Bluffton University has seen the arrival of nine new staff members, including three graduate assistants in athletics, since the end of the 2009-10 academic year in May.

. Kevin Nickel will become Bluffton's vice president for fiscal affairs on Sept. 1. He succeeds Willis Sommer, who is retiring Aug. 31 after 16 years in the position and 31 years of service to the university overall. Nickel came to Bluffton in mid-July to begin the transition.

Since 2006, he has been the director of finance/controller at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting, with a minor in economics, from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and his master of business administration (MBA) degree from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.

. Rae Staton is joining Bluffton as a full-time counselor. The Ohio Northern University graduate is a Licensed Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience, most recently at the Lima office of Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio. She specializes in crisis and emergency incidents.

. Anje Anglin started work in the admissions office in June as application processing coordinator and administrative assistant. She came to Bluffton from Manchester College in Indiana, where she was employed in the student financial services office.

. Hassan Mosoka is serving as a graduate assistant in the campus ministries program. Also a student in Bluffton's graduate programs in business, he is a youth volunteer coordinator for the Mennonite Church of Tanzania.

. Craig Smith II is an assistant football coach. Previously an assistant at John Carroll University and St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., he holds a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science from Bridgewater (Va.) College.

. Rick Nussbaum, assistant men's and women's soccer coach since 2005, is now interim head coach of the two teams. He has a MBA from Bluffton, along with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Goshen (Ind.) College.

Graduate-assistant appointees in athletics are:
. In softball, Brooke Babcock, who completed a standout career on the diamond for Bluffton last spring and graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

. In men's soccer, Jason Cunningham, who graduated from Cedarville University in 2009 with bachelor's degrees in exercise science and sport management.

. In baseball, Aaron Hutchison, who earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Otterbein College in 2008 and is now pursuing a MBA at Bluffton.

Also new to campus is Caitlin Keelor, a Bowling Green State University graduate student who will serve as Ropp Hall director and an assistant in student activities during a two-year internship toward her master's degree in student affairs.