10 Long-Time MSUM Faculty to Retire
Ten long-time members of the MSU Moorhead faculty are retiring this spring: Solveig Bartz, Elementary Education; Louis De Maio, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences; Mark Hansel, Sociology; Judy Johnson, Early Education Center; George Sanderson, Accounting; Mary Schroeder, Social Work; Cliff Schuette, Counseling & Career Services; SuEllen Shaw, English; Marie Swanson, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences; and Walter Worman, Physics;
Solveig Bartz, who grew up on a farm near Michigan, N.D., joined the faculty at MSUM in 1991 as both an undergraduate and graduate professor teaching English as a Second Language, later serving as acting coordinator of the graduate reading program.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English and business education from Concordia College, a master’s degree in reading education at the University of Arizona and her doctorate in reading education and special education from the University of North Dakota.
Before coming to MSUM, Bartz taught at NDSU for two years, where she served as a faculty lecturer in a Carnegie Corporation study helping North Dakota schools convert to the middle-school concept. Prior to that, she taught English, business education, special education and reading for six years at public schools in Minnesota, North Dakota, Arizona and Colorado.
Bartz was awarded several grants for her research at MSUM’s elementary education department, including more than $66,000 from the Otto Bremer Foundation aimed at improving the reading and writing skills of middle school students. After retiring, she intends to continue her efforts to promote literacy growth.
Louis De Maio, who grew up in Paterson, N.J., joined the MSUM faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor of Speech-Language-Pathology specializing in child language development and disorders. Before coming here, he taught five years at Brescia College in Kentucky and three years at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he earned his doctorate in speech pathology.
De Maio served four years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver, working in the otolaryngology department, assisting in minor surgery, laryngeal endoscopy and providing speech-language pathology services.
The director of MSUM’s Institutional Review Board since 2003 and author of several publications in his field, on April 24 De Maio made his last of many professional presentations at the Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Minneapolis focusing on his research from his Parent-Child Communication Program. After 28 years at MSUM, De Maio and his wife will retire in Montana, where they intend to do volunteer work and enjoy the mountains and trout streams.
Mark Hansel, who grew up in Mansfield, Mass., joined the MSUM sociology department in 1974 after earning a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Iowa. He also received undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theology from Nyack College in New York.
The coordinator of MSUM’s Criminal Justice program, his academic research has focused on the “sociology of punishment,” an emerging label for studies broader than prisons and community corrections, encompassing the ordinary social meanings of deviance, crime, personal accountability and victimization.
Hansel plans to retire in his home state of Massachusetts and intends to pursue community volunteer work in the area of his expertise and a few of his hobbies, including photography and road biking.
Judy Johnson, who grew up in Ada, Minn., started a kindergarten program in Lake Park after earning an undergraduate degree in education from MSUM. She joined MSUM’s Early Childhood Education program staff in 1972 and after earning her master’s degree in 1977 became director of the program, a center for education and care of young children that has served as a model program and training site for Early Childhood Education. Her research has been in the area of child concepts of death.
Previously an adjunct in the School of Teaching and Learning and a supervisor of student teachers for the university’s field experience office, Johnson said working with children and university students has helped her focus on what’s important in life.
Retiring after 37 years on campus, she intends to volunteer for some of her favorite Christian organizations.
George Sanderson, who grew up on a farm near Drayton, N.D., joined the MSUM faculty in 1976 after earning an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota.
Between those two degrees, Sanderson went to Air Force Navigator School, then to schools in electronic warfare, aircrew survival and B-52 training. As a B-52 crew member at Minot Air Force Base for two years, he was sent to U Tapao AFB in Thailand and flew 58 bombing missions during the Vietnam war.
Sanderson spent a year as a staff auditor with the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell just before coming to MSUM in the fall of 1976. He later completed his doctorate in accounting from the University of Nebraska while teaching here.
During his more than 30 years at MSUM, Sanderson served nine years as the chair of the university’s accounting department. In 2007, he and his wife Marlane, who retired in 2007 from MSUM, were both recognized by the North Dakota CPA Society with its Outstanding Accounting Educator Award.
In retirement, he intends to travel and spend more time with their two daughters and their families.
Mary Schroeder, a Fargo native, began her career as a social worker as Aging Services Coordinator of North Dakota and after four years there spent the next 15 years at MeritCare Hospital as a medical and psychiatric social worker.
She holds an undergraduate social work degree from the College of St. Benedict and a master of social work degree from St. Louis University.
Schroeder began teaching as an adjunct in the MSUM Social Work department in 1991 and two years later became a full-time member of the faculty. For the past 16 years at MSUM, her primary responsibilities have included teaching, following students in their internships and serving as field coordinator for six years.
In retirement, she plans to volunteer with Hospice and spend more time with family and friends.
Cliff Schuette, who grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, joined the MSUM faculty in 1989 as director of the Counseling & Personal Growth Center, coming here from Kansas State University where he served 14 years as an assistant professor and assistant director and counselor at the university’s Counseling Center.
Schuette earned his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Texas and his master’s degree in student personnel and doctorate in counseling from Texas A & M.
A certified facilitator for Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and the Four Roles of Leadership, his academic specialty is college student development and achievement. Since 1997, he’s served as the director of MSUM’s Counseling & Career Services office.
He and his wife Sandi, who retired from MSUM last year, plan on moving to the Kansas City, Mo., area to be closer to family. He expects to remain active in a counseling and career-related profession.
SuEllen Shaw, who grew up on a wheat and cattle farm about 40 miles northeast of Devils Lake, N.D., (graduating from Edmore High School), joined the MSUM faculty in 1985 as an adjunct instructor in English. Now a full professor, she’s been director of the Write Site since its beginning in 1992 and became the Campus Writing Program director in 2006.
Before coming here, she taught at public schools in Anderson, Ind., and Great Falls, Mont., after earning her undergraduate English degree from the University of North Dakota and taught at Ball State University while earning her master’s degrees in English and Educational Curriculum. She later completed her doctorate in Teaching and Learning from the University of North Dakota.
A specialist in composition and writing across the curriculum, she served three years on the board of directors of the Midwest Writing Centers Association, one year as its chair.
After nearly 25 years at MSUM, she plans to spend more time in her retirement with her four grandchildren, golfing and playing bridge.
Marie Swanson, who grew up near Bottineau, N.D., joined the MSUM faculty in 1970 as a supervisor of the on-campus clinical practicum in the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
She earned her undergraduate degree in speech pathology and special education and a master’s degree in speech-language-pathology from Minot State University and worked as a public school speech-language pathologist before coming to MSUM.
During her 38 years on campus, she taught, supervised and conducted research in the area of augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology, aimed at helping individuals who are unable to speak or write as their primary means of communication. She also served as director of the Regional Assistive Technology Center, part of the university’s Speech/Language/ Hearing Clinic.
A recipient of several state, regional and campus awards for her work in assistive technology, she plans to retire in Moorhead with her husband and intends to continue activities within her profession and pursue volunteer work.
Walter Worman, who grew up in Los Alamos, N.M., joined the physics department faculty at MSUM in 1975 after working three years with the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company.
A specialist in music acoustics, light curves and mainbelt asteroids, he earned his undergraduate degree from Carleton College and his master’s degree and doctorate, all in physics, from Case Western Reserve University. He also served as chair of the university’s Physics and Astronomy department.
He said in retirement he’ll pursue interests he hasn’t had time for.
The following also announced their retirements recently and will be noted in subsequent publications: Larry Scott, Abner Arauza, Barb Rath, Sonja Rue and Glenn Tornell (hey, that’s me.)