Academic accolades

Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., left, and vice president for academic affairs David R. Finley, Ph.D., right present associate professor Wes Garner with a framed certificate declaring his rank of professor emeritus.

Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., left, and vice president for academic affairs David R. Finley, Ph.D., right, present associate professor Jane Mitchell with a framed certificate declaring her rank of professor emeritus.

Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., left, and vice president for academic affairs David R. Finley, Ph.D., right, present associate professor Dave Wagner with a framed certificate declaring his rank of professor emeritus.

 

Retiring faculty receive professor emeritus rank at Trine

 

ANGOLA, Ind. — Trine University honored three retiring professors this week. Associate professors Wesley I. Garner, David Wagner and Jane Mitchell all received the distinction of being named professor emeritus.

 

Garner is an award-winning professor who has taught for the Franks School of Education for eleven years. He was appointed as an assistant professor in 2000, and was then promoted to associate professor in 2004. Professor Garner’s special areas of interest include multicultural education, education law and foundations of education. 

 

“Perhaps his greatest contribution to Trine University and the Franks School of Education is how his presence positively addresses issues of gender diversity and racial diversity,” said David Finley, Ph.D., Trine’s vice president for academic affairs. “The importance of his ability to help young men and women who have not experienced diversity, to become familiar with new concepts and embrace them, cannot be understated.”

 

Wagner has taught at Trine since 1997, serving has director of the Angola Evening Program since 2006. He has been a dedicated teacher, advisor and coach since coming to the university, and as a result, has received multiple awards. While serving as director, he graduated more than 250 students and planned, developed and implemented the industrial technology program for School of Professional Studies. Wagner’s community accomplishments have included serving as the campus coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, serving as a member of the American Welding Association and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

 

“In recognition of the outstanding commitment to his students, and the contributions to this university, we are pleased to honor David Wagner with the rank of professor emeritus,” Finley said.

 

Mitchell has received multiple awards at secondary education and collegiate levels. She has taught in the Ketner School of Business and SPS for more than 32 years. She began work in September 1974 as a full-time instructor, chair and academic advisor of the secretarial science program.

 

After being promoted to an assistant professor of business, Mitchell served as the co-chair of the Tri-State University Centennial Events Committee. She also served on numerous faculty committees. She was promoted, again, in 1988 to associate professor of business. In 1988 and 1989, she developed and taught evening and continuing education courses. Mitchell served as the director of placement from 1993-2000 and was the Fort Wayne campus director from 2005-2011, where she advised and graduated over 400 students in the School of Professional Studies.

 

“Jane Mitchell has been an asset to this university for her contributions in and out of the classroom,” Finley said. “She has helped bring more opportunities for women to campus, as well as being tremendously committed to her students.”