Highlights Summer 2017

Concordia University, Nebraska was blessed with many successes throughout the 2016–17 academic year. The following list includes some of the many accomplishments achieved by our faculty, staff and students. 

Student Highlights

Jensen Anderson, Bryce Collins, Jasmine Eickhoff, Rebekah Freeman, Lauren Loop, Shannon O’Brien, Robert Peterson, Josiah Rensner, Kaitlyn Sims, Austin Taylor, Jerrica Tietz, and Allison Wiebe participated in a study tour to Costa Rica March 3-12, 2017.

Jonathon Anderson has been accepted into the BigDataX Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in the Department of Computer Science at Illinois Institute of Technology for the summer 2017.

Jonathon Anderson, Peter Deberny, Jonathan Grant, Jacob Henson, Caleb Ristvedt, Caleb Pfeil, Cole Wohlgemuth and Tim Rasch participated in the annual Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) North Central North America Regional Programming Contest on October 29, 2016. These students were split into three groups and competed against universities that extended from Colorado to Wisconsin and from Missouri into Canada.

Jonathon Anderson, Devin Bettmann, Kara Blase, Sarah Johnson, Rachel Keseman, Madison Pitsch, Hannah Rose, Ashlyn Sebesta, Emily Sievert, Sophie Simonsen, Kelly Snader, Ray Villegas, Marti Vlasin, and Katherine Vogel traveled to Shenzhen, China, during the summer of 2016 in order to teach English, art, music, dance, science, and robotics at Buena Vista Concordia International Schools camps "Imagination Station" and "Crazy About Science!”

Jamie Baab, Bertha Lily Gonzalez, Carley Humpherys, Bijal Patel, Alexis Romero, and Ila Williams went on a mission trip to Hillside International in Belize in February 2017.

Cooper Bailey was accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

Thomas Bailey was accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Concordia University, Wisconsin in Mequon, Wisconsin.

Kailey Bales, Kaylyn Beiermann, Samantha Boardman, Maria Carabantes, Coleman Cogswell, Le’Dontrae Gooden, Brett James, Alayna Kavanaugh, Austin Nelson, Kelli Niemeier and Lisa Pope participated in a study tour to Guatemala in March, 2017.

Christine Bennett, Clara Rich and Amanda Ruether went to the mountain village of Kuskawas in Nicaragua with Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International in March 2017. The team set up a clinic where they shared the Gospel and served the physical needs of over 2,000 patients in three days.

Megan Boye designed an infographic of the public health in Nebraska over the past 150 years for the Public Health Association of Nebraska in April 2017.

Christy Burrows, Senge Ngalame, Lisa Hokanson, Kourtney Griffin and Laura Mischnick traveled to Nicaragua in November 2016 on a mission trip with Living Water International.

Laura Caffey will receive her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the summer of 2017.

Corianne Cain, Bethany Schilling, and Julia Trempala taught Spanish and Toria Turner taught American Sign Language at St. John Lutheran School as part of the school's Afterschool Language Program for students in grades 3-5.

Coleman Cogswell was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Peter Deberney was accepted for an internship in IT/Computer Science at Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis, Missouri for the summer 2017.

Ellie Dorosz will receive her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the summer of 2017.

Morgan Eggert was accepted into the Master of Social Work program at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Zane Francescato, Naomi Quigg, and Jeremy Rodriguez were awarded the “Servant Leader” Award for 2016-2017 by Phi Beta Lambda business club. Zane chaired the Graduate and Career Fair committee, Naomi chaired the Women in Business Luncheon and Jeremy served as the business club president. They all attended the Phi Beta Lambda national convention and completed the “Institute for Leaders” training in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tayesha Griffiths received her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the spring of 2017.

Laura Hedstrom won first place in the chapter level competition of the Regional Competition for Young Organists sponsored by the American Guild of Organists (AGO), held in Lincoln, Nebraska, in March 2017. She now advances to the next level of competition at the AGO convention in Iowa City in June.

Krystyne Huxoll received her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the spring of 2017.

