15 Lenoir-Rhyne faculty members granted promotions, tenure

At its March 23 meeting, the Lenoir-Rhyne board of trustees approved tenure and promotions for 15 faculty members and conferred posthumous emeritus status to political science professor David Dreyer, Ph.D., who died unexpectedly in December 2022.

“These faculty members have demonstrated teaching excellence, are innovative teacher-scholars and have dedicated significant service to Lenoir-Rhyne. We are delighted to know they will continue sharing their talents with our students and the university community for years to come,” said Jennifer Burris, Ph.D., university provost.

Faculty members assemble a portfolio that goes through four stages of review and approval, starting with faculty representatives on a professional review committee. Upon recommendation from the faculty committee, the review proceeds to the university provost, then the president, with the board of trustees granting final approval. The following faculty members were granted promotions and tenure this year.

Tenure 

• Dan Grimm, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor 

• Jamie Conrad, DBA, Assistant Professor of Business, College of Business and Economics
• Astra Czerny, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling, College of Education and Human Services
• Jennifer Garbett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Laura Hope-Gill, MFA, Assistant Professor of Writing, College of Fine Arts and Communication
• Doug Knight, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Claire Pope, MFA, Assistant Professor of Art, College of Fine Arts and Communication 
• Paula Swindle, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling, College of Education and Human Services 
• Tabitha Toney, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Nursing, College of Health Sciences 
• Tom Turner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business and Economics 
• Lindsay Weitkamp, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theatre, College of Fine Arts and Communication 
• Carly York, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 

Promotion to Professor  

• Michael Deckard, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Tim Goldberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Scott Schaefer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Posthumous Emeritus

• David Dreyer, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Emeritus is a title of honor usually bestowed on retiring professors, and the board’s decision to confer the title on Dreyer reflects the respect he earned from the university as a teacher and researcher and from the Hickory community as a positive presence and newspaper columnist.

Burris said, “The emeritus distinction formally recognizes Dr. Dreyer’s scholarship and his commitment to bettering the world around him, whether through inspiring his students, supporting his colleagues or enlightening the community in his weekly news column. He remains a sorely missed part of LR and Hickory.”

Madeline Dassow ’75, chair of the board of trustees, offered her congratulations and gratitude to the faculty members for their ongoing service to the university.

“The board of trustees is pleased and honored to approve these promotions and tenures to our superior and well-qualified faculty. The time-honored tradition of providing the best for our LR students is exhibited by this group of outstanding faculty who continue to motivate and challenge each individual,” she said.