HLG names Pelletier
vp for academic affairs

Hannibal – David J. Pelletier of Hannibal has been appointed vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) at Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG). Pelletier will supervise all academic departments, faculty, library and career services as well as oversee the academic calendar, course scheduling, catalog, and maintain all institution accreditations. 

Pelletier earned a master of divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Penn., in 1965, and a master of religious education (1975) and Ph.D. (1980) from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

Pelletier has served at Hannibal-LaGrange College for the past 22 years, 14 of those years in the academic affairs office. Prior to his new position, Pelletier served as the associate dean of academic affairs as well as professor of Christian education at HLG.

The special selection committee consisting of HLG faculty and staff spent five months reviewing applications and interviewing several candidates. In a campus-wide email, Woodrow Burt, HLG president, thanked the committee for  their work.

“Dr. Pelletier brings a wealth of experience to this office, along with some wonderful ideas for taking HLG to the next level.”

Pelletier anticipates more articulation agreements with technical and two-year education institutions and has already begun to position HLG in readiness for revisits by three accrediting agencies between 2009 and 2014.

“HLG has a faculty that is able to move forward in these areas; my work will involve challenging, leading, organizing, and assisting them in these endeavors,” Pelletier said.

SBU student selected
for advanced training

BOLIVAR—Southwest Baptist University (SBU) student Collin Christensen has been selected as one of 18 students from across the United States to attend the Advanced Statistical Training in Psychology (ASTP) at the University of Maryland July 12-20.

Christensen, a junior psychology major from Wagoner, Okla., was selected from a pool of 60 qualified students. Applicants had to submit two recommendations, which Christensen obtained from Shelley Kilpatrick, SBU associate professor of psychology, and Chris Dinwiddie, SBU instructor of psychology. He also had to submit an official transcript and application. Applicants must be college students who will be seniors during the 2008-2009 academic year, have firm plans to attend a graduate program in psychology after college, and plan to pursue careers in research.

The ASTP program is designed to help undergraduates who plan to pursue advanced degrees in psychological research.

Baumgardner named HLG financial aid director

Hannibal – Brice Baumgardner recently accepted the position of director of financial aid at Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG). Baumgardner graduated from HLG in December 2001, with a communication arts degree. He has been employed by HLG since 2003, serving as both an admissions representative and the associate director of admissions.

“In his new role as the director of financial aid Brice will continue to work with students by assisting them to make the Hannibal-LaGrange experience possible,” said Ray Carty, vice president for enrollment management at HLG.  “Brice is committed to helping students succeed.”

Baumgardner is married to Cara and has a newborn son named Bennett. The family resides in Hannibal.