Some Additional Department News
Let the recruiting begin! The department is in the process of recruiting a new full-time colleague. You can see the advertisement at http://www.rmc.edu/Offices/human-resources/jobs.aspx. The search committee consists of our department faculty, Chiru Bhattacharya from the Mathematics Department and Kimberly Borchard from the Spanish Department, and students Randy Timmerman and Eleanor Robinson. If you would like to participate, please let us know and we will e-mail you when candidates will be on campus and when their presentations will occur. The department also expects to hire a new faculty member in each of the following two years.
This year we have six seniors who are in the process of completing their course work for their degree. They are Steven Chase, Miles Shipman, Ngozi Nsoedo, Elizabeth Jean, Randy Timmerman, and Mark Lepore. Three are double majors: Miles (Classics), Randy (Religious Studies), and Liz (Arts Management). Mark has a Mathematics minor and Steven has a History minor.
This year the department is also pleased to have a good group of Computer Science minors who are closing in on graduation including Tim Johnson, Henry Spivey, Lamar Giggetts, and Tolson Musick. We wish them well in completing their work!
The Department Spotlight is on...
Randy Timmerman
Randy Timmerman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Mechanicsville, VA when he was about 5 and has lived there ever since. Throughout his primary and secondary education, he was active taking piano lessons, karate (earned a black belt), and Boy Scouts (earned the Eagle Scout award). Randy graduated in the top 10% of his class in 2009 and that fall started his studies at RMC, the only college he applied to.
At Randolph-Macon he is fully exploring the liberal arts curriculum opportunities by working on a double major in Religious Studies and Computer Science with a minor in Ethics. Randy is also completing the requirements for the Honors program.
Randy has participated in several student activities while at Randolph-Macon. As an incoming student he was awarded the A.P. Bailey Pre-Ministerial scholarship because he decided halfway through high school to pursue a career in ministry after he graduates from college. As a sophomore he became a Randolph-Macon Orientation Leader, which is something he continued to do for the following two years. Randy was the President of the United Methodist Student Fellowship for a year and he has been inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honors Fraternity.
For each of the past two years, at our annual spring bash, Randy has been selected by the department faculty as a member of our outstanding student award winners. Randy is an outstanding student in computer science and beyond!
After Randy graduates he plans to continue his schooling by going to seminary. He has narrowed down his choices to Duke, Candler, and Wesley and hopes to have made a decision by next March.
Outside of school, Randy has held a summer job at Westview on the James for the past six years. He started as a Junior Counselor, but this summer he was promoted to one of two Unit Directors for the summer camp program. Randy has also begun the ordination process in the Methodist church which, in combination with his seminary education, will propel him forward into his future career.
Faculty Notes Continued
Chuck Leska
I also served as Track Chair, Hospitality and Recreation, for the SE INforms 2012 conference in October. My tasks included finding reviewers; evaluating and selecting papers, workshops, and panels based on the reviews; notifying authors; and setting up sessions for the conference complete with discussants and session chairs. This fall I was appointed Associate Program Chair for our national computer science education conference SIGCSC 2013. I just completed my meta-reviewing responsibilities during the second week of October.
And, now, for the best I have to offer - new pictures of my grandson Connor and my granddaughter Caitlin - pretty darn handsome and pretty I think, but, then, I am totally biased!
This October, the week of Homecoming, I had an enjoyable opportunity to catch up with Quinn Ramsey, Tom Becker, and Nick Capito. We, the CS faculty, enjoy these opportunities to catch up and visit with alumni of the program. Please drop by or send us a note to let us know what you are up to and how you are doing!
I headed to New York and Connecticut in July for some rest and relaxation with friends and family. I also purchased a house on Oneida Lake for my fast approaching retirement years.
Ben Burrell
I have decided to take a phased-retirement (teach a half time load for 2 years) following the current academic year in order to help the department with a smooth transition as we recruit new faculty members. All of us are eager to begin this process that we believe will take the department in new directions and make it even better. In considering retirement I have reflected on the fond memories I have of all of you former students over the past 26+ years (has it been that long?): Alison, Andy, Kevin, Trey, Joe, Shilin, Elizabeth, Charlie, Ambrose, Alex,...and the list goes on. Thank you all!
As always, this past summer break offered welcome opportunities to spend time with family near and far and prepare courses for the coming year.