WIXLIB

President’s messagemnsu.edumnsu.edunewsmakersRichard Davenport, PresidentThe campus of the futureScott Olson, Provost and Vice President forAcademic and Student AffairsRobert H. Hoffman, Vice President for StrategicBusiness, Education and Regional PartnershipsEd Clark, Vice President for Technology and CIODouglas P. Mayo, Vice President for UniversityAdvancementRichard J. Straka, Vice President for Finance andAdministrationThe Minnesota State University, Mankato campus looks much differenttoday than it did when I arrived here almost 10 years ago.We have added new buildings, including the Julia A. Sears ResidenceHall and Ford Hall. We have renovated important academic and student life spaces,including upgrades of Otto Recreation Center, Trafton Hall and the Ballroomin the Centennial Student Union. Our newest residence hall, the Margaret R.Preska Residence Community, will open in the fall, and we have two academicbuildings that are pending funding—the Clinical Sciences building and theCollege of Business Global Solutions building. We’ve also made changes thatare purely aesthetic in nature, from outdoor landscaping efforts to indoor artisticenhancements that make the campus a more inviting place for people to learn,teach, work and visit.The next 10 years will bring even more exciting changes.The changes on the horizon now have been planned with a specific goal inmind: to move this University forward as we continue to design the “campus of thefuture.” For Minnesota State Mankato, that equates to safe, welcoming and cleanfacilities with spaces that are energy efficient, easily accessible, highly technicaland interactive and able to accommodate a growing and diverse population.Our extensive master plan encompasses almost every corner of campus.In addition to several new buildings, which will all be designed with energyefficiencies, it seeks a stronger emphasis on pedestrian traffic and enhancedtransportation options, including bicycling and buses. In designing a very greenand beautiful pedestrian campus, we will be renovating the entire campus mall,turning it into a park-like gathering space that features more grass than concrete.My vision is for Minnesota State Mankato to serve as the model for whatuniversity campuses across the country could become in the future. I believe thisis possible because I know that our University community—including faculty andstaff, students, alumni and friends—can come together in pursuit of such goals.I’ve already seen progress in the commitment shown by the members of theEnvironmental Committee, featured in this issue. Their efforts will help unify thevarious sustainability initiatives taking place across campus and will further theUniversity’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. I’m excited to see their Big Ideastake shape and to be part of the real-world thinking that helps put those ideasinto action.Please join me in celebrating the changes that have already taken place oncampus and in anticipating those still to come. I invite you to visit us in personor online at today.mnsu.edu. I’m proud to be part of such a dynamic, forwardthinking institution—and I hope you are too.President Richard Davenportpresident@mnsu.edu4T OD AY at M innesota S tat e M a n k a t opeople, places & programs making news on campusThe University announced its largest-ever fundraising campaign and the biggest campaign among Minnesota state universities inOctober. The 75 million Big Ideas Campaign will expand student scholarship programs, create more student-facultyresearch opportunities and develop more high-tech classroom and collaborative study spaces.Minnesota State Mankato became the second-largest institution for full-time students in Minnesota, based on its full-timeequivalent enrollment of 14,525 students for the fall 2011 semester.Junior Mindy Meyer was awarded a 9,000 Meredith Nursing Scholarship for 2012-2013.Classroom space at the University’s Edina location doubled in 2011, and many of those classrooms were augmented withhigh-definition video conferencing that allows the students in Edina to be virtually in the same room with instructors at the Mankatocampus. Enrollment at Edina, which is currently around 2,500 students, is expected to double in the next few years.spring 2012 Volume 13 Issue 2EDITORAnn FeeACTING EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Gilbert FrederickDESIGNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendy JohnstonPHOTOGRAPHERS . . . . . . . . . Gregg Andersen, Kenn Busch,Jonathan Chapman, Linda Clavel,Brian Fowler, Bridget Fowler, Chelsea KocinaPRINTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Graphics CommercialWRITERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Carlson, Helen Healy,Carol Jones, Chris Mikko, Joe TougasPRINT COORDINATOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug FenskeCONTRIBUTING STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Allan, Karen Effertz,Scott Nelsen, Kim Rademaker, Connie WodtkeTODAY is published two times per year by the DivisionMore students applied to Minnesota State Mankato than to any other school in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universitiessystem during National College Application Week in