Nov 21, 2024  
BVU Academic Catalog 2024-2025 
    
BVU Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Academic Personnel



Administration

Dixee Bartholomew-Feis, dean of the School of Liberal Arts, and professor of history; B.A., West Virginia University; Certificate of French, Sorbonne, Paris, France; M.Ed., College of William and Mary; Ph.D., Ohio State University

John Bedward, director of academic innovation, associate professor of education- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); B.S., M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Lisa Kesting Best, dean of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business, professor of business law and political science; B.S., Southern Illinois University; J.D., Southern Illinois University School of Law

Thomas Bonagura, dean of the School of Science and associate professor of biology; B.S., University of Maryland, College Park; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Jean Bral, vice president for extended university programs; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S., University of South Dakota

Jamii Claiborne, vice president of student success; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.F.A., Old Dominion University

Patti Demers, director of financial assistance; B.A., Buena Vista University

Annamaria Formichella, director of strategic initiatives; professor of English; B.A., University of New Hampshire; M.F.A., Emerson College; M.A., Ph.D., Tufts University

Brittany Garling, dean of the School of Education; assistant professor of education TESL/C+1; B.A., Wartburg College; M.A. University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Iowa

James Hewett, institutional researcher; B.A., Central College; M.A., University of Missouri

Brandon Johnson, vice president of athletics, enrollment, and marketing, B.A. Buena Vista University; M.A. University of Saint Mary; Ed.D. Baker University

Brian Lenzmeier, president; B.A., St. John’s University; Ph.D., Colorado State University

Amy Maier, director of athletics

Heidi Lynn Kennedy Manning, provost/vice president of academic affairs; B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Jodie Morin, director of the library; B.A., Central College; M.A., University of Iowa

Donna Musel, director of center for academic excellence and disability service provider; B.A., M.S., Buena Vista University

Christopher Phalen, director of choral activities, B.A., B.M., M.M. University of Northern Iowa

Suzette Radke, vice president for finance and administration; B.A. Wartburg College; M.P.A. University of South Dakota

Jennifer Stockdall, director of enrollment and student success

Melinda Thompson, registrar; B.A. Minnesota Bible College; MAR, Emmanuel School of Religion; Ph.D. Luther Seminary

Full-Time Faculty

Carlos Acosta-Ponce, assistant professor of English, B.A., M.A., University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez; M.A., Ph.D., University of Tulsa

Nathan Backman, professor of computer science; B.S., Whitworth University; Sc.M., Brown University; Ph.D., Brown University

Jean Bahney, assistant professor of education; B.A., M.Ed., Texas A&M University-Texarkana; Ed.D., Texas A&M University-Commerce

Dixee Bartholomew-Feis, dean of the School of Liberal Arts, and professor of history; B.A., West Virginia University; Certificate of French, Sorbonne, Paris, France; M.A., College of William and Mary; M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State University

Steven Wesley Beckwith, assistant professor of psychology; B.A. Coe College; M.S., Ph.D. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Lisa Bengtson, instructor of exercise science; B.A., Augustana College; M.S., University of Northern Iowa; Ed.D., Creighton University

Alex Berry, assistant professor of biology; B.S., Ball State University; Ph.D., Miami University

Bradley Best, professor of political science; B.A., Wartburg College; M.P.P., University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Lisa Kesting Best, dean of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business, professor of business law and political science; B.S., Southern Illinois University; J.D., Southern Illinois University School of Law

Jessy Bibler, assistant professor of physical education; B.A., M.Ed, Buena Vista University; Ed.D., Drake University

Beth Blankers, assistant dean of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business and professor of accounting; B.S., B.A., Drake University; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School

David Boelter, professor of art; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.A., M.F.A., University of Iowa

Thomas Bonagura, dean of the School of Science and associate professor of biology; B.S., University of Maryland, College Park; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Andrew Bumstead, assistant professor of english; B.A., Brigham Young University; M.F.A., Boston University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Utah

Taylor Carlson, assistant professor of animation, B.F.A., M.F.A., Iowa State University

Stephen Clar, assistant professor of sport management; B.A., University of Norte Dame; M.A., Canisius College J.D., University at Buffalo School of Law

