bethelcaptions SPRING 2014 BETHEL UNIVERSITY McKENZIE, TENNESSEE Staying Connected Reaching Out to Alumni of our Nontraditional Programs

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1 bethelcaptions SPRING 2014 BETHEL UNIVERSITY McKENZIE, TENNESSEE Staying Connected Reaching Out to Alumni of our Nontraditional Programs

2 CHECK OUT Two of the Biggest Fishing Events Around... right here at Bethel this Summer! USA Bassin National High School Championship June 26-28, 2014 Tournament Competition held at nearby Carroll County 1,000 Acre Lake Weigh-in at Bethel University! Bassmasters High School National Championship July 16-19, 2014 Sponsored in part by Bethel University! Join us for a kickoff banquet July 16 on the campus of Bethel University. Tournament competition begins at nearby Kentucky Lake and concludes at Carroll County's 1,000 Acre Lake. Weigh-In at Bethel University! ESPNU will be covering the event! 2

3 SPRING 2014 bethelcaptions Photo by Garry Mason BETHEL UNIVERSITY * McKENZIE, TENNESSEE Contents 4 The President s Corner 5 A Look at the Pie 8 A Message from Dr. Dale 9 Bethel Forevermore 10 We re Going on a Treasure Hunt 12 Save the Date for Homecoming! 14 Paying It Forward 16 A True Cheerleader 18 Unexpected Opportunities 20 A Great Foundation 23 A Campaign Promise 24 Hat... and Heart 26 A Renewed Passion 28 Right Place, Right Time 30 Overcoming Obstacles 32 Better Equipped to Serve & Protect 33 A New Point of View 34 From TPAC to MBA 36 Helping the Family Business Thrive Autumn Simpson sings as part of the 38 Class Renaissance Notes group, Vocal Authority, during a Homecoming 2013 performance on Oct. 4. Vocal Authority has BETHEL CAPTIONS is a publication of the Bethel University Office just released a new CD and is available university. for purchase To contact by contacting the Office of Development, Travis call of Development, 325 Cherry Avenue, McKenzie, TN 38201, for alumni and friends of the McLeese To send comments at mcleeset@bethelu.edu or questions regarding or BETHEL by CAPTIONS, calling us at glassj@bethelu.edu. 3

4 Vicky Williams, Executive Administrative Assistant to the President, was a nontraditional student/working adult professional. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Bethel in the president s corner This Captions magazine honors our adult student population. These Bethel students represent over half of our current total enrollment. Most have a job, are married, and are at ballgames or scout meetings with their children. They are not able to be a traditional student on our McKenzie campus. They take classes in their home area or online. And, thousands have graduated from our Bethel University over the last decade. Tennessee s Governor, Bill Haslam, recognizes the need for a more educated workforce. It is a national problem. Last fall, Governor Haslam announced his Drive to 55 Initiative. He wants 55% of all Tennesseans to have a Certification, Associate, or Bachelor s degree by National companies seeking to expand say that will be necessary for our workforce. Today, Tennessee is at 32%. He recognizes, like Bethel, that 4 the adult student must be able to have a chance for improving his or her status. At the Drive to 55 Kickoff, Bethel University was recognized as a leader in carrying education to the students. They challenged others to follow our lead! That says a lot about our University! Bethel for decades had one graduation per year. Now we have three. Much of that is best to accommodate the alumni and students we honor in this Captions. I hope you enjoy reading about some of our students and alumni and the differences they make for all of us. Bethel Forevermore, Walter Butler, Interim President Bethel University

5 A Look at the Pie Nontraditional students/working adult professionals at Bethel University outweighed traditional students by 20 percent during the fall 2013 semester How Bethel Compares to the National Average It s only logical to associate a school like Bethel with traditional programs and traditional students. After all, it has been providing educational services to students for more than 170 years. But when looking at the breakdown of Bethel s educational pie, non-traditional students outweighed traditional students by 20 percent during the fall 2013 semester. Interestingly, Bethel s 40(traditional)/60(non-traditional) ratio is fairly indicative of the national average which according to a Wall Street Journal blog article published last summer is about 29/71. Yes that s right! The average percentage of traditional students enrolled in colleges and universities across America is around 30 percent, and the average percentage of nontraditional students is around 70 percent. What exactly is a traditional student? Traditional, of course, in this sense refers to things like the age of the student and the methods by which Bethel provides its educational services. Traditional typically means face to face, in the classroom delivery. It also typically means that the delivery takes place during normal business hours. These are tried and true delivery methods, and such a focus on traditional students has stood the test of time because the methods are tried and true. But during the last few years, especially during the last decade, universities have seen the emergence of a new kind of student the kind of student who really can t be called traditional. This student needs a college education, yet this student cannot find a way to take part in time-honored delivery methods. 5

