Faculty

2019-2020 Full-time Faculty:

Mary Beth Ahlum (1985)
Professor of Psychology
B.S., 1978, Denison University; M.S., 1981, Ph.D., 1983, Pennsylvania State University.

Cody L. Arenz (1999)
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., 1993, Oklahoma State University; Ph.D., 1998, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Pamela A. Arnold-Johnson (2007)
Associate Professor of Chemistry 
B.S., 1995, College of William and Mary; Ph.D., 2001, Cornell University.

Lucienne D. Auz (2018)
Assistant Professor of Art History
B.A., 2004, Gonzaga University; M.S., 2006, Pratt Institute; Ph.D., 2014, University of Washington, Seattle

Boyd Bacon (1988)
Assistant Professor of Music
B.M.E., 1970, M.M., 1972, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kelly Bauer (2015)
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., 2008, Carthage College; M.A., 2010, Ph.D., 2015, George Washington University.

Maria Becker (2019)
Assistant Professor of Physics
B.S., 2010, M.S., 2013, Ph.D., 2016, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dale M. Benham (1989)
Professor of Biology
A.S., 1978, South Plains College; B.S., 1980, M.S., 1982, Angelo State University; Ph.D., 1989, Northern Arizona University.

Catalina Betancourt (2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Math
B.A., 2008; Connecticut College, M.S., 2014; Ph.D., 2018, University of Iowa

Melisa M. Borchardt (2000)
Professor of Social Work
B.S., 1992, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.S.W., 1997, University of Denver.

Kevin P. Bower (2005)
Associate Professor of History
B.S., 1996, University of Evansville; M.A., 1999, Ph.D., 2003, University of Cincinnati.

Jeri L. Brandt (1990)
Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 1974, University of Iowa; M.S.N., 1978, University of Nebraska College of Nursing; Ph.D., 1988, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Simon Brett (2017)
Assistant Professor of Theatre
2011, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, UK; B.F.A., 2016, Syracuse University.

Jerald S. Bricker (2003)
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., 1986, Western Michigan University; M.S., 1988, Ph.D., 1993, Arizona State University.

Beth Burbach (2019)
Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of Traditional BSN Program
B.S.N., 1983, D'Youville College; M.S.N., 1989, University of Rochester; Ph.D., 2013, University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Juan Jose Castano-Marquez (2019)
Assistant Professor of Digital Media
B.A., 2013, Universidad Catolica de Oriente; M.F.A., 2018, The University of Kansas.

Kara A. Cavel (2010)
Associate Professor of Social Work
B.S.W., 1999, Creighton University; M.S.W., 2002, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Gina Chambers (2013)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S., 1997, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.Ed., 2004, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jay Scott Chipman (1994)
Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts
A.A., 1974, Mid-Plains Community College-Nebraska; B.S., 1977, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.A., 1987, Louisiana State University; Ph.D., 1997, University of Pittsburg.

Kelly Clancy (2015)
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., 2002, M.A., 2004, Ph.D., 2015, Rutgers University.

Nathaniel Cunningham (2010)
Associate Professor of Physics
B.S., 1999, University of Notre Dame; Ph.D., 2006, University of Colorado.

Rick Cypert (1987)
Professor of English
B.S., 1981, McMurry College; M.A., 1983, Iowa State University; Ph.D., 1987, Texas Christian University.

Rebecca Czaja-Stevens (2018)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.S.,2002, University of Nebraska-Kearney; M.S.W., 2006, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Carey Deeds (2016)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
A.A., 1996, New Mexico Military Institute; B.S., 2011, M.S.N., 2013, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences.

Ellen B. Dubas (1984)
Associate Professor of Anthropology
B.A., 1970, M.A., 1975, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Ph.D., 1990, University of Michigan.

Jennifer Eilts (2019)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
R.N., 2002, Bryan School of Nursing; B.S.N., 2004, M.S.N., 2015, Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Melissa C. Erdmann (2001)
Professor of Mathematics
B.A., 1996, Luther College; M.S., 1998, Ph.D., 2001, Colorado State University.

Randy Ernst (2016)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., 1983, M.A., 2007, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ed.D., 2014, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nathanael L. P. Fackler (1998)
Professor of Chemistry
B.A., 1990, Valparaiso University; Ph.D., 1995, Northwestern University.

Robert W. Fairchild (1975)
Professor of Physics
B.S., 1971, Rensselaer-Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D., 1975, Cornell University; M.S., 1993, Colorado State University.

