Wesley Magazine Spring 2011

www.weare.wesley.edu

WESLEY

Lewis WellsA Wesley Legend

A Magazine for Wesley College Alumni & Friends SPRING 2011

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,

Wesley College students, graduates, faculty and staff continue to makeoutstanding contributions to our world. In this edition of Wesley, youhave an opportunity to reflect on the influence of Professor Lewis Wellsand recently retired Professor Dr. Peter Angstadt, get to know Dr.Patricia Dwyer, vice president for academic affairs, and learn aboutWesley’s close ties to the devastated area of Sendai, Japan.

At this year’s Founder’s Day on March 16, the campus communitycame together to “Recognize the Past, Enrich the Present and Celebratethe Future.” This theme is one that will endure long beyond Founder’s

Day as we continue to honor the strong heritage of this fine institution, work tirelessly to advance Wesley, andaspire to an even brighter future for our College.

We are proud to share some of the campus highlights in this academic year. • The Office of Institutional Advancement announced the results of the Dr. Joseph S. and Mary Bellmeyer

Challenge that began in fall 2010. We are proud that 321 alumni and friends contributed toward theChallenge, resulting in a total amount of $135,664.

• Wesley students have been incredibly successful in showcasing their academic work at regional andnational conferences. For example, 11 undergraduates had presentations accepted by the National Conferenceon Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

• As part of the Founder’s Day celebration, the College recognized 88 scholarship recipients and awarded$106,500 in aid. The audience received a sneak peek of our re-branding campaign. I encourage you to readthe article in this issue for more details!

• Our Wolverine athletic teams continue to demonstrate their prowess. With a 12-1 season, the football teambecame conference champions for the sixth straight year and was again named Eastern College AthleticConference (ECAC) Team of the Year. Coach Mike Drass reached 150 career wins and received numerousCoach of the Year honors. Wesley field hockey had a thrilling victory over national power SalisburyUniversity in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) semifinals, ending their rival’s 15-season conferencechampionship streak, while Coach Tracey Short celebrated a milestone with 200 career wins. Led by Coach Jerry Kobasa ’69, the men’s basketball team wrapped up a successful season, advancing to the CACChampionships for the third straight year.

Your passion for and commitment to the Wesley community is instrumental in helping us achieve ourgoals. Together we can continue the Wesley legacy and provide a quality education to hundreds of students.Thank you for all that you do for Wesley!

Most sincerely,

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SEN IOR ADM IN ISTRATIONDr. William N. Johnston

PresidentDr. Patricia Dwyer

Vice President for Academic AffairsChris Wood

Vice President forInstitutional Advancement

Eric Nelson ’85Vice President for Finance

Mary-Alice OzechoskiDean of Students

Erica BrownDirector of Spiritual Life and Community Engagement

BOARD OF TRUSTEESCharles R. Dashiell, Jr., ChairAnn Burton, Vice-ChairRev. Dr. James T. Seymour, SecretaryFrank AndrewsDr. Basilio BautistaWilliam E. BazzelleThomas W. Burn, Jr. ’79Rev. Boyd B. Etter, ex-officioRobert V.A. Harra, Jr.Rev. Dr. Patricia Bryant HarrisD. Wayne HoldenKathleen JenningsRev. W. LeRoy Jones ’53Edward E. “Ted” KaufmanAlan B. LevinDonald L. MastenJane Mattern

Dorothy McLaughlinGregg MooreRev. Dr. Sandra Steiner BallWilliam J. StricklandHarry “Skip” D. Willis ’70William H. Willis, Jr. ’66Dr. Rafael Zaragoza

TRUSTEES EMER ITI Rev. Jonathan E. Baker ’70Hon. Eugene D. BookhammerElizabeth M. Barber ’52Lillian BurrisDr. George V. KirkDr. Thomas C. Roe ’31Mr. Gilbert S. Scarborough, Jr.Bishop Peter D. Weaver

ALUMN I ASSOC IATION BOARD OF D I RECTORSStephanie Smith Christiano ’98,

PresidentLynn Schmid Knable ’67,

Vice PresidentAnne (Pittinger) Buckler ’62, SecretaryTamra Antanaitis ’90, TreasurerAllison (Snyder) Gudeman '98Barry Hawlk ’72Kirsten Higgins ’98Matt Lindell ’03Jane (Kearney) MacDonald '60Chad Robinson ’05Kevin Yingling '96

Dr. William N. (Bill) [email protected]

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 1

MANAGING EDITORLeigh Ann Coleman ’09COPY EDITORAmanda Downes ’06

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCathy AndersonDoryann BarnhardtLeigh Ann Coleman ’09Jessica CookAmanda Downes ’06Geoff GoyneAbigail Hill ’12Amanda KinkadeElise Knable ’09

DESIGN + PRODUCTIONMSK Partners, Inc.

INSTITUTIONALADVANCEMENT STAFF

Dr. William N. JohnstonPresident(302) 736-2508 [email protected]

Chris WoodVice President for InstitutionalAdvancement(302) [email protected]

WESLEY

Features17 A WESLEY LEGENDWe celebrate the life and career ofProfessor Lewis Wells this year, whichwould have marked his 100th birthday.

22 A LEGACY OF HER OWNKathy (Edmunds) Biglin ’78 discussesher time at Wesley and its lasting influence on her professional life.

24 Q&A WITH DR. DWYERDr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president foracademic affairs, provides insight intonew developments at the College.

Departments02 HIGHLIGHTS

28 SPORTS

35 CLASS NOTES

39 ADVANCEMENT

SPRING 2011 VOLUME XXXIXI, NO. 2

WESLEY is published two times per year by the

Office of Institutional Advancement.

POSTMASTER: Send Changes to:Office of Institutional Advancement

Wesley College120 North State Street

Dover, DE 19901

Contents

WEARE.WESLEY.EDUCAMPUS UPDATES, CLASS NOTES, EVENTS AND MORE

28

Cathy AndersonDirector of the Wesley Society(302) [email protected]

Amanda Downes ’06Director of Alumni Affairs (302) [email protected]

Cathy Nosel Director of the Annual Wesley Fund(302) [email protected]

Steve ClarkCoordinator of the W Club(302) [email protected]

Leigh Ann Coleman ’09Director of Communications(302) [email protected]

Geoff Goyne Director of News & Sports Information(302) [email protected]

WESLEYonline!www.wesleymagazine.wesley.edu

Wesley magazine online has all the content of the print edition and gives youas a reader the ability to post commentsand view web exclusives like photoalbums and reader polls. Opt to receive email notification whenthe newest issue is released and helpWesley reduce paper usage and postagecosts. To change your preferences:

1. Log on to We Are Wesley 2. Click “Update my Information”

under the “My Community” menu3. Click the “Home Contact” tab and

select your preference4. Don’t forget to SAVE!

On the cover: Professor Wells left anindelible mark on the lives of his students. In this issue we celebrate his legacy atWesley College.

Correction: The previous issue of Wesley magazine erroneously named Chris Furrule ’94 the all-time leader in career quarterbacksacks when he graduated. Ken Pippin ’92 was the all-time leader in this category with 44 career quarterback sacks, holding therecord for almost 18 years. We apologize for the error.

SPRING 2011 final 6/6/11 1:40 PM Page 1

2 WESLEY COLLEGE :: Spring 2011

News and views from Wesley CollegeHIGHLIGHTS |

Steps in the Right DirectionWinter Commencement 2010 & Spring Commencement 2011

Over 360 graduates walked the stage to become alumni in the 2010-2011 year.To view photos from both Winter and Spring Commencement as well as otherWesley events, please visit www.flickr.com/wesleycollege.

From left: Faculty members Fairuz Lutz, Rebecca Walker, Mary Ann Lushand Adele Foltz show their support for Wesley's graduates.

Assistant Professor of Music Dr. James Wilson, Davonne Ross, Wesley Dessesow and Megan Edwards provided an inspirational musical selection.

Ashley Merget and BreAnne Plattprepare to walk the stage.

Vice President for AcademicAffairs Dr. Patricia Dwyer andExecutive Director of Wesley New Castle Dr. Zoann Parkerhood Master of Arts in Teachingrecipient Erica Braun.


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 3

President Johnston deliversa congratulatory messageto the new graduates. MBA graduates Jade Martin and

Shannon Reed show off their diplomas.

From left: Davonne Ross, Cory Boydand Antonique Vinson are all smilesas they await the ceremony.

Lauren Hall is proud toreceive her nursing pin.

Nina Vira and Associate Professor of NursingDr. Julie Fisher share a proud moment.

Graduates turn their tasselsas they become alumni.

Governor Jack Markell addresses thecrowd at Spring Commencement.



ON FEBRUARY 4 Wesley College’s Student GovernmentAssociation (SGA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a $55,000 renovation of the Malmberg FitnessCenter facility in Malmberg Hall.

The renovation will provide Wolverines with new freeweight equipment and total body weight machines, as well asnew treadmills and cardiovascular workout equipment. TheMalmberg Fitness Center is open to the approximately 2,100students on the Dover campus.

“Last year, as vice president of SGA, students wouldalways make statements to me about the Malmberg Gym. Themajority of the students were concerned about the lack ofequipment and space,” said SGA President Tanner Polce. “AsPresident of SGA this year, the Malmberg Fitness Centerbecame one of the top priorities for the SGA cabinet. I'm sovery happy that we can finally make an impact in an areathat is important to students.”

Preparation for the renovation began over one year ago,when SGA representatives turned to students to ask whatpositive changes they would like to see on campus. Theanswer came back loud and clear. After months of researchand meeting with consultants from fitness equipment firms,Polce and his SGA executive board announced the good news.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the SGA to respond tostudent concerns and spend student fees exactly where there isa need,” said Director of Student Activities and SGA AdvisorSarah Smith. “The Malmberg Gym drastically needed a faceliftand now Wesley College students can exercise in a place thathas proper, working and state-of-the-art equipment.”

H IG H LIG HTS | students in action

Work it OutSGA Gives Student BodyOpportunity to Build BetterBodies by Staying Fit

Hurricane Katrina Sites Visited

Wesley College’s Student United Wayorganization were selected to representthe 2011 United Way Alternative SpringBreak (ASB) program by traveling toBiloxi, Mississippi from March 6-12 to help rebuild areas affected byHurricane Katrina.

Young adults from colleges and uni-versities across the country assistedSouth Mississippi’s recovery fromHurricane Katrina and helped addressbasic community needs that existedbefore Katrina ever touched the GulfCoast. “The opportunity to be in serv-ice to others is also an opportunity tolearn so much about the world aroundus, not to mention the world withinus,” said Director of Spiritual Life andCommunity Engagement Erica Brown.“I believe this was a transformative

experience for all involved.”Undergraduate and Student United

Way President Erica Howell initiatedand helped plan the ASB trip by work-ing with the United Way organization toreceive approval for five students to visitBiloxi. Juniors Erica Howell, NashiWatson and Tyron Simms; freshmanJasmine Oden; and senior Alicia Oglesbyrepresented Wesley College.

“We are so happy to be given theopportunity to attend such a great event.It has great potential to be a long tradi-tion at Wesley College,” said Howell.“This opens doors for students to net-work with hundreds of college studentsfrom all over the country.”

This is the first ASB trip that WesleyCollege students have taken in recentyears. “I am hoping that this trip will be

a springboard for future AlternativeSpring Break experiences,” said Brown.“I would like to be able to offer severalpossibilities next year, of varying dura-tions and destinations.”

“The Alternative Spring Break tripallowed us to be a part of somethingmemorable that we can bring back andpossibly implement in our own commu-nity one day,” said Howell.

From left: SGA Vice President Bryan Zarou, SGA President TannerPolce and Director of Student Activities and SGA Advisor Sarah Smithtry out the new dumbbells.

From left: Alicia Oglesby, Nashi Watson,Jasmine Oden, Erica Brown, Tyron Sims andErica Howell

BY AMANDA KINKADE

BY AMANDA KINKADE


Wesley College’s first club ice hockeyteam made history in its Mason DixonCollegiate Hockey Association (MDCHA)playoff debut on February 11 at theHershey Park Arena in Hershey, Pa.

“Being a first-year program, this hasbeen an amazing ride, filled with highsand lows. Making the playoffs in our his-tory-making season is certainly a goalwe had from day one,” said CoachCharlie Pens. “This team is filled withcharacter and grit.”

The Wolverines were ranked secondin the Southern Division of the MDCHAwith a record of 9-5-2 going in to theplayoffs. They played AmericanUniversity in the first round onFebruary 11 and won with a score of 4-2.The Wolverines advanced to the semifi-nals and lost to Gettysburg College witha final score of 10-4.

The 2010-2011 ice hockey season was afirst for the institution, and ice hockey isthe only non-NCAA club sport at Wesley.Home games were played at the CentreIce Rink in Harrington, Del. wherecrowds of up to 300 people cheered onthe blue and white-clad athletes.

“We are proud of the accomplish-ments of the hockey team in its inaugu-ral season,” said Dean of Students Mary-Alice Ozechoski. “Making the playoffsthis year is just the start of a long, suc-cessful program at Wesley College.”

Club ice hockey is a part of theIntramural and Recreation Departmentand is guided by the MDCHA and theAmerican Collegiate HockeyAssociation (ACHA).

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 5

The Wesley College Office of Institutional Advancement received a $50,000 gift fromNancy and Walter Everett, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Dr. Joseph andMary Bellmeyer of Dover. Dr. Bellmeyer was the vice president of Playtex Dover for25 years, served as a Wesley College trustee for more than 20 years, and was a facul-ty member in the English department. He passed away in January 2010 at the age of98. Bellmeyer is fondly remembered for his generous spirit and volunteerism. Hewas an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and led variousfundraising efforts at Wesley College.

Working in conjunction with the College, the Everetts decided to use proceeds fromthe Bellmeyer estate to provide a $50,000 challenge grant for the annual Wesley Fund.During a fundraising drive conducted in the fall, 321 Wesley alumni and friends con-tributed more than $85,000 toward the Bellmeyer Challenge. 32 new donors steppedforward to have their gifts counted as well. With the addition of the Everetts’ gift, thetotal amount raised for the Bellmeyer Challenge was $135,664.

“As we discussed the possibility of a challenge grant, Joe’s daughter, Nancy, statedthat she knew her dad would be smiling down upon us with the thought of hismoney being used to encourage philanthropy of others to benefit his beloved WesleyCollege,” said Chris Wood, vice president for institutional advancement. “Walt andNancy Everett have honored Dr. and Mrs. Bellmeyer’s legacy at Wesley with this giftand benefitted our students in the process.” Money contributed to the Wesley Fund isused to support student financial aid and scholarships at the College.

“Dr. Bellmeyer was famous for regularly challenging the College to seek highergoals, thus he would have been thrilled with the success of the Bellmeyer Challenge,”said President Bill Johnston.

achievements | H IG H LIG HTS

Wesley College Receives $50,000 Gift from Bellmeyer Family

A Historic SeasonBY AMANDA KINKADE

The Wesley College club ice hockey teamcelebrates a win during its last home gameon February 6 in Harrington, Del.

Nancy and Walter Everett, the daughter and son-in-law of the late Dr. Joseph and MaryBellmeyer of Dover, present Wesley College Vice President for Institutional AdvancementChris Wood with a check for $50,000.

