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The Rice Thresher
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by MEGHAN MILLER THRESHER STAFF
Casbarian (Baker '69), associate dean of architecture, and his wife Natalye Appel (Jones '80), also an architect, have been chosen to be Lovett College's new masters. "It's important for me to come back and do it again," Casbarian said. "I'm looking forward to it from that standpoint." Casbarian said that Appel, a student who participated fully in her college, would bring the same enthusiasm but a different perspective to the position. Lovett had to complete its masters' search in five weeks rather than the usual five months because of current Lovett Masters Spike Gildea and Bonny Tibbetts' sudden decision to leave after only one year of their term. Paula Hutchinson, Wiess College master and masters search committee liason for the Committee of Masters, said that many of last year's search committee members, including co-chair Brett Robertson, were on hand at the college for the search, and the students utilized their information and expertise. Because of the short time frame, the committee was open to appointing interim masters, but Casbarian and Appel agreed to a full term. In February, Gildea and Tibbitts announced their decision to cut their term short in order to move closer to Tibbitts' father, who is very ill, in Eugene, Ore. Gildea has accepted a position at the University of Oregon. Kelly Moore, search committee co-chair and Lovett junior, said that Casbarian and Appel will bring new strengths to Lovett. "They are from the architecture side, and both alums," she said. Casbarian and Appel were seriously considered during last year's masters search, Robertson, a Lovett senior, said. "In both searches Lovett was very fortunate to be able to meet and interview so many couples and then offer the position to the one that we felt most fit with our vision," Robertson said. On hearing about the sudden opening, Casbarian and Appel decided to try for the position again. "[Last year, we were] immersed in the culture of Lovett, and we felt it was a place we wanted to be," Casbarian said. The couple said they admire Lovett's spirit of cooperation and sense of identity and independence. They said they look forward to getting to know the students and feel confident the experience will be positive not only for them, but also for their two daughters. Claudia, 10, and Julia, 2, were referred to as Lovett's new "micro-masters" in the e-mail announcement to the college. Appel and Casbarian hope the experience will help Claudia develop self-confidence and said they are not worried about exposing her to a college environment. "We talked to the other masters who have children ... and everyone was very positive," Appel said. "It allayed any fears we had." The family will not serve in an official role at Lovett this semester but has been invited to the college's functions in order to begin to build relationships with the students. To help make the transition easier, one of Lovett's traditional cookouts is planned, Moore said. "Since there are current masters there, it is only fair for them to complete their current role," Casbarian said. He said they will only be guests until they move into Lovett House this summer. Moving on campus will require a few adjustments for the couple, Appel said, such as losing a considerable amount of privacy. Also, they bought and renovated a house a year ago and are in the process of finding renters. "We will have to get used to living in close proximity to so many other people," Appel said. "We're trying to imagine mentally what it will be like. But the campus has a great spirit, with music playing in the afternoons and people lying in the grass." English Lecturer Krista Comer and her husband Jose Aranda, associate professor of English, and Associate Professor of History Joel Wolfe and his wife Traci, associate director of Annual Gifts and Development, were also seriously considered for the position. The Lovett search committee encouraged them to continue to apply for masterships at other colleges. - back - |
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