Ashley Bennett

Assistant Professor
Psychology - Social Psychology

Ph.D. Educational Psychology, University of Texas
M.Ed. Educational Psychology, University of Texas
B.A. Psychology, University of Kansas

Dr. Bennett (aka Dr. B) is a social psychologist who studies identity, intergroup dynamics, and inequality in organizational contexts, with a particular focus on racial differences in women’s workplace experiences. Her research centers on two primary areas: (1) the psychological consequences of workplace mistreatment for women’s health and career trajectories, and (2) intergroup processes among women in professional settings, including the role of prejudice, allyship, and solidarity. Across these lines of inquiry, Dr. Bennett uses quantitative methods grounded in intersectional feminist theory to examine how perceptions of race shape responses to women at work. Her current projects include experimental studies on White individuals’ responses to race-salient organizational decisions, the development of a measure capturing racial prejudice among White women, and investigations of how women of color cope when facing work-related challenges with White women. As a first-generation and low-income college student herself, Dr. Bennett is also committed to demystifying academia and expanding access for nontraditional students.

Erin Brandt

Assistant Professor
Biomedical Sciences - Human Physiology

Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of California-Berkeley
M.S. Biology, Portland State University
B.S. Biology, Michigan Technological University

Erin Brandt is an integrative biologist, primarily interested in the evolution of arthropod communication systems. She uses methods and approaches from evolution, behavioral ecology, biomechanics, and physiology to ask questions at the intersections of these fields to better understand how animals function and evolve within their milieu of constraints. Erin's work has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), Animal Behavior, Comparative Physiology, and others.

Chelsea Brehm

Assistant Professor
Movement Science - Sport Management

Ph. D., Education & Human Development, Western Michigan University
M. Ed. Higher Education, Grand Valley State University
B.S. Physical Education, Grand Valley State University

Chelsea Brehm brings a rich blend of academic, coaching, and administrative experience to her role as Associate Professor of Sport Management at Grand Valley State University. Her journey at GVSU began as a graduate assistant, progressing through roles as a visiting faculty member and affiliate faculty, before earning her current position. She has also taught at Grand Rapids Community College and Western Michigan University. Chelsea co-led the inaugural "Soccer in the UK" study abroad program to London in Spring of 2025. Before teaching collegiately, Chelsea served as an athletic director for Grand Rapids Public Schools, where she led district-wide athletic programming with a focus on equity and access. She still coaches varsity volleyball for her alma mater Lakewood High School. Chelsea’s research centers on youth and travel sport, female sport participation, and sustainability initiatives in sport. She is passionate about bridging theory and practice to create meaningful sport experiences for young athletes. Outside of her professional work, Chelsea enjoys life on the lake with her partner and two children. Her free time is often spent boating, playing pickleball, reading, and working in the garden.

Ally Brown

Assistant Professor
Geology

Ph.D. Earth System Science, Auburn University
M.S. Geography, Auburn University
B.S. Marine Science, University of South Carolina

Ally Brown is a Ph.D. candidate in Interdisciplinary Earth System Science at Auburn University, graduating in December 2025. Her research focuses on how people learn about Earth systems and climate change, with an emphasis on using active learning strategies and eye tracking to improve geoscience education. She has served as the program coordinator for the USGS Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow (CAST) REU and was a fellow with the National Science Foundation and the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, where she engaged in coproduction with various stakeholders, including NASA, and engaged in team science to complete actionable research. Ally is committed to inclusive teaching, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding access to climate science education.

Ellery Bryan

Assistant Professor
Visual and Media Arts

M.F.A. Art Video, Syracuse University
B.F.A. Ceramics and Fiber, Maryland Institute College of Art

Ellery Bryan (they/them) is a nonbinary visual artist and educator translating physical to ephemeral media. Their artwork traces non-narrative themes of loss and ritualized gestures of connection through analog films, photographs, performances, and sonic installations. Their work has shown internationally at venues including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Museum of the Moving Image, the Everson Museum and the Schweinfurth Art Center. They are an affiliate artist of the Stone Quarry Hill Art Center. They are based in Baltimore, Maryland and central New York, and hold an MFA in Art Video from Syracuse University. Perennial return to sublime landscapes and communal activism forms the basis of their research.

Katherine Clemons

Assistant Professor
Music, Theatre, and Dance - Theatre

M.F.A. Acting, Michigan State University
Graduate Certificate Arts and Cultural Management, Michigan State University
B.S. Theatrical Studies, Ball State University

Katherine Clemons (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Grand Valley State University, as well as an active intimacy director and actor based in Michigan. She holds an MFA in Acting from Michigan State University (2024), where she also earned a graduate certificate in Arts and Cultural Management and served as an intimacy director for both university and regional productions. Recent performance highlights include Sweat (Wilde Award Winner for Best Leading Actress), Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter, and Head Over Heels. Before graduate school, Katherine worked as the Education Director at Actors Theatre of Indiana and performed throughout the Midwest.

Navid Darvishzadeh

Assistant Professor
Visual and Media Arts - Film Studies

Ph.D. Communications, Georgia State University
Graduate Certificate, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Georgia State University
M.A. Ciemna, University of Tehran

Navid Darvishzadeh is an Assistant Professor of Film Studies in GVSU’s Department of Visual and Media Arts. His research and teaching interests include film theory, Deleuze and cinema, world cinema, feminism and queer theory, and post-colonial studies. His publications have appeared in New Cinemas, Film-Philosophy, Visual Anthropology, and Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television. Additionally, Navid is the book reviews editor of Film International. In his role as the managing editor of In Media Res, he co-edited several Special Issues focused on "The State of Film Theory," "The Contemporary Streaming Style," "Critique and the Moving Image," and "Labor and the Moving Image."

