Vol. 7, No. 7 • August 12, 2022
President’s Points of Pride
Shepherd is incredibly grateful to Senator Capito for considering the following projects in the FY23 Congressionally Directed Spending draft appropriations bills:
- Agricultural Innovation Center Small Business Incubator ($1,422,000)
- Chemistry Department Revitalization for facilities and equipment ($609,000)
- Teacher professional development program, including stipends ($657,000)
- Curriculum development, including stipends ($20,000)
We now begin “the journey of hope” as we enter a new year of legislative draft appropriations. If we are fortunate enough to receive funding for these important projects, they will have a transformational impact for our University.
Big happenings in Student Affairs
The Office of Social Equity, Inclusion, and Title IX and Multicultural Student Affairs has been approved for the Diversity and Equity grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. These funds will enable Shepherd to enhance a diverse range of social justice initiatives designed to facilitate cultural and identity awareness; celebrate differences; continue campus training on issues of equity, inclusion, and respect; and provide advocacy to support historically underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations on our campus and in our community. Activities made possible by this grant will encourage civility, promote equity and respect, reinforce the importance of building bridges of understanding, and foster a welcoming, inclusive environment for Shepherd students, faculty, staff, and community to thrive.
Student Affairs and the Stubblefield Institute's ListenLearnEngage Initiative will welcome 55 student leaders to campus for the Engaged Leaders in Action and Emerging Leaders in Service institutes between August 15-18. Students will participate in workshops, training sessions, and social events designed to introduce the key concepts of personal and group leadership, provide opportunities to collaborate with and learn from others, and demonstrate how they can create positive social change through community service and civic engagement. In addition to training sessions led by more than a dozen Shepherd staffers, a group of advanced student leaders will serve as peer mentors and welcome first-year students to our campus community and help them make connections. Students participating in the program will earn credits toward a Leadership for a Better World certificate.
Counseling Services is excited to announce the award of a $5,000 grant through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission for Campus Mental Health. This funding will be combined with last year's award to create additional spaces on campus for mental health programming and the promotion of self-directed wellness skill building for students. Counseling Services is also excited to share the creation of The Well, located on the ground floor of Gardiner Hall. The Well will house Mindful Mondays, support groups, a space for relaxation and reflection, and an adjacent outdoor patio providing a space for students to relax and connect with nature.
The Student Success Center continues to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of our students in several ways: through grants, generous funding from donors, and becoming more visible. Two years ago, the Student Success Center relocated outside the Ram’s Den where students can access the space and use the free resources available to them. There has been a continuous goal of increasing the reach to different populations to help support and retain all students. Because of the President’s Club, the Center has been able to make great progress toward this goal. The Student Success Center was generously provided $10,000 from the President’s Club that will support the increase of incoming students by allowing more areas for success coaches to meet with students, hold study groups, and have a quiet place for individuals to work, attend online class(es), or study by themselves. Additionally, this support will provide growth to the Peer Success Leader Program with a place for student meetings, event planning, and building connections and community.
Constitution Day speaker announced
The 18th Annual Tom E. Moses Memorial Lecture on the United States Constitution will take place Tuesday, September 20, at 7 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education. The speaker will be distinguished scholar Norman J. Ornstein, emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and nationally known expert on the United States Congress. His topic will be “Threats to American Democracy and the Constitution.” The lecture will be in person in the Byrd Center's auditorium and livestreamed through Zoom. Please RSVP to reserve a seat or to register to receive a Zoom link.
Women’s basketball alumna heads to Europe to play pro ball
A member of the 2021 women’s basketball team that finished 25-9 and made it to the NCAA tournament, Sydney Clayton, spoke with Panhandle Sports Live about the next step in her basketball career. Sydney joins Basketball Academie Limburg in the Netherlands to play professional basketball starting this season. Hear her talk about this cool experience on the show’s online feed. Sydney can be heard on the August 5 edition of the show.
Tabler Farm hosts teachers’ institute
On August 10, the Agricultural Innovation Center at Tabler Farm hosted the Jefferson County WVU Extension Service Farm to School Institute for the second year in a row. Forty-five teachers from across the Eastern Panhandle attended the institute, where Farm Coordinator Madison Hale introduced them to the Farm and Shepherd’s sustainable agriculture program. Extension agents organized garden- and food-related activities for the teachers, utilizing the farm’s garden spaces as part of the program. You can read an article about the institute in the Journal of Martinsburg here (behind a paywall for some). You can see the Farm’s Facebook post here. The folks at Tabler Farm would be excited to host more events, workshops, lectures, group volunteer days, or student field trips! For information, go to the Visit Tabler Farm webpage.
