ADA – When East Central University launches classes this fall for the 2013-14 academic year, there will be 28 new fulltime faculty members and four professional staff on board.
Four faculty members began their duties last spring with the remaining 24 starting their instructional duties on Aug. 19.
FACULTY STARTED IN SPRING 2013
Jason (Ja) Havens
Instructor of Kinesiology/Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Havens most recently served as assistant basketball coach at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., from 2005-2013 as Drury captured an NCAA Division II national championship this past March.
Previously, Havens worked as an assistant basketball coach and director of basketball operations at the University of Tulsa in 2005, director of basketball operations at Tulsa from 2001-2005 and assistant basketball coach at St. Gregory’s University in 1998-99.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science (1998) and master of science in college teaching/health science and kinesiology from Northeastern State University (2001). He also earned an associate’s of science degree at St. Gregory’s College (1996).
Randy Pippin
Instructor of Kinesiology/Assistant Football Coach
Pippen was defensive coordinator in the football program at East Texas Baptist University from 2010-2013. Previously, he worked 19 years as an assistant or head football coach at seven universities and junior colleges.
He was head football coach at the University of West Alabama from 2011-2004, athletic director and head football coach at Middle Georgia College from 1998-2001 and head football coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas from 1990-1996. In 1994, he led Trinity Valley to a junior college national championship.
Pippen earned his bachelor of science in health and physical education (1986) and master of art in health and physical education (1987) from Tennessee Technological University. In addition to his coaching duties, he will teach in the undergraduate kinesiology department in 2013-2014.
Katy Seals
Assistant Professor of Art
Seals was the front of house/custom designer at Massive Graphics in Norman during 2012. She was previously a teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma from 2009-2012 and was the instructor of record for relief printmaking, beginning lithography, serigraphy and introduction to bookmaking during this period.
She possesses exceptional skills in printmaking, including silkscreen, etching and intaglio, lithography and relief printing. She also employs computer programs such as Photoshop in her work.
Her exhibition record consists of a substantial record of regional gallery exhibitions in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.
Seals earned a bachelor of fine arts in studio art from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (2008) and a master’s of fine arts in printmaking from the University of Oklahoma (2012).
Katherine Sleyko
Librarian/Instructor
Sleyko most recently worked as concierge, providing customer service at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, Ill. Previously, she served an internship in reference and collection development at the College of DuPage Library and worked as a project archivist at the Chicago Architectural Photography Company Collection at the Theater Historical Society of America in Elmhurst, Ill.
Her experience in those positions will benefit her directly in the public librarian position at ECU’s Lindscheid Library. Additionally, her marketing skills and expertise in coding, image edition programs to some graphic design skills fit well with the position requirements.
She earned a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and science, English concentration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009 and a master of library and information science from Dominican University in 2012.
FACULTY STARTING IN FALL OF 2013
Dr. Stacey Bridges
Instructor of Psychology
Bridges was an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University for the spring and summer semesters of 2013. She held a postdoctoral fellowship in education research at Oklahoma State University in 2012-13. From 2008 to 2011, she served as a graduate teaching/research associate at OSU.
During this same period, Bridges was an instructor of record and team leader, providing leadership for other part time instructors in educational psychology. She taught undergraduate and graduate level courses during her time at OSU. Dr. Bridges is co-author of four professional publications and one book chapter, and has several articles in press or under peer review. She has made 22 peer-reviewed presentations. In addition, Dr. Bridges has been active in writing grants.
Bridges earned her bachelor of science degree in applied learning and development at the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. She earned her master of science in educational psychology (2007) and her doctor of philosophy (2012) from OSU.
Tomas Brock
Instructor of Kinesiology/Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Brock served as a graduate assistant coach at Northwest Missouri State University from 2011 to 2013. His coaching responsibilities included on-court coaching, recruiting, and opponent scouting and player development. He also assumed administrative responsibilities that included player academic monitoring, video exchange and edition, and assisting with summer camps.
He earned his bachelor of science in economics/finance from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. in 2011 and his master of education in health and physical education from Northwest Missouri State University in 2013.
Dr. John Carl
Assistant Professor of Human Resources
Carl was employed at Rose State College from 2001 to 2013, where he taught sociology and social work. In 2011, he was appointed associate dean of the Social Sciences Division at Rose State and, in 2012, added the position of co-coordinator of institutional assessment to his responsibilities.