November.The University’s Veterans Resource Center received a 3,000 grant from Tee it Up for the Troops to improve its facility in theCentennial Student Union and better its outreach efforts. The center has served more than 1,300 vets, active military and militaryfamilies during its first year of operation.Minnesota State Mankato alum and Penumbra Theatre founder Lou Bellamy was profiled on the NBC news program “RockCenter.” During the segment, host Brian Williams called Bellamy “one of the most influential artists in America today, a legend.”For the sixth consecutive year, the University’s MBA program was named one of the nation’s best by The Princeton Review’s 2012Business School Guidebook.Retired Allied Health and Nursing Dean Kaye A. Herth was one of 15 worldwide inducted into the Honor Society of NursingSigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Herth is an international expert on hope, humor and grief amongof University Advancement. TODAY is distributed tomore than 95,000 alumni and friends.people with chronic or terminal illnesses.The mission of TODAY is to entertain, to inform and toconnect the reader to the campus. TODAY welcomesstory ideas supporting this mission. Full manuscriptsare not accepted. TODAY is not responsible forunsolicited material.Minnesota State Mankato was ranked within the nation’s top quartile of four-year public and private institutions by Forbesmagazine in 2011—the highest-ranking MnSCU institution on the list.TODAY is copyrighted in its entirety. This volume andall articles, images and photographs within maynot be reproduced in any form without writtenpermission of the editor.ADDRESS CHANGES & CLASS NOTES: Send to TODAY,Class Notes & Address Changes, on Center, Mankato, MN 56001,e-mail to today@mnsu.edu, by fax to 507-389-2069or call 507-389-2523. Death announcementsmust be accompanied by a memorial serviceprogram or published newspaper obituary.LETTERS: Send letters intended for publicationto TODAY, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232Alumni Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001,e-mail to today@mnsu.edu or fax to 507-389-2069.TODAY reserves the right to edit letters for spaceand clarity. Include name, address, graduationyear and daytime telephone number. Unsignedletters are not considered for sion of your letter constitutes yourpermission to publish it.Member of the Minnesota State Colleges& Universities System. Minnesota StateUniversity, Mankato is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.This document is available in alternative formatto individuals with disabilities by contacting themagazine staff at the address, e-mail, and/orfax number listed above or at 800-627-3529 or711 (MRS/TTY).Graduate student Brett Anderson was appointed to the MnSCU Board of Trustees by Gov. Mark Dayton. Anderson’s two-yearterm representing state university students runs through June 30, 2013. Anderson, who is pursuing a master’s degree in administrationand leadership, served as the vice president of the Minnesota State Student Association as an undergrad during the 2010-2011academic year.Two students in the University’s Iron Range Engineering program at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College inVirginia won the 2011 Minnesota Cup student division competition. Eric Schaup and Matt Hudson plan to use the 10,000 seedcapital award to continue development of a lightweight, portable power generator that can run on multiple fuels.Senior Kathleen Ritter was awarded Zonta International’s Jane M. Klausman Business Scholarship Award. Ritter was one of12 people worldwide to win the 5,000 scholarship, which is presented annually to women pursuing undergraduate or master’s degreeswho demonstrate outstanding business management potential.Kimberly Greer, dean of Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, has been named Corrections Personof the Year by the Minnesota Corrections Association. The annual award goes to Minnesota leaders who have made outstandingcontributions in the field of corrections.Counseling and Student Personnel faculty member Walter B. Roberts Jr. was honored as an outstanding educator by theParents and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons. Roberts, an authority on school violence and bullying,was recognized for his efforts in making schools safer for LGBT students.The College of Business announced a partnership with United Prairie Bank in Mankato to offer a new Integrated BusinessExperience program to students. The program, which will give students real-world experience running a business, will launchduring the 2012 spring semester.Daily University news UPDATES CAN BE FOUND ATtoday.mnsu.eduSPRING20125

