When fall classes began at East Central University for the 2014-15 academic year on Monday, Aug. 18, there were 27 new fulltime faculty members and one professional staff on board.
FACULTY WHICH BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 2014
Matthew W. Cole
Instructor of Kinesiology/Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Cole earned his bachelor of science in health and performance in 1999 and his master of science in college teaching/health science and health and kinesiology in 2006 from Northeastern State University.
He served as assistant women’s basketball coach and instructor in kinesiology at Northeastern State since 2003. Previously, he was assistant women’s basketball coach at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan. from 2000 to 2003.
Cole has been part of several conference championships and six NCAA national championship tournament appearances. He has a positive record of community involvement and has served as an instructor in the general education program at NSU.
Sheila D. Miller
Instructor of Nursing
Miller earned her bachelor of science in nursing from ECU in 2008 and her master of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2011. She is a registered nurse (RN).
Miller was appointed instructor of nursing in January 2014. She served as an adjunct clinical faculty for the ECU nursing program from 2009 to the fall of 2010, and as a practical nursing instructor at Pontotoc Technology Center in Ada from September 2011 to October 2012. Her professional experience includes: Goody Journey Home Health and Hospice, August 2013 to January 2014; Rolling Hills Hospital RN floor nurse, April 2004 to September 2007 and May 2013 to August 2013 and Mays Home Health, RN, September 2007 to May 2013, among other positions.
Dr. Stan Pollard
Assistant Professor of Mass Communication
Pollard earned his bachelor of arts in journalism/photographic arts in 1991 and his master of education in community college education/journalism in 1993 from the University of Central Oklahoma and his doctor of philosophy in educational studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2006.
Pollard held a one-semester, temporary appointment in the Mass Communication in the spring of 2014. Previously, he taught at ECU from 1997 to 2007 and was an assistant professor on tenure track at the time of his resignation to pursue private business interests.
From January 2013 through December 2013 he served as an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma City Community College. Pollard has worked as a photojournalist, commercial photographer and a contract/proposal developer both before working at ECU and since his departure in 2007.
FACULTY STARTING IN THE FALL 2014
Gary Batzloff
Assistant Professor of Art
Batzloff earned his bachelor of fine arts in sculpture at the University of West Florida in 2004 and his master of fine arts in Visual Studies, Sculpture from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2008.
Batzloff was sculpture and ceramics Technician at the University of Montana during the 2013-14 academic year. Previously, he was visiting artist and adjunct instructor at the University of West Florida from 2009 to 2012. He also served as an adjunct instructor in 2007-08 and a graduate teaching assistant in 2007 at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
He brings a wide range of technical skills to the position and has an extensive record of solo and group exhibitions. He served on the Campus Safety Committee at the University of Montana and authored the health, safety and conduct guidelines of the sculpture facilities, enforced EPA and OSHA guidelines, and conducted safety workshops for faculty and students.
Nathaniel Berman
Assistant Professor of Music
Berman earned his bachelor of music in music performance in 2004 from Michigan State University. He completed his master of arts in music performance and composition in January 2006 at New York University. He is currently ABD in a doctor of arts in music performance at the University of Northern Colorado.
Berman taught as an adjunct instructor at New York University and at the University of Northern Colorado. He has extensive experience in teaching lessons at all levels and on all types of woodwind instruments. He taught privately, at summer festivals and campus and was on staff at Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2007.
Professionally, Berman has extensive experience as a solo, chamber, orchestra, jazz and popular music performer. For the past three years, he was a guest performer at various concerts at the Aspen Music Festival. His woodwind duo “Madera Winds” has performed extensively throughout the United States.
Dr. Stacey L. Bridges
Instructor of Psychology
Bridges earned her bachelor of science in applied learning and development at the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. She earned her master of science in educational psychology in 2007 and her doctor of philosophy in 2012 from Oklahoma State University.
Bridges held a one-year temporary appointment as instructor of psychology at ECU in the 2013-14 academic year. Previously, she 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 OSU 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. Bridges is co-author of five 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, Bridges has been active in writing grants.
Tina M. Brinlee
Instructor of Human Resources
Brinlee earned her bachelor of social work from ECU in 1993 and her master of social work in 2000 from the University of Oklahoma.
