Published July 14, 2017
A New Era Begins
With excitement and Tiger pride, the Wittenberg community officially welcomed Dr. Michael Frandsen as its 15th president on July 1. “We all play a role in helping students find their passions and in empowering and equipping them to lead meaningful lives and contribute to the world,” Frandsen said. “I’m confident that together we will inspire even more students to choose Wittenberg, re-engage more alumni in our future, and redefine excellence for generations.”
M.A. In Coaching
The world doesn't need coaches who fill the seat; it needs coaches who fulfill the mission of coaching, which is exactly what Wittenberg's new M.A. in Athletic Coaching program does. By providing consistent encouragement, the program pushes students to go beyond the X's and O's and to understand the full range of skills needed to be a successful coach at any level.
Water Polo
Sivan Pardon, former head women's coach for the Offshore Water Polo Club and Trojan Water Polo Club in California, has been named Wittenberg's first head women's water polo coach. Wittenberg's program will be the 18th in NCAA Division III. The team will compete in the spring with the Collegiate Water Polo Association championships held in April.
Interfaith Award
In recognition of its impact on campus, the student organization Interfaith Committee was honored with the Rookie of the Year award from the Interfaith Youth Core. Events such as the Candlelight Peace and Unity Gathering following the presidential election and “food for thought” luncheons have brought the campus together for discussions about spiritual and religious perspectives and experiences.
Wittenberg Guild
Wittenberg Guild Board President Erin Ristau recently presented President Mike Frandsen with a check for $28,590 for the Guild's Martha Rodgers Scholarship Fund to benefit local students attending Wittenberg. The funds were raised through a scholarship campaign and the organization’s annual style show.
Teaching Excellence
Ceramist Honored
Professor of Art Scott Dooley, whose work has been exhibited internationally, has been selected to receive the Edith B. and Frank C. Matthies Award for 2017. He plans to use the $1,000 stipend to experiment with surface decoration and design in the ceramic media, techniques that will benefit both his own research and artistic production as well as his ceramics courses.
Alumni In The News / #LifeAfterWitt
John Chowning ’59BM, composer and discoverer of the algorithm of FM synthesis, was recently featured in an online news article about his discovery that changed music-making. The FM algorithm led to the creation of the Yamaha DX7 Digital Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer, used by Elton John, Quincy Jones and Chick Corea and a major influence in the sounds of 1980s music.
David Herzog ’06 has found success in film and voiceover work, including an EE Mobile Phones commercial with Kevin Bacon, a music video for the band Rudimental that features Ed Sheeran, a promotional video for Head and Shoulders Shampoo, and an online commercial for Pepperidge. Following Wittenberg, Herzog received his M.A. in acting from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Meet The Board
The three members of the Wittenberg Board of Directors featured in this edition are: Robert “Bob” Merzweiler ’76, Ronald M. Szuch ’87 and James “Jim” Wade ’69.
Merzweiler is the chairman and CEO of Landmark Plastic Corporation, an Akron-based firm he founded in 1984. The company focuses primarily in horticultural plant packaging and actively participates in sustainability efforts, including collection and usage of recycled plastics. He is a member of the Ohio Foundation for Independent Colleges and has been a member of the Akron Roundtable, the Akron Community Foundation, the Akron General Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Info Line Inc. Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Vicki, live in Akron.
Szuch is president and CEO of Union Capital Mortgage Corp. in the Cleveland/Akron area, which focuses mainly on providing residential loans to individuals. A member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, he is a steward of the current Health, Wellness and Athletics Restoration and Expansion Initiative. He lives in the Sarasota, Fla., area.
Wade spent most of his career as a senior broadcast journalist with the BBC World News in London, England. This position entailed both work within the BBC London newsrooms as well as locations across the globe, including Peru and Japan. Since his return to the United States two years ago, he has volunteered with the Wittenberg Offices of University Communications, Admission and Advancement, serving as chair of the Cincinnati HWA committee and with the Tiger Career Network.