Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies Faculty

Laura Baggett teaches undergraduate mathematics courses in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Previously, she taught at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and several community colleges in Washington, Florida, and Tennessee. She has presented talks on mathematics education at local, state, and regional homeschool conferences around the southeastern United States.

Education: MS, Georgia Institute of Technology; BS, Auburn University 

Publications: Making Room for Jesus: Getting Rid of Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, and Physical Clutter (2016) 

Research Interests: The effect of physical clutter and disorder on productivity, best practices for in-home education

Melissa Bahle currently teaches composition courses at Purdue Global. She also serves as poetry editor for the Gauge Literary Journal and serves on the LGBTQIA2S+ task force committee. Bahle is also an active member of the SBS DAIC. She previously taught literature, critical thinking, and business communication courses for California Aeronautical University.         

Education: MA, English Language Learning, Western Governors University; BA, English Literature, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Publications: “Morning Dew, Photography.” Winter 2021-2022 issue of The Gauge Literary Journal

“Unsub, Microfiction.” Winter 2021-2022 issue of The Gauge Literary Journal

“Stages, Photography.” Fall 2019 issue of The Gauge Literary Journal

“This Is Not Who I Am, Poetry.” September 2011 issue of Mused- the BellaOnline Literary Review

Certifications: AZ Teaching Certification, Rio Salado College, Mesa, AZ, 2002

PA Teaching Certification, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA, 1998

Honors and Achievements: Recognition of FT/FTA Faculty Excellence, Composition Department, Purdue Global, First Quarter, 2022; Recognition of FT/FTA Faculty Excellence, Composition Department, Purdue Global, Third Quarter, 2020; Volunteer of the Year, 2017, Corry Area Chamber of Commerce; Parthenon Instructor of the Year, 2010-2011; Certified Israeli Self-Defense (Krav Maga) Instructor, 2005; Certified Employee of the Month, 2004

Memberships: Association of Writers and Writing Programs 2022/2023; Corry Area Arts Council 2017-2019

Research Interests: Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE) Strategies; differentiated instruction, learning modalities, cultural learning preferences, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

Brook Bernhardt began teaching part time as an adjunct instructor in 2010 and was promoted to full-time adjunct instructor for Purdue Global in 2015. Bernhardt teaches undergraduate courses in mathematics, focusing primarily on introductory courses. She provides consistent student outreach and high-quality feedback, and she supports her department with shared resources and teamwork.

Education: MA, University of Missouri at Columbia

Honors and Achievements: Several teaching awards

Christiana Bevier is a full time faculty member at Purdue Global in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences within the School of Education. Bevier has been with Purdue Global since 2004, where she has taught a variety of undergraduate courses, served as a course lead, and mentored new faculty members. Previously, Bevier taught at Western Illinois University, Moraine Valley Community College, Saint Xavier University, and Concordia University. Bevier also has higher education experience in management, advising, tutoring, broadcasting, career coaching, disability services, and event planning. Bevier is a current member of Sigma Beta Delta, and NOSS (National Organization for Student Success) and has previously directed the honors society Lambda Pi Eta. Bevier has a passion for engaging students, educating with practical application, and encouraging lifelong learning.

Education: MA, Western Illinois University; MBA, Kaplan University

Publications:  Hample, D., Thompson-Hayes, M., Wallenfelsz, K., Wallenfelsz, P., & Knapp, C. (2005). Face-to-face arguing is an emotional experience: Triangulating methodologies and early findings. Argumentation and Advocacy, 42, 74-93.

Certifications:  TES Administrator Certification

Honors and Achievements: “Peer Excellence Award”, “Most Team Spirit Award” (Colorado Technical University)

Memberships: National Communication Association

Research Interests: Gender and communication, social media influence, change management, and ethics in education

Michelle Bianco teaches undergraduate courses in composition; College Composition I and II, CM 250 Grammar & Writing, and PG Orientation Classes. Biance is the faculty lead of development/mentoring in the English and rhetoric department. She is a published author with academic research that specializes in quantitative analysis. Previously, Bianco taught for 12 years before going into administration as a director of curriculum and instruction. Biance excels in writing curriculum with expertise in Course Management Portal, A-G Requirements, and Articulation Agreements.       

Education: PhD in Higher Education Administration; MA in English, National University

Publications: Bianco, M. L. (2024). A Causal-Comparative Study of the Writing Motivational Constructs of Students With and Without Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder in Online College Composition Courses (Order No. 31482509). Available from ProQuest One Academic. (3083261235).

Bianco, M. & Fussell, G. (2021). Successful Integration of technology into the Composition classroom through the use of Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. In E. Langran & D. Rutledge (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE Interactive Conference (pp. 87-91). Online, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved August 16, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/220171/.

Bianco, M. & Fussell, G. (2021). Technology-assisted Grading and the Real Three C’s of Composition. In E. Langran & D. Rutledge (Eds.), Proceedings of SITE Interactive Conference (pp. 92-95). Online, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved August 16, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/220172/.

Bianco, M. (2021) Can Online College Composition courses really be considered competency-based learning? New technologies allow for personalized and flexible learning opportunities. In E. Langran & L. Archambault (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 717-721). • Apr 7, 2021

Bianco, M. (2021, Jan 20)Build Your Stack: A Glimpse into the Literature of IranBuild Your Stack: A Glimpse into the Literature of Iran National Council of Teachers of English •

Certifications: Executive Certificate Higher Education/Higher Education Administration    

Honors and Achievements: Presentation at National Association of Developmental Education Conference, Rising Star teaching award

Memberships: Society for Information Technology and Education, Global Society of Online Literacy Education, National Council Teachers of English

Research Interests: Attention related disorders and writing motivational constructs

Sheryl Bone began her Purdue Global career in 2008 and became a full-time faculty member in 2010. She currently teaches first-term composition students, facilitates online student orientation courses, and spent time in the Department of Student Success teaching underprepared students. Sheryl began her career in the Chicago Public School system teaching middle school and serving as a Language Arts department chairperson. She also worked as a literacy consultant in the Chicago Public School system.

Education: MAT, National College of Education; BA, Albion College

Honors and Achievements: Outstanding Full Time Team Member Award, Full Time Kaplan Way award

Memberships: Editorial Review Board of the College Reading and Learning Association Journal, College Reading and Learning Association

Research Interests: Nontraditional college students, student success and persistence, global literacy

Heather Booth teaches various math courses, such as quantitative analysis and a survey of mathematics and business statistics. She began teaching at Purdue Global in 2008, becoming a full-time adjunct instructor in 2015. Prior to joining Purdue Global, Booth worked in technology services for a railway and as a railway project manager for 10 years and taught at Tarrant County College for 2 years.

Education: MS, Texas A&M University

Nicolae Borota began his career at Purdue Global as a part-time instructor of mathematics in 2005. Previously, Borota has held positions in academia, state government, and the private sector. While each position had their own uniqueness, they all revolved around mathematics in some capacity. From starting as an adjunct at Camden County Community College, to working as a mathematics content specialist for the Educational Testing Service (ETS), to working as the New Jersey State Department of Education Mathematics Coordinator, Nicolae has always strived to bring put the education of students foremost.

Education: MA, Rowan University            

Publications: Borota, N. A., Flores E., and Osler T.J., Spacetime numbers the easy way. Mathematics and Computer Education 34: 159-168 (2000)

Borota, N. A., Osler T.J., Functions of a spacetime variable, Mathematics and Computer Education 36: 231-239, (2002)

Certifications: Lifetime Certification as Teacher of Mathematics, New Jersey Department of Education           

Honors and Achievements: Nominated for Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; ETS Recognition of Excellence Award for outstanding score on the Praxis II: Mathematics Content Knowledge Assessment; The Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award from Rowan University

Memberships: Mathematical Association of America; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics; Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics

Research Interests: Formation of Conceptual Ideas in the Mathematical Development of Learners

Kimberly Bracey teaches various undergraduate courses in mathematics at Purdue Global. She has served as a subject matter expert and participated in curriculum innovations including modularized curriculum. Prior to joining higher education, she taught mathematics at the high school or college level for 30 years.

