Evangel University to present spring drama production: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

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Evangel University students will present the Broadway musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown this month in the Barnett Fine Arts Theatre.

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. April 4-6 and April 11-13. There will also be matinee performances at 2 p.m. on April 6 and April 13.

“EU Night” is scheduled for opening night, April 4. Tickets are $5 for everyone with an Evangel ID in attendance that evening.

For all other shows, tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for group tickets (10 people or more), and $6 for students.

The production will be directed by David Smith, director of Evangel’s theatre program, and Lori Lawley, 1985 Evangel graduate.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is adapted from the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz, with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner.

In this musical Charlie Brown, as portrayed by Evangel senior Jordan Walker, searches for approval from friends Lucy, Patti, Schroeder, Linus and Snoopy.

“It excites me to have the opportunity to portray an American icon. The musical is full of humor, upset and trivial things, but in the end, it’s about finding out who you are,” says Walker. “This is what I like most about the musical — its relevancy to life today. It’s a look into how we grow through our triumphs and disappointments.”

Walker is playing the lead role after completing his senior voice recital earlier this spring as part of the certification requirements for performance majors. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in music education at Evangel after graduation.

“This is a show for the entire family. You won’t want to miss this delightful spin on the famous Peanuts comic strip,” Smith says. “Expect a lively play with wonderful music and staging.”

Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Lisa Kraus at (417) 865-2815, ext. 8640.

Evangel Humanities Department

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Evangel University senior Christine Temple wins national journalism award

Evangel University senior Christine Temple has been named the 2013 Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year by the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ).

The award committee cited “major competition” from finalists across the nation.

“She distinguished herself exceptionally on so many levels that she was the clear choice,” says Bill Ruehlmann, SCJ past president and member of the selection committee.

Temple, a Journalism major from Ozark, Missouri, is editor-in-chief of the The Lance, Evangel’s student newspaper. She will receive a plaque and a $500 stipend in recognition of her achievements.

Ruehlmann said the rigor of professionalism and intensity of spirit displayed throughout the wide field of nationwide competitors reflected their talent, training and discipline. The nominees “displayed superior devotion to the craft of journalism and its ethical practice,” Ruehlmann says.

Chapter adviser Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication, nominated Temple.

“A notable characteristic that Christine demonstrates is that she does not hoard her knowledge, experience or expertise but invests it in younger students. She serves them, the student body and the legacy and future of The Lance with her consistent and generous mentoring,” Booze says.

The Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year Award is named for a longtime SCJ executive director and journalism educator. Barlow, now retired, served on the selection committee along with Ruehlmann, also a former executive director who is now retired, and Mary Beth Earnheardt, current executive director and educator at Youngstown (Ohio) State University.

The Barlow Award allows SCJ chapter advisers an opportunity to bring national recognition to a student journalist who meets the highest standards of ethics, service, leadership and technical skills.

Temple credits her education and professors at Evangel for providing her with the training necessary to be qualified for such a prestigious award.

“Winning this award speaks to the training I received from my journalism professors and the dedication of The Lance staff members I have worked with,” Temple says. “It means so much to be recognized by veteran journalists. This is a great send-off to my time at Evangel.”

Temple has served as The Lance editor for five semesters and is currently president of Evangel’s SCJ chapter. She also interns as a reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She will graduate in May and continue her internship through the summer and plans to stay in Springfield to pursue reporting opportunities for at least a year.

“Within a few years I hope to move out of Missouri and work at a daily paper in a large city,” she says. “I am prepared for various jobs within a newspaper: reporter, photographer, online team or videographer. I would be excited and grateful with any opportunity to practice my craft.”

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Evangel University education builds solid foundation for entrepreneur Jonathan Butler

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Evangel University Marching Band recruiting now for next season

The Evangel University Marching Band is now taking applications for students interested in becoming part of one of the University’s most visible and exciting traditions.

Since its historic debut in 2011, the marching band has grown to more than 100 members, many of whom have majors other than music. United by their love for music, these students are part of an organization that sets Evangel apart from many universities of its size.

Michael Kolstad, Music Department chairman, says Evangel is one of only two schools in its conference to have a marching band. “The marching band has been a very positive addition to the campus,” Kolstad says. “It has increased school spirit and visibility for the school.”

In addition to playing pep music and performing field routines during halftime at home football games, the marching band has marched in local parades, including a performance at Silver Dollar City last December that Kolstad says was attended by 25,000 people.

Christina Beatie, junior, says the best part about her joining Evangel’s marching band was the sense of community she felt when she arrived as a freshman.

“I immediately felt welcomed and made some of my best friends here at Evangel within that first week of band camp,” she says. “You are not an outsider when you come to campus.  You immediately belong somewhere, and people will notice if you are not there. Being in marching band as a freshman was the best decision I could have made.”

The Evangel University Marching Band, directed by Dr. Michael Kolstad, debuted at Silver Dollar City on December 1, 2012, before a crowd of 25,000. Photo by Paul K. Logsdon.

Jonathan Martz, senior, says the unity of the marching band is what sets it apart from other organizations on campus. He also says it is a good way to become involved in leadership.

