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R IUD S

V

A publication for alumni and friends of Indiana University East

Spring 2011Volume 1 Issue 2

Hope for a New Beginning

for a Gift waItINg

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CHaNCellor: Nasser PaydarVICe CHaNCellor For exterNal aFFaIrS: rob ZinkanalumNI relatIoNS DIreCtor: terry Hawkins wiesehanCommuNICatIoNS aND marketINg DIreCtor: John o. Dalton

wrIter/eDItor: Hali Carteeart DIreCtor/PHotograPHY: Susanna tannerDIreCtor oF SPortS INFormatIoN: kyle wright

Radius: a campus magazine for Indiana university east alumni and friends, is published by the office of external affairs at Iu east. Copyright © 2010 Indiana university east.

CoNtaCt uS: Send correspondance, address corrections, and mailing updates to: Iu east alumni relations, 2325 Chester Boulevard, richmond, IN 47374. Phone: 765-973-8221 Fax: 765-973-8443 email: radius@iue.edu

opinions expressed by individuals in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Indiana university east.

radius is published twice a year. the magazine serves its readers by providing information about the activities of Iu east alumni, students, faculty and staff through the publication of accurate and balanced content that informs and stimulates intellectual discussion.

text, photographs, and artwork may not be reprinted without written permission of the Vice Chancellor for external affairs.

Iu eaSt alumNI aSSoCIatIoN:officers 2010-2013

President: Jeff Cappa, aS’98 Vice President: abby Clapp, Ba’08 Secretary: kim Sheckles, BS’05 treasurer: trisha renner BS’08 Past President: Carol orr, BSN’96

Board members

travis Buckmeier, BS’10 angela Fairchild, BS’97 amber Hall, Ba’06 rena Holcomb, Ba’06 trevor Jones, BSw’08 ron martin, BSN’10 Sommer martin, BSN’10 adam oda, BS’09 kate Vu, BS’08 Denice Honaker williams, mS’09

terry Hawkins wiesehan, Ba’96Director of alumni relations

Besides being an avid reader, I’m a

die-hardSpringsteen fan!

Iu Barbie! we share a BIrtHDaY

(born in the same year and month).

Cheap magnet souvenirs from world travels.

my beloved dog, Siddalee. Her

name came from “Divine Secrets of

the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.”

great grandma, Susy mills. She

reminds me where I came from.

reD wolVeS fan forever, yes I am, Sam I am!

Iu alumni association

lifetime membership. got yours?

“well-behaved women rarely make history.”

Nuff said?

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Table of Contents

In this edition

Feature Contents

04 Changing Veterans’ lives: “every day has its own challenges. ultimately, at the end of the day, we’re trying to help veterans who are returning from Iraq or afghanistan who have experienced the trauma of war and who have been wounded with injuries to the neurosystem,” keith Fargo said.

10 waiting for a gift: For Jerry wilde, he must wait as he undergoes an exhausting schedule of dialysis treatment — he gets treatment three days a week beginning at 10 p.m. and ending at 4 a.m. — while he teaches a full schedule of classes.

14 the Voice and the Spirit: Victoria Hicks still glares at the introduction, but it’s the glare-with-a-smirk of a daughter who appreciates her father’s accomplishments during a distinguished Navy career, as an ordained Baptist minister and currently as the registrar at Iu east.

08 lifting the economy18 outside the radius: 42 Saturdays for a lifetime of Success20 Class Notes21 alumni association News22 National Championship events 23 Campus update24 Parting Shot

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{ }Changing veterans’ lives

keith Fargo, BS’97, is seated at a research grain microscope, looking at a slide containing a sample a colleague had been working on earlier that morning. the red nucleus, collected from a Sprague-Dawley rat with a spinal cord injury, was projected on a computer screen behind him.

Fargo is a research health scientist at the edward Hines, Jr. Va Hospital in Hines, Ill., located 12 miles west of Chicago. His research, conducted across the span of four laboratory spaces in an 80-year-old building on the Va campus, is to make the quality of life better for u.S. veterans through research.

“every day has its own challenges. ultimately, at the end of the day, we’re trying to help veterans who are returning from Iraq or afghanistan who have experienced the trauma of war and who have been wounded with injuries to the neurosys-tem,” Fargo said. “For the last 30 to 40 years, science has made major strides in keeping people alive who have had these injuries, but now the question is how can we get them back to a normal life?”

Finding an opportunity to share what he saw through the lens of the microscope, he called his undergraduate student, Piotr (pronounced Peter) tekiela of Bartlet, Ill., over to the micro-scope to take a closer look. tekiela is a junior undergraduate

student majoring in biology and psychology with a minor in neuroscience. the loyola university Chicago Stritch School of medicine is an affiliate program with the Va Hospital which provides a laboratory teaching experience for its students. this winter, Fargo is working with three undergraduate students, a surgical resident, and a Ph.D. seeking student in the lab.

“what I liked about the slide was how well it revealed the shape of the neurons,” Fargo later said. “they were big and bright, and you could see the structure of their primary dendrites, as well as their relationship to one another in the nucleus. also, the particular dye being used to label the cells was a beautiful fluorescent blue, so they were quite nice to look at!”

In addition to the students he teaches in the lab, Fargo has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses at loyola university since 2006.

