Faculty and Administration

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Allied Health	Rob Braun
Business	Kurt Lykins
Education	Dee Knoblauch
Educational Mathematics	Jeffrey Smith
Nursing	Regina Prusinski

FACULTY

Kyriacos C. Aristotelous, 1993-
Professor in the Department of Business, Accounting & Economics
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1993
M.A., The Ohio State University, 1989
M.A., University of Delaware, 1988
B.S., Iowa State University, 1986
Research interests:
International trade; economic development and growth; applied macroeconomics.

Kacy Ballard, 2013-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing; Program Director, Nurse Anesthesia
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2016
M.S.N., DePaul University, 2001
B.S.N., Wright State University, 1994
Research interests:
Medication errors in Anesthesia, improving reporting practices.

Deana Batross, 2015-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2016
M.S.N., Otterbein College, 2004
B.S.N., Ohio University, 1989
A.D.N., Ohio University, 1989
Research interests:
Quality of life in heart failure patient, literacy, and social determinants of health.

Ryan Berndt, 2008-
Professor
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2003
B.A., University of Chicago, 1996
Research interests:
Fourier transform and weighted inequalities.

Robert Braun, 2011-
Associate Professor in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences
Ph.D., The University of Toledo, 2012
M.P.H., George Washington University, 2002
B.S., The Ohio State University, 1994
Research interests:
Health equity - elimination of health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities

Susan Butz, 2005-
Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2013
M.S.N., Otterbein University, 2004
B.S.N., Otterbein University, 2001
Research interests:
DNP project: osteoporosis screening, at point of care for mammography: a bone health initiative project.

Ruth Chavez, 1993-
Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2013
M.S., The Ohio State University, 1978
B.S.N., The Ohio State University, 1975
Research interests:
Pediatrics, health and wellness.

Daniel Cho, 2006-
Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., UCLA, 2006
M.A., Pepperdine University, 2000
B.A., UCLA, 1999
Research interests:
Expanding the boundaries of educational philosophy; examining the pedagogical function of culture; rethinking the purpose of school; and pedagogy in contemporary society.

John D. Chovan, 2011-

Professor in the Department of Nursing
Chair, Department of Nursing; Chief Nurse Adminstrator
Director, Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
D.N.P., The Ohio State University, 2011
M.S., The Ohio State University, 2007
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1990
M.S., The Ohio State University, 1984
B.S., The Ohio State University, 1982
B.S., The Ohio State University, 1980
Research interests:
Psychiatric and mental health nursing, palliative care, nursing models, gerontology, holistic nursing, health care systems, leadership, quantitative/qualitative research, thinking and learning, technology.

Susan D. Constable, 2004-
Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1997
M.S., State University of New York at Cortland, 1989
B.A., State University of New York at Cortland, 1985
Research interests:
Contexts for early literacy learning; effective literacy schools; adolescent literacy.

Don E. Eskew, 1993-
Professor in the Department of Business, Accounting & Economics
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1993
M.A., University of Kansas, 1987
B.S., Indiana University, 1982
Research interests:
Compensation; recruitment; training; organizational behavior in management; perceived fairness of human resources policies and procedures.

Kim Fischer, 2004-
Professor (NTT) in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1994
M.A., Michigan State University, 1979
B.A., The College of Wooster, 1978
Research interests:
Exercise physiology, health and fitness.

Brian E. Garrett, 2009-
Associate Professor (NTT) in the Department of Nursing; Assistant Program Director, Nurse Anesthesia
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2014
M.S.N., University of Cincinnati, 2003
B.S.N., The Ohio State University, 1996
Research interests:
Practice barriers for Advanced Practice Nurses, Pharmacology and Physiology.

Kirk Hummer, 2006-
Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2013
M.S.N., Otterbein University, 2008
M.B.A., The University of Dayton, 1993
B.S.N., Thiel College, 1985
Research interests:
Emergency and urgent care practice; procedural skills for APRNs; healthcare administration.

Kirk Kayser, 2018-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Actuarial Science
P.H.D., Arizona State University, 2018
M.S., The University of Toledo, 2014
B.S., The University of Toledo, 2011
Research interests:
Socio-economic modeling using kinetic exchange models of markets and complex systems to describe the impact of risk pooling and wealth redistribution policies on economic growth; game theoretic models for examining conditions for stable economic cooperation; statistical models for data mining and decisions.

Hyuk Kim, 2014-
Associate Professor in the Department of Business, Accounting & Economics
Ph.D., Rutgers University, 2010
M.S., Rutgers University, 2005
M.S., Seton Hall University, 2003
B.A., Seoul National University, 1993
Research interests:
International business and strategy.

Deanne E. Knoblauch, 2004-
Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2004
M.A., The Ohio State University, 2003
M.A., Eastern Michigan University, 1987
B.S., Bowling Green State University, 1983
Research interests:
Teacher education; multicultural education; teachers’ sense of efficacy.

Michael A. Levin, 2008-
Professor of Marketing in the Department of Business, Accounting & Economics
Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2008
M.A., University of Iowa, 1998
B.B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1993
Research interests:
Strategy, innovation, market orientation, technology.

