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Florida Humanities Speaker Series Continues at Stetson University

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Jack Davis to present “The Rivers Run To It”

Presented by the Florida Humanities Council in partnership with Stetson University, the Florida Humanities Speaker Series continues with “The Rivers Run To It,” featuring Jack Davis, Ph.D. Part of a series of four engaging talks on various aspects of Florida’s environmental history this event will address the historic and present cultural connections between Florida’s rivers and the sea.
The event is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Lynn Business Center, Rinker Auditorium, 345 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723. This event is free and open to the public.
“It is impossible to examine Florida’s environmental history without close examination of human interaction with our rivers and the Gulf of Mexico,” said Wendy Anderson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Studies at Stetson University. “We are pleased to provide the forum for noted environmental historian Jack Davis to share with guests how the Gulf and Florida’s rivers have adapted and changed through the years as a result of a variety of factors including tourism, environmental disasters and climate change.”
Drawing from his recently published book, The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, Davis will focus on the relationship between Florida’s rivers and the coast as they relate to human exploration and expansion through Florida.
Davis is an award-winning author and editor of seven books on environmental history, and a professor of environmental history and sustainable studies at the University of Florida. His book, An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century, won the gold medal in nonfiction from the Florida book awards.
The Florida Humanities Council partners with community organizations around the state. Support for the speaker series is provided by the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.
Florida Humanities Speakers Series at Stetson University Schedule of Upcoming Events
(All events are free and open to the public.)
Nov. 8, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
“The Rivers Run To It”
Jack Davis, Ph.D., professor of history and sustainability studies, University of Florida
Stetson University, Lynn Business Center, Rinker Auditorium
345 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723
Jan. 30, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
“Marjorie Harris Carr: Defender of Florida’s Environment”
Peggy Macdonald, Ph.D., executive director, Matheson History Museum
Stetson University, Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center
529 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723
Peggy Macdonald is executive director of the Matheson History Museum. Her book, Marjorie Harris Carr: Defender of Florida’s Environment, won Honorable Mention in Foreword Reviews’ 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award contest in Women’s Studies.
April 12, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
“Rain: A Cultural and Natural History”
Cynthia Barnett, environmental journalist
Stetson University, Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center
529 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723
Cynthia Barnett teaches environmental journalism, and nature and adventure writing at the University of Florida. She is an award-winning environmental journalist who has reported on water and climate change around the world. Her latest book is Rain: A Natural and Cultural History, nominated for the National Book Award and a finalist for the 2016 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.

Noted Public Historian Dwight Pitcaithley to Speak at Stetson University

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Topics include changes in the National Park Service
over a century, history vs. heritage, among others

Stetson University will host esteemed Woodrow Wilson Fellow Dwight Pitcaithley, Ph. D., next week to present “The National Park Service after 100 Years: A Historian’s Reflections on Mission, Challenges, and Opportunities.” The free event is open to the public on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. in the Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center, 529 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida, 32723.
Pitcaithley’s presentation will highlight the challenges and changes in the National Park Service over more than a century, including the park’s role as an educational institution and federal policies that affect its work. Pitcaithley has published numerous articles and book chapters pertaining to public memory, the role of historic sites in public education and the public interpretation of the causes of the Civil War.
“We are so pleased to have the opportunity to welcome such a respected public history scholar and practitioner on our campus.,” said Emily Mieras, associate professor and chair of the Department of History at Stetson University. “His lecture will be both timely and relevant as the National Park Service celebrated its centennial last year and the NPS faces possible funding cuts. Given Dr. Pitcaithley’s expertise, the talk should have wide appeal, for the many people who love the national parks as well as those fascinated by how history plays a role in public spaces.”
Until mid-2005, Pitcaithley was chief historian with the National Park Service, responsible for the management and preservation of the country’s national resources. He was an advocate for high quality interpretive programs based on current historical scholarship. Pitcaithley served as president of the National Council for Public History in 1998, and on the editorial boards of The Public Historian and The Journal of American History.
The Dean’s Office in the College of Arts and Sciences at Stetson University is sponsoring this public lecture and Stetson University Department of History is hosting Pitcaithley’s visit to Stetson, with support from the Departments of Economics, Education, Environmental Science and Studies, and Political Science, as well as the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, Career and Professional Development, and the Gillespie Museum. Pitcaithley will speak at the Stetson University College of Law on Monday, Oct. 9, before coming to DeLand.
The Woodrow Wilson Fellow program is organized by the Council for Independent Colleges.

