Faculty and Administration

Board of Trustees

*Denotes Executive Committee Members
 

 Honorary Trustees

John C. Brown
Past Chair of the Board
Kearney, Missouri

Charles A. Garney
Kansas City, Missouri

Virginia B. McCoy
Past Chair of the Board
Parkville, Missouri

L. Louise Morden
Lewiston, New York

Gerald R. Moss, J.D.
Decanso, California

Senior Leadership

Shane B. Smeed
President

Bobbi Shaw
Executive Assistant to the President

Laure A. Christensen
Chief of Staff

Michelle E. Myers, Ed.D.
Provost

Michelle Forrest
Executive Assistant to the Provost

Emily D. Sallee, Ph.D.
Vice Provost

Katie Werth
Executive Administrative Assistant to Academic Affairs

Gayle Copeland, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education and Health Professionals

Erin Stocking
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Dean, CEHP

James F. Pasley, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Glenda Holder
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Dean, CLAS

Yang Sun, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Management

Kelli Clevenger
Executive Administrative Assistant to the Dean, COM

Andrew Shoffner, Ph.D.
Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Chief Enrollment Management Officer

Full-Time Faculty

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

* Graduate Program Faculty

A

Alla Adams
(Distance)
Associate Professor of Healthcare Administration
College of Management  
M.S., Houston Baptist University, 2000;
Ph.D., Capella University, 2006. (2015)

Rose Adams
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Digital Initiatives and Resource Librarian
MLS., Emporia State University, 2023;
B.A., University of Missouri- Kansas City, 2018. (2024)

Azin Agah
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor in Chemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences    
B.S., Purdue University, 1991;
M.B.A., Baker University, 2014;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1996. (2018)

B

Linda Bell
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor
College of Management 
B.S., Fort Hays State University, 1979;
M.B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1984. (2013)

Ashley Bloodgood
(Gilbert Daytime Campus Center)
Sport and Exercise Science
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., California State University, Fullerton, 2018;
M.S., California State University, Fullerton, 2020. (2021)

Monica Brannon
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Sociology

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., University of San Francisco, 2002;
M.A., The New School for Social Research, 2006;
Ph.D., The New School for Social Research, 2014. (2016)

C

Dianna Carmenaty, Ph.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.S., Wayland Baptist University, 2005;
M.P.A., St. Mary’s University, 2007;
Ph.D., Our Lady of the Lake University, 2012. (2022)

Ho-Seop Cha

(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Geography
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Korea University, 1999;
M.A., The Ohio State University, 2002;
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2008. (2018)

Samuel Chamberlin
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Mathematics
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S., Portland State University, 2002;
M.A.,University of California Los Angeles, 2005;
Ph.D., University of California Riverside, 2011. (2011)

Gina Chambers
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions  
B.A., University of Missouri, KC, 1979;
M.A.,University of Missouri, KC, 1987;
Ed.S., University of Missouri, KC, 1991;
Ph.D., University of Missouri, KC, 1997. (2012)

Donna Hwa Choi*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Ewha Womans University (South Korea), 1986;
M.A., Ewha Womans University (South Korea), 1989;
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2000. (2006)

Gregory D. Claycomb
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Chemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S., University of New Mexico, 1997;
Ph.D., Kansas State University, 2006. (2008)

Lora Cohn*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Communication
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S. in Education, Northeast Missouri State University, 1986;
M.A., University of Kansas, Lawrence, 1993;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence, 2005. (2005)

Lauren Compton
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., University of Missouri-Columbia, 2018;
D.N.P, University of Missouri-Columbia, 2023. (2024)

Camille A. Cook
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Library Instruction & Outreach
B.A. Emporia State University, 2018;
M.L.S. Emporia State University, 2020. (2020)

Brian Cowley*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Psychology
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Utah State University, 1987;
M.S., Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1989;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1998. (2003)

D

Amber Dailey-Hebert*
(Distance)
Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Texas A&M University, 1998;
M.S., Texas A&M University, 1999;
Ph.D., Cornell University, 2002. (2000)

