Retiring faculty honored at Northwest

By Phil Cobb | April 8, 2016 |

Judy Clark

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Northwest Missouri State will honor nine retiring faculty members later this month whose careers represent a combined 220 years of service to the university.

A reception for the retirees is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, April 22, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom.

Those being recognized include:

· Judy Clark, assistant professor of computer science and information systems. Clark began working at Northwest in 1997 and will retire July 31. She taught instructional technology and the learning process, introduction to online teaching, and computers and networks, among other courses.

· Robert Dewhirst, professor of political science. Dewhirst began working at Northwest in 1983 and will retire May 27. He taught American government, American congress, American presidency, media and politics, political parties, and campaigns and elections.

· Jeff Ferguson, associate professor of recreation. Ferguson began working at Northwest in 1987 and will retire Aug. 16. He taught foundations of recreation, risk management, and historical and philosophical concepts of parks and recreation, among other recreation courses.

· Nancy Foley, associate professor of professional education. Foley began working at Northwest in 2000 and will retire Aug. 1. She taught intro to special education, education of the exceptional child, creating inclusive classrooms, and behavior management techniques, among other education courses.

· Phil Laber, professor of art. Laber began working at Northwest in 1976 and will retire July 31. He taught courses in photography, drawing, printmaking, and summer graduate workshops, among other courses.

· Janet Reusser, professor of health and physical education. Reusser began working at Northwest in 1992 and will retire May 2. She taught physiology of exercise, pathophysiology, exercise testing and prescription, senior seminar in physical education, and observation II in physical education.

· John Shaw, associate professor of physics. Shaw began working at Northwest in 1988 and will retire May 31. He taught intro to physics courses, astronomy, electronics, statistics, modern physics II and quantum mechanics.

· Rheba Vetter, associate professor of health and physical education. Vetter began working at Northwest in 2002 and will retire May 2. She taught aerobic and strength conditioning, lifetime wellness lab, dance techniques, choreography, and elementary health and physical education methods, among other courses.

· Craig Warner, associate professor of art. Warner began working at Northwest in 1998 and retired Dec. 31, 2015. He taught intro to design, advanced creative electronic imaging, graphic design senior seminar, and digital photography, among other courses.