Additional, he taught in the Sociology Department at the University of Oklahoma as an adjunct professor from time to time and served as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City Community College in 2000-2001. Professionally, he worked as a licensed clinical social worker at Norman Regional Hospital from 1999 to 2001 and at J. D. McCarty Center in Norman from 1995 to 1999.
Carl earned a bachelor of business administration in accounting from the University of Oklahoma in 1985. He completed a master of divinity at St. Meinrad School of Theology in 1990 and a master of social work at OU in 1995. He earned his doctor of philosophy in sociology at OU in 2002.
Dr. Michael Copeland
Assistant Professor of Human Resources
From December 2010 to 2013, Copeland served as director of the anti-fraud unit at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Previously from 2008-2010, he served as assistant attorney general for the Republic of Palu, located in the western Pacific Ocean, as he focused on criminal prosecution. Copeland also held an instructional position as assistant professor of criminal justice at Fort Hays State University (Kan.) and had his own private law practice in Durant.
He has eight publications in professional journals and books and has presented six papers at professional meetings. He offers the criminal justice program a unique mix of practical legal and law enforcement experience and several years of successful university teaching experience.
Copeland earned a bachelor of art in Criminal Justice from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1993 and a juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1997. In addition, he completed all requirements except the dissertation for a PhD in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University.
Kasey Duley
Instructor of Nursing
Duley worked at Canadian Valley Technology Center as a practical nurse instructor from 2011 to 2013. In addition, she was a part-time clinical instructor for Murray State College in the spring 2010 semester and served as a Preceptor for the East Central University Nursing Department in 2010. She was employed at Mercy Memorial Health Center in Ardmore as a staff RN from 2007 to 2011.
She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from ECU in 2007 and her master of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2012. She is a registered nurse (RN).
Dr. Jaime Elliott
Instructor of Accounting
Elliott owned and managed an optometry business, taught in public school, and worked for a CPA firm early in her career. In 1984-86, she was an adjunct assistant professor in the College of Optometry at Northeastern State University. Elliott also taught at the New England College of Optometry in 1997 as an assistant professor.
She taught accounting at St. Gregory’s University in the summer of 2004 and was a temporary assistant professor at the University of Central Oklahoma from 2005-2008 and an adjunct professor in 2008-2009. She served as a temporary instructor in accounting at ECU from 2009 to 2011 and as a visiting instructor in accounting at the University of Oklahoma in the spring 2012 semester.
Elliott earned a bachelor of science in laboratory technology at the University of Oklahoma in 1980. She received her O.D. (Optometry) from Northeastern State University in 1984. In 2002, she finished her accounting coursework at the University of Central Oklahoma and successfully completed the CPA examination in 2003. She has taken additional graduate coursework in accounting at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Donna Graves
Instructor of Communication and Performance Studies and Director of Forensics
Graves has taught at ECU since 2009, serving as an adjunct instructor in the communication and performance studies program, and this past year, also served as the costume shop manager for the theatre program.
In addition, she taught as an adjunct instructor at Murray State College from 1995 to 2012. She also worked at Murray State College as the public information officer from 2007 to 2009. Previously, she was as a public school teacher and forensics coach at Dickson High School from 1988-89 and at Gonzales High School in Texas from 1981-83.
Graves earned her bachelor of science in Education and Speech Communication (1980) and a master’s of arts in theatre art and speech communication (1988) from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
Bruce Hartley
Instructor of Mass Communication
During the spring of 2013, Hartley served as an adjunct instructor of communications at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tenn. He has over 25 years of experience in the areas of field sales, marketing, public relations, promotions, and management. His most current position was senior territory manager for General Mills Foodservice in Collierville, Tenn., as he held this position from 2007-2013. Previously, he worked for Nobert Marketing, Inc. in Little Rock, Ark. from 2006-07 and for CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo. from 1988 to 2006.
Hartley earned a bachelor’s of science in business and industrial communications with an emphasis in public relations from Missouri State University in 1986 and earned his master of arts in communications with a focus on sales/listening from Missouri State University in 2011.
Dr. Nicholas Jacob
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Jacob has taught a wide variety of courses while working on his doctorate at the University of Missouri. Among these courses are intermediate algebra, college algebra, calculus, finite math and calculus for non-science majors. His teaching experience includes a working knowledge of technologies currently employed in the ECU Mathematics Department: graphing calculators, Mathematica, ALEX, Webworks and Blackboard.
He earned a bachelor of science in mathematics and physics from the University of Missouri in 2005. He earned his doctor of philosophy in applied mathematics from the University of Missouri in 2013.
