Version - Queens University of Charlotte

SUMMER 2016
THE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
Senses and
Sensibility
IN THE CONCEPTUAL ERA,
RIGHT-BRAIN CREATIVITY IS
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL
Also
REVITALIZING THE
QUEENS BRAND
A PLACE FOR THE ARTS
BIOPHAGE REX16
CENTER FOR PEACE &
SOCIAL JUSTICE
With the launch of
Queens’ new brand,
it’s time to get your
new merchandise.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-2017
Michael C. Tarwater, Chair
Sallie Moore Lowrance ’70, Vice Chair
Michael Marsicano, Immediate Past Chair
Kathryn Winsman Black ’93, Secretary
Howard Bissell III
Jan Hall Brown ’73, MBA ’84
Jeff Brown EMBA ’03
Deborah Butler Bryan ’68
Kevin Collins
Christine Louttit Crowder ’82
Jesse J. Cureton, Jr., EMBA ’02
David C. Darnell
Carlos E. Evans
Anthony Fox
Ophelia Garmon-Brown
Carson Sloan Henline ’81
Julie S. Janson
David Jones
Sandra P. Levine
Thomas L. Lewis ’97
Sally Wheeler Maier ’89
Elizabeth W. Martin
J. Michael McGuire
Katie B. Morris
Michael W. Murphy II ’95
Janet Preyer Nelson ’77
Elizabeth Hunter Persson ’00
Larry Polsky
Myrta Pulliam ’69
Michael Rizer
Mary Anne Boldrick Rogers
Caroline Wannamaker Sink
Cynthia Haldenby Tyson
Ruth Anne M. Vagt ’69
Mauricio West EMBA ’94
Pamela L. Davies, ex officio
Susan L. McConnell ’83, ex officio,
Alumni Association President
Stephanie Bunao ’18, Student
Liaison to the Board
Life Trustees
Irwin Belk
 Elizabeth Rivers Curry ’63, MBA ’83
 Joseph W. Grier, Jr.
 Edwin L. Jones, Jr.
Dorothy McAulay Martin ’59
Hugh L. McColl, Jr., Chairman
Emeritus
John H. Sykes ’57
Virginia Gray Vance ’49
F. William Vandiver, Jr.
 deceased
MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Rebecca Anderson EMBA ’13
editor@queens.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
Laurie Prince
ART DIRECTOR
Laura Belanger ’13
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Regina Betz
Tricia Coyne
Meredith Jones
Louisa Michelin
James Nix
Michael O’Neill
Jane Wiley
Stephanie Withey
CONTRIBUTORS
Rebecca Anderson EMBA ’13
Laura Belanger ’13
Regina Betz
Virginia Brown
Reid Creager
Laura Beth Ellis MS ’11
Jen Johnson MS ’14
Cindy Manshack
Jeremy Markovich
Jen Tota McGivney
Jared Misner
Lisa Noakes
Danielle Phillips ’13
Laurie Prince
Parke Puterbaugh
Juli Somers
Ron Stodghill MFA ’07
Laura Sutton
PRODUCTION AND
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Jessie Laney
PRINTING ON RECYCLED PAPER:
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF
CHARLOTTE BOOKSTORE
Trexler Student Center
at 1900 Selwyn Avenue
queensushop.com
The Queens Magazine is printed on a paper which is 10 percent postconsumer waste fiber and 10 percent total recycled fiber. Elemental
chlorine-free pulps, acid-free and chlorine-free manufacturing conditions
meet and exceed archival standards. Using 10,341 lbs. of paper for this
project, here are the benefits of using post-consumer recycled fiber instead
of virgin fiber:
26.06 trees
11,069 gal
1,225 lbs
2,412 lbs
18,458,685 BTUs preserved for the future
wastewater flow saved
solid waste not generated
net greenhouse gases prevented
energy not consumed
CONTENTS
2
3
10
12
13
18
23
48
Brand Awakening
Departments
From the President
2
Campus News
3
Investing in Queens
10
Happenings
12
Alumni News
23
Class Notes
28
Parting Thought
48
13
AFTER STUDY, DISCUSSION AND SOUL
SEARCHING, WE’RE LAUNCHING A POWERFUL
MESSAGE THAT TIES US PROUDLY TO PLACE
By Laura Belanger ’13 and Jen Johnson MS ’14
Senses and Sensibility
18
IN THE CONCEPTUAL ERA, RIGHT-BRAIN
CREATIVITY IS UNLOCKING POTENTIAL
By Jen Tota McGivney
Studies: Eastern Shore Salt Marshes, 2014, oil on graphite on gessoed paper by Christie Taylor ’74.
After 32 years as managing partner for Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, Taylor moved to the
Eastern Shore of Maryland four years ago. She began painting the salt marshes that captivated
her as a child; this study is one of 140 plein-air studies completed in a one-year period.
SUMMER 2016
On the Cover:
1
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Your Letters
The cover story of the winter 2016 issue featured a longstanding research project in Yap led by Professor Reed
Perkins. In the letters below, Christopher Ammon ’02
shares his memories of the first trip. The issue also included a
profile of Bonnie Warford ’85 and her restaurant ventures
in Charlotte, noted by a classmate in the last letter.
President Davies stands in front of a painting in her office, a gift from
Professor Jayne Johnson.
Dear Alumni and Friends,
Two special pieces of art have pride of place in my office. One is
Ben Long’s study for his fresco, The Good Samaritan, that hangs
in Charlotte’s First Presbyterian Church. My mentor and thenQueens board chair Hugh McColl brought it to me the first day
of my presidency. He wanted me to have it as a reminder of the
importance of kindness in all we do.
The other is a painting by Professor Jayne Johnson. Early
in my presidency she noticed the big blank space behind my
sofa. She was determined to do something special for it, and one
month later presented me with a landscape of her native Texas.
These gifts moved me then and continue to do so today.
They’re a constant reminder of the power of creativity to inspire,
inform and connect.
In this issue of Queens Magazine, we explore how the arts—
visual, musical, dramatic, literary—bring meaning to our lives. On
our cover, the rich detail of Christie Taylor’s study of salt marshes
sets the stage. On page 10, you’ll learn more about our plans to
re-imagine the E.H. Little Fine Arts Center as an artistic hub
for our students and the broader community. In the feature story
that begins on page 18, we ask you to consider the link between
left- and right-brain thinking. And finally, in Class Notes, you’ll
be inspired by profiles of alumni who’ve committed their careers
to creative expression.
We know that great cities need great arts, and so, too, do
great universities. Nourishing our students’ creative endeavors
has long been a critical aspect of a Queens education. We look
forward to reflecting that commitment more visibly in the years
to come.
Best wishes,
Pamela Davies, PhD
President
2
It warms my heart to know that Dr. Reed Perkins
and current Queens students continue the hot,
sweaty work we began on the inaugural trip to the
islands of Yap nearly 15 years ago. After reading Jen
Tota McGivney’s article, my mind was flooded with
memories of digitizing maps for hours before the trip
and riding in the bed of pick-up trucks as we headed
from one job site to the next. We chewed betel nut and
steamed land crabs with new Yapese friends and went
diving among thriving coral reefs. What an honor and
a blessing it is to be a small part of such a momentous
work. –Christopher Ammon ’02, Durham, North Carolina
Some of the articles were especially appealing to me:
the article on our beloved teacher and friend, Dr.
Preyer; on Beth Curry, who will be greatly missed;
and on Eleanor Randolph ’64. I especially enjoyed
the article on my scholar, Jasmyn Lindsay ’16. She
is simply an amazing person to know, with a huge
personality and even bigger heart. She is someone to
watch now and in the years to come.
–Jan Hall Brown ’73, MBA ’84, Charlotte,
North Carolina
Editor’s note: Jasmyn Lindsay is a Hope and Pat Hall
Scholar at Queens. The scholarship was created and
funded by the writer in memory of her parents.
Carpe Diem is one of the best restaurants in Charlotte,
and I am so proud of Bonnie and her success.
–Paige Ferguson Burgess ’85, Charlotte,
North Carolina
We’d like to
hear
from
you!
Please send your letters to:
editor@queens.edu
Rebecca Anderson
Marketing & Community Relations
Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave | Charlotte, NC 28274
Letters should include your full name, address and class year or Queens affiliation.
Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
CAMPUS NEWS
The Sequel
HOLLY LANE ’16 REVIVES A CHILDHOOD LOVE OF MOVIES WITH A FILM FESTIVAL WIN
A
submitted a film to Charlotte’s 100 Words Film Festival,
despite a pang of nerves. “I’m going to put my heart out
there for everyone to see, and it’s scary. What if people don’t
like my heart?”
They did. To Dream—a poem set to video, photography
and painted vignettes—won Best Student Film at the
November 2015 festival. When she accepted her award, her
sons cheered their mom, the artist.
“I want them to see you can live out your dreams, and it
doesn’t matter how old you are or what you’ve been through,”
Lane says. “Just go for it.” n
—Jen Tota McGivney
In this still from To Dream, a short film by Holly Lane, the
narrator imagines herself in the deep sea, going to slay
symbolic monsters. A haunting piano melody, Le Rêve by Irish
composer Emmett Cooke, plays in the background. To view
the film, visit queens.edu/holly-lane.
SUMMER 2016
s a child, Holly Lane was an artist. A filmmaker. She
lived with a camera in her hand, writing and directing
movies with casts of siblings and neighborhood kids.
But life grew busier and priorities shifted. In her twenties,
Lane had two sons, one of whom was born with muscular
dystrophy and learning disabilities, and then she endured a
tough divorce. Filmmaking slipped away.
But one night during a family reunion, Lane’s father
announced a special presentation, emerging with a box of
her old movies. As Lane watched her family gathered around
the TV enjoying her old films, an epiphany struck.
“I thought, ‘Wow, I used to create stuff,’” she says. “At
some point, I had resigned to believing that [my dreams]
weren’t meant for me. But I decided I was going to do all
those things I’ve dreamt about doing but thought were for
someone else.”
When Lane began communication classes at Queens at
age 34, her goal was to surround herself with creative people
who would inspire her. Her next goal: to, in turn, inspire
her sons. One of her professors, Zachary White, became a
mentor who encouraged her to experiment with different
media and platforms. The result was an art form uniquely
Holly Lane.
“She is so creative with her multimedia approach,” says
White. “The videos that she creates, and what she can do
with words and music and images—she creates something
that defies genre.”
With these skills, Lane became a communication
entrepreneur, attracting enough clients to support her family
with her business. Even while juggling work, parenting and
classes, she refused to let filmmaking slip away again. She
33
CAMPUS NEWS
Briefly
Noted
CHAMBER SINGERS
PERFORM IN NYC
The Queens Chamber Singers and
Director Patrick Pope ventured to New
York City in January, participating
in St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s Visiting
Choir Series and performing at an
alumni reception. They were also
given a surprise organ demonstration
from the lead organist at Saint
Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church,
which has one of the 10 largest organs
in the world.
The Queens Chamber Singers and Director Patrick Pope (far right), in St.
Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City.
practices. He holds a PhD in
philosophy from Rutgers University.
ATUL GAWANDE SPEAKS
On February 25, The Learning
Society welcomed Boston surgeon
and New York Times best-selling
author Atul Gawande to Charlotte.
Gawande participated in a student
panel as well as a roundtable
discussion with local medical experts.
He then led a sold-out Learning
Society lecture at Knight Theater on
his latest book, Being Mortal: What
Matters in the End.
Atul Gawande spoke about his latest
book, Being Mortal: What Matters in the
End, to a sold-out crowd in February.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES WELCOMES
NEW DEAN
On July 1, John E. Sisko will begin
his tenure as the new dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. Prior
to Queens, Sisko served as interim
dean of the School of Humanities
and Social Services at The College
of New Jersey, where he advocated
for student-centered educational
4
REFUGEE PANEL
On February 10, Queens welcomed
county and city officials to discuss
refugee issues in America. The
timely talk educated the audience
on refugee displacement and the
resettlement process. The panel
was moderated by Sarah Griffith,
associate professor of history. n
—Regina Betz
BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE
YEAR
Debra Plousha Moore, executive vice
president and chief human resources
officer of Carolinas Healthcare
System, was honored at the annual
Charlotte Businesswoman of the Year
Luncheon held March 9 on campus.
NURSES PASS ABOVE
NATIONAL AVERAGE
Dean Tama Morris of Queens’ Blair
College of Health announced that
the 2016 first-time pass rate for
recent Queens BSN graduates on
the NCLEX-RN exam is 95 percent.
The national first-time pass rate is 85
percent.
Debra Plousha Moore took the stage
to accept the 2015 BusinessWoman of
the Year Award on campus in March.
CAMPUS NEWS
Peace and Social Justice
CHARLOTTE PHILANTHROPIST STAN GREENSPON ESTABLISHES A NEW CENTER FOR
EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
B
uilding on its commitment
to interfaith awareness and
understanding, Queens unveiled
plans last November to launch The
Stan Greenspon Center for Peace
and Social Justice. Funded through
annual support and a permanent $2
million endowment, the Greenspon
Center will be one of the first
university-based social justice centers
in the Southeast. When it opens later
this year it will position Queens to
be a leading voice in social justice,
Holocaust education and interfaith
understanding.
Rabbi Judith Schindler will
join Queens’ faculty and become
director of the center this summer
after her retirement as senior rabbi
of Charlotte’s Temple Beth El.
Since joining the temple in 1998,
she has been a tireless advocate for
social justice and interfaith dialogue
throughout the community. She has
earned numerous accolades for her
leadership, including being named
Charlotte Woman of the Year in 2011.
The purpose of the Greenspon Center
is to inspire the Queens community
and greater Charlotte to become more
informed and engaged global citizens
who broaden their understanding of
religious diversity and advocate for
positive change in the world. Further,
the Greenspon Center will play a
critical role in Holocaust education,
serving as a resource repository for
North Carolina students, teachers and
professors.
“No event in modern history
highlights more effectively the
dangers of indifference in the face
of hatred and discrimination than
the Holocaust,” says Schindler.
“Whether we’re talking about the
Charleston church shootings or the
flood of children and families fleeing
oppression and violence across the
globe, the Greenspon Center will
link the lessons of the Holocaust to
contemporary human rights issues in
a way that inspires meaningful action.”
The center is made possible by
longtime Charlotte philanthropist
Stan Greenspon and complements
an existing initiative to support
Jewish life on Queens’ campus. Rabbi
Schindler will work with Director of
Jewish Life Talli Dippold to deliver
relevant and compelling programs.
“Rabbi Schindler will be an
incredible leader of the Greenspon
Center and a powerful force in the
classroom,” says President Davies.
“Her work will have great impact in
the days and years to come, not just
on our campus but far beyond. We
are delighted to welcome her to the
Queens family.” n
—Lisa Noakes
SUMMER 2016
(Left to right) President Pamela Davies,
Stan Greenspon and Rabbi Judy
Schindler on campus last November.
Rabbi Judy Schindler reads from the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, with Emma
Thornton ’17. The shofar (the ram’s horn) and the small scroll of Torah are just some
of the Jewish artifacts about which those engaged in Jewish studies will learn.
