College of the Professions Faculty - Marian University | Marian University

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Darlene Adelmeyer

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: daadelmeyer00@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MSN
Strengths: College of the Professions, Nursing Department

Faculty Gladys Arome — Gladys Arome
Title: Assistant Professor
Email: gaarome23@marianuniversity.edu
Strengths: College of the Professions, Education Department

Gladys Arome

Gladys Arome began her career in TV media and K-12 library media, before finally transitioning into higher education. While working for colleges and universities, she designed classes for both face-to-face and online learning environments and mentored graduate students toward completion of their dissertations for more than 15 years. Gladys enjoys interacting with students and sharing knowledge on the potential capabilities of technology to enhance teaching and learning in educational settings. She also enjoys the use of technology for training and development to engage individuals in all work settings, as well as exploring new technologies and their potential to improve work performance.

Jeffrey Biessman

Title: Interim Chair/ Associate Professor
Email: jbbiessman22@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Faculty member David Boers — David Boers
Title: Professor
Email: dboers@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

David Boers

Dr. David Boers earned his Doctor of Education in Secondary Education from Ball State University, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

At Marian, Dr. Boers teaches a variety of courses in several programs including the DIAL Master’s Program, the Educational Leadership Master’s Program, and the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program. One DIAL course, entitled Current Perspectives in American Education, investigates the history and the evolution of contemporary education. Dr. Boers is also the lead teacher for DIAL courses Effective Schools Research: What Works and Effective Classroom Strategies and Practicesamong others. Doctoral Program courses include Sociocultural Concerns in Education and Leadership and Advanced Curriculum Theory.

Dr. Boers has a keen interest in the history of American education. His books, WISC, WISC 2, WISC 3 and The History of American Education describe his work in these areas. In addition, Dr. Boers’ research areas of interest include philosophy and techniques for encouraging discouraged learners. His books, Making the Difference, Happy Classrooms, and Lost and Found: The CARTIE Model for Reclaiming Students, describe his ideas and research regarding these topics. Recent research themes include issues regarding oppressed populations and, in particular, the plight of fugitive slaves. At present, Dr. Boers is working on his next book which will feature the freedom run of Wisconsin’s first identified fugitive slave.

curriculum vitae

Tammy Chapin

Title: Assistant Professor/Nursing Learning Specialist
Email: tmchapin82@marianuniversity.edu

Faculty Ya-Fang Cheng — Ya Fang Cheng
Title: Assistant Professor
Email: ycheng37@marianuniversity.edu

Ya Fang Cheng

Professor Cheng earned her Ph.D at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on early literacy, early learning standards, school readiness, professional development, and teacher education. She loves to share her cultures and Taiwanese food with everyone.

Anthony Dallmann-Jones

Title: Professor
Email: adallmanjones@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Scott Dell — Scott Dell
Title: Assistant Professor, Accounting
Email: sdell18@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MBA, CPA, MAE

Scott Dell

Scott Dell has served in the navy and is an experienced accountant (CPA), educator, entrepreneur, manager, learner, salesperson, technologist and business professional. Scott began his professional career in Boston with the Big 8 (now called the Big 4, the 4 largest accounting firms in the world) and brings a global perspective to his teaching, especially having traveled to four continents. His background includes teaching accounting, business and technology-related courses, as well as motorcycle safety (MSF) for Harley Davidson. He has experience owning, operating and growing businesses as well as educating many, helping students and peers learn and grow. With more than 20 years of college level teaching and 20 years of business experience, Dell helps his students to not only learn the content, but also to understand how the knowledge gained fits into the real world.

Faculty W Alan Dixon — W. Alan Dixon
Title: Associate Professor/Chair, Business Department
Email: wadixon33@marianuniversity.edu

Jan Edelstein — Janice Edelstein
Title: Associate Professor (Doctorate)
Email: jaedelstein@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: EdD

Sean Fitzpatrick

Title: Assistant Professor (Doctorate)
Email: sjfitzpatrick02@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

James Gray — James Gray
Title: Assistant Professor, Sport and Recreation Management
Email: jtgray75@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: JD

James Gray

Tenure video

Katie Hughes — Katie Hughes
Title: Undergraduate Nursing Program Director
Email: kmhughes65@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: DNP

Katie Hughes

Katie Hughes earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree in psychiatric/mental health nursing and education from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2006, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 2000. Hughes has served as a professor at Marian since 2005 in several roles, including as an academic advisor, clinical coordinator and assistant professor.