Stetson University and Peace Corps Announce New Partnership

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Stetson University and Peace Corps Announce New Partnership

Program offers professional development opportunities for intercultural work 

DELAND, Fla., Sept. 26, 2017 – Peace Corps and Stetson University announced a new partnership today centered on an undergraduate certificate program called Peace Corps Prep. Associate Director Chip Wheeler and Chief of Operations Erin Gibbs of the Peace Corps’ Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection and Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., President of Stetson University announced the official launch of the Peace Corps Prep program during Stetson’s annual Values Day. 

 “We are pleased to announce the new Peace Corp Prep program on Values Day which is dedicated to Stetson’s commitment to its core values–personal growth, intellectual development and global citizenship,” said Elizabeth Boggs, Ed.D., Director of Career and Professional Development, Stetson University.  “Students in this program will have the opportunity to develop skills in a specific sector of international development, gain intercultural competence, and participate in organized community-engaged learning, leadership, and professional development programs offered through both coursework and experiences outside the classroom.”

Peace Corps Prep will be structured as an interdisciplinary certificate program housed in the Center for Career and Professional Development.  Students in the program will have the opportunity to participate in organized service-learning and leadership development programs via Stetson’s Center for Community Engagement. In addition, they will have the opportunity to study abroad on a variety of short-term or long-term programs to gain cross-cultural adaptation skills via Stetson’s Center for International Education.

“Students today have a passion for service,” Gibbs said. “Through the Peace Corps Prep program, they can build skills specifically targeted to Peace Corps service and careers in the international development and service communities.” 

The Peace Corps has Peace Corps Prep partnerships with more than 75 leading academic institutions nationwide. Established in 2007, the program aims to meet the demand for Peace Corps volunteers with a broad and relevant set of expertise, and to support schools’ efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students. For more information, go to www.peacecorps.gov/pcprep. 

Earlier this month, Stetson University alumni Orion Maier departed for Morocco to begin training as a youth development volunteer. There are currently 16 Stetson University graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers in Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uganda and Vanuatu. Since the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 95 Stetson University graduates have served overseas.

Stetson University Hosts The Business Case for Sustainability Seminar, Sept. 22

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Business, environmental science experts provide
practical approaches to sustainable business practices

As Central Florida’s population continues to grow rapidly, increasing strain is being placed on the region’s delicate ecosystems. A one-day seminar will provide community and business leaders with innovative ways to enjoy the economic benefits of population growth while protecting the area’s natural resources. The Business Case for Sustainability seminar will be held at Stetson University’s historic DeLand campus on Sept. 22 and will provide a practical, in-depth approach to sustainable business practices.
Sustainability makes a difference to the ecosystem, consumers and profitability. Participants in this seminar will learn from top experts in Florida ecosystems, sustainability management and green building, as well as how to lead, manage and transform current business practices into a more sustainable operation while also considering financial profitability.
“Many businesses have demonstrated that implementing sustainability efforts not only minimizes environmental impact and increases good will among customers, but also increases profits through both operational savings and expansion of market share,” said Wendy Anderson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Studies at Stetson University. “We are excited to bring together faculty experts and community leaders to provide businesses with ideas and incentives for embracing sustainability.”
With topics ranging from “Financing Sustainability” to “Green Marketing and Consumer Choice,” the seminar will provide a framework for sustainability management with a focus on real-world application. Participants will learn to find win-win opportunities for sustainable changes with a positive impact on the bottom line, justify sustainability goals to organizational decision makers and gain competitive advantage while satisfying customer needs through green marketing.
“Companies need to examine the impacts of their marketing strategies on society and the environment,” said Deborah Goldring, Ph.D., professor of marketing at Stetson University. “This means re-evaluating their product and service portfolios and the way these offerings are created, produced, and promoted.This seminar will help managers reflect on these difficult and complex issues.”
Experts include from Stetson University: Goldring, Anderson, John Tichenor, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of management, and Clay Henderson, J.D., executive director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, as well as Chris Castro, director of sustainability for the City of Orlando and Ken LaRoe, CEO of First GREEN Bank.
The Business Case for Sustainability is Sept. 22, at Lynn Business Center, 345 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32723 on the Stetson University campus. The cost for attendance for the one-day seminar is $199 with registration available online.

