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| Clarion University recognized 10 retiring faculty members at a reception April 25 in Moore Hall. Pictured are: (from left) Clarion University Provost Dr. Ron Nowaczyk; retirees Dr. Deborah Burghardt, Dr. Sonja Heeter and Dr. Lawrence Wells; Clarion University President Dr. Karen M. Whitney; retiree Dr. James E. Pesek; and faculty APSCUF representative Dr. Jamie Phillips. |
Clarion University honored 10 retiring faculty members at a reception April 25 in Moore Hall.
Dr. Deborah Burghardt has been director of the Women and Gender Studies program since its inception in
1992. She has been the guiding hand of feminist education and advocacy on the Clarion
University campus for two decades. Her powerful and unique stamp on the program, which
now offers both a traditional minor and a liberal studies degree concentration in
women and gender studies, will remain long after her retirement.
Jack Davis made a strong contribution to the Clarion wrestling program, first as an athlete,
then as assistant coach, head coach and instructor of wrestling and other sports in
the university's department of health and physical education. He wrestled from 1971
to 1974 and began teaching in 1975. He was assistant wrestling coach and recruiting
coordinator from 1976 to 1992, then head wrestling coach from 1993 to 1997. Olympic
gold medalist Kurt Angle is one of the athletes Davis coached/taught.
Dr. Kate Eggleton holds a Ph.D. in microbiology. Her research interests in the Canine Genome Project
relate to her outside business and recreation interests in Australian shepherd dogs.
Her laboratory research projects include investigation of drug sensitivity in purebred
collies, eye defects and blindness, and molecular characterization and inheritance
of canine coat color, cancer and epilepsy. She has been published in Virology, Intervirology,
Journal of Virology and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Dr. Darlynn Fink joined the faculty of Clarion University Department of English as temporary faculty
in 1982, and in 1986 she was appointed to a tenure track position. She is a full professor
and assistant chair of the English department. She has taught a wide range of writing
courses, and she created and teaches two English as a second language courses. She
was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award by the English Association of Pennsylvania
State Universities in 2001.
Dr. Sonja Heeter came to Clarion University in 2001 as a teacher of classroom technology and a coach
to her colleagues during the university's early days in technologically mediated distance
education. Heeter continues to assist the university in designing the electronic infrastructure
to support its electronic learning environments. She has been active in the university's
governance through service on APSCUF committees and Faculty Senate.
Judith Janes was appointed to the Clarion University Department of Communication Sciences and
Disorders faculty in 1988 and taught until June 2011. She was hired as a clinical
supervisor and was responsible for coursework in clinical practice, dysphagia, phonetics
and phonology. She worked on many departmental and university committees. Janes consistently
provided clinical supervision of students conducting speech and language services
at the university Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Dr. James G. Pesek joined the faculty of Clarion University in 1980 as an assistant professor, beginning
32 years of exemplary service to the university and community. He has served as a
faculty member, chair of the department of administrative science, interim dean and
dean of the College of Business and as interim provost and vice president for academic
affairs. He has been instrumental in helping the College of Business attain and maintain
AACSB accreditation. He has been on the last four Middle States (accreditation) Steering
Committees, APSCUF Executive Council and Faculty Senate.
Dr. William Sanders began working at Clarion University in 1981, after completing his doctorate in economics.
He was trained in the fields of macroeconomic theory, microeconomic theory, comparative
economic systems, economic development and regional economics. He is fluent in Russian
and has written comprehension of German. He served as the president of the Pennsylvania
Economic Association and worked with Clarion Borough Zoning Board for many years.
Dr. Stephen Shulik retired in the summer of 2011, following 23 years of serviceo n the faculty of Clarion
University Department of Anthropology, Geography and Earth Science. Among his contributions
to the university were the directorship of the planetarium and ongoing research in
cultural resource management. Shulik taught courses in basic earth science, stellar
astronomy, solar system astronomy and geophysics.
Dr. Lawrence Wells taught music at Clarion University for 34 years. Hired as assistant director of bands,
he also taught private lessons in the percussion studio, conducted the Clarion University
Percussion Ensemble and was responsible for administering the percussion line for
the Golden Eagles Marching Band. After completing his doctorate of musical arts in
1991, Wells was elected chair of the music department in 1993, serving until 2005.
He led efforts to achieve National Association of Schools of Music accreditation for
the music program.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university
that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.