Human Services Faculty
Purdue Global Leadership
Sara Sander began her career with Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) in 1997. She has served in a variety of positions including professor of communications and languages and program coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences, now known as the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her experience includes over 15 years of teaching adult learners, with a focus in the last 10 years in online education and administration.
Education: PhD, Capella University; MA and BA, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Research Interests: Emotional intelligence, faculty performance and behaviors, communication in the online classroom
Sara Sander Link
Miranda Brand has served as associate dean in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences since 2011. She joined Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) in 2006 as an adjunct instructor in the School of Graduate Education and subsequently led the Department of Educational Studies as academic chair from 2008 to 2011. Prior to joining Purdue Global, she served 20 years in public education in various roles including teacher, curriculum coordinator, staff development presenter, and school administrator.
Education: EdD, Nova Southeastern University
Miranda Brand Link
Tessa Holst currently serves as the assistant dean of students within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences where she oversees and generates initiatives to develop student engagement and improve student retention. She is also responsible for problem identification and resolution for second-level student complaints and conflicts. Prior to her current role, Holst served as the graduation director and event planner within the Provost Office. She was responsible for bi-annual graduation event ceremonies, celebrations, and faculty retreats. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years and recently completed her second term as school board member for her local school district, having served for 4 years as president.
Education: MS, Kaplan University (now Purdue University Global)
Honors and Achievements: 2017 Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Non-Academic Support Team Award (Kaplan University), 2005 Hero Award (Kaplan University), 2003 Extra Mile Award (Kaplan Higher Education)
Tessa Holst Link
At Purdue University Global, Betsy Tomei has served as adjunct instructor, Assistant Chair of the Department of Professional Studies, scheduling manager, and assistant dean for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In her role as assistant dean, Tomei oversees the scheduling team responsible for the College of Social Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, and Concord Law School. She also manages special projects and provides data management and operational support to the department chairs, associate deans, and dean of the College. Tomei is an active member of the Purdue University Global Learning and Leadership Advisory Committee and a PG Ambassador.
Tomei has been in the education field both as an educator and administrator since 1995. She started her career with Johnson & Wales University as a financial planning counselor and financial aid officer. After receiving her MA in education, Tomei joined the Chicago Public School Department where she served as a teacher and technology coordinator. She returned to the field of higher education when she joined Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University) as an adjunct instructor teaching Academic Strategies for the Business Professional.
Education: MBA, Johnson & Wales University; MA, Saint Xavier University
Certifications: Project Management Certificate, Kaplan University, School of Professional and Continuing Education
Honors and Achievements: 2020 Organization Builders—Honorable Mention, Purdue University Global; 2016 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Kaplan Way Award nominee; 2016 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding University Service nominee; 2014 School of Social and Behavioral Science Kaplan Way Award winner
Memberships: University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)
Betsy Tomei Link
Maggie Morgan has served as the program chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences since February 2020. She joined Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) in 2006, as an adjunct instructor and subsequently worked as an assistant chair in the School of General Education until her promotion to assistant dean. She has over 25 years of experience in human services with a specific focus on military families.
Education: PhD, Capella University; MEd, Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Research Interests: Assessment in higher education, resilience, educational outcomes in military children
Maggie Morgan Link
Jessie Budzinski has served as the assistant department chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ Human Services department since March 2021. She joined Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University) in 2009, as an adjunct instructor. In 2011, she added course leader to her role and in 2015, she became a full-time adjunct instructor and faculty mentor.
Before teaching in higher education, Budzinski was a field instructor for the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina where she supervised and evaluated social work students in the master’s degree program. Budzinski worked with young children with special needs and their families and has presented at state Head Start conferences and national Birth-to-Three Institutes.
Education: MSW, University of Michigan
Honors and Achievements: Human Services Faculty Member of the Year, Outstanding Professor Nomination, Outstanding Course Leader, Outstanding Full-time Adjunt Faculty Member
Research Interests: Student retention and innovation in the online classroom
Jessie Budzinski LinkPurdue Global Full-Time Faculty and Full-Time Adjuncts
Melanie Beath teaches various undergraduate courses in human services. She serves as the course lead for a course on human behavior and the environment. Prior to joining Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University), Beath started her academic career at Buena Vista University. She has been actively involved in the human services field for over 25 years in the areas of juvenile justice, child and family counseling, mentoring, college counseling, nonprofit management and case management, along with teaching and public speaking. She has credentials as a Human Service Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) credential and Temporary License in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT).
