Rose Deal

I first met Rose Deal in the 1970′s and, as she said, we seemed to have a kind of natural affinity, partly because we were both from ‘somewhere else,’ partly because we shared something of European culture. All the years since, she brought to the School of Arts a dimension that is her true legacy to us. Certainly, we will all benefit from her monetary gifts, but it would be an unhappy result were we to forget her other greater legacy—an intellectual and cultural one.

She was deeply steeped in the ancient and medieval culture of Europe, and this gave her a wonderful breadth of mind and a love of the past. Indeed she knew the ancient foundations of Western culture through her command of Greek and Latin literature, and with this she combined a love of the later Catholic culture of medieval and Renaissance Europe, especially in her love for Dante.

As a teacher, her greatest concern was to assure that her students in Memphis were brought into a happy collision with what she had to give. As a Professor of Latin, ancient Greek, Italian, French and Western European history, she opened up the minds of generations of students to a richer vision of culture. But this did not take place only in the classroom; her very way of acting and living, her very manner—gracious, smiling and more than slightly aristocratic—conveyed a mysteriously deep fineness of character. Many a student has remarked on her ‘presence,’ drawn by a personality shaped in another, longer tradition.

Yet she was capable of decisive and direct action when she felt that the university might be veering away from the teaching of languages and tempted to cut some of them away. She protested vigorously, and sometimes prompted a return to what she called ‘linguistic sanity’ by an instrument she found effective in many cases—money.

–Vincent O’Neill

This fall represents simultaneously a season of remembrance and a season of expectation for the School of Arts. We begin this issue with a testimonial remembering the life and work of one of the great educators in the School of Arts, Dr. Rose Deal. Written by her longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Vincent O’Neill, it offers a personal perspective from someone who knew her well, and I am especially grateful to Vincent for taking the time to share these memories with us. I also wish to use this space to remember the many years of excellent teaching and service by Dr. Deal’s colleagues in Literature and Languages, Dr. Mary Cargill and Dr. Steve Grice, both of whom retired last spring. In May, another beloved faculty member, Dr. Rena Durr, retired from a long career in psychology. All three retirees remain connected to CBU having been granted the distinction of Professor Emeritus/Emerita.

Dr. Deal’s legacy is felt in many ways in the school, and we continue to cultivate academic experiences that complement her vision for student learning at CBU, especially in foreign language instruction and curriculum development in the department of Literature and Languages. This semester we are happy to be joined by two new professors in English. Dr. Jeffrey Gross comes to CBU from the University of Kentucky where he studied American literature, especially in the antebellum period. Dr. Brendan Prawdzik is our new professor of early modern literature. Prawdzik joins the School of Arts after recently receiving his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA.

This semester is also the inaugural term for the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. Led by Dr. Karen Golightly, this program has not only attracted an impressive number of majors but has stimulated the growth of the Creative Writing Club. Our programs are most successful when students are able to transfer what they learn in the classroom to their lives outside. Whether that occurs through an internship or as part of a campus activity, when students are energized by what they learn they will also find a way to make an impact with it.

In Behavioral Sciences, that impact is nurtured by the psychology program’s research curriculum, which will now enjoy the support of our newest psychology professor, Dr. Jeffrey Sable. Sable brings not only a wealth of research experience but a new specialization to the program in cognition and neuroscience.

Not all new hires are new faces. In Education, we have the distinct pleasure of welcoming back to CBU, Daniel Messinger, who is now Administrative Assistant and Licensing Officer for the department. Messinger previously worked for CBU in the Graduate and Professional Studies program. He replaces Kären Brandon who is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.

To help us spread the word about our rich activity and events schedule, we have created a Facebook page for the School of Arts. Please like us to stay informed about all Arts programs, and help us stay in touch!

Best wishes to all,
Paul Haught, Dean
School of Arts
E-mail: phaught@cbu.edu

Eleven students from the Sustainability Living Learning Community and Dr. Jordan went September 1st to the Downtown Farmers’ Market to talk to local and organic farmers and buy food to share a picnic together. 0140 – VaNessa Dieggs and Kiva Burt talking with a farmer. 0143 – (left to right) Kyra Clapper, Chiquita Gray, Becky Wauford, and Miranda Anderson buying goat cheese.

Cooper Young Fest Picture: CBU student Rob O’Ryan taking in some bluegrass fusion music and fresh-squeezed lemonade at Saturday’s Cooper-Young Neighborhood Festival. A number of other CBU students, faculty, and staff attended – including VaNessa Diggs and Kiva Burt of the Sustainability Living Learning Community.