by Angie Marcos
photography by Christopher Guzman

Devorah Lieberman comes to the University of La Verne at a time of great change and opportunity. Not only is she the 18th president of the University but also the first woman in La Verne’s 120 year history. Adding to the importance, she is taking over a position held by Steve Morgan for 26 years. Steve, a 1968 La Verne College graduate, came into the presidency in 1985. “He is beloved by the entire institution and the community,” says Devorah, who was coincidentally raised in Covina, the same as Steve. “I look forward to having the same dedication to the institution that President Morgan has had. Being a successful president is a remarkable achievement, and I am in awe of President Morgan and what he has achieved in his time here. I want to follow in his footsteps.”

On July 1, Devorah Lieberman officially commenced her new role as the University of La Verne’s president. She says that while her decision to join the ULV community is based on many factors, she does not hesitate in naming just one: The University’s mission statement. “The minute I read the mission of the institution, I said, ‘This is the kind of mission that speaks to my heart. That’s a mission statement I would write.’ This is the kind of institution I would want to go to school myself. I believe this is an institution where many individuals would like to be president because of the mission statement and the potential.” She says being chosen as La Verne’s first female president “communicates to me that the Board of Trustees and the campus are seeking to not follow only in the tradition of having a male president but are seeking to find what they believe to be the best person to meet the needs of the institution, regardless of gender.” Says Steve, “It brings me great satisfaction that she’ll build on what she finds here.”

The dynamic search

Witt/Kieffer, a national firm specializing in executive searches, was hired by the Board of Trustees to assist in finding appropriate candidates following Steve’s February 2010 retirement announcement. Ken Calkins, Board of Trustees member and co-chairman of ULV’s search committee, says it was just as difficult forming a search committee as it was to accumulate the best candidates. After all, it had been 26 years since ULV pulled together a presidential search. A team of 15 individuals took on the task; of the membership, seven were from the Board of Trustees. “Everybody on that committee really cares about La Verne,” Ken says. “We didn’t always agree, but we always listened.” The committee composed a list of key questions as simple as “What is it we’re looking for exactly? What is La Verne?” Adds Ken, “We asked ourselves, ‘What have we been? What are we now? And what do we hope to be in the future?’ We wanted someone who could manage and could lead the University of La Verne. Could they be a visionary? Could they take the University somewhere else?”

Luis Faura, ULV Board of Trustee chair, says, “The most difficult thing was coming to grips with the fact that Steve Morgan was leaving us. I have the utmost respect for him.” After a thorough national search by Witt/Kieffer, the committee was presented with 30 viable candidates. Ten were chosen, and the committee commenced interviewing to see whether “they fit in the climate of La Verne,” says Ken.

“We heard input, but the final responsibility was that of the Board,” says Emmett Terrell, board member and search committee co-chair. It took about 10 months of search deliberations from the day Steve announced his retirement to the day Devorah was announced president-select. “The committee did an outstanding job. I told them this was probably the single most important decision they would make while on the Board,” says Luis. According to Ken Calkins, “[Devorah] by far got the most votes from the Board.” Because the presidential search was secretive, due to candidates not wanting their identities made public, search members signed confidentiality agreements. “We had to comply with many of the applicants’ wishes,” Luis says. Making the names public may have jeopardized many of the candidates’ current job positions. Glenn Gamst, ULV professor of psychology, represented the College of Arts and Sciences on the Committee and says the restrictive search was a good decision because “we were able to identify some top candidates, and some of them may not have been in the pool had we not done it that way. ULV is poised to make a qualitative leap in the very near future, and I look forward to Devorah Lieberman’s guidance as we make this transition.”

“She more than overwhelmingly filled all of the qualifications that we had,” says Luis. “She is very charismatic and very focused on true leadership. I think she is just full of energy and is going to bring a new breath of air to the University.” Says Emmett, “We knew we had somebody with the skills, the aptitude and belief system of the University. Dr. Lieberman is consistent with La Verne’s belief system. We’re proud that the University made its decision based on the best possible candidate. Period.”

When all was said and done, the Board chair visited Devorah at Wagner College. “I wanted to see where she hailed from,” he says. “They are all sad that she is leaving.” Luis commends Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College, for his support during the search and during the transition. “I can’t thank him enough for the support,” he says. “Devorah has done an outstanding job acclimating herself to the University.”

“There’s just something about her,” Ken says. “That dynamic personality that she has that you just can’t put into words. When you meet her, you know you’ve met someone special.” Adds Luis, “Her personality is contagious. The way she communicated with students and alumni made me proud. She is going to be a great leader for our University.”

The competitive nature of the process was not lost on Devorah. For her, every time she went through a new and different interview, it bolstered her resolve that ULV was the right school for her future. One interview session that sticks with her was conducted with students from both the main campus and the regional campuses. “The passion and the love that they had for the University of La Verne and the appreciation that they had for going to college stood out,” she says. “Some were working full time and still managing to go to school. The one thing they had in common was their love for the University of La Verne.”