BY AMANDA KINKADE

Up To The Challenge



The Future AwaitsIT’S HARD TO define a college that hasmeant so many different things to eachgeneration that has passed through itshalls, whether those halls belong toOld Main or the Henry Belin DuPontCollege Center. One thing is for sure.There’s a spirit that has alwaysremained constant at Wesley College.That spirit is demonstrated by the pas-sion with which our faculty teach theirstudents, the relationships that makeWesley feel like a second home, and themany ways our graduates carry out themission of the institution by making adifference in the world around them.

This past fall, the College received a$113,150 grant from the Jessie BallDuPont Foundation, providing theopportunity to undergo an importantinitiative. Under the guidance ofPerforma Higher Education, a nationalconsulting group from Burlington, N.C.specializing in private higher education,the College began a comprehensive mar-keting and re-branding study. In directresponse to one of the priorities inWesley’s strategic plan, this processsought to enhance the College’s nichewithin the marketplace through thedevelopment of a cohesive and consis-tent marketing approach, complete witha new logo and a revamped website.

In a fast-paced world where highereducation institutions are in fiercecompetition for students, not to men-tion fundraising dollars, strategic andeffective messaging is an essentialingredient in positioning oneself for abright future. For Wesley, this meantbeing able to succinctly express whatmakes a Wesley education unique andcommunicate that across all channels,to attract prospective students andengage the various audiences of theCollege and the greater community. At

H IG H LIG HTS | new directions

BY LEIGH ANN COLEMAN ’09

Above and right: Two sampleadvertisements whichwill feature Wesleystudent images

A preview of therevamped website withthe new wordmark andbrand line and variousroles for navigation


be easily directed to the information most pertinent to you,based on your relationship with the College. The roles willinclude: Prospective Students, Current Students, Faculty &Staff, Alumni, Families and Community & Visitors. Once you have chosen your path, the site will provide relevant andorganized menu items, making it much easier to navigate andfind information.

Beyond the visual appeal of each piece of the new brand,the true value is in how it encompasses the many facets ofWesley, emphasizing its heritage while propelling the Collegeforward as it seeks to educate the leaders of tomorrow. Animportant factor in attracting and retaining students is mak-ing sure they are the right fit for the institution. This is onlyachieved by being very intentional in our messages, effective-ly representing Wesley and the many opportunities that lieahead for a potential student that would best benefit fromand make the most of a Wesley College education.

A new brand alone will not raise the academic profile, raisemoney for student aid, or set our graduates apart in a toughjob market. But telling the story of who we are, what we do,and what the College stands for in one unified voice will ulti-mately raise the bar for those already connected with theCollege and those with whom Wesley will play a future role.Wesley College faces the same challenges that any other col-lege faces, but it isn’t just any other college. It’s your college.And we hope that you will join us in telling our story.

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 7

tsthe core of this project was gaining a greater understandingof what Wesley means to all who are closest to the College—its alumni, current students and parents, employees, volun-teers, friends and neighbors. After all, how could we tellWesley’s story to attract the next generation without firstweaving together the many threads of its history? Learningwhy Wesley is special to so many alumni and friends and thecollaborative approach in defining its brand was the greatestbenefit of the process.

“Great Things Await”The opportunities that exist at Wesley and what the institu-tion provides to its students is at the heart of Wesley College’snew brand line, “Great Things Await.” It also signifies a richinstitutional history and identifies a new era, with the antici-pation of a thriving future. “Great Things Await” will be usedon its own or to complement the College’s new wordmark.

A New Twist On TraditionThe College crest has been a symbol of the core values thatdefine the College and have been carried out since the adop-tion of the name Wesley. The new wordmark is a fresh takeon the shield that makes up the center of the crest. This willreplace the DuPont College Center sketch logo that has beenused on materials and advertisements for the College sincethe 1990s. Within the shield, the shells symbolize the coat ofarms of John Wesley’s family, each representing the fourgospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The cross is a sym-bol of the College’s Christian origins while the lamp and bookrepresent knowledge and lifelong learning.

How To Tell The StoryIn order to tap into and hone the Wesley story, we enlistedthe help of countless alumni, faculty, students, staff and par-ents to determine current perceptions and develop a clear,cohesive brand that could be communicated with consistentmessages. Through a series of focus groups and surveys,Performa collected valuable feedback that guided decision-making toward the end result.

“Capture Your Dreams” is the tagline for Wesley’s newadmissions recruitment materials. This concept resonatedmost strongly with prospective students, garnering close to80% of the vote when tested against another potential tagline.It will be displayed along with fresh photography on printadvertisements, billboards, mailers, television and radio.

Perhaps the most significant overhaul in the re-brandingprocess will be completed this summer. With the Internetundoubtedly being the most convenient and popular way tolearn about Wesley College, improving this communicationtool was high on the marketing priority list. In July, Wesleywill launch its brand new website. Not only will the site pro-vide a more modern and sleek design, it has been restruc-tured to accommodate the individual needs of those whocommonly utilize the site. When you visit wesley.edu you will

new directions | H IG H LIG HTS



H IG H LIG HTS | making a difference

Fundraising andsupport for our

sister-state in JapanBY ABIGAIL HILL ’12

IT WAS ONE day before the scheduled departure of three Japanese studentsfrom Miyagi University of Education, headed for a visit to their sister schoolWesley College, that a horrific earthquake struck Japan. The moment seized

their travel plans and left their country in a whirlwind of chaos. On March 11, thetsunami that hit the Japanese coast line enveloped Kesennuma, a place that Dr. BillKroen, Wesley professor and member of the Global Initiatives Committee, remem-bers well from visits to Japanese students and colleagues. “I recognize places I’vebeen,” said Kroen. “It’s kind of mind-boggling when you see the difference. Thedevastation is just unreal.”

Delaware has had a sister-state relationship with Miyagi Prefecture (equivalentof a state) in Japan for 15 years. The City of Dover has a sister relationship with aplace called Iwanuma City within that prefecture, and has carried out a multipleschool district exchange, with parents from both regions hosting visiting studentsin their homes. Over the years since the sister-state partnership was forged, fami-lies, students and teachers from Delaware and Miyagi have learned each other’scultures, shared ideas and developed meaningful friendships.

Similar relationships have been built between Miyagi residents and the WesleyCollege community. For the last four years, students and professors from Miyagihave traveled to Wesley College through a formal exchange program between thetwo institutions.

Miyagi University of Education is a school of about 2,500 students, located in thewestern part of the city of Sendai. Through the exchange with Wesley, the Japanesestudents typically visit for two weeks during their March inter-school break and shad-ow host students on campus, staying in the residence halls and attending classes.

MEALS HEARTSAND


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 9

Evita Wade, vice president of theInternational Student Association(ISA) and a student host, explained,“We show them what it is like to be inAmerica and help them to experiencethe campus with other students.”Visiting students participate in aca-demic classes, campus organizationmeetings and activities of their studenthosts while also sitting in on someEnglish classes and other Wesleyevents, including activities sponsoredby ISA. In order to get a full taste ofAmerican culture and some local fla-vor, the students have the opportunityto eat out at local restaurants, go bowl-ing and take day trips to WashingtonD.C., Rehoboth Beach and King ofPrussia Mall. Wade, who is still in contact with three of the four Japanesestudents who came last year, empha-sized “the lasting connection that wehave with the students there.”

Because of the close ties with thepeople of Miyagi, the catastrophicevent that occurred on the other sideof the globe has hit very close to homefor a number of students and profes-sors on Wesley’s campus as well asmany Delawareans in general. Alongwith a number of organizations withinthe state, the Wesley community isdoing everything it can to help in theaftermath of the tragedy.

The Global Initiatives Committeeand the Office of Student Life hostedtwo fundraisers, Meals for Miyagi andHearts for Miyagi. Throughout theweek of March 28, members of thecampus community could purchase apaper heart for $1 in support of theMiyagi disaster fund. These heartswere signed and hung on the walls ofthe DuPont College Center to showsupport for Wesley’s friends abroad. Inconjunction with Aramark, Meals forMiyagi allowed students to donate aswipe in the cafeteria to go toward thefundraising efforts. The money collect-ed was funneled to the state throughGovernor Jack Markell’s office and dis-tributed to Japan as one lump sumfrom Delaware, to support MiyagiPrefecture’s most pressing needs.

“There are a lot of students whowant to help, but don’t have the fundsor the ability to since right now we arejust looking at monetary donations. It’shard for students on a tight budget todonate,” said Ashley Travis, residentdirector of Malmberg Hall and gradu-ate assistant for Greek life. “We areallowing students to donate where theyare able, such as giving up a breakfast.It’s a great opportunity for them.Hearts for Miyagi allows faculty andstaff as well as commuters who maynot have a meal plan a way to donate.”

On a broader scale, Wesley joinedforces with other Delaware state organ-izations to raise funds for relief andrebuilding efforts within its sister-state. State and local leaders, includingGovernor Markell and First Lady CarlaMarkell, Lt. Governor Matthew Denn,President Pro Tempore of the SenateAnthony J. DeLuca, Speaker of theHouse Robert Gilligan, SenateMinority Leader F. Gary Simpson,House Minority Leader Gregory F.Lavelle and City of Dover MayorCarleton E. Carey Sr., hosted a lunch-eon fundraiser on April 14 at the DoverDowns Diamond Ballroom. Those in

attendance contributed generously tothe Delaware Fund for Miyagi, whichwas established by the state and theDelaware Community Foundation.

“Despite everything, we are lookingforward to next year. Everyone that isthere at the university now is ok. TheJapanese have a very communal socie-ty; they like to look out for the good ofeveryone, they conform as a group andwill surely come together to rebuild asa nation,” said Kroen.

The $4666.74 raised by Wesley forthe Delaware Fund for Miyagi hasalready been put to use in the reliefefforts. As the country and its resi-dents recover from the devastatingblow, they know they have the supportof many friends around the world,including those in the First State. With true friendship often revealingitself in times of adversity, Wesley and other groups in Delaware will continue to reach out to their Japanesecolleagues, sending letters, care pack-ages and whatever else the Miyagi people may need in the coming months,in hopes that the relationships, and thecountry itself, will emerge strongerthan ever.

Professor of Biology Dr. Bill Kroen with two undergraduate students of Miyagi University ofEducation in Sendai, Japan when he travelled to the coastal city of Kessenuma for a conferenceon Education for Sustainable Development in 2010S



H IG H LIG HTS | campus update

Among the four new members isWilliam E. Bazzelle, a retired DuPontmanager with a wealth of internationalexperience. He holds a doctorate in ana-lytical chemistry from Wayne StateUniversity. Still a part-time consultantat DuPont, he is a results-orientedleader with more than four decades ofmanagement experience. A championfor youth, Bazzelle has been involved inmentoring programs and youthachievement activities, including serv-ing as the chairman of Forum forAdvancement of Minorities inEngineering (FAME) since the late ’90s.He currently lives in Bear, Del.

Another addition is former collegeprofessor and U.S. Senator fromDelaware, Edward E. “Ted”Kaufman, who has been a long-timeadvocate of education. Although hewas born in Philadelphia, Pa., his loy-alty and commitment to the state ofDelaware are well-documentedthroughout his career in politics. Agraduate of Duke University, he earnedhis Master of Business Administrationfrom the Wharton School of theUniversity of Pennsylvania. After mov-ing to Delaware in 1966 for a job withthe DuPont company, he got involvedin politics on a volunteer basis and ulti-mately became Senator Joe Biden’schief of staff. That role lasted for 19years before Senator Biden became thevice president and Kaufman filled hissenate seat. He and his wife live inWilmington, Del.

New board member Jane Matternhas been heavily involved with Wesley

College for more than 25 years as theunofficial “sports nurse” helping herhusband, Dr. Michael Mattern, in hisrole as team doctor. A registered nurse,Mattern continued her education to spe-cialize in medical management and runsMattern & Associates as the office man-ager. She has been very active in localcommunity service as a long-standingmember and leader of the ColonialRotary Club. Other organizations inwhich she has been involved include theBiggs Museum of American Art, theAmerican Heart Association and Mealson Wheels. Mattern also knows Wesleyas a student, having pursued her inter-est in painting through several art class-es on campus. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa.,she made Delaware her home more than30 years ago and currently lives inCamdenWyoming.

The board also welcomes GreggMoore. As vice president and Doveroperations manager for the architectureengineering firm Becker Morgan Group,Inc., Moore has played an active role inhis home state. A long-standing mem-ber and past leader of the Greater DoverCommittee, he was instrumental in cre-ating the Downtown Dover Partnershipand serves as president of its board ofdirectors. As part of the advisory com-mittees for both Delaware Technical &Community College and Caesar RodneySchool District, he has helped shapeeducational programs and opportunitiesthroughout Kent County. An excellentstudent himself, he was valedictorian ofhis graduating class at Dover HighSchool and currently resides in Dover.

Welcome AboardBY JESSICA COOK

Wesley College’s Board of Trustees recently welcomed four new members. “Eachof our new board members has outstanding professional accomplishments andwill bring an expertise that further enhances the Wesley Board of Trustees,” saidPresident Bill Johnston. “I am delighted to have them join this esteemed group ofleaders and look forward to working with each of them.”

William E. Bazzelle

Edward E. “Ted”Kaufman

Jane Mattern

Gregg Moore


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 11

new places | H IG H LIG HTS

THE FINAL HURDLE has been clearedin Wesley College’s quest for a new spaceto house its Department of Nursing.Now that one of the largest acquisitionsin the institution’s history is complete,Wesley will officially take ownership ofthe J. Allen Frear Federal Building fromthe federal government at no cost to theCollege. The 36-year-old, 36,000-square-foot building is located at the corner ofNorth and New streets in Dover and sitson 2.5 acres of land. The facility will pro-vide classrooms, offices and laboratoriesto better serve current nursing studentsand faculty, and offers some room forfuture growth of the program.

“The acquisition and use of the FrearBuilding is a monumental accomplish-ment for the College and underscores thecommitment by Wesley to continue tobuild a vibrant educational environmentfor our students,” said President BillJohnston. “The fact that it will be dedi-cated to nursing and health sciencesillustrates Wesley's support to thesegrowing career fields.”

Currently the department works outof the ground floor of Dulany Hall,with only 5,500 square feet of space.Nursing is a competitive program atWesley, admitting approximately 50students annually out of an applicantpool of close to 600. While demand for

a Wesley nursing degree continues togrow among prospective and currentstudents, facility space has been anongoing concern and limiting factor inthe program’s admissions. Now thatthe federal government has approvedWesley’s request to take over the FrearBuilding, the department will be able toreach its full potential for studentacceptance and growth, consolidate itsresources and expand its reach withinthe community. “Nursing will finallyhave a home where we can have facultyin one place, learning space for all ofour students, and a state-of-the-artfacility that will benefit everyone,” saidDepartment of Nursing Chair Dr.Lucille Gambardella.

The process began well over a yearago when the federal governmentannounced in 2009 that the FrearBuilding would be declared surplusproperty. First chance to claim thebuilding was given to federal or stateagencies, but since none came forward,priority went to non-profit organiza-tions such as Wesley. Working with theState of Delaware’s Department ofEducation, the College was able toacquire the building free of chargebecause its Department of Nursing qual-ifies as a worthy use that will benefit thepublic. The assistance of Senator

Carper, former Senator Kaufman, for-mer Congressman Castle, GovernorMarkell, the Kent County Levy Court,the Dover City Council, the GreaterDover Committee, the Dover DowntownPartnership, Bayhealth and countlessothers greatly contributed to Wesley’sability to obtain the facility.

