The new faculty members you see on campus this spring enrich our institution and elevate the learning experience of our students. Hardin-Simmons University welcomes 2 new faculty members to the Forty Acres family this semester:

Rick Hammer, assistant professor of biology, was previously a laboratory instructor at Texas A&M University where he is a doctoral candidate in botany. He's held a number of teaching assistant positions within the university and was awarded the Frank W. Gould Award for Graduate Research Support in Plant Systematics for the years 2006, 2007, and 2008. He is a member of the Texas Trailing Phlox Working Group, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Association of Southeastern Biologists, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Natural Areas Association, Sigma XI, and has published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Endocrinology.

Hammer completed his Bachelor of Business Arts in accountancy and information systems at the University of Texas - Permian Basin, and his Master of Science in forest science at Texas A&M.

Dr. Carol Knight Layton, professor of educational studies, comes to HSU from Texas Tech University where she was associate professor and co-director of the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research and program director for educational diagnosticians. She was also the program chair of special education and has been program director for educational diagnosticians. Other positions include adjunct assistant professor (1999); lecturer, College of Education, Texas Tech University (1994-1995); lecturer, College of Educations, Wayland Baptist University (1995-1996); Consultant, Southeast Lubbock County Special Education Cooperative (1996); Consultant, Braille Literacy Mentors in training Project (1994-1996); Adult Braille Literacy Empowerment Project, American Foundation for the Blind (1994); and numerous other teaching, consulting and diagnostic positions.

Publications include over 23 articles in professional journals and her book, Assessing Students with Special Needs to Produce Quality Outcomes, was published in 2008. She has eight state certifications, seven professional certifications, is a member of 17 professional associations, and participated in over 14 special projects and development activity. She was recognized on eight occasions with awards for excellence, and presented over 66 workshops and in-service presentations.

Dr. Layton received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education at Hardin-Simmons University, her Master of Education in counseling and guidance at Texas Woman's University, and her Doctor of Education in special education at Texas Tech University. Additional course-work include post graduate studies at Texas Woman's University and language certification at the Spanish Language Institute , San Jose, Costa Rica.