On October 17, Huntington University officially announced that it is in the midst of a comprehensive $40,000,000 campaign. The campaign, called Step Forward, was the cause for celebration on campus Thursday.
“The comprehensive campaign has already instituted new programs and built state-of-the-art facilities,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “Since 2014, we have added a doctoral program in occupational therapy, an agricultural studies program, an undergraduate occupational therapy assistant program and a Master of Business Administration program and have established the Arizona Center for Digital Media Arts in Peoria, Arizona.”
Huntington University has also renovated Forest Glen Park, built the Welcome Center and Office of Admissions space and added the Ware Plant Science Production Facility to the Dowden Science Hall through the campaign.
“The University has experienced considerable momentum in the campaign that has increased the University’s program offerings, brought in new students and enabled us to best serve Foresters in Indiana and Arizona,” said Emberton.
With the campaign ongoing, however, there is even more work still underway.
“With the public launch of the Step Forward campaign, we are ready to take some of our biggest steps yet to usher in the future of Huntington University,” said Stephen Weingart, vice president for university advancement. “Construction will soon begin that will reimagine the Huntington Union Building (HUB), creating a beautiful and inviting gathering space for Foresters for years to come.” The HUB has been at the heart of Huntington University’s campus since the building was completed in 1968. While the space has changed to suit shifting needs over the years, the reimagined HUB will establish the HUB as a student center for organized and impromptu student gatherings, the original intention of the building.
Plans are also underway to transform the Merillat Athletic Complex & Fieldhouse (Plex) into a space with increased accessibility and functionality for athletes, spectators and student, staff and community users. For more information about the Step Forward comprehensive campaign, please visit huntington.edu/StepForward.
Huntington University has once again hosted elementary school students from Huntington County as part of the Huntington County Promise’s Walk into My Future event. This was the sixth year the University has taken part in the event.
The University hosted 450 kindergarten students from the Huntington County Community School Corporation and Huntington Catholic School. Students toured stations hosted by academic departments that introduced them through engaging activities to the discipline of the host department. The event included a “mobile” photo booth, where Norm, the Huntington University mascot, and University athletes took photos with students as a way to commemorate the day.
Huntington University is proud to have had this opportunity to engage with the larger Huntington community through fun and education.
“This event is just a small portion of all of the events, activities, and initiatives planned to encourage students and families to start looking ahead toward their student’s future,” said Tyanne Bailey, Huntington University’s director of graduate and undergraduate teacher education. “This is such a great opportunity for all involved, including our own campus!”
Dr. Ruth Nalliah, professor of chemistry at Huntington University, has helped shape chemistry education through the new laboratory experiment methods she recently described in the Journal of Chemical Education. Her paper, entitled “Reaction of FD&C Blue 1 with Sodium Percarbonate: Multiple Kinetics Methods Using an Inexpensive Light Meter,” was published in summer 2019.
Nalliah’s paper outlines an inexpensive, practical way to monitor degradation and undegraded concentration in dyes. Her new experiment methods also include an environmentally friendly reaction that degrades dyes in a way that follows mathematical equations well, making it easier for students to calculate and predict concentrations of undegraded dye.
“Without a lot of expensive equipment,” said Nalliah, “students can get much-needed practice with concepts that may later be used in other applications – to try to predict the concentration of medication remaining in a patient’s body, for example, or the concentration of a pharmaceutical pollutant remaining in river water, at any given time."
Now that Nalliah’s methods are available to lab manual publishers and lab instructors, students in entry-level college chemistry classes or advanced placement chemistry classes in high school will benefit.
“For years, similar experiments done in colleges and high schools have involved either reactions that take a long time or that require the preparation of many solutions,” said Nalliah. “We have optimized an easily-prepared reaction to be fast enough that students can explore more aspects of it in a shorter period of time while learning about the potential to develop a formulation from non-chlorinated bleaching products to start degrading not only dyes but also pharmaceutical pollutants prior to their release into the environment.”
A record-breaking Emmy nomination year for Huntington University Arizona got even better on Saturday, September 14, when the University took home four Student Production Awards from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Prior to the awards presentation, Huntington University Arizona student projects had received 11 total award nominations in seven categories for 2019: College Short Form Fiction, College Short Form Non Fiction, College Animation/Graphics/Special Effects, College Audio/Sound, College Director and College Photographer.
On September 14, six HU Arizona students and one 2019 alum claimed awards for College Audio/Sound, College Music Video, College Photographer and College Short Form Non Fiction.