Justin Cook, assistant professor of clinical mental health counseling; B.S., MS., Missouri State University; Ph.D. University of Arkansas

Katherine Cota, instructor of entrepreneurship/director of the lamberti center for rural entrepreneurship, B.A., University of Northern Iowa; M.B.A., St. Ambrose University

Heather Delgado, assistant professor of clinical mental health counseling; B.A., M.S., Ph.D., University of North Carolina

Lucas DeWitt, assistant professor of education - graduate studies/director of Teacher Leadership Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education; B.A. Wartburg College; M.A. Iowa State University; Ed.D. Nova Southeastern University

Brittney Dinkel, associate professor of biology; B.S. Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ph.D., Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

Aaron Eastwood, assistant professor of music production, B.A., B.M., California State University at Fullerton; M.M. University of Valley Forge

Geoffrey Ecker, assistant professor of agronomy; B.A. Goucher College, M.A.; Ph.D.,University of Connecticut

Mark Eilertsen, instructor of criminal justice/criminology, B.S., Western Connecticut State University; M.A., University of Oklahoma

William Feis, professor of history; B.A., M.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Ph.D., Ohio State University

Renee Fensom, assistant professor of professional school counseling/director of Professional School Counseling; B.S., Virginia Commonwealth University; M.A., Hampton University; Ph.D., Old Dominion University

Annamaria Formichella, professor of English; director of strategic initiatives; B.A., University of New Hampshire; M.F.A., Emerson College; M.A., Ph.D., Tufts University

Andrea Frantz, professor of digital media; B.A., Simpson College; M.A., Ph.D., Iowa State University

Fredi Arias Garcia, instructor of agricultural business; B.S., Escuela Agricola Panamericana, Zamorano; M.B.A., Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas; M.S., Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia

Brittany Garling, dean of the School of Education; assistant professor of education TESL/C+1; B.A., Wartburg College; M.A. University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Iowa

Wind Goodfriend, professor of experimental psychology; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S., Ph.D., Purdue University

Trenton Grundmeyer, assistant professor of education B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S., Drake University; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Gail Hartsock, associate professor of mathematics; B.S., Buena Vista University; Ph.D., Baylor University

Melanie Hauser, associate professor of chemistry and university chaplain; B.S., Pennsylvania State University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Oregon

Stephanie Hays-Angstrom, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice; B.A., M.H.R, University of Oklahoma; M.A., Ph.D., University of Florida

Jennifer Hecht, assistant professor of accounting; B.B.A. University of Iowa; M.B.A. Indiana University

David Henning, assistant professor of exercise science, B.S., Portland State University; M.S., University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Ph.D., Michigan State University

Michelle Huntress, assistant professor of education; B.A., Westmar College; M.A., Morningside College

Jerry Johnson, assistant professor of digital media; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.A., University of South Dakota

Tyler Jones, assistant professor of chemistry and biomedical Sciences, B.S., Creighton University, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center

Bryan Kampbell, associate professor of communication studies; B.A., University of Nebraska, Kearney; M.A., Ohio State University; Ph.D., Duquesne University

Liz Kluver, instructor of management; B.A. Grandview University; M.B.A. Southwest Minnesota State University

Branis Knezevic, assistant professor of professional school counseling; B.Ed., Brock University; M.S.E., Wayne State; Ph.D. University of South Dakota

Timothy McDaniel, assistant professor of mathematics; B.S., Rockhurst College; M.S., Northwestern University; M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Lisa Mellmann, professor of chemistry and biomedical sciences; B.A., Wartburg College; Ph.D., Montana State University

Mary Mello-Nee, professor of art; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.F.A., University of South Dakota

Michelle Metzger, associate professor of education, STEM (math); B.S., Concordia University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Leigh Meyer, assistant professor of agricultural science/animal science; B.S., Northwest Missouri State University; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Steven Mills, professor of Spanish; B.A., M.A., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., Purdue University

Brian Pattie, instructor of communication studies; B.A. Oakland University, M.A. Wayne State University

Kevin Price, instructor of management; B.A., Moorhead State University; MBA, Touro University International; MEd, Touro University International

