fall magazine 2014 web

Strategic Plan to guide future | Malone earns prestigious endorsements | Women’s Cross Country wins All-Ohio

Fall 2014

Catch the vision for the future of Malone University

We’re Going…Where

Campus News

Pioneer swim teams earn academic honors

Swimming

{2} Malone Magazine | Fall 2014

Malone’s men’s and women’s swim teams each achieved

Team Scholar All-America status. The men’s 3.32 team

GPA ranked fifth in the nation in all divisions!

See page 42 for more information. photo by Andy Smith

SmartSwimming

Malone Magazine | Fall 2014 {3}

Volume 16 | Number 1

On the cover:Junior Hannah Galehouse works in

Malone’s Chemistry lab. See page 20 to learn about Malone’s Strategic Plan, which includes a

dream to create a first-rate science facility.

Tradition of Friends

Jerry Wenger ’77 and Tom Showalter ’91 (pictured above) | These Friends pastors were transformed by their years at Malone and urge other Friends pastors and families to consider Malone in their college choice.

Growing Leaders to Shape Lives

Beth (Altomare) Scheller ’93 | is vice president of strategic advancement at the YMCA of Youngstown and has encouraged a number of her employees to complete their degrees through Malone’s accelerated degree-completion program.

A Colorful Journey

Kelly Vrooman ’04 | has found joy in her colorful journey on stage, behind the camera, and in the spotlight as she advances in her acting, directing, and writing career.

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Feature Stories: Where We’re Going … Catch the vision for the future of Malone University

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M A G A Z I N E

President’s Message

Learn more about our strategic plan that will ensure the vibrancy, viability, and visibility of Malone for future generations.

Feature: Where We’re Going …

Strengthening our mission as we continue to transform the lives of students

Academic Feature

How a strategic plan enables the University to grow in mission, in service, and its place in the Kingdom

Campus News

Learn about new honors and designations bestowed upon Malone, as well as other wonderful things happening on campus.

Alumni News

Class Notes, Future Pioneers, Weddings, Mystery Alum, Homecoming

Athletics News

Women’s cross country claims All-Ohio title; How Athletic Director Charlie Grimes integrates his faith into athletics; swim team earns Academic All-America designation

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Tools of the Trade. Malone alumni have stepped forward into the world to follow their dreams in numerous venues throughout the world, whether on national television, health and wellness programs at a YMCA, or as pastors ministering to the Church. These alumni represent just a few of the many who continue to further Malone University—and Christ’s Kingdom.



Where we’re going. Only three words, but with profound meaning. In recent issues of Malone Magazine we’ve explored “What we do” and “Who we are.” Reaffirming our identity as a Christian University and thinking carefully about our impact on the church and society spurred many positive comments from alumni and friends.

In this issue we focus on the direction of the institution. A promising pathway created by a rich and distinctive history forged by those who came before us. That history, reflected in part by our motto of Christ’s Kingdom First, remains central to our mission and shapes our presentation to the world. These are challenging times in higher education, particularly in Northeast Ohio. A declining number of high school students and a public suspicious of the value of a college degree are factors which require an institution to operate with a compelling and easily understood identity.

We are navigating these waters equipped with a new strategic plan (see page 20), the result of a comprehensive and inclusive process that sought to identify specific strategies for the university to remain vibrant, viable, and visible for years to come.

Strategic plans that bring about transformational change need to be implemented by people who are committed to the university and each other. Malone is blessed with great people. You can read more about some of those people in this issue.

During the past three years, Winnie and I have relished our opportunities to develop relationships with those who have made Malone such a remarkable place. People like Jack Hazen and Jacci Stuckey Welling. Jack, our longtime cross country coach, was honored during Homecoming as the recipient of the Earl Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award for 48 years of extraordinary service. Jacci, professor of history and a 1977 graduate of Malone, was honored as the Alumna of the Year in recognition of nearly a lifetime of service to the University as a staff member and now member of the faculty. Both are extraordinary ambassadors for Malone and have impacted many lives.

Who will be the next Jack Hazen and Jacci Welling? Who will we honor 50 years from now?

It’s heartening, and helpful, to remind ourselves that the decisions we make today will shape the experience and opportunities for those called to follow in our footsteps as guardians of Malone University.

Warm regards,


M A G A Z I N E

EditorsAmber Balash ’[email protected]

Suzie [email protected]

DesignerDave Yakley ’[email protected]

Staff PhotographerAngela Fleischer

Director of Alumni and Parent RelationsDeb Robinson ’76

Vice President for University Marketing and CommunicationsTimothy Bryan

PresidentDavid King, Ed.D.

Cover PhotoPeter Fingerpeterfingerphoto.com

PrinterHudson PrintingMacedonia, Ohio

Special thanks to Karen Warner for assisting with copy editing.

Malone Magazine is published two times each year for alumni and friends of Malone University, Canton, Ohio, 44709.

Opinions expressed are those of contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Malone University.

© 2014 Malone University. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Malone University has established a policy of equal academic and employment opportunity. This policy is applied to all qualified students, employees and applicants for admission or employment, in all University programs and activities, without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or military or veteran status.

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WhereWe’re Going…

In these pages, you’ll read about our strategic plan—the bold vision that lies before us. You’ll read examples of alumni who exemplify our goals—those that make Malone more visible, which builds our reputation. Those who make us more viable and improve our financial strength. And, those who are vibrant examples of how Malone transforms the lives of its students.

It’s no secret that many institutions have faced several years of challenge. Malone University is certainly no exception.

But in these challenges, Malone seeks to strengthen our mission, to hold ever more closely to that which makes us unique.

Thank you for all you do to help Malone continue its mission to provide an education based on biblical faith in order to develop men and women in intellectual maturity, wisdom, and Christian faith.


Since its earliest days, Malone University has trained Friends

pastors for ministry. The pastors often desire for the students in

their congregations to have the same kind of college experience

they did, so they encourage them to consider Malone.

TraditionFriends

of

photos by Todd Biss Photography – toddbiss.com


Feature

“I would not want to be anywhere else,” said nursing major Paige Showalter ’16, daughter of Rose (Vanio) ’94 and Tom Showalter ’91, pastor of Barberton Friends. “I have such a deep foundation of coming to Malone for Yearly Meeting my whole life and Malone is such a special place to me.”

Like her father before her, Paige is a resident advisor, and quite involved on campus.

“I especially love residence life,” she said. “The theme on our floor this year is about sharing our stories, so we just come together and learn about what Christ is doing in each of our lives. It’s really exciting to hear those stories.”

Tom is a person whose entire story changed at Malone.

“I transferred from somewhere else, so I’ve experienced what kind of difference a Malone education can make in a person’s life,” he said. “I came here to play basketball, and left as a pastor. I gave my life to Christ while here because I saw faith lived out— by faculty, staff, and fellow students in a practical way, not just a religious way.”

He remembers well the turning point of his experience.

“I had become a Christian, and declared my major as Christian ministries. But one night I was out with friends, and my best friend told me that he was losing respect for me because I called myself a Christian, but

partying just like he was,” Showalter said. “That was a transformational moment. I knew that I needed to change, and I did.”

For a while Tom and his friend grew apart as he tried to figure out what it meant to live a Christian lifestyle. But eventually, Tom was the best man at his friend’s wedding, and the friend is now also following Christ.

The Friends heritage also is critical to Tom, who recently earned a master’s degree from Barclay College, a Friends institution in Haviland, Kansas.

“If you look at the early history of the Friends Church, they simply saw needs and met them,” he said. “Meeting real life needs with a real live Jesus Christ—not a program or a religion—but a faith that is fleshed out, servant based, and outward focused. That’s what changes people’s lives.”

Jerry Wenger ’77, senior pastor of East Richland Friends, has had as many as 17 students at a time from his congregation attend Malone. He’s also the chaplain of the St. Clairsville High football team and tells players about Malone. He was an athlete himself: he played soccer for Malone all four years.

“Malone remains a special place to us—especially because of its Friends heritage. That’s what sets it apart,” said Wenger, who has served East Richland since 1988. His wife, Robin, is a 1st-grade teacher at East Richland Christian School, housed at the

“If you look at the early history of the Friends Church, they simply saw needs and met them. Meeting real life needs

with a real live Jesus Christ—not a program or a religion.”Tom Showalter ’91 on the Friends heritage that helps transform the lives of Malone students

A LASTING LEGACY. Paige Showalter ’16 says her Friends background makes Malone even more of a special place to her, as she’s been coming to the University her whole life for Yearly Meetings of the Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region.


Feature

FAITHFUL SUPPORTER. Jerry Wenger ’77 has encouraged Malone University for decades. At one time, 17 members of his congregation at East Richland Friends were attending Malone!

church. They have two children, Kara ’07 (also a Pioneer soccer player) and Seth.

Wenger said that many, many students have come to Malone from East Richland Friends —including those who have gone on to become pastors, teachers, missionaries, and more. The church offers practical support to students with $1,000 scholarships to Malone. Church members also serve as trustees: Wenger’s mentor, Wayne Ickes, pastor emeritus of East Richland Friends; and retired educator, Terry Magro.

Rick Sams ’75, senior pastor at Alliance Friends Church, is especially encouraged by Malone’s new pastoral ministry major.

“One way we encourage students to go to Malone is through the Alliance Friends

Ministry scholarship for those going into ministry,” said Sams. “And we now also have the Clarence Sekerak scholarship.”

Rick met his wife Joyce (McElroy) ’75 at Malone, and their children Katie Hertert ’02 and Eric x02 attended Malone.

The trio hopes that other Friends pastors will spread the vision of Malone University.

“I would encourage all friends pastors to be involved here, to send your kids here,” said Tom. “If it’s been a while since you’ve been around, get to know Malone again. Let’s raise up more Friends pastors and have even more of a presence here.”


Growing

When Beth (Altomare) Scheller ’93 interviewed

for a part-time job at the downtown Canton YMCA to lifeguard in the early mornings, she

almost gave her testers heart attacks.

She dove into the shallow end of the pool.