6 What exactly is a nontraditional student/ working adult professional? The nontraditional student/working adult professional is typically older, more diverse and balances work and family obligations. Therefore, long-established delivery methods just don t meet such a student s needs. According to the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, well over one third of undergraduate students are over the age of 25. Some surveys show that number to be closer to 50 percent of students. Close to half of all undergraduates are independent students. In other words, they are solely responsible for themselves. Many times they are not simply just providing for themselves either. Around one fourth of today s undergraduate students are parents. And more than 1 in 8 or around 13 percent are single parents. Meeting a Need & Staying in the Game Almost a third of college students work full time putting in more than 35 hours a week at a job other than their school work. Initially, schools like Bethel saw the need to develop programming specific to these nontraditional students. So how do such factors dictate appropriate plans of study? These nontraditional students/working adult professionals are already out in the real world working and providing for themselves and their families. The previously mentioned survey conducted by the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success reported that nearly half of all nontraditional students are enrolled only part time. This is because of time limitations on their part, and it is also because there are growing gaps between the price of tuition and the availability of grant aid. This leaves students with no other option than to work more than they go to school. Almost a third of college students work full time putting in more than 35 hours a week at a job other than their school work. Initially, schools like Bethel saw the need to develop programming specific to these nontraditional students. We were pioneers, actually, in providing programming that met the growing needs of nontraditional students/working adult professionals and in many respects our numbers of nontraditional students are greater than those of our counterparts because we were one of the first around to provide nontraditional program offerings. Today, we offer programming in a variety of learning platforms. Students can enroll in Bethel s College of Arts and Sciences and embrace the conventional college experience. They can also enroll in programs like Bethel Success, where they have the opportunity and convenience to come to campus one night a week for face-to-face classes. Then there is the online delivery method. Bethel offers online coursework in just about every curriculum on campus associate degree offerings, bachelor s offerings and master s offerings. 6

7 Bethel is providing avenues for today s working adult professional to earn a degree, ensuring that America s workforce is better off with every college graduate. However, what once was uncharted territory ready to be claimed, is now simply a component that every college campus has to offer to stay competitive. Why such a change in the numbers? The struggling economy was a huge contributing factor to today s number of nontraditional students. A large number of companies were forced to downsize to stay viable in a crumbling economy, and many displaced workers found themselves needing additional knowledge and skills to gain new employment. Just from January 2009 to December 2011 alone, there were 6.1 million workers who were displaced from jobs they had held for at least three years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The influx of nontraditional students today also is reflective of companies realizing they need a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Many of these companies are helping to pay their full-time employees to go back for college degrees. These students are finding what they need in programs like the ones offered by Bethel. Watered down? Critics say that nontraditional programming waters down the value of a college or university s degree. And yet others argue that candidates can gain relevant work experience through online coursework, and that online graduates have to have taught themselves to be self-directed and disciplined both sought after skills in America s work place. Furthermore, providing avenues for today s working adult professional to earn a degree is ensuring that America s workforce is better off with every college graduate. The bottom line is that nontraditional programs are here to stay, and schools (including Bethel) are investing a great deal of time in improving such coursework. What all those associated with Bethel can be assured of is that Bethel University is so grounded in what it has always been that no matter how the future shapes this school s methods of educational delivery, the Bethel University ideals will not be lost. 7