Emma Reeve-Lobaugh, assistant professor of education; B.A., M.A., University of Northern Iowa

Bret Richards, visiting instructor of business; B.S., University of Iowa; M.A., Ph.D., Bellevue University

Marian Riner, assistant professor of social work/program director; B.S., University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; M.S.W., University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Richard Riner, assistant professor of criminology/criminal justice; B.A., M.A. University of Arkansas; Ph.D. University of Texas, Dallas

Katie Ruscitto, assistant professor of counselor education/director of mental health counseling; B.A., LaRoche College; M.A., Waynesburg University; Ph.D., Walden University

Sarah Schlichte, assistant professor of biomedical science; B.S., Buena Vista University; Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center

Carol Seid, assistant professor of education; B.S., M.S.E., Ed.D., Drake University

Hayley Seuntjens, instructor of mathematics; B.S., Buena Vista University; M.S.E., Wayne State College

Jason Shepherd, professor of computer science; B.S., Buena Vista University; M.S., University of Nebraska, Omaha; Ph.D., University of South Dakota

Shawn Stone, professor of physics and computer science; B.S., Bemidji State University; M.S., University of North Dakota; Ph.D., University of Kansas

Dan Strohmyer, assistant professor of education; B.S., University of Nebraska; M.S., Ed., Walden University; Ph.D. Walden University

Karin Strohmyer, associate professor of special education; B.S., University of Nebraska, Kearney; M.A., University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Ph.D., Walden University

Jill Tussey, assistant professor of literacy/early childhood development - Creston; B.A., M.Ed. Buena Vista University; Ed.D. Capella University

Jennifer Werries, clinical director mental health counseling; B.S., M.S., University of Illinois; M.A., Seton Hall University; Ph.D., University of Cumberlands

Mary Whirley, assistant professor of special education; B.A., University of North Texas; M.Ed., Ph.D., Texas A.M. University

Samuel Wilson, assistant professor of management & entrepreneurship; B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder; M.B.A., Mahidol University of Thailand, Ph.D., Old Dominion University

Christine Wixom, instructor of business; B.B.A. M.B.A., Baker College; D.B.A., California Southern University 

Deirar Yagie, assistant professor of finance; M.S., Russel Sage College; DBA., Northumbria University

Emeriti Faculty

Joni Anderson, associate professor emeritus of management; B.S., Purdue University; M.B.A., University of St. Thomas; Ph.D., Iowa State University

Scott Anderson, professor emeritus of marketing; B.A., University of Northern Iowa; M.S., Colorado State University; DBA, Nova Southeastern University

Manoocher Aryanpur, professor emeritus of English; B.A., University of Tehran, Iran; M.A., Ph.D., University of Colorado; Honorary Doctorate, Escuela Superior, Tecnología de Administración, Lima, Peru

Richard Beebe, professor emeritus of MIS; B.S., University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; M.A.T., University of Wisconsin, Whitewater; Ph.D., Kennedy Western University

Janet Berry, assistant professor emeritus of exercise science; B.S., Iowa State University; M.A., Mankato State University

Joyce Bettin, associate professor emeritus of social work; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S.W., University of Iowa

Swasti Bhattacharyya, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion; R.N., B.A., Loma Linda University; M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary; M.A., University of Virginia; Ph.D., University of Southern California

Robert Blodgett, professor emeritus of psychology; B.A., Castleton State College; M.A., Ph.D., University of New Hampshire

Stanley Bochtler, professor emeritus of education; B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Southern Illinois University

Kline Capps, professor emeritus of education; B.S., Northeast Missouri State; B.B.S., Prairie Bible Institute; M.A., Northeast Missouri State University; Ph.D., University of Missouri, Columbia

Nasser Dastrange, professor emeritus of mathematics; B.S., University of Tehran, Iran; M.S., Michigan State University; Ph.D., Oregon State University

Dennis Dykema, professor emeritus of art; A.A., B.A., Northwestern College; M.A., University of Northern Iowa

Beverly Edmondson, professor emeritus of educational psychology; B.R.E., Baptist Bible College; M.A., Liberty University; M.S., Ph.D., Syracuse University

