A FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE

WITH DR. ED NEUENSCHWANDER

SNU STUDENTS PREPARE FOR GRAD

SCHOOL IN SUMMER RESEARCH

INSPIRING ALUMNI & STUDENT STORIES

SUMMER 2014 UPDATE

Highlights in this Issue:

Incoming SNU science students with professors in front of the new J.D. & Mary West Science Laboratory.

This excellent report of yet another high achieving academic class did not

come as a surprise. In fact, we have come to expect the aforementioned

outcomes - but we certainly do not take for granted the high academic

achievements of our graduates. The ancient Greek philosopher and scientist

Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act,

but a habit.” The excellence we have come to expect in the sciences at SNU

has been built over decades on a solid foundation of the best of teaching,

mentoring and learning in Christ-centered community.

The words of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus have been in the

forefront of my thinking for some time now. He said:

“But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech,

in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love

we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this

grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7)

As I make frequent trips to view the construction progress on the fabulous

new J.D. and Mary West Science Laboratory, I am keenly aware that without

the “grace of giving” we would not be able to move into the first floor in the fall

semester and the second floor by the spring of 2015 – and we most certainly

would not have successfully funded Phase I of the Campaign.

We are now focused on Phase II funding (finishing out the second floor) - so,

if you have given to support this project – accept my sincere thanks on behalf

of the university and our students. If you have not yet given, we still need your

support in this phase of the Campaign for the Sciences.

As we begin the 116th academic year at SNU, we remain dedicated to the

mission of the university and the pillars of its motto, “Character, Culture, Christ.”

Dr. Loren Gresham President

It was thrilling to get the annual update of how our students in the Class

of 2014 fared in the highly competitive process of gaining acceptance

into graduate programs in the sciences. Here is the amazing report: ONE

HUNDRED percent of those who applied to medical, physicians assistant

programs and veterinary schools were accepted! What a great tribute to,

and affirmation of, the dedicated work of our gifted and committed faculty

– across all the disciplines – and the persistence of our outstanding

students.

1

Recent SNU graduate Laura Mino chose to attend SNU because it offered

opportunities for both intellectual and spiritual growth, but what left an even

greater impact were the relationships she built with faculty. When Mino

was unable to return to SNU for her sophomore year, her undergraduate

and graduate aspirations suddenly seemed tentative, but, bolstered by

scholarship money and concerned faculty, Mino was able to return to SNU,

graduating in May 2014 with a degree in environmental science. Mino

has already been accepted at Oklahoma State University in the Natural

Resources Ecology and Management graduate program.

Mino, a first-generation college graduate, credits much of her success to the

dedication of SNU faculty. “They were constantly keeping me accountable,

telling me about opportunities, encouraging me . . . I wouldn’t be where I am

today without the professors at SNU,” Mino says.

SNU science courses gave Laura the competitive

edge she needed to gain admission into a first-rate

graduate program, and she views the Campaign

for the Sciences as an opportunity to expand the

strong educational core of the SNU Science Division.

According to Mino, in order to continue offering

students this quality of education “we need to have competitive resources.

This means updated laboratory equipment, cutting-edge technology,

and the ability to maintain these resources.” She sees not just academic

significance in the Campaign for the Sciences, but spiritual as well, with the

ability to cultivate a passion for science within Christian students who can

use their education to transform their world.

Mino considers the opportunities provided her at SNU a primary motivation

as she furthers her education, wishing to give back to the university by

continuing its reputation of academic excellence.

FACULTY SUPPORT PROVES A STEPPING STONE FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION

Laura Mino

“They were constantly keeping me accountable, telling me about opportunities, encouraging me... I wouldn’t be where I am today without the professors at SNU.”

Quick fact: In 2014, 100% of SNU applicants were accepted to Oklahoma State University Vet School. 2

Conducting research on dogwood stems, Laura is working alongside an undergraduate student from OSU in a mentoring program.

Southern Nazarene University’s Science Division maintains a

strong and wide-spread reputation for excellence in producing

outstanding scientists, medical professionals, and researchers.

One of the many reasons is the hands-on, cutting-edge research

students are actively engaged in.

