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About the cover...Jerry Halsey Jr., president of Burrow-Halsey Realty Group, putts onhole #10 green at Sage Meadows. Watching is Paul Pickens, region-al marketing manager for Staffmark, and Margaret Holloway, busi-ness sales manager for Ritter Communications. As a result of theCollege of Business’ Spring Swing, scholarships have been estab-lished in the names of all three firms. (Story on page 2.)
Development Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
College of Business Swings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Lunch Benefits Academics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Morse Family Makes Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Accounting Alums Support Non-trads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Turner Scholarship Reaches Endowment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Regions Supports COB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
State Farm Ensures Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Advancement Spotlight: Markham Howe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Retired Faculty Member helps ASU-Beebe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Dean Takes Over Three Colleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Board of DirectorsArkansas State University
Foundation, Inc.
Marilyn Hummelstein, chairpersonDarrell H. Cooper, vice-chair
Donna AngelThom E. Beasley
Bill BrewerBobby Caldwell
James W. CallawayTodd Cooper
Douglas W. CoyMarcus C. Devine
Bob EarwoodSteve Edwards
Cathy R. Eoff-TirattoWilliam B. Fisher
Danny L. FordWallace W. Fowler, Sr.
Jim S. Gowen, Sr.Stacy Greene
Richard P. Herget, Jr.Gregory M. Hopkins
LTC (Ret.) Dariel JohnsonJohn S. KittermanMichael Lewellen
Judious LewisAaron N. Lubin
Martha Jean McHaneyGarry MeadowsHarold Perrin
Randall E. PopeVelmar Singleton Richmond
Ness SechrestRichard Sheid
Amelia S. StuckeyJohn W. Troutt, Jr.
Don WintonJohn A. Woodside
Dr. Les Wyatt, President of the UniversitySteve Owens, President/CEO
Philip Jackson, Board TreasurerSteve Watkins, Board Secretary
Ed Kremers, Chief Financial OfficerNick Livers, Attorney
FoundationNews
Page 4 Page 3 Page 12
Volume 6 • Number 1 Summer 2005
Features
1
I’m becoming increasingly intrigued with the idea andprocess of visualization.
Valuable a quality as it is, it seems our society has less-ened the significance of the gift of vision through somuch overuse. Today, it’s almost as if we make casualreference to someone being a man or woman of vision,when truly, so few people really have it.
But there are distinct differences in the gifts of visionand visual thinking and the idea of visualization, thelatter being much more of a learned technique than anintrinsic quality.
Vision is the ability to see the big picture. It’s a unique gift that allows people to takeexisting pieces of a puzzle and see the different ways they might fit together.Visionaries are dreamers.
Visual thinkers can see the whole of a given situation. They can randomly move fromone complex situation to the next focusing on details so many of us might overlook.
But visualization is altogether different. It is an active, preplanned attempt to imag-ine the details of success. We use visualization by calling our senses into play to helpus formulate clear, vivid images of successful outcomes. It is a process practiced bymany athletes who aspire to perform well. As a part of this process they can actuallysee themselves cross the finish line, carry the ball across the goal line or drain the 75-foot winding putt from just off the green. Research has shown that well practicedvisualization can have positive effects on our desired outcomes.
Today, in the Advancement unit at Arkansas State, we are visualizing success five yearsinto the future and beyond. As this issue of Foundation News goes to press, we havejust celebrated our nation’s birthday, and it reminds us of another significant birth-day coming up soon. ASU’s Centennial Celebration will begin shortly. Our centen-nial class will enter ASU as freshmen in just a few weeks. We are beginning to see andplan all the great activities that will happen over the next four to five years as theybuild toward a 100-year celebration like none we have seen before.
As we think about this exciting time, we can see our friends joining with us, we canhear the crowds cheer and we can feel firm handshakes of renewed acquaintance anddeveloping partnerships. As much fun as it is to visualize, we can only imagine howgood the actual experiences will be.
Here at the onset of ASU’s Centennial Celebration I invite you to join with us in theprocess of visualization. Consider your own ASU experience and how it has broughtyou to where you are today. Then, begin to think about your role in the process ofyour university’s move into a second century of teaching, research and service.
The opportunity is there for us all. Can you see it?
