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A Single Class, A Lifetime of Impact

Porter’s fascination with international travel, specifically in the developing world, started during his senior year at Davidson in a political science class taught by Prof. Lou Ortmayer. First, Ortmayer told his students that everything in the news was fair game for a pop quiz, requiring Porter to pay much closer attention to what was going on in the world. He developed a special interest in the international arena, and he still reads the international part of The New York Times every single day. Secondly, Ortmayer started the semester covering the Green Revolution, a period of agricultural innovation in the mid-20th century, especially in developing countries. At that point, Porter had been to Europe a couple of times, but the course material piqued his interest in other parts of the world. 

“It’s entirely possible these interests could have developed in me some other way,” he said, “but he was such a dynamic teacher and he made it so fascinating.”

Ortmayer recalls the class Porter took, and when his former student rang his doorbell at The Pines some 50 years later, they reconnected like no time had passed. The now-retired professor was honored to learn about Porter’s support of Davidson students. 

In addition to the fellowship, Porter has also created the Lou Ortmayer Scholarship, which will provide need-based support to students from countries with emerging economies beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

“It’s nice to hear you’ve had an impact,” Ortmayer said. “And to me, the right kind of impact — a guy who’s curious about the world. That’s the kind of person we ought to be encouraging. It’s important to be exposed to different ideas and different places, which helps discover new interests and strengths. Steve is a great example.” 

Ortmayer taught Davidson students for 40 years, and he admired that they arrived on campus more open-minded than at places he’d taught before. He enjoyed challenging them and being challenged in return.

“The kind of funding Steve is providing is so important,” he said. “It gives students incentive to open their minds to things they hadn’t thought that much about before. It takes a great deal of guts and determination to explore like that, and that’s part of the growth of doing it. This support will encourage people to think in ways they’re just beginning to think about.”

Jane Mangan, McGee Director of the Dean Rusk International Studies Program and Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of History and Latin American Studies, sees every day the impact of gifts like Porter’s in shaping the interests and pathways of Davidson students. 

Sander can spread out the fellowship funding from now until the summer after he graduates from Davidson, allowing for an individualized experience that grows with him. He’s excited to see how these experiences will help direct his future.

“Right now, I am interested in public health policy through law,” he said. “I haven't ruled out medical school one day, which was my initial plan at Davidson. For now, though, I am much more drawn to the broad impact that litigation can produce in public health.” 

Like Porter, Sander has been deeply influenced by Davidson courses and professors. He points to his Humanities Fellowship with Patricio Boyer, associate professor of Hispanic Studies, E. Craig Wall, Jr., Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities and director of the Humanities Program, that sparked excitement for the power and complexity of law. And, tuberculosis research alongside Professor of Chemistry Nicole Snyder, opened his eyes to public health.

“Davidson’s financial investment in me, in addition to professors’ close relationships with students, is what drew me here in the first place, and I appreciate all the experiences that have already come my way,” Sander said. “My brother supports our family right now, so I plan to take over that responsibility after college so he can go to law school, which is his dream. Then I’ll work on my next steps. I’m really grateful to Steve and to Davidson.”