Mary Baldwin College News

On Tamil, Castes, The Hindu and Puri

In two additional installments of Roderic Owen's travelogue, the Mary Baldwin College professor of philosophy considers the many languages of Tamil India, how the Tamil people are regarded within the Indian caste system, and the nature of the news as covered by The Hindu.

"Rarely does a day go by when the paper doesn't have an article about some act of caste-based discrimination or violence; sometimes these reports focus on romantic entanglements across caste, other times the reports focus on clashes stemming from land rights and indebtedness," Owen writes.

He also muses on the rules of the road, the celebratory culture, and, of course, the cuisine of South India:

"Eating in South India is another tangible, daily cross-cultural experience and - although an increasing number of restaurants are now providing forks and knives - most Tamil people eat with their right hand. For us Westerners this has the feel of returning to childhood … experiencing the tactile qualities of one's diet - the taste of one's own 'curried' fingers."

Owen is spending 10 weeks in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to help strengthen ties between MBC and the all-women Lady Doak College. He is also conducting research and giving a few talks and presentations on ethics and conflict resolution. His first two missives, published last week , included his impressions of Lady Doak and the lively celebration of Pongol.

'Knowledge First, Then Wisdom After'

Today is the final day for students to submit their essays or creative works (painting, musical composition, monologue, etc.) inspired by the 2011-12 college theme, Wisdom. In the fourth and final faculty paper related to the theme, Professor of Education Jim Harrington articulates how lyrics from'A Hymn for Mary Baldwin' parallel the legacies of MBC students and graduates. The faculty writings are intended to deepen understanding of the theme throughout the campus community. The contributors, whose work has been published on MBC News, represent each of the four School of Excellence.

"Our approach to teacher preparation is guided by the notion of knowledge first, then wisdom after. In our every instructional transaction with our students, we seek to expose them to the broadest possible array of theories and principles, tools and techniques … to cloak them in knowledge which attempts to anticipate the many surprises which will face them each day in the classroom. We want them to be ready to succeed in an environment which is often defined by students' individual learning challenges, and behavioral discontinuities. Beyond this, we want them to be leaders in their schools, among their colleagues, and in their communities."

Read the rest of Harrington's essay on the college theme webpage.

United in Song for a Cause

Mary Baldwin College's chapter of Colleges Against Cancer will host an a cappella showcase February 10 to support the college's 10th anniversary Relay for Life , one of the campus's most unifying charity events.

Performing with MBC's own Baldwin Charm will be the singing groups General Admission from Washington and Lee, BellACappella from Mary Washington, and Low Key from James Madison University. The performances begin at 7 p.m. in Francis Auditorium. Admission is $5; $4 for those wearing a Relay for Life shirt.

"Everyone likes to be entertained and a cappella groups showcase the pure talent of their members," said Colleges Against Cancer Vice President Emily Parker '13. "Attendees should expect some amazing singing, of course, but there will also be door prizes and a chance to support MBC's Relay for Life."

The singing showcase is one of several events Colleges Against Cancer hosts to raise money specifically for Relay for Life, scheduled for March 16. Other fundraisers have included a mixer that featured vocal performances by Baldwin Charm and Virginia Military Institute's Men in Grey and game nights in Grafton Library. One of the most successful campaigns so far this year was the sale of T-shirts and buttons to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"Although Relay participants have different experiences with cancer, they are all bound together by the cause, which is to stop cancer," said Kristin Reese '12, survivorship committee co-chair and member of the "Partying for a Cause" Relay team.

About 175 students have registered in recent years for Relay for Life teams at MBC, honoring someone they know who has battled cancer, or supporting their friends who have been affected by the disease in some way. Some teams include students' family members as well as faculty members. Students in the President's Society, for example, formed a team in honor of Director of Admissions Roberta Palmer, a cancer survivor.

Staff members also play a significant role in Relay. Access Service Coordinator for Grafton Library Christina Daniel is the advisor for Colleges Against Cancer. She and her husband are heavily involved by helping plan the various events and providing the food for the concessions stand.

"Cancer affects so many people on this campus, and the high rate of participation shows they want to fight back and they want things to get better," Parker said.

Each Relay includes a survivors' lap, a luminaria ceremony, and a fight-back ceremony. With the theme "A Decade of Fighting," this year's event will mark 10 years of support from the MBC community. The overnight event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. March 16 on the track at the Physical Activities Center.

