2005 Commencement Honors Mark, McBride; Bids Farewell to Five

Tri-State University’s 121^st commencement ceremonies, set for Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in Hershey Hall, will honor two men with honorary degrees, Dr. Hans Mark and Mr. John McBride, and bid farewell to five retiring faculty, including James A. Zimmerman (History), Albert A. Guilford (Civil Engineering), Pete Hippensteel (Environmental Science), Sushil Kumar (Civil Engineering) and Ronald E. Scheffer (History).

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hans Mark and our friend, Mr. John McBride, to this year’s Commencement,” stated TSU President Earl D. Brooks II. “Dr. Mark’s career is exemplary, and we hope his career and his commencement address inspire our graduates to achieve greatness in their lives.

“We also are happy to honor our friend, co-worker and alumnus John McBride, whose long-time service to the community and the university is well-deserving of an honorary doctorate.”

TSU will bestow the title of professor emeritus upon the five retiring faculty.

“It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to retiring faculty,” stated President Brooks, “but we plan to make this a memorable occasion by honoring our five retirees this year with the status of professors emeriti. Each and every one will be missed, and we wish them well in their retirement.”

Honorary Degree Recipients

Hans Mark – Doctorate in Engineering

A member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Mark specializes in the study of spacecraft and aircraft design, hypervelocity projectiles and impact, and national defense policy. In February 1969 he became director of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. He served at NASA 12 years, and was deputy director of the agency when the Columbia shuttle first launched in 1981. As deputy administrator, he oversaw the first 14 space shuttle flights. In 1977, he was appointed Undersecretary of the Air Force and Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. Two years later he was promoted to Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, where he initiated the U.S. Air Force Space Command (now the U.S. Space Command).

From June 1998 to March 2001, he served in the Pentagon as director of Defense Research and Engineering and was the principal technical and scientific adviser to the Secretary of Defense, with responsibilities in the areas of nuclear weapons, ballistic missile defense and the chemical and biological defense program.

He served as chancellor of the University of Texas System from 1984 to 1992, and has been a professor at UT since 1988. He previously taught at Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford University. He has published more than 180 technical reports and authored or edited eight books.

Mr. John C. McBride ’48 – Doctorate in Business Administration

John C. McBride received his bachelor of science in business administration from Tri-State in 1948. For the past 28 years he has served the University well, having held several administrative positions, including director of community relations (1994-present), director of university relations and alumni activities (1981-1985) and director of alumni activities (1977-1985). In these positions, he has been active in recruitment and ongoing relations with current and former board members. His work has included recognizing prospective board members and providing support to new trustees. He also acts as the University historian, helping researchers on and off campus with the University's archives and historical preservation. In his fund-raising efforts, John was instrumental for the success of the 1998 capital campaign, which raised $22 million. He also is actively engaged in the 2000-2007 capital campaign which, to date, has raised more than $40 million toward the $70 million goal.

Since 1948 John also has been the unofficial ambassador between the city of Angola and Tri-State University. He has been pivotal in maintaining positive and productive relationships and connections between the community and TSU throughout his professional career, which includes programs
director, Steuben County Probation Department (1989-1992); Mayor, City of Angola (1966-1975); member, Angola City Council (1964-1966); and owner and operator of McBride Cleaners (1940-1976).

A veteran of World War II, his tour of duty included Kyushy, Japan; Manila Bay; and the Philippines. His past and present professional experience and memberships include the Angola Rotary Club (president); Angola Masonic Lodge (master of lodge); Angola Order of Eastern Star (past patron); Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Fort Wayne; Mizpah Shrine Temple, Fort Wayne; American Legion Angola Post No. 31; and member, Fremont Methodist Church.

 

Professors Emeriti

Albert A. Guilford

Associate professor Albert A. Guilford is a Tri-State alumnus (CE ’54) who has served as chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering since 1996. After graduation he worked for Babcock and Wilcox as a structural engineer before joining the Tri-State faculty in 1957 as an instructor. He obtained his master’s degree in civil engineering in 1960 and was promoted to assistant professor. He took a leave of absence from Tri-State from 1962 to 1967, during which time he completed additional graduate level education. He returned to Tri-State in 1967 and has been a faculty member continuously ever since. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977.