Leadersto shape lives

photos by Todd Biss Photography – toddbiss.com


Campus News

Growing


Feature

years to get back to finishing it, but I loved Malone. There were simple perks, like being able to park right outside of the building my class was in, to working with groups, learning about emotional intelligence and how to draw out people’s best gifts, to feeling like my faith mattered. In my early years I went to a secular university, and I got tired of getting beaten up, singled out, and graded down for talking about the most important thing in my life. So it was so meaningful to say when I

graduated that I both got an education and was able to grow in my faith.”

The program was also significant in helping her thrive in a job she loves.

“In my position, I get to work with members, registration,

hospitality, and I’m so happy to be here. Coming to work is like having Christmas every day,” said Keefer. “I wouldn’t be able to have this position if I didn’t have this degree. But here I get to give others opportunities—to make healthy choices, to live healthy lifestyles, to grow as human beings.”

Taylor was in one of the first hybrid programs to be offered—half online and half in the classroom.

“One of the most important takeaways for me was how to present myself professionally. As the preschool director, I’m now comfortable standing in front of people, training staff, running meetings, working with parents and the community,” Taylor said. “Also, while I was going through the program, my father-in-law was very, very ill. I would have never graduated if I hadn’t had the support of the faculty and my cohort. They had my back. I’ll never forget how I felt on graduation day—I was so proud of myself

“Beth is one of the most trusted people in my world,” said Keefer, member services director for the Davis Family YMCA. “I trust her leadership. I trust her heart for people. She’s the most authentic person I know. She has a way of challenging and pulling the best out of people. Beth is the one who encouraged me to go to Malone, and knowing I had to report my progress to her made me want to do my best.”

Beth was excited to help this quartet of women succeed.

“While working here at the Y, I see these fantastic, talented women with a lot of potential, but they are lacking their degrees,” said Scheller, who added that directors at the Y must have a bachelor’s degree—or agree to pursue one. “Malone’s management program started while I was a student, and so I encouraged these women to check it out. What I appreciate about it is that you can work, raise a family, have a life—and still earn your degree. And not just any degree, but a degree that these women will use in their everyday career here. It’s exciting to see my colleagues grow through this program.”

Keefer especially appreciated the fact that she could grow in—and not be belittled for—her faith while pursuing studies.

“I really enjoyed every aspect of earning my degree at Malone,” she said. “It took me 20

The folks in charge looked past the college student’s nerves and hired her anyway.

By the time Scheller was finished with her degrees at Malone (she earned a degree in communication arts, then stayed an extra year to earn secondary education licensure) the Y’s CEO asked her to be a program director.

“I said no, but he kept telling people that I was looking for a Y job,” Scheller said. “I was offered three different jobs at Ys, so I ended up taking one.”

Though she’s not using her teaching degree in a high school classroom, it’s a significant portion of her responsibilities to train leaders at the YMCA of Youngstown, and she also is a faculty trainer for the YMCA of the USA, where she trains trainers for the movement.

Scheller thrived in that first program director’s role, and eventually rose through the ranks to her current role as vice president of strategic advancement at the YMCA of Youngstown. Last year, Scheller was a nominee of the Athena Award, which honors professional women who have demonstrated excellence in their career, provided leadership in the community, and mentored or contributed to the growth of other professional women.

Scheller’s co-workers would heartily agree with this honor. In her role, she encouraged Juleen Keefer ’08 (M222), Adele Taylor ’08 (M227), and Tara Deagan Bishop x13 to finish their degrees through Malone’s accelerated degree completion program. Youth & teen coordinator, Nicole Murray, also just joined the program and will be promoted to a director once she is finished.

“So, everything we do here is about impactful work—not just about teaching

a skill or teaching a child to swim, but what are we teaching along with that?”

Beth (Altomare) Scheller ’93 on the value of the work she and her co-workers provide at the YMCA


Feature

for actually finishing. Holding that diploma in my hand was the best feeling.”

In addition to personal successes, the women are fulfilled by knowing they are making a difference in the lives of those in their community—and in Scheller’s case—the nation.

“The goal of the YMCA is to strengthen the foundation of our community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. So, everything we do here is about impactful work—not just about teaching a skill or teaching a child to swim, but what are we teaching along with that? Are we teaching them life skills? Character values? Are we teaching them teamwork? Whether that’s in the pool or upstairs in the fitness center, we’re really trying to make an impact on people’s lives; so to find a leader at the Y, they really need to be forward thinking,” said Scheller.

“This isn’t just about getting a task done or working on a specific problem or project, but it’s really about how we are impacting people’s lives. How are we making a difference? How are we helping our staff grow personally and our members grow? The work that we do every day … we provide services, we provide a lot of programs, but it’s really about changing lives and so we are developing leaders who can see the big picture, to develop the kids and the teenagers and the families that they’re working with, to show them that there are opportunities to grow and reach their full potential in every area of their lives—spirit, mind, and body.”

To learn more about the Youngstown YMCA, visit www.youngstownymca.org.

UNITED IN MISSION. Nicole Murray, Adele Taylor ’08, Juleen Keefer ’08, and Beth Scheller are proud of their Malone educations—and to be working for the YMCA, whose mission is to help individuals, families, and communities reach their full po-tential in spirit, mind, and body.


Colorful

photos by Erin Brown Thomas – www.workbyerinbrown.com

From living in a “duplex” canvas tent at Abbey’s Wigwam RV

Park in Seffner, Fla. (population 8,000), to riding atop a float at

the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade while starring in her own

children’s show on NBC, Kelly Vrooman has found deep gladness

in each step of her colorful journey since donning her cap and

gown on May 8, 2004.

Journeya


Feature

Vrooman, a vivacious actress, writer, and director, has an impressive résumé. Not only is she the star of The Chica Show, but she wrote nine of the episodes and was a host/joke writer for the syndicated radio network, 24–7 Comedy Radio. She’s appeared in international commercials for National Geographic, and national commercials for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Comcast, and PetSmart (among others). She has also appeared in numerous improvisation comedy shows and theatrical stage productions.

In fact, she was midway through the lead role of Sharpay Evans in Disney’s High School Musical in Philadelphia, when she received a call to audition for the original cast of The Sunny Side Up Show, the first national live program for preschoolers.

“My hair was all crazy and messed up from my role on High School Musical, so I just threw it into pigtails,” said Vrooman. “Fortunately, that tested really well with the preschool crowd.”

As the show evolved, so did Vrooman’s roles. She went on to puppeteer various characters on The Sprout Sharing Show and eventually wrote for and starred with a chicken puppet named Chica on The Chica Show on Sprout and NBC Kids as she continued performing comedy and writing.

Earlier this year, she traded her East Coast umbrella for the sun of Los Angeles. Almost immediately she was cast in the main company at ComedySportz and started performing improvised Shakespeare at the renowned iO West theatre. She even started her own production company, Jelly Man Productions, that produces comedic sketches. Her productions include a web series that combines her love of humor, puppets and kids. A special feature, Carseat Stories, includes funny short videos inspired by real conversations grown-ups have had with their kids while in the car. Subscribe to Kelly’s YouTube channel, “Jelly Man Productions” to see all the episodes.

“Sprout gave me the opportunity to do so many wonderful things—great characters,

content creating, writing, starring with Chica, directing, puppetry, so I thought, ‘Okay, let’s take everything I’ve learned and launch out—see what else is out there,” she said.

“When I was deciding whether to move to New York or L.A., I thought, ‘Hmmm, worst case scenario ... where can I be happier if I’m homeless,” she added with a laugh. “New York gets really cold, L.A. is always warm. Let’s go with L.A. ... but I’m not planning to live in a tent again, so that’s good.”

However, Vrooman has fond memories of her months at Abbey’s Wigwam RV Park.

“I had just gotten kicked out of Canada where I’d been cast in Tony & Tina’s Wedding at Second City, but couldn’t get authorization to work there ... Whoops. My bad. So I joined the cast of another show in Florida. I asked one of the actors, ‘where are they housing us?’ Turns out—nowhere. This cast member had a tent, we put up a divider,

Julianna Smith ’08 on the impact of her time in Egypt

and voila—home!” Vrooman said. “But that time was so wonderful —life changing even. I was living in this environment where almost nobody else held my religious views, and in fact, many of them had quite visceral reactions negatively to my Christian faith. In my last semester at Malone, I took a world religions course from Greg Miller that gave me the ability to hold intelligent conversation about various belief systems. I think those new friends at Abby’s Wigwam appreciated that a little Christian girl from central Ohio could engage in religious dialogue. They even celebrated Easter with me—some of them for the very first time.”

“We were such an odd combination of people,” she continued, “but there was God, pouring his love on me from really surprising, wonderful places.”

Vrooman said that her friendships from college continue to be some of her most meaningful relationships.

ON STAGE. Vrooman starred in many shows at Malone—starting with A Midsum-mer’s Night Dream, her freshman year, and including the unforgettable Smoke on the Mountain, Fiddler on the Roof, Sanders Family Christmas, Tartuffe.


Feature

SUPPORTING CAST. Kelly Vrooman comes from a long line of Malone alumni. She’s the daughter of Ronald ’79 and Kathy (Zehner) Vrooman ’77. Other relatives include Rita Vrooman, Constance Zehner, Ryan ’08 and Jen (Predieri) Vrooman ’08; Robert ’08 and Sara (Martin) Vrooman ’08; and Elizabeth Metz ’10.

“I took part in the Learning Cluster my first year, which meant that I went through a lot of the same classes with a lot of the same students and professors,” she said. “It was an amazing experience, in terms of having friends from all different majors who celebrated each other’s talents. And the professors were amazing. Honestly, something that Celia [King], Marcia [Everett], Andrew [Rudd], Tammie [McKenzie], or Jay Case said comes to my mind almost every day. It’s just a part of who I am. Here were these super smart Christians who weren’t afraid to ask questions, were always willing to fearlessly explore the tough stuff, and were filled with intentional grace, kindness, and curiosity. Because of their investment in me, I wasn’t

afraid to be with others who were so different from me.” Vrooman has sometimes asked herself if she would have been better off in her career had

she gone to a conservatory or drama school. She always comes back to the same answer. “Going to Malone prepared me for life as an actor—as a person out in a wonderful world of creativity and art that also can be really scary and incredibly judgmental. My life as an actor requires me to stand in front

“Malone prepared me to be a whole person who finds her worth outside of

the praise and criticism of others.”Kelly Vrooman ’04 on how her Malone education has prepared her for professional acting

of people while they essentially judge me. Malone prepared me to be a whole person who finds her worth outside of the praise and criticism of others,” she said. “In my senior

capstone class, we discussed a quote by Frederick Beuchner that explains vocation as where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need. Comedy is my deep gladness and fortunately for me, the world

desperately needs to laugh.”

