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MBU Family Digest: Summer 2022

The following MBU Family Digest provides information on personnel changes — new hires, internal transitions/promotions, and departures — since last January. 

The list was sourced from offices and departments across the university, but may not be comprehensive. If you would like to add information, please email [email protected]. 

New Faculty and Staff

Academic Affairs

  • Lora Cantwell, DSW, LCSW (she, her), Assistant Professor and Field Director, Social Work (in-person)
  • Opal Craft, Student Services and Records Coordinator 
  • Stephanie Hutchinson, Director of the Academic Resource Center

Admissions and Financial Aid

  • Sydney Mullen, Coordinator of Prospective Student Credentials 
  • Allyson Umali, Associate Director of Admissions, MBU Online 

Business and Finance

  • Cindy Bono, Payroll Administrator, Human Resources (in-person)
  • Heather Hite, Manager of Purchasing, Contracts, and Risk Management, Business Office (hybrid)
  • Evan Kobolakis, Associate Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (in-person)
  • Ashley Shiflett, Administrative Assistant and Collections Specialist, Business Office (in-person)

Chief Health Officer

  • Christine M. Flory, Medical Health/Wellness Navigator 
  • Madison Piner, Administrative Assistant, Health Center  

Facilities 

  • Amelyn Burke, Housekeeper (in-person)
  • Joseph Hinegardner, Housekeeper (in-person)
  • Jackie Messer, Housekeeper (in-person)
  • Reginald “Reggie” Slaughter, Associate Vice President of Facilities and Capital Planning (in-person, effective 7/1)
  • Rhonda Vines, Housekeeper (in-person)

Integrated Communications

  • Christi Criqui, Content Creator 
  • Liz Fravel, Project Manager 
  • Phoebe West, Associate Vice President of Brand Strategy and Creative Direction 

MBU Online

  • Lisa Cohe, Associate Director of Admissions 
  • Emily Coleman, Student Success Advisor (remote)
  • Deborah Cooke Ackley, Senior Learning Experience Designer (part-time)
  • Destinee Greer, MA, First Year Experience Advisor (remote) 
  • Anna Grigoryan, Learning Experience Designer (part-time)
  • Samantha Hayes, Senior Learning Experience Designer (part-time)
  • Adam Hemminger, Student Success Advisor 
  • Shelley Makarski, Multimedia Specialist (part-time)
  • Erwin Montgomery, Learning Experience Designer (part-time)
  • Elizabeth Slagle, Learning Experience Designer (part-time)
  • Bridget Stearns, Senior Director of Business, Strategy, and Operations 
  • Cathy Jo Swain, Senior Learning Solutions Architect (part-time)

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

  • Courtney Bender, Administrative Assistant, School of Nursing (in-person) 
  • Lori Conyers, MSN, FNP-C, RN, Faculty, Family Nurse Practitioner Program (hybrid)
  • Felicia C. Esteban, MD, Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Program (in-person) 
  • Cindy Estes, Program Resource Assistant, OT/PT Programs (job share, in-person)
  • Tia Huntley, Program Resource Assistant, OT/PT Programs (job share, hybrid)
  • Derek Owens, DrAP, CRNA, Faculty, Nurse Anesthesiology Program (hybrid)
  • Emily Shnyder, Administrative Assistant, Nurse Anesthesiology Program (in-person)

Student Engagement

  • Jaythea Dunson, Cook
  • Tanyce Fry, Site Supervisor, Safety and Security
  • Elaina Fuduloff, Director, Safety and Security
  • Rodney Hedrick, Campus Safety Officer (Evening Shift)
  • Curtis Johnson, Campus Safety Officer (Evening Shift)
  • Felipe Juarez, Head Coach, Men’s Soccer (in-person)
  • Anthony Morales, Campus Safety Officer (Night Shift)
  • Marclund Neeley, Campus Safety Officer (Night Shift)
  • Dakota Price, Campus Safety Officer (Day Shift)
  • Brandon Rowe, Campus Safety Officer (Night Shift)
  • Jason Sayre, Campus Safety Officer (Murphy Deming)
  • Julie Taylor, Campus Safety Officer (Day Shift)
  • Jeffery Wright, Campus Safety Officer (Murphy Deming) 

Internal Transitions and Promotions

Academic Affairs

  • Doris Dodson, LCSW (she/her), Director, Department of Social Work (in-person)

    • Formerly Field Director of Social Work 
    • Current contact for fieldwork: Lora Cantwell 
  • Dr. Mary Clay Thomas (she/her), Associate Dean and Director of the School of Professional Studies (in-person)

    • Formerly Associate Professor and Director of Social Work 
    • Current contact for social work department: Doris Dodson

Business and Finance

  • Becky McCray, Payroll Administrator

    • Now working on a part-time basis
  • Reid Oechslin (he/him), Director of Instructional Technology and Audio Visual Services, Office of Information Technology (in-person)

    • Formerly Associate Director of Instructional Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning
    • Current contact for instructional technology: Beverly Riddell 

Chief Diversity Officer

  • Destiny Woodall ’20, 2022–23 Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) Fellow
    • Formerly 2021–22 OIE Graduate Assistant