5
CAMPUS NEWS
In the Classroom
COM 405: JOURNALISM AND MEDIA INNOVATION
TEXT
In this digital-driven course,
print materials are not heavily
relied upon. Students explore Clay
Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody
early in the semester and use news
stories from DigiDay, Stratechery,
Reynolds Journalism Institute and
other websites and social media
platforms.
SAMPLE
ASSIGNMENTS
• Twitter Summaries: Research
various tweets and news outlets
covering developments in media.
Prepare a summary, reflect on the
innovation and critically think about
the purpose. Share findings during
class for participation credit.
• Final Field Project: Select an
organization to develop a story in
a category of interest. Choose an
appropriate social media platform
to best tell the story, and then write
a rationale for why it best serves
the story.
FACULTY
Robert Page is the director of
digital projects and advisor to
student media. He manages
and edits digital projects in
the James L. Knight School of
Communication
and
teaches
journalism and media industry
analysis. Page is an award-winning
strategist
with
international
experience in high-visibility, highrisk communications. He holds an
MBA from Queens and a BFA
in Journalism from Southern
Methodist University.
6
(Left to right) Seniors Max Millington, Chris Tolbert and Annaliese LemieuxKaplan discuss innovations in journalism and media.
T
urn on the television. Crank up your favorite talk radio station or
podcast. Take a glance at a magazine or billboard. More than likely, all
of these vehicles of communication will pitch you a hashtag, Twitter
handle or account name to follow or add as a friend. You see and hear these
terms everywhere, but do you ever wonder what their purpose serves in our
society?
These methods of modern storytelling are examined in COM 405:
Journalism and Media Innovation. The course—instructed by Bob Page—
studies the latest-and-greatest in digital media. Students analyze the different
applications of technology on varying content and audiences.
Offered as an independent study course for communication majors,
classes present an opportunity for peers to discuss current events in journalism
techniques by pulling up content from their smart phones, laptops, tablets or
other devices and projecting it onto lab screens. Snapchat, Tumblr, Periscope
and Facebook pages are often referenced during discussion. The group also
explores the popularity of user-generated content, such as videos or memes
that go viral.
One lesson Page emphasizes is the permanence of written text. He begins
the semester by quoting the Latin proverb, Verba volant, scripta manent, which
translates into “Spoken words fly away, but written words remain.” Despite
innovations, writing will always be a crucial artifact in journalism. n
—Regina Betz
Verba volant, scripta manent
...
Spoken words fly away, but
written words remain.
Robert Page MBA ’15
CAMPUS NEWS
Making Science History
SYDNEY DISHMAN ’16 DISCOVERS BACTERIOPHAGE STRAIN IN CAMPUS SOIL SAMPLE
A microscopic view of Rex16, the
bacteriophage discovered by Dishman.
Sydney Dishman ’16 sits near the spot of her discovery in front of Burwell Hall.
T
instructor Joanna Mantis Katsanos was
her primary advisor.
Dishman came to Queens with
a passion for science. “I had a great
teacher in high school, and that’s when
the fire was lit,” she says. She’ll be going
to medical school this fall; she says it’s
a profession that will enable her to help
others.
She notes that Rex16 is one of
only 32 bacteriophages that infect and
“SHE DISCOVERED A
NEW STRAIN THAT MAY
HELP SCIENTISTS LEARN
MORE ABOUT FIGHTING
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.”
— Reid Creager
SUMMER 2016
he imposing “Queens University
of Charlotte” sign in front of
Burwell Hall is now more than
a stately adornment. It’s part of science
history.
Near that sign, Sydney Dishman
took a soil sample in spring 2015
for her honors research thesis while
investigating bacteriophages, viruses
that specifically infect bacteria. She
discovered a new strain that may help
scientists learn more about fighting
bacterial infections.
The strain called Rex16—named
for the Queens mascot and Dishman’s
year of graduation—is now part of a
worldwide database. “It’s incredibly
exciting,” says the 21-year-old recent
graduate from Maryland. “I’m so
humbled and grateful for the support I
got from the university.” Queens biology
kill Bacillus bacteria from among the
300-plus bacteria species within the
Bacillus genus. She set out to discover
a new strain through a project called
SEA-PHAGES (Science Education
Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing
Genomics and Evolutionary Science), a
national initiative involving more than
100 colleges.
Her time-consuming and complex
methodology began by isolating one
strain of the virus. She extracted DNA
from the phages and had the entire
genome sequenced—the genome of
Rex16 is 162,605 pairs long. Genome
annotation proved Rex16’s uniqueness.
She divided the genome into shorter
segments called genes or “open-reading
frames.” Each gene, which determines
the structure and function of proteins,
is coded for a different protein. Online
database GenBank verified that the
vast majority of Rex16’s proteins
aren’t related to anything previously
recorded.
Queens biology professor Jennifer
Easterwood, who also helped Dishman,
said phage species could eventually play
a big role in human health. With the rise
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, scientists
are looking for ways to fight back. “This
is a great discovery for Sydney and
Queens.” n
7
CAMPUS NEWS
Banking On It
A PUBLIC SCHOOL PAYS TEACHERS’ TUITION FOR A MASTER’S DEGREE AT QUEENS
Sarah Hoyle ’13 works with a third-grade student from her class at Nations Ford Elementary School. Hoyle is earning a
master’s degree at Queens through a unique partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
L
ast September, Sarah Hoyle’s
’13 entire third-grade class was
reading below a first-grade
level. By March, her lowest reader had
jumped to second-grade level. Hoyle—
in her third year of teaching—credits
the change to what she’s learning her
second time around at Queens. She’s
one of seven teachers at Nations Ford
Elementary School in Charlotte enrolled
in the Master of Education in Literacy
program at the Cato School of Education.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS)
pays 100 percent of the tuition.
“The impact has been crazy,”
Hoyle says. “I can see that everything
I’m learning, everything I’m doing is
working….I’ve never seen a group of kids
try so hard.”
Nations Ford’s principal, Alejandra
Garcia, points to the district’s “North
Star” literacy initiative to explain why
CMS foots the tuition bill.
“Literacy is our North Star, and
[Superintendent Ann Clark] has been
very intentional in supporting our schools
in this endeavor,” Garcia says, noting only
8
3 percent of the school’s third-graders
read on grade level at the beginning of
the year.
It’s programs like this, Garcia
adds, that could eventually close the
achievement gap between children from
affluent families and those from lowincome families. As teachers become
more skilled in teaching literacy,
the gap narrows. For high-poverty
public schools like Nations Ford,
improvement is critical. According to
the North Carolina Department of
Instruction’s 2012-2013 report card,
it’s a low-performing school: less than
16 percent of third-, fourth- and fifthgraders were proficient in reading.
The Queens program is tailored to
meet the challenges facing Sarah Hoyle
and the other members of the master’s
degree cohort; for example, the cohort
takes a class about teaching in schools
with high poverty. A personalized
approach addresses specific and
immediate needs within classrooms.
“Part of the time, we meet on
campus at Nations Ford. The professors
come to us, and we do our learning
here in our own environment, looking
at the resources we have, figuring out
what we need,” Hoyle says. “It’s directly
applied to what we’re doing and how
we’re teaching.”
Nations Ford has become
something of a satellite campus of
Queens. In addition to the seven
teachers in the Master of Education
cohort, the school employs three
Queens alumni and four yearlong
student teachers. One of the school’s
assistant principals, William Campbell,
graduated from Queens’ executive
leadership program.
It’s safe to say Queens has been a
hit with the students.
“The kids know Queens. They
love it,” Hoyle says. “Anytime they
hear someone from Queens is coming,
they get so excited because they know
they’ll bring something fun or games to
play. They don’t realize they’re actually
learning.” n
—Jared Misner
CAMPUS NEWS
Taking the “Foreign” out of “Foreign Language”
SPANISH PROFESSOR MICHELE SHAUL WINS THE HUNTER-HAMILTON LOVE OF TEACHING AWARD
Professor Michele Shaul (center) celebrates with family and friends (left to right)
David Thompson, Kensleigh Parrish, Lisa Thompson and Ben Shaul.
P
committee of her peers, she exemplifies
the award’s criteria as a teacher who
both inspires student potential and
exhibits an exceptional love of teaching.
The cash award will be split between
her and an academic department or
program of her choice. It is funded by
a gift from family members in honor
of Buford and Frances Hamilton and
Robert and Isabel Hunter.
Since coming to Queens nearly
30 years ago, Shaul has been a tireless
advocate, teacher and mentor to
hundreds of young men and women.
Some took every class she taught,
discovering new things about not only
Spanish but about themselves. Eleanor
Ramm ’09 was one of them. “In each
layer of her teaching, I have learned
from her how to equip myself and create
solutions to challenging situations,”
she wrote in her nomination letter.
Charlotte has a vibrant Latino
community, including Spanish
newspapers and a chamber of commerce.
Shaul has gotten her students out of the
classroom to experience the language in
a variety of settings. For 17 years she’s
co-directed an oral history project;
students interview Latino immigrants
and record their stories. “The thing
—Laurie Prince
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Diane Mowrey
2014-2015
2013-2014 Ruth Stephenson
2012-2013 Kent Rhodes
2011-2012 Cherie Clark
2010-2011 Roger McGrath
2009-2010 Jane Hadley
Rick Crown
2008-2009
Phyllis Pharr
2007-2008
2006-2007 Emily Seelbinder
2005-2006 Charles Reed
2004-2005 Joan Quinn
2003-2004 Virginia Martin
2002-2003 Robert Whalen
2001-2002 Robert Finley
Frances McClain
2000-2001
1999-2000 Norris Frederick
1998-1999 Charles Hadley
SUMMER 2016
hilipe Araujo’s first semester
at Queens was a challenge.
He had athletic commitments
in cross-country and track and field.
Academic work piled up, and he
began to let relationships slide. “I’ve
always been outgoing and social, but
with rigorous athletic obligations
and mounting homework, social
commitments quickly fell to the
wayside,” he explained in a letter
nominating Professor Michele Shaul
for the Hunter-Hamilton Love of
Teaching Award.
The chair of the foreign languages
department took note of the struggling
freshman, coming alongside him with
encouragement. With her help, Araujo
turned a corner. In time he became
president of the Class of 2008; his
achievements included leading a fundraising effort that garnered the largest
donation ever given by a graduating
class. He credits the Spanish professor
with teaching him to cultivate and
successfully harness his leadership
skills. “[She] has profoundly inspired
me,” he wrote.
At undergraduate commencement
on May 7, Shaul was named the 2016
recipient of the award. Selected by a
that’s important about her community
involvement is that it ties our students
to the community,” says Alexa Royden,
interim dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences. “She’s been particularly
good at matching students with
opportunities, from internships to
research to jobs.” Shaul has also
brought the Hispanic community to
campus. She is the organizing force
behind ARTE LATINO NOW, an
art exhibit held each year in Watkins
Hall. It’s grown to include works of
nationally-recognized artists.
Shaul, whose grandfather was
from Cuba, earned a BA and an MA
in Spanish from the University of
Florida. In 1982 she earned a PhD in
Spanish American Literature from
the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. She came to Queens in
1989 as chair of the foreign language
department, a position she held for
20 years. “She’s been the heart of our
foreign language program for many
years, and she’s responsible for its
success,” says Royden. In 2010, she
stepped down and returned to teaching
full time, her true passion. n
9
An artist’s concept of redesign possibilities for the new arts building on the corner of Wellesley and Selwyn avenues showcases
a classic exterior. An outdoor sculpture garden would provide a welcoming atmosphere to the Charlotte community.
A Place for the Arts
A HALF-CENTURY AGO, A
SOAP SALESMAN AND A
POLITICIAN FUNDED A NEW
ARTS BUILDING AT QUEENS.
A CREATIVE ALLIANCE IS
NEEDED AGAIN.
By Laura Sutton
T
he year 1881 was momentous for
the arts at Queens, for it marked
the birth of two men who would
create a cultural mainstay on campus.
The young lives of Charles A. Dana
and Edward H. Little were a study in
contrasts: Dana was raised in privilege
in Vermont; Little was born to a
Mecklenburg County cotton farmer.
Charles Dana earned a law degree
from Columbia University; Edward
Little’s family could not afford to send
him to college. Despite the geographic
and socioeconomic differences, both
men would leave impressive marks in
10
government, industry and philanthropy.
Dana served in the New York State
Legislature and as Teddy Roosevelt’s
campaign manager. Little’s career began
as a door-to-door Octagon soap salesman
and ended with his chairmanship of
Colgate-Palmolive. The stories of these
men would intersect at the corner of
Wellesley and Selwyn avenues on the
Queens campus in 1966 when the
E.H. Little Fine Arts Center and Dana
Auditorium were opened. Each man had
generously supported Queens for many
years.
The arts facility’s location provided
a “front porch” for Queens and a cultural
gateway to the community. The building
was inspired by the Parthenon’s design,
including a similar number of perimeter
columns as the iconic Greek structure.
Dana Auditorium provided one of
the first concert and entertainment venues
outside of the heart of the city, and it
quickly became popular. Speakers and
performers of national importance came,
including poet Alastair Reid and the
National Ballet Company. The acclaimed
Learning Society at Queens was launched
in 1988, hosting world-renowned thought
leaders such as Charlie Rose, Condoleezza
Rice and Michael Lewis.
For the past 50 years, the facility has
provided Queens’ students with classroom,
studio, exhibit and performance spaces. To
keep pace with ever-evolving aspects of the
arts disciplines, programs have expanded in
Charles A. Dana (left) and Reverend
Arthur Martin greet each other at the
dedication ceremonies for E.H. Little
Fine Arts Center and Charles A. Dana
Auditorium in 1966.
INVESTING IN QUEENS
recent years. The music program has added
seven new concentrations since 2011,
including music theater and music history.
In 2003 there were five students majoring
in visual arts. Today, there are nearly 100,
and the department has added related
majors, including new media design and
arts leadership and administration.
Thriving arts programs indicate an
academic institution’s overall health and
reputation; at Queens, the number of
engaged students is high. Twenty percent
of undergraduates are enrolled in arts
classes each semester. Students greatly
value opportunities to perform and create,
and Queens is committed to providing
them a robust liberal arts experience.
The Little Fine Arts Center has
played an important role in the growth
of the arts programs at Queens. To
accommodate growth, our mid-century
modern landmark needs exterior
improvements, interior reconfiguration,
technological
improvements
and
renovations to the auditorium and recital
hall. The possible addition of an art gallery
and outdoor sculpture garden will enhance
For the Humanities
A QUEENS EMPLOYEE
FULFILLS A DREAM
H
To learn more about supporting the center for
arts and civic engagement project, please
contact James Bullock, Vice President,
University Advancement, at 704.337.2316
or bullockj@queens.edu.
Cindy Manshack has seen firsthand how
gifts change lives.
Short of winning the lottery, I
can’t foresee being able to write a check
to establish an endowed fund during
my lifetime; however, designating the
university as a beneficiary of my retirement
fund has given me the opportunity to leave
a legacy.