Brett James was accepted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Matthew Keener presented his work, “The Effects of L-theanine, Epi-3-Gallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and Caffeine on Short-Term Memory,” at the annual Great Plains Students’ Psychology Convention in Hays, Kansas, in March 2017.

Nicole Kingbird received her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the fall of 2016.

Mason Koeritz had his arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” for children’s choir and piano published with Concordia Publishing House in the spring of 2017.

Jessica Lewis, Cadence Klemp, and Toria Turner were selected and approved by the Department of Intercultural Studies to be hosted by Mill Neck School for the Deaf in Long Island, New York, from May 7-12 as participant observers in education and ministry opportunities to the students there.

Jessica Luebbe, Allison Wiebe and Megan Ruppert were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, respectively, in the 2017 Learning with Tech – All Student Contests in the Interactive Media Pre-Service/College student category hosted by the Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA).

Ben Middendorf and Carolina VonKampen edited “Potpourri 2017,” the creative writing journal of Concordia’s English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta. This year’s issue was given the theme, “Form and Reform,” to coincide with the 500th Reformation Anniversary celebrations.

Christof Muller was accepted into the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jessika Nelson will receive her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the summer of 2017.

Amanda Pascoe received her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the summer of 2016.

Makenzie Polacek was accepted into the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Joel Ristvedt was accepted for an internship in IT/Computer Science at Concordia Plan Services in St. Louis, Missouri for the summer 2017.

Erin Rowland was selected for a summer of 2017 field ecology research internship at Washington University’s Tyson Research Center.

Kendall Schick was accepted into the doctoral program at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in the department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in Rochester, Minnesota.

Kendall Schick presented a talk at the annual Nebraska Academy of the Sciences meeting in April 2017 over a project he did in his research class. His talk was titled “Bringing a Big Fish to a Little Pond: A “DIY” Zebrafish Aquatic Housing System on a Budget.”

Elizabeth Schmidt was accepted into the Master of Social Work program at the University of Nebraska, Omaha’s Grace Abbott School of Social Work.

Megan Sparling (piano) performed an original art song with Stephanie Sparling (soprano) for a masterclass with composer, Gabriel Kahane, in March 2017.

Ann Spilker applied and was accepted to present to the annual Nebraska Academy of the Sciences on “Analysis of Barn Owl (tyto alba) Diet and Prey Habitat at Ponca State Park,” in April 2017. Presentations at this academy are considered an achievement for undergraduates in the sciences.

Wendy Stroud received her Family Life Educator Certification from the National Council on Family Relations in the fall of 2016.

Megan Suter was accepted into the Master of Education in School Counseling program at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. 

Jordyne Vanselow exhibited an art project titled, “Sleep Studies” at the Primary Colors Gallery in Independence, Missouri in March and April 2017.

Erin Vieselmeyer, Ryan Maser, Joshua Kirkwold, Tiegen Skains, Annie Schmidt and Emma Gremmer traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to participate in the Collegiate Leadership Challenge (CLC) hosted by John Carroll University, March 31-April 2, 2017. The team won one of the six challenges in a record setting time.

Grace Woodburn and Hayli Frosheiser, designed and built a float for the annual Seward Christmas Festival Parade of Lights in November 2016.

The Concordia Handbell Choir released their first CD, “Faithful,” in April of 2017. The 14-track CD is available through the Concordia University, Nebraska bookstore.

The Concordia Handbell Choir and Handbell Choir II members attended the Spring Ring in Lincoln, Nebraska, with 130 ringers from multiple states. They learned from composer and clinician, Jason Krug, during the two-day event in March 2017.

Faculty and Staff Highlights

Dr. Vicki Anderson, associate professor of education, and Jon Anderson, adjunct instructor of statistics, led two groups of undergraduates on a trip to Shenzhen, China, where the students taught English, art, dance, music, science, and robotics in a day camp setting to K-8 grade Chinese students at the Buena Vista Concordia International School.

