New faculty and staff at Southwestern College were introduced during the employee welcome back dinner held on Aug. 11.

New faculty include:

• Peter Heckman, academic dean for main campus.  He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University.  Before joining Southwestern College, Heckman was serving as the professor of interdisciplinary studies and associate dean at the University College, Zayed University in United Arab Emirates.  Prior to that he held a variety of administrative and teaching positions at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.  

• Amy Lash Esau, academic dean for professional studies. She was the director of academic development for adult learner undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minn. She holds a Ph.D. in family social sciences from the University of Minnesota. 

• Christopher Barker, assistant professor of political science.  Barker has a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University. Most recently, he has been the Th. W. Smith postdoctoral fellow in U.S. Legal/Constitutional History at Ohio State University.  Chris has also served as a visiting professor at Boston College, a Jack Miller Fellow at Harvard, and a lecturer at California State University.  

• Lalith Gamage, assistant professor of chemistry.  He earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at New Mexico State University.  He has been an adjunct professor and lab director at Western New Mexico University.  He has also served as a high school chemistry teacher in his home country of Sri Lanka.

• Molly Just, director of discipleship.  Just is a 2012 graduate of Southwestern College where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and religious studies.  She has also earned minors in youth ministry and Christian discipleship.  She is currently studying for her master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary.  Just is also a certified candidate for ordination in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church.

• Lee Jones, technical director for the TOMARI center. He has been the Plano Stages Theatre Technician in Plano, Texas.  Prior to that, he worked for the Denton Community Theatre Children’s Drama School in Denton.  Lee is a recent graduate of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.   

• Debbie McAlister-Gallander, director of the MBA program.  She holds a M.S. in organizational development from Pepperdine University.  She has been the coordinator of the Autry Technology Center in Enid, Okla., and prior to that she was a business development specialist and trainer for the Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers at Northwest Oklahoma State University.  

• Diane Nickelson, assistant professor of teacher education.  She holds a Ed.D. in educational leadership from Wichita State University.  She served as the principal at Clearwater Elementary School and then as assistant principal at Clearwater High School.  Nickelson also has the distinction of supervising the dissertation of one of the first Ed.D. graduates at Southwestern College.

• Amber Peterson, assistant professor of music (strings).  She has a Ph.D. in music education from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.  She holds a K-12 teaching certificate in both Illinois and Iowa.  She is also a certified Suzuki instructor.  Peterson has served as an adjunct instructor at a variety of schools including the University of Florida and Kent State University.

• Heather Pianalto, instructor of mathematics.  She recently earned her master’s degree from Oklahoma State University.  While there, she was a graduate teaching assistant.  Pianalto is a native of Wichita and she earned her first degree from Newman University.

• Marcia Stoesz, math literacy center instructor.  She has been serving as an instructor of mathematics at Hutchinson Community College.  Prior to that, she taught math at McPherson College.  Marcia has served as the co-director of the anti-racism program, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.  She has also taught math to range of students from elementary through high school.  Stoesz holds a master’s degree in statistical sciences from Southern Methodist University in Texas.

• Shoshana Wernick, assistant professor of psychology.  Wernick earned her Ph.D. in community psychology from Wichita State University.  She has taught as an affiliate faculty member in a number of area colleges.  She has been a community researcher for the Center for Community Support and Research and she was a coordinator for the first multiracial elections in South Africa.  

• Brian Winnie, assistant professor of music (choir).  Winnie holds a doctorate of musical arts from the University of Washington, Seattle.  He has served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Washington, Tacoma.  He has also worked as the artistic director or conductor for a variety of organizations including public schools and youth organizations.

New staff members at Southwestern include:

• Colin Baker, assistant men’s soccer coach

• Danielle Brush, assistant director of residence life

• Whitney Corley, assistant women’s basketball coach

• Todd DeMint, staff accountant

• Wyatt Jiru, assistant football coach

• Nathan Johnson, network support specialist

• Becky Mangus, executive assistant to the president and the provost

• Victor Redd, assistant football coach

• Jessica Schlageck, social media and public relations coordinator for Southwestern College Professional Studies (SCPS)

• Karissa Shimanek, faculty assistant for the education department

• Cindy Stevens, faculty assistant for the communications division

• Timothy Tucker, admissions counselor/recruiter at Ft. Riley for SCPS

• Carolina Garbato, head volleyball coach

• Chris Weathers, assistant volleyball coach