Dr. Mark Jones
Assistant Professor of Education
From 2010 until coming to ECU, Jones conducted technology training and most recently served as the assistant director for the Office of Information Technology at the University of Central Oklahoma. He held the position of assistant professor at Indiana State University during the 2009 – 2010 academic year.
Additionally, Jones is certified by the State of Oklahoma to teach and has taught high school science in the Wister and Locust Grove Public Schools systems. He has additional experience by serving as an assessment specialist and as an instructional designer at Oklahoma State University as well as by serving as the technology director and distance learning coordinator for Heavener Public Schools.
Jones earned his bachelor of science in secondary science education from Oklahoma State University in 1999, a master of education from Northern Arizona University in 2004, and a doctorate of philosophy in education (educational technology emphasis) from OSU in 2009.
Brittany Klaus
Instructor of Kinesiology and Assistant Athletic Trainer
Klaus has served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at ECU from Aug. 2011 to Dec. 2012. She was hired on an emergency one-semester appointment as instructor of kinesiology/assistant athletic trainer for the Spring 2013 semester She has been responsible for daily clinic operations for all student athletics and for specific assignments in women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball and football.
In addition, she taught one course in the fall 2012 semester in kinesiology and assumed a normal teaching load for an assistant athletic trainer during the spring 2013 semester. Her teaching evaluations have been excellent.
Klaus earned her bachelor of science in athletic training at Oklahoma State University in 2011 and her master of education in secondary education – sports administration at ECU in 2013. She is a Licensed Athletic Trainer (ATC) in Oklahoma and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer.
Dr. Michelle Lastrina
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Lastrina has taught a wide variety of courses at Dickinson College and Iowa State University during 2006-13. In the spring of 2010, she received a graduate college teaching excellence award. She served as a tutor for an Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering, worked in the Math Help room, and was involved in several Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs).
Her research area is graph theory and combinatorics, specifically list-coloring graphs. She has published one article in Discrete Math and has another in Graphs and Combinatorics, and has two research papers in preparation.
Lastrina earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics from Mount Holyoke College in 2006 and a doctorate of philosophy in mathematics from Iowa State University in 2012. She has held a visiting assistant professor of mathematics position during 2012-13 at Dickinson College. As a graduate student at Iowa State University she was assigned a wide range of undergraduate teaching responsibilities.
Ms. Nancy McClain
Instructor of Mathematics
McClain has taught intermediate algebra as an adjunct instructor at ECU from 2006 to 2013. In addition, she earned a mathematics teaching certification and taught mathematics at Shawnee High School in 1987 -1988 and at Little Axe High School from 1988 to 1990.
She earned a bachelor of business administration (1985) and a bachelor of arts in accounting (1991) from the University of Oklahoma. She also earned a master of education in mathematics from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2012.
Dr. Lark Powers
Assistant Professor of Music – Piano
Powers has served as a piano teaching assistant at the University of Colorado from 2010-2013. At the Peabody Institute, she held the position of instructor in theory and harpsichord performance from 2008-2010. She has a wide range of experience in applied lesson settings.
Also, Powers is professionally active, with scheduled performances, including the Estes Park Winter Festival in Estes Park, Colo., in February, 2014. She has also performed extensively with the Seicento Baroque Ensemble as they were broadcast on Colorado Public Radio in 2012.
She earned her bachelor of music from the University of the Pacific in 2003; master of music from Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in 2008 (theory pedagogy), 2009 (piano performance), and 2010 (harpsichord performance); and a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Colorado in 2013. Additionally, Powers earned a diploma from the Conservatoire de Paris in piano in 2006 and a certificate in college teaching from the University of Colorado in 2013.
Ms. Angela Price
Instructor of Human Resources
From 2010 to 2013, Price served as an academic advisor/program coordinator for ECU at the McAlester campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College. He also taught courses for the ECU Human Resources’ Department at the McAlester campus during 2012-13.
Previously, she worked as a child welfare specialist II, Foster Care Division for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in 2009 to 2010 and positions with the Oklahoma Children Services section of Eastern Oklahoma and Youth Services in Muskogee from 2000-2007.
Price earned a bachelor of arts in speech education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1994. She has earned a master of science in human resources administration (2002) and a master’s of science in human resources rehabilitation counseling (2013) from ECU. She holds certifications as a certified behavioral health resources specialist (BHRS) and certified contract case manager (CCM). She holds a CRC license and is an LPC candidate.
