Morningside College recently announced eight new faculty members.

The new faculty members are Shannon De Clute, assistant professor of psychology; Tony Hutchins, visiting instructor of music and director of instrumental jazz and low brass; Kenton Jones, visiting instructor of theatre; Anthony Kern, associate professor and chair of biology and chemistry; Jessica Pleuss, assistant professor of psychology; Celia Stevenson, visiting assistant professor of education; Linda Waugh, visiting instructor of education; and Wilson Wise, visiting assistant professor of music and director of bands.

De Clute joins the faculty after serving as an instructor at The University of Akron in Ohio. She also has clinical experience, most recently assisting a forensic psychologist with evaluation of clients for court-related matters including custody issues and court-ordered psychological examinations. De Clute will graduate in December with a doctorate in counseling psychology from The University of Akron.

Hutchins comes to Morningside after serving as an instructor of trombone/euphonium at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla. He has been a member of and soloed with ensembles such as the United States Air Force Band, and he has experience as an arranger and a composer. Hutchins is a doctoral candidate in trombone performance at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

Jones comes to Morningside after serving as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, supervising theatre set construction and instructing undergraduates in basic scenic painting techniques. Jones also has experience as an actor, writer, producer and director. He has a Master of Fine Arts in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University.

Kern joins the faculty after serving 10 years on the faculty of Northland College in Ashland, Wis. During his time at Northland, he served as president of the Northland College Faculty Council, and he received a faculty merit award for outstanding research and scholarship. Kern has a doctorate in plant genetics from Montana State University in Bozeman.

Pleuss joins the faculty after serving as a teaching specialist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She also has research and consulting experience in the field of early care and education. Pleuss has a doctorate in child psychology from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development.

Stevenson comes to Morningside after over 30 years of teaching at the elementary and middle school levels. Most recently she taught math a West Monona Middle School in Onawa, Iowa. She also has experience working with high school and college students. Stevenson has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Doane College in Crete, Neb.

Waugh comes to Morningside after 40 years as a teacher or school administrator. In 1987, she was recognized as an “outstanding teacher” in the Iowa Teacher of the Year program. More recently, she was an elementary principal for the Sioux City Community School District for 14 years and the district’s director of elementary education and K-12 curriculum for two years. She has master’s degrees in special education and school administration from Iowa State University in Ames.

Wise comes to Morningside after serving as a graduate conducting associate at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He has experience working with college concert bands, marching bands and pep bands. He also has experience as a high school band director. Wise is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in wind band conducting at the University of Oklahoma.