NEW FACULTY AND STAFF
NEW FACULTY Karen Babcock Brassea, M.F.A. KWU’s new assistant professor of Theatre and Dance, Karen Babcock Brassea, comes from New Jersey with her husband, Billy, a former professional dancer. She will be instrumental in teaching and coordinating the new Music Theatre degree, in partnership with Salina Community Theatre. She brings years of performing experience, including shows on Broadway, national tours and regional stage productions. Her skills include stage direction, choreography and stage combat basics. She holds a B.F.A. in Drama (Musical Theatre performance) Cum Laude from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA, and M.F.A. in Directing from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Janeane Houchin, M.S.N., R.N. Assistant Professor of Nursing Janeane Houchin has been a Registered Nurse since 1986, and specializes in teaching pathophysiology and medical surgical nursing. She has a B.S. from Baker University, Baldwin City, KS, a B.S.N. from the College of Health Sciences at University of Kansas, and a M.S.N. from South University, Savannah, GA.
Andrea Picklesimer, M.S.N., R.N. With the ability to instruct students in the areas of medical surgical, critical care, health assessment and nursing leadership, Assistant Professor of Nursing Andrea Picklesimer brings experience both as a faculty member at Brown Mackie College in Salina, and as an R.N. Cardiology Nurse and Pediatric Nurse with Mowery Clinic, also in Salina. She holds a B.S.N. from Southwestern College, Winfield, KS, and a M.S. in Nursing Education from South University, Savannah, GA.
Tricia Petak, M.B.A. Assistant Professor of Accounting Tricia Petak brings experience in teaching accounting, finance and business courses, writing curriculum, and developing accounting and finance course content. She earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Kansas, an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Argosy University, Fullerton, CA, and has just started her D.B.A. program at Argosy with a concentration in Accounting.
FACULTY TRIO EARNS TENURE At the annual Honors Convocation on May 8, 2015, three Kansas Wesleyan faculty members received tenure, giving them a permanent teaching post at KWU. Dr. Damon Kraft, associate professor and chair of the Department of English, arrived at KWU in fall 2011 after two years of teaching at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Also arriving that same fall was Dr. Stephanie Welter, associate professor and chair of the Department of Biology. Her past teaching posts have included a one-year interim position at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, and a tenuretrack position for six years at Morehead State University in New York. Dr. Jamie Townsend, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, arrived at KWU in 2009 after finishing his Ph.D. at Kansas State University.
Kristine A. Rodriguez, Ed.D. The KWU Department of Teacher Education has a new director, Dr. Kristine A. Rodriguez. She brings a wealth of in-the-trenches experience in administration and teaching at local schools. Past positions include Biology and Chemistry teacher and junior high athletic director at Southeast of Saline Junior/Senior High School in Gypsum, KS; Upward Bound program instructor for Kansas State University Salina; elementary principal for Sacred Heart Cathedral Grade School in Salina, KS; and assistant athletic trainer and adjunct faculty in Athletic Training and Biology at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Southwestern College, Winfield, KS, her Kansas State Teaching Certificate from Bethany College, an M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton in Ohio, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Southwestern College.
Kathy Sweeney ’93, M.S.N., R.N. Bringing more than 30 years of nursing experience to her alma mater, Assistant Professor of Nursing Kathy Sweeney will teach in such areas as medical surgical, obstetrics, and pediatrics, and will assist in the development of the online R.N.-B.S.N. degree. She earned her B.S.N. from KWU and her M.S.N. from South University, Savannah, GA.
NEW STAFF Martha Bray Martha Bray has been hired as the new administrative assistant for the Department of Teacher Education. She comes from Overland Park, KS, with more than 20 years of experience in tutoring and teaching at pre-school, elementary school and college levels. She was also a team manager and technical trainer for Sykes Industries in Hays. She has completed a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Education from Fort Hays State University. She has completed coursework for her Ph.D. at Capella University in Minneapolis, MN.
STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS In June, Lois Madsen, director of Student Financial Planning, presented to financial aid administrators at the Rocky Mountain Association of Financial Aid Administrators (RMASFAA) Summer Institute at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. About 250 aid officers attended the weeklong event. RMASFAA serves Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Its nationally-recognized summer institute provides a comprehensive overview of federal financial aid programs and the regulatory issues that shape and govern them. This is Madsen’s fifth opportunity to serve as faculty at a Regional Association Summer Institute. Cameron Jackson, MBA ’15, director of Spiritual Development, planned and hosted the first KICA for Christ One-Day Conference at KWU, Saturday, April 18. The event brought together students, campus ministers and support staff from the 18 KICA member institutions. The theme was “Rivalry”— laying down our differences and focusing on the body of Christ.
11