McKendree University Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Members
McKendree University announces several new faculty and staff members who have joined
the campus community over the summer.
The College of Arts and Sciences welcomes two new faculty members:
Dr. Joshua Haynes, assistant professor of history, was a visiting assistant professor of history at
Miami University of Ohio and instructor of history at the University of Georgia. Prior
to that he worked at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.
and the Alabama Historical Commission. His areas of expertise are U.S. and Native
American history, colonialism, violence, and state formation. His forthcoming book
is entitled “Patrolling the Border: Theft and Violence on the Creek-Georgia Frontier,
1770-1796.”
• PhD in history, University of Georgia
• MA in Southern studies, University of Mississippi
• BA in history, Tulane University
Dr. Richard Murphy, assistant professor of public relations and speech communication, served six years as an assistant professor of communication arts at Wayne State University. He is a former Air Force public affairs specialist. Murphy has given many professional presentations on the topics of computer-mediated communication, relational interactions, teacher-student communication, and serving military veteran students.
• PhD in communication studies, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• MS in communication studies, Illinois State University
• BS in communication and English, University of Illinois at Springfield
Dr. Jennifer Webster is an assistant professor of criminal justice and director of the criminal justice master’s degree program. She has held a variety of higher education positions over the past 15 years, including assistant director of integrative studies, advising specialist, lecturer/retention specialist, distance learning facilitator, assistant editor, project manager, and disability services mentor/tutor. In addition, she has served as director of a non-profit organization for formerly incarcerated women, resident treatment specialist, and a volunteer victim advocate for a response center.
• PhD and MS in criminal justice, University of Cincinnati
• BA in criminal justice, East Tennessee State University
The School of Business welcomes:
Dr. Roxanne Beard, associate professor of management and director of the Master of Business Administration
(MBA) program, was on the faculty for 10 years at Ohio Dominican University, where
she directed the LEAD graduate program and coordinated the online MBA program. Prior
to that she served nine years on the faculty of the University of Northwestern Ohio,
where she chaired the Health Care Administration and the Business Administration departments.
She was also an administrator at two Ohio hospitals.
• PhD in organization and management, Capella University
• MBA, University of Findlay
• BS in medical technology, Bowling Green State University
Dr. Peter Sigiols, associate professor of business administration, has been a practicing attorney in Chicago since 1989 and served for 10 years as arbitrator for the Cook County Circuit Court, 1st and 6th districts. Throughout his legal career, he taught part-time at several Chicago area institutions and was a full-time faculty member at Roosevelt University for a year. He has taught accounting, finance, business law, international business, management, marketing and mathematics at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• DBA, concentration in international business, Argosy University
• JD, John Marshall Law School
• MBA, concentration in financial management, Loyola University
• BBA in public accounting, Loyola University
New faculty members in the School of Education are:
Dr. Pamela Barnes, assistant professor of education, served the past two years as the institutional researcher at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill. Prior to that she was on the faculty of Southeast Missouri State University, where she was director of certification and assessment and the accreditation coordinator for the College of Education. She was also an adjunct faculty member at William Woods University. The former elementary school teacher and principal also holds an Illinois Superintendent certificate.
• EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri
• EdS in Educational Administration, Southeast Missouri State University
• MEd in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Missouri
• BS in Education, University of Missouri – Columbia
Dr. Kelly Stewart, assistant professor of education, has 23 years of administrative experience, including the past 14 years as superintendent of the Benton Consolidated High School District #103. She received the 2014 “Superintendent of the Year Award” from the Illinois Association of School Administrators. Stewart is a former principal, assistant principal, teacher, athletic director, and transportation coordinator in four southern Illinois counties. She has held many leadership positions, including vice chairman of the executive board of the Special Education District of Franklin and Jefferson Counties; and coach for the Illinois School for Advanced Leadership.
• PhD in Educational Administration and Higher Education, SIUC
• MS in Curriculum and Instruction, SIUC
• BS in Physical Education, SIUC
• AA in General Studies, Rend Lake College
Joining the School of Nursing and Health Professions is:
Amy Piontek, instructor of nursing. She has been an adjunct faculty member at McKendree University and a skills lab instructor, simulation instructor, and clinical instructor at Saint Louis University. In addition to her teaching experience, Piontek worked for ten years as a registered nurse with Dr. Aaron Greenspan, three years in the operating room at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill., and one year in the CV step-down unit at St. Luke’s Hospital. She teaches courses in pathophysiology and health assessment. Her research interests are in the areas of palliative care, health promotion and disease prevention.
• Currently pursuing a PhD in health education
• MSN, concentration in Nurse Educator, McKendree University
• BSN, Saint Louis University
New staff members are:
Dr. Nancy Friesen, of Shiloh, Ill., director of counseling services.
Jonathan Ciembronowicz, of Fairview Heights, Ill., a 2015 McKendree graduate, systems analyst in the Information Technology Department.
Ciera Field, a St. Louis, Mo., resident, is an admission counselor. The 2013 McKendree University graduate was previously a transfer admission counselor at Webster University.
Bethany Guida, of O’Fallon, Ill., assistant director of the Writing Center.
Edward Howell, financial aid counselor.
Blake Hudspeth, athletic trainer.
Cindy McAndrews, academic advisor in the School of Education.
Bob Oeth, of Lebanon, Ill., is the new assistant spirit coordinator and assistant cheerleading coach and a 2015 McKendree graduate.
Bomi Park, international admission counselor.
Makenzie Parks, an O’Fallon, Ill., resident, nursing recruiter for online and external programs.
The Residence Life staff welcomes several new employees:
Samantha Hartman, assistant director of resident life, a 2011 McKendree graduate, previously worked at Western Kentucky University.
Michael Calhoun, area coordinator for the McKendree West apartments, a University of Alabama graduate.
Taylor Anderson, Barnett Hall resident director, a graduate of Winona State University in Minnesota.
Emily Krabach, Baker Hall resident director, a graduate of Manchester University in Indiana.
Brandon Perjak, Walton Hall resident director, a 2015 McKendree University graduate.
New at McKendree University’s Kentucky campuses are:
Cayla Pearman, of Radcliff, Ky., office support specialist at the Radcliff campus.
Several new coaches joined the Department of Athletics this summer:
Hossam Hassan, head coach of the Bearcats’ fencing program
Ashley Fleming, head women’s softball coach
Chelsea Thomas, assistant/pitching coach for women’s softball
David Edwards, head coach of the powerlifting programs
Craig Buntenbach, head coach of the new women’s hockey program
Jimmy Tierney, head coach of the new swimming and diving programs
Raquel Allen, men’s and women’s tennis coach
Gregg Emde, men’s and women’s water polo coach
Find more about new coaching hires at McKBearcats.com
In July, McKendree University was recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as “A Great College to Work For.” It was one of 42 colleges and universities to make The Chronicle’s 2015 Honor Roll, and the only Midwest institution of 10 in the medium-size category, based on enrollment of 3,000 to 9,999 students.
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