“I think this is a direct reflection of the quality of our current programs and the hard work of our students,” said Phil Wilson, program director & assistant professor of film at Huntington University Arizona. “I am grateful to Lara Gates and the Rocky Mountain Emmys for continuing to offer this opportunity to validate our students and their work – many of whom have put in many, many hours on these projects.”
“Huntington's broadcast media students worked as a team using audio production and storytelling techniques to craft a unique story. Being acknowledged for their craft is a great way for students to gauge their work against that of their peers,” said Sean Gates, director of broadcast media at Huntington University Arizona.
Award Winners:
Huntington University Arizona opened its doors in 2016, welcoming students seeking a degree in digital media arts. The facility, a 30,000 square-foot building, houses bachelor’s degree programs in animation, film production, broadcast media and graphic design. The facility features film and TV studios, high-end computer classroom/labs, private editing suites, a state-of-the-art TV control room, Foley pit, a host of EFP and cinema cameras, and lighting gear for student production work.
On October 5, during Huntington University’s Homecoming Weekend celebration, the University will host a dedication service for “Tree of Life,” an original stainless steel sculpture by artist Dianna Thornhill Miller with collaborator Branden Thornhill-Miller.
“Tree of Life” comes to Huntington University as a gift from the Class of 2017 and will be situated outside the lower-level doors to the Merillat Centre for the Arts. In addition to referring to a historic religious design form that represents all creation, the “Tree of Life” at the University represents evolving growth in education and branches of creativity that mature and stretch into the future.
The base of the sculpture will also feature a quotation of Colossians 2:7, further connecting the sculpture to the mission of the University and the Class of 2017’s wishes.
Dianna Thornhill Miller is the president of Omni Art Design LLC. She is a nationally recognized artist based in the Midwest. With commissioned works located in public and corporate settings in both cultural environments and private collections in the United States and abroad, Dianna was the first woman artist to have a solo exhibition in the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
Huntington University’s dedication service for “Tree of Life” will take place at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, outside the lower level exit of the Merillat Centre for the Arts.
Huntington University and the Fort Wayne Komets have forged a corporate partnership that will benefit both Foresters who enjoy attending Komets games and Komets personnel who are pursuing higher education.
“We are thrilled to partner with Huntington University to promote the exceptional academic and growth opportunities available to undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree students so close to home,” said Scott Sproat, executive vice president, CRO, CMO and co-owner of the Fort Wayne Komets. “The Komets are committed to enhancing life in Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas, and Huntington University plays a vital role in the development of students from both near and far who become crucial to the propagation of excellence that our area enjoys.”
Through this partnership, Huntington University ID holders – including faculty, staff and students – will qualify for discounted Komets tickets to any game. Huntington University will also host charity nights at specific Komets games.
Komets employees and their families, including players, will now qualify for discounted tuition rates at the University. Huntington University has also become a key sponsor of the Komets’ podcast.
“This is a true symbiotic relationship for both the University and the Komets,” said Nathan Hawkins, director of graduate and adult admissions. “We are working cooperatively with the Komets to provide a benefit to both sides. As a University, we look forward to the opportunity to help Komets players, their spouses, and other Komets personnel pursue the next step in their education. This is truly a partnership.”
“With a recent HU graduate in my immediate family, I can promise you that Huntington University represents the very best in the promotion of a winning culture and a nurturing environment,” said Sproat, whose son was a 2019 Huntington University graduate. “We hope to help them tell their story and get as many of our fans and followers to integrate with their programs as possible. The future is bright at Huntington University, and we’re proud and thankful that they’ve chosen us to help push their mission forward.”
Join the Huntington University Foundation on October 9 in the Dowden Science Hall for the first Foundation Breakfast of the 2019-20 academic year. The speakers for this month will be Jodi Eckert, director of the nursing program, and Dr. Nicole Scheiman, director of the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program. The breakfast will be held in Hiner Hall and will include a tour of Huntington University’s state-of-the-art nursing and occupational therapy assistant labs.
This breakfast and presentation are ideal for anyone who is interested in learning more about the strong health sciences programs at Huntington University and who would like to see firsthand the unique spaces that enable occupational therapy assistant students practice helping home residents navigate daily occupations or nursing students simulate real-life scenarios in hospital rooms.
Open to all who wish to attend, the Foundation Breakfast Series is held on the second Wednesday of each month, October-November and January-May, and is open to the public. Each breakfast begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes by 9:00 a.m.