And, I found that it did, indeed, feel
very, very good! n
—Cindy Manshack, Executive Director of
Research and Advancement Services
SUMMER 2016
ave you ever fantasized about
what you would do if you won
the lottery?
My fantasy always starts with, “Who
will I give this to? Which schools? Which
religious organizations? Who do I want to
thank? To honor?”
Fantasizing about giving away huge
sums of money doubtlessly arises from
having spent most of my adult working
life in the nonprofit sector, the last 25 years
in the advancement office at Queens. I’ve
seen firsthand the transformative nature
of such gifts both at the institutional
level and in their impact on the lives of
individuals. I’ve seen the momentum that
an eight-figure gift can create, as others are
inspired to invest. I’ve seen the pleasure
and joy in those who share the blessings of
their wealth.
While I support Queens every
month through payroll deduction, I had
never thought about a larger gift—until a
breast cancer diagnosis last fall prompted
me to think about my estate and what I
truly want my legacy to be.
As I reviewed my finances,
I zeroed in on my TIAA-CREF
403(b) retirement account. I have
had significant life changes since it
was established: my son grew up and
married, I became a grandma several
times over, and a couple of years ago,
I married. I had never changed the
beneficiary designation on the account,
nor touched the funds. The light went
on—here was my “ticket”!
I shared my thoughts with my
husband and son and discussed my
philanthropic priorities. I have always
thought that one of Queens’ greatest
strengths is her faculty. As we talked, I
kept circling back to the need to support
them. When Beyond Our Imagination
launched, I designated Queens the
beneficiary of my TIAA-CREF
account, which will create a fund to
support professional development for
faculty in the humanities.
its beauty, welcoming those outside the
Queens community to explore and enjoy
the arts.
With these improvements and
changes, new exhibitions and performances
will be possible, and the university’s deeplyrooted partnerships with Charlotte’s arts
entities will be strengthened. A center for
arts and civic engagement will further the
vision and creative spirit the facility has
proudly represented for half a century.
As plans develop for this exciting
project, Queens is grateful for the
commitment to arts excellence first
spearheaded by E.H. Little and Charles
Dana. Without their vision, Queens
would not have enjoyed decades of student
achievement or service to the community.
Those who carry this excellence forward
will create a new future for the arts at
Queens. n
11
H APPENINGS
THE REX EFFECT
Records broken. Stands filled. Championships won—nine championships won.
Queens athletics had its best year collectively. “Everyone’s feeding off one another right now,” says Cherie Swarthout, director of athletics.
“There’s that feeling that when one wins, we all win.” Momentum built to conference championships in men’s and women’s track and field,
men’s and women’s swimming, women’s lacrosse, men’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s golf. It’s enough to cheer
ourselves hoarse.
— Jen Tota McGivney
t SWIMMING
After the men’s and women’s teams won the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving
National Championships last year, coach Jeff Dugdale refused complacency about repeat
wins in 2016. “What got us here, won’t get us there” became the team’s mantra. And here
they are again: two national championship teams with broken records in their wakes.
TRACK u
Nikia Squire ’16 made history this year
for herself, for Queens and for NCAA
Division II Indoor Track and Field. Her
7.32 time in the 60-meter dash not only
qualified her to become the DII 60 Meter
Dash National Champion, but it put her
in the record books with the third-fastest
60-meter time in DII history.
t LACROSSE
NCAA bound! For the first time in
the program’s history, the women’s
lacrosse team made it to the NCAA DII
Championship. Head coach Julika Blankenship led the team to a 17-2 season and
was honored with the title of Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year by the South
Atlantic Conference.
BASKETBALL u
Men’s basketball put on quite a show
at the Levine Center. They tipped off
their season with a stunning 13-game
winning streak, and at one point
ranked 6th nationally. Their record
this season made Bart Lundy the
winningest coach in Queens’ men’s
basketball history.
t ACADEMIC SUCCESS
For the sixth consecutive year, student
athletes maintained GPAs of 3.0 or above,
achieving academic excellence on par with athletic successes. Soccer standout Corey
Brown ’17, a biochemistry major with a 3.95 GPA, was among four male finalists for the
Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars 2016 Award. Track star and international studies major
Jamilah Watson ’16 earned a Fulbright Scholarship to teach in the Dominican Republic.
Sydney Dishman ’16, lacrosse player and biology major, discovered a bacteriophage
species that could impact research on bacterial infections. (See her story on page 7.)
12
BRAND
AWAKENING
BY LAURA BELANGER ’13 AND JEN JOHNSON MS ’14
Research told us that Queens is Charlotte’s
best-kept secret. After study, discussion and
soul searching, we’re launching a powerful
message that ties us proudly to place.
The story of our brand evolution started with a simple purpose,
to expand awareness. For years we’ve heard comments like these
from students, parents and community friends: “The reality of
Queens exceeds its reputation,” and, “Queens is Charlotte’s bestkept secret.” Too many people had never heard of Queens. So,
we set out to expand awareness locally, regionally and beyond—a
difficult feat for a small school, yet achievable when you treat
every encounter as an opportunity to tell a unified, consistent
story. Here’s the journey of how we did it.
13
GETTING STARTED
First, we sought to craft a core value proposition—that’s
marketing speak for an elevator speech. We developed
a research plan to identify what’s authentic to Queens,
compelling to our various audiences and differentiated
from other universities. We formed a committee of 30
faculty and staff to navigate the process, learn together
and ultimately set direction. Through focus groups, we
talked to about 350 undergraduate and graduate students,
alumni, staff, faculty and parents. We surveyed another
900 people who were college-bound high school students,
their parents or degree-seeking Charlotte adults. We
also scoured secondary research on prospective students,
studied data on our own media and completed an audit of
more than a dozen colleges and universities.
DIFFERENTIATING
AUTHENTIC
COMPELLING
connected in their fields. Those relationships lead to
internships, research opportunities and job connections.
We decided to test this idea on prospective students.
They were decisively, and at times, passionately, attracted
to the idea of tying the student experience to Charlotte.
We did it! We successfully identified the piece of the
Queens experience that is authentic, differentiated and
compelling.
FORMULATING OUR STRATEGY
The value proposition is an important statement. It
doesn’t take the place of our motto, “Not to be served, but
to serve.” It’s not meant to replace our mission, vision and
values. These elements are foundational to who we are.
No, the value proposition is meant to carve out a unique
space for us in the higher ed landscape in order to tell our
story in 30 seconds or less.
We hired Ologie, a branding firm based in
Columbus, Ohio, to help us develop a way to share
our message. We were impressed by Ologie’s sharp
creativity, adaptability and their balance of clientele,
including prominent universities, as well as retail
and media companies. Together we articulated
our value proposition, our elevator speech:
Research focused on the intersection of three qualities:
what is authentic about Queens, what is compelling about
the Queens educational experience and what differentiates
Queens from other schools.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL?
We learned that differentiation in higher education is
elusive. All universities are in the business of transforming
lives and preparing students for the future. Our brand
committee had an “aha” moment when we realized many
of the characteristics we believed unique to Queens
are being touted by other schools. However, something
special surfaced. We noticed that many of these common
characteristics become unique when paired with our
Charlotte location. Three advantages became clear.
Many schools have great internship programs.
But at Queens, we’re a stone’s throw from the heart
of Charlotte—a vibrant metropolis with meaningful
internship opportunities in almost any industry.
Many universities are proud of their commitment to
service. But in Charlotte, we have a dynamic nonprofit
sector, ranked by mashable.com in 2014 as one of the
10 most charitable cities in the US. This allows our
students to find service opportunities to match their
passions.
Many small universities claim great faculty-student
relationships. But our faculty are active in Charlotte and
14
Queens draws on its
dynamic Charlotte
location to create an
intentionally balanced
learning experience to
develop enlightened
and productive leaders.
When this statement was presented to our faculty
and staff committees—they lit up. It wasn’t necessarily
something new. But that was good. The authenticity
resonated, yet the angle was fresh.
Our Charlotte location is central to our core message.
So is intentional balance. The phrase stems from contrast
of big and small. Our students get both the personal
attention of a small school and the opportunities of a big
city. They don’t have to miss out on one to gain another.
As we socialized this phrase with faculty and staff, we
realized it has meaning beyond big and small. Academic
studies have intentional balance; for example, our
nursing program is both high tech and high touch. The
philosophy program blends head and heart, combining
critical thinking with faithful living. The business
school curriculum pairs academic research with real-life
experiences. And even student life services both support
students while challenging them.
OUR VOICE
So, we figured out what we wanted to say. Now we needed
to tackle how to say it. We needed to discover our unique
voice. When an organization succeeds in conveying its
personality, the result is relatable and memorable. We
combed our focus group data and landed on six words
that define who we are. They are:
PRESTIGIOUS
INSPIRED
PURPOSEFUL
OUR VISUAL SYSTEM
Ologie continued to support us in developing a look
that’s grounded in our strategy and distinctive, so that
our marketing will easily be recognized over time.
To express the idea of “intentionally balanced,”
we landed on visual elements that symbolize
balance: the use of diagonals, photos of
contrasting activities juxtaposed next to each
other and headlines that use antonyms or
change color.
Another distinguishing element is
the textured background on our blue.
It’s called a low poly treatment. It’s
made up of various shades of blue
and geometric shapes, chosen
to represent our multifaceted
students.
SUMMER 2016
GRACIOUS
STRAIGHTFORWARD
VIBRANT
These words bring a focus to our communication, in
what we speak and write. We have also learned that they
give definition to how we behave. For instance, data center
analyst Mike Anderson pointed out how gracious it was
when our faculty and staff helped students move in to the
new Byrum Hall. Assistant Dean James Beach noted how
inspiring it is to walk through the fine arts building and
hear our students in the music therapy clinic.
15
Our photography style was created to capture the
student perspective. Notice the angles taken over the
shoulder, within the group or in the classroom looking
toward the professor. Our photos also capture energy,
either emotional or physical, while showcasing genuine
Queens moments.
THE LOGO
Changing our logo wasn’t the impetus for this project.
We set out to strengthen our brand to expand awareness.
But when research led us in a clear direction, the logo
had to follow. We identified two logo issues. First,
visibility. The equal size of all the letters in our name
YES.
AND.
16
Showcasing our beautiful campus by
photographing an outdoor classroom,
this photo is also taken from the
students’ perspective.
For profile photography, we capture
genuine expressions and moments
versus the traditional, posed headshot
Another photography guideline is to
show students learning in Charlotte,
not just the classroom, like this photo
of science students in Sugar Creek.
Our research told us that bold,
graphically driven covers can stand out
from our peer universities. The headline
‘Yes. And.’ is another way to express our
brand message. The strong diagonal
dividing the headline is another staple
of our brand and represents balance.
Say hello to low poly. This pattern
gives depth to our blue and the
composition of geometric shapes
represents our multi-faceted students.
made visibility from a
distance nearly impossible.
Second, representation. Our
current “Queens University of
Charlotte” logo was created almost
15 years ago when the primary
objective was letting the world
know Queens was co-ed. This fittingly
resulted in a masculine-looking logo.
Since then, the number of male students
has grown, and Queens has transitioned
from a women’s college that began in the
1800s to a fully co-ed university of the 21st
century. We’re on a path to becoming an even
more selective, more prestigious university. We
want to continue that trajectory, so we needed a
logo to reflect our objectives.
With the help of Ologie, we considered at least
15 different logo variations. When we revisited our
primary objective—to broaden awareness of Queens—
the choice was clear. Rather than creating a connection
to a new symbol, we’d pour our energy into our name. We
readily chose a simplified word mark as our logo.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Campaigns will come and go, but our brand will remain
the same. We have the tools and techniques—detailed in
a 60-page Brand Book—to help us write headlines, craft
communications, design new ads and create websites,
without losing focus on who we are and how we are
different. Armed with an elevator speech, our staff, faculty,
students and alumni will be empowered to tell our story
consistently over time, generating awareness. That’s the
story of Queens’ brand evolution.
The Technical Side of
Designing a Logo
Our new logo places a greater emphasis
on Queens University. The “Q” can’t
be found in any font library. It was
specifically drawn for us. The rest of
the logo uses a combination of fonts—
one traditional, one modern, further
conveying intentional balance.
Before:
The thin, equal weight of the
font in our logo made legibility
difficult from a distance.
This mark was a great fit for us
15 years ago, but as our goals
and objectives changed, our
needs in a logo changed, too.
After:
Our new logo allows for “Queens
University” to take precedence
and increase legibility.
To learn more and watch our new brand video,
go to www.queens.edu/brand.
17
In the Conceptual Era, Right-Brain
Creativity Is Unlocking Potential
By Jen Tota McGivney
A MORE perfect UNION
During the Information Age, left-brained thinking ruled. The jobs
that practical parents wished upon ambitious children were rooted
in STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. The recession
deepened this trend, as students reacted to a tight job market by
choosing majors that would lead to a job. According to a 2015 study
by Economic Modeling Specialists International and CareerBuilder,
majors like computer sciences and engineering saw increases of 32
and 26 percent, respectively.
In this light, college art courses may have appeared expendable.
Cute, even. Studying art, music and creative writing seemed more
relevant for Jane Austen heroines than modern students embarking
on serious careers.
But the new era we’ve entered—the conceptual era—shows that
the STEM versus arts debate might be a false dichotomy. This era
bridges the brain divide, encouraging the development of rightbrained traits that benefit left-brained fields. Those Austen-esque
skills have become cutting-edge knowledge, even in professions you’d
least expect to find them.
Daniel Pink, who wrote about the conceptual era in A Whole
New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future (2005), described
a direct connection between arts education and the next economy.
“It starts with realizing that arts education is fundamental, not
ornamental,” he said in an interview with writer and educator Tracy
Stevens. “We urgently need people to think like artists…. Creativity,
design and the arts will be the way to prosper and succeed in the new
economy.”
18
SUMMER 2016
19
STUDENTS IN THE
ARTS TOLERATE RISK
MORE AND COME
UP WITH CREATIVE
AND INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS. IT’S PART
OF THE NATURE OF
THE ARTS.
CEOs across diverse fields have said that what they value most in
employees is imagination, innovation and creativity, as well as written
and verbal skills, says Siu Challons-Lipton, chair of the Queens art
department. Yet these skills have declined during recent years. She
sees the return to the arts as a natural progression from years of leftbrained, high-tech thinking. “High-concept abilities are being called
on to supplant high-tech abilities,” she stated in the Oxford Forum
on Public Policy. The human ability to design something new, often
by combining ideas that seem unrelated, is the hallmark of the new
era.
COURAGE and EXPERIMENTATION
Mike Wirth, associate professor of art, laments that so many
children are ushered away from the arts as they grow older. “We’re
taught as kids that you can’t be a musician, you can’t be an artist—
that creativity is reserved for the elite few,” Wirth says. “But [arts
education] is about saying to them, ‘Let’s go back to when you were
five and fearless.’”
This fearlessness inspires students of all subjects. Wirth tells
students that no matter their major, design and data visualization can
teach them to create a new idea through an ideation process and then
present and defend that idea to a client or boss. Because 70 percent
of our mental bandwidth processes visual information, Wirth says, art
and design permeate everything and belong to everyone, not just the
elite few. When he tells his non-art major students that it’s okay to
be creative, that it’s okay to experiment with drawings, he sees their
confidence and excitement build.