Stetson University Announces Julia Nesheiwat as Convocation Keynote Speaker

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Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Acting
and Stetson Alumna to open 2017-18 academic year

Stetson University’s 2017-18 academic year will formally open at convocation on Wednesday, Aug. 23. At the ceremony, Keynote Speaker Julia Nesheiwat, Ph.D., will address the audience of faculty, staff and new and returning students in the Edmunds Center on the historic DeLand Campus. Nesheiwat, a graduate of Stetson University, is the Acting Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Julia Nesheiwat

In her role, Nesheiwat is strengthening diplomatic efforts to secure the safe return of Americans held hostage overseas. Working closely with the families of American hostages, foreign governments and the interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, she represents the United States on hostage-related issues. Previously, Nesheiwat was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Implementation in the Bureau of Energy Resources. She also served as a Political-Military Advisor and Visiting Professor at the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School’s National Security Affairs Department. Nesheiwat has held numerous positions as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Security.
Earlier in her career, she served as the Chief of Staff for Policy and Planning in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where she managed the integration and collaboration of analysis and reporting with all intelligence agencies. Prior to that role, she was selected to serve on the U.S. Presidential Commission on Intelligence Capabilities Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, leading the North Korea and Iran policy steering committee from 2004-05.
A former U.S. Army Military Intelligence officer, Nesheiwat served consecutive tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a senior operations officer, she coordinated and managed interagency assessments on terrorist networks within the Middle East and Asia, and acted as the U.S. military liaison officer with regional political parties on governance and threat reduction.
Nesheiwat was an International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and on the Governing Advisory Council for the World Economic Forum. She earned a Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan, an M.A. in security studies from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and a B.A. in religious studies and sociology from Stetson University. She speaks fluent Arabic and Japanese.

New Stetson University Building Wins State Award for Sustainability

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Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center recognized for conservation features

The Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center on the Stetson University campus was named the 2017 Outstanding Sustainability Project in the state by the Florida Planning and Zoning Association (FPZA) last month. To earn the award the building competed against five others in the Sustainability category and was ultimately selected for its many features that conserve energy and water, make efficient use of land, and help recharge ground water supplies.
When Stetson University decided to build a welcome center on campus more than five years ago, university officials promised to build “an iconic, sustainable building” that would last for years to come. This award recognizes the successful completion of that goal.
“The thing that distinguished [the Rinker Welcome Center] the best was how they actually designed the building itself to fit into the environment to conserve and reduce energy,” said Helen LaValley, incoming FPZA state president, who oversaw the contest for the state planning awards. “The building incorporated the most design features out of all the projects.”
The Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center features glass walls that reduce the need for artificial lighting, a 50-year metal roof that reflects heat and helps keep the building cool, LED lighting inside requiring 75 percent less energy than traditional lighting, solar-powered lights in the parking area, and a system that directs rain water into chambers providing time for the water to percolate into and help replenish the Floridan Aquifer. It also uses reclaimed water for irrigation and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
Prior to winning the state award, the Rinker Welcome Center was recognized with the Outstanding Sustainability Initiative Award from the planning group’s local Surfcoast Chapter in December 2016. The building also received Green Globes Certification before it opened last fall.
John Rinker, president of the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation, provided the lead gift to fund the construction of the building named in his parents’ honor.
“When we met with Mr. John Rinker, we made a commitment to him that we would build an iconic, sustainable building that would last 100 years,” recalled Al Allen, associate vice president for Facilities Management at Stetson. “This award certifies that we did everything that we shared with Mr. Rinker.”
Allen traveled to Naples in June to receive the award along with Stetson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Bob Huth; Bob Lipscomb, CEO of the Williams Company, the general contractor; and Rob Gleason, Principle of Ro Jo Architecture, the firm that provided the design and engineering services.
The three-story Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center houses Admissions and Enrollment Management; a “one-stop” service area for students with the Registrar, Bursar and Financial Planning; meeting rooms; and Career and Professional Development for students and alumni.

Stetson University hosts two important exhibits at Hand Art Center

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Inspirational works of Florida Highwaymen
and celebration of Oscar Bluemner’s 150 birthday

Highwayman Alfred Hair, 24×36-inch painting on Upson board.

Stetson University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center summer exhibitions will feature works of the Florida Highwaymen and small works from the museum’s Oscar Bluemner collection.
The Florida Highwaymen: Art Innovators in a Civil Rights Epoch
June 3 – July 29
This exhibit will explore the African-American men and one woman who painted Florida’s natural landscape in a time when the country was emerging from the Jim Crow south and entering the tumultuous era of the Civil rights moment. This exhibit will feature more than 30 paintings from private collections throughout the state, many of which have never been shown publicly. Each work is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of these struggling artists and bears witness to the beautiful unspoiled Florida landscape.
The group of 26 landscape artists began in Ft. Pierce, Florida, with Alfred Hair, who had learned technical aspects of landscape painting from Albert E. “Bean” Backus. Hair realized the cultural and economic limitations he faced as a black man in the segregated, southern United States, and entered the marketplace by selling his paintings door-to-door. Eventually he employed a crew of friends as commissioned salesmen to sell paintings along the sides of the Florida’s highways — hence the name Florida Highwaymen. These friends also were interested in painting and with Backus’ assistance learned to create their own work. Today, the Florida Highwaymen and their work are considered an important part of American folk history.
Highwaymen exhibition in collaboration with Lisa Stone Arts.
Gallery walk through with photographer and author Gary Monroe, Saturday, June 3, 1 p.m.
Monroe writes about Florida artists and his books include The Highwaymen: Florida’s African-American Landscape Paintersand many other titles about this group of self-taught artists.
Oscar Bluemner: A Birthday Potpourri – Small Works from the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection
June 3-July 29
The art center’s 150th birthday celebration for Oscar Bluemner will include an exhibit of 39 small works that offer the exquisite visual experience that viewers have come to expect in a display drawn from the Hand Art Center’s keynote collection. The center is home to the largest collection of art by modernist painter Oscar Bluemner, with more than 1,000 pieces bequeathed to the university by the artist’s daughter, Vera Bluemner Kouba.
“Few of the exhibit’s small works have ever been shown before,” said Tonya Curran, director of the Hand Art Center. “That makes his birthday a great time to celebrate Bluemner’s work and to look at some examples that are very different thematically from what has been shown before. These are special pieces, unique in their own ways.”
Oscar Bluemner Birthday Celebration, June 21, 4-6 p.m.
Celebration including birthday cake to mark Bluemner’s 150th birthday.
Oscar Bluemner and “The Great American Painting,” July 8, 1 p.m.
Lecture with Dr. Roberta Smith Favis, curator of the Oscar Bluemner collection at Stetson.
If You Go
The Hand Art Center is on the Stetson University campus at 139 East Michigan Avenue, DeLand, Florida, 32723. It is open to the public free of charge. In addition to the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection, it has a broad collection of artwork by Stetson University students, art faculty and alumni. The 5,000-square-foot building includes multiple galleries: The Oscar Bluemner Gallery exhibits rotating selections of the artist’s work and the Gary Libby Gallery hosts exhibits from the university’s permanent art collection or special shows. Except for holidays and school vacations, Hand Art Center is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. All exhibits are open to the public free of charge.

