Faculty
Dr. Ayman Amer, 2000-
Associate Professor of Economics
Graduate Diploma, Ain Shams University, Egypt
M.B.A, Indiana University-Pennsylvania
D.Sci., University of New Haven
Dr. Richard Barrett, 2016-
Associate Professor of Political Science
Director of Honors Program
B.A., University of Chicago
J.D., Yale Law School
Ph.D., University of California - San Diego
Dr. Dawn Behan, 2008-
Professor of Education
Director of Graduate Program in Education
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Ryan Bezy, 2010-
Professor of Biology
Department Chair
B.A., DePauw University
Ph.D., Indiana University - Bloomington
Dr. Kim Bro, 2010-
Associate Professor of Nursing
Dean of the Martin-Harold College of Nursing and Health
B.A., Mount Mercy College
M.S.N., Clarke College
Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University
Deb Brydon, 1999-
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
B.A., M.A., J.D., University of Iowa
Devlin Caldwell, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Art
B.F.A, Kansas State University
M.F.A, University of Folrida
Dr. Thomas Castle, 1990-
Associate Professor of Business
Associate Provost
B.B.A, M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Lydia Christoffersen, 2020-
Assistant Professor
B.S.N., Mount Mercy College
M.S.N., Mount Mercy University
Jose Clemente, 2012-
Associate Professor of Art
B.F.A, M.F.A, Kansas State University
Dr. Bryan Cross, 2013-
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Department Chair
B.S., University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
M. Div., Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis
Ph.D., St. Louis University
Ann Davidshofer, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Department Chair
B.S.N., Upper Iowa University
M.S.N., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Christopher DeVault, 2009-
Professor of English
Department Chair
B.A, Wake Forest University
M.A., Georgetown University
Ph.D., University of Miami
Dr. Dennis Dew, 2009-
Professor of Psychology
B.S., John Carroll University
M.A., Ph.D., Loyola University-Chicago
Dr. April Dirks, 2008-
Professor of Social Work
Department Chair
B.A., M.S.W., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Philip Drey, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
B.A., University of Notre Dame
M.A., Ph.D., Andrews University
Jack Frank, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Music
B.A., University of Iowa
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Paula Ganzeveld, 2009-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Iowa State University
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Bryan Gatzke, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Parkside
M.S., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Stephen Gilmour, 1985-
Associate Professor of Accounting
B.S., M.A.S., Northern Illinois University
CPA
Eric Hearn, 2011-
Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.B.A., University of Iowa
Carol Heim, 1983-
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S., Mount Mercy College
M.A., University of Iowa
Sara Heisdorffer, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Mount Mercy College
Dr. Joseph Hendryx, 2016-
Assistant Professor of English
B.A., Mount Mercy College
M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Dr. Catherine Homard, 2021-
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., College of St. Benedict
M.S.N., Drake University
Ph.D., Walden University
Joni Howland, 1995-
Associate Professor of Social Work
Director of the Social Work Program
B.A., Luther College
M.S.W., University of Iowa
Dr. Alesia Hruska, 2007-
Professor of Biology
B.A., Luther College
Ph.D., Iowa State University
Todd Hutcheson, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.A., Western Illinois University
M.B.A., University of Iowa
Dr. James Jacobs, 2020-
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi
Melodie Jolly, 2017-
Assistant Professor
B.S.N., Winona State University
M.S.N., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Kristopher Keuseman, 2009-
Professor of Chemistry
B.A., St. Olaf College
Ph.D., University of North Dakota
Dr. Nathan Klein, 2014-
Assistant Professor of Business
Vice President for Student Success
B.B.A., Mount Mercy University
M.B.A., Emory University
Ed.D. Creighton University
Amanda Klinkenberg, 2019-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Dr. David Klope, 2001-
Associate Professor of Communication
B.A., Biola University
M.S., San Diego State University
Graduate Work in Rhetorical Studies, University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Utah
Jennifer Kramer, 2019-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Travis Lacy, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
B.A., Hillside College
M.T.S., Duke Divinity School
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
Dr. Chad Loes, 2001-
Professor of Criminal Justice
Department Chair and Director of Student Outcomes Research
B.A., Mount Mercy College
M.A., Western Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Rebecca Louison, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.S., M.A., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Norma Mattingly, 2000-
Associate Professor of Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
M.Ed., U.T. - Pan America
