Faculty

2025-2026 Full-time Faculty:

Cody L. Arenz (1999)
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.

Bailey Barnard (2022)
Assistant Professor of Art History
B.A., 2008, University of Nebraska at Omaha; M.A., 2011, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 2016, Ph.D., 2017, Columbia University.

Lacey Batt-Peters (2022)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.A., 2010, University of Nebraska at Kearney; M.A., 2015, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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

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

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

Talea Bloch (2022)
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
B.A., 2007, Nebraska Wesleyan University; M.M., 2011, D.M.A., 2014, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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)
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.

Audrey Brydl-Andrews (2025)
Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
B.A., 2009, Doane University; M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, 2010, Doane University; M.Ed. Administration, 2016, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Ed.S., 2022, Doane University.

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

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.

Zachariah Cheever (2025)
Assistant Professor of Music - Director of Instr Activities
B.M., 2016, Trevecca Nazarene University; M.M., 2019, Austin Peay State University; D.M.A, 2022, University of Colorado-Boulder.

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.

Hyeong-Gyu Choi (2023)
Assistant Professor of Business
B.S., 2002, The Ohio State University; M.B.A., 2005, The University of Findlay; M.L.R.H.R., 2006, Cleveland State University; Ph.D., 2017, University of Memphis.

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

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

Gregory DeGirolamo
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., 2018, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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.

Elizabeth Ennis (2022)
Assistant Professor of Theatre Costume Design
B.A., 2010, American University; M.F.A., 2018, Temple University.

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

Jennifer Fawkes (2025)
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
Ph.D., 2018, University of Cincinnati.

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.

Steven Foertsch (2025)
Assistant Professor of Sociology/Criminology
B.A., 2017, Assumption College; M.A., 2020/2022, The New School for Social Research; Ph.D., ABD, Baylor University.

Brittany Fritzinger (2022)
Assistant Professor of Nursing, Traditional BSN Director
B.S.N., 2010, Clarkson College; M.S.N., 2015, Ed.D., 2020, Nebraska Methodist College.

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

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

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

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

Mary Hickman (2015)
Associate 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.

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.

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)
Associate 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.

Amber Johnson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Kyle Johnson (2025)
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., 2008, Concordia University; Ph.D., 2012, Michigan State University.

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

Phil Kaus (2025)
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
B.S., Chadron State College; M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Samantha Kaus (2025)
Instructor of Accounting
M.P.A., 2022, 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.

Heba Khalil (2021)
Assistant Professor of Sociology/Criminology
B.A., 2010, The American University in Cairo; M.A., 2018, Ph.D. (ABD), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Viktor Khanzhyn (2017)
Associate 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.

Chelsea Klinkebiel (2021)
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.A., 2008, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 2011, Ph.D., 2016, Texas Tech University.

Megan Kobs (2025)
Assistant Professor of Athletic Training
M.S., 2017, South Dakota State University.

Bradlee LaMotte
Assistant Professor of Theatre-Scenic Design
M.F.A, 2024, 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.

Tamra Llewellyn (2013)
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.

Rachel Maceri (2021)
Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.A., 2014, Grand Valley State University; M.S., 2018, Ph.D., 2021, Western Michigan University.

Cynthia J. Marolf (1990)
Associate 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.

Ann Matthews (2021)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.S.W., 2002, Creighton University; M.S.W., 2004, University of Nebraska - Omaha; Ph.D. (ABD), University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kristin McGuire (2021)
Assistant Professor of Medical/Surgical Nursing
B.S.N., 2009, Creighton University; M.S.N., 2019, Nebraska Wesleyan University; D.Ed. (ABD), Nebraska Methodist College - Omaha.

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.

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

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

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.

Michael Nolan (2025)
Assistant Professor of Athletic Training
Ph.D., 2024, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

Megan Pendley (2022)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.S.W., 2006, Dana College; M.S.W., 2013, University of New England; D.S.W., 2021, Walden University.

James E. Perry (1987)
Associate Professor of Sociology
B.A., 1979, J.D., 1982, 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)
Professor of Biology
B.S., 2002, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 2008, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Alexandria Putman
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., 2024, University of Georgia (Athens).

Terry Ratzlaff (2022)
Assistant Professor of Digital Media/Photography
B.A., 2007, The Art Institute of Colorado; M.F.A., 2021, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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

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

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)
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., 2010, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A., 2015, Kansas State University; M.A., 2017, Michigan 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.

Lenni Stone (2025)
Assistant Professor of Theatre/Acting
B.M., 1975, University of Iowa; M.A., 1977, University of Iowa; DMA, 2002, Central Pacific University-Honolulu, HI.

Scott Susong (2025)
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre/Directing
B.A., 1995, University of Texas at El Paso; M.F.A., 2002, Towson University.

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

Martha Tanner
Head of Research Services and Archives
Ph.D., Tulane University.

Kelsey Thiem (2023)
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.A., 2011, Creighton University; Ph.D., 2016, University of Iowa.

Mark Thompson (2022)
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., 1995, M.Ed., 1999, University of South Florida, Tampa. Ph.D., 2014, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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

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.

Kaitlin Weskamp (2021)
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
B.S., 2014, Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., 2019, University of Michigan.

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

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

Samantha J. Wilson (2016)
Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance
B.A., 2011, Buena Vista University; M.S., 2013, North Dakota State University; Ed.D., 2019, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Meghan K. Winchell (2004)
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)
Professor of Sociology
B.S., 1996, Wayne State College; M.A., 1999, Ph.D., 2003, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Evi Wusk (2025)
Assistant Professor of Secondary Education
B.S., 2006, Peru State College; M.S., 2008, Peru State College; Ed.D., 2011, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Eric Wyler (2025)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
M.M., 2021, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

James Yankech (2024)
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Ph.D., 2015, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Catherine Zimmitti (2024)
Visiting Professor of Mathematics
Ph.D, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

( ) denotes year of original appointment

2025-26 Officers of the Faculty - Faculty Council

Kevin Bower
Faculty President

Toni Jensen
Faculty President Elect

Steve Wills
Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Matthew Flores
Vice President for Undergraduate Curriculum

Tanya Martin
Vice President for Faculty Development

Samantha Wilson
Vice President for Graduate Curriculum and Standards

Sarah Kelen
Secretary-Archivist