8 We re in the Transformation Business! In Bethel University's 171-year history we have accomplished many things. One of our most monumental achievements is our Online Curriculum. Since 2008 we have aided more than 6,000 students in receiving their B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Business, Education, and Criminal Justice. It is really just the tip of the iceberg in relation to changes we will be going through in the next five years. Graduates are sometimes curious as to why the Development Office asks them to contribute to campaigns on campus. After all, for most of you, your classroom was your living room, den, or kitchen table. Many of you have never attended a football, basketball, baseball, or soccer game. You might not know we have teams that compete in bass fishing and shooting. You may have never been to the library, eaten in the cafeteria, or at our Chick-fil-A. Your experience differs from traditional students who have done all these things and more. So if you have not participated why are we asking you to partner with us? Many years ago I completed a non-traditional program like yourself in Mississippi. I never did any of the things traditional students take for granted. Years later I was attending my professor's retirement party, and many of us were sitting around a table catching up on our lives. A friend of mine who had gone through the same program for his doctorate commented to our professor he had received a letter from the Development Office asking for a gift. He said "I gave to the college while I was there, and I don't believe I owe them anything." Dr. Pierce never looked up, but in his quiet way made the following comment; which has made me personally a life time giver. You are right; the checks you wrote while you were here attending Southern Mississippi paid for all the services you received and the degree with which you were conferred. The Development Office is merely asking you to pay for the value that degree has added to your life. Willie was really asking,"did the University add value to your life?" In my case it was yes. It was a stretching exercise that made me better, allowed me to pursue personal interests, and allowed me to be more prosperous. Here is a story that illustrates this perfectly. A king had a son who was going to someday rule his kingdom. As 8 A Message from Dr. Dale Vice President for Development Bethel University the boy grew, it was obvious that his son was born with a curved spine. The king loved his son and encouraged him to always do his best. On the boy's twelfth birthday the king asked him what he wanted. The prince made a strange request! He asked his father for a marble statue of himself. The statue would be in the prince's likeness at the age of 21. He told his father the likeness would have a straight back -- how he would look without the curvature. The statue was completed, and everyday the prince would walk up to the statue and place his hands on its shoulders and stretch. Every day he would do this for hours until one day his back began to straighten. At 21 he stood tall and straight. He had become exactly like the statue. Our hope is Bethel has somehow stretched you through your degree. We have enabled you to become the individual you envisioned. Bethel is in the transformation business. In this issue of Captions you will see students who dreamed to be better and who will leave their mark through a legacy of education and change. I know your educational experience was unique to you. We live in challenging times. But just for a moment try to imagine what your life would be like without your education. Look forward and think about that next step in your educational future. We want to be a part of this vision. Giving is also a way to leave an educational legacy. All of us have asked the donation question, What can I do - I am just one person? A monthly pledge will enable us to build a stronger foundation to enable others to launch their stretching vision. Contact us at any time. In the next few months you will be receiving access to our new web site. It will be filled with everything from ways to watch sporting events to workshops in self improvement. I hope you consider partnering with us at Bethel. You can enable us to make Bethel Forevermore a life stretch experience for others. In Christ, Dr. Dale Henry Vice President for Development Bethel University

9 Bethel Forevermore Ties to our alma mater should not only be a source of pride, but a source of mutual support. My job is to help develop those relationships and ties to one of the places that has allowed us to be who and where we are today. My name is Dave Corum, and I am excited to be working in the Development office as Director of Development for Nontraditional Students. My goal is to instill the spirit of Bethel Forevermore in our alumni and to build a legacy. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. I ve been married 20 years to my amazing wife Jill, a teacher in Roane County. I am the father of three boys and one girl. My oldest is Logan 16, the twins, Gabriel and Bristan, are 11, and Tylie is 5. I am very blessed with a beautiful family, many great friends, and a job I love. A nontraditional student is defined by the National Center for Education Statistics in its 2002 report as having at least one or more of the following characteristics: does not enter postsecondary enrollment in the same year that he or she completed high school, attends part-time for at least part of the academic year, works full time, is considered financially independent from a legal guardian, has dependents other than a spouse, is a single parent, does not have a high school diploma but a General Educational Development (GED) test. Veterans, international students, Success program students, any graduate level student, all online students, etc., are under this category. This indicates that at Bethel University more than half of our current students enrolled and alumni are nontraditional by definition. By 2015 we are on track to have more online or nontraditional alumni than the total of all traditional graduates since Bethel College s inception in 1842! That is exciting, as the needs of students as working professionals are rapidly changing. Bethel University understands and is adapting to meet these needs! As Director of Development for Nontraditional Students, I look forward to building strong relationships and a sense of community among all online and Nontraditional students/working adult professionals. I want to create opportunities for individuals through various avenues of social media like LinkedIn, alumni meetings, events, etc. We are all tied together through Bethel University, and we need to always cherish and build on this connection! I believe there are still ways to learn from and to help each other develop. You may have recently noticed s etc, signed with Bethel Forevermore. Our Interim President, Walter Butler has brought a renewed focus on this term, which has always been a part of Bethel. These words are the last words in Bethel s alma mater song, and A Message from Dave Corum Director of Development for Nontraditional Students President Butler is reenergizing the Bethel community by helping us consider these words and their meaning! Let me tell you about one alumnus who exemplifies Bethel Forevermore. Leonard Turner is a pastor at Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Farragut, Tenn. He has always shown a strong commitment to Bethel and to God. As a pastor in the denomination that founded Bethel as a seminary in 1842, Leonard demonstrates a love and passion for Bethel University and its faculty, staff and student body. I am confident he prays every day for the school and its people, and that reassures me. I first met him when he provided me, as a recruiter, with space for an office and meetings in his church. He had a room repainted, and he put a Bethel University sign on the door. From day one he showed his love and support for me as a person and as a Bethel representative. That is what Bethel Forevermore is about! Bethel University is one of those places that is becoming more rare in the college landscape. It's a nonprofit, and it truly cares about and is passionate about its people, its students, its service, and its purpose. I love this about Leonard Turner Bethel, and I am proud to be a part of it. I hope I get to meet each and every one of you personally. Hopefully together, we will develop more Leonard Turners. Please take a moment and register as an alumni via the included insert or on the website. Each person who registers will receive a gift to show the university s appreciation for you. Let s help each other continue to grow. Just because you graduated does not mean you are not a Wildcat at heart and a huge part of Bethel University! Sincerely Bethel Forevermore, Dave Corum Please feel free to contact me at: Cell: corumd@bethelu.edu LinkedIn: 9

