Goshen College introduces new teaching and administrative faculty for 2008-09

Julie Bruneau is an assistant professor of English. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College, a master’s of education degree from the University of Hartford (Conn.) and is completing her doctorate at Notre Dame. Her dissertation is “Perceval the Welshman: Identity in Medieval British Romance.” Bruneau has taught English at Highlands Ranch High School in Littleton, Colo., worked at Notre Dame’s Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, and served on the curriculum committee for Notre Dame’s first-year writing program.

Robert Day is a major gifts officer in the college’s Development Office. He received a bachelor’s degree from Cumberland College and a master of social work and a master of divinity degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Day has been a teaching faculty member at Eastern Kentucky University and at Cumberland College where he received the John T. Broome Most Honored Professor award in 2002.

Tim Demant is the athletic director. He received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity Western University and a master of human kinetics-bioenergetics from the University of British Columbia. Demant served as director of athletic and recreation at Columbia Bible College (CBC) in Abbotsford, British Columbia for 10 years, and also served as the head coach for men’s volleyball at CBC during this time and instructed general health and wellness courses.

Suzanne Ehst is the academic counselor in the college’s Academic Support Center. She received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University and a master’s degree in transformative language arts from Goddard College. She taught English, creative writing and theater at Bethany Christian High School in Goshen since 1997 and has be an adjunct instructor at Goshen College since 2004.

John Fitzmartinis the entrepreneurship director and associate professor of business. He received a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University, a master’s degree in statistics from Southern Connecticut State University, a doctorate in statistics from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s of business administration from the University of Notre Dame. Fitzmartin has done significant work in the pharmaceutical industry as an employee, consultant and business owner. He is the founder of, and, for 10 years, was the CEO of Pharma Clinical Trials. He has held teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Tennessee Medical School, University of New Haven, Yale University Medical School, Harvard Medical School and the University of Notre Dame. Most recently, Fitzmartin has been an adjunct professor in the department of management at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

Jonathan Geiser is the business development director and associate professor of business, which includes directing the college’s Management Development and Family Business Programs. He received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1982, a master’s degree from the American Graduate School of International Management. He has lived and worked in Barcelona, Spain as an English language instructor, business language professor, the Capital Investment Coordinator for SEAT (Volkswagen Group) and the director of international programmes at the graduate business school, Escola D’Alta Direcci— i Administraci— (EADA). He also worked for eight years in for BICC Cables Limited and Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Ltd. Since returning to the United States, he has worked as the general manager for Swartzendruber Hardwoods in Goshen and most recently as the chief financial officer for Terra Group LLC.

Rachel Gerber is the apartments manager. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 2000 and a master of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. She has been a fifth-grade teacher, a resident director at Eastern Mennonite University, minister of youth and young adults at College Mennonite Church in Goshen and associate pastor of faith formation at First Mennonite Church in Denver, Colo.

Deborah Gessinger is an instructor of American Sign Language. She is Deaf and anative user of American Sign Language. She received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University South Bend, and is completing a master’s degree in curriculum design from McDaniels College.

Melissa Gillette is an assistant professor of biology. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 2005 and a master’s degree in medical and molecular genetics at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2007. She has been working as a genetics counselor at the Genetics Center of the Indiana School of Medicine in Gary, Ind. Gillette will also be an assistant coach for the college’s cross country team.

Joshua Gleason is the sport information director, and began in January 2008. He received a bachelor’s degree from Simpson University and is working on a master’s degree in sports leadership from Duquesne University. After a year working for a local newspaper, Gleason spent three years as the assistant director of athletics, sports information director and baseball coach at Simpson.

Rebecca Hernandez is director of the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning at Goshen College. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education-social studies from Southeastern College, a master’s degree in public administration from Portland University and a doctorate in human development and family studies from Oregon State University. Hernandez previously was the director of Community Building for the Hacienda Community Development Corp. of Portland, Ore. She also held faculty appointments at Oregon State University and at Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Nursing, where she worked on developing community based programs to reduce health disparities among Latinos.

Josh Hire is the head golf coach. He has been the head golf professional at Timber Ridge Golf Club in Millersburg, Ind., for four years.

Jeff Hochstetler is an admissions counselor. He graduated from Goshen College in 2008 with business and history majors.

Scott Hochstetler is an assistant professor of music, and will direct the Men’s Chorus and Chorale. He received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1997, master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and Western Oregon University and a doctorate in choral conducting from Michigan State University. Hochstetler taught at Western Mennonite School in Salem, Ore., for five years, and has also taught on the faculties of Corban College and the University of Michigan-Flint.

Frank Johnson is the special assistant to the president for institutional planning, strategy and research. He received a bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University, and both his master’s degree and doctorate in U.S. history from Michigan State University. Before coming to Goshen, Johnson served as associate vice president for adult and graduate studies at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio). He has also served as a consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and on the editorial board of the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education Journal.

Kelli Burkholder King is the director of alumni, church and parent relations, and began in February 2008. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1977 and a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has managed public health nutrition programs and an infant mortality project in Philadelphia, Pa., worked with congregations as a health and wellness coordinator for Mennonite Mutual Aid in Goshen and most recently been a nutritionist and dietitian at the Elkhart (Ind.) Clinic.