Devorah recognizes the importance her new educational leadership role holds. “It was as vice provost that I felt I could make the biggest difference in peoples’ lives,” she says. “Since then, all of the institutions with which I have been associated, whether it be Wagner College or the University of La Verne, I have chosen to be a part of upper administration because that’s where I feel I can make the greatest difference in students’ lives.”

Initiating a new Leopard

“Hold on. I think…did I just pass my exit? I don’t…oh no, I didn’t. Good! So what was your next question?” So went a phone interview with the double booked president while she was driving a New York throughway. “Balancing my responsibilities at Wagner College and at the University of La Verne has been challenging,” Devorah explains. There was a six-month period when Devorah met her provost responsibilities at Wagner College while helping the incoming provost adjust. Simultaneously, she worked with Steve Morgan to make her own transition into the ULV presidential position. Devorah would spend about two hours each day involved in phone meetings with La Verne and visited the campus at least three times a month. “These past months have been unbelievably busy, but it has also been an enjoyable six months of mental, emotional and intellectual transition,” she says.

During one of her March visits to campus, the petite 5 foot 4 inch, blonde curly-haired president-select and I crashed the refreshment table at a meeting in the Campus Center. Moments before her photo was taken for this article, she joked, “How’s my hair? Is it straight?” Devorah may be coming in this fall semester as the new reigning leader of the University of La Verne, but more than an authoritative figure, she is a warm, gentle-hearted woman who wants to not make decisions for students, but with them. Devorah is actively reaching out to students, both current and prospective. “Become one of my Peeps! Follow me on Twitter @PresLieberman,” says the yellow tag with her color picture that was attached to a yellow marshmallow Peep during the campaign’s April 8 start. Yellow buttons with her picture exclaim, “I’m one of President Lieberman’s Peeps.” She says she created the Twitter account solely for the purpose of connecting with students. “I’m always looking for ways to be more accessible to students. Twitter is one more way for students to feel connected to me. For example, the other day I tweeted, is that the correct term? Tweeted? Or is it twittered?” she asks with a laugh. After I acknowledge that the former is correct, she continues, “I tweeted from an NCAA game. A couple of days ago, when I felt overwhelmed by all of the boxes in my house, I tweeted. The students get to see my human side.” But it is not just students with whom she wants to become familiar. Devorah hopes to become well-acquainted with the entire University community. “To be successful,” she says, “an institution has to have these three elements: focus on student learning and success, focus on faculty scholarship and the pursuit of professional passion, and service to the institution and the community.”

Steve Morgan, who is known as a personable speech giver and communicator, shared some advice with his successor. “The advice I give to any person who is moving into a leadership role is to ask a lot of questions, listen to the answers, and get to know the culture and personality of the organization.” He claims to be a strong believer in “walking around the campus and talking to people.” This, says Steve, is how one “gets a real pulse for the University. Get out of the office. When I have lunch at Davenport, I really find out what’s going on around the campus.” He shares the best advice he received upon entering as president: “Someone told me, ‘When you address the faculty, they will have a strong disregard of what you say.’ This taught me that when I was working with the faculty I needed to walk in their shoes, see through their eyes. The faculty determine what the product is, what the curriculum is. The people who have impressed me most are not those who have the answers, but those who ask the right questions.”

Devorah looks ahead

“Move across the country! That’s my first plan,” she laughs. “I want to immediately get involved with the campus at every level—from getting to know the faculty, getting to know the students, visiting the regional campuses, getting to know the deans, having lunch with the students as often as I can, going to athletic events, going to plays, to going to gallery exhibits. My immediate plan is to become a part of the campus community.”

Devorah says moving back to the West Coast was not in her plans. “Never in a million years did I think I would move back to California. Never.” Her second plan, she continues, “is to immediately become a part of the Inland Empire community. I’d like to go see the house I grew up in. Oh, and I’d really like to go to Red Devil Pizza where I used to work when I was in high school.”

“Next,” she says, “I’d like to work with the entire campus for the 2011-2012 year to identify strategically where we want to be in five years in educational excellence, facilities, reputation-building and financial stability. If we work together as a campus, we can identify what our priorities are.” Devorah says she also plans to bring in a new type of program to the University. “In that first year, I’d like to work with the campus to identify a signature program that every student who graduates from the University of La Verne says, ‘I was a part of the La Verne experience.’ It will help to create a national reputation for the University of La Verne. And, of course, everything has to be grounded in the mission statement.” The president-select stresses the importance of the role of the faculty on students’ education. She would like to see faculty incorporate their own personal scholarship and research into their teaching so students can also benefit from their work. Devorah views students, staff and administration working together in strategic planning as key to forming the educational programs from which all can benefit.

Her Oct. 21 inauguration is set to be intertwined with this year’s homecoming weekend as an attempt to bring the entire University community together. “I am delighted that my inauguration will be tied to homecoming. What better way to become a part of homecoming and have the students become a part of the inauguration? It couldn’t have been planned better. I think everyone who attends the inauguration will be proud to be a Leopard and to be associated with the University.”