President’s messagemnsu.edumnsu.edunewsmakersRichard Davenport, PresidentThe campus of the futureScott Olson, Provost and Vice President forAcademic and Student AffairsRobert H. Hoffman, Vice President for StrategicBusiness, Education and Regional PartnershipsEd Clark, Vice President for Technology and CIODouglas P. Mayo, Vice President for UniversityAdvancementRichard J. Straka, Vice President for Finance andAdministrationThe Minnesota State University, Mankato campus looks much differenttoday than it did when I arrived here almost 10 years ago.We have added new buildings, including the Julia A. Sears ResidenceHall and Ford Hall. We have renovated important academic and student life spaces,including upgrades of Otto Recreation Center, Trafton Hall and the Ballroomin the Centennial Student Union. Our newest residence hall, the Margaret R.Preska Residence Community, will open in the fall, and we have two academicbuildings that are pending funding—the Clinical Sciences building and theCollege of Business Global Solutions building. We’ve also made changes thatare purely aesthetic in nature, from outdoor landscaping efforts to indoor artisticenhancements that make the campus a more inviting place for people to learn,teach, work and visit.The next 10 years will bring even more exciting changes.The changes on the horizon now have been planned with a specific goal inmind: to move this University forward as we continue to design the “campus of thefuture.” For Minnesota State Mankato, that equates to safe, welcoming and cleanfacilities with spaces that are energy efficient, easily accessible, highly technicaland interactive and able to accommodate a growing and diverse population.Our extensive master plan encompasses almost every corner of campus.In addition to several new buildings, which will all be designed with energyefficiencies, it seeks a stronger emphasis on pedestrian traffic and enhancedtransportation options, including bicycling and buses. In designing a very greenand beautiful pedestrian campus, we will be renovating the entire campus mall,turning it into a park-like gathering space that features more grass than concrete.My vision is for Minnesota State Mankato to serve as the model for whatuniversity campuses across the country could become in the future. I believe thisis possible because I know that our University community—including faculty andstaff, students, alumni and friends—can come together in pursuit of such goals.I’ve already seen progress in the commitment shown by the members of theEnvironmental Committee, featured in this issue. Their efforts will help unify thevarious sustainability initiatives taking place across campus and will further theUniversity’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. I’m excited to see their Big Ideastake shape and to be part of the real-world thinking that helps put those ideasinto action.Please join me in celebrating the changes that have already taken place oncampus and in anticipating those still to come. I invite you to visit us in personor online at today.mnsu.edu. I’m proud to be part of such a dynamic, forwardthinking institution—and I hope you are too.President Richard Davenportpresident@mnsu.edu4T OD AY at M innesota S tat e M a n k a t opeople, places & programs making news on campusThe University announced its largest-ever fundraising campaign and the biggest campaign among Minnesota state universities inOctober. The 75 million Big Ideas Campaign will expand student scholarship programs, create more student-facultyresearch opportunities and develop more high-tech classroom and collaborative study spaces.Minnesota State Mankato became the second-largest institution for full-time students in Minnesota, based on its full-timeequivalent enrollment of 14,525 students for the fall 2011 semester.Junior Mindy Meyer was awarded a 9,000 Meredith Nursing Scholarship for 2012-2013.Classroom space at the University’s Edina location doubled in 2011, and many of those classrooms were augmented withhigh-definition video conferencing that allows the students in Edina to be virtually in the same room with instructors at the Mankatocampus. Enrollment at Edina, which is currently around 2,500 students, is expected to double in the next few years.spring 2012 Volume 13 Issue 2EDITORAnn FeeACTING EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Gilbert FrederickDESIGNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendy JohnstonPHOTOGRAPHERS . . . . . . . . . Gregg Andersen, Kenn Busch,Jonathan Chapman, Linda Clavel,Brian Fowler, Bridget Fowler, Chelsea KocinaPRINTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate Graphics CommercialWRITERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Carlson, Helen Healy,Carol Jones, Chris Mikko, Joe TougasPRINT COORDINATOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug FenskeCONTRIBUTING STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Allan, Karen Effertz,Scott Nelsen, Kim Rademaker, Connie WodtkeTODAY is published two times per year by the DivisionMore students applied to Minnesota State Mankato than to any other school in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universitiessystem during National College Application Week in November.The University’s Veterans Resource Center received a 3,000 grant from Tee it Up for the Troops to improve its facility in theCentennial Student Union and better its outreach efforts. The center has served more than 1,300 vets, active military and militaryfamilies during its first year of operation.Minnesota State Mankato alum and Penumbra Theatre founder Lou Bellamy was profiled on the NBC news program “RockCenter.” During the segment, host Brian Williams called Bellamy “one of the most influential artists in America today, a legend.”For the