After a long waiting period, theCollege’s request to take full possession ofthe building was approved by the federalgovernment in December. Wesley antici-pates that plans to move in will be solidi-fied in the coming months and hopes tobegin renovations as soon as possible.

While the new facility will providesome extras, such as a large parking lotand an auditorium, it will primarilyhouse needed classroom and laboratoryspace for students to better hone theirskills. Right now, the department hasspace for mostly basic labs with hospitalbeds and only a few of the more com-plete simulation labs, consisting of medical equipment and computerizedmannequins that mimic the physiologi-cal responses that a patient would have.This makes scheduling class and studytime a challenge. The more than 30,000square feet of extra room will allow formany more of the high-tech, simulationlabs to prepare aspiring nurses.

Lauren Koeper, a junior nursing student graduating next spring, said,“The nursing department has done itsbest to work with limited space, but themove will finally allow the program togrow to its full potential.”

Only four blocks from WesleyCollege’s main campus and 1.5 blocksfrom Kent General Hospital, the FrearBuilding may prove to open manydoors for Wesley and the local commu-nity. Gambardella expressed, “I havebeen at Wesley College for 27 years andI can unequivocally say that this is themost exciting news for our depart-ment’s growth and future...we havebeen space challenged for quite sometime and acquiring this building willenable us to move forward with ourstrategic plan that will support our students, academics and service to thegreater Dover community.”

A Dream Come TrueWesley Department of Nursing Finds New HomeBY ABIGAIL HILL ‘12



H IG H LIG HTS | faculty accomplishments

Dr. Lynn Lofthouse, associate profes-sor of speech communication, recentlyattended a conference for theInternational Academy of Linguistics,Behavioral and Social Sciences in NewOrleans. Lofthouse presented a paperand monitored a panel discussion. Shewas notified that she had been selectedas having one of the best papers pre-sented at the conference, decided by“peer review on a competitive basis.”Her paper was titled “Key Differences inIndividuals’ Future Financial DecisionMaking Behavior as a Function of theLevel to Which They are Accountablefor Taking Financial Risks.”

Dr. Bruce Allison, professor of environ-mental studies, developed an outreachresearch program that allows environ-mental studies students to utilize theiracademic training in a “real world” envi-ronment. As summer research internsthrough the Experimental Program toStimulate Competitive Research(EPSCoR), Taylor Hendricks, MelissaSavin and Greg McKee began what willbe a long-term collaboration with theSassafras River Association (SRA). Theinterns began research projects based on

SRA needs, focusing on GIS applica-tions, computer modeling and streamhydrology. Along with their professor,the students were invited to the fall SRAvolunteer appreciation dinner and wereasked to demonstrate their streamhydrology project and discuss the signif-icance of their data.

Allison also has been asked to serveon the Science and TechnologyCommittee at SRA. New outreach ini-tiatives are being investigated with theLand Conservancy, Delaware NatureSociety and the City of Dover Office ofPlanning. These are an integral part ofWesley’s environmental studies pro-gram involving the development ofgeospatial techniques for environmen-tal planning.

Dr. Jack Barnhardt, associate professorof psychology; Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, associate professor of English; and Dr. Jessica James, associate professor ofhistory and American studies, alongwith collaborators from Lebanon ValleyCollege, presented at a conference of theAssociation of American Colleges andUniversities in Raleigh, N.C. The sessionwas titled “Developing a Research

Symposium at Teaching Colleges: AMentor-Based Approach.”

In September, Dr. Malcolm D’Souza,professor of chemistry, received a$282,000 grant from the NationalScience Foundation (NSF) AcademicResearch Infrastructure Program:Recovery and Reinvestment (ARI-R2) toremodel three research laboratories andinstall Wi-Fi access and smart boards inCannon Hall. In January 2011, D’Souzacollaborated with two Delaware StateUniversity faculty members, Dr. Qiquan“Josh” Wang of the ChemistryDepartment and Dr. Samuel Besong ofthe Food and Nutritional ScienceProgram, to receive a $30,000 seed grantthrough EPSCoR to study indoor airpollution. D'Souza presented outcomesof his research at the following confer-ences in Fall 2010: the InternationalChemical Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii,December 15-20; the Delaware IDeANetwork of Biomedical ResearchExcellence (INBRE) External AdvisoryBoard Meeting, Nemours/A.I. duPontHospital for Children, Wilmington, Del.,November 11-12; and the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Space Grant ConsortiaMeeting, Lewes, Del., September 16-18.

In November, he and his fall semesterorganic chemistry class conducted a“Kids ’n Chemistry” event for approxi-mately 450 elementary school kids at theIndependence School in Newark, Del.

Presentations Papers

BooksAppointments

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to

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Susan Redington Bobby, assistantprofessor of English, has signed a con-tract with McFarland and CompanyPublishers to write a scholarly mono-graph on Philip Pullman. Tentativelytitled “Philip Pullman's OtherMaterials: Innocence and ExperienceThrough the Art of Storytelling,” thebook will critically analyze Pullman'sentire body of work outside his famoustrilogy “His Dark Materials,” on whichBobby published an article severalyears ago. Her book will cover a widerange of genres penned by this critical-ly acclaimed British writer.

Bobby also was selected to present apaper at the 2011 Northeast ModernLanguage Association (NeMLA) confer-ence April 7-10 at Rutgers University.Her paper, titled “ ‘A man [or woman]must have a code’: Heroes andAntiheroes in The Wire,” discussesthree central characters in the popularHBO series and the impact of gender onheroism. She also will chair a panel atthe conference titled "Donors andHelpers: Masculinity in ContemporaryFairy Tales." Wesley graduate MatthewJ. Gallagher ’10 has been selected as oneof three presenters for her panel andwill present on Marxism and feminismin contemporary fairy tales.

Dr. Kraiwinee (Nok) Bunyaratavej,assistant professor of business adminis-tration, presented a paper at theInstitute for Operations Research andthe Management Sciences AnnualMeeting in Austin, Texas in November.This paper, titled "Reverse Offshoring ofServices: The New Wave of EmergingOffshorers," is about the determinantsof services offshoring from developingcountries to other countries. It was co-authored by Dr. Eugene D. Hahn ofSalisbury University.

On November 2, voters in the 9thRepresentative District electedRebecca Walker, JD, MSN, visitinginstructor of nursing, to the DelawareGeneral Assembly to serve as a statelegislator in the House of

Representatives. Walker has been afaculty member in the Department ofNursing for four years and is also aWesley alumnus. She has experience incritical care and emergency depart-ment nursing, served as the presidentof the Delaware Board of Nursing andwas a health care attorney inPhiladelphia. Over the next two years,she will represent Odessa, Townsend,Delaware City and parts ofMiddletown in the state of Delaware.

On October 27, Dr. Patricia Dwyer,vice president for academic affairs,was part of the “Principal for a Day”program sponsored by the DelawareState Chamber of Commerce. Thisprogram is designed to give partici-pants insight into the daily challengesand opportunities that principalsencounter and to find out more aboutacademic programs offered toDelaware students. Dwyer visitedWoodbridge High School inBridgeville, Del. and worked with Mr.Robert Adams, the high school princi-pal. Accompanied by Adams, Dwyermet with students and parents on top-ics ranging from cyber-bullying toearly dismissal requests. She also hadthe opportunity to observe severalclasses—a civics lesson on the FifthAmendment, a mock election and anhonors astronomy class. She enjoyedlunch from the high school cafeteriaand ate in the teachers’ dining roomwith her “co-workers for the day.”

Several faculty members fromWesley’s Department of Nursing par-ticipated in the 2010 National Leaguefor Nursing (NLN) Education Summitin Las Vegas, along with more than2,000 individuals from all types ofnursing programs around the world.As the largest nurse educator annualevent in the country, the summit aimsto mobilize new ways to build a strongand diverse nurse workforce, cele-brate achievement, and develop part-nerships that promote a national con-versation on issues confronting nurs-

ing and nursing education. Dr. KarenL. Panunto, associate professor ofnursing, presented a poster of her dis-sertation research titled “SimulationTechnology in Nursing Education:Student Perceptions.”

Dr. Nancy Rubino, professor ofnursing, and Dr. Lucille Gambardella,professor and department chair, co-presented a session which includedtopics such as “Take This Job andShove It” and “Top Ten Reasons forNegative Faculty Dynamics” to astanding-room-only crowd of morethan 200 participants. The presenta-tion discussed the factors that impactfaculty leadership and productivity innursing education.

Back in October, Rubino was invitedto attend the ribbon-cutting ceremonythat marked the opening of the SportsMedicine Center at Nemours/A.I.duPont Hospital for Children inWilmington, Del., joining guests suchas Senator Tom Carper.

Gambardella serves as the chair-elect of the Evaluation of Learning andAssessment Advisory Council for theNLN. She was also named honorarycommander for the medical division ofthe Dover Air Force Base Command.The induction occurred in January andshe will serve in the role for one year.

Dr. Teresa Griffin, associate professorof media arts, co-presented at theInternational Working Class/PovertyClass Academics Conference inArkansas in June 2010. Her co-presen-ters were Dr. Deb Cohen and Dr. KarenTsukada, both from the University ofDelaware. The title of their presentationwas "The Impact of Low SES on Successfor Undergraduates: Impressions ofFaculty and Counseling Center Staff." Aspecial feature of this conference wasthat new media technologies were usedto webcast the presentations internation-ally to allow virtual participation byattendees who could not be in the UnitedStates for the conference.

Back in August, Griffin was the fea-tured reader at a standing-room-onlyts




fiction reading sponsored by theDelaware Division of the Arts and theFriends of Kirkwood Library. As aresult of her individual artist fellow-ship from the Delaware Division of theArts, Griffin had her work included inthe "Award Winners X: Reunion” fallexhibit at the Biggs Museum in Doverand was invited to become a member ofthe Mid Atlantic Artist Registry.

Dr. Robert Contino, professor of nurs-ing, was appointed to a three-year termon the Delaware Board of Nursing inApril by Governor Markell. Continowill serve the board as the nursingeducation representative and will chairthe Nursing Practice and EducationCommittee. In October, he presented atthe Bayhealth Nursing Research Dayon the topic of evidence-based practice.Contino also was elected vice presidentof the Board of Nursing by his fellowboard members in November.

The faculty of Wesley College'sEducation K-8 Program has beenawarded two book contracts withRowman & Littlefield Publishers. Thebooks will address constructivistteaching and change agency in theschools. The first book is intended forteacher educators and is titled“Preparing Change Agents for theClassroom.” The second book is forpracticing K-8 teachers and is titled“Teaching the Way Students Learn.”Dr. Jill Cole, associate professor ofeducation; Dr. Marcia Lawton, pro-fessor of education; Dr. PatriciaPatterson, professor of education; andDr. Jamie Whitman-Smithe, associateprofessor of education, have writtenchapters for both books. These include“Writing Workshop for TeacherCandidates” by Cole, “The 20%Solution” by Lawton, “Beyond theAlgorithm: Changing TeacherCandidates’ Learning Experienceswith Mathematics to CreateConstructivist Mathematics Teachers”by Patterson, and “Story in theClassroom” by Whitman-Smithe.Some of Dover’s Campus Community

School teachers and administratorsalso were asked to contribute chapters.

The books are being edited by Cole,who also presented a session titled“Using Mentor Texts to StrengthenWriting Instruction” at the DiamondState Reading Association Conferencein Dover this past fall. About 250 teach-ers from across the state attended theconference, and Cole arranged for 12senior education majors to attend aswell. They joined sessions and heard avariety of speakers, including the lunch-eon speaker, Steven Swinburne, anauthor of nonfiction children’s books.

Dr. Jessica James, associate professorof history and American studies, wasselected to teach at Harlaxton College,the British campus of the University ofEvansville this fall. Through Wesley’spartnership with the study abroadcampus, she will spend a semester inGrantham, England teaching historyand sociology courses.

On February 15, James presented apaper titled “Back to Our Roots:Integrating Service Learning in theAfrican American Studies Curriculum”at the National Association for AfricanAmerican Studies in Baton Rouge, La.Drawing on her experience running aservice learning program inPhiladelphia and the 300-levelContemporary Social Problems courseshe taught in which Wesley studentscompleted 25 hours of service with localagencies, she discussed the benefits ofservice learning, community partner-ships and the compatibility with AfricanAmerican studies. She also was invitedto present a workshop titled“Incorporating Undergraduate Researchinto the Humanities Curriculum” atSUNY Potsdam on March 25. Topicsincluded partnering with universitylibrarians, local historical societies andarchives, and local community agencies,and designing research projects appro-priate for a semester-long course.

Dr. Susan A. Cooper, director ofglobal initiatives, returned to theOxford Round Table in March to

present "Refocusing the Kaleidoscope:The Protagonists Who IlluminateMollie Hunter's Journey." The invita-tion to return to England and shareher research about Mollie Hunter,known as Scotland's “national treas-ure," was based on Cooper's contribu-tion to the highly regarded book,“Adventures, Fantasy and Dreams inChildren's Literature,” published byLinton Atlantic Books in 2010. “AVoyage of Discovery: Exploring AKaleidoscope of Religion and Culturein the Writings of Mollie Hunter," waspresented at the Oxford Round Tablein 2009 and solicited for publicationby Linton Atlantic Books. Cooper alsosubmitted the current paper to TheOxford Journal for publication.

Victor Greto, assistant professor ofmedia arts and political science, hadan essay titled “A Cigar at RehobothBeach” published this spring. Itappeared in “No Place Like Here: AnAnthology of Southern DelawarePoetry and Prose,” published byDoll’s Eye Press. Greto also had twoprofiles published in the Decemberissue of Brandywine SignatureMagazine, one about Annie Coons,the wife of Chris Coons, newly-electedSenator from Delaware, and the otherabout Jane Castle, wife of formerDelaware Representative Mike Castle.His profiles of Delaware of EducationSecretary Lillian Lowery, authorRachel Simon and restaurateurAmiee Olexy ran in the Februaryissue of Brandywine SignatureMagazine. His work with theWilmington News Journal in 2007concerning Republican Senate candi-date Christine O’Donnell was cited ona dozen websites back in September.

On March 14, Greto presented awriting workshop in New York Cityat the College Media Adviser’sAnnual Convention, after presentingone the previous day with Whetstoneeditor-in-chief Kim Manahan aboutpublishing a student newspaper at aprivate college.


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 15

Fairuz Lutz, professor of nursing,became a medical expert for PearsonPublishers whereby she reviews booksand makes suggestions for changesbased on the latest evidence-basedpractice and research. She created testbank questions for examinations dis-tributed to schools of nursing acrossthe country to prepare students to taketheir nursing licensure boards. Lutzalso serves on the Delaware NursesAssociation (DNA) ContinuingEducation Professional DevelopmentCommittee, made up of peer reviewerswho have advanced degrees, certifica-tion in various nursing areas, andexperience in staff development andformal or continuing nursing educa-tion. Through her committee work, shewill promote ANA standards of prac-tice and education; promote the use ofresearch findings to support associa-tion activities, educational offeringsand information disseminated to con-sumers; generate ideas for educationalactivities based on identified learningneeds of the membership; and evaluateDNA educational activities. Lutz wasaccepted at the Medical University ofSouth Carolina and will start her doc-toral studies in nursing this fall.