Education: MS, Southeast Missouri State University

Memberships: AMATYC, NCTM, OLC

Ingrid Bradley is a full-time instructor at Purdue Global for courses such as College Composition I and II, and Instruction in Technical Communication. Bradley’s special interests and involvements include online writing centers and seminar presentation content. Additional interests include multimodal approaches to composition in a digital world, and how text based compositions can be enhanced through multimodal means such as video, audio, graphics, photograph, and animation. Bradley has had numerous articles and photographs published in magazines throughout her 30 plus years as a communications professional. She is currently working toward publishing more academically focused articles for academic journals that focus on technical writing and online writing centers. Bradley is an award winning Department of Defense photographer, winner of several public relations awards, and is a decorated military veteran having also served in the Gulf War as a public affairs officer.

Education: DA in English Pedagogy, Murray State University; MA in English Communications, St. Mary's University; BA in Communications, University of Central Florida

Memberships: Member, the Society of Technical Communicators; Member, the Council on Programs in Scientific and Technical Communication; Member, the National Council of Teachers of English

Research Interests: Online writing centers and multi modal compositions as an adjunct to text based communication

Taryn Bromser-Kloeden teaches within Purdue Global's new sustainability degree program. With over 10 years of experience in the field, she has previously taught environmental science and biodiversity courses at George Mason University and worked as an assistant manager for a 2,500-acre nature preserve.       

Education: PhD in Environmental Science and Public Policy, George Mason University; MS in Anthrozoology, Canisius College; BS in Psychology with Biology minor, College of William & Mary; MS in Anthrozoology, Canisius College; BS in Psychology with Biology minor, College of William & Mary           

Publications: Bromser-Kloeden, T. (2024). Navigating environmental academia in a disabled body: an embodied autoethnography of ableism and advocacy. Disability & Society, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2024.2345346

Akerlof, K. L., Bromser-Kloeden, T., Timm, K., Rowan, K. E., Olds, J. L., Clarke, C., ... & Zhao, X. (2021). Categorizing professionals’ perspectives on environmental communication with implications for graduate education. Environmental Communication, 15(4), 447-464.

Honors and Achievements: Mason Core Teaching Award 2017–2021, Faculty Scholarship Recipient, Acceleration to Excellence Award, NSF-IRES grant recipient      

Memberships: Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society    

Research Interests: Human-wildlife conflict, coexistence, sustainable development, anthrozoology, environmental anthropology, and disability studies

Mary Bruce teaches undergraduate and graduate mathematics courses at Purdue Global. She joined the University in 2010 and has been teaching math online since 2002. Bruce started her education career teaching secondary students in Atlanta. She has also taught undergraduate and graduate business and math classes for DeVry University, Georgia Perimeter College (now Georgia State University), and Gainesville College.

Education: PhD, University of Georgia; MAT, Georgia State University; BA, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Publications: Johnson, T., Bruce, M., Graham, P., Oliver, S., Oppong, N., Park, S., & Mansberger, D. (2005). Giving Tree Teachers: Women and the National Board Certification Process. Feminist Teacher, 15(3), 234-249.

Honors and Achievements: Students’ Choice Awards, Outstanding Teacher, Teacher of the Year finalist, STAR Teacher

Memberships: GenEd Electives Committee

Research Interests: Statistics education

Justina Buck teaches undergraduate courses in the professional studies program. Previously, she taught in the organizational leadership program at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. She began her career in higher education in 2009 and has worked at a variety of universities in the areas of advising, recruiting, financial aid, and grant programs. Buck has delivered presentations on stackable programs, and student engagement, gender equity, and transactional distance since the pandemic at various national conferences. In addition to teaching, Buck is also an officer in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

Education: PhD in Leadership, University of the Cumberlands; MA in English, and MS in College Student Personnel, Arkansas Tech University; BA in History, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith               

Publications: Tardif, K., & Buck, J. (2022). Leadership language in the workplace. Kendall Hunt

Buck, J., & Bracken, M. (2022), Stackable programs: Leading the way for success for nontraditional and underrepresented students. Journal of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering.

Honors and Achievements: Lori Norin Faculty Appreciation Award, 2020; Army Achievement Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Erickson’s Award and Distinguished Honor Graduate for Officer Candidate School, 2017  

Memberships: The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE); The Arkansas Academic Advising Network (ArkAAN)

Research Interests: Student engagement and success, personal development, ethics and virtues in leadership, non-traditional and underrepresented student populations

Jonathan Cardew has taught composition, creative writing, ESL, and technical communication on three different continents. He currently serves as a full-time faculty member in Purdue Global’s Composition Department. Cardew is the author of the short story collection, A World Beyond Cardboard (ELJ Editions), and his creative work can be found in numerous journals and anthologies across the globe. Originally from the UK, he now lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife and two daughters.
 

Education: MA, Sheffield Hallam University (UK); BA, University of East Anglia (UK)            

Publications: 
A World Beyond Cardboard, ELJ Editions; “Supernumerary,” Passages North (University of North Michigan); “Yes, Mike,” Cream City Review (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); “The Story of the Elephant,” Superstition Review (Arizona State University)       

Certifications: TESOL Certificate (Trinity College, Cambridge, UK)

Honors and Achievements: Fractured Lit Anthology Prize (2020); Finalist, Annual SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction (2019); Finalist, Passages North Neutrino Prize (2018)    

Memberships: Southern Humanities Council        

Research Interests: Intersection of creative writing and composition, mentorship, student persistence in the online classroom

Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht teaches ethics, bioethics, critical thinking, humanities and culture classes at Purdue Global. She spent three summers in France studying human rights and holds an international law certificate from the International Institute of Human Rights René Cassin at the University of Strasbourg, France. In Jakarta, she presented a paper for an ethics and development conference and has presented papers for international development conferences in Costa Rica, Canada and the United Kingdom. She has published chapters in two books and has published articles in journals about human rights and issues in feminist bioethics.

Education: PhD, Michigan State University; MA, Purdue University

Research Interests: Global ethics, human rights, feminist philosophy, bioethics, social and political philosophy, and engaged learning projects.

Stuart Collins joined Purdue Global as a full-time faculty member in 2012. He currently oversees courses on American government and community engagement within the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. He teaches a number of career, history, and political science courses. Collins has received a number of awards during his time at the University, including commendations for curriculum design and leadership. He also helms the Faculty Interdisciplinary Roundtable, a quarterly symposium that hosts University faculty who discuss a wide variety of academic topics.

Education: MA, Villanova University; MS, University of Florida; BS, University of Florida

Research Interests: How individualized video content within online courses increases student retention and grades

Elliott Crozat is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. Crozat teaches courses in philosophy and the humanities. Crozat has developed and written courses in moral philosophy, applied ethics, introduction to philosophy, logic, and the philosophy of work. He also worked in the field of applied epistemology for the U.S. federal government in the Washington, D.C. area.

Education: PhD, Philosophy; MA in Humanities, California State University, Dominguez Hills; BA in History, San Diego State University

Publications: Philosophia Christi, Free Thinking Ministries

Honors and Achievements: Faculty Leadership Award, Western Governor's University, 2018; recipient of 2012 Stephen Shank Recognition for teaching excellence

Memberships: Evangelical Philosophical Society

Research Interests: Epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophical theology, the meaning of life

Josh Dalessandro teaches various undergraduate courses in the Science Department. He joined Purdue Global as a part-time adjunct in 2018. Previously, Dalessandro taught for three years as an Associate Professor at Odessa College. Prior to his academic career, he worked as an upper cervical chiropractor in Wilmington, NC.

