FCS professor retires
Dr. Norma Nealeigh, Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, has announced her retirement. She arrived at Chadron State College in the fall of 1994. She served as the Applied Sciences department chair for 11 of the last 19 years, president of the CSC Faculty Senate in 2004-2005 and secretary from 1997-2003. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses, and was the CSC commencement speaker for graduate ceremonies in May 2011.
Among the awards she received while at CSC are the “Creativity in Teaching” award from the National Wellness Institute in 2009 and the Nebraska Association of Family and Consumer Sciences award in 2005 for the “Senior Partners Project” in her Aging and Death class. More than 1,000 Chadron State students have been involved in this community outreach service-learning project over the years.
John and Goldie Mitchell were one elderly Chadron couple involved in the program and said they enjoyed getting to know their bright and articulate student partners, many who kept in touch for years after the class project concluded. Their time together was often over meals or spent in engaging and memorable conversations.
Nealeigh said, “I have been so fortunate to have worked with the best Family and Consumer Sciences faculty! Also, our cohorts in the Applied Sciences Department, Ag/Range and Industrial Tech have always been professional and collegial. Amazing camaraderie. I have great appreciation for the entire campus—the hard work and dedication of so many! Great colleagues!”
She added that choosing Family and Consumer Sciences Education as her major years ago was one of the smartest choices she ever made. She said, "It has garnered me lifelong friends, and allowed me to do the work I love—and get paid for it! My parting advice for CSC faculty and staff is to eat your veggies!”
After May commencement, she plans to move to Arizona. Nealeigh said, she doesn’t know what the future holds, but if it is anything like her years at CSC, she knows it will be challenging and fulfilling.
Category: Campus News, Employee Awards & Achievements, Family and Consumer Sciences