Dr. Lisa Ashby, professor of English, was elected chair of the Nebraska Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NEVOAD) in January 2017. NEVOAD is a coalition of nearly 40 nonprofits that respond to disasters in Nebraska. Members of NEVOAD include the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and many faith-based disaster response teams. NEVOAD works with emergency managers and state and local officials to ensure that volunteer response is organized and effective. Dr. Ashby also serves as the Deputy Incident Commander for Concordia’s Critical Incident Management Team.

Dr. Curt Beck, associate professor of business administration, led a group of undergraduate students to Cleveland, Ohio, to compete in the Collegiate Leadership Challenge in April 2017. 

Dr. Curt Beck and Dr. Shannon Leinen, assistant professor of business, will be leading a group of undergraduate students to Cambodia on a “Business as Mission” trip, May 8-19, 2017. The team will be studying revenue generating projects, and sustainable business practices for entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations in an international context to serve and lead.

Dr. Curt Beck presented a workshop at the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society Conference at Walsh University of Canton, Ohio, in June 2016. The workshop was titled: “Ethics in practice: how a service learning activity can encourage servant leader behaviors.”

Dr. Curt Beck received the Impactful Research Idea Award from the Midwest Academy of Management at their 59^th Annual Meeting, October 6-8, 2016.  The article was titled: “Exploring the Antecedents of Servant Leader Behaviors in College Students: An Initial Investigation.”

Dr. Jeffery Blersch, professor of music and university organist, was elected to serve as a national director at large on the governing board of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

Dr. Jeffery Blersch was commissioned by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and Concordia Publishing House to write an original hymn tune on the text “Though All Our Life is but A Scroll,” the winning entry in the synod’s hymn writing competition for the 500th Reformation Anniversary.

Dr. Jeffery Blersch had three of his works published in print from Concordia Publishing House. These include: the seventh volume of his series of hymn introductions and harmonizations, a hymn concerto on “Though All Our Life is But A Scroll” and a partita on the hymn “We Praise You and Acknowledge You.”

James Bockelman, professor of art, was one of ten artists in the state of Nebraska to receive a “2016 Independent Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts” from the Nebraska Arts Council. Based upon art work entries and exhibition record, this award was granted after submissions were reviewed by a jury of out-of-state peer professionals, selected from across the country. The Nebraska Arts Council board, at their March 8 quarterly meeting, approved the IAF jurors’ recommendation for this honor.

As a finalist for the “Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Research Center Tower Commission” in Omaha, Nebraska, James Bockelman will make two design presentations/proposals to the Nebraska Arts Council committee in May and June 2017.

James Bockelman will be showing his art as part of a group exhibition at the Inga Kondeyne Gallery in Berlin, Germany in June 2017.

Throughout the 2016 – 2017 academic year, James Bockelman exhibited 23 recent paintings on paper in a one person show held at the Circuitous Succession Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee. In October 2016, he participated in a group exhibit at Modern Arts Midtown in Omaha, Nebraska, where he presented new paintings on canvas.

James Bockelman will participate in a group exhibition at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, Nebraska, May 23-August 20, 2017.

After three years of development and four trips to Berlin, James Bockelman organized a group exhibition titled, “Drawing Performance.” The exhibit is comprised of abstract drawings by artists living in Berlin, Germany, matched with artists living in the United States. The exhibit was presented at Concordia University, Nebraska and the TugBoat Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier this year. This June, Bockelman will install the exhibit at the Inga Kondeyne Gallery in Berlin.

Dr. Sara Brady, assistant professor of psychology, co-presented her work titled, “Feeling the Burn: Personal Injustice Increases Feelings of Academic Entitlement” at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology in San Antonio, Texas, in January 2017.

Dr. Damien Byas, adjunct professor in Master of Public Health program, presented at the 2nd Symposium on Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Havana, Cuba. The title of the presentation was “An Examination of Risk Factors Associated with Worldwide Sudden Cardiac Death Rates in Children” in December 2016.