Nikki DeSimone
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.A., Baker University, 2003;
M.B.A., Washburn University, 2005. (2020)

Jenna Feldstein Dickey
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Library Instruction and Outreach
BA, Truman State University, 2006;
MA, Truman State University, 2008;
MLS, Emporia State University, 2015. (2024)

E

Donna Ehrlich
(Distance)
Associate Teaching Professor
College of Management  
B.S., Friends University, 1995;
M.S., Friends University, 2001;
Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University, 2007. (2016)

Jeff Ehrlich
(Distance)
Associate Professor, Healthcare Administration
College of Management 
B.S., Friends University, 1987;
M.B.A., Friends University, 1997;
Ed.D., College of Saint Mary, 2008. (2011)

F

Lacey Finley
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Management
College of Management 
B.A , Emporia State University, 2001;
M.B.A., University of Phoenix, 2004;
M.S., Emporia State University, 2006;
Ph.D., Kansas State University, 2016. (2017)

Toni-Rochelle Ford
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Marketing
College of Management 
B.S., Mississippi University for Women, 2007;
M.B.A., Mississippi State University, 2008. (2014);
Ph.D., Mississippi State University, 2019. (2014)

G

Kelly Gilhaus
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Interior Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences   
B.S., Kansas State University, 1990
M.S, University of Missouri Kansas City, 1998
Johnson County Community College, 2025

Robert Gillis
(Gilbert Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Management/Marketing
College of Management: Robert W. Plaster School of Business  
B.A., Arizona State University, 1998;
M.B.A., Western International University, 2010;
D.B.A., Grand Canyon University, 2017. (2022)

Dmitry Gimon*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics
College of Management 
B.S., Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 2001;
M.S., Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 2003;
Ph.D., Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, 2007. (2017)

Stephen David Grover*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of English
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Brigham Young University, 2007;
M.A., Ohio State University; 2009;
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2017. (2019)

H

Scott Hageman
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Geology/Geoscience
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S., University of Kansas, 1991;
M.S., University of Kansas, 1994. (1998)

Brandi Handley
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Lecturer in English
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2010;
M.F.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2014. (2018)

Cameron Harris
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions 
AAS, State Fair Community College, 2010;
BSN, University of Central Missouri, 2012;
MSN, Grantham University, 2020. (2021)

Matthew Harris*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Syracuse University, 2009;
M.A., Stony Brook University, 2012;
Ph.D., Stony Brook University, 2015. (2016)

Merrick Shawn Henry
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Lecturer in Graphic Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.A., Kansas Wesleyan University, 2000;
M.A., Kansas State University, 2004. (2019)

Brian Hoffman
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Biology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Park College, 1986;
Ph.D., St. Louis University, 1996. (1995)

Wen-Jung Hsin
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Computer Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., National Taiwan University, 1983;
M.S., University of California, San Diego, 1985;
Ph.D.,University of Missouri-Kansas City,1995. (1995, 2004)

J

Clarine Jacobs
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor
College of Management  
B.A., Fort Hays State University, 2000;
B.S., University of Saint Mary, 2014;
M.S., Fort Hays State University, 2002;
Ph.D., North Central University, 2016. (2019)

Adrian James
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor, Management
College of Management 
B.S., Northwest Missouri State University, 2003;
M.B.A., Northwest Missouri State University, 2004;
Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 2014. (2018)

Tamera Jenkins, Ph.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Criminal Justice/Corrections, Park University, 2009;
M.A., Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Canada, 2012;
Ph.D., Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Australia, 2018.(2021)

Leslie Jensby
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Social Work
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Newman University, 2001;
M.S.W., Newman University, 2003. (2017)

Andrew Johnson
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Psychology
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.A., Missouri Western State College, 1991;
M.S., Kansas State University, 1993;
Ph.D., Kansas State University, 1995. (1997)

Abdelmonaem Jornaz*
Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics
College of Management: Robert W. Plaster School of Business  
B.S., Tripoli University, 1997;
M.S., Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2014;
Ph.D., Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2016. (2023)

K

Robert Kao
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Finance
College of Management 
B.S., National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan, 1977;
M.S.,University of Nebraska, 1980;
Ph.D., Texas University, 1985. (2008)

Susan Keim
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Public Administration
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., University of Kansas, 1979;
M.P.A., University of Kansas, 1986;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2013. (2017)

Stacey Kikendall
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of English
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.A. , Illinois State University, 2003;
M.A., University of South Carolina, 2005;
Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 2012. (2013)

Jeffery Kimmons
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Biology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Drury University, 1998;
M.S., Missouri State University, 2003;
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2012. (2014)

Rebecca Kudrna
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Director, Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science
College of Education and Health Professions  
B.S., Truman State University, 2004;
M.S., Midwestern State University, 2006;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2014. (2019)

L

Kari Lamer
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Social Work
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S.W., University of Kansas, 1998;
M.S.W., University of Michigan, 1999. (2017)

Andrea Lee
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Fine Art
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.F.A, University of Kansas, 1993;
M.A., University of Missouri, Kansas City, 1999;
Ph.D., University of Missouri, Kansas City, 2006. (2015)

Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Instructor /Accompanist of Music
International Center for Music  
B.M., Moscow State Conservatory, 2002;
M.M., Moscow State Conservatory, 2004. (2013)

Andrew Lutz
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor
College of Management 
B.S., Kansas State University, 1981;
M.B.A., Avila College, 1992. (2007)

M

Nola Martz
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Teaching Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions: School of Behavioral and Health Sciences  
B.S.N., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1982;
M.S.N., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999;
Ph.D., William Woods University, 2019. (2013)

Steven McDonald
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Music
International Center for Music  
B.M., Boston University, 1981;
M.A, University of Kansas, 2011. (2016).

Amy Mecklenburg-Faenger
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of English
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.A., Truman State University, 1997;
M.A., University of Missouri, 2001;
Ph.D. English. The Ohio State University, 2007. (2015)

Steve Modrcin
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor
College of Management 
B.S.B.A., Rockhurst University, 1977;
M.A., University of Phoenix, 2005. (2018)

Greg Moore*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Finance
Edward F. Lyle Chair in Finance.
College of Management 
B.S., Colorado State University, 1992;
M.B.A., University of Kansas, 2010;
D.B.A., Walden University, 2014. (2017)

Ricki Moran
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor of Social Work

Erich Mueller
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Teaching Professor in Mathematics
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
University of Missouri in Columbia – 2010
University of Missouri in Columbia – 2012

Joshua Mugg
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Religion and B.S. History, Missouri Baptist University, 2008;
M.A., Philosophy, York University, 2010;
Ph.D., Philosophy, York University, 2015. (2018)

N

Jana Neiss*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.C.E., Ozark Bible College, 1985;
M.S., Pittsburgh State University, 1990;
Ed.D. University of Missouri; 2008. (2018)

J. Mark Noe*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Communication Arts
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1978;
M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1980;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1996. (1985)

O

P

James F. Pasley*
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Professor of Political Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Southwestern University (TX), 1993;
M.S., Missouri State University, 1994;
Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1999. (2006)

Bin (Crystal) Peng
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Computer Science
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 1998;
Ph.D., Wayne State University, 2005. (2014)

W. Gregory Plumb*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Criminal Justice
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1973;
J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1975. (1990)

Q

R

Miranda J. Ridder, Ph.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S., University of Kansas, Lawrence, 2015:
Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence, 2022. (2022)

Courtney L. Rilinger, Ph.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
B.A., University of Kansas, Lawrence, 2015:
M.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2017:
Ph.D., University of Kanas, Lawrence, 2022. (2022)

Stephanie Roehm
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S.N., MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2001;
M.S.N., The University of Kansas Medical Center, 2009. (2021)