According to online statistics tracked on the official Relay for Life website, 119 participants have already raised $4,520 on behalf of the MBC event. This year's fundraising goal is $25,000 after participants successfully raised close to $20,000 in 2011. The Relay for Life funds support many programs sponsored by the American Cancer Society that directly help cancer patients and their families. These include Look Good … Feel Better, which teaches female cancer patients beauty tips during chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and Road to Recovery, a program that provides rides to patients who have no way to get to their cancer treatment. The money also goes toward cancer research; $3.2 billion has been invested in research since 1946.

Faculty Achievements: School of Arts, Humanities, and Renaissance Studies

Here are the latest scholarly accomplishments in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Renaissance Studies.

	Sara James, professor of art history An article on Jan and Hubert van Eyck for the Encyclopedia of the Reception of the Bible, published by de Gruyter in Berlin, Germany.
	Sarah Kennedy, professor of English A novel, The Altarpiece, bought by KnoxRobinson Publishing, with a three-novel contract, The Altarpiece being the first. It's historical fiction, set in Henry VIII's England, and is scheduled for release in 2013.
	Paul Ryan, professor of art A review of the exhibition, "Abandon," at Staniar Gallery, Washington and Lee University, the November/December 2011 issue of Art Papers magazine.
	Martha Walker, professor of French/director of women's studies An article "Cheik Aliou Ndao's La Decision: A Senegalese Perspective on Race Relations in the American South in the '60s," the most recent issue of Romance Notes.

Trustees Choose Augusta County Site for College of Health Sciences

The Mary Baldwin College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to move forward with a plan to build a facility for its new graduate-level health sciences program on a site near Goose Creek Road in Fishersville.

The 30-acre plot was selected from among more than 20 possible sites in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. It was chosen following careful analysis of how well each potential site fulfilled key criteria, beginning with suitability to the purpose of the new programs and also including potential for long-term strategic growth, ease of construction, and long-term value.

"It's all about the fit. We must provide a location that both promotes and supports our new health sciences programs," said Board of Trustees Chair Lyn McDermid '95. "The Fishersville site is optimal from the perspective of attracting good students, engaging donors, and serving the students who will have easy access to clinical sites nearby as well as housing and other services. It also offers a beautiful and inspiring environment. This is a superb foundation for the program's success for decades to come."

According to Stuart Cochran of Staunton, a member of the college's Board and chair of the site selection working group, "It wasn't a matter of finding one good site - it was a matter of identifying the best from among a number of excellent options. One of many positives is that this site will position our college of health sciences within a vibrant and growing medical community, and that will create tremendous synergies."

The planned Goose Creek campus is within a one-mile radius of related health care providers, including Augusta Health, Augusta Free Clinic, University of Virginia Health System clinics, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and several senior care facilities. The proposal was submitted to MBC by Charlottesville-based Crescent Development and Augusta County.

Located in a corridor designated by the county for growth and investment, the health sciences campus would be part of a 160-acre mixed-use development including 30 acres that would provide a variety of housing options among close to 200 residential units; a six-acre business park that would offer opportunities for additional medical offices; a 100-acre green-space conservation area; and more than three miles of trails for biking, walking, and running. The hilltop location offers vistas of an array of health care facilities as well as the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains.

Pamela Fox, president of Mary Baldwin College, said, "Our foremost consideration has been to select a site that ensures both short-term and long-term success of our programs in personalized medical caregiving rooted in community health and medical teamwork." She commended "the untiring, good-faith efforts of local and state officials as well as the very generous offers made by friends of the college; they ensured that we had the best opportunities to consider. We deeply appreciate all they have done to work with us."

Construction on the site is expected to be complete for the first class of students, who will enroll in June 2014.

County officials are optimistic that, in addition to the significant investment in construction of facilities, the Mary Baldwin program will provide additional momentum and welcome economic stimulus to the county's growing healthcare and housing sectors.

"The selection of Goose Creek for the new college of health sciences is the perfect complement to Augusta County's economic development strategic plan," said Dennis Burnett, Augusta County's director of economic development. "Health care represents one of our largest opportunities for growth, and the programs planned ensure we have a ready and able workforce. We look forward to partnering with the college for the long-term success of their programs."

