MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT


WINTHROP MAGAZINE Spring 2017 Dear Friends:


We are in the midst of another busy spring semester, with a lot happening in and out of the classroom. We have just learned that the Education Trust ranked Winthrop second in a listing of top- performing institutions nationally for African-American student success. Additionally, the men's basketball team won the Big South Conference championship and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This talented team was led by senior Keon Johnson, who became the program's all-time leading scorer this season and was named Big South Conference Player of the Year. What a great time to be an Eagle!


Also this spring, our campus community has been working to implement our new Winthrop Plan that I unveiled in the fall. This strategic document outlines the five goals and subsequent initiatives that are serving as a blueprint for Winthrop’s future. As you will see in stories throughout this magazine, the university already is making strides to meet our goals, and the collaborative effort involves each and every person in the Winthrop community.


I am happy to be taking the Winthrop Plan on the road as well. I look forward to speaking with you personally about Winthrop’s future and how you can play a role in our continued success. I will be visiting Charleston on March 14; Charlotte, N.C., on April 19; and Columbia on May 24. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations for details, additional dates and reservations.


As always, thank you for your commitment to this fine institution, and I look forward to our working together on Winthrop’s behalf.


Sincerely,


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FEATURES


2 MCNAIR LEGACY PUSHES SCHOLARS TO DREAM BIG


6 MAKING HISTORY IN THE CLASSROOM: MAHONY, HALPIN CO-TEACH SPRING


COURSE


8 TEACHING AT THE NEXT LEVEL: $3 MILLION GRANT FOCUSES ON ENGLISH LEARNERS


10 TELLING THEIR STORIES: HOFFMAN GIVES A VOICE TO THE WORKING CLASS


12 THESE ROOTS RUN DEEP: HAZEL SOMERVILLE SHARES LOVE OF WINTHROP THROUGH SERVICE


DEPARTMENTS


Daniel F. Mahony President


14 Campus News 16 Development News 17 Alumni News 18 Class Notes 20 Milestones


6 10 12 EDITORIAL STAFF


Monica Bennett, editor Allen Blackmon ’86, art director


Contributing writers and photographers: Meredith Carter ’05 Shawn Cetrone Nicole Chisari ’09, ’16 Judy Longshaw


NOTES About the Cover


Jordan Lewis, a Winthrop senior and McNair Scholar, examined samples of sand he and peers obtained on a research trip to Folly Beach.


Winthrop Magazine is published for alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of Winthrop University by University Communications and Marketing.


Winthrop University offers equal opportunity in its employ- ment, admissions and educational activities.


All cities referenced in editorial content are located in South Carolina unless otherwise indicated.


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