Campus News
FACULTY/STAFF News Professor of Biology Dr. Paul Bartelt recently received a grant from the Iowa DNR to begin studying Tiger salamanders inhabiting restored wetlands in Winnebago County, Iowa. This fall Tim Bascom, director of creative writing, published the essay “Bicentennial Pie” in an anthology from the University of Nebraska Press, Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie: Midwestern Writers on Food, which led to readings at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City and Beaverdale Books in Des Moines. Bascom also published an essay titled “My Mystical Body” in the spring issue of The Briar Cliff Review and a poem titled “Illumination” in the winter issue of Ilanot. Michael Farndale, associate professor of physics and mathematics, presented a demonstration entitled, “Boyle’s Law using a Vernier Pressure Sensor” to the Iowa Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers in November at the RAMS Center in Oelwein, Iowa. Dr. Eric Franco, assistant professor of education, was recently named Senior Fellow at the Kosovo Policy Center, and serves as a board member for the Iowa Sister States Kosovo Committee. He also presented multiple times in March about the Balkans. Mason Harms, Waldorf’s chief financial officer, serves as president of Forest City Entertainment, LLC, the group responsible for re-opening the Forest Theatre. Forest City Entertainment received the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Forest City Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held February 24, 2014.
Library Director Elizabeth Kiscaden is featured in the March edition of Computers in Libraries with her article, “Utilizing Prezi as an Instruction Tool.” Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Julia Maier has a paper appearing in a forthcoming issue of Psychology of Popular Media Culture: “Media influences on self-stigma of seeking psychological services: The importance of media portrayals and person perception.” Nancy Olson ’75, director of institutional relations, received the Merit Award at the Forest City Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held February 24, 2014 for her vision and tireless efforts in organizing a community “Dancing with the Stars” event to benefit Rotary and local organizations. Associate Professor of Music Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor has performed numerous times including at the Taiwan Institute for Senior Citizens at Rice University. She’ll also be performing at the 15th Annual Minneapolis/ St. Paul Mu Phi Epsilon Chapter’s Schools Benefit Concert this April. Dr. Kyle Torke, visiting associate professor in English, read his essay “Sunshine Falls” at the Luise V. Hanson Library in February as part of the Waldorf Faculty and Visiting Writer’s series. The essay appears in Sunshine Falls, a collection of essays published by Bondfire Books, and clips from the reading can be found on YouTube.
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Dr. David S. Sollish, assistant professor of theatre, represented Waldorf as a guest artist and recruiter at the Mosaic Invitational in Detroit, Detroit School of the Arts, Marine City High School, and University of Detroit-Mercy High School in October. In January, Sollish represented Waldorf at the Missouri Thespian Festival as a recruiter and workshop leader. He also took eight nominated students to the Kennedy Center/American Collegiate Theatre Festival where he led two well-attended workshops and was featured in the region’s Faculty Acting Showcase. He will also have an article in the upcoming issue of Theatre Journal.
Former FACULTY/STAFF News Alfred “Al” Disrud, former administrative assistant to the president and director of development at Waldorf from 1957-1966, died November 30, 2013 in Waverly, Iowa. Following his work at Waldorf, Al became the vice president for development at Wartburg College in Waverly and then went on to work for CUNA Mutual Insurance Company Trustee of Mutual Funds for 17 years before retiring in 2004. Al was a longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly where he served on church council. He also served on the board of directors for the Waverly Chamber of Commerce, Waverly Rotary Club, Bremwood Childrens’ Home, Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community and Waverly Municipal Hospital Foundation. In his spare time, Al enjoyed writing, reading, traveling and fishing. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Ruth Bergan Disrud ’44, two sons, and a sister. Mildred Hyland Drentlaw ’38 died November 21, 2013. Mildred met her husband, Irwin Hyland ’38 at Waldorf and married him in 1940 in the college chapel. They were blessed with six children. After Irwin finished Luther Theological Seminary in 1944, Mildred journeyed with him to pastorates in