Recognizing the gift of a life-changing education he received from Wittenberg, Louis Meyer Brown, class of 2000 from Chicago, Ill., has committed $10,000 annually to support the university鈥檚 psychology and history departments.
Brown, vice president of wealth management at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC in Chicago, worked with his family鈥檚 foundation, the C. Louis Meyer Foundation, to provide the gift, which will be split evenly between the two departments. Founded in 1946, the foundation seeks to further public welfare through the relief of poverty and suffering, the advancement of education, the promotion of health, and the extension of the influence of religion.
鈥淭he liberal arts education Wittenberg teaches provides a basis for a well rounded and practical view on life,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚n my studies at Wittenberg, the history and psychology departments had a meaningful impact on me and how I looked at the world. Both departments deserve praise for the education and dedication they provide to their students,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hey emphasize problem-solving and abstract thought, which are so valuable in this day and age. I look forward to seeing the departments and the university grow from the relationship with the C. Louis Meyer Family Foundation.鈥�
The departments both plan to use the gift to extend opportunities for experiential learning with their students. The history department, for example, will now be able to further students鈥� understanding of 鈥渓iving history鈥� and 鈥渉istory as it is preserved鈥� for society through unique field trips, including one to see the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit in Washington, D.C.
鈥淲e want students to understand how historians find out about the past, and that is through the examination of primary source material: documents, artifacts, oral history, etc.,鈥� said Molly Wood, associate professor of history and department chair. 鈥淓ncountering 鈥榬eal,鈥� 鈥榦riginal鈥� primary sources can be a very memorable event for students, and one that promotes intellectual curiosity and vision.鈥�
Attendance at and participation in various academic conferences will also now be more accessible for students, thanks to Brown鈥檚 gift. For example, history major Amy Walp of Springfield, Ohio, recently presented an original research paper at the annual conference held by the national history honor society Phi Alpha Theta in January.
鈥淧resenting research in a professional setting is such a rich experiential opportunity for students,鈥� said Mary Jo Zembar, professor of psychology and department chair. 鈥淚t gives them an opportunity to interact with individuals who are interested in their work, but it also allows them to see the types of research that other students and academics are conducting. It is a rewarding experience for students, and we are happy that with this gift we will be able to expand the number of students to whom we can offer this opportunity.鈥�
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