LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Strategist for College of Science, Technology, and Health /
Strategist for College of Science, Technology, and Health / astewart@lindenwood.edu / LARC 221 / (636) 949-4451
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Assistant, Office of the President
Job Titles:
- Director of the Office of Admissions and Services for International
Amanda Schaller is the Director of the Office of Admissions and Services for International Students (OASIS) Amanda, a native of Hamilton, Ontario Canada moved to New York in 2007 to attend university on a full soccer scholarship. In 2009, Amanda transferred to Lindenwood University and was a member of the Women's soccer team.
Amanda received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations with an emphasis in Public Administration from Lindenwood University. During her graduate degree, Amanda worked as a graduate assistant for the Vice President of Human Resources and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Lindenwood University before having the privilege to join OASIS full time. Amanda is currently pursuing her Doctorate degree in Higher Education Administration.
Job Titles:
- Professor, College of Science, Technology, and Health
Job Titles:
- Site Manager
- Site Manager, Wentzville
Job Titles:
- Manager, Human Resources, Staff Council Chair
Job Titles:
- Director, Student Involvement
Cassandra Brown Ray, CPA, MBA, joined the Saint Louis Zoo in 1992 as a staff accountant and served as the Controller/Director of Finance since 1999. In 2019, Ray was named Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Finance and Purchasing departments and leads financial sustainability planning for the organization. She also works closely with the governance of the Saint Louis Zoo, including the Audit, Investment and Finance committees. Ray is the Diversity & Inclusion team leader for the Zoo.
Ray serves on the Lindenwood University Board of Directors (2019) as well as the Board of Directors for DUO. She is a graduate of FOCUS Leadership St. Louis (2014) and a member of the inaugural class of the FOCUS Impact Fellows, a team charged with developing and implementing an action plan using the 2015 Ferguson Commission Report as a guideline.
She earned her MBA from Lindenwood University and her undergraduate accounting degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before joining the Zoo, she worked for General Dynamics as an internal auditor and McDonnell Douglas as a cost control analyst.
Cathleen Johnson earned her Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech in 2000, worked for Kollmorgan (on the prototype for what is now known as the Segway), did a post-doctoral fellowship with Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith in 2001, and contracted with the Canadian government through the non-profit Social Research Demonstration Corporation and CIRANO to do multi-million dollar experimental and field studies on attitudes toward risk. She also directed the experimental economics laboratory at CIRANO, a consortium of universities in Montreal. She worked as academic director for BASIS charter school system. At the University of Arizona, she has been Director of the Office for Economic Education. In the Economics Department, she taught Law & Economics, Microeconomics, Managerial Economics, Experimental Economics, and Basic Principles. She now teaches Experimental Economics in the Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law program, directs the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Network, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Council for Economic Education.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer for Mercy Health
Cheryl L. Matejka serves as Chief Financial Officer for Mercy Health head-quartered in St. Louis, Missouri. In this role, she oversees all finance functions related to Mercy hospitals and clinics. Prior to this role, Cheryl served as CFO for Mercy Health's East region, covering the St. Louis metropolitan and surrounding markets where she provided leadership oversight for financial reporting, operational and capital planning & analysis, decision support and various operational areas. Mercy Health is one of the largest integrated Catholic health systems with over $6 billion in revenues, 40 hospitals, 2,400 physicians and serves both large and small communities in 7 states. In 2020, Cheryl celebrated her 14th anniversary with Mercy and has over 30 years of experience in the non-profit health care field.
Cheryl is a CPA, has a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, and an MBA from the Olin College of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2012, she was awarded the St. Louis Business Journal CFO of the year for non-profit organizations. Cheryl and her husband Terry reside in St. Charles, are actively involved in their local church and missions work and have two grown children.
Chris Smentkowski has enjoyed working in academic libraries for 20+ years. He has bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Marshall University and an unfinished PhD in Philosophy with a focus on ethics and animal rights from Saint Louis University. Additionally, he is a curator, artist, and musician working and living in Saint Louis, MO. He has exhibited his visual artworks nationally and conducted lectures on contemporary Polish art in both the U.S. and Poland. Since 2014 he has served as the Director of Arts for the non-profit Polish heritage organization Saint Louis Polonia and is the founding member of the group Brain Transplant.