Steve Watkins
Steve Watkins
“Seeing” into the future Foundation NewsPublished twice yearly by the
Office of University DevelopmentArkansas State University
Executive EditorSteve Watkins
Writer/EditorDiana Monroe
Layout/DesignGeorgia Summitt
Printed by Arkansas State University
Printing Services
Foundation NewsP.O. Box 1990
State University AR 72467-1990(870) 972-3940 (888) 225-8343
http://support.astate.edu
For questions or comments, or to make a charitable gift to
the ASU Foundation,write to the above address,
or visit our website
University Advancement StaffVirginia Adams, Publications and
Creative Services SecretarySandy Benesh, Administrative AssistantChristy Brecklein, Development Officer
Susan Briner, Alumni Membership SecretaryPeggy Britt, Coordinator, Privately Funded
ScholarshipsDanna Evans, Accountant, Advancement Services
Sharon Groves, Advancement SecretaryFrances Hart, Coordinator, University
CommunicationsNancy Hendricks, Alumni Editor
Mendy Hendrix, Development SecretaryDana Hoggard, Development Officer
Markham Howe, Director, University RelationsPhilip Jackson, Controller, ASU Foundation
Heath Kelly, Graphic ArtistRon Looney, Director, Publications & Creative
ServicesDiana Monroe, Coordinator, Development
CommunicationsTom Moore, Director, University Communications
Steve Owens, Vice PresidentMolly Phillips, Coordinator, Alumni AffairsElaine Poynter, Coordinator, Annual Giving
Mark Reeves, Art DirectorCarol Roberts, Alumni Secretary
Beth Smith, Director, Alumni RelationsGeorgia Summitt, Graphic Artist
Tori Thompson, Development OfficerDawn Tucker, Coordinator, Advancement Services
Deborah Turner, Director, Planned GivingHolly Van Wagener, Associate Director,
Development ServicesSteve Watkins, Director, University Development
M.A. Wheeler, University Relations Secretary
Scholarship SwingGolfers tee off for COB
“Spring Swing,” a golf tournamentbenefiting Arkansas State University’sCollege of Business, is proving to be a“hole in one” for the college’s scholar-ship program.
The tournament, which finished itsthird year on May 6, has producedthree endowed scholarships withinthe college, all named in honor ofcorporate sponsors of the tourna-ment, and brought an existing schol-arship within the College of Businessto the endowment level.
“The companies who have underwrit-ten our tournaments believe in sup-porting some of the best and bright-est students in Arkansas,” said AlanDecker, deputy director for the DeltaCenter for Economic Developmentand coordinator of the golf tourna-ment. “We wanted to recognize theircommitment to ASU by namingthese scholarships in their honor.”
The Burrow-Halsey scholarship willbenefit a junior, senior or graduate-level student majoring in financewith a real estate emphasis atArkansas State. Jerry Halsey, presi-dent of Burrow-Halsey Realty Groupand an ASU alum, said his firm ispleased to have a scholarship estab-lished with their company’s nameattached.
“ASU provides a growing workforce
to companies like ours,” Halsey said.“We have recruited some talentedemployees from the university, bothgraduates and current students.”
“Staffmark has placed a number ofASU graduates throughout Arkansas,Tennessee and Mississippi,” said PaulPickens, Staffmark regional marketingmanager. “As a graduate of ASU, I’mpleased on both a personal and pro-fessional level to support the Collegeof Business through this event.”
The Staffmark scholarship is availableto students majoring in management,with an emphasis in humanresources. Staffmark is a human
resources company that provides per-manent and temporary staffingthroughout the United States.
“The College of Business is a greatresource,” said Margaret Holloway,business sales manager with RitterCommunications, another of thetournament’s sponsors. “Our compa-ny has been a part of NortheastArkansas for more than a hundredyears, and ASU has been aroundmore than 90. We happily partnerwith ASU because it makes for an all-around better community.”
“ The companies who have underwritten our tournaments believe in supporting some of the best and brightest students in Arkansas.”
-Alan Decker, deputy director, Delta Center for Economic Development
2
ASU Football Coach Steve Roberts launches a putt during Spring Swing.
Continued on page 3
3
No foolin, just droolin’Lunch benefits academic scholarships
The "RED" Beans & Rice lunch onApril 1 raised more than $2,100 tobe added to the General AcademicScholarship Fund. Great food, musicand a visit from RED, Arkansas StateUniversity's spirit character, all con-tributed to a fun time.
"We couldn't have been more pleasedwith the support and turnout for thelunch," said Steve Watkins, ASUdirector of University Development."From those who supported theeffort with their cash and in-kindgifts, to the volunteers who servedand to the hundreds who purchasedtickets to give their support to theASU Foundation's GeneralScholarship Fund, it was a tremen-dous first-year event.”
The office of UniversityDevelopment planned and coordinat-
ed the event. More than 400 ticketswere sold, and 100 percent of theproceeds went to the GeneralAcademic Scholarship fund.
The event was sponsored by RicelandFoods, WR Foods, Sodexho, FoodGiant, the Design Shoppe,PepsiAmericas and Tabasco.
All ingredients and supplies for theevent were donated. Additionally,area businesses donated red-themedprizes that were awarded during thelunch. The grand prize, a night’s staycourtesy of the Red Apple Inn atHeber Springs along with a six-pieceset of red luggage from JC Penney,was awarded to Patti Nesmith ofJonesboro.
We can't wait for an even betterevent next year,” Watkins said.
Red, ASU’s spirit character, visits with patrons of “RED” Beans & Rice, an event for the general aca-demic scholarship fund held by ASU’s University Development office.
Continued from page 2
The Ritter Communications scholar-ship will benefit a senior-level studentat Arkansas State who is majoring inmanagement information systems,with an emphasis in telecommunica-tions.
In addition to the three scholarshipsthat have been established throughthe tournament, a fourth scholarship,the Dan Hoyt Human ResourcesScholarship Endowment, wasbrought to the endowment levelthrough proceeds from the tourna-ment. The scholarship was estab-lished in 2000 by the NortheastArkansas Chapter of the Society forHuman Resources Management tohonor the career and leadership ofDr. Dan Hoyt, emeritus professor ofManagement and coordinator of theCollege of Business internship pro-gram, who served ASU from 1976until his retirement in 2000.