To learn more about Kelly, visit www.kelly-vrooman.com


Academic Feature

The planning process started with a daylong kickoff event that invited participation from everyone at the University. Led by Tim Fuller from the higher education consulting firm, Credo, the launch meeting captured feedback on Malone’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities; and established the baseline of

priorities which were the focus for a Strategic Planning committee led by Provost Don Tucker.

“We identified far more initiatives than we could possibly focus on at one time, but we prioritized those efforts that would enhance the student

experience and contribute to enrollment growth,” said Tucker.

The approved plan, the final product of the planning process, was titled The Malone Experience: 125 and Beyond, reflecting the 125th anniversary in 2017 of the institution’s founding in 1892. Informed by the Foundational Principles and aligned with the mission and vision of the University, the plan has three strategic themes: Vibrancy, Visibility, and Viability.

“Those themes resonated with the campus community,” said King. “We defined vibrancy as those initiatives which reaffirm our commitment to fostering the intellectual and spiritual growth of our students.

In the book Surviving to Thriving, co-author Joanne Soliday noted “While strategic planning has its detractors, most recent research documents its many benefits. These benefits include promotion of strategic thinking, improved decision making, enhanced organizational effectiveness, and direct benefits to people involved, and this holds true for planning in higher education.”

Approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2013, the Strategic Plan for Malone University has proved to be a guiding document for all aspects of university operations. Shortly after his arrival in January 2012, President David King initiated the strategic planning process building off the momentum of a campus planning effort, a self-study, and a Higher Learning Commission re-accreditation visit.

“I knew before I arrived that we needed to initiate a planning process,” said King. “I wanted the process to be one that reflected a broad base of input and resulted in something that struck the right balance between aspiration and achievability. I wanted the plan to define the nature of our work, define our priorities, and set forth initiatives that were measurable so that we could be accountable to doing what we set out to do.”

Malonethe

Experience:125 and beyond

Strategic Plan will guide Malone into the future


Academic Feature

Visibility captures the many ways in which we are working to expand our institutional footprint and establish the University’s brand of education in the hearts and minds of our key constituent groups. To remain viable we must reaffirm our commitment to the University’s financial health by developing more efficient operations and evaluating all aspects of our work to ensure we are being good stewards of our resources.”

King, Tucker, and other university leaders have kept the strategic plan central to their work and decision making.

“We introduce and reintroduce elements of the plan back into our collegium decision making and with faculty and staff,” said King. “We work to keep connecting the plan to everything we’re talking about and everything we’re doing so that it is a lived document. Establishing metrics and revisiting the fundamental questions time and time again serves to drive us to be all about continuous improvement. That’s really the greatest value of the process and the plan; it has caused our community to be in a mindset where continually improving the student experience is the core of everything we do.”

Initiatives within the plan have already begun to bring about enhancements in university operations.

“There are several examples that speak to our desire to identify targets that were aspirational but achievable,” said King. “The improvement we’ve brought about in retention is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people on the Malone campus. There are several ways in which that progress has a relationship to elements of the strategic plan. It is heartening to see our planning efforts bring about measurable progress.

“Another example of the resulting action from the plan is the progress we’ve made in assessing the viability of academic programs. We’ve made some very important, very difficult, and very necessary decisions with regards to the sustainability of some programs. The framework of the strategic plan allowed us to collaborate around a shared goal

and make the best decision possible for the University.”

Implementation of the plan has also brought about changes in some more subtle, but revealing ways in day-to-day operations.

“Perhaps the best example of the extent to which we’re implementing the plan into our daily lives is the human resources action form,” said Tucker. “If you want to request a position, there is a drop down-box that asks you to justify the request in relation to the priorities within the strategic plan. It’s a small thing but a very visible way in which we are communicating that all our efforts need to be focused on our key objectives. These types of things remind us that we have a plan and we’re

called to be aligned with it.”

King has championed alignment with the plan and kept it in front of the campus community.

“In simple terms, the plan leads us to be continually working to improve the student experience, our visibility, and our financial health,” said King. “We’re using the implementation of the plan as a pivot point—an opportunity to operate differently and with a different mindset. If we can continue the progress we’ve made in the early stages of implementation, then we will have positioned Malone University favorably for the foreseeable future.”

Vibrancy

Viability

Visibility

Transforming our students

• Advancelearningoutcomes

• Alignresourceswithpriorities

• Developandnurtureastudent-centeredculture

Building our reputation

• Developmarketingfocusacrosscampusunits

• Establishandidentifyourbrandpromisewithallstakeholders

• Investinmarketingexpertise

Improving our fiscal health

• Diversifyandincreaserevenue

• Optimizereturnoninvestment

• Strengtheninfrastructure

• Maximizedata-drivendecisionmaking


Malone receives prestigious endorsementsMalone recently earned some impressive recognitions acknowledg-ing achievement in affordability, financial aid, career outcomes, and overall excellence.

Christian Universities Online released its list of the “Top 50 Most Affordable Christian Colleges in the U.S.,” with Malone ranking #30—the only Ohio institution to make the list.

As far as affordability in online options, the news gets even better. Top Degrees Online released its evaluation of the top 25 universities offering the best financial aid for online bachelor’s degrees, with Malone ranking #9 nationally—again, the only Ohio college or university to make the list. The ranking was re-affirmed when Washington Monthly released its “Best Bang for the Buck” list, with Malone recognized as one of a select number of colleges in America “that do the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.”

The news came soon after the University had been informed of Educate to Career’s rankings of more than 1,000 colleges and universities, analyzing which schools did the best job of improving the earnings and attainment of quality employment of their students. Malone ranks #48—in the top 4%—on that list.

For the tenth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Malone among the top Regional Universities in the Midwest in its September edition of America’s Best Colleges 2015.

College Choice, an independent, online publication established to help students and families find the right college, recently released its rankings, based on the results of a nationwide survey of college freshmen that focused on what was most important to students in making their college decision. Those factors included academic reputation, financial aid offerings compared to overall cost, and success of graduates in the post-college job market. Malone ranked #35 in the list of the top 50 institutions.

“There are many organizations and publications ranking colleges and universities these days,” said Tim Bryan, vice president for communication and marketing. “There is also a lot of debate about their value and how much families should pay attention to the rankings. I think this one is a little different and, perhaps, more meaningful because it is based on what students said mattered to them most during the college search. Third-party endorsements are important. They remind us that what we do is recognized beyond our community.”

The game of SLOTH: a community traditionOn Halloween night 2002, then-students Marc Fleagle ’04, Michael Leggett ’04, Ryan Walter ’04, Kevin Pike ’04, and Matt Repasky ’04 created a campus game now fondly known as “Sloth.”

That fateful night, PGB residents threw a football on the track field, which used to bear soccer goal posts. They kicked the ball into goals and attempted to block shots. They kept adding rules—such as only throwing the ball backwards—and invented a sort of tackle called a “wrap” for this soccer-rugby-football-kind-of-game and named for Repasky, whose nickname is “Sloth.”

“I was a freshman in 2005, and by this time, it had become a tradition on the floor to play Sloth every Friday afternoon at 4,” said Ryan Palmer ’06, Haviland resident director.

Sloth was a big part of Palmer’s experience as a student, including anniversary games that

Across Campus

CONTINUED COMMUNITY. The original Sloth group created a scholarship to encourage future classes of Malone students to carry on the tradition.

took place on Halloween night when alumni returned for games; and he enjoys keeping the tradition for new generations of students.

There is now a scholarship for Sloth players: the first $1,500 scholarships were presented in October.


Campus News

Answering the call to serve ‘the bigger world’Eight service-learning trips are planned for the 2014–15 school year, with destinations to Brazil, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Kenya, Romania, Thailand—and locally in Canton.

Malone is extremely intentional about the ways it serves. For both international and local destinations, the institution partners with hosts who have compassion, experience, and deep knowledge of the places to where groups are traveling. Trips are designed around students’ potential to learn, with service that addresses a practical need.

“Each trip this year is an exciting opportunity for Malone students to further develop their own life ‘story’ while learning of and engaging with the unique stories of people from other cultures,” says Ryan Donald, associate director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Engagement. “They will walk beside people who are in the process of changing the world and creating hope where previously there was none. We look forward to this experience shaping and igniting passion in our students and leaders to go out and make a positive difference.”

Leaders for 2014–15:

Brazil: Eb de Oliveira, professor of psychology and Shawn Campbell ’99, systems analyst, Information Technologies

Canton: Joey Frangos ’14

Ecuador: Sarah Hamsher, assistant professor of education

France: Steve Moroney, professor of theology, and Joel Daniel Harris ’04

Guatemala: Kris Biss, adjunct instructor of Nursing, and Ryan Donald

Kenya: Jay Case, professor of history; David Dixon, associate professor of journalism at Messiah College

Romania: Elizabeth Patterson Roe, associate professor of social work

Thailand: Stacy Utecht and Ryan Palmer ’09, resident directors

Emily Gahagan (pictured), a senior double major in intervention specialist and early childhood education, went to Ecuador with an education team this summer. “For me, the most meaningful aspect was the relationships I built with people in Ecuador—especially the kids. By the end, they had written notes to us in English, and my friends and I continue to pray for all of the kids we met,” said Gahagan. “Whenever I thought about teaching, I’d always seen myself in a rural setting, but my eyes have been opened, and I’m willing to go wherever. My trip showed me another side of the world and brought me out of a ‘bubble’ I’ve lived in. It made me open to thinking about the bigger world.”