Job Titles:
- Grant Writer, Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Chairman, Strategy
- Founder and CEO of David Mason
Mr. Mason is the founder and CEO of David Mason + Associates. As a registered architect, he provides oversight for major clients while also overseeing the corporate marketing effort. As the President of the firm, with over 38 years of experience, he aims to investigate the possibility of eliminating a problem rather than following the temptation of solving the problem. His design philosophy emphasizes a critical examination of established attitudes and establishing a balance between practical function and human needs. David's management and technical leadership skills assure the client that the project team will receive the resources and the leadership required to meet or exceed all project goals and objectives.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Co - Founder and Managing Partner of Top Gun Ventures LLC
Don Tuttle is co-founder and managing partner of Top Gun Ventures LLC, a premiere national retained executive search firm focused on the needs of organizations driving or encountering new business models and disruptive technologies. The firm specializes in recruiting "C" level leaders able to help organizations accomplish ambitious goals, overcome difficult challenges, or explore new strategic directions. With offices in Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Seattle and St Louis, Don and his partners have assisted investors, boards, CEO's and entrepreneurs identify, evaluate and attract "GameChangers" to build, turn-around and scale companies throughout the U.S. and around the globe. In the last thirty-five plus years he has helped many companies build entire executive teams. Many of these companies have grown, prospered and undergone successful liquidity events (IPO/buyouts).
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Co - Founder of Mueller Prost
- Treasurer / Committee Chair, Finance
Doug Mueller is co-founder of Mueller Prost and is a leading business advisor for corporate and emerging tax issues. He focuses on high-level tax planning and consulting for high-net worth individuals, business owners, and their related businesses across a broad range of industries.
Mueller has developed a culture and team at Mueller Prost that is dedicated to quality, technical expertise, and service. He sits on multiple professional and charitable boards, including the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mueller has earned various awards, including Who's Who in Law and Accounting by the St. Louis Business Journal, Beyond the Best by Small Business Monthly, St. Louis Top Accountant by a leading business publication, the fourth annual Money Magazine Tax Contest, and many more.
Job Titles:
- DEAN
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Dean, College of Education and Human Services
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Exercise Science
- Director, Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory ( EPNL )
Chad Kerksick is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science and serves as the Director of the Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory. Dr. Kerksick's research interests continue to explore the impact of exercise and nutritional interventions on health, performance and recovery in athletic, youth and clinical populations.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Human Resources
Dr. Deb Ayres has served in her role since 2013. Her responsibilities include leadership and oversight of HR, benefits, and payroll functions for approximately 2,500 full and part time employees. Prior to leading HR functions for the university, Dr. Ayres served the Lindenwood College of Education and Human Services as an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Educational Leadership Department. She worked primarily with graduate students wishing to become school superintendents and principals. Her areas of expertise include human resources management, employee development and evaluation, and leadership. Prior to joining the faculty at Lindenwood, Dr. Ayres served as an Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Kirkwood School District for 18 years.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President, Operations
Dr. Diane Moore is the vice president for operations and has been in her role since September of 2017. Dr. Moore oversees all campus operations including development and implementation of the procurement process, oversight of Public Safety, Facilities, Housekeeping and Grounds Departments in addition to mailroom, vending and food services. Prior to her current role, she had been assistant vice president for facilities. Dr. Moore has more than 20 years of dedicated experience in financial and facilities management in educational and government institutions. She was assistant superintendent and COO of Webster Groves School District as well as an adjunct instructor at Southwest Baptist University and Lindenwood University. She was an account executive at SMART, Inc., a role in which she consulted with school districts and hospitals to design and implement healthcare programs. While at SMART, INC., Dr. Moore developed fiscal studies and revenue projections for school districts to implement state and federal Medicaid programs. In addition to those roles, Moore worked in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as the director of desegregation services and, later, assistant to the commissioner of education. She was also a legislative analyst in the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Instructor and Community Partner
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- SECRETARY
- Member of Committee
Dr. John R. Porter is Lindenwood University's 23 rd president, a role he assumed in July 1, 2019. Porter worked for 33 years for IBM, the last 15 in senior management, and has also served as a board member in higher education and as an adjunct instructor and visiting professor.
Immediately prior to starting his current role, he served as vice president of services for a premier IBM Business Partner--Gulf Business Machines in Dubai. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Evangel University, from which he holds a bachelor's degree, and also has experience as a university fundraiser. He has an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and has earned a Doctor of Education degree from Johns Hopkins University.
