NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University is welcoming 25 new faculty for the 2022-23 academic year, according to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Handel.
New faculty in the College of Business and Technology are Anna Upshaw and Thamsanqa (Tamsie) Jongile.
The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts welcomes new faculty Anthony Pursell, Rebecca Allen, Daniel Ley, David Steele, Adam Philley, Alexandria Parra, Alexis Sczepanik and Colleen Pinar.
New faculty in the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development are Sonja Smith-Polley, Sangyeon (Sean) Park and Shannon Gresham.
Dr. Nicole Lobdell and Dr. Tyler Travillian are new faculty in the Louisiana Scholars’ College.
Joining the faculty in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health are LaQuesha Bloomer, Krislyn Chenevert, Jennifer Evans, Sheila Smith, Erin McDonnell and Donna Barnett.
Dr. Kent Peacock joins the faculty in the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs while Samantha Culver is a new faculty member in Academic Advising Services.
Donna Baker is a new faculty member in Watson Library while Lauren Mitchell is a new member of the faculty in the School of Biological and Physical Sciences.
Here is a brief profile of each new faculty member.
Name: Rebecca Allen
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MFA, Interdisciplinary Dance Performance, Tulane University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance, senior seminar
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am excited to be here to work with the lively and eager students I have. I have an interest in cross disciplinary work so I am happy to be on a campus with so many brilliant people in various fields who are passionate about their work and dedicated to sharing it.
Name: Donna Baker
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MSLS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Subjects you will be teaching this year: I will be joining the Watson Memorial Library faculty as the head archivist for the Cammie G. Henry Research Center. I will be supporting and assisting our students, faculty, staff and researchers with their instruction, research and creative projects. That I will start at the beginning of National Archives Month bodes well.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? The Cammie G. Henry Research Center holds wonderful and diverse materials that are highly respected in the research community. It is an ideal setting for any archivist/librarian to practice their craft. I am already dreaming and planning on how to continue and enhance the great work the Center has already done.
Name: Donna Barnett
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MSN-FNP, Loyola University New Orleans
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Nursing 2500, 2510
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? It’s great to be of service for students
Name: LaQuesha Bloomer
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Science in Nursing from Capella University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: I will be teaching Women’s Health in the 3rd Level of the BSN program.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am proud to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty because the faculty here at the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health is truly a family. They care about not only the students, but they are genuinely concerned about the well-being of their faculty members as well. They realize that for faculty to give their best, they have to be their best which means a great deal to me as a new faculty member.
Name: Krislyn Chenevert
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master’s of Science in Nursing – Maternal Child Nursing Education; Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Medical Surgical Nursing in the Associate of Science in Nursing program at the Alexandria Campus
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I thoroughly enjoyed obtaining my Master’s degree from NSU and have felt “at home” from the very first time interacted with everyone. I am ecstatic to be able to merge my passions for education and nursing together into one role.
Name: Samantha Culver
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Arts in College Counseling, Eastern Michigan University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: University Studies
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I’m excited to help students start navigating higher education and help them with the best (and sometimes scariest) parts of being a college student. I also love the tight-knit community and look forward to being a part of it.
Name: Jennifer Evans
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MSRS, Northwestern State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Introduction to Imaging, Introduction to Healthcare, Sonography Sectional Anatomy, Sonography Abdomen I, Patient Care, Sonography Clinic, Ultrasound Physics
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I have always loved NSU and the city of Natchitoches. Over the past several years, I have hoped to someday be a part of an ultrasound program at NSU. I am looking forward to getting to know the students and helping them learn the skills necessary to become skilled sonographers and quality healthcare providers.
Name: Shannon S. Gresham, M.S., LAC, CCS
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Science in Clinical Psychology; Northwestern State University (2006)
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Introduction to Addiction Disorders, Addiction Studies Screening and Assessment, Introduction to Psychology, Physiological Psychology
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? My career goal has been to retire teaching in post-secondary education; to do that at my alma mater is priceless. I am so excited to teach upcoming professionals in this field that is so close to my heart.
Name: Thamsanqa Jongile
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Hospitality Management Ph.D. (ABD), University of Mississippi
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Survey of Hospitality and Tourism, Statistics, Lodging Management, International Travel Preparation
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I work in a department with a supportive group of individuals who are passionate about what they do, it allows me the opportunity to do what I love to do to the best of my ability, and it allows me an opportunity to do something that I find meaningful.
Name: Daniel Ley
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Music, Northwestern State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: I will be music director for shows, coaching voice students, teaching voice class, teaching music theory, as well as playing piano for choirs, opera program.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I’m excited to be a part of the NSU family because of the incredible faculty, staff and students that we have. There is a great energy on this campus and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish.
Name: Nicole Lobdell
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: PhD in English, University of Georgia
Subjects you will be teaching this year: English and Gender & Sexuality Studies
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I value the faculty’s commitment to meeting students where they are, and I am proud to join a faculty that provides students with the education and skillsets relevant to the world today and any personal and professional endeavors they will undertake.
Name: Erin McDonnell, BSN, RN
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Northwestern State University; Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University (graduating in March 2023).