New agreement establishes path-way from Tri-C to MaloneA new articulation agreement with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) will make it easier for students at Tri-C’s four Cleveland-area campus locations to matriculate and earn their four-year degrees at Malone University.

The agreement enables students from Tri-C to seamlessly transition to Malone in the following programs:

• General education – AA to BA

• RN to BSN

• AAS to BSE in Early Childhood Education

• AAB to BA in Accounting and Business Administration

• AA to BA in management studies (degree completion)

Tri-C ranks first in Ohio in the number of associates degrees awarded. The institution serves more than 60,000 students.

“We worked to establish a relationship that made sense for both institutions,” said Nate Phinney, dean of the College of Theology, Arts, and Sciences.

“Our focus was those programs that would allow a natural two years at Tri-C, plus two years at Malone pathway. The process initiated positive collegial relationships and laid foundations of mutual respect for our collective work in educating students.”

“They will walk beside

people who are in the process

of changing the world

and creating hope where

previously there was none.”Ryan Donald, Associate Director

of the Center for Cross-Cultural Engagement

To learn more about the service- learning program at Malone, visit www.malone.edu/ service-learning.


Campus News

Campus News

newsbriefs

Tour Malone from your phone, tablet, or computer!Enrollment studies have shown that students who visit a college campus are twice as likely to enroll as students who do not visit. In an effort to provide the opportunity to explore our campus to new populations of prospective students who live greater distances away, Malone has developed and launched a virtual tour.

The feature on Malone’s website (www.malone.edu/#virtualtour) provides visitors with an opportunity to see campus facilities and grounds through a guided walking tour, 360-degree panoramic photographs, videos, and photo libraries. During the tour, visitors have an opportunity to request more information, apply, and schedule a physical visit.

The Sax Man The Sax Man by Joe Siebert ’08 recently screened at Malone, with an opportunity for the audience to help get the film to be offered on Netflix.

Many visiting downtown Cleveland have encountered the iconic Sax Man—aka Maurice Reedus, Jr., an aging musician who has been playing on the streets for the past 20 years.

The Sax Man (the documentary) is an emotional journey through Reedus’ life, beginning with his childhood as the son of a Grammy-Award winning musician, through his days performing before crowded stadiums at the height of Motown, to today where he entertains on the streets of Cleveland. The film premiered at last year’s Cleveland International Film Festival where it was an award winner and has gone on to accumulate accolades and honors across the country.

Subscribe to e-mail news briefs and get a daily glimpse of exciting things happening on campusThe Office of University Relations now offers a news brief offered most weekday afternoons. Our RSS feed can be delivered directly to your email and provides a quick read (300 words) on news coming from the Malone campus.

Our efforts are focused on the way in which our environment fosters the intellectual and spiritual growth of our students, academic excellence, our commitment to experiential activism through service and hands on learning opportunities, how we define and celebrate community, and how the transformational nature of the Malone experience prepares graduates to live and work in a complex world. You can see some recent examples of our news briefs by visiting www.malone.edu/daily. You may also subscribe to the news briefs by emailing [email protected].

Residence hall chaplains extend spiritual development programResidence halls Woolman, Whittier, Fox (WWF), Penn, Gurney, Barclay (PGB), and Haviland are trying something new this year by providing halls with student chaplains.

Chaplains are Daniel Christy for PGB, Joshua Campbell for Haviland, and Katie Snyder for WWF. The

trio is mentored by University Chaplain, Randy Heckert, in a life group that discusses their visions for their buildings.

Snyder set up a prayer room in WWF designed for prayer, worship, and Monday night group prayer meetings.

Campus News

Tim Bryan named vice president for marketing and communications

Timothy A. Bryan was named vice president for University marketing and communications in July. Bryan formerly served as chief marketing officer and chief of staff at Hiram College, closing out a 26-year tenure that also included vice president for institutional advancement, assistant to the president

& coordinator of strategic planning, director of college relations, and public information officer. He has also served as a reporter for the Record Publishing Company in Stow and as a freelance writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

He holds a B.A. in communication from The University of Akron. Welcome, Tim!

“On Monday nights anyone is welcome to have prayer with me for the women in our building and Malone in general,” Snyder said.

Along with leading prayer, Snyder also created a devotional newsletter for the building, goes on occasional rounds with resident advisors to get to know her hallmates better, writes encouraging notes for residents, and decorates the halls with quotes and Bible verses.

Snyder said Colossians 3:1–2, which encourages believers to “seek the things above” encompasses the direction in which she wishes to lead the building this year.


Faculty News

Welcome!Chanda Rhodes Coblentz, comes to Malone this fall as instructor of Early Childhood Education.

Jesse Ayers, professor of music, has been awarded a 2014 Individual Artist Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council for his surround-sound concert story for mezzo-soprano and symphonic winds Rahab, and his work Flashbax, for concert band.

Jack Ballard, professor of music, is the 2014 “Oh My God, My Body, My Ears” (OME) 10-hour marathon concert ‘Call for Scores’ winner. His composition, Dances, is a piece for solo violin.

Jane Hoyt-Oliver, professor of social work, recently received notification a book she has been writing has been accepted for publication by ABC-Clio/PREAGER. The book is expected in print within a year.

Tammie McKenzie, professor of theatre, traveled to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) to produce the Sedona 24-Hour Theatre project. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Verde Valley and Sedona, Ariz., is a self-directed membership organization within Yavapai College that

unites retirees in a common pursuit “for the love of learning.” Participants included seasoned actors, directors, playwrights, set designers, musicians, and filmmakers.

Randi Pahlau has been approved as a Folger reader for the Folger Shakespeare Library. In addition, she was published in the British journal Harts and Minds, where she explored the theme of hospitality through food and words in Shakespeare’s comedy.

Jon Peterson was named Ohio State Fair Youth Choir Director.

Nate Phinney, dean of the College of Theology, Arts, and Sciences, is one of 32 administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a year-long Senior Leadership Academy. Individuals chosen for the program are administrators in higher education who have been identified by their institutions as having the potential for senior leadership positions in independent colleges or universities.

Lauren Seifert, professor of psychology, acted gratis as a peer-reviewer of manuscripts for journal publishers, including APA, Springer, PLOS, and Taylor & Francis/

Routledge. In addition, her review of a book on film and social psychology will appear in an upcoming issue of PsycCRITIQUES.

Scott Waalkes, professor of political science, gave a guest lecture on “Sovereignty, Identity, and Institutions in a Globalized World,” at the United Arab Emirates National Defense College on September 7, 2014.

Jacalynn Stuckey Welling was named Malone University’s Alumna of the Year.

Lora Wyss, professor of nursing, and Rosanna Hess, adjunct nursing faculty, published an article “Female Crew Leaders of Migrant Agricultural Workers” in the journal Streamline, Volume 20(2), Summer 2014. Wyss was also accepted for a poster presentation at the annual Clinical Nurse Specialist Conference, Celebrating APN Practice: Moving Forward. She will present: Using Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) with Mobile Directly Observed Therapy (MDOT) for the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis (LTBI ) in a Migrant Farm Worker.

Campus News

Summer Research Grants awarded

David Beer, assistant professor of political science, traveled to the University of Toronto to complete archival work on the Canadian classical historian Charles Norris Cochrane and plans to publish an edited volume of Cochrane’s shorter writings.

Kyle Calderhead, associate professor of mathematics, continued a project involving mathematics and visual art involving placing points inside a cube to create different photographic images.

Jason Courter, assistant professor of biology, continued research and writing a chapter titled “Optimizing Avian Conservations and Function in Agroecosystems using Growing Degree-days” to submit for publication in a competitive national science journal.

John Estes, assistant professor of English, continued his work-in- progress: a collection of short stories, tentatively titled Hovering: 100 Theological Fictions and a project translating the poems of early 20th century Spanish writer Miguel de Unamuno.

Malcolm Gold, professor of sociology, is in the final stages of completing work with the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) to research the experience of missionaries, church leaders and mission training institutions as well as individual members of a variety of congregations in relation to strategies, methods, and conceptions of mobilization. A draft of the book, Global Mobilization Research Project published by the WEA, is anticipated.

Eb de Oliveira, professor of psychology, is performing research examining the moderation of maternal empathy in observed mother-child cooperative problem solving. Preliminary results of the study were presented at the 15th Biennial Symposium in Brazil held in May 2014.

Karen Slovak, associate professor of social work, analyzed data for a manuscript on the attitudes, knowledge, and practices from case managers in regard to suicide and firearm assessment and intervention techniques being utilized with the elderly.


Campus News

College of Theology, Arts, and Sciences

Malone University has made a commitment to become an All-Steinway School.

All-Steinway School status is awarded to an institution directly by Steinway & Sons and is contingent upon 90% of the pianos owned by the institution being Steinway designed pianos.

Malone has 24 pianos that will be included in this program and will replace 19 of these with new Steinway pianos to earn the All-Steinway designation. The pianos will be placed in performance spaces, teaching studios, classrooms, and practice rooms. All pianos at an All-Steinway School must be kept in performance-quality condition.

“Becoming an All-Steinway School will offer a great number of positive benefits for the institution,” said Jack Ballard, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music. “It will greatly enhance the student experience, provide numerous opportunities to attract visitors to campus for Steinway performances, and serve as a strong motivator

Malone to become an All-Steinway Schoolfor prospective students to choose Malone. Steinway has such a strong brand and is associated with excellence in music. Aligning with Steinway brand will enhance Malone’s reputation throughout the region.”

Funding for the initiative will be raised through an upcoming capital campaign, according to Stephen Weingart, vice president for university advancement. “We talked with Steinway representatives this summer, and they shared the great success other institutions have had in raising the funds necessary to attain All-Steinway School status. The Steinway brand is so strong

that frequently the effort brings new donors into a relationship with the institution.”

Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853. Each Steinway piano is handcrafted and takes a year to build. Other Ohio All-Steinway Schools include Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.

GET INVOLVED. Call the Advancement Office at 330.471.8235 to see how you can contribute to the All-Steinway effort at Malone.