“When [non-art students] have an achievement in art, they
get those endorphins—those creativity endorphins they haven’t
experienced since they were five. And those were the best kind, right?”
MATH BOOK to SKETCHBOOK
Cathryn Anderson ’18 is one of Wirth’s students. When this
accounting major signed up for Wirth’s “The Secret Language of Art
and Design” class, she saw an unusual item on the required materials
list: a sketchbook. Anderson never had a sketchbook before. As for
choosing one, she didn’t know where to begin. Do sketchbooks have
lines? No lines?
Perhaps the best way to see Anderson’s progress in this class is
to see this very sketchbook just two months after she bought it. The
figures begin simply. One, a sketch of a cow, she created by playing
with shapes: a circle here, some squares and triangles over there.
But within several pages, her sketches are visualizations of emotions
(What does joy look like? What about contempt?) and creations of
icons representing non-visual concepts (How would you create an
icon of Queens?).
Or perhaps there’s a better way to gauge Anderson’s progress in
the class: her smile as she shares her work, proud of what she’s created
and how she’s grown.
20
“I’ve had to learn to allow myself to mess up, knowing that the
next one will be better. And not to take everything seriously. In all my
math and accounting classes, it needs to be perfect, so you try to make
it perfect on the first shot. But in art, it doesn’t have to be.”
Anderson signed up for the class to break up her math-heavy
schedule and to “entertain that other half of my brain.” The class,
though, has impacted her more than expected. For one, it’s opened
her eyes to the world around her. Suddenly, everywhere she goes,
she sees motifs, patterns—things she never noticed before. Also, the
class that was meant to give her a break from her major emerged as a
possible career advantage.
“[The class] has really allowed me to think on a deeper level,
especially artistically,” Anderson says. “Maybe when I’m in the
accounting world one day, I’ll be able to cut expenses by coming up
with a creative way to do something differently. I can connect those
dots.”
FROM WHITE BOARD to DRAWING BOARD
Anderson’s not alone in connecting the dots between art and business.
Art has long been a part of the curriculum for Queens’ MBA program.
Last January, the McColl School of Business began a pilot program for
the Online MBA in which students spent a day at the McColl Center
for Art + Innovation as part of their initial residency weekend. In this
custom program, an artist led collaborative art projects, encouraging
these business students to hone creative mindsets to supplement their
critical thinking.
The response to the program was so positive that the pilot has
become a staple. Students replied that it helped them cope with
disruptions and setbacks—two certainties of any endeavor—as well
as utilize creativity. This was no accident. Jane Williams MS ’15,
program manager of Leadership Initiatives with the McColl School
of Business, says that in a world where companies like Google and
Apple lead with equally creative and analytical thinking and where
business disruptors change the rules constantly, these skills have never
been so critical.
“What used to work doesn’t work any more,” says Williams. “This
program brings in a whole new skill set for students, and that’s one
they’re going to need out there in this innovative climate. This is a
differentiator for the McColl School.”
ART and RISK-TAKING
BRINGS IN A WHOLE
NEW SKILL SET FOR
STUDENTS, AND
THAT’S ONE THEY’RE
GOING TO NEED
OUT THERE IN THIS
INNOVATIVE CLIMATE.
SUMMER 2016
Lauren Glazer ’15 also connected those dots between art and business,
but in a surprising order. Glazer grew up with art. Her parents noticed
her love of art from an early age, so they kept her stocked with craft
supplies and took her to galleries and theaters wherever they went. To
her, studying art in college was a given. At Queens, Glazer completed
a degree in art history, along with internships at galleries in Miami and
Charlotte. She not only learned about art during these years but also
about the acceptance of risk and the persistence of the creative process. THIS PROGRAM
21
THROUGHOUT
THE AGES...
18th
Century
AGRICULTURAL AGE
Driven by:
Farmers
19th
Century
INDUSTRIAL AGE
Driven by:
Factory workers
20th
Century
INFORMATION AGE
Driven by:
Knowledge workers
21st
Century
CONCEPTUAL AGE
Driven by:
Creators and empathizers
“Students in the arts tolerate risk more and come up with creative and
innovative solutions. It’s part of the nature of the arts,” Glazer says. “There’s
no one way to think about things, and there’s no right answer. There are
many answers if there are any at all.”
Glazer applied to master’s programs in New York City at two of the
world’s most famous art auction houses, Christie’s and Sotheby’s, with the
dream that that one would accept her for the chance of a lifetime. But
things didn’t work out that way.
She was accepted by both.
Sotheby’s won. During her time there, Glazer’s initial ambition to
pursue museum curation evolved into an interest in the business side of
the art industry. Glazer is now working toward an MA in art business at
Sotheby’s with the hope of becoming an artist agent. She networks with
artists and collectors at galleries and festivals, and she maintains an artfocused Instablog to forge new professional relationships.
“In the art industry you have to take risks or else you’re never going to
go anywhere,” Glazer says. “My Queens arts education prepared me for this
intense master’s program, and now I’m going to go on to make my mark on
the art world!”
THE BRAIN’S hidden POTENTIAL
To some people, it may seem more like fluff than fact that an arts education
changes how we think, how we connect with people and information. But
music therapist Rose O’Toole ’14 is proof of the arts’ ability to forge new
connections and to develop voices in a very literal way.
“Contrary to popular belief, music is not solely processed on the right
side of the brain,” O’Toole says. “Music is actually processed in both sides
of the brain. It involves multiple types of skills to be able to play and listen
to music.”
Music therapists tap into this synergy. One of O’Toole’s patients is a
woman with dementia who suffers from expressive aphasia. This means she
knows what she wants to say but lacks the ability to speak the words, causing
understandable frustration. Knowing that this woman had been active in
her church, O’Toole began to play hymns during their sessions together. To
her surprise, the woman began to hum along. Then, she began to sing. And
now, for several hours after a session, the woman can speak in phrases and
short sentences, communicating what she’d like for lunch or what she’d like
to do that afternoon. The music sparks a connection within her brain that
nothing else can reach.
BEYOND STAGE, PAGE and SKETCHBOOK
The emerging conceptual era is a confirmation of what liberal arts
education advocates have believed all along: the arts aren’t a luxury; they’re
indispensable. Fostering right-brained skills is a vital component of higher
education with ramifications beyond the stage, page or sketchbook.
Even for students who will never write a novel or perform a symphony,
the arts hold immeasurable benefit to personal and professional—and
even cognitive—development. They not only teach students what to know,
but how to think and create, how to fail and recover, how to connect the
analytical with the creative. And thus, how to thrive in the conceptual era.
22
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Art Exhibit
I
n conjunction with Reunion, works by alumni artists
spanning the classes of 1918 to 2012 were displayed in
the Max L. Jackson Gallery in Watkins Hall. The works
were created in a variety of media, from watercolor, oil and
paint to digital media and collage. Throughout the April
exhibition, the artwork was enjoyed by alumni, their families,
faculty and students. n
—Juli Somers
Watercolor typography by artists Katie Craig ’19 (left) and
Caroline Fogle ’12 (right) was included in the exhibit. Caroline
is senior graphic designer for NASCAR.
This three-dimensional collage by Nikki Oliver ’13 is based on
observations of nature at a Virginia farm. Nikki uses found
papers, magazines, books and personal writings to explore
memory and emotion.
(Left to right) Foozhan Kashkooli ’11, Siu Challons-Lipton
(faculty), Elizabeth Ross and Alexa Royden (faculty)
attended the exhibit. Foozhan’s artwork was on display; she
focuses on large-scale paintings in an abstract style.
SUMMER 2016
Christie Taylor ’74 (inset) exhibited
selections from 140 studies she created
of the salt marshes of the Eastern Shore
of Maryland. The plein-air paintings
show the marshes in different seasons.
(A detail from one of the paintings is on
the cover of this issue.) Christie is cofounder and partner of Hodges Taylor
Art Consultancy.
23
ALUMNI NEWS
Staying Queens Connected
Queens may change with the times, but social media reminds us that the
important things remain the same.
—Danielle Phillips ’13
Still a beautiful campus and
was lovely when I attended
in ’77-’81.
– Tracy Adams Hysaw ’81
Happy Birthday, Miss Betty! You
never change, and Queens’ love
for you never changes!!
- Linda Theus Hinson ’74
I watched a squirrel cross my
path in the quad carrying a
whole biscotti in its mouth.
A very cultured squirrel.
Dean of Students John Downey poses
with Ms. Betty, who has worked at
Queens for more than 50 years.
- Megan Burns Argabrite ’05
Welcome, indeed! You are
coming to a very special
place.
- Travis Wallace ’95
Former Queens admissions
counselor, Taylor Florio, takes a
“selfie” with this year’s freshmen
class.
To see more, follow us on Facebook at Queens University of Charlotte
and Queens University of Charlotte Alumni Association.
24
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Awards
FIVE RECIPIENTS HONORED
AT REUNION 2016
During the President’s Luncheon on
Saturday, April 16, the 2016 alumni
awards were presented. Lindsey Collins ’11
received the G.O.L.D. Award (graduate
of the last decade). She is vice president
of grassroots advocacy for the National
Railroad Construction and Maintenance
Association and serves as the organization’s
liaison with Congress. Moira Gomez
Madonia ’76 received the Outstanding
Alumna Award. After Moira worked with
European American Bank and CBS, she
pursued her passion, a career in teaching. A
life-changing trip to Tanzania in 2009 led
her to create EdPowerment, a non-profit
that brings education and mentorship to
the impoverished and advocates for the
disabled.
The Alumni Service Award was
presented to Sally Stapleton ’76, Queens’
technology services and online services
coordinator in the Office of the Registrar.
Giving of her time and talent is a way of
life for Sally; she has volunteered with
Special Olympics, Hospice and Palliative
Care, Hands on Charlotte, Room in the
Inn, Queens’ alumni association and
Friends of the Library.
(Left to right) Sally Stapleton ’76, Moira Gomez Madonia ’76, President Pamela
Davies, Lindsey Collins ’11, Professor Emeritus Kent Rhodes and Harriet Allston
Seabrook stand on stage after receiving their awards.
Two members of the Queens
community became honorary alumni,
Harriet Allston Seabrook and Professor
Emeritus Kent Rhodes. Harriet’s
grandmother attended Chicora College,
a women’s college in Greenville, SC,
which merged with Queens in 1930.
Four years ago, Harriet toured Queens’
campus and soon wanted to know more
about her grandmother’s alma mater. She
has become involved as a member of The
Learning Society, Friends of the Library
and the Board of Visitors. She established
the Harriet A. Seabrook Endowed
Scholarship, contributed to the renovation
of McInnes Parlors in Burwell Hall and is
a member of the Albright Legacy Society.
Professor Rhodes has been on the Queens
faculty for 23 years. His teaching honors
include the William S. Lee Distinguished
Teaching Award and the HunterHamilton Love of Teaching Award, the
university’s highest honor for Queens’
faculty. n
—Laura Sutton
AS SUMMER COMES TO A
CLOSE, THE ROYAL ROAD
TRIP BEGINS.
tumblr.com/AlumniAtQueens
SUMMER 2016
August 2016
Be a part of the journey.
25
26
Alumni, parents, students and friends became #QUnited on March 16,
showing support for Queens in the university’s second annual 24-hour giving
campaign. Even Duke Energy joined the fun by lighting up its headquarters in
uptown Charlotte with Royals blue and gold (see picture bottom right). Here
are a few of the #QUnited images shared with us from around the globe.
MARCH 16TH
27
C LASS NOTES
Thank you to everyone who sent a note to stay connected with classmates. We love hearing from you!
To submit your class note, go to www.queens.edu/class-notes.
Questions or comments? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations, 704-337-2504 or alumni@queens.edu.
1946
Helen Davis Morrison is alive and kicking
and would love to hear from anyone who
remembers her.
1950
The class expresses sympathy to Sara
Blythe Horn on the death of her husband,
C. Fletcher Horn, who passed away on
February 22.
1951
The class expresses sympathy to Bettye Blair
Neal on the death of her sister, Ruth Blair
Plyler ’46, who passed away on February 5.
1953
Billie Mancin Little and husband, Norris,
continue to enjoy traveling and are blessed
with three children, seven grandchildren and
13 great-grandchildren.
1958
Betty Bell Brown’s painting was shown
in New York City in the 2015 American
Watercolor Society Exhibition. Her work
is displayed at Cotswold Marketplace
in Charlotte. She continues teaching at
the Cameron Museum School and is
represented by New Elements Gallery in
Wilmington, N.C.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
1959
28
The class expresses sympathy to Veronica
Chow Wang on the death of her husband,
Alfred Shih-p’u Wang, who passed away on
September 20, 2015.
1960
Ann Barkley Grey enjoys spending time
with her new grandson, Carter James Grey.
Helen Davis Morrison ’46 rides with husband, Don, a World War II veteran, in the
2015 Veterans Day Parade in Denver, Colo.
Born November 13, 2015, this very special
fifth grandchild was adopted by Hugh and
Shari Grey, who live in Charlotte.
1962
Linda Goodman Heilig has received no
awards, special recognitions or special
milestones—except to turn 75 like most
others in her class. However, she and her
husband, David, continue to enjoy Chapel
Hill, their families, their church and life
in general.
Linda Cashwell Jewell and Martha
Woods Mallory enjoyed a day trip to
Sumter, S.C., in February to visit Virginia
Rose Whittington, who was down from
Pennsylvania visiting her daughter and
granddaughter. Linda just finished reading
Hush Now, Baby written by her Queens
classmate, Angela Williams Williams ’63.
She says you will enjoy this well-written true
story. She is still living in Lake Wylie, S.C.,
and loves living near all five grandchildren.
The oldest, seventeen-year-old twins, are
looking at universities. Her life is busy,
but she enjoys playing bridge, reading
and traveling.
Ruth Scholten Lynch enjoyed a trip with
a friend through the Canadian Rockies
on the Rocky Mountaineer train in July.
She continues to enjoy working part time
with the conservation division for the Town
of Plymouth, Mass., and is in her third
year as a volunteer in the literacy program
as an ESOL tutor. She invites everyone to
come see her in Plymouth but suggests
that winter would not be the ideal time to
travel there.
The class expresses sympathy to Bessie
Karagiannis Siatis on the death of her
husband, Panos “Pete” Siatis, who passed
away on July 7, 2015.
CLASS NOTES
Botanical Gardens and a reception at
the Grey Eagle in the eclectic River Arts
District. Asheville and Johnson City have
also been the location of wonderful minireunions with Janet Allison Powell and
Rosanne Eubanks O’Rear. A book signing
at Park Road Books in Charlotte last fall was
attended by classmates and other alumni for
Angela Williams Williams. What fun!
Suzanne Stedman Miller was named
Woman of the Year 2015 in Blowing
Rock, N.C.
Cindy Trobaugh ’62 stands amidst
her art at the Morristown Hamblen
Library in Morristown, Tenn., where
her work was displayed from
January through March.
