Professional Engagement: Dr. Shawn Stone earned his Ph.D. in space plasma physics from the University of Kansas in 2000. He also holds a master’s degree in solid state physics from North Dakota State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University. Stone has served on faculty senate twice before becoming chair. Other leadership positions he has held include chair of faculty welfare, academic affairs, and the technology committee. He was also named a 2012 finalist for the George Wythe Award, the University’s highest honor for excellence in teaching. The University’s motto, Education for Service, is a way of living for Stone, who considers himself an academic monk in terms of his work. He is still active in space research and has a provisional patent in data compression.

Professional Engagement: Dr. Backman’s research interests include resource scheduling for parallel processing models that perform batch and stream processing using heterogeneous and non-dedicated computing nodes. This research produced the Continuous-MapReduce (C-MR) framework which continuously executes complex workflows of MapReduce jobs to enable stream processing. An advocate of extracurricular activities, Dr. Backman organizes and hosts algorithmic programming contests and computer security contests which follow a Capture-the-Flag (attack/defense) format. He has served as a judge for the North Central North American region of the ACM’s International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) and has served as a problem writer for the ACM ICPC North American Qualifier.

Courses: Introduction to Computer Programming, Computer Science II, Algorithms, Database Management Systems, Web & Network Programming, Computer Security, Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Competitive Programming, Networks & Distributed Systems, and Computer Science Capstone

Professional Engagement: Dr. Bezuglov's research focuses on application of Data Analytics and Machine Learning modeling to a range of problems: hurricane track and storm surge predictions, natural hazard events and their losses, traffic parameters, and others. His publication record includes several peer-reviewed articles from these areas.

Apart from academic research, Dr. Bezuglov and his students work on predictive analytics modeling for local businesses and organizations: employee turnover and attrition at Tyson, Storm Lake house pricing, and first year student retention at Buena Vista University.

Courses: DATA 100 Data Science in Society, DATA 200 Introduction to Data Analytics, CMSC 181 Comp. Sci. I: Introduction to Computer Science

Professional Engagement: Dr. Bonagura has acted as a scientific consultant for the Buena Vista County District Attorney’s Office for two cases and remains as a consultant on call for future assistance. Dr. Bonagura maintains an ongoing collaborative research endeavor with the University of Maryland and is pursuing independent research projects related to his interest in steroid hormone receptors and their actions for both personal growth and potential student involvement.

Courses: Life Science with a Human Focus, Cell Biology, Human Physiology, Principles of Biology II, Biology Senior Capstone, Human Reproduction and Development, Endocrinology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Biology Research Experience 200, 300 & 400, Honors courses

Professional Engagement: Dr. Brodman's research focuses on conservation of amphibian and reptiles, with questions ranging from ecology to animal behavior. He has developed an undergraduate research program centered on ecotoxicology studies investigating the impacts herbicides, habitat restoration, farming practices, and disease ecology on biodiversity and population abundance. Dr. Broadman has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters, and over 50 technical reports and editorials, many co-authored with undergraduate students. He has also been honored with several awards for teaching and scholarship.

Courses: Biological Principles I; Evolution; Zoology; Mammalogy; Herpetology; Island Ecology; Research Experience for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Global Fellows – US Virgin Islands Travel Prep, The Biology of Bats

Professional Engagement: Research projects have ranged from physiological effects of emerging contaminants on humans and freshwater organisms to flora and fauna community composition studies of hillside prairies, wetlands, and streams from the Midwest USA to the southern tip of Chile. My publication record includes peer-reviewed articles in the field of aquatic toxicology, a NOVA book chapter on aquatic snails, and numerous collaborative student abstracts. My research students have presented at local, national, and international conferences from our region of Iowa to Prague, Czech Republic through involvement with Iowa Academy of Science, Society of Wetland Scientists, and Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Courses: Freshwater Ecology; Ecology; Biological Principles I; Introduction to Human Physiology; Parasitology; Research Experience for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors; Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems; Environmental Chemistry; Introduction to Biological Science Lab; Global Fellows - Chile Travel Prep.

Professional Engagement: Recently completed her dissertation in representation theory and algebraic combinatorics, and the associated joint paper with Dr. Markus Hunziker of Baylor University

Courses: Calculus I, II and III, Algebra Review, Elements of Geometry, Foundations of Advanced Mathematics, Senior Capstone, Cryptography, Modern Algebra

Professional Engagement: Lenzmeier earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Colorado State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. He also completed post-doctoral research in molecular biology at Princeton University and was a visiting research fellow in the area of molecular medicine at Mayo Clinic in 2011. In addition to his role as a professor of biology, Lenzmeier has held several leadership roles at BVU. In recent years, he has served as chair of the Tenure and promotion committee, played an integral role in the revision of faculty employment policies, and worked with colleagues to develop and implement a new biomedical sciences major. In 2016, he served on the Board of Trustees’ presidential search committee. Lenzmeier has been named “Faculty Member of the Year” twice by the BVU student senate, and was the 2009 recipient of the George Wythe Award, the University’s highest honor for excellence in teaching.

Courses: Biological Principles II, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Cell & Molecular Biology and Virology for science majors. Infectious Diseases, Cancer and Aging, and Life Science with a Human Focus for non-science majors.

Professional Engagement:

Dr. Maas joined the faculty at BVU in 2014 and teaches courses in environmental science. Past research efforts focused on spring and stream water chemistry, with published peer-review articles and conference presentations on the topic. Dr. Maas’ current research focuses on water quality and hydrology in Storm Lake and the City of Storm Lake. Projects have focused on gaining a better understanding of the amount of sediment entering Storm Lake, the ability of rain gardens to reduce sediment loads, and the water quality of local streams and Storm Lake. While completing these projects Dr. Maas works with students in the field and in the laboratory. Working on these projects has resulted in collaboration opportunities with the Iowa DNR, consulting companies, the City of Storm Lake, the University of Iowa.

Courses:

Introduction to Environment, Environmental Science Laboratory, Agriculture and the Environment, Global Climate Change, Conservation Ecology, Introduction to Soil Science, GIS, Hydrology, Water Treatment and Laboratory Methods, Physical Geology, Historical Geology, and Oceanography.

Professional Engagement: Professor McDaniel is a tenured faculty member with a joint appointment in the Schools of Business and Science. He has been the recipient of the George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching and five times elected "Faculty Member of the Year" by students. Professor McDaniel also has an on-going appointment each summer teaching graduate statistics courses at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and at the St. Gallen (Switzerland) University School of Business, and has twice served as a visiting professor at the Uppsala (Sweden) University Department of Political Science. He has led corporate management training sessions in private industry.

Courses: Elementary Applied Statistics, Decision Science, Econometric Analysis, Applied Regression Analysis, various mathematics courses, various international and domestic interim travel courses

Professional Engagement: Dr. Mellmann conducts research with BVU science students in biophysics and chemical kinetics. They investigate interactions of hemoglobin with nitric oxide and other biophysical reactions as well as applications of spectroscopy in forensic science. Dr. Mellmann also collaborates with researchers at Montana State University. In addition to research, she engages students in science outreach projects with organizations in the community to foster understanding and joy in learning science.

Courses: Everyday Physics, General Physics I & II, Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Physics Research, University Seminar, Chemistry Research, Physical Chemistry I & II, Intro to Forensic Science, General Chemistry, Quantum Physics

Professional Engagement: Dr. Shepherd has been a recipient of both the George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching and the New Century Faculty Development Award for Advising.

Courses: Computer Science I, Algorithms, Software Engineering, Programming Languages and Compilers, Discrete Mathematics, User Interface Design and Development, Introduction to Information Technology, Web Application Development