Meet Our Faculty

College of Business and Professional Studies

Charlie Minnick, PhD - Dean

Dr. Charlie Minnick is the Dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies at Ashford University. He has been at Ashford since 2006. Before that he spent ten years at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. His last position there was Director of the Masters of Organizational Leadership program. His PhD is in Management and Decision Sciences with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University. He has also done some consulting work in the areas of employee motivation, business ethics, improving team performance, and conflict management. He recently served as a reviewer of Management textbooks for Pearson Publishing. As Dean, Dr. Minnick wants to uphold Ashford's "dedication to continuing our strong progress and building on our key values of providing affordable, accessible and quality programs." Read more about Dr. Minnick.

Mike Burton, JD

Mike Burton is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Business and Professional Studies. He received a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Valparaiso University. Prior to coming to Ashford, he practiced law for several years and then worked in the business sector. His diverse professional and educational background enables him to instruct a variety of courses, but his primary areas of interest are in business law, sports and recreation management and sales/marketing. Besides instructing traditional campus classes, he also teaches in the accelerated and online programs. His wife, Michelle, and their four children provide him with the inspiration to always strive to do his best as an instructor. He is very motivated by the opportunity to teach others and to create a quality learning experience.

Diane Cornilsen, MSEd

Diane Cornilsen's educational background includes a BA from the University of Northern Iowa, an MSEd from Northern Illinois University, and a current Iowa Teacher Certification. She is working on completeing a Distance Learning Certificate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Some of the courses she teaches include Computer Literacy, PC Applications, Web Publishing, Integrating Technology in the Classroom, Programming Concepts, Visual and Verbal Presentations, and Spreadsheet and Database Analysis. She has witnessed Ashford University move through a variety of transitions both in name and in culture. The institution's movement toward new technology has provided students and faculty with an enhanced portal for teaching and learning. Her words of wisdom to students: "As I think about my daughter who will attend college in the fall of 2008, three thoughts come to mind....follow your intellectual passion, reach out and create new networks of friends, faculty, and staff, and participate in or seek out service opportunities in the community you become a part of."

Amy Kramer, PhD

Dr. Amy Kramer graduated with a PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University, a Master's of Organizational Management from UOP, and a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources and Marketing. Prior to joining AU full-time she worked within the corporate arena for more than 14 years. She currently teaches Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, Research Methods, Marketing, Management, Leadership, Change Management, Business Communications, Marketing Research, Social Issues, Group Behavior in Organizations, Operations Management and Strategic Planning. She has a passion for learning and enjoys helping students realize the joy that learning can bring. Some of her key goals are to teach students to seek knowledge and understanding in everything they do or experience, to help students learn to think in new and different ways, and to help students to gain confidence in themselves and see what they have to offer the world both personally and professionally. Of her students, Kramer says, "It is an honor to work with them here and it is my pleasure to support and guide them every step of the way." She lives near the campus with her husband (who is a firefighter & paramedic) and their three children (ages 5-14).

Matt Slaymaker, MA

Matt Slaymaker is a digital artist specializing in 3D animation & computer graphics. He received his BA from Mount Saint Clair College May 2003, and his Master's degree in 3D Animation and Special Effects from Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2004. He has teaching experience from Brown College, Digital Media Arts College, and Champlain College previous to joining Ashford in 2010. He also has freelance experience creating all forms of digital media dating back to 2003 doing work in 3D modeling, animation, and character rigging.

Ray Smith, MA

Ray Smith has been on the faculty of Ashford University since August, 2007. He has an MA degree in mathematics from Central Michigan University and a BA degree from the University of Iowa, also in mathematics. During the last few years he has obtained certification as a Cisco Certified Networking Instructor and also as a Cisco Java Instructor. After enjoying many years as a technology/math teacher at Clinton High School, he is now enjoying teaching at the college level. To his students, Smith says, "Learning is a life long process. Ashford University can help you in that process of living a rewarding and exciting life."

David Stedwell, MA

David Stedwell holds a BA in Journalism with a Secondary Education Certification from the University of Iowa, and an MA in Journalism / Public Relations from Ball State University. He taught at West High School, Davenport, Iowa for 12 years. He taught journalism, mass media and photography courses and advised student publications (newspaper and yearbook). Stedwell also served for 18 years at Marycrest College/Marycrest International University in the Computer Graphics program. He advised the student newspaper and literary/graphics magazine. For 35 years, he developed curriculum, taught, and directed programs at various summer journalism workshops around the country (Michigan State University, Ball State University, The University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, Western Kentucky University). He is currently an Associate Professor teaching graphic communication courses in the Computer Graphic Design program. He says he encourages students to do the best work with the skills they bring to any project, and to embark on a life-long quest to continue developing those skills. Says Stedwell, "I think that life-long learning is so important for anyone who wants to keep pace with the constantly changing graphic communication environment." Read more about David Stedwell.