10 We're going on a Treasure Hunt a treasure hunt... a treasur Yes, we are going on a treasure hunt for alumni. Are you who we are looking for? In the spirit of the time honored children s game, let s see what we will look for on this adventure! A - We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Accomplishments. Maybe you made partner at your law firm or accounting firm. Maybe you are the new principal of a local school or you were elected as your town s mayor. Whatever, the accomplishment we want to know it. Don t be shy! Tell us all about it! B We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for new Baby pictures! Have you recently had a baby? If so, we would love to publish your good news along with a photo. As special as all our children are, let s keep these new baby posts to ones that were born within the last six months! Go ahead, how many times do you get asked to brag? C We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Cool places you ve been recently. Did you go on an African safari? Maybe you hiked the Himalayas. Tell us about it, please! D - We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Donations! Think about the things that made your Bethel University experience significant. You can be assured that the generosity of someone who made a gift to Bethel made your experience what it was! Are you in a position to give back to Bethel right now? If so, we hope you will feel compelled to make a current student s experience significant as well. E We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Entrepreneurs! Have you successfully started your own business? Let us share this story! We can t wait to hear it ourselves! F We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Faith-based stories! Has your faith led you to mission work? Maybe it has led you to begin a ministry in your community that is being well received. Whatever your faith based story is, please share it with us! G We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Glamorous jobs. Do you work in the costuming department for a Broadway show? Maybe you are an editor for a publishing house or a freelance photographer who does work for well known magazines. Share these glamorous stories with us! H We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Homecoming attendees! Make this the year you come for Homecoming. If you are an alumnus from a non-traditional program, make this the year you come and connect with the school that was such a big part of your life. I We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Inventors. Have you invented anything and patented it? How cool! We would love to hear all about it! J We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Joiners! We will very soon be establishing alumni chapters in a number of locations. Please be a joiner and support your chapter s activities! K We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Kinfolk. Are you a Bethel legacy? Has your family been attending Bethel for generations? What a great story that would be! Snap a photo of your Bethel family members and send it to us! L We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Legislators! Have you served in your local government? Maybe you serve in county government. Are you a state representative or senator or even a U.S. Congressman or Senator? We can t wait to hear your story! 10

11 ... e hunt ALUMNI M We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for More feedback from our alumni. Do you have suggestions on how we can stay better connected with our alumni? Let us know! N We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for NonTraditional alumni! Alumni who graduated from Bethel s nontraditional programs are growing fast! Think of what Bethel University could accomplish with the help of such a large group of alumni! O We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Old friends! Are you someone who once was very connected to Bethel but who has lost touch recently? Please! Reach out to us! We can t wait to hear from you! P We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Pictures that tell a story about your BU experience. These can also be pictures of you and fellow alumni who reconnected over dinner or through some other event. Grab a shot with your cell camera and get it to us. Be sure to identify everyone. We especially want to see more of these types of photos from alumni of our nontraditional programs. Q We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for the Quiet and somewhat shy alumni. If you are friends with one of these individuals, and you know this person has a great story to share, encourage him or her to share it with us! R We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Referrals! Do you know of a traditional undergraduate student who is looking for a college to attend? Sell Bethel to him or her. Or if you know of potential nontraditional students, direct them to our website at so they can see what opportunities are available to them. S We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Seed planters! Do you know of someone with the means to support Bethel University in a significant way? If you do, plant the seed for us! Then give us a heads up so we can cultivate that seed and turn it into something meaningful for our school no stone left unturned! T We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Talkers you know those who have the knack of sharing stories worth listening to. If you are one of those people, be an ambassador for Bethel University every chance you get! U We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Updated information. It s important that we stay connected to you, and many times the information we have in our system is no longer accurate. If you suspect that the information we have in our alumni database is outdated, please send us revisions. V We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Volunteers! Will you volunteer to host an alumni event in your community? Will you volunteer to help start a Bethel University alumni chapter for your area? If you are willing, please, please let us know!! W We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Wedding photos. Did you just get married? Tell us about it and be sure to include a wedding photo! X We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for X marks the spot! Maybe you have the perfect place to host an alumni gathering in your area. If you do, please consider offering your place for an alumni event. Y We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for YOU All of you every single one! You make Bethel University unique. Z We re going on a treasure hunt, and we are looking for Zeal. If you are a passionate person, and you are specifically passionate about your good experiences at Bethel, gush to anyone who will listen! Your passion will be contagious, and who knows what great things will come of it! 11