During his professional career, Porter has worked in numerous locations in the United States, as well as in South Africa and Dubai. Porter and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children, all of whom live in the Kansas City area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director, Center for Innovation & Insight
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Chemistry (
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Strategist for College of Arts and Humanities / College of Education and Human Services /
- Strategist, Internships and Experiential Learning
Strategist for College of Arts and Humanities / College of Education and Human Services / eashcraft@lindenwood.edu / LARC 221 / (636) 949-4436
Job Titles:
- Director of Library Services
Job Titles:
- Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Emily Pitts joined Lindenwood in July 2021, bringing more than 35 years of corporate experience to the University. She has experience developing and influencing leadership teams at all levels, understanding the importance of having a growth mindset, and how to leverage emotional intelligence to develop meaningful relationships. Emily has a deep understanding and passion for ensuring organizations recognize and optimize human capital to achieve business objectives, while maintaining an inclusive approach.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President / Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley
Gary N. Shaw is Senior Vice President/Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. He has more than five decades of industry experience. He was named a President's Club member while at Dean Witter Reynolds (now Morgan Stanley) and earned membership on the Director's Advisory Council at E.F. Hutton (now part of Morgan Stanley).
He was named Youth in Need's Man of the Year in 1988, Dean Witter Reynolds' Broker of the Year in 1991, and Boys & Girls Club Man of the Year in 1996, and received the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Distinguished Service Award in 2002. His alma mater, Iowa Wesleyan University, awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1993.
Shaw believes in giving back to the community and serves on several not-for-profit boards including: Missouri Kids, Foundry Art Centre, Lindenwood University, Endowment for United Services, and Iowa Wesleyan University. Shaw and his wife, Joyce, have 6 children and 14 grand-children.
Job Titles:
- Business Finance / Sophomore
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Assistant Director of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise
Grant Black is the assistant director of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise and is a fellow in the Economic Education Center in Lindenwood's College of Education and Human Services.
Prior to joining Lindenwood in 2018, Black directed the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education and was a teaching professor of economics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Prior to joining UMSL, he was an associate professor of economics at Indiana University South Bend. In 2002 he was visiting professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Dr. Black has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses, including introductory macroeconomics; introductory microeconomics; labor economics; energy; economics and the environment; and a survey of economics.
His research focuses on the economics of science and innovation, local and regional economic issues, and economic education. He has contributed to research funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the South African Revenue Service, and the United States Agency for International Development. He is the author of the book, The Geography of Small Firm Innovation, and his research has been the focus of articles in diverse publications, including Economic Inquiry, Research Policy, Economic Development Quarterly, Science and Public Policy, and Growth and Change. Dr. Black served as a consultant to the Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy at the National Academy of Sciences and participated in the Scientific Workforce Project sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Dr. Black received his undergraduate and master degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (1992, 1994), and his Ph.D. from Georgia State University (2001).
Hal Gentry has over 35 years of experience in the software industry as a CEO and entrepreneur. He began his career as a software engineer for one of the leading providers of engineering analysis tools for the electric utility industry. He then founded and was CEO of two successful software businesses, GridLogix and Gentry Systems.
After exiting GridLogix, Gentry was a Partner in Capital Innovators, SixThirty FinTech and Prosper venture funds that provided investment and accelerator programs for early stage tech companies. These funds have now invested globally in more than 200 tech companies.
Gentry is currently Chairman of Denim Social, a St. Louis based social media management company for the banking and financial services industry.
Gentry earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) where he now serves on the advisory board for the School of Engineering and Computer Science Department. In 2011 he was inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. Gentry is a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training and Exercise Science / Senior
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Vice Chairman / Committee Chair, Athletics
Harry H. (Chip) Peterson is an entrepreneur in Farmington, Mo., where he serves as president and vice-president of several small companies. He served as president of Farmington Development Company for 25 years, which has been the main developer of commercial property, as well as residential developments, in Farmington. He and his wife Debbie own Insight Partners Inc., which has operated as many as three Steak N Shakes in Missouri; Show-Me Cici's Pizza, Inc. and Q Loco, LLC, which he owns and operates as Cici's Pizza and Qdoba restaurants respectively; as well as office and retail ownership and management.
Peterson is a graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he earned his BS in small business management. Peterson has served on the Board of Trustees of Lindenwood University for eight years. Previously, he served on the Strategic Planning, Mission, & Purpose Committee, as well as Interim Vice President of the Board. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Athletics Committee and Vice Chairman of the Board. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of Lindenwood University, he serves on the First State Community Bank Board of Directors where he serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee. He is president of Farmington Industrial Development Authority and has served on the Mineral Area Community College board, American Legion Missouri Boys State Board of Directors, the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, the Presbyterian Children's Home board, and the Farmington Memorial Methodist Church boards.
