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Department: Faculty

Isaac Hopkins D.M.A.

Isaac Hopkins

About

  • Adjunct Instructor of Brass

EDUCATION
B.M., Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Michigan
D.M.A., Michigan State University

 

Dr. Hopkins currently resides in central Kansas where he is an active teacher, clinician, and performer. He teaches 5-12 instrumental music at McPherson Schools and is an adjunct instructor of music at McPherson College and Kansas Wesleyan University. He previously taught as an adjunct instructor of music at Barton Community College, Tabor College, and Central Christian College and was a graduate teaching assistant at Michigan State University.

He continues to actively perform as an orchestral musician, soloist, and in chamber ensembles across the nation. Currently he is second trumpet in the Salina Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he was a full member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and held the position of principal trumpet in the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and the Wichita Grand Opera. He has performed as substitute trumpet with many renowned ensembles including the Grand Rapids Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Philharmonic.

Dr. Isaac Hopkins received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, Master of Music degrees in Music Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. His primary teachers include Justin Emerich, William Campbell, Jack Sutte, and John Brndiar. In the summers of 2016 and 2017 Isaac attended the Aspen Music Festival and School on full fellowship where his primary instructors were Raymond Mase and Kevin Cobb.

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Brett Janssen

Brett Janssen

About

  • Adjunct Instructor of Piano

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Deborah Penner Ph.D.

Deborah Penner

About

  • Adjunct Instructor in Composition

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania

BIO
Dr. Penner has 27 plus years of teaching and is English Professor Emeritus at Tabor College. She teaches writing, literature, rhetoric, and criticism. She resides in Hillsboro, Ks.

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Aleen Ratzlaff Ph.D.

Aleen Ratzlaff

About

  • Adjunct Instructor in Public Speaking

EDUCATION

B.A. Tabor College
M.A. Wichita State University
Ph.D. University of Florida

 

BIO

Aleen J. Ratzlaff, PhD, has taught undergraduate Communication courses, including Public Speaking, for over 25 years. She earned her doctorate at the University of Florida and a master’s at Wichita State University. Using archival primary sources and oral histories, her main research focus is the Black Press and its role in community building, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Publications include “Black Press Pioneers in Kansas” and several chapters in “Seeking a Voice: Images of Race and Gender in the 19th Century,” Rushing and Kittrell, eds.

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Lara Schoming M.A.T.

Lara Schoming

Keiran President M.B.A.

About

  • Head Tennis Coach
  • Guest Lecturer in Marketing and International Business

EDUCATION
B.S., Ottawa University
M.B.A., William Woods University

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Killian Alvin Millner B.A.

Killian Millner

Laura Kristine Hultquist M.S.

Laura Hultquist

About

  • Adjunct Instructor in Sociology

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Saybrook University–Transformative Social Change (est 2028)
Ph.D. Northeastern University–Criminology and Public Policy (ABD)
M.S. St. Cloud State University–Criminal Justice
B.A. University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)–Sociology with an emphasis on Law, Crime, and Deviance

BIO
I am an agent for positive social change who specializes in restorative and transformational justice studies, spirituality, and qualitative research methods. My educational background has included coursework in criminology and public policy from institutions across the globe. In addition to teaching, I spend time on my farm raising sheep and alpacas and developing my passion for fiber arts including spinning, knitting, tapestry weaving, and home decor.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I facilitate courses with the intention of developing authentic engagement with the course material and the field of study to inspire lifelong learning. Additionally, I provide students with the opportunity to engage with one another as co-creators in the learning experience through critical analysis and application of the subjects under investigation.

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Dan Colson Ph.D.

Dan Colson

About

  • Associate Professor of English

EDUCATION
PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.A., Missouri State University
M.L.A., Texas Christian University
B.S., Evangel University

 

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“When students make decisions about the shape of their education and have the freedom to approach materials initially through their existing interests, knowledge, and passion, they develop a firm grasp of the subject. Just as important, however, are the openness and confidence toward new learning that come from being part of a community of individuals, not simply “a class.” Ultimately, my teaching seeks not only to foster an environment in which everyone talks, but a joint project in which each student and I develop a relationship built on mutual trust that both of us deserve a say in how we approach the process.”

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Jerrad Willis M.A.

Jerrad Willis

About

  • Adjunct Instructor in Communication and English

EDUCATION

B.A., English, University of Saint Mary
B.A., Theatre, University of Saint Mary
M.A., Communication, Fort Hays State University

 

BIO

By day, Jerrad Willis is a mild-mannered academic who wields the power of words with precision and passion. He transforms anxious freshmen into confident communicators and reluctant writers into masters of the pen. With a chalkboard as his canvas and a syllabus as his script, Mr. Willis guides students through the labyrinth of grammar, rhetoric, and persuasive speech.

But beware! In the world of academia, Willis is a formidable force. Known for his quick wit, sharp critiques, and an uncanny ability to make even the driest of topics come alive, he’s the superhero of sentence structure, the vigilante of vocal variety.

When not shaping minds in the classroom, Willis can be found on his Powerful Peloton, training for a Mighty Marathon, or Skillfully Streaming on his Twitch channel. His mission: to inspire, to educate, and to unleash the inner wordsmith in every student he encounters.

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