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Trinity University What's New News and information from Trinity's
Office of Public Relations Spanish Professor Receives Teaching Award Trinity Recognizes Two
Trustees and President Trinity Appoints John Brazil 17th President
Faculty and staff welcome Janice and John Brazil to Trinity How do you welcome the new president of Trinity University to San Antonio? On the day back from the Memorial Day weekend, faculty, staff and students gathered in the Ruth Taylor courtyard to welcome Dr. John Brazil and his wife, Janice, to the Skyline Campus. About 300 people came to the breakfast to meet Dr. Brazil on his first day on the job. Dr. and Mrs. Brazil were at the head of a reception line to meet the people who make up the warm and friendly Trinity community.
Mariachis played in the background as people greeted the Brazils to the Skyline campus With the mariachis playing in the background, guests were treated to breakfast tacos, pan de dulce and fruit as well as coffee and juice. As people waited in line, the big topics of conversation were the new president and the incredible win by the San Antonio Spurs over the Portland Trailblazers in game two of their series. The event, put together by members of alumni relations, development and public
relations, was called a success by many who attended.
News Release Spanish Professor Receives Teaching Award
"Professor Stroud is an excellent teacher of Spanish language, literature and culture. Students are consistent in their praise, acknowledging that he is a demanding teacher as well as a highly creative and caring one," said Charles White, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.
In receiving the award, Stroud expressed a deep appreciation for being recognized. "We have an outstanding faculty at Trinity, to be singled out among such excellent teachers is an extraordinary honor." Stroud joined the faculty of Trinity University in 1977 and is the author of three books, two book editions and numerous articles. He is an internationally known scholar of Spanish Golden Age drama and other areas of Spanish literature. Stroud received his Ph.D. and master's from the University of Southern California and his B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin. For more information contact:
News Release Trinity Recognizes Two Trustees and
President
The awards were presented during spring commencement ceremonies in Laurie Auditorium. Gilbert Denman, a San Antonio cultural and civic leader and attorney, has served on the University's Board of Trustees for more than 30 years, and as its chair from 1970 to 1973. As trustee for the George W. Brackenridge and Ewing Halsell Foundations, he has supported numerous programs in Trinity's department of education including establishing the Brackenridge Scholarship Fund which provides assistance to fifth year education students. Additionally he endowed the Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professorship in American History, and the Halsell Scholarship Fund. He recently endowed the Charles A. Zilker Distinguished Professorship in Physics at Trinity in memory of his grandfather. A longtime supporter and philanthropist to San Antonio's and South Texas' cultural and arts community, Denman is a life trustee of the San Antonio Museum of Art, where he established an antiquities wing which houses his extensive greek and Roman collections. He is a founder of the San Antonio Botanical Center Society as well as the San Antonio Festival. Flora Crichton has also served on the University's Board of Trustees for more than 30 years. She served as chair from 1976 to 1978, the first woman to chair the Universityís governing board. President of the Flora Cameron Foundation, Crichton is also well known for her work for the Republican Party. She served as a Vice Chairman of the Bush-Quayle í92 National Finance Committee, a Vice-Chairman of the Texas Republican Party, and co-chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee. A generous supporter of the University, her familyís estate helped to endow the Everett Jones Chair of Campus Ministry at Trinity. She also endowed the Flora Cameron Lectures in Politics & Public Affairs which annually bring to campus nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the field to speak at the University. Crichton served as the United States delegate to the Inter-American Commission of Women, as a consultant to the Department of State in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, and as an advisor with Vice President Nelson Rockefellerís fact-finding mission to Latin America. Crichtonís business and civic activities include serving as a member of the National Advisory Counsel of the Georgia OíKeefe Museum in Santa Fe, N.M., and as a trustee of the School of American Research, Santa Fe, N.M. Upon his retirement Ron Calgaard will have served as Trinityís president for 20 years, the longest presidential tenure in the Universityís history. Under Calgaardís leadership, Trinity has achieved national recognition for excellence in liberal arts and sciences education. During his tenure he has focused the Universityís educational emphasis on undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences; raised