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Karla Hunter, a professor in the School of Communication and Journalism with over with 30 years of experience teaching in higher education and is the author of "Interpersonal Development: 21st Century Skills for the 'Real' and Virtual World" (Kendall Hunt, 2021). Her unique, evidence-based classroom activities help students cultivate self-efficacy, empowerment and resilience though optimizing their communication skills. She is honored to work with Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence and grateful for the opportunity to broaden the scope of her service to faculty and students in other disciplines.

Dr. Pirita See is a social psychologist specializing in social perception, stereotyping, social identity, resilience and student mentoring. Since 2015, she has taught courses in statistics, research methods, social psychology, prejudice and health psychology at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. See is an active mentor for student research and teaching and serves in leadership roles with Faculty Senate, the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence, the Honors Program, and the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies. She regularly presents workshops on high-impact teaching practices, including scaffolded team-based learning, community-partnered research and active learning strategies designed to enhance student engagement and collaboration.

Srinivas Janaswamy is an associate professor of food chemistry. The art of learning is a responsibility shared between the instructor and the student, and the instructor assumes many roles to create an engaging and supportive environment in the classroom. Herein, the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence has been playing an undeniable and indispensable role in continuously adjusting instructors’ pedagogical skills and teaching styles and ,in turn, allowing every student to learn and succeed. Janaswamy enjoys working with them the most.

Christine Larson is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She has served on the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence advisory board, has helped with new faculty orientation and is a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence faculty fellow for the Honors College.

Gregory Michna is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has served as a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence faculty fellow for two years. His passion is working with students to foster their mechanical engineering interests and skills, and he is excited to work with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence to help bring evidence-based teaching strategies to the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

Nicholas Uilk, a Klingbeil Endowed Educator in Precision Agriculture and lecturer, has been a member of the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department since 2009. He is deeply involved in developing and maintaining curriculum that meets the evolving needs of today’s precision agriculture professionals. Uilk teaches courses such as Introduction to Precision Agriculture, Farm Machinery Systems Management and Computer Applications in Agriculture, while also advising students and coordinating internships for both precision agriculture and agricultural systems technology majors. His dedication helps ensure that graduates are well prepared for success in a rapidly-changing agricultural industry.

Dr. Sharon Vestal is a professor of mathematics and statistics at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. She teaches a range of courses, including those for preservice secondary mathematics teachers. Actively involved in the mathematics education research community, she focuses on improving the teaching and learning of geometry. Since 2007, Vestal has served as principal investigator on three National Science Foundation Noyce grants, including the REMAST Scholarship Program, which has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships and produced 87 secondary math and science teachers. She takes great pride in her students’ successes and their impact on the teaching profession.

Tiffany Niemann is a medical laboratory science instructor and laboratory coordinator with the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. She has a deep love for teaching those new to the profession through methodologies that truly relate to the current lives of her students. Niemann has a goal of continued learning and growth of her own teaching styles and takes advantage of all that the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence offers, including workshops and national conferences. Because of these opportunities, innovative and progressive teaching and learning strategies have been woven into her classes with much success.

Mandy Orth is a lecturer and lab coordinator in the Department of Biology and Microbiology. She loves working with students to provide the foundation for their continued college experience and future careers. She is especially interested in pedagogy related to large-enrollment courses and is excited to work with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence and the College of Natural Sciences on continued faculty professional development.

Dr. Ethan L. Snow is an associate professor and nationally-recognized anatomist. He holds degrees in biology and biotechnology from ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, biomedical science from the University of North Dakota and educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He teaches human anatomy and mentors numerous undergraduate and professional research students in clinical case analyses that explore anatomical variation and medical collaboration. A proud alumnus of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College, Snow supports several honors capstone students and currently serves as the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence fellow for the Honors College. As a Gallup Global Strengths Coach, he advocates for personalized learning and a strengths-based approach to academic and professional development.

Annette Ray is a lecturer and simulation coordinator with the College of Nursing. She has a passion for nursing education and strive to demonstrate excellence in all teaching practices. As the ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ College of Nursing's Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence faculty fellow, she has collaborated with ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ faculty from other colleges to create and identify valuable professional development learning opportunities. These experiences have afforded faculty the opportunity to prepare for professional accreditation exams, generate innovative teaching learning activities, and learn more about the university's supportive resources available to all of its students, staff and faculty. What she enjoys most about being a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence faculty fellow is having an active role in supporting faculty professional development, which in turn leads to improved learning outcomes for our students.

Erika Huber is a lecturer in the College of Nursing at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, where she teaches undergraduate nursing students in both the traditional and registered nurse-to-B.S. in nursing programs. In addition to serving as a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence fellow, she is the nurse planner for the college’s nursing continuing professional development team, helping to shape lifelong learning opportunities for nurses. Huber believes in advancing nursing education through academic rigor and innovative, engaging teaching strategies that prepare resilient, well-equipped nurses ready to excel in today’s health care environments.

Katelyn Romsa is associate professor of counseling and human development at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. Romsa is coordinator of the administration of student affairs (M.Ed.) and college counseling (M.S.) programs at the university. Romsa loves working with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence because they've helped her to identify and enhance her strengths as a faculty member. She is grateful for their partnership and investment in developing faculty like herself.

Jamie Fryslie is an instructor in exploratory studies within the School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. She teaches courses in exploratory studies, reading strategies and introduction to education, with professional interests focused on first-year student success, literacy development and innovative teaching practices that enhance engagement and retention. As a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence fellow, Fryslie serves as the managing editor of the university's academic journal, promoting the scholarship of effective teaching. She is passionate about creating learning environments and bridging research with practice to help all students thrive.