Integrated Communications

  • Leighton Carruth (she/her), Director of Internal Communications

    • Formerly Director of External Communications
  • Liesel Crosier (she/her), Associate Vice President of University Communication and Editorial Direction

    • Formerly Associate Vice President of External Affairs 
  • Eric Wallace (he/him), News and Media Relations Manager

    • Formerly Staff Writer

MBU Online

  • Beverly Riddell, Director of Instructional Support Services for MBU Online (hybrid)

    • Formerly Director of Instructional Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning 
  • Rebecca Cochran, Learning Experience Designer for MBU Online (hybrid)

    • Formerly Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning 
  • Meghan Munsey, Associate Director of First Year Experience for MBU Online (remote)  

    • Formerly Student Success Advisor 
  • Ellen Lucius, Student Success Advisor for MBU Online (hybrid)

    • Formerly Academic Advisor for College of Education and MBU Online
  • Sandra Bagbey, Student Success Advisor for MBU Online (hybrid)

    • Formerly Academic Advisor 

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

  • Sheri Montgomery, Associate Professor, PPOTD Program

    • Now working on a part-time basis  

President’s Office

  • Megan McAllister, Sr. Director of Board Operations and Principal Gift Officer to the President (in-person)

    • Formerly Director of Annual Philanthropy, University Advancement 
    • Current contact in advancement: Mary Harvey  
  • Amber Ocasio, Administrative Coordinator, Office of the President (in-person)

    • Formerly Student Accounts Coordinator, Business Office 
    • Current contact in the business office: Linda Fretwell

Faculty Sabbaticals, 2022–23

  • Dr. MJ Epps, Associate Professor Biology: Full year, fall 2022 through spring 2023  
  • Dr. Sarah Kennedy, Professor of English: Spring semester 2023
  • Dr. Heather Macalister, Professor of Psychology: Spring semester 2023
  • Dr. Beth Easterling, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice: Spring semester 2023
  • Dr. Carey Usher: Administrative sabbatical, beginning July 1. She will return to the faculty in fall 2023 as associate professor of sociology.  

Departures

Academic Affairs

  • Ralph Cohen, Professor, Shakespeare and Performance Program 
  • Kathy McCleaf, Professor of Education and Gender and Sexuality Studies 
  • John Ong, Associate Professor of Math
  • Martha Walker, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 
  • Terri Walker, Executive Assistant for the Provost (effective July 6)

Admissions and Financial Aid

  • Emily Crowley, Assistant Director of Admissions Operations 
  • Sage Hastert, Director of Campus Visitation
  • Allison McIntyre, Admissions Counselor 

Advancement and Alumni Engagement

  • Amy Davenport, Director of Stewardship and Donor Engagement 
  • Adrienne Teague, Executive Director, Alumni Engagement

Business and Finance

  • Lee Reid, Managing Director, Information Technology 
  • Kay Rexrode, Office Administrator (Retirement date TBD)

Chief Diversity Officer

  • Jade Doswell ’20, 2021–22 Office of Inclusive Excellence Fellow

Chief Health Officer 

  • Crysta Bliss, Administrative Assistant, Student Health Center 

Facilities 

  • Alice Brown, Housekeeper
  • Howard Byrd, Engineering Technician 
  • Ethan Jewell, Groundskeeper
  • Harley Kiser, Environmental Services Technician
  • Susan Martz, Housekeeper 
  • Daniele Mitidieri, Groundskeeper/Campus Support 
  • David Riccioni, Engineering Mechanic
  • Terry Rowe, Housekeeper
  • Tara Tedford, Housekeeper 
  • Pat Turner, Housekeeper

Inclusive Excellence

  • Jade Doswell, Office of Inclusive Excellence Fellow 

Integrated Communications

  • Cara Fox, Sr. Brand Strategist and Copywriter 
  • Nicole Goodnough, Director of Social and Digital Marketing
  • Beth Reabold, Associate Vice President of Marketing
  • Kayla Watkins, Social Media Manager

MBU Online

  • Susie Schmeissing, Academic Advisor, MBU Online

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

  • Nicole Bertrand, Administrative Assistant, School of Nursing 
  • Crystal Johnson, Director of Student Services
  • Ann Tuzson, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program 

President’s Office

  • Sharon Bosserman, Executive Presidential Assistant (Effective June 30)

Program for the Exceptionally Gifted

  • Heidi Bustos, PEG Residence Hall Director 

Student Engagement

  • James Bailey, Campus Safety Officer
  • Michael Bair, Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Athletics
  • Boyd Berry, Lead Campus Safety Officer
  • Desirae Bowers, Associate University Cafe Manager, Dining Services 
  • Paul Burke, Campus Safety Officer
  • Thomas Byerly, Director of Safety and Security 
  • Zakira Harris, University Cafe Associate, Dining Services
  • Michael Hendrick, Campus Safety Officer
  • Sarah Martin, Director of Residence Life and Housing 
  • Michael Myers, Campus Safety Officer
  • Jurisha Ross, Utility, Dining Services 
  • Justin Skinner, Campus Safety Officer

For more MBU family updates, CLICK HERE to read highlights and memories from this year’s retirees.