“teaching undergraduates, there’s a wow factor,” Fargo said. “In research, it’s a lot of hard, tedious work, but when you discover something, it’s a major reward. when you’re teach-ing a class, there are several moments when you can see the students are just getting it and you can see it in their face. In research, you’re not sure if what you’re doing is working. when things do work, it’s very exciting and very gratifying.”

the Va Hospital in Hines is a multifaceted 147-acre campus providing services to 56,000 veterans from health care to benefits. the hospital embraces a biomedical and clinical research program.

Fargo’s research is in neurology.

“my current research revolves around trying to understand the cellular and molecular processes underlying regeneration in the nervous system. In the united States alone, hundreds of thousands of people every year are affected by traumatic nervous system injuries and neurodegenerative diseases,” Fargo said.

according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year in the united States; this figure excludes military personnel in war zones. the united States Department of Veteran affairs estimates 22 percent of military personnel in afghanistan and Iraq who have experienced combat wounds received brain injuries, according to the department’s website.

“many of our veterans are returning from the conflicts in Iraq and afghanistan with injuries to their nervous systems, as well. So the size of the problem is enormous,” Fargo said.

“Piotr, you might want to see this. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?”

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“while stem cell therapy holds a great deal of promise for the future, its clinical use may still be decades away. It is therefore critical to understand the ways in which the nervous system heals itself, so that we can control these processes to make recovery faster and more complete.”

The paTh To researchBecoming a neuroscientist isn’t a path many students consider when they begin their academic career. It wasn’t something Fargo had in mind when he began college at Iu east in 1993 either.

what Fargo did have was a fascination with the complex system and its mechanics. He said part of his interest also stems from growing up with an older brother who suffered from Schizophrenia.

“I have always been interested in the mind and brain. the nervous system seems to be fascinating to most people. Some of that is probably because the brain, spinal cord, and nerves are crucial to our existence, but at the same time they are hidden and mysterious to us,” Fargo said.

while a student at Iu east, Fargo lived in New Castle, Ind., and commuted to the richmond campus to complete coursework for his Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences with a con-centration in Psychology. His mother, marieta Fargo, continues to reside in New Castle.

when Fargo graduated from Iu east, he earned the highest distinction of his graduating class. He was the Naomi r. osborne Scholar, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average.

Fargo attributes many of the memorable experiences he had while at Iu east to the faculty who challenged his thinking and exposed him to new ideas.

Bill Browne, retired professor of psychology, was Fargo’s mentor. Browne chaired the Behavioral and Social Sciences program. Fargo first met Browne while he taught the introduc-tion course in psychology. as his mentor, Browne guided Fargo to take on additional responsibilities outside of the classroom. Fargo was soon involved in the Psi Chi and Psychology Clubs and he became the head teaching assistant in the BSS program.

“He also helped me design an independent research project and even secure some funding to carry it out. I try to emulate Dr. Browne’s personal and professional style in working with my own students and trainees, and I hope that one day I can provide the same kind of opportunities for a young person,” Fargo said.

Browne has kept in touch with Fargo over the years. Now that Fargo has his own lab, he couldn’t be happier for his former student. He also is pleased that Fargo is the chair for the Institutional animal Care and use Committee, which monitors the use and care of animals in research. Browne said it’s a respected and very important position.

“He was an extremely bright individual. If you had a class of 25 of him, that would be a challenge for the instructor,” Browne said.

anne Szopa, retired associate professor, played a critical role in the evolution of his thinking about feminism, and Joe Blake, retired professor, opened his eyes to a new way of thinking about how we come to understand our world and our society. rob tolley, senior lecturer of anthropology and sociology, travels with students to the canyons of utah to study the cultures of ancient Native americans. Fargo said for him, the trip was just as important to spend time in the rugged american wilderness and to see a new part of the world from a new perspective.

after completing his bachelor’s degree, Fargo was a post-baccalaureate student at the university of Cincinnati in 1998 where he was a clinical study coordinator for a research-active psychiatrist. after a day’s work, he volunteered at night in a neuroscience laboratory at the university of Cincinnati.

“It was in doing the bench work that I realized I was more interested in the neurology aspect,” Fargo said. “this really helped to focus my interest specifically to the neuroscience side of things, and I ended up going to graduate school to study neuroscience. today, my official title in the Va system is research health scientist, but colloquially I consider myself a neuroscientist.”

In 2006, he earned his Ph.D. in Neural Science and in Psycho-logical and Brain Sciences from Indiana university. Fargo was the Chancellor’s Fellow and a National research Service award (NrSa) trainee. He went on to the loyola Stritch School of medicine and Hines Va Hospital to complete his training as a ruth l. kirschtein Individual NrSa Postdoctoral Fellow.

every day is a new challengeIn may 2009, Fargo returned to visit richmond and Iu east as the Distinguished alumni award recipient. the award

is presented annually during the commencement ceremony to an alumnus who has distinguished themselves through personal and professional ac-complishments, community service, involvement with the university, and involvement with the alumni association. the same year, he was also honored with the Irving J. Saltzman award for outstanding graduate achievement from the Indiana university Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

In his address to graduates, Fargo left future alumni with a parting statement that their greatest achievements are still ahead.

as an Iu east alumnus and a teacher, Fargo encourages his students and those around him to say yes to opportunities.