She has served as an adjunct instructor in the ECU Human Resources Department since 2004 with excellent evaluations. Although only part-time, she served as the faculty sponsor for Alpha Delta Mu, the National Social Work Honor Society for students. Brinlee was employed at the Department of Human Services (DHS) from 1993 to 2014. In her last position she was a case manager for disabled individuals in Pontotoc County.
Previously, Brinlee held several other positions with DHS, including school-based social worker assigned to Ada Public Schools, integrated family services case manager, and family support programs worker. She has been active in professional and community services and received several DHS awards for excellent service in DHS Area IV, which includes Pontotoc County.
Dr. Bill Caruthers
Assistant Professor of Education
Caruthers earned a bachelor of arts in education (history certification) from East Central University in 1985, a master of education from ECU in 1986 and a doctor of philosophy in educational administration and curriculum studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2009.
Caruthers served as the superintendent of Silo Public Schools in Durant, Okla. from 2008 to 2014. Additional superintendent positions he has held include Geary Public Schools, 2000-2008; Wewoka Public Schools, interim position, 1999-2000 and McLoud Public Schools, assistant superintendent, 1998-1999. He has additional years as a district-level principal, special education director, plant manager, counselor and teacher. He is certified by the State of Oklahoma in the following areas: superintendent, secondary principal, secondary counselor, U.S. government, democracy and international problems, along with Oklahoma, American, world, and ancient/medieval histories. He has been an adjunct instructor for Southeastern Oklahoma University, Murray State College, Grand Canyon University and Concordia University.
His accomplishments include increasing the “Adequate Yearly Progress” scores of a majority-minority district, increasing a district fund balance by 400 percent in four years and acquiring approximately $12 million in grants for the schools that he has led. He has presented and published on educational leadership, student enrichment, and technology use topics.
Allison Collins
Instructor of Nursing
Collins earned an associate’s degree in applied science in nursing from Grayson County College in Denison, Texas in 1998, a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 1999 and a master of science in nursing education from the University of Oklahoma in 2008. She will begin a PhD. program in nursing at the University of Oklahoma within the next year. She is certified as a registered nurse (RN).
Collins has extensive teaching experience. She was employed as nursing professor at Grayson College in Denison, Texas and held that position from 2008 to 2014. In addition, she previously served as adjunct clinical faculty for the ECU Nursing Department from 2004 to 2007. In her position at Grayson College, she was the primary instructor for the medical-surgical course and was responsible for supervision of the program’s computer testing software and lab.
In addition, Collins has extensive RN nursing experience. From September 2005 to March 2013, she worked as a full-time and after 2008 as a part time RN at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant. Previously, she worked as an RN at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas, 2007-08; Home Health RN for Mays Home Health in Durant, 2004-07; as a Psych RN team leader for Texoma Medical Center Behavioral Healthcare in Sherman, Texas, 2003-04; and as a public health RN at the Bryan County Health Department in Durant, 1998-2003.
Sharon Cunningham
Instructor of Education
Cunningham earned her bachelor of science in special education in 2007 and master of education in reading in 2011 from ECU. She has been accepted into the doctoral program for the study of special education at the University of Oklahoma and will begin her course work in the 2014-15 academic year.
Cunningham was a special education teacher at Hayes Grade Center in the Ada Public Schools from 2006 to 2014. She has been the core curriculum lead teacher for first and second grade student with disabilities for reading, language arts, and math. Cunningham was awarded the Trucker Buddy International Outstanding Teacher Award in 2013, Hayes Grade Center Teacher of the Year in 2012 and Cathy Cox Merit Award finalist in 2011. She has served as a cooperating teacher for several ECU student teachers.
Joe Dougherty
Instructor of Accounting
Dougherty earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Villanova University and a master of business administration from Southern Methodist University. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered financial analyst (CFA).
Dougherty retired from a career that began in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche and culminated with Investment Management in Dallas, Texas. Most recently, he was president of Pyxis Capital LP in Dallas, Texas and a partner at Highland Capital Management, LP, where he spent most of his career, also in Dallas. Prior to this, he was an investment analyst at Sandera Capital Management in Dallas, a business development manager at Akzo Nobel in Dallas, and worked in middle-market services for Deloitte & Touche in Dallas.