Ginny Bopp Springer and husband, Al,
completed building their 45-foot custom
power Catamaran Silver Voyager and plan
to cruise down to Florida for the rest of the
winter. Last fall they visited Casper, Wyo.,
where Ginny caught a 34-inch cutthroat
trout, and Al bagged a mule deer. They
enjoyed eating the venison. They visited
Argentina in November. Ginny is recovering
from a knee replacement in December.
Janet Allison Powell and husband, Harry,
are thankful to be healthy enough to enjoy
traveling to visit their children in Mt. Vernon,
Ohio; Oak Park, Ill. and Asheville, N.C., as
well as to tour different parts of the world.
Last fall they cruised on the Danube River
from Lintz to Budapest with a pre-trip in
Poland and the Czech Republic. This spring
they will be in the Lake Region of Northern
Italy and Switzerland. In the past year, Janet
had a wonderful visit from Sandra Trickett
Lare and Rosanne Eubanks O’Rear, and
they plan to meet again soon in Asheville.
The class expresses sympathy to Joyce
McCubbin Wells on the death of her
husband, Warren Wells, who passed
away on January 7, 2015, after 49 years of
marriage. Joyce is now residing full time in
Amelia Island, Fla.
Angela Williams Williams launched
her memoir Hush Now, Baby at a Queens
Friends of the Library event. Since then, her
Queens classmates have hosted lunches and
signings for the book, which is now in its
second printing! It is in memory of Roberta
S. Chalmers, her English teacher, as well as
Eva Aiken, the African-American woman
who lived with Angela’s family for 20 years.
1964
Christine Safford Beck
published
another book, Listen to Katie, a memoir
of an 80-year-old inner-city woman. It
is available on Amazon. In spite of many
difficulties, Katie’s faith strengthens her
gratitude and caring for others. Chris also
continues as board chair of Children’s
Literacy Initiative, and she and Leif enjoy
their three sons and their families, including
three young grandsons.
After missing the 50th reunion in 2014,
Pamela Peper Frazier and Martha Waters
Cindy Trobaugh recently hung some of her
art in the city library for a two month exhibit.
When she is not doing volunteer work or
traveling, she enjoys painting. Retirement is
a very busy time!
1963
Family and friends gathered in July 2015 for
the beautiful wedding of Sandra Trickett
Lare’s daughter, Carrie, at the Asheville
On January 25, Bonnie Currie Gilbert ’63 (second from right) hosted a luncheon
and discussion at her home in Charlotte, N.C., for Angela Williams Williams’
’63 new book, Hush Now Baby. (Left to right) Sue Challen Moore ’64, Sara
Harrington Byne ’63, Angela Williams Williams ’63, Bonnie Currie Gilbert ’63
and Linda Martin Welton ’63.
SUMMER 2016
On January 25, Bonnie Currie Gilbert
hosted a luncheon and discussion at her
home in Charlotte, N.C., for Angela
Williams Williams’ new book, Hush Now
Baby. Alumni that attended included: Sue
Challen Moore ’64, Sara Harrington Byne,
Angela Williams Williams and Linda
Martin Welton.
29
ALUMNI PROFILE
High Notes
CHOIRS THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES SING HYMNS
COMPOSED BY LINDA CABLE
SHUTE ’76
A
QUEENS MAGAZINE
t just five years old, Linda
Cable Shute ’76 picked out
the theme song to Captain
Kangaroo on her family’s piano.
“The next thing I know, my mom
got me lessons, and I was playing
piano,” she says.
Today, the piano performance
graduate of Queens has written
more than 130 sacred compositions
published by six major publishers.
“I was the world’s worst student,
though” she says about her high
school years, laughing. “I would
just sight-read my songs on the way
to practice.”
At eight years old, Linda became the
accompanist for a small congregation
in her hometown, Isle of Palms, SC,
where she played for 10 more years
until she earned a music scholarship
to Queens.
“I just loved it there,” she says. “I
loved the campus, and the people
were really friendly. The professors
are so encouraging, and they really
care about the students.”
30
As a Queens student in the
1970s, Linda majored in piano
performance.
Seated at her piano in Georgia, Linda Cable Shute ’76 finds inspiration in a
variety of sacred texts, from poems to scripture.
One professor, Anita Bultmann
Tritt, made an impression. “She told
me, ‘Look, you have a gift … and
you have a responsibility to use the
gifts you were given’,” Linda says,
speaking from her home in Roswell,
Georgia. “That’s what Queens really
taught me.”
But perhaps no one at Queens
influenced her more than Joseph
Lammers,
distinguished
music
professor and friend. “When she
became interested in composition,
she would write to me … and send
me her compositions,” he says. “It’s
incredible how, over the years, she
grew as a composer. Her music
not only seemed to be artistic and
well written, but seemed to give
a message.”
“I vowed to only compose sacred
music,” Linda says. “That’s between
God and me. I will be rewarded in the
next life for it, and that’s just dandy
with me.”
She maintains her faith despite
extreme loss and adversity. She lost
her mother, her first husband and
her son, all within a short timeframe.
It was a difficult time in her life, but
her faith enabled her to share her hope
through music.
She starts each composition with
a sacred text, which may be scripture
or words from an old hymn, a
writing by an ancient theologian or a
contemporary poem. “If I find a text
that speaks to me, I just fly with it. The
fastest I’ve ever composed a work was
10 minutes,” she says. “But it’s usually
a struggle.”
But, she says, it’s all worth it. “I think
about the average church choir, singing
to the average congregation, and I
think, ‘How many millions of people
have I reached through my music?’
“This is really evangelism. That’s
what it is.”
—Virginia Brown
CLASS NOTES
Ann Hollandsworth Myers is glad to
report that her cancer (lymphoma) is now in
remission—hopefully forever! After having
lymphoma twice, she would be happy to talk
with anyone who has cancer or has a family
member with cancer. She and her husband,
Jim, plan to move to Scottsdale, Ariz., after
they sell their house in Vass, N.C.
Linda Mackintosh Parks reports that
she and husband Mike moved from Oak
Island, N.C., to their previous hometown
of Burlington, N.C. (actually Elon, N.C.)
in October 2015 after 20 years on the coast.
Since they graduated from high school in
the same class, in addition to being back
among family, they have enjoyed getting
reacquainted with former classmates.
Martha Waters Daniel ’64 (left)
and Pamela Peper Frazier ’64,
along with Pam’s toy poodle, Willy,
returned to Queens’ campus for a
visit in January.
Daniel returned to their alma mater for
a quick visit in January. They were amazed
by the changes. Willy, Pam’s toy poodle,
accompanied them. Whatever happened to
the old Harris Hall?
Suzanne Fleming Warmath landed in
Portland, Ore., on July 21, 2015, with no
return ticket to Charlotte. She now resides
at Holladay Park Plaza, a lovely high-rise
retirement community, eight blocks down
the street from her oldest daughter, Beth.
Two of her daughters live in Portland, and
the third just settled in Seattle. Suzie is over
the moon now that her four grandchildren
are within a three-hour drive! It was difficult
to pry herself away from Charlotte after
50-plus years, but the many delights of the
Pacific Northwest led her to wonder why she
didn’t do it sooner. Y’all come visit!
1966
Erin Challen Bullard and husband, Jim, have
moved to Penney Retirement Community in
rural North Florida near St. Augustine. They
just returned from what will probably be their
last trip to China. A fond farewell to many
friends and their apartment of nine years.
They welcome all to come see them in their
cottage at PRC, which has a guest room just
waiting for visitors, especially those fleeing
the cold North during the winter!
1967
The class expresses sympathy to Tom and
Lyttleton Rich Hollowell on the death
of Tom’s son, Matthew S. Hollowell, who
passed away on January 25.
Jackie White McGrath and her husband,
Bill, have sold their wonderful 50-foot ocean
trawler and bought an RV so they can now
cruise the asphalt sloughs. Their first RV trip
was last summer to the East Coast where they
rendezvoused with Ene Watkins Pate and
husband, Jim, Sara Marcia Perley Rafter
and husband, Bill, and Sally O’Rourke
Lin Litaker, Realtor with Century 21
Towne & Country in Salisbury, N.C., will
be awarded the prestigious Ruby Award at
the International Century 21 Conference
in Orlando, Fla. Lin is a top selling agent
in her office where she serves Rowan,
Cabarrus and Iredell counties. Her website is
MySalisburyNCHome.com.
The class expresses sympathy to Lydia
Alexander McNeary on the death of her
sister-in-law, Jane G. McNeary, who passed
away on January 25.
Betsy Heeseman Collins has a new
grandchild, William James Collins, born
on August 24, 2015, to her oldest son,
Chip, and his wife, Cortlin.
Carol Anderson Rothenberg ’67 stops for a picture at Queens’ College in
Cambridge, England, in October 2015.
SUMMER 2016
1965
31
CLASS NOTES
in San Diego, Calif. On New Year’s Eve,
her newest granddaughter, Sage, was born.
Sage joins her sister, River, who turned 3 in
May. In August 2015, her daughter, Raegan,
married Kevin Prior at La Valencia Resort
in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Anne-Lynn
and Steve are currently planning a 16-day
motorcycle trip to Montana, Colorado and
the Dakotas in late August. They are having
fun in retirement!
1969
The class expresses sympathy to Betty Cobb
Gurnell on the death of her husband, Dale
T. Gurnell, who passed away on December
21, 2015.
1970
Mary Gunter Haviland earned her Ph.D.
in 20th-century art from the University of
Virginia in May 2015.
Margaret Hackett Murphy retired as a U.S.
bankruptcy judge in October 2015. In midAugust, her left shoulder (ball & socket) was
replaced, and the same was done to the right
shoulder in late January. She is delighted
to have all that in the past. She did both
1969 alumni (left to right) Laura Davis Turner, Marion Spann Spivey, Cassie
Edwards Sauer, Susan Staaf Fisher and Myrta Pulliam soak up the sun in February
at a weekend getaway to Marion’s beach house in Seagrove Beach, Fla.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
Morris ’66 and husband, Joe, in the Rafters’
beautiful home in Folly Beach, S.C. The trip
was fun and provided great memories.
32
Carol Anderson Rothenberg had a great
2015 travel year with Jim and friends.
Spring included a cruise from Amsterdam
to Budapest, with added days in Hungary.
Making friends on that trip encouraged
her to travel to Ireland, England and
Scotland in October. She had a photo op
at Queens’ College, Cambridge. Other
highlights included Stonehenge, Bath and
high tea at Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse.
Jeannie Sims Barnwell hosted Carol for a
Southern lunch in July.
1968
Tilda Todd Balsley is enjoying a second
career writing children’s picture books.
Crabbing, which features her father and two
sons catching blue crabs, was made available
this past spring. Ten Hungry Turkeys was
released in fall 2015.
The class expresses sympathy to Edith
Craven Propst on the death of her
stepmother, Sarah Judson McKinley Craven,
who passed away on December 1, 2015.
Anne-Lynn Stahl Teal had a busy and
exciting year, spending a great deal of it
Aileen Ponder Hatcher ’71 married
Michael Patrick McCoy at Peachtree
Road United Methodist Church in
Atlanta, Ga., on May 23, 2015.
CLASS NOTES
trying to wind down her 44-year career as a
CPA, and Mike is continuing to work with
students through Mike McCoy Ministries.
Forever learning, C.H. (Cathie Henson)
Holcombe made 2015 a year of firsts
by delivering the message at her church,
starting a ukulele band and being arrested in
Raleigh as a “Moral Monday” protester with
Reverend Barber of the NAACP. She was
nominated as the Greensboro News & Record’s
2015 Woman of the Year for her work in race
relations and immigration.
at monthly luncheons as part of a
women’s philanthropic organization to
which they belong. They both love being
grandmoms, too.
Liz Aberle Propst recently attended a meetthe-author event with Angela Williams
Williams ’63. Angela’s recently published
book, Hush Now, Baby, tells Angela’s story of
growing up in the segregated South and her
relationship with Eva. Liz shares that it was
delightful to meet Angela, and she has made
such a wonderful contribution by sharing her
story. It documents, in a different way than
The Help, the times when the Class of ’71
was growing up.
Aileen Ponder Hatcher married Michael
Patrick McCoy in Atlanta on May 23, 2015.
Mike is a 1970 graduate of Notre Dame
where he was a Consensus All-American.
With this marriage, Aileen was blessed with
eight grandchildren. Aileen and Mike have
spent the summer in Cashiers, N.C., and
have moved to Ponte Vedra, Fla. Aileen is
Classmates and KDs Ann Hinson, Helen
Harrison and Anne New Brown traveled
to Orlando, Fla., to visit Sherry Thomas
Ford. Anne has just started a commercial
embroidery business, Helen has retired from
a banking career and Sherry works part-time
Friends since 1968, Class of ’72 alumni (left to right) Susan Salyer Wilson, Tricia
Gaston, Kathy Mullenix, Anne Thomas Mikula and Patsy Beckford Acheson spent
time together at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., in October 2015.
surgeries, as well as the inside of her right
knee in 2012, at the Steadman Hawkins
Clinic in Greenville, S.C. She has lived
in the same house for 40 years (renovated
just three-and-a-half times) and is looking
forward to a relatively pain-free retirement.
Carolyn Sakowski was recently elected
secretary of the board of directors of the
Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. She
has served on the board since 2012 during
which time she served as editor for the
18-segment trail guides. The 1,100-mile trail
stretches from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s
Ridge. The guides can be downloaded at
ncmst.org.
1972
1971
Sallie Trippe Broach and Teresa Caton
Cantrell live in the same neighborhood
in Asheville, N.C. They see each other
On January 11, alumni from the Class of 1972 gathered at Sherry Thomas Ford’s house
in Orlando, Fla., to visit and catch up—their first reunion in almost 20 years. (Left
to right) Ann Hinson, Sherry Thomas Ford, Anne New Brown and Helen Harrison.
SUMMER 2016
Sharon Roberts Young and husband, Randy,
are still living in Atlanta, Ga., where she is
the director of development for World Water
Relief, and Randy continues practicing
architecture. In the past few years, they’ve
traveled to Curacao several times, visited
Normandy and hiked in Wales. In July they
will be hiking in Norway, north of the Arctic
Circle. Their bucket list includes a lot more
traveling, hiking and adventuring to faraway
places and in the U.S.
33
CLASS NOTES
the past year—all are alive and well. She
sees Mary Arthur on television during her
advertisement for something to do with
elder care.
1974
Robin Reeve Allen ’73 holds her 10th
and 11th grandchildren, Virginia Mills
(left) and Luke Wilson Hargather
(right) on January 8 in Atlanta, Ga.
The babies are the great-greatniece and -nephew of Professor
Charles Hadley.
in a business that she and her husband own.
Ann has retired from the pharmaceutical
industry. It was a short trip but they had a
great time getting caught up on each other’s
lives after almost 20 years!
QUEENS MAGAZINE
1973
34
Robin Reeve Allen and her husband,
Rick, welcomed their 10th and 11th
grandchildren, twins Virginia Mills and
Luke Wilson Hargather, on January 8,
born to daughter, Molly, and her husband,
Jamie, in Atlanta, Ga. The twins weighed 6
pounds, 9 ounces and 6 pounds, 13 ounces.