Decker said the tournament averagesbetween 80 and 90 participants eachyear. He said the tournament’s suc-cess, in part, can be attributed to thestrong support of its sponsors, whichthis year included Burrow-Halsey,Staffmark, Ritter Communications,Tiger Commissary Services, RegionsBank and Nestlé. He said OutbackSteakhouse has been an importantsponsor each year, providing steakdinners for participants and staffworking the event.
“We are fortunate to have a businesscommunity that is most supportive ofour mission,” Decker said. “We aregrateful for the support they’ve shownArkansas State University and theCollege of Business.”
“Our community is so lucky to haveASU right here at our back door,”Holloway said. “We should all giveback to the community through oursupport.”
4
Morse code:A family serving others, building community
The first time Jake Morse met his
future wife June Bridger, they built
something—a snow “woman” on the
lawn of Arkansas State’s Wilson Hall
in the winter of 1959.
“I had seen June on a previous occa-
sion, at the East Park restaurant on
Nettleton Avenue,” Jake explained.
“She was wearing this black dress and
caught my eye. So when I met her
later at the Wigwam in the basement
of Wilson Hall, I struck up a conver-
sation with her. Then I asked her if
she wanted to go out and build a
snowman.”
It was a foretelling of what their life
would become—a partnership in
building. They built a marriage, fam-
ily, successful businesses, and a life of
giving to their church and communi-
ty. Now they’ve given back to
Arkansas State University by fully
endowing the Morse Family
Scholarship.
“We believe it’s important to help in
any way we can,” June said. “This is
just one way to give back.”
June grew up in Jonesboro; Jake in
Osceola. The couple raised three
daughters who all earned bachelor’s
degrees at ASU: Margie, who
majored in physical education;
Marcia, who majored in English; and
Melissa, who majored in marketing
and management. Additionally, both
of June’s parents attended Arkansas
State.
June earned her degree in journalism,
Jake in accounting. Jake finished his
degree as a non-traditional student at
the same time Melissa was at ASU.
June also came back as a non-trad,
earning her certification to teach as
well as taking graduate degree courses.
While they both started their careers
as teachers, Jake went on to a career
as an engineer and entrepreneur. He
founded Marliss Industries, named
after the couple’s daughters, which
was a manufacturing enterprise that
promoted no-till farming equipment.
The Morses sold Marliss and later
formed the Morse Company, which
manufactures and bottles Fasweet, an
artificial liquid sweetener, and
AquaClear bottled water. They also
bottle specialty water for customers
across the United States.
June, meanwhile, made a difference
for many years as the executive direc-
tor of the United Way of Greater
Jonesboro and then as coordinator of
alumni relations for the ASU Alumni
Association. She now serves on the
staff of the NEA Clinic Foundation,
where she is a certified volunteer
coordinator for the medical
foundation’s Hope Circle.
The Morses are active members in
their church, and volunteer a great
deal of their time to their Rotary
clubs. (Jake is a member of
University Rotary and recently served
as District Governor for Rotary
District 6150. June is a member of
Jonesboro Rotary.) Rotary has
allowed them the opportunity to
travel across the country and
throughout the world, again helping
others with tasks like immunizing
children against polio.
But they had a desire to do some-
thing more to help their alma mater.
“ASU has been so important in the
lives of our entire family,” June said.
They chose to establish the Morse
Family Scholarship to help non-tra-
ditional students studying in any dis-
cipline at ASU, not only because
they knew firsthand the challenges a
non-traditional students faces, but
because they saw the need for more
support of non-trads at ASU through
scholarships.
“Because we’ve had such good experi-
ences at ASU we wanted to do some-
thing permanent,” Jake said. “This
scholarship allows us to do that and
honor our wonderful daughters at
the same time.”
“ASU has been so important inthe lives of our entire family.”
6
A West Plains, Mo., couple has madea gift to Arkansas State University toestablish a fully endowed accountingscholarship in the College of Business.
James and Sharon Lott Sanders areboth accounting alumni of ASU.Both grew up in Benton, in centralArkansas. Although they knew oneanother, the couple didn’t start datinguntil the day after Sharon graduatedfrom ASU.
“I was determined to get a collegedegree,” Sharon said. “My olderbrother and sister went to anothercollege in the state, but I wanted togo some place where I’d meet newpeople.”
“I chose Arkansas State because it wassuch a good value,” James said. “Thecost here versus the cost at otherschools was substantially less, and Iliked the campus.”
The couple was active in Greek lifeon campus, and remembers the manyactivities available to students duringthe 1960s.
“The Reng Center opened the yearbefore I came to the campus,” Jamesremembered. “There were movies andbowling, and pool in the Wigwam.”
“The concerts were great,” Sharonnoted. “I can remember seeing RayCharles and Dionne Warwick per-form. That’s a great memory.”
The Sanders also remember professorslike Nancy Hagler and Shirl Strauser,who they say provided them with an“excellent education.”