Rev. Dr. David Coe, assistant professor of theology, was published in Volume 18 of “Kierkegaard Research: Sources, Reception and Resources” for his review of H.V. Martin’s “Kierkegaard, The Melancholy Dane.”

Jennifer Fruend, assistant biology professor, and Kelley Limback, education partnership coordinator for the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Education, led a study tour, The Ecology and Natural History of Costa Rica, March 3-12, 2017.

Dr. Amanda Geidel, associate professor of education, presented at the Lutheran Education Association National Convocation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in October 2016. Her presentation was titled, “Getting Started: Pre-referral Intervention Plans.”

Dr. Amanda Geidel, together with her students and in connection with Region V Services of Seward, led weekly social gatherings on campus for members of the Seward community living with development disabilities.

Dr. Amanda Geidel has written and contributed a chapter to the book edited by Dr. Bernard Bull, titled, “The Pedagogy of Faith: Essays on Lutheran Education,” and published by Concordia Publishing House. Her chapter is titled, “Reaching the Exceptional and Diverse Learner: Their Faith Matters Too!”

Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, associate professor of music, gave solo performances of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s full-length piano cycle “Das Jahr” at Hastings College, Christ Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Adams State University and Wayland Baptist University throughout the 2016–2017 academic year.

Dr. Gabriel Haley, assistant professor of English, published a chapter, “Counterculture Beatrices: Don Meets Dante,” in the book, “The Universe is Indifferent: Mad Men, Philosophy and Theology.” As part of the book’s release, he participated in a panel discussion of “The Universe in Indifferent” at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.

Dr. Gabriel Haley presented a paper, “Secularized Contemplation: Chaucer’s Lyrics in the Fifteenth Century,” at the 20^th Biennial Congress of the New Chaucer Society, held at Queens’ College in London, England, in July 2016.

Dr. Gabriel Haley presented a paper, “The Re-Enchantment of Education: C. S. Lewis’s Idea of the Holy,” to the Pi Gamma Mu Social Studies Honor Society at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, in January 2017.

Dr. Gabriel Haley presented a paper, “Meaningful Designs: Learning about Purpose in the Greek Classics,” to the parents of students at Trinity Classical Academy in Omaha, Nebraska, in October 2016.

Cheryl Haun, adjunct professor, will be authoring “Time Out for Directors” for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod School Ministry mailing.

Dr. Joel Helmer, professor of geography, presented “A Boot Leather Geography of the Nebraska Sandhills” at the department of geography graduate school symposium hosted by Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Joseph Herl read a paper on “The Continuing Use of Latin in Lutheran Churches and Schools after the Reformation” at the Lutheranism and the Classics Conference in September 2016.

Dr. Joseph Herl was interviewed for a Bach Society Houston, podcast in October 2016. The podcast was titled “What did early Lutheran worship really sound like”

Dr. Joseph Herl presented, “Crafting Faithful and Effective Hymn Translations” to the International Hymn Translators and Writers Conference in November 2016.

Dr. Joseph Herl and Peter Reske of Concordia Publishing House, gave a preview of the forthcoming historical companion to the Lutheran Service Book at the Concordia Theological Seminary’s Good Shepherd Institute in November 2016.

Dr. Tim Huntington, associate professor of biology and criminal justice, successfully graduated from the 195th basic law enforcement training course at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center as part of his semester-long sabbatical. Huntington has served as a reserve deputy sheriff at the Seward County Sheriff’s Office since 2010 and was recently promoted to deputy sheriff.

Dr. Tim Huntington, gave an invited presentation at the Nebraska Division of the International Association for Identification annual training conference in April. The title of the presentation was “Indoor burials, living with the dead, and other tales from the crypt.”

Dr. Tim Huntington consulted as a forensic entomologist in nine death investigation cases over the past 12 months from six different states and testified in homicide trials in both California and Iowa.

Dr. Jennifer Janousek, professor of health and human performance and program director of the Master of Public Health program, Dr. Sarah Matthias, a pediatrician at Complete Children’s Health in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jill Beisel, a physician assistant at Gastroenterology Specialties in Lincoln, led a team of students to Guatemala March 3–9, 2017, on a medical mission trip.

