海角社区

Faculty retirements

By Zoe Lance

As the members of the Class of 2017 join the workforce or go on to graduate school, there鈥檚 another part of the 海角社区CI community that is also preparing themselves for a new chapter of life 鈥� retiring faculty members. It鈥檚 impossible to sum up long and fruitful careers in academia, but all of 海角社区CI鈥檚 retiring faculty loved the opportunity of joining a growing university, the value of academic service and the joy of teaching students.

鈥楾HE BEST EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE WORKING LIFE鈥�

For Assistant Provost Elizabeth Hartung joining 海角社区CI to build the Sociology and Anthropology programs was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She remembers the camaraderie and excitement of building something from the ground up with kind and open colleagues.

鈥淚t was wonderful,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was truly the best experience in my entire working life.鈥�

Before joining 海角社区CI in 2005, Hartung taught at Fresno State, Southern Illinois University and University of Nebraska Omaha. Her sociology research interests have included teaching issues, social inequality and popular culture.

鈥淭o be able to read and write and think and expound and get paid for it is truly the best job opportunity going,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have felt enormously privileged in the course of my career. I鈥檝e been very fortunate to do what I have absolutely loved.鈥�

In addition to previously serving as Chair of the Sociology and Anthropology programs, Hartung聽 took on other leadership roles. She served as Chair of the Academic Senate and as Executive Director of the University鈥檚 Henry L. 鈥淗ank鈥� Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies. She also chaired the system-wide Academic Council for International Programs. As Assistant Provost, much of her work focused on faculty affairs, including recruitment and academic personnel issues.

She is proud of the meaningful connections she鈥檚 made with her colleagues and students.

鈥淲hen I think about the Cal State system and this campus, the word that comes to mind is gratitude,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 appreciative of the people I鈥檝e had a chance to learn from and who believed in me. That is the greatest gift.鈥�

Hartung is planning to relocate to Spain, where she鈥檚 looking to spend more time on writing projects.聽

When I think about the Cal State system and this campus, the word that comes to mind is gratitude.

Elizabeth Hartung

鈥楾HE STUDENTS ARE MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT鈥�

Donald Rodriguez鈥檚 favorite 海角社区CI experiences have been outside of the classroom. Since joining the University in 2003, he鈥檚 taken students on environmental studies trips to places like Costa Rica, Mexico, and Yosemite. He believes in the power of hands-on learning.

鈥淔or a lot of these students, this is the first experience in that type of environment, and it鈥檚 very transformative,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou are completely immersed in nature and students respond in authentic ways: they experience it at a level that many of them haven鈥檛 before. It鈥檚 fun to be a part of that.鈥�

Rodriguez, Chair and Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management, was drawn to 海角社区CI for its interdisciplinary approach and the service-learning opportunities. Before 海角社区CI, Rodriguez taught at Colorado State University. His research interests center on protected wildlife areas, coastal management and underrepresented audiences in national parks.

He鈥檚 most proud of his program鈥檚 progress along with the number of students who have gone on to scientific, public service and teaching careers, where they solve real-world environmental problems. Rodriguez was a first-generation high school and college student in his family, and remembers what it鈥檚 like to navigate academia for the first time.

鈥淭he students are my biggest accomplishment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 tell students that there are pivotal people that come along in your life that help direct you, help you see your way forward. On the occasion that I鈥檝e been that for students, it has been the most rewarding thing. My experience is not that far removed from theirs, so I can relate to them on a lot of different levels.鈥�

Rodriguez will enter the faculty early retirement program and continue to teach his Costa Rica field course, environmental history and the National Parks class in spring 2018. He also is looking forward to expanding his role on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature鈥檚 World Commission for Protected Areas, working on a book project about protected areas and a lot of fishing.

Other tenure-track faculty retiring this year include: Harley Baker, Professor of Psychology, who joined 海角社区CI in 2002; Merilyn Buchanan, Professor of Education and Interim Dean of the School of Education, who joined 海角社区CI in 2002; Geoff Dougherty, Professor of Applied Physics, who joined 海角社区CI in 2002; Karen Jensen, Professor and Program Chair for Nursing and Health Science, who joined 海角社区CI in 2006; and Nian-Sheng Huang, Professor of History, who joined 海角社区CI in 2002.

漏 Spring 2017 / Volume 21 / Number 01 / Bi-annual