seasons

Contents
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About Community Engagement
Community engagement and service learning have
been a part of Samford for decades. Now, the
university has studied the community involvement
of its students and employees for a better picture
of what this engagement means. Both quantitative
and qualitative in nature, the report illustrates the
breadth of community involvement and how
individuals are making an impact.
Wells Retires After 40 Years
Elizabeth Wells came to Samford for a one-year
appointment . . . 40 years ago. Since then, she
has become the go-to person for material that
chronicles the history and life of the university. The
Special Collections archivist will retire in
December. Natural curiosity helped her enjoy her
profession. “You never know where the search for
information will take you,” she says.
The Parthenon Enigma
The Athenian Parthenon is one of the western
world’s most revered monuments. But scholar
Joan Breton Connelly believes present-day
observers may overlook what the building meant
to Athenians. Does one of the frieze panels on the
structure depict a civic event? Or does it reflect a
much deeper meaning? Connelly discussed her
view as this year’s Davis Lecturer at Samford.
2 From the President
3 Samford Report
9 An Artist Addresses War’s Impact
11 Homecoming
15 Wall of Fame
16 New Home for Messy Arts
18 Flipped Classroom
21 Brock School of Business
Newsletter
30 Grants Roundup
32 Alumna Spotlight: Kimberly
Beiersdoefer
33 Faculty Spotlight: Chuck Stokes
34 Class Notes
36 New Arrivals
37 Remembering the River Ministry
38 In Memoriam
40 Sports
42 Campus Newscope
45 Tributes
49 Calendar
Seasons Magazine Winter 2015 • Vol. 32 • No. 4 • Publication Number: USPS 244-800
Editor
William Nunnelley
Associate Editor
Mary Wimberley
Contributing Writers
Jack Brymer, Sean Flynt, Lori Hill, Kara
Kennedy, Philip Poole, Katie Stripling
Senior Graphic Designer
Stephanie Sides
Director of Photographic Services
Caroline Baird Summers
Contributing Photographer
Sarah Finnegan
Alumni Association Officers
President
Gil Simmons ’83
Vice President, Activities
Lori Littlejohn Sullivan ’79
Vice President, Annual Giving
David Spurling ’98
Immediate Past President
Keith Herron ’86
Cover: The Samford Bulldogs take the field
for the homecoming football game.
Seasons is published quarterly by Samford University,
800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35229,
and is distributed free to alumni of the university, as
well as to other friends. Periodical postage paid at
Birmingham, Alabama. Postmaster: Send address
changes to Office of University Advancement,
Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive,
Birmingham, AL 35229.
©2015 Samford University
Produced by Samford Office of Marketing
and Communication
1 • Seasons • Winter 2015
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