Morningside bids farewell to longtime faculty and staff members
This year seven members of the Morningside College community are retiring. Each one of them has served the college for decades. We thank them for all they have done. Their impact on the college will be felt for many years to come.
John Bowitz, professor of art, has taught at Morningside College for 36 years, and he has served as chair of the art department for about 20 years. He is most proud of the artists that have come out of the program. One thing he will really miss about Morningside College is eating lunch in the cafeteria and having a super-size glass of ice-cold skim milk halfway through the day. In retirement, he will continue making art, and he will be out in nature. He will not be far from campus, as he lives a mile and a half away, and he is open to teaching a course at Morningside every once in a while.
Dr. Tom Gilbert 1962, professor of philosophy, has taught at Morningside College for 41 years, and has served as chair of the philosophy department for much of that time. He is known for his challenging, rigorous classes, and will remember most the good students he has had over the years. In retirement, he plans to engage in some “practical philosophy” by doing volunteer work for animal welfare organizations like PETA, and hopes to volunteer for Sea Shepherd, an organization which actively opposes the whaling industry. Gilbert will also be studying meditation at various meditation centers.
Dr. Larry Martin, associate professor of chemistry, has taught at Morningside College for 24 years. He served as chair of the chemistry and physics department for a couple of years during that time. He is most proud of the accomplishments of his students. They are also what he will remember most fondly about his time here. In retirement, he plans to do some work around his church, and some traveling. He will continue to live in Sioux City and plans to keep in touch with Morningside College by attending sporting events – especially basketball games.
Tom Rice, vice president for institutional advancement, has worked for Morningside College for 28 years, and he has been a member of the senior staff since 1993. During his time here, the college has raised $150 million, and the annual scholarship fund has grown from $400,000 to more than $1.6 million. Rice said he is most proud of building the relationships with the alumni and friends that caused that to happen. In retirement, Rice plans to continue on a part-time basis, and plans to do more golfing. Most importantly, he plans to spend a lot of time with his family.
Dr. Larry Sensenig, professor and holder of the Daniel and Amy Starch Endowed Chair in Psychology, has taught at Morningside for 39 years. He has served as chair of the psychology department since 1990. During his time as chair, the number of psychology majors on campus has grown, the college has created developmental psychology and industrial psychology programs, and the psychology department designed its facilities in the Walker Science Center. “It’s been a wonderful career,” Sensenig said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I just love to go to work and do what I do.” Sensenig will miss students and colleagues. In retirement, he plans to do a lot of traveling.
Joseph Shufro, associate professor of music, has taught at Morningside College for 36 years. He chaired the music department for a short period during that time. Looking back on his career, he is most proud of the accomplishments of the orchestra, the faculty trio, and touring England and Ireland with the Euclid Quartet and Morningside string students, as well as numerous classroom courses. His students and colleagues are what he will remember most fondly. Shufro does not think of himself as retiring. He is just calling this a “new phase” and is thinking about moving to California. He plans to keep in touch with Morningside College through the website, email and Facebook.
Dr. Glenna Tevis 1970, director of graduate studies, has worked for Morningside for 29 years. Originally, she was the early childhood specialist on the education faculty and director of the campus child care center. She became director of graduate studies in January 1990, and that became a full-time administrative, non-teaching position in January 2007. Tevis is proud the college developed a master’s degree program that is flexible but also challenging. The professional seminar that students take as a capstone course is one of her favorite things about the program. She will miss the people at Morningside the most. In retirement, she and her husband plan to move to his ancestral home south of Sioux City near Holly Springs.