Education: MA, Alliant University; BA, Central College
Research Interests: Student involvement and outcomes in human behavior and the environment
Melanie Beath Link
Juliet Bradley teaches a variety of courses in the Human Services Department, and has revised and developed courses on the undergraduate and graduate level. Within the Human Services Department, she has also acted as faculty advisor for different student organizations, mentored new faculty members, and has served as a course lead for several classes. Additionally, she served on several University-wide committees and task forces and has facilitated orientation sessions for new students. Bradley has worked in higher education since 2006, teaching courses related to human development, behavioral health, and human services in onground and online formats. Additionally, she is a Licensed Social Worker with 17 years of experience in the fields of human services and social work and has experience writing grants for a nonprofit mental health agency.
Education: PhD, University of Delaware; MSW, Boston College; BA, West Chester University
Honors and Achievements: Presentations at national and international conferences
Research Interests: Children with disabilities, adolescents with mental health issues and substance use problems
Juliet Bradley Link
Nancy Duncan is a full-time adjunct faculty member in the Human Services Department. She is the instructor for a variety of undergraduate courses with a special interest in children and families, trauma, neonatal abstinence syndrome infants, and intergenerational transmission of poverty and trauma. Prior to teaching, she was an ER child abuse investigator, forensic interviewer at CPS, and program director, and spent many years in the court systems and worked with foster children, adoptions, and trauma-related issues. She has also worked at a mental health in-patient facility, as a family life program director, and worked extensively with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and many other challenges in the field.
Education: MSW, California State University, Sacramento
Publications: Child Welfare journal, Diabetes, WebMD, Self, Experience Life
Research Interests: Intergenerational transmission of poverty, abuse, and substance abuse, child trafficking and child trauma
Nancy Duncan Link
William Goodwin teaches various undergraduate courses in human services with emphases ranging from clinical practice to administration and leadership. In 2010, he joined the human services faculty at Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) and became a full-time adjunct in 2015. Goodwin has over a decade of experience providing mental health and counseling services. A licensed professional counselor, he has counseled individuals struggling with addiction as well as those dealing with anxiety or depression.
Education: EdS, Oral Roberts University; MA, Liberty University; MBA, Amberton University
William Goodwin Link
Denise Orpustan-Love is a full-time adjunct faculty member and course lead in the Master of Science in Human Services program. She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in human services, sociology, and social work since 2007. Orpustan-Love has developed and revised multiple courses in higher education and served on several university committees. She has more than 20 years of practice experience as social worker in a variety of settings, specializing in gerontology and health.
Education: PhD, California Institute of Integral Studies; MSW, University of California, Berkeley
Publications: An Exploration into Basque Spiritualism: A Heuristic Study, The Mill House Speaks: Seven Pathways to the Ancestral Basque Homeland
Honors and Achievements: Keynote speaker, Bi-Annual Basque Cultural Day, San Francisco (2017)
Research Interests: Indigenous health and wellness
Denise Orpustan-Love Link
Linda Simon teaches classes in the Human Services Department. She began her career as a probation officer. After working in this field for a few years, she decided to obtain her counseling degree. Simon has over 19 years of experience working with couples, families, and children/adolescents in different settings. She has served as a peer reviewer and is the faculty advisor for the Tau Upsilon Alpha honor society. Simon is currently licensed as a Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia and is also a National Certified Counselor.
Education: EdD, Argosy University; MS, Jacksonville State University; BA, Shorter College
Honors and Achievements: Numerous presentations on stress, burnout, and academic success in the elementary and middle school setting
Research Interests: Stress, burnout, bullying, prevention
Linda Simon Link
Kristy Vukoder teaches various undergraduate courses in human services. Her specialty is working with first-term students by helping them navigate the online environment. Vudoker started her career teaching group communication at Seton Hall University and moved on to teaching at Rutgers University. After teaching on campus for 11 years, she moved on to Purdue Global as a full-time adjunct online and teaches at her local community college part time.
Education: MA, Seton Hall University
Honors and Achievements: Outstanding Classroom Innovation Award; Professor of the Year Award Nomination
Kristy Vukoder Link