admissions standards and increased the geographic, ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the student body; developed one of the finest undergraduate libraries in the nation; and provided strong fiscal leadership resulting in the quadrupling of the Universityís endowment to more than $540 million. Calgaard holds active membership on a number of community and civic boards including the Southwest Research Institute, Lubyís Cafeterias and Valero Energy Corporation. He served as chairman of the 1996 United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County annual campaign and continues to participate on its board and executive committee. After leaving Trinity, Calgaard will become chairman of The Trust Company, N.A., an independent bank that provides trust and financial services to individuals, families and estates. The Distinguished Service Award was established by the Universityís Board of Trustees in 1973 to recognize significant contributions to the excellence of Trinity University and to the community of San Antonio. This award has been bestowed only eight times (including the three mentioned above) in Trinityís history. Recipients are individuals who have both outstanding records of civic leadership and who have made major contributions to the growth and development of the University. For more information contact:
Literary Great John Updike visits Trinity University  For four days in April, Trinity University played host to one of America's most respected and honored living writers, John Updike. The celebrated writer is the author of numerous poems, essays, book reviews, short stories and novels. His work includes the books The Centaur, Couples , Bech: A Book, The Witches of Eastwick and his acclaimed Rabbit series, Rabbit Run, Rabbit Redux and Rabbit at Rest. Recently he served as editor of the newly published Best American Short Stories of the Century. He has received many honors throughout his career including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the American Book Award, the National book Critics Circle Award and the Rosenthal Award. This was Updike's second visit to Trinity, he first came to the skyline campus in 1992. In an event titled "An Encore Evening with John Updike, a Reading with commentary," Updike touched on his early years growing up in Pennsylvania and of his interest in the popularity of high school basketball. He spoke of his interest in the lives of basketball players whose lives peaked when they were 18 years old. He then read from several works, including an early short story titled "Ace in the Hole," and passages from his Rabbit series to receptive crowd of 600 people. Updike later visited with students and faculty during a reception held in his honor by the Trinity community. The next two days of Updike's visit were spent in different classrooms talking with Trinity students. He participated in a classroom discussion about his novel Rabbit Run, spoke to another class on romance and transgression in the American Novel and took part in two writing workshop classes which focused on his short fiction. Updike's visit was part of the Stieren Arts enrichment Series, which brings a distinguished array of outstanding leaders in the fields of art, music, drama, literature, communication, art history and aesthetics to Trinity University. For more information contact: Russell Guerrero (210) 999-8406 rguerrer@trinity.edu For immediate release December 21, 1998 Trinity Appoints John Brazil 17th President  Trinity University's Board of Trustees announced today
the appointment of John R. Brazil as the University's 17th president. Brazil, currently
president of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, will assume Trinity's presidency
June 1 1999."We are extremely pleased to announce John Brazil's selection as Trinity's next president. He is a proven leader in higher education whose talents will serve the University well as we enter the next century," said James F. Dicke II, chairman of the Trinity University Board of Trustees. "Trinity University is arguably among the very best institutions of its kind in the country. The offer to lead it is a rare professional opportunity and a profound honor," said Brazil. Brazil succeeds Ronald K. Calgaard, who will retire as Trinity University's president May 31, 1999 following 20 years of distinguished service. Brazil was the unanimous choice of the University's presidential search committee after conducting a national search and reviewing 150 nominations and applications. "We believe this is the right place and the right time for John Brazil and his wife Janice to join the Trinity community and to build upon the many successes that Ron Calgaard and his leadership team have achieved over these years," said Robert S. McClane, search committee chair and member of the University's Board of Trustees. Brazil arrived at Bradley University in January 1992. During his tenure at Bradley, he has guided the University in celebration of its centennial and the successful completion of a $100 million campaign that surpassed the goal by nearly $27 million. In addition, he oversaw the completion of three capital building projects. Brazil came to Bradley