Athens State Names Religious Studies Center for Curtis Coleman

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

October 30, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Names Religious Studies Center for Curtis Coleman

                ATHENS, Ala.  - Athens State University’s Center for Religious Studies and Ethics has been renamed the Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics.  The name bestowed honors Dr. Curtis Coleman who died in 2010. 

                “This is truly a fitting and justifiable honor to rename the Center for someone who worked so hard in championing religious education in Athens,” state Dr. Robby White, Chairman of Religious Studies and Ethics.  “Dr. Coleman’s legacy and good work should be remembered in perpetuity. This will do just that.”

                Coleman was an ordained United Methodist minister before joining the faculty and staff of Athens College (now Athens State University) in 1966. He was Emeritus Dean and Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Athens State University.

                Coleman’s book, “Stop, Look, and Listen,” is a compilation of many of the articles he wrote for area newspapers.  He generously donated the profits from the book to the Religion Department.

                Coleman was a past president of the Athens Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He also was a past president of the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce and was chosen as the Citizen of the Year in 1998. Coleman received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Athens State Alumni Association. Athens State University also honored him by dedicating its new entrance sign in his honor in 2004.

                A reception is planned to formally introduce the name change.   Family, colleagues and friends of Coleman will gather on November 5 at 5:00 p.m. at the Center for Lifelong Learning to celebrate his legacy.  The Center for Lifelong Learning is located at 121 S. Marion Street on the eastside of the Limestone County Courthouse Square.

                The reception is free and open to the public.  For more information on the Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies and Ethics visit www.athens.edu/religion or call 256-233-8296.

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Jennifer Dean Bunnell Named as Alabama Center for the Arts Coordinator

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

October 29, 2013

www.athens.edu

Jennifer Dean Bunnell Named as Alabama Center for the Arts Coordinator

Jennifer Dean Bunnell

                DECATUR, Ala. - Athens State University President Robert Glenn and Calhoun Community College President Marilyn Beck have recently announced that Jennifer Dean Bunnell has been named Building Coordinator for the Alabama Center for the Arts, the inter-institutional collegiate center for art instruction, community education, and cultural events. Bunnell will assume her duties on November 4.

                Previously, Bunnell worked in an administrative capacity at the Regional In-Service Center and Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) at Athens State.  Prior to joining the staff of Athens State, she worked with Computer Sciences Corporation (formerly The Pinnacle Group, Inc.) and Intergraph Corporation.

                The position of Building Coordinator for the Alabama Center for the Arts ensures that day-to-day operations are efficiently organized, that facilities are maintained safely and that activities are scheduled appropriately. Bunnell is charged with working jointly with Calhoun and Athens State in a collaborative effort to help expand their efforts in areas of art and drama and promote the facility in the North Alabama region. 

            The Alabama Center for the Arts has been heralded as a model for institutional cooperation in the state.   The 44,000 sq. ft. facility is located at 133 Second Avenue in downtown Decatur across from the Princess Theater.  College courses taught at the facility will lead to Associate of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees with class offerings that include art appreciation, painting, drawing, computer graphics, sculpture, ceramics, pottery and a teaching major leading to licensure for art instructors.

                Phase II construction for the Alabama Center for the Arts is expected to begin in 2014 and will include classroom, theater and lab spaces specified for coursework for both Theater and Music programs.

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Athens State's Athenian Players to present As You Like It

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

October 29, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State’s Athenian Players to present As You Like It

ATHENS, Ala. - The Athenian Players of Athens State University present their production of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, As You Like It.  This play, directed by Assistant Professor of Drama Dr. Hugh Long, will be performed in Ballroom of the Sandridge Student Center on the Athens State Campus.

Performances will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday November 14 - 16 at 7:30 p.m.   A matinee performance will be held on Sunday November 17 at 1:30 p.m.  Admission will be charged at the door and is $10.00 per person, $7.00 for students and seniors.

“Our mission is to present this Elizabethan comedy and give it a North Alabama spin,” states Long, “The Athenian Players have successfully tugged at our audiences’ heartstrings with the our dramatic productions of The Glass Menagerie and Trojan Women, and now we’d like to shake the trees with laughter in presenting this Shakespearian classic.”

The cast consists of Jensie Britt, Rachel Clifton, Stephanie Cooper, Courtney Croxdale, Daniel Hutton, Trista Irvin, Forrest Johnson, Patrick Kustor, Callie Pierce, Allie Szappan, Tracy Szappan, Jonathan Tyler, and Colin Whitworth.  NaTaya Hastins and Laura Poe will serve as Assistant Directors.  Dr. Kimberly Jacks will coordinate costumes and Vickie Cochran will do the lighting.

More information can be found at www.athens.edu/athenianplayers.

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