Beacon College remains at the top of Southern colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Colleges South regional rankings, claiming the No. 9 spot and remaining in the top 10 for the last three years. READ MORE | | |
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Beacon College and PBS presenting station WUCF-TV have renewed their partnership to air the fifth season of the college’s award-winning television series, “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity.” READ MORE | |
Nevertheless, they persisted | |
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Persistence rates, more generally known as retention rates, nationally among first-time students are the highest they have been in about a decade, according to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Beacon College nurtures high persistence rates because students say they find a home away from home. READ MORE
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From the moment she entered the classroom, Rose DeJarnett felt a sense of hope in the air. It was the Beacon College faculty member’s first visit to see the college’s new dual enrollment program for neurodivergent learners in action at a local high school. She wasn’t disappointed.
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Like many higher education institutions across the country, Beacon College’s study abroad programs are bouncing back and growing once again after the pandemic shut down school life and travel.
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“A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity,” the television show produced by Beacon College, was recognized with a Silver Angel Award in the American Advertising Federation Fourth District for its redesigned website, AWODtv.org. The Angel Award Competition honors the best in public service advertising. READ MORE | | |
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Six members of the Beacon Blazers cross-country team have qualified to compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country National Championship on November 10 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
The competing Blazers (and their season’s best times) who will compete in the 8K and 6K races include Savion Caudill (33:49); Justin Quevedo (35:09); Jovan Bell (37:33); Jaylen Williams (25:33); Juliah Pregno (37:32); and Katherine Soroa (34:20).
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Dr. Oksana Hagerty, dean of the Center for Student Success, and Melissa Bradley, director of the Juan and Lisa Jones Center for Career Preparation, served as panelists in October for the webinar “Digging Deeper into Neurodiversity in the Workplace.” The webinar, staged by the National Organization on Disability, explored HR practices that inadvertently screen out neurodivergent candidates and provided actionable tips to ensure your onboarding, retention, and growth strategies support neurodivergent employees at every stage of their careers. Click the image to watch the webinar. | | |
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Christopher Irving, senior instructor in humanities, presented at the 2024 Society for Utopian Studies conference in Tulum, Mexico in October. His presentation, “The Elsewhere and Else-when of Ursula Le Guin's ‘Hainish Cycle'” novel and short stories series, particularly “The Dispossessed,” “Left Hand of Darkness,” and “The Word for World is Forest,” also was accepted for additional research. The Society for Utopian Studies (SUS) is an international, interdisciplinary association devoted to the study of utopianism in all its forms, with a particular emphasis on literary and experimental utopias. | | |
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Dr. Teri Hunter, assistant professor and coordinator of hospitality and tourism management, was recently elected to the board of directors of the International Society of Travel & Tourism Educators. This international organization promotes travel and tourism education and research. Her three-year term began in October. | | |
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Dr. Christopher Huff, associate professor of humanities, Gretchen Dreimiller, director of library resources, and Emily Morgan, assistant director of library resources, will present their research, "Giving Neurodiverse Students the Academic Research Skills to Succeed in College," at the Association of College and Research Libraries 2025 conference in Minneapolis. Their research, conducted in collaboration with a librarian embedded in “Exploring Atlantic History” classes, was competitively selected for presentation and publication in the conference proceedings. | | |
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Learning specialist Derick (Rick) Bugg recently participated in a "One Small Step" conversation hosted by Central Florida Public Media at the Leesburg Public Library. This initiative, powered by StoryCorps, encourages dialogue between people with differing viewpoints. Listen to the conversation HERE. | | |
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Dr. A.J. Marsden, an associate professor of psychology and human services, contributed to a groundbreaking study, the "Business Book ROI Study." This extensive survey of over 300 published business authors delves into the financial and non-financial benefits of writing and publishing a business book. Review the study HERE.
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Vilma T. Ramírez, computer information systems instructor and program coordinator, recently passed her final oral dissertation defense for her Ph.D. in management (specialization in information systems management) at Walden University. Her hooding ceremony will be held in January. | |
Success takes winding road | | |
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Like most people, Dan Graff’s, ’19, journey from college into the workforce hasn’t exactly been a straight line. However, his path eventually led him to a global services firm, CAI, and their end-to-end neurodiversity employment program, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, which has since helped him establish a newfound passion that he has started to pursue.