Malone is the first university in Stark County to offer the groundbreaking new technology of the Makerbot 3D printer. 3D printing is the process by which a computer makes something layer-by-layer from a 3D design (computer) file. “This teaches [students] to visualize in 2D and experience in 3D; allow[ing] creativity in a new and

exciting way,” said adjunct instructor Li Hertzi. “Our students will be prepared to participate fully in the new technology. We live in an ‘innovation’ society; our students are going to have to be extremely flexible and creative as they move through their professional lives.”

Art students explore 3D printing


Campus News

Two very different departments—creative writing and computer science—teamed up to write and program video games.

Creative writing students in the fiction writing class took on the project of designing and writing the story for the game, while computer science students programmed the game in which they will bring the writers’ games to life.

“It has been a very stretching experience, but at the same time it has been a positive thing to be able to move out of the stereotypes of what a creative writing major is ‘supposed to’ do,” said sophomore Kathryn McKenna.

John Estes, assistant professor of English and the fiction course instructor, said the project was born out of a desire to demonstrate to students the wider applicability of good storytelling, beyond traditional literary fiction.

“We are surrounded by and shaped by stories of all kinds, of course,” Estes said, “and my hope was this assignment would challenge students to tell a compelling, character-driven story within a medium at once new and familiar. It’s been an instructive exercise in collaboration as well as an example to them of how various limitations can catalyze the creative process.”

Instructor for the computer science course is Adam Klemann, support and infrastructure manager of Malone’s Information Technologies Department.

“This interaction between the programming course and fiction-writing students provides a great opportunity for students to learn not only how to program and to write, but also to collaborate and interact, bringing ideas to fruition together,” he said. “We get excited about projects like this. It is but one possibility when pursuing a liberal arts education like what Malone provides its students.”

Computer science and creative writing students collaborate to design video games

“Partnering with a class in a different major is an

interesting and enriching experience.”Bryce Schmidt, junior creative writing major

Bryce Schmidt, a junior creative writing major, said he looks forward to more projects like this.

“Partnering with a class in a different major is an interesting and enriching experience, and I am excited to see where different creative fields can intertwine in the future,” said Schmidt.

COLLABORATION. Creative writing and computer science majors teamed up to write and design video games that they’re looking forward to playing.


Campus News

School of Business and Leadership

Pioneers are finding themselves at the top of their game, thanks to a simulation activity with college participants from around the globe.

Jack Harris, professor of business administration, is using a sophisticated online simulation called “GLO-BUS” in his senior-level Strategic Management class, in which participants run a digital camera company in the global marketplace, selling to retailers in Europe-Africa, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Students make all decisions about the products in terms of quality, functionality, production, and marketing. They determine wages, benefits, bonuses, and incentives for the production teams.

In Harris’s course, one of his groups tied for 32nd out of more than 1,000 teams nationwide.

Harris was notified by GLO-BUS management about the team’s top 100 ranking in an email that read, “You should be quite proud of your students for such an excellent performance—a performance that reflects quite well on you and the caliber of instruction that students are receiving in your course.”

The following week, the team tied for 14th, and had climbed to 12th place internationally at press time.

“The high ranking is the result of previous courses in accounting, finance, marketing, operations, ethics, and international

Business students thrive in world market simulation

Adult students can now earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees more quickly.

Students with some college are now able to complete a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and then earn a master’s degree in organizational leadership (MAOL). The entire process—which takes only two to three years—is possible by applying earned credits from the undergraduate degree to the graduate degree, saving time and tuition costs.

“The transition back to college can be challenging for a working adult,” said Dennis

Kincaid, professor of business and director of the MAOL and MBA programs. “We have developed a way to smooth that transition while clearing the way for an advanced degree.

New offerings for adult students: combined bachelor’s & master’s program; business accounting major

business, all being used as they determine the strategic directive for their company in the simulation,” said Harris. “I am pleased with the success of the students and the opportunity for them to show what they have learned in their time at Malone.”

Students will especially like the fact that they can proceed through the classes as one cohort, achieving the goal together.”

A new major, business accounting management, is now available in the accelerated bachelor’s degree-completion program to meet high demand for capable accountants in the corporate world. Students will gain the necessary skills to perform such duties as bookkeeping, payroll, auditing, tax return preparation, and accounts receivable.

Call the School of Business and Leadership at 330.471.8550 for more information.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD. Malone’s business students are competing successfully on a world stage via an online simulation called “GLO-BUS.”


Campus News

School of Education and Human Development

Malone and Plain Township Parks launched a pilot academic program for preschoolers facilitated by teacher candidates from Malone’s early childhood education track.

The classes, held at a Plain Park facility, help preschoolers develop skills in reasoning and problem solving, data analysis, inquiry, math, language and comprehension, and life sciences. “It gives kids a real education-based experience and offers them a jump start in a very measurable way,” said Rob Steinberg, director of Plain Parks. “It is exciting to partner with Malone, because Malone has always taken the extra step to better the community. The reputation of the [education] program is second to none.”

Rhoda Sommers, dean of the School of Education and Human Development, is excited about the impact on Malone students. “How wonderful to be able to offer this kind of practical experience to our teacher candidates,” she said. “They become that much more ready to step into the classroom, and our community’s young learners get off to a great start. Everyone wins.”

Malone launches pilot pre-K program with Plain Parks

The Dominion Foundation awarded Malone $20,000 to help fund programs that help prepare students for technical positions in Ohio’s growing energy production and other industries. Malone’s Learning of Earth’s Absolute Potential (LEAP) program involves training undergraduate science students to receive hands-on experiences in environmental sciences and to then serve as guest instructors in Canton City Schools.

Pre-service education students will be doing in-depth science inquiry in forestry, aquatic study, geology, and crop cultures.

The grant will have a significant impact on science education students.

“In doing the scientific method and hands-on, minds-on inquiry in one

area of the sciences, teachers can transfer that knowledge to other areas and apply it to their teaching,” said Nancy Varian, director of the School of Education and Human Development’s Center for Professional Development. “One of the reasons this project is unique is that college students will

Dominion Foundation awards Malone $20,000 science education grant

LIVING SCIENCE. The children of Jason ’02 and Suzi (Jeren) Lantz ’00 play with their friends at Schneider Community Park in Plain Township. Malone and Plain Parks are teaming up to launch a preschool program.

“In doing the scientific method and hands-on, minds-on

inquiry in one area of the sciences, teachers can transfer that

knowledge to other areas and apply it to their teaching.”Nancy Varian, director of the Center for Professional Development

learn their topic through experimentation and discovery and share that knowledge with their classmates. In turn some of these university students will share their new knowledge with high-school science students, and they will then work with elementary students. The outreach is far reaching as new friendships and connections will be made across the age levels.”


Campus News

School of Nursing and Health Sciences

When Stephanie Vaughn began her freshman year at Malone this Fall as a nursing major, she already felt comfortable.

One of the first graduates of GlenOak High School’s Advancement to Nursing Program, Vaughn had taken psychology classes with professor David Entwistle, participated in clinicals at Mercy Medical Center, ridden in ambulances with patients, earned a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) certification from the Ohio Department of Health, and worked nearly 80 hours a week at the Canton Regency as a nursing assistant.

“I felt really well prepared for both college and work,” said Vaughn, who also works at Canton Christian Home as a nursing assistant. “I love my patients and find it rewarding to help them with their daily needs. Some of my patients have become like grandparents to me.”

Director of the Advancement to Nursing Program Peggi Johnson ’96, designed the

Malone partners with Plain Local Schools to prepare high school students for nursing studies

curriculum, which incorporates Malone’s nursing support courses as a dual enrollment opportunity. Johnson has experience in critical care nursing, vaccine research, acute and chronic dialysis, nursing management, nurse education, and school nursing.

The dual enrollment program allows juniors and seniors to earn both high school and

college credit through a Post-Secondary Options Program (PSEOP).

“I’ve really enjoyed developing the curriculum and the classes,” said Johnson. “This is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. I am honored to be part of this amazing program.”

Amy Ford, a Community & Public Health Promotion major, was selected for the National Students with Diabetes Internship program, a competitive program designed to develop and train undergraduate and graduate students living with Type 1 Diabetes to become leaders in the diabetes community. Ford spent the summer interning with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) based in New York City. She worked with JDRF’s National Outreach Team in New York City, where she assisted with various programs, social media advertising, and general fundraising. View her blog at www.amyandthebigapple.wordpress.com. Amy also had her first article published at Insulin Nation, a website for the diabetes community.

Ford completes prestigious summer internship

“I felt really well prepared for both college and work.”Stephanie Vaughn, freshman nursing major and graduate

of the Advancement to Nursing Program

TRAINING FUTURE NURSES. Peggi Johnson ’96 directs the Advancement to Nursing Program at GlenOak High School.


Campus News

CLASSnotes

1960sTim Jolly ’69 and his wife, Patty, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in Rome, Italy, where they renewed their wedding vows. Tim is the president of Tim Jolly Insurance in Fairlawn. He is an independent insurance agent for home, auto, business, life, and health insurance. The cou-ple lives in Akron.

1970sMargaret “Peggy” Hothem ’71 received the distinction of professor emeritus at Gordon College where she taught recreation and leisure studies for 34 years. She retired in 2013.

Martha L. Mooney,’74, DVM, has been named the recipient of the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Ohio Animal Health Foundation (OAHF), during the Midwest Veterinary Confer-ence (MVC) in Columbus.

Deb (Stocking) Beer ’76 served as modera-tor for the annual business meeting of the Church of the Brethren in Northern Ohio. As moderator she presided over the business of 47 churches in the district and planned three worship services, including preaching on Sunday morning. The theme for the conference was “Dwell on These Things” taken from Philippians 4:8.

1980sShelley Urey ’82, ’13 earned an M.A. degree in education for clinical counseling in December 2013. She is an outpatient therapist with Cole-man Behavioral Health.

Kathy (Stanley) Husk ’83 and her husband, Tim, work with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Tim and Kathy were home in the United States and attended the Alumni Cof-fee Break at the Goodwill Campus in Canton in September. Their son, Michael, is a sophomore biology major at Malone.

