Nathaniel Hart was among the early faculty at the University of Minnesota Morris, joining the English faculty in 1961, a year after the school was founded. Hart remained at UMN Morris until his retirement in 2001. In addition to teaching numerous courses within the English discipline he also served in many administrative capacities, including Chair of the Division of Humanities during the 1980s, a critical time of budget cuts and retrenchment.

William Peterfi was one of the early faculty at the University of Minnesota Morris, teaching at the institution from 1965-1991. A dissident and former political prisoner, Peterfi fled Hungary during the failed 1956 Revolution. His teaching and scholarship was international relations, foreign policy and comparative government. Peterfi was instrumental in the early development of the political science curriculum at UMN Morris, introducing new courses in international relations, foreign policy and comparative government.

Liselotte “Lisa” Gumpel was an Associate Professor of German from 1968-1997. When Gumpel was hired she was one of a handful of women faculty members at UMN Morris. In addition to teaching, Gumpel’s interest in language and linguistics informed her research endeavors. She published two books, was honored with awards, participated in conferences, and gave lectures around the world. Lisa enjoyed teaching and writing, and her students were motivated by her enthusiastic embrace of life and work.

William Donald Spring was a longtime English professor at UMN Morris and was one of the 13 original faculty members. Spring came to UMN Morris in 1960 as a lecturer in English and chair of the Division of Humanities. He played an especially important leadership role on campus; he founded the writing room, was a long-time chair of the Humanities Division and was a mainstay on many UMN Morris committees. Spring retired from UMN Morris in 1996.

James (Jim) Olson was one of the “Morris 13” and the first campus hire in chemistry. Originally hired in 1959 to teach at the West Central School of Agriculture, Olson went on to serve the UMN Morris for over 40 years and played a significant leadership role in the growth and development of the Division of Science and Mathematics. His record of division leadership is unsurpassed, and, in fact, Olson chaired the Science and Math Division for at least a few years in each of the first four decades of UMN Morris history.

Stephen (Steve) Granger was one of the most important administrators in the initial few decades of UMN Morris history. The first hire of Rodney Briggs, Granger went on to direct student counseling as well as serve as Briggs’ assistant under a number of different titles: Assistant to the Dean, Assistant Provost, and ultimately Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. As Briggs’ right hand man, Granger played a variety of different roles.

Herbert Croom was one of the original staff members at UMN Morris. He was a teacher and principal at the West Central School of Agriculture and with the establishment of UMN Morris in 1960 he played an essential role in the transition of the campus from an agricultural high school to an undergraduate liberal arts institution. He was the Director of Student Services at the University of Minnesota Morris and the Director of Placement and Alumni at UMN Morris until his death in 1973.

Bruce Allen Nord was one of the founding faculty in 1960 at UMN Morris. He served as a Sociology and Anthropology professor and was actively involved in bringing an international focus to the curriculum and expanding study abroad opportunities for students.

George (Doc) Fosgate was an early faculty member in Speech and Theatre at UMN Morris and played a vital role in shaping theatre on campus. Besides teaching courses in theatre and stagecraft, he also wrote, directed and acted. During his more than thirty years at Morris, he stood out as a staunch advocate of UMN Morris athletics, played a leading role in the design of the HFA Building, and helped launch a successful summer theatre program.

Ralph Williams was one of the 13 original faculty members at UMN Morris. He was the campus’s first choral director and was responsible for creating the original band, orchestra, and choir for the campus. Besides founding the music groups on campus, Williams also composed the UMM Hymn and Fight Song. He retired in 1978.