Dr. Jennifer Janousek and Dr. Leanne Pounds, adjunct faculty in Master of Public Health program, are co-chairs for the Public Health Education section of the Public Health Association of Nebraska.

Jessica Kite, adjunct professor of music, served as a committee member and session leader for the Spring Ring in Lincoln, Nebraska, in March 2017.

Dr. Doug Kuhlmann, program director of athletic administration, served as the instructor for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Leadership Training Institute (LTI) “Liabilities for Sports Injuries and Risk Management” for the MIAAA in April 2017.

Dr. Erica Lamm, assistant professor of communication, edited and published two issues of

the journal “Listening Education,” the online journal of the International Listening Association. She will present her paper about student listening leaders at the annual conference of the International Listening Association in June 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Andre Lawe, adjunct faculty, presented at the University of the West Indies Symposium on Distance Learning and Best Practices in Online Teaching in December 2016.

Dr. Shannon Leinen, assistant professor of business, successfully completed her Ph.D. in communication studies from Regent University in December 2016.

Dr. Shannon Leinen presented for the National Communication Association, the Journal of Faith and the Academy of Faulkner University, the Religious Communication Association, the International Listening Association and the National Social Science Association conferences with accepted papers during the 2016-17 academic year.

Dr. Bernadette McCrory, adjunct professor in the Master of Public Health program, presented

“Multicenter Assessment and Future of Single-Site Surgery” at the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Bernadette McCrory presented “Civil Support Team Supporting Nebraska’s Health and Safety” at the 2016 Public Health Association of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Bernadette McCrory published “Kinematic and Ergonomic Assessment of Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgical Instruments during Simulator Training Tasks in “Applied Ergonomics.”

Robert McEwen, adjunct professor, co-authored Chapter 6 of the Nebraska Appellate Practice Handbook published in October 2016.

Robert McEwen participated in the Harvard Law Systemic Justice Summit in January 2017, and presented on the Indian Child Welfare Act at the Nebraska Children’s Summit in August of 2016.

Robert McEwen participated in the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association annual conference in June 2016 and the Nebraska State Bar Association Indian Law section in June of 2016.

Dr. Kevin Miller, adjunct professor, is the co-author of a book chapter titled “High standard competencies for teachers of the deaf and other qualified professionals: always necessary, not always guaranteed.” The chapter appears in “Diversity of Deaf Education” by M. Marschark, V. Lampropoulou and E.K. Skordilis and was published in 2016.

Dr. Kevin Miller is the author of an article titled “Cochlear implantation in Serbia: One center’s experience–interview with Jovana Jecmenica, Rade Kosanovic, Sandra Stojanovic, Aleksandra Bajec-Opancina, and Dragan Jecmenica” was published in “Communication Disorders Quarterly,” in November 2016.

Dr. Kevin Miller is co-author of an article titled “Effects of early smoking habits on young adult female voices in Greece.” The article is in press and will appear in the Journal of Voice.

Dr. Kevin Miller was a co-presenter at the Council for Exceptional Children Conference in April 2016. The presentation was titled “Deaf education: Where are we and where do we need to be?”

Dr. Kevin Miller was the recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant for the fall semester of 2016. He was also a visiting lecturer and researcher in the Department of Special Education at Armenian State Pedagogical University in Yerevan, Armenia.

Bryan Moore, associate professor of theatre and communication, participated as a guest theatre artist at Region VIII’s Festival 49 in Mesa, Arizona, as part of the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Moore adjudicated the student dramaturgy regional competition, participated in a new play development panel and led a dramaturgy workshop session.

Bryan Moore directed Greg Oliver Bodine’s “Christmas Thieves: A Small Town Radio Play” at Olde Glory Theatre in Seward, Nebraska in December 2016.

