Aurora University Appoints New Faculty Members

AURORA, Ill, -- Aurora University has announced new faculty appointments for 2007-2008.

Toby Arquette was named an assistant professor of communication. He has served as an assistant professor at DePaul and Purdue universities and as an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Butler University, and Loyola University. He earned his Ph.D. in communication studies from Northwestern University.

Jeanine Clark was named an instructor of social sciences. An AU alumna, Clark served as a visiting instructor of political science for the 2006-2007 academic year. She has taught at Elgin Community College and Northern Illinois University (NIU). Clark is a Ph.D. candidate in U.S. environmental history at NIU.

Patrick Dunn was named an assistant professor of English. Dunn served as an AU visiting assistant professor of English during the 2006-2007 academic year. He has taught literature courses at NIU and Waubonsee and Kishwaukee community colleges. He received his Ph.D. in literature from NIU in December 2005.

Libby Escobedo was named an assistant professor of art history. Prior to joining AU, she was a research scholar/cataloguer at Princeton University. She has taught art history courses at Austin Community College, University of the Arts, and Bryn Mawr College. Escobedo received her Ph.D. in art history from Bryn Mawr College.

John Mehrtens was named an assistant professor of political science. He has taught political science courses at Beloit College, The University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and Miami University, Ohio. Mehrtens earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Ariel Ramirez was named an instructor of mathematics. Ramirez was an AU visiting instructor during the 2006-2007 academic year. He has served as a math instructor at Robert Morris College and Columbia College of Chicago, and was a consultant to Northeastern Illinois University's College of Education. He received his M.S. from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a candidate for his Ph.D. degree in mathematics education at Illinois State University.

Heidi Rosenberg was named assistant director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and assistant professor of English. Prior to AU, she was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County. She has also taught at Angelo State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern Mississippi.

David Rudek was named an assistant professor of psychology. Prior to AU, he was an assistant professor of psychology at Gustavus Adolphus College and taught as an adjunct professor at DePaul and Loyola Universities. He received his Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Loyola University, Chicago, in 2004.

Jessica Thurlow was named an assistant professor of history. She has served as an instructor, adjunct assistant professor and teaching assistant at Madonna University and the University of Michigan. Thurlow was awarded her Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in 2006.

Stephanie Walsh was named an assistant professor of criminal justice. She has taught criminal justice courses at the University of Southern Carolina Upstate, Texas A&M University, California State University, Sam Houston State University and the University of Texas-Tyler. Walsh received her Ph.D. in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.

Michael De Haven was named an instructor of education after serving as a visiting instructor for the 2006-07 academic year. He has taught at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and served AU as an adjunct instructor. De Haven received his M.A. from Northern Illinois University where he is an Ed.D. candidate.

Maribeth Juraska was named an instructor of education and MATC faculty chair after serving as director of field experiences at AU since 2004. An Ed.D. student at AU, she received her M.S. in curriculum and instruction from NIU.

Dionnes Rivera was named an assistant professor of English as a second language. She joined AU in 2005 as an adjunct instructor. Earlier she served as director of English language learners in School District U-46 and as an elementary principal, director of Human Resources, and bi-lingual teacher. Rivera received her Ed.D. from National-Louis University.

John Struck was named an assistant professor of education in the master's program. He joined AU in 1996 as an adjunct and served as a pro rata instructor in the master's program. During 2006-07, he was a faculty research fellow in the Institute for Collaboration. He began his teaching career in the East Aurora School District, where he held teaching and administrative positions for 33 years. He received his Ed.D. in educational administration from NIU.

Julie Bach joined the School of Social Work as an instructor. Bach served as an instructor at Coastline Community College and as clinical trials study coordinator in the Rush University Medical Center Alzheimer's Disease Center, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. She received her M.S. in gerontology from the University of Southern California and her M.S.W. from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she is a Ph.D. candidate.

Brenda Barnwell was named a visiting instructor of social work. Barnwell currently provides psychotherapeutic, mediation, and custody evaluations to clients at her private practice and has also served as a school social worker for the Kendall County Education Cooperative. She received her M.S.W. degree from AU and is a doctoral student at the Adler School of Clinical Psychology.

Rob Castillo was named an instructor of social work. He has served as a field liaison and adjunct instructor at AU since 2004 and also taught social work at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, DePaul University and Waubonsee Community College. He was also program coordinator at Employee Assistance Services and the Kendall County Health and Human Services Department. Castillo received his M.S.W. from AU in 2000.

Robert Daugherty was named an assistant professor of social work. After a career in government, non-profit and health care management, he served as an adjunct at the Kent School of Social Work and most recently was an assistant professor at Ohio University. He has also taught social policy and community social planning at the University of Louisville. Daugherty received his Ph.D. in social work from the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville.

Deann Edgers joined the School of Nursing as an instructor and coordinator of the R.N. to B.S.N. Program. Prior to joining AU, she was manager of clinical education at Provena Mercy Center. She received her M.S.N. from the University of Washington and an M.S. in family nurse practitioner from the University of Portland.

Carole Liske was named an instructor of nursing after serving as a visiting instructor during 2006-07. Prior to AU, she taught at Waubonsee Community College, Kishwaukee Community College, and Provena Mercy Center. Liske received her M.S. with a specialty in nursing administration and medical cardiology from NIU.

Jeanne Van Denack was named an instructor of nursing. She has taught nursing courses at Harper College and has provided nursing services at Midwest Heart Specialists, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and Loyola University Health Systems. Van Denack received her M.S. with a specialty in medical surgical nursing from Loyola University, Chicago.

Dennis Kripp joined the Dunham School of Business as a visiting assistant professor of business. He has taught at Roosevelt University in the Executive M.B.A. Program for International Leaders, the University of Phoenix, Cardean University, Governors State University, Chicago State University and Benedictine University. He also is president of Transition Dynamics, Inc., a consulting firm. He received his Ph.D. in organizational development from Benedictine University.

Mary Tarling was named an assistant professor of accounting after serving as a visiting assistant professor, pro rata assistant professor and adjunct. She holds a master's degree in financial management from Benedictine University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Brian Vander Schee was named an assistant professor of management. Prior to AU, he was an assistant professor of management at the University of Pittsburgh and taught at Toccoa Falls College and Filandia University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

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