George Sztajer, MBA

George Sztajer is a professor in the College of Business and Professional Studies. His undergraduate degree is in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Champaign. He holds an MBA from Eastern Illinois University, and he took doctoral classes at the University of Iowa in Policy and Planning. His early career was in the construction industry as an architect and later as an executive. He has been teaching for about 20 years, the last 8 of those here at Ashford. He has taught most of the business courses at one time or another. Says Sztajer, "I have taught at large and small schools and one of the advantages of Ashford is its small size. Take advantage of that by talking with your professors whenever you have questions."

David Ward, MBA, CPA

David Ward, has a BS in Grain Science & Technology from Kansas State University, an MBA from St. Ambrose University, and a BA in Accountancy from Western Illinois University. He is a certified public accountant, and has taught in the accounting and business areas at Ashford University since 2005. A poem excerpt that Ward likes to share with students is from Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken:"

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Charles West, MBA, CPA, CMA, CFM

Charles West started teaching at Ashford in 1981. He has taught accounting, business and finance courses. He holds CPA, CMA, and CFM certifications. His degrees include a BS from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University. He is happy to report that "every year for over 20 years, our university has had exceptional students successfully complete one of the accounting professional certification examinations."

William Woods, PhD

Dr. William Woods is teaching marketing courses and several general business courses at Ashford University. An adjunct professor at Ashford since 2005, Woods was employed at the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Davenport from 2003-2008. He received his AA degree from Scott Community College, Davenport, IA; his BA and MBA degrees from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA, and his PhD degree from Capella University.

College of Education

Joen Rottler, EdD - Dean

Dr. Joen Rottler is the Dean of the College of Education (COE) so she works with the Teacher Preparation Program on the Clinton, Iowa, campus. She is the Licensure Officer, and is responsible for graduate programs and new program development in the COE. Since she works with teacher candidates, she believes it is very important for them to realize that they are developing a professional reputation the minute they enter the program. That includes exhibiting the behavior of a role model for K-12 students, demonstrating professional behavior in field-based experience/practicum, and practicing leadership skills throughout the program. "I am a positive person and believe teachers are leaders who make lasting impressions on students. I am an advocate for teacher leaders who believe in service. I find teacher preparation to be a very rewarding field since I am putting my thumbprint on future teachers by developing teacher leaders who serve students, parents, communities and the teaching profession." She holds a Master of Counselor Education from Iowa State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Iowa. She has experience as a preschool owner, K, 1st, and 5th grade teacher, elementary principal, high school guidance counselor, consultant with the Iowa Department of Education and IPTV, and college professor at Upper Iowa University, Grand View College and Education Department Chair at Waldorf College. Read more about Dr. Rottler.

Daniel Bermundez, PhD

Dr. Bermudez is a specialist in multicultural studies and education, Latin American Studies, and English language learners’ assimilation into the educational system. Born in Madrid, Spain, Dr. Bermudez has had an international career in Europe, South America, Mexico, and the United States. With a doctorate from the University of Illinois, and Master’s degrees from Tulane University, the University of Salvador in Argentina, and the University of Deusto in Spain, he has traveled and extensively researched the strengths and weaknesses of different educational systems. Dr. Bermudez has applied this knowledge to assist immigrant students in the American school system.

From 2006 to 2008, Dr. Bermudez was the Director of Bilingual and ESL Services for the North Chicago School District. Before that, he worked as a school administrator and ESL coordinator. He has also been a resource instructor for the Illinois State Board of Education, facilitating seminars required for teachers’ endorsement in bilingual education and ESL. Dr. Bermudez’s research areas include the impact of bilingual education in the K-12 public school system, the preparation of prospective educators to deal with diverse student populations, and the teaching of English and Spanish as second languages.

Cynthia Martinek, EdD

Dr. Martinek has been with Ashford University since July, 2008, and currently serves as the Associate Dean for the College of Education. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Drake University, a 6th Year Certificate of Advanced Study Superintendent Certificate from Iowa State University, and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education from Iowa State University. Her professional experience includes being an adjunct professor at Waldorf College, an Elementary Principal in Belmond, IA, a PreK-Principal/K-12 Curriculum Coordinator in Latimer, IA, a teacher in the Mason City School district, a Research Associate at Iowa State University, and a teacher in Terril, IA.