Sasha Debevec-McKenney

Assistant Professor
Writing

Postdoctoral Fellow in Poetry, Emory University
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Postdoctoral Fellow in Poetry, University of Wisconsin
M.F.A. Creative Writing, New York University
B.A. Creative Writing and American Studies, Beloit College

Sasha Debevec-McKenney is the author of the poetry collection Joy Is My Middle Name. She received her MFA from New York University, was the 2020–2021 Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow at the University of Wisconsin, and a 2023-2025 Creative Writing Fellow at Emory University. Her poems have appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The Yale Review, and Granta. Sasha was born in Hartford, Connecticut.

Austin Ellingworth

Assistant Professor
Statistics

Ph.D. Statistics, Colorado State University
M.S. Statistics, Colorado State University
B.S. Statistics, Winona State University
B.A. Mathematics, Winona State University

Austin Ellingworth is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Grand Valley State University. Austin obtained his Ph.D. in Statistics from Colorado State University in June of 2025 under the mentorship of Wen Zhou. His research centers on developing methods to assess the reproducibility of results from multiple high-throughput genomic studies. He is also interested in undergraduate statistics education, data visualization, and statistical applications in sports and policy. Austin is originally from Mankato, MN and received a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Winona State University in Winona, MN.

Rebecca Gerdes-McClain

Assistant Professor
Writing

Ph.D. English, University of Oklahoma
M.A. English, Indiana University South Bend
B.A. English, Honors Certificate, Indiana University South Bend

Rebecca Gerdes-McClain earned her doctorate in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Oklahoma in 2017. Her dissertation studied the history of first year writing programs in the US, paying special attention to the labor conditions surrounding the teaching of writing. She comes to Grand Valley State University from Columbus State University in Columbus Georgia, where she was an Associate Professor of English and the Director of the First Year Composition. As a Writing Studies scholar, she's currently focused on ethical Writing Program Administrator, moral injury in higher education, and how to teach accessible, transferable writing skills to students at all levels. She's also a pet lover, with three cats and several parrots. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her niece and knitting.

Allison Ham

Assistant Professor
Biomedical Sciences

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of South Carolina
M.A. Anthropology, George Mason University
B.A. Archaeology, The College of Wooster

Dr. Allison Ham is a biological anthropologist investigating how cultural and ecological shifts have shaped patterns of sex-based differences in human health and mortality over time – primarily in the context of medieval Europe. She received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina in 2023 and recently completed an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Penn State University. Dr. Ham’s NSF funded dissertation research explored the antiquity of the male-female health-mortality paradox in medieval Ireland using osteological and demographic analyses. At Penn State, she expanded her research program to include methods in ancient DNA and microbial genomics. Currently, her work is investigating the role of the human oral microbiome in shaping patterns of health and mortality in medieval London using sequenced dental calculus. Dr. Ham is thrilled to be continuing her research at GVSU and joining a stellar anatomy teaching team. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, exploring new places, and spending time with her dog.

Jee Hwang

Associate Professor
Visual and Media Arts - Painting

M.F.A., Pratt Institute 
B.F.A., Salisbury University

Jee Hwang is a Korean American contemporary visual artist working with figurative, realistic imageries. She explores themes across identity, memory, and belonging through narratives, metaphors, and allegories. Her subjects drawn from everyday life, people, and objects focus on the interplay of inner worlds and ordinary experiences. She earned her BFA from Salisbury University and her MFA from Pratt Institute. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally, including shows in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Kansas, and Seoul. She was the Emma Bee Bernstein Fellow at A.I.R. Gallery in New York, where she held a solo exhibition. Hwang is represented by Accola Griefen Gallery in Brooklyn. Her artist residencies include the Vermont Studio Center, MASS MoCA, the Wassaic Project, ChaNorth, Vashon Artist Residency, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Before joining the faculty at Grand Valley State University, she was an Associate Professor of Painting at Fort Hays State University.

Wimarsha Jayanetti

Assistant Professor
Statistics

Ph.D. Computational and Applied Mathematics, Old Dominion University
M.S. Statistics, University of Texas
B.S. Statistics, University of Colombo

Before joining GVSU, Wimarsha was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University for two years. She also served on the instructional team at the Old Dominion University Research Foundation, where she co-led a series of week-long graduate-level bootcamps in data analytics for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) professionals. In that role, she taught sessions on introductory statistics and R, data wrangling, data visualization, and handling missing data. Additionally, she collaborated with a research team at Old Dominion University to develop machine learning approaches for enhancing agent-based simulation in cooperative game theory contexts. Wimarsha was awarded first prize for Best Student Poster at the 2021 American Statistical Association Virginia Chapter Meeting and received the Academic and Research Excellence Award in Statistics in 2018 during her M.S. program. She is passionate about teaching and continually seeks opportunities to grow as an educator, with a strong emphasis on active learning and student engagement. Her research interests include meta-analysis, big data analysis, and genomic data science.

Sarah Johnson

Assistant Professor
Biology

Ph.D. Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. Biology, East Carolina University
B.S. Biology, Northland College

Dr. Sarah Johnson is a plant ecologist and incoming faculty member in the Biology department. She researches biodiversity and ecological change in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems of the Great Lakes region. Her work focuses on how plant communities, including rare and at-risk species, respond to ecological drivers such as water-level fluctuations, invasive species, herbivory, and land-use change. Sarah has collaborated widely with natural resource agencies and conservation organizations to support ecological monitoring and applied research. She integrates research into hands-on, student-led fieldwork that prepares undergraduate and graduate students for careers in ecology and botany. Prior to joining GVSU, she was a professor at Northland College, where she developed a strong foundation and deep passion for natural history and field-based teaching.

