BVU Announces New Faculty for Fall 2019

Buena Vista University welcomes 17 new faculty members to campus as the 2019-20 academic year begins.

Buena Vista University welcomes 17 new faculty members for the 2019-20 academic year.

“We are thrilled with the quality of new faculty members this year,” says Dr. Brian Lenzmeier, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “These professionals come from across the country, bringing a wide range of experiences to our campus, ranging from seasoned faculty with extensive experience in higher education, to new faculty coming right out of industry. I always look forward to new faculty arriving on campus because the consistent addition of new ideas and perspectives is essential to growing as an institution and meeting the academic needs of our ever-changing students.”

BVU’s new faculty members, positions, their degrees, and alma maters include:

  • Diego Aparicio, visiting assistant professor of digital media; B.A., University of Texas at San Antonio; M.S., Columbia University.
  • Connie Bubash, visiting assistant professor of English; B.A., University of Missouri; M.A. and Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University.
  • Collin Byrd, assistant professor of animation; B.F.A., Art Institute of Washington; M.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design.
  • Willa Casstevens, associate professor of social work and program director; B.A., Oakland University; M.S.W. and Ph.D., Florida International University.
  • Patrice Crall-Arkfeld, instructor of psychology; B.A., Buena Vista University; M.S., University of Nebraska-Omaha.
  • Andrew Hill, visiting assistant professor of biology; B.S., University of Rhode Island; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts.
  • Jeremy Lawson, instructor of developmental mathematics; B.S., Marshall University; M.S., The University of Tennessee.
  • Sam McMillan, visiting assistant professor of English; B.A., Colgate University; M.A. and Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University.
  • Harmony Murphy, assistant professor of choral music; B.A., California Polytechnic State University; M.M., Notre Dame de Namur University; M.M., California State University; D.A., Ball State University.
  • Abdullah Noman, associate professor of finance; M.Sc., University of Bristol; M.S., University of New Orleans; Ph.D., University of New Orleans.
  • Susie Pryor, associate professor of entrepreneurship; B.A., MidAmerica Nazarene University; MBA, MidAmerica Nazarene University; Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
  • Marian Riner, assistant professor of social work and field director; B.S., University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; M.S.W., University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
  • Kathleen Ruscitto, assistant professor of counselor education; B.A., LaRoche College; M.A., Waynesburg University; Ph.D., Walden University.
  • Timothy Shepherd, instructor of exercise science; B.A., Central College; M.S., Western Illinois University.
  • Jessy Smith, instructor of physical education; B.A., and M. Ed, Buena Vista University.
  • Landon Sullivan, instructor of animal science; B.S. and M.A., University of Arkansas; M.S., Angelo State University.
  • Elisa Woodruff, assistant professor of counselor education; B.A., Humboldt State University; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University.

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