David Quinn, PhD

Dr. Quinn holds undergraduate degrees from Eastern Illinois University, and Educational Specialist and Doctorate degrees from the University of Iowa. He joined Ashford in Fall, 2008, and will be teaching education and special education courses. Dr. Quinn has served as a teacher at the elementary and secondary levels, a special education consultant, a supervisor of special education instructional services, an assistant director of special education and a director of special education. He has also been an adjunct instructor for Drake University and St. Ambrose University.

Dr. Quinn believes that the following quote from Dr. Haim Ginott provides guidance for all students who wish to become educators.

"I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."

Dianne Willging, MS

Dianne Willging is in her eighth year of teaching at Ashford University. The courses she teaches include Foundations of American Education, Principle of Education II, Math for Educators, Math Methods, Diagnosis and Assessment of Reading, Strategies and Techniques for Corrective Reading, and Practicum in Reading. Willging also supervises student teachers and reading practicum students. She received her Master of Science in Elementary Education with specialization in language arts from Western Illinois University. Her Bachelor of Arts degree is also in Elementary Education with a specialization in reading from the University of Iowa. She continues her education with graduate courses in reading and math instruction. She holds elementary teaching certificates in Iowa and Illinois. Her work experience includes K-5 Title 1 teacher, kindergarten teacher, Talented and Gifted coordinator, and 2nd grade teacher. Accomplishments include the Ashford University Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching and Learning with Technology, Who's Who in Education, and the Gold Key Award for Excellence in Education.

Laurie Zahn, MS

Laurie Zahn holds a BS from Concordia University and an MS from Western Illinois University. Zahn currently teaches Elementary Reading Methods, Language Arts Methods for Elementary Teachers, Science Methods for Elementary Teachers, Social Studies for Elementary Teachers, Child and Adolescent Literature, and Secondary Reading in the Content Areas. She has been with Ashford University since 1998.

College of Health, Human Services, and Science

Barbara Philibert, PhD – Dean

Dr. Barbara Philibert is Dean of the College of Health, Human Services, and Sciences at Ashford University. She has been associated with Ashford University since 1993, teaching in the areas of healthcare administration, psychology, and social science. Barbara holds graduate degrees from the University of Iowa – a Master of Arts in Nursing and a PhD in Educational Psychology, Instruction Design, with cogent areas in educational psychology, health care administration, and health education. Dr. Philibert has been active in the design, development, and implementation of several of the Ashford University online and campus degree programs.

Prior to coming to Ashford, Dr. Philibert was in hospital administration, serving in various upper-level administration positions. Additionally, she has taught and held administrative positions in both nursing and allied health education. From a community perspective, Dr. Philibert was the project director/designer of a public community project providing comprehensive school-based health services for low-income children and families. She has also served as a board member for various community agencies in both healthcare and education, and has been a consultant for healthcare administration, health education, nursing education, education, and community health projects. In reflection upon education, Dr. Philibert states, “All of us are learners in life’s journey. It is truly a privilege to encourage and share the joy of learning with students.”

Dr. Lee Cartwright

Dr. Lee Cartwright, who had previously been an associate professor at Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for 18 years, teaches organic and quantitative chemistry courses at Ashford University. He earned his BS, MS and PhD degrees from North Carolina State University and his MBA degree from Salisbury State University, Salisbury, MD.

Ted Eilders, PhD

Ted Eilders is in his second year of teaching at Ashford. He is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago, Wartburg Theological Seminary, and the University of Iowa. Eilders has worked in pastoral ministry, college counseling, and college teaching. He enjoys his work with students, faculty, and staff at Ashford University and finds them friendly and helpful. He currently teaches in the Sociology and Psychology areas on campus. Eilders sees Ashford University as a place where "learning for life" occurs.

Sarah Gall, PhD

Originally from northeast Tennessee, Sarah Gall received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1998. Six years later, she attended Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and earned a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology. Gall began teaching in the Biology department at Ashford in the fall of 2004. Her primary teaching responsibilities include most of the upper-level biology classes for science and health care majors, including (but not limited to) Anatomy & Physiology, Cell Biology, Genetics & Immunology, and Microbiology. She has also directed several senior research projects for students. Additionally, Gall teaches a biology course for non-science majors, and has team-taught an interdisciplinary course on Science and Culture. Her hope for her students: "That they will learn to think in new ways and apply their knowledge to new situations."

