Hesston College welcomed new English faculty members to start the second eight weeks of the semester, while saying goodbye to a departing colleague.

The English faculty position was vacated by an instructor leaving for a new opportunity at Wichita State University.

Dr. Merle Schlabaugh of Newton, Kan., will teach Introduction to Film this fall and College Writing II in the spring. Schlabaugh has taught German, International Film and College Issues Colloquy at Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) since 1985. He will continue teaching at Bethel as well. He is a graduate of Hesston College, Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kan.), the University of Iowa (Iowa City) and the State University of New York – Stony Brook with a doctorate of arts.

Holly Nickel of Newton, Kan., will teach two sections of College Writing I this fall and English Literature in the spring. Nickel earned her B.A. from Bethel College, her M.A. in English Literature from Emporia (Kan.) State University, and all but her dissertation for a Ph.D. in English Literature from The University of California – Riverside. She has previously taught at the University of Redlands (Calif.), the University of California – Riverside and Tabor College. She is the current owner of Pages Books and Coffee in Newton.

Current Hesston College faculty member Rosie Jantz of Hesston will teach Basic Writing this fall while continuing her work in the ACCESS tutoring lab. Jantz is a Hesston College graduate and has her B.S. in Christian Ministry from Tabor College.

Vice President of Academics Sandra Zerger said, “We are thankful to have such quality replacements who will work toward educating and nurturing each student to become stewards of change in the church and world.”

Located 30 miles north of Wichita, Hesston College is the two-year liberal arts college of Mennonite Church USA.