Faces & Names
A look at the people who bring life to the university
YoungKwan Kim
Tae Kwon Do, weight training teacher
By Sarah McClellan
Photo by Katherine Barr
Some students change their majors frequently, but it is doubtful that many people have made an academic change quite as drastic as YoungKwan Kim.
Kim, a graduate student from Korea, completed a bachelor of arts and
a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Korea before he came
to TCU to study kinesiology.
“I have two dreams for my life,” Kim said. “One is to make airplanes. I have fulfilled my dream to be an aerospace engineer. The other is to be a good teacher of Tae Kwon Do and find more scientific background and data for Tae Kwon Do. I’m trying to provide a scientific theory for the movement.”
Kim, who worked for Samsung Aerospace Company in Korea for four years and was involved in the development program for the KTX-2 Korean fighter plane, is now working toward a master’s degree in kinesiology and motor behavior. He chose to get his master’s degree from TCU because he has friends who live in Fort Worth.
As part of his assignments for the degree, he teaches a weight training and a Tae Kwon Do class at TCU. He is a fourth dan, or degree, black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Kyle Brandt, a sophomore premajor who is a student in Kim’s weight training class and who is testing for his third dan in Tae Kwon Do in June, likes that Kim is a martial arts instructor.
“At the beginning of the semester, I asked him if he could give me advice on things that (would) benefit me in martial arts and he did,” Brandt said. “He told me which types of exercises would benefit me more than others for the sport.”
Brandt, who is also a Tae Kwon Do instructor at Arlington School of Self Defense, said he likes Kim’s idea to provide scientific background for the martial art.
“I think it’s a great idea because (by) providing a more scientific study of martial arts, of course it’ll be helpful to the sport,” he said.
Dan Southard, professor of kinesiology and Kim’s adviser, said Kim will find a way to incorporate Tae Kwon Do into the study of human movement.
“It’s likely he’ll pick a topic (for his thesis) that will combine kinesiology and Tae Kwon Do,” Southard said.
Southard also thinks Kim’s math skills acquired in his aerospace experiences helps in kinesiology.
“He has a good math background which is helpful in our area,” Southard said. “He has very good analysis skills and he is a very hard worker. His analysis skills were probably honed when he was working in aerodynamics.”
Kim intends to go even further in his study of kinesiology.
“As of finishing my masters, I want to get a Ph.D. in kinesiology,” Kim said.
Kim’s goal to provide scientific data of the movement in Tae Kwon Do isn’t the only reason that he continues doing it.
“I do it for my health and now it is my favorite hobby and favorite job,” Kim said.
Sarah McLellan
sarahlmac@hotmail.com
Betty Morgan
ID Card Services manager
By Brandon Ortiz
Photo by Katherine Barr
Betty Morgan is busy these days.
The ID Card Services manager has her hands full playing the
role of surrogate mother to her student workers and helping her husband
with their two businesses along with her already hectic full-time job.
Last week, Morgan added 128 dining plans and replaced 34 stolen IDs — in one day.
But Morgan isn’t complaining.
“Some days it gets a little bit frustrating,” she said. “But then I tell myself that I am here for students. I just wish I wasn’t quite as busy so I could really visit with the students. I used to have time back in the early days, but now with everything going on I don’t have that time.”
Morgan has worked at TCU for the last 13 1/2 years. She has seen the technology in ID Card Services improve and the use of the ID card expand — along with her workload. Today ID cards are used to access buildings, buy books at the bookstore, buy food from dining plans, wash laundry and an assortment of other uses — all of which is handled through her office.
Morgan is proud of how much more advanced ID services has become.
“I become very excited when somebody asks me about the ID card center,” Morgan said. “I am proud of everything the ID card does now. The difference of 13 1/2 years is that we are doing so many things with the ID card. We have come so far in the time that I have been here.”
Through
it all she has adapted, senior political science major Kate McArthur said.
“She has been here so long that things have really changed,” said McArthur, who has worked for Morgan for close to a year and a half. “Everything she does now is so technical. She has been so adaptive with learning all the new stuff.”
Morgan likes the biggest challenge her job presents — auditing accounts.
“I like numbers,” Morgan said. “I enjoy balancing all the charges. I think that’s what I like the most. It’s a challenge. If I don’t balance something, I like the fun of trying to find where you’re off and trying to correct it.”
In addition to her job at TCU, Morgan helps her husband on occasions with their two Mail Boxes Etc. franchises.
Even with everything going on these days, Morgan is still able to keep track of the nuts and bolts ofher job, senior psychology major Heather Hunter said.
“She knows more about what is going on than anybody,” said Hunter, who has worked with Morgan for a little over a year. “She knows everything about the locks on the doors, the laundry (machines) and the vending machines.”
Few people are as committed to their job as Morgan, McArthur said.
“(She’s told) me so many times on a Monday that she came out on a Saturday or a Sunday to catch up and get ready for work,” McArthur said.
Hunter said she doesn’t know anyone who works harder.
“She does her best to help anybody with a problem they have,” Hunter said. “She’ll do anything to help somebody out.”
Morgan said taking care of the students is one of her biggest priorities.
“The most important thing is waiting on our students, the customers,” she said.
She also takes care of her student workers. It isn’t unusual to see Morgan asking her employees if they are doing well in school or if they are having any problems.
“She is almost like a mother,” Hunter said. “She worries about us and makes sure we are getting good grades.”
McArthur said she enjoys being able to talk to Morgan about her problems. She thinks of Morgan more as a friend than as a boss.