M.Ed., University of Wisconsin
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Melissa McCollister, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.S.W., M.S.W., University of Akron
Ph.D., Capella University
Dr. Douglas McPhee, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Director of the Olson Marriage &
Family Therapy Clinic
B.S., M.S., Utah State University
Ph.D., Texas Teach University
Dr. Anthony Mielke, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
B.A., University of Saint Thomas
M.A., St. Mary's University of Minnesota
D.M.F.T., Argosy University
Dr. Adam Myers, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Liberty University
M.A., Wheaton College
M.A.R., Yale Divinity School
Ph.D., Baylor University
Christa Nelson, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.L.A., University of Missouri - Kansas City
M.B.A., Jones International University
Dr. Joseph Nguyen, 2010-
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Creighton University
M.S., Indiana State University
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Timothy O'Conner, 2019-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.B.A., University of Iowa
J.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Joy Ochs, 2001-
Professor of English
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A., Ph.D., University of Michigan
Dr. Edy Parsons, 2005-
Professor of History
B.S., M.A., Ph.D., Iowa State University
Shawna Patterson, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Department Chair
M.S.N., Walden University
Cathy Penn, 1988-
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S., Mount Mercy College
M.A., University of Iowa
Seth Pennock, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.B.A., M.B.A., Mount Mercy University
Vicki Petersen, 2019-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., University of Iowa
M.S.N., Capella University
Tammy Pickart, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Mount Mercy University
M.S.N., Walden University
Malinda Poduska, 1991-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S., Mount Mercy College
M.S.N., Drake University
Dr. Jennifer Rasmussen, 2007-
Professor of Education
Department Chair
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A.T., Nova Southeastern University
Ph.D., University of Northern Iowa
Jodee Reed, 2014-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Mount Mercy University
M.S.N., Allen College
Robert Rittenhouse, 1985-
Associate Professor of Business
B.S., South Dakota State University
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
CFA, CPA
Dr. Lacey Ritter, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Department Chair
B.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Minnesota State University - Mankato
M.S., Ph.D., Florida State University
Nikki Robson, 2016-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Mount Mercy College
M.S.N., University of Iowa
Dr. Danielle Rudd, 2017-
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S.E., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Eyad Said, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
B.S., University of Damascus
M.S., University of Damascus
M.S., Louisiana State University
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Dr. Hannah Saltmarsh, 2020-
Assistant Professor of English
B.A., M.F.A., University of Maryland
Ph.D., University of York
Dr. Josue Santiago Vera, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
M.S., University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Ph.D., University of Puerto Rico-Piedras
Dr. Jennifer Schmidt, 2010-
Professor of Education
B.A., Earlham College
M.Ed., Lesley College/Shady Hill School
Ph.D., University of Iowa
CarrieAnn Scroggins, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.B.A., M.S.L., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Julie Shaw, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Director of Graduate Program in Nursing
B.S.N., M.S.N., University of Iowa
Ph.D., Maryville University
Joseph Sheller, 2001-
Associate Professor of Communication
B.A., Marycrest College
M.A., University of Missouri - Columbia
Lisa Smith, 2009-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., Dana College
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Heather Sowada, 2017-
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
B.A., M.A., Mount Mercy University
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Rogan Stoops, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.S., M.B.A., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Belkis Suarez, 2011-
Professor of Spanish
B.A., Universidad Central de Venequela
M.A., Ph.D., University of Florida
Dr. Jaclynn Sullivan, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.A., Illinois Wesleyan - Bloomington
M.A., University of Toledo, Ph.D., University of Toledo
Dr. Robert Todd, 2015-
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Marcie Van Note, 2014-
Assistant Professor of Business
Director of Graduate Program in Business Administration and Leadership
B.A., Buena Vista University
M.S., Capella University
Dr. Mary Vermillion, 1994-
Professor of English
B.A., Saint Mary College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Anna Waterman, 2012-
Associate Professor of Biology
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa