Countdown to retirement: Retiring faculty share plans
Nine Coastal Carolina University faculty members are retiring this year after giving years of service to the University community. Here, several of them share some of their plans and what they’re most looking forward to.
John Beard, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
John Beard joined the Department of English faculty in 1988 and spent most of his academic career in the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, balancing a traditional academic career with an increasing array of administrative duties. In the fall of 2002, he accepted an appointment as associate dean and later served two terms as interim dean. For the past six years, Beard has served as associate provost for assessment and accreditation in the Office of the Provost. In this position, he has been responsible for supervising all curriculum development from its origin to final approval. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.
Jeanne Cobb, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Cobb is professor of literacy and director of the Chanticleer Center for Literacy Education in the Spadoni College of Education. During her 34-year career in education, she has been an elementary school teacher, reading curriculum specialist, Title I teacher, university professor and reading clinic director. Cobb is a co-author of a textbook and a children’s book and has published more than 35 articles and book chapters. She was instrumental in the design of CCU’s Master of Education in Learning and Teaching Literacy program. Cobb earned a doctorate in literacy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She joined the CCU faculty in 2006.
"I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my 4-year old grandson and my 6-month-old grandson in Texas. I also plan to continue the volunteer work I have been doing with teachers in Guatemala. I hope to continue writing and possibly to work on the second edition of my textbook. I will have more time for my hobbies, one of which is Navajo weaving, and I will be going to the Navajo reservation in August for an advanced weaving class."
Elizabeth Keller, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Keller, professor of art, is known for her narrative ceramic sculptures and whimsical teapots. During her 22 years at CCU, Keller’s work has been seen in more than 90 exhibitions, including 37 national juried exhibitions, and has won more than 30 awards. Her teaching career has focused on preparing students in 3D design and ceramics. Keller holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts in anthropology and Furman University in fine arts. She earned an MFA in ceramics from Clemson University. Additionally, she has studied Christian and Jewish theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of Judaism. She is also known for her collection of more than 80 bonsai trees.
"At the beginning of this spring semester, I suffered a significant spinal complication requiring long-term medical leave. As a result, I began an unwanted and unexpected jumpstart on my retirement while I dealt with a spine issue requiring upcoming surgery. Needless to say, such a 'life-changer' has forced me to re-examine many 'life issues' on a much faster time track than I anticipated. Already, I have had to make many adjustments on my artwork habits because my new physical limitations have forced me to pare down my options so quickly.
"My evolving 'pragmatic self' still expects to continue making art because this is simply who I am. But, now, my future kiln will be smaller - and shorter! My sculptural work will also become smaller and easier to lift. My ridiculously large bonsai tree collection will become more condensed and selective. And lifting those big, heavy penjing forest trays will require me to wear a back brace all the time. In other words, I have every anticipation that my retirement will allow me to continue to do the things I love – just a little slower, a little more carefully, and just a little more wisely. At least I hope so; if only becoming so habitually pragmatic were not such a hard task! But, of course, I expect that the antics of my 'motley crew,' four little rescue dogs, will keep me laughing as I move forward through this new phase of my journey, one day at a time."
Paul A. Olsen, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Olsen created the graphic design and photography programs in Coastal Carolina’s Department of Visual Arts. For 25 years, he was the faculty adviser to the award-winning student literary/art publication Archarios. He co-established the Ashes2Art program, a digital reconstruction project of ancient Greek monuments that received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. A Vietnam veteran who served three years in the U.S. Army, Olsen, with retiring history professor Ken Townsend, was embedded in Afghanistan for two weeks in 2007 with a S.C. National Guard unit as a photo-documentary researcher. He also served on the original steering committee of the Myrtle Beach Marathon. Olsen earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Miami.
Linda J. Palm, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Palm joined the Coastal Carolina Department of Psychology in 1992. Her research focus is on psychosocial correlates of academic achievement and the evaluation of learning technologies. She served as faculty adviser of CCU’s chapter of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, and coordinated the Behavior Therapy Internship program in which student interns have provided more than 7,000 hours of therapeutic services to children diagnosed with autism. She earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Rollins College, a master’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of South Florida.
