Posted: May 21, 2013 by Mark Putnam
I typically say something encouraging as they approach me to help them focus on the task at hand. For some this is important advice as I often see wide eyes watering and feel a sweaty palm grasping for mine. Others relish the moment in the spotlight so much that they nearly forget to receive the diploma.
Mark Putnam | 6 Comments | Posted: April 15, 2013
We carry the burden of the times we live in and the circumstances set before us. We can only succeed with the help and support of our companions on the journey.
Mark Putnam | 13 Comments | Posted: March 26, 2013
The mystery surrounded a missing book. The book was not to be removed from the library at any time. This was not the first time he had given this assignment for this particular course, but it was the first time the rare book had simply disappeared.
Mark Putnam | 8 Comments | Posted: February 25, 2013
People order the world in different ways. We are shaped by the experiences we have amassed in the settings that have defined our personal and group identity. It’s not so much a matter of what we value. Often we value many of the same things.
Mark Putnam | 11 Comments | Posted: February 4, 2013
As I listened she expressed a bit of concern about the two questions her daughter is constantly asked, “What are you going to major in?” followed by “What career are you going to pursue?” My reply to her comment took her by surprise. I said, “Don’t worry about these answers now. High school students almost always get them wrong.”
Mark Putnam | 8 Comments | Posted: January 14, 2013
Societal change is difficult to describe, much less interpret accurately.
Mark Putnam | 1 Comment | Posted: December 17, 2012
The Christmas season began for me each year when the Sears catalog arrived. It had a curious title, “The Wish Book.” First published in 1933, the Wish Book was the source document for many childhood Christmas lists.
Mark Putnam | 16 Comments | Posted: December 3, 2012
More than 80 years since the early days of the Dust Bowl, we face similar questions about the trade-offs between immediate economic interests and prolonged environmental impact.
Mark Putnam | 14 Comments | Posted: November 12, 2012
Students will redefine our political culture. They will challenge each other on the issues and yet maintain the quality of relationships that reinforce a healthy community.
Mark Putnam | 7 Comments | Posted: October 22, 2012
For me, the relationship between teacher and student, master and apprentice, and parent and child, is the base element of learning. To be sure, the nature of those relationships changes through the course of lifespan development.
I'm the lucky individual who carries the title, 21st president of Central College in Pella, Iowa. My wife Tammy and I have two beautiful daughters, Emma and Greta. Passionate about higher education and the issues facing it and the world today, I hope to invoke an engaging conversation with all who are ready to dig in, make a difference and build for the future. Share your thoughts. I'm listening and interested.