Marie Mangold

Assistant Professor
Modern Languages & Literatures - Spanish

Ph.D., Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics, University of Minnesota
M.A. Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics, University of Minnesota
B.S. Spanish Education, University of Wisconsin

Marie joins GVSU from the University of Minnesota (UMN), where she recently completed her doctoral studies. After obtaining a degree in Spanish Education and acquiring her teaching license in Wisconsin, she worked as the Director of the Language Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Marie then pursued graduate studies at UMN where she specialized in Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Pedagogy while teaching Spanish courses. While at UMN, Marie worked several semesters for the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. In addition, Marie has experience in curriculum analysis and design, language assessment, and foreign language teacher preparation. Outside of teaching and research, she enjoys being active, outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, or fishing, and spending time with her community.

Alynn Martin

Assistant Professor
Biology

Ph.D. Zoology, University of Tasmania
M.S. Biology, Grand Valley State University
B.S. Biology, John Carroll University

Alynn Martin is a disease ecologist and epidemiologist. She has a background in wildlife disease ecology, statistical modeling, and population genetics and her research interests are focused on: (i) assessing the dynamics and transmission pathways of wildlife disease, (ii) understanding the sublethal effects of disease on individual hosts, and (iii) finding novel ways to mitigate wildlife disease at the population scale. She is interested in many disease systems, including sarcoptic mange in wildlife, diseases of cervids and bovids (including chronic wasting disease, pneumonia in bighorn sheep, and brucellosis), tick-borne illnesses, and diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, painting, spending time with family and friends, and weightlifting. 

Eric McCluskey

Assistant Professor
Biology

Ph.D. Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University
M.S. Life Sciences, Indiana State University
B.S., Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Eric McCluskey has worked at GVSU since 2017, first as a postdoctoral researcher, then in Visitor/Affiliate teaching roles in the Biology Department. He teaches a range of courses including conservation biology, landscape ecology, and herpetology. His research aims to address conservation needs for threatened reptile species using a combination of spatial and molecular tools. He currently collaborates with biologists from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and John Ball Zoo on several research projects in Michigan. These projects focus on improving landscape connectivity for the federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake and several rare turtle species.

Carrie Menold

Professor
Geology

Ph.D. Geology, University of California, Los Angeles
B.S. Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

Carrie Menold is a high temperature isotope geochemist with interests in studying the inception of continental collision using high pressure rocks and fluids. In this area she has ongoing field research programs in Tibet, the Himalayas and Sweden. She also works on Moon rocks, working on a NASA SSERVI team investigating vapor transport in lunar volcanic rocks. She comes to GVSU from Albion College, where she recently finished serving six years as department chair. In addition to her work in geology, her training as an American Geophysical Union LANDInG fellow has led to work aiming to improve inclusion and leadership practices in collaborative STEM teams.

Catherine Miller

Assistant Professor
Biomedical Sciences

Ph.D. Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society, Dartmouth College
B.A. Biology, Indiana University

Catherine Miller is a paleoanthropologist who specializes in functional anatomy and biomechanics. Her research centers on understanding the origin and evolution of upright walking through the lens of the knee joint. She performs fossil field work at East and South African paleoanthropological sites. While she is passionate about her research, Catherine also enjoys teaching and working with students. Outside of work, she loves traveling, nature, and spending time with her husband, Lucas, and their son, Marvin.

Jane Morton

Assistant Professor
Writing

M.F.A. Creative Writing: Poetry, University of Alabama
B.A. English, St. Edward's University

Jane Morton is the author of Shedding Season (Black Lawrence Press) and Snake Lore (2024), winner of the Black River Contest from Black Lawrence Press. Their poetry and short fiction have also appeared widely in journals including West Branch, Gulf Coast, Boulevard, Ninth Letter, The Journal, and Sixth Finch. They have received a Fulbright Fellowship, a Katharine Bakeless Nason Scholarship for the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference, and a 2025 Alabama State Council on the Arts Poetry Grant. They hold an MFA from the University of Alabama, where they were Online Editor for Black Warrior Review. They currently teach poetry and creative writing as an Assistant Professor of Writing at GVSU.

Jordan Pellett

Assistant Professor
Mathematics

Ph.D. Mathematics, University of Tennessee
M.S. Mathematics, University of Tennessee
B.S. Mathematics, University of Wisconsin

Jordan Pellett is an applied mathematician who enjoys integrating data, mathematical and statistical modeling, and simulation to gain insights into biological systems. Her dissertation research focused on modeling host-pathogen systems, and a large component of her work has involved modeling within host malaria dynamics and the impact of antimalarial therapies on the probability of human-to-mosquito transmission. She has also worked in ecological modeling on problems aimed at understanding amphibian defense strategies against the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. In addition to her academic research, Jordan has completed internships at both national laboratories and in the pharmaceutical industry. She is passionate about mentoring undergraduate students, especially in helping them identify and apply for internships and experiences that can help inform and support their future career goals. As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Jordan taught a wide variety of mathematics courses. In addition to helping students master course content, her teaching philosophy centers on building a classroom environment that fosters self-reflection, resilience, and effective communication. Jordan is excited to contribute to the applied mathematics curriculum at GVSU and to bring her interdisciplinary and non-academic experiences into the classroom. Originally from Wisconsin, she is thrilled to return to the Midwest.

Margaret Regan

Assistant Professor
Mathematics

Ph.D. Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame
M.S. Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame
B.A. Mathematics and Physics, Swarthmore College

Margaret (Maggie) Regan is an educator and researcher specializing in applied mathematics. She received her Ph.D. in 2020 from the University of Notre Dame in Applied and Computational Mathematics. Her research is in numerical algebraic geometry and applications, with a focus on analyzing the existence, behavior, and structure of real solutions to parameterized polynomial systems related to applications. She is passionate about teaching classes in a collaborative, active-learning environment with much student input and connection to real-world problems. With the help of colleagues, she now uses alternative grading methods and loves the changes it has brought to her classroom. Outside of research and the classroom, Maggie enjoys reading, hiking with her dogs, and completing ultramarathon swims.