“I would say that it is one of the best organizations you can be a part of,” he says. “You learn how to become an encourager, hard worker and more of a spiritual influence in others’ lives.”

Kolstad says the band plans to play at four home football games and two parades in the fall. He also says the Music Department is lining up a marching band trip for the fall, but the location has yet to be revealed. However, he did offer a hint: “It will likely be somewhere in the South – possibly near the ocean!”

Kolstad says students of any major are welcome in the band and there is no audition except for the percussion section. See the Evangel University Marching Band page for more information and to fill out an inquiry form.

— By Ian Richardson, a junior English major from Afton, Iowa.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

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Dr. Carol Taylor chosen to lead consolidated Evangel University

Dr. Carol Taylor is the president-elect of the newly approved Evangel University.

Dr. Carol Taylor, currently president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, has been chosen president-elect and chief executive officer of the consolidated Evangel University, according to an announcement by Dr. George Wood, chairman of the Board of Trustees and general superintendent of the Assemblies of God.  The Higher Learning Commission recently approved the request to consolidate the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), Central Bible College (CBC) and Evangel University (EU), all owned and operated by the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

“I am extremely pleased with the board’s selection of Dr. Taylor to lead this consolidated university,” states Wood.  “I believe she is exactly what is needed to continue the process of consolidation and lead Evangel University forward as a strong, Pentecostal institution of higher learning.” 

The vote on a secret ballot to elect Dr. Taylor was unanimous.

Dr. Taylor began serving as acting president of Vanguard in January 2009 and was named as its ninth president in July 2009.  Prior to that, she was provost/vice president of academic affairs at Vanguard since 2007.  Before joining Vanguard, Dr. Taylor served for seven years as the vice provost for undergraduate education at Biola University, 12 years in executive management at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, and has taught at various higher educational institutions at both the undergraduate and graduate school levels.

“Vanguard is a different university today than it was when President Taylor stepped up to lead it,” says David Oddo, chair of the Board of Trustees at Vanguard.  “Under her direction, Vanguard University has been transformed from a school in financial crisis and declining enrollment into an institution poised to exit its state of financial exigency and with record enrollments.”

An alumna of both Evangel University and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Dr. Taylor also took classes at Central Bible College.  She holds a doctorate from Florida State University and received the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Award in 2011 and was recognized two years running as one of top 20 professional women to watch in Orange County.   She has also served as a reviewer with Vanguard’s regional accrediting association (WASC) and in various roles with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities for their study abroad programs and leadership development institutes.

She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2012 from Evangel University.  She is an ordained Assemblies of God minister.

She will begin her tenure July 2013 as president-elect and chief executive officer of the school.  Dr. Robert Spence, who has served as president of Evangel has announced his intentions to take a sabbatical during the first semester of the 2013-2014 school year.  He will be the commencement speaker for 2014, completing 40 years of service as president.

“Dr. Spence leaves a rich legacy at Evangel University,” states Wood.  He has taken the campus from a group of scrappy government barracks to a beautiful campus of permanent buildings.  In addition, he has impacted thousands of students through his leadership and ministry.  His efforts the past two years as we’ve moved toward consolidation have been vital.  We couldn’t have done it without his help.”

Wood also expressed great appreciation to Presidents Byron Klaus (AGTS) and Gary Denbow (CBC) for their efforts.  “All of these men have a great passion for young people and for Christian higher education,” he said.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

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Fairfield University dean named Distinguished Woman in Higher Education

Robbin Crabtree, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University, received the 2013 Distinguished Administrative Woman in Higher Education Award presented today by the Connecticut American Council on Education (ACE) Women's Network. The award is designed to recognize and honor those Connecticut women who have distinguished themselves by providing outstanding leadership to women in their institutions, in their profession, and in society-at-large.

Dr. Crabtree, a Fairfield, Conn. resident, received the award at the organization's 2013 spring conference at the University of Hartford.

"I am very pleased and proud the committee singled out Dean Robbin Crabtree," said the Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J., the University's senior vice president for academic affairs. "Robbin's service to Fairfield University's Jesuit mission is exemplary in so many ways. She demonstrates on a daily basis her deep understanding of, and commitment to, Jesuit ideals of intellectual rigor, integrative ways of thinking, knowing and creating, and a willing spirit of civic engagement and social responsibility in the education of all our students for the sake of human dignity and social justice. She does all this with passion, with joy and with a generosity of spirit that is truly infectious."

Dean since 2008, Dr. Crabtree has shown a commitment to diversity and the mentoring of women in many ways. Of the 30 faculty members she has hired, 50 percent are women and a third are members of historically under-represented groups or international scholars. She has appointed and mentored at least 10 first-time women department chairs, many in departments that have never had a female chair.

"My generation of faculty often were not mentored very well, but we need to do better for the next generation," said Dr. Crabtree. "As a former department chair, I know how important it is to have guidance about professional development, and support for balancing the many responsibilities and demands facing chairs, particularly when we are motivated to change our departments for the better and make lasting contributions to the university. As dean, I want to create the conditions in which faculty can thrive, so that they are able to succeed in their research and create meaningful engagements for our students in and beyond the classroom. It's a 'pay it forward' kind of process; the better folks are mentored, the better mentors they also will be for their students and their colleagues. I also learn so much in the process. Mentoring is a two-way street, so I really see it as 'co-mentoring'."