Aaron Nix, video producer, multimedia developer and adjunct professor, wrote and directed “Not About Me,” a narrative short film that was selected for screening at the 2016 South Dakota Film Festival and 2017 Omaha Film Festival.

Dr. Kristen Nugent, assistant professor of education, earned her Ph.D. in teaching, learning and teacher education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2016.

Dr. Kristen Nugent served as the keynote speaker at the Concordia Professional Development Conference at Buena Vista International School in Shenzhen, China, in the fall of 2016. The theme of the conference was differentiated teaching and learning. Teachers and staff from different Concordia schools in Hong Kong, Vietnam, China and the United States, came together to share strategies and philosophies that will increase individual student learning at all grade levels.

Dr. Kristen Nugent presented at the Central States Conference on the teaching of foreign languages in March 2017.

Dr. Kristen Nugent prepared workshops for teachers at Parkview Christian School in Lincoln, Nebraska, and conducted an all-day workshop for foreign language teachers in Nebraska at ESU 6 in Milford, Nebraska, during the academic year. 

Dr. Annette Oliver presented “Creating a Philosophy Statement” at the National Association for the Education of Young Children National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Annette Oliver successfully defended her dissertation, “Examining Characteristics of Early Childhood Teachers in Relationship to their Perceived Value of Visual Arts in the Classroom.”

Dr. Annette Oliver and Beth Pester served as ambassadors of Central American Lutheran Mission Society (CALMS) and representatives of Concordia University, in July 2016, presenting workshops for educators in the country of Belize as part of continuing work from previous summers. These workshops for educators assist in the reform effort of the Belizean education system with both presentation of information, and modeling of effective presentation/workshop training style for the attendees.  

Shanna Opfer, assistant professor of education, led a presentation titled “Start Where They Are: Differentiating for Student Readiness” at the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival.

Shanna Opfer and Beth Pester, assistant professor of education, presented a sectional titled “New Teachers: Sharing and Bonding!” at the 2016 Lutheran Education Association Convocation.

Beth Pester, Dr. Bernie Tonjes, associate professor of education and Scott Seevers, senior vice president of enrollment management and marketing, all published articles in the Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools (ALSS) Journal Winter 2016.

Beth Pester presented at the Lutheran Education Association tri-annual Convocation, in October 2016, presenting on young adolescent development.

Doug Peters, adjunct faculty, presented “#FiredUp People” focusing on effective leadership and management by athletic administrators to the NCAA/Division II Athletic Directors Association Mentee program in March 2017.

Don Robson, professor of art and art department chair, has been nominated for the Nebraska Art Teachers Association “Higher Education Art Educator of the Year” award.

Dr. Lorinda Sankey, associate dean of College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, contributed a chapter titled, “Teaching Christian Habits in the Classroom” in the new book Pedagogy of Faith: Essays on Lutheran Education, published by Concordia Publishing House, 2016. Dr. Sankey contributed an article titled, “A Genesis Model for Christian Faculty and Classrooms” for the Spring 2017 issue of Issues in Christian Education.  She also contributed an editorial titled, “Christians Teaching in Public Schools: the Ministry of Care” for the Fall 2016 edition of Issues in Christian Education. 

Dr. Lorinda Sankey, associate dean of college of education, health and human sciences, contributed a chapter titled, “Teaching Christian Habits in the Classroom” in the new book “Pedagogy of Faith: Essays on Lutheran Education,” published by Concordia Publishing House in 2016.

Dr. Lorinda Sankey contributed an article titled, “A Genesis Model for Christian Faculty and Classrooms” for the spring 2017 issue of “Issues in Christian Education.”

Dr. Lorinda Sankey contributed an editorial titled, “Christians Teaching in Public Schools: the Ministry of Care” for the fall 2016 edition of “Issues in Christian Education.”

Dylan Teut, Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival coordinator and interim instructor of literacy has been invited to serve on the board for Read Aloud Nebraska.

