Faculty
Timm Adams, 2001
Associate Professor of Music
B.S., Liberty University
M.M., Baylor University
Christine Albert, 2023
Visiting Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.S., Rockford University
M.B.A., Northern Illinois University
Christina Anderson, 2019
Associate Teaching Professor of Accounting
B.S., Northern Illinois University
M.B.A., Rockford University
Alexis Baldacci, 2024
Assistant Professor of History
M.A., University of Florida
Ph.D., University of Florida
Marissa Barnathan, 2024
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
B.A., Washington University in St. Louis
M.F.A., Arizona State University
Alice Boateng, 2025
Assistant Professor of Social Work
B.A., University of Science and Technology
M.S.W., Washington University
Ph.D., University of Georgia
Matthew Bork, 2013
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., University of Wisconsin
Ph.D., Purdue University
Deborah Breiter, 1996
Bergmann Professor of Chemistry
B.A., Grinnell College
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota
Eric Brockmeier, 2023
Assistant Professor of Scenic & Lighting Design
B.A., University of Northern Colorado
M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
Yoandy Cabrera Ortega, 2019
Associate Professor of Spanish & Classics
Chair, Department of Languages, Philosophy, Religion and Cultures
B.A., University of Havana
M.A., CSIC and UNED, Madrid
Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Malina Campos, 2025
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Chair, Department of Nursing
B.S.N., Chamberlain College of Nursing
M.S.N., Chamberlain College of Nursing
Kathryn Cook, 2023
Assistant Professor of Leadership & Management
B.S., Cardinal Stritch University
M.S., Cardinal Stritch University
Ph.D., A.T. Still University
Emma Cullimore, 2024
Lecturer of Costume Design
B.F.A., Stephens College
M.F.A., University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa
Brent Daigle, 2025
Visiting Assistant Professor of Special Education
B.A., University of Missouri, St. Louis
M.Ed., Northwestern State University
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Kimberley Devine, 2014
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Olivet Nazarene University
M.S.N., Olivet Nazarene University
Genevive Dibley, 2021
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
B.A., Northwest University
M.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley and Graduate Theological Union
Filiz Dik, 2006
Professor of Mathematics
Dean, College of Science, Math, and Nursing
B.S., Middle East Technical University
M.S., Abant Izzet Baysal University
Ph.D., Missouri University of Science and Technology
Mehmet Dik, 2003
Professor of Mathematics
Chair, Department of Mathematics, Computer Science & Physics
B.S., University of Istanbul
M.S., Missouri University of Science and Technology
Ph.D., Missouri University of Science and Technology
Elizabeth Dorland, 2022
Assistant Professor of Theater
Chair, Department of Performing Arts
B.A., Rockford College
B.F.A., Rockford College
M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
Terri Easter, 2024
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., University of Kentucky
M.A.T., Austin Peay State University
Ed.D., Austin Peay State University
Ahmed El Ouadrhiri, 2023
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah University
Matthew Flamm, 2004
Professor of Philosophy
A.S., Portland Community College
B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook
M.A., Texas A&M University
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Catherine Forslund, 2000
Isabel Ross Abbott Professor of History
Chair, Historical and International Studies Department
B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.A., Washington University in St. Louis
Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
Nic Frame, 2025
Assistant Professor of Sociology
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College
M.S., University of Texas at San Antonio
Ph.D., Purdue University - In Progress
William Gahan, 2009
Professor of English-Literature
B.A., University of Washington
M.A., Loyola Marymount University
Ph.D., University of California
Jeff Gwasdacus, 2025
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Grand Valley State University
Ph.D., Michigan State University
Jacob Hardesty, 2014
Associate Professor of Education
Dean, College of Social Sciences, Commerce, and Education
B.M., Ithaca College
M.A., University of Limerick, Ireland
Ph.D., Indiana University
Catherine Headley, 2019
Professor of Kinesiology
Chair, Department of Kinesiology
B.A., Lakeland University
M.S.S., United States Sports Academy
M.H.S.A., University of St. Francis
Ph.D., University of Illinois
Mikayla Hwang, 2020
Lecturer of Biology
A.A.S., Lorain County Community College
B.A., AJOU University, Suwon, Korea
M.C.I.S., Cleveland State
M.S.R.S., Weber State University
Andrea Kilroy, 2025
Assistant Professor of Nursing
B.S.N., Concordia University
M.S.N., Western Governors University
Danielle Klein, 2020
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., Florida International University
M.A., Marquette University
Fulbright Scholar-ETA
Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Jennifer Langworthy, 2003
Assistant Professor of Art History
Dean, College of Arts and Humanities
B.A., Rockford University