News
Baker named softball assistant coach
Shepherd women's softball head coach Marissa Leslie announced that Allison Baker has been named the team’s assistant coach. Baker served as a graduate assistant for the Rams last season.
Shepherd football picked as PSAC East favorite
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced that the Shepherd football team has been picked to finish first in the 2022 PSAC East Football Poll as voted by the league's coaches. The Rams grabbed four of the eight first place votes with 2021 PSAC East Champion Kutztown also receiving four. Slippery Rock and Indiana (Pa.) are picked as co-favorites in the PSAC West.
School of Music Salon Series to begin September 1
The 2022-2023 Shepherd University School of Music Salon Series, sponsored by Jefferson Security Bank, kicks off on Thursday, September 1, at 6 p.m. with its first performance of the school year by the Shepherd Faculty Jazz Ensemble.
Community Orchestra and Junior Strings Ensemble announce August 31 auditions
Auditions for the Shepherd Community Orchestra and Junior Strings Ensemble for the 2022-2023 season will take place on Wednesday, August 31, from 6-9 p.m. in the Frank Arts Center. Room locations will be made available upon arrival.
Rude Mechanicals Medieval and Renaissance Players announce auditions
Shepherd’s Rude Mechanicals Medieval and Renaissance Players announce auditions for William Shakespeare’s romantic tragicomedy “The Winter’s Tale” on Wednesday, August 24, and Thursday, August 25, from 8-10:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall.
Contemporary Theater Studies to host play auditions
Shepherd’s Contemporary Theater Studies Program announces auditions for “The Thanksgiving Play” on Wednesday, August 24, and Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m. in the Marinoff Theater.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, August 13
Thursday, August 18
Add/Drop and Late Registration via RAIL begins
7 p.m.—Ram Band Exhibition Performance, Ram Stadium (free and open to the public)
Friday, August 19
New Student Convocation
Saturday, August 20
Monday, August 22
Fall 2022 classes begin
9 a.m.-4 p.m.—Add/Drop and Late Registration via RAIL or at Ikenberry Hall
Wednesday, August 24
7 p.m.— Contemporary Theatre Studies Program “The Thanksgiving Play” auditions, Marinoff Theater
8-10:30 p.m.—Rude Mechanicals Medieval and Renaissance Players “The Winter’s Tale” auditions, Reynolds Hall
Thursday, August 25
2 p.m.—Women’s soccer vs. Pitt-Johnstown
4:30 p.m.—Men’s soccer vs. University of the District of Columbia
7 p.m.— Contemporary Theatre Studies Program “The Thanksgiving Play” auditions, Marinoff Theater
8-10:30 p.m.—Rude Mechanicals Medieval and Renaissance Players “The Winter’s Tale” auditions, Reynolds Hall
Friday, August 26
9 a.m.-4 p.m.—Last day to add/drop or late register via RAIL or at Ikenberry Hall
11 a.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Alderson Broaddus (Ram Rumble)
1 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Chowan University (Ram Rumble)
7 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Felician (Ram Rumble)
Saturday, August 27
2:30 p.m.—Men’s soccer vs. Bloomfield (Youth Soccer Day)
5 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Dominican (Ram Rumble)
7 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Shaw (Ram Rumble)
Sunday, August 28
1 p.m.—Women’s soccer vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Alumni Day)
Wednesday, August 31
4 p.m.—Men’s soccer at Pitt-Johnstown
6-9 p.m.—Shepherd Community Orchestra and Junior Strings Ensemble auditions, Frank Arts Center
7 p.m.—Women’s soccer at Kutztown
Thursday, September 1
5:30 p.m.—Football at Southern Connecticut State
6 p.m.—Shepherd Salon Series—Faculty Jazz Ensemble, Butcher Center Plaza (free and open to the public)
Friday, September 2
Last day for instructor-approved late adds via RAIL
Last day to change a course from credit to pass/fail status
5 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Queens (Georgian Court Invitational)
8 p.m.—Women’s and men’s cross country at Galen Piper Cross Country Challenge (Shippensburg, PA)
Saturday, September 3
Noon—Women’s volleyball vs. Georgian Court (Georgian Court Invitational)
Noon —Men’s soccer at Slippery Rock
2 p.m.—Women’s volleyball vs. Saint Rose (Georgian Court Invitational)
4 p.m.—Women’s soccer vs. Millersville (Youth Soccer Day)
Monday, September 5
Labor Day—University Closed
Shepherd University news and events are available here.
Shepherd Athletics news and schedules are available here.
Dana L. Costa
Executive Director, University Communications
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-5000