Sheila King is the director of conference and events. She received a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from Purdue University. King has worked at the South Bend Marriott as an event manager and as a convention and trade show associate for SmithBucklin Corporation, the world’s largest association management and professional services company.

Lee Mast is the head softball coach. He has been the coach for the Goshen High School softball program for eight years.

David Ostergren is the director of the graduate program in environmental education at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, a master’s degree in political science from West Virginia University, a master’s of education degree from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in forest resources science from West Virginia University. Ostergren was an associate professor in the School of Forestry and the Center for Environmental Sciences and Education at Northern Arizona University since 1999. He also served as director of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit.

Mary Beth Schlabach is the acquisitions and cataloging specialist in the Good Library. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1987 and is working on a master’s degree in library science at Indiana University.

Jake Shipe is the resident director of Yoder Residence Hall. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bethel College (Mishawaka, Ind.) in 2005 and taught in two elementary schools in Goshen for the past three years.

Bethany Swope is the church relations coordinator. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College in 1996. Swope has been a high school English teacher, a writer for Mennonite Mission Network and assistant manager at the Ten Thousand Villages store in Goshen.

Greg Thaller is an associate professor of music and the orchestra director. He received a bachelor’s degree in music from Boston University, a master of music education degree from Hartt School of Music and a doctor of music education from the University of Cincinnati. He has undergone additional orchestral-conducting study at Bard College, University of Iowa, University of South Carolina, Eastman School of Music and the Naples Philharmonic in Florida. Thaller has been a full-time teacher of music for 23 years in public and private high schools as well as state and private colleges such as Boston University, University of Cincinnati, Salem State College, Southwest Baptist University, Evangel University, East Stroudsburg University and McPherson College. As a percussionist, Thaller performed with groups such as the Springfield (Missouri) Symphony, the Wichita Grand Opera, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the Massachusetts Wind Orchestra, the U.S. Coast Guard Band and the Interlochen Faculty Brass Ensemble.

Victoria Waters is an associate librarian of the Mennonite Historical Library. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Wheaton College and master’s degrees in comparative literature and library science from the University of Chicago. She has previously worked remotely for the National Library of Medicine.

Judy Weaver is a development grant writer, and began in September 2007. She received a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College, a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a certificate in TESOL from University of California, Santa Barbara. Weaver previously worked as an instructor of Spanish and English as a Second Language at Western Mennonite School, an adjunct professor of Spanish and ESL at several colleges and most recently as a quality assurance manager and program trainer for the Migrant Education Service Center in Salem, Ore.

Diane White is the director of the Wellness and Health Center. She received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master of science degree as an adult nurse practioner from the University of Maryland. White has been a nurse practitioner, clinical research associate, clinical data specialist and a medical legal analyst.

Chris Wood is an associate professor of nursing. She received a bachelor of arts degree in history and religious studies and a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Holy Names College, an RN degree from Pasadena City College, a master’s degree as a gerontological clinical nurse specialist and a doctorate from the University of California San Francisco, and a post-master’s geriatric nurse practitioner certificate from California State University, East Bay. Wood’s career has included being an elementary educator; a staff nurse in pediatrics, oncology and medical-surgical nursing; and in-service director. She has also been a research and teaching assistant, nursing instructor, adjunct faculty person, clinical nursing faculty and postgraduate research associate in various health care facilities and nursing programs in California. In 2002 she moved to Michigan and worked at Marywood Health Center in Grand Rapids. Wood is a member of the Grand Rapids Dominicans and is a liturgical musician at Dominican Chapel, Marywood.

Several faculty have also moved to new positions within the institution: Glenn Gilbert is now the campus sustainability coordinator in addition to being the utilities manager; Carlos Gutierrez has moved from being the associate director of financial aid to being an assistant professor of business; Ruth Stoltzfus has moved from being the director of the Wellness and Health Center to being an assistant professor of nursing; and Trish Yoder has moved from being the associate director of the Recreation-Fitness Center to being an admission counselor.

The adjunct professors this year will be: Andy Alexis-Baker in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Department; Joann Beathea in the Social Work Department; Andrea Dalton in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Department; Daniel Diener in the Spanish Department; Elizabeth Gunden in the Nursing Department; Steven Martin in the Business Department; Lewis Naylor in the Chemistry Department; Jonathan Neufeld in the Psychology Department; Georgiann Shide in the Psychology Department; Michael Varner in Accounting and Linette Youngin the Lab Kindergarten.In addition, the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning has two visiting research fellows:

Getnet Bitew received a doctorate in education from the University of Innsbruck in Austria and a doctorate in multicultural education from the University of Melbourne in Australia. At Goshen College he will be doing a qualitative research study where he will assess the curricular and co-curricular experience of Latino students.

Lynda Nyce, a 1991 Goshen College graduate, is on sabbatical from Bluffton University where she is a professor of sociology. She completed her doctorate in sociology from the University of Notre Dame. At Goshen College she will study the phenomenon of transnationalism, focusing on the immigration experience of Latino residents in Goshen.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.