Jacob Sawyer

Assistant Professor
Psychology

Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Columbia University
M. Phil., Counseling Psychology, Columbia University
B.S. Psychology, Central Michigan University

Jacob Sawyer is joining the Psychology department at Grand Valley State University after several years as an Assistant Professor at Alma College. He is a counseling psychologist and completed his clinical training at college counseling centers in New York City and Albany, New York. Jacob’s research interests include grief literacy, psychological experiences related to grief, and college student mental health. Outside of research and teaching, he enjoys golfing, fly fishing, watching Detroit’s professional sports teams, and going on adventures with his wife and dog.

Andrew Sellers

Assistant Professor
Movement Science - Sport Management

Ph.D. Sports Leadership, Concordia University
M.A. Sports Administration, Wayne State University
B.A. English, Ohio State University

Andrew Sellers teaches courses in sports management. Prior to entering academia, he spent nearly 15 years in operations roles with organizations including the San Jose Sharks, the University of North Texas, Oakland University, and Macomb Community College. His research explores topics related to sports employment, sports law, and the broader sports business landscape. He and his wife reside in the Grand Rapids area with their cat, two dogs, and four koi.

Meiling Zhou

Assistant Professor
Statistics

Ph.D. Statistics, Michigan Technological University

Dr. Meiling Zhou earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from Michigan Technological University. Her research is dedicated to developing innovative statistical methodologies and building efficient computational and bioinformatics tools to address complex problems in biomedical science, particularly in the fields of statistical genetics and genomics. In 2024, she received a research grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation to develop a new statistical approach for identifying genes associated with Type I diabetes and presented this work at the annual conference of the American Society of Human Genetics. She is passionate about teaching and student success. Her dedication has been recognized through several honors, including the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award and the Provost’s Recognition Award for teaching excellence at Michigan Tech. With five years of teaching assistant experience, her students enjoy her caring, enthusiastic, and creative teaching style, including incorporating poetry and music into statistics instruction. Beyond her primary research in genetics, she collaborates across disciplines on applied studies in public health challenges and complex diseases. She has contributed statistical expertise to projects on hip fracture prediction and cardiovascular disease, reflecting her broad research interests and commitment to impactful, interdisciplinary work.

Corrina Campau

Affiliate Professor
Mathematics

M.Ed. Grand Valley State University
B.A. Mathematics, Hope College

Corrina Campau has been teaching mathematics for over four decades. She began teaching mathematics at GVSU in 1994, focusing primarily on teaching foundations courses, piloting MTH 108 and MTH 109, and contributing to the Oliver Wilson Scholars' Summer Bridge Program. Corrina enjoys spending time with her family, playing games and hiking in Alaska.

Susan Colon

Affiliate Faculty
School of Communications

Ph.D. Health Communication, University of Kentucky
M.A. Communications Studies, University of Kentucky
Associate of Arts, Communications, Western Michigan University

Susan Colon is proud to join GVSU as affiliate faculty in the School of Communications and the university Speech Lab director. As a first-generation college student, Susan’s heart is deeply connected to student outreach activities such as mentorship connections and first year experience programs. She believes that students need to feel a sense of belonging, confidence, and validation to thrive in higher education settings. Susan shares that it's exciting and heartwarming to have witnessed several of her former students develop a sense of empowerment, engage in civic activities, and later enroll in a graduate program or achieve success in their careers. Susan has extensive undergraduate- and graduate-level teaching experience in public speaking, group dynamics, communication research methods, health communication, intercultural communication, nonprofit marketing and nonprofit program evaluation (City Colleges of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago). Originally from Grand Rapids, she is eager to engage in abundant outdoor recreation opportunities such as kayaking and camping, Susan also enjoys cooking, gardening, and an occasional bit of karaoke.

Lindsey Hall

Affiliate Faculty
English, Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching

Ph.D. Language and Literary Instruction, Michigan State University
M.A. Instruction & Curriculum, University of Colorado Denver
B.A. International Studies, Hope College

Lindsey Allene Hall brings a wide range of domestic and international teaching and learning experiences to her role as an Affiliate Professor of Elementary English Education. A former elementary special education teacher in Denver, Colorado, Lindsey also served as a Literacy Specialist and Primary Teacher Educator with the United States Peace Corps in Uganda, East Africa. At the conclusion of her Peace Corps Service, she continued her work in Uganda as an Education Specialist with an international non-governmental organization, providing education technical support and professional development for all the organization’s education related projects across the country. Transitioning back to the United States in 2019, she began her doctoral studies at Michigan State University, specializing in Language and Literacy Instruction and English Language Learners. At MSU, she taught undergraduate courses in children’s literature and teaching English to diverse learners. Her doctoral dissertation is a case study of an elementary school in a Midwest US School District, analyzing how the school and district respond to the strengths and needs of newcomer students and their families. She recently concluded her work as the K-12 Programs Manager with the Refugee Education Center in Grand Rapids, designing and strengthening quality after-school and summer learning opportunities for children and youth of refugee backgrounds. Lindsey has a very energetic, independent two-year-old daughter who loves reading books and being outside, just like her mama does.