Like other male students of the day,James was active in ROTC and amember of the Scabbard and Blade.Following graduation, he went intothe military. He was awarded a SilverStar for valor in Viet Nam, and hisname is on the ASU HeroesMonument, where ASU pays tributeto ROTC alumni who have distin-guished themselves through heroic
service, government service and out-standing representation of the university.
The Sanders have several relativeswho’ve attended ASU. James said theystarted suggesting ASU early on asthey raised their two sons. Jason is anASU grad who now teaches history atEl Dorado. Cory is currently enrolled
Adding it upAccounting alums + gratitude = COB endowment
James and Sharon Lott Sanders
Continued on page 7
7
at ASU and works for FederalExpress. Because they’ve been able tosee firsthand the unique challengesfaced by non-traditional studentsthrough their sons’ educations, theSanders wanted to assist other non-trads in their educational quest.
“We’ve worked hard throughout ourcareers and have been rewarded,”James said. “We wanted to help oth-ers who are working hard for theireducation.”
The Lott Sanders Scholarship willassist upper-level non-traditionalstudents in the College of Businesspursuing a degree in accounting.
The Sanders continue to be activelyinvolved at Arkansas State. They areseason ticket holders to ASU athleticevents, and enjoy football, basketballand baseball games.
The couple each earned an account-ing degree at ASU. James has hisown accounting practice in WestPlains, while Sharon is an analyst fora company that handles logistics forthe U.S. Department of Defense.
The Sanders plan to continue to addto the scholarship they’ve establishedin the College of Business. Married34 years, they say they believe theygot a good education at ArkansasState University.
“We wouldn’t be where we are todayif it weren’t for ASU,” Sharon said.
“The university is moving in theright direction,” James said. “We’reexcited about what’s happening atASU.”
Marathon missionDebbye Turner runs for mom’s scholarship
A successful run in the New York CityMarathon by an Arkansas StateUniversity alumna has brought a schol-arship named in her mother’s memoryto the endowment level.
Jonesboro native Debbye Turner is adoctor of veterinary medicine and acontributor to the “Early Show” on theCBS television network. Her motherGussie Turner, who died in 1994, was along-time academic counselor atArkansas State, and advised and men-tored hundreds of students during herASU career.
A scholarship was established by friends,colleagues, former students and familymembers after Gussie Turner’s death,but had not yet reached a level fromwhich a scholarship could be awarded.
For some time, Debbye had consideredrunning a marathon. Since her term asMiss America 1990, she said she hadgained some weight and knew she need-ed a healthier lifestyle. Her mother’shealth was a contributing factor to herearly death.
“Over the years, I gained a lot ofweight,” Debbye said. “I love to eat! Thericher, fattier and sweeter, the better! Ihad no discipline about my eatinghabits, or very little anyway, and no realfitness regimen. That was a recipe fordisaster.”
Turner trained for eight months beforethe 26.2 mile marathon, starting withruns of 2.5 to three miles in length.Then Nov. 7, 2004, the day of the NewYork City Marathon arrived.
“Finally the start time came,” she said.“With 36,000 runners, it takes a whilefor everyone to actually get across thestarting line. I started my real run about10 minutes after the gun went off. Ican’t express fully how exciting this was.The views of the city were spectacularand the spectators along the way were
extraordinary. There were two million ofthem, and they were cheering andyelling words of encouragement. What a gas!”
The run was no picnic, however.Plagued by cramps, Turner finished themarathon in a little more than six hours.
“I never cramped while training. Noteven once, so go figure,” she said. “Iguess that is how life is sometimes. Weprepare, practice, train and still lifethrows a curve at us. It’s not the curvethat is the issue; it’s how we handle it! Ihad never experienced this before but Irefused to let the cramps get the best ofme. The race goes not to the swift norto the strong, but to he who endures tothe end, so endure!”
Debbye Turner endured to finish theNew York City Marathon. She hadasked friends and fans to support her inher run by making a gift to the ArkansasState University Foundation for theGussie Turner Memorial Scholarship.
Thanks to that support, the scholarshiphas reached endowment level. Turnersaid while she still misses her mother,she is excited about the legacy of hope,excellence and determination that thescholarship will bring to others.
“I ran the 26.2 miles through the fiveboroughs of the Big Apple to symbolizethe principles my mom taught me; torun the race of life with faith in Jesus,character and perseverance. I live thoseprinciples every day.”
Persons interested in making a gifttoward the Gussie Turner MemorialScholarship may send a check, madepayable to the ASU Foundation, P.O.Box 1990, State University AR 72467.Please designate “Gussie Turner scholar-ship” in the memo section of the check.
On the web: www.debbyeturner.com
Continued from page 6
You can support ASU anytime by giv-ing online: http://support.astate.edu
8
Compound interestRegions’ gift banks on the future
A desire to help young Arkansans suc-ceed has led Regions Bank to make amajor gift to the Arkansas StateUniversity Foundation.
Regions has donated $100,000 toASU to establish a scholarshipendowment to benefit outstandingstudents from Arkansas’ Delta region.