He brings a wealth of experience in accounting and finance to this position that will complement the Accounting Department’s academic expertise.
Aaron Hill
Instructor of Kinesiology/Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Hill earned his bachelor of science in accounting in 2008 and his master of business administration in 2010 at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo.
He served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Eastern Arizona College from 2012-2014. He was assistant boys’ basketball coach at Quincy High School in Quincy, Ill. from 2010-2012. In addition, he played professional basketball for the Ringwood Hawks in Melbourne, Australia in 2011 and played Division II basketball at Rockhurst University.
Susan Ingram
Instructor of Mass Communication
Ingram earned her bachelor of science in Mass Communication (2008) and her master of education in secondary education (2011) from East Central University.
She was employed in the Communications and Marketing Department at ECU from 2008 to 2014. Her most recent position was marketing coordinator, which she held from July 2012 to July 2014. From the spring semester 2011 to the spring semester 2014, Ingram taught in Mass Communication as an adjunct instructor. Her teaching evaluations were positive. Her practical experience enabled her to be an important contributor to the Mass Communication Program’s focus on preparing their students for the workplace.
Toni Jones
Instructor of Family and Consumer Science
Jones earned her bachelor of science in education, family and consumer sciences education at Northeastern State University in 1999 and her master of education in educational leadership from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2013
Jones was an adjunct instructor in nutrition at Carl Albert State College during the 2004-05 academic year and was a family and consumer science teacher at Panama High School in Panama, Okla. from 2000 to 2004. She was a master trainer for the Southeast Region from 2001 to 2003 for the implementation of HB 1815 Lead Teacher Technology Training Program.
Most recently, she taught at West Field Elementary in Edmond Public Schools during 2013-14 and at Harvest Hills Elementary in Putnam City Schools from 2010 to 2013. Previously, she taught at Glencoe Public Schools, Richmond Elementary in Stillwater, and Rio Grande Elementary in Terre Haute, Ind. between 2005 and 2010.
Dr. Errol L. King
Assistant Professor of English and Languages
King earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Brigham Young University in 2004, his Master of Arts in Spanish Literature from Brigham Young University in 2006, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Literature from the University of Arizona in 2012.
King was a visiting assistant professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho from 2011- 2014. In addition, he served as a graduate associate in teaching at the University of Arizona from 2006-2011 and as a graduate student instructor at Brigham Young University from 2005-2006. King has extensive teaching experience in beginning and advanced Spanish language and has organized successful foreign study experience for students.
Finally, he has seven professional publications and has made nine presentations at professional conferences. His record reveals him to be a collaborative colleague and he possesses extensive experience in performing in and mentoring students in Spanish plays.
Julie Lee
Instructor of Accounting
Lee earned a bachelor of science in accounting and a master of science in accounting, both from ECU in 1999 and 2013 respectively. She is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Lee served as assistant controller at ECU from September 2011-July 2014. She has taught accounting at ECU as a part time instructor since 2011. Previously from 2009 to 2011, she was the internal audit manager at the Chickasaw Nation. Lee was controller/office manager at Danielson Fuel Services, LLC from 2008 to 2009, senior auditor/accountant at Crawford and Associates, PC from 2005 to 2008, and internal auditor at Vision Bank from 2004 to 2005. In addition, she was staff accountant at Buxton and Company, PC from 2000 to 2001 and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC in 2000.
Dr. Matthew Lynam
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Lynam earned a bachelor of arts in mathematics from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. in 2006 and a master of arts in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma in 2010. He completed his doctor of philosophy in mathematics at the University of Oklahoma in May, 2014.
Lynam served as a graduate assistant in the Mathematics Department at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-2014. In addition, he has been an adjunct instructor at Oklahoma Baptist University from 2011-2014. He has taught a wide range of math courses, including intermediate algebra, college algebra, trigonometry and calculus, among others.
While at OU, Dr. Lynam was awarded the John Clark Brixey Graduate Scholarship in 2012 and an academic achievement award in 2009. He delivered five departmental seminar talks in the OU Department of Mathematics.
