Faculty and Staff Achievements
Dr. Jessica Durgan, assistant professor of English, contributed the article “Uptops and Sooties: Neo-Victorian Representations of Race and Class in Gail Carrier’s Finishing School Books” to the forthcoming collection “The Victorian Period in Twenty-First Century Children’s and Adolescent Literature and Culture,” published by Routledge Press.
Dr. Mary Fairbanks, associate professor of nursing, presented a poster, “American Indian Health Issues & Nursing—Undergraduate Course” at the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association Conference June 16 in St. Paul. The poster covered a new elective course on American Indian health and nursing Fairbanks taught during the 2017 spring semester.
Brad Folkestad, associate athletic director for external relations, won silver recognition from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators at the 26th Annual NACMA Convention, held June 14 in Orlando, for BSU’s TruFlex presented by TruStar Federal Credit Union men’s hockey ticket plan.
Dr. Debbie Guelda, professor of biology, completed Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Institute training at the University of Denver, June 19-July 1. HERS provides leadership and management development for women in higher education. Guelda also participated in the institute’s LUCE Program for Women in STEM Leadership.
Dr. Andy Hafs, associate professor of biology, has had 
three manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals:
- “The effects of riparian disturbance on the condition and summer diets of age-0 brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in three central Appalachian streams,” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences,
- “Quantification of walleye spawning substrate in a northern Minnesota river using side-scan sonar,” North American Journal of Fisheries Management, and
- “Seasonal changes in condition of Appalachian brook trout,” North American Journal of Fisheries Management.
Dr. Heidi Hansen, associate professor of mathematics, spent last year in Europe and Wisconsin on sabbatical. She spent two months in Norway — with side trips to Germany and Spain — at Høgskulen på Vestlandet, a university-college in Sogndal, examining their teacher education programs related to mathematics instruction in elementary schools. In the spring, she taught math education classes at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. Hansen also attended the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference, Feb. 9-11 in Orlando, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference, April 5-8 in San Antonio.
Suzy Langhout, adjunct instructor in human performance, sport and health, completed fourth-level Yoga Fit certification June 1-4 in Minneapolis.
Dennis Lunt, assistant professor of humanities, and Veronica Veaux, assistant professor of business administration, have agreed to serve as co-directors of the leadership studies program for the 2017-18 academic year.
Dr. Del Lyren, professor of music, had an opportunity rehearse with the Army Blues, the U.S. Army’s top jazz band, in Washington, D.C., in June. On July 22, he conducted the Twins and Brass event, which brings together trumpet and brass players to perform the National Anthem at a Minnesota Twins home game — a 6-5 Twins win over the Detroit Tigers. It was the seventh consecutive year Lyren has conducted the ensemble. He also performed on a piece and conducted a piece at the International Trumpet Guild’s annual conference, May 29–June 2 in Hershey, Pa.
Dr. Lauren McNee, adjunct instructor of music, completed her doctorate in music at the University of Minnesota. She also published two articles in Flute Talk Magazine — “A Conversation with Flutist Julia Bogorad-Kogan” and “What to Expect: The Doctoral Preliminary Exam” — performed a “French World” program at the 2016-17 Season of the Baroque Room in St. Paul, Minn., and presented a workshop in collaboration with Patricia George, editor of Flute Talk magazine, at the National Flute Association Convention, Aug. 10-13 in Minneapolis.
Dr. Anton Treuer, professor of Ojibwe, will see his latest book, “The Indian Wars,” published by National Geographic this fall. The book includes more than 225 archival photos, illustrations and paintings and 11 National Geographic maps showing shifting territories and battle sites.
Treuer also presented at the Fourth Annual Rural Arts and Culture Summit, June 6-8 at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Dr. James White, professor of human performance, sport and health, published “How to Plant a Food Plot the Happy, Healthy Way” in the April, 2017, issue of MidWest Outdoors.
Michelle Willman, assistant professor of English, has had a short story entitled “Drowning” accepted for publication in the journal “MidAmerica” in an issue to be published later this year.
Carrie Yavarow, assistant professor of nursing, and Amy Weiher, lab services specialist in the Department of Nursing, attended the Simulation User Network Conference, April 18-20 in San Diego.