Dr. Linda De Roche, professor ofEnglish and American studies, had herbio-critical study titled “Mary HigginsClark: Life and Letters” published byPraeger Press in March. The studyexamines the connections betweenClark’s life and her fiction, exploring,for instance, the personal basis for hertreatment of the parent-child relation-ship and the grief experience as well asthe creation of a heroine for her time. Italso reveals the link between her lifeexperience and the social criticismembedded in her novels of suspense,an unexpected element of her popularfiction. De Roche noted that Clark “wasa most gracious subject, responding toemail queries and telephone calls andpermitting me to interview her at herSaddle River, N.J. home.” This is thesixth book that De Roche has pub-lished as a Wesley professor.

Bruce Bendler, adjunct professor ofhistory, published “James Sloan:Renegade or True Republican” in theSpring 2010 New Jersey History, exam-ining the career of the early 19th centu-ry Congressman from GloucesterCounty, N.J. Bendler also published“The Old Democrat Principles: SamuelTownsend and Delaware Politics” inSpring/Summer 2010 DelawareHistory, in which he looked at thecareer of a Democratic politician inDelaware whose career began duringAndrew Jackson's presidency and con-tinued through Reconstruction.

Dr. Kathleen C. Jacobs, professor ofmanagement, has closely studied thedisparity between female salaries andthose of their male counterparts. Herresearch highlights the fact that suchdisparity adversely affects Americanfamilies and the economy as a wholebecause an increasing number ofwomen are becoming breadwinnerswithin their households. OnNovember 16, Jacobs presented herfindings to the Delaware Commissionfor Women (DCW), on which sheserves as a gubernatorial appointee.One month prior to her report, shewas asked to represent the DCW on aconference call with the White House.The purpose of the call was to discussthe President’s National EconomicCouncil’s report on “Jobs andEconomic Security for America’sWomen.” Valerie Jarrett, senior advi-sor and assistant to the president;Cecilia Rouse, member of the Councilof Economic Advisers; and DianaFarrell, deputy assistant to the presi-dent for economic policy, were themain speakers, along with other par-ticipants holding leadership positionsin various agencies within their states.

After a decade of traveling to Italy andIreland, Wesley College’s History andAmerican Studies Department will betaking students south to Peru, startingnext school year. Dr. Susanne Fox,professor of history, and FrankGregory, instructor of history, have

expanded the student travel coursesand plan to offer relevant material intheir history, American studies, andwomen’s studies courses next year.After many trips abroad, Fox andGregory have seen students becomemore aware of the world and developself-esteem and maturity. The trip theyled to Italy last year attracted 50 partic-ipants, including students, parents andalumni. They anticipate that the LatinAmerican trips will eventually includesome service learning courses to workwith the Peruvians in less developedareas such as Cusco, also known as theSacred Valley of the Incas. Next Maythey plan to have their guide fromCusco, Karina Terrazas, who hasadvanced degrees in Peruvian historyand art, be a guest lecturer for a courseon the Incan Treasures of Peru. Shewill then accompany the group to Peruwhere they will visit Machu Picchuand other prominent Incan sites. Foxand Gregory hope to expand the travelprogram to other Latin Americancountries, such as Argentina and Chile.

Dr. Derald E. Wentzien, associate pro-fessor of mathematics; Mary Jo Benson,instructor in mathematics; and sopho-more honors student Melissa Earleyhad a paper accepted for presentation atthe 2011 Northeast Decision SciencesInstitute Annual Conference inMontreal, Canada. The paper is titled"The Ability of Wesley College Studentsto Retain Student Learning Objectivesfrom their Math Course to a Follow-upCourse." A t-test was used in the studyto analyze whether Wesley studentswere able to apply formulas learned inIntermediate Algebra and MathConcepts and Operations II courses tofollow-up courses, which included anursing course, an economics courseand a chemistry course. The resultsindicated that the students were notretaining the information and as aresult, the Mathematics Department isdeveloping a different approach toteaching formulas in the IntermediateAlgebra and Math Concepts andOperations II courses.




I N MAY 2010 Dr. Peter Angstadtretired from his position as profes-sor of sociology after 43 years of

service to Wesley College. A party wasthrown in his honor at the home ofPresident and Mrs. Bill Johnston. Thosewho worked beside him over the yearsgathered to celebrate his accomplish-ments and wish him a happy retirement.

The College, however, was not con-tent with just a reception to commemo-rate Angstadt’s career at Wesley.Certainly a professor who dedicated somany years of his life to the Collegedeserved something else. So a long-timecolleague asked her fellow faculty mem-bers for their support and nominatedhim for the honor of professor emeritus.

“The faculty was very enthusiasticabout my recommendation,” said Dr.Susanne Fox, professor of history andAmerican studies. Having workedalongside Angstadt for 34 years, shenominated him for the honorary title onthe floor of a faculty meeting in May. “Hewas so much a part of my life here atWesley and everyone who worked with

him. He will be really missed.”Professor emeritus is an honorary

title meant to acknowledge faculty whohave left the College after making a sig-nificant impact. Wesley's Board ofTrustees supported the faculty’s recom-mendation and bestowed Angstadt withthe professor emeritus title in October.He is one of only 17 former Wesley facul-ty members to be given the distinction.

Angstadt feels privileged to benamed among the other faculty of dis-tinction because he knew and workedwith each and every one of them. “I ampleased to be counted among the otherswith the same honor,” he said. “I knowhow dedicated they were and I’m hon-ored to be included.”

After devoting 43 years to his studentsand colleagues, Angstadt is now enjoyingthe pace of his retirement and the oppor-tunity to dedicate time to his health andfamily. He works out five days a week atthe YMCA, stays current on the stockmarket and his investments, and finallyhas time to read books for enjoyment.

“I am finally reading what I want to

read instead of what I have to read,” hesaid. The latest book he has read, “TheMatch” by Mark Frost, examines the his-torical trajectory of golf from an amateurto a professional sport and its sociologi-cal implications. “It’s a delicious book,”he said with delight.

Perhaps the greatest joy of his retire-ment is spending more time with hisfamily, especially his grandchildren. Heand his wife Patricia, a retired teacherfrom the Capital school district, travel toOregon, Washington D.C. andWilmington, Del. to spend time withtheir children and grandchildren,including four girls and two boysbetween the ages of one and nine.

Although Angstadt’s young grand-children are keeping him busy, he stillhas time for his Wesley family. TheFounder's Day committee had askedhim to be a part of this year's celebra-tion by sharing his experiences ofWesley past and present. At the pro-gram in March, he reflected on the waysWesley has changed since he startedteaching at the College and the core val-ues and characteristics that haveendured. When he came to Wesley in1967, it was a two-year junior collegewith about 850 students. He saw Wesleyfrom the enrollment boom at the heightof the Vietnam War, through the yearsof lean enrollment and changes in edu-cational focus in the late ’70s and early’80s, to the undergraduate and graduateliberal arts institution it is today.

After witnessing four decades ofchange, Angstadt values the one thingthat has always remained the same overhis years at Wesley. “Through all theperiods of difficulty, stress and strain,the faculty, administration and staffremained dedicated to helping youngpeople prepare for life’s endeavors and tobe successful,” he said. “Their dedicationhas anchored Wesley through the highsand lows.”

Four Decades of ServiceAngstadt Honored as Faculty EmeritusBY DORYANN BARNHARDT

Professor Emeritus Dr. PeterAngstadt and his wife Patricia


A WesleyLegend

LewisWells

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WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 17

“He would always reach out to people and bringthe spirit out in us; his enthusiasm was contagious.”

BY ELISE KNABLE ’09 ANDAMANDA DOWNES ’06


After receiving his bachelor’s from Clarion State TeachersCollege, a master’s from University of Pittsburgh, and complet-ing graduate study at Duke, University of New Hampshire andUniversity of Maine, Wells began his career at Wesley in 1946.Teaching English, public speaking and drama, as well as advisingthe extracurricular drama program known as Wesley Players,his ability to connect with students immediately took hold.

“He would always reach out to people and bring the spiritout in us; his enthusiasm was contagious,” said Gloria James’73. Whether it was in the classroom, at theater practice or dur-ing infamous dinners hosted at his home, Wells was equippinghis students with valuable lessons and skills that wouldenhance their future lives. James vividly recalls him helpingstudents learn to execute lines correctly in order to get a mes-sage across to the audience. She attributes her success as a cre-ative radio announcer to his message about the delivery of thewords and how that delivery would impact others.

Affectionately known as Uncle Lewi, Wells had a specialknack for bringing out the best in his students, academicallyand emotionally. “Mr. Wells had a gift for finding ‘strays’ andhelping them find purpose. He literally changed my life,” saidEd Doherty ’76. When Doherty took English 101 with Wells, hewas expecting to sit back and be miserable for the semesterwhile hopefully pulling a passing grade. There wasmuch more in store for him, however, thanksto Uncle Lewi’s immeasurable influence.

Doherty was a freshman in need ofdirection and “a serious attitude adjust-ment,” according to his self-description. “Oneday Mr. Wells asked me to stay after class andhe said, ‘Follow me.’ He led me across the hallto the Little Theatre without any additionalcomment. Silently, we toured the run-down andcluttered facility. He finally asked me, ‘What doyou see?’ I said, ‘A mess.’ That day, I began a majorcleanout of old sets, props and costumes in thebasement. I replaced lighting, cleaned dressingrooms and made general repairs. It took me weeks,and any free time I had, but I finally cleaned anduncluttered the Little Theatre.” Unbeknownst to

Wells, his comment that he “needed someone to show it [thetheatre] some love” and the experience that ensued re-ignitedDoherty’s interest in theater from high school. And moreimportantly, it was an eye-opening and maturing moment forthe young man. “That began a renaissance for the Little Theatreand a new beginning for me,” he said.

“I think some students who went to Wesley needed to beencouraged…he [Wells] toned me down. I certainly was notwild, but I didn’t lack self-confidence,” Ralph “Arky” Owen ’51explained. Owen remembers how Wells’ nurturing but firmnature helped many students to mature and reach their fullpotential. “He was unquestionably the most liked professor inthe school.”

Former students frequently remark on Wells’ unique abilityto keep their interest in any subject matter, even in an 8 a.m.class. More than just teaching the course material, he took a


FROM 1947 TO 1982 the halls of Wesley Junior College were graced by a man namedLewis Wells. More than just a professor of English and dramatic arts, Wells was a legend. He left an indelible mark on Wesley College history, molding countless students as he sought

to spread a love of the arts, literature, religion and life to all he encountered. The Wells Theatre on campus is a lasting memorial and reminder of his influence. Close to 30 years after his retirement andsince his passing in 1994, Wells has remained a name that creates a bond between a generation ofyoung men and women who studied at Wesley. Alumni spanning five decades reminisce about theinspirational professor whom they will never forget, remembering him as a person who significantlyshaped their life and the lives of many others at the institution and beyond.

FEATU R E | profile


sincere interest in the personal development of his students.For Walt Reimann ’50, enrolling in Wells’ public speaking classhelped him to overcome a stuttering problem. “My ability tocommunicate smoothly was interrupted with pauses. It was bychance that I got there,” he explained. The caring professorworked with him on his speech, instilling in him the self-assur-ance that he could conquer his challenge. “I was able to gain alot of confidence for myself and express myself in my environ-ment. As a result I went on to Gettysburg College, got an engi-neering degree at University of Hartford and a master’s in busi-ness at Drexel. I’m not sure if I would have gone on for moreschooling and work if I hadn’t worked with him…I wish therewere more teachers like him.”

Wells profoundly influenced the culture at Wesley JuniorCollege as well as the individual lives of countless studentswhose creativity, confidence and love of the arts blossomedunder his tutelage. Many alumni cite Uncle Lewi as their inspi-ration for getting involved with the arts. For some young menand women, their path to Wesley and into one of Wells’ classesprovided a fateful first encounter with the theater. Bill Baxter’68 recalls how Wells helped him to see that participating in anextra-curricular activity like drama “can be educational, funand enhance the rest of the college experience.” He added, “Iremember him always sitting partway back in the audiencechairs, barking directions to the stage as if he was actuallyangry or disappointed; finding later that he was having the timeof his life. And you know what, so were we.”

Even for those who already had an interest in the arts, theopportunity to study under Wells propelled them in their jour-ney of artistic expression and self-discovery. “Some of myfondest memories include Mr. Wells, the theater and the WesleyPlayers,” expressed Jane (Alderfer) Rahn ’65. She describes onesignificant moment as “walking into his classroom and having

him hold up the palm of his hand and say ‘All the world’s astage.’ That stuck.”

Throughout his time on campus, interest in the WesleyPlayers soared like it never had before. Hundreds of studentsfound their niche at Wesley by becoming a Wesley Player andworking with the talented Uncle Lewi. “He changed my life,”said Chris (Reich) Fleming ’62. “I had always wanted to be anactress, but at my high school they would never cast me in arole. I auditioned for him and he cast me right away.” Sherecalls how he demonstrated sincere interest in his students’wellbeing, always listening and being there for them. “If you gottaken under his wing, you just felt so cared for and safe.”

Another Wesley Player, Lynn Schmid Knable ’67, explained,“Uncle Lewi was our ‘Mr. Chips.’ His dedication to his belovedstudents was unexcelled. He helped us to believe in ourselvesbecause he first believed in us. That's something I think eachof us whose life he touched took away with us and hopefullycarry across all that we do...his integrity and service. Hisexpectations were high, but he somehow made it fun to reachthe bar he raised.”

Pam Webster-Ward ’73, who had artistic talents in danceas opposed to drama, also attests to Wells’ sense of inclusive-ness among the Wesley community. Remembering how heinvited her to work on choreography for one of his produc-tions which required dancing, she said of Wells, “I think oneof his most important assets was the willingness to includeeveryone who wanted to be involved, and an unerringinstinct to figure out where people's gifts and talents wouldfit in with what he was doing.” She also recalls that hewouldn’t let her get down when she sprained her ankle dur-ing one of the performances and felt that she ruined theshow. Instead he had said to her, "Don't take yourself tooseriously my dear, but always take your work seriously.”

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 19

“…I wish there were moreteachers like him.”



Webster-Ward expressed, “I never forgot that and realizedthat the saying could be applied to many, many areas of life,not just theater. He was a lovely, lovely man.”

Under Wells’ direction, the artistic scene on campus, andthe Wesley Players in particular, reached new heights.Wells’ reputation for theatrical productions drew in audi-ence members from the tri-state area and attracted theattention of theater critics from nearby cities. At the sametime, Wells helped establish a reputable presence forWesley Junior College among peers in the artistic and theacademic world. Former colleague and current Professor ofArt Lon Fluman explained, “Part of the reason I wasbrought to Wesley College was because of Professor Wells.Professor Wells and Professor Hughes were two of the people who made Wesley College the number one two-yearcollege in the U.S.”

Wells became a trusted advisor and mentor to manyWesley students over the years. He was the type of professorwho not only wanted his students to learn, but had a genuineinterest in seeing them succeed in every aspect of life. AlStallone ’53 had his first meeting with Uncle Lewi at his highschool’s college night. Although Stallone originally plannedon going to a different college, unforeseen obstacles prevent-ed him from taking that path and Wells opened another doorfor him at Wesley, where he could work his way throughschool with a job serving tables in the dining hall.

