Two long-time employees of the Physics Department are preparing to say goodbye after a combined 86 years of service to Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Dave Goss, professor of physics, and Beth Haring, staff assistant to the physics, mathematics and computer science departments, will retire this month.
Goss joined Nebraska Wesleyan’s faculty as an assistant professor of physics. He was promoted to associate professor in 1969, earned tenure in 1970, and has been professor of physics since 1975.
Goss served two separate years as interim chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He was division chair of natural sciences from 1986 to 1991. He was elected to numerous faculty committees and was involved in the original design of Olin Hall. He won the President’s Award for Creative Young Professor in 1969, and was an E. C. Ames Fellow in 1981. He also received a Citation of Merit from Southwestern University Alumni Association in 1994, and a Friend of Science Award at the 118th Annual Meeting of The Nebraska Academy of Sciences in 2008.
Goss consulted and served as a visiting scientist with the Superconducting Super Collider Project for several years starting in 1985. In this capacity, he reviewed potential collider sites and researched environmental impacts. He has also served as a curator of the Wycoff geological specimen collection and as radiation safety officer when needed. He has been a reviewer for scientific journals and a mentor for physics majors entering graduate school.
In addition to physics and geology, Goss has an interest in meteorology, and he enjoys singing in his church choir. After retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his family and continuing his own interests.
“Retirement is usually a mixed blessing. You look forward to it, but you will miss the daily routine and the people you are around everyday,” said Beth Haring, who joined Nebraska Wesleyan’s staff in 1970.
Haring has no intension of slowing down though. In addition to “doing a lot of dust bunny chasing,” she will complete her duties as state regent for the Nebraska Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C. in July. She also plans to continue her 35-year-old genealogy hobby and will continue learning more about deceased relatives as well as connecting with current relatives.
Haring said one of the best parts of her job was watching first year students enroll and then mature during their college careers.
“It has been gratifying to see them graduate and go on to have a good life,” said Haring. “And bring their children back to attend Wesleyan.”
Both Goss and Haring will be honored Monday, May 3 during a reception in Olin 120 (sandbox space) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A short program will be held at 4:30 p.m.