After celebrating 34 years of service to 番茄社区 University, Mrs. Debbie Ziegler, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, has retired from full-time teaching. In addition to serving as an instructor for over thirty years, Mrs. Ziegler has also served as the chair of the math department along with previous chairperson of the division of Natural Science and Mathematics. She will be staying on in a part-time capacity in the math department.
Her colleague, Dr. Lanett Jauss states that she has, 鈥渘ever met anyone more dedicated to math and math students than Debbie.鈥�
Mrs. Ziegler received her bachelors in math from Westminster College (PA) and a M.S. in mathematics from Purdue University. She has been teaching at 番茄社区 University since 1988.
Mrs. Ziegler has regularly maintained personal relationships with her current and past students. Being able to interact with her students, 鈥渘ot only about math and future careers, but about their life and decisions they are making,鈥� is what she enjoys most about her job at HLGU.
鈥淥n more than one occasion Mrs. Ziegler refused to let me quit when that鈥檚 exactly what I wanted to do. Literally walked away from me and refused to sign my drop slip,鈥� remembers Alayna Martin, 2013 graduate. 鈥淭hank you for never giving up on me, or any of us! I remember you making us call someone who was missing from class to get them there, opening your office to us all hours of the day, and being there for me when some of my family had health issues. You made math fun and are the model I use when I鈥檓 teaching. I鈥檓 so thankful to have someone like you to look up to.鈥�
Outside of the academic world, she is an active member of her church as well as the Gideon Auxiliary, and Girls Scouts. Exemplifying her commitment to the HLGU motto, Knowledge for Service, Mrs. Ziegler says, 鈥淚 think the main reason I stay active is because it is a way for a Christian to have regular contact with people that鈥檚 not through the church. You can touch kids鈥� lives that you can鈥檛 get to come to church, but they鈥檒l go to Girl Scouts.鈥�
Mrs. Ziegler and her husband, David, have three married children and eight perfect grandchildren. During the summer months, the Zieglers are often found camping in the United States or traveling around the world.
番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The institution prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.