“We at Regions Bank are very pleasedand excited about making this schol-arship endowment gift to ArkansasState University,” said JackFleischauer, Regions’ regional chiefexecutive officer. “Because of ourinterest in ASU, Regions Bank want-ed ASU to have a significant gift the
university could manage and used tohelp attract young people into theuniversity.”
The gift was presented to ASUPresident Dr. Les Wyatt and Board ofTrustees President Mike Medlock byFleischauer and Larry Worsham, pres-ident and CEO of Regions Bank ofNortheast Arkansas in February dur-ing a ceremony in Little Rock. BothFleischauer and Worsham are ASUgraduates.
“Arkansas State University, and thegenerations of students who will ben-efit, are grateful for Regions Bank’sgenerosity and for its vision for
Arkansas’ future,” Dr. Wyatt said fol-lowing the ceremony.
Fleischauer said the bank becameinterested in supporting higher educa-tion several years ago when Regions’predecessor in Arkansas, FirstCommercial Corp., and its CEO,William H. Bowen, supported anational advisory board of successfulArkansans who lived throughout thecountry. He said the board met annu-ally to examine major issues facingthe state, and education was a fre-quent topic.
“These great minds who lovedArkansas would get together and
ASU Board of Trustees member Mike Medlock, second from left, accepts a gift from Jack Fleischauer, Regions regional chief executive officer, to establish a scholarship endowment atArkansas State University. Also present were ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt and Larry Worsham, president and CEO of Regions Bank of Northeast Arkansas.
9
bring their talents to bear on variousissues,” he recalled. “Because theysaw the need to help promisingyoung students meet the high cost ofhigher education, the board con-tributed frequently to a scholarshipfund that was administered by thebank. We annually awarded scholar-ships to young Arkansans attendArkansas universities and colleges,both public and private.”
Fleischauer said the bank continuedto administer the fund even after theadvisory board ceased to operate, butrecently concluded that institutionsof higher education, including ASU,would be in a better position toprocess applications and make awardsto outstanding students.
“Because of our interest in ASU,Regions Bank wanted ASU to have asignificant gift the university couldmanage and use to attract young peo-ple into the university,” he said.“Northeast Arkansas is so importantto our company. We have talked withPresident Wyatt about how ASU canutilize these funds as an incentive forquality students from the Delta topursue their higher education atASU.”
“Arkansas State University is of suchvital importance to Northeast andeastern Arkansas,” Worsham noted.“We are very proud that our compa-ny recognizes that and is showing itssupport for scholarships.”
A community focused bank withlocal leadership, Regions Bank cur-rently offers full-service commercialand retail banking from more than680 offices, as well as a 1,700-ATMnetwork across 15 states.
Continued from page 8
Chi Omega alumnae dedicated a gift to Arkansas State University during a ceremony as apart of Homecoming festivities on October 16, 2004. The Chi Omega Fountain is a distinc-tive water feature built to the west of the Student Union, and sits just north of theAdministration Building on the Jonesboro campus.
A ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of construction on the new Cooper AlumniCenter was held on a rainy April 28 at Arkansas State University. The 20,000 square foot cen-ter is being named in honor of ASU alums Darrell and Charlotte Pugh Cooper, who made a$2 million gift toward construction of the center. Located by the lake, which some may remem-ber as the site of the old pavilion near Indian Stadium and the Convocation Center, the newcenter will be residential in style, with an exterior of brick and natural stone, a wide expanse ofglass facing the lake, and terraced walkways sloping down to the water. Digging the ceremonialdirt are (from left): Tony Pardew of Olympus Construction, ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt,Darrell Cooper, Charlotte Pugh Cooper, Beth Smith, ASU director of Alumni Relations, andBob Earwood, president of the ASU Alumni Association.
Around ASU
10
State Farm Insurance recently present-ed its second major gift toward ascholarship endowment at ArkansasState University.
The gift of $5,000, combined withthe company’s gift in 2004, raises theState Farm Insurance Scholarshipendowment fund to more than$9,000. Eventually, the endowmentwill provide scholarship to studentsmajoring in finance or insurance inthe College of Business.
Dr. Len Frey, interim dean of theCollege of Business, acknowledgedthe gift on behalf of the universityand expressed gratitude to the compa-ny’s representatives for their generosity.
“This is a time when higher educa-tion has received less support fromother sources, make private supportlike this gift from State Farm morecrucial,” Frey said.
Steve Short, vice president ofoperations for State Farm’sfive-state central zone, andRendi Black, vice president ofagency for Arkansas andOklahoma, came to ASU topresent the latest gift from thecompany.
Short, a Blytheville native andASU alumnus, explained thecompany’s motivation towardmaking the endowment gift.
“One responsibility of corpo-rate citizenship is to give backto the communities where wedo business,” he said. “Weview institutions like ArkansasState, which are making notice-
able and significant contributions inthe education of our youth, as strate-gic partners in our efforts to build abetter tomorrow.”
Black said the group of State Farmagents in the Jonesboro area came toState Farm’s management and askedthem to support Arkansas StateUniversity.
She explained why the State Farmscholarship for business, finance orinsurance majors is a good fit withthe company’s goals, and alsoexpressed appreciation to ASU forpreparing graduates for careers atState Farm.