Molly Fitzke (2012)
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 2005, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.S.N., 2008, Ed.D., 2009, College of St. Mary.

Elizabeth Freeman (2019)
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.S., 2011, Austin Peay State University; M.A., 2013, Ph.D., 2015, East Tennessee State University.

Jo Ann M. Fuess (1990)
Professor of Modern Languages
B.A., 1983, University of Delaware; M.A., 1985, Purdue University; Ph.D., 1992, University of Nebraska Lincoln.

L. Sue Gabriel (2014)
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 1971, University of Nebraska Medical Center; M.F.S., 2003, M.S.N., 2005, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ed.D., 2008, College of St. Mary.

Gary Gerald (2009)
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., 2001, M.S., 2003, Middle Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2008, Miami University.

Meg Gifford (2019)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.A., 2000, M.A., 2003, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Joan Gettert Gilbreth (2000)
Professor of Sociology
B.S., 1985, Southwest Texas State University; M.S., 1994, Ph.D., 2000, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Stephen Goldeck (2017)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
B.M., 2010, M.M., 2014, Rowan University; D.M.A., 2017, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

David R. Gracie (2004)
Associate Professor of Art
B.F.A., 2000, University of Hartford; M.F.A., 2004, Northwestern University.

Linda K. Hardy (2004)
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 2001, M.S.N., 2003, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 2011, University of Northern Colorado.

Patricia A. Hawk (1997)
Associate Professor of Communication
B.A., 1985, Chadron State College; M.A., 1995, Doane College Lincoln; Ph.D., 2007, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Patrick M. Hayden-Roy (1989)
Professor of History
B.A., 1981, University of Southern California; M.A., 1983, Ph.D., 1988, Stanford University.

Rachel Hayes (2017)
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.A., 2002, Southern Methodist University; M.A., 2006, Ph.D., 2017, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Julie Heaton (2015)
Assistant Professor of Theatre
B.A., 2001, University of Utah; M.F.A., 2004, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

C. Gerise Herndon (1993)
Professor of English
B.A., 1985, Drury College; M.A., 1990, Ph.D., 1993, University of Texas at Austin.

Mary Hickman (2015)
Artist in Residence
B.A., 2003, Boise State University; M.F.A., 2006, M.A., 2012, University of Iowa.

Wendy Hind (2019)
Visiting Associate Professor of Political Science
B.A., 1990, Miami University, OH; J.D., 1996, Ph.D., 2010, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jana J. Holzmeier (1999)
Professor of Music
B.M.E., 1985, Truman State University; M.M., 1988, Indiana University; D.M.A., 2003, University of Texas at Austin.

David L. Iaquinta (1990)
Professor of Sociology
B.A., 1972, M.S., 1976, M.S., 1977, Ph.D., 1982, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jeffrey A. Isaacson (2000)
Professor of Biology
B.S., 1983, Nebraska Wesleyan University; D.V.M., 1987, Kansas State University; Ph.D., 1996, Iowa State University.

Thomas A. Jackman (1991)
Professor of Business Administration
B.S., 1984, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.B.A., 1986, DePaul University; Ph.D., 2011, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jason Jamerson (2019)
Assistant Professor of Scenic Design
B.A., 2005, Longwood University; M.F.A., 2019, The University of Arizona.

Karla K. Jensen (2000)
Professor of Communication
B.A., 1988, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 1991, Ph.D., 1994, University of Kansas.

Toni Jensen (2014)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.S.W., 2003, Dana College; M.S.W., M.P.A., 2007, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Larry E. Jones (1976)
Professor of Music
B.M., 1973, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.M., 1975, Yale University; D.M.A., 1990, University of Colorado.

Ryan Kathman (2017)
Assistant Professor of Theatre
B.A., 2003, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.F.A., 2010, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Sarah A. Kelen (1999)
Professor of English
B.A., 1990, University of California-Berkeley; M.A., 1991, M.Phil., 1993, Ph.D., 1996, Columbia University.

Viktor Khanzhyn (2017)
Assistant Professor of Economics
B.F.A., 2004, M.F.A., 2005, Petro Mohyla Mykolayiv State University; M.A., 2007, Ph.D., 2012, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Joan M. Korte (1999)
Associate Professor of Theatre
B.F.A., 1990, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.F.A., 1994, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Myung K. Lee (2019)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance
B.S., 1973, Seoul National University; M.S., 1975, Korea Advance Institute of Science; Ph.D., 1982 Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

Rita M. Lester (1998)
Professor of Religion
B.A., 1989, Graceland College; M.T.S., 1991, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; Ph.D., 1997, Northwestern University and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Charlotte Liggett (2014)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 1974, Goshen College; M.S.N., 1980, Wayne State University; M.B.A., 1991, Bowling Green State University.

