Faculty

2020-2021 Full-time Faculty:

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.

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

Zachary Baumann (2020)
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.S., 2005, Baker University; M.S. 2007, Ph.D., 2009, University of Mississippi.

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.

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.

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.

Jamie Cano (2020)
Assistant Professor of Spanish
B.A., 2012, M.A., 2015, Texas A&M International University; Ph.D., 2019, University of Houston.

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.

Peggy Cline (2020)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., 1993, M.S.N., 2007, University of Nebraska Medical Center; Ph.D., 2019, Walden 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.

Matt Flores (2020)
Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
B.S., 2005, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.S., 2012, Bakers University; Ph.D., ABD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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.

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

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

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.

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)
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
B.A., 2003, Boise State University; M.F.A., 2006, M.A., 2012, University of Iowa.

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.

Matthew Jarvis (2020)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art History
B.A., 2005, William and Mary; M.A., 2008, California State University; Ph.D., 2013, University of California, San Diego.

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; D.S.W., 2020, University of St. Thomas.

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.

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

Tamra Llewellyn (2013)
Associate 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, Ed.D., 2020, 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.

Anne McAlexander (2020)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
B.F.A., 2005, State University of New York at Fredonia; M.F.A., 2019, University of Ohio.

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.

Brent McKain (2020)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.A., 2011, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.S., 2014, Ph.D., 2017, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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)
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., 2020, 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)
Associate 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; Ph.D., 2020, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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.

Seema Pande (2020)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
M.Sc., 1999, B.Ed., 2000, University of Pune; Ph.D., 2019, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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

Marilyn S. Petro (2006)
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)
Assistant Professor of Religion
B.A., 2009, Wingate University; M.Div., 2012, Wake Forest University School of Divinity; Ph.D., 2017, Vanderbilt University.

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., 2020, Creighton University.

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

James R. Schaffer (1990)
Senior Professor of Journalism
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.

Claudio Schapsis (1989)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Business-Marketing
B.S., 1992, M.B.A., 1999, Technion Israel Institute of Technology; Ph.D., ABD, Pace University.

Justin J. Skirry (2006)
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 Administration
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.

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

Tom Trenney (2020)
Assistant Professor of Music and Choir
M.M., , Eastman School of Music.

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)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.A., 2011, Buena Vista University; M.S., 2013, North Dakota State University; Ph.D., 2019, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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.

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

2020-21 Officers of the Faculty - Faculty Council

Susan Wortmann
Faculty President

Tamra Llewellyn
Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Julie Pinnell
Vice President for Undergraduate Curriculum

Nathaniel Cunningham
Vice President for Faculty Development

Ray Romero
Vice President for Graduate Curriculum and Standards

Martha Tanner
Secretary-Archivist