Dr. Bill Jones, 40 Years
Batten Professor of Political Science
Dr. Bill Jones, Batten Professor of Political Science at Virginia Wesleyan, retired from teaching in 2006, due to illness.
As a professor of political science, Jones taught all the traditional themes of the discipline: government, law and policy; political history and theory; and international relations. He is best known for his special interest in the decades just after World War II, especially the McCarthy era and its media coverage in early television, and the strange contradictions of the 1950s, a decade which was at once ultra modern and deeply conservative.
His remarkable talent of being able to show students the realness and relevance of events in American culture through cinema is legendary. He used all types of movies extensively in his classes and organized the annual Political Perspectives film series at the College, which began in 1980.
Jones also led the College marshals during annual commencement exercises and was the first to carry the Virginia Wesleyan mace, which debuted at the College's 33rd Commencement in 2002.
"I teach to nurture my students' inner vision - to see politics and culture with mind and heart and soul together," Jones said when he was named Batten Professor in 2004.
Outside of the College, Jones has served as coeditor of The Journal of American Culture, host of the FirstLook Film Forum and moderator for other film series at the NARO Expanded Cinema in Norfolk, Va. Through his participation in many film series and festivals, he demonstrated to the wider community how film embodies culture and values, and often tells a story quite different from that of its "plot."
Jones continues to courageously battle his illness.
*Dr. Bill Jones passed away on Monday, May 14, after this magazine
had been produced and was in the mailing process.
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more about Dr. Jones.
Mrs. Deanie Hickman, 25 Years
Director of Financial Aid
Mrs. Deanie Hickman, director of financial aid, retired after 25 years in Virginia Wesleyan's office of financial aid.
Hickman first arrived at Virginia Wesleyan in August of 1981 as a financial aid secretary.
"I assisted the director of financial aid," Hickman said. "I learned the financial aid business from there."
Hickman's job as director covered all aspects of financial aid and the awarding of that aid to students. Among those tasks, she was responsible for awarding financial aid packages, preparing the award letters and checking to see if Wesleyan's financial aid matches the federal requirements. This is a very large task, considering just how many students receive aid of some sort.
"We have over 90 percent of students receiving some form of financial aid," Hickman said. "The percentage has increased over the years. All of that is generated through this office." Hickman has helped countless students over the years, and has had many great experiences while working at the College.
"Overall, it has been a wonderful experience," she said. "I've worked with many wonderful people, and made some good friends here."
Hickman also enjoyed the benefits of working at an education facility, including taking advantage of the educational experiences and events on campus.
"The environment [at Wesleyan] is quite different than in other industries," Hickman said. "We are small and family-like."
In retirement, Hickman still plans to stay busy. Her husband is going to retire as well, and they are going to "take it slow."
"We're going to have the opportunity to visit our children and grandchildren who live in other states," Hickman said.
However, she is not going away from Wesleyan after her retirement. She will still be able to be spotted at various campus events, including athletic competitions and the various events at the Batten Center.
"I'm not abandoning the school by any means!" Hickman said.
With 25 years of experience at Wesleyan behind her, Hickman has one word to describe her time: "Perfect," she said. "It's been perfect. A perfect match for me."