Leaving on a High Note - Austin Peay State University

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Features
Page 4
<strong>Leaving</strong> on a High Note
Just as she promised, Sherry Hoppe has been a change agent. And by
and large, APSU needed change. The University had become complacent,
even smug. The general feeling was, “We’re here; they’ll come.” In
reality, enrollment was declining, fundraising was flat, no online classes
were in the works, the campus was …OK, you get the drift. From the
get-go, Hoppe made it clear she intended to make changes. Her place in
history will be decided decades from now, but we can say that, without
doubt, APSU is a more vibrant and highly esteemed university than
seven years ago.
Page 12
Spicing up Life
Fred Yarbrough has done what many people in the rat race dream of
doing: He walked away from a “steady” job as a teacher to follow his
dream. After 36 years in front of a class, working to inspire young people
to understand and apply the laws of physics, Yarbrough decided it
was time to do something he always wanted to do—fix good food.
Although he occasionally takes on catering jobs, the most gratifying payment
for him comes when he cooks for family and friends. He may not
be helping high school students solve physics problems, but for himself,
he’s discovered the formula for pure happiness.
Page 16
Physics and Fastballs
It’s a bit disgusting: He looks much as he did 17 years ago when he was
hurling fastballs for the Govs baseball team. But, he says, that can be a
detriment now. When Dr. Tim Fox is invited to speak at an international
medical conference, the audience often expects a more professorial
presence at the lectern, rather than this lanky young man with an
“Alfalfa”-like cowlick on the crown of his head. At Austin Peay, he was
a star on the baseball field. Today, he’s a star in the field of medical
physics. Read about this brilliant and decidedly humble young man.
Departments
Making APSU Headlines .............8
Alumni News ..............................22
Sports...........................................24
Class Notes .................................28
Feedback.....................................33
Bill Persinger
Bill Persinger
APSU Sports Information
Photo: Bill Persinger
Artist Jamie Lee McMahan,
Cordova, painted the official
presidential portrait of Dr.
Sherry Hoppe. For the historic
portrait, Hoppe
donned the presidential
regalia that, several years
ago, she commissioned to
be made for future presidents
to wear during ceremonial
occasions.
Reader’s Guide
Austin Peay is published biannually—fall and
spring—by the Office of Public Relations and
Marketing. Press run for this issue is 30,000.
Dennie B. Burke Editor
Bill Persinger (’91) Design and Photo Editor
Melony Leazer (’06) Assistant Editor
Michele Tyndall (’06) Content Coordinator
Shelia Boone (’71) Alumni News and Events
Brad Kirtley Sports Information
Steve Wilson (’97, ’06) Online Version
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How to contact or submit
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E-mail us: burked@apsu.edu
Phone us: (931) 221-7459
Fax us: (931) 221-6123
Let us hear from you!
Your opinions and suggestions are encouraged
and appreciated.
Austin Peay State University is one of 46 institutions in the
Tennessee Board of Regents system, the sixth largest system
of higher education in the nation. The Tennessee Board of
Regents is the governing board for this system, which is
composed of six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26
Tennessee technology centers. The TBR system enrolls more
than 80 percent of all Tennessee students attending public
On the Cover:
institutions of higher education.
Austin Peay State University is an equal opportunity
employer committed to the education of a non-racially
identifiable student body.
AP501/03-07/30M/McQuiddy Printing/Nashville, TN
Austin Peay