message from the PRESIDENT Dear Friends:


It is hard to believe that I have been at Winthrop for more than a year. And what a year it has been! Last March when I arrived, I never would have dreamed that we would confront a global pandemic; however, the Winthrop spirit has remained resilient throughout these difficult times, and I’m happy to share that I anticipate a more traditional fall semester as COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available and as case numbers decline.


During my first weekend on campus in 2020, I witnessed the men’s basketball team win the Big South Championship, and I am thrilled that I was there again this year at the Coliseum to watch the team secure its second- straight championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. March Madness definitely lived up to its name! Please read more about the team’s season on pages 16-17.


In this Winthrop Magazine edition, I would like to share with you additional good news. I encourage you to read more about:


• The $1 million gift recently given by Leonard A. Lauder in honor of our own Ida Crawford Stewart ’43. This incredible gift will benefit our College of Visual and Performing Arts’ students and faculty members;


• Winthrop women who made history, and a recent S.C. House resolution that acknowledges four of the women’s contributions to Winthrop’s integration efforts;


• Campus-wide initiatives that are underway to ensure the university’s long-term health and success;


• Compelling profiles on Brian Jones ’96, who oversees the new Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, and psychology major Clara Benson, who created a much-needed nonprofit that helps partner Black medical professionals with Black patients; and


• The latest campus news, alumni news and university advancement updates.


As you can see, there are many great things happening at Winthrop. As the campus slowly and safely opens back up, I hope that we are able to soon meet at an event on campus or at one near you so that I can hear about how much Winthrop means to you.


Sincerely,


WR


WINTHROP UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES


GLENN MCCALL Chair, Rock Hill


KATHY HUDSON BIGHAM ’73 Vice Chair, Rock Hill


JOHN BRAZELL ’93 Columbia


ED DRIGGERS ’92 Greer


JULIE GORE FOWLER ’85, ’88 Simpsonville


TIMOTHY L. HOPKINS ’83, ’85, ’00 Lugoff


RANDY IMLER ’87, ’00 Tega Cay


JANE LAWTON LAROCHE ’70 Camden


TIM SEASE ’87 Mt. Pleasant


ROBBY SISCO ’80 Florence


JANET RICE SMALLEY ’72 Walhalla


SANDRA STROMAN ’73, ’76 Chester


ISAIAH VENNING ’95, ’00 Rock Hill


ASHLYE WILKERSON ’05 Columbia


GARY WILLIAMS ’11 Rock Hill


ADOLPHUS BELK JR. Faculty Representative


BRANDON JACKSON Student Representative


GEORGE W. HYND Interim President


KIMBERLY FAUST


George W. Hynd Interim President


Vice President and Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Board of Trustees


ELLEN WILDER-BYRD ’88, ’94


Associate Vice President for Communications and Market ing


DEPARTMENTS


CAMPUS NEWS ADVANCEMENT NEWS ALUMNI NEWS


CLASS NOTES MILESTONES


16 20 22 24 26


EDITORIAL STAFF


MONICA BENNETT, editor PETER AIRHEART, senior designer


contributing writers: NICOLE CHISARI ’09, ’16 KAYE HAYES JUDY LONGSHAW


NOTES About the cover: Senior Designer Peter Airheart put an artistic spin on an image taken


in 1969 by University Photographer Joel “Nick” Nichols of Jennifer Kathleen (Kathy)


Ross Bradley ‘71. Nichols, who documented Winthrop from behind his camera lens for nearly 50 years, passed away in December. View more of his work on pages 10-11.


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 employment, admissions and educational activities.


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


SPRING 2021 1 FEATURES


$1M GIFT HONORS IDA CRAWFORD STEWART WINTHROP WOMEN MAKE HISTORY NEW INITIATIVES = LONG-TERM SUCCESS


EXPERIENCING LIFE THROUGH HIS LENS JONES’ SLAM DUNK OF A CAREER BENSON’S DOING HER PART TO FILL A NEED


2 4


8 10


12 14


INTH OP MAGAZINE


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