Faculty
Grantham University’s mission is to provide accessible, affordable and academically challenging online courses and degree programs that prepare its graduates for a variety of career fields. A key component to student success and the University’s overall curriculum is the faculty. The University’s faculty is comprised of full-time faculty members, who focus on teaching, curriculum development and design, and student advising; and Global Faculty members, whose primary responsibility is teaching.
Academic Deans
Joseph P. McHale, M.P.A.
Joseph McHale, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, holds a Master of Public Affairs with an emphasis in Public Management and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Park University. He is working on his dissertation for his Doctor of Business Administration from Northcentral University. He is a thirty-three year veteran of law enforcement, having retired as a Major with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and is the former Chief of Police in Platte City, Missouri. He is a graduate of the 179th session of the FBI National Academy and the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection School. He is also a specialist in emergency management and critical incident operations.
Duane Geiken, Ph.D.
Dr. Duane Geiken, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a minor in Counseling and School Law from the University of Wisconsin. He also holds a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance and a bachelor‘s degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to Grantham, Dr. Geiken was a tenured college professor, a college administrator, and for 35 years, managed some of the largest education and training programs in the United States Air Force.
John Theodore, Ph.D.
Dr. John Theodore, Dean of the Mark Skousen School of Business, holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Comparative Management from Aristotelian University, a Doctor of Business Administration degree (DBA) with an emphasis in International Management from the University of South Africa, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and minor in Latin American Affairs with emphasis on Education, History, Political Science, and Sociology from the University of Kansas. He has four decades of experience in higher education, teaching, administration and management consulting.
Nancy Miller, Ph.D.
Dr. Nancy Miller, Dean of the College of Engineering, holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering with a specialty in control systems from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Business Administration in Finance, and a Master of Science in Applied Physics from Texas Tech University. Dr. Miller possesses a mixture of management, education, and high tech research and development experience. Prior to Grantham, Dr. Miller was on staff at the Hebrew University, developing and teaching laboratory courses in digital control systems and digital signal processing.
Mark Eaton, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark Eaton, Dean of Academic Technology, holds a Ph.D. of Computing Technology in Education and Training from Nova Southeastern University. He also holds a Master of Science in Systems Management with a focus on aerospace engineering management from St. Mary’s University. Prior to joining Grantham University, Dr. Eaton held executive level positions in corporate universities as a Learning & Performance professional. He is a 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force where he served in various joint and service commands including United States Strategic Command, Strategic Air Command, Electronics Security Command, and Air Force Communications Command.
Full-time Faculty
Alexander Ames, Ph.D.
Dr. Alexander Ames holds a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from St. Louis University, an M.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Alabama and a B.A. in English and Studio Art from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Dr. Ames teaches English in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Amanda Knudsen, M.S.
Amanda Knudsen holds an M.S. in Academic Advising/Counseling from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. As Academic Advisor, Ms. Knudsen is responsible working with students to help them select, outline and achieve educational and developmental goals.
Cindy Otts, M.S.
Cindy Otts holds a Master’s in Higher Education Administration with an Emphasis in Student Personnel from the University of Kansas and is working on her dissertation for her Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, also from the University of Kansas. As the Director of Academic Advising, Ms. Otts is responsible for directing the student advising efforts at the University.
Jay Carlin, J.D.
Jay Carlin holds a J.D. from Western State University. Carlin also holds M.S., M.B.A. and B.S. degrees. Carlin teaches Criminal Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Jennifer Creason, M.A., Ed.S.
Jennifer Creason holds an Ed.S. in Educational Technology from the University of Missouri. She also holds a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of St. Mary and a B.S. in Elementary Education from William Jewell College. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Creason also serves as an Instructional Designer to develop and design curriculum at Grantham University.
Jennifer Lohoefener, M.S.
Ms. Jennifer Lohoefener holds a M.S. in Computer Science Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Kansas. She is currently working on her dissertation for a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Kansas. Ms. Lohoefener teaches in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Linda Catlin, M.L.I.S.
Linda Catlin holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She serves as the University’s Librarian.
Orlando Rivero, D.B.A.
Dr. Orlando Rivero holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Management from Argosy University, an M.P.A. from Nova Southeastern University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Metropolitan University. Dr. Rivero teaches in the College of Business.
Pamela Dunnington, M.S.
Pamela Dunnington holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Missouri. She holds teaching certificates in social studies, language arts and English. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Dunnington also serves as an Instructional Designer to develop and design curriculum at Grantham University.
Patricia Chernovitz, Ph.D.
Dr. Patricia Chernovitz holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Missouri, St. Louis, with minors in Math and Physics. Dr. Chernovitz teaches in the math and science areas and works closely with other math and science faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences to update and enhance courses in those areas.
Rhonda Corwin, M.B.A.
Rhonda Corwin holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from MidAmerica Nazarene University. Ms. Corwin teaches in the undergraduate business programs and works closely with other faculty in the business programs to update and enhance courses in that area.
Robert Tracy, M.S.
Robert Brent Tracy holds a M.S. in Computer Studies from Northwest Missouri State University and a B.S. in Education from the University of Central Missouri. Mr. Tracy teaches Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Stephanie Phillips, M.S.
Stephanie Phillips holds a M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Walden University and is working on her dissertation for her Ph.D. in psychology. Ms. Phillips is the developer of Grantham’s current psychology course electives. She teaches in the College of Arts and Science.
Tina Freestone, M.A.
Tina Freestone holds a master degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Albany. Ms. Freestone teaches in the Criminal Justice programs and works closely with other faculty in the Criminal Justice programs to update and enhance courses in that area.
Global Faculty
(This is not a complete list. It includes a sampling of the degrees and experience our Global Faculty members possess.)