Prior to being appointed dean, Dr. Crabtree was professor of communication and the founding director of Fairfield's Office of Service Learning. She came to the University in 2001 from New Mexico State University, where she was an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies. She was chair of the Department of Communication at Fairfield from 2001 to 2007.

Dr. Crabtree was named Teacher of the Year in 2007 by Fairfield's chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society. She has published more than 40 scholarly articles and chapters and presented papers at academic conferences across the country and in several international contexts.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 22, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 230

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Fairfield University communication faculty to share their cutting edge research on the internet, politics, roller derby and more

Four Fairfield University communication professors will present their most recent research into such diverse topics as the Internet, advertising, Lyme Disease and roller derby at "Talk About Communication: Twenty-five Years of Communication at Fairfield University," a free lecture series held on campus. The public is welcome to the second session in the series, which will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.

The event will feature the following presentations:

Maggie Wells, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, "'It's just growing pains': Chronic Lyme Disease and the discourses of ignorance and invisibility"Colleen Arendt, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, "A rink of one's own: Gender, sport, and the alter ego in contemporary women's roller derby"Mike Serazio, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, "From journalism to advertising to politics: Making culture in the 21st century"Gisela Gil-Egui, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, "Beyond availability and transparency: Applying theories of justice to the open access and open source movements on the Internet"

The lecture series is funded by a grant from the Humanities Institute of Fairfield University's College of Arts and Sciences.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 21, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 222

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Full-day workshop on leadership styles offered at Fairfield University

Paul Maloney, Ed.D., a Fairfield University assistant professor who has been a senior manager at several international corporations, will lead a full-day workshop, "Leadership Styles," on Friday, May 3. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fairfield University's Alumni House. The fee is $99.

Today's leaders function in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. Dr. Maloney, an assistant professor of the practice in industrial and organizational psychology, will help participants develop the skills they need to deal effectively with changing situations using different styles. Through discussion, case studies and role play, participants will learn to: explain the difference between management and leadership; specify four key styles of leadership and tell when to use each; develop a vision statement; create an action plan for their own development; and more.

Dr. Maloney teaches in the Applied Psychology program in Fairfield's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. His career includes senior management and development positions at NBC, Mobil Oil Corporation, and PepsiCo International, and he has consulted worldwide for American Airlines, Covidien, GE, Schering-Plough, Kodak, Gartner and many other organizations. His specialties include change management, communications, executive feedback and coaching, and presentation skills. He received his doctorate from the University of Virginia.

To register for this workshop, go to www.fairfield.edu/maloney or call Janine Huber at (203) 254-4000 ext. 2140.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 21, 2013

Vol. 44, No. 221

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Evangel University Marching Band recruiting now for next season

The Evangel University Marching Band is now taking applications for students interested in becoming part of one of the University’s most visible and exciting traditions.

Since its historic debut in 2011, the marching band has grown to more than 100 members, many of whom have majors other than music. United by their love for music, these students are part of an organization that sets Evangel apart from many universities of its size.

Michael Kolstad, Music Department chairman, says Evangel is one of only two schools in its conference to have a marching band. “The marching band has been a very positive addition to the campus,” Kolstad says. “It has increased school spirit and visibility for the school.”

In addition to playing pep music and performing field routines during halftime at home football games, the marching band has marched in local parades, including a performance at Silver Dollar City last December that Kolstad says was attended by 25,000 people.

Christina Beatie, junior, says the best part about her joining Evangel’s marching band was the sense of community she felt when she arrived as a freshman.

“I immediately felt welcomed and made some of my best friends here at Evangel within that first week of band camp,” she says. “You are not an outsider when you come to campus.  You immediately belong somewhere, and people will notice if you are not there. Being in marching band as a freshman was the best decision I could have made.”

The Evangel University Marching Band, directed by Dr. Michael Kolstad, debuted at Silver Dollar City on December 1, 2012, before a crowd of 25,000. Photo by Paul K. Logsdon.

Jonathan Martz, senior, says the unity of the marching band is what sets it apart from other organizations on campus. He also says it is a good way to become involved in leadership.

“I would say that it is one of the best organizations you can be a part of,” he says. “You learn how to become an encourager, hard worker and more of a spiritual influence in others’ lives.”

Kolstad says the band plans to play at four home football games and two parades in the fall. He also says the Music Department is lining up a marching band trip for the fall, but the location has yet to be revealed. However, he did offer a hint: “It will likely be somewhere in the South – possibly near the ocean!”

Kolstad says students of any major are welcome in the band and there is no audition except for the percussion section. See the Evangel University Marching Band page for more information and to fill out an inquiry form.

— By Ian Richardson, a junior English major from Afton, Iowa.

Evangel Consolidation Update

Evangel University is pleased to anticipate its consolidation with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and Central Bible College beginning with the fall 2013 semester, pending approval of accrediting bodies. For information on the consolidation progress, please visit http://ag.org/top/consolidation/

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Fairfield University professor to discuss guerilla marketing at Fairfield University Bookstore

Ever wonder how Pabst Blue Ribbon became the beer of choice of the hipster set? How about how the U.S. Army morphed into a popular videogame?