Peterson and his wife of 36 years, Debbie, have one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Fellow
- Director of the Center for Economic Education
- Member of the Board of Scholars of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Dr. Eyzaguirre is a member of the Board of Scholars of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy; the NMU Academic Senate; the College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Committee; the Committee on Internationalization; the Educational Technological Resource and Policies Committee; the Association of Private Enterprise Education and the National Association of Economic Educators.
Dr. Eyzaguirre has extensive experience in economic developmental issues that focus on classical liberal and new institutional economics. As a consultant and researcher, he has worked on institutional analysis and the impact on private economic activities with the financial support of organizations like the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank as well as numerous international foundations. He has provided advice on topics that cover state modernization, decentralization, judicial reform and the competitiveness of government programs. Additionally, he is considered an expert when it comes to competition and regulatory issues due to hands on experience with dispute resolutions that include general competition, consumer protection, and telecom regulation. He has served as a private arbitrator and financial ombudsman.
Previous experience includes serving as Dean of the School of Economics; professor in the Schools of Economics, Law and Graduate Studies; member of the Organizing Committee of the Economics; Program founder and director of the Center for Economic Education; founding member of the Law and Economics Society; founder and academic director of the Master Program in Regulation at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC).
Education:
Ph.D., Economics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO., 1995
M.A., Economics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO., 1991
M.A., Public Policy and Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1985
Bachelor of Economics, Universidad del Pacifico, 1981
Hugo A. Eyzaguirre, Ph.D.is the Director of the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship at Northern Michigan University (NMU), Marquette, MI. He serves NMU as Associate Professor of Economics and Faculty Advisor of students for Liberty and Enactus.
Job Titles:
- Library Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive
- Vice President, Business Development
Jeanine is an accomplished senior executive, with expertise in business transformation, IT management, technology services sales and delivery, and business operations. Her past experience as a Business Operations Executive with IBM and as a volunteer mentor to small business owners and entrepreneurs with SCORE Association.
Job Titles:
- International Admissions Recruiter
Jennifer Kiefer is an International Admissions Recruiter and DSO for the Office of Admissions and Services for International Students (OASIS). Jennifer, who is originally from Hecker, Illinois came to St. Charles, Missouri in 2007 to attend Lindenwood University, where she was a member of the women's volleyball team.
She earned both of her degrees at Lindenwood University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business in May of 2011 and of a Master of Arts degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Public Administration in July of 2012. After graduation, she returned to Lindenwood University in 2013 as an Admissions Counselor for the Office of Freshman Admissions. Then after 5 years, Jennifer transitioned into the OASIS office in the summer of 2018.
Jeremy Keye has been designated to handle inquiries regarding Lindenwood University's disability services, and can be reached at (636) 949-4510 or jkeye@lindenwood.edu.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Chairman, Facilities
Jerry E. Scheidegger is well-known for his dedication to serving the community. Born and raised in St. Charles, Scheidegger has been one of the key players in helping to make his hometown area both prosperous and compassionate. After finishing high school and joining the armed service, Scheidegger returned to St. Charles, engaging in small entrepreneurial ventures where he learned everything he could from his personal business experiences.
Today the Scheidegger family owns Corporate Group, Inc. and manages property it owns or has ownership in, located in St. Charles and Warren counties, and Lake of the Ozarks, and residential development in Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Site Manager
- Site Manager, North County and Westport
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Trustee Accreditation and Compliance Liaison / Committee Chair, Academic Affairs
Attorney Jo Anna Pollock works as a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy, in the Complex Litigation Department, where she focuses on environmental, commercial, class action and human rights litigation. She devotes her practice to representing people and their businesses that have been hurt through the wrongful conduct of others.
Jo Anna earned her bachelor's degree with honors from Lindenwood University in 1997. She earned her law degree from St. Louis University Law School, where she graduated with honors and on the Dean's list. She also served as an editor for The Journal of Health Law. She has penned several articles about practicing law for various publications, and she speaks at law conferences on various topics concerning trial work.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Library Acquisitions
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Lindenwood Global
Joe Sallustio brings a wealth of experience in effective recruitment operations and facilitating transformational learning experiences to Lindenwood. He leads the division of Lindenwood University Global which includes Enrollment Management, Lindenwood Global, and University Marketing. His team will establish an online division of Lindenwood that provides a personalized online educational experience, adaptable to students' individual learning styles. Lindenwood Global will help students achieve their personal, academic, and professional outcomes.