sixth consecutive year, the University’s MBA program was named one of the nation’s best by The Princeton Review’s 2012Business School Guidebook.Retired Allied Health and Nursing Dean Kaye A. Herth was one of 15 worldwide inducted into the Honor Society of NursingSigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Herth is an international expert on hope, humor and grief amongof University Advancement. TODAY is distributed tomore than 95,000 alumni and friends.people with chronic or terminal illnesses.The mission of TODAY is to entertain, to inform and toconnect the reader to the campus. TODAY welcomesstory ideas supporting this mission. Full manuscriptsare not accepted. TODAY is not responsible forunsolicited material.Minnesota State Mankato was ranked within the nation’s top quartile of four-year public and private institutions by Forbesmagazine in 2011—the highest-ranking MnSCU institution on the list.TODAY is copyrighted in its entirety. This volume andall articles, images and photographs within maynot be reproduced in any form without writtenpermission of the editor.ADDRESS CHANGES & CLASS NOTES: Send to TODAY,Class Notes & Address Changes, on Center, Mankato, MN 56001,e-mail to today@mnsu.edu, by fax to 507-389-2069or call 507-389-2523. Death announcementsmust be accompanied by a memorial serviceprogram or published newspaper obituary.LETTERS: Send letters intended for publicationto TODAY, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232Alumni Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001,e-mail to today@mnsu.edu or fax to 507-389-2069.TODAY reserves the right to edit letters for spaceand clarity. Include name, address, graduationyear and daytime telephone number. Unsignedletters are not considered for sion of your letter constitutes yourpermission to publish it.Member of the Minnesota State Colleges& Universities System. Minnesota StateUniversity, Mankato is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.This document is available in alternative formatto individuals with disabilities by contacting themagazine staff at the address, e-mail, and/orfax number listed above or at 800-627-3529 or711 (MRS/TTY).Graduate student Brett Anderson was appointed to the MnSCU Board of Trustees by Gov. Mark Dayton. Anderson’s two-yearterm representing state university students runs through June 30, 2013. Anderson, who is pursuing a master’s degree in administrationand leadership, served as the vice president of the Minnesota State Student Association as an undergrad during the 2010-2011academic year.Two students in the University’s Iron Range Engineering program at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College inVirginia won the 2011 Minnesota Cup student division competition. Eric Schaup and Matt Hudson plan to use the 10,000 seedcapital award to continue development of a lightweight, portable power generator that can run on multiple fuels.Senior Kathleen Ritter was awarded Zonta International’s Jane M. Klausman Business Scholarship Award. Ritter was one of12 people worldwide to win the 5,000 scholarship, which is presented annually to women pursuing undergraduate or master’s degreeswho demonstrate outstanding business management potential.Kimberly Greer, dean of Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, has been named Corrections Personof the Year by the Minnesota Corrections Association. The annual award goes to Minnesota leaders who have made outstandingcontributions in the field of corrections.Counseling and Student Personnel faculty member Walter B. Roberts Jr. was honored as an outstanding educator by theParents and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons. Roberts, an authority on school violence and bullying,was recognized for his efforts in making schools safer for LGBT students.The College of Business announced a partnership with United Prairie Bank in Mankato to offer a new Integrated BusinessExperience program to students. The program, which will give students real-world experience running a business, will launchduring the 2012 spring semester.Daily University news UPDATES CAN BE FOUND ATtoday.mnsu.eduSPRING20125

ALUMNI p r o f i l eb y C h ris Mi k k omnsu.edutheUnplannedPathDonovan Schwichtenberg ’60 never planned to spendmore than a year or two as a teacher. Today he looksback at what became a remarkable 51-year career inthe academic realm.n early 1990, Saint Paul College was in themidst of a crisis. Enrollment was stagnant. Abudget shortfall meant that layoffs were loomingfor more than 40 faculty and staff members.And despite its 80-year history in the city, thecollege was suffering from an identity crisis.For help, the college turned to DonovanSchwichtenberg, who had recently retiredafter a 30-year teaching and administrativecareer, including eight years as campus directorof Minneapolis Technical College (nowMinneapolis Technical and Community College,or MCTC). Schwichtenberg signed a threemonth consulting contract while Saint PaulCollege conducted a national search for a newpresident. But then a funny thing happened:The college began to right itself. Schwichtenbergworked with the institution’s leaders to untanglethe budget problems, launch several newprograms, boost enrollment and