2 CAMPUS NEWS
Connie Harris Named Vice President for
Institutional Advancement
National search brtnga
Harris to Meredith.
CHRISTY SADLER
Managing Editor
After an intensive naticm-
al search that has lasted
since February, Meredith
College has a new vice
president for instituticmal
advancement.
Connie Harris came to
Meredith on August 12
fix>m Wabash College, an
all*male school in
Crawfordsville, Ind., where
she was assistant dean for
leadership gifts. Prior to
wcwking at Waba^ Harris
worked in both sovice
learning and institutimal
advancement at Earlham
College in Richmond, Ind.,
and was director of devel-
Faculty,
summer
Summer research
projects prove t>enefl-
cial for both sides.
JONI SMITH
Editor in Chief
Over the summer, 13
professors paired up with
students who share similar
research interests for a
summer of intensive
research and critical tiiink*
ing throu^ the Meredith
Undergraduate Research
Program.
Many disciplines were
represented in die program
this summer, including
departments ranging from
history and English to edu
cation and biol(^.
"Many people assume that
the Under^duate Research
Program is open only for
students and jmfessors in
the natural sciences because
of tt»e UROP program, but
that's not true,”
opment in her last year at
Earlham.
According to Jean
Jackson, vice president for
student development and
chair of the search com*
mittee, Harris was chosen
from a field of about 65
applicants, three of whom
were invited to campus to
interview for the position.
According to Jackscm,
Harris was chosen
because she "demonstrat
ed strength in dl areas of
institutioaa} advance
ment.'’
"She was impressive not
cmly in her written materi
als but also in her confi
dence and ccHnmand
throughout tiie interview
process," Jackson said.
said Directw Rhonda
Zingraff. “The
Unde^raduate Research
Program is open to
professors and students of
any field.”
UROP, the Undergraduate
Research Opportunities
Program, is a program fund
ed by a ^rmt given to
Mereditfi by Glaxo. This
grant was given to the col
lege fw a duration of three
years, with tiiis year being
tiie last year the grant will
cover.
This program's purpose
was to foster students'
interest in biology, chem
istry, earth science, envirtm-
mental science, computer
science, math and i^ysics
by pairing them wiA &cul^
who share research
interests.
In contrast, the
Undergraduate Research
Program opoiites funds
from Meredith's ^)erating
In her new position,
Harris will be responsible
for directing the institution
al advancement staff and
supervising development
and alumnae and parent
relations. One of her main
re^nsibilities will be
leading Meredith's upcom
ing $33.5 million capital
campaign.
Harris, who describes
herself as "a neophyte
sailor and a middle child
who was bom and reared
on a farm in southwest
Ohio," also considers her
self an advocate of single-
gender and liberal arts edu-
caticm.
"1 believe that diere is
much more of an emphasis
on the individual students
[in single-gemier educa-
budget. Whereas UROP
supported projects in vari
ous science related fields,
the Undergraduate Research
Program supports all
academic disciplines.
Last year was Ae first year
for the pro^am, and next
year, because the Glaxo
grant ends, the
Undergraduate Research
Program will encompass the
projects previously
funded by UROP.
Zingraff expects the
summer research projects to
become more competitve in
the future due to increased
funding during the
academic year.
“Because we expect, and
hope, for more research
programs to be occuring
during the academic year in
the future, the availability
SUMMER RESEARCH
Gontlniied on
tion]," she said. "Also, stu
dents find that they are
challenged by the academ
ics without many of die
other distractions of a coed
ucational environment."
"There are such strong
relationships that come liv
ing and learning with your
suitemates and classmates
in single sex schools, and
these enduring relationships
and die passionate loyalties
that altmmae hold dear are
the things that make
Institutional Advancement
work a joy," Harris said.
Harris is already begin
ning to experience diese
relaticmships at Meredidi.
According to Jackson, she
participated in several ori-
entati« activities, includ-
ii^ Sunday morning's
chapel service, the campus
life skit, aiKl a commuter
orientation dinner.
"[Harris] will bring to
Meredith her institutional
advancement expertise and
her genuine wish both to
understand and be an inte-
part of this communi
ty," Jackson said.
"I'm so grateful to be
h«« to help serve the
College and appreciate Dr.
Hartford allowing me this
opportimity," Harris said. "I
am interested in represent
ing Meredith honestly and
passionately to Her ahim-
nae and friends, and I'm
going to have a wonderful
time doing so.
Harris replaces Jane
Dittmann, who left
Meredith on July 1,2002 to
move to London.
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