Published Nov. 16, 2017
As we gather soon to give thanks, we are reminded what a blessing it is to be a part of the Wittenberg family. On behalf of the Office of Alumni and Lifelong Engagement, please accept our sincerest thanks for all that you do for Wittenberg and in your respective communities. You are passing your light on to others. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Tiger Milestone
The recent 42-23 victory over Ohio Wesleyan marked Head Football Coach Joe Fincham’s 200th victory. Since assuming his position in 1996, he has guided the Tigers to an astounding record of 200-43 – a winning percentage of 82.3 that ranks eighth in NCAA Division III history and fourth among active coaches.
National Model
The Association of American Colleges and Universities has named Wittenberg University among only 22 institutions across the country that are providing models for how to make civic learning and democratic engagement an expectation for all students who major in a specific discipline.
EPA Scholar
Chelsea Steffes, class of 2018 from Moon Township, Pa., has received an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scholarship, which is awarded to students in their final year of study who have demonstrated through their work or research a commitment to a career in environmental science.
Honor Chapter
Wittenberg’s Lambda Iota chapter of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society has been named an “Honor Chapter” for its outstanding activities in 2016-2017. The chapter, which aims to increase awareness of the contributions of Hispanic cultures, was recognized for upholding the ideals of the national organization.
Lasting Light
The publication of Professor of Sociology David Nibert’s latest book, Animal Oppression and Capitalism, found him collaborating with former student Jessica Hazelton Gribble ’99, senior acquisitions editor at an independent academic and reference book publishing company.
Choir Reunites
Alumni choir members across generations gathered this past weekend to remember and celebrate the special time they spent performing together as students. The reunion culminated in a concert in which the current Wittenberg Choir performed a piece by Mendelssohn in commemoration of the Reformation and then alumni joined in to sing both old and new songs, proving music's power to bring people together.
Teaching Excellence
The Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) recently recognized four Wittenberg faculty members with the 2017 Faculty Excellence Award for excellence in teaching, service and scholarship during the past academic year. Recipients include:
Jeff Brookings, professor of psychology, developed a popular WittSem titled “Why People Believe Weird Things.” He has produced more than 60 publications and almost 90 conference presentations, and was selected for the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2017.
Scott Dooley, professor of art, coordinates the Empty Bowls event each year, which has raised more than $450,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank. His artwork has been displayed world-wide, including galleries in Europe, Asia and Africa in addition to North America.
Beth Sorensen, professor and director of nursing, has researched needs to improve BSN program access in the community and helped to create the successful Nursing Pathway program in collaboration with Clark State Community College.
Nancy Woehrle, assistant professor of psychology, works closely with students in the classroom and in the laboratory, involving her students in her own research and using these opportunities to continually foster excellence and stimulate the students to achieve their goals.
Alumni In The News / #LifeAfterWitt
Beth McCann ’71, Denver’s first female district attorney, was recently featured in 5280, the city magazine of Denver, Colo. The article takes an in-depth look at McCann’s career path, which includes a law degree from Georgetown University, a role in forming the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, and a stint in the Colorado House of Representatives.
Moses Mbeseha ’13 and Karlos Marshall ’13 have created The Conscious Connect Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to school-age and neighborhood literacy in Springfield, Ohio, and the Greater Miami Valley area. The organization aims to end “urban book deserts” or areas with diminished access to children’s reading materials. The non-profit also serves as a cultural renaissance and street revitalization organization.
Rachel Lee ’12, a former member of Wittenberg’s swimming and diving team, has always been fascinated with the Olympics. Now the business major from Hickory, N.C., has turned that fascination into a reality, landing a job with the fundraising arm of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Meet The Board
The three members of the Wittenberg Board of Directors featured in this edition are: Wes Bates ’70, Lewis W. Shaw II ’66 and James R. “Jim” Wymer ’77.
Bates is CEO and chairman of the board for Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaners, a business he started with his father and has since expanded to more than 280 locations throughout the United States. A member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the men’s football and lacrosse teams while at Wittenberg, he has worked as a volunteer for the Office of Advancement in addition to his service on the Board of Directors. He was awarded the Class of 1914 Award in 2015 and currently leads the Board's Enrollment and Marketing Committee.
Shaw is chairman and CEO of Jackson-Shaw Co., a real estate development company that specializes in development opportunities for light office, light industrial, office/warehouse and hospitality services. His service on the Board of Directors has included the Advancement and Alumni Relations Committee, the Enrollment and Marketing Committee, the Real Estate Subcommittee, and the Finance and Investments Committee.
As president of WXZ Development, Wymer has developed more than 250 single-tenant retail buildings and strip centers throughout Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. A member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, he has served as chair of the Board’s Real Estate Subcommittee, the Advancement and Alumni Relations Committee, the Enrollment and Marketing Committee, and the Finance and Investments Committee.