Huntington University announces faculty promotions

Huntington, Ind.- Today at a special recognition luncheon, Dr. Norris Friesen, vice president and dean of Huntington University, announced that four faculty members will be promoted next year. In addition, Dr. Friesen announced that a professor of English will be granted a sabbatical, and emeritus status will be awarded to HU's chief librarian.

Mr. Bryan Ballinger will be promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Digital Media. Ballinger has been a member of the Huntington University faculty since 2005. He earned the Master of Fine Arts from Lesley University (Cambridge Mass.) and the Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbus College of Art and Design (Columbus, Ohio).

Dean Friesen said, "Mr. Ballinger consistently receives positive student evaluations. His students describe his approach to teaching as enjoyable, yet challenging. He seeks opportunities for students to exhibit their work and has provided valuable guidance and connections for students with the professional industry."

Ballinger has illustrated several children's books and created the cover photograph for a Governor General Award-nominated book, the Canadian equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. Ballinger has also completed free-lance work for Big Idea Productions, including 3D modeling for a "Veggie Tales" video series and illustrations for animated segments that aired on NBC's Saturday morning lineup. Mr. Ballinger and his family are active members of the Evangelical United Methodist Church.

Mr. David McEowen will be promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Business. McEowen has taught at Huntington University since 1997. He earned the Master of Business Administration degree from University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.).

Dean Friesen observed, "Mr. McEowen seems to have a special gift for inspiring students to develop their abilities. Students can often be seen following him back to his office after class to continue discussions with him. His low-key demeanor and warm personality make him a very popular and approachable teacher. His extensive involvement in the business field is a great asset in his teaching, and it is clear that students appreciate both his academic insights as well as his real-world experience."

Friesen added that McEowen was selected as the 2008 Professor of the Year, a reflection of students' high regard for him.

Dr. Margaret Winter will be promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Nursing. Winter joined the Huntington University faculty in 2007. She earned the Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), the Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Ill.), the Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Illinois (Moline, Ill.), and the Associate Degree in Nursing from Penn Valley Community College (Kansas City, Mo.).

Dean Friesen said, "Dr. Winter came to Huntington University with significant teaching experience at the assistant professor level. Dr. Winter's teaching evaluations are solid, showing evidence of good preparations and sound pedagogical practice. She completed her doctorate after coming to Huntington and it is evident that she is familiar with the primary literature on the scholarship of teaching. Within the Nursing Department and the division, Dr. Winter's level of service has been outstanding. She has done well in collaborating with the EXCEL office to start-up the RN-BSN degree completion program."

Dr. Winter and her husband are active in a Nazarene church in Peru, Ind. where her husband serves as the senior pastor.

Dr. Paul Worfel will be promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Education. Worfel has served on the Huntington University faculty since 2005. He earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University (Bloomington, Ind.), the Master of Arts in Social and Philosophical Foundations from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Mich.), the Master of Music in Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY), and the Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.)

Dean Friesen said, "As a teacher, Dr. Worfel receives high marks from his students. His teaching evaluations reveal high ratings and support for his positive interaction and interest in students. In addition to teaching excellence, Dr. Worfel is involved in scholarly activities. He was the 2008 recipient of the Huntington University Research Fellowship. He spent five weeks engaged in research on the life of William Farish in Cambridge and in London and is working toward completion of a biography of this 19th century professor of chemistry."

Dr. Worfel chairs the student learning committee, which works with the campus-wide assessment initiative and serves as the NCATE coordinator. Paul and his wife are active in the First Church of the Nazarene in Huntington.

Robert Kaehr is completing his 34th year of service at Huntington University. He currently serves as director of the RichLyn Library. He also has taught research methods to classes and individuals, library research for the EXCEL Adult Degree Program, and on occasion, English. He served as president of Tri-ALSA, a multi-county library consortium and has written numerous professional and popular periodical articles.

Dean Friesen recalled that Kaehr oversaw the move of the entire book and periodical collection from the Loew Alumni Library (currently the Administrative Annex) to the RichLyn Library in 1986.

"In recognition of 34 years of service to Huntington University and his commitment to Huntington University faculty, staff and students, Bob Kaehr will receive the title of Director of Library Services and Associate Professor Emeritus," Friesen said.

Dr. Delbert Doughty, professor of English, will be granted a sabbatical leave for the spring semester of 2011. Doughty is in his 14th year at Huntington University.

"Dr. Doughty intends to organize poems he has already written, compose new ones and publish them as a collection, which would be his third collection since 2000," Friesen explained. "He also plans to apply for a writer's grant from the Indiana Arts Commission in 2012 to promote it. He then plans to organize lectures into collections that are ready for publication."