Head Football Coach Zwaan Receives Civility Award & Professor Of Psychology Ellie Brown Receives Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award

Press release from West Chester University:

January 29, 2021

During the ceremony, West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino presented
Head Football Coach Bill Zwaan with one of the University’s highest honors --- the
prestigious Civility Award. Presented annually, the Civility Award is given to an
individual, office, or department nominated for exemplary behavior reflective of civility,
community impact, commitment to student success, and collegiality. Since 2016, Coach
Zwaan, whose 198 wins are the most among all active Division II coaches, and his siblings
have foregone gift-giving during the holidays to be Santa to all homeless and foster
youth students at WCU. Coach Zwaan now leads faculty, staff, students, and community
partners in a campus-wide labor of love that has raised more than $20,000 in gifts
for 40+ WCU students, as well as meals and clothing.

“This year’s recipient has consistently fostered civility and advanced West Chester
University’s values during his 18 years of employment with the University,” said President
Fiorentino, who makes it a practice not to reveal the winner’s name to attendees until
the end of his announcement. “The author of one nomination letter notes that our award
winner ‘reaches out to help his students find jobs, counseling, shelter, food, and
assistance with medical insurance. He knows that… [these students] are working to
pursue an education and opportunities for themselves.’”

One student wrote that Coach Zwaan “…has helped me grow as a man….He gives help in
my times of need... He figures out ways to get necessities that I need and he has
always been supportive of me.”

Thanks to Coach Zwaan’s efforts during 2019, one nominator shared, “This year, Coach
Zwaan collected so much that the Promise Program will have bedding and clothes to
offer incoming students [who have need] at next year’s orientation. His charity and
efforts continue to touch those who need it the most….”

An image created in the likeness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Richard Blake,
former professor of art in the WCU Art Department, will soon be presented to Coach
Zwaan, who is currently in his 18th season as head coach of the Golden Rams.

The MLK Celebration was also the perfect occasion to celebrate Professor of Psychology
Ellie Brown for her commitment to developing, implementing, and sustaining courses
that offer quality service-learning to WCU students. Professor Brown was presented
the Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award and a faculty development stipend of
$500 by Senior Director for the University’s Center for Civic Engagement & Social
Impact Seth Jacobson.

Professor Brown is known widely for her groundbreaking research on how intensive arts
programs can positively affect the lives of children experiencing poverty and reduce
high-levels of stress. Her research, which is funded through NEA Research: Art Works,
has determined that poverty can harm children’s educational, social-emotional, and
physical health, in part by damaging the bodily systems that respond to the chronically
high levels of stress that children in poverty are more likely to experience.

Professor Brown’s study, Can the Arts Get Under the Skin? Arts Classes and Cortisol Levels for Economically
Disadvantaged Preschool Children, has been conducted with Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope Preschool Arts Enrichment
Program.

“The University is fortunate to have had Dr. Brown join its faculty in 2005, and since
her participation in a Service Learning and Diversity workshop in 2006, Dr. Brown has infused her courses with hands-on service learning
opportunities,” said Jacobson.

“Ellie’s work is particularly exceptional to the degree that it has been sustaining
over the last 15 years, and even with the incredible challenges of the COVID pandemic
over this past year, she quickly adapted her work to the new conditions. She also
continued to offer support to local children, families, organizations, and for the
students offering services,” Jacobson shared in his remarks.

In addition to Coach Zwaan and Professor Brown, two WCU alumni were also recognized
during the ceremony for the significant differences they continue to make in the lives
of many. Drum Major for Justice honors were awarded to Courtland Bragg ’14 and Deidre
Gray ’92. Taken from King’s powerful sermon in Memphis, Tennessee the day before his
assassination on April 4, 1968, the distinctive honor reflects King’s wish to be remembered
as “…a drum major for peace…a drum major for righteousness.” Learn more about WCU’s 28th MLK Celebration and its 2021 Drum Major for Justice honorees here.

This press release was produced by West Chester University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.