Helping La Verne expand

In Devorah’s eyes, the University of La Verne deserves more national recognition, and she is bringing it upon herself to make sure this is accomplished during her presidency. “Nationally, not enough organizations and individuals know the quality of this institution. I will work with this institution to further create distinctive programs that make the University of La Verne more distinct than other schools in this region,” she says.

She hopes to continue her personal scholarship as well. “I feel a responsibility to continue to contribute to bodies of knowledge and the literature in higher education,” she says. “Some of my first questions and scholarship will probably be around how we can harmonize the main campus and the regional campuses while maintaining quality of delivery, pedagogy and learning across all campuses. Publishing these results will benefit other institutions who also have a main campus and regional campuses.” Devorah’s most recent publications focus on institutional change, faculty development, leadership and diversity.

“As the president of the University of La Verne, I look forward to having contact with every faculty member, every staff member and every student. The Board of Trustees and the campus have put a lot of trust in me, and I have a tremendous responsibility to the entire campus and community to support this University, its mission and every one of its constituents. I am enthusiastic and proud to be a part of this University and to be a Leopard.”

Flanked by La Verne’s leaders, incoming president Devorah Lieberman takes part in the March 31, 2011, residence hall ground breaking ceremony. Steve Morgan, former president (left) and Luis Faura, ULV Board chair (right), have been working with Devorah to better shape La Verne’s future since she was named president-select, Dec. 7, 2010. Kurt Rothweiler, former ULV Board of Trustees member and president of K.A.R. Construction (far right), heads the construction project. / photo by Christopher Guzman

Dr. Lieberman’s academic 411

Devorah was born in Baltimore; her family moved to Covina when she was 2 years old. She attended Covina High School, then earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Humboldt State University, her master’s degree in Intercultural Communication from San Diego State University and her Ph.D. in Intercultural Communication and Gerontology from the University of Florida.

Devorah has invested 33 years in higher education. For the past seven years, she has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. (2004-2011). Prior, she spent 16 years at Portland State University as a Department of Communication Studies faculty member, area and founding director and, in her final four years, served as vice provost and special assistant to the university president (1987-2004). While at Portland State, she was honored as Oregon Professor of the Year (2000) and received the Distinguished Faculty Award (1999). She served as an assistant professor for the University of Southwestern Louisiana in the Department of Speech Communications (1984-1986) and as an instructor at Decree College and the University of Maryland in Athens, Greece (1978-1984). In 2010, Devorah was awarded the American Council on Education “Bringing the World into the Classroom” award for an Intercultural Business Communications class she co-taught online with a professor in Athens, Greece.

Continuing her duties as provost at Wagner College in New York as well as preparing for her transition to president of the University of La Verne was difficult but exhilarating for Devorah Lieberman spring 2011. / photo by Christopher Guzman

10 questions for Devorah

Television viewing?

“60 Minutes,” “The Good Wife” and CNN.

Can’t live without?

Her husband and her two daughters.

Can live without?

Gossip, egos and traffic.

Likes?

Clean, healthy food. No sauces, no red meat and lots of fruits and veggies. “I’m not a big fish fan either.”

Ideal meal?

“An enormous salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, red bell peppers, lots of exotic different vegetables, grilled chicken, no dressing; and for dessert, sliced fruit; preferably berries.”

Loves?

A workout. “I was a runner for about 30 years. I ran almost every morning at 5:30 a.m., and I loved every minute of it.” She has run in several marathons, but four years ago a serious injury forced her to slow down.

Favorite Exercise?

She now devotes most of her time to spinning, yoga or Pilates. “Everyone recommends golf, but that seems so time consuming.”

Ideal day?

“Waking up without the alarm, having coffee with my husband, reading the LA Times, going to spin class, then working from home for a few hours. Afternoon, go for an outdoor walk with my husband. Evening, go to a movie or a concert and finish the day with reading.”

High School Alumni?

Devorah and Steve Morgan are fellow Covina High School alumni. “We sang our alma mater together at our first meeting,” Steve says. “As a Covina Colt, I know she’ll be very successful.”

Dodgers or Yankees?

“Oh, not the Yankees, currently the Mets. I will be moving my loyalty to the Dodgers, but my primary support will go to the Leos.” Well said, President Lieberman.

Meet Devorah’s family

Roger Auerbach

“My husband is a saint. He changed his whole lifestyle 10 years ago to move to New York [from Oregon],” says Devorah. “The Board of Trustees made an outstanding decision,” says Roger, who describes his wife as enthusiastic, engaging and dynamic. “I think it was a difficult decision after Steve Morgan had been there for 26 years to choose someone new.” Roger is president of Auerbach Consulting, Inc., a company that aids the federal government for long-term services to older adults and individuals with disabilities. He will continue in this role in California. “The mission of the University is something Devorah holds dearly; I’m looking forward to engaging with the La Verne community. It is a new adventure, especially for my wife.”