Seth Daughters is an instructor in the undergraduate and graduate exercise science programs at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. With over 12 years of experience in collegiate and private-sector strength and conditioning, he brings extensive practical knowledge to his teaching. Daughters also serves as the exercise science field experience coordinator, overseeing all experiential learning opportunities for students. His work focuses on preparing future professionals with the skills and applied experience needed to excel in health, wellness and athletic performance fields.

Ellie Arndt is a lecturer in the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies and has been teaching at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ for eight years. After participating in a Faculty Inquiry Group through the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence, she began a scholarship of teaching and learning project focused on learning in online environments and will present her preliminary findings at the 2025 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Symposium. Ellie has also served as a faculty mentor for the Summer Course Enhancement Institute for the past four years, supporting fellow instructors in refining and enhancing their course design and delivery.

Malynda Mabbitt serves as a learning designer with instructional design services at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. In this role, she provides training and support to faculty in developing engaging online and hybrid courses using Brightspace by D2L. Deeply committed to enhancing the teaching and learning experience, Mabbitt brings expertise in instructional innovation, problem-solving and collaborative design. Her work includes helping faculty create active learning environments, improving course accessibility and partnering with departments on strategic initiatives that advance effective online education at the university.

Paula Carson has served as faculty at the College of Nursing at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. Although she has formally retired, she continues to work as needed with nursing simulation during the semester. She enjoys her work with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence because of the wonderful opportunities to meet and collaborate with faculty across the campus programs. She gets to observe a variety of creative teaching styles as well as offer her teaching experiences.

Theresa Garren-Grubbs is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ where she teaches clinical, professional and seminar courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She has been closely involved with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence, previously serving as a faculty fellow, and contributes to curriculum redesign, including the College of Nursing’s transition to competency-based education. As a faculty mentor, Theresa enjoys observing courses across campus and providing supportive, actionable feedback to enhance teaching effectiveness.

Cody Christensen is an associate professor in the School of Health and Human Sciences at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ where he teaches in the aviation program. A longtime collaborator with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence, he values learning new strategies to strengthen student engagement and success. As a faculty mentor, Christensen emphasizes constructive feedback and professional collaboration, believing that shared reflection and peer support enhance both teaching quality and institutional excellence across the university.

Dr. Heidi Sackreiter is an assistant professor of early childhood education at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ with nearly 20 years of experience in higher education. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses related to child and adolescent development, literacy and research methods. Her scholarly interests include scholarship of teaching and learning, innovative teaching strategies and supporting neurodiverse learners through children’s literature. Sackreiter's work has been published in The School Library Journal and The Journal for Research and Practice in College Teaching, and she has presented at national conferences such as Lilly and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons. She is also conducting research on young children’s play experiences at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota.

Dr. Patrick Hales is an associate professor in the teacher education program within the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, where he also serves as the assistant director of K–12 teacher education. A former high school English and English as a second language teacher, he earned his Ph.D. in teacher education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Hales teaches courses in educational assessment, classroom management, educational technology and teaching english to speakers of other languages. His research focuses on teacher professional development, generative artificial intelligence in education, language supports and authentic assessment, all aimed at improving teacher practice and student learning outcomes.

Dr. Tracy Nelson is a senior lecturer and program coordinator for the physical education teacher education program at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ. With nearly 30 years of experience as an educator, including almost two decades at the university, she has dedicated her career to preparing quality physical education and health teachers. Her work emphasizes developmentally appropriate curriculum design and effective instructional practices. In addition to her role as a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence faculty mentor, Nelson serves on several regional and national education boards, continuing to advocate for excellence in teacher preparation and professional practice.

Cody Wright is a professor in the Department of Animal Science at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ where he teaches courses in animal nutrition and livestock production systems. Having long been engaged with the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence — as both a faculty fellow and faculty mentor — Wright enjoys collaborating with faculty across disciplines to explore innovative teaching practices and advance instructional excellence. His work reflects a strong commitment to enhancing student learning and fostering a university culture that values continuous growth and collaboration in teaching.

Kassi Erickson is a clinical assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ where she teaches in the medical laboratory science program. She has participated in numerous professional development opportunities through the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence and serves as a faculty mentor for the Summer Course Enhancement Institute. Erickson is also a member of the Teach Those Jacks team, presenting at new faculty orientation each fall. Passionate about sharing best practices, she continuously integrates new teaching approaches to enhance learning experiences for students and colleagues alike.

Mary Bowne, Ed.D., is a professor of early childhood education, coordinator for the Fishback Center for Early Childhood Education and a scholarship of teaching and learning fellow. In her role, she provides coordination, planning, and oversight for the annual ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Symposium each November, leading proposal reviews and event scheduling and handling logistics, marketing and hosting. She also supports the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence office on additional scholarship of teaching and learning-related initiatives. An avid supporter of this scholarship, Bowne is dedicated to helping others strengthen their teaching and research through shared knowledge and experience in its inquiry.

Dr. Liz Droke is an associate professor in the School of Health and Human Sciences at ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ where she coordinates the doctoral program in nutrition and exercise science and cocoordinates the master's program in nutrition and exercise science. As a Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence scholarship of teaching and learning fellow, she assists with workshops, the annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Symposium and other teaching initiatives, supporting faculty across disciplines. Her scholarship focuses on innovative pedagogical strategies that deepen students’ understanding of complex metabolic processes in nutrition and health while promoting collaboration and teaching excellence campuswide.