'Southern 2021

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I was 17 the summer after my junior year in high school when I first became a student at Birmingham- Southern College. Along with about 30 other high school students from across Alabama and west Florida, I lived in a dormitory, ate in the cafeteria, and took two classes as a Summer Scholar with regularly enrolled students. I loved it! I took Art History and Human Growth and Development, taught by legends of BSC, Prof. Lloyd Sloan and Dr. Bob Whetstone ’55, respectively. It was an easy decision to choose ‘Southern as my college after that. Initially, I had planned on dental school after college, but changed my mind to medical school my junior year. Because the prerequisite classes were the same, it was an easy switch. Deciding on a major was a little more complicated. Most pre-med students chose to major in chemistry or biology because we already were required to take so many of them for medical school. Because I so enjoyed Biology 101, taught by another BSC legend, Dr. Paul Bailey, I chose biology. My schedules for the first two years were pretty typical for a prehealth career student: a biology, a chemistry, a mathematics, and an English class. But we were only required to take Calculus I and II, and I had completed those my freshman year. I kept enrolling in a mathematics class semester after semester because it was fun—a game, a puzzle. And there was that other BSC legend who made it all so beautifully clear, Dr. Lola Kiser. I wasn’t one of those premier math majors who were assigned the especially difficult proofs by Dr. Kiser, but I held my own in the upper-level classes. Because I had enough credits for both biology and mathematics, I ended up with an interdisciplinary major in both. Interviewing for medical schools with an interesting major like that made for unique conversations. Throwing in my love of art history and literature didn’t hurt either. But scholarly pursuits weren’t necessarily the best parts of my time at Birmingham-Southern. I have frequently told high school and college mentees that while medical school certainly teaches you how to be a physician, college teaches you how to be a human being. Focusing on where to go to medical school may not be as important as focusing on where to go to college. Living on campus taught me important life skills and gave me a safe and secure place to succeed, and sometimes fail. I had many opportunities to lead, as well as to volunteer, tutor, and mentor. (And to cheer on the Panthers as a cheerleader!) I made lifelong friends, and I even met my future husband, Dr. Harvey Harmon ’82, at BSC. I can’t say when we actually met, because when you go to a small liberal arts college, you just know everyone there, especially if you are enrolled in the same pre-med classes. We started dating my senior year, and when we were accepted into the same medical school in the same year, that clinched it for us as a couple, and we married after completing our first year of med school. And 35 years after I graduated from Birmingham-Southern College, our youngest daughter, Christina Harmon ’18, graduated, having experienced her share of legends, and loving every minute of her time on the Hilltop. • • • Dr. Renee Brown Harmon ’83 has retired from her medical practice and is the author of “Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer’s: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright” (Many Hats Publishing, 2020). Follow her blog at reneeharmon.com. Living on campus taught me important life skills and gave me a safe and secure place to succeed, and sometimes fail. –Renee Brown Harmon ’83 36 / ’southern
alumni stories MAKING music Whether they’re behind the scenes or in the spotlight (or creating the viral TikTok dance of summer <strong>2021</strong>), Birmingham-Southern graduates and students are hard at work in every area of the music industry. They can be found at the top of the charts, on tour across the South, or even in a business class on campus in between shows. Download a playlist and listen while you read about a few BSC names behind the music. FALL/WINTER <strong>2021</strong> / 37
Page 1 and 2: ALUMNI PODCASTS DEAR BSC MAKING MUS
Page 3 and 4: sc snapshots Conceptual, cerebral,
Page 5 and 6: Like all new technology, streaming
Page 7 and 8: CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 2 Letter from
Page 9 and 10: BRINGING THE WORLD TO BSC Birmingha
Page 11 and 12: 2021 OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR At our 20
Page 13 and 14: PANTHER PARTNERSHIPS In November, B
Page 15 and 16: CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Songs for m
Page 17 and 18: Athlete Awards During the shortened
Page 19 and 20: off hours Queenie Hawkins Jekalyn C
Page 21 and 22: 8 a.m.: Beard gets into her office
Page 23 and 24: emembering gala when Stars fell on
Page 25 and 26: Dear BSC, Throughout 2021, special
Page 27 and 28: One of my first classes at Birmingh
Page 29 and 30: one story, our own, and understand
Page 31 and 32: college search drove home. -Souther
Page 33 and 34: connections I made with my professo
Page 35 and 36: It would not be hyperbole to say th
Page 37: in campaign management, messaging r
Page 41 and 42: Moxie Hotel Playlist Moxie Hotel At
Page 43 and 44: The Best of Sting and The Police Pl
Page 45 and 46: Make Me Wanna (2019) Rising STAR
Page 47 and 48: Additionally, most of the fall sess
Page 49 and 50: StellaFit Portola Valley, Californi
Page 51 and 52: 48 / ’southern FALL/WINTER 2021 /
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Page 57 and 58: Homecoming 2021 included a special
Page 59 and 60: Since the 2020 event canceled due t
Page 61 and 62: Dr. Michael Callahan ‘67 Pamela P
Page 63 and 64: Help students recharge at the Fount
Page 65 and 66: Remembering Clay Long A Hilltop Tri
Page 67 and 68: Stay in TOUCH! Rowdy’s Playlist K

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