The learning environment at SNU’s Science Division has clearly

grown well beyond classroom instruction. Junior Biology-

Chemistry major Rachel Rindom and sophomore Chemistry major

Mickey DeMarzo are two students who are prime examples of

this. Thanks to the Oklahoma NASA Space

Grant, the duo spent this past summer

working in the SNU Summer Research

Experience. Their research project focused

on metal nanoparticles and their possible

antibacterial properties.

“This project has opened my eyes to the important applications

that research can have in different areas of medicine, and our own

research may have implications in the way that certain clinical

treatments are manufactured in the future,” said Rindom.

The duo was also recently given the opportunity to speak to a group

of their fellow students to discuss their research and findings.

“Basically, we optimized different syntheses of nanoparticles

and tested these nanoparticles for antibacterial properties using

different types of bacteria,” explained DeMarzo.

Rindom, who hails from Olathe, Kansas, said this research project

has helped fuel her passion for the sciences even further, and is

helping prepare her for the next stage of her education. She hopes

to attend Physician Assistant school either at the University of

Oklahoma or the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then spend

time serving in medical missions.

“Science is an area that has always intrigued me, especially

because of the many different focuses it includes,” she said. “I also

like to know how and why things work, and the sciences do a lot to

satisfy that curiosity.”

DeMarzo said his desire to enter the field of science was

similar to Rindom’s in that he has always been motivated to

know the “why” of the way things work. Discovering the “why”

was also one of the aspects he has enjoyed most about the

nanoparticle research project.

STUDENTS EXPLORE EXCELLENCE THROUGH CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH PROJECT

“The learning environment at SNU’s Science Division has clearly grown well beyond classroom instruction.”

Rachel Rindom & Mickey DeMarzo

“I also like to know how and why things work, and the sciences do a lot to satisfy that curiosity.”

Quick fact: This is the 6th year of conducting a summer research experience on SNU’s campus with professors and students.3

STUDENTS EXPLORE EXCELLENCE THROUGH CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH PROJECT

“This project has opened my eyes to the important applications that research can have in different areas of medicine…”

“The science behind every action that happens from a microscopic

level to overall body functions is absolutely fascinating to me,”

explained DeMarzo. “I could not have picked a better area in which

to be educated.”

Not only is DeMarzo focused on building excellence in his scientific

endeavors, but he is also focused on excellence on the gridiron as a

member of the Crimson Storm’s football team. While balancing the two

has not always been easy, he said maintaining such a heavy schedule

will help him tremendously as he transitions into the medical field after

college. He believes maintaining a healthy balance between football

and his scientific education will result in the strong work ethic that will

be needed for him to succeed at the graduate level.

Both students felt their opportunity to participate in the SNU

Summer Research Experience was just one of the many

outstanding resources and opportunities they encounter

on a daily basis in the sciences at SNU. While there are

many examples of this, DeMarzo said the best example of

excellence is found in the Division’s professors.

“I do consider SNU to have academic excellence because

the professors care about the students and encourage students to

succeed, and if anyone needs help, the professors always welcome

students to talk to them about any problem they have,” he explained.

The excellence modeled by her professors has inspired Rindom’s

growth and development at SNU. She said her professors have instilled

the confidence she needs to move forward in her future career.

“I have learned that you can do whatever you are passionate about,

especially in the sciences,” said Rindom. “You have to be willing to do

what it takes such as networking, shadowing, volunteering, or getting

out of your comfort zone.”

DeMarzo stressed the importance of alumni and donors helping

to ensure this level of excellence for future generations of science

students. He said their investment will allow students to have the same

opportunities he and Rindom have had by being able to participate in

real world research projects and receive a first-class education.

“Alumni and friends who give back to the Science Division can

impact and increase the number of incoming students that are

interested in science, and help upper-classmen get the education

they need to move on to whatever career they would like

to pursue,” he said.

For more on Rachel and Mickey, go to snu.edu/cfts

“I also like to know how and why things work, and the sciences do a lot to satisfy that curiosity.”

4

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION AT SNU

As the 116th academic year at SNU begins, so does the use of the first floor of the new J.D. & Mary West Science Laboratory. This 25,891 square foot

facility will provide areas for instruction and learning across several science disciplines. The entire SNU community is excited about this facility and how

it will meet the challenges of preparing students in the environment of today’s advances in technology and the sciences.

This new building is a result of SNU’s commitment to provide the best academic experience possible for our students. Our mission of transforming lives

through higher education in Christ-centered community will take place daily in the classrooms, laboratories, offices, and gathering spaces within it.

