AU Alumni News, May 2021

President John Pistole Named to CCCU Board

Anderson University President John S. Pistole has recently been named to the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board.

Pistole is one of 19 members on the Board of Directors. After being approached by President Shirley V. Hoogstra to prayerfully consider having his name put forth as a candidate, Pistole agreed and was then voted in as a new board member, effective March 2021 for a three-year term.

“I am honored to have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities,” said Pistole. “The CCCU works hard in D.C. to ensure that issues important to Christian colleges and universities, like Anderson University, are represented and communicated well to Congress and the Administration. AU has been a member of the CCCU for over 10 years.”

Read more here.

AU Announced As One of Indiana’s Best Colleges of 2021

Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced its Top 41 Colleges In Indiana for 2021. Indiana has 56 colleges and universities, and 41 were ranked as the best colleges in the state. Anderson University has received a ranking of #17 on this list, and has additionally been ranked the top school for an education in nursing.

Check out the full article.

AU's Master's of Music Education Ranked Top 10 in Nation

The Anderson University Master of Music Education (MME) program has been ranked the seventh-best program in the nation according to Best Value Schools. A total of 15 schools made the list and AU was the lone school from the state of Indiana.

“Our MME program has grown significantly in reputation, size, and reach, bringing students to AU from across the country and around the world,” said Dr. Jeff Wright, dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “We provide students with the tools they need to be better teachers, while also challenging them to become leaders in the field of music education through their research and scholarship. Our students learn from internationally known master teachers who teach alongside our distinguished AU faculty. The result is a transformational degree program.”

Check out the AU blog to read more about this distinction.

AU Signs Transfer Articulation with Vincennes University for Engineering

Anderson University has announced a new transfer articulation agreement with Vincennes University for engineering. This articulation agreement will allow Vincennes students who complete their associate of science degree in mechanical or electrical and computer engineering to enroll at Anderson and finish their bachelor of science degree in one of AU’s ABET-accredited disciplines in two years. These students will be able to major in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering at AU.

“We think we may be an excellent fit for some of these transfer students, as our top priorities are providing high-impact, hands-on experiences and developing relationships and community with our students,” said Dr. Ben McPheron, chair of AU’s physical sciences and engineering.

Learn more about this exciting opportunity here.

AU Hosts Omega Lectures

Each year's Omega Lectures are given by retiring faculty members. Presenters this year included Dr. Scott Borders, Dr. MaryAnn Hawkins, Dr. Kevin Radaker, Dr. Fritz Robertson, and Dr. Rick Sowers.

Recordings of the Omega Lectures can be found here.

Best wishes and God's blessings to all of our retiring faculty and staff members including the faculty members listed above, Prof. Inge Baird, Dr. Rebecca Haskett, Dr. Diana Jones, David Crump, Crysti Luna, and Tammy McLaughlin (earlier this year).

AU Scholars' Day 2021
By Rebekah Corwin '21

Anderson University is an institution committed to academic excellence and preparing students for a life of faith and service, and students from each of the seven areas of study are invited to display their research. 2021 Scholars' Day featured projects from the Department of Physical Science and Engineering, Department of Psychology, School of Theology and Christian Ministries, Department of Mathematics, Department of Education, Department of Computer Science, School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Department of Mathematics, Department of Biology, Department of History and Political Science, Department of Kinesiology, Falls School Business, Department of Social Work, Criminal Justice and Family Science, Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures, and School of Nursing.

All of the seven areas of study are given spots for their students to present; however, this is not your average science fair. AU students are doing groundbreaking research under the guidance of their professors with some students going on to professionally publish their research.

AU Scholars' Day was hosted on April 26, 2021. Students and professors were delighted to have Scholars’ day in person with precautions. AU Scholars’ day is an event that students can add to their resume and speak to future employers. Students researchers spoke to those interested in their research. The opportunity allows students to practice presenting their research one-on-one in a conversational setting.

AU students put many hours into their projects, and most projects span across two semesters. You can view the student projects using this link.

Intramural Programming at AU in 2020/2021
By Tori Phelps ‘21

Fighting for the prize of the coveted IM Champion t-shirt, students gather together to compete for the title. Anderson University has a reputation for having great intramural sports teams. The IM program exists to strengthen the campus community by getting students involved. On campus, there are 16 IM sports offered as well as four tournaments throughout the year.

Melissa Bond recently joined the team in the CAB office as the Coordinator of Student Engagement. Her role is to oversee the staff and help train student leaders for CAB and IM programming.

She explained that the IM program at AU is already top-notch and ranks in the top 25 programs nationally. Although the program has a solid foundation, the team is always looking to add more sports.

COVID-19 has played a major role in how the program was able to play out during the 2020-21 school year. The first three seasons were canceled, but season four was a go. Instead of the traditional season four events, the team decided to combine some favorites. Additional safety precautions were taken during the events including masks, sanitation, and social distancing.
The goal of the IM program is to give an opportunity to every student to engage in on-campus activities. “We want to give college students the experience in the community to build relationships, grow friendships and create memories,” Bond added.

