Faculty
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 Programs 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
Megan Bogard, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., M.S.N., Western Governors University
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
Provost
B.B.A, M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Lydia Christoffersen, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Mount Mercy College
M.S.N., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Natasha Clark, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Coe College
M.S.N., Frontier Nursing University
D.N.P., University of Iowa
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
Sarah Fowler, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S., Iowa State University
B.S.N., Chamberlain University
M.S.N., Graceland University
Jack Frank, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Music
B.A., University of Iowa
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Paula Ganzeveld, 2009-
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Iowa State University
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Bryan Gatzke, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Parkside
M.S., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Ph.D., Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Stephen Gilmour, 1985-
Associate Professor of Accounting
B.S., M.A.S., Northern Illinois University
CPA
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
Dr. Kaitlin Hutson, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
B.S., Millikin University
M.F.T., Ph.D., Mount Mercy University
Dr. James Jacobs, 2020-
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi
Sarah Kersevich, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.A., M.S.N., University of Iowa
Dr. Kristopher Keuseman, 2009-
Professor of Chemistry
B.A., St. Olaf College
Ph.D., University of North Dakota
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. 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
Dr. Rebecca Louison, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.S., M.A., Ph.D., 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. Douglas McPhee, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Director of Graduate Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy
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
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
Cathy Penn, 1988-
Associate Professor of Nursing
B.S., Mount Mercy College
M.A., University of Iowa
Vicki Petersen, 2019-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., University of Iowa
M.S.N., Capella 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
Dr. Jodee Reed, 2014-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Director of Mercy Leadership Program
B.S.N., Mount Mercy University
M.S.N., Allen College
Ed.D., Clarkson College
Kelli Rice, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
B.A., Central College
M.A., University of Iowa
Robert Rittenhouse, 1985-
Associate Professor of Business
Department Chair
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. 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
CarrieAnn Scroggins, 2021-
Assistant Professor of Business
B.B.A., M.S.L., Mount Mercy University
Dr. Ritu Shandilya, 2023-
Associate Professor of Computer &
Data Science
B.S., Khalsa College
M.C.A., Shobhit Institute of Engineering &
Technology
M.Tech., Shobhit University
Ph.D., Iowa State University
Dr. Julie Shaw, 2018-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Director of Graduate Programs 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
Heide Sletteland, 2022-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., Luther College
M.A. Ed., Graceland University
Kaylee Small, 2020-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
M.S.N., Walden University
Lisa Smith, 2009-
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., Dana College
M.A., University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Heather Sowada, 2017-
Associate 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
Director of Graduate Programs in 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. Robert Todd, 2015-
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Mary Vermillion, 1994-
Professor of English
B.A., Saint Mary College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Anna Waterman, 2012-
Professor of Biology
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of Iowa
Madison Woods, 2023-
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Department Chair
B.S.N., Mount Mercy University
M.S.N., Allen College