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Webber International University has appointed Stephen Staik '06 as assistant registrar. Staik will play a crucial role in managing student registration services, ensuring accurate record-keeping, and streamlining transcript delivery processes at the Babson Park, Florida institution. | | |
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Daniel Maya was featured in 06880, a hyperlocal blog focusing on stories about Westport, Connecticut. It is produced by 06880, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Read the article HERE | |
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Alumni Updates
Submit your Beacon College alumni updates, news, weddings, births, etc. for consideration in the next issue of the Lighting the Path newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you! EMAIL US
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Dr. Nicki Nance, an associate professor of human services and psychology, recently published the column, “What to say instead of 'no' when the answer is really “no” in Medium. | | |
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Dr. William Nesbitt, professor of humanities recently published a collection of poems, “Ghost Hunter,” drawn from dream and memory. | | |
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Dr. William Nesbitt, professor of humanities, recently presented "‘I Want to Die!’ She-Thing and Representations of Female Suicide in Comics" at the Midwest Popular Culture Association's 52nd Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. He also chaired a panel on "Comics" and served as a book reviewer at the conference. | |
Beacon Salon Speaker Series | | |
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In 1783, a secret plot threatened the newly formed United States. A group of disgruntled Continental Army officers, facing unpaid wages and uncertain futures, considered taking drastic action against Congress. George Washington, with great courage and foresight, quashed the conspiracy, preserving civilian control of the military. Dr. David Head explores this pivotal moment in American history and its enduring lessons about the dangers of conspiracy theories. Click the image to watch Dr. David Head’s presentation on "A Very Mysterious Business: George Washington and the Rumored Rebellion that Threatened the Revolution." | | |
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Immerse yourself in the world of Japanese woodblock art with Dr. Ray Nault. Drawing on his seven years of experience in a traditional studio, Nault will delve into the rich history and intricate techniques of this captivating art form. He'll also explore how 20th-century innovations transformed the roles of designers, carvers, and printers, opening up exciting new possibilities for artistic expression. Click the image to watch. | |
"A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity" | | |
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For many kids who learn and think differently, the classroom can prove challenging. However, by providing a creative outlet, sensory engagement, and a structured environment the arts offer a unique space where neurodivergent kids can thrive. On the September 2024 episode of “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity,” we raise the curtain on a California college prep school where art is life and life is art for its twice-exceptional students. Next, our panel of national experts paints a clearer portrait of the benefits of engaging neurodivergent children in the arts. Later, meet our latest Difference Maker, a nonverbal teenage Florida artist whose vivid creations speak volumes about his talent. Click the image to watch. | | |
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For many children who learn differently, public and private school classrooms which largely are geared for neurotypical learners, can be a struggle. That’s why educating these students at home with a curriculum tailored to their unique needs often is seen as a potential lifeline for children with learning and attention issues. But is it the right choice? On this October 2024 episode of “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity,” we check in with a Florida family with two neurodivergent students who turned to homeschooling. Next, our panel of national experts explores whether homeschooling kids who learn differently is a path to unlocking their full potential or a risky gamble. And later, you’ll meet our latest Difference Maker, whose journey to conquering the North Pole began not in the tundra, but with her struggle to master the three Rs. Click the image to view. | |
Beacon Salon Speaker Series | | |
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In November, the Beacon Salon Speaker Series features senior instructor Christopher Irving and his presentation “The Future Happened Yesterday.” Advancements in astronomy (such as the James Webb telescope), technological innovations (such as the SpaceX program), robotic advancements (like those happening at Boston Dynamics), and controversial tech products (like Elon Musk’s Neuralink) create a potentially growing dilemma for sci-fi literature and cinema. Maybe. How can we keep the fiction in science-fiction as our ability to understand the universe is growing exponentially? Irving will examine how sci-fi literature and its cinematic representations are both expanding and retreating due to our continued demystification of the universe. Where, if anywhere, does progress direct (or maroon) both literature and cinema of this genre? REGISTER TODAY | |
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“Some journeys take you farther from where you come from, but closer to where you belong.”
—Ron Franscell
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