John W. Hammond is a retired entrepreneur who spent 23 years as president of G.W. Composites, Inc. in O'Fallon, Mo. Prior to that, he worked 12 years as a program manager of DC-10 flight simulators at McDonnell-Douglas.
Hammond joined the Lindenwood University Board of Trustees in 1991, and for many years, he served as Treasurer. He played an integral role in Lindenwood's creation of the University Commons shopping center across from the St. Charles campus. In 2013, Mr. Hammond provided financial support to establish The Hammond Institute within the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
A Jefferson City, Mo., native, Hammond was chairman of the board of Frontenac Bank and currently is on the Board of Royal Bankshares. He is past president of Progress 64 West and remains active in that organization as well as Rotary. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Chesterfield.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Kelly Barns is the newest addition to the Office of Admissions and Services for International Students (OASIS). She is one of two International Recruiters and works with students whose last names begin with the letters A-K.
A native of Granite City, IL, Kelly attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Kelly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Language and Literature for Spanish Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After teaching Spanish for 4 years, Kelly returned to the classroom to pursue a Master of Science in Educational Administration. She continued to teach Spanish until she and her family moved to St. Charles, MO.
New to the area, Kelly transitioned into higher education and began working at Lindenwood University as a freshman admissions counselor. Eager to use her experience as a foreign language educator, Kelly later accepted a position as an international recruiter for OASIS.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President
- Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Community Equity, and Inclusion
Kelly Moyich is the Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Community Equity, and Inclusion at Lindenwood University. Moyich comes to Lindenwood from the Circuit Attorney's Office for the City of St. Louis, where she served as an assistant circuit attorney in the armed offender unit. Her work in that role included evaluating and prosecuting homicides, assaults, and robberies along with extensive jury trial work.
Prior to that, Moyich worked in the office of the 21st Judicial Circuit Clerk and as a public defender for the State of Missouri in the Clayton and City of St. Louis trial offices, where she handled all aspects of client representation, supervised 11 attorneys, and trained and directed new attorneys in all aspects of criminal procedure.
Moyich earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in May 2003. In 2000, she earned a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
Kyle Sunderland is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Lindenwood University. Dr. Sunderland's experience and research agenda is focused on the influence of exercise and nutritional interventions on metabolic adaptations in performance, health, and disease.
Job Titles:
- Librarian, Engagement and Outreach
I started working at the Library in 2014 as a student employee. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a Secondary Education (9-12) Certification from Lindenwood University in 2017. I received my Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign iSchool in 2019. I am the project manager for the Library's internship program and enjoy helping students earn professional experience as they work toward graduation. Supporting students, faculty, staff, and the entire Lindenwood community is the heart behind my work.
I read across many genres and enjoy recommending books to others. I read a lot of audiobooks and have a goal each year to finish at least 50 books. I am a sports fan who follows baseball and hockey consistently. I have a dog (a border collie mix) who loves to sit with me while I read books, watch TV, or catch the latest game.
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism - Public Relations Writing and English Literature from Northern Illinois University in 2005. In 2009, I received my Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri. I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve at the Library since 2007, where I currently serve as Access Services Director . As an avid reader, some of my proudest accomplishments have been creating the Lindenwood Faculty Reads Series, establishing the popular reading collection at Lindenwood Library, and curating the Readers' Advisory Lib Guide.
When I'm not reading, I enjoy running, listening to music, and spending time with my husband, Luke, an Assistant Volleyball Coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and our children, Ellen Mae (also a bookworm) and Atticus (a tinkerer).
Job Titles:
- Special Education / Senior
Mark Falkowski brings to Lindenwood extensive experience as a higher education attorney, including previously both in private practice as a member of the higher education practice group for a large national law firm and as in-house and general counsel. He has successfully represented numerous colleges and universities in state and federal courts and in various administrative agency proceedings, including with the United States Department of Education. His legal experience supports all areas of University operations and helps ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations applicable to University operations including the ACA, ADA/Section 504, the Clery Act, COBRA, ERISA, FERPA, FLSA, FMLA, HIPAA, Title IV, Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX. He provides day-to-day legal advice to University departments on matters of legal significance and is also responsible for managing outside counsel.