Dana Livingston (2017)
Visiting Professor of Modern Languages
B.A.C., 1986, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 1989, Ph.D., 1995, University of Colorado.

Tamra Llewellyn (2013)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S., 2006, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.S., 2009, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Ph.D., 2013, University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Lisa A. Lockman (1990)
Professor of Art
B.A., 1985, Indiana University; M.F.A., 1988, Indiana State University.

Cynthia J. Marolf (1990)
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., 1986, M.S., 1988, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Tanya Martin (2016)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., 1994, M.S., 1999, 2003, Ed.D., 2011, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Sandra K. Mathews (1996)
Professor of History
B.A., 1986, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.A., 1988, Ph.D., 1998, University of New Mexico.

Sandra J. McBride (1991)
Assistant Professor of English
B.A., 1984, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.A., 1991, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Laurence L. McClain (1993)
Professor of English
B.A., 1984, M.A., 1986, Ph.D., 1993, University of Texas at Austin.

Therese M. McGinn (2007)
Associate Professor of Biology 
B.S., 1990, University of Minnesota; Ph.D., 2002, University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Angela McKinney (1998)
Professor of Biology
B.A., 1989, Taylor University; M.S., 1991, Ph.D., 1996, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Diane Mickey (2018)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., 1981, M.Ed., 1986, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Sara Jane Miles (2006)
Associate Professor of French
B.A., 1993, University of Oregon; M.A., 1996, Ph.D., 2005, University of Virginia.

Jeanette Milius (2017)
Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.S., 1983, Peru State College; M.B.A., 2007, Ph.D., 2017, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abigail A. Mitchell (2007)
Associate Professor of Psychology
B.A., 2001, Kenyon College; M.S., 2004, Ph.D., 2007, Northwestern University.

Austin Mohr (2013)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.S., 2007, M.S., 2008, Southern Illinois University; Ph.D., 2013, University of South Carolina.

Jeffrey A. Mohr (2002)
Associate Professor of Social Work
B.A., 1980, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.S.W., 1983, University of Kansas.

Sara Moore (2018)
Visiting Instructor of Criminal Justice
B.A., 2004, Concordia University Irvine; M.A., 2009, Concordia University Chicago

Catherine E. Nelson (1997)
Professor of Spanish
B.A., 1993, Texas Christian University; M.A., 1994, New York University in Spain; Ph.D., 2000, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Chad Nichols (2019)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S., 2007, Brigham Young University; M.S., 2011, University of Utah.

John L. Parkhurst (1999)
Professor of Theatre Arts
A.B., 1969, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.A., 1983, Southwest Missouri State University; M.F.A., 1988, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Deitra Payne (2019)
Associate Professor of Business
B.A., University of the District of Columbia; M.A., 1998, Bowie State University; Ph.D., 2005, Capella University.

James E. Perry (1987)
Associate Professor of Sociology
B.A., 1979, J.D., 1982, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Marilyn S. Petro (2006)
Associate Professor of Psychology
B.S., 1975, Ohio State University; M.A., 1978, Ph.D., 1980, Miami University-Ohio.

Patricia Dotson Pettit (1980)
Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S., 1977, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; M.P.E., 1978, Ph.D., 1989, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kristin A. Pfabe (2000)
Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science
B.A., 1987, Concordia College; M.S., 1990, Ph.D., 1995, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Rachel M. Pokora (1996)
Professor of Communication
B.A., 1990, Michigan State University; M.A., 1993, Ph.D., 1996, Purdue University.

Adrianne Prokupek-Pickett (2010)
Associate Professor of Forensic Science and Biology
B.S., 2002, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 2008, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jonathan D. Redding (2017)
Visiting Assistant Professor
B.A., 2009, Wingate University; M.Div., 2012, Wake Forest University School of Divinity; Ph.D., 2017, Vanderbilt University.

Rita A. Ricaurte (1989)
Professor of Spanish
B.A., 1975, M.A., 1977, Kansas State University; Ph.D., 1998, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Ray Romero (2017)
Assistant Professor of Business
B.S., 1990, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.B.A., 1996, City University of Seattle, Washington; Ed.D., 2017, Creighton University.

Pinar Runnalls (2019)
Assistant Professor of Marketing
B.A., 2010, M.S., 2012, Goodman School of Business; Ph.D., 2017, Eli Broad College of Business.