12 S A v e T H Homecoming 201 Come See What You ve B 14th Annual Golf Tournament Purple and White Scrimmage Games Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner Bonfire and Spirit Rally Golden Grads Reunion - Class of we re looking for you! Alumni Gatherings Tailgating Wildcat Style Parade Party Wildcat Alley Football 4th Annual Timmy Kilburn Shrimp Boil An Evening with Renaissance *To Schedule a Specialty Group or Class Reunion for Homecoming 2014 p 12

13 e D A T e 4 - October een Missing!!! Pictured above, left to right are: Drew Chappell, son of Brad Chappell, BS 96 and Christie Chappell, BS 96 and grandson of Mike Bateman, BS 70 and Peggy Chappell, BS 82; Aurora Johnson, daughter of Aaron Johnson, BS 04, MAEd 07 and granddaughter of Kim Adams Creasy, BS 97; Ripken Thompson, son of Rusty Thompson, BA 00, MAT 03; Carleigh Lunn, daughter of Craig Lunn, BS 97, MBA 11 and Traci Crow Lunn, BS 95, MAEd 12; Spencer Ervin, daughter of Dewayne Ervin, BA 91, MAEd 03 and Dawn Adams Ervin, BS 97, MAEd 98; Brody Sanders, son of Bryan Sanders, MAEd 10 and Sarah Sanders, MAEd 12; Taylor Duke, daughter of Dawn Sacks Duke, BS 10, MBA 11 and granddaughter of Glenn Sacks, BS 99, MBA 11 and Kathy Bersey Sacks, BS 68; Terrance Cheatham, Jr., son of Karlene Cheatham, BS 07, MAEd 10; Keeley Williams, daughter of Jamie Williams, BS 08 and Vicky Williams, BS 08; Aidan Legens, son of Crystal Legens, BS 13; and Mahki Watkins, son of Stephanie Watkins, MAEd 12 lease contact Myra or carlockm@bethelu.edu* 13

14 Paying it forwa Principal Dennis Wilds credits Bethel s MAEd program with prep 14 Dennis Wilds is the Principal at Ottway Elementary School, a Pre-K-8th grade school. The enthusiasm in Dennis Wilds voice is evident as he talks about being the principal at Ottway, a pre-k through eighth grade elementary school in East Tennessee. I think the thing I like most is the positive impact that a school s administration can have, Wilds said. You re just exposed to more ways that you can help. Wilds recalled a recent situation where he discovered a student had been walking to school without a coat. I asked this student if he had a coat, and he didn t, he said. So we went out and bought this kid a coat. Wilds, who previously had been a seventh and eighth grade teacher in the classroom, said that his new role in education has been eye opening. A lot of times, as a classroom teacher, you don t see the administrative side and the ways that administrators really have the opportunity to help a student, he said. Preparing to be a teacher in the classroom doesn t prepare you for what I like to say is the other side of the fence. Wilds said that the administrative side of education involves laws, moral issues, student problems, parent problems and financial decisions. All of these things can affect the type of educational experience a student has, he said. And as an administrator you learn that you can make a positive impact through these avenues. Wilds did say he felt he was very prepared to take on his first administrative role in June 2013 mainly because Bethel s

15 rd aring him for his first administrative role online Master of Arts in Education coursework was spot on. The caliber of Bethel s MAEd program first became evident to me when I had to take and pass the school administrator test that would grant me license and certification, Wilds said. When I was going through Bethel s program, I didn t realize how great those classes were in preparing me for that test. Wilds, who hails from Newport, Tenn., said he always had the feeling he would be a teacher someday even though he did take a few detours along the way. I thought about electrical engineering and actually took two years of coursework at Tennessee Tech before I realized that my heart just wasn t in it, he said. Wilds did get back on the teacher track and was reaching students through his social studies classroom when he was approached by higher ups that he should consider getting into administration. I was asked if I could do research, he said. The approach at the time hooked two of my colleagues and me. Wilds was at a point in his life when he already had a family and a full time job as well as a number of obligations, so a non-traditional and completely online program like the MAEd offered by Bethel was an easy choice. I didn t mind learning online, he said, even though I will admit I had my doubts at first. Wilds pointed out that the navigation of Bethel s online software never posed any major problems. And when I did have an issue, the tech support was very helpful, he said. My family was very supportive too, and even with all my other obligations, I made it through the program. Wilds said the program coursework is not easy either. It was rigorous and as I said previously very relevant, he said. I think a few people who started the program the same time I did got scared when they got to the point where they had to choose between earning a master s in teaching and earning one in administration. They had heard that the administration coursework wasn t a piece of cake. Somehow Wilds persevered and earned his MAEd with an emphasis in administration in May Wilds is like a lot of Bethel University alumni these days. He has the degree that is proof he attended this school, but he has never actually been to any of Bethel s campuses. I know it sounds crazy, he said. But I do still feel connected to Bethel. I still get s, and many times when I am faced with a situation, I feel connected to Bethel even more because what I learned there allows me to be confident in the decisions I make. Then there s the fact that I wouldn t be having this new chapter in my career had it not been for a convenient option like Bethel s MAEd online. Wilds is an ambassador and promoter of Bethel s MAEd program by paying it forward and encouraging his teachers without master s to get one through Bethel. Here, he talks with Jean Jones, who started the MAEd online cohort in January. 15

