WSC Awards Emeritus Status, Tenure to Five Faculty

Harry Heil, professor of art, and Martha Violett, professor and chair of the Department of Music, received emeritus status.

Those receiving tenure are: Alina Luna, assistant professor of English; John Wacker, assistant professor of music; and Karin Waidley, assistant professor of communication and theatre.

Harry Heil has served on the art faculty for 40 years. He taught courses in printmaking, photography, oil painting, watercolor and introduction to art. According to Al Caniff, art department chair, Heil also served on “virtually every committee on the college’s campus” and has been involved with the art programs in the Gunnison public school system.

Martha Violett joined the WSC music faculty in 1972 and became chair of the Department of Music in 1993. Among the courses she taught were piano, Madrigal singers and music history and research. During her tenure, Violett served on numerous college committees and the Faculty Senate. She also contributed her talents to the Gunnison Community Church and has volunteered in many capacities throughout the Gunnison Valley. Violett plans to remain active with the music program and teach piano in the fall.

Alina Luna has been an assistant professor of English at Western for five years. She serves as her department representative to Faculty Senate, is the faculty advisor for the Asian/Pacific Islander Club and the Native American Student Council, and is an advisory member for the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Honors Council. Luna also petitioned for and established the Alpha Xi Pi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society.

John Wacker, assistant professor of music, joined the WSC music faculty five years ago. In addition to his work in the classroom and in providing brass studio lessons, he conducts both the varsity band and the symphony band. Among his academic and professional activities are serving as the sponsor for the campus chapter of the Colorado Collegiate Music Educators National Conference, performing with the WSC Jazz Ensemble, presenting a trumpet master class at the University of Northern Colorado, serving at the state Music Educators Convention and working with the Annual All-Colorado Honor Band. On July 1, Wacker will assume the role of chair of the Department of Music.

Karin Waidley, assistant professor of communication and theatre, has been at Western for six years. In addition to serving as director and playwright for the theatre program, she helps facilitate student productions on social issues, such as suicide, alcohol abuse and sexual assault for campus programs, Gunnison Arts Center, Colorado Mid-West Mental Health Center, and Gunnison and Crested Butte schools.