Dear Bellarmine Community Members,

It is my sincere delight to welcome all of you to the 2007-2008 academic year! The past several days have seen a whirlwind of exciting events: move-in day, the community picnic, Matriculation-Book signing, convocation, and the dedications of Siena and Frazier Stadium have all been exhilarating and memorable events for all of us at Bellarmine. It's a week we'll never forget!

Welcome Freshmen!

It has been my great pleasure to welcome the largest freshman class in our history at several special recent events. It's been wonderful to get to know our new freshmen and welcome them into our family. The Class of 2011 numbers 564 members, which is a 31 percent increase over last year's class. In addition to being a large class, this year's freshmen are also academically talented, with an average ACT score of 24. Nearly 200 students come from outside Kentucky, and another 200 students come from outside Jefferson County. Welcome Class of 2011!

Welcome New Faculty & Staff!

It also gives me great pleasure to welcome our new faculty and staff to the Bellarmine community. We're delighted to have you all!

• Carla Carlton – Communications & Public Affairs
• Hannah Clayborne – Student Affairs
• Melanie Evans – Student Affairs
• Matthew Hensley – Information Services
• Patricia Jane Kitchen – Business Affairs
• Peter Kremer – Development & Alumni Relations
• Jennifer Likes – Enroll Mgmt/Financial Aid
• Gary Petiprin – Student Affairs/Counseling
• Jessica Randall – Student Affairs/Res Life
• Helen Grace Ryan – Student Affairs
• Andrew Schroeder – Enroll Mgmt/ARC
• Dwight Shepherd – Facilities Mgmt/Maintenance
• Andrew Cooper – Athletics
• Andrew Vogt – Safety & Security
• Janet Calvert – Education
• Julien Carriere – Foreign language
• Constance Cooper – Nursing
• Martha Gillis – Theology
• Carl Hafele – Business/Economics
• Laura Hartford – Art
• Louis Heuser – Health Sciences
• Michael Huggins – Nursing
• Mark Kaelin – Biology
• Joann Lau – Biology
• Akhtar Mahmood – Physics
• Corrie Orthober – Education
• David Overbey – English
• John Sizemore – Education
• Winnie Spitza – Communication
• Meme Tunnell – Music
• Ronda Purdy – Counseling Center
• Amy Teeple – Counseling Center

US News Ranks BU As a Top Southern University for 14th Consecutive Year

Bellarmine is once again ranked among the top 20 universities in the South according to U.S. News and World Report. The magazine's 2008 rankings place Bellarmine in the top 20 universities in the South region of the “Best Universities-Master’s” category. This marks the 14th year in a row Bellarmine has been ranked in this “top tier” by the publication. Each year U.S. News ranks 1,400 colleges and universities based on a variety of criteria ranging from academic reputation to alumni giving. These rankings appear in four categories: Best National Universities-Doctoral, Best Liberal Arts Colleges-Bachelor's (National), Best Universities-Master's (Regional), and Best Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's (Regional).

Bellarmine Honors Alumni Award Winners

Congratulations to the distinguished alumni who recently won award at the Bellarmine University Alumni Association dinner.

Bradford T. Ray is the 2007 "Alumnus of the Year." The award is given in recognition of efforts on behalf of the university. Ray, chief executive officer of the Louisville-headquartered company Steel Technologies, is a 1981 graduate of Bellarmine University. A former inductee into the Gallery of Distinguished Graduates, Ray also serves on the Bellarmine Board of Trustees and is currently the board’s chairman.

The Rev. Msgr. Alfred F. Horrigan Distinguished Service Award is awarded to a past or present Bellarmine employee. This year’s winner is Alma Schuler, a former employee who served as Msgr. Horrigan’s administrative assistant while he was Bellarmine’s president.

This year’s Scarlet and Silver Society inductee is Bob Zimlich, who is Bellarmine's vice president for business affairs. Zimlich graduated from Bellarmine in 1981 and joined his alma mater a year later as an assistant for the former vice president, John O. “Jack” Kampschaefer.

Bellarmine also inducted six alumni into its Gallery of Distinguished Graduates: Ryane Conroy, Michael Cowherd, Colette Dumstorf, Cheryl Fugatte, Mike Mackin, and Jeff Wright. The Gallery was established to recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves in professional accomplishment, community service or demonstration of attitudes consistent with Christian doctrines.

Women's Council Show House, September 8-23

The Bellarmine University Women’s Council will sponsor its 34th Annual Designers’ Show House Sept. 8-23 at Elmwood, located at 260 Leland Court off Chenoweth Lane in St. Matthews. Elmwood is a magnificent historic landmark home built around 1859 and is only one of several remaining historic Herr Houses in Jefferson County. The Designers’ Show House will include 25 design areas with over 5,000 square feet and feature interiors designed by over 30 Louisville-area designers. Tickets are $12 and available at the door. All proceeds benefit the Bellarmine Student Financial Aid Fund.

Abell Awarded Scholarship

The Kentucky Broadcasters Association has awarded junior Communication major Heather Abell a $1000 scholarship for the 2007-2008 year. Heather has had her own radio program at "The Big Dog" radio station in Campbellsville and recently completed an internship with Clear Channel radio in Louisville. Congratulations to Heather!

