EMU announces new faculty for 2011-12 academic year

Eastern Mennonite University welcomes 15 new faculty to the ranks for the 2011-12 academic year.

The new faculty, announced by Dr. Fred Kniss, provost, and Dr. Nancy Heisey, vice president and undergraduate academic dean, are:

Catherine Barnes, PhD, Associate Professor of Strategic Peacebuilding and Public Policy

Catherine earned a BA in comparative politics at Oberlin College and an MS and a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University.  Catherine brings extensive experience in the field of peacebuilding and social change. She has led seminars and training seminars in conflict transformation and reconciliation around the world. In addition, Catherine has previously taught at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute, under the umbrella of what is now her permanent home, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

 

Wendy Carr, MS, Instructor of Nursing

Wendy earned a BS in biology from Bridgewater College and a BS in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She also has a MS in family health nursing from VCU.  Wendy has nursing experience at Hospice of the Piedmont, in long-term care at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge and at the VCU Health System.

 

A. Kate Clark, MSN, Instructor of Nursing

Kate earned a BS in nursing from EMU and a MS in nursing from the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Kate spent several years as a nurse at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and as a nutrition coordinator in JMU’s Overcoming Barriers Program. Most recently, she served as an adjunct nursing professor at EMU. Kate is also the nursing coordinator for the Harrisonburg Community Health Center and EMU Community Health Worker Program.

 

Katherine Evans, PhD, Assistant Professor of Special Education

Katherine earned a BS in secondary education from Baylor University and an MA in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Katherine completed a PhD in education from the University of Tennessee (UT) this year. This past year, Katherine has been an adjunct instructor at UT. Katherine brings experience as a special education teacher, as well as ministry experience with youth and children.

 

Cheree’ Hammond, PhD, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education

Cheree’ earned a BA in political science at Mesa State College. She holds an MA as an education specialist from James Madison University (JMU) and a PhD in counselor education from the University of Virginia. Cheree’ taught part-time at JMU and this past year taught in the MA in Counseling program here at EMU. Cheree’ also brings experience in directing counseling programs.

 

Carmen Schrock-Hurst, MA, Instructor of Spiritual Formation and Ministry

Carmen earned a baccalaureate in social work (BSW) from EMU and an MA in theology from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Carmen brings cross-cultural experience serving with Mennonite Central Committee in both Honduras and the Philippines. Carmen also brings pastoral experience with young adults from serving in several Mennonite churches. Carmen has been a volunteer coordinator with hospice at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

 

Dawn Lambert, MSN, Instructor of ADCP Nursing, EMU at Lancaster

Dawn earned a BS in nursing at Millersville University and a MS in nursing education at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Dawn is planning to pursue a PhD in nursing. Dawn brings extensive experience in various nursing roles to the Lancaster RN-BS program.

 

Beth Lehman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Secondary Education

Beth earned a BA in English education from Goshen College and an MA in English from Butler University, as well as an MS in English education from Indiana University. Beth completed a PhD in culture, literacy and language education from Indiana University this summer. Beth brings significant experience as a language arts and English teacher in both middle and high school; she has also been a consultant and coach in teaching and learning.

 

Esther Poveda Morena, MA, Instructor of Spanish

Esther earned a BA at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and an MA in romance languages at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also completed the coursework for a doctorate in the same field. In addition, Esther earned an MA in American indigenous studies at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Esther has experience as an instructor at JMU and also in Madrid, Spain.

 

David Morris, MS, Instructor of Chemistry

David completed an MS in chemistry at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Britain. He also spent one year at the Technical University of Graz, Austria. He is anticipating completing a PhD, focusing on assessing holocene carbon inputs, at the University of Virginia.

 

Erin Nofziger, MS, Instructor of Nursing  

Erin earned a BA in Spanish from EMU and a MS in nursing at the Medical University of Ohio. Erin has experience as a critical care unit nurse.

 

 

Marilla Showalter, MS, Instructor of Business

Marilla earned a BS in accounting and a MS in accounting with Tax Concentration from JMU. Marilla comes with significant business experience in the areas of accounting and banking, both in the state of Virginia and in other states.

 

Ronald Shultz, MA, Instructor of Elementary Education

Ron earned a BS in liberal arts from EMU and an MA in elementary education from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Ron brings significant experience as an elementary teacher in both Virginia and Pennsylvania. Most recently, Ron has served in Peru as a promoter, administrator and teacher at PROMESA, a Christian Bilingual School.

 

Carol Snell-Feikema, MS, Instructor of Spanish

Carol earned an MS in Spanish from Minnesota State University Mankato, and holds a diploma in socio-theological and pastoral formation from the Departamento Ecuménico de Investigaciones in San José, Costa Rica. She has been an instructor of Spanish at South Dakota State University for six years and has led study abroad summer groups to the Mexico-US border, Spain, Mexico, and Guatemala.

 

Julie Strunk, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Julie earned a BS in health science and a BS in nursing from JMU. Julie also earned a MS in nursing from JMU and recently finished a PhD in nursing from VCU. Julie brings significant experience as a staff nurse, school nurse and a parish nurse. Most recently, Julie has served as adjunct faculty at JMU’s and VCU’s Schools of Nursing.