FIRST YEAR PROGRAM FACULTY: 2012-2013
Kannan Aranppakkam Mudumbai Rajagopalan (AMR)
(Ph.D., 2011, Syracuse University)
Communication
Dr. AMR comes to UW-Whitewater from Stevenson University, where he was an assistant professor. He has taught courses in computer graphic design, web design, and studio design. His Ph.D. is in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation.
Daniel Baumgardt
(ABD, Carnegie Mellon University)
Languages & Literatures
Dr. Baumgardt joins UW-Whitewater from Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught courses in grammar, style, interpretation, and technical writing. Additionally, Dr. Baumgardt has served as faculty advisor for a literary magazine and student newspapers and has the ability to read German, Latin, and Spanish.
Jennifer Betters-Bubon
(ABD, University of Wisconsin)
Counselor Education
Ms. Betters-Bubon has worked as an elementary school counselor since 2000 in the Verona Area School District. She has research interests in child and adolescent perceptions and developmental influences on teacher-child relationships. She has taught classes in Human Development and Human Abilities and Learning.
Louis Betty
(Ph.D., 2011, Vanderbilt University)
Languages & Literatures
Dr. Betty comes to UW-W from the University of San Francisco, where he was an adjunct professor of French. He earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in French Literature and taught courses in French. He has published articles and book reviews. He has also spent time at the Université d’ Orléans.
Maija Birenbaum
Ph.D., 2010, Fordham University – New York)
Languages & Literatures
Dr. Birenbaum comes directly from a post-doc fellowship at Fordham University. She has taught courses in apocalyptic literature, medieval literature, and medieval marriage. She is currently working on a book that examines depictions of divine vengeance against Jews in medieval English literature.
Jonathan Burkham
(ABD, University of Wisconsin)
Geography and Geology
Dr. Burkham joins the faculty at UW-W from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he taught courses in geography of Latin America, world regional geography, and agroecology. He has also served as a volunteer English Language Learner tutor at the Milwaukee Achievers Learning Center in Milwaukee
Yiyoon Chung
(Ph.D., 2011, University of Wisconsin)
Social Work
Dr. Chung comes to UW-W from a post-doc appointment at UW-Madison where he did research on the Wisconsin Poverty Project. Her research interests include welfare of children and families, poverty and inequality, and child support. She has served as a guest lecturer in a variety of courses in Madison area.
Jeffrey Cook
(Ph.D., 2009, Oregon State University)
Counselor Education
Dr. Cook has most recently worked as an assistant professor in the department of Graduate Counseling at Saint Mary’s College in California. His dissertation explored the emotional regulation of counselors in training. Additionally, he holds a license of professional counseling and national certification in counseling.
Shannon Cummins
(ABD, University Nebraska)
Marketing
Dr. Cummins comes to UW-W from the University of Nebraska, where she taught in the areas of introduction to marketing, consumer behavior, and international marketing. Her areas of research are strategic marketing organization, networks in marketing and sales, and public policy.
Shreyasee Das
(ABD, University of Houston)
Economics
Ms. Das comes to UW-Whitewater from the University of Houston, where she taught courses in the areas of microeconomics, econometrics, and macroeconomics. She has research interests in development economics, applied microeconomics, and public economics.
Edward Gimbe
(Ph.D., 2010, University of Minnesota)
Political Science
Dr. Gimbel most recently worked as an assistant professor at Winona State University, and has served as a visiting professor at St. Olaf College. He has taught courses on Classical Political Thought, Modern Political Theory, and Introduction to International Relations. His main area of research is in the history of political thought, ancient-contemporary philosophy of social science, and hermeneutic theory.
Kristin Goble
(ABD, University of Syracuse)
Curriculum and Instruction
Ms. Goble comes to UW-W after teaching at Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College. She has taught courses in basic photography, digital photography, and color photography. She has been a member of the National Art Education Association since 2004.
Michael Guéno
(Ph.D., 2010, Florida State University)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Dr. Guéno joins UW-Whitewater from Louisiana State University, where he taught courses in World Religions, Native American Religions, and Indigenous Traditions. He reads French, Spanish, Mayan hieroglyphics, and Latin, and speaks French and Spanish.
David Havas
(Ph.D., 2011, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Psychology
With a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Dr. Havas comes to UW-W having taught at a number of institutions including Hampshire College, Lasell College, UW- Madison, and Appalachian State. He has taught courses in the areas of cognitive psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and experimental psychology.
Candace Head-Dylla
(Ph.D., 2010, Pennsylvania State University)
Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Head-Dylla comes to UW-W after working as a reading intervention consultant. She has presented at numerous conferences around the United States. She also taught at the Pennsylvania State University. Title of courses taught include Classroom Learning Environments, and Education Politics in the U.S.
