Hamline’s new president Linda Hanson.

One of Valparaiso's Fulbright winners, Cynthia Willuweit, a political science major, teaches English in South Korea

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Mercer Professor Clayton R. Paul.

Hampton University dean Tony Brown.

• Hamline University Selects New President
• Valparaiso and Drake are Leaders in Student Fulbright Awards
• Mercer Pharmacy and Computer Science Teams Shine in National Competition
• Belmont and Valparaiso Faculty Members Receive Awards
• Professional School Deans Appointed at Hampton and Ithaca

Hamline University Selects New President

Dr. Linda Hanson, current president of the College of Santa Fe, has been selected to replace retiring president Larry G. Osnes, as the 19th president of Hamline University. Her achievements at the College of Santa Fe included a transformation process including new interdisciplinary programs, relocation of the College’s Albuquerque campus, and restoration of financial stability. Prior to her presidency at the College of Santa Fe, Dr. Hanson had held senior level positions at Seattle University and Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi and was president of the Independent Colleges of Washington. She will assume her Hamline responsibilities effective July 1, 2005.

Valparaiso and Drake are Leaders in Student Fulbright Awards

Three Valparaiso University students won Fulbright awards this year, putting Valparaiso in second place nationally among Master’s level universities for the number of students receiving Fulbright awards. Drake University also ranks high with two students being selected for Fulbright’s this year. Fulbright awards enable students to study, teach English, and do research overseas for a year. The Valparaiso winners majored in English, history, and political science. In addition to the two Drake Fulbright winners, Drake junior Brittany Buchholz received a $10,000 scholarship from the National Security Education program to study Middle Eastern culture and Arabic language in Amman, Jordan during fall 2004. She will spend the spring at American University in Washington, DC, a residency that includes a three-week trip to South Africa.

Belmont Graduates Nominated for Country Music Awards

Belmont University graduates Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, and Julie Roberts were nominated for Country Music Association awards broadcast live on CBS and presented at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville in November. Paisley's four nominations include Single of the Year for “Whiskey Lullaby,” Album of the Year for Mud on the Tires, and Music Video of the Year and Music Event of the Year for “Whiskey Lullaby.” Turner’s song “Long Black Train,” written while a student at Belmont, was nominated for Song of the Year. Roberts has received rave reviews for her first single, “Break Down Here,” a Horizon Award nominee.

Mercer Pharmacy and Computer Science Teams Shine in National Competition

When it comes to serious academic team competition Mercer University is hard to beat. In October the Mercer Southern School of Pharmacy took top honors at the National Community Pharmacist Association competition to develop a business plan for opening a new community pharmacy. In taking top honors the Mercer 60 page business plan bested fellow semifinalists University of Kansas and Washington State University. This November the Mercer Binary Bears Computer Programming Team won its second straight Association of Computing Machinery Division II title and finished just behind Division I powerhouses Georgia Tech and University of Florida.

Winning Mercer pharmacy team.

Drake Student Newspaper Earns Top Honors at National Workshop

The Drake University student newspaper, The Times-Delphic, earned top honors in a recent national Associated Collegiate Press’ Best of Show competition in Washington, DC, for its 80-page Drake Relays edition. Drake won among student newspapers published daily or twice weekly at a four-year school. Leading competitors included University of Minnesota, Georgetown University, and American University.

Belmont and Mercer Faculty Members Receive Awards

Steve Murphree, Belmont professor of biology, was selected “Environmental Educator of the Year” by the Tennessee Environmental Education Association. His teaching, mentoring students, and leadership in environmental education were noted in the award citation. Clayton R. Paul, Sam Nunn Eminent Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Mercer University, has received the 2005 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Electromagnetics Award for his ground breaking research in eliminating “crosstalk” interference problems in transmission lines and cable assemblies.

Professional School Deans Appointed at Hampton and Ithaca

Hampton University sought “strong executive leadership,” according to President William R. Harvey, and they found it in the appointment of Tony Brown as dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. Dean Brown is a well-known TV journalist, bestselling author, commentator, radio host, and Silver Circle Award winner.

Ithaca College has recently appointed two new academic deans, Susan West Engelkemeyer for the School of Business and Gregory Woodward as dean of graduate studies. Dean Engelkemeyer comes to Ithaca from Babson College where she was director of the one-year MBA program and associate professor of management. Dean Woodward is a longtime Ithaca School of Music faculty member and had served as interim dean of graduate studies during 2003-04.

Cast of Cabaret at Wagner College award winning theatre program.