“one of the things that I love about my profession is that every day brings a new set of challenges. Certainly there are a fair number of routine tasks that have to be completed, just like in any job, but science is about being on the cutting edge,” Fargo said.

“when you discover something new, you are literally the first person in the world to know what you just found out. However, almost every project raises more questions than it answers. Half of the fun is in figuring out how to answer the new questions.”

“”

Almost every project raises more questions than it answers. Half of the fun is in figuring out how to answer the new questions.

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“Because of these professors and these experiences, a very large part of who I am today, both professionally and personally, was set in motion during my time at IU East,” Fargo said.

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wayne County’s forward progress is Valerie Shaffer’s business.

as Vice President of Business Development for the eco-nomic Development Corporation of wayne County, Shaffer, Ba’05, goes toe-to-toe with other communities to bring jobs to the county and help existing ones prosper.

meet the 28-year-old’s latest acquisition: Perpetual recycling Solutions, a company with plans to create 55 new jobs in richmond by 2012 with an investment worth about $30 million. the company expects to open opera-tions this July and will recycle plastic food and beverage containers into FDa-grade clean flake for re-use by food and beverage container manufacturers.

“For me, this was the first time that I was the point person from start to finish on every aspect of the project,” Shaffer said. “all communication went through me.”

that included researching the company’s needs, propos-ing a suitable site for the company to locate in, and finally, selling wayne County to company executives.

“I helped put all the pieces of the puzzle together,” she said. “they had a clear picture of who we were, and what we had to offer their company.”

today, Shaffer is one of the eDC’s top executives after starting out as an administrative assistant/project spe-cialist during her last semester at Iu east.

Shaffer knows the challenges that the rough-and-tumble economy in wayne County puts on her job. In these times, helping existing businesses remain operational is just as important as bringing in new ones.

In fact, it’s been her most prominent role in recent years; Perpetual recycling Solutions was the first big employer to commit to the area since Shaffer and other local offi-cials wooed really Cool Foods, a manufacturer of freshly-prepared organic meals, to Cambridge City in 2007.

“Not everything is within our control,” she said.

tim Scales, one of Shaffer’s professors while at Iu east, said his former student’s professional success is hardly surprising.

“I felt like she really came alive in one of my classes,” Scales, Iu east’s director of the Center of entrepreneurship, said. that class was marketing, where Shaffer and other students participated in a television auction for whitewater Community television.

“Valerie kind of did it all,” he said. “She was very strong in the overall marketing of the auction. Valerie went in front of the camera and filmed some commercial spots. She was willing to do anything and try anything.”

Shaffer said it is her most vivid memory as an Iu east student.

“I can remember struggling to answer all of the calls because we only had two or three phone lines, all of which rang nonstop,” she said.

today, Shaffer remains a member of the wCtV Board of Directors, and currently serves as the board’s vice president. the auction is still a major fundraising event for the organization, too.

In 2009 and 2010, she was the auction committee’s chairwoman, and both auctions raised more money than in any of the other four years the auction had been in existence.

“Now we are up to six lines,” she said.

even though Shaffer graduated more than five years ago, she still spends time on campus, attending events and staying in touch with friends and faculty she met as a student.

Iu east continues to impact Shaffer professionally as well.

“It’s a very attractive selling point,” Shaffer said of Iu east’s growing campus where enrollment has increased more than 50 percent since she graduated.

the campus is one of the first places she takes clients who are interested in wayne County.

“It’s very important to see such a thriving campus in such a small community,” she said.

Liftingthe economy

Valerie Shaffer battles tough economic conditions to bring new employers to the region.

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Hope unites the pair, who have become friends in the months since Deckard informed Wilde of his desire to be an organ donor.

for a Gift waItINg

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twenty-two years ago, Curtis Deckard’s father got a new heart

and a new lease on life.

But Deckard, who received his Iu east teacher’s license in

2010, knows his father’s transplanted did much more. It meant

his father was there to see his graduation, to see him get mar-

ried and later to play with seven grandchildren.

Deckard hopes 2011 is the year he gets to make a difference

for someone else waiting for a new beginning.

enter Jerry wilde, Deckard’s ex-educational psychology profes-

sor at Iu east, who since February 2010 has been waiting for a

transplant after doctors found a tumor that was 12 centimeters

in length on his last working kidney. that kidney, a transplant

itself, had been in wilde’s body for 18 years since the professor

was diagnosed with alport’s Syndrome, a genetic disease that

results in kidney failure, and sometimes, vision loss.

“I thought this would be the perfect way to pay it forward,”

Deckard said.

Hope unites the pair, who have become friends in the months

since Deckard informed wilde of his desire to be an organ

donor. and while doctors have confirmed that Deckard’s kidney

is a match, challenges lie ahead for Deckard and wilde alike.

Doctors say Deckard must commit to a regime of exercise

and healthy eating — he needs to lose 40 pounds — before

surgery can be scheduled at Indiana university Health in

Indianapolis.

“I work on the treadmill and the elliptical five days a week,

40 minutes a day, which beforehand I started out at 10 (min-

utes),” Deckard said. “I’m on the last hole of my belt,

so that’s good.”

