Distinguished Emeritus Faculty Honorees

By Rachel Forrester

This past May, the ENMU Foundation presented the 2019 Distinguished Faculty Emeriti awards.

Mr. Dudley Cash

Mr. Dudley Cash Dudley Cash wore many hats during his 23 years on campus from 1965-88. He was very active within the University’s Department of Agriculture and he made a clear and positive impact on his students, first as instructor, then as assistant professor, associate professor/instructor IV. In addition, Mr. Cash served as the chair of the ENMU Department of Agriculture, as supervisor for the Soil Conservation Service, as director for Water Incorporated, and he also provided research and quarterly reports for the National Cotton Council. Mr. Cash retired from ENMU in 1988 as an Associate Professor Emeritus of Agriculture.

Mr. Loran Crowder (posthumously)

In 1969, when ENMU formed a branch campus in Clovis, Mr. Loran Crowder was thrilled at the opportunity for students to be able to receive a quality education at another location in eastern New Mexico. The Clovis native worked for the John Deere Corporation for many years. Three short years later, Crowder joined the ENMU-Clovis faculty as an instructor of farm mechanics. During his 14 years of service, he was a vital asset in teaching diesel mechanics, and he also implemented a new welding class at ENMU-Clovis. Mr. Crowder retired in 1986 as an Instructor Emeritus of Farm Mechanics. He committed to teach on more summer session after his retirement to “finalize the cycle of the Farm Mechanics Program to meet the needs of the current students completing their studies in that program.”

Dr. Kathy Roler Durand

Dr. Kathy Roler Durand joined ENMU’s faculty in 1993 and thrived in the Anthropology Program.In addition to becoming a professor in 2011, Dr. Durand started ENMU’s Forensic Science Program, which became available to students in 2007, requiring cooperation with faculty members across four different disciplines. She also servedas assistant dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from 2011-13, and as chair for the Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology for 10 years. Dr. Durand specializes in the analysis of animal and human bones recovered from archaeological excavations. Her fieldwork includes Neolithic sites from Cyprus and Jordan to Chacoan and Hohokam sites in the Southwest. Dr. Durand retired in 2018 as a Professor Emerita of Anthropology.

Dr. Jerry Everhart

Dr. Jerry Everhart’s commitment to the ENMU Department of Curriculum and Instruction spanned over 22 years, transitioning from assistant professor of elementary education, to earning tenure and becoming the graduate coordinator for that program. He also spent three years as department chair and earned the title of professor. Dr. Everhart served as the alternative licensure adviser for elementary education. In 2003, he was named Faculty Sponsor of the Year for Students for Equality. He also collaborated with many school districts, including as the gifted/talented teacher for Dora High School and as the professional development coordinator in Portales at James Elementary School. Dr. Everhart retired in 2017 as a Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education.

Dr. Gerald A. Gies

Dr. Gerald Gies joined the ENMU family as a history instructor in 1995 and completed 22 years of service, achieving the rank of professor in 2010. He served two consecutive, three-year terms as chair of the Department of History, Social Sciences and Religion, and proudly worked with the ENMU Advising Center for over a decade. Dr. Gies also represented ENMU as Fulbright Campus Representative, and was a representative for New Mexico Town Hall on International Education. Additionally, he participated in the Bosque Redondo Educational Project from 2003-06. Dr. Gies retired in 2017 as a Professor Emeritus of History.

Dr. Marvin M. F. Lutnesky

Dr. Marvin Lutnesky began pursuing his career in ichthyology (fish science) from a young age. He moved to the high plains in 1992 to become an assistant professor of biology at ENMU. Dr. Lutnesky made it a priority to collaborate with students, faculty and administrators to improve all areas of which he worked. He also served as chair of the Department of Biology from 1998-2013, was the director of the Natural History Museum for nearly 15 years, and served as the Curator of Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles from 1998-2016. Additionally, Dr. Lutnesky worked with the Behavior Ecology Research Group (BERG) to establish the Behavioral Ecology Laboratory for the study of animal behavior on ENMU’s campus. After 24 years of service, he retired from Eastern in 2017 as a Professor Emeritus of Biology and currently works at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Dr. Farrell D. Odom (posthumously)

Dr. Farrell Odom began preaching at the age of 18, and joined ENMU in 1967 as Bible chair and director of the Wesley Foundation, a campus ministry of the United Methodist Church. Dr. Odom held that position for six years and, during that time, he was able to bring together many people who had been in confrontation on the campus during demonstrations. He retired from ENMU in 1973 as Associate Professor Emeritus of Religion. Dr. Odom continued his ministry by establishing the Institute of Family Dynamics in Portales and serving churches in Logan, Nara Visa, Cimarron and San Jon, New Mexico. In 1978, Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas awarded Dr. Odom an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree for his work in reconciliations during the time of student discontent (Kent State Vietnam protest). Odom fully retired from preaching in 1992 after a 40-year career in ministry.

Dr. Thomas V. Toglia

Dr. Thomas Toglia began teaching in 1976 as a high school teacher and community college adjunct instructor in Tucson, Arizona. In 1984, he began teaching at New Mexico Junior College where he taught for 21 years. He started at ENMU in 2006 as assistant professor, director and adviser for the Professional Technical Education (PTE) Program. After two short years, he was promoted to associate professor and became director, adviser and graduate coordinator for the master’s program in PTE. Dr. Toglia played a significant role in expanding the number of students pursuing the bachelor’s degree in career and technical education and in creating an entirely new graduate degree (M.Ed.) with an emphasis in Career and Technical Education. Dr. Toglia retired in 2013 as an Associate Professor Emeritus of PTE. Dr. Toglia also continues to teach as an online adjunct for Lenoir-Rhyne University.