“The whole world opens up to stu-dents when they come here,” shenoted. “It’s an important time in theirlives. ASU graduates are employed oraffiliated with State Farm at the
agency, employee and executive level.These associates contribute every dayto the success of our organization andthe communities in which they live.”
State Farm is the leading insurer ofhome and automobiles in Arkansasand in the nation, according to com-pany spokesman Gary Stephenson,external relations specialist forArkansas, and also a ’76 ASU alum-nus.
The College of Business at ASUincludes the academic departments ofAccounting and Law, ComputerInformation and Technology,Economics and Finance, andManagement and Marketing.
About 500 students earned bachelor’sand master’s degrees through ASU’sCollege of Business programs duringthe last year.
Insuring for the futureState Farm policy ensures scholarship support
Rendi Black, second from right, State Farm Insurance vice president of agency for Arkansas and Oklahoma, presents agift to Steve Owens, vice president for University Advancement at ASU, toward the State Farm Insurance scholarshipendowment fund. Dr. Len Frey, left, interim dean for ASU’s College of Business, and Steve Short, second from left, StateFarm vice president of operations, also participated in the presentation ceremony.
Markham Howe is a man on a mis-sion—the mission of Arkansas StateUniversity.
As director of University Relationsfor the last three years, Howe hasmade it his mission to convey toothers that ASU is a great place toreceive an education.
“Here are our strengths,” Howesaid. “We are a friendly campus. Wefoster a caring environment for ourstudents, and we have some greatacademic programs taught by somereally good faculty. We have a supe-rior product here.”
Howe first came to Arkansas Statewhen its last name was still“College.” A member of theMarching Indian Band, he saidband director Don Minx, alongwith dean of students RobertMoore, had a profound impact onhis life. He graduated in 1961 witha bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
His second “stretch” at ASU beganin 1994, after a career as a publicrelations professional with ArkansasPower and Light. While one of thedepartment’s professors was on sab-batical leave from the College ofCommunications, Howe served asan instructor in public relations forthree years.
“I had served as a volun-teer instructor for oneday a semester for severalyears,” Howe noted. “Ihad to re-learn publicrelations to teach it. Itwas a wonderful experi-ence.”
Howe came back toASU in 2002, and pro-motes the universitythrough marketing,advertising and publicrelations. He also overseesinternal and external communica-tions, and provides communicationscounsel to the executive staff. But indoing those things, he remembersthe focus of his mission.
“I try to talk with a student everyday about how to make this univer-sity a better place,” he said.“Because students will speak theirminds—so I try and keep my ear tothe ground.”
Howe said in marketing the univer-sity, he’s been pleased to see howalumni and friends have stepped uptheir support of ASU, especiallythrough charitable gifts.
“I was lucky enough to receive ascholarship my first semester atArkansas State. I believe in giving.
As alumni, what we learned hereprepared us to be successful beyondcollege and to grow intellectually;it’s now our turn to help carry onthat tradition of helping others,because we were helped.”
Howe said he enjoys the challengesof bringing the message of this uni-versity to the public.
“Working for my alma mater is awonderful experience; I have a pas-sion for this place. I’ve met some ofthe finest people I’ve known here atArkansas State.”
“I believe in ASU. We’ll have morechallenges to come, but we’ll knockthose in the head, too.”
11
Advancement Spotlight:
Markham Howe
Promoting ASUHere’s Howe
13
For more than 32 years, Dr. RuthCouch made a difference in the livesof countless students at ArkansasState University’s Beebe campus.
Although the vice chancellor for aca-demic affairs and professor of Englishhas now retired, she has continuedher commitment of service to ASUBeebe by establishing the Dr. RuthCouch Scholarship Endowment toaid students with their college educa-tion.
“You can make a difference in the lifeof a student,” Couch said. “I learnedthat from my mentors. Scholarshipshelp.”
Couch grew up in southern Arkansasat Magnolia. The daughter of farm-ers, she came to her love of learningearly.
“My mother was very influential,” shesaid. “I did share a love of literatureand poetry with my father. When Iwas in the 10th grade, I rememberhaving trouble understanding a poemwe were studying in class at school,and my father explained its meaningto me. My parents instilled a love oflearning in me.”
Ruth Couch is a woman of many“firsts” at ASU Beebe. She was thefirst full professor at the institution.She was the first woman with a doc-torate and the first woman to serve asa vice chancellor.
The Beebe campus has seen manychanges during Couch’s tenure. A stu-dent population of about 600 whenshe started has now increased to morethan 2,600. The Arkansas StateTechnical institute has been estab-lished, and four-year degree programshave been instituted.
“Dr. Couch has helped carry the uni-versity in the right direction,” saidDr. Eugene McKay, chancellor ofASU Beebe. “She served the longer inthe office of vice chancellor than anyother person. She’s dependable andtrustworthy, and has always caredabout the students.”
McKay said Couch was also an evalu-ator for the North CentralAssociation Higher LearningCommission for more than 22 years.In 1991, she wrote a book of poetry,“This Land of Legend.”