Linking Societal Violence to Video Games Reinforces Myths and Distracts from Key Issues

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Statements by Policy Makers and Media Linking Societal Violence
to Video Games Reinforces Myths and Distracts from Key Issues

Stetson University Professor Helps Lead Effort to Caution Journalists
Against Spreading Misinformation Regarding Violent Video Games

As students across the country get ready to put down their textbooks and pick up video game controllers, some parents may worry because they have heard media reports that violent video games cause real-world aggression. But this link is not based on facts, according to Stetson University Professor, Christopher Ferguson, Ph.D., who has extensively studied violent video games and aggressive behaviors and found there is no evidence to support a correlation.
“For many years, journalists and government officials would point to violent video games as a contributing factor in mass homicides, particularly in cases where the perpetrator is a young male, but this is not supported by the evidence,” said Ferguson. “Most children and teens play video games without exhibiting violent behavior, and spikes in sales of violent video games actually corresponds to decreased rates of violent crime.”

Stetson University Professor, Christopher Ferguson, Ph.D.

Recently, Division 46 of the American Psychology Association (Society for Media Psychology and Technology) released a statement cautioning journalists and government officials against this conclusion. In the statement, Societal Violence and Video Games: Public Statements of a Link are Problematic, Division 46 discusses the lack of evidence to support this connection and that it may distract from addressing issues known to contribute to real-world violence.
Ferguson helped to lead the effort to caution against public statements that conclude a link between violent video game play and perpetrating acts of violence in real-world situations.  Ferguson, a clinical psychologist and author of “Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong,” has conducted extensive research on the issue over the past decade and found no evidence to support a correlation.
Division 46 also cautions that identifying violent video games as the cause of violent crime
may distract from addressing issues that are known to contribute to real-world violence such as poverty, lack of treatment options for mental health, and educational and employment disparities. In the statement, Division 46 also provides six recommendations that will assist officials and journalists when informing the public of issues regarding violence and video games.
These recommendations include that public officials and news media avoid stating explicitly or implicitly that criminal offenders were caused by violent media including the use of language such as “it was as if they were playing a video game” or “the offender was obsessed with video games.” The full list of recommendations can be found in the Division 46 statement.

Stetson University Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center Selected to Participate in Preservation Program

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Assessment will survey collections, buildings at site


Stetson University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center is one of 75 institutions chosen to participate in the inaugural year of the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program. It is home to the largest collection of art by modernist painter Oscar Bluemner, with more than 1,000 pieces bequeathed to the university by the artist’s daughter, Vera Bluemner Kouba. Hand Art Center on the Stetson University campus is at 139 East Michigan Avenue, DeLand, Florida, 32723, and is open to the public free of charge.
Administered by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artist Works, CAP assists museums in improving the care of their collections by providing support for a conservation assessment of the museum’s collections and buildings. A team of two preservation professionals will spend two days surveying the site and meeting with staff before preparing a comprehensive report that will identify preventive conservation priorities. The assessment report will help the museum prioritize its collections care efforts in the coming years. Hand Art Center expects this program to be a first step in the pursuit of accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums.
“We are honored that Hand Art Center has been selected to participate in the CAP program,” said Tonya Curran, director of the center. “As we move toward the goal of accreditation, this program is critical to assisting us in perfecting our policies and ensuring the center is a premier venue for visiting exhibitions.”
The CAP program is administered by FAIC through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal grant-making agency that supports museums and libraries. 
In addition to Oscar Bluemner collection, the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center also has a broad collection of artwork by Stetson University students, art faculty and alumni. The 5,000-square-foot building includes multiple galleries: The Oscar Bluemner Gallery exhibits rotating selections of the artist’s work from the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection and the Gary Libby Gallery hosts exhibits from the university’s permanent art collection or special shows. Except for holidays and school vacations, Hand Art Center is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. All exhibits are open to the public free of charge.