Allie Lieberman-Auerbach

“I am very proud of her as my mother, as an academic, as a woman leader and as a person,” Allie, the couple’s 25-year-old daughter, says. Allie claims to have never come across an academic who is as passionate as her mother. “Just by watching her, she’s given me a great example. She will never settle and will always go that extra mile. I’ve seen her live her dream. She’s been a great role model.”

Allie, who grew up in Oregon and currently resides in North Carolina, is a research analyst for RTI International in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned her bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and her master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Emery Lieberman-Auerbach

“I’m just overcome with pride,” Emery says of her mother’s new position as ULV president. “She’s been working toward this position her entire life.” The 19-year-old college student says the passion her mother feels for the University, its mission and its students is obvious. “Even if she’s just talking one-on-one with me or speaking in front of a group of people, I know she really cares about La Verne,” she says. “She told me in applying for colleges or jobs, ‘You can’t reject or accept anything you haven’t applied for. Always put yourself out there.’” One of few students from her graduating 2010 Staten Island Academy class to move far from home (the complete opposite side of the country), she now is a sophomore at Scripps College in Claremont, a mere three miles from her parents. While at first taken aback by the news, she now is fully supportive of her parents’ close proximity. “My friends are more excited than I am about my parents moving here because it means home cooked meals,” she laughs.

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Angie Marcos, Editor in Chief

Santa Marina de Valdeón is a small town in northern Spain. The 60 present day residents still wash their clothes by hand. Unpaved roads lead to homes that still rely on firewood to stay winter warm. Trees and vegetation engulf the small town, one in eight in the valley of Valdeón. My father was born in this small rural town and comes from a family of four children, he being the youngest. My dad’s stories tell of not having a phone, television, Christmas gifts or even enough food on some days. His childhood memories recall long, tiring days herding cows. On some of his shepard days, he would spend nights a few miles from home, sleeping in a small hut with very little food or warm clothing. His fearful thoughts centered on horror stories heard from the older town boys about wolves and bears that might be lurking outside. His childhood stories and pranks could come straight from the pages of Samuel Clemens’ books. For fun, the local kids would steal fruit from a grumpy neighbor’s tree or take turns poking sleeping bats with sticks (whoever was left holding the stick when the bat woke up lost). My dad and his childhood friend once, out of pure boredom, got a neighbor’s dog drunk and sent the entire town into an angry uproar.

When I walk up to my grandparents’ stone Spanish house, built by my great-grandfather, I am taken back to his time and identify regarding how people lived a mere 50 years ago. Gravel roads still lead you from home-to-home. Because medical assistance was once scarce, many of the townspeople still rely on their own illness cures.

My favorite story is my grandmother’s account of being 14 years old during the Spanish Civil War and traveling from Santa Marina to Potes, a much larger and somewhat urbanized town, and being entrusted to sell ham for much needed money. During her foot travel, soldiers confiscated the ham leg. My grandmother cried the entire way home and received a big scolding from her mother. To this day, whenever we drive past Potes, she always recalls the story.

As a child, I remember my grandmother going out to her barn and killing chickens, pigs, lambs and goats for dinner; something that was completely normal for her. I, on the other hand, quickly learned it was best not to befriend the animals. It was a lot easier that way. My grandmother is now 88 years old and unable to do many of these things anymore. Even so, she refuses to be anywhere else than in this community. It is her safe haven – her refuge. Everything she has ever known and loved has come from this little town. I’ve been to Spain 18 times in the past 20 years. The Spanish food, customs, language and way of living are very much a part of my Diamond Bar home life. What I’ll always cherish most of my childhood are the summers I spent surrounded by my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Santa Marina de Valdeón no longer is a place where families struggle to survive. The children started immigrating to the larger cities in search of opportunity and growth, leaving only the elderly. For so many, it is now a summer reunion site. As a child, my dad would tell these stories to remind my brother Michael and me how lucky we were to have an education and to have the chance to be children and focus on our studies. Today, I still ask him to tell me these stories because they are a part of who I am, and from where I come.

Angie Marcos, Editor-in-Chief

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A human skull tells its story of cannibalism in the hands of Felicia Beardsley. The La Verne associate dean and associate professor of anthropology has a significant collection of artifacts from her two decades of anthropological discovery in Micronesia. / photo by Christopher Guzman

by Angie Marcos
photography by Christopher Guzman

Felicia Beardsley’s University of La Verne office would not confuse an archaeologist. Even though she is arts and sciences associate dean, her work space shows a different side to the administrative grind associated with academic bureaucracy. Artifacts, photographs of far-away lands and sculptures engulf the visitor, all visible reminders that for the past 30 years, Felicia has earned distinction as an acclaimed, accomplished archaeologist.