from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he had served as chancellor and professor of English since 1984. He previously was associated with San Jose State University in California for eleven years, coordinating the American studies program from 1976 to 1979 and moving up through the academic ranks from lecturer to professor of humanities and American studies. He served San Jose State as special assistant to the president, associate academic vice president for undergraduate studies, and academic vice president. He earned his B.A. degree in history at Stanford University and his M.A. degree and Ph.D. in American studies at Yale University. In 1980 he was a Fulbright senior scholar in English and American studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. Brazil has published extensively in such scholarly journals as the American Quarterly, Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, American Literary Realism and the Mississippi Quarterly. He has two books in progress and has made many scholarly presentations. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Active in numerous professional and civic organizations, he serves on the Boards of Directors of Caterpillar, CILCORP, the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and on the Board of the Trustees of the Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation, PBS/WTVP. He also serves on the NCAA Missouri Valley Conference Presidents Council. He served as a member of the U.S. Department of Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' mission of American university presidents to the Soviet Union in 1989. Brazil and his wife, Janice Hosking Brazil, have two children. His son recently receive his B.A. degree from Bradley University and his daughter is a senior at Washington University. Trinity University, founded in 1869, is an independent university dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Trinity annually enrolls approximately 2,500 students from throughout the United States and numerous foreign countries. The University is primarily undergraduate with master's degrees in selected fields. For more information contact: Sharon Jones Schweitzer (210) 999-8406 sjones@trinity.edu |
Matthew
Stroud, professor of Spanish in the department of modern languages at Trinity
University, received the Dr. & Mrs. Z.T. Scott Faculty Fellowship Award during
Trinity University's spring commencement ceremonies. The Z.T. Scott Fellowship, given
annually for excellence in teaching and advising, includes a $6,000 cash award as
well as funds to be used for professional development.
Trinity
University presented its most prestigious award to two members of the University's
Board of Trustees, Flora Crichton and Gilbert Denman and to retiring
University President Ron Calgaard. Crichton, Denman, and Calgaard received
the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their extraordinary service
to Trinity and the San Antonio community.
| Profile - Ron & Genie Calgaard "Remarkable! Extraordinary Legacy" -- Article published in Winter '98 issue of Trinity Magazine  Is
it Ron Calgaard talking about Trinity --or is someone else speaking about the impact
Ron and his wife, Genie, have made on Trinity University? For once it's predominately the latter. On the eve of Calgaard's retirement after 20 years as president of Trinity University, well deserved accolades are pouring in. "We are so grateful for an extraordinary and remarkable president and his spouse, both have served so faithfully for 20 years," Trustee Jack Stotts tells alumni and parents at farewell brunch in Austin. "As an economist, Calgaard has demonstrated extraordinary business acumen and fund raising abilities," says Marc Raney, vice president of University Relations and Development, noting the University's endowment has quadrupled and $100 million in new or renovated academic, athletic and residential facilities have been added without long-term debt. "Two decades with the remarkable genius of Ron Calgaard has allowed the University to focus on its mission, this clarity has allowed us to concentrate on delivering the services we promise our students that we will," adds Coleen Grissom, vice president for Student Affairs. Indeed, it was this clarity of vision and the passion with which he implemented it that has brought Trinity to national prominence and positioned it to sustain its margin of excellence well into the next century. Reflecting on his tenure, the longest of any president in Trinity's history, Calgaard admits, "Initially, I think we underestimated Trinity's potential." Calgaard was attracted to the presidency of Trinity for several reasons. There was an impressive group of trustees. Progress was being made toward building an endowment. The campus was beautiful and San Antonio was a thriving Sun Belt city. But the overwhelming factor was "I liked the people. I felt I could work with them". Upon his arrival, Calgaard found an institution obviously in transition between the certain vision that had dominated the school in the 50s and 60s under President James Laurie and a then undefined vision of itself after Laurie's retirement. "There had been some institutional drift during the seventies and it showed up in some of the