These words are more than just a missional statement for Rosemary; they are at heart of who she is and how she lives her life. They underlie why she would move from Calgary, Canada, to Siloam Springs, Arkansas, to lead the Center for Healthy Relationships at John Brown University. Her vision is to see the CHR become a “Center for the times” that provides the students, faculty and staff at JBU, and the broader community of Northwest Arkansas with resources that will lead people into a deep and personal relationship with God that will impact who they are, how they relate to others, and the choices they make.

Rosemary has always been surrounded by rich relational ecosystems. She grew up the youngest in a family of six in a small farming community, where she felt loved and treasured. As a young woman in university and then in her career as an elementary school teacher, she enjoyed the camaraderie of colleagues and friends. She has thrived as an educator and appreciated playing a part in people’s learning. Raising three children who, now as adults, are creating their own families has been one of her greatest privileges.

Rosemary and Norlee married and embarked on a life together seeking to love God, both by developing their relationship with Him and by loving and serving others. They took numerous mission trips to serve others through education and engineering. Trips to Colombia, Haiti, and Mali solidified Rosemary’s love for diversity, her calling to teach anywhere in the uttermost parts of the world, and their enjoyment of travel and adventure. This has carried on throughout her life as she has taught in New Zealand, El Salvador, Mexico, South Africa, India, and across Canada and the United States.