Roger Egland, assistant professor emeritus of physical education; B.A., Luther College; M.Ed., Western Illinois University; Ph.D., University of Kansas

Bruce Ellingson, professor emeritus of digital media; B.S., Moorhead State University; M.A., University of Missouri; Ph.D., University of Iowa

Robert Ferguson, professor emeritus of psychology; B.A., Cornell College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati

Callé Freisen, associate professor emeritus of education-literacy; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S.E., Ed.D., Drake University

Mary Gill, professor emeritus of communication studies; B.A., M.A, South Dakota State University; Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln

James Hampton, professor emeritus of biology; B.S, M.S., University of Cincinnati; Ph.D., Cornell University

Henry Hardt II, professor emeritus of business law and finance; B.S., Iowa State University; J.D., College of Law, University of Iowa; M.B.A., University of Arkansas

Jon Hixon, professor emeritus of guidance and counseling; B.A., St. Cloud State University; M.S., University of Wisconsin; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Jonathan E.C. Hutchins, professor emeritus of chemistry; B.A., University College, Oxford, England; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Paula Keeler, assistant professor emeritus of vocal music; B.S., Wichita State University; M.S., University of Kansas; Ph.D., University of South Dakota

David Klee, professor emeritus of instrumental music; B.A., Mercer College; M.M.Ed., University of South Carolina; DMA, University of Georgia

Elizabeth Lamoureux, professor emeritus of communication studies; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.A., Pittsburg State University, Kansas; Ph.D., University of Kansas

Richard Lampe, professor emeritus of biology; B.S., Buena Vista University; M.A., University of Kansas; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Bethany Larson, professor emeritus of theatre; B.F.A, Texas Tech University; M.A., University of Arkansas; Ph.D., University of Kansas

Robbie Ludy, professor emeritus of special education and liaison to international education programs; B.S., M.A., Northeast Missouri State University; Ed.D., University of Missouri, Columbia

Sandra Madsen, professor emeritus of speech communication; B.A., M.A.T., University of Wisconsin, Whitewater; Ph.D., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Iowa

James McFadden, associate professor emeritus of English composition; B.S.Ed., M.A., Southern Illinois University; Ph.D., Miami University

Kathryn McKinley, associate professor emeritus of social work; B.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln; M.S.W., University of Illinois, Chicago; Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Ann Petersen, professor emeritus of education; B.A., Mary Washington College; M.A., Ed.D., Virginia Tech

Gerald Poff, professor emeritus of biology; B.S., McPherson College; Ph.D., Colorado State University

Margaret Redenbaugh, associate professor emeritus of accounting; B.S., M.B.A., Northwest Missouri State University; Ed.D., University of South Dakota

Scott Richey, associate professor emeritus of Spanish; B.A., M.A., Brigham Young University; Ph.D., Indiana University

Stanley Rishoi, associate professor emeritus of music/director of choirs; B.S., South Dakota State University; M.M., University of South Dakota

Paul Russell; professor emeritus of economics; B.A., Northern State College; M.B.A., University of South Dakota; Ed.D., Colorado State University

Kenneth Schweller, professor emeritus of computer science and psychology; B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Illinois

Peter Steinfeld, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion; B.S., St. Lawrence University; M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Union Institute

Jeanne Tinsley, professor emeritus of psychology; B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Illinois

Steven Tonsfeldt, associate professor emeritus of physics and general science; B.S., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Joseph Traylor, professor emeritus of physics and computer science; A.B., Asbury College; Ph.D., University of Tennessee

Stanton Ullerich, professor emeritus of economics; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S., Iowa State University; Ph.D., Purdue University

David Walker, assistant professor emeritus of theatre and coordinator of technical production & staging; B.A., M.A., University of Arkansas

Michael Whitlatch, professor emeritus of theatre, B.S., M.A., Miami University; Ph.D. Bowling Green State University

Marjorie Willadsen, assistant professor emeritus of exercise science/head softball coach; B.S., Washington State University; M.A., University of Iowa

Adjunct Faculty

A listing of adjunct faculty at Buena Vista University is available by writing the office of the Provost, Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588. If you are requesting BVU Online or Graduate Programs adjuncts, please specify which division list you desire.