
Faculty
Meet the Faculty
Brian Christoffersen
Visiting Assistant Professor
Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 409B
Phone: 319.399.8510
Email: bchristoffersen@coe.edu
Educational Background:
- B.A., Elementary/Middle School Education, University of Northern Iowa
- MEd, Educational Leadership, University of Texas, San Antonio
Exceptional learners (EDU 117)
Dianna Geers
Visiting Assistant Professor
Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 402A
Phone: 319.399.8124
Email: dgeers@coe.edu
Educational Background:
- B.A., Elementary Education, Mount Mercy University
- M.A., Special Education, The University of Iowa
- M.A., Library and Information Science, The University of Iowa
Stacy Haynes-Moore
Assistant Professor
Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 404
Phone: 319.399.8263
Email: smoore@coe.edu
Educational Background:
- B.A., Communications Journalism, Truman State University
- M.A.T., English Education, The University of Iowa
- Ph.D., Language, Literacy, and Culture, The University of Iowa
What are your research and academic interests?
Sociocultural theory and critical discourse analysis influence my approaches to research. Some of my academic interests include issues of equity in curriculum and assessment; teachers' classroom instruction; student writing and literacies; and teacher education.
Courses I teach at Coe?
Educational Foundations (EDU 105)
Human Relations (EDU 187)
Literature K-12 (EDU 270)
Methods of Secondary English Language Arts (EDU 311)
Practicum (EDU 215)
Teaching Background:
Classroom Teacher (21 years) Language Arts and Journalism
Program Adviser, Student Journalism
Instructional Coach (Secondary Grades 9-12)
District Content Lead (ELA Secondary Grades 6-12)
What special activities are you involved in at Coe?
I teach courses that involve student participation with our local schools and community. We visit and observe K-12 classrooms and also learn from a variety of nonprofits that extend and enrich understandings of youth, families, and community. For example, some site visits and speakers include Feed Iowa First, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Mother Mosque of America, Kids on Course, African American Museum of Iowa, Catherine McAuley Center, and Forest School at Indian Creek Nature Center.
What is your favorite Coe tradition?
Opening day! A favorite anticipated moment is meeting my students and beginning to hear their stories about who they are and who they may want to be as future teachers.
Sarah Kress
Associate Professor, Chair
Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 409C
Phone: 319.399.8813
Email: skress@coe.edu
Educational Background:
- B.A., Elementary Education, Coe College, 1999
- K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom
- K-8 English/Language Arts
- K-8 Reading
- M.A., Educational Leadership, Drake University, 2006
- PK-12 Principal
- PK-12 Special Education Supervisor
- Evaluator
What are your research and academic interests?
Connecting current brain research with instructional practices is an ongoing interest. Motivation of all learners is also an area that I enjoy teaching. I also focus on teaching differentiation strategies and accelerating skills of all learners.
Courses I teach at Coe?
Practicum in Elementary Education (EDU 215)
Expressive Methods (EDU 300)
Methods of Elementary Science (EDU 305)
Diagnostic Reading (EDU 395)
What special activities are you involved in at Coe?
Many of the classes I teach involve a hands-on field experience in area classrooms; I enjoy visiting students in the classroom. Observing, providing feedback and discussing teaching with Coe students is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. I enjoy seeing the work Coe students do with their students and being available to provide assistance and ongoing feedback each time they teach.
What is your favorite Coe tradition?
The ringing of the victory bell. Not only is this tradition a link to Coe’s past and my own experience here, heard across campus, it is a reminder of the hard work our students do in and out of the classroom.
Betsy Kigin
Field Placement Coordinator
Contact Information:
Office: 409A Stuart Hall
Email: bkigin@coe.edu
Phone: 319.399.8575
Educational background:
- B.A., University of Iowa
Special activities involved with at Coe:
I've been with the Education Department for over 21 years and have enjoyed getting to know students and placing them in area schools for their field experiences and student teaching. Working and collaborating with my colleagues is one of my strengths. Recently, I served as a staff mentor with Coach Atwater in his First Year Seminar course. I was able to share my love of yoga by leading students in a FYS class.
Outside interests:
On most days you can find me in the ARC over the noon hour working out. I love to hike, bike, do yoga and bake cakes. You can often find me reading a bestseller in my free time and streaming movies during the cold winter months. Last year I was able to spend some time in Florida walking on the beach and enjoying the sunsets.
Mandi Gaylord Robertson
- B.A./B.S., University of North Dakota
- M.A.T., University of Northern Iowa
Courses:
Methods of World Language K-12 (EDU 321)
John Lawrence Hanson
- B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.A.T., University of Iowa
- Ed.D., University of Northern Iowa
- Graduate Certificate in Sociology, Appalachian State University
Courses:
Exceptional Learners (EDU 117)
Megan Hanson
- B.A., Coe College, 2009
- M.A., University of Northern Iowa, 2015
Courses:
Methods of Secondary Mathematics (EDU 313)
Mathematics Comprehension for Teaching (EDU 275)
Kim Hynek
- B.A., Coe College, 1993
- M.A., Graceland University, May 2005
Courses:
Secondary Business Methods (EDU 310)
Sean Neilly
- B.A., History, University of Iowa, 1997
- M.A., Social Studies Education, University of Iowa, 2001
Courses:
Secondary Social Studies Methods (EDU 312)
Suzanne Zahn
- B.A., Marquette University
- M.A.T., University of Iowa
Courses:
Methods of Secondary Language Arts (EDU 311)
Chad Zrudsky
- B.A., Coe College, 2001
- M.A.T., University of Northern Iowa, 2008
Courses:
Methods of Secondary Science (EDU 320)
Roger Johanson
Professor of Education, Emeritus
Educational Background:
- Ph.D., Cornell University, 1979, Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education and Educational Research Methods
- M.S., Cornell University, 1976
- B.A., Luther College, 1971, Math and Psychology
Terry McNabb
Professor of Education, Emerita Associate Dean of the Faculty
Educational background:
- Ph.D., University of Iowa, Educational Psychology (1986)
- M.Ed., University of Virginia, Counselor Education (1975)
- B.A., Western Michigan University, History and Sociology (1972)
Teaching Background:
High school American and World History (Farmington, Michigan and Bangkok, Thailand)
Middle school Social Studies (Charlottesville, Virginia)
High school Counseling (Ruamrudee International School, Bangkok, Thailand)
Classes Taught at Coe
Educational Psychology
Research and Academic Interests:
Appropriate application of neuroscience findings to education
Academic motivation
Uses and misuses of standardized testing in schools
Research on memory and student learning
Special Activities at Coe:
Associate Dean of the Faculty (2010-2016)
J-term trips to England and Thailand (1998, 2000, 2002)
Led Asian Studies term in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam (2008)
Favorite Coe memory/tradition:
I love the opening of the school year when faculty applaud the first-year students into the college and the end of the school year when we applaud them into the next part of their lives. Commencement is both thrilling and sad, but one Coe tradition I love is that so many students stay in touch with their professors!