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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]BETHANY, W.Va. – Two longtime Bethany College professors and coaches will present their last lecture, “Title IX: 50-Year Anniversary and More,” on Tuesday, April 12.

John McGowanThe college will celebrate John McGowan, professor emeritus of physical education and sports studies, and Jan Forsty, professor of physical education and head softball coach emerita, at 11 a.m. in the lounge of Phillips Hall. The event will also stream live here.

McGowan joined Bethany in 1980 and retired in 2020.

Over his 40-year career, McGowan taught more than two dozen class titles and served as an administrator and coach for swimming, cross country, track and field, and women’s soccer. McGowan played a significant role in bringing women’s varsity sports to Bethany.

He spent his final academic year at Bethany on sabbatical, researching the history of women’s sports at Bethany College and in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Jan ForstyForsty joined Bethany in 1987, teaching more than 20 distinct courses and mentoring numerous Bethany students. She retired in 2021.

She also chaired the Department of Physical Education and coached softball, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, and tennis at Bethany, leading teams to almost 20 PAC championships. Forsty retired as the head softball coach in 2018 with the third-highest win total for NCAA Division III.

Forsty was the first woman named as a director of athletics for a collegiate program in West Virginia, taking on the role in 1982 at Wheeling College.

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Watch the Livestream” color=”green” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bethanywv.edu%2Fbethany-broadcast-network%2Flive-stream-events%2F”][/vc_column][/vc_row]