Years later, Wells was instrumental in another pivotalmoment in his life. After graduating and finally decidingwhat he wanted to do in his future, Stallone was interviewed

FEATU R E | profile

“Uncle Lewi was our ‘Mr. Chips.’His dedication to his beloved

students was unexcelled.”

Lewis Wells TributeWesley College is celebrating the life and career of Professor LewisWells (1911-1994) this year, which would have marked his 100thbirthday. Beyond the individuals interviewed for this article, we knowthat many others in the Wesley community have fond memories ofProfessor Wells, and we want to hear from you! We invite all his for-mer students, colleagues and friends to help us continue to tell thestory of Uncle Lewi and take part in the tribute activities, which willculminate with a program and display at this year's Homecoming—October 7-9.

Leading up to the special events this fall, we are kicking off aspecial fund drive in support of the Lewis Wells MemorialScholarship and collecting information and memorabilia associatedwith Wells and the Wesley Players. These will be part of the presen-tation at Homecoming, and donated items will be integrated intoWesley’s permanent archives, so that Wells’ impact will long beremembered at Wesley College. Alumni Association Vice PresidentLynn Schmid Knable ’67 is coordinating a scripted program which,along with the memorabilia display, will take place at theHomecoming All Class Reunion Dinner on the evening of Saturday,October 8. She and several classmates are looking for others thatwish to be involved in this project.

The Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship is an ongoing tribute to thebeloved professor, carried out through the many deserving studentsover the years that have been able to continue their education atWesley because of the generosity of alumni and friends. In order toensure that the legacy of Uncle Lewi will endure on Wesley’s campus,we are seeking gifts to financially strengthen and further the reach ofthe scholarship in his memory. Our goal is to boost the endowedscholarship to the $50,000 mark (currently close to $25,000) byHomecoming.

Please consider this opportunity to demonstrate your admiration forWells by joining us for this special tribute and supporting these efforts.

• Share items or personal memoirs. Send electronically (digitally stored photos, audio or video clips gladly accepted) to [email protected] or mail hard copies to: Office of Institutional AdvancementWesley College120 N. State StreetDover, DE 19901(Please indicate if you are donating or lending items. We will gladlyscan and send back materials or return items after Homecoming.)

• Take part in the tribute program. If you have memories oranecdotes to contribute or would like to assist in some way,please contact Lynn Schmid Knable '67 at 302-697-9256 or [email protected]

• Donate to the Lewis Wells Memorial Scholarship.To show your support, make a gift online atwww.weare.wesley.edu/onlinegiving or send donations (please noteWells scholarship on check) in the enclosed envelope in this issue.

• For more information, please visit weare.wesley.edu/well-stribute or contact the Office of InstitutionalAdvancement at 302-736-2467 or [email protected]

Thank you in advance for your support and participation. We hopeto see you in October!


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 21

by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Having maintained aclose relationship with his former professor, he listed him asa reference. “Uncle Lewi got a letter in Delaware askingwhether or not he would recommend me. When I got to themeeting for the interview, who was sitting there but UncleLewi. He came personally. He sat in the first row at thecourtroom when I was sworn in as a judge 15 years later,”Stallone said. “That was Uncle Lewi.”

Stallone was one of many individuals who witnessed first-hand Wells’ incredible influence at both the College and theWesley United Methodist Church (UMC) in Dover. Clearlydemonstrating his faith and devotion, Wells served as a laypreacher, a Christian education teacher and a choir memberin the local church. As a playwright, he also created manyreligious and historical productions, even after his retirement.These included “The Valiant Men Walk Unafraid,” whichdepicts the founding of Barratt’s Chapel in Frederica, Del.,“The Road Taken,” a play commissioned by the PeninsulaAnnual Conference for the Methodist bicentennial celebra-tion, “We Are One,” which was presented in 1965 and high-lighted the merging of the Delaware and Peninsula confer-ences, and “Unto This Generation” for Wesley UMC’s 200thanniversary. Religion was yet another sphere where Wells’teachings and beliefs made a strong impression on his students. Stallone pointed out that Uncle Lewi taught a lot ofpeople who went on to pursue careers in the Methodist min-istry, and as one former student who strongly considered thatpath, he can personally attest to his professor’s influence.

Opportunities to interact with beloved Uncle Lewi were notjust limited to the classroom, church or stage. He often invitedstudents to his house for Sunday dinner, and many graduatesstill have fond memories of these special gatherings. “HisChristmas get-togethers and spring galas in the parlor of hisGovernor’s Avenue home were renowned. We mingled with thefaculty. We were gathered as his family. Indeed, his door wasalways open to any student who needed a wise, kind friend,”Knable explained.

Undoubtedly, Wells made a lasting impression on theWesley College family as a whole. Among his contributions tothe institution, he authored plays for both the 75th and 100th

anniversary of Wesley College. Upon retiring in 1982, hereceived the Wesley Award for service to humanity. He contin-ued his play writing and work with the Methodist church thathe had begun when first arriving at the College.

At his retirement dinner, Wells said farewell to over 200alumni and friends who attended the event in his honor. In anarticle written about the event by Owen, it is noted that “thetheme for the evening was ‘One Little Candle’ which was asymbolic representation of the confidence instilled in so manyof his students by the honored guest.”

In 1986 the Lewis Wells Endowed Scholarship Fund wasestablished as a means for students to continue their educa-tion at Wesley. Based on contributions from friends andalumni of the College, the scholarship stands as a tribute to

the legacy of Wells and all that he gave to his students andthe greater community.

To further honor his dedicated service, the Wesley CollegeAlumni Association inducted him into the Alumni Hall ofFame as an honorary member on May 2, 1987. At the ceremony,Wells was presented with an “Oscar” inscribed with a tributeto his work at the College. Holding true to the memories ofmany, he then “conducted class for some of his former studentsin Wells Theatre after the induction ceremonies,” said Knable.On April 27, 1976 the Little Theatre in Slaybaugh Hall wasrenamed and dedicated in his honor.

Although Wells has passed on from this world, his idealsof education, faith and passion for the arts are carried onthrough the former students whose lives have been enrichedby his lessons and guidance. Numerous alumni have fol-lowed his examples by pursuing work in the arts, educationor in the church. And regardless of their individual paths,graduates of Wesley Junior College who had the privilege toknow and form a bond with the professor have one thing incommon: they attribute a part of who they are today andwhat they have achieved to Uncle Lewi.

As so many alumni have shared, Wells wanted more forhis students than just an education. He wanted them to feelinspired by life, believe in themselves and most of all, find thehumanity that drives us to become what we dream to be.Some alumni like to believe that he still sits in the balcony ofWells Theatre waiting for the next play to begin. And while itis arguable that the arts at Wesley have never been the samesince Wells’ era, his spirit is a lasting inspiration on campusand among all whose lives he touched. For beloved professorLewis Wells and all who continue to live their lives with himin mind, “The play’s the thing.”

“Don’t take yourself tooseriously my dear,

but always take your work seriously.”



KATHY (EDMUNDS) BIGLIN ’78 found her way toWesley Junior College in 1976, leaving her hometown ofLinwood, N.J. for the first time. During her time at Wesley,she was actively involved in campus life, participated in vari-ous sports, and acquired many lasting friendships.

As a quadruple sport athlete, Biglin clearly stayed busy inher college career, successfully balancing academics and ath-letics. Coach Joyce Starkey-Perry, who coached field hockey,women’s basketball and tennis at the time, took her underher wing early on. More than just a coach, Starkey-Perry wasa mentor to Biglin throughout her time on the Dover campusand she had a lasting influence on her professional life.

“She was my inspirational and motivational role model atWesley College,” said Biglin. “She taught me how to set andaccomplish individual and team goals. I credit Coach for thesuccessful athlete, teacher and coach that I had become.”

Biglin played field hockey at Wesley from 1976-1978. In addi-tion to being a captain, she received honors as 1st Team All-Tournament, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Region, 1st TeamAll-American and Team MVP, all in 1977. She also played bas-ketball for two years, earning similar accolades, and she was amember of both the softball and tennis teams for one year.

Her love of sports followed her long beyond her days at

Wesley. In addition to being inspired by Starkey-Perry, Biglincites James Wentworth, the men’s basketball coach and ath-letic director, as another influential figure at the College. “Ilearned a great deal from this Wesley legacy,” she said. Shehad absorbed so much, in fact, that the path to her futurewas clear. She knew she was well on her way to a career inathletics, instructing and coaching students just like thementors she had observed.

Biglin graduated from Wesley with an associate degree inhealth and physical education. She went on to PfeifferUniversity in North Carolina for a bachelor’s in the samefield, finishing her certification for grades K-12 in 1980 whilealso playing field hockey and softball. Her field hockey teamat Pfeiffer participated in the State Championship and NCAANational Tournament two years in a row.

Packing an impressive resume on the field, Biglin hadequally remarkable accomplishments in her career. For 11years, she taught health and physical education at LawrenceTownship Public Schools at both the middle and high schoollevels. For 10 of those years, she served as varsity head fieldhockey coach at Lawrence High School, leading her team tocountless victories. She was named Coach of the Year by TheTrenton Times, The Trentonian, The Lawrence Ledger and

FEATU R E | alumni profile

A Legacy of Her OwnBY ABIGAIL HILL ‘12


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 23

The Princeton Packet a total of four times. She also was themiddle school girls’ basketball coach and softball coach foreight years each.

In 1992 she became varsity head field hockey coach atMainland Regional High School where she maintained animpressive record over seven years, led her team to the Cape Atlantic League Championships in 1993 and 1995, andreceived Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year honors. Then in 2007 she took on another post as varsity head fieldhockey coach at Holy Spirit High School, again earning achampionship record and another Atlantic City Press Coachof the Year title.

Biglin’s passion for sports and dedication to teachingyouth were evident in her daily commitments. On top of her demanding teaching and coaching duties at school andraising a family, she stayed involved in her community. Shehas served as a local softball coach and umpire, the travelbasketball coach for the Linwood girls’ team, a recreationalbasketball league director and official, and camp director forShore Elite Field Hockey Camp. In recognition of her manyachievements, both as a coach and former student-athlete,she was inducted into the Wesley College Athletic Hall ofFame in 1984.

These days, Biglin has put coaching on hold and has shiftedcareers. She is now closer to home, working as CEO of the family business, Edmunds Direct Mail, Inc., in Northfield, N.J.She works closely with her husband of 22 years, Kevin. Theirdaughter Lindsey followed in her footsteps by attendingWesley, and since she started at the College in 2008, Biglinreturns to the campus often. Their other daughter Devonattends Widener University. As parents to two students away atcollege, the couple enjoys quality time with friends and relishesany time they can spend together as a family, whether it is during college visits, at sporting events, on vacations or at theirhome in Ocean City, N.J. Not surprisingly, considering her athleticism and active lifestyle, Biglin has taken up golf and bikeriding to keep busy.

Shaped by her interscholastic athletic endeavors and thecoaches that guided her along the way, Biglin has had theopportunity to pay it forward by being a role model foryoung athletes during her education career spanning morethan 25 years and by contributing to athletic causes. Todayshe proudly supports the Wesley field hockey team, under-standing both the needs facing Division III athletic pro-grams, particularly women’s sports, and the benefits thoseprograms bring to their student-athletes. As a long-timeannual donor who has recently joined the Wesley Society, she explained, “I feel it is important to give back to a Collegeprogram that had a positive impact on my life.”


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 23

The Princeton Packet a total of four times. She also was themiddle school girls’ basketball coach and softball coach foreight years each.

In 1992 she became varsity head field hockey coach atMainland Regional High School where she maintained animpressive record over seven years, led her team to the Cape Atlantic League Championships in 1993 and 1995, andreceived Atlantic City Press Coach of the Year honors. Then in 2007 she took on another post as varsity head fieldhockey coach at Holy Spirit High School, again earning achampionship record and another Atlantic City Press Coachof the Year title.

Biglin’s passion for sports and dedication to teachingyouth were evident in her daily commitments. On top of her demanding teaching and coaching duties at school andraising a family, she stayed involved in her community. Shehas served as a local softball coach and umpire, the travelbasketball coach for the Linwood girls’ team, a recreationalbasketball league director and official, and camp director forShore Elite Field Hockey Camp. In recognition of her manyachievements, both as a coach and former student-athlete,she was inducted into the Wesley College Athletic Hall ofFame in 1984.

These days, Biglin has put coaching on hold and has shiftedcareers. She is now closer to home, working as CEO of the family business, Edmunds Direct Mail, Inc., in Northfield, N.J.She works closely with her husband of 22 years, Kevin. Theirdaughter Lindsey followed in her footsteps by attendingWesley, and since she started at the College in 2008, Biglinreturns to the campus often. Their other daughter Devonattends Widener University. As parents to two students away atcollege, the couple enjoys quality time with friends and relishesany time they can spend together as a family, whether it is during college visits, at sporting events, on vacations or at theirhome in Ocean City, N.J. Not surprisingly, considering her athleticism and active lifestyle, Biglin has taken up golf and bikeriding to keep busy.

Shaped by her interscholastic athletic endeavors and thecoaches that guided her along the way, Biglin has had theopportunity to pay it forward by being a role model foryoung athletes during her education career spanning morethan 25 years and by contributing to athletic causes. Todayshe proudly supports the Wesley field hockey team, under-standing both the needs facing Division III athletic pro-grams, particularly women’s sports, and the benefits thoseprograms bring to their student-athletes. As a long-timeannual donor who has recently joined the Wesley Society, she explained, “I feel it is important to give back to a Collegeprogram that had a positive impact on my life.”



with Dr. Patricia DwyerVice President for Academic Affairs

BY DORYANN BARNHARDT

Q. What attracted you to Wesley and whydid you decide to come to this institution?

I certainly enjoyed my position at[The College of] Notre Dame [ofMaryland], but I wanted to be in aleadership position in which I couldmake a real difference. When I camefor my interview at Wesley, I was toldabout some of the Middle States chal-lenges and felt that my experience indirecting assessment programs at bothShepherd and Notre Dame could be agood fit. I remember having a wonder-ful conversation with the faculty in theCarroll Room on the day I interviewed.I left the College after a long day ofmeetings feeling energized. I thoughtthat was a good sign. When I metPresident Johnston and heard moreabout his vision for Wesley, I felt evenmore confirmed. I’m excited to be partof this next phase of Wesley’s growthand development.

Q. You were a high school teacher andan English professor before you becamean administrator. How did your experi-ences in the classroom shape your roleand prepare you to be the vice presidentfor academic affairs?

That’s a great question. I’ve taughtliterature for most of my life, and

interacting with studentsabout values, historical andpolitical contexts, and the“big questions” has been sorewarding. At times, studentscame into the class, especiallyif the class was part of the

general education program, ready todislike reading poetry or fiction. Ioften felt that my purpose in thoseclasses was to awaken a curiosity andinterest about great writers. Believeme, I wasn’t always successful, but Itried to understand where studentswere coming from and what would

After meeting Dr. Patricia Dwyer, it’s easy to understand why adjectiveslike “engaging” and “intelligent” are used by colleagues to describe her. Inconversation, her demeanor is welcoming, her attention rapt and herspeech articulate. As Wesley’s new vice president for academic affairs,Dwyer brings a new enthusiasm and years of diverse experience to the aca-demic leadership of the College.