Felicia is one of a few official Pacific Island archaeologists – and for about 20 years has traveled to Micronesia to lead digs. Micronesia, one million square western Pacific Ocean miles in area, is made up of many small islands. While a formal country, since 1986 it has had a Compact of Free Association with the United States that allows Micronesians to live, work and study in the U.S. without a visa and gives the U.S. full authority and responsibility for the defense of Micronesia.

Felicia is an acclaimed archaeologist for the entire region. “You get lectures from everybody. You are under a microscope; everyone is watching you,” she says. “It’s nice when you’ve been there long enough that you’ve built a reputation for yourself. They call you instead of the other way around.” She typically spends two to three months in Micronesia every year, depending on the nature of the project and the funding available. “I used to go every year, but this summer is the first time I’ve gone in four years.”

In 1998, the Micronesian government officially named Felicia as its consulting archaeologist. “I was brought in to set up archaeology programs across the country. There are not many people who have Pacific Island experience, and I am one of those few people.” She began her archaeological research more than 30 years ago, specializing specifically in prehistoric stone architecture. “I find and put a physical face on the actual locations in oral histories,” she says. “Every project is different. That’s one of the things in the field that holds my interest.” While on archaeological digs, Felicia looks at existing models of settlement in the region and tries to find inconsistencies that may lead her to something fascinating and unknown.

Discovering hidden treasures

Being in the presence of a goddess might send the average being into a state of bewilderment or amazement. For Felicia, however, coming in contact with royalty was simply just another day in the field. This past summer, while on the island of Kosrae, she was charged by the government to find a sacred goddess’ temple. Felicia’s quest brought other incredible discoveries. In the midst of dangerously steep slopes and heavily jungled surroundings, on this island, called the emerald of the Pacific by European explorers, she found the goddess’ temple. Felicia says it was located in the Menke Valley near the junction of two rivers. “The whole structure was overgrown by the jungle, with vines, trees and other plants occupying and obstructing the structure from our view,” she says. “It wasn’t until we started clearing it with our machetes that we began to see the true form emerging.” Following, she was able to deduce where the accompanying sacred worship area most likely was and identified a likely area inside a cave. Inside, she found paintings that suggested it was used by a priest or priestess to communicate with the goddess.

While in pursuit of the temple, she sifted through local lore and was challenged to verify claims made by area hunters that the goddess had revealed herself to them. Her biggest concern, of course, was just how much truth there was in these sightings. Some legends mentioned a temple; others noted a worship center. Her findings suggest she might have discovered both. Then came a bonus: A pig hunter recounted a story of a time when the goddess revealed herself to him with a throne. Word of the hunter’s story spread throughout the surrounding villages in the area, and Felicia was asked to find this throne. The problem was the pig hunter’s inconsistent descriptions. “We ended up finding three possible thrones, and they all fit his descriptions at different times,” Felicia says. So, despite finding physical evidence that suggests it could have been the goddess’ temple and cave, Felicia, a precise scientist, is still not completely convinced that what she found did indeed belong to the goddess. Her future research and expeditions may present a more definitive answer.

Uncovering a massacre site

From 2004 to 2006, Felicia worked intently on finding a massive massacre burial pit. Oral history across Kosrae states that the village people became irate with the king’s absurd and demanding rules. They killed him and his men and buried them in this pit. “Everybody on the island knows this story, even the school children. It is a well-known story,” Felicia says. “This is a story that puts every leader on notice. It tells them, ‘If we don’t like what you’re doing, we’ll get you.’”

To start, Felicia had to determine the village’s location. “I knew the village had to have access to a shoreline,” she says. Then, she had to visualize the village’s location. “The village had to be a place where the king might go – a formal, stately place. Also, it had to be large enough to hold a place for a feast,” she says. Next, she had to research possible locations for a burial ground. By the end of 2004, she had narrowed her search down to two villages. Felicia and her crew chose to excavate a site that depicted formal architecture fit for a king and that held artifacts of previous feasting activity. For two months in 2006, she and her crew carefully studied the site. “When excavating, we came across the edges of a pit. It had obviously been built hastily. You could still see the pit marks. It has anything and everything thrown in there,” she says. Included in the hastily dug burial pit were a beautiful ornamental axe and ceremonial artifacts. Found in the pit, too, was the presence of grave wax— bodily fluids mixed with soil. Also found were two exotic carved stones. According to Felicia, these stones suggested someone of importance and high status had been buried there. Through her research and analysis of the soil, Felicia was able to determine that the grave pit had been dug during a torrential downpour.

In this oral, story-based society, Felicia feels her field research suggests but does not confirm that this was the site of the king’s death and burial. Nevertheless, many of the native islanders do conclusively believe she found the massacre site. “It’s just one of those things where you’ll never know,” Felicia says.

This past summer, Felicia spent time in Kosrae sampling soil. Her most current research is based on what is left behind in a burial ground, a question she finds herself constantly asking during her research collection. “The soil is very acidic so anything organic disappears instantly. Tissue will be gone; bones will be gone. What can you detect?” The entire pit, as with most other archaeological finds, was not completely excavated to allow future archaeologists with better technology, techniques or research to excavate the site as well. “You always leave something behind, unexcavated, just in case,” she says.