The breakfast is typically held in the upper level of the Habecker Dining Commons; in October, breakfast will be held in Hiner Hall of the Dowden Science Hall. The cost of the breakfast is $10, a portion of which will help support local area students attending HU through the Huntington County Grant. First-time attendees enjoy a complimentary breakfast courtesy of Bailey-Love Mortuary.
To attend the October 9 breakfast session, please RSVP to Michelle Bolton at (260) 359-4069 or mbolton@huntington.edu, or by going online to huntington.edu/FoundationRSVP.
Founded in 1938, the Huntington University Foundation exists to support the mission of the University by promoting education and fostering a synergistic relationship between the University and the Huntington County community and surrounding area. Learn more about the foundation’s history and ways to support its goals at huntington.edu/Foundation.
Bryan Ballinger, professor of digital media arts at Huntington University, will be among the local authors featured during the 2019 Pioneer Festival in Huntington on September 28 and 29.
Ballinger will present an author session in the Antiques Barn (First Merchants Bank Heritage Hall) on September 28 from noon to 2:00 p.m. Eight other authors will give presentations over the course of the weekend in the Antiques Barn.
A Huntington University professor since 2005, Ballinger specializes in 3D computer graphics, cartooning, children’s media and photography. He authored and illustrated Animal Gas, a scratch and sniff children’s book, has over 25 years of experience as both a freelance illustrator and a children’s book author and illustrator and has published cook books on “Kooky Cookery.”
Ballinger holds a bachelor’s degree in illustration and a master’s degree in creative writing for children.
For more information about Ballinger’s appearance at the 2019 Pioneer Festival, please go online.
The results are in, and Huntington University has received Fort Wayne Newspapers Reader’s Choice Awards in five categories: Best College, Best College Campus, Best College Spirit, and two second-place awards for Best Mascot and Best Higher Education.
Fort Wayne Newspapers announced the results of the 2019 Readers’ Choice awards competition in a special newspaper insert on Sunday, September 22.
“We are so grateful to the Foresters near and far who showed their love and support for Huntington University,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “It's so humbling to receive three first place awards against such impressive competition. It's moments like this that we are reminded of the strength of the Forester Nation and the pride inherent in HU graduates.”
For a complete list of winners, please visit the Fort Wayne Newspapers website.
Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America’s Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution a “Best Midwestern College.” Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The non-profit university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
On August 23, Huntington University incoming new students boarded vans and traveled with their New Student Orientation groups to predetermined locations in the Huntington County community to spend the afternoon working on service projects.
The Plunge, as this afternoon of community service is called, is a tradition at Huntington University.
“The Plunge originated as a practical way to break up the Orientation routine by doing something fun and beneficial,” said Dr. Norris Friesen, director of volunteer service and outreach ministry. “The Plunge allows us the opportunity to interact with a lot of different community agencies and give new students a feel for how the campus impacts the community through service.”
In addition to helping new students connect to the greater Huntington community, the service projects help students connect with each other, a crucial step in adjusting to life away from home for the first time.
“It is a good team building exercise for the Orientation groups, and even though they get dirty, they feel like they did something beneficial and helped someone in the process,” said Friesen. “In my opinion, it emulates what it means to be an HU Forester and a serious follower of Christ.”
In 2019, groups of students, along with a faculty and upperclassman student mentor, served the Police Athletic League (PAL), Love INC, Forks of the Wabash, Habitat for Humanity, the Huntington Area Recreational Trails Association (HARTA), the Dream Center, Victory Noll, the community garden, Kids Kampus, Faith Community Church of God, Heritage of Huntington, the YMCA, the Humane Society, Miller’s Merry Manor, a local residence, Thornhill Nature Preserve, the Quayle Center, the Youth Services Bureau and Salamonie Reservoir.
“My favorite part about the Plunge was how we were able to serve in the community we live in and be able to see the change we made,” said Makayla James, current upperclassman and new student mentor. “Getting to meet new people while doing it is also so exciting!”
As of the fall 2019 semester, Huntington University Arizona has seen an increase of over 34% in total enrollment from the previous year, growing from 96 students in fall 2018 to 129 students in fall 2019.
The increase contributes to Huntington University’s sixth consecutive year in overall enrollment and fourth year of record-breaking enrollment.
Since Huntington University Arizona began enrolling students in fall 2016, the population of enrolled students has increased from 18 total students to 129. In the fall 2019 semester, 55 new undergraduate students are beginning their full- or part-time study in animation, broadcast media, film production or graphic design at HU Arizona.
