New 2014 faculty and staff join Concordia
Concordia officially welcomed several new faculty and staff members for the 2014-15 academic year at its opening worship service on Sunday, Aug. 24, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.
New faculty and staff:
Andreea Baker, director of health services/campus nurse: Baker previously worked as a registered nurse at Bryan Health in Lincoln and has been an instructor in Concordia’s RN-to-BSN program.
Evan Balleweg, Center for Liturgical Art operations manager: Balleweg graduated from Concordia in 2013 with a degree in studio art and has worked at the CLA since 2009 as an artist and marketing intern.
Dr. Connie Callahan, assistant professor of biology: Callahan holds a doctorate in immunology and worked in cancer research before teaching as an adjunct biology professor at Concordia for the past 12 years.
Holli Duggan, distance learning and e-resources librarian: Duggan previously worked as the material services student supervisor at Love Library at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Ryan Dupic, head baseball coach: Dupic formerly served as Buena Vista University's associate head coach and pitching coach in Storm Lake, Iowa, since his graduation from the college in 2008.
Mandy Fortik, community manager: Fortik was previously the marketing specialist for Neebo, a retail brand of Nebraska Book Company in Lincoln.
Dr. Jamie Hink, interim instructor of history: Hink previously taught history courses at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, and has taught at Concordia Nebraska since 2012.
Patti Jensen, assistant professor of health and human performance: Jensen has taught at York College for 14 years and previously worked for the Nebraska Department of Education as a physical education consultant and teacher.
Bethany Landrey, academic resource and disability support services coordinator: Landrey was previously an academic and disability services advisor for the Dallas County Community College District in Texas.
Peter Landrey, instructional innovation specialist: Landrey previously taught media technology at Duncanville High School in Texas.
Dr. Torri Lienemann, director of graduate special education programs: Lienemann has taught special education at elementary and middle schools in the Lincoln area and recently served as the Norris School District assistant special education director and district learning coordinator.
Chris Luther, assistant professor of health and human performance: Luther taught and coached soccer at York College before becoming the director of athletics and Title III director in York.
Jonathan Moberly, master of business administration program director: Moberly has spent the past seven years teaching business and law courses at universities in the St. Louis, Missouri, area and previously represented professional athletes in marketing efforts and contract negotiations.
Matt Myers, ESL coordinator: Myers has worked 16 years teaching English and training teams of teachers as a career missionary in universities in Vietnam, Indonesia and China, most recently serving as the ESL project director for south China with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Office of International Mission.
Brenda Nation-Robson, interim instructor of education: Nation-Robson previously worked in art education in schools in Kansas and Nebraska and recently worked as an adjunct instructor and student teaching supervisor at Concordia.
David O’Neill, College of Graduate Studies enrollment specialist: O’Neill previously worked as the data communications account manager at Crescent Electric Supply Company in Lincoln.
Chelsea Petersen, admission counselor: Petersen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication studies from Nebraska Wesleyan University and previously worked as an admission counselor at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.
Joel Reckewey, head men’s and women’s tennis coach: Reckewey served as the girls’ head tennis coach at Lincoln Christian High School and will continue to operate Reckewey Tennis in Lincoln, a full-service tennis LLC, alongside his duties at Concordia.
Matthew Schranz, system analyst/programmer and infrastructure support: Schranz previously worked as a technology specialist at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte and McCook, Nebraska.
Katherine Steffen, senior director of advancement: Steffen, a Seward native, has been fundraising for Lutheran higher education for 10 years and recently held the position of senior development officer at Concordia University, St. Paul.
Jennifer Suggitt, marketing communications specialist: Suggitt previously held the position of manager of corporate communications at both Nebraska Book Company and Nelnet in Lincoln.
Jacob Waddle, assistant head baseball coach: Waddle was previously the assistant baseball coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Theresa Webster, director of academic services/504 compliance: Webster has had 15 years of experience in child welfare, previously serving as the service area administrator for foster care, clinical, group home and intensive family preservation services at Cedars Youth Services in Lincoln.
Faculty advancing in rank:
Dr. Timothy Huntington advanced to associate professor of biology and criminal justice.
Dr. John Snow advanced to professor of mathematics.
Dr. Laurie Zum Hofe advanced to associate professor of English.