Henry Roehrich
(Grand Forks AFB Campus Center)
Professor of Marketing/Management
College of Management 
B.S., Wayne State College, 1979;
M.S.A., Central Michigan University, 1996;
Ph.D., University of North Dakota, 2003. (2010)

Karman Romero
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions 
BSN, University of Utah, 2003;
Ph.D., University Kansas School of Nursing, 2020. (2021)

Patricia Ryberg
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Biology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2003;
B.S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2003;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2009. (2012)

S

Emily Sallee
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Vice Provost and Professor of English
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., William Jewell College, 1999;
M.A., University of Kansas-Lawrence, 2001;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2008. (2005)

Ben Sayevich*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Music
International Center for Music   
Churlonis School of Performing Arts, 1971;
Tel Ma-Yelin School of Arts, 1977;
New England Conservatory of Music, 1985;
Artist Diploma, New England Conservatory of Music, 1987. (2006)

Debra Sheffer*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of History
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S.E., Central Missouri State University, 1980;
M.A., Central Missouri State University, 1986. (1990)
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2008. (1990)

Alexander Silvius
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Physics
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.S., Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2000;
M.S., Missouri University of Technology & Science, 2003;
Ph.D., Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2006. (2012)

Diane Simpson
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S.E., Kansas State University, 1998;
M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1993;
Ed.S., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1994. (2018)

Mike Swoboda
(Gilbert Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Sports and Exercise Science.
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Martin Methodist College, 2009;
M.S., Kent State University, 2011;
D.H.S.C, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, 2018. (2019)

T

Suzanne Tiemann
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Education and Director of Undergraduate Programs
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Texas A&M University, 1991;
M.Ed., University of Houston, 1998;
Ed.D., University of Houston, 2004. (2018)

V

James Vanderleeuw*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of Public Administration
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Ramapo College, 1976;
M.A., University of Nevada-Reno, 1980;
Ph.D., University of New Orleans, 1988. (2016)

Daniel Veis
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Music
International Center for Music  
Prague Conservatory, 1972;
Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, 1974;
Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, 1979. (2010)

W

Cassie Werle
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions 
M.S.N., Research College of Nursing, 2011;
B.S.N., Missouri Western State University, 2005. (2022)

Timothy Westcott
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Professor of History
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  
B.A., Avila College, 1988;
M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1994;
Ph.D., The Union Institute, 2002. (1999)

Kristen Whiteley
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Accounting
College of Management 
B.S.; William Jewell College, 2001;
M.S., University of Missouri-Kansas City; 2005. (2020)

Jennine Wilson, Ed.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Nursing
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S.N., Mid America Nazarene University, 2010;
M.S.N., Mid America Nazarene, 2014. (2017):

Ed.D., Rockhurst University, 2022. (2017)

Brant Winn
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Education & Director of Fieldwork
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.S., Missouri State University, 1994;
M.S. University of Central Missouri, 1998;
Ph.D., Columbia International University, 2010. (2017)

Amy Wolf*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Education
College of Education and Health Professions 
B.A., University of Missouri, 1991;
M.A., University of Missouri, 1994;
Ph.D., University of Missouri—Kansas City, 2006. (2006)

Y

Stacy Yeager-Okosi*
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Associate Professor of Graduate Information Systems and Business Analytics 
College of Management  
B.S., Kansas State University, 1998;
M.S., Friends University, 2003;
D.M., University of Phoenix, 2010. (2019)

 Z

Alivia Zubrod, Ph.D.
(Parkville Daytime Campus Center)
Assistant Professor of Psychology

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  

B.S., Mount Mercy University, 2017;
M.A., University of Northern Iowa, 2017; 
Ph.D., University of Montana, 2022. (2022)

Endowed Chairs and Professorships

Merlin Findlay
Chair of Science

J. Malcolm Good
Professorship and Endowed Chair of Mathematics

Mary Barlow
Professorship of English and Literature

Edward F. Lyle
Professor of Finance and Director of the Graduate Program in Business

Emeriti Faculty

 Emeriti Name, Rank, Program, Emeriti Year