Dr. Aubrey Rhoden
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Rhoden has taught Calculus I and II and College Algebra at the University of Texas at Arlington during the 2008-09 and 2011-12 academic years. From 2009 to 2011, he was a GK–12 Fellow at UTA. During this time, he worked in junior high and high school classrooms, developing and implementing mathematics lessons and activities. He was awarded the Department of Mathematics Outstanding Graduate Research Award in 2013 and held a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship during 2011-13.
He earned his bachelor of science in mathematics from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas in 2007 and earned his doctorate of philosophy in applied mathematics from the UTA in 2013. He is co-author of one article in a professional journal and has another accepted for publication.
Mr. Chad Roark
Instructor of Kinesiology/Assistant Football Coach
Roark earned his bachelor of science in physical education (2011) and his master of education in secondary education – sports administration (2012) from ECU.
He served as a graduate assistant at ECU during the 2012-13 year. In the fall semester, he coached the offensive line. At other times he had responsibilities for coaching tight ends and assisting with the offensive line. In the spring of 2013, Roark coached the defensive lines and tracked players’ academic progress.
Dr. Catherine Roring
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Roring was an adjunct instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2012-13 and at Oklahoma State University in 2008-09, teaching primarily online courses. During the 2012-13 year, she did her internship in the Dallas Independent School District as a part of her doctoral requirements. Upon completion of her doctorate, she qualified for Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) status.
She is co-author on three manuscripts which are in progress and has made four presentations at professional conferences, including the American Psychological Association National Convention and the American Educational Research Annual Meeting.
Roring earned her bachelor of arts in psychology from Texas A&M University in 2008 and her master of science in educational psychology from OSU in 2009. She recently earned her doctor of philosophy in psychology – option in school psychology in 2013.
Dr. Nanette Schmitt
Assistant Professor of Education
Schmitt held the position of assistant professor of education at ECU from 2007-2010. She taught as a part-time instructor for ECU in fall 2012 and summer 2013. She has seven years of public school teaching experience in McAlester, Okla. and Los Angeles, Calif.
Schmitt earned her bachelor of science in human development from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore. in 1994, master’s degree from George Fox University (Ore.) in 1999, and a doctor of philosophy in education administration, curriculum and supervision from the University of Oklahoma in 2008.
Dr. Michael D. Scott
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Scott was a visiting assistant professor of economics at Oklahoma Christian University for the 2012-13 academic year. Previously, he served as a teaching assistant and an instructor of record at Clemson University from 2008 to 2012. He has additional part time teaching experience – either online courses or individual sections - at Oklahoma Christian University (2005 to 2012), Northwestern Oklahoma State University (2010-12), the University of Oklahoma (2004-09), and Oklahoma City Community College (2004-09).
He earned a bachelor of business administration in economics and international business and a master of research/applied economics from the University of Oklahoma in 2003. He also earned a master of arts in economics in 2009 and a doctorate of philosophy in economics in 2012 from Clemson.
Kelly Slover
Instructor of Human Resources
From 2011 to 2013, Slover served as a field instructor for the ECU Social Work Program. She was been employed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services since 2005. In November 2012, Slover was promoted to foster care field manager in which she was responsible for all foster care supervisors in the OKDHS region.
Previously, she was a child welfare supervisor from March 2011 to November 2012 in Johnston County; child welfare supervisor from April 2008 to March 2011 in Murray County; and child welfare specialist from June 2005 to April 2008 in Johnston County.
Slover earned a bachelor of social work from ECU in 2005 and a master of social work from the University of Oklahoma in 2008.
David L. Smith
Instructor of Education
Smith was appointed to an interim instructor position for the spring 2013 semester at ECU. Previously, he served as an adjunct instructor at ECU from the fall 2011 semester through the fall 2012 semester.
Before coming to ECU, he was a visiting instructor at Barry University in 2010-11 and a graduate assistant/instructor/research assistant from 2004 to 2010 at the University of Nevada- Reno. He also taught public school at Beattie Elementary in Fort Collins, Colo. (1998-99), Deltona, Florida (1999-2000), and Naples, Florida (2002-04). Smith has nine publications and presentations at professional conferences and meetings.
Smith earned his bachelor of arts in journalism from Colorado State University in 1996 and his master of education in curriculum and instruction – reading education from the University of Virginia in 2002. He is current ABD in a PhD program in literacy studies at the University of Nevada-Reno with an anticipated completion date in spring 2014.