Mark Falkowski Named Top 50 Corporate Counsel Award Winner
Lindenwood Executive Cabinet member and General Counsel, Mark Falkowski was announced as a winner for a Top 50 Corporate Counsel Award at the 2022 OnCon...
Job Titles:
- Director, Research & Compliance (
Job Titles:
- Dean
- Dean, Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Inter - Collegiate Athletics
Mr. Brad Wachler has served in his role since 2016. He oversees Lindenwold's comprehensive intercollegiate athletics and Student Life Sports (SLS) program, which is comprised of 27 NCAA sports, 25 SLS programs, and approximately 1,400 student-athletes. As the Vice President for Inter-Collegiate Athletics, Mr. Wachler is responsible for shaping and building the department's reputation on an institutional, local, conference, and national level. Mr. Wachler serves as the system president's appointed administrative liaison to the Board of Director's Athletics Committee.
Job Titles:
- Community Partner
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Alumna & Community Partner
- Member of Committee
I am a reference librarian and I love to help people, so my door is always open. Drop by to chat or ask a question.
I have a BA in Geography and a BA in History from the University of Missouri Columbia and I have my MLS from Indiana University in Bloomington. I worked for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the University of Missouri Columbia, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. I feel that each place has helped me have better understanding of how to help others and I hope to use the skills I learned here at Lindenwood.
As for hobbies, I always enjoy a good book, but I also love to travel. I have a list a mile long of places that I would like to visit, so if you have recommendations send them my way.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Philosophy & Religion, University Chaplain
Each initiative partners with a local non-profit organization and engages the campus community in support of the endeavor.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Advancement and Communications
Orrie Covert has approximately 20 years of experience in higher education, the majority of which have been in senior leadership positions. He has held positions at Syracuse University, Northwest Missouri State, the University of Florida at Gainesville, the University of Missouri, and most recently the University of Texas at Tyler, where he served as vice president for advancement for two years. He has been a part of numerous successful fundraising initiatives, including billion-dollar capital campaigns at the University of Missouri and the University of Florida, respectively, and realized the largest cash gift, $2.1 million, in the history of Northwest Missouri State. As vice president for advancement and communications, he manages the development, alumni, marketing, and communications functions of the university.
Job Titles:
- Seal Beach, CA / Business Economics / Senior
Job Titles:
- Admissions Counselor
- Admissions Counselor, Westport
Job Titles:
- Digital and Web Design / Senior
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Chairman, Student Affairs
Lindenwood University alumna Patricia Penkoske ('69) joined the Board of Trustees in 2012. She is a longtime critical care physician who remains involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows at Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Penkoske moved to St. Charles during her high school years and attended Lindenwood College when it was transitioning to coed. Summer jobs in a research lab exposed her to research and medicine. She graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1974. Further training included general surgery and cardiac surgery. Penkoske was a practicing pediatric cardiac surgeon, researcher, and residency program director for 16 years at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and for two years at Saint Louis University. In 2005, she joined the faculty at Washington University.
The mother of three daughters, Penkoske lives in the Central West End and enjoys participation on several boards, sports, and travel.
Paul Huffman has been the University Archivist at Lindenwood since 2007. He has degrees from Lindenwood University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to working at Lindenwood, Paul interned at the Missouri History Museum and the St. Louis branch of the Missouri State Archives.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
Petey Mumford, PhD. Dr. Mumford is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Lindenwood University. Dr. Mumford's expertise centers upon examining the acute impact of exercise, dietary, and nutritional supplementation strategies on the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic outcomes as they relate to health and performance.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Vice President
- Vice President, Fiscal Affairs / Chief Financial Officer
Rick Baniak joined Lindenwood as vice president of fiscal affairs and chief financial officer in October 2020. Baniak joined Lindenwood with previous experience as vice chancellor of finance and administration and chief financial officer for the University of Missouri- St. Louis (UMSL), where he managed university fiscal affairs, facilities, human resources and additional departments. Prior to UMSL, Baniak served as a divisional CFO at a Fortune 500 company in the St. Louis area. Baniak holds bachelor's and master's degrees from UMSL - both in economics. He earned a certificate in corporate communications from St. Louis University and attended Stanford University's Executive Education Program on Mergers and Acquisitions.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Strategy and Innovation
Rob is a Stanford-certified innovator with expertise in high-performance leadership and strategic change. His leadership experience includes serving as a chief strategy officer, chief innovation officer, and executive vice president. Over his 22-year career in higher education, Rob has led a wide range of departments including strategy, innovation, marketing, data analytics, IT, human resources, PR, fundraising, enrollment, admissions, financial aid, institutional research and legal affairs. He has successfully rebranded organizations, led turnarounds, and generated more than $65 million in net revenues. Rob's mission is to empower leaders to create brighter futures faster for their organizations and the people they serve.