Kelly Jewell
(ABD, University of Washington)
Special Education
Ms. Jewell is coming to UW-W from the Seattle Pacific University where she was an adjunct professor. She is anticipating receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Behavior Disorders. She has taught courses in the areas of emotional behavioral disorders, behavior management, and severe disabilities.
Kate Ksobiech
(Ph.D., 2001, University Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Communication
Dr. Ksobiech returns to UW-W with instructional experience at Marquette University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has served as a political and research analyst and has significant experience in grant writing. She is currently a member of the National Communication Association and the American Public Health Association.
Michael Laughlin
ABD, University of Hawaii - Manoa)
HPERC
Dr. Laughlin joins the faculty at UW-W from the University of Hawaii, where he taught courses in Assessment in Physical Activity, Disability and Diversity, and Motor Development and Learning. He is a certified adapted physical educator and licensed physical educator. He is also currently a board member for Hawaii’s wheelchair sports teams programs.
Joshua Mabie
(ABD, University of Minnesota)
Languages and Literatures
Mr. Mabie comes to UW-W with instructional experience at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, including courses in British Literature, English Literature, and the American Novel. His research interests include nineteenth and twentieth century American literature, religion and secularization, and ecocriticism and environmental studies.
Nicholas Pedriana
(Ph.D., 2000, University of Iowa)
Sociology, Anthrop & Criminal Justice
Dr. Pedriana comes to UW-W from Northwestern University where he served as a visiting lecturer for the Department of Legal Studies. His teaching interests include political sociology, sociology of law, stratification, social theory, and social movements.
Myragene Pettit
(Ph.D., 1997, University of Wisconsin)
Educational Foundations
Dr. Pettit was an adjunct professor for UW-W and Cardinal Stritch University. She holds Wisconsin DPI licensure in Library Media Specialist, English, Principal, Instructional Technology Coordinator, and Library Media Supervisor. She served on the Wisconsin Educational Communications Technology Committee, which laid the groundwork to make internet access available for public schools in Wisconsin.
Tia Schultz
(Ph.D., 2011, University of Missouri)
Special Education
Dr. Schultz’s areas of specialty include applied behavior analysis, social/emotional development and intervention, parent education, and autism. At the University of Missouri she taught Psych interventions with Children and Methods of Instruction for Students with Autism. She has given numerous presentations and lectures about autism and special education.
Philip Seagraves
(PhD, Georgia State University)
Finance and Business Law
Mr. Seagraves’ area of specialization is in REITs, brokerage, capital structure, corporate real estate, and market analysis. At Georgia State University he taught courses in Real Estate Principles, Investments, and Business Analysis. Additionally, he served as the Director of Business Development for Lathem Time Corporation.
Wade Tillett
(Ph.D., 2011, University of Illinois-Chicago)
Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Tillett comes to UW-W from Finlandia University, where he was the assistant dean of Suomi College of Arts and Sciences and an assistant professor of Elementary Education. He has given oral presentations at numerous conferences and exhibitions. He is also a member of the American Educational Research Association.
Ozalle Toms
(ABD, East Carolina University)
Special Education
Ms. Ozalle comes to UW-W from the National Secondary Transition Technology Center in Charlotte, NC. She has taught courses in Teaching Reading to Learners with Special Needs, Introduction to Special Education, and Advanced Classroom Management. She has many journal article publications and has presented at numerous conferences.
Matthew Winden
(ABD, Ohio State University)
Economics
Mr. Winden is anticipating receiving his Ph.D. in 2012 in Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Ohio State University. He has taught courses in the areas of managerial economics, environmental and resource economics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics.
Rimi Zakaria
(ABD, Florida International Unversity)
Management
Ms. Zakaria comes to UW-Whitewater from Florida International University, where she taught in the areas of strategic management, international management, and organizational behavior. As a doctoral researcher, she specialized in Strategic and international Management. Her research interests include explaining antecedents and outcomes of strategic alliances and mergers & acquisitions of multinational corporations using the theoretical lenses of knowledge-based view, institution-based view, and organizational learning.
Wenquan (Charles) Zhang
(Ph.D., 2004, State University of New York- Albany)
Sociology, Anthrop, & Criminal Justice
Dr. Zhang comes to UW-W from Texas A&M University where, as an assistant professor, he taught courses in Quantitative Research Methods, Demography, Race and Ethnicity, and Immigrant Assimilation. He is currently doing research on race and ethnicity. Additionally, he has done many professional presentations and is a member of the American Sociological Association.
Jiazhen Zhou
(Ph.D., 2008, University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Mathematical & Computer Sciences
Dr. Zhou has skills in C, C++, Java, Matlab, CSIM and NS-2. His teaching interests include Computer Networks, Network Optimization, Network Security, and Object Orientated Programming. His research interests include smart grid, cognitive radio networks, and cyber.