Education: DC, Sherman College of Chiropractic; MS, Clemson University

Nathalie Dames joined Purdue Global in 2021 where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate level mathematics courses. Dames has over 20 years of teaching experience and she started her mathematics teaching career as a high school mathematics teacher. Dames has taught both undergraduate and graduate level mathematics courses at several institutions including, Agnes Scott College, Baker College, Georgia Perimeter College and Atlanta Technical College. Her objective is to help all learners tap into their natural mathematical abilities.

Education: PhD, Georgia State University Teaching and Learning Concentration Mathematics Education; EdS, Georgia State University, Teaching and Learning Concentration Mathematics Education; MS, Georgia State University, Mathematics; BA, Agnes Scott College Mathematics               

Publications: Smalls (Dames), N., & Johnson, A. (2014, November). What is working in the Urban Mathematics Classroom: Strategies for Continued Improvement. International Conference on Urban Education, Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

Certifications: Georgia Educator Certification Secondary Education Mathematics (7-12) Level 7, Gifted Education Endorsement, AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics certified          

Research Interests: Mathematics Education, Educator Professional Development

Deanna Davis has taught online and face-to-face science courses as an adjunct faculty member since 2010 including biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, human biology, pathophysiology, and anatomy & physiology. Davis has taught for Sullivan University in Louisville, KY, South University in Savannah, GA, Ivy Tech Community College in Sellersburg, IN, and Purdue University Global since 2019.  In addition to teaching, Davis has pursued a career in Biomedical Research that has included positions at the Univ. of Louisville School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, and a current position as a Senior Scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Her research projects have tackled a variety of diseases including pediatric cancer, Crohn's Disease and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's. She has a passion for sharing knowledge and helping students learn that they CAN be good at Science!

Education: PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Louisville School of Medicine; BS in Cellular Biology, University of Louisville College of Arts & Sciences.

Publications: Over 35 publications can be found here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l_dnIZQAAAAJ&hl=en

Memberships: ASBMB (American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)              

Research Interests: Neurobiology, lipid metabolism, and longevity genes as they pertain to aging and neurodegenerative disorders; impact of nutrition and supplements on delaying cognitive decline

Paige Erickson joined Purdue Global in 2008, becoming a full-time faculty member in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2010. She teaches undergraduate courses such as humanities and culture, arts and humanities, critical thinking, and ethics. She serves as a subject- matter expert in curriculum revisions for traditional Purdue Global courses, open learning courses, and ExcelTrack^® courses. Erickson has been teaching at the college level for 18 years and previously taught philosophy and communications at Hastings College.

Education: MA, University of Colorado at Boulder; MA, Kansas State University

Publications: The Nice Thing About Strangers blog and book

Honors and Achievements: 2013 Outstanding Full-Time Team Members, 2014 Outstanding Curriculum Revision/Innovation Award

Memberships: Chair of the Professional Competencies Graduate Problem Solving and Critical Thinking committee, Arts and Humanities General Education Literacy committee, Executive Board for Southern Humanities Council

Research Interests: Philosophy and literature, creative writing, virtue ethics

Darrell Evans serves as a full-time faculty member and course lead in the Science Department of the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. Following his retirement from the United States Army, Evans transitioned into environmental and sustainability policy analysis. His work as the Director of Policy and Science and Chair of Policy and Advocacy led to meaningful contributions in environmental protection. At Purdue Global, Evans teaches undergraduate courses on environmental science, pollution, natural resource conservation, populations, environmental policy, climate change, environmental health, and sustainability. 

Evans holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation and a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management, bringing both academic and applied expertise to his teaching. Beyond the classroom, he volunteers in his community, serves as an ambassador for a veteran health and wellness organization, and acts as a peer reviewer for academic publications on veteran issues.

Education: EdD, Purdue University Global; MS, American Military University; BA, American Military University; AGS Ivy Tech College               

Publications: Evans, D. W. (2025). Teaching in the shadow of censorship: Assessing Florida House Bill 1467 through the lens of educational sustainability.     

Memberships: National Association of Environmental Professionals; International Society of Sustainability Professionals; Environmental Law Institute               

Research Interests: Anthropology of sustainability, philosophical foundations of environmental literacy, psychological responses to ecological crisis, sociocultural barriers to science education

Russell Fail serves as a professor of humanities and social sciences in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies and is the course lead instructor for ethics. He also serves as a subject matter expert in curriculum design and serves as a faculty advisor. Fail joined Purdue Global as an adjunct instructor in 2006 and soon joined the full-time faculty teaching in the Humanities Department for the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. He spent 17 years in small business management and began teaching ethics in 2001.

Education: PhD, Capella University; MDiv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Honors and Achievements: 2012 Outstanding Full-time Team Member; several journal publications and presentations at academic conferences

Memberships: Chair of Ethics General Education Literacy Committee, Multiculturalism and Diversity Professional Competency Committee

Research Interests: Applied ethics including child marketing, cultural competency, and adult learning

Allen Farina began his career with Purdue Global University in 2020 where his first taught orientation classes for incoming students before transitioning to adjunct faculty status covering academic courses for the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. In 2022, Farina transitioned to a full-time role in professional studies teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. His experience includes over 20 years of teaching, with a focus of the last 15 years teaching adult learners in online education settings.      

Education: EdD, Lynn University; MEd, Lakeland University; BA, Marquette University       

Certifications: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction – Lifetime Teaching License for grades 9-12 in sociology, psychology, history, and broadfield social science          

Memberships: Supporting educational institutions with a focus on autism spectrum disorders

Research Interests: Autism spectrum disorders, diversity and inclusion, teaching and learning best practices, and leadership

Galia Fussell teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Purdue Global, including academic and professional writing for graduate students, professional development in technical writing, introduction to legal analysis and writing, and college composition.

Education: PhD, State University of Pedagogy and Humanities in Kazan; MS and Graduate Certificate in Online College Teaching, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global); MA, Elabuga State University of Pedagogy and Humanities; Paralegal Certificate, Tarrant County College

Publications: English Lexicology, more than 100 articles in scholarly journals

Honors and Achievements: 2015 Outstanding Professional Development and Scholarship Award (School of General Education), 2006 Best Scholarly Work Award (State University of Pedagogy and Humanities in Kazan), presentations at national and international conferences

Nicole Garland started with Purdue Global as an online adjunct faculty member in 2008, becoming a full-time adjunct faculty member in 2015. She teaches a variety of undergraduate mathematics courses including survey of mathematics, college algebra, and business math and statistical measures. She began her academic career as an associate instructor at Indiana University and became an adjunct instructor for Ivy Tech Community College in 2006.

Education: MAT, Indiana University; BS, Marian College (now Marian University)

Honors and Achievements: Excellence in Mathematics Award (Marian College), Rothrock Teaching Award (Indiana University)

Shama Grimmage began her career with Purdue Global in 2020 as professor in new student orientation, taking great satisfaction in guiding new students to the university's resources as they get ready for their first term and welcoming them to their online campus. As of 2022, Grimmage teaches in the professional studies department in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. At her previous institution, she taught first year seminar and courses and served as a first-year advisor. With over10 years of experience in higher education administration, Grimmage's goal is to help students reach their full potential by promoting a supportive and nurturing environment that highlights best practices in teaching effectiveness and support.             

Education: EdD Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University; MEd, Florida A&M University; BS, Florida A&M University           

Certifications: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida Muma College of Business; Certified Professional Life Coach  

Honors and Achievements: Presenter, Talent Strong Florida Summit (2022). “Impact Over Obstacles: Partnerships Providing Support” 

Memberships: New Leaders Council, Orlando     

Research Interests: Student success, student retention and persistence, and diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education

Shelly Gussis teaches a variety of undergraduate composition courses at Purdue Global. He began his academic career at the University of Economics in Prague. Returning to the United States, Gussis taught at various colleges and universities before joining Purdue Global.