issues I would be asked about," recalls Calgaard. "Some of the fiscal and policy issues that I thought had become normative in higher education had not yet been established at Trinity." Among them were how budget decisions were made, the processes for faculty recruitment, questions about affirmative action, questions of equity, and questions of institutional priorities. Utilizing a management style he calls "aggressive, hands on, walking around being involved," Calgaard focused first on defining a mission for the university. That mission --to be become an extraordinarily good, primarily undergraduate residential institution in the liberal arts and science tradition--became the linchpin upon which Trinity would stake its reputation. Then he began making the decisions that would help implement the mission. Inevitably there was a certain amount of friction. Decisions such as eliminating the highly popular and successful Division I tennis program, eliminating all but a few select graduate programs, and requiring all first-years, sophomores, and juniors to live on campus caused controversy and were often met with resistance. But Calgaard persevered and the University prospered. In addition to such tangible factors as quality of students and programs, size of endowment, and new and improved buildings, Trinity under Calgaard also experienced a renewed and strengthened sense of community. Much of the credit for creating that sense of community goes to Genie. At a recent black tie gala honoring the Calgaard's, Trustee Paul Smith told the gathering that after the Calgaards came to interview in 1978, the search committee reported to the Board, "We really want Genie to come be our first lady, and we hope she brings Ron with her." Known for her warmth and graciousness, Genie opened her heart and her home to the Trinity community. "My greatest joy has been entertaining people," she says. "I love to hear laughter and see people in conversation enjoying themselves." As Trinity's first lady, she entertains more than 5,000 people annually...ranging from students, parents and alumni to distinguished visitors. For Trinity events like Christmas on Oakmont, she bakes more than 225 dozen cookies, and during the phonathon she keeps student callers' energy levels up and running with her famous fudge. Although many of her functions involve large numbers of people, the genial hostess prefers dinners of 12 to 18 guests "where we get to know one another. I like to know what makes people tick." she says. She acknowledges that she is a perfectionist when it comes to entertaining and her signature attention to detail has been lauded in personal thank you notes from such prominent guests as Colin Powell, Dan Rather, and Jimmy Carter. Among her many memorable guests, Margaret Thatcher stands out. "I know everyone considered her the Iron Lady, but she was warm, gracious, and a very lovely, caring person." A former teacher, Genie gave up her career in order to function full time as the president's wife. Her husband acknowledges her numerous contributions with great pride. "She's the best board cultivator I have ever seen," he says. "She remembers birthdays, she cares about people. And it isn't just a job for her . She has a natural tendency to engage people and be concerned about them. A significant number of board members have become close personal friends." Ron, characteristically, rates her performance as "truly remarkable, in some ways extraordinary." Anyone who knows her would agree. Despite their full time commitment to Trinity, both Calgaards have been active in the San Antonio community as well. He, for example, has chaired the United Way campaign and serves on numerous civic boards. She is active in Hospice and Christian Assistance Ministry, and other charitable organizations. Both are also active members of First Presbyterian Church. Several years ago, the Calgaards initiated an annual Christmas Concert as a gift to the San Antonio community. It is presented free to the public and has become a popular holiday tradition. Audience turnout dictated that the concert be held two nights instead of the original one. The commitment that both Calgaard's have made to Trinity has left little time for a private life. They rarely have breakfast together. She begins appointments at 8:30 a.m.. Luncheons are usually business related. They attend dinners or special functions five nights out of seven and host between four and six events a month. One of her secrets for surviving long receiving lines is to have a second pair of identical shoes. "I often run into the closet and change because a fresh pair of shoes makes a difference." On rare evenings at home, they enjoy simple light suppers. "Ron's favorite is hot dogs and beans," confides Genie. Although it will allow more free time, retirement for this couple certainly does not mean the rocking chair. Ron will become chairman of The Trust Company, NA, an independent bank that will provide trust and financial services. Both Calgaards will remain active with many civic and charitable organizations, and their travel plans would make a veteran globetrotter cry uncle. Europe. Australia, New Zealand, the Western United States, for starters. Reflecting on the progress