Furman Standard honors ten

Top left and continuing clockwise, George (left) and Fran Ligler (right) honored Carl Kohrt, who is photographed with his wife Lynne, and Charles Brewer. Brewer was also honored by Genie Gullick. Bill Lavery, photographed with his wife AvaMarie, was honored by Lynn Hatcher-Totaro (right). David Shaner, (left) photographed with his wife Ileana, was honored by Eric and Christina Harrell. Ty Tessitore,(right) was honored by Matthew and Sandra Miller. 

 

Every year, alumni, parents and friends honor Furman Faculty through lasting gifts to The Furman Standard, an endowed fund that allocates annual grants to faculty materials, training and development. Furman Standard began in 2010 and, to date, more than 30 professors have been honored raising more than $2 million to support faculty development.

On October 3, donors and those they honored gathered for a dinner and celebration.

The new Furman Standard honorees for 2014-15 include: Charles Brewer, Trudy Fuller, Don Gordon, Carl Kohrt ’65, Bill Lavery, David Shaner and Ty Tessitore. Other honorees included Sandy Molnar, David Morgan and Linda Julian, who have died.

Charles Brewer
Honored by Genie Gullick ’69, George ’71 and Fran Smith Ligler ’72 Dr. Brewer retired in June, leaving a remarkable impact on the psychology department at Furman. Dedicating almost 50 years of teaching, Brewer has created unique and lasting relationships with a variety of Furman students throughout the years and many students have deemed his career “legendary.” Brewer was named the William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Psychology in 1998. In addition, he was the editor of the journal Teaching of Psychology for 12 years and has co-edited five books. Advisee and Furman graduate Genie Gullick ’69 says, “As a generous, honest, and wise advisor, he has been a defining influence in my professional career and personal life for almost 50 years. Charles Brewer is a lifelong friend and a great treasure.”

Trudy Fuller
Honored by Joe Waters ’05
Fuller, a recent retiree from Furman University this spring, dedicated 30 years of teaching to the music department. Dr. Fuller received the Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Teaching in 2003, and committed all of her time and effort to her students inside the classroom and out. Waters, a former student of Fuller’s, states, “She not only taught us, but also modeled for us, what a curious and educated life looks like.”

Don Gordon
Honored by Kimberly Chappell ’88
Gordon has been part of the department of political science since 1969. Since 1999, Dr. Gordon served as the executive director of the Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Policy and Public Leadership. Chappell honored Gordon for this recognition and has many praises to sing regarding his career. “Dr. Don Gordon is a quietly compelling presence at Furman and has influenced many Furman students’ scholastic experiences and life paths. He broadened my perspective and played a key role in a number of first experiences for me.”

Linda Julian
Honored by Kenneth and Lisa Lee Rust ’87
Dr. Julian, who died in 2003, made an incredible impact on Furman University through the English department. Lisa Lee Rust, ’87, proudly honors Julian through the Furman Standard: “Though Dr. Julian is no longer with us, the Furman Standard allows me, in a small way, to express my gratitude for her valuable influence in my life.” Dr. Julian stressed the importance of academics, demanded excellence from her students while still igniting a passionate curiosity.

Carl Kohrt
Honored by George ’71 and Fran Smith Ligler ’72
The Furman University Board of Trustees elected Kohrt to be Interim President effective from July 1, 2013 until Elizabeth Davis began her tenure in July. Kohrt graduated magna cum laude from Furman in 1965 with a B.S degree in Chemistry. Dr. Kohrt has been a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, a National Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow at the James Frank Institute, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow (honorary), and a Sloan Fellow. He also has been a longstanding member of Furman’s Board of Trustees, serving as its chair from 2006 to 2008.

Bill Lavery
Honored by Lynn Hatcher-Totaro ’75
Dr. Lavery is a member of the history department. In her recognition of Dr. Lavery, Hatcher-Totaro writes, “He encouraged us to challenge assumptions and each other, think for ourselves and enjoy the experience of learning.” Lavery catalyzed his students to stretch their minds and apply their education to everyday life.

Sandy Molnar
Honored by Steve Maas ’72
Dr. Molnar was a member of the health science department and died in 1987. Molnar inspired many to lead healthy lives while also providing an education that was applicable well beyond Furman’s gates. Maas says, “Few individuals get to make a significant difference in the lives of even one person, but Sandy was blessed to be able to change the lives of many.”

David Morgan
Honored by Matthew ’99 and Sandra Miller
Morgan taught French and humanities for 20 years at Furman, and died following a battle with liver disease in 2013.  Matthew Miller says, “His intelligence was only paralleled by his humility. Even though he was always the smartest person in the room, he had the unique ability to make everyone else feel like they were the one teaching him something new.” Morgan was named the winner of Furman’s Alester G. Furman Jr. and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Teaching in 1998.

David Shaner
Honored by Eric ’82 and Christina Tolerton Harrell ’98
Dr. Shaner retired as the Herring Professor of Philosophy and Asian Studies at Furman University at the close of 2013. Since joining the Philosophy faculty in 1982, Dr. Shaner was teacher, a prolific writer and editor, leader and role model for faculty and students alike. Shaner was philosophy department chair for 15 years and was one of the founding members of Furman’s Asian Studies department. Shaner brought the Place of Peace from Japan to Furman, which involved meticulous fundraising and five years of hard work.

Ty Tessitore
Honored by Matthew ’99 and Sandra Miller
Dr. Tessitore is a political science professor and the co-director of the Tocqueville Program at Furman University. He is the author of Reading Aristotle’s Ethics and editor of Aristotle and Modern Politics. Dr. Tessitore is a recipient of Furman University’s award for teaching excellence. Matthew Miller ’99 says, “He was the first professor at Furman to have a significant impact on my life. He approaches his teaching in such a thoughtful and delicate manner that it underscores the responsibility he feels for not just teaching, but cultivating deep, critical thinking and articulate, organized communication.”

For more information about past honorees and how to get involved, visit the Furman Standard webpage.