A Heart for Students: Tony Tilley

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Tony Tilley, one of the College’s most beloved and colorful campus characters, has left an indelible mark on Barton. The recently retired director of food services has devoted more than three decades of his professional life to the faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and especially the students of this campus. And, the Barton College community will be forever grateful for his commitment and devotion.    During the administration of three Barton presidents, Tony was equally comfortable planning for and serving a business lunch for two or a Centennial Celebration Gala dinner for 500. Whether it was a Homecoming Alumni Awards Brunch, a black-tie opening for a new theatre, or a NCAA […]

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A Heart For News: Rick Stewart

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Rick Stewart’s Journey Leads to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, among the most prestigious awards bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina, was recently presented to Rick Stewart, assistant professor of communications in the School of Visual, Performing, and Communications Arts at Barton College and retired publisher and editor of four newspapers formerly under the umbrella of the Johnstonian News Group. This distinguished recognition is awarded to those who have provided exemplary service to the State, having strengthened North Carolina through the impact of their work within their communities and across the region. Unbeknownst to Stewart, his newspaper staff nominated him […]

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A Heart For Alumni: Summer Brock

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A Salty, Charismatic, Renaissance Woman Summer Brock may best be described as a Renaissance woman. Her personal interests are as varied as the activities within her professional role at Barton College. She loves theatre, traveling, reading, gardening, sports (particularly Duke basketball), movies, and great food. She can discuss a range of topics with people of all ages and backgrounds, and she is adept at juggling any number of details to ensure the success of multiple projects. From running a meeting to organizing an Annual Fund phon-a-thon, to overseeing an alumni mail campaign, to planning Homecoming Weekend, she is able to handle each and every task with apparent ease. For more […]

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A Heart for Learning Together: Leslie Pittman

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An integral part of the Barton Experience is “learning together.” The community-focused environment at Barton allows professors to get to know and spend quality time with their students, an opportunity not always afforded to students at larger institutions. And, Leslie Pittman is known for the meaningful connection that she forms with her students, and the amount of time she spends with them, inside and outside the classroom. She truly has a heart for a student-centered, collaborative learning experience. A member of the Barton nursing faculty since 2013, Pittman serves several roles within Barton’s distinguished School of Nursing — assistant professor of nursing, junior level coordinator for the School of Nursing, and […]

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A Heart for Service: Debbie Larkin

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Barton is known for its welcoming community, and no one makes our students feel more at home than Debbie Larkin, the administrative assistant in the Office of Student Engagement and Success. With a joyful heart and a helping hand, she makes sure everyone she meets feels the warmth and welcome of the Barton family when they arrive on campus. Larkin’s office is located in Hamlin Student Center, where she assists with residence life, religious life, and student activities programming. Each workday is different. Some days, it is all about creating spreadsheets for various projects or reports. Other days, she may be putting together packets for various events. She handles incoming […]

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A Heart for Traveling: Carol Ruwe

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by Giovanni Amado-Sanchez, 2017 Public Relations Intern Students and professionals, young in the workforce, often face great challenges as they step out of their comfort zones. At Barton, professors and staff often search for ways to introduce students to “new” and “different” experiences and opportunities to help prepare them for personal and professional life beyond college. Associate Professor Carol Ruwe has found that introducing students to completely different cultures by traveling abroad is an effective way to help students face unfamiliar situations with confidence and to help them gain new perspectives. Ruwe began teaching at Barton College (then Atlantic Christian College) in 1986. A full-time Associate Professor in the School […]

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A Heart for Nature: Anne Pierce

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No matter the season when guests visit Barton College, they immediately notice the expansive greenspaces and strategic pops of color across campus. So, who is responsible for the meticulous care of Barton’s 75-plus acres? The resident horticulturalist and grounds supervisor Anne Pierce, of course. Anne joined our campus community in April 2015, and she has never looked back. Officially an employee of Aramark Facility Services that manages the College’s maintenance of facilities and grounds, Anne and her dedicated grounds crew are “true-blue” as they focus on Barton’s year-round curb appeal. She and her team take pride in enhancing our beautiful campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests. From keeping […]

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A Heart for Mathematics…and Physics: Dr. Murali Ranganathan

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by Giovanni Amado-Sanchez, 2017 Public Relations Intern Somewhere along the mile walk between his house and a private school where he studied in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, a 10-year-old boy walks pensively while computing the product of two three-digit numbers in his head in order to keep occupied. Inspired by his next-door neighbor and high school mathematics teacher, the boy develops a foundation for his ability to understand mathematics with every number carried over in his multiplications. At age seven, he began wearing glasses and became the recipient of “professor, professor!” calls among his family. He preferred physics to mathematics, so becoming a professor of mathematics was […]

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A Heart for History: Dr. Jeff Broadwater

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With a heart for history, Professor Jeff Broadwater has spent a lifetime sharing the intimate details of our country’s heritage with all who will take time to listen. Whether teaching a class of students, presenting at an historical association, or joining an informal conversation with fellow faculty, Dr. Broadwater always brings new perspectives to past events that cause his audience to pause and reflect with renewed interest. This renowned scholar, attorney, and historian epitomizes bold thinking on campus, and, as a result, he has come to be recognized as a respected authority on U.S. founders’ George Mason and James Madison, as well as Adlai Stevenson and President Dwight Eisenhower. In […]

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A Heart for Serving Barton: Frances Belcher

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Behind that welcoming smile that greets every visitor stopping by the Office of Institutional Advancement, there is a “heart for serving Barton.” Everyone who knows Frances Belcher also knows that she is passionate about Barton College. She takes every opportunity she can to encourage others to get to know Barton and its multi-faceted story. And, she encourages them to also invest in Barton’ future. Frances knows firsthand what every dollar raised can mean for Barton and especially for its students. As the Development Projects Specialist for the Institutional Advancement, Frances juggles myriad responsibilities in the office. While corresponding regularly with  donors, she is also working alongside IA officers throughout comprehensive […]

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