Faculty
School of Natural Sciences

Jim Ave, Ph.D., ATC
Professor
Program Director, Kinesiology

Ken Cheung, Ph.D.
Professor
Program Director, Chemistry

Donald Diboll, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology

Jonathan Dick, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Physical Sciences

Loyal Hall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biology

Sandy Isaak, MSN, FNP-C
Associate Professor
Program Director of MSN

Michael Kunz, Ph.D.
Program Director, Environmental Science & Environmental Studies

Brenda Mak, Ph.D.
Program Director, Computer Information Systems
Professor, Computer Science

Fay Nielsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology

Steve Pauls, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Ron Pratt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Applied Mathematics B.S.

Magdalena Ruiz, D.N.P.
Assistant Professor, Nursing

Andrew Sensenig, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Biology B.S.

Maria Soria, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biology

Alan Thompson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biology
Program Director, Pharmaceutical Science
Pre-Health Sciences & Biology B.A.

Zoltan Torok, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

Steven Waite, Ph.D., CSCS
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

Mary Wickman, PhD, RN
Interim Director, Department of Nursing
Past-President, California Association of Colleges of Nursing (CACN)

Shawn Wirts, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Director, Mathematics B.A.
Biblical Seminary

Mark Baker, Ph.D.
Professor of Mission and Theology
J.B. Toews Chair

Delores Friesen, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita of Pastoral Counseling

Tim Geddert, Ph.D.
Professor
Program Director, New Testament

Adam Ghali, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy

Lynn Jost, Ph.D.
Professor
Program Director, Old Testament
Director of the Center for Anabaptist Studies

Cynthia McGrady, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Marriage and Family Therapy

Brian Ross, D.Min.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Christian Ministry, Master of Divinity & Ministry Leadership and Culture

Cheryl Smith, D.Arts
Assistant Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy
School of Education

Doug Bartsch
Associate Dean
Program Director of Administrative Services, Visalia Campus

Darrell Blanks
Clinical Assistant Professor, Education
Program Director, Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential

Chris Brownell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics and STEM Education
Program Director, Mathematics Education

Olivia Calvillo, M.A.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pupil Personnel Services

Allen Carden, Ph.D.
Professor of History

Megan Chaney, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Division Chair, Special Education

Tim Conway, Ed.S.
Assistant Professor, Pupil Personnel Services

Martille Elias, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Reading and Language

Dena Fiori, Ed.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Program Director, School Counseling

Sandy Frisby, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor & Assoc. Director of Early Childhood Development

Jonathan Gage, Ed.D.
Pupil Personnel Services Program Director, Bakersfield
Clinical Assistant, School of Education

Laura Gonzalez, Ed.D.
Liberal Arts Program Director

Carol Gossett, Ed.D.
Early Childhood Development Program Director

Jacalyn Griffen, Ed.D.
Program Director of Multiple Subjects and Single Subjects Teaching Credential, Merced Campus
Director of Teacher Education, Merced Campus
Clinical Assistant Professor, Education

Linda Hoff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics Education

Sarah Johnson, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Moderate/Severe, Early Childhood Special Education and APEAA

Manjula Joseph, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics Education

Lisa Keith, Psy.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Mild/Moderate Credential & Special Education M.A.

Angel Krause
Associate Professor

Julie Lane, Ed.D.
Associate Professor

Maria Lemus
Clinical Assistant Professor
Program Director of Single Subject Teaching Credential, Visalia Campus

Michele McConnell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Education
Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching

Katie McNamara
Clinical Assistant Professor, Education
Associate Program Director, Teacher Librarian Program

John Mendiburu, Ed.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Program Director of Administrative Services, Bakersfield Campus

Charles Merritt, Ed.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Education
Coordinator of Bilingual Authorization

Claudia Norris, MS
Clinical Assistant Professor, Special Education

Michelle Pengilly, Ed.D.
Program Director of Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, Visalia Campus