Jodi M. Ryter (2003)
Professor of Chemistry
B.S, 1990, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 1997, University of Colorado.

James R. Schaffer (1990)
Professor of English
B.A., 1971, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 1972, University of Virginia; Certification in Journalism, 1983, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Ph.D., 1990, University of Virginia.

Justin J. Skirry (2006)
Associate Professor of Philosophy
B.A., 1991, M.A., 1998, San Francisco State; Ph.D., 2003, Purdue University.

Nathaniel C. Smith (2019)
Visiting Associate Professor of Political Science
B.A., 2010, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 2015, Kansas State University; M.A., 2017, Michigan State University.

Amy Spears (2014)
Assistant Professor of Music
B.M.E., 2003, Auburn University; M.M., 2007, University of Alabama; Ph.D., 2014, Arizona State University.

John D. Spilker (2011)
Associate Professor of Music
B.A., 2004, Brigham Young University; M.M., 2006, Ph.D., 2010, Florida State University.

P. Scott Stanfield (1989)
Professor of English
B.A., 1976, Grinnell College; M.A., 1978, Ph.D., 1984, Northwestern University.

Mark Stutz (2011)
Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.S., 1991, Lock Haven University; M.S.Ed., 1999, University of Kansas; Ph.D., 2003, Kansas State University.

Christopher L. Swift (2001)
Associate Professor of Business Administration
B.S., 1987, M.B.A., 1994, Ph.D., 2009, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Tami Thompson (2015)
Assistant Professor of Business
B.S., 1987, Iowa State University; M.B.A., 2000, Bellevue University; Ph.D., 2010, Capella University.

Brad Tice (2009)
Associate Professor of English
B.A., 2001, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; M.A., 2004, University of Colorado-Boulder; Ph.D., 2009, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Betsy Tonniges (2019)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., 2006, M.Ed. 2008, Doane University; Ph.D., 2011, University of Nebraska, Omaha.

David A. Treichel (1994)
Professor of Chemistry 
B.A., 1987, Carleton College; M.S., 1988, Ph.D., 1993, Northwestern University.

Rebecca Wagner Voight (1989)
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 1974; M.S.N., 1979, University of Nebraska College of Nursing; Ph.D., 2012, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Vickie Wenzl (2016)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
R.N., 1987, Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing; B.S.N, 2009, Clarkson College; M.S.N., 2011, University of Nebraska Medical Center-Lincoln.

Mark T. Werth (1993)
Professor of Chemistry
A.S., 1979, Alpena Community College-Michigan; B.S., 1981, Michigan State University; Ph.D., 1989, Iowa State University.

David F. Whitt (1991)
Professor of Communication
B.S., 1989, Wayne State College; M.A., 1991, Ph.D., 2002, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Katharine Whyrick (2012)
Instructor of Spanish
B.A., 1998, M.A., 2000, Colorado State University.

Lisa Atwood Wilkinson (2002)
Professor of Philosophy
B.A., 1987, M.A., 1994, M.A., 2000, Ph.D., 2002, University of South Florida.

Steven M. Wills (2010)
Associate Professor of History
B.A., 1997, University of Puget Sound; M.A., 2004, Ph.D., 2010, Columbia University.

Antwan Wilson (2018)
Visiting Distinguished Professor of Education
B.S., 1995, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.A., 2000, Friends University

Samantha J. Wilson (2016)
Visiting Instructor of Health and Human Services
B.A., 2011, Buena Vista University; M.S., 2013, North Dakota State University.

Meghan K. Winchell (2004)
Associate Professor of History
B.A., 1994, State University of New York at Geneseo; M.A., 1998, Ph.D., 2003, University of Arizona.

Katherine J. Wolfe (2000)
Professor of English
B.A., 1990, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 1994, Texas Christian University.

Susan Wortmann (2009)
Associate Professor of Sociology
B.S., 1996, Wayne State College; M.A., 1999, Ph.D., 2003, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Yuko Yamada (1993)
Assistant Professor of Japanese
B.F.A., 1980, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.Ed., 1996, Doane College; Ph.D., 2001, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

( ) denotes year of original appointment

2019-20 Officers of the Faculty - Faculty Council

Patricia Hawk
Faculty President

Susan Wortmann
President-Elect

Tamra Llewellyn
Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Lisa Wilkinson
Vice President for Undergraduate Curriculum

Nathaniel Cunningham
Vice President for Faculty Development

Tami Thompson
Vice President for Graduate Curriculum and Standards

Kelly Clancy
Secretary-Archivist