Big brother, Hammond, is almost 4, and big
sister, Delle, is almost 2. This was their fourth
grandchild born in the last nine months.
Daughter Robin Anne and her husband,
Bob, welcomed their second daughter, Ellis,
on April 29, 2015. Their son, Andy, and his
wife, Betsy, welcomed daughter, Elsie, on
September 29, 2015. Their daughter, Jennifer,
has four children. Dr. Charles Hadley is the
great-great uncle!
Margaret McEver Cobb says hello to
fellow classmates and relates that she has
seen Jacqueline DeBerry O’Dell, Nora
Tubbs Tisdale, Helen Keller, Mary Eaddy
Petrakis and Nadia Rasheed Black within
Allison Burns Hankinson retired from
teaching in June. Since then she has been
enjoying her grandchildren, rocking babies
at the hospital in the neonatal intensive care
unit and traveling a little with Jimmy. She
sometimes misses teaching (just a little). She
has a daughter living in Charlotte and has
strolled her grandson through the campus to
see all of the changes.
1975
The class expresses sympathy to Sallye Clark
Zink on the death of her father, Rosser L.
Clark, Jr., who passed away on January 2.
1976
Linda Cable Shute Kepler has two new
upcoming releases, Come, Thou Fount of
Every Blessing by Neil Kjos, and Lord,
Throughout These Forty Days by Augsburg
Fortress Publishers. The octavos are set for
soprano, alto, tenor, bass choir and keyboard.
Her son, Preston, graduated from Georgia
Southern University last summer and is now
employed by an IT firm in Augusta, Ga.
Linda and husband Tim are loving life while
enjoying their three grandchildren: Zach
(13), Mekaela (4), and Olivia (6 months).
to be married. Their other son, Michael,
joined Rob in medical practice as a family
physician, as did daughter Mary Kelly
Henderson as a nurse practitioner. Two
granddaughters were born, so they now have
three grandchildren. Their dining table is full
at last...just adding highchairs!
1977
M’Lou Greene and Jennie Banks finally got
married on September 23, 2015, after 38+
years. The wedding was a small, family event
and celebrated with friends in November.
1978
Doris Mills Davis is looking forward to a
sentimental journey to the old farm and
homeplace in Kentucky, settled by a group of
pioneers in the 1800s, utilizing land grants of
that time. Twenty families made the trek from
upper-eastern N.C. in covered wagons using
the newly opened Appalachian Trail. The
trip took all summer; some babies were born
along the way, delivered by her great-greatgrandmother, who was a midwife. Others
Despite living her fantasy in sunny southern
Florida, Elizabeth Pearce is still working
remotely as the director of intellectual
property for AIG. She is also completing a
third term on the board of directors of the
International Trademark Association. She
would like to congratulate outstanding alum
award winners Moira Gomez Madonia and
Sally Stapleton!
The class expresses sympathy to Helen
Church Peery on the death of her husband,
Walton S. Peery, who passed away on
November 25, 2015.
Lydia Staton Reid and husband Rob’s son,
Nicholas, was the last of their four children
Jill Chancey Philips ’78 pauses from
work in her studio in Columbus,
Ga., February 2015. Knack And Jill,
her line of hand-painted linens,
celebrated one year in business
this February.
ALUMNI PROFILE
The white-dressed figure in the
center of Ray’s painting, Woman of
Color (2015), has a fluid, bold grace.
California artist Ray Hart, known professionally as rayhart, holds Hattie
Mae, a 2012 acrylic painting that is a tribute to his late grandmother. His
open, feel-flowing technique can be compared to American jazz music,
intended to stir an emotional connection in the viewer.
Paintings with Soul
BASKETBALL BROUGHT
RAY HART ’92 TO QUEENS,
BUT AFTER GRADUATION
HE DISCOVERED HIS
TRUE PASSION
B
In Ray’s painting, Our Mother
(2016), the center figure wraps a
protective and affectionate arm
around the woman in yellow.
Philadelphia Art Expo, to the New
Harlem Art Show in Indianapolis to
Gallery 13 in Denver, Colorado.
“There was a time when I wanted to
be a sociologist,” Ray says, whose early
influences include Jacob Lawrence,
Romare Bearden and Vincent van
Gogh. “So while my art is pro black,
it’s not black art. It’s for all races,
young people and old. In my work, I
am inviting everyone to the party.”
—Ron Stodghill MFA ’07
SUMMER 2016
ack in the late 1980s, when
Ray Hart made his debut
on the Queens campus, he
looked for all the world like one of
the school’s newest jocks. Queens
had just launched its first NCAA
men’s basketball team and recruited
Ray, a point and shooting guard
from South Florida, to join its
fledgling squad.
Less known is that by the time Ray
first laced his sneakers at Queens,
his interest in hoops was already
waning. “Basketball was my passion
when I was younger,” says Ray,
who now lives in Ashburn, Virginia,
a suburb of Washington, DC
“But by the time I got to college, I
realized there was more to life than
sports. I was burnt out.”
What he hadn’t yet realized was that
beneath his Queens Royals jersey beat
the heart of an artist. Off the court,
the sociology major displayed all the
signs: at turns emotional, analytical
and philosophical. “Ray was always a
serious thinker,” says former Queens
teammate Darryl White ’92. “He was
independent minded and an out-ofthe box thinker, but none of us had
any idea that he would become what
he is today.”
A couple of years after graduation,
Ray’s girlfriend gave him a beginner’s
paint set as a gift. Today, more than
two decades later, Ray (who is
professionally known as rayhart) has
gained distinction as an American
painter whose vibrant, surreal and
Southern-themed works draw crowds
at galleries nationwide and have sold
for thousands. Working primarily in
oils and acrylic, his colorful collection
of abstract landscapes and soulful
renderings of men and women have
been displayed across the US, from the
35
CLASS NOTES
Professors Emeriti Jane and Charles Hadley (front row center and right) led an alumni trip to New York City in late January.
Attending were (back row, left to right) Paige Ferguson Burgess ’85, Beth Erwin Ford ’88, Amy Tope Vandenberg ’85,
Stephanie Hilleson Safrit ’86, and (front row left) Adelaide Anderson Davis ’61.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
died and were buried. Her two daughters
and son-in-law and three other relatives will
accompany them on this “return” trip. Oldest
daughter, Carolyn, will break away from
obligations as a coach for attorneys and from
husband, Jay Sklar, of Covenant Theological
Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., where he is dean
and professor of Old Testament. Timing
will depend on daughter number two, a
freelance musician in New York City, where
she is currently playing with Phantom
and The King & I. From there they will go
to Petersburg, Ky., to visit The Creation
Museum, and then drive to St. Louis to fly
home. Happy travels!
36
Jill Chancey Philips, artist and owner
behind the brand Knack And Jill, has recently
debuted on Zulily. Knack And Jill is a home,
gifts and lifestyle brand specializing in handpainted and silk-screened linens. Visit her
website: www.knackandjill.com.
Frances (not “Bootsie”!) Simons has lived
on Kauai, Hawaii, for most of the last 33
years. She received her bachelor’s degree
from The University of Georgia and her
J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
She is the administrative partner of Kauai
Design & Architecture. She divides her time
between Kauai and Palmetto Bluff, S.C.
She is devoted to her dogs and career.
1979
Susan Forester DeWyngaert loves living in
the Annapolis, Md. area. She is pastor
of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in
Severna Park, Md., where she has the pleasure
of working with two gifted pastoral colleagues,
Nick Cheek ’01 and Ashley Lewis Cheek ’06.
1980
Margaret Whittier Ellingson sadly reports
the death of her father, Richard N. Whittier,
on November 11, 2015, in Atlanta, Ga.
The class expresses sympathy to Sarah
Ahern MacDougall on the death of her
father, Donald H. Ahern, who passed away
on January 1.
1981
Gail Russell Alexander is 68 this year and has
finally retired. She sold her business, Russell
Tennis Center, to a friend, Ellen Archer, who
is now operates the club. Gail’s husband is
still working. He is a mechanical engineer
and a graduate of UNCC and Stanford
University. She sang with the Charlotte
Symphony Orchestra Chorus for five
years under the direction of Mary Nell
Saunders, whom she misses. The Class of
’81 will remember her for teaching voice
and directing the Queens chorus. Gail
hopes everyone is doing well. She is looking
forward to going to Germany this year to see
a production of one of her plays. Best wishes
to everyone.
The class expresses sympathy to Deborah
Springfield on the death of her mother, June
Holder, who passed away on February 8.
CLASS NOTES
1983
1988
The class expresses sympathy to Peggy
Williams Withrow on the death of her
daughter, Ronda Kay Williams ’86, who
passed away on January 12.
The class expresses sympathy to Cynthia
Spraker Mills on the death of her father,
Charles Spraker, who passed away on
January 11.
On July 31, 2015, Caryn Smith Long
became Dr. Caryn Smith Long after having
been awarded the degree of Ph.D. from
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater,
Okla., with a concentration in educational
technology. Her research, The Impact
of Asynchronous Online Course Design
for Professional Development on Science
Teacher Self-Efficacy, was designed to
provide guidance for NASA’s Digital
Learning Network.
1985
1989
1984
The class expresses sympathy to Taylor
Hyde Swink on the death of her mother,
Elizabeth Gilmour Hyde, who passed away
on September 24, 2015.
1987
The class expresses sympathy to Elene
McGee Busch on the death of her husband,
Henry Busch, who passed away on October
13, 2015.
The class expresses sympathy to Lynn
Middleton Cole on the death of her father,
Herbert Davis Middleton III, who passed
away on January 17.
1990
Virginia Covington Halter is still living in
Harrisburg, N.C., with her family. Micah is
finishing up his freshman year at Georgia
Tech and made the Dean’s List as well as
the ultimate frisbee team. Maya is a junior
at Hickory Ridge High and is captain of
her school color and winter guard. Maya
has also just recently been contracted with
Evolution Talent, so you may be seeing her
more. Jonathan and Virginia are building
an addition on their home to welcome her
parents to join them in Harrisburg. The fun
never stops!
1991
Paige “Duffy” Lewis is the campaign
manager for Russell Guerard for S.C. State
House 110. She is also a freelance writer and
adjunct history professor in Charleston, S.C. 1992
The class expresses sympathy to Valerie
Elder Pearce on the death of her father-inlaw, Benjamin M. Pearce, who passed away
on February 13.
1995
The class expresses sympathy to Connor M.
Bost on the death of his father, Thomas Bost,
who passed away on February 3.
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SUMMER 2016
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37
CLASS NOTES
and Ace, recently moved to a new home in
Greensboro and are getting settled in their
new town. Ollie is happy to leave Charlotte
and to not lose any more money to Gareth
Lugg ’99 on the golf course.
After 12 years of marriage, Katie Densford
McCoy and husband, Labon, finally took the
big leap, welcoming daughter, Mariel “Mira”
Laurel, on October 16, 2015. In January,
Katie was promoted to chief of staff in the
Charlotte city manager’s office.
Scott Trowbridge has a son named Relam
who is 2 now and knows all his planets,
vehicles and basic weaponry. Scott is still
living in the Washington, D.C., area and
has not yet been disbarred from the legal
profession. He put out a few albums in the
last year-ish. Visit foglings.com to see more
about his new band, Foglings.
In December 2015, the Brownfield and Persson families met in West Virginia at
The Greenbrier for their annual celebration of Christmas and Elizabeth Hunter
Persson’s ’00 birthday. (Back, left to right) Klas Persson, Andrew Brownfield ’97.
(Front, left to right) Ellis Persson, 2; Elizabeth Hunter Persson ’00 holding Sofia
Rose Persson, 8 months; Brooklyn Brownfield, 4; Kennedy Brownfield, 3, held by
Heather Connelly Brownfield ’98.
1996
Ericka Michelle Ellis-Stewart
was
overwhelmingly re-elected to the CharlotteMecklenburg Board of Education for a
second four-year term on November 3,
2015. Ericka received nearly 37,000 votes
in a nine-person race. She was initially
elected to the board in November of 2011
and served as chairman of the board in
2012. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of
Education is the 17th largest school district
in the country, with 147,000 students, nearly
19,000 employees and a $1.3 billion budget.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
1997
38
Zina Al Azmeh became assistant vice
president for strategic communication
and outreach at Qatar University in
November 2015.
2015 was a year filled with milestones. Katie
Currin was married to Stephanie Hunter on
a mountaintop in Canada. Katie celebrated
15 years of service as a paramedic to the
people of Mecklenburg County. She has
moved to Cabarrus County and has started
serving the citizens there. She enjoys life
with her two dogs and her wife’s four cats.
A major part of her life and annual tradition
since graduating in 1997 is going camping
in Boone, N.C., with friends from the
Queen City.
1999
Sunshine Ison is back in the U.S. for her
fifth posting as a Foreign Service officer,
this time as senior advisor for innovation
and director of The Collaboratory in the
State Department’s Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs. Look her up
1998
Diedre Brown Birkmeyer welcomed her
third son, Joseph Stewart Birkmeyer, on
September 2, 2015. Joseph joins big brother
Nicholas (6) and Daniel (4). They are
enjoying life in Michigan.
On June 1, 2015, Ollie Chandhok was
named president and publisher of the Triad
Business Journal, a multi-platform media
company focused on local business news
in the Triad region of N.C. It is owned by
Advance Publications of New York City.
Ollie has spent the last seven years working
with American City Business Journals, most
recently in a national audience director role.
He, his wife, Kenna, and children, Olivia
Ollie Chandhok ’98 speaks at
the Triad Business Journal’s 2015
Healthiest Employer’s event at
the Greensboro Country Club in
June 2015.
ALUMNI PROFILE
A Poet’s Music
CLASSICALLY TRAINED
IN PIANO, JON LINDSAY
PHILLIPS ’03 STUDIED
POETRY AT QUEENS, LATER
COMBINING MUSIC AND
WORDS TO BECOME A
SINGER AND SONG WRITER
J
on Lindsay Phillips moved
to Charlotte at age nine, one
week before Hurricane Hugo hit
in 1989. He vividly recalls watching
an uprooted basketball goal and an
outdoor shed fly past the family home
while taking refuge in the basement.
Amidst the raw fury of nature,
the eye of the hurricane passed
directly overhead, and he briefly
ran outside to experience the eerily
beautiful sunlit calm.
A passionate creator of indie-pop music, Jon Lindsay’s achievements
range from writer and singer to producer for other artists.
Jon Lindsay’s newest album is
Cities & Schools.
and pop songs, it has much to
do with the songwriters that
have most inspired him. To
varying degrees, they all balance
nimble melodies and smart
lyrics. His pantheon includes
Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney,
Brian Wilson and, especially,
Randy Newman.
“I think Randy Newman is the
best living American songwriter,”
he says. “His songs are such a great
mix of gorgeous arrangements and
melodies with devastating subject
matter.”