Education: MFA, MA, Roosevelt University; MS, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Jennifer Haber began her career 15 years ago at Purdue Global and is now full-time faculty in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Overall, Haber has 25 years of teaching experience, both in the classroom and online, primarily teaching composition and technical writing classes.             

Education: PhD, University of South Florida; MA, University of Central Florida; BA, University of Florida

Publications: Applied Ethics (Pearson), Editor, August 2017

Quality Enhancement Plan: Ready, Set, Succeed! https://qep.spcollege.edu, June 2016

Turnitin, Contributor, August 2014-Auguest 2015

“Perceptions of Barriers Concerning Effective Online Teaching and Policies” in the Community College Journal, April 2008

Presentations and webinars: Clarity and Conciseness Webinar, PSCU, June 2022; Writing Effectively Webinar, PSCU, various dates 2021-2022; “How to Get into College,” Webinar, My Prep Scholar, June 2020; “Gradebook Best Practices,” Webinar, SPC, FL, Jan. 2019; “The College Readiness Need is Now,” NLCC Conference, Bay City, MI, Nov. 2018; “What’s Your Plan for Your Students,” Webinar, SPC, FL, Nov. 2018; “How to Succeed Without Really Trying,” Florida Shines Virtual College, Oct. 2018; “How to Provide Effective Feedback to Your Students,” Webinar, SPC, FL, Oct. 2018; “Titan Up Your Time,” Titan Thursdays Webinar, SPC, FL, Sept. 2018; “Using Grademark in Turnitin,” All Adjunct Day, SPC, FL, Sept. 2018; “It’s a Pilot Year,” TASS, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2018; “The College Readiness Need,” Moving the Needle, St. Petersburg, FL, April 2018

“Ready, Set, Succeed,” Sunshine State Conference, St. Petersburg, FL, Jan. 2018

“Ready, Set, Succeed,” Moving the Needle, SPC, FL, April 2017

“Using Sparc to Text Students,” TLC, FL, April 2017

Certifications: QM Certification, Feb 2015

Honors and Achievements: SPC QM Peer Reviewer Certification, Jan. 2014; Crestron Summum Bonum Award for Excellence in Teaching, Jan. 2014; Travel Grant to attend Sloan Blended Conference, March 2013; ETD (Electronic Theses and Dissertation) Award, USF, for Dissertation, Dec. 2000

Research Interests: Literature with southern writers, first-year composition students, online teaching and learning, and service learning

Christian Hampson teaches various mathematics courses in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. Hampson comes from a widely varied career in information technology and data science that includes small businesses, federal agencies, and Microsoft.

Education: PhD, Colorado State University; MS, University of Dayton

Publications: Using Network Properties to Predict Disease Dynamics on Human Contact Networks, Proceedings of the Royal Society B; Multidecomposition of the Complete Graph Into Graph Pairs of Order 5 With Various Leaves, Ars Combinatoria; Multipacking and Multicovering of Kn-F With Graph-Pairs of Order 5 Where F is a Hamilton Cycle or (Almost) 1-Factor, Congressus Numerantium

Certifications: Graduate Statistician (American Statistical Society), Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Honors and Achievements: Internal agency awards for implementations of data science algorithms

Memberships: American Mathematics Society, American Statistical Society, Mathematics Association of America, International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium

Research Interests: Applications of graph theory and probability to widely disparate areas such as information security, ecology, disease spread, and history

Jennifer Harrison teaches various undergraduate courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences department, with a special emphasis on American women’s history and culture. She is the course lead for the University's American Women and Founding Fathers courses. She has taught first-year experience and humanities courses for Purdue Global for over 15 years. She started her academic career as a Disabilities Coordinator and American History instructor prior to joining Purdue Global.

Education: MA, University of Richmond

Publications: Articles on American history and pop culture, ranging from the experiences of Mary McLeod Bethune to the presentation of parent-child relationships in the films of Robert Downey Jr. and gender in Downton Abbey

Memberships: Chair, Arts and Humanities GEL Committee; Member, Library Committee

Research Interests: Presentation of women and children in advertising

David Healey teaches college composition for the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. He began teaching classes in journalism and composition at Washington College and Cecil College before joining the Purdue Global faculty. Previously, Healey was a news reporter and editor for 21 years.

Education: MFA, University of Southern Maine

Publications: articles in publications including the Washington Times and American History, three nonfiction books on regional history, several novels, co-author of accounting textbook

Honors and Achievements: 2011 Chaney Scholar (St. Mary’s College of Maryland), Best Editorial of the Year (Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association), other journalism awards

Memberships: Professional Competencies in Graduate Communications Committee, Eastern Shore Writers’ Association, International Thriller Writers

Research Interests: Intergenerational communication in the workplace

Michael Heeren has taught a variety of mathematics courses, including business math, statistics, and business statistics and quantitative analysis. He joined Purdue Global as a part-time instructor in 2003, was promoted to department chair in 2007, and became course lead and a full-time faculty member in 2018. Prior to joining Purdue Global, Heeren taught at the junior high and high school level, including Yuma High School from 1996 to 1999. In 2003, he began teaching at Hamilton College.

Education: MA, University of Northern Iowa

Honors and Achievements: Presented at 2017 MAA conference

Memberships: General Education Literacy committee for mathematics, several campus committees

Eric Holmes is a full-time faculty member in the composition department at Purdue Global. He currently teaches college composition courses and is course lead for technical communication courses.

Education: MS, Portland State University; MS, University of South Dakota

Publications: Articles in The International Journal of Comic Art and The Oregon English Journal; a chapter in Dexter and Philosophy

Memberships: Teamwork Professional Competency Committee

Research Interests: Rhetoric, folklore, public speaking, horror as a genre

William Ashley Johnson began his career with Purdue Global in 2008 as a writing instructor with the Legal Studies Department. Johnson has since joined the Composition and Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Department and serves as a faculty member. His experience includes over twenty years of teaching adult learners, with a focus in adult classroom management, online instruction, and technology/media studies. Ashley also mentors new faculty for the Composition and WAC Department, serves as poetry co-editor for the university literary journal, The Gauge, and evaluates student portfolios for experiential learning credit.

Education: MFA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BFA, Eckerd College

Publications: Poetry and short fiction in various literary journals, including Southern Humanities Review, Southern Poetry Review, and POEM. Articles and presentations related to course facilitation practices and technology.       

Certifications: Virtual Instruction Certification, 2020; Online Instruction Certification, 2014

Honors and Achievements: Recognition of Faculty Excellence, Purdue Global; Nominated – Pushcart Prize XXVII: Best of the Small Presses; Amon Liner Award – Greensboro Review; 10th Anniversary Anthology – Southern Poetry Review             

Memberships: South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA); American Management Association (AMA); Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP); The Academy of American Poets, National Tutoring Association (NTA); National Association for Developmental Education (NADE); US Distance Learning Association (USDLA)

Research Interests: Utilizing technology to enhance student engagement and retention, mentoring new faculty

Jacob Kaltenbach currently teaches college composition within the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. He has taught in both humanities and composition and served for several years on the University Assessment Committee. He previously served in teaching and administrative capacities with Nottingham University, the University of Colorado at Denver, and the University of Washington in Seattle, among other institutions.

Education: PhD, MA, Cardiff University (then University of Wales, Cardiff)

Honors and Achievements: Creative Course Award (Kaplan University)

Beth Lee is a full-time faculty member at Purdue Global who teaches undergraduate composition courses and has been a dedicated part of the University since 2013. She recently served as part of the faculty curriculum committee, which examines and evaluates course updates to ensure they align with University and accreditation requirements. During her time in the faculty senate, Lee was a part of the creation of the late policy for students as well as milestone anniversary acknowledgements and faculty scholarship awards. Previously, she assisted in the development and innovation of the Student Center for Academic Achievement at California State University.

