New faculty
Monmouth College welcomes 16 new professors
An impressive new group of scholars has joined the Monmouth College faculty for the 2015-16 academic year, with all 16 of them holding the terminal degrees in their field from such institutions as Stanford University and the University of Chicago. Ramses Armendariz, assistant professor of political economy and commerce, earned a B.A. in economic policies from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and a Ph.D. in international trade from the University of Minnesota. Kasia Bartoszynska, assistant professor of English, earned a B.A. in general literature from Reed College, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in comparative literature from the University of Chicago, where she was an affiliated researcher in the department of comparative literature. Vanessa Campagna, assistant professor of theatre, earned a B.A. in theatre at the University of St. Mary, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in theatre at the University of Missouri. While she completed her Ph.D., she was a visiting assistant professor at Monmouth. Eric Engstrom, assistant professor of biology, earned a B.A. in biology from Reed College and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Stanford University. Most recently, he was a visiting assistant professor at Rollins College. Megan Hinrichsen, visiting assistant professor of anthropology, earned a B.A. in anthropology from Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and an M.A. in anthropology and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Dedman College at Southern Methodist University. Sarah Jones, visiting assistant professor of communication studies, earned a B.A. in communication studies from Hastings College, an M.A. in communication studies from Minnesota State University and a Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Nebraska. Last year, she served as a resident assistant professor at Creighton University. Kristian Lorenzo, visiting assistant professor of classics, earned a B.A. in Mediterranean archaeology from SUNY-Buffalo, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in classics from the University of Wisconsin. He taught at the University of Richmond last year and at Monmouth the year prior to that. Tybre Newcomer, assistant professor of art, received his BFA from Missouri State University and his MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology – School of American Crafts. Most recently, he was a lecturer at Central Michigan University. Blake Nielsen, assistant professor of psychology, received his B.A. in psychology from the University of Nebraska and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Alabama, where he was also a course instructor. Tessa Pfafman, visiting assistant professor of communication studies, received a B.A. in English professional writing and communication, an M.A. in professional communication from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Missouri. She was an adjunct at Monmouth last year. Michael Prinsell, assistant professor of chemistry, received a B.A. in chemistry and a B.A. in economics from Colgate University, and an M.S. in chemistry and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Rochester. For the last two years, he was a postdoctoral research assistant at Trinity University. Anni Reinking, visiting assistant professor of educational studies, received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Iowa, an M.S. in early Childhood education from Dominican University and an Ed.D. from Illinois State University, where she was a graduate assistant. William Robinson, assistant professor of mathematics, received a B.S. in mathematics from Grove City College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from the University of Kentucky, where he was also an Instructor. Brad Rowe, assistant professor of educational studies, received a B.A. in social science education from Wright State University, an M.S. in teacher education from the University of Dayton, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in social foundations for education from the Ohio State University. Rowe comes to Monmouth from the University of South Florida, where he was an adjunct instructor. Brice Seifert, visiting assistant professor of educational studies, received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois, an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in education from Washington State University. His most recent position was a schoolteacher in Connell, Wash. Michelle Holschuh Simmons, assistant professor of educational studies, received a B.A. in English from the College of St. Benedict, an MAT in English from Minnesota State University, an M.A. in library and information science and a Ph.D. in language, literacy and culture within the Department of Teaching and Learning from the University of Iowa. Her previous position was a lecturer at San Jose State University.