Glen Just, ABD

Glen Just has been with Ashford University since 1983, and has served as Mathematics Department Chairman and Associate Professor of Mathematics. His educational background includes an MEd (Mathematics) and a BSEd (Mathematics) from Columbus State University, and he is currently ABD (All But Dissertation) in Instructional Technology at Northern Illinois University. His objective is to assist college students in their learning of mathematics and problem-solving techniques. Just's current research area is the use of educational technology for the purpose of undergraduate learning.

Devin Land, PhD

Devin Land received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Kansas in 2007. The emphasis of his graduate education was cognitive psychology, the study of basic brain processes such as perception, attention, memory, and language that underlie everyday cognition. His teaching experience and interests include cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and research methods and statistics for the behavioral sciences, among others. Dr. Land has conducted basic experimental research on the attention and memory processes involved in visual search and is also interested in studying how basic cognitive principles apply to areas such as human factors design, social and clinical psychology, and personality and individual differences.

Karen Meade, PhD

Now teaching Ashford University's general chemistry and college physics courses is Dr. Karen Meade. Mead comes to Ashford University from Iowa Lakes Community College where she had been a science instructor since August 2007. She has also taught at Iowa Central Community College and Southeastern Community College, as well as at the junior and senior high school levels. Meade earned her AA degree from Iowa Central Community College, Webster City, IA; her BS degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; and her MA and PhD degrees from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.

Librado (Lee) Salazar, BS

Salazar serves as the Science Laboratory Supervisor and has been with Ashford University since 2007. Salazar has Bachelor of Science degrees in both Psychology (Northern Illinois University ’02) and Biology (Ashford University ’07) and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of the Rockies. In addition to overseeing daily laboratory activities, Salazar also supervises student laboratory assistants and helps to coordinate students’ senior thesis projects. In his time at Ashford, Salazar has also filled in as a laboratory instructor and is currently a member of the safety committee. His hope is that, “Students get the most out of their experience at Ashford and that they truly enjoy the time that they spend here.”

Helen Schroeder, PhD

Helen Schroeder began teaching at Ashford University in August 2010. She received her PhD in Pure Mathematics from the University of Iowa in December 2006, and has been teaching at University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin for the past four years. There, she enjoyed serving on the Faculty Senate and on the University Curriculum and Instruction Committee, and presenting her collaborative work with Lesson Study at local, state, regional, and national conferences. She tteaches College Algebra and Pre-Calculus at Ashford University. Her hobbies include reading, camping, and traveling.

Shukhrat Usmanov, PhD

Dr. Usmanov was born in Andijan, Uzbekistan (former Soviet Union), and received a PhD in Analysis from Tashkent State University in 1985. He moved to the United States in 1999, and earned a second PhD in Ergodic Theory from North Dakota State University in 2006. At Ashford, he currently teaches undergraduate courses in Combined Algebra, College Algebra, Linear Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus Sequence and Managerial Calculus. His hobbies include reading, music, chess and hiking. His wife, Sofya, is also a mathematician and they have two children who are currently enrolled at Jefferson Elementary in Clinton.

John Zimmerman, PhD

Dr. Zimmerman has an AA from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Oklahoma State University, and a PhD in Zoology from North Carolina State University. He has been with Ashford University since the fall of 1995 teaching in the areas of Biology and Environmental Studies. He serves as an academic advisor for the Biology department and the 3+1 Programs. His words of wisdom to students: "Remember the saying that you get out of something comparable to what you put in. So put effort into your education."

College of Liberal Arts

Curt Lowe, PhD - Dean

William C. "Curt" Lowe is Dean of Ashford's College of Liberal Arts and Professor of History. He came to the institution in 1980 and served as a full-time faculty member, chair of the Social Science Division, and Academic Dean before assuming his present position. He served as self-study coordinator for the 1995 and 2006 comprehensive accreditation visits. He has taught a variety of history courses at Ashford, as well as interdisciplinary courses on the Civil War in American Culture and, with Dr. Gary Heath, Race Relations in America. A native of Savannah, Georgia, Lowe taught at Auburn University, Marshall University and Black Hawk College before joining Ashford University. He earned an Artium Baccalaureatus (AB) degree from the College of William and Mary and MA and PhD degrees from Emory University. He has published articles on British and American history in a number of scholarly journals and authored more than a hundred articles for reference works, including "The New Oxford Dictionary of National Biography." He is also the author of "Blessings of Liberty: Safeguarding Civil Rights," a book for middle-schoolers. In 2006-7, he received a research grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa, and spent a sabbatical semester researching Civil War commemoration in the state. He is married to Flora Lowe, Ashford's Library Director. Watching Ashford sports teams is a favorite pastime. Read more about Dr. Lowe.

