Distinguished Faculty Emeriti Announced

Seven emeritus faculty members were recently honored with the Distinguished Faculty Emeritus distinction at the annual ENMU Foundation Faculty Emeritus Luncheon this past May.

Dr. Jo Nell Brooks earned her B.A. from ENMU in education, followed by two degrees at NMSU—an M.A. in counseling and guidance and a Ph. D. in education psychology. She taught at NMSU while completing her master’s and her doctorate. In 1967, Dr. Brooks assumed the position of dean of women at ENMU, a position she held until 1974. After two years as dean of Student Development, she became dean of Career Development and Placement Services where she served until her retirement in 1989. Prior to her years at ENMU, Dr. Brooks taught business education at Rogers, NM, and English and social studies for six years at the U.S. Army Educational System in Giessen, Kirsh Goëns, Bamberg, and Würtsburg, Germany. Dr. Brooks held leadership roles in several organizations including: Altrusa International of Portales, Delta Kappa Gamma, and was a member of several national organizations, including the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors; the American Association of University Women; the National Education Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. She currently serves on the ENMU Foundation Board of Directors.

Dr. Joseph F. Dickson received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Dr. Dickson was assistant professor of physical education and athletic director for most of the 24 years that he served at ENMU. He joined the ENMU faculty staff in 1946. Dr. Dickson was selected by the U.S. Department of State to serve as a visiting lecturer in Rangoon, Burma in 1951. In 1959 he became the athletic director at Eastern. In this role, Dr. Dickson helped shape the athletic program that placed second in the nation for the NAIA all-sports championship in 1969. He was named president of the NAIA Golf Coaches Association in 1965. In 1962, Dr. Dickson was selected for the President’s Award for outstanding contribution to the University.

Mr. Alvin Davis “Al” Garten received his M.A. from George Peabody College and continued to do additional graduate work at the University of New Mexico. He coached football, basketball, and track for Eastern over a career that spanned 27 years. After teaching and coaching in Oklahoma, Clovis High School and Carlsbad High School, he served as ENMU all-sports coach in 1936-37. After one year coaching in Hobbs, he returned “home” to ENMU, coaching football, basketball and track from 1938 until 1953. Asked to take the helm as ENMU athletic director, he still continued coaching Greyhound basketball until his retirement in 1965. Mr. Garten’s basketball teams participated in several tournaments. He served as NAIA president and received the NAIA Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Award for meritorious service in basketball. The Al Garten Athletic Award was initiated at ENMU in 1956 for outstanding Greyhound athletes. During his 29 coaching years at ENMU, he devoted himself to Eastern athletes and the profession of coaching.

Dr. Linda Gies received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in history from the University of California. She was hired at ENMU in 1990 as an assistant professor of history and served as department chair from 19921997. She was promoted to professor of history in 2003. She retired from ENMU in 2007, but she continues to teach as a resource faculty member. Dr. Gies was the coordinator of ENMU’s self-study program and has always been actively involved with non-traditional students. She created the nontraditional Freshman Seminar and worked with Adult Re-Entry students for over a decade.

Dr. H. Grady Moore earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in English from Texas Technological College, which is now known as Texas Tech. He came to ENMU in 1939, following several years of teaching in Littlefield, Olton, and Canyon, TX, and at Portales High School. In 1963, Dr. Moore earned the President’s Faculty Award in recognition of “superior teaching, scholarship and service.” He was a professor of English and chair of the Division of Language, Literature and Fine Arts. In 1968, upon his retirement, Dr. Moore was awarded the honor of “dean emeritus” at the spring 1968 graduation ceremony. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis.

Dr. Robert W. Pierce obtained his B.A. in geology from Monmouth College in 1962. In the following years, he continued his education at the University of Illinois where he received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in geology. In 1982, Dr. Pierce began his teaching career at ENMU where he taught geology along with several other classes in the physical science department. Dr. Pierce served as the chair of the department from 1985 to 2005. He also served as president of Kiwanis from 1988 to 1989. In 1999, he received the Spirit of Eastern Award. In 2010, he received emeritus status and retired from ENMU the following year. Dr. Pierce founded the AYSO soccer program in Portales in 1983 and serves on the board as a national instructor performing instruction in coaching and refereeing.

Dr. Anthony Schroeder received his B.A. from Adams State College, his M.A. from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He started his career at ENMU as an assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences in 1975. At ENMU, Dr. Schroeder taught in several departments, including math and sociology and has held several administrative positions from department chairman to acting dean of the Graduate School and director of Extended Learning. He coached the debate and individual events program for 33 years, and his students won several national awards. In 2009 when Dr. Schroeder retired, he was the coordinator of Student Learning. Dr. Schroeder received the Spirit of Eastern Award in 2003.