Since coming to Wesley in summer 2009, Dwyer has already made alasting impact on the College. Stepping in as the chief academic officer at atime when Wesley was faced with accreditation concerns and an academicoffice in flux, she led the College to a successful reaccreditation by theMiddle States Commission on Higher Education in 2010.

To be sure, no small part of Dwyer’s success lies in her ability to leadeffectively. President Bill Johnston credits much of the College’s recentreaffirmation by Middles States to her management style and leadershipabilities. “She is very inclusive,” he said. “She doesn’t just hand downedicts or operate in a vacuum.”

The faculty also appreciates Dwyer’s even-handed approach. Dr. JeffreyMask, professor of religion, philosophy and American studies, has workedwith his fair share of chief academic officers: by his count a dozen in thelast two decades. Mask believes Dwyer brings much needed professional-ism to the post. He describes her as “intelligent, fair, somebody who strivesto do the right thing.” Mask is particularly pleased with her willingness toconsider multiple perspectives. “She listens to all of us,” he said. “She doesa good job at trying to see what’s good for the whole institution.”

Recently, Dwyer gave Wesley magazine the opportunity to find out moreabout where she’s been,what she’s learned alongthe way, and her hopesfor the College’s future.

“I’m excited to be part ofthis next phase of Wesley’sgrowth and development.”

FEATU R E | interview

Q&A


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 25

make the readings and discussion rele-vant and meaningful.

As a chief academic officer, I havethe privilege of working with manytalented faculty members, all whocome with expertise in their disci-plines and a sincere dedication to ourstudents. I feel my most important jobis to tap the energy of the group, verysimilar to the students in those litera-ture classes, and help faculty to seethat the goals we are striving for arerelevant and meaningful and not justanother administrative hoop to jumpthrough. I think our recent discus-sions of the core curriculum are agood example. Over the last eightmonths, we have had very energeticand insightful conversations aboutthe skills, knowledge and disposi-tions our students need to be success-ful as professionals and good citizens.Rather than simply seeing this as anexercise mandated by our strategicplan, I see it as energizing and excit-ing because we have tapped into whatis meaningful to all of us: helping ourstudents succeed by preparing themwith 21st century skills.

Q. Why did you make the transitionfrom faculty to administration?

My transition was a gradual one.While at Shepherd University, Ibecame director of the honors pro-gram, but I still held faculty rank inthe English department. When Ibecame a dean at Shepherd, I contin-ued to teach. I’ve always thought thatteaching while doing administrativework is a good way to stay groundedin what we are all about—the stu-dents. When I moved to College ofNotre Dame, I was not required toteach, but I taught a first year compo-sition class. Last fall, I was able toteach a Wesley Connection class for

undeclared students. Getting to knowthe students outside of my adminis-trative role is wonderful.

Q. You earned your Bachelor of Artsin 1979 and your doctorate in 1995.What did you do in the 16-year spanbetween the two degrees?

After I finished my bachelor’sdegree in English, I thought I’d like togo to law school so I volunteered for aperiod of time at a public defender’soffice in Philadelphia and took a fewlaw classes. That experience con-vinced me that law wasn’t for me, andsince I thoroughly enjoyed my studiesas an English major, I began explor-ing master’s programs in literature.One of my college professors told meabout the Bread Loaf School ofEnglish affiliated with MiddleburyCollege. The master’s program isdesigned for people who were teach-ing during the academic year; classesat Middlebury are taught during thesummer. Through this program, Istudied in both Vermont and Oxford,England. I finished my degree in 1986

while I was teaching high schoolEnglish. In 1989, I moved toWashington D.C. to start my doctor-ate at George Washington University.I finished my dissertation anddefended it in the fall of 1994 andgraduated in the spring of 1995.

Q. What person or persons haveinspired you the most in your profes-sional and academic career and why?

My parents are the people who havemost inspired me. My father was inadvertising and also taught a market-ing class in the evening division atLaSalle College in Philadelphia. Mymother returned to school to becomea nurse after raising five children.As children, we were taken to musicalsand museums, and I believe my lovefor the arts started early on becauseof them. My parents both so valuededucation and they made sacrifices to ensure that we received the besteducation possible. Most of all, theyencouraged each of us to find the pathwe could be passionate about. Theywere great role models.



Q. What are some of the greatest academic challenges the College facesand how do you plan to tackle thosechallenges?

We need more faculty to fully staffthe majors we have. In some cases, wehave only one full-time faculty memberteaching in a major. That’s not good forthe program or for the students. Myplan is to develop a model for addingadditional faculty and making sure oursalaries are competitive.

We need to expand our offerings andchoose new majors that fit with our mis-sion as well as the needs in the market-place. We can’t do everything. What areour strengths? As a liberal arts institu-tion, I want to showcase the arts. I’mthrilled that our newest major is music,and I know, with the commitment of thefaculty who proposed the major, thatWesley will create a first-class program.And the arts can have such an impacton the community—Wesley could be ahub for the arts in Dover and the region.As our offerings grow, we will hire fac-ulty with the passion and expertise we

need and a commitment to the highestquality teaching.

We also need to attract studentswho are a good fit, who have ability,who want to be challenged, and whowould thrive in the small college envi-ronment where close relationshipswith faculty are a hallmark of theiracademic experience.

I would like to see more of our stu-dents have the opportunity to studyabroad. Opening new worlds to themcan be a transformative experience.We need to tackle impediments totravel, and that typically involvesfinancial resources.

We must continue to develop andimplement data-driven decision makingand assessment. We’re getting muchbetter with the addition of Dr. Chul Lee[director of data analysis and institu-tional effectiveness] and Dr. Colleen Di Raddo [assistant vice president foracademic affairs] to our staff, but wecould do more to use assessment data tocontinually improve our programs andinstitutional effectiveness.

Q. As the vice president for academicaffairs, you work very closely with the fac-ulty. What do you think are the greateststrengths of the Wesley faculty? Are thereany areas for growth in the faculty thatyou would like to encourage?

We have a very hardworking facultywho carry a heavy teaching load, serveon countless committees, and who staycurrent in their disciplines. They takestudents abroad and organize clubsand student activities. They show upfor athletic events and stay after hoursto work one-on-one with a student inneed. They advise students in theirmajors and mentor students in under-graduate research, often without com-pensation. And the thing that amazesme is I have rarely had a faculty mem-ber say no when I’ve asked them toserve on a search committee or taskforce, or to just get together to picktheir brains about an idea. I’m reallyinspired by them.

Q. Areas of growth? I think when one has worked with

colleagues for many years, it’s easy tojump quickly to assumptions aboutothers. I read recently about a CEOwho asked her colleagues to embracewhat she called “the MRI para-digm”—that is, the Most RespectfulInterpretation. I think if we all prac-ticed this, including myself, we couldenhance our collegial and productiveatmosphere.

Q. “Accreditation” and “assessment” aretwo buzzwords heard on campus in recentyears. Please explain to our readers whatthose words mean and why they areimportant to the future of the College.

The College is accredited overall bythe Middle States Association, and inNovember 2010 we received the goodnews that Wesley was in full compli-ance with all 14 standards of excel-lence. The College also has discipline

“When it comes to Wesley, I ask myself, ‘What is itthat will showcase what Wesley is great in?’”

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Colleen Di Raddoand Dr. Patricia Dwyer enjoy taking part in one ofWesley's community service projects.


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 27

specific accreditations: NCATE forEducation, National League ofNursing for the Nursing Departmentand the American Bar Association forLegal Studies.

Assessment is the process of meas-uring our success at helping studentslearn the skills, knowledge and dispo-sitions that will enable them to besuccessful. I remember when I firststarted working in assessment andsaying to faculty, “It is not so muchabout what we teach, but about whatstudents learn.” Assessment of learn-ing outcomes in our programs helpsus measure these goals and adjustprograms to better reach them. Wealso assess to measure our institu-tional effectiveness. Through surveyswe give, focus groups we hold or exitsurveys we administer, we discoverwhat we are good at and where weneed to improve. The assessmentcycle is about continuous improve-ment both in academic programs andin the various offices throughoutcampus that serve our potential stu-dents or the campus community.

Q. Why is being accredited important tothe College?

Accreditation is the stamp ofapproval from an outside evaluator.Being accredited through MiddleStates legitimizes all of our programsat Wesley.

Q. More high school graduates are col-lege-bound than ever before, makingcompetition for students fierce amongcolleges and universities. What can theCollege do to attract talented studentswhen those students are faced with somany options?

I was recently reading the book“Good to Great” by Jim Collins. In onesection of that book, he writes aboutinstitutions discovering what they aregreat at. He talks about organizationsthat are good at what they do, butbecause they offer about the samething that other “good” organizationsoffer, they will never be great.

When it comes to Wesley, I askmyself, “What is it that will showcasewhat Wesley is great in?” A few areascome to mind— faculty mentorshipand undergraduate research. Wesley isdoing excellent work in this across thedisciplines. Also we have the potentialto create a dynamic and innovative lib-eral arts core that challenges studentsand introduces them to new ideas andways of thinking. We are the only lib-eral arts college in Delaware. We needto do a better job of translating whythat is important and what we canoffer that challenges and engages ourstudents. Personalized education: ourentire campus community workstogether on this, from the faculty inthe classroom to those who work inthe dining hall, from the offices thatserve our student needs to studentlife’s outreach and activities, from thePresident and Mrs. Johnston’s invita-tion to students for dessert or break-fast in their home, to the communityengagement opportunities we offer.We are very intentional about makingsure students know their responsibili-ties and reach for and achieve thosedreams that first inspired them tocome to college.

Q. You have been associated with spiri-tually-rooted schools like the College ofNotre Dame of Maryland and nowWesley College. What has influencedyour decision to be a part of church-affiliated schools?

At both Notre Dame and WesleyCollege, I was attracted to the institu-tions because they communicated val-ues as an integral part of the educa-tional experience. As a Methodistinstitution, we emulate the virtues ofJohn Wesley: social responsibility,compassion, inclusion and justice. Isee these as a vital underpinning toall we do at the College. We educatethe whole person.

Q. What do you think our readers wouldbe most surprised to learn about you?

I was a Catholic nun for 20 years.

Q. Is there anything that you would liketo add to our discussion or make sureour readers know?

I feel privileged to serve as the chiefacademic officer at this very excitingtime in Wesley’s history, and I look for-ward to the College’s evolving growthand development as a truly exceptionalliberal arts college.

From left: Board of Trustees Chair Charles "Chip" Dashiell, Delaware's Secretary of EducationDr. Lillian Lowery, Dr. Patricia Dwyer and President Johnston at Winter Commencement



For all the latest scoresand highlights, visit

the athletics website at athletics.wesley.edu

WOLVERINESPORTS

BY GEOFF GOYNE

Michael Liegey


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 29

FOOTBALL

What A Great Run MOST FANS WOULD not have pre-dicted the season that the football teamproduced if you had told them that 18 student-athletes would go down withseason-ending injuries. Even moreremarkable about the team’s successwas the fact that many of the injuredplayers had titles such as All-American, All-Region and All-Conference attached to their names.

Despite the setbacks, the Wolverinesshowed they had as much depth as anyteam in the nation. Wesley overcame therash of injuries to produce the pro-gram’s second straight undefeated regu-lar season. The team not only earned abid to the NCAA Championships for thesixth straight year, but was awarded thetop overall seed in the tournament.

That meant the Wolverines hadhome field advantage throughout theplayoffs, and Wesley holds some of thebest home field statistics in small col-lege football. The Wolverines rolledthrough the first three rounds, claim-ing the NCAA South RegionChampionship and the right to hostperennial contender Wisconsin-Whitewater in the national semifinals.Wesley took an early lead in the game,but the eventual national championWarhawks proved too much, endingthe Wolverines run at 12-1.

Defensive end Chris Mayes wonnearly every defensive player of theyear award imaginable, taking homehonors in the D3football.com SouthRegion, the Eastern College AthleticConference (ECAC) South and theAtlantic Central Football Conference(ACFC). He turned in another domi-nant season as a junior with 32.5 tack-les for loss and 17.5 sacks. He also wasnamed an All-American by theAmerican Football CoachesAssociation, D3football.com and theAssociated Press. Mayes helped spear-head a defense that led Division III in

total defense and placed two otherplayers on All-America squads—line-backers Mike Asiedu and Jeff Morgan.

On the other side of the ball, backupquarterback Justin Sottilare was forcedinto action on the first offensive seriesof the year, but the Wolverines offensedid not skip a beat. The junior threwfor a school and conference record 38touchdowns and was 14th in DivisionIII in pass efficiency.

Many of those touchdowns went towide receiver Ellis Krout, who topped1,000 yards and scored 18 touchdownsbefore suffering a knee injury in theSouth Region Championship. The 6’4”

senior has drawn interest from nearlyevery NFL team.

Senior guard Anthony West turnedin an All-American season, helping keepopposing defenses away from Sottilareand opening holes for sophomore run-ning back Brandon Wright, who rushedfor over 1,000 yards on the season.

Head Coach Mike Drass alsoreached a milestone during the seasonwith his 150th career win. After theseason concluded, the Wolverineswere proudly honored with the ECACTeam of the Year and LambertMeadowlands Trophy, awarded forEastern football supremacy.

review | S PORTS

Brandon Wright



Wesley continued its strong play in recentyears with another impressive season in2010-11. The team won 18 games, tied forthe second most in the Division III era,and advanced to the Capital AthleticConference (CAC) Championship gamefor the third straight year.

The season was fueled by a 9-1 recordat the friendly confines of WentworthGymnasium, where the team enjoys oneof the best home court advantages in theregion. The team also put together an 11-game win streak that included four vic-tories by three points or less. Perhapsthe most memorable win in the streakcame against conference rivalMarymount (Va.). The Saints held a 68-67 lead with just nine seconds left, butDarrell Johnson got off a shot before thefinal horn that found the bottom of thenet to give the Wolverines the win.

Wesley earned a bye in the first roundof the CAC playoffs and dispatchedSalisbury in the semifinals when PaulReynolds stole an inbounds pass withjust a second left to secure a 75-74 win.The victory placed Wesley into the CACChampionship against nationally-

ranked St. Mary’s (Md.). The Seahawksdashed the Wolverines’ NCAA hopesand eventually advanced all the way tothe national quarterfinals.

A bid to the ECAC SouthChampionships followed, where Wesleyknocked off Misericordia in the quarter-finals before bowing to top-seededLebanon Valley in the semifinals.

After the season, Reynolds wasnamed to the All-CAC First Team whileJohnson earned a place on the SecondTeam. He also was recognized withD3hoops.com All-Mid Atlantic Regionhonors. A sophomore forward,Reynolds finished among the conference

leaders in scoring, rebounding and stealsand was among the Division III leadersin field goal percentage with a mark of 61percent.

Seniors Rudy Thomas and KevinJohnson capped impressive careers. Theduo won 68 games in uniform for theWolverines, the most of any senior classin the NCAA history of the program.Johnson scored over 1,000 points in hiscareer, becoming just the 10th player atWesley to pull the feat. Both seniors fin-ished among the all-time leaders in threepoint field goals and at least one of theirnames can be found in nearly every sta-tistical category in the record book.

