UW Trustees Approve Personnel Items

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees approved the following appointments during its meeting Friday, Sept. 11:

Administrative Appointments

College of Health Sciences

Medical Education Program

Kevin Murray as director. He received an M.D. (1978) from the University of Washington, School of Medicine. Murray has been the medical vice president at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, Wash.

Office of Research and Economic Development

Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute

Steven Carpenter as director. He received a B.A. in physics from Earlham College, an M.A. in environmental public policy from Antioch University, and a Ph.D. (expected 2015) in transdisciplinary approaches to carbon capture, utilization and storage research in North America from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Carpenter has been vice president of Advanced Resources International Inc. since 2011.

Faculty Appointments

Academic Affairs

Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources

Courtney Carlson as assistant professor. She received a B.A. (2004) in English from Boston College, and an MFA (2009) in creative writing and environmental and natural resources from UW. Carlson has been an assistant director at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources since 2009. She is converting from an extended-term track position to a tenure-track position.

Temple Stoellinger as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2004) in environment and natural resources and communication, and a J.D. (2010) from UW. Stoellinger has been co-director of the Center for Law and Energy Resources in the Rockies and an adjunct assistant professor at UW since 2014.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics

Vardges Hovhannisyan as instructor. Hovhannisyan received a B.S. (1999) and an M.S. (2002) in economics, both from the Armenian State University, and a Ph.D. (2012) in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hovhannisyan has been a research associate at the University of Minnesota since 2012. The title of this tenure-track position will convert to assistant professor upon receipt of documentation of degree completion.

Department of Animal Science

Michael Day as department head and professor. He received a B.S. (1980) and an M.S. (1982) in animal science, both from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. (1985) in animal science from the University of Missouri. Day has been a professor at Ohio State University since 2000. Day will be the head of the Department of Animal Science and will be a professor with tenure in the Department of Animal Science.

Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

Linda Van Diepen as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (1999) in environmental chemistry from Hogeschool IJselland, an M.S. (2002) in environmental science from Wageningen University, and a Ph.D. (2008) in forest science from Michigan Technological University. Van Diepen has been a research scientist at the University of New Hampshire since 2013.

Karen Vaughan as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2001) in entomology and wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware, an M.S. (2004) in soil science from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. (2008) in soil science from the University of Idaho. Vaughan has been an assistant professor at California Polytechnic State University since 2011.

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Alyssa McElwain as assistant professor. She received a B.A. (2006) in psychology from Kansas State University, an M.S. (2008) in child development and family studies, marriage and family therapy from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. (2015) in human development and family studies from Auburn University. McElwain has been a research assistant and service learning coordinator at Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative at Auburn University.

Bernard Steinman as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (1991) in English from the University of Washington, an M.S. (2004) in experimental psychology from Mississippi State University, and a Ph.D. (2010) in gerontology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Steinman has been a research fellow at the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts since 2013.

Department of Veterinary Sciences

Juan Munoz-Gutierrez as assistant professor. He received an M.V.Z. (2006) in veterinary medicine from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Munoz-Gutierrez has been a graduate research assistant at Washington State University since 2009.

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Art

Brandon Gellis as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2002) in American studies and politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and an MFA (2015) in emergent digital practices from the University of Denver. Gellis has been a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Denver since 2013.

Department of Botany

Catherine Wagner as assistant professor. She received a B.A. (2004) in biology-geology from Whitman College, and a Ph.D. (2011) in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University. Wagner has been a postdoctoral research associate at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology since 2011.

Department of Criminal Justice

Thomas Mowen as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2010) and an M.A. (2011) in sociology, both from the University of Louisville, and a Ph.D. (2015) in sociology from the University of Delaware. Mowen has been a research assistant at the Center for Drug and Health Studies at the University of Delaware since 2012.

Department of English

Scott Henkel as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (1997) in English and education from Western Michigan University, an M.A. (2000) in English, creative writing from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. (2007) in English from Michigan State University. Henkel has been an assistant professor at Binghamton University since 2008.

Kelly Kinney as associate professor. She received a B.A. (1992) in English and political science from Purdue University, an M.A. (1996) in English: rhetoric and composition from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. (2005) in English: rhetoric and composition from Ohio University. Kinney has been an associate professor at Binghamton University since 2014. Kinney will be an associate professor with tenure in the Department of English.

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Joy Landeira as department head and professor. She received a B.A. (1973) and an M.A. (1975) in modern and classical languages, both from UW, and a Ph.D. (1981) in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Colorado. Landeira has been a professor at the University of Northern Colorado since 2005. Landeira will be the head of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and will be a professor with tenure in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

Department of Physics and Astronomy

William Rice as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2005) in physics from Brown University, and an M.S. (2009) and a Ph.D. (2012) in applied physics, both from Rice University. Rice has been a postdoctoral researcher at the National High Magnetic Field Lab at Los Alamos National Lab since 2012.