But nothing is without struggle.

“when I get down and I don’t feel like doing it, I get up and I do

it because I know Jerry’s waiting on me,” he said. “afterwards,

I’m so glad I did it. I’m more limber. I have more energy. Since I

hope to donate a kidney, I’m only going to have one left. I have

to stay in shape afterwards.” to see more about wilde’s faculty research, go to www.iue.edu/wilde.12

For wilde, there is waiting as he undergoes an exhausting

schedule of dialysis treatment – he gets treatment three days

a week beginning at 10 p.m. and ending at 4 a.m. – while he

teaches a full schedule of classes.

“It’s tiring,” wilde said. “I’m just hanging in there. If you go a

couple weeks and you don’t have a couple issues, you’re lucky.”

His luck is hit or miss. most recently, he struggles with a

“strange kind of itching problem” that doctors can’t explain.

treatment leaves him weak, and he’s lost weight.

“I’m perspiring,” wilde said. “It feels like being stabbed by

needles. I’m trying to get a handle on that, but that’s the latest

thing we’re kind of working on. everything else seems to be

going fairly well. everything is stable.”

though the pain is overwhelming, wilde knows that there is

relief ahead – if his first transplant surgery is any indication.

the professor remembers how quickly his body healed, and how

quickly he felt ready to get back to work. He also remembers

how his doctors would make remarks about how transplanta-

tion was a modern-day miracle because of the impact a single

procedure can have on a body. It’s a sentiment that the profes-

sor believes wholeheartedly.

It’s another reason why wilde and Deckard are passionate

about educating the public on the benefits of organ donations.

they know the statistics: more than 100,000 people nationwide

are waiting for life-saving organ transplants, according to

the Indiana organ Procurement organization. of those people,

92,000 are waiting for kidneys.

together they are working with James Barbre, a graduate stud-

ies director at Iu east, to film a documentary of their evolving

journey. they hope to document everything: the treatment, the

challenges and a happy ending.

“our goal is to have people sit around the dinner table and say,

‘maybe I can help somebody out,’ wilde said. “that’s kind of

been the plan all along. But for now, I’ll continue to wait.”

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eVeN tHougH CurtIS IS a CoNFIrmeD matCH, there have been health complications. Jerry is continuing to look for another individual who may consider donation.

there are no medical costs to donors. If you are blood type a or o, and are interested in learning more, please call Iu Health at 800-382-4602 (ask for kelly) to find out more about the simple blood test required to determine compatibility.

For more information on how to make a difference through organ donation, go to Donate life america www.donatelife.net. many states have their own chapter of Donate life america.

the National kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org has information on everything that pertains to kidney disease, dialysis, or transplantation.

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“Victoria —that’d be my daughter —hicks!”

“Number 14, a 5-10 freshman from lynn, Indiana,” boomed the public address announcer,

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Victoria Hicks waited and watched as the waving hands drew nearer and nearer.

In a few moments she would take her turn waving to the crowd before the start of her first home match with the Indiana univer-sity east volleyball team.

"Number 14, a 5-10 freshman from lynn, Indiana," boomed the public address announcer, "Victoria — that'd be my daughter — Hicks!"

Victoria waved to the red wolves fans. then she shot a withering glare at the scorer's table where her grinning father, Dennis Hicks, serves as the public address "Voice of the red wolves" during Iu east sporting events.

thankfully, looks don't kill. or injure.

"all of the girls chuckled because they put him up to it," Victoria says. "I glare at him, but it hasn't stopped him."

Dennis still introduces Victoria with a "that'd be my daughter" when she enters Iu east's matches. If he could, Dennis would go on to announce Victoria, now an Iu east sophomore, is an academic all-state athlete in multiple sports who carries a near-perfect gPa and earned Iu's prestigious adam w. Herbert Presidential Scholar award.

(actually, don't rule out Dennis working that information into some future volleyball announcement.)

Victoria still glares at the introduction, but it's the glare-with-a-smirk of a daughter who appreciates her father's accomplish-ments during a distinguished Navy career, as an ordained Baptist minister and currently as the registrar at Iu east.

Dennis is the voice and Victoria is the spirit of the red wolves volleyball program.

"Vic definitely makes her presence known, much like her dad," says lauren Crump, a sophomore on the volleyball team and conference player of the year.

"Not only does Dennis' voice call out to you, but his wittiness makes the games more exciting.

"and Victoria is the spirit of the team, the enthusiasm. when we are knocked down, she is there to pick us up or do something to boost our confidence."

Two roads To richMondDennis sat at a map, trying to figure out just where in the heck is richmond, Ind.

It was 1998. Dennis then served as registrar and director of admissions at louisiana State university-eunice. the family had resided in louisiana since Dennis concluded eight years of active duty in the united States Navy.

It was time to move closer to family ties in the midwest. Indiana, if possible. Dennis had found an opening for a registrar at Indiana university east in richmond, Ind. He sat at that map and discovered richmond sat at a perfect midpoint between various family members.

one anxious phone call (Dennis was initially told the Iu east position was closed), one plane ride and one interview later, he had the job.

Dennis has gone on to a highly regarded tenure as Iu east's registrar. He is considered a national authority and author on FerPa (the Federal education rights & Privacy act). He has served as president of the Indiana association of Collegiate registrars and admissions officers.