S PORTS | review

MEN’S BASKETBALL

StrongSeason

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Highs & LowsWesley finished the season well, outscoring its opponents overthe final four matches, but a midseason losing streak dashedthe squad’s postseason hopes. The Wolverines posted a win anda tie in the first four matches of the year, but lost each of theirnext nine contests. Back-to-back home victories followed, how-ever, starting the team’s better play down the stretch.

The team finished 3-13-1 and was led in scoring by KimFearnbach with 10 points on a team-best five goals. Sammi Nevin

DarrellJohnson


A five-game midseason losing streak could derail postseasonhopes for nearly any team, but the Wesley College women’s bas-ketball team rebounded from the rough stretch to win sevenstraight and saved its season in the process.

The ensuing win streak propelled the Wolverines from anon-playoff team to host for the Capital Athletic Conference(CAC) first round. After a win over Frostburg State, Wesleyupset top-seeded Mary Washington with a bucket by AngieOwens with just 13 seconds to play to advance to the conferencechampionship game.

In that contest, Wesley nearly overcame a 21-point deficit,but York (Pa.) held on for a 70-66 win. The Wolverines used thehot finish to gain a bid to the ECAC South Championships,falling in the quarterfinals.

The play of seniors Cory Boyd and Owens highlighted theWesley season, which ended with 16 wins. Owens was namedthe CAC Co-Player of the Year and was joined on the All-Conference First Team by Boyd. The duo went on to earnD3hoops.com All-Atlantic Region honors, with Owens earninga place on the First Team.

Between them, the two players have written their namesamong the all-time leaders at Wesley in every statistical catego-ry, including scoring, where Owens is third all-time, one placeahead of Boyd. Owens became the first player in school historywith 1,000 career rebounds and also holds the school record in

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 31

blocked shots. Boyd set the school record for assists before hersenior year even began and ended her career with more assiststhan the next two players on the list combined.

Wesley’s third senior, Allison Beddia, joined Owens amongthe all-time blocked shots leaders and Boyd on the list forcareer three-point field goals.

review | S PORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Records Fall

MEN’S SOCCERClose CallsThe Wolverines started the season offon the right foot with a season-openingvictory, but a subsequent winlessstreak proved too much to overcome.After a 2-0 win against Moravian,Wesley went 0-5-1 in its next six match-es, but only one of the defeats was bymore than a single goal.

The Wolverines went on to winconsecutive matches on two occa-sions, but finished at 6-11-1. JuniorKyle Long was named to the All-Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)squad after putting up six goals andtwo assists for 14 points.

Rachelle Allen

Joshua Chelleh


The volleyball team got off to a slow startand finished just 5-29 on the year after a16-match skid to start the season.Sophomore Carle Ax was named to theCollege Sports Information Directors ofAmerica (CoSIDA) Academic All-District team, becoming the first playerin the volleyball program’s brief historyto earn the accolade.


S PORTS | review

FIELD HOCKEY

Season of SuccessThe 2010 season was one of firsts for an already highly successful Wesley Collegefield hockey program. The Wolverines had come up empty in 16 tries againstnational power and conference rival Salisbury as they entered a Capital AthleticConference (CAC) Semifinal contest on November 3, along with a regular seasondefeat eight days earlier. A superb defensive effort by Wesley helped give theWolverines their first ever win over the Sea Gulls and ended Salisbury’s 15-seasonstranglehold on the CAC crown.

Wesley fell in the CAC title game to Mary Washington, but earned a bid to theECAC South Championships, advancing to the semifinals. With 14 victories, it markedthe 14th consecutive year the Wolverines won at least 11 times. Also during the season,Head Coach Tracey Short reached the 200-win plateau, becoming one of just 10 coach-es in Division III with as many victories.

After the season, senior Brooke Tadlock became the program’s first All-American,and she was joined by Madison Leone on the All-Region Team. In all, Wesley placedfive players on the All-Conference squad. Tadlock was named the CAC Player of theYear and was joined on the team by Leone, who led the conference in scoring andassists as a freshman, as well as CAC assist leader Nicole Hill, Amanda Fisher andSheree Pleasanton. Tadlock’s season capped a career in which she finished third all-time at Wesley in goals and points. Additionally, Dana Keller ranked second inDivision III in defensive saves with 14 at year’s end.

Both cross country teams finished ninthat the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)Championships. The women’s seasonwas highlighted by Tristin Burris, whobecame the fourth fastest runner inschool history with a time of 20:43 at theDelaware State Invitational. Nearly everyrunner on the men’s squad was a fresh-man, but the team showed great improve-ment over the course of the year.

CROSS COUNTRYBuilding Blocks

Brooke Tadlock(foreground) andMeggan Apgar

Ashlynn Maloy

Twila McCreaand KristenSofia

VOLLEYBALLHard Work


THE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME tradi-tion at Wesley was initiated by theCollege’s Alumni Association in 1983. Itis designed to pay tribute to individualswith outstanding achievements in thefield of intercollegiate athletics who alsohave helped bring distinction and excel-lence to Wesley College. The processinvolves a committee of athletic adminis-trators, coaches and alumni and is nowadministered by Wesley's IntercollegiateAthletic Department.

The 2010 Athletic Hall of Fame induc-tion class included the following alumni,listed alphabetically.

Nate Casella ’99 was a standout onthe gridiron for Wesley. He was anAmerican Football Coaches AssociationAll-American and a two-time EasternCollege Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Star. A participant in the Aztec Bowlafter his senior year, he still ranks in theschool’s top 10 in tackles, sacks, tacklesfor loss and forced fumbles. He wastwice honored as the Wesley CollegeMale Athlete of the Year and won theJoseph Murray Award as the team MVP.The versatile Casella was a team captainas a senior and played both offense anddefense his junior and senior seasons.

Chasity Cole ’04 was a member ofthe field hockey and softball teams atWesley. The two-time All-PennsylvaniaAthletic Conference (PAC) pick helpedlead the Wolverines to the NCAATournament on the field hockey fieldand aided Wesley to PAC titles in bothsports. Cole still rates as the Wolverines'all-time leading goal scorer in fieldhockey and remains in the record booksfor career points, ranking second, andfor career assists, ranking sixth.

Petie Davis ’04 was an All-Americanfootball player at Wesley in 1994.Division III's 10th all-time leading rush-er, he holds the Wolverines' careerrecord by nearly 600 yards. He alsoholds Wesley's single game rushingrecord and career scoring record, whileranking second in career rushing touch-downs. Davis also was named an ECACAll-Star twice and was the NationalPlayer of the Week on three occasions.

Wesley Inducts Hall of Fame ClassWesley College welcomed 16 new members to its Athletic Hallof Fame over Homecoming Weekend this past fall. Inducteeswere honored at a ceremony held at the Schwartz Center onFriday, October 15 and were announced during the halftimeshow at Saturday’s football game at Scott D. Miller Stadium.

S PORTS | hall of fame

Front row, from left: Brandon Steinheim ’98, Shawn Money ’97, Wendy Smith ’02, Melissa McGarry ’00, Chasity Cole ’04, Matthew Sellitto ’67, David Harris ’03. Back row, from left: Nate Casella ’99, Brian Warren ’94, Demetrius Stevenson ’98, Bill Laphen ’99, Cliff Hatch ’99, Marshall Downes ’95,Petie Davis ’04, Joe Krajewski ’94, and Joe Mangano ’97/’00

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 33

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE


hall of fame | S PORTS


Marshall Downes ’95 wasWesley's first All-Region honoree inmen's soccer. After leading the teamin scoring as a junior, he moved todefense to help bolster theWolverines' back line. A team captainhis senior year, Downes helped leadWesley to the ECAC Tournament,where he was named to the All-Tournament team. Beyond Wesley, hecontinued playing for a year with theSouth Jersey Barons, formerly of theUnited Systems of IndependentSoccer Leagues (USISL) division IIIprofessional league.

David Harris ’03 helped leadWesley to its first conference champi-onship on the baseball diamond at theDivision III level. He was twice namedas an All-PAC selection and set seasonrecords in doubles as well as battingaverage. Among all-time leaders inWesley baseball, Harris rates secondin games played and seventh in careerhits. He also holds a spot in the team'stop 10 in runs batted in.

Cliff Hatch ’99 led the Wolverinesto a pair of ECAC Bowl Championshipson the football field. He was an ECACAll-Star and a National Player of theWeek recipient who ranks amongWesley's all-time leaders in tackles,tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. After his playing career,Hatch became an assistant coach forthe Wolverines.

Joe Krajewski ’94 was a two-sportstandout at Wesley, leading the footballteam to a pair of ECAC titles and win-ning another on the baseball field. Oneof the Wolverines' all-time tackle lead-ers, he was a four-year starter in bothsports and a dean's list student. Afterfinishing his playing career, Krajewskihelped coach both the baseball andfootball teams at Wesley.

Bill Laphen ’99 was named aSporting News All-American as a sen-ior and was a two-time National Playerof the Week. He helped lead a 1995defense that ranked second in DivisionIII. An ECAC All-Star and an All-Atlantic Central Football Conference(ACFC) pick, he led the team in sacks

three times and set what at the timewas the school's single season record.

Joe Mangano ’97/’00 was a stand-out football player at Wesley. As anECAC All-Star, he blocked for a pair ofAll-American running backs duringhis time at the College and was namedan All-American himself. He was ateam captain and started every game inhis football career. He went on tobecome a coach at Wesley and at NorthStafford High School in Virginia.

Melissa McGarry ’00 played on theCollege’s first varsity women's soccerteam and she still ranks among theschool's all-time leading scorers. Sherates second in the program’s recordbooks for career goals and points, whileranking sixth at Wesley in career assists.McGarry also was an All-PAC selectionin 1998 and she was named the WesleyFemale Athlete of the Year.

Shawn Money ’97 played on the 1995defense that ranked second in thenation. He was named to the Division IIIAll-Star Game and was an All-ECACpick and All-America HonorableMention as well. He still ranks amongthe football program's career leaders intackles, tackles for loss and passbreakups. He was twice named theteam's Defensive Player of the Year andalso was a team captain.

Matthew Sellitto ’67 was a standoutfrom the Wesley Junior College era. Hewas chosen as both a Junior College All-Star and All-Coastal Conference afterleading the team in rushing during bothof his seasons with the Wolverines. Afterhis career, he earned a DistinguishedAmerican Award and coached at bothMillburn (N.J.) High School and at SetonHall University. Sellitto also was instru-mental in establishing the MorrisCounty (N.J.) chapter of the NationalFootball Foundation.

Wendy Smith ’02 was an All-Regionfield hockey player for the Wolverines.Also a two-time All-PAC pick, she ranksin the top 10 at Wesley in goals, pointsand assists. Smith led Wesley field hock-ey to its first PAC Championship andNCAA bid during her senior year, whenshe was named the Wesley Female

Athlete of the Year. Smith also was ateam captain and a dean's list student.

Brandon Steinheim ’98 was a final-ist for the Gagliardi Trophy, given to thetop football player in Division III. As atwo-time All-American and NationalPlayer of the Week pick, he was third inthe nation in rushing in 1996. He stillholds the Division III season record forkick return average and set a DivisionIII standard by rushing for at least 100yards in 19 consecutive games. A dean'slist student and team captain, Steinheimis Wesley's career leader in rushingtouchdowns, ranks second in careerrush yards, holds the single seasonrushing record, and holds the Wesleyrecord for touchdowns in a game and ina season.

Demetrius Stevenson ’98 was astandout on the defensive line and alsoplayed on the Wolverines’ second-ranked defense in 1995. He was a three-time All-American and a Division IIIAll-Star game participant. He rates inWesley's all-time top 10 in tackles, sacks,tackles for loss and holds the schoolrecord for forced fumbles. A two-timeteam captain, he went on to help coachthe Wolverines after finishing his career.

Brian Warren ’94 was named anAll-American as well as an ECAC All-Star after his senior year on the footballfield. He still rates among theWolverines' all-time career leaders ininterceptions and pass breakups and heset a school record with three intercep-tions in one game. As a two-time teamcaptain, Warren also was a dean's liststudent a Wesley.

Former players or coaches of any var-sity athletic program in the institution'shistory are eligible for nomination inWesley’s Athletic Hall of Fame. A specialcategory also exists for other individualswho have made outstanding contribu-tions to intercollegiate athletics at theCollege. Nominations are accepted annu-ally with a deadline of February 1 forconsideration for the fall induction.Please visit the Alumni section of athlet-ics.wesley.edu for details on the eligibilitycriteria, selection process and to com-plete a nomination form.


CLASS NOTESTo post your latest news, visit the alumniwebsite at weare.wesley.edu/classnotesor include with the return envelope provided.

WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 35

MBA graduate Jade Martin is hooded by Dr. Patricia Dwyer, vice president foracademic affairs, and Dr. Zoann Parker, executive director of Wesley New Castle.



’47Edna (Layton) Curry reports that althoughshe has very low vision now and is limited inactivities, she and her husband Bill still travelfrom Largo, Fla. to visit Maryland andDelaware at least once a year. They have adaughter and four grandchildren who live onthe western shore of Maryland.

Betty (Maynard) Pennock retired from SunTrust Banks in 1990 and has resided inTampa, Fla. for 42 years. She and her hus-band Morris have one daughter and twograndchildren, who also reside in Tampa.

’52Frank D’Annolfo shared an update sincehis college days. After leaving Wesley, hetried out with the St. Louis Cardinals base-ball team (who wanted him to finish collegefirst) and was invited to work out with theBrooklyn Dodgers the following year. Aftergraduating from West Virginia Wesleyan in1954, he served in the U.S. Army MilitaryPolice and was a member of the Post base-ball team. He taught physical education inthe West Hartford (Conn.) public schools.He earned the Most Outstanding First YearTeacher award at the elementary level,taught at the junior high level and coachedsoccer, basketball and baseball, and spentthe last 20 years of his career teaching andserving as head coach of soccer, ice hock-ey and lacrosse at Conard High School. Hewas the only coach of men’s teams to wintwo state championships in two differentsports and also won Coach of the Year in1986 in ice hockey. Frank married SuzanneCordier, a former public school teacher andprofessor at the University of Hartford. In1988 he retired to become “Mr. Mom” tohis sons Casey and Matt, ages 3 and 4 atthe time. He also has a daughter Debbieand son David from a previous marriage.Frank writes, “My goal in life is to enjoy myfamily, especially after my successful aorticvalve replacement last February, and to getmy golf handicap in single digits again! I’vebeen blessed with a great family, wonderfulfriends, good health and six days a week onthe golf course!”

Barbara (Butler) Kellam reported on herlife since her Wesley graduation. Aftermarrying a man from Livingston, Mont. andmoving to Seattle, Barbara was a medicalsecretary for two surgeons. The couple

then moved to Idaho, where Barbara wasa homemaker and raised four children—Marilyn, Colleen, Michael and Jenny. Theywere active in church activities and weremajor players in establishing a newMethodist church which flourished. After adivorce and a move back to Maryland withher children, Barbara completed a three-year nursing program at PeninsulaGeneral Hospital (PGH) School ofNursing in 1967. She married her middleschool boyfriend and high school friend,Raymond Kellam, and began working as astaff nurse. She soon was asked to teachin the PGH School of Nursing, as theyneeded someone qualified to teach pedi-atrics and Barbara had an AA degreefrom Wesley. This led to many years ofteaching nursing and earning additionaldegrees – a Bachelor of Science in 1972,Master of Science in 1980, doctorate in1987 and pediatric nurse practitioner cer-tification in 1995.

