Summer 2010 - Northwestern College

AROUND THE GREENAROUND THE GREENFace ValueHealthy Glow“Glowing.”That’s the term Provost JasperLesage used to describe the exitcomments of the Iowa Board ofNursing team that visited campuslast October. “They confirmed thequality of our nursing program isnot just adequate, it’s exceptional,”he added.Northwestern’s department ofnursing received documentationof the board’s formal approval inMarch.Iowa Board of Nursing approvalrepresented the last hurdle forthe program, according to nursingdepartment chairperson Dr.Ruth Daumer, who began work onestablishing a Bachelor of Sciencein Nursing (B.S.N.) program in2005–06.Rays of HopeThe program was accreditedby the Commission on CollegiateNursing Education in 2009, butfinal approval from the Iowa Boardcouldn’t be granted until afterNorthwestern graduated its firstclass of nurses in May 2009. “Forone thing,” Daumer explains, “theyhad to wait to see how our initialnursing graduates did on theirboard exams.”Northwestern’s first eight B.S.N.graduates all passed their boardexams and are working in hospitalsacross the U.S. The 13 nurses whograduated in May will take theirboard exams this summer andfall; several students had alreadyaccepted job offers prior to graduation.Efforts to provide solar energy to low-income communities are getting a boost fromNorthwestern students and faculty.Social work professor Mark De Ruyter ’94 and junior Seth Lembke traveled to WestVirginia in January to learn to make solar panels. They constructed panels at MendenhallMinistries in Mississippi during a Spring Service Project and taught local volunteers whowill continue that effort.Meanwhile, four business majors worked on a business plan for the World Visionsubsidiary that seeks to expand the project across the country.“It’s good for the environment, it helps families save money on their utility bills, itcould lead to jobs in areas with high unemployment, and it helps form community asfamilies work together to build the panels,” says Marlon Haverdink ’97, Northwestern’sdirector of service learning.All eight nurses in Northwestern’s 2009 class passed their board exams, enabling theIowa Board of Nursing to give final approval to the college’s Bachelor of Science inNursing program this year. Amy Holecheck ’10 is one of this year’s 13 nursing graduates,several of whom had jobs even before earning their degrees from NWC.DOUG BURGMoving MusicThe second award-winninghymn written this year by Dr.Heather Josselyn-Cranson, music,holds special meaning for her. Shewon a competition at her almamater, Boston University Schoolof Theology, which was created tocelebrate the work of one of herformer professors, Carl Daw, theretiring executive director of theHymn Society in the United Statesand Canada.Josselyn-Cranson drew on themusical aspirations of ancientGreeks, who thought there wasmusic all around the universe, asshe wrote Planets Humming as TheyWander. Her piece was chosenfrom among 40 submissions bycurrent and former Boston Universityfaculty, staff and students,earning her a $250 award. Thehymn was performed by the Schoolof Theology Seminary Singers ata community worship service inApril.Josselyn-Cranson won secondprize last fall in a justice congregationalsong contest.Dean CalsbeekFit for teachingWhat makes your job great?That’s easy—the students. Very early in myteaching career, I realized students have a lotmore personality (most of the time) and providemuch more fulfillment than the rats, mice andcell cultures I was working with as a researcher.I look forward to seeing and getting to knowmy students every day, and I miss them duringthe breaks and summers.What is one of the most challenging aspectsof being a professor?Helping students to see and believe howtalented and gifted they are. Most of ourstudents eventually realize their potential, butas a professor few experiences are more difficultthan watching a student not believe in himselfand give up.What is your favorite time of the year?When the students return in the fall. It’s sofun to watch friends reunite and hear stories ofadventures they had over the summer. There’ssuch a sense of optimism and grace when westart a new year.Describe yourself in three words.Sarcastic. Empathetic. Loyal.What is one of your favorite NWC memories?The summer course I taught in China in2007 was great. I had an excellent group ofstudents and a great co-leader, Dr. Paul Bartlett.It was physically and emotionally exhausting,but unforgettable. We tried new foods, hikedand camped out on the Great Wall, andstudied a culture that is drastically differentthan our own. Our comfort zones definitelyexpanded, and I think everyone gained a greaterappreciation for the value of cultural diversity.What do you do in your free time?When I’m not spending time with my wifeand children, I’ll do about anything for anopportunity to golf. I also enjoy cycling andDOUG BURGDr. Dean Calsbeek ’97 has been a member ofNorthwestern’s kinesiology department since 2004.He holds a doctorate in physiology from ColoradoState University. The director of the exercisescience program, Calsbeek serves as the facultymentor for the Kinesiology Klub.swimming. I follow Northwestern athletics asmuch as my schedule allows. Otherwise, I enjoyworking on home projects.How did you like participating in, and winning,Dancing with the Profs this year?I had more fun than I deserve. It was a hugeleap for me—I’ve never been as nervous aboutanything in all of my life—but it was worth it. Ilearned a lot about myself and made some greatnew friends along the way.If you’d like to see a particularNorthwestern faculty or staffmember featured in Face Value,e-mail classic@nwciowa.edu.8summer 2010Northwestern Classic 9