One of the university’s most loved and highly regarded educators, professor Guilford literally has devoted his entire adult life to this University and its students. He loves his students and his students love him—over the years he has touched the lives of thousands of engineering graduates. No matter how busy he may be, he also always makes the students his first priority. He never closes his door as a sign to students not to disturb him, and students know that he cares enough for them to always be there when they need his counsel. While he has received numerous teaching awards during his more than 40-year career, his greatest reward is the way in which he is esteemed and loved by the many students whose lives he has shaped with his caring approach to teaching. Indeed, he epitomizes all that is entailed in a teacher who really loves what he is doing.

Pete Hippensteel

Professor Pete Hippensteel has served on the faculty of Tri-State University since 1967 and has been a valuable asset to the science department and the University. At Tri-State Hippensteel’s list of accomplishments is almost unsurpassed in his breadth of knowledge and willingness to contribute to the University. In addition to being an excellent teacher, he has done everything from coaching to directing the regional science fair to serving on almost every committee.

However, Hippensteel not only has made an impact on the University, but also has made tremendous contributions to the community and to the state of Indiana in his role as an environmental advocate and consultant. His reputation as an environmentalist and water quality expert is known throughout the region. He has been chairman of the Indiana Soil Conservation Board since 1977 and has served the Steuben County Lakes Council in leadership roles since 1973. He also has published several papers and has made many presentations at professional meetings regarding water quality.

A multifaceted individual, Hippensteel has been a leader and driving force for excellence in all that he does, giving freely of his time and his many talents.

Sushil Kumar

A member of the teaching staff at Tri-State University continuously since 1981 when he was hired as an assistant professor, Sushil Kumar was promoted to associate professor in 1983 and to professor in 1991. He is registered as a professional engineer in the state of Indiana, and an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society. Highly regarded as a teacher and educator, Professor Kumar was the recipient of the McKetta-Smith Excellence in Teaching Award in 1991 and 1995.

He has committed many years of his professional engineering career to Tri-State University and the education of its students. He often has been called upon to teach courses outside his specific area of expertise/interest, and has always responded professionally and positively, proceeding to prepare himself to do the best possible job teaching the material. His greatest love has been teaching the water resources/hydraulics courses at the University, and he has remarkable impact on students in these courses.

Ronald E. Scheffer

A faculty member at Tri-State University since 1967, associate professor Ronald E. Scheffer has contributed greatly to the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Sciences, as well as to the University as a whole. During his 38 years with the University, he served as faculty president and as a member of almost every committee available at Tri-State. He has been an academic adviser to the social science majors and a mentor and supporter of student activities throughout his tenure at Tri-State.

Scheffer also has served his community well as a member of the Tri-State speaker service, through which he has addressed many local agencies, and as a member of the Indiana Historical Association and the Indiana Academy of Social Sciences. His accomplishments as a teacher are also outstanding and exemplary in excellence. His awards and teaching honors include the Robert Andrew and Ann Ewing Smith Excellence in Teaching award and the Charles Barrenbrugge Award for Faculty Excellence.

Scheffer also has been the recipient of three Lilly grants during his professorship at Tri-State, with the most notable for internationalizing the history curriculum in the late 1990s. This grant allowed him to participate in the International Faculty Development Seminar in Germany in 1997.

James A. Zimmerman

A veteran of the United States Army and a faculty member at Tri-State University since 1973, James A. Zimmerman is a professor of arts and sciences who has been an invaluable asset to the TSU Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Sciences, as well as to the University. He has worn many hats during his tenure at TSU. Administratively, he has served as chair of the Social Sciences Department, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, vice president for Academic Affairs, and interim President.

While serving in faculty and administrative positions, Zimmerman has consistently nurtured his students though mentoring and advising. An academic adviser to social science education and history majors, he has supported students as adviser to the International Students Association and Circle K. He also has served his community well as a member of ACRES, the Literacy Coalition, and Angola Kiwanis, where he has served as past president. He also has served on the Board of the Indiana Academy of Social Sciences, the Indiana Consortium of International Programs and the Indiana Council for History Education.

It is his teaching for which Dr. Zimmerman will be most remembered. TSU students past and present have regarded him as an exceptional teacher with superior insight into subject matter. He has set a standard for excellence in teaching that provides a model for educators at Tri-State. The awards and honors he has received include the Gerald Moore Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Jannen Renaissance Scholar Award, and the Engine Room Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tri-State University. He also has been nominated by TSU students for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American College Teachers.