Dylan Teut has been invited to moderate a panel on diversity in children’s book illustrations with illustrators Selina Alko, Arree Chung, Fred

Koehler and Sean Qualls; and chair a session on non-fiction writing strategies with authors Jason Chin, Kate Messner and Melissa Sweet at the 2017 International Literacy Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida in July.

Dylan Teut presented strategies for engaging young readers in non-fiction at the 2016 Concordia University Early Childhood Conference in June, the 2017 Nebraska State Reading Association Conference in Kearney in February and the 2017 Mid Nebraska Early Childhood Summit in York in March.

Dylan Teut signed on as a picture book writer to be represented by children’s book agent Alexandra Penfold of Upstart Crow Literary in New York, New York.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes, associate professor of education and director of Concordia’s dual credit program, presented “A Cognitive Approach to Faith Integration” and “Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse: Implications for Policy and Practice” at the Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin Lutheran Educators Conference in August 2016.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes presented “Your Teaching – Your Brain” at the Lutheran Education Association Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in October 2016.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes presented “Sufficiently Religious: Faithfulness to Scripture and Doctrine in Challenging Times” at the 2016 Heartland Summit Conference for Lutheran secondary educators. The conference brought over 30 Lutheran secondary school administrators to Concordia’s campus in October 2016.

Dr. Lorinda Sankey, Beth Pester and Shanna Opfer attended the LEA National Administrator’s conference in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2017. Pester spoke to the attendees about the new initiative, “What’s Your Succession Plan?” and the efforts underway to recruit more students to professional church work programs.

Justin Sievert, adjunct professor, served as a panelist for University of Tennessee College of Law, “Understanding Title IX in Higher Education,” in April 2017.

Justin Sievert was a presenter for Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Meeting, “Understanding Title IX Compliance as a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Institution” in February 2017.

Justin Sievert was a presenter for Athledify Webinar, “Inside Title IX: Effectively Accommodating Interests and Abilities - Part I: Prongs I and II” in January 2017.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes presented “Dealing with Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse” at the Parish Resource/Response Training in Belvidere, Illinois, in November 2016.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes presented “A Cognitive Approach to Faith Integration” and “Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse: Implication for Policy and Practice” at the Pacific Southwest District Lutheran Educators Conference in November 2016. The conference was in Palm Desert, California.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes attended the Illinois Board for Higher Education meeting in Palatine, Illinois, in December 2016. At the meeting, he received approval to offer dual credit classes in Illinois.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes presented “Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse: Implications for Policy and Practice” at the Best Practices for Ministry Conference held in Phoenix, Arizona, in February 2017.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes was a conference sponsor for the Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools in Houston, Texas, in March 2017.

Dr. Bernard Tonjes, Dr. Annette Oliver and Beth Pester presented at the Northern Illinois – Southern Wisconsin District Teacher’s Workshop. Oliver presented on developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood, Pester presented on young adolescent development and Tonjes presented on brain development.

Dr. Kelly Wheeler, adjunct faculty in the Master of Public Health program, led a team of alumni and current students on a mission trip with Living Water International in Nicaragua in November 2016.

Dr. Kelly Wheeler, adjunct faculty in the Master of Public Health program, led a team of students on a mission trip to Hillside International in Belize in February 2017.

Concordia’s music department was granted approval of the Bachelors of Music in music therapy degree program in September 2016. It is the only music therapy program in Nebraska as well as in the Concordia University system.

The Center for Liturgical Art completed and installed three stained glass windows in Weller chapel auditorium and completed fabrication of 72 stained glass windows for Hong Kong International School.

The Center for Liturgical Art completed and installed a new baptismal font stand at Zion Lutheran Church in Loveland, Colorado, and created banners for Redeemer Lutheran Church in Parkton, Maryland.

The Center for Liturgical Art completed fabrication of an eight-foot cross mosaic to be delivered to Concordia University, Chicago in River Forest, Illinois.

The Center for Liturgical Art completed fabrication of a chancel cross for Gethsemane Lutheran in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and completed designs of a cross for the Concordia University colonnade.

The Center for Liturgical Art finalized plans for a new building on the Marxhausen property.