Department of Political Science

Justin T. Piccorelli as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2004) in political science from Loyola Marymount University, and an MPA (2009) and a Ph.D. (2014) in public administration, both from Cleveland State University. Piccorelli has been an assistant professor at Governors State University since 2014.

Department of Theatre and Dance

Patrick Konesko as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2008) in theater from Saginaw Valley State University, and an M.A. (2009) and a Ph.D. (2013) in theater, both from Bowling Green State University. Konesko has been an Adjunct Faculty member at Bowling Green State University since 2013.

College of Business

Department of Accounting

Mitchell Oler as assistant professor. He received a Bachelor of Commerce (1997) from the University of Alberta, a Master of Professional Accounting (1998) from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. (2006) in business administration from the University of Washington. Oler has been an assistant professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University since 2007.

Kenneth Zheng as assistant professor. He received a B.A. in business economics in English from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China, an M.S. (2007) in accounting and information management, and a Ph.D. (2011) in management science-accounting from the University of Texas, Dallas. Zheng has been an assistant professor of accounting at State University of New York at Buffalo since 2011.

Department of Management and Marketing

Stephen Jones as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2002) in business administration from Oregon State University, an MBA (2010) from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. (2015) in business administration from the University of Minnesota. Jones has taught at UW since 2015.

College of Education

Department of Educational Studies

Joan K. James as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (1974) in regular and special education from Northern Michigan University, and an M.A. (1988) and a Ph.D. (2007) in curriculum and instruction, both from UW. James has been an elementary school teacher at the UW Laboratory School since 2007.

Department of Professional Studies

Lay-nah Blue Morris-Howe as assistant professor. She received a B.S (2004) in health sciences, an M.S. (2007) in counselor education, and a Ph.D. (2011) in counselor education and supervision, all from UW. Morris-Howe has been a non-extended term assistant lecturer at UW since 2014.

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Department of Atmospheric Science

Zachary Lebo as assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2007) in mathematics and meteorology, and an M.S. (2009) in meteorology, both from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. (2012) in environmental science and engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Lebo has been a research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado since 2013.

College of Health Sciences

Division of Communication Disorders

Erin Bush as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2000) in psychology and a B.A. (2000) in speech-language pathology, both from UW, and an M.S. (2003) in communication disorders and a Ph.D. (2011) in human sciences, both from the University of Nebraska. Bush has been an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska since 2011.

Division of Kinesiology and Health

Evan Johnson as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2004) in exercise science from George Washington University, and an M.A. (2008) and Ph.D. (2014) in kinesiology, both from the University of Connecticut. Johnson has been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arkansas since 2014.

Family Medicine Residency Program-Cheyenne

Afzal Khan as clinical assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2005) in biology from Arizona State University, and an M.D. (2010) from St. Matthew's University School of Medicine. Khan completed his residency at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Cheyenne.

Evan Norby as clinical assistant professor. He received a B.S. (2007) in exercise science and nutritional science from Brigham Young University, and a D.O. (2012) in osteopathic medicine from Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Norby has been a resident physician at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Cheyenne since 2013.

School of Nursing

Lori Liebl as assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2008) and an M.S. (2009) in nursing, both from Regis University, and a Ph.D. (2015) in nursing from the University of Nebraska. Liebl has been on the nursing faculty at Laramie County Community College since 2011.

School of Pharmacy

Rocsanna Namdar as clinical assistant professor. She received a Bachelor of Pharmacy (1994) from the University of New Mexico, and a Pharm.D. (1997) from the University of Colorado. Namdar has been employed at Forest Research Institute in Colorado since 2013.

Sommer Zarbock as clinical assistant professor. She received a B.S. (2002) in chemistry and soil and crop sciences from Colorado State University, and a Pharm.D. (2006) from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Zarbock has been an associate professor at the Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy since 2013.

WWAMI Medical Education Program

Yvette Haeberle as clinical assistant professor. She received a B.A. (1990) in developmental psychology from San Jose State University, and an M.D. (1994) from the University of Nebraska. Haeberle has been the clinical curriculum coordinator for WWAMI since 2015.

College of Law

Melissa Alexander as associate professor. She received a B.A. (1996) in philosophy from Yale University, and a J.D. (1999) from the University of Virginia School of Law. Alexander has been an assistant professor at Belmont University College of Law since 2013.

Emily S. Bremer as instructor. She received a B.A. (2003) from New York University, and a J.D. (2006) from New York University School of Law. Bremer has been the senior attorney and research coordinator for the Administrative Conference of the United States since 2010. The title of this tenure-track position will convert to assistant professor upon receipt of documentation of degree completion. 