16 A True Cheerleader f Heather Gann, Vice President of Operations at Emory Valley Center, is a true cheerleader for Bethel University s online M.A.Ed. in Education Administration. To her, it s easy to sing Bethel s praises because Gann s experience was excellent. Throughout the program, I had excellent instructors whose real world/work experiences enriched the curricula being taught and added depth and discussion to my learning, Gann said. They really allowed me to share scenarios I was dealing with in my everyday work as an administrator, and they responded by offering advice and support that added to my Bethel experience and also strengthened my leadership abilities on a daily basis. Gann said her ability to be able to exchange s and have phone conversations with many of her instructors was significant. Several instructors helped mentor me in my profession in addition to guiding me through the master s program, she said. Gann said the option for online coursework was the only way that she could have ever returned to school to further her education. I was a full-time administrator, wife and mother so online really was my only option, she said. And although it was a learning curve at first, the format of the online Gann (right) meets with Director of Home Based Programs to do review work on the current online training video project which is being prepared for home-based early intervention providers. 16 program was easily mastered. Once I got my system down so that posts (to the online learning system) and assignments were scheduled and completed, I found the online portal to be easily navigated. According to Gann, she found some of Bethel s online resources very useful not just for her class work but for her role as an administrator. EBSCO was an excellent research tool, and I found myself searching for research articles on topics relating to my profession which enhanced my learning, she said. These were things that enhanced what I was learning in my coursework, and I was immediately able to put a lot of the information I was finding into practice. Gann said she even adopted some of the applications she learned through her Bethel experience to use in her job. These applications were so valuable to me as a student, she said. And I wanted to share them with my staff. As Vice President of Operations at Emory Valley Center, a non-profit agency providing special education supports and services to children from birth to age five and to adults, Gann oversees six departments. These provide residential care, vocational training, job placement, case management, transportation, medication and healthcare oversight, and day programming to adults with intellectual disabilities. I was specifically able to adapt the format of Bethel s online weekly discussions to develop a Professional Learning Community (PLC) within the home-based program I oversaw, she said. By taking evidence-based research articles I searched in EBSCO and framing some discussion questions about best practices, paradigm shifts in pedagogy, and other educational practices, I watched the knowledge base and professional growth of my staff soar as they investigated the research and participated in discussion topics about current research in our field. Also, after attending one of Bethel s seminars on Disney s business and customer service practices, Gann came back and developed a customer service training unique to their industry and to their agency. I was able to train every one of our more than 200 employees in the principles of leadership and customer service that I learned, she said. I also prepared a new hire

17 or Bethel orientation that came together as a result of research from EBSCO and articles in textbooks from some of my Bethel courses. I now conduct monthly orientations with all new hires within our agency using that orientation method. Under Gann s leadership, Emory Valley Center has grown from serving 16 children in 2006 when Gann began as director of Early Intervention Services to now supporting more than 500 children combined between the centerbased program and home-based services. And the Early Learning Center became the first pre-school in the threecounty area it serves to be nationally accredited. Some of these things happened because we conducted a two-year self study process, we raised teacher qualifications, we rewrote operational and policy manuals, and we ensured that evidence-based best practices were being followed in curriculum, engagement and daily practice, Gann said. In 2013, the Emory Valley Home Based Program hosted the first of its kind statewide early intervention conference with funding by the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). This year s conference is in March 2014, and it will be in Murfreesboro, Gann said. It s a two-day professional development effort that brings together research, thought leaders, and educators across the state. Seeing the growth in her own professional knowledge and capacity for service, Gann wanted to share the Bethel opportunity with her staff. So I applied for funding in order to establish a scholarship fund so my staff could obtain advanced degrees, she said. In this process, I contacted Bethel, and they were able to work with us on a tight timeline for when the funds expired to establish a scholarship account. One of the things Gann did was prepare an application process and contract agreement that staff completed indicating their interest in receiving the scholarship. Gann said two staff members initially took advantage of this opportunity. One pursued a degree that was not available at Bethel, Gann said. The second, Jennifer Enderson, who is the Emory Valley agency president, is putting things in place to begin her MBA coursework at Bethel this fall. The scholarship is an ongoing commitment we have, funds permitting, so staff have the same opportunity that I had to get the excellent Bethel experience. The scholarship is intended to improve provider knowledge, provide real work application for the research being discovered, and ensure that evidence based practices drive our operations each day. By offering this scholarship, I think that, with the excellent education staff will receive from Bethel, the capacity and skills of this team will grow enabling further expansion and more significant reach to those we serve. Jennifer Enderson, pictured left, President of Emory Valley Center and Bethel scholarship recipient, and Gann, pictured right, Vice President of Emory Valley Center and Bethel graduate