McKay told a humorous story of atime when Couch was on her way toa meeting in Jonesboro when she hada flat tire outside of Augusta. Luckily,he said, a pair of deer huntersstopped and changed her tire for her.When the men wouldn’t let Couchpay them for their kindness, shereached in the trunk of her car, pulledout and handed them a copy of herbook.
“I bet there’s some good stuff inthat,” McKay remembered the deerhunter saying.
Couch continues to write in her“retirement.” She is working on auto-biographical writings as she teaches aclass in autobiography to a group thatmeets at the senior citizens center inBeebe.
She also is serving part-time as execu-tive director of the Beebe Chamber ofCommerce. Additionally, she is aPRAXIS assessor in the publicschools. (PRAXIS measures proficien-cy in the basic skills of reading, writ-ing and mathematics.)
“PRAXIS assessment is an interestingprocess,” Couch said. “I’m seeingmany of my former ASU studentswho are shining like stars across cen-tral Arkansas.”
The scholarship endowment willassist students of any major attendingASU Beebe who have completed atleast one semester. Couch hopes herassistance will have a positive influ-ence.
“Somebody that had the initiative tostart will, through this endowment,have the encouragement to contin-ue,” she said.
“This endowment continues Dr.Couch’s commitment to serve ASUBeebe,” McKay said. “She has showngreat dedication to the university andgiven so much of herself, and we arevery grateful.”
A woman of firstsRuth Couch makes a difference at ASU Beebe
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More opportunities to promote bene-ficial interaction between academicprograms is one of the main advan-tages of a new administrative appoint-ment at Arkansas State University.
Dr. Greg Phillips will assume respon-sibilities as dean of three academiccolleges at ASU on July 1, the begin-ning of the new fiscal year.
Phillips, who has served as dean ofthe College of Agriculture at ASUsince 2003, also will assume duties asdean of the College of Sciences andMathematics, and dean of the Collegeof Engineering.
The three colleges will maintain theirseparate identities and continue topursue their individual missions, butalso will engage in more cooperativeactivities between departments.
"I am honored to be selected to serveas the Dean for the Colleges ofAgriculture, Engineering, andSciences and Mathematics," Phillipssaid. "This is an exciting challengefor me personally as well as for thecampus as a whole."
Dr. Susan Davis Allen, vice chancellorfor Research and Academic Affairs,made the announcement.
"We are excited about the possibilitiesof expanding interdisciplinaryresearch and teaching under the newcollege structure," she said. "Threecolleges with one dean is an innova-tive administrative structure that willenhance our growing interdisciplinaryresearch and teaching efforts, includ-
ing interfaces with theArkansas BiosciencesInstitute, while maintain-ing the history and char-acter of each college."
She explained that theidea of three colleges withone dean came out of aseries of discussions withfaculty groups aboutprospective interim deancandidates in the Collegeof Sciences and Math.
"The more we talkedabout it with variousgroups, the more advan-tages and possibilities fac-ulty brought forth. Acommon comment was'the more I thought aboutit, the better I liked it.' "
She also believes that morebenefits for students are yet to come.
"What may be more important in thelong run are the discussions aboutpotential interdisciplinary classes andadvising that have already begun."
While saving money is not the pri-mary motive, the new administrativestructure will cost less than appoint-ing two additional full-time deans.Instead, Allen said an associate deanwill be appointed from within the fac-ulty of each of the three colleges.
The dean of the College of Sciencesand Mathematics, Dr. Hector Flores,announced in February that he wouldbe leaving ASU to accept a similar
position at Texas State University.The interim dean of the College ofEngineering, Dr. Rick Clifft, has beenserving in that capacity since thedeath of Dr. Al Mink.
"One of the main advantages of thisthree-college structure is the opportu-nity to build new interdisciplinaryprograms utilizing the intellectualresources of the three colleges,"Phillips said. "Another opportunitywill be capitalizing on the strengths ofeach college to help improve the othercolleges."
For example, he said engineering hasa strong assessment program; Sciencesand Mathematics has strong researchand graduate education programs;
UPDATE
Phillips to lead three colleges
Dr. Greg Phillips
15
and Agriculture has strong undergrad-uate instruction and service programs.
"By sharing the expertise of each col-lege in these areas of strength, allthree colleges should become strongerin all of these areas," Phillips added.
He also acknowledged that each col-lege has unique missions and disci-plines, so an associate dean in eachrespective college will help provideleadership.
"This will ensure that we focus on thepriorities of each collegeas we grow. Weanticipate that ouralumni and con-stituencies for eachcollege will continueto enjoy specializedattention and pro-gramming," Phillipscontinued.
Another aspect toconsider is the critical role the univer-sity plays in regional economic devel-opment.
"The university is responsible fordeveloping a well-trained workforce,and research at the university can bethe source of innovations to supportnew knowledge-based industries,"Phillips continued. "I look forwardto working with the faculty in thesethree colleges, in collaboration withABI and other campus units, to nur-ture economic development and com-munity development to the benefit ofArkansans."
Phillips said that meeting with busi-ness leaders and other clientelearound the state and region will con-tinue to be an important part of hiswork. This helps him to understandthe needs of the workforce and indus-
try environments, and to respondwith needed programming.