In 2001, Felicia made a discovery unlike any other – the existence of coral fish hooks. These hooks were not thought to have existed and had never previously been seen by anybody in the world. While there had been findings of fish hooks constructed from shell or bone, none had ever been found made of coral. The V shaped coral hooks are thought to have been used to catch flying fish. According to Felicia, different types of coral hooks constructed and used between 1000 AD and 1600 AD were found – each shape thought to have been constructed to catch a specific species of fish. “I was elated. I looked twice. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I was absolutely thrilled,” Felicia says of her discovery. What made this discovery even more unique was the difficulty involved in recognizing the coral artifacts as fish hooks. Because coral is typically used as a floor covering throughout Micronesia, it was very tricky to make this discovery, she says.

“The goal of any archaeologist in her career is to discover a type site, [a first of a kind archaeology site or object not thought to exist],” says Kimberly Martin, ULV professor of anthropology. “Most archaeologists spend their entire lives looking for this. I believe it’s Felicia’s ability to see things differently that has made it possible.”

Felicia says she takes various steps to make these discoveries. First, she gathers oral histories and analyzes them. Next, she finds commonalities between all stories –including geography and activities. Finally, she concludes a general area to search. “You must try to pin point the particular site, and from there it’s just pure guess work.”

Jonathan Reed, ULV dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, works as an archaeologist in the Middle East and knows of the many obstacles archaeologists must cross. “The qualities Felicia Beardsley possesses are the strength of her character, her perseverance and the highest level of archaeological professionalism,” Reed says, adding, “When directing an archaeology program, you have to deal with leading skills, personality conflicts and negotiate through an indigenous theocracy in a different climate and in a different culture. What distinguishes archaeologists from most other scholars is they can’t just sit in an air-conditioned library and think. They have to obtain their data from the ground and interpret it. Felicia helps elevate La Verne’s academic reputation because she’s a nationally and internationally respected archaeologist. She’s one of the most well-known archaeologists of the Pacific Rim.”

During the four years she has not traveled to Micronesia, Felicia has engaged in the writing of books on her research, which focus mainly on settlement patterns and interpreting Micronesian archaeology, including bioarchaeology. Research for her trips is made possible through grants. “I keep pushing them out hoping that someone will respond,” she says. Although grants in the United States are usually doled out in the sum of millions of dollars, Felicia refers to her grants as “third world grants.” She typically receives $20,000 to $30,000, “which is actually a lot of money when you go out there,” she says.

Obstacles along the way

Felicia has had to encounter—and continues to encounter—many obstacles. “In addition to all of the existing hurdles in archaeology, she faces the added obstacle of being a woman,” Reed says. “As a woman archaeologist, I have many conditions placed on me depending on what island I’m working in,” Felicia says. “You have to work almost twice as hard to get that recognition. You have to be better than the best. To most of these people, women are supposed to be doing lab work or the quaint stuff.” The island of Kosrae is a male dominant island where reputable people receive titles as a form of respect, says Felicia. “I come in, and I’m a woman and a professional. They can’t treat me as a woman because I’m a boss, so they gave me the title of ‘fine gentleman,’” she laughs.

Because the islands of Micronesia are male-dominant, Felicia’s crews typically consist of seven members – all men, of course. She has worked with many of the same crew members during the past 10 years and continues to request trusted individuals. This, however, sometimes proves to be difficult, as private land owners have regulations that demand their workers be included. Because of existing class systems on some islands, other types of adaptations exist. On the island of Yap, she once took on a crew member from the high class and a crew member from the middle class. The high class member decided he was not going to participate and insisted the middle class crew member take on his share of the work, Felicia says. “So it ended up being me and the middle class guy doing all the work while the high class guy napped,” she laughs. While for many the adaptation of new cultures and experiences would be difficult, Felicia instead shares, “In a way it’s kind of liberating. After all, it is their culture.”

Weather also plays a factor. “[In Micronesia] you have a rainy season and a dry season. The only difference between the two is it doesn’t rain as much in the dry season,” she smiles. “But you find ways to get around it. You put up tarps. We still go out on excavations in the rain. The weather is always going to be there – you can’t stop it. But wouldn’t it be nice if we could?” she ponders aloud.

“Kosrae is about five degrees north of the equator. It’s hot, and it’s humid, but because it’s an island you also get sea breezes. It’s also mountainous because this island was founded by volcanic eruptions. The costal lines are sandy. Some other areas are covered in thick and lush jungle,” she says. In fact, while walking in these rain forests, Felicia notes that at times their feet are unable to touch the jungle floor because of the thick vegetation and many vines. This makes it easier for Felicia and her crew to make their discoveries. “You can typically feel stone underneath the vines or the vegetation before you can see it,” she says. “However, you can’t see holes in the ground or cliff lines either. It gets kind of scary sometimes.”