Dennis added "Voice of the red wolves" to his list of duties during the 2008-09 basketball season. the regular announcer had a conflict, and Dennis filled in.

the VoiceaNd the sPirit

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"the Bloomington campus was gorgeous and I had always gone to a smaller school, so I thought maybe I wanted a change," Victoria said. "and then I decided, no, I like a smaller school. and I was getting a High School Counselor’s Pursuit of excellence scholar-ship (to Iu east). and then the chance to play volleyball was an extra boost."

Victoria had earned 12 varsity letters at randolph Southern, including academic all-state recognition in volleyball and bas-ketball. She knew Iu east volleyball coaches Charlie and londa Brown from her club volleyball career. the Browns saw Victoria as an experienced player the program needed and signed her as part of their nine-player 2009 recruiting class.

"we knew Vic from randolph Southern and from club ball. we knew her work ethic and the type of person she was and her com-mitment level," Charlie Brown said. "You always want to get a kid like that who is hungry to play at the next level."

‘never a dUll MoMenT’Victoria could finish her time at Iu east with one of the most decorated careers in red wolves volleyball history, and not necessarily through on-court accomplishments.

"Vic," as she is known to one and all in the Iu east volleyball program, earned academic all-conference honors as a freshman and likely will repeat as a sophomore. She is on pace to earn NaIa Scholar-athlete recognition — the NaIa's equivalent of an aca-demic all-american — when she becomes eligible for the honor as a junior. She is the first Iu east student-athlete to earn the

prestigious adam w. Herbert Iu Presidential Scholar award. the scholarship is given to one freshman from every Iu campus with the best academic record in high school. Victoria proved herself worthy of the honor by making the Chancellor's list (4.0 gPa) or Dean's list (3.5 gPa) in each of her first three semesters while pursuing her degree in elementary education and math minor.

Victoria makes use of the volleyball team's bus travel time to complete her assignments. She once amazed an Iu east athlet-ics staffer by reciting the 11-digit passcode for the homework Internet access on the Iu east bus — nine months after she had last heard the passcode.

"She corrects me on all of my english errors," Crump says. "my sister came to a match, and Vic helps her with her homework. and she does the math in her head so we know how much longer before we get to a match.”

Victoria's roles on the volleyball team range from "quiet leader" to "team mom." She doesn't get as much court time as some of the other players in the red wolves' constellation of all-conference and all-america stars.

they don't keep stats in categories like "pushes teammates to play better in practice" and "shows enthusiasm from the sidelines during matches." If they did, Victoria would be among the team leaders.

"and got great reviews," Dennis jokes. "I enjoyed doing it, and everyone seemed to think I have this radio broadcast voice."

adds Victoria: "after games his voice gets stuck like that. It takes a while talking to people for him to get back to his normal voice."

Dennis began calling Iu east volleyball games in the fall of 2009 — just in time for Victoria's freshman season at Iu east and that memorable opening introduction.

Victoria was 7 when her "Chief Daddy mac Sir" (her all-encom-passing name for Dennis when he simultaneously held roles in the Navy, at lSu-eunice and at a church in louisiana) got the job at Iu east. She settled in the randolph Southern school system in lynn, Ind., a 15-minute drive north from the Iu east campus on u.S. Highway 27.

She discovered volleyball during her first year at her new school, when she served as the ballgirl for the randolph Southern varsity team.

Victoria's mother, tina, then taught in the randolph Southern school system. Victoria grew up assuming she would go to high school where her mother worked and then go to college where her father was the registrar at Iu east. Victoria toyed with the idea of attending Indiana university Bloomington. In the end she stuck with her longtime plan.

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"She has really fit her role well and accepted her role on the team, and there is value to that," Brown said. "there is value in giving a person like that an opportunity to be part of something special, and she reciprocates by giving us everything she has."Victoria can fill almost any role on the floor when needed. She made 11 digs during an Iu east win at Huntington university in 2009 when the red wolves' back row was decimated by illness, injury and incident. She hit at a .333 clip during her sophomore season (a .333 volleyball hitting percentage is similar to a .333 baseball batting average) when she played extensively in the front row at strategic points in the season. She also earned a spot in Iu east's serving rotation at the end of her sophomore year.

Her efforts helped Iu east to the two most successful seasons in school history. the red wolves are 69-16 during Victoria's two seasons with one regular season conference title, two conference tournament championships and two appearances in the NaIa Volleyball National Championships.

She'll definitely graduate as Iu east's career leader in "hug and mugs."

"I go for hug," Victoria says of her visits to her father's office between classes or when she needs information. "and I leave with a candy bar or a buck. we call it a hug and mug."

and of course Victoria will smash all Iu east records in "most times referred to as 'that'd be my daughter' by the public address announcer."

Dennis doesn't reserve his colorful commentary for just Victoria. He has asked the crowd to look for missing eyeglasses for good-natured volleyball officials. Crump remembers running all over the court during a particularly long point and then hearing Dennis announce, "lauren looks a little winded on that one!"

Dennis also keeps the crowds at Iu east volleyball and basketball games pumped up at key moments. His signature rallying cry of "we are?" followed by the crowd response of "reD wolVeS!" is a staple at Iu east sporting events.

