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

Posted on June 25, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

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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Transylvania University names Dickinson associate dean for religious life

Posted on June 13, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—T. Wilson Dickinson, a 2002 graduate of Transylvania University, has been named associate dean for religious life at the university, effective July 7. Dickinson will help the university integrate religious life with the liberal arts. The position is a natural outgrowth of Transylvania’s commitment to ecumenism, reconciliation and inclusion in a 21st century context. “Transylvania is committed to enabling students to know and experience the history and practices of various religious traditions and to interact with people of other faiths and practices,” said President R. Owen Williams. “This provides the tools they need to become informed and proactive leaders in today’s diverse world.” Dickinson will promote spiritual development, theological reflection and social awareness on campus and will serve as chaplain for the campus community, adviser for student religious organizations and liaison between the university and the various religious bodies of Central Kentucky. Dickinson received a master of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in religion from Syracuse University. He served as a visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Transylvania during the 2011-12 academic year. Dickinson is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He cofounded Young Adult Ecumenical Forum, which offered conferences for college students of diverse backgrounds to engage in open theological conversation on issues such as poverty, ecological justice, violence and human trafficking. For the past year, Dickinson has been a worship leader at the Fayette County Detention Center. Dickinson says

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Transylvania’s Karen Anderson recognized as a Bluegrass Community Connector; 140 connectors chosen from 5,000 nominations

Posted on June 13, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Karen Anderson, coordinator of community service and civic engagement at Transylvania University, was one of 140 Bluegrass Community Connectors honored Tuesday at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington. Last August, the Bluegrass Community Connector Project began accepting nominations of people throughout the region who are great civic connectors and make things happen in their communities. More than 5,000 nominations were received. Since 1994, Anderson has worked with the campus community to make meaningful connections with local and regional communities through short and long term community service projects, civic engagement programming and support for service-learning classes. While at Transylvania, she has participated in more than 25 service trips throughout the United States. In 2005, she co-chaired a national committee to assist Susan G. Komen for the Cure to restructure their volunteer program. She serves on the board of the League of Women Voters, Lexington and the Kentucky Campus Compact Advisory Board, and has been an officer of the Kentucky Association of Housing Officers and the Central Kentucky Association of Volunteer Administrators Anderson has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, the Lexington Humane Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, East Seventh Street Center, Komen’s Lexington and many other organizations. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Minnesota State University and a master’s of education degree from Kent State University. Only the fifth such project in the country, the Bluegrass Community Connector

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New Governor’s School for the Arts session opens June 17 at Transylvania University; Gov. Beshear helps GSA celebrate 25th anniversary

Posted on June 8, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kentucky’s most talented young artists from 43 counties will assemble on Transylvania University’s campus on Sunday, June 17, to begin the three-week 2012 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. The latest GSA class is comprised of 225 rising juniors and seniors from all regions of the Commonwealth who will receive top-level training through daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to various arts attractions in central Kentucky. The student-artists will receive rigorous instruction in nine disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theatre, new media, visual arts and vocal music. Since 1987 more than 4,500 of the state’s most talented high school artists from all 120 counties have attended the GSA summer program following a highly demanding selection process. Each year 1,500 students have applied annually for one of the available scholarships, valued at $2,800. Transylvania is among 21 colleges and universities that offer scholarships to GSA alumni. The program will culminate on Saturday, July 7, with an all-day festival that celebrates the achievements of the young artists through performances open to family, friends and the public. Graduation ceremonies will be held that day at 5 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. “The presence of the Governor’s School for the Arts on our campus each summer is an eagerly anticipated event,” said Transylvania President R. Owen Williams. “We feel that our urban setting in Lexington, combined with our

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Transylvania University unveils presidential portrait of Charles L. Shearer

Posted on June 6, 2012July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—A portrait of Transylvania President Emeritus Charles L. Shearer was unveiled during a reception for the Board of Trustees held at the home of President and Mrs. R. Owen Williams. Board chairman William T. Young Jr. presented the portrait on behalf of the university as a way of paying tribute to Shearer’s 27-year tenure (1983-2010) as president, a period that saw significant increases in enrollment, endowment, scholarships and campus buildings. “Charles Shearer was in office longer than any other Transylvania president and guided the university to some of its greatest achievements,” Young said. “It is with great affection and admiration that we commemorate his service to Transylvania through this striking portrait.” The painting was created by Robert Kuester, an award-winning artist who lives and paints in New Mexico. Kuester holds a degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. The oil-on-canvas portrait, done in a realistic style, measures 30 by 40 inches. “Robert did a very nice job of creating a warm, not overly serious likeness, and I especially like the attention to detail with things like my hands,” Shearer said. “I’m very honored and grateful for this portrait.” Leslie Baldwin, wife of Transylvania business administration professor Bill Baldwin and a sales associate for Kentucky with the international firm Portraits, Inc., facilitated the selection of Kuester from among the 175 portrait artists represented by the organization. Transylvania art professor Nancy Wolsk was a consultant for the

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