Brian Burmeister, MFA

A former high school English teacher and track and field coach, Burmeister’s degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Ashford University, a Master of Arts in English from Iowa State University, and, most recently, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University. While at Iowa State, Burmeister co-authored the non-fiction play, Farmscape, under the direction of Iowa’s poet laureate, Mary Swander. The play, which documents the changes made over the past half-century and still being made to rural life in the Midwest, has been performed in various venues throughout Iowa. A passionate believer in the power of words, Burmeister teaches Composition and Speech courses and is advisor to Ashford’s student newspaper, The Clarion.

Clarke Christian, MA

A native of Clinton, Iowa, Christian teaches English classes in Ashford’s College of Liberal Arts. He attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts and earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Mount St. Clare College in 2001; he earned his Master of Arts degree in developmental studies from National-Louis University in 2003.

David Deifell, PhD

Receiving his PhD in Communication Studies (concentrating in Rhetoric and Media) from The University of Iowa in 2003 and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Speech Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994, David Deifell has taught at a number of different institutions of higher education all over the country, including Drake University, East Tennessee State University, Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College, University of Puget Sound, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Iowa. Starting as an Associate Professor of Speech in the fall of 2010, Deifell spent most of 2009 and 2010 working with Ashford’s online programs as an Instructional Specialist. In his new position, Deifell will primarily be responsible for teaching and developing the Speech and Communication courses and program. His research interests engage a number of different areas, such as American public address, cultural studies, rhetorical theory and criticism, media studies, historiography, performance studies, social movements, and political communication.

Rob Engelson, DMA

Engelson's degrees include a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Choral Music from Arizona State University, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music Education and German from Augsburg College. He began teaching at Ashford University in 1995, and currently teaches all music and music education-related courses; interdisciplinary courses including World Musics, Music / Art / Literature of the Romantic Era, Fine Arts Seminar, Shakespeare and Music, all Scholars Institute courses since its inception (2002), and Freshman Experience. His words of wisdom to students are, "Jump in with both feet, get to know as many of the faculty and staff as you can, get involved in student activities, and do your work on time!"

Ed Gall, MS

After growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, Ed Gall pursued a BS and an MS in Environmental Engineering at Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) and Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina). Following his time at Clemson, Gall spent four years as a research technician at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory studying the movement of pollutants in soil and groundwater. He then moved to St. Louis to pursue another academic passion, theology, and completed a Master of Divinity degree at Covenant Theological Seminary. His first experience at teaching was at a community college teaching chemistry. Gall began teaching at Ashford in 2005 as an adjunct faculty member, teaching philosophy and religion courses both in the traditional program and in the accelerated program. He became a full-time faculty member in fall, 2006. When not involved with teaching religion, philosophy, and physics courses at Ashford, Gall spends his time involved with his church and also enjoys reading, walking, cooking, and attending Ashford athletic events. His advice for students: "First, practice putting yourselves in someone else's shoes and trying to think like they do. This will definitely help you understand others better, and in doing this, help you to better understand yourself. Second, to all my physics students, math isn't all that bad - it is a language that opens a door to a deeper understanding of the universe around you."

Gary Heath, PhD

Earned degrees: BA, MA, PhD, University of California at Berkeley. Heath has contributed 20 years of service to Ashford. "I feel privileged to serve at Ashford. The small classes and my passion for sociology and liberal arts make an excellent chemistry for committed, effective teaching. I love to do ongoing research for my classes." Heath also loves to read and write. His recent works include a book of short stories about Ashford University and the co-authored "Gifts From Decorah Laurah," a novel constructed around a plot featuring Abraham Lincoln and the Winnebago Indians of the Minnesota Territory in the 1860s. These books have "added zest and growth to my recent professional and creative life." His Harper and Row book, "The New Teacher," articulates his educational philosophy of social scientific inquiry and cultural progressivism. Heath's courses include: Racial and Ethnic Groups, Public Policy and Social Services, Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Social Justice and Society, and Sociology of Sport.