Sr. Donna Innes — Sr. Donna Innes
Title: Professor
Email: dinnes@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Sr. Donna Innes

Sr. Donna Innes was called to membership in the Sister of St. Agnes serving in the ministry of education. Innes earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Catholic University of America, a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Dayton, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Marian. As a Kellogg Fellow, Innes has traveled to Nicaragua, Mexico, Italy, Belgium, China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Israel, and other countries studying policies and structures for education, agriculture and healthcare. Innes also served as Curriculum Director for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for eight years. Currently, Innes’ leadership responsibilities include serving as a leader in the School of Education at Marian, serving as a General Counselor for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes. She formerly served in several positions, including Assistant Provost, Dean of the Professional, Adult and Continuing Education at Marian, and in leading the NCATE accreditation process for Marian and for the University of Portland.

curriculum vitae

Brian Joachim — Brian Joachim
Title: Assistant Professor (Masters)
Email: bwjoachim03@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MS

Faculty Philip Johnson — Philip Johnson
Title: Director of Field and Clinical Experiences
Email: prjohnson91@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MS

Christine Laurent — Christine Laurent
Title: Assistant Professor, Nursing
Email: cplaurent58@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MSN

Jessica Little — Jessica Little
Title: Assistant Professor
Email: jalittle82@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MS

Rachel Loduha — Rachel Loduha
Title: Assistant Professor, MSN
Email: reloduha17@marianuniversity.edy
Degree: MSN

Faculty Polly Manske — Polly Manske
Title: Assistant Professor
Email: pkmanske52@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MSE

Janet McCord — Janet McCord
Title: Professor and Director, Edwin S. Shneidman Program in Thanatology
Email: jsmccord12@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Janet McCord

Janet McCord holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Boston University and is a Fellow in Thanatology (FT), a credential awarded by the Association for Death Education and Counseling.

Under the direct supervision of Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and UCLA Professor Emeritus Dr. Edwin S. Shneidman, she focused her doctoral dissertation on Holocaust survivor writers who killed themselves after the war, utilizing psychological pain theories of Dr. Shneidman to conduct literary psychological autopsies. Her doctoral work and her two mentors inspired her career trajectory as a lifelong suicidologist and thanatologist. She serves as a researcher with the United States Marine Corps Suicide Prevention Psychological Autopsy Project and was certified as a Psychological Autopsy Investigator by the American Association of Suicidology in 2013.

A Peace Corps volunteer for many years, Dr. McCord has had many travel opportunities, both for self-development and student research. Dr. McCord serves on the Board the Association for Death Education and Counseling, is co-director of research for the American Institute for Veteran Research and Policy, and serves on numerous local boards and committees. Lastly, she is a volunteer Horse Project Leader for the Calumet County 4-H.

Dr. McCord has been married to Michael J. McCord for 30 years. They have one daughter, Caitlyn, and live on five wooded acres in rural Wisconsin with their chickens, turkeys, geese, horses, goats, cat, honey bees and two border collies.

Tabitha Miller — Tabitha Miller
Title: Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Radiologic Technology
Email: tamiller25@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: B.S.R.T., MS

Jennifer Nadler-Lont

Title: Skill Lab instructor
Email: jmnadler09@marianuniversity.edu

Jennifer Nicpon

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: jjnicpon04@marianuniversity.edu

Sr. Cyndi Nienhaus — Sr. Cyndi Nienhaus
Title: Associate Professor
Email: canienhaus06@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Nancy Noble — Nancy Noble
Title: Associate Professor, Nursing
Email: nnoble@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MSN

Pat O'Connor — Pat O’Connor
Title: Professor, Nursing
Email: Poconnor@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: M.S.

Pat O’Connor

Pat O’Connor is an alumna of Marian University, and has served as a faculty member for more than 30 years. In addition to her role as a professor of nursing, O’Connor has served as the Interim Chairperson of the School of Nursing, and Vice Chairperson of the School of Nursing. Currently, O’Connor teaches in the RN-MSN and Master of Science in Nursing programs.

In her spare time, O’Connor enjoys reading, gardening and watching old television programs and movies.

Kimiko Ott

Title: Department Chair, Assistant Professor of Education
Email: kaott37@marianuniversity.edu

Faculty member Cheryl Passel — Cheryl Passel
Title: Assistant Professor, Nursing
Email: capassel18@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D

Cheryl Passel

Passel’s clinical practice, teaching, service, and research have been directed towards decreasing stigmatization of the mentally ill by promoting public awareness and compassion.

The primary focus of Passel’s teaching philosophy is based upon a holistic approach which encourages caring and a healing presence, where she teaches students the connection between professional human compassion and tasks.

Passel is also a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse and RYT-200 yoga instructor.