Law Library

Casey Duncan as assistant professor. He received a B.A. (2001) in classical studies from Hillsdale College, a J.D. (2004) from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. (2006) in information science and learning technologies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Duncan has been at the Talton Law Library at the University of Texas since 2006. Duncan also will serve as the law library director.

University Libraries

Research and Instruction

Philip White as assistant librarian. He received a B.A. (2007) in geography from the University of Tennessee, an M.A. (2010) in geography from Appalachian State University, and an M.L.I.S. (expected 2015) from the University of North Carolina. White has been a GIS and map library intern at Duke University.

Academic Professional Appointments

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Cooperative Extension Service

Laura Balis as assistant extension educator. She received a B.S. (2006) in public health education and health promotion from Central Michigan University, and an M.S. (2009) in health and performance from the University of Montana. Balis has been a teaching assistant at Virginia Tech since 2014.

Callie Kettner as assistant extension educator. She received a B.S. (2014) in dietetics from Idaho State University. Kettner was a 4-H Youth Development intern at the University of Idaho Extension since 2014.

Glenn Owings as assistant extension educator. He received a B.S. (2010) in natural resources and rangeland ecology, and an M.S. (2012) in animal and range science from Montana State University. Owings has been a range specialist at the Sublette County Conservation District since 2012.

Michelle V. Pierce as assistant extension educator. She received a B.S. (1992) in administration of justice from UW, and an M.E. (2006) in educational administration from South Dakota State University. Pierce has been a business education teacher at Campbell County High School since 2008.

Department of Animal Science

Vincent Abushaban as assistant research scientist. He received a B.S. (2014) in animal science from Colorado State University (CSU). Abushaban has worked at the CSU Animal Research and Biotechnology Laboratory since 2012.

Department of Molecular Biology

Bridget Decker as assistant lecturer. She received a B.S. (1998) in microbiology from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. (2006) in biochemistry from Dartmouth College. Decker has been a non-extended term assistant lecturer at UW since 2012.

College of Education

Department of Educational Studies

Erin Harmeyer as assistant lecturer. She received a B.J. (2009) in magazine journalism, an M.Ed. (2011) in elementary education, and a Ph.D. (expected 2015) in human development and family studies, all from the University of Missouri. Harmeyer has been a graduate research assistant since 2012.

Changes in Appointment

Administrator

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Dean’s Office

Paul Dellenback will serve as associate dean.

Faculty

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agricultural Experiment Station

John Tanaka ends his appointment as department head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and begins his appointment as associate director of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station and director of the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center. He also continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Department of Animal Science

Warrie Means ends his appointment as interim department head and continues as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Animal Science.

Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

Scott Miller will serve as department head in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Department of Molecular Biology

Mark Stayton ends his appointment as department head and continues as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biology.

Peter Thorsness will serve as department head for the Department of Molecular Biology.

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Chemistry

David Anderson will serve as department head in the Department of Chemistry.

Department of English

Alyson Hagy ends her appointment as associate vice president for Academic Affairs and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of English.

Department of Geography

William Gribb will serve as department head in the Department of Geography.

Gerald Webster ends his appointment as department head in the Department of Geography and continues as a tenured professor in the same department.

Department of History

Michael Brose ends his appointment as department head in the Department of History and continues as a tenured associate professor in that department.

Jeffrey Means will serve as department head in the Department of History.

Department of Mathematics

Farhad Jafari ends his appointment as department head and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Mathematics.

Gregory Lyng will serve as department head in the Department of Mathematics.

Department of Religious Studies

Kristine Utterback will serve as department head in the Department of Religious Studies.

College of Business

Department of Economics and Finance

Robert Godby will serve as department head in the Department of Economics and Finance.

Frederic Sterbenz ends his appointment as department head and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Economics and Finance.

Department of Management and Marketing

Grant Lindstrom will serve as department head for the Department of Management and Marketing.

John Mittelstaedt ends his appointment as interim dean and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Management and Marketing.

College of Education

Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Peter Moran ends his term as department head and continues as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Department of Atmospheric Science

Bart Geerts ends his term as associate dean and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science.

Department of Chemical Engineering

David Bagley ends his appointment as department head and continues as a tenured professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

Dennis Coon will serve as department head in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering

Anthony Denzer will serve as department head in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Carl Frick will serve as department head in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Department of Petroleum Engineering

Hertanto Adidharma will serve as department head in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

College of Health Sciences

Division of Communication Disorders

Mark Guiberson will serve as director of the Division of Communication Disorders.

Teresa Ukrainetz ends her appointment as director of the Division of Communication Disorders and continues as a tenured professor in the division.

The Board of Trustees also approved numerous sabbatical and professional leaves. The complete list of personnel items approved during the September meeting can be found in the full Trustees’ report here.