Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Spring 2014

a word with ALUMNI Kurt Tillman ’78 President, Alumni Association Board of Directors ALUMNI RELATIONS Interim Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHEATON ALUMNI during my Acting Director of Alumni and Parent Relations time on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. One lesson is that there is no such thing as a “typical” Wheaton alumnus or alumna. Wheaton alumni have had vastly different life experiences, and they hold diverse views on theology, politics, social issues, etc. They also vary in the degree of fondness with which they recall their days as students, and in their opinions on the current state of the College. Karen Kennedy Gehl ’89 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION President Kurt D. Tillman ’78 President-Elect A second lesson is that nearly all alumni have learned through experience that life is hard— hard in ways that we didn’t fully comprehend or anticipate as undergrads. A Wheaton degree has not protected us from disappointment and pain in our vocation, marriage, singleness, parenting, church, relationships, or health. Paul T. Klobucher ’96 Past President Christopher A. Jahns ’82 Executive Director Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82 I pray that, like me, you have experienced God’s faithfulness in the storms of life (seriously, I regularly pray that for you). For me, God’s faithfulness is most often demonstrated thorough the love and encouragement offered by my brothers and sisters in Christ. Professor Emeritus LeRoy H. Pfund ’49 Alumni Trustee Representatives Kurt D. Tillman ’78 Paul T. Klobucher ’96 Christopher A. Jahns ’82 That brings me to something else I’ve learned this year: the term alma mater actually means “nurturing mother.” I am not naïve enough to think that any educational institution, even one committed to Christ and His Kingdom, can meaningfully function as a nurturing mother. But I do believe there are ways in which Wheaton alumni, through our common alma mater, can share one another’s burdens as well as pray, teach, encourage, and celebrate with each other. Board of Directors Serving through 2014 Meagan Stuart Gillan ’75 Erin Hoekstra ’04 Christopher Yuan M.A. ’07 Board of Directors Serving through 2015 John Biedebach ’89 Jessica Min Chang ’12 Kirstin Skytte Lindquist ’87 Tiffany Staples ’06 Board of Directors Serving through 2016 Joelle Meyer Herskind ’91 David McDowell ’68 Donna Peterson Nielsen ’93 Susannah Schwarcz ’00 Hythem Shadid ’79 Renae Schauer Smith ’91 Barbara Ruesche Scotchmer Winter ’60 The Wheaton College Alumni Association is continually trying to discern how to better facilitate these connections, to the beneﬁt of all alumni, to the glory of God. We pray it happens at class reunions and regional gatherings, through Wheaton magazine, Wheaton in Network, and even through the regular opportunities you’re given to support the College ﬁnancially. We also pray that it happens with a spirit of humility and grace. On behalf of the Alumni Association, I invite you to engage the Wheaton community as much as you are able, and to offer suggestions as to how we might serve you better. Board of Directors Serving through 2017 Judith Briscoe Golz ’83 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE Network with us on Linkedin Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter WHEATON COLLEGE (IL) ALUMNI FACEBOOK.COM/WHEATONALUMNI TWITTER.COM/WHEATONALUMNI WHEATON 141833_33-55.indd 33 33 3/22/14 2:35 AM

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