Robert Antibus, Ph.D.
Robert Antibus, professor of biology, joined the Bluffton faculty in 1993. He holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and master's and bachelor's degrees from Kent State University. He has written or co-written several articles for professional biology journals and recieved several grants and contracts for research from organizations such as the National Science Foundation.
Trevor Bechtel
An assistant professor of religion, Trevor Bechtel joined the Bluffton faculty in 2004. He holds bachelor's degrees from Canadian Mennonite Bible College and the University of Manitoba. In 1999 he earned a master's degree from Loyola University, Chicago.
Duane Bollenbacher
Daune Bollenbacher has served as a part-time insturctor in mathematics and education at Bluffton University since 1995. Very active in the mathematics education profession, he served as president of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM) 1998-2000, as state contest director of OCTM 1993-2003, and currently as historian of OCTM. For 30 years he taught high school math and coached varsity sports and/ or quiz bowl teams and was named Mathematics Teacher of the Year in Ohio in 1991. In 2002 he recieved the Christofferson-Fawcett Award, for achievements and outstanding service to Ohio Mathematics Educators and Students. A graduate of Miami Universtiy, he holds a master's in mathematics from Northwestern University. He is a frequent civic, business, school, and church after-dinner speaker, combining nostalgia with comedy for audiences if all ages.
Laura Brenneman, Ph.D.
Laura Brenneman, assistant professor of religion and director of Peace Conflict Studies, joined the Bluffton faculty in 2004. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, a second master's in theological studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a doctorate in theology from the University of Durham, England. The recipient of a Bluffton University Research Center Grant in the summer of 2005 resulted in a presentation of "Corporate Discipline and the People of God: Metaphors on the Group in 1 Corinthians." She serves on the Bluffton University Cross-cultural Committee and Pathways to Mission and Vocation Steering Committee and is advisor for the Habitat for Humanity Bluffton Unversity campus chapter.
Tim Byers
An adjunct education instructor at Bluffton since 1998, Tim Byers is joining the full-time faculty in fall of 2005. Having started his career as a special education classroom teacher for 13 years, Byers later served as director of West Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center (SERRC) from 1998- 2005. He earned a bachelor's degree from Bluffton University, obtained special education certification from Wright State University and a master's in specail education administration from the University of Dayton.
Susan Carpenter
Susan S. Carpenter, assistant professor of English, joined the Bluffton faculty in 2005. A published author of short stories, poetry and essays, Carpenter is working on a novel, LIberty Boulevard, the first draft of which she completed for her dissertation. Carpenter recieved her bachelor's degree from Case-Western Reserve University in 1969, her master's degree from Antioch College Graduate School of Education in 1971 and her doctorate in English and comparative literature from the University of Cincinnati in 2005. She has taught at Wittenberg University and Antioch College.
Ronald L. Friesen, Ph.D.
Dr. Ron Friesen, emertius professor of economics, taught economics in the Bluffton economics, business administration and accounting department from 1969- 2003. A 1961 Bethel (Kan.) College graduate, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 1962 and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1973. He has collected toys for many years and researched the important roles that toys perform in our society.
Randy Keeler
Randy Keeler has served as campus pastor at Bluffton University since 1991. Originally from Souderton, Pa., Keeler is a 1980 Bluffton graduate. In 1986 he earned a master’s of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and is currently a D.M. candidate. In the past he has served as a conference youth minister, Boys Club and summer camp program director, youth peace educator and head coach of the Bluffton University men’s soccer team.
George Lehman, EDM
George Lehman, professor of business, joined the Bluffton faculty in 1994. He serves as chair of the economics, business and accounting department and director of the graduate management program. Before joining the Bluffton faculty, Lehman served as chief operating officer of Praire View, Inc., a psychiatirc hospital in Kansas. He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Bluffton, and MBA with an emphasis on not-for-profit insitutions from the University of Pittsburg, and an executice doctor in managment form Case Western Reserve University.
Michael Lenza, Ph.D.
Michael Lenza, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, joined the Bluffton faculty in 2005. He holds a bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State University, and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A prepublication version of his research, titled The Prevailing Injustices in the Application of the Death Penalty in Missouri, 1978-1996, has been entered into evidence before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, Western Division.
Bill Lyons
An assistant professor of business at Bluffton since 1988, Bill Lyons is also a stockholder of WDOH Radio Corp, Delphos. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Findlay and a master's from St. Francis College in Ft. Wayne, Ind. A member of American Marketing Association, Advertising Club and Small Business Institute Directors, he has presented numerous presentations on small business management and provided support for small businesses through marketing studies and analyses of management and marketing activities.