Dr. Joy D. Patton
Assistant Professor of Human Resources and Director of the Social Work Program
Patton earned a bachelor of arts in psychology in 1999 from the University of Central Oklahoma, a master of arts in counseling psychology from Liberty University in 2004 and a master of science in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2008. She earned her doctor of philosophy in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2009. Dr. Patton is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) in Texas.
Patton was an assistant professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas from 2010 to 2014. She also held an assistant professor position at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2009-10. Patton also has experience teaching online courses.
In addition, she was either primary or secondary author on eight professional journal publications and is secondary author of two refereed book chapters. Similarly, she has made numerous conference presentations in recent years.
Vickie Reifsnider
Lecturer in Communication and Performance Studies
Reifsnider earned a bachelor of arts in Music Education in 1994 and a bachelor of arts in art teacher certification in 1998 from ECU. She also earned a master of education in secondary education with a focus in music in 1996 and theatre in 2011.
Reifsnider has served as an adjunct instructor in the School of Fine Arts since 1999. During this time she taught speech courses, managed the costume shop for theatre in 2010-2011 and was director of South Pacific musical in 2011. In addition, Reifsnider has directed more than 30 plays and musicals for Ada High School, Ada Junior High, and the local community theatre ACT II. She has played leading roles and supporting roles in more than 40 plays and musicals, and has extensive work in set design, props, and costuming.
Heather M. Robben
Instructor of Kinesiology/Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
Robben earned her bachelor of science in business at Emporia State University in 2012. She completed her master of science in health, physical education and recreation at Emporia State University in August.
Robben served as a graduate assistant at Emporia State University from 2012-2014. During this time she developed scouting reports, prepared film, assisted with the coaching of team guards and made all travel arrangements for out-of-town games. Her skills in these areas fit directly with the assistant coaching responsibilities at ECU. She was a student athlete at Hutchinson Community College, Wichita State University, and Emporia State University.
Dr. Robin R. Roberson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Roberson earned her bachelor of science in biology in 1991, master of education in secondary education in 2008 and master of education in school counseling in 2009 from ECU. She completed her doctor of philosophy in educational psychology at the University of Oklahoma in April 2014.
Roberson was an instructor of education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2013-14. She served as an instructor in the summer of 2013 in the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Oklahoma. She also served as a graduate teaching assistant and a graduate research assistant in the OU Educational Psychology Department in the 2012-2013 academic year and in the 2012 fall semester. From 2007-2012, she taught biology at Byng High School. Previously, she taught at Roff High School, Maud Middle School, and Wewoka High School, 2002-2007.
Dr. Joseph M. Santmyer
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Santmyer earned a bachelor of science in mathematics in 1974, master of arts in mathematics in 1975, master of science in computer science in 1982, and a doctor of philosophy in in mathematics in 1992 from the University of Pittsburgh. He has extensive experience in higher education and private government sectors.
His higher education experience includes time spent at four institutions. Santmyer was an assistant professor of mathematics at West Liberty University in West Virginia in 2008-09. He was a tenured assistant professor of mathematics and computer Science at Bethany College in West Virginia from 2001-2008. Earlier, he served two years as an assistant professor of computer science at California University of Pennsylvania in 1992-94 and was an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh Greensburg campus from 1981-1984.
Most recently from 2009 to the present, he has been a computer scientist at Hill Air Force Base, Pacific Missile Range Facility in Utah. Additionally, he worked as a senior software engineer at ADC Telecommunications in McMurray, Pa. from 1999-2001; senior engineer at Sentel Corporation, Dahlgren, Va. from 1998-99; and engineering positions with CSC in Dahlgren, 1998-99; GRCI in Dahlgren, 1998); and Analytical Solutions, Inc., in Dahlgren, 1997-98.
Dr. Michael D. Scott
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Scott 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 earned a master of arts in economics in 2009 and a doctor of philosophy in economics in 2012 from Clemson University.