Alan Fox ’85 and his daughter, Rachel ’16, led the invocation at the Homecoming worship service. Rachel is a co-director of Spiritual For-mation. Another daughter, Mary ’18, also took part in the service as a member of the Univer-sity Chorale. Alan is a Mathematics teacher with Perry Local Schools and is married to Deborah (Krichbaum) ’91, BSN. Deborah is a wound and ostomy nurse at Mercy Medical Center. The family lives in Alliance.

Ruby (Rivera) Gibbons ’88 is chaplain with Ohio Mental Health Addiction Services at Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare. Ruby was also named Emerging Leader of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter Region 8. Ruby has earned an M.A. in education in Christian counseling, an M.S. in social administration, a B.A. in social work, and a B.A. in theology.

Get Malone Alumni

Events and Trips Info!

Add your email address at

Malone.edu/alumni


Alumni News

Deb Robinson ’76

“There’s a D.U. tonight after church! Are you going?” my friend asked. I was new to the youth group and had no idea what a D.U. was, but from the excitement in her voice I was pretty sure I wanted to go.

After church the youth piled into cars and headed out of the city. When I asked where we were going everyone in the car stopped talking and looked at me as if I had asked a ridiculous question. “It’s a D.U.,” they said, “we won’t know until we get there.”

We arrived at a farmhouse out in the country. In the back yard we could see a roaring bonfire and a table piled high with hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting. I had a great time enjoying the food, games, and stories under a beautiful fall moon.

I learned that “D.U.” means “Destination Unknown.” But it was only an unknown to me and the other youth. It was not an unknown for the people driving or the hosts whose yard and home were about to be invaded.

My Malone experience in the 1970’s impacted me deeply and prepared me to head out again to a destination unknown. Imagine my surprise when, in July 2000, the next stop on my journey was back to my alma mater. Our oldest son was already attending Malone, and our daughter was headed there in August. What a joy it has been to observe the transformation of all three of our children during their years at Malone.

Providing a transformational educational experience of academic excellence, community service, and spiritual formation is at the core of Malone’s Strategic Plan. Our faculty members are outstanding scholars who, along with our staff, have dedicated their lives to love, instruct, and mentor our students.

We know where we are going and we are grateful for your partnership. Your support—in prayer and in giving—is a vital part of the preparation and launching of the next generation of servant leaders out from Malone into adventures and destinations unknown. Thank you!

From the Director of Alumni & Parent Relations


Alumni News

1990sLaurie McClellan ’94, M69, is chairman of the board at Consumers National Bank, a bank that was founded by her father, Romain “Bud” Fry, and other Minerva businessmen. She has served as chair since 1988 and is also director of investor relations.

Michael Medure ’95 has been the principal at Franklin Elementary school in the Massillon City School District for the past six years and was a finalist for Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators Distinguished Principal Award. Medure was honored to be nominated by his staff who consider him to be an excellent role model and appreciate his commitment and dedication to students and families.

Scott Hyland ’96 has been promoted to direc-tor of marketing for The Davey Tree Expert Co. In 2003, Hyland joined Davey and has since worked in numerous corporate communications and mar-keting capacities. He has been responsible for di-rect response strategy, internet marketing and dig-ital programs, including company websites, email marketing, mobile and paid organic search initia-tives. Scott is married to Dawn (Crilow) ’97. The couple has two children, Anderson and Jill.

Shannon Gillespie ’97 has been hired as a full- time nursing instructor at ITT Technical Institute in Akron. She lives in Massillon.

2000sJarod Nottingham ’03 is Fuel Procurement Manager at Kenan Advantage Group, Inc. of Canton and volunteers as the PTO President for Avondale Elementary School. He is married to Jaime (Anderson) ’03, and they have three children, Bree, Reese, and Dax.

Keegan Spera ’03 is a manager of shelter re-search and development at the national ASPCA, working remotely in Charleston, S.C. She gradu-ated with honors from Gonzaga University with a master of arts in leadership and communication in 2012. Keegan is also the owner and photogra-pher of Keegan Spera Photography. She lives in the Charleston area with her husband, Eric and their three rescued fur-children.

Andrew Griffin ’04 has been promoted to su-pervisor at Hall, Kistler & Company LLP. Griffin joined the company in 2004 after receiving a bach-elor of arts in accounting and business administra-tion. He practices in the areas of accounting, audit and tax for clients in the oil and gas, manufactur-

ing and distribution, and wholesale industries as well as other closely held companies. He serves on several firm committees including the oil and gas and audit and accounting committees.

Ryan Blodgett ’05 is an outbound sales specialist for Wells Fargo in the Greater Min-neapolis-St. Paul area. Previously, Ryan was an experiential marketing professional with Mosaic Sales Solutions where he consistently achieved campaign bonuses by exceeding quotas on both short- and long-term activations. At Malone, Ryan was president of the student body for the 2004–2005 academic year.

This past summer, Alex McMahan ’07 studied traditional ecological knowledge of the Makushi and the potential of local wisdom to guide conservation initiatives in the South American country of Guyana. Alex, a teacher at Stow-Munroe Falls High School in Stow, took the graduate course in pursuit of his master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program.

Erin Brown Thomas ’07 was awarded Best Documentary at the 2014 Canton Film Festival for her work, “Wildman Athletica” which can be viewed at www.wildmanathletica.com.

Barbara Potts ’08, M218 graduated from Kent State University with a Master of Library and Information Science and was hired at Lib-erty University as a research assistance librarian.

Joe Siebert ’08 screened his award-winning film The Sax Man at the 2014 Canton Film Festival. The full-length documentary was the featured film and a highlight of the event. Joe is currently working to secure music rights for the film to receive wider distribution, including Netflix. For more information, visit saxman-movie.com.

Jerome West ’08 earned an associate’s de-gree in human social services from Stark State in 2006. He earned a bachelor’s degree in or-ganizational management at Malone and dual master’s degrees in religious education and counseling at Liberty University. Jerome is tak-ing doctoral classes at Capella University. Pro-fessionally, he has served as a mental health case manager, teacher, youth pastor, adjunct profes-sor, and wrestling coach. His career goal is to be president of a community college.

Shauna (Kemp) Barham ’09 is working in the intensive care unit at Unity Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. She has completed and passed the CCRN exam, a national certification for critical care rec-ognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Shauna and her husband, Benjamin, live in Brockport, N.Y. with their daughter, Sophia.

2010sKathryn Duffey ’09 studied key species re-introduction efforts of the great steppe in Mon-golia during the summer of 2014. Kathryn lives in Canton and took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami University’s ad-vanced inquiry program.

Lydia Carmany ’10 is the development and marketing coordinator at Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, which provides at-risk public school students with adult mentors and connects them to community organizations that help them to stay in school and achieve in life. Lydia graduated with a B.A. in liberal arts from Malone. She is married to Aaron Ensweiler, a film executive, and has a dog named Harvey.

Dishon Kamwesa ’10, was named a 2014 Cameo of Caring Recipient for Mercy Medical Center for providing exceptional nursing care.

Alyssa Pearson ’10 is an MFA candidate and adjunct instructor for the Film and Media Arts Center for the Arts at Temple University. Alyssa recently secured a grant from the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Foundation to produce a short film about a female war veteran struggling with PTSD, reintegration, and adapting back into daily life. The film is based on her mother’s experiences when she served as a sergeant in Operation Desert Storm. Alyssa has launched a kickstarter campaign for the project at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/alyssampearson/pieces-and-pieces.

Amy Moore ’11 was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Scholar from The University of Akron.

Tyler ’11 and Anne (Bennington) Schrock ’11 are doing a year of voluntary service through DOOR Denver. Both will be working at nonprof-its/social justice organizations and living in an in-tentional living community.


Campus NewsAlumni News

Damaris Murphy ’12 is an elementary inter-vention specialist at Lima City. This past year, she was a 7th- and 9th-grade intervention specialist with Canton City Schools.

Elizabeth Reynolds ’12 is a nurse with Grand Valley Local Schools in Orwell. She received the 2014 Susan Kramer Excellence in School Nurs-ing Award for her outstanding work with children dealing with diabetes. Elizabeth also is a nurse during the summer at Camp Ho Mita Koda, the nation’s oldest ongoing camp for children with diabetes and a program of Diabetes Partnership of Cleveland.

Hannah (McCormish) ’12 and Timothy Se-rafino ’13 are English teachers in Seoul, South Korea. They teach at a private academy for chil-dren ranging from preschool–6th grade.

Amber Bourcier ’13 is completing an intern-ship at Suburban Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medi-cine, as a patient & family liaison. This is a final component of her course work for a master’s de-gree in public health (MPH).

Josh Kern ’13 is a school counselor at Canton South High School. Josh was just elected to be president-elect of the Stark County School Coun-selor’s Association next year for 2014–2015. He will then serve as president 2015–2016.

Alex Pavlic ’13 has been named a national fi-nalist in the international Great American Song Contest. Alex ranked 17th out of 1,600 entrants from around the globe for his original work Bal-loon Ride. Hear it at www.newbachmusic.com.

This past summer, Elizabeth Unger ’13 stud-ied what it takes to save species in the wild and engage with local partners developing and testing site-specific methods of community engagement to sustain ecological and social health in Hawaii. Elizabeth, who lives in Akron, took the graduate course in pursuit of a master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program.

Eric Wilson ’13 is the Owner and Head Coach at Cuyahoga Falls CrossFit. Eric is a CrossFit L-1 Trainer, CrossFit Football Trainer, CrossFit Strongman Trainer and the Co-Owner and Of-fensive Coordinator for the Summit County Storm Minor League Football Team in Akron. He majored in exercise science and played football at Malone. Learn more at www.cuyahogafallscross-fit.com

Naomi Bosler ’14 works at First Christian Day Services in Canton as direct care staff.

Cordell Coblentz ’14 is the associate opera-tions coordinator for The Reckoning Internation-al and Forest of Hope. These nonprofit ministries are working to overcome poverty with opportu-nity. Through micro-loans, business training, and development initiatives, they have pioneered successful economic development projects in im-poverished areas of Central America, Ukraine, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.