The location decision comes four months after the MBC Board voted to establish graduate programs in the health sciences, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies. The move was propelled by a $15 million gift, the largest single donation in the college's history, which will cover much of the start-up cost until the programs are self-sustaining. A search is underway for a vice president to lead the new graduate programs.

Founded in 1842, Mary Baldwin College is a diverse institution that transforms lives through personalized education - integrating liberal arts, experiential learning, civic engagement, and global citizenship. At the undergraduate level, the College for Women serves about 800 students on the historic main campus in downtown Staunton, Virginia, and the Adult Degree Program serves both men and women on campus and at regional centers throughout Virginia. A top-ranked master's level university, MBC offers co-educational graduate programs in teacher education and Shakespeare and Performance. U.S. News & World Report named MBC a top-tier master's university in the South and Washington Monthly ranked the college No. 8 among all master's level universities in the country.

For a closer look at the site plan, see the gallery of photos found on the college's Press Room page.

A Night of Classic Elegance

Students dressed to the hilt and danced the night away at Signature Ball on January 28. The annual formal dance is one of the year's most anticipated events - particularly for seniors who will depart campus in a few months - and is hosted by the student-run Baldwin Program Board.

A live performer and casino games welcomed guests to "A Night of Classic Elegance," and an energetic DJ beckoned people to the dance floor. Interspersed with today's popular songs, dance hits from years gone by, such as the Spice Girls' "Wannabe," kept the crowd on its feet into the wee hours of the morning.

The event was also one last chance for students to say goodbyes to former Director of First and Second Year Experience Lynn Gilliland '80 before she moves on to a new chapter in her professional life.

A 'Helter-Skelter' Ride through Madurai

The smell of chai and the taste of spicy dhal. The sight of a painted cow and the feeling of adrenaline as a bull charges during a jallikattu. The sounds honking horns during a white-knuckle auto rickshaw ride.

In first-person accounts from his second sabbatical in India, Mary Baldwin College Professor of Philosophy Roderic Owen describes what it is like to be immersed in a rich culture nearly 9,000 miles from home. He is spending 10 weeks in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to help strengthen ties between MBC and the all-women Lady Doak College, between which there is a student exchange program. He is also enriching his own research - working with a faculty member at Lady Doak and with a friend at the Gandhi Institute, and giving a few talks and presentations on ethics and conflict resolution.

In his first missive , Owen describes his arrival in Madurai, which presents a fusion of old and modern India, as well as his impressions of a serene and lush Lady Doak College. Owen's second travelogue provides a vivid description of Pongol, a holiday akin to our own Thanksgiving.

Shekira Ramdass and Tyla Stormes, MBC students in the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership are also in India on student exchange through Lady Doak.

Thesis Fest Gives Insider's View of Shakespeare Program

Master of Letters and Master of Fine Arts candidates in Mary Baldwin College's Shakespeare and Performance program will share their creative research and performance at the Blackfriars Playhouse. The Thesis Project Festival is a chance for the public to join with the MBC community in hearing more than 20 presentations which combine scholarship and stagecraft to explore the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. The festival is formatted like a mini-conference with one block of scholarship Sunday evening and three blocks of scholarship on Monday with a break for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and for dinner from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and seating is open to the general public.

Presenters include: Amy Bolis, David Ashton, Liz Lodato, Kimberly Lenz, Aj Sclafani, Monica Cross, Clara Giebel, Brian Maxwell, Kimberly Maurice, Daniel Kennedy, Elizabeth Rentfro, Jared Fair, Dori Koogler, Stephanie Tchetter, Bobby Byers, Angelina Labarre, Jonathan Haas, Maria Hart, Michael Wagoner, Rachel Ratkowski, Jessi Maliki, Jarom Brown, and Jamie Weaver. Projects cover a range of topics including Hamlet adaptations, postcolonialism, censorship issues, stage directions, and Shakespeare and hip hop.

The festival begins on February 5, 2012, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and continues on February 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market Street. For more information, please contact Amanda Allen, phone 540-887-7237.