Michael Serazio, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication at Fairfield University, explains it all in "Your Ad Here: The Cool Sell of Guerrilla Marketing," a timely talk on Wednesday, April 10 at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield. The 7 p.m. event is free and open to the public.

It is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication and the Learning for a Lifetime Program.

Dr. Serazio's research interests include popular culture, advertising, journalism, and new media, and his latest book, "Your Ad Here: The Cool Sell of Guerrilla Marketing," takes a fascinating look at how marketing strategies have multiplied, as brand messaging creeps ever deeper into our private lives. The engaging work investigates the rise of 'guerrilla marketing' as a way of understanding new forms of commercial persuasion, the 'hidden persuaders' that work with today's social media and digital platforms.

"It is a truism that, in media, everyone knows they are being sold something all the time," wrote Mark Deuze, author of "Media Life and Media Work." "It is exactly because of this that we become blind to the subtle seductions of contemporary commercial culture - and Michael Serazio is here to open our eyes."

Dr. Serazio has been widely published in magazines and scholarly journals. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. He also holds a B.A. in communication from the University of San Francisco and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

For more information on this event, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 22, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 232

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Fairfield University alumna to discuss her new book at Fairfield University Bookstore

Fairfield University alumna Donna Gillotte '00  comes home to the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield, to discuss her new book, "Secret of a Medici Mistress," at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. The event is free and open to the public.

Gillotte brings the golden age of the Italian Renaissance alive with her meticulously researched and beautifully written novel. Filled with extraordinary historical characters, "Secret of a Medici Mistress" is a love story that explores the nature of human good and evil among the celebrated Medici family and the artists they supported.

Prior to beginning a career in writing and art history, Gillotte was a successful business consultant and entrepreneur. In 1995, she returned to Fairfield University to complete a business degree, but quickly changed her major to art history after taking an art survey course. It was during the summer of 1995, while she attended international studies at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute for Art and Culture in Florence, Italy, that Gillotte began thinking about the thrilling storyline for her first novel. She graduated magna cum laude in 2000.

Gillotte earned a master's degree in art history from Syracuse University and traveled extensively in Italy to research her book. She is a former adjunct professor of art history at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 19, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 227

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Evangel University senior Christine Temple wins national journalism award

Evangel University senior Christine Temple has been named the 2013 Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year by the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ).

The award committee cited “major competition” from finalists across the nation.

“She distinguished herself exceptionally on so many levels that she was the clear choice,” says Bill Ruehlmann, SCJ past president and member of the selection committee.

Temple, a Journalism major from Ozark, Missouri, is editor-in-chief of the The Lance, Evangel’s student newspaper. She will receive a plaque and a $500 stipend in recognition of her achievements.

Ruehlmann said the rigor of professionalism and intensity of spirit displayed throughout the wide field of nationwide competitors reflected their talent, training and discipline. The nominees “displayed superior devotion to the craft of journalism and its ethical practice,” Ruehlmann says.

Chapter adviser Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication, nominated Temple.

“A notable characteristic that Christine demonstrates is that she does not hoard her knowledge, experience or expertise but invests it in younger students. She serves them, the student body and the legacy and future of The Lance with her consistent and generous mentoring,” Booze says.

The Arthur H. Barlow Student Journalist of the Year Award is named for a longtime SCJ executive director and journalism educator. Barlow, now retired, served on the selection committee along with Ruehlmann, also a former executive director who is now retired, and Mary Beth Earnheardt, current executive director and educator at Youngstown (Ohio) State University.

The Barlow Award allows SCJ chapter advisers an opportunity to bring national recognition to a student journalist who meets the highest standards of ethics, service, leadership and technical skills.

Temple credits her education and professors at Evangel for providing her with the training necessary to be qualified for such a prestigious award.

“Winning this award speaks to the training I received from my journalism professors and the dedication of The Lance staff members I have worked with,” Temple says. “It means so much to be recognized by veteran journalists. This is a great send-off to my time at Evangel.”

Temple has served as The Lance editor for five semesters and is currently president of Evangel’s SCJ chapter. She also interns as a reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She will graduate in May and continue her internship through the summer and plans to stay in Springfield to pursue reporting opportunities for at least a year.

“Within a few years I hope to move out of Missouri and work at a daily paper in a large city,” she says. “I am prepared for various jobs within a newspaper: reporter, photographer, online team or videographer. I would be excited and grateful with any opportunity to practice my craft.”

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Director to screen award-winning film about nuns at Fairfield University

Fairfield University will host a free screening of the film "A Question of Habit," a lively look at contemporary depictions of nuns, followed by a Q&A with director Bren Ortega Murphy at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the University's DiMenna-Nyselius Library multimedia room. Light refreshments will be provided.

The screening is sponsored by The Humanities Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences; the Program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Reel Women; and the departments of Religious Studies and Film, Television and Media Arts. It is part of Fairfield's slate of events marking Women's History Month.

"A Question of Habit" is a full-length documentary narrated by actress Susan Sarandon, who won an Oscar for her role as Sister Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking." The film, which was a Remi Winner at the 44th annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival and won an award of excellence from the Broadcast Education Association, examines depictions of Catholic nuns in contemporary U.S. popular culture. It contrasts these images with the lives of actual women religious, both historical and current. For instance, although most Roman Catholic women religious in the U.S. have not worn the full habits of their orders for more than 40 years, images of nuns and sisters in such habits can be found across pop culture.

Murphy, a professor of communication studies and women's studies/gender studies at Loyola University Chicago, and fellow filmmaker Mike Whalen interviewed more than 30 women religious, cultural critics, historians and artists for the film, including Prejean, Tom Fontana ("Oz," "Homicide") and Robert Orsi ("Madonna of 115th Street").

"Loved the film!" raved the Rev. James Martin, S.J., author of "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything" and "Between Heaven and Mirth." "'A Question of Habit' is a provocative, funny, thoughtful, entertaining and inspiring new documentary that reveals the largely unheralded and often unknown contributions of sisters and nuns to our world. If your image of women religious is still 'The Flying Nun' or 'Sister Act,' be prepared for a surprise."

For more information on the screening and other Women's History Month events, visit www.fairfield.edu/wgs.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 14, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 217

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60 Minutes contributor Bob Simon to deliver the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies at Fairfield University

"Understanding Israel and the Middle East"?
The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies

7 p.m., Thursday, April 4, 2013
Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts
Tickets: $20

The 2013Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies at Fairfield University will be delivered by Bob Simon, the most honored journalist in international reporting who has been contributing regularly to 60 Minutes for over 16 years and reporting for CBS News since 1967. The event will take place on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 7 p.m., at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 and are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at quickcenter.com.

Mr. Simon's lecture is entitled, "Understanding Israel and the Middle East."

A veteran foreign correspondent, Simon was based in Saigon, London and Tel Aviv for most of his career prior to joining 60 Minutes. He brings his unique Middle East and Israeli expertise to the podium to help audiences get a better understanding of the real situation there. Using humorous anecdotes, authentic perspective and charming wit, Simon connects with his audiences to explain the issues and how they will affect them.

Simon, who was born in Bronx, New York, was named CBS News' Chief Middle Eastern Correspondent in 1987 and is recognized as the premier broadcast journalist in that part of the world. He was captured by Iraqi forces near the Saudi-Kuwaiti border during the opening days of the Gulf War in January 1991. He and the other three members of CBS News' coverage team spent 40 days in Iraqi prisons, an experience Simon wrote about in his book "Forty Days."

Simon's extensive foreign coverage has earned him scores of major awards including 24 Emmys. While at 60 Minutes II, Simon received an Emmy Award (2000) and an Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award (2001) for "Shame of Srebrenica," a report on heinous acts of genocide in Europe, and another Emmy Award (2000) for "The Lost Children," a report on orphaned children shipped to Australia. He also received an Emmy Award (2001) and an IRE certificate (2001) for his investigation into the fate of a Navy pilot shot down in Operation Desert Storm. He's been honored with a Peabody Award (2000) for "a body of work by an outstanding international journalist on a diverse set of critical global issues." In 1996, he received an Overseas Press Club (OPC) Award, a Peabody Award and two Emmy Awards for his coverage of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and another OPC Award in 1991 for his coverage of the Gulf War.

His remarkable career was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in September 2003. He has also won Emmy Awards for his reporting from Vietnam, Lebanon, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, India, and China.

His assignments are by no means restricted to the Middle East. In fact, Simon's résumé reads something like a world history book. He has covered the activities of countless major international figures, including Pope John Paul II's historic visits to Poland and Cuba and the release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Simon has chronicled dozens of the most important events of the past 30 years for CBS News, including the devastating earthquake in Kobe, Japan and the birth of Solidarity in Poland.

The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Lecture in Judaic Studies Lecture has brought renowned speakers to Fairfield University, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. Fairfield University's Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies was founded in 1994 with an initial endowment from Carl and Dorothy Bennett of Greenwich, Connecticut. Its goal is to enrich the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life of Fairfield University through lectures, programs, and other special events. For information, visit http://www.fairfield.edu/judaic/js_lectures.html.

Media Contact: Meg McCaffrey, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2726, mmccaffrey@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 12, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 218

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Samuel T. Gontkovsky, PsyD, named Director of Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Certificate Program at Fielding Graduate University

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Fri, Mar 15, 2013

Gontkovsky brings more than 15 years of professional experience in clinical practice, research, teaching, and administration to his new position at Fielding. He has published more than 75 professional articles, books, book chapters, and book reviews and has given more than 125 presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences.

Gontkovsky serves as a reviewer for numerous journals and professional organizations in the areas of psychology, neuropsychology, medicine, health, and rehabilitation. He is the former president of the Mississippi Psychological Association and former chair of the Education and Training Committee of Division 12 of the American Psychological Association. Gontkovsky presently serves on the Continuing Education Committee of Division 22 of the American Psychological Association and the Ethics Committee of the Nebraska Psychological Association.

-What are your main responsibilities in this position as director of the Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Program here at Fielding (for those that are not familiar with this program/position)?