Dr. Michael Roberts
By Rebekah Corwin '21

Dr. Michael Roberts BA '97 came to Anderson University (AU) with his eyes on the prize. He was determined to go to medical school following his undergraduate education. Roberts pursued a degree in biology on a pre-med track, but he gained more than just his degree during his time at AU. He met his future wife, Nicole (Dunn) BA '97, and, he “learned to have the heart of a servant. I was able to go on multiple Tri-S trips like Belize and Jamaica, where I learned to serve,” he said.

In addition to finding his future wife and learned how to serve others, AU was the first place he became a leader. During his time as football captain and president of Gamma Chi, he honed his leadership skills.

These leadership qualities have served him well in his career. After graduating from AU in 1997, he moved back to his home state and attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He is now a practicing hospitalist at East Alabama Medical Center in his hometown Opelika, AL.

When Roberts is not working, he is spending time with his wife and two sons. He enjoys anything that gets him outdoors. His favorite hobby is cycling, and he also enjoys skiing, something he picked up during his time at AU. Roberts reminisced, “every spring break, my friends and I would drive to Colorado and go skiing all week.”

Beyond learning how to ski, the relationships formed and lessons learned while at Anderson University have impacted Dr. Roberts' life.

Be sure to check out Dr. Roberts' ECHOES episode here to learn more about his career and his recent appointment to Chief of Staff at East Alabama Medical Center.

The Show Must Go On

The Anderson University School of Music, Theatre, and Dance announced the release of a four-episode podcast featuring musical theatre students performing with Broadway actors in an original murder mystery, “The Show Must Go On: A Musical Mystery at Sea.” The first episode debuted on May 3 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes released each day through May 6. The show is part of the New Works and New Media initiative led by AU’s musical theatre director, David Coolidge.

The show was developed in collaboration with a creative team based in New York City, including: Sam Balzac as composer/lyricist, Cody Stiglich BA '16 as the book writer and podcast editor, and Stacey Schiller BA '16 as the director. Broadway performers Jill Abramovitz and Aaron Lazar performed alongside AU’s musical theatre students. Jill Abramovitz was most recently seen on Broadway in the Tony-nominated show “Beetlejuice,” and Aaron Lazar is best known for his work in “The Last Ship” and the revival of “A Little Night Music.”

Alumni Award Nominations Now Open!

It's that time of year again! We are accepting nominations for our annual AU Alumni Awards.

Do you know an AU alum who has distinguished themselves through service, personal, or professional achievement? Nominate them with our nomination form here.

For a full list of awards and the criteria, please visit our website. All nominations must be submitted by July 1. Each recipient of an AU Alumni Award will be recognized at Homecoming.

Anderson Symphony Orchestra featuring Jon McLaughlin and Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin on June 5.

Hometown legend Jon McLaughlin BA '05 returns to the Anderson Symphony Orchestra with sister-in-law Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin BA '01 on June 5 at 7 p.m. at Madison Park Church of God. This concert will highlight new and memorable music you will love with two incredible performing artists. This last decade has taken Anderson native Jon McLaughlin around the world. From the Academy Awards, to sharing the stage with Billy Joel, Adele, Sara Bareilles, and Kelly Clarkson he’s been bringing his music from one end of the earth to the other. Sarah’s voice can be heard on local and national commercials and has been featured on two Emmy Award-winning TV series. She has collaborated and performed with Grammy Award-winning artists and countless others.

Purchase tickets here to see Jon McLaughlin and Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin on June 5. Tickets must be purchased prior to May 28.

AU Alumni at Victory Field, July 16

Batter up! Join the AU Alumni Office and your fellow central Indiana AU alumni for a picnic and Indians game at Victory Field on Friday, July 16. The picnic begins at 6 p.m., and the game begins at 7:05.

AU-discounted tickets are $20 for adults and children above 3 years of age. Children 2 years and under are not required to have a ticket to enter. Tickets are required for entry to the ballpark and picnic; wristbands will be required upon entry to the picnic. The $20 ticket price covers your ticket for the game AND your meal at the picnic.

No more than 6 tickets will be allowed per order. Your tickets will be emailed to you on Monday, July 12. We will have your wristbands at the game for you to enter the picnic patio.

For questions, please contact the AU Alumni Office at alumni@anderson.edu or drop us a note in the comment box when you purchase your tickets.

Tickets are limited and may be purchased here by June 28.

Work at AU!

Anderson University has many full-time faculty, staff, and graduate assistant positions open including:

Accounting, Tenure Track, Falls School of Business
Community/Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing
Director of Simulation, School of Nursing
Adult & Graduate Recruiter, Office of Adult & Graduate Admissions
Assistant Coach, Women’s Basketball / Head Coach, Women’s Golf, Athletics Department
Assistant Football Coach–Offense, Athletics Department
Campus Pastor, Department of Student Life
Director of Cultural Resource Center, Department of Student Life
Financial Aid Counselor, Adult & Graduate Students, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Head Coach Women’s Basketball, Athletics Department
MBA Director, Falls School of Business
Resident Director for Female Residence Hall, Department of Student Life
Student Accounts Representative, Business Office
Undergraduate Admissions Counselor, Office of Admissions
Various Graduate Assistant positions

To learn more about any of these openings and to complete an application, please visit the AU website.