The IDEA Center, which stands for the Innovation, Design and Experiential Activities Center, will be a place on campus for collaborative problem solving that encourages students to apply knowledge in bold, creative ways. The groundbreaking will take place at noon on Thursday, March 4聽on the south side of the Gladys Crown Student Center.

The $1.25 million construction project is part of the聽Culver-Stockton: Changing Lives!聽comprehensive campaign that concluded in 2020.

The IDEA Center, originally referred to as the Student Experience Center, will serve as a laboratory and display area for showcasing the college’s experiential learning program, which highlights seven types of experiential learning 鈥� creative expression, leadership, simulations, research and innovation, service learning, travel and professional experience. It also will provide resources on experiential teaching and learning for faculty and students.

Innovation and entrepreneurship will be encouraged, along with a mindset to identify and assess the impact that decisions and solutions make on local economies, supply chains, economic markets, production and individuals. Students will learn how to approach decision making in a deliberate and innovative way that creates successful outcomes, provides value to their own work and employers, and promotes growth and understanding.

鈥淓very single year, we bring students from all over the country and all over the world here to 鈥榯he Hill鈥� to participate in an innovative, problem-solving curriculum,鈥� said Dr. Douglas B. Palmer, Culver-Stockton president. 鈥淲e build problem solving and active learning right into the work that students are doing every single day. This building in part is going to be dedicated to students working together as part of an active learning community.

鈥淯ltimately, that鈥檚 what a liberal arts education is about, and that鈥檚 what 乱伦社区 is about. It鈥檚 about bringing students of promise together, working together, working hard and trying to make the world a better place.鈥�

Architectural design for the IDEA Center is by Architechnics of Quincy, Ill.

Joining Palmer to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony will be:

• Larry Gorrell, member of the Board of Trustees;
• Todd Moore with Architechnics of Quincy, Ill.;
• Tony Crane with Architechnics and a member of the Board of Trustees;
• Cheyenne Grissom, president of the Student Government Association and the student representative for the Board of Trustees;
• Melody Schroer, an associate professor of legal studies and the faculty representative for the Board of Trustees;
• Dr. Dell Ann Janney, associate dean of experiential education & external relations;
• Taryn Hutcherson, vice president of the Student Government Association.

The groundbreaking can be viewed live on聽.

As the Midwest鈥檚 premier experiential learning college, Culver-Stockton is committed to helping students develop in ways that provide them with a skillset for future success.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story indicated the groundbreaking ceremony would be held Feb. 11. Inclement weather on that day forced the ceremony to be moved to March 4.

As I sit here on the Hill watching protestors occupy the United States Capital building, I have a heavy heart. Peaceful transition of power is rare in history but since the founding of the American republic, it is how we have gone about political change. It is arguably the single most distinctive and special aspect of American democracy. I am confident that order and rule of law will prevail but events in our nation鈥檚 capital should disturb us all regardless of our own political opinions and beliefs.

We identify as a liberal arts institution. 鈥淟iberal鈥� in this context is not meant as a political statement. Originating with Greek democracy and Roman republicanism, the liberal arts represented the knowledge citizens should possess to be free and active participants in our political processes. In education, liberal has the same root as liberty 鈥� the liberal arts is the knowledge one must have to enjoy the rights and the duties of having liberty.

Founded before the Civil War, 乱伦社区 has faced division and disruption before. Our work, however, has never been more important. We must continue to be a place in which we discuss and debate important issues but we must also do so with respect 鈥� no, reverence! – for the diversity of opinion we all bring. We affirm with a voice that is loud and clear that we are all created in God鈥檚 image no matter our differences, including differences of political viewpoint, race, sexual orientation or gender.

Let this be our call then, broadcast from the Hill and echoing in the valleys beyond, we stand for unity, rule of law, and that we are all citizens forming one community, whether here on the Hill, in our great Nation and as part of a global community.

Dr. Palmer has served as provost, vice president of academic affairs and dean at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, since 2015. He was responsible for academics (five schools and one stand-alone division), enrollment management (for undergraduates, graduates and adults), retention, assessment and institutional effectiveness, the library, the academic resource center, advising, experiential learning, career services and accreditation. He also was secretary for the Board of Trustees, and he was acting president for a portion of 2018 during a medical leave of the president.

鈥淥n behalf of the trustees, Culver-Stockton welcomes Dr. Palmer to the College,鈥� said Ron Leftwich 鈥�64, chairman of the Board of Trustees. 鈥淗e brings strong academic experience and leadership, and we look forward to working with him as the College focuses on the future and enhancing the student experience through our experiential learning curriculum.鈥�

Dr. Palmer鈥檚 accomplishments at Walsh include:

• Directing the building design planning and assisting with the development and fundraising for the $11.4 million Marlene and Joe Toot Global Learning Center, a 44,000 square foot facility which opened in 2018.
• Establishing Walsh鈥檚 first research institutes 鈥� the Institute for Community Health and the Food Design Institute, which were designed to allow faculty, students and guests to work towards solutions on issues that affect local and global communities.
• Developing the Brother Francis Blouin Global Scholars Program, a living-learning community dedicated to developing students as leaders in service with a global perspective, in 2012.
• Adding 11 online programs for adult-degree completion.
• Leading the effort to rebrand and reorganize the adult-learner programs as the Walsh University Digital Campus.
• Spearheading the launch of Walsh鈥檚 undergraduate degree program in museum studies, the only program of its kind offered in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.
• Raising funds for two named professorships.
• Leading academic affairs and enrollment management to ensure enrollment and revenue projections to deliver a balanced budget each year.

“I am deeply humbled and honored by the invitation of the Board of Trustees to serve as Culver-Stockton’s 27th president,鈥� Dr. Palmer said. 鈥淐ulver-Stockton’s focus on students and emphasis on experiential learning tell me that this is a place of creativity and innovation. It is leading in preparing students for the jobs of the 21st century. My family and I can’t wait to meet everyone on 鈥榯he Hill鈥� and to become part of the Culver-Stockton family. Go Wildcats!鈥�

Dr. Palmer holds a doctorate in European history from The Ohio State University, a master鈥檚 degree in modern European history from the University of Oregon and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 2001-02, and he was a research fellow at the Emory University School of Law in 2004-05.

Before taking his current position, Dr. Palmer was the assistant dean of academic innovation and a professor of history at Walsh.

He also served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army鈥檚 82^nd聽Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C., from 1989 to 1993. Both Dr. Palmer and his wife Catherine grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. Together they have three sons and live in Canton, Ohio.

鈥淒r. Palmer is the right leader for us based on his passion for experiential learning, his experience with innovative graduate and online programs, and his deep understanding of the value of a small, liberal arts college education.聽 We are excited to welcome him to the 乱伦社区 family,鈥� said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College.

A reception to introduce Dr. Palmer and his family to the community will be held at a later date.

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