Joan F. Piroch, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Piroch served as chair of the Department of Psychology and Sociology for 21 years. Born in Butler, Pa., she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Slippery Rock University, a master’s degree in psychology from Western Washington University and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Southern Florida. Piroch joined the Coastal Carolina faculty in 1982. For two years, she was interim dean of the College of Science. As a professor for the senior research course required for psychology majors, Piroch has supervised research for nearly 1,400 students.
"I intend to spend more time with family members and friends. In addition to many friends in this area, some of whom I don’t get to see often, I have friends all over the country from coast to coast, and I have standing invitations to visit those folks. So I will certainly do that.
"Also I have 10 siblings, none of whom live in or near South Carolina, so I plan to spend more time with my brothers and sisters, and their family members, and also with my mom who is 94. I’ve got a couple years’ worth of projects at home to work on, and I also plan to 'play tourist' and spend time at the beach, visiting local tourist attractions, trying new restaurants, and taking some day and weekend trips to areas in our state and bordering states."
Eldred E. “Wink” Prince Jr., Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Prince began his career as an instructor in Coastal Carolina’s Department of History in 1987 and rose to become full professor, chair of the department, and director of the Waccamaw Center for Cultural and Historical Studies. In addition to many essays and reviews, Prince is the author of Long Green: The Rise and Fall of Tobacco in South Carolina (2000), which won the George C. Rogers Award for the Best Book of South Carolina History, and The Great Harvest: Remembering Tobacco in the Pee Dee (2012). He also wrote many entries in the South Carolina Encyclopedia (2006). He earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Nelljean Rice, Dean and Emeritus Professor
Rice is the first dean of University College, which was established in 2010 to assist first-year undeclared students successfully transitioning from high school. Rice joined the Coastal Carolina Department of English faculty in 1987 and was instrumental in starting the minor in women’s and gender studies. In 2006, she was redirected from teaching to work full-time to develop CCU’s First-Year Experience program, which she directed for three years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Beloit College, a master’s degree in English from Eastern Washington State University, an MFA from the University of Arkansas and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
"I look forward to continuing to teach a few classes for my home department of English (distance learning), spending more time with my adult children and my growing grandchildren, writing, gardening, traveling, hanging out with friends, exercising and doing crafts – not necessarily in that order. I also hope to be able to attend many arts and sports events at Coastal."
Kenneth Townsend, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Townsend, professor of history, joined the CCU faculty in 1989 after 15 years as a middle school social studies teacher. His general area of expertise is the social, cultural and military history of the United States after World War II; his secondary area of scholarly interest is Native American cultures and history. He is the author of "World War II and the American Indian" (2000), "South Carolina" (2008) and "First Americans: A History of Native Peoples" (2012). He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Townsend has served as a consultant for the Horry County school district, and he contributed to the PBS production Way of the Warrior.
"I will continue working on the second edition of my textbook 'First Americans: A History of Native People' and complete that project in 2017. I also plan to finish my monograph on the American home front in World War II and, perhaps, write historical fiction for children. I intend to play golf more frequently than I do now, travel across the United States and visit some places overseas. I expect, too, to spend much time with the grandchildren--I have eight grandkids ranging in age from 3 to 21."
Nicholas Twigg, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Twigg, professor of management, joined the CCU faculty in 2006. He edited the Coastal Business Journal, and he has represented the University by serving on the education committee of the Grand Strand chapter of SCORE and on the board of directors of the Waccamaw Regional Transit Authority. He earned a doctorate of business administration from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University. Prior to his academic career, Twigg served in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear program, including extended tours on the U.S.S. Nimitz and U.S.S. Enterprise. He also facilitated the introduction of total quality management concepts at high-energy physics research facilities such as the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Brookhaven Laboratory.