Education: MBA; MA, California State University, East Bay; BA, San Diego State University; Postgraduate Certificate, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Publications: CRLA, Dissertation on Mindfulness: Organizational Investment for Employee Performance

Certifications: Project Management (Purdue Global)

Honors and Achievements: Outstanding New Faculty, Virtual Difference Maker (Outstanding Team)

Memberships: CRLA, MLA, Cengage Learning, TCC, NCTE, PMI

Research Interests: Diversity, multiculturalism, mindfulness, motivation

Laurie Leet teaches undergraduate courses in science and nutrition at Purdue Global, and she serves as course lead for the principles of nutrition course in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies Science Department. Leet started her online academic career in 2004 while working full time in health care.

Education: MS, University of Wisconsin-Stout; MBA, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Certifications: Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)

Ashley Leininger started her academic career in 2006 at Iowa State University in the field of sociology, earning her Master of Science in Sociology in 2009. Leininger has since taught at multiple institutions as a sociology and criminology instructor. Her research is focused on sociology of religion, sacred moments, civic engagement, and learning social structures within video games. Leininger presents work at various conferences focusing on inclusion, civic engagement, and religious influence.       

Education: MS in Sociology, Iowa State University   

Publications: Leininger, A. B. (2004). “The Influence of Clergy on Traditional Gender Roles”. Paper presented at the Annual Sociological Conference, Indianola, IA.

Leininger, A. B. (2009). “Conceptualizations of God by Lutheran laypeople.” Master thesis, Iowa State University.

Leininger, A. B. (2017). “Engaging Students Through the Weird.” Presentation at the Annual General Education Conference, Purdue Global University.

Leininger, A. B. (2021). “Wandering the Four Quadrants: Teaching to a Multitude of Learners.” Presentation at the Annual General Education Conference, Purdue Global.

Leininger, A. B. (2022). “Community Civic Engagement and the Impact in Purpose Driven Education.” Presentation at the Purdue Global Village Conference, Purdue Global University.

Honors and Achievements: 2004 Horizon Award, Simpson College           

Memberships: American Sociological Association; Society for Personality and Social Psychology-American Psychological Association

Research Interests: Sacred moments, research methodology, civic engagement, social capital, attitude and attitude change, learning within video-gaming culture

Holley Linkous began her career with Purdue Global in 2021 as adjunct faculty with the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Linkous is currently university faculty in the Department of Professional Studies. Previously she worked at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as an academic advisor.

Education: PhD and MBA, University of Tennessee; BS, East Tennessee State University   

Publications: Linkous, H. (2021). How can we help? Adult learning as self-care in COVID-19. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 33(2). DOI:10.1002/nha3.20317

Dennett, S., Hobbs, S., Linkous, H., & Rhodes, C. (2020). Adapting adult learning: Critical reflections in the wake of COVID-19. AAACE Newsletter, June 2020 Town Hall Special Edition

Linkous, H. (2020). Examining self-directed learning in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. International Journal of Self- Directed Learning, 17(1), 51-63        

Memberships: American Association for Adult and Continuing Education; Student Affairs Administrators of Higher Education (NASPA); National Academic Advising Association      

Research Interests: Self-directed learning, self-regulated learning, adult learning, motivation, first generation students

Jessica Love teaches undergraduate courses in composition and undergraduate psychology courses. She started her career at the University of Northern Iowa where she worked in the Department of English. Love’s scholarship has been published in magazines, journals, and books with her research on human rights literature being recognized by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. She was awarded attendance at the 52nd Commissions of the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Education: MA, University of Northern Iowa; MS, Kaplan University

Honors and Achievements: 2014 Outstanding Faculty Member

Memberships: Academic Appeals Committee

Research Interests: A literature textbook, a study on using bibliotherapy as complementary treatment for trauma, and a study on using Google tools in the writing classroom.

James McAdams began adjunct work at Purdue Global in January of 2020. As a non-traditional student himself, he immediately became inspired working with the vast diversity of students with different backgrounds, experiences, and ambitions. In December 2022, he was hired full-time to teach Comp 1, Comp 2, and other related courses. Prior to Purdue Global, he taught at Comp and Lit at Lehigh University, where he also managed the university’s literary journal, Amaranth; Comp, Lit, Digital Media, and Professional Writing at the University of South Florida-Tampa; Writing Studio, Mythology, Literature and Media Studies at Ringling College of Art + Design; and creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University. McAdams has also worked as social worker, web designer, medical transcriptionist, and vet technician.

Education: PhD, Lehigh University; MA, Villanova University; BFA, University of Pittsburgh

Publications: McAdams has published nearly one hundred short stories, poems, essays, and academic articles. In 2020, his first collection of short stories, Ambushing the Void, was published by Frayed Edge Press. He is also the flash fiction editor of Barren Magazine.

Honors and Achievements: Strohl Teaching Fellowship Award, 2014, Lehigh University; Graduate Essay of the Year Award, Villanova University; Dissertation Award, Lehigh University, 2017

Research Interests: Creative writing, memoir, digital humanities, medical humanities, adaptation theory/translation theory, disability studies, androgogy

Jeff Messinger teaches various undergraduate courses in the Professional Presence program. He started his teaching career at Purdue Global as a part-time adjunct faculty member before becoming a full-time adjunct. He continues to be a portfolio evaluator for the Professional Presence program. Previously, Messinger has worked in multiple industries including information technology, finance, and health care as both an engineering manager and project manager.

Education: MBA, University of Phoenix; BS, Brigham Young University

Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

Memberships: Project Management Institute (PMI)

Research Interests: How social media influences one's professional image in society and industry

Kirsten Meymaris teaches undergraduate mathematics courses at Purdue Global, and she also manages the upper-level discrete mathematics and business statistics with quantitative analysis courses, emphasizing the integration of technology for deeper mathematical interpretation of data. Meymaris joined the University in 2009 as an adjunct with 10 years of experience in online education. In 2014, she became a full-time faculty member in the Mathematics Department in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies.

Education: MS, University of Colorado at Boulder; BS, University of Minnesota Institute of Technology

Publications: Contributions to scientific journals for innovative citizen science work, mathematics and educational texts

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Course Lead Rock Star Award (School of General Education), 2016 Honorable Mention FT Faculty Super Star, 2012 Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Honorable Mention

Kevin Muir teaches a variety of undergraduate classes for the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Purdue Global, focusing on history and social sciences, as well as in the ExcelTrack^® program. He became an adjunct instructor for the University in 2008, becoming a full-time adjunct in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2015. Previously, Muir taught at the private Oak Valley Country Day high school, where he became principal; he later taught at Brown Mackie College and the Kansas City campus of DeVry University.

Education: MA, Oakland University; BA, Oakland University

Honors and Achievements: Faculty Performance Award for outstanding teaching (DeVry University Online), 2017 KUVillage conference presentation, 2014 General Education Conference presentation

Memberships: History Learning Committee, Capstone literary journal

Vanessa Myers has taught undergraduate courses in science and chemistry at Purdue Global since 2020, and she serves as course lead for the principles of chemistry course in the Science Department of the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Myers began her higher education career as a faculty member at Houston Community College in 2011, and she is currently a research chemist for a global leader in water recycling and restoration. In her spare time, Myers is an advocate for her community and volunteers multiple hours a month supporting various causes. As a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., she is also engaged in the advancement of her community in the field of education.