Jon currently lives in Raleigh,
though he still owns a house
in Charlotte and foresees a time
down the road when he might
sink roots here again. “When I’m
older I’d love to plant the flag back
in Charlotte and start a family,”
he says. —Parke Puterbaugh
SUMMER 2016
As a full-time musician, Jon
himself has been creating at a
whirlwind pace since graduating
from Queens in 2003 with a BA
in English. You might say that his
music is the bright, tuneful eye that
emerges from his furiously driven
approach to work.
To date he has released three
albums under the abbreviated name
Jon Lindsay. The latest is titled Cities
& Schools. He has also recorded with
two other bands, The Young Songs
and The Catch Fire; produced a slew
of fellow North Carolina musicians;
toured the country; and spearheaded
a series of politically themed records
for his Love Army label, including
the multi-artist album We Are Not
for Sale: Songs of Protest.
Jon displayed early gifts as a
keyboard prodigy. “As a kid,” he
recalls, “I was a classically trained
pianist who would go to the statechampionship piano recitals.”
He also had a literary bent that
he developed at Queens. He studied
creative writing under Cathy Smith
Bowers, who helped him focus and
develop his interest in poetry. After
graduation he earned an MFA in
writing at the School of the Arts
Institute of Chicago, where he
wrote a lengthy manuscript of short
stories. Creatively stoked, he moved
back to Charlotte in 2005.
“That’s when I went full-into
music and never looked back,”
he says.
If you’re wondering about the
link between poetry, short stories
39
CLASS NOTES
(sunshine_ison@yahoo.com) if you find yourself
in the D.C. area. She’s also happy to talk to any
students or alumni interested in the Foreign
Service or study abroad opportunities.
2000
Chelsea Banta Barnes welcomed her second
son, Sawyer Paul Barnes, born December 4,
2015. Everyone is doing great!
Ashley Hutchens Mills has begun a
new career as the Surry County Schools
Educational Foundation liaison. Her
daughters, Cassidy and Carleigh Jo,
have made great grades on their recent
report cards.
2001
Heidi Snyderburn Campbell and her
husband, Justin, welcomed another baby boy
into their family last summer. Jagger Kai
joins brother Maximus.
Melissa Swonger Orr has now successfully
completed her journey to race a marathon
in all 50 states and D.C. The marathon
journey continues as she is a few years from
reaching the 100 marathon mark. All of
the running maintains her sanity while she
continues her career in banking and risk.
2002
Lindsey Seaman Demirjian and her
husband, Jeff Demirjian ’03, welcomed
their second child, Bailey Anne, on April
29, 2015. Just like mommy and daddy,
big sister Leah is completely smitten with
her sister.
2003
At this writing, Dre Alford Manoni,
husband, RJ, and son, Daxton, were looking
forward to meeting their newest addition in
May 2016. Daxton turned 3 in April and
was excited to meet his baby sister.
2004
Aaron Brantly and Nataliya welcomed
their third son, Daniel, in June 2015.
Aaron is currently the assistant professor
of international relations and cyber in
the Department of Social Sciences at the
United States Military Academy, a Cyber
Policy Fellow at the Army Cyber Institute,
and a Cyber Fellow at the Combating
Terrorism Center.
Briana Watkins Savago has been working as
a nurse in postpartum at Carolinas Medical
Center Main in Charlotte. She is currently
working toward a license as an International
Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She
and her husband Patrick are enjoying time
with their two boys, Liam (3) and Connor
(1), and they are all looking forward to
settling into their new home.
2005
Ashley Adams Nechay married Evgeni
Nechay on December 31, 2015, in a
wonderful New Year’s Eve ceremony. Sheena
Lambert Miracle was one of the bridesmaids
and brought her beautiful baby girl, Anna (8
months old), and husband, Drew, to celebrate.
Scott Thomas also attended the wedding
festivities. The newlyweds are purchasing
their first home in the Atlanta area, and
Ashley is continuing her solo practice
focusing on civil litigation and mediation.
Since leaving Queens, Michael Wetsel
earned his doctorate in psychology and
married on November 7, 2015. He now goes
by Mike professionally but is still “Mikey” to
those at Queens. He hopes everyone is doing
well and enjoying the color orange.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
2006
40
Devon Grenda Carley ’05 enjoys a beautiful December 2015 day with her
husband, Darrell Carley, and kiddos Preston and Addison. The Carleys reside in
Alpharetta, Ga., where Devon is a stay-at-home mommy to 4-year-old Preston
and 2-year-old Addison.
Devin Baranowski received her insurance
license in the fall of 2015 and has begun
a career in insurance. She continues to
volunteer as chapter advisor for Alpha Delta
Pi Chapter at Tennessee Tech. Her weekends
are filled spending time with her boyfriend,
Chaise, and his 5-year-old daughter, Teagan.
At this writing, Amanda Banks McGrath
and Kyle McGrath ’07, were anticipating
CLASS NOTES
the birth of a baby boy, Chandler Nicholas,
expected in May. Their daughter, Bennett,
is 3 years old and is thrilled about her big
sister promotion. They look forward to the
sleepless nights and adventures ahead.
Christina White Santos has been busy
cheering for the Carolina Panthers with her
husband, since they are new PSL owners and
season ticket holders. Her free time is spent
with daughters and her son, Damon, who
is now in preschool! Christina is currently
working on expanding her business and
developing Charlotte’s first gift shop on
wheels, Chrissy’s Cruisin’ Creations.
2007
Since moving to New York City, Elizabeth
Minei has opened an organizational
consulting business, EMinei Consulting;
she recently completed work on the
Lululemon 2015 Winter Campaign. She is
also an assistant professor at Baruch College,
teaching corporate communication and
group communication.
2008
Allison Weatherford Fiske and Ian Fiske
’05 are living happily in Orlando, Fla., with
their son, Jackson Revere. They’re happy to
announce the second (and final?) addition to
the family, expected in August!
Iain Hall was back in Charlotte from Ireland
for Homecoming weekend, to be inducted
into the Athletics Hall of Fame. As part of
the celebrations, he had a Rex cake. This
was his first trip back since 2013, and
great fun was had. Catching up with the
likes of the Leventhals, Diego, Wheeler,
Mikey, Ray and many others was fantastic.
Preliminary plans are in the works for
another reunion!
Taryn Wolford received her PGA
Professional Class A membership in
March of 2015. She has worked as a golf
professional since graduating from Queens.
Taryn is a golf instructor in Charlotte. She
enjoys teaching the game to people of all
ages and skill levels.
2009
Martha Autry went on her first mission trip
to Haiti with a group of 24 members from
Forest Hill Church. While there, the team
worked closely with Mission of Hope Haiti.
The work that she did in the townships while
on her JBIP in South Africa really helped
prepare her for this experience. Haiti had
such an impact on her that she is already
planning to go back.
Elisabeth Podair Blum married Alex Blum
on October 10, 2015, at the McGill Rose
Garden in Charlotte. Bridesmaids included
Keatin McKenzie, Allison Weatherford
Fiske ’08 and Ellie Ramm.
Katie Walsh Gilbert married Jon Gilbert
on May 30, 2015, in Asheville. Maid of
honor, Alyssa Knowles Cox ’08, bridesmaid
Chandler Tribble Spafford ’08, and
bridesmaid Molly Hogan ’09 were by
her side. She was also joined by several of
her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters at the
wedding, including Sarah Hannon Iwanusa
’08, Rachael Spangler Rogers ’09, Taylor
Jacobs Prascak ’10 and Holly Chambers
’10. The night was finished with an ADPi
mount up chant on the dance floor. Larissa
Tomasulo ’10 did hair and make-up for
Katie and her bridesmaids.
Gayle Smith retired from her position
as director of advertising for The Post and
Courier in Charleston, S.C., and is now a
Realtor with Carolina One Real Estate, also
in Charleston. She divides her time between
the Lowcountry and Hickory, N.C., where
her husband is an attorney. Daughters
Jennifer Daniel ’08 and Mary Isaacs ’07
live in Charlotte with their families. Jennifer
teaches at Queens.
Brittain Williams recently took a job at
Trident Medical Center in Charleston,
S.C., on the surgical trauma team. Here
she met her future husband, John Gibbs,
who proposed on a recent ski trip to Aspen,
Colo. Brittain and John plan to be married in
October in Charleston, S.C.
SUMMER 2016
Sarah Mercier Kirby is currently a business
immigration analyst at Seyfarth Shaw LLP
in Washington, D.C. She and her husband,
Charles Kirby, live in Arlington, Va.
Hilary Armel Hall ’09 and Iain Hall ’08 celebrate in Charlotte, N.C., after Iain was
inducted into the Royals Athletics Hall of Fame on February 12. As part of the
festivities, they enjoyed a “Rex” cake!
41
ALUMNI
PROFILE
CLASS
NOTES
“Is That Wall Available?”
AMY BAGWELL MFA ’09 PUTS POETRY IN UNEXPECTED CHARLOTTE PLACES
A
my Bagwell writes poems.
She picks poems that end up
as paintings on the sides of
buildings in Charlotte. She teaches
poetry. She just hung 40 pieces of
art around Charlotte’s Elizabeth
neighborhood; most contain a few
words. Put them together and you
get… a poem.
“I’m a one-trick pony,” she
says, laughing.
Graham Carew (left) and Amy Bagwell MFA ’09 sit on the lawn in front of
Carl Sandburg’s poem, “The People, Yes,” painted on a large retaining wall
at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte. Completed in 2015, the poem was
designed by Michael Drake.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
Amy is the creative force behind
Wall Poems of Charlotte.
42
In April 2013—four years after
earning a Master of Fine Art in
Creative Writing degree at Queens—
Amy became the creative force
behind Wall Poems of Charlotte,
which started with the painting of A.
R. Ammons’ poem, “Salute,” on the
side of Dandelion Market in uptown
Charlotte. Since then, she and her
partner, Graham Carew, have painted
a dozen wall poems around Charlotte,
all written by North Carolina poets.
The most recent one, “Love Comes
Quietly,” is a Robert Creeley piece
painted next to flowers on the back
of Soul Gastrolounge. The routine for
each poem is the same. Amy picks it.
Graham paints the design (the text is
painted by Scott Nurkin).
She loves a poem’s powerful brevity.
“It can accomplish so much in a tiny,
tiny space,” she says. The problem, to
her, is that most poetry is inaccessible,
locked up on bookstore shelves. Wall
poems put the words in front of you
to read. If you want. “I’m not fighting
the ‘You need poetry’ fight,” she
says. “I’m fighting the ‘You deserve
poetry’ fight.”
Amy, 45, got the idea as an MFA
student at Queens. She wrote 50
poems for her creative thesis, but her
Donald Justice’s poem, “Bus Stop,”
causes the reader to consider, “These
lives we lead / But do not own—”.
craft thesis centered on getting the
poetry into the public eye. Through
her research, she learned about 101
wall poems in Leiden, Holland. She
taught a seminar on the topic, and
everyone seemed to think it was a
good idea. Three years later, she met
Graham. “He got us a wall,” she says.
The second wall poem features
the work of Queens MFA instructor
Jon Pineda, and Amy says others
at Queens helped her both connect
with poets and learn how to advocate
for poetry. “I came into the program
knowing that I wrote poems,” she
says. “I left the program a poet.”
Amy teaches English at Central
Piedmont Community College and
was one of the forces behind a
temporary art installation at a soonto-be demolished Goodyear store
across from the Duke Energy
Center. She plans to keep putting up
more wall poems across Charlotte,
even if her favorite piece keeps
changing. “It’s always the most
recent one,” she says.
—Jeremy Markovich
CLASS NOTES
2010
Michael Mazhari ’11 and Brooke Jeter
Mazhari welcomed their son, William
Baker, on August 26, 2015. He has been an
absolute joy and has changed their lives in
the best way imaginable. They are excited
to take him to visit Queens and show him
where it all began!
Branden Stansley is currently a postdoctoral
research fellow at Vanderbilt in the Center
for Neuroscience Drug Discovery. He
received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the
University of Toledo College of Medicine in
March 2015 and took the Vanderbilt position
soon after. Vanderbilt has been a great
place to work so far, and he really likes the
Nashville area! Maggie Payne Stansley’s ’09
pottery is building back up, as she recently
moved to town and is on a few waitlists to get
into a good studio space. She’s working for
a non-profit, The Land Trust for Tennessee, Leslie Pitman Reynolds moved to
which conserves land throughout the state.
Nashville, Tenn., in May 2015, where
she works as program manager for the
Joel Tomkinson and Claire Lowrance Vanderbilt International Scholar Program.
Tomkinson ’08 welcomed Noelle James into In October, she married Tim Reynolds,
the world on December 30, 2015. She loves whom she met during her graduate program
wearing her Queens onesie and can’t wait to at the University of South Carolina. Queens
alumni were among the wedding party and
attend her parents’ alma mater in 18 years.
guests. Leslie’s bridesmaids wore Queens’
student Sally Van Cleve ’17’s WATERrings,
which support clean drinking water in Haiti
Joey Haynes and Tracy Price Bradey and the Dominican Republic.
’91 joined Park Road Baptist Church in
Cuba while visiting their church’s sister
congregation, Resurrection Baptist in
March 2015.
Aayla Alexander received The National
Association of Social Workers North
Carol Jean Deason is now working in the Carolina Chapter’s Presidents’ Award
post-anesthesia care unit at Carolinas Medical presented to a Master of Social Work
Center Main in Charlotte. She became graduate student for the 2015-2016
engaged in June 2015 to Michael Sanchez. academic year. The award, presented in
Raleigh, N.C., on March 29, honored
They married April 10 in Rock Hill, S.C.
2011
2013
SUMMER 2016
Brittany Weller Oliver ’09 married Michael Oliver ’08 on July 18, 2015, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Middle row, left to right) Larissa
Tomasulo ’11, Alyssa Knowles Cox ’08, Kelly Wrightson ’10, Carolyn Parsons ’09, Candler Reed ’09, Lauren Bilski ’08, Sarah
Hannon Iwanusa ’08, Jillian Durgin ’07, Bradley Stalker ’08, Robert Klein. (Back row, left to right) Michael Shermeyer, Randy
Jones ’08, Andy Capallo ’09, Benjamin Storms ’08, Rob Bacharach ’11, Cory Thomas ’09, Nathan Howitt ’12, Christina
Buckner Powell ’08, Eric Powell ’08, Zach Garcia ’10, Joseph Kelley.
43
CLASS NOTES
Aayla’s exceptional leadership skills and
professional potential.
In summer 2015, Karan Barber studied
the stunning ecosystems, fascinating array
of unique desert plants and the diversity of
life at the Bahía de Los Ángeles UNESCO
World Heritage site and in the crystal blue
waters of the Sea of Cortez. Karan, the
executive director at E-Corps Expeditions
Inc. in Charlotte, N.C., took the graduate
course in pursuit of her master’s degree from
Miami University’s Global Field Program.
Hollie Flowe Bittikofer has been
promoted to the cardiac intensive care unit
at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical
Center in Charlotte.
Tracy Price Bradey ’91 and Joey Haynes ’11 joined Park Road Baptist Church
in Cuba in March 2015. The Charlotte congregation visited sister church,
Resurrection Baptist.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
We enjoyed seeing
our alumni & friends
at fall and winter
events in these cities!