Phase I is funded – but the work is not done! The second floor, Phase II, is scheduled to be finished out and furnished for teaching and learning by

the spring semester of this academic year. Funding for this vital part of the Campaign is urgently needed in order to move forward, providing the

equipment and resources necessary for our Science Division to continue to excel.

Thanks to many alumni, friends, and corporate sponsors, the Campaign for the Sciences has successfully moved to where it is today – an excellent new

facility has been constructed. With your support and prayers, we can finish the task at hand – and continue the legacy of excellence in science at SNU!

Take an aerial tour of the J.D. & Mary West Science Laboratory at snu.edu/cfts

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“I have enjoyed reading the updates for the Campaign for the Sciences! Reading about

students and professors at SNU brings back so many wonderful memories from when I was a

science student at SNU! I noticed that in the most recent publication there were no donations

from my Class of 2006, so I thought I would fix that. Keep the updates coming!”

-Kacey Torres Class of 2006

∙

PHASE I(FUNDED – PROJECTS COMPLETED OR IN PROGRESS)

(BEING FUNDED – PROJECTS IN PROGRESS)

(BEING FUNDED – PROJECTS IN PROGRESS)

PHASE II

PHASE III

DISSECTION OF GIVING

∙ Two–story laboratory addition south of the existing Beaver Science Building

∙ 25,891 square feet base building

∙ Four biology laboratories

∙ One biology research laboratory

∙ Laboratory support spaces

∙ Four offices and ancillary support spaces

∙ Three student gathering areas

∙ Finish and furnishing of second floor

∙ Three chemistry laboratories

∙ Two faculty offices

∙ One research laboratory

∙ Three student gathering areas

∙ Elevator and stair connection to W. Don Beaver Science Building

∙ Renovation of W. Don Beaver Science Building

∙ Greenhouse

Total gifts and pledges: $7,572,588.37

Alumni

Trustee & Foundation Boards

Friends

Corporate Support

Trusts & Estates

Foundations & Grants

35.17%

2.89%

22.32%

4.06%

16.54%

19.02%

HOW CAN WE SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE SNU SCIENCES?

Mail your gift or pledge using the enclosed card – OR – give securely online at www.snu.edu/giving

Pray for SNU faculty and students – and for those who will teach and learn in this new facility this year and in the years to come.

Identify prospective students and encourage them to visit SNU!

Tell others about this Campaign and let them know what SNU is doing.

Naming Opportunities for the Campaign for the Sciences are still available. Please contact the Office of University Advancement at 405-491-6311 or e-mail tbrant@snu.edu for any additional information.

Current & former faculty starting from left: Dr. Lisa Crow*, Dr. Daryl Cox, Dr. Mark Winslow*, Dr. Kenny Wantz, Dr. Lee Turner*, Dr. Leo Finkenbinder, Dr. Joanne Peterson*, Dr. Nancy Halliday, Dr. Brent Eskridge*, Dr. Sharon Young, Prof. Jim Tabers, Dr. Gene Heasley, Dr. Bob Judd, Dr. Shawna York*, Dr. Carrie Bentley*

*Current Faculty

Dr. Robert Judd leaving a lasting mark on the steel frame.

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There are thousands of Southern Nazarene University graduates who are making a difference all over the world in the sciences. Whether it’s in the medical field, in research, teaching, or other scientific endeavors, the incredible contribution to the sciences these alumni are making is due to the strong foundation they received at Southern Nazarene University. Furthermore, there are a growing number of current students who are already

actively involved in making a difference by conducting cutting- edge research through the SNU Summer Research Experience. We’ve profiled many of these former and current students and their research endeavors over the past couple of years in our Campaign for the Sciences newsletters. Here is a short update on some of the alumni we’ve profiled in the past, as well as a look at what types of projects current students are working on as part of the SNU Summer Research Experience.

RECENT GRADUATES

MARY SIEMS OU Med School

Mary is a second year student at the University of Oklahoma

College of Medicine While in her first year of medical school,

Mary was involved with several interest groups and on campus

organizations. She also participated in a mission trip with the OU

Health Science Center Christian Medical and Dental Association.

Mary believes that SNU provided a solid foundation for her

current success in medical school.

