Keystone Fall 2017 Keystone Fall 2017 | Page 20

ASUMH ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR ANNIE NOBLIN HAS SECOND NOVEL PUBLISHED Annie Noblin recently had her second novel, Just Fine with Caroline, published by William Morrow Paperbacks for HarperCollins Publishers. Also the author of Sit! Stay! Speak!, Noblin’s second book is a tender, terrific novel complete with long-buried secrets, a three-legged pot belly pig, and an irresistible dog. It has been called “an unforgettable story about love, friendship, and community,” by the publisher. Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She grad uated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University. Known for her love of all four-legged creatures, she spends her free time working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs. “an unforgettable story about love, friendship, and community...” DAVID BENDLER ARTS & SCIENCES INSTRUCTOR KEYSTONE FACULTY Q&A DIVERSITY COMMITTEE The ASUMH Diversity Committee attended the Collabora- tive Diversity Conference held by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity at Missouri State University for the second year in a row. The conference “seeks to provide information and resources through a review of best practices and approaches that promote the value of diversity and inclusion.” 2017 BEST IN SHOW (Landscape/ Nature Category) by Debbie Moore of Viola, AR 12 th ANNUAL DIGITAL PHOTO CONTEST This year’s contest marked some exciting changes with both digital entries and a new interactive traveling exhibition and online photo gallery. See this year’s exhibit online at mtnhomedigitalphotocontestshow.businesscatalyst.com. Over $900 in prize money was awarded at the June, 15 winners reception. Congratulations to all winners and participants. Enter next year’s contest in April 2018. 20 What path led you to ASUMH? again! Both firings were tough to manage, but my wife was VERY supportive. We decided to move to Arkansas and ended up in Mountain Home, where I began teaching for Gainesville High School. Much prayer was involved in this journey! I was working as an adjunct BEFORE ASUMH came into existence! At the time North Arkansas Community College was the accrediting umbrella for us here in Mountain Home. I was working full-time at Gainesville High School and in the evenings for the college. What advice would you give someone looking for their path? Choose something that you might really enjoy, then you will never work again! This “job” is not work to me because I’m really having fun being with the students, touching their lives in a small way so that they would be improved and/or encour- aged, and I work with people that I enjoy working with. Who helped you along your path in a significant way? My wife was very supportive in the change from high school teaching to college since I needed to go back and get another master’s degree - this time with math so I could teach at the college full-time. The year before I received my master’s degree, the college started hiring full-time teachers and I was the second full-time math instructor hired in 1993, which was before we joined the ASU System. Your dream for a future path you might take? My next “path” will be retirement. I would be now, but things just aren’t ready to retire yet! I get lots of time off - summer, Christmas and other shorter times, so vacations can easily fit in! Was your path traditional or non-traditional? Getting into the teach- What is your motto while walking your path in life? My motto ing profession was very non-traditional. I was an electrical engineer for 6.5 years and was fired. I decided to go back to school and get a master’s degree and teach- ing certificate and was teaching in a private school for one semester and was fired basically is WWJD - that way I can look anyone in the eye at the end of the day and not be ashamed. 21