1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

David Jones, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Humana, to give Transylvania’s commencement address Saturday, May 26

LEXINGTON, Ky.—David A. Jones, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Humana Inc. and one of Kentucky’s best known entrepreneurs, philanthropists and civic leaders will deliver the commencement address at Transylvania University Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Jones, a Transylvania trustee, will deliver his speech on the steps of historic Old Morrison to 237 graduating seniors and their families, faculty members and friends. In addition to his achievements in business, Jones is one of Louisville’s most active civic leaders. With backing from the Human Foundation, the human Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theater of Louisville had become a premiere national event for showcasing new theatrical talent. Jones has been a board member of the Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts and the Kentucky Center for the Arts. In 2004, he was presented the Milner Award, the most prestigious of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, for his personal commitment to the arts and their role in the economy, community and culture of Kentucky. He recently made a major commitment of time and recourses to the City of Parks, a long-term project to expand and connect Louisville’s extensive park system. At Transylvania Jones is a founding member of the Bingham Board of Trust, which oversees the Bingham Awards fro Excellence in Teaching program. Along with his wife, Betty, he helped to endow the David and Betty Jones Fund for Faculty Development in 1990. He and his family have supported virtually

The wickedly funny Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opens May 17 at Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania Theater presents Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee May 17-19 at 7:30 p.m. and May 20 at 2 p.m. Albee’s masterpiece won the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play and the 1962-63 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. The production is for mature audiences. Transylvania senior drama majors Molly Eakins, Trent Fucci, Theresa Marie McKenzie and Nathan Terrell Veazey star in this powerful drama-laced comedy. Characters George and Martha are a middle-aged couple whose marriage has declined into a cynical, sarcastic battlefield. They have a younger couple, Nick and Honey, over to their home, but continue their verbal and sometimes physical assaults in front of them. Nick and Honey are eventually pulled into the fight themselves, used as pawns by George and Martha. All performances are in the Lucille C. Little Theater. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased starting Monday, May 14, from 1-4 p.m. at the Little Theater box office or by calling (859) 281-3621. For more information, call the public relations office at (859) 233-8120.

“The fountain of youth: Does it really exist?”
Third lecture in Alltech Series at Transylvania, April 25, 7 p.m.; free and open to the public

LEXINGTON, Ky.—In the 1500s, Juan Ponce de Leon searched Florida for the fountain of youth, and some people still believe that Florida may hold the key to eternal youth. Can the “magic potions” that are being marketed today help retain youthfulness or will they simply drain wallets and age bodies further? Can you add years to your lifespan by severely restricting your caloric intake? Learn more about the latest anti-aging discoveries that biotechnology is turning into reality at “The fountain of youth: Does it really exist?” lecture to be given by Inge Russell, Wednesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in Transylvania’s Haggin Auditorium in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. This lecture is the third in the Alltech Lecture Series at Transylvania and is free and open to the public. Russell is a research scientist focusing on the areas of fermentation and yeast biochemistry. She is co-founder and editor of the journal “Critical Reviews in Biotechnology” and editor of “The Journal of the Institute of Brewing.” Russell has been widely recognized for her volunteer work promoting science and technology, specifically for encouraging women to pursue studies in this field. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120.

God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It – Bestselling author and political activist Jim Wallis to speak at Transylvania March 28, at 7:30 p.m.; free and open to the public

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Jim Wallis, author, public theologian, preacher, activist and international commentator on ethics and public life, will speak at Transylvania University’s Haggin Auditorium Wednesday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public; however, seating is limited. Wallis is best known as founder and executive director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, which convenes a national network of churches, faith-based organizations and individuals working to overcome poverty in America. He is editor of Sojourners magazine, which reaches more than 250,000 people, and his latest book, “God’s the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It,” was on The New York Times bestseller list for four months. Wallis is a frequent guest on television and radio programs including “Meet the Press,” Public Broadcasting’s “Frontline” and National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation.” His columns have appeared in major newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe. He teaches the course Faith, Politics and Society at Harvard University and is the author of eight books. The lecture is sponsored by the Lilly Project at Transylvania and funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or the Lilly Project at Transylvania at (859) 281-3569.

“The Shape of Words” opens March 7 in Transylvania’s Morlan Gallery; exhibit runs through Lexington Gallery Hop on April 20; poetry reading with Affrilachian Poets April 9

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Installation artists, book artists, writers and poets join “The Shape of Words,” Morlan Gallery’s newest exhibition. A celebration of the written word, “The Shape of Words” opens Wednesday, March 7, and runs through Friday, April 20. Artists in the show are Ben Durham of Midway, Mike Goodlett of Nicholasville, Pam Sexton of Lexington, Edwin Jager of Toronto and Heather Willems of Huntington, Ind. The exhibition also features five poet and artist pairings. Affrilachian poets Mitchell Douglas, Crystal Good, Bianca Spriggs, Natasha Marin and Frank X Walker will have poems interpreted on the walls of Morlan Gallery by Lexington artists Christine Kuhn, Mark Antonio Galvan Parrish, Sonya Brooks, Robert Morgan and Darryl Davis, respectively. Celebrate National Poetry Month on Monday, April 9, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the gallery by attending “The Shape of Words” poetry reading featuring Mitchell Douglas, Nikky Finney, Asha French, Jude McPherson, Frank X Walker and Hao Wang. This exhibition is free and open to the public. Morlan Gallery is open weekdays, noon to 5 p.m., and by special appointment. The gallery is closed for Transylvania’s spring break, March 12-16, except by special appointment. The gallery is a stop on the Lexington Gallery Hop Friday, April 20, from 5-8 p.m. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or Andrea Fisher, director of Morlan Gallery, at (859) 233-8142. More information about Morlan Gallery is available at www.transy.edu/morlan.