Dr. and Mrs. Johnston chat with Dr. R. Jervis Cooke and Mac Dukes ’31.

WITH LESS THAN 18 MONTHS into Dr. William Johnston’s presidency at Wesley College, a new vision is quickly taking shape. With a comprehensive campus-wide strategic and master planning process well underway, along with record-setting numbers of students on campus, the College administra­tion is embracing the involvement, support and feedback of all its constituents at this critical time in Wesley’s development. Coinciding with this are a number of outreach efforts being made by the Office of Institutional Advancement, including plans for some regional gatherings to keep alumni and friends informed about the College and its progress.

Since many alumni have not yet had the opportunity to meet President Johnston, he will be hitting the road to greet and interact with graduates at upcoming events designed to com­bine an informal meeting format with a social component. Starting with some of the closest neighbors to the Dover cam­pus, alumni in classes of 1964 and earlier along with other friends of the College residing in Delaware’s Sussex County were invited to a “Town Hall Meeting and Social with the President” on October 27 at the Methodist Manor House in Seaford, Delaware.

Attendees enjoyed some light hors d’oeuvres and casual conversation with the president and his wife, Susan Johnston, along with a couple Wesley staff members. The group shared stories of their days on campus and fondly recalled their Wesley experiences and friendships. They also discussed his­torical moments at the College as well as some of the more recent campus developments.

One distinguished guest at the event was Dr. R. Jervis Cooke, former Wesley president who led the institution from 1977–1983 after long-standing connections with Wesley as a trustee and former director of the Peninsula Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Cooke remarked, “I was pleased that Dr. and Mrs. Johnston, the alumni director and the vice presi­dent for institutional advancement took the time to visit with us and that the Methodist Manor House in Seaford was chosen as the location in which to gather.”

There are plans to bring events of this kind to other areas in order to reach greater numbers of College alumni and friends. Visit
www.weare.wesley.edu to find out about upcoming events. Or if you are interested in hosting a special Wesley gathering in your town, please contact Director of Alumni Affairs Amanda Downes at 302–736-2318 or downesam@wesley.edu

On November 1 a group of alumni and families took in the sights, sounds and tastes of fall at Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pennsylvania. Participants enjoyed a picnic lunch followed by an entertaining afternoon of activities on the grounds of the 300-acre farm well known for its agriculture as well as its educational and recreational activities.

Alumni and guests were treated to a private hayride tour through the fields and orchards. The youngest attendees also enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the campfire, navigating the corn maze, trying out the apple sling and taking part in feeding the menagerie of animals that make their home there.

After the original event date had to be rescheduled because of severe rain storms, the group that gathered on November 1 ended up with a clear and dry day in which to participate in the many activities offered at Linvilla Orchards. The sun even made an appearance in late afternoon.

The Wesley staff welcomes all alumni to get involved in future programming and visit the online community where upcoming events are continuously posted. Events are also announced in the monthly We Are Wesley e-newsletter. If you are not currently on our email list and would like to be added, please update your personal profile online with your current email address click here or call 302–736-2467 for assistance.