“She is just an amazing, caring, wonderful person to work with,” McArthur said. “We have a really friendly relationship. I kind of know what (is) going on with (her) and she always asks me what (is) going on with my classes and what’s going on with my boyfriend. We kind of keep up with these kind of things.”
Morgan said her student workers have been great over the years and that she couldn’t do her job without them.
“They are just great workers,” Morgan said. “They help me out a lot. I couldn’t manage everything by myself. You almost feel like they are your sons and daughters.
“You take care of them, make sure they are eating and all that stuff.”
Even though Morgan is busy these days juggling roles as manager of ID Card services, playing surrogate mother and helping her husband, she isn’t ready to retire just yet.
“Everybody tells me that I’ll know when that day comes to retire,” Morgan said. “Someday that day will come. Even if I do leave TCU, I’ll continue helping with the stores. But I’ll be semi-retired then at least.”
Brandon Ortiz
b.p.ortiz@student.tcu.edu
Rhonda Dickens
Jarvis Hall director
By Kristin Delorantis
Photo by Jennifer Klein
Feminism is a touchy subject for some. While most women choose not to publicly express their views concerning women’s rights, Jarvis Hall director Rhonda Dickens feels very strongly about her stance on the subject.
Dickens graduated from TCU with a degree in news-editorial journalism in May 1999, however it wasn’t until her senior year that she realized her interest rested in women’s studies. She also worked with community relations at a local Barnes and Noble, which allowed her to become more exposed to women’s literature.
Because she takes such an active interest in women’s issues, working
with and relating to college-aged women comes naturally to her.
Dickens believes she has always been a “natural nurturer” and said that helping people she lives with isn’t unusual or uncomfortable for her.
At times, Dickens becomes so involved with her residents she tends to neglect her needs.
“I enjoy helping others and I have to work on drawing that line,” she said. “It is like when the stewardess says to put the mask on before you put it on the (child), because you are not going to be alive to help the child if you don’t put the oxygen mask on yourself.”
It is difficult for Dickens not to become involved in some of the issues the women face because she is so close to their age and can relate to many of the situations they face.
“The experiences they have are so fresh in my mind that there is no way I can act removed from that,” she said. “I relate to the stress they have during midterms, and when I see them out in the hall studying I know why they are doing that.”Because she can relate to the women, Dickens strives to buildindividual relationships with them. She believes that getting to know her residents is rewarding.
“It is really exciting to know someone and see them having trouble with something, and then see them pull out of that,” she said. “It makes you realize what you’re doing is important.”
Sophomore psychology major Claudia Lemmon recognizes the concern Dickens has for the women in Jarvis.
“She is really concerned about us,” Lemmon said. “She thinks of our well-being before her own.”
Dickens plans to begin attending graduate school in the spring and upon graduation teach a college-level women’s literature class. Right now, however, she has her hands full with the planning of her wedding, which will be in April.
Kristin Delorantis
kdelo@hotmail.com
Edward Oliver
Sub Connection supervisor
By Melissa DeLoach
Photo by Jennifer Klein
From laying carpet, to performing X-rays, to cutting hair, to food management, Edward Oliver has held various jobs.
Throughout his jobs, one thing remains constant — his love for working and interacting with people.
Oliver, 39, has worked with Marriott Food Service for four years. He
is currently the supervisor of Sub Connection in Dan Rogers Hall. Prior
to managing the daily operations of the sandwich shop, Oliver worked as
a cook in The Main for two years.
The day-to-day interaction with people of various backgrounds has kept him going strong, he said.
“Customer service is a rare breed,” he said. “I love working and communicating with people.”
Ty Voyles, a senior electronic business major, has encountered Oliver on a regular basis. He said he remembers Oliver from his days at The Main.
“I have always enjoyed his personality,” Voyles said. “Even when he is having a bad day, Edward always has this outward radiance.”
Staying positive is one of the most important aspects of the job, Oliver said.
“I pride myself ain keeping a positive attitude,” Oliver said. “There is a lot of stress associated with college. Someone who is happy rubs happiness off on others and impacts their life. I try to do that.”
But it is not always easy for Oliver.
His work day begins at 5:30 a.m. when he wakes up to get ready for work. He gets to TCU by 6 a.m. and stays busy with stocking up and cleaning. Because all the supplies are kept at Worth Hills, Oliver makes three to four trips a day to restock supplies. He said he works an average of 10 hours a day. On a good day, Oliver says he will leave TCU by 8 p.m.
“I don’t have the answers to everything,” he said. “I have problems and concerns like anyone else, and I work long hours, but I enjoy what I do. I chose this line of work and it is important for me to not let my stress show on the outside.”
Oliver said overcoming perceptions has also been a challenge he has overcome.
“We all have our own prejudices, but you cannot judge someone before you get to know them,” he said. “You may think that someone might be boring, but once you get to know them and learn about their background you get to know them differently. There is someone from every culture here at TCU. That is one of my favorite things.”
Jessica Kneisel, a sophomore fashion merchandise major, said although Oliver may not always remember everyone’s name, he recognizes people and their orders everyday.
Outside of work, Oliver spends his free time with his family and church. He has three children, Thenisha, 16; Tyrone, 15; and Tempest, 11. Oliver said he works hard not only for himself but for his children.
“One day my kids will be in college,” he said. “When my kids are having a bad day I hope someone will help them out as I (do) to so many of these students.”
Melissa DeLoach
m.d.deloach@student.tcu.edu