Accounting Alumni Luncheon to Honor Gronefeld

The Bellarmine University Rubel School of Business will honor Ralph G. Gronefeld, Jr., as its 2007 Accounting Alumnus of the Year at the school’s 23rd Annual Accounting Alumni Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 20. The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Frazier Hall In addition to recognizing the accounting alumnus of the year, the luncheon will provide a forum to introduce accounting scholarship recipients and allow Bellarmine accounting graduates to network and get reacquainted with Bellarmine’s accounting program. Gronefeld, who graduated from Bellarmine in 1981, now serves as president and chief executive officer of ResCare, a Louisville-based, publicly-traded human services company. He joined ResCare in 1995 as director of internal audit and has held a variety positions since that time. Prior to his service to ResCare, Gronefeld served as president of Total Color, a Louisville graphic arts firm. For more information and reservations, call 502-272-8240.

Isabella Mae Owen

Congratulations to Ann Olsen and David Owen, proud parents of Isabella Mae Owen, who was born on August 8. She weighed 7lbs, 8oz.

Elizabeth Clarie Keith

Congratulations to Emily and Tom Keith on the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Claire Keith, who became a new Knight weighing 8lb 3oz.

Cole Edward Wiegandt

Congratulations to Scott and Danielle Wiegandt, who welcomed Cole Edward into their family July 19th.

Pearson publications

Dr. Paul M. Pearson has published the following works:

Publications:

“‘Beyond the Shadow and the Disguise’: The Zen Photography of Thomas Merton.” Thomas Merton and Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness and Everyday Mind. Edited by Bonnie B. Thurston. (Louisville: Fons Vitae, 2007): 176-197.

“Merton and Buddhism: A Bibliography.” Thomas Merton and Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness and Everyday Mind. Edited by Bonnie B. Thurston. (Louisville: Fons Vitae, 2007): 243-255.

Academic Papers

Mark C. Meade – “A Civil Rights Protest in Reverse: A Correspondence Course by Merton in Contemplative Dialogue.” Presented at the 10th International Thomas Merton Society Conference, Memphis, TN., June 7-10, 2007.

“Wide Open to Heaven and Earth: Community, Culture, Contemplation.” Presidential Address for the 10th International Thomas Merton Society Conference, Memphis, TN., June 7-10, 2007.

“A Wide Open Lens: The Photography of Thomas Merton.” Presented at the 10th International Thomas Merton Society Conference, Memphis, TN., June 7-10, 2007.

Dr. Pearson has also resumed the role of Program Chair for the 11th International Thomas Merton Society Conference to be held at Nazareth College, Rochester, NY., from June 11-14, 2009.

Barnett Brings Film Festival to BU

Please join me in congratulating Kyle Barnett on receiving a grant from the French American Cultural Exchange to bring the Tournées Festival, a French-language film festival, to the Bellarmine campus this fall. The Tournées Festival will also serve to launch Bellarmine’s new Undergraduate Film Association, which will file as a registered student organization this fall with Dr. Barnett as faculty advisor. Weekly screening dates on campus will begin in late September and finish in early November. A complete film listing, with screening dates, places, and times, will be available soon.

Lansing School Achievements

Dr. Sherill Cronin co-authored an article with Joy Knight of the Kentucky Hospital Association. Knight, J. M. & Cronin, S. N. (2007). Enhancing patient care delivery systems through improved nursing engagement. KBNursing Connection, 12-26-29.

Monica Ruiz Key was selected as a national "Scholarship America" recipient for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Twenty-eight Senior nursing students supervised by Professor Pat McEachron provided health care to over 150 children and young adults at the National Spina Bifida Conference Summer 2007 in Louisville.

Lansing School alumna Erika Kravic, BSN, RN of the Office of Child Advocacy, Kosair Children's Hospital was inducted into the Atherton High School Hall of Fame, April 2007 for recognition of her work for children's rights. Erika serves as coordinator for Safe Kids Louisville and Jefferson County.

Congratulations to Dr. Christy Kane on completing her dissertation defense for the doctoral degree in Student Personnel from the University of Louisville.

Professor Tony Brosky co-authored with Dr. Ron Scott the article titled, "Professional Competence in Physical Therapy" published in Journal of Allied Health, Summer 2007.

Dr. Gina Pariser authored "Physical Therapy Management of a Manual Laborer Following a Modified Radical Neck Dissection, in Rehabilitation Oncology, Summer 2007.

A Friendly Reminder About Parking

With the fall semester underway, we encourage you to park on campus lots and not on neighborhood streets. As Bellarmine University continues to grow, it is as important as ever for us to respect our neighbors. We are increasing our parking capacity as we grow. Please park on campus. If special events or other circumstances require you to park on a residential street, please remain courteous to our Highlands neighbors. To avoid being ticketed or towed, park legally and do not block driveways. Thank you.

A Dedication To Service

We have completed the audit of service hours for the 2006-07 school year and are happy to report that 34 faculty and staff, 23 student organizations, 5 service trips, and 22 Bellarmine Volunteer Days bring our total service hours to 21, 673. The Independent Sector’s 2006 estimated dollar value for a volunteer hour is $18.77. Combined with the Relay for Life donations, this brings our estimated contribution to $442,802.21. Congratulations and thank you to all of you.

President's Update Suggestions

If you have a suggestion for an item for the President's Update, please send it to Jim Welp in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.