MICHAEL KETCHAM Putnam City High School, OKC

Michael is in his second year of teaching at Putnam City High

School. He taught biology last year and is looking forward to

teaching biology and environmental science this school year.

Michael feels SNU prepared him well for teaching and serving in

public schools.

JOHNNIE WEST Continental Resources of Oklahoma City

After graduation in 2013, Johnnie accepted a job at Continental

Resources of Oklahoma City. She is a member of the Reservoir

Engineering Application Group. Daily duties revolve around

petrophysical analysis, mathematical analysis, model development

and data management. “My SNU degree comes into play in

different aspects of my job, from applying physics concepts, to

analyzing various data types and utilizing my strong mathematical

background to develop models of our data,” said West.

BRENNAN DICHIARA Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas Brennan landed a job as an Actuarial Associate on the Client

Analytics Team at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. He is

currently on his fourth actuarial exam that allows him to become

an Associate of the Society of Actuaries and plans to take more

testing for higher credentials in the near future.

AMANDA SIX OU Physician’s Assistant School

After graduating this spring, Amanda was admitted to the

University of Oklahoma’s Physician’s Assistant program this

summer. She is excited and knows that SNU has given her the

tools to be successful in her pursuit to finish her schooling and

realize her dream of working with the underserved communities

of the Muskogee Creek Nation in Northeast Oklahoma.

Mary Siems presenting in an elementary school

Michael Ketcham Johnnie West Brennan DiChiara Amanda Six

SNU Summer Research Experience Mickey DeMarzo, Rachel Rindom, Jared Galbraith and Byron Crouch

CURRENT STUDENT SUMMER RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT

Oklahoma Summer Healthcare Internship CJ Hornback

University of Nebraska’s Summer Medical Education Program Bethany Calvert

Texas Tech University Computer Science Department Research Experience Mary Jo Galbraith

Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute REU Program Ray Niazi

Johns Hopkins Summer Institute in Anatomy Miranda Garlett & Gentry Smith

For more information, go to snu.edu/cfts

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The excellence practiced throughout scientific and medical communities by Southern Nazarene University graduates is not just global, but impacts the far reaches of outer space as well.

Dr. Truell Hyde has kept his head in the stars for most of his life. As a child, Dr. Hyde’s interest in music, science, and reading led him to reach for the stars and develop a fascination with the U.S. space program through the Apollo missions to the moon. Now, this 1978 graduate of SNU no longer dreams of space – he is on the forefront of studying the detailed physics of space.

Dr. Hyde is currently a tenured full professor at Baylor University and serves as the Vice Provost for Research (VPR), and the Director of the Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics & Engineering Research (CASPER).

“In my role as the Director of CASPER, I maintain an active and well-funded research program in space and physics,” said Dr. Hyde. “We publish around sixteen papers a year through this center, which is a good record in physics.”

The educational foundation he received at SNU and his spiritual growth during those years are some of the factors that led Dr. Hyde to Baylor, and

he has become a strong advocate for the benefits of Christian higher education. In fact, he has seen many of his PhD graduates continue their work at Christian universities.

“My last PhD graduate was offered positions at both Princeton and Max Planck, but took a position at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas instead.

She caught the bug,” explained Dr. Hyde. “A professor exploring his or her research in an intellectually honest manner and free to integrate his or her faith into the discussion impacts lives in a profound way.”

Dr. Hyde, who is a third generation graduate of SNU, said supporting the sciences is important at all universities, but supporting Christian universities is even more vital in creating the excellence that comes when faith in Christ meets science.

“Although there is a growing need for young people to choose careers in science and engineering, there is an even more powerful need for Christians to enter these fields with both strong academic and spiritual preparation,” he said.

Donating to the Campaign for the Sciences at SNU is an excellent way to join Dr. Hyde in supporting Christian higher education. Your financial support will ensure a first class education at SNU – where faith and learning result in science graduates prepared to impact their world for Christ.

REACHING FOR THE STARSDr. Truell Hyde

“There is a powerful need for Christians to enter [science and engineering] with both strong academic and spiritual preparation.”

Mary Siems presenting in an elementary school

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For Dr. Todd Moore, Bethany Nazarene College wasn’t just the school next door, it

“was part of growing up” for him. In the same town he fondly remembers visiting

his grandparents and attending family functions, Moore attended a university he

still calls home, and we now call Southern Nazarene University.