Farid Hassanzadah

Affiliate Faculty
Political Science

M.A. Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Kabul, Afghanistan
B.S. Medical Laboratory Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Farid Hassanzadah completed his undergraduate studies in Iran where his family had taken refuge from the terror of Soviet’s war in Afghanistan. In 2003, he returned to his country Afghanistan, where he lived, studied, worked and taught until the last hours of peace and democracy before the collapse of the Afghan legitimate government by the Taliban on August 15, 2021. Before joining GVSU in winter 2022 as a visiting professor, he taught Development Studies and International Relations in different higher education institutions in Kabul. In addition to his teaching background, he has enormous professional experience in Human Rights, Women’s Empowerment and Development. Farid has been directly engaged with the international development efforts in Afghanistan for almost two decades (2003 – 2021) and has worked for UN Women, Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

Kathryn Hebert

Affiliate Faculty
Biomedical Sciences

Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University
M.T. Biology Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
B.S. Biology (Microbiology Emphasis), Northern Michigan University

Kathryn Hebert is an Affiliate Professor in the Biomedical Sciences department. She has been teaching Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology courses since 2016 and has been teaching here at GVSU as a Visiting Faculty member since Fall 2021. Teaching is one of her greatest passions and she considers herself a lifelong student - still learning new ways to better support, engage, and teach her students.

Andrew Lenhart

Affiliate Faculty
Music, Theatre, and Dance

D.M.A Collaborative Piano, Juilliard School
M.M. Accompanying and Chamber Music, University of Michigan
B.M. Piano Performance, Cleveland Institute of Music

Andrew Lenhart enjoys a wide-ranging career as a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, teacher, music director, and minister of music. He has appeared in concert with distinguished artists such as Areta Zhulla, Stephen Clapp, Susanna Phillips, Paul Appleby, and Kyle Hoyt. Some of the venues he has performed at are Alice Tully Hall, Severance Hall, and The Music in the Loft Concert Series in Chicago. Andrew is the Affiliate Professor, Vocal Coach, Music Director of Opera Theatre, and Collaborative Pianist at Grand Valley State University and the Director of Worship at Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Grandville, MI. Previous faculty positions include Wheaton and Nyack Colleges. He was the music director for the Milwaukee Opera Theater’s production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale and the vocal coach for the opera scenes program at the MasterWorks Festival. Additionally, he has served as Minister of Music at several other churches in New York and Michigan where he directed choirs, worship bands, and musicals. He holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the Juilliard School, an MM in Accompanying and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, and a BM in Piano Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers include Margo Garrett, Martin Katz, Jonathan Feldman, Anne Epperson, and Olga Radosavljevich.

Mick McRivette

Affiliate Faculty
Geology

Ph.D. Geology, University of California Los Angeles
B.S. Earth Science, University of California San Diego

Michael (Mick) McRivette joins the GVSU Geology department after several years as an Associate Professor at Albion College. Mick has wide-ranging teaching experience in classroom and field settings in geology and environmental science, as well as GIS and remote sensing. His research interests are primarily in tectonics and large-scale continental deformation, with past and ongoing projects in Tibet and Scandinavia.

Brian Roberts

Affiliate Faculty
Movement Science - Sport Management 

M.S. Communications, Grand Valley State University
B.S. Sport Management, Grand Valley State University

Brian Roberts is an Affiliate Faculty member in the Movement Science department at GVSU, where he teaches in the Sport Management program. He joined GVSU full-time in August 2024 as an Academic Advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, supporting students in the Sport Management, Biology, Exercise Science, and Cell & Molecular Biology majors. A proud GVSU alum, Brian earned his B.S. in Sport Management and later served as the Sport Management Graduate Assistant while completing his M.S. in Communications. During his undergraduate years, he worked for GVSU Athletics in Marketing and Fan Engagement along with the GVSU Admissions Office. Beyond campus, Brian has worked for the West Michigan Whitecaps and Royal Oak Leprechauns, gaining hands-on experience in the evolving world of sports at various levels. His research includes a publication in Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management on the undergraduate degrees of Michigan high school athletic directors. Outside of work, Brian enjoys golfing, exploring the state, visiting West Michigan beaches and attractions, and spending time up north, all with his fiancé Marissa.

Meegan Zickus

Affiliate Faculty
Biology

J.D., Michigan State College of Law
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University

Meegan Zickus, JD, BS, is an attorney who brings interdisciplinary skills to teaching Bioethics. Blending expertise in law, science, and medicine, she brings more than 25 years of legal practice with frontline experience in healthcare from level one trauma centers to nursing homes. She earned her J.D. from Michigan State College of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science while double majoring in Political Science. Her work explores the intersection of ethics, policy, and patient care, informed by her service on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Ethics Committee and presentations at conferences, universities, and public forums, including TED Talks. An active community leader, she has served as Vice President of the Allendale Public Schools Board, Planning Commissioner, and has been honored with the Michigan Association of School Boards President’s Award of Distinction for her commitment to ethical leadership, education, and civic engagement. She is the author of Contemporary Issues in Bioethics (Cognella Publishing, 2024).

Beth Barker

Visiting Faculty
Philosophy

Ph.D. Philosophy, Northwestern University
M.A. Philosophy, University of Missouri

Beth teaches courses on a variety of topics in philosophy, and the focus of her research is the nature of know-how, or the knowledge you have when you know how to do something. She also studies the nature of nonhuman animal minds and behavior. In the classroom, Beth aims to engage students by cultivating fruitful disagreement, allowing students to learn how to meaningfully and responsibly disagree. When she's not working, Beth is playing board games, watching birds, or hanging out with her two cats (who also watch birds, but for more nefarious reasons).

Ryan Christianson

Visiting Faculty
Music, Theatre, and Dance

D.M.A Trombone Performance, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.M. Jazz Studies: Composition, DePaul University
B.M. Trombone Performance, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Ryan Christianson is a multifaceted performer and educator whose career has spanned numerous styles and settings. As the trombonist of the internationally-touring Dallas Brass, Ryan has presented masterclasses and performances around the country including at such venues and institutions as the Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA), the New World School of the Arts (Miami, FL), the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (Chicago, IL), the Big Sky Classical Music Festival (Big Sky, MT), and the OK Mozart Festival (Bartlesville, OK), as well as numerous other MEAs, universities, concert halls, and high schools. Ryan has also held positions with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and Millikin-Decatur Symphony, and performed chamber recitals with members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera orchestras. In addition to his work as a classical trombonist, Ryan maintains a prominent career as a freelance commercial and jazz performer. Notable appearances as a commercial musician include at the North Coast Music Festival with EDM artist Diplo, on ABC’s Shark Tank with the McNasty Brass Band, and opening for Bruno Mars at the 2023 Illinois Gubernatorial Inauguration. As a jazz artist, Ryan has appeared with groups at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, and in numerous residencies with big bands and New Orleans-style brass bands at a variety of clubs and venues across the Chicagoland area. Additionally, Ryan was a finalist in the International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Competition in 2014. A dedicated educator, Ryan has previously held positions at Millikin University and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Prior to college teaching, he maintained a studio of middle and high school students through which students were regularly placed in the top honor bands, orchestras, and jazz bands in Illinois. Ryan holds a DMA in Trombone Performance with a minor in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a MM in Jazz Composition from DePaul University, and a BM in Trombone Performance from the University of Minnesota. He is a performing artist and clinician for Conn-Selmer instruments and Denis Wick mouthpieces and mutes.

Jesse Cook

Visiting Faculty
English

Ph.D. English, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S. English, Utah Tech University

Jesse Cook hails from the American West, where he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He primarily works on early twentieth century American literature, with an emphasis on the study of work and labor within literary fiction and drama. Jesse’s research moves past the material conditions of work to focus on American literature’s theorization of work in the early twentieth century as a way to engage post-work theories that propose analyzing labor in capitalism rather than capitalism from the standpoint of labor. You can read Jesse’s work in Modernism/Modernity and The Space Between. He is also the former managing editor of the journal MELUS and is currently working for the journal J19. When Jesse isn’t writing, editing or teaching, he is usually watching movies, and he hopes to eventually incorporate film studies into his scholarship.

John Davis

Visiting Faculty
Physics

Ph.D. Physics, University of Arkansas

John Davis is a Visiting Faculty member of the Physics department at Grand Valley State University. Previously a member of the Barraza-Lopez research group, he published several papers regarding mechanical coupling with electronic and magnetic properties in two-dimensional ferroic materials and recieved his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Arkansas.

Taylor Doorn

Visiting Faculty
Biology

Biography coming soon.

Stephanie Feeback

Visiting Faculty
Movement Science

M.S. Exercise Science, University of Akron
B.S. Exercise Science, University of Mount Union

Stephanie has taught in the Movement Science department at Grand Valley State University for over 6 years teaching numerous Fitness, Skill and Activity and Exercise Science courses. Her passion is rooted in making an impact on people mentally, physically, and spiritually. Working as an exercise specialist and personal trainer for many years has given her the ability to adapt her styles of interacting, teaching, forming relationships, and helping not only students, but others in the community. While at home, Stephanie enjoys running, serving at her church, and cheering on Cleveland and Ohio sports teams. She is a proud wife to her husband Matt, and a mom to three children, Otto, Ozzie, and Etta.

Dimuthu Fernando

Visiting Faculty
Statistics

Ph.D. Computational and Applied Mathematics, Old Dominion University
M.S. Statistics, University of Texas at El Paso
B.S. Industrial Statistics, University of Colombo

After working as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University for two years, Dimuthu joins GVSU as a Visiting Faculty member in Statistics. His research interests include zero-inflated count time series modeling, multivariate data analysis, and developing copula-based models for count data. He is also involved in collaborative work on landslide prediction models using factors derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). As an instructor, Dimuthu strives to create an engaging learning environment where students leave the classroom enthusiastic about problem-solving and critical thinking. He aims to equip them with the tools and mindset needed to effectively analyze a wide range of real-world datasets. Outside of the classroom, Dimuthu enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the outdoors, and going on adventures with his two children.

Todd Fettig

Visiting Faculty
School of Communuications

J.D., Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
M.S. Communication, Grand Valley State University
B.S. Journalism and Political Science, Central Michigan University

After two decades in the industry, Todd Fettig left newspapering in July 2020 to pursue contract work related to media law, education and communication. During his newspaper career, he worked a variety of roles, including copy editor, Sunday editor, community engagement specialist, and manager of editing and design teams in Michigan, Alabama, Louisiana and Oregon. He served as outreach coordinator and then executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition from January 2021 to June 2022. As an adjunct college instructor, he has taught journalism and communication courses for Grand Valley State University and Muskegon Community College, and a professional writing course for Davenport University. Fettig holds degrees from Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He serves on the Foundation Board of Fountain Street Church, on the Development Committee of West Michigan Trails, and as an adviser to the Grand Valley Lanthorn and to Ottawa News Network, an independent nonprofit newsroom covering Ottawa County.

Dyami Hernandez

Visiting Faculty
Mathematics

M.A. Mathematics Education, Western Michigan University
B.A. Mathematics: Secondary Education, Western Michigan University

Dyami Hernandez is a former high school math teacher. During much of his career, Dyami has worked to improve students math skills in remedial courses and summer programs. Dyami's teaching focuses on student thinking and developing tasks to help build deep understanding. Outside of the classroom, Dyami enjoys puzzles and board games and staying active through ultimate frisbee and CrossFit.

