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Eight faculty members at St. Olaf are awarded tenure, promotions by board of regents

By Nancy J. Ashmore
May 22, 2002

The St. Olaf College Board of Regents has granted tenure to two members of the faculty and approved promotions for them and six others, according to James L. Pence, provost and dean of the college.

Jill Dietz, assistant professor of mathematics, and Kris Thalhammer, assistant professor of political science, were awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of associate professor, effective Sept. 1.

Dietz, who joined the faculty in 1996, earned a B.A. in mathematics at Brandeis University and a Ph.D. at Northwestern University and did post-doctoral work at the University of Washington. Her academic specialties include algebra and algebraic topology. Prior to coming to St. Olaf, she taught at the University of Washington and at Gettysburg College.

Before her full-time appointment as assistant professor, Thalhammer served as a visiting instructor in political science at St. Olaf and at Carleton College. A graduate of the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. Her specialties include comparative politics, Latin American politics and political analysis. Previously she served as a communications manager at Unisys Corp. and a media specialist at the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Six other members of the faculty were promoted from associate professor to full professor: Judy Kutulas, history; Steve Soderlind, economics; Gordon Marino, philosophy; Rita Glazebrook, nursing; Amy Kolan, physics; and Mark Schelske, education.

St. Olaf College, a national leader among liberal arts institutions, prepares students to become responsible citizens of the world, fostering the development of mind, body and spirit. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college is recognized as one of the nation's best values in higher education, providing personalized instruction and diverse learning environments. More than two-thirds of its students participate in international studies.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.