Saint Anselm College welcomed 14 new faculty members at the beginning of this school year. The Nursing department hired Saint Anselm College alums, Joann Condon and Michelle Moreau, as clinical faculty members.

Assistant professors that were hired include Saint Anselm College alum Carrie MacLeod (Nursing), Jason Hedetniemi (Mathematics), Matthew Hurley (Chemistry), Duncan LaBay (Economics and Business), Michael New (English), Liana Pennington (Criminal Justice), Gilberto Ruiz (Theology), Diana Sherman (Education), and Stephan Unger (Economics and Business).

Additional faculty members that have joined the faculty are Anne Thenin as an instructor in the Modern Languages department, Josh Dannin as a Studio Technician and Lecturer in the Fine Arts department, and Terri Greene Henning as a clinical coordinator in Education.

To highlight one of the new professors, a Crier reporter conducted a one-on-one interview with assistant professor, Michael New of the English Department. He explained that he grew up in Northern Ohio and that he chose to work at Saint Anselm College because it was such a unique community setting and that intrigued him.

“I love how close knit the community here is and how engaged the students are in their education,” shared Professor New.

Before coming to Saint Anselm College to teach, he attended University of Rochester for his undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Art History. Then, he went on to attend Pennsylvania State University for his master’s degree and Ph.D. in English.

He used to teach freshmen-level English classes at Pennsylvania State, and for the next three years taught a series of English courses at Keene State College, including African American literature and music.

According to Professor New, his proudest moment as a teacher has been when students contact him after they finish college to discuss their success and how things are going for them, or when students mention something he said or taught them that has helped them with their real life experiences.

He revealed that he has more hobbies than just his love for literature and fine arts; he can also play the guitar, the bass, and the keyboard, and loves to travel. Two places he has been are West Africa and Central America.

A few classes he plans on either continuing to teach or will be teaching here at Saint Anselm College are 19th and 20th century American literature, African literature, and African American poetry.