Meet the Staff

Gina Hausknecht

Associate Dean for Student Academics, John William King Professor of Literature & Creative Writing & Learning Commons Consultant

Coordinates Learning Commons staff, resources and activities. Helps faculty provide academic support for students, including developing new initiatives and resources. Offers students guidance with academic planning including majors, practicum and the college's other requirements and opportunities.

John Chaimov

Director of Off-Campus Study & Associate Professor of German

Email: jchaimov@coe.edu

Works with students as early as the first year to start laying the groundwork for off-campus study around the world, typically as juniors or seniors.

Laura Van Buer

Learning Commons Program Coordinator & Academic Coach

Email: lvanbuer@coe.edu

Provides academic coaching for students. Coordinates events such as Major Declaration Day and Student Research Symposium. Oversees student-managed coffee shop, Common Grounds and student digital content writers and maintains the Learning Commons website.

Nikki Stallman

TRIO/AAP Program Coordinator

Email: nstallman@coe.edu

Assists the director of Coe's TRIO/AAP program. Coordinates the Testing Center. Proctors and schedules tests.

Peggy Knott

Academic Technology Support Specialist & Fisher Music Library Assistant

Email: pknott@coe.edu

Provides technology support for faculty, staff and students. Researches academic technology options and solutions.

Michelle McIllece

TRIO/Academic Achievement Program Academic Coach, Tutoring Coordinator & Learning Commons Consultant

Email: mmcillec@coe.edu

Works primarily with AAP-eligible students on academic planning, personality and interest assessments (Strong and others), study skills and time management, and career and personal development. Offers customized class presentations for faculty to support their course learning goals.

Jane Nesmith

Director of the Writing Center & Assistant Professor of Rhetoric

Email: jnesmith@coe.edu

Offers conversations about writing at any stage of the writing process provides experienced students as Writing Fellows to classes across campus. Offers customized presentations on writing-centered topics. Sponsors and edits two literary journals (The Pearl and Colere).

Kim Pierson

TRIO/Academic Achievement Program Academic Coach, ADA Coordinator & Learning Commons Consultant

Email: kpierson@coe.edu

Works with students with accommodations. Collaborates with faculty on developing academic accommodations. Provides academic coaching, mentoring

Laura Riskedahl

Head of Audiovisual, Instructor & Learning Commons Consultant

Provides assistance with scheduling film screenings, film selection and video editing. Provides FYS, in class and one-on-one instruction for a variety of topics including the research process, visual literacy, copyright citation managers and mind mapping. Personal librarian to students in several disciplines including art and art history, theatre arts, music, economics and exploratory majors.

Rob Kuennen

Academic At-Large Advisor & Assistant Professor of Stead Department Business Administration and Economics

Email: rkuennen@coe.edu

Provides major explorations for students undecided about major.Provides general advising about the college's academic requirements and opportunities. Follows up with students identified as needing additional academic support.

Amber Shaw

Fulbright/National Fellowship Advisor & Assistant Professor of English

Email: ashaw@coe.edu

Assists students through all stages of the post-graduate fellowship process, from researching opportunities to reading drafts, including all steps between first intent and becoming a finalist.