As an undergrad at SNU, Moore majored in Chemistry and also minored in

Spanish, which was a passion he developed after spending summers on mission

trips to South America. Moore then attended Northwestern University where he

received his M.D. and completed his residency at the University of Missouri-

Kansas City. After practicing for two years, Moore accepted a fellowship in

Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston

for one year.

Moore and his family then moved to Kansas City, and he started a fellowship

program affiliated with St. Luke’s Hospital where he still serves today. The

program mentors young surgeons entering the medical field, helps develop

their skill sets, and prepares them for a career in medicine. Moore acts as

chairman of the department and is involved at the health system level on

boards and committees that pay close attention to governance, efficiency, and

strategic planning.

Looking back on his experience at SNU, Moore values the

mentorship of professors and the investment they made in his

education. “A unique thing about SNU,” says Moore, “is how you

can become so close to your professors and how they can have a significant role

in not just your education, but your life as a whole.” The university strengthened

Moore’s belief system and helped him confidently assert himself and his faith

into a world of science.

SNU’s pre-med program prepared Moore for a successful career and provided

resources to integrate his faith and profession. “Medicine has its limitations

and then God has to take over,” says Moore. The Campaign for the Sciences

is providing resources for future students to share in Dr. Moore’s experience

and is creating a framework for future alumni to make a lasting impact on the

world, while holding tightly to God as their foundation. The University’s mission

of transforming lives through higher education in Christ-centered community is

building a core of educated and faith-centered men and women in medicine.

BUILDING UP AND INVESTING IN WHAT MATTERS MOST

Dr. B. Todd Moore

“Medicine has its limitations and then God has to take over.”

Dr. Moore in surgery

Quick fact: Of the SNU students who applied for PA School, Medical School and Vet School in 2014, 100% were accepted.9

Since its inception, Southern Nazarene University strived for excellence in the sciences, a hallmark that would not be possible without a foundation of committed and passionate faculty. One such faculty member is Dr. Ed Neuenschwander, who has served the SNU community as a physics professor for nearly thirty years. During his time at SNU, Dr. Neuenschwander has not only garnered a reputation as a scholar in his field but also among students for his zeal for science and life.

Dr. Neuenschwander’s ability to inspire students is largely due to his own journey and the invaluable contributions of peers, role models, and mentors along the way. From an 8th grade English teacher to undergraduate and graduate science faculty, the authentic teaching styles of invested instructors left a lasting impression that is evidenced in Dr. Neuenschwander’s classroom today.

For faculty at SNU, however, investment in students’ lives goes beyond the classroom, and Dr. Neuenschwander is no exception. “I learn more from my students than they learn from me,” he says. Long van rides on field trips with physics majors enable conversations about life, and his general education Science, Technology, and Society course requires students to engage with complex and relevant issues.

The significance of these conversations is not lost on Dr. Neuenschwander, who works to stay relevant in his field so he can continue to challenge students and prepare them for success. His column, “Elegant

Connections in Physics,” a collection of over a hundred articles, has been featured in the Society of Physics Students and the Sigma Pi Sigma physics honor society magazines. Additionally, he has published two books with Johns Hopkins University Press, one of which is scheduled for release this October, and is currently working on a third.

Dedication and expertise of faculty like Dr. Neuenschwander are key in developing the potential of SNU science students. The J.D. & Mary West Science Laboratory will give professors the resources to match their proficiency. Dr. Neuenschwander adds, “It takes creativity and passion to consistently do much with little. The faculty at SNU consistently do much with little. Having learned how to do that, what would happen if the resources available to them caught up with their dreams?”

Continued development of SNU’s science facilities will equip professors to best transform their passion for science into exceptional classroom instruction, building upon the foundation of excellence laid by current resources.

For more on Dr. Neuenschwander, go to snu.edu/cfts

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCEDr. Ed Neuenschwander

SNU professors and physics students make biennial treks to the Very Large Array of telescopes near Socorro, NM.

Dr. Neuenschwander with recent graduate Johnnie West.

Quick fact: Of the SNU students who applied for PA School, Medical School and Vet School in 2014, 100% were accepted. Quick fact: In 2014 100% of SNU applicants from the Kinesiology Program were accepted into a doctoral program in Physical Therapy. 10

“I learn more from my students than they learn from me.”

OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

snu.edu/cfts

6729 NW 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008