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.

Crystal Triplett

Learning Commons Office & Project Coordinator

Email: ctriplett@coe.edu

Oversees scheduling for all Learning Commons programs, events and appointments. 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.

Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez

Head of Reference, Instructor & Learning Commons Consultant

Email: egalvez@coe.edu

Oversees First-Year Seminar library instruction programming. Personal librarian to students in several disciplines including Chemistry, Communication, English and Athletic Training. Troubleshoots issues with library resources, selects and maintains databases, teaches and assists students with research. Creates self-directed online research activities tailored to specific research assignments.

Lois Kabela Coates

Director of TRIO/Academic Achievement Program & Academic Coach

Email: lkabela@coe.edu

Directs Coe's federally-funded TRIO Grant. Provides academic coaching, time management and study skills assistance, career and major exploration, financial literacy education, assistance making connections at Coe and finding solutions to Coe-related problems (offered primarily to students eligible for AAP services).

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).

Nathan Hodges

Director of the Speaking Center & Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

Email: nhodges@coe.edu

Offers consultations (walk-in, by appointment), classroom workshops and campus events aimed at developing speaking skills within a variety of contexts; provides; Leads Teaching and Learning Workshops that address how to integrate oral communication into any classroom

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.

Karen Swenson

TRIO/Academic Achievement Program Administrative Assistant

Email: kswenson@coe.edu

Assists the APP staff with projects and programs. Interacts with AAP students to answer questions, proctor tests, offer support and connect students to various supports across campus.

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.