Yet another obstacle Felicia must confront is communicating with the locals. The government language in Micronesia is English. And while most people speak some level of English throughout the country, they also use tribal languages. She has managed to converse in some of the local languages, which change from island to island. “In the field of archaeology, there are instances where you find yourself working in rural, high-risk areas. You’re stuck in the frontier area,” she says. Felicia recalls a time when she fell off a cliff and had to drive herself to the hospital, as well as times of having to deal with exposure to various illnesses that are present in certain areas. “It’s definitely a high-risk profession in that sense.”

Felicia received a bachelor’s degree in languages from the University of California, Riverside. “What I really wanted to do though was study history. I was absolutely fascinated with the topic,” she says. She earned her master’s degree and Ph.D., both in archaeology, at the University of Oregon.

Felicia became a full-time faculty member at La Verne in 2003. She resides in Wrightwood and is married to Edward Beardsley, an adjunct professor at the ULV in the art and photography departments. Their daughter Teresa currently attends La Verne. “I enjoy teaching here because of what you can teach, what you can include and the ability to develop new classes. With small classes, you get to really know students in an intimate way. You get to know students’ interests and tailor classes around their interests.”

One is left to wonder whether any of the objects in use today, whether it be the latest cell phones, iPods, photographs or written works, will one day be placed on the shelf in an archaeologist’s office – objects ever so small in size, but offering a glimpse into an entire way of life.

The two worlds of archaeologist and professor become one in the persona of Felicia Beardsley. The University of La Verne educator has made recent significant archaeological discoveries on the Micronesian island of Kosrae, most recently in the Menke Valley. “Micronesia is a marvelous but sadly neglected laboratory that may hold the answers to many important questions about migration and settlement across the Pacific, “ Felicia says. / photo by Christopher Guzman

Felicia’s field survival tips

1. As a woman, be prepared to be referred to as a man.

2. Don’t whistle at night, or you may attract wandering ghosts (advice given to Felicia by local islanders).

3. Learning to live with spiders and rats is a must.

4. Show an appreciation for local food, even if you find it just a tad bit repulsive.

5. Keep good and detailed field notes and don’t (seriously, don’t!) leave them on the plane.

6. Keep your first aid kit well stocked and be informed on the basics of local/traditional medicine in case of emergencies.

7. Citrus oil is a great repellant for mosquitos. Eat lots of citrus and rub the skin oil on you as repellant.

8. Have a gift and speech ready when meeting with village chiefs because you need their permission to work in their area.

9. Be able to recognize local poisonous plants.

10. Always be respectful of those around you; it really is the best way to avoid a nickname.

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Like a mirror to the past, Betty Kalousek’s antiques reflect the changing of time. Betty, the owner of Generations Antiques & Art, located on ”D” Street, has lived in La Verne for 50 years with her husband Verne. / photo by Michel D. Martinez

by Angie Marcos
photography by Michael D. Martinez

For Betty Kalousek, the owner of Generations Antique & Art in old town La Verne, antique collecting has been a major part of her life for the past 35 years. Her passion started with antique sterling silver souvenir spoons. While cleaning out her parents’ home, she came across 10 spoons holding family members’ names. This moment sparked Betty’s personal philosophy for antique collecting—the object has to be unusual, different and old. “Antique collectors are the greatest recyclers in the world,” she says.

Walking into Betty’s Generations Antique & Art is similar to walking into a grandmother’s living room. Delicate objects—porcelain figurines, plates, glasses, earrings and pins—sit on equally delicate cupboards and tables. Each antique object thematically belongs; there is a collector’s detailed authority at work here; an artist’s vision. A feeling of delicate cautiousness sweeps over the visitor. This place is more museum than store. A childhood fear, that touching or walking by the precious objects will cause them to fall and break, surfaces.

At home in the La Verne house they have called home for 50 years, Betty and her husband Verne Kalousek say family and friends have kept them in La Verne for half a century. “I think what makes La Verne unique is the old town,” Betty says. “Most of the businesses in old town La Verne are run by the owners of the shops, and they’re anxious to keep their customers happy.”

“It is a very well-run city,” Verne adds. “It has been in the past, and it is now. I enjoy that it is a small community.” Verne’s family came from Kansas in 1923 to La Verne. His father historically owned a grocery store next door to what is now Generations Antique & Art.

Betty’s daughter Carrie Leeper helps run the antique store a few days a week. Nevertheless, the majority of the time one can expect to see Betty sitting behind the counter, eagerly waiting to explain the history of the antiques available for sale.

“I love the historical aspect of antiques. Older things are made better and with a personal touch,” she says. Betty receives most of the antiques she has for sale at her store through people who come in and sell them to her. Along with her daughter, Betty visits nearby homes and evaluates individual’s antiques. “I am always more than glad to help people and tell them what is good to keep, and what they should sell,” Betty says. “What I recommend that people keep are those objects that have memories. Even if those wanting to sell them are young, family heirlooms are something they will want to eventually pass down.” Another factor of whether an individual will sell an item is its worth. “If it’s worth a lot of money, some choose to keep the item, while others choose to sell it.”

