new church life: november/december 2016
peaceful, listening and supportive sphere for the girls. She says she is “sort of a
rent-a-mom” for girls who need it, and it is “one of the greatest joys of my life!”
The Bryn Athyn College Distinguished Alumni awards “honor alumni
who have achieved personal and professional success by practicing the values
of New Church liberal arts education and by contributing to the communities
where they live and work.”
This year’s Distinguished Alumni were:
Scott Daum (BS 1978) and Chara (Cooper) Daum (BA 1982): Scott earned
a Masters in Secondary English Education at the University of Maryland,
then taught for 20 years in the Academy Secondary Schools – plus coaching,
serving as a houseparent and Dining Hall manager. He was Principal of the
Boys School for 10 years and now is an advisor to administrators in General
Church schools, oversees curriculum development, manages teacher support
and evaluation, and creates professional development programs.
His wife, Chara, focused on religion and sacred languages at Bryn Athyn
College and found summer jobs where she could use Swedenborg’s Latin. She
taught Latin in the Secondary Schools for three years. She served as a Latin
consultant to the Rev. Bruce Rogers for translations of the Writings and now
is part of the Swedenborg Foundation’s New Century Edition team. She helps
with the online Swedenborg and Life production and with the Rev. Dr. Jonathan
Rose’s Spirit and Life Bible Study.
David Radcliffe (AA 1983): David graduated from the Academy Boys
School and received an AA from Bryn Athyn College before earning a BA
in International Studies and a Master’s in Public Administration from The
American University in Washington, DC. He also received a Master of Science
in National Security Strategy from the National War College. David is a
strategist for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, specializing in security
cooperation, counterterrorism policy and sub-Saharan African security issues.
He has directed and managed multi-million-dollar security programs for the
Department and was a key architect of U.S. Africa Command when it was
established in 2007. He grew up in the Washington area and he and his wife,
Heather (Newkirk), are active in the Washington New Church. He is also a
member of the General Church Board of Directors.
Honored as the Outstanding Volunteer in recognition of his “significant
volunteer contributions in support of Bryn Athyn College” was the Rev. Dr.
Erik E. Sandstrom (BS 1964, MDiv 1971). Erik served in the U.S. Peace
Corps before attending Theological School, and has served New Church
societies in Toronto, Canada; London, England; and Hurstville, Australia. He
was a professor in the Theological School, Curator of Swedenborgiana in the
Swedenborg Library in Bryn Athyn, and editor of New Church Life until his
retirement. He continues to serve in a volunteer capacity as Acting Curator of
Swedenborgiana.
574