Alumni Spotlights
1967 Alum, former trustee Now & then:
receives Honorary Doctorate
Joan Bissett, 1977
BY KELLEY M. ARNOLD DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION BY KELLEY M. ARNOLD DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
Joan Bissett (’77) left
Parker (’67) has even
Daniel “Dan” F.
more reason to
Brewton-Parker 30
c
years ago as one of its
reunion with Brewton-
elebrate his 40-year most active and
Parker College this May
respected peers.
Parker
.
During her “senior”
of Parker Executive
, president
Search of
year alone, she was
former BPC trustee, will
Atlanta and a
chosen as BPC’
be awarded the
Most Outstanding in
s
CORONET PHOTO PROVIDED college’
Leadership, Most
Dan Parker, 1967 Dan Parker, today
Honorary Doctorate of
s top honor, an CORONET
PHOTO PROVIDED
Joan Bissett, 1977
V
the May 12 commencement ceremony
Humane Letters, during “Jayme Austin”,
Joan Bissett, a.k.a.
today
coming Court repre-
ersatile and Home-
Parker’s firm was responsible for the recruitment of BPC’
.
administration addition, Dr. Cindy L. Skaruppa. According to BPC president,
s newest
member of Phi
sentative, was a
Dr
ensemble known to Brewton-Parker
Theta Kappa and performed in almost every music
executive searches from global corporations, other colleges and universities
. David R. Smith, Parker pushed BPC’s need ahead of other international
“The Folklores”.
, including a folk music group called
and collegiate athletic programs. Parker
includes the recruitment of Dr
’s commitment to Brewton-Parker also
encircling Nashville,
Today, Joan, or Jayme
T
Austin as she’s known in the music industry
persons to receive this honor in several years, Dr
Parker joins former music chair
. Smith “pro bono” ten years ago.
, Miss Hildegard Stanley, as the first two
rising fame of country music singers Jack Ingram and
enn., is a record executive who daily promotes the
“Dan Parker represents the absolute best in what colleges like BPC hope
. Smith added. a few
Taylor Swift, to name
to find in its alumni,” said Dr
from her BPC years: each day is an adventure for the Cordele, Ga. native
. BPC recently caught up with Joan and finds her relatively unchanged
he retains a sincere interest in his alma mater
. Smith. “He has been very successful in his career
, he supports us with his time and
,
who grew up singing in the family church, Pine Crest Baptist Church, where
resources, and his life is a testament of what we hold to be important.”
her father was the music pastor
Ludowici, served as sports editor of the college’
While working on his associate’s degree at BPC, Parker
s student newspaper
, formerly of
, The degree in early childhood education with a minor in both English and music
After earning an associate’
.
s degree at BPC, Joan earned a bachelor’s
team’
Orange and Blue
s manager
. He also lettered in baseball and served as the basketball
at Samford University
“I drove the basketball bus for a year
.
“Even then I was trying out dif
.
that he and about 19 other players shaved their heads – on a dare.
,” Parker said, remembering the time
“I lost a girlfriend over that,” he said with a smile.
said.
ferent things, seeing what I wanted,” she
Parker’s favorite memories of his alma mater are “without a question the
she knew teaching wasn’t for her
She tried teaching as a kindergarten assistant, but after a year of that,
Phillips, the president at that time.
teachers, like Dr. Boyd and Miss Stanley and Coach Charles Warren, and Dr. admissions counselor: “That was my very first real job,” she says. Joan was
. She returned to Brewton-Parker as an
‘on a campus you’ll remember with friends you’ll never forget’. I still have some
The motto of the school was something like
also a contestant in the Miss Georgia Pageant, a Crisp County queen.
serious friends from 1967, from forty years ago. Imagine that.”
giving the 2007 Commencement
Parker says he’s honored by the award but is even “more excited” about
Address.
would narrate a lot of events at Brewton-Parker when I worked there,” she
“I always was involved in music, speech and drama in college, and I
said. “All of these things came around and started forming what I would be.
auditorium (Saliba Chapel) telling the administration, faculty and students that
“When the college was having problems, I stood in front of the new I enjoyed being in front of people.
we would soon celebrate our 100th anniversary
those things you love and enjoy – if you think about it and pray
You don’t really know it at the time, but
second 100th anniversary
, and now we’re working on our
you end up becoming. Even if it is in contrast to what friends and family
, that’s what
multiple generations attend Brewton-Parker
. That’s something to celebrate. My family has had
expect.”
brothers attended BPC over the years. Brothers Billy
Though not the Parker of Brewton-Parker
,” he added.
, many relatives and two
honored their parents, William and Caroline Parker
, Charles and Dan radio when she landed a part-time job with
She moved to Atlanta after a year in admissions and got her start in
scholarship.
, with an endowed music
sponsorships for their short radio traf
herself on the radio as the voice behind the ads she sold, and she – and
fic announcements. She soon heard
TrafficScan selling ad
he added.
“Brewton-Parker is not only very important to me, but to my whole family,”
others – liked what they heard. While she was still working in this dual
with a minor in history
Parker earned a bachelor
, from the University of Georgia (UGA). He is married to
’s and master’s degree, both in political science
position, she received a 90-day trial period as a deejay at WY
Janice, and he has three children: Claudia (Dallas,
FM “The Eagle”) – though it was only a part-time position during the early
AY (now 106.7
Fla.) and Christine (Atlanta). All are UGA graduates.
Texas), Daniel Jr. (Tampa,
morning weekend hours.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19...
14 THE LAMP SPRING 2007
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