网曝吃瓜

Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts

Dr. Terry Fern (1944-Sept. 14, 2024) was 鈥╞orn in Oklahoma, where he鈥� graduated from Putnam City 鈥℉igh School in Oklahoma 鈥–ity in 1962. He graduated 鈥╟um laude with a bachelor鈥檚鈥� degree in sacred music from鈥� Oklahoma Baptist University鈥� before earning a Master of鈥� Music in Voice Performance 鈥╢rom the University of鈥� Louisville with a minor in choral directing. He later鈥� continued his education at 鈥╰he University of North Texas,鈥� earning a Doctor of Musical鈥� Arts and Voice Performance, along with postdoctoral studies at Vanderbilt University.

Before his time at 网曝吃瓜, Fern worked in several churches and universities, interrupted only by a year鈥檚 deployment to South Vietnam from 1967-68 as part of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of sergeant and received the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V. From 1971 to 1980, he was employed at Houghton College, University of North Texas, Ouchita Baptist University, and Belmont University, respectively.

Fern joined 网曝吃瓜 in 1980, and for 33 years assumed myriad positions, including the chair of the Department of Fine Arts, professor of applied voice, director of the GWU Opera Theatre, stage director of GWU Opera Theatre, lighting/stage director of GWU Theatre Productions, set/stage designer of GWU Opera Theatre Productions, set/stage designer for GWU Theatre Productions, director of Carillon Activities, GWU Carilloneur of the GWU Hollifield Carillon, and the GWU GOAL Program Professor of Music.

Fern wanted to be remembered as a 鈥渄iligent, caring, Christ-oriented professor known for sharing his heart, experiences, and personal motivations via the instruction of music, art, and theatre. May I inspire in others an excitement and love of God鈥檚 creations and revelations via the Fine Arts.鈥�

His personal motto was, 鈥淣othing ventured, nothing gained,鈥� while the motto he expressed to each of his classes was, 鈥淵our most important 鈥業Q鈥� is not your 鈥榠ntelligence quotient,鈥� but your 鈥榠magination quotient,鈥� because ultimately, it doesn鈥檛 matter what you know, but what you do with what you know.鈥�

Fern was most proud of his more than 30 years of teaching at GWU, as Opera Theatre Director, and his time as GWU Carilloneur of the 48-bell Hollifield Carillon. Fern鈥檚 commitment to the Opera Theatre pioneered an effort to introduce elementary, middle, and high school students to this style of musical theatre. 网曝吃瓜 began offering an annual 鈥淪tudent Day at the Opera,鈥� and by 2015, nearly 30,000 students had the opportunity to experience the art form. Thanks to Fern鈥檚 commitment in those early years of the program, the 鈥淪tudent Day at the Opera鈥� celebrated three and a half decades in 2015.

He married Linda Robertson, of Nashville, Tenn., in 1968; she worked as a nursing instructor at 网曝吃瓜. They have two children: Jeremy Lee and Jennifer Lynn.

Fern lived in Boiling Springs.

Source: Personal interview鈥擬att Renfer and the 网曝吃瓜 Office of University Communications (February 2015)