Fiftieth Reunion Gift Will Keep Giving

This year’s 50^th reunioners—the classes of 1960 and 1961 and the Junior College classes of 1958 and 1959—raised $541,428 for the establishment of a Faculty Development Fund to support professors working toward advanced degrees.

Once class members agreed (by majority vote) on the Faculty Development Fund as their gift, a fundraising goal of half a million dollars was set. Thanks to two matching gift programs and a high level of class participation, the group had already exceeded that goal by the time of reunion—and they added even more to it during reunion!

At a special 50^th Reunion dinner hosted by College President Jonathan Palmer and his wife, Sue, Dean of Academics Scott Schneberger thanked class members for their gift: “Your very generous and foresighted Faculty Development Fund will be a gift that keeps giving, exponentially. It will not only provide a yearly amount indefinitely to pay for advanced degree work by faculty but result in further improvements in our academic excellence in the classroom for students—some of whom will continue on to advanced degrees themselves.”

Dr. Schneberger also told reunioners a little about the professors who will receive grants from the Faculty Development Fund this coming year. Here’s a brief synopsis:

• Barry Huff (C’02), an assistant professor in the Religion and Philosophy Department, is pursuing a PhD in Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary with a term at Oxford University.
• Chrissy McAllister (C’93), an assistant professor in the Biology and Natural Resources Department, is working on her dissertation on the genetic diversity of cultivated plants as part of the completion of her PhD in biology from St. Louis University.
• Edith List (C’93), a library faculty member, will begin a PhD program in higher education administration at Illinois State University this fall.
• Danne Rhaesa (C’79), an assistant professor in the Art and Art History Department, will begin work on an MFA, the terminal degree for artists, at Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville) this fall.