As listed in my formal job description, principle responsibilities include recruitment, orientation of new students, budget management, program advising, and program oversight.

-What is it about Fielding that interested you the most to apply for this position?

I have had very favorable experiences in the past with individuals affiliated with the Fielding Neuropsychology Program. One of my first supervisors in neuropsychology was also a Fielding faculty member at the time. I have a colleague/friend who completed the Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Certificate at Fielding and spoke very highly of the program. I also hired a Fielding Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Certificate graduate in my prior position as head of the Department of Psychology at The Nebraska Medical Center, and I was very pleased with his work.

-What brought you to the Palo Alto/SF area from –(where were you before?)

I had been in Omaha, Nebraska for about 3½ years prior to coming to California and was the head of the Department of Psychology as well as the Pain Management Program at The Nebraska Medical Center. For several years, I have been looking to move to the San Francisco bay area. I was offered the opportunity to provide administrative neuropsychological consultation to a business here, so I jumped at the chance. I also provide forensic consultation to bay area attorneys.

- You are quite a prolific writer and presenter (numerous journals and professional organizations in the areas of psychology, neuropsychology, medicine, health, and rehabilitation), what are some of you most recent publications and presentations? What are you currently working on?

Below are my five most recent publications, two presently in press.

Killebrew, A. E., Smith, M. L., Nevels, R. M., Weiss, N. H., & Gontkovsky, S. T. (in press). Pregnancy among African American adolescent females in the southeastern United States: A review of the literature and an examination of the associations between peer substance use before sex, peer number of children, and parental influence and substance use before sex and history of pregnancy. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse.

Nevels, R. M., Williams, B. E., & Gontkovsky, S. T. (in press). Paroxetine—the antidepressant from hell? Probably not, but caution required. Psychopharmacology Bulletin.

Gontkovsky, S. T. (2012). Auditory/verbal learning and memory deficits among individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries may be attributable to undocumented traumatic brain injuries. Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics, 2(1), 9-16.

Ryan, J. J., Gontkovsky, S. T., Kreiner, D. S., & Tree, H. A. (2012). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition performance in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 34(6), 571-579.

Umfleet, L. G., Ryan, J. J., Gontkovsky, S. T., & Morris, J. (2012). Estimating WAIS-IV indexes: Proration versus linear scaling in a clinical sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 390-396.

My current ongoing research projects are looking at accurate identification of the neuropsychological deficits associated with multiple sclerosis, the influence of cognition on the ability of individuals with multiple sclerosis to maintain employment, the differential sensitivity of neurocognitive screening instruments in assessing individuals undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, and the under-recognized drug interactions that may occur with methylphenidate.

-What are you looking forward to now that you are at Fielding? What are you looking forward to contributing to the students and the program in general?

I am working diligently at marketing right now and hoping to increase enrollment in the Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Certificate Program. As I said, I have had great experiences with individuals who have completed the program, and I think many more people could benefit from the training if they only knew about it.

School of Psychology acting dean, Kristine Jacquin, PhD, commented, "The School of Psychology is pleased to have Dr. Gontkovsky join our esteemed faculty as director of the neuropsychology postdoctoral program. Gontkovsky brings valuable experience and training to this position and I am confident he will enhance this already stellar program."

Click here to view: Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Certificate Program Brochure

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Fairfield war hero Michael J. Daly is the topic of author's talk at Fairfield University Bookstore

Author Steven Ochs will tell the fascinating tale of late Fairfield native Michael J. Daly - from his "hell-raising youth" to his heroics on the WWII battlefield to his tireless voluntarism at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport - at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield. Ochs' talk is free and open to the public.

Ochs, an instructor in the history department at Georgetown Preparatory School of Maryland, is the author of "A Cause Greater Than Self: The Journey of Captain Michael J. Daly, World War II Medal of Honor Recipient" (Texas A & M Press, 2012). His book chronicles Capt. Daly’s memorable life, revealing how a family disappointment who was kicked out of West Point evolved into a man devoted to others. Starting as an enlisted man, Daly rose through the ranks to become a captain and trusted company commander, bravely earning three Silver Stars, a Bronze Star with a "V" attachment for valor, two Purple Hearts and the Medal of Honor.

After returning from war, Daly was a longtime board member at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, where he championed the cause of the indigent poor and terminally ill. He was posthumously awarded the first Fairfield Award from the Fairfield Museum and History Center for his life of service. The Museum is co-sponsoring his appearance at the Bookstore with the University’s MFA in Creative Writing Program and its Learning for a Lifetime Program.

Ochs' book has received high praise from critics and fellow authors alike.

"I'm not aware of recent works that so well document events in small units, particularly those of the campaign in Southern France and Germany," wrote Edward G. Miller, author of "A Dark and Bloody Ground." "The author’s superb source materials from the Daly family and veterans is what set this story apart."

A Washington Post reviewer cited Ochs' ability to interweave Daly's career with the rise of his Irish Catholic family. "Throughout the narrative, Daly's tactical brilliance in leading a squad, a platoon and a company shine through," wrote Bing West.