Dennis gets lots of comments — almost all positive — from opposing coaches, who appreciate the work Dennis does on little things like pronouncing visiting players' names correctly as much as they appreciate the entertainment value.

"there is never a dull moment," Brown said. "You never know what he is going to say, which is fun, but when we need that boost of energy and enthusiasm he does a lot to get the crowd engaged."

Perhaps not coincidentally, Iu east's volleyball and basketball teams have a home winning percentage of over .800 with Dennis behind the mic since the start of the 2009-10 school year.

‘i wanT To see whaT BecoMes oF Us’Victoria and Dennis both agree the addition of intercollegiate athletics played a role in transforming Iu east's image into that of a traditional four-year university.

"Iu east has certainly moved away from the image of being a commuter community college to a traditional baccalaureate and master’s degree institution," Dennis says. "athletics is not the one and only factor, but it is the visible one out front that has given Iu east a different image in the eyes of a lot of the community, so it is a major contributor."

as recently as Victoria's sophomore year of high school, Iu east's athletics teams were club programs with few fans, little hope of attracting academic all-state types of student-athletes and no need for a public address announcer. Now Iu east's volleyball and basketball programs — and their home-court settings — are among the best in the NaIa. the red wolves' home events are loud, fun-filled settings where Iu east faculty, students and staff can unite in spirit.

"I definitely think (athletics) bring people closer to each other. I know it brought people in my grade closer to people in other grades," Victoria says. "and I know more faculty are coming to games and enjoy seeing their students succeed outside of the classroom."

Dennis had a front-row view for the transformation and can't wait to see — and announce — what happens next.

"I've gotten to the point at Iu east where I want to see where we're going to go," he said. "I've been here 12 years and I see what we've become in 12 years. why would I want to leave? I want to see what becomes of us in the next 10 years."

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outsidetheradius

42Saturdays for a lifetime of success

phillip williamson of aurora, ind., was determined to graduate from college. Born and raised in richmond, Ind., williamson at-tended Indiana university right out of high school. after his first year, he left the Bloomington campus to return home.

“I had the dream of every Hoosier to be an Iu graduate,” williamson said. “I thought my education was over. my father had wanted this for me more than anything. right then I promised that I would graduate one day.”

today, williamson is a 31-year employee of Duke energy. He is the main plant production coordinator at the Beckjord Station in New richmond, ohio.

In 2009, williamson followed through on the promise he once made to finish college.

williamson was talking with friends who had recently completed the Bachelor of Science in Business administration degree program at lawrenceburg. His friends encouraged him to meet greg Braxton-Brown, Iu east director of Southeast Indiana programs, and to go through the program.

williamson enrolled in fall 2009 in the program’s 11th cohort. He had completed all but six of the classes he needed in order to graduate with his bachelor’s degree.

“we met 42 Saturdays of the year and we counted every one! we were there every Saturday, from 8 to 5,” williamson said.

sandy Jacobsen of lawrenceburg, ind., was inspired by the first graduating cohort through an article she read in the Dearborn County register.

“after doing a little research I went to an informational meeting with greg Braxton-Brown to find out more about the program. I was impressed with the way the program was set up and how the goal was to help the students accomplish their educational goals rather than just another bachelor’s degree program,” Jacobsen said.

She enrolled and completed coursework with the fourth cohort to graduate in 2007. She currently works with the Department of Justice as an administrative specialist in the finance department. Jacobsen said the program enhanced her skills and provided lifelong friendships.

“Participating in this program was the best decision I have ever made. Not only did I receive an excellent academic education but a wealth of life skills as well,” Jacobsen said. “this program made me a better communicator and showed me that I not only possessed a strong work ethic but that I did have leadership skills as well. It taught me how to work effectively as part of a team and to understand what my strengths were in whatever role I hold on a team.”

Kelly will of guildford, ind., graduated from the seventh cohort in 2008. She is the business advisor at the Indiana Small Business Development Center in New albany, Ind.

“the program incorporated an extensive amount of practical experience,” will said. “through the program, I was able to create a network with a dynamic group of professionals through the strong relationships developed with fellow students as well as educators.”

Iu east offers four degree completion programs for students enrolled at its off-campus location in lawrenceburg, Ind. through a partnership with Ivy tech Community College of Indiana Southeast in lawrenceburg, Iu east has the Bachelor of Science in Busi-

Phillip williamson

Sandy Jacobsen

kelly will

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42Saturdays for a lifetime of success áness administration, rN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

“the relationship we have with Ivy tech Community College in lawrenceburg is what makes these programs work. a student can get their first two years toward a bachelor’s degree at Ivy tech, and then move immediately into the last two years with Iu east in the same building,” said larry richards, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at Iu east. “ this type of arrangement benefits everyone—the students, the two institutions, the employers and the community.”

In the summer of 2010, Iu east offered its first graduate program in lawrenceburg, the master of Science in education. Now in its seventh year, an average 130 students are enrolled in the Business administration degree program. the program has a 90 percent graduation rate. Fifteen faculty instruct courses in the classroom and online. this fall, the Business administration degree program will begin its 15th cohort while the rN to BSN will begin its third. Students enroll in a cohort and attend full-time. a cohort of 24 students completes the program together in a year.