Job Titles:
- the Immigration Specialist
Roudina Thomsen is the Immigration Specialist and DSO for the Office of Admissions and Services for International Students (OASIS). Roudina is from Kansas City, MO and worked in the Records Management Department. Roudina received her Associates degree in Applied Computer Science: Multi-Media in 1999.
Scott Richmond, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Exercise Science Department. Dr. Richmond's graduate and post-doctoral work included projects exploring the role of skeletal muscle in cardiovascular and metabolic health issues. Dr. Richmond has also supervised numerous student research projects ranging from ergogenic aids to sports performance to exercise training.
Job Titles:
- Director, Career Services /
Job Titles:
- Reference Librarian / Head of Technical Services
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
- Vice President, Information Technology
- Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
TJ Rains has served as the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer since 2015. He is responsible for leading the Information Technology team in delivering relevant, well managed IT services to the faculty, staff, and students of Lindenwood University. Serving on the President's Cabinet, Mr. Rains works collaboratively with institutional leadership to ensure proper alignment between technology strategic/operational plans and university goals and strategic goals/objectives. Prior to serving as Vice President for Information Technology at Lindenwood University, Mr. Rains served in executive leadership roles at Cardinal Stritch University and Emporia State University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Economic Education Center
- Director, Economic Education Center
- Distinguished Professor of Economics Education
- EEC Director
Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D., is the Director of the Economic Education Center. She joined Lindenwood University in August 2017 as the Robert W. Plaster Professor of Economic Education. She is a member of the economics faculty in the Plaster College of Business & Entrepreneurship (PCB&E), and a senior research fellow in the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise. In addition to her duties as a PCB&E faculty member, Ferrarini's role is to work with the College of Education and Human Services to create programs at Lindenwood University for training educators to teach economics and financial literacy, and improve economics education statewide.
Until 2017, Dr. Ferrarini held the only endowed professorship at Northern Michigan University as the Sam M. Cohodas Professor of Economics. She was the 2015 President of the National Association of Economic Educators. Her teaching, research and service focus on regional growth and development with special attention drawn to the role of private sector. Accolades include the 2016 Upper Peninsula Economic Development Non-profit Award, 2012 Council on Economic Education's Albert Beekhuis Center Award, 2010 Michigan Council on Economic Education Educator's Award, 2009 National Association of Economic Educator's Abbejean Kehler Technology Award (inaugural recipient), and a distinguished faculty award at NMU in 2009.
Currently. Tawni serves as the distinguished professor of economics education at the Council on Economic Education - Japan, a senior fellow at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, MI and the Fraser Institute, Vancouver, Canada. She is a co-author of Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity. Tawni also publishes scholarly works in journals. She earned her doctorate from Washington University, where she studied under the 1993 Nobel laureate Douglass C. North.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing / Senior
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- Fellow / President & Chief Executive Officer of CEE - Japan
Yoshi Nakamoto became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Counsel for Economic Education (CEE)-Japan in 2007 while serving consecutively, as Corporate Advisor to Junior Achievement (JA). He serves as an official committee member of the Japanese Government's Central Education Committee. Certified as a lecturer by The Ministry of Education, Yoshi is an active instructor for the National Center for Teacher Training,
Yoshi's experience includes time as President and Chief Operating Officer for JA Japan; a position that is certified by the government as a Public-interest Incorporated Association. He launched the Japan Council on Economic Education and signed a memorandum of understanding for partnership operations, with the National Council on Economic Education.
Yoshi entered the educational sector in attempt to introduce experience-based teaching methods, into the Japanese society. He obtained the international affiliate license from Junior Achievement Worldwide and invested his personal money to launch Junior Achievement Japan from scratch. Since the establishment of Junior Achievement Japan, he has kept working to enhance young people's practical life skills and economic thinking.
Education:
Faculty of Marketing, Osaka-city Municipal University, 1965
Undergraduate Degrees
Honors Academy