For more information on this event, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 07, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 212

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Fairfield University Professor Paul Lakeland, an internationally recognized Catholic theologian, to be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

Fairfield University's Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society, is pleased to announce that the 2013 honorary inductee will be Paul Lakeland, Ph.D., the Aloysius P. Kelley S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies and founding director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield. A Trumbull, Conn., resident, he is an internationally recognized Catholic theologian, whose scholarly work on the nature of the Roman Catholic Church continues to generate study and debate among the major scholars in his field. Dr. Lakeland, who called the honor "one of the high points of my academic career," will be formally inducted at the chapter's April 20, 2013 ceremony.

Aaron Perkus, Ph.D., associate dean for Fairfield's College of Arts and Sciences and interim president of the Zeta Chapter, said, "An invitation to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a reflection of outstanding achievement. Dr. Lakeland was the obvious and unanimous choice to receive our honorary membership. Since PBK is only offered through American colleges and universities, the London and Oxford educated Dr. Lakeland never had the opportunity early in his prestigious career. However, in our opinion, through his vast and exceptional scholarly achievements, he is the perfect exemplar of the PBK motto: 'Love of learning is the guide of life.' "

In 2004, Dr. Lakeland was named the inaugural Aloysius P. Kelley S.J. Professor of Catholic Studies and founding director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the Jesuit institution. He has taught at Fairfield since 1981, serving as chair of the Department of Religious Studies for ten years and six years as director of the Honors Program. He teaches courses in liberation theology, Catholic ecclesiology and religion and literature.

Currently completing a book to appear in October on Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, to be called "A Council That Will Never End: Lumen Gentium and the Church Today," Dr. Lakeland is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the American Theological Society, the Catholic Theological Society of America, and the Workgroup for Constructive Theology, a Nashville-based ecumenical association of systematic and constructive theologians.

Among his more recent books are "The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of An Accountable Church" (2003), which won the Catholic Press Association Award for the best book in theology in 2004; "Catholicism at the Crossroads: How the Laity Can Save the Church" (2008); "Church: Living Communion" (2009), and "Yves Congar: Essential Writings" (2010). He writes on literature and modern culture for the Commonweal magazine blog, "Verdicts."

He holds a Licentiate in Philosophy from Heythrop Pontifical Athenaeum, an M.A. in English Language and Literature from Oxford University, a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from the University of London, and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, where he wrote a dissertation on the later religious and political writings of G.W.F. Hegel, later published as "The Politics of Salvation: Hegel's Idea of the State." He is the author of eight books and dozens of articles, and editor or co-editor of two others.

Among his honors are the 1990 Fairfield University AHANA Students Professor of the Year Award, Fairfield University's 2004-5 Teacher of the Year Award, and the 2010 Alan Richardson Fellowship at Durham University in the United Kingdom. He and his pianist wife, Beth Palmer, are parents of a son, also a professional pianist.

Media Contact: Meg McCaffrey, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2726, mmccaffrey@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 08, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 216

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Mountaintop preservation advocates to speak at Fairfield University

Two environmental activists, Elise Keaton and Paul Corbit Brown, will present "What's Wrong with Mountaintop Removal?" at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Fairfield University. Their talk, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Presentation Room.

The event is sponsored by Fairfield University's History Department and the Humanities Institute of the College of Arts and Sciences, and co-sponsored by the Politics Department, and the programs in Black Studies and Environmental Studies, Ignatian Residential College and Service for Justice Residential College.

Keaton is an attorney who grew up in Raleigh County, West Virginia, and is now the fundraising director for Keeper of the Mountains. Brown is a solar electrician, professional photographer, and mountaintop removal activist who is installing solar panels on Kayford Mountain for the foundation. Their focus is on the community, health, and environmental damage being done to the Appalachian region by the practice of mountaintop removal and their talk will also touch on the politics of energy in 2013 and social and economic justice issues. 

For more information, contact Cecelia Bucki, Ph.D., professor of history, at cbucki@fairfield.edu.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 05, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 207

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Fairfield University panel discussion on contemporary Cuba planned

Five Fairfield University professors who visited Havana in January will give their multidisciplinary impressions of contemporary Cuba in "Havana Today: Between Continuity and Change" on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at 6 p.m. The discussion, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the University's DiMenna-Nyselius Library multimedia room.

Faculty participating in the talk will be: Joy Gordon, Ph.D., professor of politics; Gisela Gil-Egui, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication; Olivia Harriott, Ph.D., associate professor of biology; Ania Aksan, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics; and Giovanni Ruffini, Ph.D., associate professor of history.

Light refreshments will be provided.

