1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Michelle Rawlings promoted to registrar

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Michelle Rawlings, who has served as assistant registrar at Transylvania since 2009, became registrar effective July 1, filling the vacancy left after Jim Mills’s retirement. Mills came to Transylvania in 1984 from Western Kentucky University, where he was assistant registrar. Rawlings will be a familiar face to students returning in the fall, as she’s worked closely with hundreds of students for the past three years. “Just about every student that comes in, I know their face or their name,” she said. “I like knowing that the students know they can come in anytime.” “Michelle will do great,” Mills said. “She’s very good, especially with the new online registration. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know how we would have gotten by the last few years.” Rawlings previously was registrar at Sullivan University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in business from Sullivan.

Bob Brown promoted to associate dean of student affairs

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Bob Brown, current director of residence life at Transylvania University, has been named associate dean of student affairs, effective July 1. He came to Transylvania in 2001 as assistant director of residence life and became director of residence life in 2005. His new responsibilities will include residence life, student involvement and leadership, judicial affairs, community service and civic engagement and the William T. Young Campus Center. He will be involved in refining the university’s student affairs policies, supporting general student needs and planning for future residence hall and campus construction. “This is a much deserved progression in Bob’s Transylvania career,” said Barbara LoMonaco, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “He will now have the opportunity to use the student life skills he has demonstrated over the past decade in a number of new areas that will greatly benefit the university.” Brown earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky and a master of science in higher education and student affairs administration from Indiana University. “My new role will allow me to support those who have day-to-day interactions with students and ensure that our student affairs programs are working for the  best interests of students and Transylvania,” said Brown.

Billips named associate dean for first-year academic programs, advising

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—President R. Owen Williams has announced that English professor Martha Billips has been named associate dean for first-year academic programs and advising, effective August 1. Billips taught in the Foundations of the Liberal Arts program for first-year students from 1997-2012 and directed the program from 2001-12. She has also served as humanities division chair. “This new role is an excellent fit for Martha,” said President R. Owen Williams. “In many important ways, she has already contributed enormously to the way we educate first-year students at Transylvania. Through her 15 years of experience with our former FLA program, she gained a keen understanding of the critical transition that first-year students make in adjusting to the rigors of college-level academics. That background will serve her well as she works to support our first-year students in their liberal arts studies at Transylvania.” Billips looks forward to the challenges of her new role and feels the timing is especially significant. “With the advent of August term and the creation of our First-Year Seminar program, we can provide our students with a distinctive, challenging and multi-disciplinary first-year curriculum,” she said. “This will prepare them well for the rest of their educational experience at Transylvania. I look forward to playing an important role in this initiative.” Billips will remain a tenured member of the faculty, assume her rank as professor of English and teach at least one course per year. She came to Transylvania in

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Celebrate America’s independence with Transylvania University and the city of Lexington

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University and the city of Lexington will team up for the 28th year to celebrate America’s independence on the campus of one of the nation’s oldest colleges with a patriotic concert on Tuesday, July 3 at 8 p.m. The free concert will feature the musical talents of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lexington Singers beginning with performances of “Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home.” The event annually draws a crowd upwards of 5,000 stretching across the lawn of historic Old Morrison and down to the Carnegie Center in Gratz Park. The Young at Heart Dixieland Jazz Band will perform in Gratz Park prior to the concert, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The concert is sponsored by Hilliard-Lyons, Transylvania University, the Downtown Lexington Corporation, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and WLEX-TV. Handicapped accessible parking will be available in the semi-circle driveway on Broadway between Third and Fourth streets. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or Tamara Deckard at the Downtown Lexington Corporation at (859) 425-2592.

Transylvania University names Barbara LoMonaco vice president for student affairs and dean of students; Mike Vetter special assistant

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—President R. Owen Williams has announced that anthropology professor Barbara LoMonaco will become vice president for student affairs and dean of students on July 1. Mike Vetter, who served in the position for 15 years, will serve as special assistant to the university, where he will work with the development, alumni relations and admissions offices as well as the president on special assignments. LoMonaco came to Transylvania in 1996 after earning her B.A. in philosophy and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, both in cultural anthropology, from Southern Methodist University. During her tenure at Transylvania, an anthropology major was added to the curriculum. LoMonaco’s extensive faculty service record includes a number of positions directly related to student life, including her membership on the Alcohol Task Force, Judicial Council (chair), Selection Committee for Student Orientation Leaders, Sexual Grievances Judicial Board, Delta Delta Delta First-Year Woman Award Selection Committee and the Transylvania Scholarship Committee (chair). “I am delighted that Barbara has accepted this key position,” said President R. Owen Williams. “She is a one-woman nuclear power plant who will completely transform the face of student affairs on our campus. From her earliest days at Transylvania, Barbara has been heavily involved in student affairs. She has an excellent rapport with students as advisor and mentor, and I am sure she will bring energy and dedication to her new role.” LoMonaco said she has ideas for initiatives in several areas of student life, including community

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