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Five Clarion University faculty members retire

2008 faculty retirees from left – Bill English, Donna Poljanec, Saundra McKee, and Wade Lancaster

Five Clarion University faculty members were honored during a retirement reception in Moore Hall attended by President Joseph Grunenwald, other administrators, colleagues, and staff. Dr. Sandra McKee, Dr. Donna Poljanec, Dr. William English, Dr. Wade Lancaster, and Dr. Thomas Stuhldreher combined for 118 years of teaching for Clarion University.

Dr. Sandra McKee, professor of education, joined the Clarion University in 1987 as the department of education’s social studies expert. She had previously taught for 15 years at the high school level.

She earned her B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to teaching at Clarion University, she served as a student teacher supervisor.

Dr. Donna Poljanec, professor of education, joined the Clarion University faculty in 1980. A Clarion University graduate with a degree in elementary education, she was a developmental reading teacher, reading specialist, and department chair for public schools in Westminster, Md., Greensburg, and Rimersburg from 1972-80, earning her M.Ed. from Towson State University in and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

She worked at Clarion as an instructor and academic counselor in Student Support Services from 1980-97, served as interim director of the Student Support Services Program from 1996-99, and as a professor in the education department since 1999. She was education department chair from 1999-2002. She was instrumental in the development of a university-advising model that supported success of learners and advanced faculty advising skills, obtained an Eisenhower grant to establish Literacy Educators Assessing and Developing Early Reading Success (LEADERS), and most recently served as a consultant with the National Urban Alliance.

Dr. William English, associate professor of health and physical education, started his teaching/coaching career at Slippery Rock University in 1969 followed by six years of teaching in the Forest Area School District. He came to Clarion in 1972 as the men’s head track and cross country coach. He started and developed the women’s track and cross country programs and compiled a 72 percent winning percentage.

He earned his B.S. degree from Lock Haven University and M. Ed. from Slippery Rock University. He stepped down as a coach to pursue his Ph.D. degree at Penn State University, while continuing to teach full-time. He has served as the chair of the health and physical education department leading curriculum development. He serves in many community venues related to his profession.

Dr. Wade Lancaster, professor of marketing, has taught at Clarion University since 2003 and served as faculty advisor to the student chapter of the American Marketing Association. His B.B.A. degree was from Kent State University, M.B.A. from Texas Christian University, and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.

Prior to joining Clarion University, he taught at King Faud University of Petroleum and Minerals, University of Virginia, Hampton University, Wright State University, and University of Alabama. He was also a marketing analyst for the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center. His research interest was health care marketing and he is the author of the book, “Concepts in Advanced Nursing Practice: The Nurse as Change Agent.”

Dr. Thomas Stuhldreher, professor of marketing, joined Clarion University in 1979, teaching a wide variety of finance courses including courses in the MBA program. He received his B.A. in scholastic philosophy from Borromeo College of Ohio, M.A. in philosophy from Notre Dame, and M.B.A. and Ph.D. from Kent State University.

He was an active researcher. Most recently, he and his wife agreed to serve as case study experts for the USA Today’s case study on College Gambling.

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