Interim vice president, dean selected at CSC

Stan Carpenter, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, announced to CSC employees this week that he asked the two women to serve as interims. He said both will do an excellent job during the transition.

Veath, who first arrived at CSC as a teacher in 1980, became the interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in 2002 when the school was created by merging the School of Liberal Arts and School of Math and Science. She was hired on a permanent basis the following year.

Veath’s primary teaching focus at CSC was physics, but she has spearheaded numerous special activities both within and outside of her discipline.

The new interim vice president was chairwoman of the Science Department for 10 years, director of the Science and Math Learning Center 14 years, director of the CSC planetarium 19 years and serves as director of Expanding Your Horizons, a program for young women. She was one of the pioneers of online and distance education at CSC and her efforts earned her the Nebraska State College System’s Teaching Excellence Award in 1993.

Veath earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of California at Riverside in 1969. She was a research associate at the University of California at San Diego Medical School for 10 years before her family moved to Chadron. She earned a doctorate from the University of Wyoming in 1988.

She said she is looking forward to working with Chadron State’s newly hired president, Dr. Janie Park, who will begin in August.

“With a new president coming to Chadron State, this is a very exciting time,” Veath said. “I love new challenges and am excited to be part of this transition. Dr. Tom Krepel has done a great job getting the college’s strategic plan, Vision 2011, off the ground and Dr. Janie Park will continue that effort and will bring many fresh ideas of her own.”

Bahr has taught at Chadron State since 1994 where her primary courses have been English literature, composition and ethics.

In 2000, she and an art faculty member created a project in which students interviewed and wrote essays about World War II veterans in the region. The finished product is a framed display that has been shown in Washington, D.C., and throughout western Nebraska.

Bahr holds a doctorate from the University of Georgia, which she obtained in 1998. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Georgia in 1971 and a master’s degree from Valdosta State in 1977. Prior to earning the doctorate, she was employed by Westat Corp., a survey research company, for four years.

“I’ve always enjoyed teaching and have not anticipated a role in upper college administration but I’m eager to help the college during this transition,” Bahr said. “Although I’m sure this will be a positive experience, I look forward to returning to the classroom after someone is hired.”

The vice president position became vacant when Dr. Joyce Hardy announced her resignation from that capacity in May after seven years. She plans to return to teaching at CSC.