy drama produced by Minnihan and written by Steven G. Long. The film is set in Shanghai because of time Minnihan spent there while a study abroad student at Webster. During his trip and several subsequent return visits, Minnihan created the story line of the film. Minnihan’s winning video pitch can be viewed at:www.peopleschoice.com/pca/influence/AFM/.
Webster Recognized Nationally as ‘Military Friendly School’
In its release of the 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools, G.I. Jobs magazine bestowed top honors on Webster, placing the University among the top 15 percent of all U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students.
“Webster University has a longstanding tradition of welcoming both active duty military and veterans to its worldwide network of campuses,” said Webster President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. “Approximately one-sixth of our 21,000 students have a military connection. Some people aren’t aware that Webster University is one of the largest providers of graduate-level military education in the United States.”
Webster University Ranks First in Granting Graduate Degrees to Minorities
Webster University awards more master’s degrees to minority students than any other traditional, non-profit U.S. higher education institution in the United States, according to a survey in the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (DIHE). The “Top 100 Degree Producers: Graduate and Professional Degrees 2009” survey is the only national report of graduate degrees awarded to African American, Hispanic, Asian American and American Indian students by U.S. colleges and universities. Webster has consistently achieved top rankings since DIHE began publishing the survey in 1991.
|
470 East Lockwood Avenue