“The energy in the HU Arizona building is always pretty high, but with 1/3 more students attending classes this fall compared to last fall, we are hitting new levels of activity,” said Jeff Berggren, director of Arizona operations. “Students are attracted to the unique programs here at HU such as animation but also the hands-on nature of all our degrees which starts with their very first semester. They are aware that with HU winning national and regional awards the opportunity to be involved in great storytelling certainly exists here. The students are enthused to be in community with fellow creatives who also appreciate the Christ-centered aspect of our culture.”
Continued Huntington University growth in Arizona is further evidence of the strength of the programs on offer in Peoria. More students also means increased economic potential in the Peoria and greater Phoenix area.
“The economic development projections that accompany the University’s enrollment growth signal an influx of local and regional new dollars into our communities,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “The University continues to be sensitive to the occupational and professional needs of the regions we service.”
For the sixth consecutive year, Huntington University has experienced overall enrollment growth in the fall semester. This is the fourth year in a row that the University has shattered its previous record for enrollment.
The University has a total of 1,393 students enrolled in programs in Huntington, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Peoria, Arizona, up from 1,355 students in fall 2018. 1,135 students are currently pursuing undergraduate degrees, and 258 students are currently pursuing graduate degrees.
In addition to maintaining excellence in existing programs, recent additions to Huntington University’s program offerings have helped contribute to the increase in enrollment in recent years.
“As part of the strategic planning process in 2015, the University implemented a growth strategy that incorporated a portfolio of programs to complement our liberal arts undergraduate curriculum by targeting graduate or adult programs in the areas health sciences, business, education and counseling,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “In addition, new programs in media, agriculture, nursing and occupational therapy attract new students to our campus as well as afford us the opportunity to grow in the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area.”
Since fall 2013, the University has seen a 24% increase in enrollment and has opened two new locations – the doctoral program site in Fort Wayne and Huntington University Arizona in Peoria.
“We are thrilled to, again, have record enrollment at Huntington University,” said Daniel Solms, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. “It’s exciting to know that our programs and our faculty are valued, and it’s humbling to have the opportunity to be involved in the lives of our students both in Indiana and Arizona.”
Mark Robison, CPA, CPCU, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Huntington University Foundation Dinner, which will take place on Thursday, September 19, in the Habecker Dining Commons at Huntington University.
Robison is currently serving his tenth year as chairman and president of Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. He joined the company in 1994 as assistant vice president of finance, then quickly moved up through the ranks, becoming vice president of finance in 1997 and vice president and treasurer in 1998.
In 2017, Robison took on the role of company president and treasurer. He was named president and CEO in 2008 and assumed his current role in 2009.
A certified public accountant, Robison earned his accounting degree from Manchester College and holds numerous designations in the fields of insurance, finance and risk management.
Robison’s address will accompany dinner and the presentation of the 2019 Distinguished Service Citation at the Huntington University Foundation annual dinner. Doors for this free event will open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. The annual dinner is an opportunity to invest in area students as they pursue a Christian education at Huntington University. If interested in attending, RSVP to Michelle Bolton at mbolton@huntington.eduor (260) 359-4069.
Brotherhood Mutual is one of the nation’s leading insurers of Christian ministries. The company serves more than 60,000 churches, schools, colleges, camps and related ministries across the country. In business for over a century, Brotherhood Mutual employs more than 500 people at its headquarters in Fort Wayne. In June, it announced a $25 million building expansion that will create up to 100 jobs over the next four years.
CollegeConsensus.com has ranked Huntington University 10th on its list of the 80 “Best Christian Colleges.” Huntington University is the only Indiana school to appear in the top 15.
“Huntington University is proud to be listed among the top Christian colleges in the nation,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing Daniel Solms. “What makes this ranking special to us is the fact that our students had a voice in this ranking. It is their positive experiences with our faculty and staff, their love of our community and their confidence in our programs that landed us on this esteemed list.”
College Consensus’ “Best Christian Colleges” list identifies the Christ-centered schools (as defined by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities) that are the most highly regarded by combining data from reputable news outlets and student review sites. The project’s aim is to provide a score that takes into account all the factors all other reputable lists use as their criteria; each score should be a comprehensive view of the school’s overall value to prospective students.
Each school receives a score based on its ranking on sites such as the U.S. News and World Report,The Wall Street Journaland WalletHuband a score based on its ratings for student satisfaction in online reviews. The average of both publisher recognition and student satisfaction becomes the school’s College Consensus overall score.