Mary Polchert

Title: Associate Professor
Email: mjpolchert12@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Heather Price

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: heprice08@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Jeff Reed — Jeff Reed
Title: Professor
Email: JReed@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Jeff Reed

Prior to his current role as Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Jeffrey Reed served as Marian’s Director of the Management Program, Director of the Honors Program, Interim Director of Institutional Research, Faculty Senate President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Spirituality and Leadership. He received the Underkofler Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching, and was a visiting professor at Harlaxton College in 2006.

Dr. Reed has served as Region IV Secretary of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), President of the Fond du Lac Area Human Resources Association, State Diversity Director for the Wisconsin State Council of SHRM, President of the Board of Open Circle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Small Group Facilitator, Treasurer and Registrar for the Mid-West Leadership School, President of Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club and Assistant District Governor for District 6270 Area B of Rotary International.

Before moving to Wisconsin in 1998, Dr. Reed served as human resources and training consultant in Rochester, NY; as a software engineer, project manager and planner for digital products and product upgrades at Xerox Corporation; as Assistant Professor of Psychology at SUNY-Geneseo; and as a budget analyst for Kansas State University. Dr. Reed received training in Quality Processes, project management and teamwork at Xerox. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Kansas State University, a certificate in business from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a certificate in program evaluation from the Social & Demographic Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Karen Roberts — Karen Roberts
Title: Associate Professor, Nursing
Email: kmroberts@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: M.S.N.

Karen Roberts

Karen Roberts earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Marian University in 2004, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Marian University in 1982, and is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). Roberts has been a nurse educator for more than eight years, and a registered nurse for more than 32 years, with experience in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Critical Care nursing, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Preoperative Nursing and Endoscopy Nursing.

Patrick Saunders

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: pcsaunders93@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ph.D.

Katherine Schuessler — Katherine Schuessler
Title: Assistant Professor and Director, Economics and Finance Program
Email: kkschuessler86@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: M.B.A.

Katherine Schuessler

Schuessler earned her Master of Business Administration in Finance, Investments and banking and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Schuessler began her career in investments with a large financial corporation and then took an instructor position in finance at Marquette University prior to coming to Marian University. In addition, Schuessler is a Certified Public Accountant and has worked in public accounting for many years.

Currently, Schuessler teaches economics and finance courses at Marian in the traditional undergraduate and the accelerated adult program, and serves as the Program Director for the Economics and Finance Department.

Away from work, Schuessler enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband and six children.

Faculty Cheryl Seelig — Cheryl Seelig
Title: Assistant Professor/Health Care Administration Program Director
Email: ckseelig20@marianuniversity.edu

Cheryl Seelig

My passion for health care started in 1997 when I completed my Bachelors in Nursing. I have worked in health care for over 22 years and have been in various leadership roles. I completed a Masters in Nursing in 2004, and then a Doctorate in Health Care Administration in 2018. I have completed research in job engagement with outpatient nurses and weight status. I strive to interact with students to help them achieve their goals. It has always been important to me to instill my core values of integrity, honesty and academic achievement with each student. Leadership is the light that moves health care forward in an ever changing world. The Health Care Administration program will prepare students to handle the challenges in health care careers. In my spare time I enjoy long-distance running, spending time with family, cooking and gardening. My life motto is “You can do anything you want to do!”

Kari Steinbeck

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: kasteinbeck39@marianuniversity.edu

Bradd Stucky — Bradd Stucky
Title: Professor
Email: bstucky@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: Ed. D.
Strengths: College of the Professions, Education Department

Bradd Stucky

Bradd W. Stucky has served as a professor in Marian’s School of Education since 1996, and served as the Interim Dean of Graduate Studies from 2005-2006. Stucky earned his Doctor of Education and Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University; an Educational Specialist degree and Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from Barry University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Secondary Education from Valparaiso University.

Stucky was awarded the Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010.

curriculum vitae

Brianna Sutfin — Breanna Sutfin
Title: Assistant Professor, Nursing
Email: bmsutfin00@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: M.S.

Kimberly Udlis

Title: Associate Dean of the Department of Nursing/ Associate Professor
Email: kaudlis48@marianuniversity.edu
Strengths: College of the Professions, Nursing Department

Lori Yogerst

Title: Coordinator, RN to BSN Program
Email: layogerst90@marianuniversity.edu

Melissa Zar

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: mazar24@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: MSN
Strengths: College of the Professions, Nursing Department

Brooke Zelhofer

Title: Assistant Professor
Email: bezelhofer20@marianuniversity.edu
Degree: DNP
Strengths: College of the Professions, Nursing Department