1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Seamus Carey

Transylvania hires VP for advancement

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University has hired Martin W. Smith to serve as vice president for advancement. Smith comes to Transylvania from Illinois Wesleyan University, where as vice president for advancement he increased total giving by more than $10 million in the past five years. “I’m excited for this opportunity to help Transylvania prosper as one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges,” Smith said. “I’ll work hard to ensure not only that current and future Pioneers continue to receive the resources needed for the best possible education, but also that alumni maintain strong bonds with the university that made them who they are today.” Smith will begin at Transylvania on Aug. 1. At Illinois Wesleyan he led the largest campaign in the school’s history, raising $141 million for scholarships, professorships, facilities and the endowment. Smith’s duties at Transylvania will include securing major gifts, endowed support and annual giving; helping lead the university’s upcoming major capital campaign; and overseeing Transylvania’s development, alumni and parent programs. Additionally, he will foster relations with businesses and organizations and serve on the president’s cabinet, where he will contribute to decisions that affect the university as a whole. Smith’s extensive experience in higher education includes serving as vice president for university advancement at Ottawa (Kan.) University, where he also was director of major gifts, campaigns, development, athletics and public relations. Additionally, he was director of athletics for Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. Smith earned a Bachelor

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Transylvania graduates 270 students May 28

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—On Saturday, May 28, Transylvania University sent 270 students into the world—Pioneers who are specially prepared to start their careers or continue their studies at graduate and professional schools. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray gave the commencement address to the students. Gray’s late mother, Lois Howard Gray, is a 1940 Transylvania graduate and was a member of the Board of Trustees for 22 years. “We welcome Mayor Jim Gray to campus as an obvious choice for our commencement speaker,” President Seamus Carey said. “Transylvania is an integral part of Lexington, and the city—with its plentiful internships and other opportunities—complements our mission as a top-100 national liberal arts university.” The class of 2016 received their degrees during the 9 a.m. ceremony in front of the historic Old Morrison administration building. Fellow classmate Mary Katharine Stewart, who passed away March 19 in a hiking accident, was awarded her Spanish degree posthumously. Senior Kevin Moore—a religion major from Lexington—gave the student address. Class of 2016 honors Thirty-four percent of the graduating seniors are receiving program honors, and 32 percent are receiving Latin honors for a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5. Forty-seven percent of the graduates studied abroad during their careers—either for a full term, a summer or during Transylvania’s four-week May term. Two seniors received Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships, one to teach in Macedonia and one in the Slovak Republic. Three of the 24 national Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society graduate fellowships were awarded to Transylvania seniors. Senior Reza Haider

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Transylvania VPs selected for leadership programs

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Two Transylvania University vice presidents have been accepted to leadership programs that will give them valuable training and an active role in local and national government and education issues. Holly Sheilley, vice president for student affairs and athletic director, is one of 23 senior-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges to participate in the 2016-17 Executive Leadership Academy. The program is designed to prepare educators to eventually serve as effective college presidents. “I am excited about the opportunity to learn and grow,” Sheilley said. “I appreciate the CIC and President Seamus Carey allowing me to participate.” The academy includes summer seminars in Washington, D.C., readings, webinars and a mentoring program. Sheilley will develop an experiential learning plan focused on specific areas of presidential responsibility. “Competition for the available places in the program was intense,” CIC President Richard Ekman said. “The review committee found the nomination materials to be most impressive. They and I believe that Dr. Sheilley has the potential for highly effective leadership as a college or university president.” Laura Bryan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university, has been accepted into the 2016 Leadership Kentucky class. The program brings together a select group of people who possess a broad variety of leadership abilities and career accomplishments to prepare them to take charge in advancing the state for the common good. “I am honored to be selected for the 2016 class

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Season of Choice

Posted on by President Seamus Carey

The following originally appeared in The Huffington Post. Each year at this time, high school seniors and their families wait for acceptance letters from colleges and then agonize over the choice of where to go. This decision-making process has become a time of deep anxiety for many families. In some circles, this anxiety is generated by the emphasis that has been put on the prestige of the school one attends. In other circles, families fret over the cost of higher education and fear that their child will be overwhelmed by loans. For still other families, there is the fear that their child will struggle to find rewarding work at a reasonable wage. This year, the decision-making season is amplified by two presidential primaries. These political races indicate a widespread sense of alienation among the electorate. Non-traditional candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump could not be further apart on many issues, yet their success in attracting voters thus far seems to derive from an almost universal frustration and anger in both parties with their respective political establishment.

Transylvania to host U.S. Naturalization Ceremony on Friday

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University will welcome about 150 immigrants from more than 50 countries for a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony at noon Friday, March 11. During the ceremony in Haggin Auditorium, they will take the Oath of Allegiance, completing their path to American citizenship. The public is welcome to attend. “We are proud and honored to host this event, as it aligns specifically with our Project One initiative,” said Serenity Wright, associate dean of diversity and international student experiences. “We support and encourage these new citizens for what they will add to the beautiful fabric of diversity that is the United States, and we embrace them as they take this step.” Chief U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell will preside over the ceremony. She is a 1977 Transylvania graduate and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. The ceremony will include a Call of Countries, a patriotic music melody by Transylvania organist Richard Dwyer and a rendition of “America the Beautiful” by a university a cappella group, Grace Notes. Speakers will include Transylvania senior Vivian Tsai, who is a naturalized citizen from Taiwan, and university President Seamus Carey. “Transylvania’s mission is to create global citizens through a liberal arts education and to empower our students with perseverance, integrity and opportunities for diversity and community outreach,” Wright said. “This ceremony represents our core mission, values and institutional initiatives.” Haggin Auditorium is in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. Free,

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