1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Charles L. Shearer

Transylvania receives $2.9 million gift from 1937 graduate; second largest estate gift in school’s history

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University has received a $2.9 million bequest from the estate of Margaret J. Lewis. This is the second largest estate gift in Transylvania’s history. The late Mrs. Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from Transylvania in 1937, with an English major and French and biology minors. “Mrs. Lewis cared deeply about Transylvania and her wish was to establish a professorship or a named scholarship,” said President Charles L. Shearer. “Raising funds to support student scholarships and faculty endowed chairs are both goals of our 225th Anniversary Campaign. We will consider several options before deciding how to best honor Margaret’s memory and wishes.”   Mrs. Lewis grew up outside Chicago and moved to South Carrollton, Ky., as she was entering high school. Richard Valentine, vice president for alumni and development, said that Mrs. Lewis met her husband, Ed, during a trip to Europe following her graduation from Transy. “Mr. Lewis spent the majority of his career teaching at the University of Illinois, and their nearly $6 million estate was split between Transylvania and the University of Illinois,” said Valentine. After retirement, the Lewises lived in Laguna Beach, Calif., for over 30 years. “We are pleased that Mrs. Lewis’s Transylvania education meant so much to her and are grateful that more than 70 years after she graduated, she will have such a positive impact on her alma mater,” Valentine said.

Transylvania University names Marc Mathews vice president for finance and business

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON. Ky.—Transylvania President Charles L. Shearer announced today that Marc A. Mathews will join the University February 23 as vice president for finance and business. He succeeds Jerry Ray, who has been chief financial officer for 25 years and will continue in a part-time advisory capacity for several months to assure continuity and a smooth transition of leadership. Mathews brings 28 years of experience in accounting and financial management, most recently at the University of Kentucky, where he has been treasurer since January 2008, and was controller from 2004-08 and senior associate controller from 1998-2004. He previously worked in auditing and financial management at PricewaterhouseCoopers; Ross, Sinclaire & Associates; Century Offshore Management; and Coopers & Lybrand. As vice president for finance and business, Mathews will serve as chief financial officer and will oversee the operation of the physical plant and the offices of finance and accounting, information technology, campus safety, purchasing, telecommunications, human resources, and financial aid, as well as all contracted services such as the bookstore and food service. Mathews is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. He has been active in community organizations including the United Way, the International Book Project, and Volunteer Center of the Bluegrass. He is national treasurer of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honorary. Mathews is a 1980 Transylvania graduate and a former member of its Alumni Executive Board. He

Read “Transylvania University names Marc Mathews vice president for finance and business”

Transylvania University among schools recognized as leaders of educational excellence in the 2008-09 edition of “Colleges of Distinction”

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University has been selected to appear in the admissions guidebook “Colleges of Distinction.” Wesley L. Creel, president and founder of Colleges of Distinction, says that the schools chosen for this honor are some of the very best in the country. “What they all share is that they are great places to get an education,” he said. Approximately 40 colleges in each of the six geographical regions in the U.S. were selected as meeting four key criteria that make a college truly exceptional: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes. Selections were determined by a review board of academicians, guidance counselors and parents. “We are pleased with the complimentary review of Transylvania,” said President Charles L. Shearer. “We take great pride in engaging our students, in having excellent professors and in the successful outcomes of our alumni.” “Colleges of Distinction” praised Transylvania for its internship program and cited recent examples of students who had internships with a member of the Scottish Parliament, at the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention in Atlanta, at McGraw-Hill in New York City and locally at Lexmark International, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers and numerous law firms and medical centers. The book says that “Transylvania graduates are known for their ability to think critically and to use inquiry to explore themselves and the world around them,” and mentions the university’s extensive study abroad and May term programs. Shedding light on Transylvania’s great teaching, the book says

Read “Transylvania University among schools recognized as leaders of educational excellence in the 2008-09 edition of “Colleges of Distinction””

2008 Governor’s School for the Arts session begins Sunday, June 22

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A record number of Kentucky’s best young artists will gather on the Transylvania campus on Sunday to begin the three-week 2008 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. The latest GSA class includes 241 rising juniors and seniors from all corners of the Commonwealth, including 15 in a new discipline called “New Media,” which will focus on more recent forms of art communication, including animation, video production, and digital imagery. The student-artists will receive intense instruction in a total of nine areas. Along with New Media, those disciplines are Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. Educational experience is gained through a variety of daily seminars, master-classes, lectures, hands-on workshops, and field trips to regional arts attractions. More than 3,500 of the state’s most talented high school artists from 120 counties have attended the 21-year-old GSA summer program following a challenging selection process. Over 1,300 students apply for the program each year for one of the available scholarships valued at over $3,000. Currently, 18 colleges and universities, including Transylvania, offer scholarships to GSA alumni. The program will culminate on Saturday, July 12 with an all-day festival that celebrates the achievements of the young artists through performances that are open to family and the public. Corporate and government supporters of the program and the GSA Advisory Board have also been invited to attend the day-long pre-finals rehearsals on Friday, July

Read “2008 Governor’s School for the Arts session begins Sunday, June 22”

Transylvania’s president of 25 years, Dr. Charles L. Shearer, profiled in Lexington Herald-Leader

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

The Lexington Herald-Leader featured Transylvania University president Charles L. Shearer on the same day as the University’s Commencement. The article by reporter Art Jester profiled Shearer and his 25 years as president: In the nearly 25 years that Charles L. Shearer has been president of Transylvania University, the 228-year-old liberal arts college has grown stronger and better in every respect, largely due to him. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime president,” said William T. Young Jr., chairman of Transylvania’s board of trustees. “I don’t think most people realize Transylvania has been transformed under his leadership.” By any measurement — students, faculty, alumni, scholarships, geographical diversity, facilities or fund-raising — Transylvania is far different than it was in the troubled hour when Shearer took office on July 8, 1983. Transylvania had been through three presidents in three years. Shearer immediately restored stability and confidence, as well as ambition. Continue reading the full article