18 New maste opens doors unexpected The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce partners with the Chattanooga Times Free Press to present the annual Chattanooga Nautilus Awards. The event recognizes outstanding local businesswomen and the businesses and individuals that assist women in reaching their potential as entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. Edwards was a finalist for the Stargazer Award in This award salutes women who have made a decision to change their lives by pursuing their education and making the sacrifices necessary to achieve their goals. 18 When Charlotta Edwards went to her husband and told him she was going to start college again, he told her that if she began this time, then she would have to finish. It seems that after several previous attempts to finish what she started, she found herself quitting so she could take care of other things going on in her life. And there were plenty of other things going on in her life. The owner of a childcare center known as Bundles of Joy Academy, Edwards was doing what any good business owner would do she was working hard to keep her dream alive of caring for children. I was fighting a lot of fires, she said. If one of my workers did not show up for work for some reason, I still had to have workers to take care of the children. And in a lot of cases that even had to be me. On top of this, Edwards facility offered childcare services for not just one shift, but two. There weren t that many childcare facilities in the Chattanooga area that offered childcare for people working second shift, Edwards said. So that is why I made sure that my facility did, but this certainly complicated things in terms of how much free time I had to actually work on finishing a degree. On top of this, Edwards had her own children to care for, and she was heavily involved in ministry work at her church. But she kept her word to her husband, and she did finish that first degree. It was at this point that Edwards decided to continue her education. I wanted to keep myself marketable, she said. Still a busy woman, Edwards found Bethel s MAEd online program and determined that the online delivery method could work around the other demands of her life. And in spring 2013, Edwards graduated from Bethel with

19 r s degree to opportunities Bethel s MAEd program has helped me meet a lot of wonderful people. For that, I am very grateful. -Charlotta Edwards her master s. Bethel s MAEd program has helped me meet a lot of wonderful people, she said. For that, I am very grateful. And her new master s degree has also opened some doors to opportunities that were surprising to her. After I graduated with my undergraduate degree I would go back and say hi to faculty and administration from time to time, she said. They knew I was pursuing my master s degree, and during one visit they asked if I would be interested in teaching. At first Edwards told them no. I had gotten my degree to help my daycare, she said. Eventually, I want to open a private school to go along with my daycare. I was planning on using what I learned in my studies to move forward with that plan. I never once thought about teaching. But I finally decided that teaching would be a good opportunity. And now I am teaching at a local college in Chattanooga where I also serve as a mentor. Edwards also is called upon at the same school to mentor and encourage students like her who have many obligations and who need encouragement to remain in college. And Edwards herself is remaining in school. I am now enrolled in Bethel s MBA program, she said. My emphasis is human resources something that I will need to know even more about if I plan to expand to a full fledged private school. I am in a statistics course right now. I feel very full at this point in my life, Edwards said. I know the things I am doing right now are God inspired. I also know I could not do what I do each day without having God in my life. It just all helps me be a better person. Bundles of JOY ACADEMY 19