M.A., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Ph.D., University of Illinois
Ronald Lee, 2016
Associate Professor of Political Science
Chair, Department of Political Science, Sociology, and Criminal Justice
B.A., University of Chicago
M.A., Boston College
Ph.D., Boston College
Joel Lynch, 2007
Professor of Psychology
Chair, Department of Psychology
A.A., Rock Valley College
B.S., Northern Illinois University
M.A., Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., Northern Illinois University
James Marshall, 2010
Professor of Biology
B.A., Texas Christian University
B.S., Texas Christian University
M.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forest Biology
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Amy Martin, 2015
Associate Professor of Psychology
B.A., Concordia University
M.A., Ball State University
M.A., Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., Northern Illinois University
Kimberly McCullough, 2013
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Chair, Department of Nursing
B.S., Rockford University
M.S.N., St. Anthony College of Nursing
D.N.P., St. Anthony College of Nursing
Lisa Mehlig, 2024
Assistant Professor of Human Development
B.A., Bradley University
M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University
Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Dave Menard, 2006
Associate Professor of Art
B.F.A., Kansas City Art Institute
M.F.A., University of Wisconsin
Deborah Mogford, 2008
Professor of Theater
B.A., Trinity University
M.F.A., Dallas Theater Center/Trinity University
Kelly Monson, 2019
Associate Professor of Education
B.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University
M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University
MAEL, Aurora University
Ed.S., Northern Illinois University
Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Andy Newgren, 2016
Associate Professor of Library and Information Science
B.A., Augustana College
M.L.I.S., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary
Stephanie Nissen, 2023
Assistant Professor of Library & Information Science
Director, Howard Colman Library
B.A., English
M.L.I.S., Valdosta State University
Donna Ogle, 2018
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.A., Augustana College
M.B.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., Benedictine University
Michael Perry, 2008
Professor of English
B.A., Augustana College
M.A., University of St. Thomas
Ph.D., Arizona State University
Kristin Ravel, 2019
Associate Professor of English-Rhetoric
B.A., Central Michigan University
M.F.A., Columbia College, Chicago
M.A., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Jennifer Rea, 2015
Associate Professor of English-Literature
B.A., Michigan State University
B.A., Stony Brook University
M.A., Southern Illinois University
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Luis Romero, 2015
Associate Professor of Business Administration
Chair, Puri School of Business
B.S., Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
M.B.A., Rockford University
Ed.D., Florida International University
Erin Sanborn, 2025
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., Western Illinois University
M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Tammy Schiek, 2005
Associate Professor of Kinesiology
B.S., Rockford University
M.A., St. Xavier University
Deepshikha Shukla, 2015
Professor of Physics
B.S., Cotton College-Guwahati, India
M.S., Indian Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Ohio University
Christopher Sisson, 2012
Associate Professor of Art-Graphic Design
Chair, Department of Art and Art History
B.F.A., Northern Illinois University
M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
Philip Soosloff, 1996
Professor of Art
B.F.A., Northern Illinois University
M.A., Northern Illinois University
M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
Susan Sorensen, 2024
Assistant Teaching Professor of Physics
B.S., Brigham Young University
M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kyle Stedman, 2012
Professor of English-Rhetoric
Chair, Department of English
B.A., Rollins College
M.A., Georgetown University
Ph.D., University of South Florida
Bethany Twitty, 2021
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
M.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Ph.D., Old Dominion University
Kimberlee Wagner, 2013
Professor of Education
Chair, Department of Education
B.A., Concordia University
M.A.T., National University
D.Ed., National Louis University
Shannon Wachter, 2025
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.S., Western Illinois University
M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Mary Weaks-Baxter, 1988
Andrew H. Sherratt Professor of English-Literature
B.A., Emory University
M.A., Emory University
Ph.D., University of Missouri
Emily Webb, 2021
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University
M.A., Arizona State University
Ph.D., Arizona State University
Trix Welch, 2025
Assistant Professor & Student Success Librarian, Library & Information Science
B.A., California State University East Bay
M.L.I.S., University of Iliinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michael Youngblood, 2024
Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
B.S., Northern Illinois University
M.A., Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., Northern Illinois University