Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2021

28 29 SPRING 2021 EDITION SPRING 2021 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD ALUMNI PROFILE ALUMNI BENEFITS LIFE IS A FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS José Jones has a long and special relationship with Lindenwood University, dating back to when he was 18 years old. Originally from Panama City, Panama, José came to Lindenwood for his undergraduate degree. He holds four degrees from Lindenwood—a bachelor’s in mass communications, an MBA in international business, a master’s in counseling, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership. From 2002 through 2018, he was enrolled in at least one class each semester, which is where his philosophy, life is a fight for your dreams, came to fruition. Not only does he believe that life is a fight, but that we are all lifelong learners. Another special relationship in Jones’s life is boxing, and he comes from a family of boxers. His cousin, Guillermo Jones, is one of the most celebrated fighters in Panamanian history. His father hopped into the ring for three fights as an amateur earlier in his life. Despite this lineage, his mother did everything possible to keep him from lacing up the gloves. However, boxing is in his DNA, and it flows through his blood. When he was a student, he stepped into the boxing gym and became obsessed with the sport, later becoming a professional boxer. Fusing his education at Lindenwood and his love for boxing, Jones created Boxing Therapy in 2011, with the first class hosted on campus. While it started as a recreational program involving boxing and exercises, he had already collected data on the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of boxing. He began his boxing therapy program focusing on clients with mental and physical disabilities such as autism, depression, addiction, aggression, anxiety, Down syndrome, ALS, and more. This innovative approach incorporates Jones’s Lindenwood education with his passion for the sport, and his love of people. Today, Boxing Therapy is a stand-alone gym and place for all people to benefit. It’s an inclusive program designed to help people boost and increase their self-esteem, self-motivation, self-confidence, self-control while reducing stress, depression, and anxiety. It is a unique inclusive program for an individual with and without any mental and physical condition. Much of Jones’s focus on research stems from observational learning theory in children by Albert Banduras to studies on Andragogy and Malcolm Knowles’ adult motivation. He meets clients in counseling sessions and invites them to step into the ring as part of their therapy. He also offers gym members with one-on-one training and group classes hosted four times a week. Boxing Therapy is located on Second Street in St. Charles, Mo., near the campus where he began his journey when he was just 18. Jones is dedicated to the community, holding tournaments for those with different abilities, hosting holiday philanthropic events, and spreading awareness of the great benefits of boxing. Jones hosts seminars and workshops nationwide as Boxing Therapy grows and continues to reinvent traditional models of counseling. The future of Boxing Therapy is to create a worldwide academy that promotes coping mechanisms, inclusion, and diversity among members while learning the sweet science of boxing and never forgetting that life is a fight for your dreams. Create your LindenConnect account today! LindenConnect is the alumni engagement, networking, and mentoring platform available at no cost to all members of the Alumni Association. BENEFITS OF THE PLATFORM INCLUDE: • Directory of Lindenwood friends around the world • Registration and information for alumni events • Community groups based on industry, identity, or location • Career and professional development opportunities THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY Jones serves the community through his combination of therapy and boxing. Scan here to sign up! LindenConnect NEWS AND NOTES 1950s 1950s • Marie DeBasio Andel lives in Kirkwood and enjoys spending time with her 12 grandchildren. She is active in childhood and adult education teams at her church and works as an online tutor. • Mary (Penny) Todsen Carter ‘54 is eager to reconnect with classmates from the early 1950s. 1960s • Beth Potter Matthews ‘62 retired after serving as the administrative assistant to the Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas for 44 years. • Suzanne Garrigues ‘67 retired from teaching art and art history at Maryland Institute College of art after 45 years in the classrooms. • Tricia Byrne ‘68 volunteers with the Community Emergency Response Team for James City County, Va. She earned her amateur radio license during the pandemic and passed the FCC Examination in July. Her license enables her to provide the community with emergency radio communications in the event of a crisis. • Ann Stambaugh Carneal Murphy ‘69 retired after 33 years as a college professor. • Cary Hahn is in his sixteenth year of hosting “Big Band Memories” on 88.3 KCCK, Iowa’s jazz station. He is a past president of the Iowa Broadcast News Assocation, a 25-year co-host for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, and a proud Vietnam veteran. • Betsy Fischer Hadley sends her classmates from 1966 – 68 well wishes. • Pam Bass Obrecht retired from teaching and enjoys spending her time with family and playing bridge. 1970s • Nancy McDaniels ‘70 is eager to celebrate with her fellow classmates at a future reunion. • Roberto Ruiz ‘71 retired from the United States army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Medical Service Corps. He lives in Plainville, Ma., and works as a psychotherapist in a private practice. 1960s