The Science of Wisdom

How can research help us understand the types of behavior associated with wisdom? Associate Professor of Psychology Louise Freeman takes on that question from the scientific perspective in her essay on wisdom, the third in a series of faculty papers about the 2011-12 college theme. The writings are intended to deepen understanding of the theme throughout the campus community and serve as a precursor for this semester's call for students to produce their own essays or creative works (painting, musical composition, monologue, etc.) inspired by the theme. The contributing faculty members, whose work is published on MBC News, represent each of the four School of Excellence.

Like other abstract concepts … wisdom is not the result of one brain structure or even multiple modules, but emerges from the entire brain, in dynamic interaction with the body and the environment. Nonetheless, with improved techniques for measuring activity in the behaving human brain, we are learning more about the neural structures that are necessary for behaviors associated with wisdom. Such research has the potential for helping us learn more about how wisdom develops, what factors promote it and how wisdom impairments caused by disease or injury could be corrected.

Read the rest of Freeman's essay on the college theme webpage.

Scholarly Achievements: School of Social Sciences, Business, and Global Studies

Here are the latest scholarly achievements in the School of Social Sciences, Business, and Global Studies.

Janet Ewing, associate professor of business
Accompanied senior business major, Kate Carper, to the Sigma Beta Delta Quadrennial and Delta Mu Delta National Conference in Jacksonville, FL. Carper and Ewing presented a series of oral presentations on the strategic development of a national financial literacy project for middle-school-age youth who attend the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Ewing also served as moderator of project development sessions on national organ donation at the conference.

Daniel Metraux, professor of Asian Studies
A book review accepted for publication for the book Angel Island in the Southeast Review of Asian Studies and a review essay on a book about Vermont's poverty-stricken Orleans County for Vermont History.

More Kudos for the College Website

The Communication, Marketing, and Public Affairs (CoMPA) team at Mary Baldwin College received another well-deserved pat on the back this month as www.mbc.edu was named among the top higher education websites in the country in 2011 by the popular blog, EDU Checkup. The top 11 list represents the highest scoring websites by blogger Nick DeNardis who, since 2008, has reviewed hundreds of colleges' and universities' sites. Praised for its useful navigation, clear design, clean coding, and attention to detail, the MBC website shares the No. 5 spot with Macalester College and Sierra Nevada College. One year ago, the CoMPA team brought home an Award of Excellence from the 2011 Council for Advancement and Support of Education conference in New Orleans for the design and implementation of its new Internet home page. Watch DeNardis' on-the-fly review of the MBC site , an EDU Checkup episode that aired shortly after the mbc.edu redesign launch in 2010.

Student Recognized for Examination of Modern Art in China

Cynthia Kirkland's report, Modern Chinese Art in Dialogue with Social Unrest, explores the transformation of Chinese art - from government-censored, traditional art to modern works that address social injustices - and the struggles of Chinese artists along the way.

After months of extracurricular fine-tuning and encouragement from Professor of Asian Studies Daniel Métraux, Kirkland's article was first published by the Virginia Review of Asian Studies. It was then submitted to the Southeast Chapter of the Association for Asian Studies (SE/AAS), an organization that includes all the major colleges and universities in the southeast, including University of Virginia, Duke University, and University of North Carolina.

The chapter declared Kirkland's work a winner. Earlier this month, the student traveled to the SE/AAS annual conference at Furman University in South Carolina to accept top honors, which she shares with a student from Emory University.

"Cynthia Kirkland is an extraordinarily perceptive young scholar who has developed a keen sense of the issues facing the restless generation of Chinese artists today," Métraux said. "Her research and paper were very well received … she brings honor not only to herself, but to the Asian Studies program at Mary Baldwin."

It is the second year in a row the SE/AAS has recognized the efforts of a Mary Baldwin student, underscoring yet again the strength of the college's successful Asian studies program and its emphasis on undergraduate research. Most of the other works presented at the organization's conference were from graduate students, doctoral candidates, and professors in the field.

"I was a little nervous," Kirkland said. "I'm an undergraduate, and I wasn't sure how my paper would be accepted."

The honors scholar from Woodbridge is majoring in both studio art and Asian studies. She took first place in the visual/audio-visual creations category at MBC's 2011 Capstone Festival with her studio art project, Modern China: An Experiment in Performance Drawing. After spending fall semester abroad at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto, Kirkland is turning her focus to her senior project in Asian studies: a study of youth biker gangs in Japan and the rise of subcultures in that country during the past 30 years.