Megan K. Thompson
Lecturer of English and Languages
Thompson held the position of instructor in English at Missouri Western State University from 2007 to 2011. Previously, she served as a graduate teaching assistant at West Virginia University from 2007 to 2011. In 2001-12, she was an English Instructor at ChungDahm Learning School in Seoul, South Korea.
Her experience in teaching all levels of composition, poetry, literature, and ESL fit the English and Language Department’s needs. In addition, she has a forthcoming Chapbook publication and has extensive poetry, non-fiction, and fiction publications.
Thompson earned her bachelor of arts in English from Muskingum University in Ohio in 2004 and a master of fine arts from West Virginia University in creative writing/poetry in 2007.
Ms. Holli Witherington
Instructor of Human Resources and Director of the Brandon Whitten Institute
Witherington has served as an adjunct instructor, teaching counseling courses in the Human Resources Department at ECU from Aug. 2010 to the present. She has also been employed full-time as the Director of the Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction and Recovery at ECU from Feb. 2011 to the present.
Her work experience in counseling includes contract counseling in Tishomingo from 2009 to 2011, alcohol and drug counselor/case manager for Tri-City Substance Abuse Center, Inc., in Ada from 2005 to 2009; and Probation and Parole Office I for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections from 2004 to 2005.
Witherington earned her bachelor of arts in criminal justice (2004) and her master of education in school counseling (2008) from ECU. Among the certifications she holds are Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselor, Oklahoma Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and SASSI, Addiction Severity Index and Patient Placement Criteria of the American Society of Addiction Medicine certification. She is on the Oklahoma Board for Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselors.
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS STARTING SPRING 2013
Mary A. LaMack
Application Systems Analyst
LaMack has over 20 years of work experience in information technology, particularly in military command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence operations and systems engineering. She has 10 years of Information Assurance (IA) experience in Navy Certification and Accreditation and Acquisition IA.
She has been employed at Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services, LLC (formerly Arinc Engineering Services, LLC) in San Diego, Calif. from 2004 to 2013, where she was a principal analyst in her last position. Previously, she worked for Booz Allen Hamilton in San Diego from 1998 to 2004 in a variety of technical positions. From 1992 to 1998 she was in the United States Navy as an Electronics Technician 2nd Class.
LaMack is currently working on a bachelor of science in computer science at East Central University. Among her professional certifications are Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Security+ce – CompTIA.
Mr. Jacob Poole
Academic Advisor/Program Coordinator at McAlester
Poole has been employed as an academic counselor/testing coordinator at Tulsa Community College from 2009-2013. He was responsible for proper documentation and testing accommodations for students with disabilities, and for overseeing the Tulsa Community College placement testing at the TCC Southeast campus and at the Northeastern State University Broken Arrow campus for TCC students who attend at that location. Previously, he worked as a care coordinator and triage specialist at Carl Albert Community Mental Health Care Center in McAlester from 2007-09.
Poole earned his bachelor of science degree in community health at the University of Central Oklahoma in 2006. He earned his master of education in school counseling from East Central University in 2008.
David Sadongei
Blackboard Administrator
Sadongei possesses nearly 20 years professional experience at Integris Health System in Oklahoma City. From 2002-10, he was a software administrator at Integris Health Southwest Medical Center and, from 1994-2002, was a device support analyst II at Integris Health Information Systems in Oklahoma City. Sadongei was a computer operator II at the same location from 1991-94.
Sadongei has served previously as interim blackboard administrator from July 1, 2012 to Feb. 28, 2013.
David Weir
Project Director for the East Central University NASNTI
Weir has previous experience in managing staff while serving as director of the Lafayette Jewish Community Religious. Among other experiences while holding this position, he wrote and administered grants.
Weir’s experience falls in line with ECU’s vision of focusing upon retention activities and the development of an undergraduate research center in support of retention of first-generation, low income and Native American studies. He served as an advisor in the Texas Tech University Undergraduate Advising Center and was an undergraduate research fellow working with a professor doing research on native language loss among the Navajo people of Arizona.
He is currently completing the requirements for a PhD in American Studies at Purdue University with an anticipated completion date of May, 2014. He also holds a master of arts in history (2004) and a bachelor of arts in history and anthropology (2001) from Texas Tech. Wier has served as an adjunct instructor at ECU since August of 2012 and previously was a teaching assistant at Purdue University.
-ECU-