Braxton-Brown said the lawrenceburg programs are maturing. Iu east and Ivy tech Community College Southeast in lawrenceburg formed an innovative partnership in June 2004 to provide educational opportunities for residents in southeast Indiana, improving the quality of the workforce for the region. Braxton-Brown also said a strong partnership with the Dear-born County Foundation and the city of lawrenceburg has provided support to the programs.

In December 2010, the 200th degree was awarded.

“the programs are focused on the immediate employer need of the region,” Braxton-Brown said. “through our programs, we train teachers, nurses, communication and business profes-sionals.”

In addition to their alma mater, williamson, will and Jacobsen, have another interest in common. they are part of the newly organized Iu east alumni association lawrenceburg Council, recently formed in November 2010.

“I can’t say enough about this program,” williamson said. “the people who teach are perfect for it. when you leave this program, you can’t believe how much you’ve learned and what you take away with you. when you leave, you’re ready for the business world.”

In the future, williamson looks forward to the possibility that he could complete a master’s program at the lawrenceburg campus. Iu east is considering adding a masters of Science in management program.

“Just being a graduate of Indiana university, I can’t tell you what that means to me,” williamson said. “I would love to do my master’s degree.”

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1979marIlYN BrowN Clark is teaching writing and literature classes at xavier university in Cincinnati. Her husband, tom (former assistant professor in the english department at Iu east) and she have two children and one grandchild. they are eagerly anticipating the birth of their second grandson in June. they also have a managerial commu-nications consulting business, CommuniSkills, and have worked with diverse clients nationally and internationally over the last two decades.

1988mark D. weSler is the senior pastor at Christ united methodist Church in westfield, Ind. He also serves as the Police Chaplain for westfield PD. From 2000 to 2006, he was a member of the Iu east alumni association Board, serving as president in 2005-2006. mark received Iu’s President’s award in 2009. mark and Brenda will celebrate their 39th anniversary may 12. they have three daughters and four grandchildren. their youngest daugh-ter, Jocelyn, is a 2007 graduate of Iu Bloomington.

1992marVIN w. reeD is retired and really enjoying life, but still puts his degree in Human Services to use at the masonic Home as a volunteer. He is active in the masonic lodge and serves as worshipful master in Devol lodge #766. marvin says, “Had a wonderful time going to Iu east. the professors and staff were wonderful and help-ful in getting me through the college experience. I want to say ‘tHaNk You VerY muCH’ to all professors, fellow students and staff for everything. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

1997toNY FoSter II is currently participating in the State of Indiana’s first cohort of the Indiana Certified Public manager Program through Ball State university’s Bowen Center for Public affairs. He recently finished the first year of the two-year course earning the designation of a certified public supervisor. tony is married to rett Sadler Foster, BS ’96.

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2001marIlou HoDgkIN is currently employed with aaa Hoosier motor Club at the richmond Service Center.

2002reNa (teuSCHler) wHIteleatHer, aagS’02, graduated from manchester College in may 2005 with an envi-ronmental Studies degree and worked for the Indiana Department of Natural resources for six years. She married Sam whiteleather in october 2005 and is now a stay-at-home mom to eva Claire born November 22, 2009. She resides in montgomery, Ind.

2003katIe BalDwIN CHaNeY earned a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from miami university in ohio. Prior to returning to richmond to work as a special events coor-dinator for richmond Parks and recreation, katie worked at Purdue university as an advisor in the krannert School of management. She’s back at her alma mater working as the academic advisor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “So much has changed at Iu east in the last seven years and it is such an exciting time to be on campus! I live in richmond with my husband and son and I am proud to be a red wolf!”

amaNDa Steele recently accepted the position of accounting operations representative at west end Bank, in richmond, Ind.

2004PatrICIa VaNDerPool holds board certifications as an adult nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. She is a private practice primary care provider and a published author for the american Nurses association.

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2007JeFFerY StINSoN is a managing partner of Severns & Stinson, P.C., and has been elected chair-elect of the elder law Section of the Indiana State Bar association. He will begin his term in the fall of 2012. Jeffery is the immediate past-president of the Indiana Chapter of the National academy of elder law attorneys.

2009aaroN HIll recently accepted a position in Ithaca, N.Y. with the Cornell university School of Hotel administration as a programmer/analyst for the web Development team.

21News for Class Notes can be submitted at iue.edu/alumni/updates.

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presidenT’s award recipienTJeff F. Cappa of richmond, Ind. received the 2010 Indiana university alumni association President’s award for his volunteer service and dedication to the university. the Iuaa presented the award to eight recipients in December during a ceremony in Indianapolis.

the President’s award is the highest honor given by the alumni association to a volunteer leader and honors their volunteer service to Iu and their local communities. Connecting Iu with the wayne County community is a primary focus for Cappa, who has actively served on the Iu east alumni association Board of advisors since 2001.

an Iu east alumnus, Cappa received his associate degree in criminal justice in 1998. Cappa followed in his father’s footsteps to earn his degree locally. Dan Cappa completed his BS in Business in 1988. Cappa’s sons also earned their BS in Continuing Stud-ies degrees from Iu east; Brandon Cappa is a 2005 graduate and adam Cappa is a 2009 graduate. Cappa’s daughter, Courtney Cappa, completed her BS in Sociology from Iu Bloomington in 2010.