44
Charleston
Atlanta
Raleigh
Charlotte
New York
2016-2017
Dates will be announced soon.
Visit connect.queens.edu and make plans to join us at
an event near you.
Calvin Lescault changed jobs and now
works for Write Boston, a non-profit
that seeks to promote learning through
writing. He manages a writing center
at Boston International Newcomers
Academy, a public school that supports
the immigrant population in Boston. He
really enjoys serving students who face so
many barriers to education. Over the course
of the academic year, Write Boston will
CLASS NOTES
Elisabeth Podair Blum ’09 (center) married Alex Blum on October 10, 2015, at the McGill Rose Garden in Charlotte, N.C. (Left
to right) Carrie Blum, Jen Clay, Keatin McKenzie ’09, Elisabeth Podair Blum ’09, Allison Weatherford Fiske ’08, Hannah
Redmond and Ellie Ramm ’09.
provide more than 500 tutoring sessions at
the academy. Bree Stallings has been taking the
Charlotte arts scene by storm! Her
artwork, Supernova, was selected as one of
2015’s 20 ArtPop Billboards that were
brightly displayed all over Mecklenburg
County with the help of the Arts and
Science Council and Adams Outdoor
Advertising. On January 29 she opened
her duo gallery, Roots and Wings, with
renowned local artist, Susan Carlisle Bell.
She also recently completed two large public
murals, one commissioned by CharlotteMecklenburg Schools for Pinewood
Elementary and the other for SweetWater
Brewing Company in Lake Wylie, S.C. You
can keep up with her adventures by visiting
her studio at C3 Lab in South End or at
breestallings.com.
Bree Stallings ’13 paints at the
Pearls for Creative Healing gala in
spring 2015 at the McColl Center for
Art + Innovation in Charlotte, N.C.
The event raised funds to support
survivors of domestic violence.
2014
SUMMER 2016
Celebrating Leslie Pitman Reynolds’ ’11 wedding to Tim Reynolds are: (front row,
left to right) Liza Villeux, Ashley Van Osten Galdo ’10, Shona Hurt ’12, Leslie
Pitman Reynolds ’11, Charlotte Davis ’12, Meaghan O’Reilly ’11. (Back row, left to
right) Eric Galdo ’11, Michael Fleming ’12, Natalie McLemore ’11, Tim Reynolds,
Wes Clarkson ’11, Joey Haynes ’11. The wedding took place in Jacksonville, Fla.,
October 17, 2015.
Over the past year, Christina Cosby
completed her second year of the Masters of
Divinity program at Princeton Theological
Seminary. During this time, she worked
as a student pastor at Madison Avenue
Presbyterian Church in New York City. This
experience has granted Christina various
opportunities to teach, preach and lead
worship. If you are ever in New York City on
a Sunday morning, come visit for worship!
45
CLASS NOTES
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The class expresses sympathy to Patrick
Laratta MBA ’85 on the death of his
mother-in-law, Dolores C. Fox, who passed
away on December 25, 2015.
The class expresses sympathy to Erin
McGarity Chalfant MAT ’05 on the
death of her son, Miller Evans Chalfant,
who passed away on January 27.
Miller was also the grandson of Peggy
Phillips Crowder ’48.
Mia Harmo MAT ’05 was named Bain
Elementary’s Teacher of the Year for 20152016. Bain Elementary is located in Mint
Hill, N.C., and is part of the CharlotteMecklenburg Schools. Mia was selected by
fellow teachers in recognition of her hard
work and dedication to her students. She
is currently working with a team of eight
teachers at Bain to implement a personalized
learning environment for the students there.
Beachhead, a novel by Jeffery Hess MFA
’05, hit bookstores in March. This is Jeff ’s
debut novel, which follows on the heels of
two award-winning anthologies, Home of
the Brave: Stories in Uniform and Home of
the Brave: Somewhere in the Sand, which he
edited. In addition to writing and editing,
Jeff leads a creative writing workshop
expressly for military veterans. Learn more
at jefferyhess.com.
The class expresses sympathy to Sarah Park
Rankin MFA ’06 on the death of her father,
Alfred W. Stuart, who passed away on
November 1, 2015.
QUEENS MAGAZINE
The class expresses sympathy to Leora
Itzhaki MSA ’11 on the death of her
father, Edward Itzhaki, who passed away on
December 19, 2015.
46
Kim Henderson EMBA ’12 began a
new chapter in her career as senior vice
president of Novant Health Foundation
and Community Relations in May 2015. In
October 2015, Kim took on the Trailblaze
Challenge 28.5 Mile Hike to support the
Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Jane Triplett MSEC ’13, principal of
Clarity Through Coaching, LLC, recently
completed the Center for Credentialing &
Education’s application and examination
requirements required for the Board
Certified Coach (BCC) certification,
adding the BCC designation to her
professional credentials.
Michael Brantley MFA ’14 has been
promoted to visiting assistant professor of
English. His book, Memory Cards, which
was released in the summer of 2015, is
doing well. Michael has been fortunate
enough to have several readings across the
state. In November, he was a speaker at the
SAMLA Conference in Durham, N.C.
the Southeast. Pioneer Investments was
started in 1928 and maintains the third
oldest mutual fund in the industry.
Upon completion of his graduate studies,
Richard Wells MSOD ’15 received a
director title promotion at Bank of America
in late 2015. He thanks the McColl School
of Business for a stellar program.
Ellen Birkett Morris MFA ’14 is the
winner of Shenandoah magazine’s 2015
Bevel Summers Prize for Short Short
Fiction. She received a prize of $1,000,
and her story, May Apples, appeared in
the fall issue of the magazine. Editor
R. T. Smith says of the contest, “Every
year we receive more and better entries
in the short short story genre, which is
ideal for a web journal like ours. Ms.
Morris’s story, or ‘flash fiction,’ is
remarkable for its vivid particularity and
range of implication. It’s about youth
and age, art and nature, resistance and
acceptance. A lovely, thrifty story.”
Erin Payton Pritchard MSOD ’14
married Nate Pritchard in October 2015,
and was accepted to UMBC in Baltimore
for his Ph.D. in public policy. Erin left the
CPCC library in Charlotte after being
hired as a trainer/instructional developer/
OD consultant for Johns Hopkins
University in November 2015, helping
with their transition to the new Epic
system. She and Nate moved to the
Baltimore, Md., area and have an
apartment in a converted textile mill in
charming Ellicott City.
In December of 2015, Ira Cox EMBA
’15 joined Pioneer Investments as senior
vice president and regional director for
Acres of apple trees become
a classroom in Evan Williams’
MFA ’15 historical tale set in
Western North Carolina.
The book, One Apple at a Time, by
Evan Williams MFA ’15, received
the Willie Parker Peace History Book
Award. The distinction was presented
by The North Carolina Society of
Historians at a ceremony in Mooresville,
N.C., in October 2015. Evan was also
runner-up in the Grateful Steps Short
Story Contest. His submission, No
Light, will appear in an anthology, to be
published this year by Grateful Steps of
Asheville, N.C.
CLASS NOTES
In Memory
Dorothy Brown Beaty ’31, 12/14/2015.
2015-2016 Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Mary McMullen Walker ’35, 1/31/2016.
Susan McConnell ’83 MS ’13, President
Sara Kirk Killian ’38, 10/19/2015.
Michelle Holl Manha ’94, Chair, Signature Events Committee
Edith Bennett Kirk ’38, 9/19/2015.
Elizabeth Green Ballenger ’39, 11/14/2015.
Hilda McManus Henderson ’39,
11/29/2015.
Patti Gammage Wells ’83, Secretary
Staci Benson McBride ’92, Chair, Alumni Engagement & Outreach Committee
Dee Gaffney Malone ’71, Chair, Development Committee
Members-at-Large
Pablo Carvajal ’09
Phyllis Acree Mahoney ’76
Nick Cheek ’01
Martha Woods Mallory ’62
Scott Clemente ’06
Alice O’Toole Marleaux ’07
Phyllis Merry Crowell ’60
Jenny Matz ’99 MA ’10
Steve Gonzalez ’09
Cathy Mitchell ’90
Elaine Scruggs Prather ’41, 12/23/2015.
Betty Cobb Gurnell ’69
Erin Pitts ’98
Jane Montgomery Balsley ’42, 4/27/2015.
Monica Thomas Hamilton ’93
Jane Hughes Redding ’84
Gay Henry ’75
Mary Anne Lee Saag ’84
Mary Coker Highsmith ’70
Juwaun Seegars ’04
Jason Holland ’00
Winston Sharpe ’05
Edith Carter Williams ’43, 1/31/2016.
Kathryn Keeton ’08
Bryan Stevens ’02
Virginia Ashcraft Clawson ’44, 2/16/2015.
Yogi Leo ’96
Kristin Wade ’90
Christine Wink MacKay ’84
Teri Jimison Walker ’69
Dorothy Longenecker Hopper ’41,
12/4/2015.
Louise Hall Morrison ’42, 9/18/2015.
Peggy Bell Crowley ’44, 1/18/2016.
Nancy Isenhour Jones ’44, 2/13/2016.
Coline Helvenston Walker ’47, 1/22/2016.
Peggy Hagler Lynch ’64, 12/30/2015.
Dolly Adams Keathley ’44, 2/10/2016.
Rose Lineberger Estridge ’48, 1/9/2016.
Kathryn Horne Walker ’45, 7/26/2015.
Helen Civil Adams ’49, 11/25/2015.
Helen Kay Hightower Parry-Hill ’65,
1/8/2016.
Ellen Freeman Harton ’46, 10/25/2015.
Eleanor Marshall Byrum ’50, 10/25/2015.
Ruth Blair Plyler ’46, 2/5/2016.
Mary Roberts DeMaria ’50, 2/21/2016.
Frances Simpson Clontz ’47, 12/17/2015.
Peggy McNeill Walker ’50, 1/13/2016.
Nancy Worsley Cooper ’47, 10/20/2015.
Jean Summerville Byrum ’51, 10/15/2015.
Sandra Randall Freiberg MAT ’94,
10/24/2015.
Mary Ann Bullock Evans ’47, 11/25/2015.
Ellanor Fetner Boyd ’53, 11/26/2015.
Keith Thomas McLaughlin ’98, 11/25/2015.
Jean Fant Gilbert ’47, 2/17/2016.
Marjorie Moeschler Hahn ’55, 11/23/2015.
Raluca Iosif MA ’06, 10/6/2015.
Elizabeth Barber McLaney ’47, 1/27/2016.
Marie Dowd Spears ’57, 2/15/2016.
Leslie Blythe Jenkins ’07, 11/1/2015.
Magdalene Williams Sitar ’47, 1/18/2016.
Sandra Guigou Martin ’60, 11/27/2015.
Sami Striano ’11, 10/25/2015.
Melba Bailey Von Sprecken ’47, 11/25/2015.
Lucille Finch Jones ’61, 12/1/2015.
Betty McNairy Heiden ’66, 2/15/2016.
Merille Jones Steager ’69, 11/15/2015.
Audrey Hyde Gatewood ’91, 10/25/2015.
SUMMER 2016
47
The Art of Thinking
WHEN MY FATHER ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSIDER A
MASTERPIECE, I BEGAN TO SEE MORE THAN THE PAINTING
ITSELF
By Rebecca Anderson
Rebecca Anderson and her son, Zach, observe the Rosati sculpture on campus.
I
was a small girl gazing at a large
painting of Napoleon.
Beside me was my dad—an
aging furniture salesman with a 10thgrade education, a veteran of World War
II, a single father—his eyes aglow as he
shared his observations.
“Look at the precision of the
paint strokes. Notice the power of that
stallion rearing up on its hind legs. And
Napoleon’s eyes, see how they look so
calm and determined?”
With my dad’s quiet coaching, I
imagined the scene. Napoleon (or was it
his horse?) loomed larger than life as he
galloped across the mountains to certain
battlefield victory.
“Would it surprise you to know
Napoleon made that crossing on a
mule?” he asked.
With that, my perspective shifted.
I learned about propaganda that
day, about the power of imagery and
48
symbolism to affect our conscious and
unconscious minds.
You see, my dad saw art as a
gateway for critical thinking, and
Jacques-Louis David’s Napoleon Crossing
the Alps was my first lesson.
Over the course of my childhood, I
was encouraged to examine art closely.
To observe with my own eyes first and
figure out what it meant to me. But
then, always, to widen my lens with
new information so I could see the same
thing from another point of view.
This idea was reinforced in high
school when my humanities teacher
showed us Pieter Bruegel’s 16thcentury depiction of the mythical
Icarus plunging to his death. Mr. Saari
asked us to share what we saw. We
saw the farmer and the shepherd, the
setting sun and the ship in the harbor.
We saw the island fortress and even
the fisherman. But none of us saw the
flailing feet of Icarus as he drowned just
off the shore.
How in the world did we miss that?
Could it be that, like the farmer and the
shepherd, we chose to ignore suffering
and turn our eyes toward something
more pleasant? By having us practice
the art of observation, by making us
aware of our varied reactions to the same
subject matter, by forcing us to reflect
on what we did and did not notice, Mr.
Saari helped us consider the painting in
an entirely different light.
Since those early lessons I’ve grown
to love art for all kinds of reasons. For
its intrinsic beauty. As an expression of
human talent. For the warm memories
of time shared between a father and a
daughter.
But I appreciate it most for the way
it helps me think.
The ability to look through a
different lens has served me well in life.
It’s brought creativity to my problem
solving. How many times have I
struggled to address a problem, only
to find the right path by changing my
approach? And, it’s led me to be more
open to the perspectives of others.
It’s easy to fall into a single narrative
existence. What’s the saying? Wherever
you go, there you are. It takes effort
and discipline to question your own
understanding of a thing. I’ve come to
recognize mine isn’t necessarily the right
point of view nor even the only one.
There’s always more than one narrative.
In the increasingly complex world
we live in, a conceptual age centered
on story, empathy and inquiry, that’s a
lesson I couldn’t live without.
Rebecca Anderson
is vice president
of Strategy and
Human Resources
at Queens and
also serves as the
editorial director of
Queens magazine.
She studied art
history as an undergrad and hauls her
baseball-loving son to museums and
galleries every chance she gets.
ART & LEARNING
When Everett Library opened in 1960, visitors marveled at the
60-foot-long mosaic mural spanning the entry. Built by hand of
individual pieces of stone, its symbolic panels represent the fields
of knowledge included in the materials of a college library. The
detail shown here is from one of nine panels on the humanities;
this one focuses on the arts with depictions of architecture and
the ancient origins of dance. The mural is unified by Christian
symbolism, a nod to Queens’ heritage. The first and last panels
are the alpha and omega; in the center, a cross is surrounded
by religious symbols that include the Star of David and a star
and crescent moon. The mural’s creator, Edmund Lewandowski,
was an established artist in American modernism. By 1960,
his paintings had been featured in group exhibitions at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art
(New York) and The Art Institute of Chicago.
—Laurie Prince
Nonprofit
Organization
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Here’s to the Class of
2016, and to you for
making their special
day possible!
Your Queens Fund support is
an investment in our students’
futures because 100 percent of
each gift provides scholarship
assistance.
queens.edu/give