Education: MS in Analytical Chemistry from Illinois Institute of Technology; BS in Chemistry from The University of Texas at San Antonio    

Certifications: Certified Office Ergonomic Evaluator         

Publications:  Pucatena-Poly[[bis­(O,O'-diisopropyl dithio­phosphato-[kappa]2S,S')zinc(II)]-[mu]-1,2-bis­(3-pyridylmethyl­ene)hydrazine-[kappa]2N:N']

catena-Poly[[bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamato-κ2S,S′)cadmium(II)]-μ-trans-1,2-di-4-pyridylethane-κ2N:N′]. Acta Crystallographica Section E Structure Reports Online, 62 (6)

Honors and Achievements: Robert Welch Recipient 2007             

Memberships:  National Professional Science Masters Association; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Research Interests: Refinery specialty chemicals for the reduction of deposition

Robert “Bob” Musante teaches composition in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. Throughout his thirty-year career, he has taught several courses in composition and humanities, and he has served on many committees. Musante’s objective is to help all learners to develop their potential and skills, and he has extensive experience teaching individuals in online and traditional environments. In addition, he is a published writer of verses and essays. Musante enjoys bringing the value of the past, present, and future into his classes, encouraging people to see the comprehensive pleasure of learning.

Education: PhD, Middle Tennessee State University; MA and BA, Clemson University         

Publications: Touching Earth and Spirit; Worlds Afterwards; and over 50 individual poems, including free verse and sonnets

Certifications: Connecticut Teacher Certification, English, Grades 7 to 12

Honors and Achievements: Service Excellence Award, Purdue Global; Doctoral Fellowship, Middle Tennessee State University; The Albert and Ethel Carver Smith Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Research Interests: Ancient civilizations, online composition pedagogies, William Blake and British Romanticism

Irina Negrea joined Purdue Global in 2020 in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies, Department of Composition and Writing Across the Curriculum. She began her career as a composition instructor in 1999 at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. After a year with New Jersey City University in 2009, Negrea relocated with her family to North Carolina, where she taught at Shaw University. For more than two decades, she has taught every level of composition, along with numerous other literature and humanities/interdisciplinary courses.

Education: PhD, Lehigh University; MA in English, Kutztown University; MA in British Cultural Studies, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania; BA, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania

Publications: He. She. Sleeps.’: Media and Entropy in Rabbit Redux.” John Updike's Rabbit Saga: A Resource Handbook. Ed. Jack DeBellis. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood/ Praeger, 2005; “Now There’s Two Heroines in One Kitchen”: Lesbianism and Me(h)tafilmic Discourse in Deepa Mehta’s Fire. Portals: A Journal in Comparative Literature. Vol 2. Spring 2004; “They Always Come Back”: Crossing Boundaries in Nella Larsen’s Passing.  Clarion: A Women's Critical Journal. 2004. Available online: www.mills.edu/clarion; “Herstory in the Making: I, the Worst of All and Feminism.” Web publication.

Part of the Reel American History Project. Available online: wwww.Lehigh.edu/%7Eineng/icn2-title.html; “The Family’s ‘Heart of Darkness:’ Passing in African American Memoirs.”  Passing Through: Racial Passing Since 1990. Ed. Julie Cary Nerad. Albany: SUNY Press, 2014; “’Mama, I Think I Broke Something:’ Thinking about the Environment in Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Movies in the Age of Obama. Ed. David Izzo. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2015; “’Gone Over on the Other Side:’ Passing in Charles Chesnutt’s House Behind the Cedars. Borderlands and Liminal Subjects. Ed. Jessica Decker and Dylan Winchock. Charn, Switzerland; Palgrave MacMillan, 2018.

Certifications: CHEP—Certified Higher Education Professional—CECU, July 2020

Honors and Achievements: Excellence in Teaching Award, Shaw University, June 2020

Memberships: AAUP, NCTE, CEA              

Research Interests: Composition Pedagogy, DIE and Composition, Pop culture and the teaching of Composition, Composition and Literature

Miya Nelson began her career with Purdue Global in 2021. Nelson is currently a professor of orientation where she helps incoming students acclimate to life as a PG campus student. She also responsible for implementing DEI & B initiatives within the orientation/student entry department. Her professional experiences include over 15 years of counseling, consulting, and academic advising. Nelson’s teaching experiences have centered around student success, career and life decision making, and cultural diversity.

Education: PhD, Capella University; MS, Minnesota State University, Mankato; BA, Southern University at New Orleans

Publications: Perceptions of conflict within Christian leadership: A generic qualitative inquiry study

Certifications: School Counselor Certification - Louisiana 

Memberships: Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated    

Research Interests: Organization development in religious settings, training and development, career coaching, conflict management

Christine O’Neal teaches numerous science classes at Purdue Global, including microbiology, genetics, cell biology, immunology, and general biology. She served as the genetics course lead for 2 years and was in charge of a major revision of the course. Prior to teaching for Purdue Global, O’Neal taught chemistry, biology, microbiology, biotechnology, and anatomy and physiology at multiple community colleges. She also taught high school AP biology for 2 years. 

Education: PhD, Baylor College of Medicine; MPH, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global); Composite Science Certification, ERT Texas Secondary

Publications: Journal of Virology, Vaccine

Honors and Achievements: Arnold O. Beckman Award for Academic Excellence; Ninth Annual Graduate Student Symposium (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas); Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric GI Training Grant

Memberships: Phi Sigma - National Biology Honor Society, Medical Reserve Corp

Research Interests: The impact of climate change on emerging viruses

Kathrine O’Neil is a Purdue Global composition instructor and the co-course lead for CM107: College Composition I. She joined the University in 2005 and originally taught courses for the student success department. Prior to joining the University, O’Neil taught high school English.

Education: PhD, The Ohio State University; MEd, The Ohio State University; BA, The Ohio State University

Publications: National and state education conference presentations: NOSS, NADE, and OCTELA

Certifications: Teaching license for ELA, grades 7–12

Honors and Achievements: Innovations in Curriculum Award, numerous hours of service to her department and community

Memberships: International Literacy Association

Research Interests: Impact of case studies on teacher efficacy, motivation strategies, writing instruction

January Pearson teaches English composition in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. She began teaching online for the University in 2005 and was promoted to full-time adjunct faculty in 2014. Pearson also taught as an English instructor at Concordia University in Irvine, California. Before instructing at the college level, Pearson began her career as a technical writer, writing and editing software books for a worldwide computer training company. She also gained experience designing and teaching writing classes, both online and in person, for public relations professionals.

Education: MA, California State University in Fullerton

Publications: Gargoyle Magazine, Atlanta Review, Pittsburgh Poetry Review, American Journal of Poetry, Watershed Review, Summerset Review, Capstone literary journal, Four Chambers Press, Timberline Review, The Chiron, Valparaiso Poetry Review

Honors and Achievements: General Education Conference and Literary Festival presentations (Kaplan University)

Memberships: General Education Conference Review Team

Jonathan Racster is a is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Racster teaches various undergraduate courses in sociology, social sciences, professional studies, and the humanities. He started his academic career in 2001 at the Ohio State University in the field of Anthropology, transitioning to sociology in 2013. Racster has since taught at multiple institutions and served on numerous panels and committees related to curriculum and best practices. Racster’s anthropological and sociological research has taken him around the world and spans topics from ethnobotany to primate reproductive ecology to gender equity in the workplace. Racster frequently presents at various colleges, universities, and academic societies on topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion; sex, sexuality, and gender; and best practices in teaching.

Education: MA, New Mexico State University; MA, The Ohio State University

Research Interests: Evolution and iterations of sex, sexuality, and gender

Honors and Achievements: 2021 (Q1) FTA Faculty Excellence Award (Purdue Global); 2020 (Q4) Outstanding Faculty Award FT/FTA (Purdue Global); 2014 Spirit of Kaplan Award (Kaplan University)

Memberships: Lifetime Member, American Association of Biological Anthropologists

Research Interests: Evolution and iterations of sex, sexuality, and gender; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nancy Reck teaches a variety of math and statistics courses, including discrete mathematics and business statistics with quantitative analysis. Reck joined the University in 2009 and has been teaching math since 2002. She has worked as subject matter expert for several mathematics courses. Prior to her teaching career, Reck worked in radar analysis and software development.