Ramon Hinojosa

Visiting Faculty
Sociology

Ph.D. University of Florida
M.A., University of Illinois Chicago
B.S. Sociology, Grand Valley State University

Dr. Ramon Hinojosa is a seasoned and award-winning Sociologist and university educator whose research has secured more than 5 million dollars in grant funding from local, state, and federal agencies. He is primarily a qualitative researcher who explores culture, institutions, and identities as they relate to health outcomes. He was involved in the creation of CrashCourse Sociology, a video series with more than 34 million views. He currently serves on the editorial board of Armed Forces & Society and joins GVSU on a visiting line in the Department of Sociology.

Derek Ide

Visiting Faculty
History

Ph.D. History, University of History

Derek Ide is a Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Grand Valley State University. Before joining GVSU, he was an IHP / ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellow and an Affiliated Faculty member of the History Department at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He also held lecturing positions at Miami University, the University of Houston, and the University of Toledo. Derek received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Houston in 2023. As a historian, Derek’s primary research is focused on anticolonial and internationalist movements challenging imperialism in the 20th century. His current book, Ghosts of Bandung: Black Internationalism and the Palestinian Revolution during the Cold War (under contract with University of California Press), analyzes the internationalist commitments that bound Black radicals and Palestinian revolutionaries together in their quest for liberation. It further explores how those commitments were encouraged, shaped, and sometimes even limited by various centers of anticolonial activity during the Cold War.

Gary June

Visiting Faculty
Music, Theatre, and Dance

D.M.A. Clarinet Performance and Literature, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.M. Clarinet Performance, University of Colorado-Boulder
B.M. Clarinet Peformance, Grand Valley State University

Dr. Gary June is a clarinetist and educator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he is Visiting Professor of Clarinet at Grand Valley State University. He likewise teaches clarinet at Grand Rapids Community College and has previously served on faculty at Saginaw Valley State University and North Central College. As an orchestral musician, he is Principal Clarinet of the Holland Symphony Orchestra and the 2nd/Eb clarinetist of the Flint and Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestras. He likewise regularly plays as guest principal and section clarinet with orchestras such as the Grand Rapids Symphony, the West Michigan Symphony, and Sinfonia da Camera. As a committed educator of primary and secondary-aged students, he spends summers teaching and playing at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Gary June is also an active chamber musician and soloist. As a member of the Amosa Duo, he has given recitals at universities throughout the United States and at the PianoForte Foundation in Chicago, IL. The Amosa Duo has also toured many of Taiwan’s most prestigious concert halls, including the National Recital Hall in Taipei. As a member of Grand Valley’s faculty wind quintet, Grand Valley Winds, he has performed in the Czech Republic as part of the featured ensemble in the Janáček Music Festival. Other recent engagements include performing Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsodie with the Holland Symphony Orchestra, Copland’s Appalachian Spring at the Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival, faculty recitals at GVSU, SVSU, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and serving as the guest artist at Kansas State University’s annual Clarinet Day. Dr. June has given master classes at universities such as the Janáček Conservatory and Ostrava University in the Czech Republic, the National Tainan University in Taiwan, Kansas State University, the University of Colorado-Boulder, Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Austin Peay State University. He holds degrees from Grand Valley State University and the University of Colorado-Boulder and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he wrote his thesis on contemporary Finnish clarinet music. His principal teachers include Dr. Arthur Campbell, Daniel Silver, and J. David Harris. Dr. June is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician and performs on Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds.

Melissa Ludke

Visiting Faculty
Classics

Ph.D. Classics, Florida State University
M.A. Classical Archaeology, Florida State University
Post-Bacc Classics, Georgetown University
B.A. Anthropology, Grand Valley State University

Melissa Ludke is returning to GVSU as a Visiting Assistant Professor to teach Greek and Roman Mythology and Greek Civilization. She brings ten years of teaching experience from Florida State University where she instructed courses in Ancient Mythology, Greek and Roman Civilization, and Latin. Melissa recently completed her doctoral dissertation ("COZA/COSANO/COZANO: Cosa and Socio-Economic Interactions among Middle Republican Cities in Central Italy"), which utilized GIS and network analyses to determine a Roman colony's relationship with its regional non-Roman neighbors through the integration of both tangible and intangible evidence, such as coins, ceramics, and human mobility. Her current projects expand on this work, adding rural and more non-Roman sites to the dataset. She has worked on several archaeological sites in Italy and the US, and is a staff member with Cosa Excavations, where she also studies the site's numismatic material. While studying at Georgetown, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection in the National Museum of American History, where she contributed to the “Value of Money” exhibition. Melissa adds new perspectives and styles of active learning based on these experiences, and plans to continue supporting undergraduate research projects both in the field and the classroom.

Stephanie Rathsack

Visiting Faculty
Biology/Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching (PCKET)

M.A.T. Secondary Education, Aquinas College
B.S. Biology, Saint Mary's College

Stephanie Rathsack is a Visiting Faculty member and will be teaching integrated life science to future PK–6 educators. Before joining the university full time, she taught a biology lab course as an adjunct and spent over 30 years teaching Advanced Placement Biology and Honors Chemistry in both parochial and public high schools. Her classroom practice emphasized student-centered learning, inquiry-based instruction, and experiential learning. Stephanie is especially passionate about mentoring early-career science teachers, supporting teacher retention, and implementing three-dimensional learning aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Her professional focus includes helping students make meaningful connections between science content and the world around them through a post-secondary readiness lens. Outside the classroom, Stephanie enjoys reading, golfing, trying to play pickleball, and traveling. She lives with her husband, Chris, and enjoys time spent with their adult sons, Nicholas and R.J.