To see the complete list and see Huntington University’s score breakdown, visit collegeconsensus.com.
The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has released its 2019 nominees for Student Production Awards, and Huntington University Arizona is once again a contender in several categories. In fact, Huntington University Arizona student projects have received 11 nominations for this year’s awards – the most nominations Huntington University Arizona has ever received in a year.
“We are proud of the great work our students are creating that has resulted in the 11 nominations this year,” said Jeff Berggren, director of Arizona operations. “Not only is this the highest number of nominations Huntington has received in one year, but they also reflect projects from 3 of our programs, as animation, broadcast and film are all represented. The nominations demonstrate the breadth of talents we have in our HU community, with writers, directors, videographers, animators/special affects artists, photographers, audio/sound editors and their crews all represented in the nominations.”
Categories with Huntington University Arizona nominations include College Short Form Fiction, College Short Form Non Fiction, College Animation/Graphics/Special Effects, College Audio/Sound, College Director and College Photographer.
Jose “Pepe” Sifuentes, a graduate of Raymond S. Kellis High School, also received a nomination in the High School Student Craft Editor category for his “Basketball Intro Video.” Sifuentes took classes from Huntington University Arizona while in high school. He is currently starting his freshman year at Huntington University Arizona.
The Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards are focused on recognizing outstanding work in television, with a goal to acknowledge professionals in all roles in the television industry. They are a chapter region that focuses on the areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and El Centro, California.
The Student Production Awards will take place on Saturday, September 14, at the Omni Montelucia Resort. For more information, please visithttp://rockymountainemmy.org/.
Huntington University Arizona Nominees:
Dr. Henry “Fritz” Schaefer will open the 2019-20 Forester Lecture Series at Huntington University with “The Life and Faith of a Scientist” on Thursday, September 5. The lecture will take place in Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts at 7:00 p.m.
Schaefer’s presentation will be this year’s Walter and Georgiana Ball Lecture. A gifted chemist, Schaefer is the Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry and the director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia and is the author of over 900 scientific publications. He holds degrees from M.I.T. and Stanford University, and among the recognitions for his work is a Nobel Prize nomination.
At Huntington University, Schaefer will speak to emerging and established scientists about the importance of pursuing God’s truth as a scientist, a subject that aligns with the outlook of Huntington University.
“As Foresters we believe strongly that all truth – including scientific truth – is God’s truth,” said Dr. Rebekah Benjamin, director of the Forester Lecture Series. “There’s no war between science and faith with God; He’s the author of them both.”
The Forester Lecture Series is free and open to the public. For more information about these and other upcoming events at Huntington University, please visit huntington.edu/Events.
“Elegies of Unrest,” a collection from mixed media artist Justin Johnson, will open the 2019-20 exhibit season at the Robert E. Wilson Art Gallery later this week. The Robert E. Wilson Art Gallery is located in the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University.
Johnson’s exhibit will include such works as “Elegy to James Foley near Raqqa,” a collage created with white out and vellum, and “Nimrud,” a collage of Sharpie ink, graphite, charcoal, white out and acrylic.
“We are excited to start our gallery season with current works by Justin Johnson,” said Barb Michel, associate professor of art and gallery director. “Justin is a northeast Indiana artist and has exhibited extensively in the region. His work includes special elements of interest, including thought-provoking abstract ideas, and combining mixed mediums in compelling ways. He is a great artist for our art students to learn from, as well as the rest of the HU community.”
“Elegies of Unrest” will be open to the public from September 5 to October 8, 2019. The gallery is open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Johnson will speak about his work during a gallery reception in the Wilson Gallery on September 13 beginning at 6:00 p.m. He will also be giving the second Forester Lecture of the semester on his work at 7:00 p.m. on September 25 in Longaker Recital Hall, located in the Merillat Centre of the Arts. Both the gallery reception and the Forester Lecture are free and open to the public.
With Homecoming Weekend fast approaching, Huntington University is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s alumni awards: Brian Hughes, Dr. Matthew Campbell and Keirsh Cochran. The formal awards presentation will take place on October 4, the first day of Homecoming Weekend.
Hughes will claim the Distinguished Alumni Citation, Campbell will obtain the Alumnus of the Year award and Cochran will receive the Young Alumnus Award.
The Young Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus who is 30 years old or younger at the time of nomination and has made a significant impact on the world since graduation. Cochran, a 2013 graduate of Huntington University, has built his career as a police officer in Fort Wayne. In 2017, he received a meritorious service citation from the Fort Wayne Police Department.