Quality Matters certifications
Since the last issue of BSU Insider, six Bemidji State faculty have earned Quality Matters certifications for their courses. Quality Matters is a faculty-centered peer review process designed to certify the quality of online and blended-delivery courses. BSU now has 29 Quality Matters-certified courses.
- Mary DuBois, ACCT 3300 Government Accounting
- Mary Fairbanks, NRSG 4210 Nursing Leadership & Management (blended)
- Bill Joyce, ACCT 3140 Fraud Examination
- Kelly La Venture, BUAD 4467 Marketing Research
- Jessamay Pessak, ED5100 Introduction to the Foundations of Public School Education
- Deb Sea, MASC 2600 Principles of Advertising
New Hires & APPOINTMENTS
| Travis Barnes was promoted to Director of Facilities, effective Aug. 23. He had previously been facility supervisor at Northwest Technical College. Barnes graduated from BSU in 2004 with a degree in industrial technology. | |
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Dr. Jim Barta returned to Bemidji State as dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Ecology in May. He had spent the previous two years as dean and professor of the Tift College of Education at Mercer University, following two years as interim dean of health sciences and human ecology at BSU. |
| Nina Johnson was named director of the Hobson Memorial Union in May. She had previously served as associate director of the union. | |
| Loralyn Kuechle was named interim associate director of of housing and residential life in May. She has been at BSU for more than 15 years, most recently as interim director of the Hobson Memorial Union. |
- Dan Allosso joined the Department of History as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 9.
- Hannah Altman joined the Department of Mathematics as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Connie Barsness joined the Department of Psychology as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Meghan Bauers joined the Department of Professional Education as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Damon Benham joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant football coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Dustin Boll joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant men’s basketball coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Russett Clasen joined the Department of Professional Education as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Colleen Deel joined the A.C. Clark Library as a librarian/assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Spencer Erickson joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant football coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Kim Fisher has joined the Office of Admissions as an admissions rep, effective
- David Frison joined the Department of Business Administration as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Kassidy Gaines joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant baseball coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Amanda Gartner joined the Student Center for Health and Counseling as a psychologist, effective Aug. 9.
- Alexandra Glynn joined the Department of English as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Brock Gomer joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct, effective Aug. 1.
- Ryszard Gorski joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant women’s soccer coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Luke Grundmeyer joined Human Resources as an HR specialist, effective July 24.
- Molly Gunkelman joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant athletic trainer, effective July 1.
- James Jensen joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant women’s golf coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Catherine Johnson joined the Department of Social Work as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 21.
- Anderson Jones joined the Department of Social Work as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 21.
- Katheryn Klement joined the Department of Psychology as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Alexandra Lawlor joined the Department of Housing and Residential Life as a residence hall director, effective July 1.
- Kevin Lytle joined the Department of Business Administration as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Lisa McNamara joined Business Services as a customer service specialist, effective May 17.
- Brenda Mack joined the Department of Social Work as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Nicky Michael joined the Department of Languages and Indigenous Studies as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Mike Mulry joined the Department of Human Performance, Sport and Health as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Renae Myszkowski joined the speech program as an instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Peter Nelson joined the Department of Business Administration as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Jordan Noskowiak joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant football coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Jenna O’Dell joined the Department of Mathematics as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Sohoon Park joined the Department of Business Administration as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Lisa Perry joined the Department of Music as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Maggie Reitz joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant softball coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Danielle Smith joined Student Services as a student success advisor, effective June 16.
- Amanda Snyder joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant athletic trainer, effective Aug. 7.
- Matthew Stewart joined the Department of Housing and Residential Life as a residence hall director, effective July 1.
- Jonathan Thorson joined the Department of Mathematics as an adjunct instructor, effective July 31.
- Gabriel Warren joined the Department of Business Administration as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Darin Watts joined the Physical Plant as a general maintenance worker, effective July 17.
- Michelle Willman joined the Department of English as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 1
- Tamara Worner joined the Department of Mathematics as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.
- Joan York joined the Department of Professional Education as an adjunct instructor, effective Aug. 15.
- Derrick Young joined the Department of Athletics as an adjunct assistant track and field coach, effective Aug. 15.
- Li Zhou joined the Department of Psychology as an assistant professor, effective Aug. 15.