Sr. Theresa Judge, MA

A member of the teaching faculty at Ashford University since 1993, Judge earned an MA in English Literature and completed MA work in Guidance and Counseling from Western Illinois University. She also has a BA in History from Marycrest College, and an AA from Mount St. Clare College. Judge has taken students on a London Spring break trip every year for the last 23 years.
Read more about Theresa Judge

Sr. William McCue, MA

Sister William McCue, OSF is the Chairperson of the Philosophy Department and the Religious Studies Department. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Creighton University and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa. Sr. William is the longest standing faculty member at Ashford University with 44 years of service. Read more about Sister McCue.

Anna Pagnucci, MA

Anna Pagnucci, Assistant Professor of Art, is an artist as well as teacher. She paints large format street scenes, which combine the regionalist feel of Hopper with the abstraction of Pollock. Pagnucci earned her Bachelor’s degree in Art, Summa Cum Laude, with a minor in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Her Master’s degree in Art History, which focused on Baroque, Italian Renaissance, Gothic architecture, and Photography, and resulted in a published thesis on Velazquez, is from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her Master of Fine Arts is in Painting and Drawing from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Pagnucci’s artwork is part of various private and public collections, including The Racine Art Museum, We-Energies, the Kenosha Care Center, and the Hayward Memorial Hospital. Her gallery representation includes Monfort’s Gallery, Northern Lights Gallery, Portal Wisconsin through the Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Stuart Saatchi Gallery of London, England. Her art historical publications include: Light, Color, Glass: Pattern of Illumination and Bacchus, God of Pleasure and Excess. Pagnucci has had television interviews regarding her art on ACTV25 Channel 6 in Chicago and Artscape in Wisconsin, as well as radio interviews on WSUP.

Her artwork can be seen online at:
http://portalwisconsin.org/online_gallery_artist.cfm?artist=1049&sort=name
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annapagnucci/sets/72157622449004447/

Jenny Pauckner, MFA

Jenny Packner, MFA earned her Bachelor of Arts in Studjo Art from Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana and an MFA in painting from Indiana State University. Since arriving at Ashford in the fall of 2006, she has had the opportunity to teach a wide range of courses including Painting, Art Skills for the Classroom Educator, Art Appreciation, Fine Arts Seminar, Printmaking, Advanced Art Seminar, Two-Dimensional Design, Drawing, and a Figure Drawing Workshop. She also directs the Cortona Gallery on campus. Read more about Jenny Pauckner.

Carl Robinson, PhD

Carl Robinson received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Randolph-Macon College, his Master's in English from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in English from Kent State. His dissertation was entitled: "The Modern Language of Ring Sport: A Cultural Phenomenon and Its Literary Forms." This is his second year at Ashford and he teaches Composition, American Lit, British Lit, African-American Lit, Business Writing, Business Speaking, and Speech. Read more about Dr. Robinson.

Tamara Schnepel, ABD

Tamara Schnepel has been with Ashford University since August, 2008 and teaches Introduction to Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, and American National Government. She holds a BA in Psychology from Marycrest International University, Masters' degrees in Criminal Justice and Juvenile Justice from St. Ambrose University, and is currently ABD for her PhD in General Psychology at Kaplan University. She worked at Skyline Center, Inc., for five years, the Clinton County Mental Health Department, Community Care., Inc. as a social worker, the State of Iowa, and the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter in Davenport, IA. Most recently, she has been teaching in the criminal justice department at Kaplan University.

When asked what advice she can give students, she says, "The best thing that any student can do is maintain an open line of communication between themselves and their instructor; as instructors they are not only here to teach, they are here to help them succeed in the goals they have set for themselves. By maintaining an open line of communication, instructors can help a student through a difficult situation or assignment and get them one step closer to the goal of a higher education."

Michael Wiseman, PhD

With a BA in American Studies from the University of Wyoming, a MA in American Studies from the University of Wyoming and the University of Iowa, and a PhD in American Studies from the University of Iowa, Mike Wiseman teaches a variety of on-campus and online courses for the College of Arts & Sciences at Ashford University. They are 1) Cultural Anthropology, 2) Environmental Policy, 3) Environment & the Human Spirit, 4) Mississippi River: Environment, History, and Politics, 5) 20th Century American West: Region, Politics, and History, 6) U.S. History after 1865, and 7) History of the Vietnam War.

His words of wisdom for students: "Nurture your relationships because we are all connected to many different worlds in ways we have yet to imagine."