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Carrie Cokely Receives Award for Support of Student Programs
"Her most significant contribution is that she understands the importance of students getting involved in the campus community. She is also highly involved in the leadership of students at Meredith," the nomination reads. Cokely serves as the adviser for the Class of 2006, working with the executive board to help develop their leadership skills and also provide guidance in planning events and making decisions for the class. Cokely said, "being a class adviser…gives me a unique perspective on what the students go through in planning and executing different events on campus and what their reality is like on a day-to-day basis." Cokely assisted the Office of Commuter Life and Diversity Programs with her involvement in the Tunnel of Oppression, which is a program in which students physically move through a series of sensory experiences witnessing forms of oppression and discrimination within our society. She created a slideshow presentation that consisted of women involved in civil and women's rights movements. Cokely was also unanimously nominated to be a presenter at the 11th Annual Southeastern African American Student Leadership Conference. The planning committee thought she would be a positive influence and promote student leadership outside of the classroom. "I felt especially honored to be receiving an award from [the NCCPA], an organization of which I was not a part, in recognition of my work with students and leadership development," Cokely said. Cokely, who joined Meredith's sociology faculty in 2002, graduated in May 2002 from Syracuse University with a Ph.D. in sociology and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Women's Studies. She also holds an MA in sociology from Syracuse University and a bachelor's degree from Russell Sage College. Staff Member Patty Blackwell Reflects on Radio About Her War Service On Veteran's Day, the radio show with Hal Rowe on WHKY 1290 AM, in Hickory, N.C., focused on four Lenoir-Rhyne College alumni veterans, including Meredith College's Patty Blackwell, office manager of Facilities Services. Blackwell graduated in 1984 from Lenoir-Rhyne College and served in the Air Force during the Gulf War. The panel of alumni veterans addressed the audience regarding the past, present and future of the military. Blackwell was asked various questions about her individual career in the military and what role her education played in her service. As many memories filled her mind, Blackwell reminisced on her personal experience as she sat in the command center during the Gulf War. "I remember vividly seeing our pilots' faces on the TV monitor on CNN before official contact was made to the command center letting us know they'd been captured. I remember realizing this is it. This is war. These are people I fed breakfast to and worked with and joked with just that morning," said Blackwell. "I remember hearing the sirens sound, instinctively donning my gear and worrying whether I could get to my squadron in time to help them survive," added Blackwell. All four panelists, including Blackwell, agreed that they were more concerned about their troops and making sure they survived than about themselves. "I think that's instinctive. When you work every day with these people … and you take the responsibility to lead them, then your first concern is them," said Blackwell. Blackwell also spoke about her most memorable military experience. "While stationed in Korea, I visited Bangkok, Thailand. A little old man seemed to be following me. We both boarded a bus and he tapped me on the shoulder. He asked if I was U.S. military. He said he wished Thailand had never sent the U.S. military out of their country. He said we did so much good through our medical teams in the remote areas, and he was thankful still, even after so many years, that we had been there. He thanked me for visiting and then was gone," recalled Blackwell. Blackwell has worked at Meredith nine years and enjoys helping other people and the crew with which she works. She is a charter member of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, VA. Her favorite thing about Meredith College is its "small, beautiful campus tucked away inside the big city surroundings." Blackwell received a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts with emphasis in communications and German from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1984. She entered the U.S. Air Force in May 1985. |
Career Center Staff Member Receives Award For Outstanding Service
The North Carolina Career Development Association (NCCDA) is a division of the National Career Development Association, an organization comprised of professionals engaged in the field of career counseling and development. Sumner received the award on October 22 at the annual meeting at High Point University. This award recognizes an individual in North Carolina who has made significant contributions to career development and has been in the profession for five or less years. The recipient will be an individual who in the first five years of practice has shown unusual skill and promise of outstanding future accomplishments and has demonstrated evidence of meritorious service to the career development profession and/or NCCDA. This is Sumner's fourth year working in Meredith College's Career Center. In these four years, Sumner has provided career counseling by assisting students with topics ranging from choosing a major to post-graduate decisions. Sumner was recently promoted to associate director of employer relations in the Career Center. "I am very fortunate to work in an office with others who are passionate about their work. I work with smart women whose combination of strengths and talents stimulate me to continue learning and to work harder," says Sumner. Sumner plans to continue to help students and alumnae find meaning in their work and to educate them on the fact that career development is a lifelong process."My reward comes not from the plaque that hangs on my wall, but from the students I have an impact on who find passion and meaning in their work," says Sumner. Catherine Rodgers: Teacher, Director, Actor
Rodgers is a Meredith alumna, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion and American civilization. In addition to her Meredith degree, she holds a Master of Arts in speech communication and theatre arts from Wake Forest University and a Master of Fine Arts in acting and directing from UNC-Greensboro. Rodgers became a part-time faculty member at Meredith in 1988 and became a full-time faculty member and director of theatre in 1993. In 2003, she was named head of the dance and theatre department. Rodgers is now teaching Theatre History I & II, Creative Dramatics, Directing, Methods of Teaching Theatre and Modern Drama. She also supervises internships. She has been acting professionally and directing for the past 20 years, and most recently directed the play "GunMetal Blues" for the Raleigh Little Theatre. She has also directed approximately 25 productions here at Meredith College. "My very favorite production would have to be the Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George at Meredith in the spring of 1999," Rodgers said. Everything came together perfectly, "the cast, design elements, music and I still cry every time I listen to the CD," Rodgers said. Locked Doors & Lightning Bugs was another favorite because it was an original script and she was able to work with the Hillsborough playwright to develop the production. The most recent production that Rodgers directed at Meredith was William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The November production featured an all-female cast and was set in 1935 Florida. She says the challenge when using an all-female cast for Twelfth Night is to have the actors portraying men do so convincingly and not just indicate that they are playing men's roles. Next semester, Meredith Performs Theatre will present the musical "Nine," February 24-27. Rodgers said that she picks plays that will benefit the students. Every year they produce a musical, children's show, a classical piece and a contemporary play to give the students a variety of genres. As director, Rodgers is responsible for casting the play, meeting with the production team, making out a rehearsal schedule, rehearsing the play every night for four to six weeks, helping to publicize the production and on opening night making sure the show runs smoothly. Rodgers says she is very proud to work at Meredith College on the Center for Women in the Arts and of the theatre department on expanding with a licensure program and the musical theatre major. In addition to working at Meredith College, Rodgers has also acted for the North Carolina Theatre, Burning Coal Theatre Company, NC State's TheatreFest, Raleigh Ensemble Players, Theatre in the Park, and both acted and directed for the Raleigh Little Theatre. She has also done commercials, industrials and film work.
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Carrie Cokely, assistant professor of sociology, received the North Carolina Personnel Association's Outstanding Service in Support of the Profession Award in October, after being nominated by Meredith College staff members for this award. According to the nomination, Cokely has contributed to Meredith College in a variety of ways. 
Dana Sumner, the associate director for employment relations in the Meredith College Career Center, was recently awarded the North Carolina Career Development Association's New Professional Award. 
Director of Theatre, Catherine Rodgers has played many roles at Meredith College.