Education: MEd and BS, University of California, Los Angeles

Publications: G.W. Lank and N.M. Chung, "CFAR for homogeneous part of high-resolution imagery," in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, vol. 28.

Catherine Rice joined the science department in 2009 as a PT adjunct and then moved into a FT adjunct role in 2015. In addition to teaching Fundamentals of Science for Purdue Global, she also teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II and will be the new course leader for SC131 starting in January 2021. She has served as a team lead and subject matter expert for SNHU and taught Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Introduction to Health Care for Bryant & Stratton College, for whom she also led and participated in committee redesigns and mentored numerous new adjuncts. Before teaching full time, she established and ran a solo chiropractic office, where she practiced for over 20 years.

Education: Doctor of Chiropractic, MS in Teaching, BA in Biology

Certifications: Licensed chiropractor

Honors and Achievements: Recognition of Full Time Faculty Excellence (2019), Full Time Adjunct Faculty Trailblazer Award (2018), Full Time Adjunct Rock Star Award (2017), Full Time Adjunct Superstar Award (2016), Outstanding Full Time Adjunct Faculty (2015)

Memberships: Science Club Advisor

Research Interests: Higher education trends, STEM education, multiculturalism in higher education

Brad Sauls started with Purdue Global in 2020 as an adjunct faculty and was promoted to full-time faculty in 2022. Sauls teaches in the science department in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies and specializes in environmental science and sustainability courses. Sauls has over 10 years of teaching experience, both on campus and online. His career focus is in the research of the decline of shark species in the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to Purdue Global, Sauls also worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service and also worked at several zoos across the country developing animal conservation programs.     

Education: PhD, Environmental and Social Sustainability, Colorado Technical University; MBA, Human Resources and Marketing, Colorado Technical University; BA, History/Geography, University of Tennessee

Publications: The effects of salinity on crop species in the Colorado River Basin    

Research Interests: The decline of shark species in the Atlantic Ocean

Jennifer Schott teaches orientation courses in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. During her 17 years at her previous institution, Schott taught first year seminar and career planning courses, supervised academic and career development staff, and oversaw career development services, programs, and events. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on a variety of academic and career development topics.

Education:  MS, Indiana University; BA, Indiana University

Honors and Achievements:  Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award 2018; Distinguished Career Award 2016

Research Interests:  Student success; career development

Melissa Scranton started with Purdue Global as an online adjunct faculty member in 2010, becoming a course lead and full-time faculty member in 2018. She teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate mathematics courses including applied statistics for psychology, business statistics with quantitative analysis, and survey of mathematics. Scranton began her career as a middle and high school teacher, focusing on the mathematically at-risk, and serving as a parent resource coordinator. She creates an atmosphere where students can gain a deeper understanding of mathematics, so that they can experience it as a useful and creative tool that helps them make sense of the world they are a part of.

Education: PhD, Illinois State University; MS, Missouri State University   

Publications: Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

Certifications: Lifetime certified as state of Missouri teacher of mathematics 7–12

Research Interests: Mathematics intervention programs, statistics education

Currently a full-time adjunct at Purdue Global, Rita Sharma teaches various undergraduate courses in composition. She has extensive experience in online, blended, and hybrid facilitation and has been a professor of composition for 25 years. She is also an active member of University committees. Sharma started her academic career in India and later taught English in Dubai and Jakarta before teaching at Houston Community College in 2002. She moved on to Lake Erie College in Ohio as a professor and was the SAGES leader at Case Western Reserve University. Her research has been shared in a variety of conferences and books, and she has been cited for her expertise on diversity and world literature.

Education: PhD

Honors and Achievements: Numerous teaching, research, and service honors, including three Professor-of-the-Year awards

Publications: Capstone literary journal reviewer, Quest for Self (forthcoming)

Amy Smith is a faculty member in the Science Department, teaching sustainability, environmental science, and general science. She is also the course lead for Introduction to Sustainability and the Bachelor of Science in Sustainability Capstone, and is the STEM Faculty Journal Club coordinator. She frequently presents on both science research and teaching topics. Prior to higher education, Smith was a home-improvement retail manager, owned a small interior remodeling company, and worked as a laboratory technician in water quality.

Education: MS in Environmental Policy, Purdue Global; MS in Forest Ecology and Management, Colorado State University; BS in Environmental Science, Western Washington University 

Publications: Smith, A. E., & Smith, F. W. (2005). Twenty-year change in aspen dominance in pure aspen and mixed aspen/conifer stands on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 213(1-3), 338-348.

Gabriel Smith began his teaching career with Purdue Global in 2007 and has taught College Composition I and II, Fundamentals of Grammar and Editing, and served a short stint as a PG Writing Center tutor. With an academic background in film, criticism, literature, music, and popular culture, he engages his students by helping them tap into their own interests and experiences as they explore the connections between writing and their “real lives.”

Education: MA in Social Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania; BA in English Literature, Indiana University of Pennsylvania     

Publications: White Mutants of Straight Edge: the Avant-Garde of Abstinence, The Journal of Popular Culture, June 2011

The Ed Bullins Reader, Research Assistant to Editor Mike Sell, 2006          

Honors and Achievements: Purdue Global All School Meeting - 2020/2021 - Recognized for Faculty Excellence (FTA); Recognized by the city of Pittsburgh for outstanding accomplishment in performing arts (music) - 2015; Student Employee of the Year Nominee, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of English, March 2006; Awarded Faculty Prize for Short Fiction, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Department of English, May 1999; Recipient of Robert E. Hazlett Award for Poetry, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of English, May 1998     

Memberships: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE); Popular Culture / American Culture Association (PCA/ACA)   

Research Interests: Film, horror as genre, popular culture, subcultural studies, the avant-garde, music, and writing

Carolyn Stevenson teaches the bachelor’s capstone in the professional studies degree program and also serves as a faculty advisor. She oversees numerous innovations in curriculum, including competency-based degree programs. Stevenson serves on several Purdue Global committees. She previously worked in publishing for 5 years before going into higher education teaching and administration. She has been cited for her expertise in online learning, open educational resources, and prior learning. Stevenson is also a reviewer for conference papers and has served on various offices and committees for the American Education Research Association.

Education: EdD, Roosevelt University

Publications: Editor for Enhancing Education Through Open Degree Programs and Prior Learning Assessment

Honors and Achievements: 2016 Bruce Chaloux Scholarship (Online Learning Consortium), 2008 Best Paper Award (Distance Learning Administration), additional teaching, research, and service honors

Memberships: American Education Research Association (AERA)

Tami Tacker currently teaches undergraduate courses in mathematics at Purdue Global, conducts preterm online workshops to ease student anxiety as they prepare for math class, serves on committees within the University, and is the course lead for Survey of Mathematics. She began her online journey with the University in 2003 as an adjunct faculty member. Over her career, Tacker has shared her love of numbers with middle school, high school, and college-level mathematics students at several institutions. Her goal is to make all students, no matter their skill level, comfortable while learning mathematics.

Education: MS, Stephen F. Austin State University; MS, Purdue Global

Honors and Achievements: Outstanding Full-Time Adjunct and Outstanding Curriculum Revision/Innovation nominee (Kaplan University)

Memberships: American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, National Organization for Student Success

Lisa Teitler has been teaching online since 2007. In 2015, she became a full-time adjunct in the Composition Department at Purdue Global. She currently teaches college composition and the competency based program, ExcelTrack™. Teitler has been recognized for her dedication to student learning and innovative approaches to the classroom.

Education: MA, Virginia Commonwealth University

Jamie Thornton began her career with Purdue Global in 2000. Thornton teaches many English-related courses in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies and serves on many committees, as well as acting as chair of the Academic Appeals Committee for over 4 years. Thornton also served as chair on the Information and Digital Technology task force to develop CLA’s for Purdue Global.            