Tyler Light ’14 is a professional golfer, spon-sored by Millwood, Inc. Light is currently par-ticipating in the National Golf Associations NGA Professional Golf Tour. Overall, he is in the 32nd position for the Pro Series 2014. He earned a bachelor of arts in business administration at Malone and was a standout on the Pioneer golf team. Tyler lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

David Limbaugh ’14 graduated with a degree in middle childhood education and has been hired by the Plain Local School District as an 8th-grade science teacher at Oakwood Middle School in Canton.

Jared Messer ’14 is a pitcher with the Kansas City T-Bones. After the Washington Nationals picked Messer in the 38th round of the 2012 June Amateur Draft, he did not sign, but opted to fin-ish his collegiate career and earned a bachelor of arts in Exercise Science. A Pioneer starter in his last season, Messer went 6-4 with a 2.70 ERA, four complete games, two shutouts, 66 strikeouts and 18 walks in 76 2/3 innings.

Sarah VanVoorhis ’14 was named Social Work Student of the Year for NASW-OH, Region 8.

Christina Williams ’14 has accepted a full-time position at Akron Children’s Hospital as an RN. She was inducted into the Pi Chi Chapter of Sig-ma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society at Malone.

Cassie Hunt ’14 is serving with AmeriCorps and is assigned to the Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency’s Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) planning task force team. Cassie is currently in a 12-week training camp in Vicksburg, Miss., learning the ropes as a Health & Wellness Team Liaison & Service Learning Initiator in prepara-tion for a 17-week deployment.

When it comes to professional accomplishments, Jeremy Scott ’98 has an impressive résumé.

He’s worked on Capitol Hill. He was a legislative associate with Kinghorn & Associates, LLC, a gov-ernment consulting firm. He was legislative corre-spondent and staff assistant for then-U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (now Ohio’s Attorney General)—focusing on health issues. While at Malone, he worked at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, and after graduation he moved to D.C. to be an interpreter at Mt. Vernon, the Virginia home of President George Washington.

But the work he’s most proud of is his service as director of public policy for the national Tourette Syndrome Association, in which he spent six years

working to get Tourette Syndrome recognized as a disability, allowing children who have it to be able to get individualized education plans (IEP) and the ability to be in the classroom with their peers.

Scott is now senior vice president of the Dis-trict Policy Group, where he provides clients with strategic counseling policy and advocacy issues.

“I like that every day there’s something new in my job—it’s always different,” said Scott. “I enjoy working on Capitol Hill, and trying to make policy changes. You can’t change things all by yourself, but you can build a coalition to make change.”

From Malone to Capitol Hill: Jeremy Scott ’98 finds success

Jeremy Scott ‘98 (a Republican), and his wife Laura pose with United States Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill.


Alumni News

Alumni Executive Board President LaMar Wyse ’68

President-Elect Christopher Reuscher ’97, J.D. Past President Tawny Cowen-Zanders ’97

Secretary Les Widder ’75

Trustee Liaison Rod Neuenschwander ’99

Members-at-Large Paula Baker ’75 Deron Boring ’01, J.D. David Brookes ’63 Cindy Dorman ’00 Brett Fogle ’07 Holly Gartner ’99 Tammy Kaylor ’90 Daniel Kell ’99 Joyce Leedy ’66 Candice McDonald ’08, ’12 Rick Merrin ’86 Levi Miller ’68 Nicole Mosley ’10 Whitney Prather ’08 Keith Redmon ’88 Bryan Teague ’51 Kimberley Vandergrift ’91

Student Body President Michael Terry ’15

Young Alumni Community Board

President Quinn Parker ’11 President-Elect Andrew McNulty ’11

Past-President Whitney Prather ’08

Secretary Diane Ferritto ’07

Chaplain Sarah Eades ’05

mystery?alum

myster

Mystery Alum Contest

Are you able to identify this former Malone Homecoming Queen? The first correct responses will receive a Malone alumni shirt.

Send your answers to [email protected] or call 330.588.ALUM.

HomegoingsGeraldine O. Williams ’42 on October 7, 2014. Gerry was the wife of John P. Williams ’43, granddaughter of Malone University found-ers J. Walter and Emma B. Malone, daughter of Ruth Malone Osborne and former college Presi-dent Byron L. Osborne.

Gerry and John served as missionaries to China from 1947–48. They returned to the U.S. where they continued serving in pastoral ministry, college teaching, administration, and raising their expand-ing family. She cared for more than 60 foster chil-dren throughout her lifetime.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, John P. Williams; seven children and spouses—Andrew (Lesley) Williams of Canton, David ’84 (Carol ’83) Williams of Haviland, Kan., John Jr. ’67 (Carol ’67) Williams of North Canton, Mar-jorie ’89 (John) Oliver of Canton, Margaret Bergert ’71 (Michael) Hug of Massillon, Marilyn (David) Meeker-Williams of Houston, and Nancy ’68 (Paul ’65) Davidson of North Canton—as well as 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, many of whom are also Malone alumni.

Scott Gephart ’77 on June 24, 2014. Scott devoted 35 years of service as a teacher and coach, recently retiring from the Northwest School District. An athlete while at Malone (basketball, track & field), Scott was inducted into the Stark County Amateur Fumbleball and Slowpitch Halls of Fame. He is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Judy, and their two sons.

James David Ross ’86, MBA, ’98. James was employed by the Ohio Attorney General and was a Vietnam War Army veteran.

Cody Grabelsek x09 on August 31, 2014.

Dale Barton King on June 22, 2014. He is sur-vived by his wife Carlene Wooster King, and their daughter, Meredith King Riordan (Matt). Dale retired in 1995 as associate professor of English emeritus at Malone. His 24-year tenure included one year as an exchange professor at Hong Kong Baptist College.

Alumni News


Alumni News

October 10–11, 2014

MALONE UNIVERSITY

HomecomingROYALTY. Corina Newsome ’15 is crowned Homecoming queen by Julia (Barber) McDonald ’14; Brandon Petty was named king.

The rest of the court included: Freshmen Brittany Miller and Jordan Yoder; Sophomores Vanessa Penick and Jacob Bohrer; Juniors Hannah Kirkpatrick and Andrew Hill; and Seniors Thomas Kublin, Antonio Turner, Mariah Husted, and Brittany Wadel.

CELEBRATING GOOD TIMES. Alumni and former faculty enjoy the

Homecoming Festivities. Photos include Chris Abrams ’95, Daniel Kauffman

’94 and Sonji (Collisson) Gregory ’94; Lonette (Clinkscale) Baity ’04 with Future

Pioneer, Olivia; Malone’s first marching band director, Neal McMullian, and

his wife, Cathy, with former students Deanna Birch’98 and Karen Jones ’97.


Alumni News

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR: Honoring (left-right) Young Alumnus of the Year Beau Tiger ’04, Leadership Excel-lence Award Winner Kathy Catazaro-Perry ’99, Earl H. Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Jack Hazen, Graduate School Alumnus of the Year Leopoldo “Polo” Paredes ’12, and Alumna of the Year Jacalynn Stuckey Welling ’77.

GOLDEN REUNION. Members from the class of 1964. Front: Art Moyer, Judy (Ha-ver) Gregory, Donna (Kilmer) Andrews, Betty Bradshaw, Marion Mazzarella, Lorie King. Back: Lee Sommers, Henry Karki, Dora (Snyder) Sutton, Larry Hepler, Dan Frost, Robert “Bob” Huffman, Gene King.

TAILGATE PICNIC. Jason Christafaris ’04 catching up with Jeffrey Lookabaugh ’04 and Future Pioneer, Blaise.

WYLD TIMES. Professor Wylde’s Traveling Animal Show before the tailgate party was a smashing success – the show was sold-out.

TakePart.


Alumni News

A daughter, Lyla Jo, on April 1, 2014, to Brittany (Berry) ’08 and Tim Laino ’08.

A daughter, Kyla Lynn, on September 4, 2013, to Heather (Riggar) ’08 and Kevin Naylor. The family lives in Simpsonville, S.C.

A daughter, Grace Therese, on March 14, 2014, to April (Hartshorn) ’09 and Paul Petersen. The family lives in Pittsburgh.

A son, Carmelo Jefferson, to Rachel (Both) ’09 and Bryan Williams on December 3, 2012. The couple were married on May 21, 2011.

A daughter, Carolyn Leigh, on June 14, 2014, to Natalie and Scott Deckerd ’13. The family lives in Alliance.

A son, Hudson Conner, on March 19, 2014, to Lydia Brantingham-Payne ’04 and Corey Payne. He joins brother, Graham Everett. The family lives in Roanoke, Va.

A daughter, Rosemary Helen, on March 6, 2014, to Joshua and Laura (Hunter) Inks ’05. The family lives in Rome.

A son, Tyler Blake, born July 4, 2013, in Charlotte, N.C. to Jessica (Nevergall) ’05 and Brandon Montague. The family resides in Findlay.

A son, Davison John, on February 25, 2014, to David and Jennifer (Adams) Masters ’06. The family recently moved to Oregon.

A daughter, Annabella Grace, on May 30 to Mike ’08 and Jody Greenlief. The couple also adopted a son, Raymer Michael, on May 23. Mike is associate pastor at Atlanta Road

Alliance Church. The family lives in Seaford, Del.

A son, Malachi James, on April 21, 2014, to Kelly (Crowell) ’01 and Christopher Cooke. Malachi joins big sister, Eliana.

A daughter, Isla Nell, on October 2, 2013, to Lindy (Schier) ’01 and Allen Hylton, Jr. She joins a big brother, Cale. The family lives in Little River, S.C.

A daughter, Ashley Esther, on July 23, 2014, to Robert and Laura (Schnur) Jones ’02. The family lives in Fairfax, Va.

A daughter, Stella Marie, on January 9, 2014, to Kara and Rusty Savage ’02. She joins brother, Henry. The family lives in Salem.