Yiyuan “Ava” Liu
Associate Professor of Marketing in the Department of Business, Accounting & Economics

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2013
B.Econ., University of Electronic Science & Technology of China, 2003
B.Eng., University of Electronic Science & Technology of China, 2003

Research interests:
Online pricing, behavioral pricing, search engine marketing, quantitative modeling, meta-analysis, conjoint analysis

Paul Longenecker, 2012-
Senior Instructor in the Department of Health and Sport Science
Ph.D., Kennedy-Western University, 2004
M.B.A., University of Toledo, 1989
B.S.N., University of Toledo, 1982
Associate Degree, Owens Technical College, 1977
Research interests:
Leadership, non-profit management, organizational culture, end-of-life care.

Grace McDaniel, 1996-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2012
M.A., The Ohio State University, 1987
B.S., Capital University, 1983
Research interests:
Multicultural education, teacher education, education of homeless and students in poverty.

Allison McGrath, 2018-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois - Chicago, 2016
M.S., University of Illinois - Chicago, 2008
B.S., Indiana University - Bloomington, 2005
Research interests:
Students with learnings disabilities, science instruction, inclusion

Jeremy Moore, 2011-
Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ph.D., Ohio University, 2011
M.S., Ohio University, 2008
B.S., Ohio University, 2004
Research interests:
Ring Theory, Module Theory.

Adriana Nenciu, 2009-
Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ph.D., The University of Florida, 2006
M.S., The University of Florida, 2004
M.S., The University of Bucharest, 1998
B.S., The University of Bucharest, 1997
Research interests:
Group Theory, Representation Theory, Characters of Finite Groups

Shelley Payne, 2010-
Professor in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences
Ph.D., University of Indianapolis, 2010
M.S., University of Indianapolis, 1997
B.A., DePauw University, 1995
Research interests:
Lower extremity biomechanics, ACL rehabilitation, Student learning and Self-Directed Learning Readiness, Team-Based Learning.

Pei Pei, 2016-
Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2014
M.Sc., East China Normal University, 2008
B.Sc., East China Normal University, 2005
Research interests:
Partial Differential Equations, Analysis, Actuarial Science, Statistics, Matrix Theory, Math Biology

Kathryn Plank, 2012-
Associate Provost for Curriculum, Teaching & Learning, and Mission; Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., Penn State University, 1996
M.A., Penn State University, 1988
B.A., Kent State University, 1986
Research interests:
Scholarship of educational development, scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL), program assessment, diversity, team teaching, course design, and online learning.

Regina Prusinski, 2013-
Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing; Director, Graduate Studies in Nursing; Director, Family Nurse Practitioner
D.N.P., The Ohio State University, 2013
M.S.N., Duke University, 2006
B.S.N., University of North Carolina, 2005
B.S., Defiance College, 2000
Research interests:
Congenital heart population; critical thinking; acute care in pediatrics.

Joan E. Rocks, 1992-
Professor in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences
Ph.D., University of Toledo, 2004
M.S., Canisius College, 1987
B.S., Marietta College, 1986
Research interests:
Student learning and teaching pedagogies that would enhance the transfer of information from the classroom to the clinical setting.

Diane Ross, 2001-
Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., Kent State University, 2004
M.A. Ed, The University of Akron, 1990
B.S., The College of Wooster, 1980
Research interests:
Social justice; educational technology, middle childhood education.

Barbara H. Schaffner, 1985-
Professor in the Department of Nursing
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1992
M.S.N., Indiana University, 1981
B.S.N., University of Cincinnati, 1977
Research interests:
Research on nursing interventions; child health; alternative therapies; primary care (pediatric practitioner).

Carrie Scheckelhoff, 2009-
Associate Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1997
M.A., The Ohio State University, 1993
B.A., Hiram College, 1989
Research interests:
21st century multidimensional literacy practices in elementary classrooms.

Wendy Sherman Heckler, 2007-
Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2001
M.A., The Ohio State University, 1997
B.S., The Ohio State University, 1991
Research interests:
Science education.

Joy Shoemaker, 2009-
Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing; Director, Master’s Degree to DNP
D.N.P., Otterbein University, 2013
M.S.N., Otterbein University, 2002
B.S.N., Otterbein University, 2000
A.D.N., Northampton County Area Community College, 1985
B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1980
Research interests:
Women’s health; prison nursery experience for mother-inmate and children (birth-36 months); effective strategies for educating and preparing BSN/FNP nursing students to achieve first-time passing on national certification/licensure examinations; transgender health.

Jeffrey P. Smith, 2000-
Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 1995
M.A., The Ohio State University, 1989
B.S.E., The Ohio State University, 1986
Research interests:
Use of technology in the teaching and learning of mathematics, Cognitively Guided Instruction in Mathematics.

Vorachai “Chai” Sribanditmongkol, 2019-
Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing;
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2013
M.S.N., University of San Diego, 2005
B.S.N., The Ohio State University, 1998
Research interests:
Transformative and servant leadership, women’s health, military service member and family healthcare issues, psychological stress, nurse anesthesia doctoral nursing education, human lactation, psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) measures, and health outcomes.

Bethany Vosburg-Bluem, 2013-
Associate Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2012
M.A., The Ohio State University, 2012
M.A., Wright State University, 2001
B.S., Wright State University, 1988
Research interests:
Sustainability and environmental education in the social studies curriculum; sustainability education in teacher education; integrating sustainability education into the general curriculum.

Paul J. Wendel, 2012-
Professor in the Department of Education
Ph.D., Kent State University, 2008
M.A., Kent State University, 2003
M.S., University of Akron, 1998
B.S., Kent State University, 1988
Research Interests:
Evolution Education, Physics Education, Classroom Management

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