Education: PhD

Julissa (Julie) Torres-Roman teaches various undergraduate courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, and general science. Her work as a full-time adjunct faculty and course lead earned her recognition by the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies and by her peers in the science department. Previously, Torres-Roman was a faculty member at her alma mater, Montclair State University, and at Essex County College, where she taught various science courses and helped underprivileged students pursue their academic goals. Her goal is to make science more approachable by ensuring that students relate to the concepts they are learning about in the classroom. In her personal time, Julie volunteers as an Envirothon instructor for intermediate and middle school students, as well as a judge for local and virtual science fairs for elementary, middle, and high school students, and she is also a trained climate reality leader.

Education: MS, Montclair State University

Honors and Achievements: PG Service Excellence Recognition, Science Teachers Achieving Results (STAR) Award, Curriculum & Revision/Innovation Superstar Award

Memberships: PG Faculty Senate, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association, The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), Phi Kappa Phi, New Jersey Academy of Sciences

Kathryn Vanderburg is a full-time faculty member supporting the new environmental sustainability program and teaches various ecology-based courses for the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. Vanderburg has been with Purdue Global since 2021 as an adjunct faculty and serves as course lead for the biology of pollution, environmental science, and environmental science lab courses in the science department. Before Purdue Global, Vanderburg worked as faculty at Unity Environmental College, West Texas A&M University, and as a rangeland ecologist. She continues to collaborate with various scientists around the United States conducting research in both laboratory and field settings as it relates to rangeland ecology, carbon sequestration, and water dynamics in sustainable agriculture systems, native rangelands, and improved pasture ecosystems. Vanderburg enjoys teaching courses ranging from environmental science to ecological pollution, and even global agriculture to sustainable livestock management with her diverse student populations around the world.   

Education: PhD in Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University; MS in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science; West Texas A&M University; and BS in Animal Science, West Texas A&M University

Publications: Vanderburg, K. L., Steffens, T. J., Lust, D. G., Rhoades, M. B., Blaser, B. C., Peters, K., & Ham, M. J. (2020). Trampling and cover effects on soil compaction and seedling establishment in reseeded pasturelands over time. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 73(3), 452-461.

Radicke, K. L. (2020). Effect of the inclusion of legumes within perennial grasses on water footprint, economic value, and methane emission. Doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University.

Dhakal, Madhav, Chuck West, Carlos Villalobos, Philip Brown, Paul Green, Rick Kellison, Kathryn Radicke, Jhones Sarturi, and Donna McCallister. (2020). Improving grassland with alfalfa in the Texas High Plains.

Radicke, K., Ning, J., West, C., & Brown, P. (2019). Assessment of Drone Image Analysis of Legume Cover in Pastures in Relation to Ground Assessment. In ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. ASA-CSSA-SSSA.

Radicke, K., West, C., & Henry, D. (2019). Can Alfalfa in Mixture with Grass Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions from Cattle on Pasture? In ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings. ASA-CSSA-SSSA.

Certifications: Holistic Management International Certified Educator (in progress)            

Honors and Achievements: Outstanding Faculty Award, Purdue Global School of General Education (2021)

Outstanding Technical Paper Contest, Texas Section Rangeland Ecology and Management Meeting (2020)

Memberships: American Society of Agronomy; American Forage and Grassland Council; Soil Science Society of America; Crop Science Society of America

Research Interests: Animal health, environmental health, and sustainable agricultural management practices in relation to water footprints and carbon dynamics that also focus on carbon sequestration, and soil gas fluxes regarding soil microbial ecology in the semi-arid high plains.

Robert Vaughan currently teaches ethics, critical thinking, world religions, and humanities at Purdue Global and is the course lead for a course in bioethics. He owns a private company that meets the educational needs of organizations and corporations. Vaughan is actively researching management principles in higher education and applies his research to the classroom.

Education: DMin, George Fox University; MDiv, MSM, MEd

Josef Vice is a faculty member in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue Global. He currently teaches and serves as a course lead for College Composition I. Vice has taught at the university level for the past 35 years, including 20 years of online teaching. He also taught high school English for one year at the beginning of his career, as well as teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners in Japan. Vice’s published works include articles on W.H. Auden, as well as various articles and book chapters on the teaching of writing. He is the co-editor of two forthcoming books published by McFarland on gender and sexuality representation in contemporary popular culture. He is currently engaged in a study of faculty attitudes toward teaching LGBTQIA2S+ students.

Education: EdD, Teaching and Learning/Higher Ed, Alverno College; MA in English, Jacksonville State University

Certifications: Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication and Professional Writing, Middle Georgia State University Dissertation Fellowship to study Rhetoric and Composition at Auburn University.

Memberships: Association of Writing Across the Curriculum, South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Auden Society and Georgia Society of Teachers of English

Research Interests:  The pedagogy of adult learners, gender and sexuality studies, and southern culture

Jan Watson, full-time composition faculty member, brings a college writing teaching background from Columbia University and several private and state universities in Maine. Watson is currently at work on a third novel for Penguin Random House. She has presented several academic presentations on subjects ranging from virtual literary festivals to innovations in writing instruction to research-based studies in andragogy. In recent years, she has served as an orientation facilitator, a GEL committee member, an Academic Appeals committee member, and a poetry editor for Capstone, the faculty literary magazine.

Education: MFA, Columbia University

Publications: Asta in the Wings (2009), What Has Become of You (2014)

Honors and Achievements: 2014 Kaplan University-Maine Faculty Excellence Award; starred book reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and The New York Times Book Review

Memberships: Association of Writers and Publishers Alliance

Sara Wink has been teaching college composition since 2004 where started as a part-time adjunct for institutions such as Carroll University of Wisconsin and Bay de Noc Community College in Michigan. Wink transitioned to teaching online in 2009 and has been with Purdue Global ever since. She now teaches full-time and enjoys helping students develop their critical reading and writing skills. Wink also supports the creativity of her colleagues as co-editor of The Gauge and co-creator of the Creative Salon.

Education: MFA, Minnesota State University; BA Wisconsin Lutheran College      

Publications: “The Boy Who Conquered Goose Island.” The Gauge. Purdue Global.

“Blue House Dare.” The Gauge. Purdue Global. Summer 2022

“The Final Tampering of Madame Midsomer.” The Gauge. Purdue Global. Winter 2020/2021

“Love with Sincerity.” The Gauge. Purdue Global. Winter 2020/2021

“The Hungry Mother.” Pen Name: Jean Lee. Mobius: The Journal of Social Change 32(1). Spring 2021 

Honors and Achievements: Recognition of FT/FTA Faculty Excellence, 2022; Recognition of PT Faculty Excellence. 2019; Outstanding PT Adjunct Faculty, 2015   

Research Interests: Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC); podcasting uses in online education; neurodivergent student needs in online learning

Wendi Wolfram is a full-time faculty member in the environmental and sustainability program with over two decades of higher education teaching and research experience.  Having developed and taught over 30 different courses formatted for online, face-to-face, and hybrid, she has strived to incorporate new teaching strategies along with technology to enhance STEM initiatives. 

Before Purdue Global, Wolfram taught undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of biology and environmental management and previously served as both a Program Director for an Environmental Management Master’s Program as well as a Grassland Initiative Program Director. Her academic, research, and publishing experience includes environmental management, science education, organismal biology, conservation and wildlife biology, animal behavior, and ecology.

Education: PhD, Biology, University of Exeter (UK); MS, Environmental Management, Hardin-Simmons University; BS, Biology, Hardin-Simmons University

Certifications: QM Certified Peer- Reviewer         

Honor and Achievements: Multiple research, educational, and equipment grants; 2017 Holland Award of Teaching Excellence

Memberships: Animal Behavior Society (ABS); Wildlife Society (TWS); American Society of Mammalogists (ASM); Texas Academy of Science (TAS) – Current Vice Chair Conservation Ecology

Research Interests: Environmental impacts on biodiversity; Animal behavior; Chemosensory signaling.