20 for state legislatur Bethel lays great Bethel s reputation spoke volumes as I applied for and was accepted to the Nashville School of Law. - Representative Barrett Rich 20 Tennessee legislator Barrett Rich has been representing the 94th District of Tennessee since being elected in And during that time, the 2007 Bethel graduate is doing his part to make a difference in the lives of Tennesseans. It appears that his Bethel University degree laid a great foundation for his work and his leadership in the legislature. During his first term at the legislature, Representative Rich was voted to be the House Republican Assistant Floor Leader and the Freshman Class President a position that is elected by the freshman class of legislators. During his second term in the 107th General Assembly he was elected by the caucus to be the Republican Whip who counts the votes of his particular party and who works to pass the party s agenda. This session I was appointed by House Speaker Harwell to be Chairman of the House Health Sub Committee, Rich said. My committee hears bills that deal with all things medically related and is considerably active. Rich also serves on the Criminal Justice Committee and the House Ethics Committee. The second part of my job is helping people with problems in the government, he said. Even though session only lasts a few weeks, there are calls and s year round from people who need help, either with unemployment issues, health issues, or state bureaucracy. I assist the best I can with those. There has been tornado damage, two floods in Oakland (TN) in Fayette County which is one of my counties, and straight line wind damage in Bethel Springs, another area I serve. These issues have involved my office. I also work closely with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the Department of Safety when the need arises. Rich said redistricting has given him some new parts of Tennessee to serve. Since redistricting, I now have all of Fayette County, southern Hardeman County, and all of McNairy County, he said.

21 foundation e leadership Rich also said that the lines may change but that many of the issues remain the same. People are concerned about the economy, crime, the Second Amendment, and laws emanating from Washington, D.C., that impact our state and local areas, he said. This is one of the reasons I chose to run for the state legislature. I was in law enforcement, and I was making a difference. But I wanted to make a difference from the other end of that enforcement in the formulation of the law. The primary function of the legislature is to enact laws making our state safer, more prosperous, and better than when we took office. That means defending against legislation we feel would do the opposite of our stated goals. It also means defending our citizenry against those who would sell poison to our children in the guise of recreational drugs, and against those who make the streets dangerous with violent behavior or in any way break the law. Rich said he is proud that his degree from Bethel afforded him the opportunities to serve in his current role. I was in law enforcement and then later became a Farm Bureau agent, he said. Because I chose this route, I did not have time to attend college when most people my age were going to school. The non-traditional program I went through at Bethel really helped. The program I went through was extremely writing intensive, which has helped me tremendously in my work at the legislature, and it was also vital during my attendance at law school. Rich also said that without Bethel s degree and their commitment to non-traditional students, he would have never had the opportunity to earn his Doctor of Jurisprudence. The opportunity for nontraditional students/working adult professionals to obtain the same degree as traditional students is one that should not be taken for granted, he said. Advanced degrees require an undergraduate degree of course, and many programs will not allow prospective Representative Rich with Governor Bill Haslam. students with lesser qualified programs into their school. Bethel s reputation spoke volumes as I applied for and was accepted to the Nashville School of Law. When asked what he hopes to accomplish for the State of Tennessee, Rich says there are so many goals that we must accomplish. Continued on next page 21

22 Barrett Rich... continued from previous page Rich (right) with former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn. We must do all we can to be the most job friendly state in the nation, he said. We want job creators to move here. Government doesn t create jobs, but it does create the environment for opportunity. As a state, we must stay focused on conservative spending principles, higher education standards, protecting the lives and safety of our citizens and making sure our children inherit a state as great as the one we are fortunate to live in. Representative Rich says he gets the most satisfaction from helping people. Many times, when a legislator is called, the citizen is at his or her wit s end, he said. That person either needs help finding a job, or the red tape of government bureaucracy is wrapped around this person. Their backs are against the wall, and to provide assistance for them or to solve their problem is very satisfying. You certainly don t do this job for the pay, but your reward is knowing you ve helped someone. Passing laws that keep us safe is my favorite type of legislative work. In the Memphis TV market, it seems the first story on the news every day is someone has either been violated or has met a violent end. We can do better than this in Tennessee, and Tennesseans should expect it. Rich said he has carried a number of bills that have reshaped the legal landscape since the 106th General Assembly his first term in the legislature. I assisted the governor s office in their Gang Enhanced Sentencing bill which rewrites the criminal gang code, making it easier to prosecute criminal gangs, he said. Another bill I passed makes it a felony to discharge a firearm into a dwelling, and I also carried the Meth Burn Notification bill which requires doctors to report meth burns to law enforcement. One previous bill prevents sexual predators from contacting their victims from jail, and another bill that took effect in January 2014 makes it easier for people who have had their funds erroneously seized in traffic stops to recover their monetary property in court. I am proud of the bills I have passed, and I want to make our state safer for the law abiding citizens and as unattractive to the criminal elements as possible without overburdening the citizens or restricting their rights. But ultimately, Rich says education is the catalyst for positive change. Everyone knows higher education is highly regarded, he said. A learned individual is typically taken more seriously than a non-learned one. I know plenty of smart and capable people who did not go on to get advanced degrees. But the days of just having a high school diploma and no other technical or university training are closing. With the world being the way it is and increased competition from overseas being what it is, the more education a person has the more chances for success there are. A degree from Bethel can help instill the confidence a person needs to be competitive. This is especially true in our rural communities where there should be more degreed people. 22