Faculty

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.mtmercy.edu.

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