Another MBC student - Katy Lea Todd '11 - took a similar path. After studying at Doshisha, Todd received a Capstone award and earned SE/AAS recognition for her fascinating study of Japanese youth who struggle to adapt within a changing society.

Set to graduate in May, Kirkland has already started applying to jobs in which she can utilize both of her majors and MBC experience.

Scholarly Achievements: School of Science

Here are the latest achievements in the School of Science.

Louise Freeman, associate professor of psychology

A presentation, "Harry Potter and the DSM-IV: Muggle disorders in the wizarding world" and a panelist in the closing session "Harry Potter and Education" at "Replacing Wands with Quills: a Harry Potter Symposium for Muggle Scholars" at James Madison University from Nov. 10 to 12. Sophomore Linnea Kuglitsch also presented a paper, "Wand of Elder, Never Prosper: Violence and Power in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series." Both papers will be published in the conference proceedings by Cambridge University Press later this year.

Attended the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C., with students Krittika Krishnan, Elena Nguyen, Priyanka Nadir and Linnea Kuglitsch from Nov. 13 to 15. The students presented a poster "Exposure to attractive men reduces offerings in the ultimatum in college-aged women" in both an undergraduate poster session sponsored by Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and in a poster session on decision making. The research was based on a class research project from the last spring Honors Colloquium, "Human Morality: Nature and Nurture."

Chandra Mason, assistant professor of psychology
A proposal, "Planning for the unknown: Increasing college students' work-family self-efficacy and multiple role planning," accepted for presentation at the inaugural conference of the new Work-Family Researchers Network, which will be held in New York City in June 2012.

So Long, 'Nuttiest Squirrel' and Treasured Friend

"She gives her heart, her love, her wisdom, and her hope to every student she comes in contact with. I can call her work nothing short of performing everyday miracles, one student at a time."

Those heartfelt words from Director of Student Life Lisa Wells capture the way many on the Mary Baldwin College campus feel about Lynn Tuggle Gilliland '80, who will leave her post Friday as director of first year experience. Students, faculty, staff, and friends gathered this week to say their goodbyes to Gilliland, who will soon start a new chapter as vice president for development at Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina .

Attendance at receptions this week to celebrate Gilliland's tenure reflected the high regard in which the college community holds her. Students dedicated Tuesday's Senate meeting to "Mrs. G"; sharing photos and stories through both laughter and tears. A common thread was Gilliland's reputation for distributing chocolate and hugs. For many, she has been not just a trusted advisor, but a shoulder to lean on and a surrogate mother.

"Little did I know that the first person to greet me as a new freshman on campus would soon be my freshman council advisor, my confidant when things got difficult, and - most importantly - my 'Mary Baldwin mom,'" said Courtney Waugh '12. "I wish you the best of luck in your new job; you will change their lives forever, just as you have changed ours."

Senior Caitlyn Henck echoed the sentiment, revealing one of the most valuable lessons she will carry with her. "Lynn would sit me down in her office and remind me to take care of my joy before I can spread joy to others," Henck said. "Everything I know about being a confident, compassionate changemaker are all things that Lynn Gilliland has taught me."

"Whenever I felt like giving up, you were always there to remind me to 'keep calm and carry on.'" "I can never, ever thank you enough," said Alana Patrick '12, fighting back tears.

Self-described as MBC's "nuttiest squirrel," Gilliland has become unofficial documentarian, ambassador, and cheerleader. She's the Facebook voice of MBC's beloved Gladys the Squirrel and dons the macot's costume during student orientation. Her omnipresence once generated the senior superlative, "Most Likely to be Lynn Gilliland." Students on Tuesday presented a plaque to the woman of the hour and announced that a new student leadership award will be established in her name.

"There is nothing you all could have done that would have meant more to me," Gilliland told her flock. "One of my favorite sayings is 'We are a part of all we have met,' and truly, I say to you, you are each a part of me, and I hope I will always be part of you."

Later that afternoon, President Pamela Fox hosted faculty and staff in her home for a reception in Gilliland's honor. Fox composed a verbal concerto, capturing the memories and the sentiment of the dozens in attendance.

"Exploring Baldwin, as a first-year student herself, living all the traditions she so loves, leading and rising to SGA president; confidently creating successful careers after graduation; then returning to explore Baldwin anew: who else can say they have explored what it means to be part of the Baldwin DNA more than you," Fox read.

Gilliland often said she fell in love with MBC as soon as she stepped foot on its campus as a teenager attending a summer program and eventually decided to attend college here. As an alumna, she returned in 2000 to serve as alumnae/i director. Most recently, she has assisted students in making the transition from high school to college as the student life director of first year experience .

There are many local residents who will also feel a loss with Gilliland's departure. The mother of two sons has served in the Rotary Club, Presbyterian Church, and Chamber of Commerce. Her husband, Bill, is a local business coach.

Gilliland's new post takes her to another place that is dear to her heart. Montreat Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina, is a popular and scenic retreat affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. (The word "montreat" is a combination of the words "mountain" and "retreat.")

"We wish you an amazing chapter," Fox announced in her tribute. "These hills where beauty dwells are forever imprinted in your mind's eye to give you strength. You know you can always borrow Mary Baldwin from thy yield. This is your college and you have played a big role in what it is today. May the end of all your exploring be to arrive here where you started and know this place for the first time."

Saying Goodbye with a Smile

Friends bid farewell Wednesday night to Bill Matthews, also known as "Mr. Bill," for his 31 years of service to the college community. Matthews has for many years been the friendly face at the front desk of the Physical Activities Center (PAC). He also helped with athletic contests, noted Athletic Director Sharon Spalding. "Bill is kind, gentle, and sincere. He truly cares about each student athlete, faculty, and staff member who walks through the PAC door," Spalding said. "I will miss seeing his smile each early morning that I arrive and his remarks to 'be careful on the way home my friend.'" The retirement celebration took place at the PAC during halftime of the basketball game versus Ferrum.

President Fox Elected to Higher Ed Board

Mary Baldwin College President Pamela Fox is among 11 college presidents from across the country elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Eight presidents were chosen to represent the association's national regions and three, including Fox, were named as at-large members of the board.

"President Fox was selected by her peers because of her expertise in the field, proven leadership, and commitment to America's college students," said NAICU President David L. Warren. "She assumes her responsibilities at a time of great challenge and transformation for American higher education."

Fox also serves as chairwoman of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia and is the immediate past chair of both the USA South Athletic Conference and the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. She also has held many leadership positions on local community boards, for such organizations such as the Frontier Culture Museum and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

Members of NAICU's board of directors set the association's agenda on federal higher education policy, actively encourage support of NAICU priorities and initiatives, and oversee the association's financial administration. There are 44 members of the board and they serve three-year terms.

NAICU serves as the unified national voice of independent higher education. Since 1976, the association has represented private, nonprofit colleges and universities on policy issues with the federal government, such as those affecting student aid, taxation, and government regulation. With more than 1,000 member institutions and associations, NAICU reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. NAICU members enroll nine out of every 10 students attending private institutions. They include traditional liberal arts colleges, major research universities, comprehensive universities, church- and faith-related institutions, historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, single-sex colleges, art institutions, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business, and other professions.

Fox will be formally appointed on February 1 at the NAICU annual meeting in Washington DC.

Decorated Alum Returns as VWIL's Second-in-Command

Retired Army Colonel Melissa E. Patrick '78 is a trailblazer with an impressive resume. And now she's back on the Mary Baldwin campus, joining the administrative ranks at the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL) as deputy commandant.

"She's a breath of fresh air, an answer to a prayer," said Brig. Gen. Michael Bissell, commandant of cadets.

Patrick is Bissell's second-in-command, assisting with the regimental side of the corps. She now supervises academic affairs of the cadets, serving as academic advisor for all first-and second-year students. Patrick's responsibilities also include overseeing the corps' peer-advisor system.

"VWIL is a great program. I'm excited to be here and I'm impressed by the quality of students and cadets we have," Patrick said.

With a biography that includes several "firsts" as a woman in the military as well as a wealth of leadership in the civilian world, Patrick will be an impressive role model for VWIL cadets.

She was the first woman selected to participate in the U.S. Army War College Advanced Strategic Arts Program. She was the first female Military Intelligence officer assigned to a combat arms unit and was among the first women to earn Master Parachutist wings. After graduating with a master's degree from Duke University, she became the first female instructor/assistant professor of military history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While serving in Boznia-Herzogovina she became the first woman in her position to deploy a contingency operation.

After deployments in Germany, Boznia-Herzogovina, Korea, and Afghanistan and service in the states, Patrick retired from active military service in 2006. She most recently worked for a private contractor at the National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville where she managed the Anti-armor Analysis Program. Under her watch, program personnel increased from 10 to 31 and included data collectors deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

For her service, Patrick has received several awards and honors including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.

Patrick was commissioned through Army ROTC in 1978 upon earning her degree in history from Mary Baldwin. She earned a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College and a master's degree in history from Duke University. Her father, James Patrick, taught chemistry at MBC from the late 1960s until the early 1990s.

"It's a thrill to be back," Patrick said. "I grew up here with my father on the faculty. It's like coming home, like coming full circle."

Scholarly Achievements: School of Education, Health, and Social Work

Here are the latest scholarly achievements in the School of Education, Health, and Social Work.

Lowell Lemons, associate professor of education
A presentation, "Commentary on School Design" at the Annual Conference of the Virginia School Boards Association in Williamsburg, VA on November 17. This presentation critiqued public school facilities constructed in Virginia during the past year.

Photo of English Rose Garden Garners Professor Prize

Sara James, professor of art history, captured the intriguing beauty of garden paths in "Mottisfont," a photograph that won first place in a competition sponsored by the Garden Club of America. The category in which she won called for a monochrome photograph of a garden path that "your grandmother may have walked and your granddaughter would love to explore."

James chose "Mottisfont" from photos she took while visiting and researching estates dating from the Tudor era and earlier in England.

"I came up with this one at Mottisfont Abbey, as I could imagine either an adult or child being drawn by the bench at the end of the garden path here," she said.

Mottisfont Abbey, located in Hampshire, England, was founded as an Augustinian abbey in 1201 and was desecrated during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, James explained. The abbey church was then converted into a home for Lord Sandys after 1537.

"The garden where I took the photograph is on the site of the former walled kitchen garden that would have served the monks at the abbey, but it in no way resembles what was there originally," said James.

The present-day garden was designed in the 1970s and conserves more than 300 varieties of roses, particularly varieties from 19th-century France.

Social Work Student Helps Charter Honor Society

Seniors Joshua Thompson, Rebekka Conz, Tierra Smith, and Misty Epps became part of Mary Baldwin College's newest national honor society, Phi Alpha, which recognizes excellence in social work. The society's slogan, "Through Knowledge - the Challenge to Serve," demonstrates its purpose. Mary Clay Thomas, assistant professor of social work, gave credit to Smith for bringing the group to campus.

"She has spearheaded this process; it was her idea. She got all the paperwork done and led the induction ceremony," Thomas said. "She's a real leader."

To earn membership in Phi Alpha, social work students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.25 and a 3.5 GPA in all social work courses. Members must also demonstrate their dedication to the standards, ethics, and goals of the profession. The four seniors will wear special regalia, a single gold cord, at Commencement in May to symbolize their accomplishment.

"It encourages the students to perform excellence," said Gauri Rai, associate professor of social work and faculty advisor to Phi Alpha. "These social workers are getting ready to go out into the community and make changes for those who need them."

During the induction ceremony in December, new members lit candles that were once lit by the world peace flame, which burns continually in Snowdonia National Park in Wales and encourages the pursuit of peace around the world. MBC President Pamela Fox gave a speech at the ceremony in which she expressed her pride and admiration for the social work program and its students.

"Throughout the accreditation process, in speaking to the board, in making our case to the donor, it was our students' passion for the profession that made it all so compelling," Fox said.

Smith recalls the ceremony with excitement, "To see it all come together was an amazing experience for me and was a huge accomplishment. I believe my favorite moment was obtaining my certificate for membership because it showed that my work in and out of the classroom had paid off."

Membership in Phi Alpha gives students access to scholarly and professional resources, as well as scholarship opportunities. Members of MBC's chapter will also have the opportunity to participate in community service and outreach projects.

Smith, a native of Fredericksburg, is interning at Mary Washington Hospital during the spring semester with a focus on case management for stroke, ICU, delivery, surgery, and dementia patients. She hopes to pursue work in social welfare policy after graduation.

"I feel there is a lot that can be altered within the system," she said. "My ultimate goal is to be a part of the president's cabinet as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services."