Stepping Stone

During Jan Stone's 21-year career with Ottawa University, she has not only moved from one adventurous position to another, she has also led hundreds of students to the entrance of their educational careers by teaching Proseminar and through the gates to their futures by teaching Graduation Review - guiding them all along the way as their advisor. She has also helped lay many stepping stones to new opportunities for the University that others have been able to follow to collective success.

Stone's career leading up to OU had a few stepping stones of its own. After earning a BA in French from the University of Oklahoma, Stone went into publishing management and later formed her own publishing company, compiling, editing and publishing several award-winning books on solar energy. When interest in solar energy waned in the mid-eighties, Stone moved to Arizona where she joined the OU family in 1986. Since then she has earned her MA in Human Resources from Ottawa University and pursued doctoral studies in education at Capella University.

Initially registrar and instructor on a campus that was unpacking its first computers, Stone soon became involved in all aspects of the emerging Arizona campuses and quickly understood the impact of OU's innovative liberal arts core program on adult education - even more so when the campus provost at that time, Fred Zook, charged her with developing and directing the teacher certification program for the Arizona campuses. In this role, Stone developed courses, worked with adjunct faculty and advised 200 students through their certification as elementary and secondary teachers.

Following that assignment, Stone stepped into the Proseminar classroom and discovered her first love. Through teaching Proseminar and continuing to advise over 200 students, she formed bonds with many students that continue to this day. Student Chris Bowler said, "When you think back on the educators who have influenced you the most throughout your life, Jan Stone is right there at the top. Jan personifies the liberal arts spirit of Ottawa University, and is one of its greatest evangelists."

So good was Stone at her job that she was called upon by then President Hal Germer to "step out of her comfort zone" again into administration as director of academic affairs in 1994. What began as a three-year commitment turned into a decade, during which she successfully led the University through mandated focus visits and presented requests for institutional program expansion to the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Her proposals, reports and self-studies were selected by NCA as models that were featured in its Self Study Fairs. She also chaired the University Academic Committee for those 10 years and headed the Student Academic Achievement program. Stone's proudest administrative triumph, however, was the successful completion, with then Vice President of Academic Affairs Jim Billick, of OU's 10-year comprehensive accreditation. The achievement was announced in a Board meeting to resounding kudos. "The Board's standing ovation touched my heart because of the deep respect I have for the Board's dedication and generosity to Ottawa University," said Stone.

With that job completed, Stone returned to the classroom in 2004 and now instructs both Proseminar and Graduation Review. "The students have a capstone course for their major," said Stone. "Graduation Review is the capstone course for the liberal arts. It opens the door for lifelong learning by exploring the global community."

Stone opens that door by incorporating such innovative themes as music from other countries and Art Night, or giving assignments like seeing a foreign film, interviewing someone from another country, or visiting a Buddhist temple. "Jan has a vast knowledge of many different fields of study," said Bowler, "and this was put to great use in the Proseminar and Graduation Review classes I took from her. She invited us to expand our minds and look at things in a different way, which is the core philosophy of a liberal arts education."

"I've had successes in my life of which I'm very proud, both in publishing and administration," said Stone, who is the longest tenured associate professor at the Phoenix campus. "But overall, the career accomplishment that is the most rewarding to me is seeing my advisees accomplish their personal and professional goals and graduate from Ottawa University."