College Dedications
As part of the Charter Day observance there were two special dedications
in Bryn Athyn College: two new residence halls dedicated on Friday afternoon
to the late and beloved biology professor Dr. Sherri Rumer Cooper, and former
College teacher and Academy President, the Rev. Daniel W. Goodenough;
and the groundbreaking and dedication of a new athletic field on Sunday
afternoon in honor of Major General Ronald K. Nelson. (See photos on
page 588.) Below are remarks offered at each by Brian Blair, President of the
College:
Dedication of the Goodenough and Cooper Halls
Over the years, the College has been blessed with faculty members who
want to make a difference in their students’ lives and provide them with an
excellent education. A college is only as good as the faculty that makes the
magic happen in the classroom. We are honored today to recognize two
talented, inspiring and dedicated educators who devoted so much of their lives
to serving Bryn Athyn College and the Academy.
Dr. Sherri Rumer Cooper
Dr. Sherri Rumer Cooper was a beloved faculty member, having joined the
College faculty in 1999 after establishing an impressive record of paleoecology
research at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University and Duke
University. With such exemplary academic credentials, Dr. Cooper was a prized
addition to the Bryn Athyn College faculty. She taught courses in biology,
ecology, botany, limnology and environmental science, and she continued to
conduct and publish research while at Bryn Athyn College.
She shared her passion for research and science unstintingly with her
students. Her dedication to research went toward developing a powerful
and unique undergraduate research program with the Pennypack Ecological
Restoration Trust. Through her excitement for science, her teaching, her
research and her leadership, Dr. Cooper helped to make biology one of the
most robust programs in the College.
One of the many blessings we received from Dr. Cooper was her
intellectual insight into creation and the power of the Creator. She saw how
the hand of God was placed on all living things. She challenged students to see
the correlations between science and spiritual guidance. In short, she made the
classroom a wonderful learning experience both from a natural perspective
as well as a spiritual one. Dr. Cooper was deeply loved by her students, fellow
faculty and the community at large.
Almost a year ago, Dr. Cooper lost her long and courageous battle with
cancer. Her life and contributions to Bryn Athyn College will be forever
remembered on this campus with the dedication of this new residence hall
under her name. We are also honored to have members of both the Cooper
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