trim thenumber of layoffs from 40 to six. The initialthree-month gig turned into six months—andthen into a two-decade career as the college’spresident. Under Schwichtenberg’s watch,Saint Paul College expanded, evolved and waseventually named the country’s top communitycollege by Washington Monthly magazinein 2010.The award came at a fitting time.Schwichtenberg retired—this time for good—inApril 2011. But as remarkable and rewardingas his 51-year career turned out to be, the truthis that he initially saw it as a stepping stone toother destinations.A Changing FutureSchwichtenberg was born on a family farm inWaterville. His family later moved to St. Clair,where he landed a summer job working in alocal bank. He stayed at the bank through highschool, moving up from mopping floors torunning a Burroughs bookkeeping machineto, after graduation, working as a teller for thegaudy salary of 150 per month. “After sixmonths, the bank president gave me a raiseto 180 per month,” he says with a chuckle. “Ithought I was doing great.”But Schwichtenberg realized that he had littlefuture at the bank. “The president’s son-in-lawand daughter both worked there,” he recalls.“His son was also thinking of joining the familybusiness, and I knew there wasn’t much roomfor me.”So after working for a year as a teller,Schwichtenberg quit and served six monthsactive duty with the Army as a member of the6T OD AY at M innesota S tat e M a n k a t oALUMNI p r o f i l eNational Guard. When his service ended, hepipefitter,” he says. “We realized the college hadenrolled at Minnesota State Mankato in Januaryto expand its non-technical offerings. We did a1958. His initial plan was to study accounting,study and saw there were a lot of people in Saintbut jobs in that field were in short supply, so hePaul without easy access to post-secondaryswitched his major to business education. “Onepublic education. There were a lot of fine privaterequirement for the degree was that you had tocolleges in the area, but they weren’t the bestknow shorthand. I thought, ‘What the heck, Ioption if you didn’t have a lot of money.”can learn that,’” he says. “By that time, I’d alsoDuring his tenure, the college remadedecided I wanted to be a lawyer, so I figured Iitself, adding a liberal arts curriculum,could teach high school in Minneapolis duringsetting up transfer agreements with fourthe day and go to law school at night.”year institutions, expanding and renovatingAfter graduation,its facilities and forging newSchwichtenberg acceptedconnections with the local“I never dida teaching job at the oldcommunity. Of all theCentral High School inanything bychanges, SchwichtenbergMinneapolis. At 21, heis particularly proud ofmyself. It alwayswas barely older than histhe Power of YOU, a jointwas the result ofstudents. Nonetheless, heprogram between Sainta lot of peoplethrived in the positionPaul College, MCTCworking together.”and found that he enjoyedand Metropolitan Stateteaching. Instead of lawUniversity that provides freeschool, he enrolled in a master’s program intuition for students who meet its eligibilitycurriculum and development at the Universityrequirements. “It was tremendous to see theof Minnesota. After earning his M.A. andPower of YOU work,” he says. “Three yearsworking at Central for four years, he accepted aago, a student in the program told me he’dposition as coordinator of vocational programsalways believed he wasn’t smart enough toat Washburn High School in Minneapolis. Itmake it in college and that his family couldn’twas the first of many such moves; over the nextafford for him to go anyway. Now here he was15 years, he worked at numerous Minneapoliswith a 4.0 GPA, serving as president of theschools and worked his way up to the principalstudent senate and planning to transfer to alevel. He also developed a reputation asfour-year university. That was gratifying.”a troubleshooter.Schwichtenberg is quick to add that“I was the guy they sent in when there was ahe wasn’t responsible for the college’sproblem at a school. I’d usually stay in one placetransformation. “I worked with a tremendousfor three years or so, help get things turnedgroup of administrators, faculty and staff ataround and then move on again,” he says. “TheSaint Paul College,” he says. “The local businesscity was under a federal order to desegregatecommunity partnered with us. Individualsin those years, and that was a big challengegave donations and volunteered. I never didfor everyone involved. There were a lot ofanything by myself. It always was the result of aunhappy people on all sides of the issue. But Ilot of people working together.”enjoyed every one of my jobs. I worked withSchwichtenberg now lives in Edina butgreat people and felt like we made some realis renovating the 240-acre family farm inaccomplishments.”Waterville, where he recently planted a vineyardand raises a variety of crops. He’s enjoyingA Final Callingretirement, but admits it was hard to finallyThe experience wo

Jonathan Chapman, Linda Clavel, Brian Fowler, Bridget Fowler, Chelsea Kocina . For the sixth consecutive year, the University's mBa program Was named one oF the nation's Best by The Princeton Review's 2012 . magazine in 2011—the highest-ranking MnSCU institution on the list.