Stetson University Leaders Break Ground on Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center

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State-of-the-art facility on Lake Beresford to be home of university rowing
teams, research center for Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience

Stetson University leaders and athletes gathered on April 28 for a ceremonial groundbreaking of the much-anticipated Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. Named for a great-granddaughter of the university’s namesake, John B. Stetson, the 10,000-square-foot facility will provide a permanent home for Stetson University Rowing teams, a space for water research and a place for public recreation when it is completed next year.
Sandra Stetson donated $6 million for this project, including $1.5 million which has been placed into an endowment to maintain and operate the building. In addition, Volusia County awarded a $400,000 grant from the ECHO program (for environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreation projects) to build public restrooms and public parking on the 10-acre lakefront site, and provide a public launch for canoes and kayaks.

Stetson University leaders and athletes at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. Pictured left to right are Xavier Mulligan, member of the Stetson University Rowing team; Karen Ryan, Ph. D, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Preston T. Phillips the architect who designed the center; Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby; Sarah Burnham, member of the Stetson University Rowing team; Athletics Director Jeff Altier; and Assistant Coach Stephen Harris.

At the University’s 10-acre lakefront site along Lake Beresford, Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., expressed gratitude to Sandra Stetson for her generosity which is making this cutting-edge facility a reality for future Stetson students and the community.
“This facility is not only a mark of Sandra’s generosity, but it will enshrine the Stetson family name on a university structure once again,” said Libby. “Sandra is a donor who cares about the environment and shares a love for the water. Her generosity allows us to put water recreation and sport, and research together under one roof.”
Just as Lake Beresford is the perfect place for rowing, it is also the best place to research and develop innovative technical, social and political solutions to protect freshwater resources and related environmental concerns. The Aquatic Center will enhance Stetson research at the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. While the Institute will remain on campus, the center will serve as its research arm.
“This facility is the realization of a dream,” said Karen Ryan, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “A place for the Institute to call home and a place for our students and faculty to interact with the water and environment around us.”

A rendering shows the new Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center along Lake Beresford.

Stetson leased the site for a decade before purchasing it four years ago for its rowing teams. Currently, the teams keep their crew boats in a greenhouse building on the site. The new aquatic center will provide storage for 60 boats on the first floor, as well as rowing machines for the team’s daily workouts. The center will be used for rowing competitions and as a winter training site for high school and college rowing teams from the north. Stetson University has hosted the fall Rendezvous regatta, the largest racing regatta in Florida with more than 1,100 participants and 3,000 spectators for the past four years.
“The new boathouse is a manifestation of where we are going,” said Sarah Burnham, a member of the Stetson Women’s Rowing Team. “We are growing so much in numbers and speed and it is important to have a boathouse that matches that. It is ushering in a new era that will make Stetson rowing known throughout the country.”
The aquatic center was designed by Preston T. Phillips of Bridgehampton, New York, who was recommended to Stetson University by Sandra Stetson to design and provide the architectural and engineering for the project.
The second floor of the facility will have glass walls on three sides with a balcony that will wrap around three sides of the building. The second-floor ceiling will be vaulted. From the exterior, the roof is designed to resemble a boat. Outside the facility, trails and elevated walkways will lead to the water’s edge. Along Lake Beresford, there will be docks to launch crew boats and a viewing platform that will overlook the lake.