Scott served a one-year temporary appointment as assistant professor of business administration at ECU during the 2013-2014 academic year. Previously, he was a visiting assistant professor of economics at Oklahoma Christian University during the 2012-2013 academic year. He also served as a teaching assistant and an instructor of record at Clemson University from 2008-2012. He has additional part time teaching experience – either online courses or individual sections -- at Oklahoma Christian University, 2005-2012; Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 2010-12; the University of Oklahoma, 2004-09; and Oklahoma City Community College, 2004-09.
David L. Smith
Instructor of Education
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 December 2014.
Smith held a one-year temporary appointment as instructor in education at East Central University during the 2013-14 academic year. Previously at ECU, he had served as an interim instructor in education for the spring 2013 semester and as an adjunct instructor 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 2004-2010 at the University of Nevada-Reno. He also taught public school at Beattie Elementary in Fort Collins, Col., 1998-99; Deltona, Florida, 1999-2000; and Naples, Florida, 2002-04. Smith has 10 publications and presentations at professional conferences and meetings.
Randall Stone
Instructor of Accounting and the Horne and Company Endowed Professor in Accounting
Stone earned his bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith in 2009. He earned a master of accountancy from the University of Central Arkansas in 2010 and a master of science in taxation from William Howard Taft University in 2012.
He is currently in the early stages of a doctoral program in business administration with a concentration in advanced accounting at Northcentral University. In addition, he is a certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and certified treasury professional (CTP).
Stone was an instructor in accounting at Rose State College from 2012-2014. In addition, he has taught online courses for William Howard Taft University, 2013 – present; National University, 2012 – present; Eastern New Mexico University, 2012-13 and the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith (Fall 2011). Additionally, he has professional work experience as follows: staff accountant at Przybysz and Associates, CPAs, 2012; staff accountant at Beall Barclay and Company PLC CPAs, 2010-2012); financial services representative at State Farm Insurance-Scott Shaw Agency, 2008 – 2010; client advisor-investment specialist at Arvest Asset Management 2006-2008; and senior financial services representative at Arvest Bank, 2000-2006.
Jeanene Taylor
Lecturer of Human Resources
Taylor earned her bachelor of arts in human resources counseling at East Central University in 1993 and master of science in human resources – rehabilitation counseling at ECU in 1995. She is a certified vocational rehabilitation counselor (CRC). She has taught primarily undergraduate courses in the ECU Human Resources Department since 1999 as a part-time instructor.
Taylor has taught as a part-time instructor for the Human Resources Department since 1999. She held a temporary lecturer position in the Human Resources Department in the 2013 and 2014 spring semesters. Since 2004, Taylor has been owner of Taylor Consulting Firm which specializes in vocational rehabilitation counseling. From 1998-2003, she was director of the Vocational Department at Midlands Injury Management and from 1992-1994, she was a counselor at the Family Crisis Center in Ada.
Thomas A. Zeni
Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Chickasaw Nation Professorship in Business Administration
Zeni earned his bachelor of science in psychology from Mercy College (N.Y.). He also earned a master of science in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 2010 and a master of business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2013. He is currently ABD in a doctor of philosophy program in industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Oklahoma with an expected completed date in 2014-15. In addition, he holds a certification as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute.
During 2013-14, Zeni held an assistant professor of management position at Fayetteville State University (N.C.). Previously, he served as an adjunct instructor in management at OU in 2011-2013, adjunct instructor of management at the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall 2012 semester, and adjunct instructor of Management at Oklahoma City University from 2010-2012. Zeni has extensive professional experience, including several management positions at Coca-Cola Enterprises from 2005-2008, owner/operator of Uncorked Bar & Grill from 2002-2004, consultant at S.A.M. Consulting from 2000-2002 and assistant store manager at A & P Supermarkets from 1997-2000.
ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS STARTING SPRING 2014 OR LATER
Elizabeth Isbell
Academic Advisor/Program Coordinator
Isbell earned her bachelor of science in animal science, with a minor in agriculture business, from Sam Houston State University in 2011 and her master of science in agriculture leadership, education and communications from Texas A&M University in 2013.
Isbell was employed as a county extension agent for 4-H and Youth Development at Bellville, Texas and in the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service from 2012-2014. Her work in the 4-H program focused on career exploration, leadership development, and higher education preparation.
-ECU-