Dr. Lee Archie
Charles Sacoco
Professor of Philosophy – 34 years of service
Assistant Professor of Physical Education – 27 years of service
Though Dr. Lee Archie has retired after 34 years at Lander, his life as an educator continues through his writings and research. These days, his extra time is spent revising and updating open-source textbooks, completing a logic text on which he has worked for the past two years, and completing and updating textbooks and online readings on his website. Archie is a Texas native who studied chemistry at Austin College and philosophy at American University, the University of Maryland and the University of Arkansas. He has also worked as a research chemist and served on the U. S. Army Nuclear Emergency Team. While at Lander, Archie raised and homeschooled one son who attended Virginia Tech and Oxford University and is now pursuing a Ph.D. He has published open-source textbooks and has had work published internationally in science, logic and philosophy. Some of his best memories at Lander involve his students, particularly those he worked with during weekly tutorial sessions on advanced readings and selected writings. Also stimulating, he said, was his relationship with fellow colleagues. Reflecting on his years in academia, his advice to faculty is to find their own way to reach students. “In my experience, the studentcentered teacher is the one most likely to enjoy an excitement and a passion for what they do throughout their career.”
Assistant professor of physical education Charlie Sacoco retired this year after more than three decades at Lander as a student and faculty member. The Massachusetts native came to Lander after four years in the Navy, persuaded to enroll by shipmate Jim Giles, who graduated from Lander with a music degree. Sacoco earned a health, physical education and recreation degree from Lander in 1975 and, two years later, a master’s in health education from the University of South Carolina, where he taught for two years. While at USC, he met his future wife, Katrina, Lander’s former women’s head basketball coach who now teaches at Brewer Middle School in Greenwood. In 1984, Lander’s Dr. Joe V. Chandler, who at the time was chair of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and Sacoco’s former teacher and adviser, recruited him to design the physical education and exercise studies program (PEES), calling on his experience in physical fitness, health instruction and evaluation. In 2000, he was named PEES chair, a position he held for five years. Sacoco and Katrina have two children, Ryan and Brantley, of Greenwood. They are also grandparents to Brantley’s three-year-old son, Caleb.
Staff Members Retire After Decades of Service
ing of the Cultural Center in 1987. As for the future, Goldman plans to spend time with her family, travel and do volunteer work. When Jo Latham began working in Information Technology Services, Lander did not have a mainframe computer. She said, “There was a remote connection to Clemson University, and Lander was using the old punch card system. It was great to be among the people who helped Lander’s technology resources grow from that humble beginning.” Latham said she will rememLinda Goldman Jo Latham Betty Harris ber her co-workers and the great friends she made 33 years of service 29 years of service 21 years of service at Lander. She plans to spend time with family and friends and pursue her career as a Mary Kay indepen Lander said farewell to several staff retirees this summer, including dent beauty consultant. three staff members whose combined years of service totaled more Custodian Betty Harris appreciated meeting and befriending than eight decades: Linda Goldman, with 33 years; Jo Latham, 29 students. She recognized it was difficult for students to be away from years; and Betty Harris, 21 years. home, many for the first time. “I told them they could come to me An administrative assistant in the College of Arts and Humanities, if they needed someone to talk to.” For Harris, retirement does not Goldman’s greatest satisfaction was getting to know the faculty, staff mean not working. She has taken a part-time position at Connie and students. She said, “I hope I made a positive impact on their Maxwell School in Greenwood. The mother of four said, “I enjoy lives.” One of the events she described as memorable was the openworking with kids.” Lander Magazine • Fall 2011
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