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| Ensuring Excellence Phase II |
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Wesleyan Mourns the loss of Beloved Professor of English Darlene Mettler
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Wesleyan’s beloved Professor of English Dr. Darlene Debault Mettler passed away peacefully on Friday, March 28, 2008, at Heartland Hospice of Macon. Services will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2008, at Christ United Methodist Church in Forsyth, Georgia. Dr. Mettler taught English for the past twenty-one years at Wesleyan College where countless students were inspired by her passion for 18th Century British literature, Irish literature, and the writings of Iris Murdoch.
During her courageous fight against metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Mettler struggled valiantly to come to campus each day because of her great love for the College, her colleagues, and her students. She spoke openly about her personal experience with breast cancer to encourage other victims and increase awareness of the disease. In October of 2006, for example, Professor Mettler inspired the greater Macon community, as she has our Wesleyan community, through an exclusive interview about her personal battle with cancer. The interview aired on local 13WMAZ TV the Friday evening before the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure and encouraged thousands to meet on the Wesleyan campus to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and brave a cold morning run.
Twice, in 2006 and in 1991, Dr. Mettler was the recipient of the prestigious Ann Munck Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award was established in 1988 by the past students, colleagues, and friends of former Wesleyan Professor of English Ann Munck '38 and is given each year to the Wesleyan College faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in knowledge, method of instruction, rapport with students, teaching behavior and attitude, concern for teaching, stimulating classroom environment, achievement of one’s students, and loyalty to Wesleyan.
Professor Mettler also received the Methodist Board of Higher Education Exemplary Teaching Award, and was recognized as the Honors Professor of the Year and the Student Government Professor of the Year. Dr. Mettler was the guiding spirit behind Faculty Follies, playing the piano and several times writing the scripts. She was a beloved advisor who could balance realistic advice with encouragement. During her tenure at Wesleyan she chaired the English Department, advised student organizations, and chaired several faculty committees. She held the Cobb Alumnae Chair of English.
For many years Dr. Mettler took Wesleyan students to London, bringing textbook material to life. She spent sabbaticals in England and traveled to Peru on a Fulbright appointment. Membership in professional organizations included the Iris Murdoch Society, for which she served as American Membership Chair.
Dr. Mettler was loved by many and has been honored through many meaningful gifts to the College. In August of 2007, Wesleyan announced the plans for a historically significant grove of trees to be planted in honor of Professor Mettler. The eight historic trees are from the American Forests Historic Tree Nursery. They have been grown from seeds or cuttings taken from the original tree at the home of a famous woman; most were planted by the individual herself, and all are accompanied by certificates of authenticity. Wesleyan’s "Contemplation Grove" will include the following trees: Susan B. Anthony Sycamore, Lady Bird Johnson Southern Magnolia, Clara Barton Redbud, Harriet Beecher Stowe Live Oak, Eleanor Roosevelt White Ash, Helen Keller Mimosa, Pearl Buck Crabapple, and Juliette Gordon Lowe Southern Magnolia.
During the summer of 2007, Wesleyan received several tiny little sticks that have been carefully potted and are growing under the care of Wesleyan's Physical Plant staff. Later this year, they should be mature enough for planting.
“We’ll find exactly the right spot for each little tree,” said Wesleyan President Ruth Knox. “Our thinking now is that we will incorporate the trees into the lovely grove we already have growing near Foster Lake, behind Jones Hall, but each one will be marked clearly as part of the Contemplation Grove honoring our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Darlene Mettler.”
In lieu of flowers Dr. Mettler's family graciously suggested that memorials be made to Wesleyan College. Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. |
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