Hastings College officials announced the names of new faculty and administrative staff for the 2007-08 academic year. The college’s 125th year begins, Monday, Aug. 27.

                                                                 Faculty
 Daniel Laing has been appointed assistant professor of music and director of bands. He previously was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Missouri, School of Music, Columbia, where he conducted various musical ensembles, supervised student teachers and taught techniques of conducting. He also was drill writer, arranger and rehearsal assistant for the 270-member Marching Mizzou.

 Laing received a bachelor of music education degree at the University of Mississippi, University; a master of music degree in trumpet performance at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; and a doctor of philosophy in music education and conducting at the University of Missouri.

 Barbara Sunderman has been hired as an assistant professor of teacher education. For the past 15 years, she taught fourth and fifth grades at Longfellow Elementary School in Hastings. Since 2001, Sunderman was an adjunct instructor in education at Doane College, Crete, Neb.

 Sunderman completed a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at Doane College. In 2002, she was named Doane College Alumni Educator of the Year.

 Vicki Valentine has been appointed assistant professor of teacher education. Since 1983, she taught business, computer technology and careers at Sandy Creek High School, Fairfield, Neb.

 Valentine completed a bachelor of arts degree in business education, a master’s degree in educational administration, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She is pursing a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 Benjamin Waller has been appointed for one year as visiting instructor of English. He previously taught writing and introduction to English at the University of Oregon, Eugene. Waller’s areas of interest include: medieval literature and culture, Anglo-Saxon language and literature, church history, myth, and composition.

 Waller completed a bachelor of arts degree in linguistics at the University of California, Davis; and a master’s degree in English at California State University, Sacramento. He is pursuing a doctoral degree in English with an emphasis in medieval literature at the University of Oregon.

 Susan Franklin has been named assistant professor of library science and public services librarian. She previously was adjunct instructor of English and interlibrary loan assistant.

 Franklin graduated from Hastings College with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She received a master’s degree in English from Texas A&M University, College Station, and completed a master’s degree in library science at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

 Lynn Cox has a one-year appointment as visiting instructor of art. A freelance graphic artist, he previously was a drawing instructor at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.  He also developed and maintained a computer consulting, graphic design and screen printing business. Cox has had numerous solo art exhibits and participated in juried exhibitions.

 Cox completed a bachelor of arts degree in studio art at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, and a second bachelor of arts degree in drawing, painting and graphics at The Ohio University, Columbus. He completed a master of arts degree in painting at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

                                                              Staff
 Dan Peters has been named registrar of the college. For the past four years, Peters worked for the Hastings College Foundation as director of alumni development.

 Peters received a bachelor of arts degree in media production with an emphasis in broadcast journalism at Hastings College. Following graduation, he worked in New York City on projects for: WNBC-TV, E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, and CBS News, including working with Dan Rather on the Evening News.

 Elizabeth “Beth” Littrell is health services director. Since 1995, she was employed at the Hastings Regional Center as a Nurse II, MPH. For 18 years, she worked in various capacities at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.

 Littrell completed a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and nursing at Hastings College, and completed a master of arts degree in counseling psychology with a focus on human growth and development at Vermont College, Montpelier. She holds a dual Nebraska licensure as a registered nurse and licensed mental health practitioner.

 Matt Fong has been named assistant director of alumni development for the Hastings College Foundation. He will coordinate the fall and spring phonathons, work with the senior gift program and assist with other projects and alumni special events.

 Fong previously was conference seminar coordinator for the National Arbor Day Foundation in Lincoln, Neb.

 A graduate of Hastings College, Fong holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and media production.

 Peter Theoharis has been hired as director of publications and sports information coordinator for the Office of Marketing and Communications. For the past six years, he taught social studies at Hastings Senior High School where he developed and instituted the Freshmen Mentoring Program. He was head softball coach for four years. 

 Theoharis was a sports writer at the Hastings Tribune, the Winona (Minn.) Daily
News and the LaCrosse (Wis.) Tribune.  Theoharis completed a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/news-editorial at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and completed a master of arts in teaching degree at Hastings College.

 Lloyd McIntyre, residence director of Altman Hall, previously was a public safety officer at the college.

 McIntyre completed a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a coaching minor at Hastings College, and is working toward a Master of Arts in teaching degree.

 Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to 1,110 students. The college was cited among top liberal arts colleges, national bachelor’s category, in U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges 2007, was listed as a Best Midwestern College and a Best Value College by The Princeton Review, and was sited as a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. The college is celebrating its 125th anniversary during the
2007-08 academic year.
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