A daughter, Sophia Kleman, on June 17, 2014, to Mike and Erin (Kleman) Hollenbaugh ’03. She joins brother, Jack. The family lives in Barberton.

uture ioneers

weddingsAshley Yocum ’07 and Jarrod Ferwerda ’09 on June 15, 2013. The couple lives in Ludington, Mich. where they own a party rental business. Jarrod is business

manager and Ashley is wedding and event planner. For the past four years, Ashley taught 4th grade in Charlotte, N.C. and was named to the Meck Ed top 20 teachers in the Charlotte Mecklenburg schools last year.

Heather Ineman ’13 and Julian Law ’13 on June 22, 2013. Heather is a nurse at Marietta Memorial Hospital and Julian is working in ministry in the area. The couple lives in Marietta.

Katie Baker and Brandon Parsons ’14 on May 4, 2014.

Julia Barber ’14 and TJ McDonald ’14 on August 9, 2014, at Parkside Church in Green. TJ is working at Canton First Friends as director of church media and

Julia works at the Evangelical Friends Church - Eastern Region World Outreach Center as executive secretary.


Athletics News

Women’s cross country team first NCAA Div. II team to claim All-Ohio championship

If you would have told a 5th-grade Hannah Campbell that she’d be competing on the cross country team in college, she wouldn’t have believed you. As a child, Campbell suffered from a rare bone disease in her heel that lasted several years and caused her a great deal of pain.

So being able to run is something Campbell has never for a second taken for granted.

“Running is such a gift to me,” said Campbell, a freshman nursing major. “It is a way that I can show honor and give glory to the Lord.”

Campbell indeed brought glory to the Lord —and Malone University—as she led the women’s cross country team to the All-Ohio Championship title among 42 teams. She finished second out of a field of 503 competitors with a time of 21:53.39.

Sophomore pre-med/Chemistry major Mackie Keller, finished ninth in the race, which means a summer of incredibly hard work paid off.

“My teammates are an amazing community,” said Keller. “I was so excited to be running with them. That was my goal—to be running with my teammates during races, and I was so happy to accomplish it.”

Keller did not begin distance running until her junior year of high school.

As a pre-med student, she said that running both challenges her and also is a great stress reliever.

See how the team finished at NCAA nationals at www.malonepioneers.com

Other top finishers for Malone include Sarah Meek, in tenth place, Madison Schuler in 13th, and Mattison Rankin in 18th place.

The men’s team finished third place out of 43 teams. Top finishers include Ryan Roush, in sixth place; Andrew Trusty, 16th; Jordan McKelley, 18th, Scot Whittaker, 20th; and Gage Black, 31st. 569 male runners competed.


Athletics News

high jump while also running a leg of the team’s winning 4 by 400 relay team, while placing second in the long jump. It was an accomplishment that drew attention from many who followed the sport.

“I had opposing coaches come up to me and say ‘are you the same guy doing all of those events’ because it’s not typical to be strong in that combination,” remembered Grimes.

Grimes would continue his passion in the decathlon with competition at Western Michigan University. At WMU, Grimes met his wife, Wendy, while working toward a degree in exercise sport science. The couple were married one week after his graduation.

After a year working as a physical therapy assistant, Grimes accepted a graduate assistantship at Eastern Michigan University where he earned his master’s degree in exercise physiology and began his coaching career as an assistant coach in track and field.

It was here that Grimes believed God intervened and led him into a career in athletics, a pathway to Malone University.

“I was at a crossroads. I had to make a choice to earn a doctorate and pursue a career in

Athletics NEWS

Adversity found Charlie Grimes early in life. When he was 8-years-old, his family was broken by divorce. His search for answers during this difficult time led him to a lifelong interest in athletics and to begin his journey as a Christian. Both passions remain the cornerstones on which Grimes has built a career and a life.

Football was his first love and he lived in one of those towns where Friday night lights meant everyone came out for the local team’s game. Gobles High School in Gobles, Mich., has a storied football tradition and Grimes was the quarterback, a natural fit for his leadership skills. When football ended, the hard wood was his home, playing basketball. But it would be his performance as a track athlete that led him to the obsession of his young adult life, the decathlon.

“My high school coach encouraged me to attempt a variety of events and I loved it,” said Grimes. “I was blessed with enough athleticism to do several events fairly well and the decathlon fit my personality. It is the greatest physical challenge, and I love a challenge.”

During the league championship his senior year, Grimes won the mile run and the

the academic area, or a path that was more athletic oriented,” said Grimes. “I decided at that time to look for an opportunity that would allow me to be able to do both.”

Ironically, it was during an interview at Spring Arbor University that he first heard of Malone. “I’ll never forget the interview,” said Grimes. “The athletic director told me ‘I just don’t think you’re the right fit for Spring Arbor, but I know where you belong.’ He told me of a position at Malone and asked me to call a guy named Hal Smith.”

Smith, the AD and men’s basketball coach at Malone at the time, took the call and interviewed Grimes for the position of head track and field coach for both men’s and women’s teams.

“It was an opportunity to teach and coach alongside Jack Hazen, who was already a legend in cross country and track at that time,” said Grimes.

Grimes’ career at Malone began in July 1997.

“It was a unique partnership at that time,” said Grimes of how the position was structured. “I took the men’s and women’s programs in track in the spring, and Jack stayed with his expertise, the men’s and

Integration of faith and athletics leads Malone athletic director to serve othersCharlie Grimes uses his experience as a multi-sport athlete and his desire to serve to lead Malone’s athletic programs into a new era


Athletics News

women’s distance runners and cross country in the fall. A lot of schools may not have done it that way, but it worked for us. I was walking six feet off the ground when I got the job; it was everything I wanted. It was everything I was prepared to do in my life because I had a deep abiding faith and had

expressed it in secular environments. Now I was free to fully integrate my faith into all aspects of my work with students.”

Grimes was mentored by coaches Smith, Hazen, and Scott Armstrong, and served as head track coach for 11 seasons. During his tenure, more than 400 student-athletes qualified for national championship competition and more than 100 earned All-American status. When Smith decided to step away from the AD’s position, Grimes felt called to step forward and apply for the position.

“My office was right next to Hal’s, so I got a front row seat to see what the life of an athletic director is like,” said Grimes. “Scott, Bob, and Hal provided me with my understanding of the Malone environment. They are great, just legendary kind of guys. The AD’s position was an opportunity to serve in a greater capacity

and to fuse my passion for Christ with my passion for athletics. I’m reminded that Christ said ‘if you want to be great, you’ll become a servant of all’.”

Malone’s move from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div. II membership, was an effort that has impacted most of the Malone community, and Grimes and his colleagues in athletics directly.

“The opportunity to move to NCAA Div. II was something we chose because our NAIA

“The AD’s position was an opportunity to serve in a

greater capacity and to fuse my passion for Christ with

my passion for athletics. I’m reminded that Christ said

‘if you want to be great, you’ll become a servant of all.’”Malone athletics director Charlie Grimes on his motivation for serving Malone’s athletic teams

A SERVANT’S HEART. Charlie Grimes strives to serve God, Malone University, and its programs, coaches, and athletes with excellence.

conference was starting to break apart and we were seeking a larger challenge for our coaches and student-athletes,” said Grimes. “We’re in the most competitive conference (the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) in Div. II and a lot of our early success can’t be measured on the scoreboard. Competing against larger schools takes a high level of buy-in and commitment. I want to build an athletic department that everyone on campus would be proud of and want to support.”

It is not unusual for Grimes to start a typical day well before the sun rises and to finish long after sunset. In between, his ability to multitask—born from his days as a decathlete —leads him to do whatever needs to be done in athletics.

As an athlete, it wasn’t unusual for Grimes to participate in nine events in a single meet. It was the way he served his team, his institution, his community. Today, as director of athletics, that ability to multitask and relentless spirit serve him well in serving the Malone community.

“When I took the job I prayed, ‘Lord, I do want to become great. If You’ll let me, I’ll become the servant of all,” said Grimes. “I’ll serve all of our programs. I’ll serve all of our coaches. I’ll serve all of our athletes in whatever way You lead me.”


Athletics News

Student athletes at Malone University enjoy the best of both worlds.

They have the opportunity to compete at a highly competitive level in the NCAA Div. II as members of the Great Lakes Intercol-legiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), while earning a nationally respected degree from Malone. Members of the men’s and women’s swim teams are the most recent student ath-letes to leverage that opportunity and have been recognized for their successful efforts both in the classroom and in the pool.

The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) recently awarded Team Scholar All-America status to the Malone swim teams. To qualify for Academic All-America honors, teams have to achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The men’s 3.32 team GPA ranked an impressive fifth-best in the country. The women’s 3.27 ranked 35th.

“We’re here to prepare our students for their futures, and their academic experiences are of paramount importance,” said Athletic

Stay up-to-date with Pioneer sports teams!For schedules and current stats, visit www.malonepioneers.com. Sign up for text message alerts for up-to-the-minute score updates.

Director Charlie Grimes. “We’ve worked very hard as a staff to remind our student athletes of the bigger picture. Athletic participation is part of that college experience. It helps

us to prepare our young men and women for their walk with Christ and ensures that they will be ready for leadership roles following their graduation.”

Swim teams earn academic All-America recognition

“We’re here to prepare our students for their futures, and their academic experiences are of paramount importance.” Charlie Grimes, athletic director

Malone athletic teams have consistently ranked near the top of the GLIAC in the annual Academic Success Ratings, a ranking of member institutions based on academic performance as measured by retention, graduation rates, and the grade point average of student-athletes.

“Our student athletes tell us that being a member of a team helps them manage their time, they are more organized, and con-nected to the institution,” said Grimes.

Interim Head Coach Russ Hunt


TheMalone FundYOUR GIFT WILL:

n Enhance Malone’s student-centered approach of integrating faith and learning.

n Provide modern technology and equipment so Malone graduates remain at the forefront of learning in their chosen academic fields.

n Enable service-learning trips around the world, impacting students’ worldviews and teaching them the value of making a contribution beyond their communities.

n Attract and retain top-notch students and faculty.

n Pass the torch of understanding to another generation of men and women following God’s call on their lives.

Your gift helps make every facet of Malone possible

Support the future today through a gift to The Malone Fund. www.malone.edu/give

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