Gerald J. Mast, Ph.D.
Dr. Gerald Mast, associate professor of communication, co-edited (with J. Denny Weaver) Teaching Peace: Nonviolence and the Liberal Arts (2003). He received his bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Malone College. His master’s and Ph.D. are from the University of Pittsburgh in rhetoric and communication with a dissertation topic of Social Movement Rhetorics of the Radical Reformation. He joined the Bluffton University faculty in 1996.
Louise Matthews
Louise Matthews is the newly appointed director of The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center of Bluffon University. A graduate of Hesston College and Bluffton University, with a degree in elementary education, Matthews currently serves as advisor to Bluffton University's International Connection student organization and holds volunteer leadership positions at the congregational level in peace and justice concerns.
The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center is a place where both students and teachers are challenged with various aspects of peacemaking and justice through fine art and literature. An understanding and appreciation for other cultures, global awarness and non-violent lifestyles are emphasized. Visitors are encouraged to browse though the shelves of more than 5,500 volumes of children's literature on peace and peace-related topics, enjoy the art and sculptures inside and out and discover for themselves how choosing peace is a daily choice. Programs and presentations at the center provide opportunities for both children and adults to consider various peace issues.
Guy Neal
Guy Neal, assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation and head men’s basketball coach, was named coach-of-the-year by the Association of Mideast Colleges in 1992 and by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2001. He joined the BC faculty in 1989. Neal played basketball at Bowling Green State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He played on the 1981 MAC championship team and served as a graduate assistant for the 1983 championship team.
Christine Nerad, Ph.D.
Christine Nerad joined the Bluffton faculty in 2003 and now serves as an associate professor of fashion and interiors, retail merchandising and design coordinator. A graduate of Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in retail merchandising and art, she holds a master's degree from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in American Culture Studies, Material Culture, Sociology and Women's Studies from Bowling Green State University.
Carrie Phillips
As the archives and special collections librarian, Carrie Phillipsis responsible for preservation efforts for all library collections and supervises the University Archives and all special collections, including Mennonite Historical Collections of Musselman Library. She serves as the education and programs chair of the Ohio Preservation Council and is a member of sever other library professional organizations. She earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Bluffton University and a master of library and information science from the University of Washington.
Steve Smucker
Prior to joining the faculty at Bluffton in 2004, head soccer coach Steve Smucker taught physical education and coached boys soccer at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Lansdale, PA. In 2002, he lead Dock to their first state soccer title, earning five separate coach of-the-year honors in the process. Smucker's education includes degrees from Hesston College, Goshen College and Temple University. He is a fully licensed coach with the United States Soccer Federation and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Smucker has extensive soccer clinician experience and is very involved in his church and community.
Kay Soltesz, Ph.D.
Dr. Kay Soltesz, professor of dietetics, has published several reserarch articles on the relationship of diet to disease risk and has been a dietetics educator for the past 15 years. The chair of the family and consumer sciences department, Soltesz earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, a master's from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. with a major in health education and minor in educational psychology from the University of Toledo. She joined the Bluffton family and consumer sceinces department in 1995.
Rosalie Stluka
Rosalie Stluka provides counseling service to Bluffton University students on a part-time basis. She served as executive director of a family service agency in Lima for 12 years before opening her current private practicein 1986. She has been in the counseling field for more than 30 years where her specialty is marriage/family life and relationship concerns. She received a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan.
Philip Sugden
Since graduating from art schools in New York and Paris, Phil Sugden has made more than 11 journeys to the Himalayas and Tibet as a working artist. Drawings created on location serve as preliminary studies for his larger studio works and later the book Visions from the Fields of Merit. In 1990, he and writer Carole Eichert received grants to create a video and campanion book based on their 1988 Cultural Arts Expedition to the Himalayas and Tibet. The result was a PBS televisionn presentation and book titled White Lotus. In 1991, the two helped coordinate the Dalai Lama's only Midwest speaking engagement, which was held in Findlay. Phil joined the Bluffton faculty in 2004 where he is an assistant professor of art.
J. Peter Suter, doctoral cand.
J. Peter Suter, assistant professor of business, joined the Bluffton faculty in 2002. He previously served as Bluffton's director of planned giving. He earned both undergraduate and master's degrees from Bluffton. He is a doctoral candidate at the Falls School of Business, Anderson Universtiy,. He and his wife are founders of the Common Grounds Coffee House in downtown Bluffton.
For more information or to schedule a speaker, contact the public relation office at news@bluffton.edu at least two weeks prior to your meeting.