The event is part of the University's two-year focus on Cities. It is sponsored by the Humanities Institute of the College of Arts & Sciences; the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Program; the Public Lectures & Events Committee; the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; and the departments of Philosophy, Communication, Biology, Economics, and History.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 06, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 208

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Fairfield University announces Ignatian Heritage Week with campus-wide events taking place March 17, 2013 - March 22, 2013

Fairfield University announces its second "Ignatian Heritage Week" taking place March 17, 2013, through March 22, 2013. Events take place throughout the Fairfield University campus. All events are free, with many open to the public. A highlight of the week's activities features the Annual Ignatian Lecture with Philip Endean, S.J., Professor of Theology at Oxford and the current holder of the Gasson Chair at Boston College presenting the lecture: "Jesuit Education: Some Awkward Questions." The lecture takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Fairfield University's Dolan School of Business Dining Room and is open to the public. Ignatian Heritage Week is held in collaboration with Jesuit Mission Initiatives, Campus Ministry, the Center for Catholic Studies, and the Center for Faith and Public Life. Other events open to the public include:

Special Mass of the Feast of St. Ignatius
9 p.m., Sunday, March 17, 2013
Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Rev. Paul Holland, S.J., will be the celebrant and homilist, and Lord's Chords will provide the music. This Ignatian celebration allows all to participate in the spiritual event that Ignatius's life revolved around: the Eucharistic liturgy. Refreshments will be served after Mass in the McGrath Room.

Interfaith Prayer Service
5:30 p.m., Monday, March 18, 2013
Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola

Fairfield University President Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. will co- preside with Fr. George Collins, S.J., Rabbi Suri Kriege, and Chaplain Safi Haider - the three individuals who provide spiritual guidance to our Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim students on campus. Dr. Carol Ann Maxwell and members of the Fairfield University Glee Club will provide the musical component. The purpose of this celebration will be to highlight Fairfield University's commitment to the tradition of interreligious dialogue within its Ignatian heritage, and to support and uphold the vibrant, emerging interreligious collaboration in which the community is fortunate enough to be engaged.

"Our Ignatian Spirit" Poster Project and Social
3 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Barone Campus Center Lower Level

This first-of-its-kind-event for the Fairfield community highlights the many ways Jesuit and Catholic charism is fostered on campus. Poster projects and presentations created by faculty, staff, departments, and student leaders will be on display in the BCC lower level for all to see the many ways Ignatian spirit is active on campus. Good company and conversation, snacks, and beverages will be available as Ignatian spirit is celebrated. The event is hosted by Dr. Joseph DeFeo, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Development.

Vocation Conversation and Dinner
5:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Jesuit Community Center (JCC)

All are invited to the JCC for Mass, a social, dinner, and reflection on discerning life choices. Tools which St. Ignatius suggests for making good decisions about the journey beyond Fairfield will be discussed. Special guest is Fr. Chuck Frederico, S.J., Director of Vocations for the three Jesuit provinces of the East Coast. The evening will also consider the vocation to marriage and to other expressions of leadership in the Christian community.

Service Showcase: "Quest for the Magis in Our Experiences Beyond Fairfield"
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Barone Campus Center Lower Level

Participants will publicly explore how students, faculty, and staff live out the Ignatian Magis through community service, international and domestic service trips, and service learning. Participants will see and hear how members of the University community make Magis (the more), striving for excellence, an integral part of their personal and academic lives. The event is hosted by Dr. Robbin Crabtree, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Panel Discussion of Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education
4 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, 2013
McGrath Room, Arrupe Campus Ministry Center

A wine and cheese panel discussion of "Eloquentia Perfecta" in the current issue of Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education. Three faculty members from Fairfield University will discuss the tradition of teaching "perfect eloquence" in Jesuit education and their particular "take" on it. Panel includes Cinthia Gannett, Associate Professor of English; Laura Nash, Associate Professor of Music; and David Schmidt, Associate Professor of Business Ethics. Convener is Mark Scalese, S.J., Associate Professor of Visual & Performing Arts.

"Deconversion" Lecture: When Catholics Change Their Minds about the Faith: Disaffiliation and 'Deconversion' in the Church Today
8 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Dolan School of Business Dining Room

Dr. Tom Beaudoin and Dr. Patrick Hornbeck of Fordham University will explore the contours of what they call "deconversion," or the changes in heart and mind that many American Catholics are experiencing with regard to their relationship with Catholicism. They will discuss the history of deconversion research and address the implications of this work for the Catholic Church, Catholic theology, and society at large. Recent studies by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life have found that one third of U.S. adults under the age of 30 claim no religious affiliation and that nearly one quarter of adults raised Catholic no longer identify themselves as such. Disaffiliation is now a regular feature of the U.S. Catholic landscape. At the same time, many Catholics decide to stay on in the Church, living with substantial disagreements, "deconverting" in place.

Annual Ignatian Lecture: "Jesuit Education: Some Awkward Questions"
8 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013
Dolan School of Business Dining Room

Philip Endean, S.J., Professor of Theology at Oxford and the current holder of the Gasson Chair at Boston College, presents the Annual Ignatian Lecture.As Jesuit universities entered the mainstream of U.S. educational culture in the latter part of the twentieth century, they drew on a vision of Ignatian Spirituality as 'finding God in all things' and as fostering a rich Christian humanism. This lecture will raise a few questions about this way of thinking. Does such an account of Jesuit and Ignatian identity make historical sense? How do we relate the ideas of Jesuit education and good education? Can this way of thinking inspire a distinctive style of university life into the future? Visit www.philipendean.com.

Fairfield University is located at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Visit www.fairfield.edu/ignatianweek, for information on all Ignatian Heritage Week events.

Media Contact: Mike Horyczun, (203) 254-4000 ext. 2647, mhoryczun@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 05, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 210

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