An item is considered antique, according to Betty, if it is more than 100 years old. “However,” Betty explains, “antiques are getting younger and younger. Young people today don’t just want to sit something on a shelf; they want to use it. An object may be considered antique now if it is 50 years old.”

Then there is the rise in popularity of the internet, which has taken away some clientele but also helped. “If you’re into the internet, you can find anything for sale. I definitely do think the internet has made a little difference in business, but many people have been burned from purchasing objects on the internet. Many people want to see and feel the object before making their purchase,” Betty says.

Lending a hand

For 14 years, Betty has actively led in the Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District. The district, says Hal Fredericksen, La Verne community development director, is an association of merchants in the historical district. “They assess themselves a fee to fund improvements in the area,” Fredericksen says. The improvement district funds the landscaping, maintenance and farmer’s market in Old Town La Verne, as well as the December Holiday Open House.

Last year, Betty received the 2008 Jack Huntington Pride of La Verne Award for her outstanding community service. “The award honors volunteer service in the city,” Fredericksen says. “She was chosen because she has been active in the city for more than 20 years. She goes above and beyond in providing service to La Verne.”

Betty helps organize the Holiday Open House and supported the addition of free pictures with Santa Claus during the event. The Holiday Open House allows residents to witness the tree lighting in Mainiero Square as well as features Christmas caroling. Betty also collects toys for the Open House’s “Spark of Love” toy drive.

Betty donated the funds for the purchase of the El Camino Real bell located on D Street and Bonita Avenue. “I thought [the bell] would be a nice addition to the city,” she says. “La Verne wanted to purchase the bell and asked the Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District for funds, but they didn’t have enough so our family decided to buy the bell. I remembered the mission bells from my childhood. I thought it would be a nice gift for the city.”

“Some would say she’s a historic figure to the town,” Fredericksen says. “She’s a good friend to the city, and she cares a lot about La Verne.”

Early beginnings

Betty was born and raised in Pomona until age 14, when her family bought a ranch in Walnut. She graduated from La Verne College in 1955 and was married that same year to Verne, also a graduate of La Verne College. The newly married Kalouseks then moved to Ontario, where they both worked as teachers. In 1960, they moved to La Verne.

In 1952, three years before they were married, Verne opened Rancho Foothill Nursery on Fruit Street, which today is run by two of the couple’s five children. Instead of being open to the public, as it had been from 1952 to 2000, it is now run as a wholesale nursery, selling its products to landscapers and gardeners. “We had a lot of agriculture here, and the nursery was just an extension of that,” Verne says. “We started out with citrus trees and avocado trees, and we just went from there.”

Forty years ago, Betty recalls putting up a self-serve avocado stand outside the nursery. Featured were fresh avocados and a change box, where people would purchase avocados by simply leaving their money in the box and even making their own change. Noting that the stand wouldn’t work in today’s society, Betty chuckles. “Nowadays people would take the avocados, the money, the stand and anything else they could get their hands on. I remember a neighbor of ours who would sell eggs on his front porch in the same manner. He would leave the eggs on his porch with a box, and people would just go and buy their own eggs. Businesses were run like that. This was farming country.”

Betty first began selling antiques in The Irish Nook, a store she ran in Glendora for 13 years from 1982 to 1995. Then, with the store being remodeled and her goods in storage, the opportunity came to open a new store in her hometown. “If I came here, I wouldn’t have to take things down, store them and then set them back up again,” Betty says. “It was pure coincidence that it was for sale at the same time that we were looking for a location.” In 1995, Betty moved her antique shop from Glendora to La Verne, where she has been running Generations Antique & Art for the past 15 years. “My shop has always been a business to me, not a hobby. It is, however, an enjoyable business,” she says.

When one purchases an object at Generations Antique & Art, she does not just purchase a collectible; she purchases a story, a history of some sort. The same applies when one meets Betty. She does not simply meet a new friendly face but, instead, meets an individual who has successfully been striving to make the city of La Verne the best it can be for the past 50 years.

Betty Kalousek’s La Verne “D” Street store display window matches not only her friendly demeanor but the serene manner in which she presents her antique shop. / photo by Michael D. Martinez

La Verne in the ‘60s

Not surprisingly, Betty finds many striking differences between La Verne 1960 and present.

Where she lives. The home she has lived in for the past 50 years used to sit near a 20-acre grove. Today, it is located between a high school and a shopping center area. “I miss it a lot,” she says. “It was a very quiet, nice place. Now it’s just not so quiet anymore.” The area was once a sea of citrus trees. “At one time there were only three other houses on Fruit Street. Now it’s a main way to the freeway.”

Where she works. Old Town La Verne once held department stores, a fabric shop, a shoe store, a grocery store, a post office, a gas station and a hardware store. “People didn’t have to leave the town for much before. Everything they needed was here in old town La Verne,” Betty says. “Somewhere around 1960 things started deteriorating.”

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