KOKOMO, Ind. — Fourteen new faculty members join Indiana University Kokomo, teaching a variety of subjects, ranging from sports and recreation management to psychology, and education to computer science.
Mark Canada, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, welcomed them, noting that faculty are “the heart of IU Kokomo.”
“We succeed in transforming students’ lives because of their creativity, knowledge, and commitment to student success. This year, we will welcome some new creative and highly dedicated faculty to our campus, and I’m excited about the energy they will bring to campus,” he said.
Division of Allied Health Sciences
Ju Young Lee, assistant professor of sports and recreation management. He earned a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Master of Science (M.S.) in Kinesiology, and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Kinesiology from Indiana University. Previously, he was a full-time instructor at Texas Tech University, Lubbock.
Library
James Rodgers, assistant librarian, technical services. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia; and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Musicology and Master of Library Science from Indiana University. He also completed Ph.D. coursework in the IU School of Music. Previously he was an assistant professor and acquisitions librarian at University of Memphis.
School of Education
Sarrah J. Grubb, assistant professor of education. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. She earned an M.S. in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A,) in English Writing from DePauw University, Greencastle. Previously, she was an assistant professor of education at Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, Kentucky.
Cheryl L. Moore-Beyioku, visiting lecturer in special education. She earned an Ed.D. from Ball State University, an M.A. in Special Education from California State University, Los Angeles, and an M.A. in Urban Planning and B.A. in Environmental Design from the State University of New York, Buffalo. Previously, she was a visiting lecturer at IU South Bend.
Natalie R. Schelling, assistant professor of educational psychology. She earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Psychology from Ball State University, and a B.A. in Integrated Mathematics Education from Earlham College, Richmond. She was a graduate assistant at Ball State.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Nicholas M. Baxter, acting assistant professor of sociology. He is a Ph.D. candidate at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He earned an M.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Sociology and English from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Previously, he was a visiting instructor of sociology at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.
Yamini Bellare, clinical assistant professor of psychology. She completed a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University. She earned an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, and a B.A. in Psychology from Mumbai University, India.
Christopher Felts, acting assistant professor of criminal justice and homeland security. He is completing a Ph.D. in Criminology from University of Cincinnati. He earned an M.A. in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Murray State University, Kentucky. He was a graduate assistant at University of Cincinnati.
Alex R. Gillham, visiting lecturer in philosophy. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Purdue University and a B.A. in Philosophy & Classics from Wabash College, Crawfordsville. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor at IU Kokomo and Ivy Tech Community College.
Amy L. Salmeto-Johnson, assistant professor of psychology. She earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Psychology from University of Mississippi, Oxford, and a B.A. in Psychology from Albion College in Michigan. Previously, she was an assistant professor of psychology at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa.
Kelsie H. Walker, visiting lecturer of English. She is completing her Ph.D. in English, Rhetoric and Composition from Ball State University. She earned an M.A. in Professional and Technical Writing, a B.A. in Professional and Technical Writing, and a B.A. in German Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Previously, she was a graduate teaching assistant and an assistant director of the writing center at Ball State University.
School of Nursing
Lenora Maze, lecturer in nursing. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. Previously she was a clinical nurse specialist for critical care and neuroscience.
School of Sciences
M. Abdullah Canbaz, assistant professor of computer science. He earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of Nevada, Reno, where he was a lecturer. He earned M.S. degrees in computer and information Science from Indiana University — Purdue University Indianapolis and in information technology from International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey.
James Carter, lecturer in mathematics. He earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Purdue University, an M.S. in Mathematics from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio; and a B.S. in Mathematics from University of Pittsburgh. Previously, he was a mathematics instructor at Butler University, Indianapolis.
Christopher Caruvana, visiting assistant professor of mathematics. He earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics from University of North Texas, Denton, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor at University of North Texas.
IU Kokomo’s Future Faculty Teaching Fellow (FFTF) is Amelia Volwiler-Stanley, who will teach in the New Media Art Technology program. The FFTF program gives doctoral students at IU Bloomington an opportunity to spend one or two semesters as a part-time faculty member on another campus.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.