eli360 » Steven Gist (USA)

Dr. Jhin Named 2010 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year at Lipscomb

Steven Gist — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:11:24 +0000

Each year, all of our partner universities choose a distinguished alumus or alumna to honor. This year, Dr. Paul Kyo Jhin was the recipient of Lipscomb’s Outstanding Alumni Award. I’ve been following our partner universities’ awards this year, and this one, in particular, caught my attention. I think this is due to the fact that Dr. Jhin has dedicated his life to serving young people both nationally and internationally. This is seen most clearly in his work in organizations such as the Peace Corps, District of Columbia Public School System and the United Nations. Please take time to follow the links below and read both of Lipscomb’s news releases about this inspiring individual.

Dr. Paul Jhin leads United Nations initiative to improve educational opportunities

Jhin named 2010 Alumnus of the Year

Union Officially Opens New Student Commons

Steven Gist — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:20:52 +0000

Union University officially opens the newly completed Bowld Student Commons with a grand opening celebration. Bowld Commons is a 30,000 square foot (2,800 square meter) facility with apartments for two residence directors, a large multi-purpose room, three classrooms, two kitchens, game room, conference rooms, piano room, band practice room, TV rooms and gathering areas, outdoor built-in grills and outdoor patio space on both the first and second floors.

Bowld Student Commons is a great example of the commitment ELI 360 partner universities have made to provide students with modern facilities that enhance learning, as well as the student-life experience.

Lipscomb Dean Recognized for Leadership in Ethics

Steven Gist — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:10:01 +0000

Turney Stevens

Turney Stevens, Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University was recently named one of 2009’s Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the advancement of best practices in business ethics.

Stevens was recognized along with leaders such as Bill Gates, Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke and United States President Barak Obama.

Read the full story here.

See the full list of those recognized by the Ethisphere Institute here.

Outstanding Teaching and a Passion for Mentoring

Steven Gist — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:27:37 +0000

Professors at ELI 360 partner universities are not only some of the best professionals and academics in their discipline, they are also excellent mentors and role models for students. A great example of this is Dr. Janelle K. O’Connell, Department Head and Professor of Physical Therapy at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) in Abilene, Texas. She was recently recognized as the most outstanding physical therapy educator in the state of Texas at the annual conference of the Texas Physical Therapy Association held in Austin. After hearing about this, I looked up her profile on the HSU website and read her personal statement. I’ve shared a section of that below because it articulates well the commitment and passion that so many of the professors at our partner universities have for teaching and mentoring their students.

I enjoy working at HSU because of the tremendous friendships I have made over the years, because I believe that what I do is important and meaningful, because I feel the love of the Lord on campus, and because of the support I feel from my colleagues. I am energized by the inquisitiveness of the students and their yearning to learn. Opportunities to get involved in the community and share individual talents abound on campus, opening doors for the future and allowing me to give back for the many blessings I have received.

You can read more about HSU’s Physical Therapy program and Dr. O’Connell’s award by following the links below.

HSU Physical Therapy Program

Dr. O’Connell

What Google is Looking for in an Employee

Steven Gist — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:53:06 +0000

On a recent plane ride, I sat by a young man who has been working for Google for four years as a product strategist. We had an interesting conversation about his education and work at Google. As part of our conversation, he talked about the nature of 21st century jobs and the type of education that might best prepare a young person for those jobs.This young man started his education at the University of Washington (UW), an excellent public school in the U.S. that many international and U.S. students aspire to enter. After a time, though, he found that he did not like the size and impersonal nature of the school. He decided to enroll in a Christ-centered university. At UW, he was studying computer science, but, as he continued his education, he decided to major in English and Latin, and pursue his technical interests on the side. When he applied for a job with Google, he found that his technical skills combined with an ability to write well and think creatively were strengths that the company was looking for.

As he reflected on his time at Google, he explained that he couldn’t think of any specific university degrees that would necessarily prepare one for a job at Google. This is primarily due to the fact that jobs are changing all the time because of ever-evolving technologies. He suggested that cultivating data analysis skills, the ability to learn new things quickly, creativity and the ability to communicate effectively seem to be the requisite skills to excel at Google and be successful in the 21st century work environment, in general.

I was interested in his comment on data analysis skills. When one reflects on the unprecedented amounts of data that are available to companies, it would seem that anyone who can accurately interpret large sets of data and creatively apply it to a rapidly changing world will be valuable to any company. In fact, this young man suggested that the statistician is to the 21st century as the computer programmer was to the late 20th century.

He makes a strong case for a liberal arts education that prepares one to communicate effectively, analyze data and think critically and creatively.

The only thing I would add to this is how important character development and leadership skills are as a foundation for the academic and professional skills one acquires. What was interesting to me in this young man’s story was his decision to transfer from a large state university to a Christ-centered university. He realized that, in the context of a small, private university, he would get more personalized attention from staff and faculty. And it is precisely in this context that one has greater opportunities to develop character and leadership skills. Here is were young people find the advantage in reaching for a successful career.

Leadership Studies Program at HSU

Steven Gist — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:46:42 +0000

When I talk with faculty and staff at our partner universities, I always ask the question, “In what ways are you intentional about providing your students opportunities for leadership and character development?”. Yesterday, when I asked this question during a visit to Hardin-Simmons University, I learned about an impressive and unique program they offer called the Leadership Studies Program. The program combines theoretical instruction from several different disciplines with experiential learning. Opportunities outside of the classroom include work with non-profit organizations and outdoor adventure education courses.

For more details about this program, visit the Leadership Studies Program page on the Hardin-Simmons University website:

www.hsutx.edu/academics/specialprograms/leadership

To find out more about Hardin-Simmons University visit www.hsutx.edu

ACU Spotlight on Jason Huang

Steven Gist — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:49:42 +0000

Abilene Christian University (ACU) recently posted a story about Jason Huang on its website as part of an ongoing Spotlight series. Jason is an outstanding young man who ELI 360 first placed at Abilene Christian High School and then at ACU. Both of these institutions provide opportunities for leadership development, character building and intellectual growth. Jason has made the most of these opportunities, and it has been a pleasure for all of us at ELI 360 to watch him grow and mature as a result. We wish Jason continued success and look forward to hearing about the good things he will continue to do. You can read the full story here.

Joining ELI 360

Steven Gist — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:57:17 +0000

I’ve been working with ELI 360 for a month now, and I’m excited to be a part of this talented team of people. It’s rewarding to work at an organization that serves people by connecting them with opportunities for academic, professional and personal development. One of the highlights of my five years as a director of international student recruiting at Abilene Christian University (ACU) was the opportunity to develop relationships with international students and their families, and witness the transformation these students made into young men and women of character who were prepared to change the world. It was also rewarding to see the positive impact these students made in the lives of faculty, staff and their fellow students. As I embark on this new adventure at ELI 360, I look forward to the chance to serve even more families and educational institutions, and to witness many more lives being changed.