Cappa is president of the Iueaa board and helps coordinate numerous events, including the Homicide Investigation/Crime Scene Forum for students, community members and alumni. the event provided a unique opportunity to learn what is currently being taught in today’s classrooms. Cappa lives in richmond with his wife, Susan. He currently serves wayne County as the sheriff.

award-winning alUMni associaTionthe Iu east alumni association received a 2010 Pride of CaSe V gold award for “tonight’s gonna be a good Night” Homecoming 2009 in the Best New alumni Program category. the Pride of CaSe V awards Program honors institutions who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the concept and execution of advancement programs and communications. CaSe District V represents member institutions from Illinois, Indiana, michigan, minnesota, ohio and wisconsin.

the Fall 2010 edition of radius received an aDDY award from the american advertising Federation, east Central Indiana Chapter Feb. 27 at the Horizon Convention Center in muncie. the inaugural edition of Iu east’s alumni maga-zine received a Silver award.

the american advertising Federation is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 40,000 professionals in the advertising industry.

In the last year, the Iu east office of external affairs has earned 18 regional, national, and international awards for excellence in alumni relations, fundraising, communications and marketing.

iU easT TUrns 40Indiana university east will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2011. the official kickoff will be Iu east’s 40th Commencement Ceremony on may 13.

throughout the remainder of the year, a variety of activities and special events will be held to highlight Iu east’s past, present, and future. the Fall 2011 radius will be a commemorative issue celebrating the campus’ 40th anniversary.

Beginning in may, visit the 40th anniversary website at iue.edu/40 to view the calendar of events, learn more about the history of the campus, view photos, and submit your memories.

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NatioNal ChampioNship EvENts

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trips to national championship events became a regular occurrence for Indiana university east’s intercollegiate athletics teams during the 2010-11 school year.

Freshman cross country runner Carlie rider represented Iu east at the NaIa Cross Country National Championships in Vancover, wash.

the red wolves volleyball team repeated as kentucky Intercollegiate athletic Conference champions and made its second consecutive trip to the NaIa

Volleyball National Championships. the red wolves played an opening round game at Shawnee State university in Portsmouth, ohio.

the Iu east men’s basketball team made its first trip to the NaIa Division II men’s Basketball National Championships. the red wolves traveled to the Branson, mo., area for the tournament during the week of march 6-11. Iu east played a thrilling game against No. 9 seed Indiana wesleyan university in the opening

round of the 32-team tournament at the College of the ozarks.

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Iu east will soon welcome two new graduate degree programs to campus. In 2011-2012, pending approval by the Higher learning Commission of the North Central association of Colleges and Schools, Iu east will establish a master of Science in Nursing (mSN) and a master of Science in management.

By adding the graduate degree options to the more than 50 academic programs now available at Iu east, more students than ever before will learn advanced skills and gain the knowledge for their profession.

the mSN program prepares registered nurses with advanced practice nursing knowledge in the areas of nursing education and administration. Continued regional growth in health care cannot be sustained without advancements in the level of nursing care. graduates will also be prepared for faculty roles at universities and colleges, addressing the existing nationwide shortages of nurses and well-prepared nursing faculty.

the master of Science in management program carries a broader appeal than an mBa for stu-dents in the eastern Indiana and western ohio region. this graduate program is distinguished from a master of Business administration by its special focus on organizational management, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.

criMinal JUsTice prograM expansionthe School of Humanities and Social Sciences is expanding its criminal justice program, mak-ing the program more accessible for students completing the bachelor’s degree online or to students who live or work near Henry County, Ind.

Students who complete the program will be prepared for graduate school or for a career in pub-lic and private agencies concerned with crime and its prevention. the criminal justice program is designed for students who have specific interests in the study of crime and criminology, law enforcement, crime scene investigation, the courts, correctional administration, probation, parole, or juvenile justice programs.

this fall Iu east will offer a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice completion degree program at the Danielson Center. the program is designed especially for students transferring from Ivy tech Community College and other community colleges who have completed general education and basic prerequisite courses and who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. the local-option fills a need for students who live or work near New Castle, Ind.

For students at the richmond campus who want to take the fast-track to graduation, a three-year degree program in criminal justice is also being offered. Students majoring in criminal justice can opt to accelerate their education by taking courses on a full-time basis including during the summer months.

robert ramsey, associate professor of criminal justice at Iu east, said the program is distinctive in that it teaches students management skills so that students can be more competitive in the job market and enhances prospects for advancement. He said students in the Criminal Justice Club have been very active on campus and in the community which has greatly added to the enthusi-asm of the students and prestige of the program.

Stephanie whitehead, assistant professor of criminal justice, joined the faculty full-time in fall 2010 to meet demands of the growing program. She received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Indiana university. She was previously a graduate research assistant at Iu and is a former project support specialist for the research Foundation of the State university of New York.

Campus update

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2325 Chester Boulevardrichmond, IN 47374

address Service requested

parting shotA new tradition, Homecoming’s Nearly Naked Mile is going on its third year. To participate in the run, students donate clothing for a local charity.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 862 Richmond, IN