Barbara and Raymond had a daughterShelly born in 1974, known as their “gift ofGod.” She writes, “All of my children graduat-ed from college and now our nest is empty,but we still have each other. We are bothretired and enjoying every minute together!”

’58Gail (Hemhauser) Vain reported thatshe and her husband, along with GeneMeredith and his wife, attended “adelightful Super Bowl weekend at thehome of Janice (Yaglensky) Page ’59and Cordell Page in Swarthmore, Pa.Fortunately this year the weather cooper-ated so we could spend some timetogether, but not so lucky for Ed McGeebecause he was unable to get a flightout of Dallas. We are looking forward toanother Homecoming in October andperhaps another Super Bowl weekend in 2012.”

’59After retirement from PNC as a financialaudit manager, plus 12 years and 12,000hours of volunteering in activities with theFranciscan Care Center, part of St.Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del.,Wesley Bennett has been traveling toIreland and semi-annually to St. PeteBeach, Fla., keeping busy with yard workand writing to 55 friends around the globe,including former college roommateRobert Bruce Stores in Mexico.

From left: Gene Meredith ’58 and his wife Kathie, Ralph Vain and Gail (Hemhauser) Vain ’58and Cordell Page ’58 and Janice (Yaglensky) Page ’59


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 37

’61A group of classmates from the Class of1961 got together at Irish Eyes in Lewes,Del. on September 23. The “girls” includedBobbi (Stevenson) Herb, Kathy (Barclay)MacNamara Pickering, Sue (Dyer) Hope,Betty (Ware) Copp, Barbara (Powell)Gibson, Ann (Wright) Kearns and RuthAnn (Plitt) Miller. Collectively, they traveledfrom Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey andPennsylvania in order to meet up. This yearmarks the class’s 50th anniversary, which willbe celebrated at Homecoming – October 7-9. Bobbi, Kathy, Barbara and Ruth Ann areamong the reunion committee and encour-age their fellow alumni to join them back atWesley this fall to celebrate this milestonereunion! Visit weare.wesley.edu/classof1961for details.

Barbara (Powell) Gibson and her hus-band, Richard, have recently moved to Oaks,Pa. after spending 42 years in the Marple-Newtown area of Pennsylvania. They arebusy finding their way around and makingnew friends. If there are any classmates inthe area, their address is 110 Sloan Road.

’66Bob Dahlhausen writes, “Save the Date!Homecoming 2011...October 7-9. Say itain't so...45 years! We're too young to bethat old. Let's come back and share allthat's happened in our lives since those‘Happy Days’ on campus. We were a

great class academically, athletically andsocially. In all of those years since leavingWesley we have never had an organizedreunion. It only took us 45 years to getorganized, but this year a group of ushave been attempting to contact as manyof you as possible and are having a gooddeal of success. Some names of individu-als that you probably remember and whoare working on this project are Diane(Virtue) Morton, Karen (McLaughlin)Meacham, Dave Baker, Mary Beth(Potcner) DiEleonora, Carol (Betz)Dunn, Carolyn (Benjamin) Spencer,Carol (McDowell) McCoy, Kemp Vye,Tom Parker and Stephen Pound. Over30 plus classmates have indicated they'llbe there...let's DOUBLE, TRIPLE thatnumber! Look for more info by logging onweare.wesley.edu/classof1966 LET'SMAKE IT A MEMORABLE WEEKEND!”

’70Pete Naputano, who played for WesleyJunior College’s nationally-ranked footballteam in 1968 as a tight end and in 1969as a defensive end, was recently inductedinto the Western Pennsylvania Semi ProFootball Hall of Fame. Pete played outside linebacker for the PittsburghIronmen from 1975-1978. He earned ascholarship to Marshall University andwas a member of the 1970 football team.He is one of the seven surviving teammembers who did not make the fatefultrip because of injuries. Pete graduatedfrom Marshall in 1972.

’71Jim Lyons sent in a photo of his family thatwas taken prior to the unfortunate passingof his wife of 36 years and Wesley class-mate, Megan (Ebert) Lyons. Please visitweare.wesley.edu/classnotes for an obituary.

Clockwise from left: Sue (Dyer) Hope ’61, Betty (Ware) Copp ’61, Barbara (Powell) Gibson ’61,Ann (Wright) Kearns ’61, Kathy (Barclay) MacNamara Pickering ’61, Bobbi (Stevenson) Herb ’61,Ruth Ann (Plitt) Miller ’61

As Mountain View High School principal,Jim Oliver ’75 receives a resolution foracademic excellence from Fairfax Boardof Supervisors.

Megan '71 and Jim '71 Lyons withson Keith and daughter Kristen



IN MEMORIAMWilliam Rieck ’54Jack Marine ’55Jean (Von Hagel) Churn ’56Robert Emerson ’60Paul Martin Wiegand ’65Megan (Ebert) Lyons ’71Ralph Leitner

’75Jim Oliver retired March 1 after 33 years ofservice in education. As principal ofMountain View High School in Fairfax Va., herecently received a resolution for outstandingservice and dedication by the Fairfax Boardof Supervisors and The House and Senate in Richmond in recognition of academicexcellence in working with the most at-riskstudents in Fairfax County Public Schools.Mountain View has been a pioneer andmodel for alternative education throughoutthe state over the last seven years and wasranked 6th out of 316 state high schools onStandards of Learning (SOL) performance.

’98Keith ’98 and Cathy ’96/’98 (Mitchell-McQuade) DeFrance and their 12-year-oldson, Austin, reside in Smyrna, Del. Theyannounce the opening of their business,Alpha Team Computer Repair, in their home-town, offering free estimates for variousservices on personal laptops, desktops andboth software and hardware. They will tellyou if your computer is worth fixing insteadof overcharging you and you'll get friendly,clear explanations of your diagnosis alongwith the quickest results and fairest pricearound! Check out ALPHATEAM.CO or call302-514-9170 and ask for Keith. Cathyworks as a research nurse coordinator atthe Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at theChristiana Care campus in Newark, Del.

’03Jessica LaRocca and Craig Parkes sharednews of their engagement over the holidays.Craig, from Wolverhampton, England, wasvisiting Jessica in New Jersey and poppedthe question while ice skating in New YorkCity. The two were set up by Jessica’s sorori-ty sister, Jennifer (O’Mara) Parkes, andhusband Adrian Parkes ’06, Craig’s broth-er, and the couple has been in love eversince. After their April trip around Europe,Craig is relocating to New Jersey. A summer2012 wedding is in the works.

Jennifer (O’Mara) Parkes and AdrianParkes ’06 welcomed Addison KathrynParkes into the world on December 10.

’05Roxane Ferguson has recently beenappointed as executive director of TheMiddletown Area Chamber of Commerce(MACC). She has previously served as theexecutive director for the Southern ChesterCounty Chamber of Commerce, marketingdirector for Diamond Technologies, directorof sales and marketing for the Delaware

Better Business Bureau, assistant vice presi-dent for First Union Bank and is a Delawarelicensed real estate agent. After Wesley, shegraduated summa cum laude fromWilmington University with a master's degreein organizational leadership. She also servesas the president of the Middletown OdessaRotary Club, public relations chairperson forthe American Cancer Society and is anadjunct professor at Longwood Gardens.Ferguson is an active member of theDelaware Press Association and theChesapeake Bay Girl Scouts. She residesin Middletown with her husband Kevin andchildren, Alexis and Zachery.

’07Kristen Stewart announces her engage-ment to Chad Jones. Kristen and Chad, whoare both teachers at Delmar High School,got engaged on October 22. The couple isplanning a wedding on June 18 in OceanCity, Md.

’09Amanda Jackson is working part-time asan administrative and event assistant withAutism Delaware in Milton, Del. whileattending graduate school at DelawareState University.

Addison Kathryn Parkes

Jessica LaRoccaand Craig Parkes

Kristen Stewartand Chad Jones

We welcome all Wesley alumni atevents, which are posted onlineat weare.wesley.edu/events andannounced through our alumninewsletter via email. Please makesure we have your current emailaddress by updating your profileon the online community or emailing us at [email protected] you don’t miss out on information!

SAVE THEDATE!Homecoming 2011: October 7 -9


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 39

THE SECOND ANNUAL Arts in the Parlor fundraisingevent held on Saturday, April 9 almost doubled in sizeand in funds raised from last year’s inauguralevent. Building from last year’s success, thisblack-tie optional affair offered various levels ofsponsorship opportunities as well as expandedentertainment and culinary options, all to bene-fit Wesley College scholarships.

President and Mrs. Bill Johnston and the WesleyCollege Board of Trustees welcomed more than140 guests to the historic Schwartz Center for theArts for a unique experience that featured per-formance artists, musicians, visual artists, winesampling and culinary art creations. PremierSponsors of the evening were Bayhealth MedicalCenter and Aramark Corporation. FinaleSponsors included Wilmington Trustand Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware.Several Encore Sponsors, DebutSponsors and in-kind sponsors alsohelped to make the evening possible.The event planning committee, com-posed of Trustee Ann L. Burton, SusanS. Johnston, Trustee Jane Mattern, AliStark ’64, Okemah Strickland and MaryJane Willis, all worked for months putting the details together.

Guests were treated to several main stage performances andentertainment throughout the Schwartz Center while enjoying gour-met food and wine. Performances featuring Wesley College studentand faculty musicians and vocalists included the ContemporaryEnsemble, Gospel Choir, Madrigal Quartet, Drumline, harpist andguitar duets. In addition, 16 artists from among the Wesley commu-nity and local area displayed their work, representing mediums suchas flameworked glass, wood turning, mixed media, photography,watercolors, acrylic and oil paintings. The artists were on hand todiscuss their creations with guests throughout the evening.

More than $26,000 in funds was raised to support scholarshipsfor Wesley College students, compared to $15,000 raised at last year’sevent. “We were thrilled to host friends of Wesley at Arts in theParlor,” said President Johnston. “This event brings the communityand College together for a common cause.”

ADVANCE M E NT

Opera singer and Wesley vocal instructor BritaniaRedington-Wilson is accompanied by husbandDr. James Wilson, assistant professor of music.

Student Nicholas Hancockperforms with theContemporary Ensemble.

Connie Imboden discusses herartwork with Wesley Dessesow.

The Wesley College Gospel Choir performs.

From left: Trustee Rafael Zaragoza, Trustee JaneMattern, Dr. Michael Mattern and Claire Zaragoza



THE INAUGURAL YEAR of theWesley Society has been an incredibleand highly successful journey. Since itsinception in fall 2009 when 62 donorsqualified as charter members, Societymembership had grown to 155 mem-bers at the end of the charter year onDecember 31, 2010. This marks a 150%increase – a remarkable accomplish-ment in today’s economy!

The Wesley Society is the College’spremier annual giving group whosemembers contribute a minimum of$1,000 each year. Through generousgifts to the annual Wesley Fund,Society members allow the College toprovide scholarships to students so thatthey can pursue their dreams. Donorsalso are welcome to designate theirgift—to athletic programs, the StudentLeadership Retreat, the AlumniAssociation, endowed scholarships andmany more Wesley initiatives. ManySociety members give multiple gifts ayear to benefit both the Wesley Fundand their favorite programs.

Since the Society launch, chartermembers have contributed a total of$670,050 to Wesley. In the last fiscalyear ending June 30, 2010, the fundscontributed by Society members madeup 40% of the financial gifts, althoughrepresenting only 8% of our donors.

Who are the members of the WesleySociety? 73% (113) of our membershipare individuals or couples, 20% (31) areorganizations and businesses, and 7%(11) are foundations. 20 members areWesley faculty or staff and 16 aretrustees. Wesley alumni make up about46% of the individual Society members,with 9 couples who are both alumni—college sweethearts! The most generous

decade of alumni Society members isthe ’60s with 21 donors, followed by the’70s with 10 donors. The other decadesare evenly represented, all the way backto one donor from the Class of 1931.

Charter members come from 17states, with predictably, Delaware beingthe most common—home to 55% of ourmembers (86 donors), followed byPennsylvania, New Jersey, andMaryland. Other states represented areNew York, Florida, Virginia, WashingtonD.C., Maine, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee,Arkansas, North Carolina, NewHampshire and California.

To culminate the charter year, theCollege hosted the first annual WesleySociety Gala. Held on the evening ofJanuary 8 at The Outlook at DuncanCenter in Dover, close to 100 guestsbraved the remnants of a snowy morn-ing to attend. One highlight of theevent was the participation of 12 out-standing Wesley students who show-cased their accomplishments withpresentation posters stationedthroughout the reception area. The

program was emceed by BillStrickland, president of the Society,and included testimonials from studentCassandra Cardenas ’11 and Societymember, Senator Colin Bonini ’91.President Bill Johnston concluded theprogram by unveiling a plaque listingall charter members, which will beprominently displayed on campus.

Wesley Society has celebrated agreat beginning. The success of theWesley Society speaks volumes aboutthe Wesley family and the commonbond—the appreciation for Wesley’scritical role in the lives of thousands ofstudents over its long history, and itsimpact for years to come. In order toensure a strong future, the Collegeencourages charter members to contin-ue their support with renewal giftsannually, and hopes that other contrib-utors will consider joining the Societywhen making their 2011 gift!

To learn more, please contactDirector of the Wesley Society CathyAnderson at [email protected] or(302) 736-2410.

The Wesley Society

A CelebratedBeginningBY CATHY ANDERSON

From left: Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chris Wood, Wesley Society Presidentand Trustee Bill Strickland, Board of Trustees Chair Charles “Chip” Dashiell, President Johnston,Student Government Association President Tanner Polce and Director of the Wesley SocietyCathy Anderson display the Wesley Society charter members plaque.

ADVANCE M E NT


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 41

Trustee Dorothy McLaughlin and husbandGeorge ’61 enjoy an elegant dinner.

Wesley Society President Bill Strickland expresses hisgratitude to fellow Societymembers.

President Johnston and wifeSusan welcome Lee Beetschenand Diane Avery.

President Johnstonand Chip Dashiellunveil the plaque tocommemorate thecharter members ofthe Wesley Society.

From left: Harvey ’64 and JeanneKenton, Coach Mike Drass andSenator Colin Bonini ’91

Cassandra Cardenas ’11 sharesher Wesley experience withTrustee Rev. Dr. J.T. Seymour.

ADVANCE M E NT

120 North State StreetDover, Delaware 19901-3875

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“I don’t think everyone has grasped its truevalue. It is an excellent resource and farmore interesting and useful to me thanFacebook or Classmates.com. It was theonly way I was able to reconnect with myold friends Diane (Virtue) Morton and Carol(Betz) Dunn. They were both missing frommy life for over 25 years. We are now as‘thick as thieves’—just like we were over 40 years ago. In fact, we now vacationtogether at least twice a year. We’ve beendoing this since the online communitymade its debut.”

Mary Beth (Potcner) DiEleonora ’66

Visit weare.wesley.eduand find the friendsyou’ve been missing!

Alumni users: Find your First Time Login IDnumber above your name on the mailinglabel of this magazine. Need help? [email protected]

Potcner Betz Virtue

From left: Diane (Virtue) Morton ’66, Carol (Betz) Dunn ’66 andMary Beth (Potcner) DiEleonora ’66 on a recent vacation together.

Documents

Wesley Magazine Spring 2011