“Although Keirsh Cochran has a degree in broadcasting,” said Danielle Shafer, director of alumni relations and engagement, “he felt called by God to become a police officer and today serves the Fort Wayne community. Passionate about his faith and racial reconciliation, Keirsh is making huge impacts in his community both professionally and personally.”
Huntington University’s Alumnus of the Year award is designed to recognize an alumnus’ outstanding achievement or recognition in the past year. Campbell, a 1999 graduate, currently lives in Wisconsin with his family. He works as a general and vascular surgeon at Holy Family Memorial and volunteers as a surgeon and project medical director at Medical International. Campbell leads two or three medical missions trips to Bolivia each year through Medical International. He has also founded SendHealth, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps other medical personnel raise funds for mission trips.
The Distinguished Alumni Citation is designed to recognize exceptional service or achievement over a longer period of time – a premise similar to a lifetime achievement award. Hughes, a 1979 graduate of Huntington University, was the CEO of Sun Federal Credit Union from 1995-2017 and is the executive vice president of Sun Federal. In addition to his daily career responsibilities, Hughes serves on the finance committee and as a Bible teacher at Walbridge United Brethren Church and serves the United Brethren denomination in various capacities. He serves on the Rossford School finance committee, where he also served as a member of the board of education.
Hughes has remained involved with his alma mater and is a current member of the Huntington University’s President’s Advisory Council for Excellence.
The alumni awards presentation will take place on Friday, October 4, during a special chapel service at 11:00 a.m. Alumni, friends and current students are welcome to attend the service.
For more information about alumni awards or to nominate a Forester for one of next year’s awards, please visit huntington.edu/Alumni-Awards.
Huntington University Arizona’s available equipment for upper-level student projects has expanded significantly with the recent acquisition of a RED Epic-X Dragon 6k Camera and Zeiss CP.2 5-Lens Kit.
“Acquiring a RED Epic – X Dragon 6K camera with a set of Zeiss Cine Prime lenses is a big win for our Huntington University Arizona film program,” said Phil Wilson, Arizona digital media arts program director. “The RED platform is one of the most common camera systems found in professional industry productions used on projects from Marvel to Netflix to Indie film. Knowing that our students will now receive training on this powerful cinematic tool, coupled with our already strong storytelling curriculum, we truly believe that Huntington now offers one of the top film programs in Arizona. This statement is supported by the many regional and national awards Huntington Arizona has already received.”
The new equipment comes courtesy of a collaborative effort between Arizona Camera Rentals/John Joseph Bukowski and Huntington University personnel Jeff Berggren, Dr. Lance Clark and Connie Bonner. While previous Huntington University Arizona students have been able to rent high-quality equipment for their junior and senior projects from outside sources, students will now be able to shoot upper-level student films on the University-owned RED camera.
Since Huntington University’s main campus in Huntington, Indiana, also has a RED camera, the Arizona-housed RED camera opens up new avenues for collaboration on projects and teaching between the locations.
“This purchase puts HU Arizona on an equal technology level with the Indiana campus,” said Dr. Lance Clark, associate dean of the arts. “We now have more opportunities for collaborative projects and shared pedagogy.”
Huntington University is pleased to announce the hiring of Wendy Speakman as director of graduate and professional programs.
Speakman comes to Huntington University with business, higher education and administrative experience. Most recently, she worked for Ambassador Enterprises, working directly on Ambassador Enterprises’ partnership with HU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. She has also served as director of Taylor University’s MBA program and has experience with implementation management in business.
At Huntington University, Speakman will be responsible for overseeing the direction and operation of the University’s existing and future graduate programs and professional programs for adult learners. She will work directly with the faculty and staff in these programs to help facilitate student success.
“Wendy brings outstanding experience in the business and academic communities which will position Huntington University well for innovative and strategic involvement with local and regional partners,” said Dr. Luke Fetters, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.
With Speakman’s hiring, Julie Goetz, the previous director of graduate and professional programs, has transitioned into a new role as instructional designer. Goetz has experience with both the administrative and developmental aspects of instructional design that she has already put to use at Huntington University since joining the University staff in 2008.
“I am very excited to be returning to instructional design for graduate and professional programs,” said Goetz. “Faculty don’t always have the time to explore new tools and techniques for online learning. That is where I will come in. I will work with subject matter experts to develop new ways to make our curriculum engaging and improve student learning.”
Speakman and Goetz officially stepped into their new roles on August 12.