Ally Richardson

Visiting Faculty
Movement Science - Exercise Science

M.S. Exercise Physiology, Central Michigan University
B.S. Exercise Science, Central Michigan University

Ally Richardson received her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from Central Michigan University. During her time at CMU, Ally also taught undergraduate Exercise Science courses and worked with the Strength & Conditioning Department for the 2021 season with her full-time teams being Football and Gymnastics, while assisting in training other various teams. She brings multiple years of experience in the private sector, including as a Director of Performance, training athletes from ages 7 through professional. She has taught in Exercise Science at Cornerstone University, Aquinas College, now Grand Valley, and continues to work with youth athletes and collegiate teams. Ally additionally has her Precision Nutrition Level-1 Certification and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through NSCA. Outside of her passion for academia and athletics, Ally loves spending time with loved ones, running, lifting, hiking, traveling, and reading.

Luiza dos Santos Souza

Visiting Faculty
Classics

Ph.D. Classics, University of Cincinnati
M.A. Letters, Literary Studies, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil
B.A. Latin, Literary Studies, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil
Teaching License Portuguese Language and Literatures, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil

Luiza dos Santos Souza is a specialist in Roman elegiac poetry and joins GVSU as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Classics, teaching Classical Mythology and Greek Civilization courses. Her doctoral dissertation, titled Feet, Chariots, and Ships: an Ovidian Persona’s Journey through Literary Space, explored movement metaphors in Ovid's amatory corpus, metapoetics, poetic self-fashioning and generic belonging. Her secondary research interests include ancient education, Greek epic and lyric, literary criticism, and the practice of poetic translations of literary texts. Luiza enjoys running, chatting with family on video calls, watching Botafogo soccer games and TV series with her husband, Robson.

Jordyn Stoll

Visiting Faculty
Biology

Ph.D. Biology, Kent State University
B.S. Biology, Cleveland State University

Jordyn’s love for aquatic ecology first bubbled up during her B.S. in Biology at Cleveland State University, where she dove into paleolimnology research (yes, studying ancient lake mud can be exciting!). She went on to earn her Ph.D. at Kent State University, exploring how algal communities respond to different nutrients in lakes and streams. Her research adventures even took her to Kenya’s Lake Victoria to study harmful algal blooms—eerily similar to the ones found right here in the Laurentian Great Lakes. When she’s not knee-deep in science, Jordyn’s been busy making a splash in conservation. She’s spent eight years on the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern Advisory Committee, serving as Chair of the Strategic Implementation and Planning Committee, and has worked with NGOs to protect coldwater habitats. Through it all, her favorite role is teaching and sparking curiosity in the next generation of environmental scientists. Outside of work, you can usually find Jordyn hiking or camping with her partner and dogs, perfecting her disc golf and volleyball game, or soaking up as much sunshine as possible. On quieter days, she’s equally happy curled up with a good book, trying new recipes, or plotting her next win in a board game showdown.

James Tisdale

Visiting Faculty
Biology

M.S. Biology, Grand Valley State University
B.S. Forestry, Michigan State University
B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University

James Tisdale recently completed his Master of Science degree, where his research focused on the foraging habitat selection and spatial ecology of the American marten (Martes americana). With a strong academic foundation in forestry and wildlife biology, James brings expertise in spatial ecology and forest management, particularly in integrating ecological research with practical land stewardship. His work reflects a long-standing passion for wildlife and the natural world—interests rooted in a childhood spent exploring the outdoors. James is especially interested in how fine-scale habitat features influence species behavior and distribution, and how these insights can inform forest management practices that support biodiversity conservation. Outside of his academic pursuits, James is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, archery, and photography.

Luminous Tzianos

Visiting Faculty
Chemistry

Ph.D. Chemistry, Western Michigan University
M.S. Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
B.S. Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Greece

Lampros (Luminous) Tzianos joins GVSU as a Visiting Professor in Chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. at Western Michigan University, where his research focused on developing polyoxometalate–chromophore hybrids for solar energy conversion and creating innovative software for transient absorption spectroscopy. He has also conducted research at the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Greece, working on nanomaterials, photoactive catalysts, and environmental remediation. Luminous is a recipient of the Department of Chemistry’s Doctorate Teaching Award and was nominated for the University’s All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award. He has completed advanced training in STEM pedagogy, has extensive experience teaching chemistry labs, and is dedicated to fostering student success. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and exploring with his wife and young daughter.

Kathryn VanOort

Visiting Faculty
Modern Languages & Literatures - French

M.A. French, University of Oregon
B.A. French, Grand Valley State University
B.M. Clarinet Performance, Grand Valley State University

Katie is a two-time GVSU alum, having earned a Bachelor of Music Performance and later a Bachelor of Arts in French. She had the opportunity to teach English in France for a school year and recently completed her Master’s in French at the University of Oregon, where she taught beginning French as a graduate employee. Her Master’s research explored representations of indigenous peoples in Canada found in early colonial literature to identify constructs of colonial thinking that have had an enduring negative impact in the world. While she has loved exploring and learning how to adapt to new environments, Katie is thrilled to be back home and teaching at an institution she believes in!

Keith Vosseller

Visiting Faculty
Cell and Molecular Biology

Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell
B.A. Biology, Miami University of Ohio

Keith Vosseller joined the Cell and Molecular Biology department in the fall of 2025 as a Visiting Professor. He has a B.A. in Biology from Miami University of Ohio, and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Cornell. Past research concerned a novel type of glycosylation of proteins called O-GlcNAc (N-acetyl-glucosamine). Unlike all other known types of glycosylation, O-GlcNAc dynamically modifies serines and threonines of cytosolic proteins to regulate their activity in signal transduction pathways. Aberrent levels of O-GlcNAc have been linked to various disease states including Cancer and Alzheimer’s, indicating potential novel drug targets.