Robin Perry, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Education
Program Director, Preliminary Single Subject Credential

Angelica Reynosa, Ed.D.
Clinical Associate Professor

Heather Rutowicz
Clinical Instructor, Education

Eileen Whelan, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Associate Professor, Education
Program Director, School Psychology

Jay Wiebe, MA
Clinical Instructor, Pupil Personnel Services

Autumn Witt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Education Language & Literacy
School of Business

Michelle Bradford, Psy.D.
MBA Program Director

Suzana Dobric-Veiss, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Business and LEAD Program Director

Ranjan George, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Business and Business B.A. Program Director

Breck Harris, Ed.D.
Professor, Business

Sylvia Kim, D.B.A., C.P.A., C.G.M.A.
Associate Professor, Business- Accounting

Barbara Maselli, M.S.H.R., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Business and Health Care Administration Program Director

Catherine Peck, M.B.A., C.P.A.
Assistant Professor, Business- Accounting

Paul Saldana, M.B.A.
Instructor, Business- Finance & Economics

Benjamin Smith, M.A.
Instructor, Business- Economics

Sharon Starcher, D.B.A.
Assistant Professor, Business and DC Business Administration Program Director
School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences

Nathan Carson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director of Philosophy B.A.
Director, FPU Wilderness Programs
Elizabeth Casarez, M.A.
Instructor, Psychology

Jonathan Clark, D.S.W.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Social Work and Social Welfare

George Dougherty, D.M.A.
Associate Professor of Music
Coordinator of Instrumental Music
Director of Bands

Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Intercultural and Religious Studies

Larry Dunn, Ph.D.
Program Director, Peacemaking and Conflict Studies

Randall Fowler, Ph.D.
Program Director, Communication

Ken Friesen, Ph.D.
Professor of Political

Frances Friesen, M.A.
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Virginia Garcia
Instructor Spanish

Seung Min Hong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Media & Film Studies

Melanie Howard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Director, Biblical & Theological Studies

Chris Janzen, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of Art
Jazz Guitar

Rod Janzen, Ed.D.
Professor of History

Pam Johnston, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History

Marshall Johnston, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, History

Bret Kincaid, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Political Science and Pre-Law.

Quentin Kinnison, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Christian Ministry and Leadership
Faculty Senate Chair

Denis LaClare, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Director, Sociology

Elizabeth Lake, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology

Daniel Larson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English

Kimberly Lehner, MSW
Social Work Faculty Field Liaison

Kizzy Lopez, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Social Work

Brandi Martin, MFA
Program Director, Theater Faculty

Michael McKeever, Ph.D.
Professor, Biblical & Theological Studies

Rebecca McMillen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Director, Art
Division Chair, Visual and Performing Arts

Sai Mouanoutoua, M.S.W.
Instructor, Social Work

Alice Neikirk, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Eleanor Nickel, Ph.D.
Professor
Program Director, English

Ray Nickson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Director, Criminology

Christa Pehl, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Music

Graciela Perez, Ph.D.
Full Professor

Jay Pope, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology

Sonia Medina Pranger, LCSW, PPSC
Assistant Professor
Assistant Program Director, Social Work (TUG)

Blanca Quiroz, Ed.D.
Program Director, Psychology B.A.
Associate Professor, Psychology

Laura Schmidt Roberts, Ph.D.
Professor, Biblical and Theological Studies

Patricia Salas, M.S.W.
Field Director, Social Work

Kelly Schroeder
Assistant Professor
Academic Language Proficiency Services

Brian Schultz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical & Theological Studies

Pete Smith, Ph.D.
Program Director, Individualized M.A.

James Van Slyke, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology

Stephen Varvis, Ph.D.
Professor of History

Whitney Wall Bortz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Amy Whisenand, Th.D.
Assistant Professor, Biblical & Theological Studies

Jeffrey Wilson, DMA
Program Director
Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities, Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale and Men’s Chorus