News at MBC 06/19/13

When Marlena Hobson remembers her relationship with Ivy Arbulú, she thinks about the day-to-night gatherings of international friends at the cabin near Scottsville that Arbulú shared with her husband. At the same time, she recalls Arbulú's high standards in the classroom as associate professor of Spanish at Mary Baldwin College. "She was an amazingly wonderful friend," said Hobson, associate professor of art history. "She was fearless." Arbulú passed away May 13 after... [Full Story]

Commencement Address by the Hon. Pamela Shell Baskervill '75 May 19, 2013   President Fox, esteemed faculty and guests, graduates, parents and friends: How very humbling to be standing before you and also what a true pleasure. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful celebration of your graduation. According to the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, life must be lived forward but understood backward. Thirty-eight years ago for myself and nine years... [Full Story]

One year after the Heifetz International Music Institute celebrated the first season in its new home at Mary Baldwin College, the world-renowned classical music organization is preparing to launch its next summer session, from June 27 to August 10. New in 2013 will be a series of behind-the-scenes concerts featuring the talents of Heifetz students — 74 brilliant young violinists, violists, and cellists from all over the world. At these innovative... [Full Story]

Brigadier General N. Mike Bissell — founding commandant of cadets for Mary Baldwin College's Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL) — has announced his retirement for the end of June. Since VWIL's founding in 1995, Bissell, 74, has seen the organization grow from its beginning as an audacious idea into a premiere leadership program for women, fostering military and civilian lives of global citizenship and purpose. "We honor and thank General Bissell for being... [Full Story]

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences has chosen an expert in the area of child maltreatment as director for Mary Baldwin College's emerging physician assistant (PA) program. David Paulk is widely published in professional journals in the field and speaks nationally and internationally about the subject. He also is a visiting lecturer with several colleges and universities on the East Coast. Because of his work with child maltreatment prevention and intervention,... [Full Story]

Mary Baldwin College welcomes a new coordinator to organize and manage field placements for all education students in its undergraduate, post-graduate, and graduate programs. Lori Wall comes to MBC from Staunton City Schools, where she is a special education teacher with the Shenandoah Valley Regional Program (SVRP) at Ware Elementary School. She has taught for the SVRP for 10 years, both in Augusta County and in Staunton, affording her numerous opportunities to build... [Full Story]

Here are the latest scholarly accomplishments from Mary Baldwin College. Anne Allison, assistant professor of biology Attended the Virginia Biotechnology Association's conference and 20th anniversary celebration, beginning of May. As a member of their academic research council, she met with faculty and administrators from other universities to discuss the future of biotechnology in the Commonwealth. Senator Kaine took part in the afternoon session, and it was a productive and celebratory event. Louise Freeman,... [Full Story]

With family, friends, and the MBC community proudly watching, more than 350 graduates walked across Page Terrace on Sunday to receive their college diplomas and celebrate their achievements. Keynote speaker, Virginia Circuit Court Judge Pamela Shell Baskervill ’75, and MBC President Pamela Fox encouraged the Class of 2013 to enter their next chapter with courage and compassion. To see more photos from Commencement, please visit MBC's Flickr page. ... [Full Story]

Top students in Mary Baldwin College's Adult Degree Program (ADP) graduating with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher were inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, the premier honor society for nontraditional adult students. The college inducted new members at a ceremony May 18 in Francis Auditorium. New inductees include Madeline Abel-Kerns, Sierra Adkins, Stacia Allen, Whitney Bashioum, Johanne Beaudoin, Heather Bickers, Cynthia Botkin, Michelle Carter, Benjamin Church, Dennis Click, Kathleen Davis, Sandra Davis,... [Full Story]

Six elite Mary Baldwin College scholars — five seniors and one junior — were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in a ceremony May 18. MBC has sheltered a chapter of the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society since 1971. Associate Director of Civic and Global Engagement Rhea Vance-Cheng '09, elected into Phi Beta Kappa as a student at Mary Baldwin, presented this year's keynote address. Inductees, pictured from... [Full Story]

Patricia Menk — former mayor of Staunton and MBC faculty member — passed away in July 2012 at the age of 91. Last week, Mary Baldwin hosted a celebration of her life at which Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell read a resolution honoring her legacy that he and Del. Steve Landes sponsored. Two of Menk's three children received the resolution, and those in attendance shared memories about her. ... [Full Story]