James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2008 - Index

AlumniNews
{JMu Works}
field of academia.” after she earned her
doctorate at the university of Tennessee,
both Johnsons joined the university
faculty in 1988.
Marilou Johnson has taught the class
that broadcasts the campus newscast,
JMU Today, through its long evolution,
while filling various administrative posts.
she currently serves as interim dean of the
College of Visual and Performing arts.
after serving for four years as interim
dean, she will return to her post as associate dean in July.
Johnson is delighted that her responsibilities will include overseeing
the construction of the new Performing arts Center, sitting
in on discussions of such issues that pertain to the needs of the
programs that will move into that facility in 2010.
“i find the whole process fascinating,” she says. “i’m not afraid
to ask questions.”
Circa 1918, Johnson had a great-aunt who attended the normal
school that would become JMu. Two cousins followed, but she
attributes her own discovery of the campus to her older brother
who selected it for nearby ski slopes. Both the Johnsons’ daughters
are now enrolled: Callie (’08) and Caitlin (’11). niece anna
Moore is a school of Music graduate student.
Through all of JMu’s changes, Johnson says, “We haven’t lost that
culture of being involved with the education of undergraduates.”
although Lovell came from Martinsville to look at JMu with
her twin sister, she entered the freshman class alone; her sister
chose u.Va. Lovell became a student ambassador, psychology
major and fraternity little sister. “i had such a wonderful experience
as an undergraduate,” Lovell says, that after earning a doctorate
from Bowling green state university, she jumped at the
chance to apply for a psychology faculty position.
Lovell and her former professor Joann grayson are collaborating
on a book chapter about teaching the capstone, field-placement
classes which place students in projects for participating organizations.
The chapter will blend grayson’s specialty — clinical
psychology — with Lovell’s — industrial organization or “i.o.”
Lovell explains that her field has evolved substantially from the
Alumni trio supports
presidential initiatives
By Chris Edwards
Three administrators,
who attended
Madison over
a span of three
decades, serve in
the JMu office of the President
with Linwood H. Rose.
as a business major from
Fairfax County, donna Warner
Harper (’77) joined alpha
sigma alpha and played field
64 Madison Magazine
‘through all of JmU’s
changes ... we haven’t
lost that culture of
being involved with the
education of undergraduates.’
— Marilou Moore Johnson (’80)
hockey. Members of her class,
graduating the year of the name
change, could select between
having “James Madison university”
on their diplomas or her
choice — “Madison College.”
although she’d planned to
teach, Harper accepted a temporary
job in student affairs
preparing fraternities and
sororities for moving to then-
years of “efficiency experts,” broadening
so it emphasizes teamwork and workplace
atmosphere (factors described as “the o”)
as much as efficiency (“the i”).
in november, Lovell was appointed
interim dean of CisaT, replacing Jerry
Benson, now a vice provost. Heading
CisaT — which culminates a series of
administrative posts for Lovell, starting in
1999 — involves her in a process of “examining
how the colleges are structured” in an
organization that is a work-in-progress.
networking with colleagues across the united states through
the Women in deanship organization, Lovell says, “it’s interesting
to compare notes. i feel good about JMu.”
also in november, long-term research administrator John
noftsinger became vice provost for research and public service.
in addition to growing JMu’s sponsored funding by eight fold,
Provost douglas Brown credits noftsinger as having been “instrumental”
in attracting the research firm sRi to a partnership that
“will enhance the quality of jobs throughout the entire region.”
Roanoke native noftsinger, who was the first student to be
seated on the JMu Board of Visitors, returned to Madison in
1989 — after completing graduate studies at ohio state and the
university of Virginia — to teach in the colleges of integrated science
and Technology, and education.
as a board member of the shenandoah Valley Technology
Council, noftsinger is ever mindful about “connecting the community
to the university.” He adds, “Being here so long, i’ve been
able to develop a trajectory. opportunities build on each other
and lead to other opportunities.”
noftsinger supervises JMu’s new institute for infrastructure
and information assurance and led in creating its new information
analysis B.a. degree program. His present title entails continued
oversight of seven previous offices — including all campus
grant-sponsored research — along with five new offices. He says,
“i hope to mentor some of the younger professors.”
The noftsingers are a JMu family that includes John’s wife,
Lucinda (’96), and Joshua shaheen (’11), the eldest of three sons. M
Presidential trio: donna Warner harper (’77), art dean (’93) and
nick langridge (’00) keep the president’s office running smoothly.
new greek Row. “i feel very
fortunate to have had that oneyear
appointment that’s turned
into 30 years,” she says. she
served 23 in student affairs,
then, the past seven as executive
assistant to the president.
Harper handles financial aid as
well as diversity, environmental
and alcohol issues. (during her
harper photograph by diane elliott (’00); dean by kathy lam; langridge by angel elza (’10)