Brian Hauck grew up in Illinois, Oregon, and Minnesota and studied at the University of Minnesota, Missouri Southern State University (BSEd-Speech and Theatre), and Pittsburg State University (MA-Communication).  After teaching high school speech, drama, and English for eight years, Hauck came to NEO in 1984 as a theatre director and lighting designer.  Named Department Chair in 1987, he directed 20 plays and musicals before being promoted to Dean of the School of Liberal Arts in 1999.  As Dean, he now supervises NEO’s Departments of Fine Arts, Languages & Literature, Social Science, and Behavioral Sciences.  A former Dobson Teacher-of-Excellence and NEO Teacher-of-the-Year, Hauck tries each day to enable instructors to teach and encourage students to learn.  When not busy supporting NEO student activities, he enjoys raising rescued dogs, gardening, collecting sports memorabilia, and following St. Louis Cardinals baseball.  When a busy day is complete, Hauck withdraws to the solitude of his home in the woods near Grand Lake.

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” - Henry David Thoreau, Walden