by Heather Fourman "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. ..ifit is serving,let him serve ... — Romans 12:6a,7a On May 2,1997,Dr.Daniel E. Wetzel, surrounded on the chapel platform by his wife Phyllis and other members of hisfamily,told the audience of applaudingfacultyandstudents that being honored as Faculty Memberofthe Yearwasavery special momentin his life,one that ranked high on his list of other special days like when Christcameintohislifeorwhen his wifetold him,"Ido." Later, Dr. Wetzel said, "I was surprised and humbled to be chosen by the students to receive this award; it's always a thrill to be honored by those you serve.That was truly a special day I'll remember for the rest ofmy days." Dr. Wetzel, who has served as chairman of the science and mathematics department for eight years, first came to Cedarville in 1963 when there were only about 500 students enrolled at the college. At that time, all the science classes were in Collins Hall. Dr. Wetzel said, "We taughtphysicson thetopfloor, chemistry on the first, and biology wasin the basement,and five of us professors shared what is now Dr. Murdoch's office." In 1973, the science department moved from its tightquarterstothe newlyconstructed Science Center which was later expanded to the Engineering, Nursing, Science Centerin 1990.Dr.Wetzelwas instrumentalinplanningforthe college to add an engineering program and in planning for the college to construct the ENS, serving as chairman of the Engineering Feasibility Committee in 1987-88 and serving aschairmanoftheENS Building Task Team in 198889.. The science and mathFaculty Member ofthe Year Dr.Daniel Wetzel ematicsdepartmentiscurrently the largest academic department at the college, and Dr. Wetzel desires to serve each of the professors in the department and maintain a relationship of accountability with them. He said,"I want to be a good servant — to my family, to studentsandfaculty. Iknow that I have the gift ofservice... I don't see myself as a 'boss.' Some people introduce me to others as their 'boss,' butI see myself as more of their colleague. We are all workers together." Dr. Wetzel said that one of his greatest responsibilities as chairman is to help provide the meansfor the professors in the department to accomplish their goals. Each year, Dr. Wetzel writes out goalshe wantsto achievein the next year:scholarly and teaching activities,andservicegoals related to the college,thecommunity,and his church,Grace BaptistinCedarville.Heshares his list of goalswith all th professors in the departmen and also keeps a list of thei goals for the year. At the en ofthe year,Dr. Wetzel and all the science and math professorsevaluateeachotheronhow well they each achieved their goals.Dr.Wetzel said,"Ithink the professors in the department really appreciate this accountability system....It also promotes a real sense ofcamaraderie. There is such diversity in this department because we all have such different interests, whether it be physics, biology, math, chemistry. Yet we all are able to work so well together." Dr. Wetzel graduatedfrom Morehead State College in 1955 and earned his masters in nuclear engineering from the University ofCincinnatiin 1963.In 1971,heearned his doctorate in physics from Ohio State University. Before 148 acadvniai
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=