During the past few years, ASU hasmoved toward developing programsthat have an interdisciplinaryapproach. One of the first exampleswas the doctoral program in environ-mental sciences, through which facul-ty in the natural and physical sciencesoften work closely with agriculturefaculty.
More recently, the Arkansas HigherEducation Coordinating Board
approved a doctor of philosophy inmolecular biosciences degree programfor ASU. If approved by the HigherLearning Commission (HLC), it willbe ASU’s fourth doctoral degree.
This interdisciplinary doctoral pro-gram will involve several departmentsacross campus (chemistry, agriculture,biology and others), using moderndisciplines in applied science andresearch. Much of the research will befocused on plant biotechnology, par-ticularly researching plants for healthbenefits.
Another example is the new bache-lor's degree program in forensic sci-ence, which involves faculty from theColleges of Humanities and SocialSciences, and Sciences andMathematics. This interdisciplinaryprogram was approved by the ASU
Board of Trustees, and has been sub-mitted for approval by the stateHigher Education CoordinatingBoard.
Phillips holds a doctorate in philoso-phy in crop science with a major inplant genetics and breeding and aminor in plant physiology from theUniversity of Kentucky. He also com-pleted his undergraduate studies withhonors from the University ofKentucky.
Dr. Phillips came to ASU with morethan 20 years experience at NewMexico State University at LasCruces, where he served as professorof agronomy and horticulture, andwas the director of the interdiscipli-nary Molecular Biology Program.
He is the editor-in-chief of the jour-nal “In Vitro Cellular andDevelopmental Biology-Plant,” andalso serves as the editor of the journal“Plant Cell Report” and two otherpublications.
During his career, Phillips has securedapproximately $6 million in researchfunding through national, interna-tional and regionally competitivegrants.
The Foundation News is published twiceyearly by the division of UniversityAdvancement at Arkansas State University.We welcome your ideas about the ways inwhich we might better serve you with infor-mation about Development project high-lights, or about information related toopportunities for charitable giving to theASU Foundation.
Call or write to us with you commentsand suggestions. You may write to DianaMonroe, University Development, ArkansasState University, P.O. Box 1990, StateUniversity AR 72467, call toll-free at 1-888-225-8343, or send email to [email protected]
"I look forward to working with the fac-ulty in these three colleges, in collabora-tion with ABI and other campus units, tonurture economic development and com-munity development to the benefit ofArkansans."
-Dr. Greg Phillips
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July
5 Independence Day holiday27-29 Summer Children’s Theatre, various performances, Fowler Center Drama Theatre
August
5 Summer Commencement, 7 p.m., Convocation Center20 Watering Hole, 9 a.m., Residence Halls, (870) 972-2586 for more information22 Fall term begins
September
3 ASU v. Missouri @ Kansas City (home game), 11 a.m. (Alumni Tailgate before game)5 Labor Day Holiday5-10 Paint the Town Red10 ASU v. Tennessee-Martin @ Jonesboro, 6 p.m., Faculty-Staff Appreciation Day,
Legislative Day, Honor 1975 Undefeated Football team, Paint the Stadium Red Day17 ASU v. Oklahoma State @ Stillwater, 6 p.m., Chamber of Commerce Goodwill Tour23 Tom Tiratto Concert, 7:30 p.m., Riceland Hall, more information at http://support.astate.edu24 ASU v. Florida Int’l @ Jonesboro, 6 p.m., Family Day, Band Day
October
1 ASU v. Louisiana-Monroe @ Monroe, 6 p.m., Travelin’ with the Tribe-Tailgate before game7 Quarterly Report10 Mark O’Connor, 7:30 p.m., Fowler Center Series, Riceland Hall15 ASU v. Louisiana-Lafayette @ Jonesboro, 6 p.m., Scout University, Take-a-Kid to the Game Day 20 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition, 10th Anniversary, Bradbury Gallery21-23 Homecoming—for a list of activities visit http://www.astatealumni.org22 ASU v. Florida Atlantic @ Jonesboro, 6 p.m., Homecoming25 Brazilian Guitar Quartet, 7:30 p.m., Fowler Center Series, Riceland Hall
November
5 ASU v. Middle Tennessee @ Murfreesboro, 4 p.m.12 ASU v. Troy State @ Jonesboro, 2 p.m., Senior Day19 ASU v. Army @ West Point NY, noon24-25 Thanksgiving holidays26 ASU v. North Texas @ Denton, 1 p.m.
December
4 Holiday Spectacular, 2 p.m., Riceland Hall, Fowler Center12 Three Irish Tenors, 7:30 p.m., Fowler Center Series, Riceland Hall16 Fall Commencement, 7 p.m., Convocation Center
Upcoming Events
Let Tom Tiratto and his orchestra takeyou on a stroll down memory lane withhis fabulous tribute to the man we knew
as ‘Old Blue Eyes.’ For ticketinformation, you may visit our websiteat: http://support.astate.edu/tiratto.htm
or call (870) 972-3940 or888-225-8343.
Proceeds will support educationaland professional developmentopportunities for ASU faculty.
Friday, September 23, 20057:30 P.M.
Fowler Center Riceland Hall
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