by Madi Cannon, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2016-17 academic year. These faculty members, representing
eight academic departments, bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to Cedarville.
Biblical and Theological Studies
Daniel DeWitt, Ph.D., associate professor of applied theology and apologetics and director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity
DeWitt completed his doctoral and Master of Divinity degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Formerly, he served as the dean at Boyce College, and he will be leading Cedarville’s new Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity.
Mark Owens, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament theology
Owens earned his doctoral degree at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He received his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia. Recently, he worked at Luther Rice College and Seminary as an assistant professor of New Testament.
Art, Design and Theatre
Rebekah Priebe, M.A., assistant professor of theatre
Priebe recently received her Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University. She received her M.A. in theater from Kansas State University and B.A. in English/drama from Friends University.
History and Political Science
Emily Ferkaluk, Ph.D., instructor of political science
Ferkaluk recently finished her doctoral degree in politics at the University of Dallas, where she also received her M.A. in politics. She graduated from Cedarville in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.
Kinesiology and Allied Health
Kurt Beachy, M.S., instructor of kinesiology and allied health
Beachy completed his M.S. in exercise science at the University of Iowa and his B.S. in athletic training at the University of New Mexico. He has served at Cedarville University as an assistant athletic trainer for the past four years and an adjunct faculty member for two years.
Nursing
Kristine Kidder, instructor of nursing
Kidder recently earned her M.S.N. in nursing from Liberty University. She received her B.S.N. from Cedarville University in 1996. She has previously served as an adjunct instructor of nursing at Cedarville.
Katherine Loper, M.A., instructor of nursing
Loper received her master’s degree in nursing from Wright State University and her B.S.N. from Cedarville University in 2008. She has been an adjunct professor at Cedarville University since 2013.
Lisa Smithers, M.A., assistant professor of nursing
Smithers earned her M.S.N. in midwifery from Ohio State University and her B.S.N. from Wright State University. Prior to joining Cedarville University, she was on the faculty at Wright State University.
Pharmacy
Jeffrey Bates, Pharm.D., associate dean and assistant professor of pharmacy practice
Bates received his Pharm.D. from Ferris State University. He also earned his B.S. Pharm. and Associate Degree in Science from Ferris State University. Previously, he served as assistant dean and director of student success at Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy.
Justin Cole, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy and vice chair of pharmacy practice
Cole earned his Pharm.D. from Ohio Northern University. He previously served as the Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Juanita Draime, instructor of pharmacy practice and health outcomes fellow
Draime completed her Pharm.D. at Cedarville University in 2016 as part of Cedarville’s inaugural Doctor of Pharmacy class. She also earned her B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences from Cedarville.
Psychology
Felisha Younkin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology
Younkin completed her doctoral degree and master’s degrees in human development and family science at The Ohio State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in international studies from Miami University of Ohio. Formerly, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Science and Mathematics
Nathan Averbeck, Ph.D., instructor of mathematics
Averbeck recently received his doctoral degree in mathematics from Baylor University. He holds a Master of Arts in mathematics from Eastern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University.
Michael Mendel, Ph.D., professor of zoology
Mendel completed his doctoral degree in biological sciences at the University of Maine. He earned his master’s degree in experimental statistics and entomology from New Mexico State University and his bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University. He previously served as a professor of biology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University since 2000.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
Biblical and Theological Studies
Daniel DeWitt, Ph.D., associate professor of applied theology and apologetics and director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity
DeWitt completed his doctoral and Master of Divinity degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Formerly, he served as the dean at Boyce College, and he will be leading Cedarville’s new Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity.
Mark Owens, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament theology
Owens earned his doctoral degree at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He received his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia. Recently, he worked at Luther Rice College and Seminary as an assistant professor of New Testament.
Art, Design and Theatre
Rebekah Priebe, M.A., assistant professor of theatre
Priebe recently received her Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University. She received her M.A. in theater from Kansas State University and B.A. in English/drama from Friends University.
History and Political Science
Emily Ferkaluk, Ph.D., instructor of political science
Ferkaluk recently finished her doctoral degree in politics at the University of Dallas, where she also received her M.A. in politics. She graduated from Cedarville in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.
Kinesiology and Allied Health
Kurt Beachy, M.S., instructor of kinesiology and allied health
Beachy completed his M.S. in exercise science at the University of Iowa and his B.S. in athletic training at the University of New Mexico. He has served at Cedarville University as an assistant athletic trainer for the past four years and an adjunct faculty member for two years.
Nursing
Kristine Kidder, instructor of nursing
Kidder recently earned her M.S.N. in nursing from Liberty University. She received her B.S.N. from Cedarville University in 1996. She has previously served as an adjunct instructor of nursing at Cedarville.
Katherine Loper, M.A., instructor of nursing
Loper received her master’s degree in nursing from Wright State University and her B.S.N. from Cedarville University in 2008. She has been an adjunct professor at Cedarville University since 2013.
Lisa Smithers, M.A., assistant professor of nursing
Smithers earned her M.S.N. in midwifery from Ohio State University and her B.S.N. from Wright State University. Prior to joining Cedarville University, she was on the faculty at Wright State University.
Pharmacy
Jeffrey Bates, Pharm.D., associate dean and assistant professor of pharmacy practice
Bates received his Pharm.D. from Ferris State University. He also earned his B.S. Pharm. and Associate Degree in Science from Ferris State University. Previously, he served as assistant dean and director of student success at Ferris State University’s College of Pharmacy.
Justin Cole, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy and vice chair of pharmacy practice
Cole earned his Pharm.D. from Ohio Northern University. He previously served as the Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Juanita Draime, instructor of pharmacy practice and health outcomes fellow
Draime completed her Pharm.D. at Cedarville University in 2016 as part of Cedarville’s inaugural Doctor of Pharmacy class. She also earned her B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences from Cedarville.
Psychology
Felisha Younkin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology
Younkin completed her doctoral degree and master’s degrees in human development and family science at The Ohio State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in international studies from Miami University of Ohio. Formerly, she worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, as a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Science and Mathematics
Nathan Averbeck, Ph.D., instructor of mathematics
Averbeck recently received his doctoral degree in mathematics from Baylor University. He holds a Master of Arts in mathematics from Eastern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University.
Michael Mendel, Ph.D., professor of zoology
Mendel completed his doctoral degree in biological sciences at the University of Maine. He earned his master’s degree in experimental statistics and entomology from New Mexico State University and his bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University. He previously served as a professor of biology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University since 2000.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.