Written by Nemaha County Herald Thursday, 12 November 2009 20:35
It’s been more than 10 years since Peru State Faculty members had a place they could congregate and share ideas about teaching and life. But, with the effort of long-time faculty member Bill Snyder, the professors now have a place of their own.Snyder of Auburn is a full-time professor at the college where he teaches economics and advanced marketing classes. He said it is important that the faculty had a private place to gather.
“Faculty really need to meet, have a place to drink a cup of coffee and share ideas,” Snyder said.The faculty center is in the upper level of the college’s new library. The room is where the former athletic coaches offices used to be.Snyder added that Todd Drew, vice president of academic affairs, as well as other committee members were also instrumental in getting a faculty center established on campus.And, for his efforts to make a faculty center a reality, a faculty lecture series has been named in honor. Once a month faculty members are gathering in the center to learn about each other and learn about other subjects than the ones they teach. The series is named, “The Bill Snyder Faculty Discussion Series, Growing Ideas.”Bill Clemente, an English professor at PSC, wrote about the honor given to Snyder on his blog recently. “The tribute honors a great friend of mine, so I am deliciously pleased to recognize him here. Congratulations, Bill.”The first lecture was held earlier this fall with a presentation given by Dan Holtz and Sara Crook on their Tales and Trails summer sessions. Snyder, a Pawnee City native, gave a presentation last month about the current economic crises and what the future might hold. He said he is optimistic about the future of the United States’ economy. He said his fellow professors, ranging from historians to sociologists to psychologists all brought insight to the topic, which Snyder said made for an interesting conversation.A lecture coming up in February is something Snyder is really looking forward to, he said. Biology professor Mike Barger will share with the other faculty members his passion for cooking.The whole purpose of the series, Snyder said, is to get to know each other, especially those outside of each other’s specific education field.“We have a tendency to cluster in your own group,” Snyder said. “We didn’t have a larger area to make that kind of interchange and this allows for larger campus to come together in that setting.”Snyder has been instructing undergraduate students at the college for more than 30 years. He obtains three degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – a B.A., M.D. and an Educational Doctorate.His career at PSC began in 1970 but he left in 1973 to return teaching high school students. He returned to PSC in 1979. Snyder’s official teaching career began in Johnson, where he taught social science. It was during that time that the Brock school merged with Johnson to become Johnson-Brock Schools. He would eventually serve as principal of that school for a period of time. Following his years at J-B, Snyder returned to PSC to serve as president of the college’s foundation, but would then return to Johnson to teach again. He finally returned to PSC in 1979 as a professor. While at Peru, Snyder has served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and as Interim President. In 1993 he returned to a career of full-time teaching.Teaching is a passion of Snyder’s and he still enjoys being in the classroom, especially these past few years.“I have second generation kids and that’s really fun. I can tease them about how I know your dad,” Snyder said.Retirement from teaching is something Snyder is thinking about but doesn’t know exactly when that day will come. “I don’t want to stay too long. I don’t want to be that old guy,” Snyder said. “Hopefully I can be smart and quit while I still have a good game.”When he is not teaching, Snyder works as an Auburn City Councilman. He is currently serving in his third term on the council, which will expire next year. He said he doesn’t think he will seek re-election.“Three terms is enough. We need new blood,” Snyder said. He jokingly added, if nominated to run for mayor of this city, he will not do that either.
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