Subjects you will be teaching this year: BSN 3rd Level – Pediatrics, Methods of Medication Calculation (Dosage Calculation)
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? Northwestern State has always been a big part of my life. I am a third generation NSU alum and I met my husband here in 2009. I have learned so much from my previous professors/mentors and I am excited to work alongside them while we educate the next generation of nurses.
Name: Lauren Mitchell
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from LSUHSC – Shreveport
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Anatomy and Physiology, Biological Principles
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I feel at home at NSU. Between my studies and my time as a student athlete (Lady Demons Tennis), NSU has helped shaped me into the person that I am today. I am excited to be able to share my expertise and experience with students to make their experience here as wonderful as mine was.
Name: Sangyeon (Sean) Park
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: PhD (ABD) in Curriculum and Instruction (specification: Mathematics education), College of Education, University of Florida
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Mathematics Content and Pedagogy, Science Content and Pedagogy, Assessment
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? Northwestern State is a very exotic and historical institution that has the potential to accomplishing the slogan, “Being local is being global.”
Name: Alexandria Parra
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: D.M.A. University of Utah
Subjects you will be teaching this year: graduate and undergraduate courses in music and fine arts
Why are you glad to be a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am so excited to connect with the students at NSU. Getting to teach music students is so rewarding and I am honored to be part of their music and academic journey.
Name: Dr. Kent W. Peacock
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Ph.D., History – Florida State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: United States History and African American History
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am excited to be at an institution where the students have a great eagerness to learn and are supported by so many faculty and staff truly invested in their intellectual and social growth. As a historian and teacher of history, I look forward to all the opportunities the region’s unique history and numerous historical resources at NSU and in the area provide to help us learn about the past so we can better understand our current communities.
Name: Adam Philley
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Subjects you will be teaching this year: I will be teaching Lyrica and Cane River Singers as well as applied voice lessons.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I have long been aware of the high quality of music that NSU has produced. I was a visiting artist last spring, directing the Cane River Singers, and was introduced to the kind, compassionate, and welcoming NSU community. I can’t wait to join the ranks of the incredibly talented and accomplished faculty in CAPA and the music department.
Name: Colleen Pinar
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Ph.D Texas Tech University
Subject you will be teaching this year: Music Education
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am blessed to be able to teach music education to the students at Northwestern State University. I look forward to meeting everyone and being part of the NSU family.
Name: Dr. Sonja Smith Polley (ABD), LPC-S, NCC
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Obtaining my PhD, in Counselor Education and Supervision, from University of Holy Cross. Degree will be conferred in December ‘22.
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Counseling Internship and Supervision for School Counseling.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I received my M.A. in Counseling from NSU. I have a passion for the Counseling profession. My desire is to help equip the counseling students to be the best they can be in their future profession. What better place to do this than at the university that poured so much into me?
Name: Anthony Pursell
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Doctor of Arts (DA) from Ball State University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds, Instrumental Conducting, Brass Techniques for Music Educators.
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? Northwestern State has always been a source of inspiration for me personally. I experienced the quality of the events the band program offers as a high school band director when I brought my students to campus in the 1990s. I am excited to now be the person offering these same events to the educators and students in the state.
Name: Alexis Sczepanik
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Horn Performance with a related field in Music Theory, The University of North Texas
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Exploring the Arts, Horn Lessons, Horn Studio, Horn Ensemble
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? The faculty and students have been so welcoming. I am excited to add to the already thriving CAPA department and work with our amazing students. Go Demons!
Name: Shelia Smith, MSN, RN
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MSN, Grand Canyon University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: I will be teaching BSN first level Simulation Lab for the 2022-23 academic year
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am excited to be a member of the NSU faculty because this institution plays an integral role in helping to shape our ever-evolving healthcare system in this community. I have a passion for education, and I am super excited to have an opportunity to be a part if this amazing institution.
Name: David Steele
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Master of Music from the University of New Mexico
Subjects you will be teaching this year: music, fine arts, Director of Demon Heat Colorguard, Faculty Rector of Varnado Hall
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I’ve served as adjunct faculty for several years, and I am finally excited to serve Northwestern State University as a full-time faculty member. I’m excited to continue working with the incredible staff and faculty of the Creative and Performing Arts Department as we continue to serve our students, the university, and the community of Natchitoches through the arts.
Name: Tyler Travillian
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: Ph.D in Classical Studies from Boston University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Texts and Traditions, Critical Reading, Critical Writing, Greek Moral Philosophy
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I am honored to be a part of the Louisiana Scholars’ College, where I can contribute a thoughtful and integrated liberal arts education that welcomes students from all across the state. I look forward to leading it through many more years of helping students find their excellence.
Name: Anna Upshaw
Terminal or final degree earned including the institution: MBA from Louisiana Tech University
Subjects you will be teaching this year: Computer Information Systems: Excel, Word, and Amazon Web Services courses
Why are you glad to me a member of Northwestern State’s faculty? I have taken classes at 4 different universities in Louisiana while earning my Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees. Northwestern has the best atmosphere, by far, of all of them. I love the interaction between the faculty and students and the pride they both have in the school and city. I look forward to becoming part of the NSU family.
