1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Seamus Carey

Transylvania, Lexington Forum to host mayoral debate Wednesday

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University students will get a first-hand look at the democratic process during a campus mayoral debate co-hosted by the Lexington Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Carrick Theater. Incumbent Mayor Jim Gray and challenger, former Lexington Police Chief Anthany Beatty, will answer questions submitted by students and Forum members during the event, which LEX18 and WEKU will broadcast live. Gray is vying for his second term in the Nov. 4 general election. The debate host will be LEX18 anchor Nancy Cox, and the moderator will be Tom Martin, Herald-Leader columnist, Transylvania staff member and Forum board member. While each campaign has been provided with a general list of related topics, they were not given specific questions.  “Hosting the mayoral debate on campus demonstrates to our students and our college community the importance of public dialog relating to local issues and the importance of participating in the democratic process,” Transylvania President Seamus Carey said. Molly Sutherland, president of the Lexington Forum, said her group is “all about the healthy discussion and analysis of community and regional issues. We always look for opportunities to host conversations that bring differing points of view into the open. This mayoral debate is a perfect example. And where more appropriate than this campus dedicated to the civic engagement of tomorrow’s leaders?” Doors will close at 6:50 p.m., and the debate will start at 7 sharp. Free tickets are available to members of the Forum

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Transylvania University enters new era with groundbreaking

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Transylvania University community celebrated the construction of a new residence hall during a noontime groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 5. The event signaled the beginning of a total renovation of the university’s student residential accommodations. “The construction of this building is the first step toward the replacement and improvement of Transylvania’s oldest student housing,” said William T. Young, chairman of the Transylvania University Board of Trustees. “The new residence hall will offer suite accommodations for students with common study and activity areas. The brick structure will be consistent with Transylvania’s traditional architecture.” The $7 million facility, scheduled to open in the fall of 2015, is one of two new housing facilities planned by the university as part of a strategic plan to modernize and encourage more students to reside on campus. “As we turn the earth today, we demonstrate our commitment to a residential learning experience that fully supports our liberal arts mission,” Transylvania President Seamus Carey said. “The design of our new residence facilities recognizes an integral relationship between the environments of living and learning. I look forward to standing here with you again in 2015 when together we will cut a ribbon and open a new era of campus life at Transylvania University.” The historic Transylvania campus is located in one of Lexington’s oldest neighborhoods, represented on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council by Chris Ford. “These new on-campus residence halls will enhance the Transy student’s living and

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Education and Innovation: Time for a Change

Posted on by President Seamus Carey

The following originally appeared in The Huffington Post. Throughout America, there’s a persistent national debate about the value of a liberal arts education. A day seldom passes when a new study doesn’t appear about student debt, unemployed graduates, the need for professional training and, the perennial question, “Who needs to study Plato anyway?” What we once took for granted in higher education has been turned on its head. The scrutiny of the liberal arts comes at a time when the economic performance of the United States has been languishing for more than six years. As a result, colleges are not only being forced to control costs but also to innovate and invest more in their students to keep up with the competition. For a university to be competitive nowadays, it must offer more than a good education. At many schools, large sums of donor dollars are being funneled into infrastructure projects, such as new dormitories, dining halls, fitness centers and even state-of-the-art climbing walls, which supporters justify as necessary to attract the best students.

Dean search continues Transylvania’s leadership transformation

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON Ky.—As part of a broader leadership transformation that began with selecting a new president, Transylvania University has begun a search for a vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university. Michael J. Bell is serving as interim vice president and dean of the university. The new dean will help lead the campus community as the school carries out the Transylvania 2020 strategic plan—a roadmap that provides a vision and direction for enhancing student success and curricular innovation. A member of the executive cabinet, the dean is responsible for enriching and expanding academic programs while overseeing the university’s library, writing center, study abroad program, first-year academic experience, and career development and registrar offices. As the university enters a bold new era, it is looking for a dean who is not only an accomplished scholar, educator and administrator—but also someone with a strong commitment to liberal education, shared governance and collegial problem solving. The dean will work closely with President Seamus Carey, who already has made an impact in his first few weeks at Transylvania with the introduction of his new mentoring program, 100 Doors to Success. The initiative pairs first-year students with alumni who can share insights into building successful careers. For more information, visit https://www.transy.edu/about/employment.htm.

Transylvania hires Gatton College’s marketing director for VP position

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University has named Michele Gaither Sparks as its first vice president for marketing and communications. Sparks, who has worked in higher education for more than two decades, has served as director of marketing communications for the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics for the past nine years. She will start at Transylvania on Aug. 18. “I am thrilled to be joining the Transylvania community,” Sparks said. “By creating this new vice president position, President Seamus Carey has made a strong statement about the importance of branding and marketing for the university. I am excited to be working alongside him and the members of the communications and marketing team to take Transy to the next level in its marketing strategies.” At UK’s Gatton College, Sparks created and implemented the “Gatton United” capital campaign to raise $65 million for the expansion and renovation of the Gatton College facility. Additionally, she oversees all marketing and communications efforts for the college, as well as its major events, which have brought to campus state and international government officials, prominent CEOs and local business leaders. Prior to working at UK, Sparks was the director of communications at Asbury Theological Seminary, where she managed the seminary’s marketing and advertising efforts, as well as media relations. Additionally, she spearheaded an image and brand overhaul of Asbury’s three main campuses. “Michele’s extensive experience in higher education marketing and communications will be a superb asset

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