Trinity has made during his tenure, Calgaard points with special pride to the quality of the Trinity community and the learning environment he helped build. Still, he says "I truly believe Trinity's best days are ahead." Despite the phenomenal growth of the endowment, he claims his reputation as a fund raiser is wildly overestimated. " I had the good fortune to be at Trinity when financial markets were very good and I have had wonderful friends and supporters on the board and in the community who have provided generous support. Sometimes you gain credit by being in the right place at the right time." As the Trinity community and alumni all over the country--over half of whom have Ron Calgaard's name on their diplomas-- bid farewell to the longest tenured president in Trinity's history, Ron and Genie express their shared feelings about their experience here. "We care desperately about this place and what happens to it," he says. "Trinity will always be in some sense home to us." Adds Genie, "I will be Trinity's cheerleader forever. Trinity is just part of my heart. It always will be." For more information contact: Sharon Jones Schweitzer (210) 999-8406 sjones@trinity.edu BACK TO TOP For immediate release March 9, 1998 Calgaard to Retire After 20 Year Tenure  Trinity's
Longest Serving President Has Led The University To National Prominence, And Leaves
A Lasting Legacy.Trinity University President Ronald K. Calgaard has formally submitted his letter of retirement from the University effective June 1, 1999. Upon his retirement, Calgaard will have served as Trinity's president for 20 years (1979-1999), the longest presidential tenure in Trinity University's history. Under Calgaard's leadership, Trinity has achieved national recognition for excellence in liberal arts and sciences education. During his 20 year tenure, Calgaard has:  focused
the University's educational emphasis on under-graduate education in the liberal
arts and sciences with several preprofessional majors, and a few strong graduate
programs. raised
admissions standards and increased the geographic, ethnic and socio-economic diversity
of the Trinity student body. increased
the size of faculty, dedicating substantial resources for developing faculty that
would support the mission of the University as a vigorous learning center. created
a residential University, where all first years, sophomores and juniors live on campus,
greatly improving the sense of community among Trinity students. developed
of one of the finest undergraduate libraries in the nation, the Coates Library, which
has an annual acquisition budget of $1 million and houses 820,868 in books and bound
periodicals. The library recently underwent a $3.7 million expansion creating a new
first floor with a revamped Instructional Media Services facility housing $400,000
worth of the latest technological equipment. added
more than $100 million in new or renovated academic, athletic, library and residential
facilities without incurring long term debt. implemented
aggressive fund raising strategies to expand scholarships and access to high ability
students regardless of their ability to pay. provided
strong fiscal leadership resulting in the quadrupling of the University's endowment
to more than $476 million."Ron Calgaard's vision and leadership have clearly made a positive, permanent imprint on Trinity University," says James F. Dicke II, chairman of the Board of Trustees and a Trinity alumnus. Dicke noted this has also been a 20 year career for Calgaard's wife, Genie, the first lady of Trinity. "The devotion, energy and caring they have lavished on the University is a credit to higher education. We thank them for their leadership and friendship and the mark they have made on Trinity University and San Antonio." According to the American Council of Education, the average length of service for most modern college presidents is seven years, with a 15- to 20-year tenure clearly the exception. After leaving Trinity, Calgaard will become chairman of Trust Company, N.A., an independent bank he recently formed that will provide trust and financial services to individuals, families and estates. Calgaard and his wife will reside in San Antonio where they hold active memberships on a number of community and civic boards. Calgaard serves on the boards of Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio Symphony and Valero Energy Corporation. He just completed service as chairman of the 1996 United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County annual campaign and continues to serve on its board and executive committee. Prior to coming to Trinity, Calgaard was vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Kansas. Calgaard received his doctoral and master's degrees in economics from the University of Iowa and the bachelor's degree in economics from Luther College. The Trinity University Board of Trustees accepted his letter of resignation during their annual retreat and announced the formation of a presidential search committee to conduct a national search. For more information contact: Sharon Jones Schweitzer (210) 999-8406 sjones@trinity.edu BACK TO TOP |
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This page updated July 15, 1999 |
