FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        September 11, 2008

NEW FACULTY BEGINS 2008-2009 YEAR AT NORTHWESTERN

            Ten new faculty members began working for Northwestern Oklahoma State University this school year.  Of those 10, three work in the School of Arts and Sciences while the other six work in the School of Professional Studies.

Short biographies of each faculty member from the School of Arts and Sciences are listed below:

Kirk Rogers has been appointed as an Instructor of Criminal Justice, replacing Terry Nutter, who retired. Rogers has a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Northwestern and a master of arts in criminal justice from Wichita State University. His professional experience includes serving as chief of police in Attica, Kan., and sheriff and deputy sheriff in Harper County (Kan.). He also served as a narcotics investigator for the district sheriff’s task force in Woodward.

Dr. Larry Van Meter is serving as Associate Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English, Foreign Language and Humanities, replacing Dr. Jim Yates. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Oklahoma Christian University, a master of arts in English from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University. He has previous teaching experience at Oklahoma Christian University, York College (Neb.) and at Pepperdine University (Calif.). During a stint in the Navy, he served as a Russian/Serbo-Croatian translator.

Dr. Jason Wickham has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, replacing Dr. Jo Conceicao. Dr. Wickham has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Oklahoma. He has served as a graduate teaching assistant and a graduate research assistant at OU and most recently held a postdoctoral research assistant position at Washington University in St. Louis.

Chad Adams has been appointed as an Instructor of Health and Sports Science Education and Assistant Football Coach. He replaces Clayton Moose. Adams has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Fort Hays State University and a master of education degree in secondary education from Northwestern. He has served as an instructor and coach at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College; University of Central Missouri and Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

Teri Allen has been appointed as an Instructor of Business, replacing Dr. Massood Saffarian. Allen has a bache­lor’s degree in business administration and a master of business administration degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She currently is pursuing a doctorate in business administration at Northcentral University (Ariz.). Her professional experiences include teaching positions at Southwestern and Vici High School. She also is owner and manager of TSA Designs in Vici.

Ryan Bay has been appointed as an Instructor of Health and Sports Science Education and Head Baseball Coach, replacing Joe Phillips. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary physical education from Missouri Val­ley College and a master of education degree from Northwestern. He has experience as head coach and assis­tant athletic director at Bacone College, head coach at William Woods University (Mo.), and assistant coach at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.

Steven Mackie is serving as an Assistant Professor of Education, replacing Dr. Greg Seay. He has a bachelor’s degree from Prescott (Ariz.) College and a master of education degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is completing a doctor of philosophy degree in educational studies at OU with an expected graduation date of De­cember 2008. Mackie has teaching experience at OU’s College of Education, the American School Foundation in Guadalajara, Mexico, and at Flagstaff (Ariz.) Middle School.

Paul Mathis has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Education, replacing Kristal Randall. Mathis has a bachelor’s degree in education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master of education degree in secondary education from Northwestern. He is completing a doctorate in professional education studies at Oklahoma State University. His professional experience includes teaching at Longfellow Junior High School in Enid and serving in the Army National Guard.

David Poinsett has been appointed as Instructor of Health and Sports Science Education and Assistant Football Coach, replacing Iverson Williams. Poinsett has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master of arts in teaching degree from the University of South Carolina. His professional experience includes business positions with Rogers Benefit Group and AFLAC Insurance Corporation. He has coaching stints with the Macon Knights of the Arena Football League, Arkansas Tech University, Lincoln (Miss.) Community College, Mars Hill (N.C.) College and Newberry (S.C.) College.

Tisha Shipley has been appointed as an Instructor of Education, replacing Dr. Lisa Holder. Shipley has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master of education degree in elementary education from Northwestern. She has served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern and as a teacher and Title I summer principal with the Moore Public Schools.

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