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Don Bergfield
Associate professor, Agriculture
AS Parkland College • BS University of Illinois • MEd, University of Illinois
Don teaches a variety of agriculture classes at Parkland including Crop Science, Agri-Business Work Exploration/International
Agriculture Field Experience, Agriculture Business Management I, Weed Identification/Control, Soil Fertility/Fertilizer,
and Agri-Business Seminar. In addition to teaching, Don is the co-coordinator of the International Study Abroad programs.
Find topics for this speaker under: Business and Agriculture
Chris Berti
Associate professor, Art
BFA with honors, Alfred University, New York • MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan
Chris has been teaching sculpture, 3-D design, and ceramics at Parkland College since 1985. His artwork is included in various collections throughout the
U.S., and he has an extensive exhibition record and an Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Fellowship.
Find topics for this speaker under: Arts and Entertainment
Rich Blazier
Professor emeritus, Biology
BS, University of Illinois • MS, University of Illinois
Rich has taught biology at Parkland for over 36 years. For 11 years he was chair of the Natural Sciences Department and for the past several years he has
taught BIO 107, Introduction to Evolution. He has BS and MS degrees in the teaching of biology.
Find topics for this speaker under: Math and Science
Martha Bowser-Kiener
Associate professor, French
BA, University of Illinois • MA, University of Illinois
Martha has been involved in various facets of international education since 1985, including teaching French and English as a Second Language, organizing
and leading tours abroad, and directing student and faculty exchanges. She has traveled to over 40 countries and, thus, has many interesting stories
to tell!
Find topics for this speaker under: Sports and Travel
Stephen E. Brown
Professor Emeritus, Speech Communication and Mass Media
AA, Sauk Valley College • BA, Illinois State University • MA, Illinois State University
Stephen’s experience spans 40 years in radio, television, performing arts, and public speaking. He has taught public speaking, mass, and group communication at Parkland College for 26 years. He recently published The Credibility Keys, an introductory text for speech communication, and is co-author of The Critical Thinker’s Casebook, a collection of case studies in business and communication ethics. Steve’s interests include Civil War history, amateur (“ham”) radio, genealogy, and motor sports.
Find topics for this speaker under: Business and Agriculture, Communications, Education, History, Sports and Travel
Toni Marie Burkhalter
Associate Professor, Biology
BS, UIUC • MS, UIUC
Toni teaches The Fundamentals of Nutrition, Health, Human Movement and Exercise Physiology. Her interests include the effects of exercise, nutrition and stress on the body..
Find topics for this speaker under: Health
Tom Caulfield
Director, Student Life
B.S., University of Illinois • MS, Eastern Illinois University • EdS, Northern Illinois University
• EdD, Northern Illinois University
Professionally, Tom has presented at national and state conferences on Student Development as well as having his writing
on Community Service Learning published in the National Community College Journal.
Find topics for this speaker under: Personal Growth and Life Skills, Technology
Lisa Costello
Director, Art Gallery
BFA, University of Illinois • MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan
Lisa has served as the Parkland Art Gallery director since 2004. Prior to this she worked at Krannert Art Museum, and
has taught at the University of Illinois, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and James Madison University. She is a practicing artist; her work
was displayed at the Evanston Art Center in an exhibition entitled “Better than Nature” in 2005.
Find topics for this speaker under: Arts and Entertainment
Brett Coup
Director, Distance and Virtual Learning
BS, Illinois State University • MA, Northern Illinois University
BBrett oversees Parkland’s online courses and its television studio. Before coming to Parkland, he was a faculty member at Heartland Community College
teaching both online and classroom courses in web technology. Brett’s professional experience ranges from graphic design to web programming to TV
production.
Find topics for this speaker under: Technology
Lauren Henry
Instructor, Humanities
Lauren teaches English as a Second Language classes at Parkland College.
Find topics for this speaker under: Health
Bruce Henrikson
Chair, Business and Agri-Industries Department
Professor, Agriculture
BS, University of Illinois • MEd, University of Illinois
Find topics for this speaker under: Business and Agriculture
Judith E. Henthorn
Professor Emeritus, Dental Hygiene, Health Professions
AAS, Parkland College • BS, Eastern Illinois University • MSEd, Eastern Illinois University
Judith began teaching at Parkland College in both Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene in 1976. She was co-director of the Dental Hygiene program
from 1990 until her retirement in 2008.
Find topics for this speaker under: Health
Sara Holmes
Aromatherapy Instructor, Health Professions
BS, Greenville College
Sara is a certified and registered aromatherapist and massage therapist. She owns her own business, Botanical
Health Arts, and is a contributing writer for the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy. She enjoys spending time
in her aromatic garden..
Find topics for this speaker under: Health
Marsh Jones
Associate professor, History
BS, University of Illinois • MA, University of Illinois • PhD, University of Illinois
Marsh has enjoyed teaching history at the college level for over 15 years. He was awarded the All-Campus and LAS teaching awards while at the University
of Illinois and the ICCTA teaching award at Parkland College. He has numerous publications and presentations relating to Victorian England, the
online tutoring system, and the history of ethics.
Find topics for this speaker under: Communications, Education, History, Technology
Mark Kesler
Instructor, Business and Agri-Industries
Mark teaches management and small business management courses at Parkland.
He was a Subway franchisee for 17 years and worked for the Subway
Corporation for three years. He currently owns and manages several real
estate properties in the area.
Find topics for this speaker under: Business and Agriculture
Rich Lake
Dean, Career Programs
BA, Wichita State University • MEd, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Rich has 30+ years in community colleges and technical institutes as a teacher and administrator, and six years in secondary instruction. He performs extensive
work with advisory committees and other community leaders to determine the skills people need in the local workplace. Rich is a trained DACUM
facilitator and a work ethics curriculum trainer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education and the master’s degree in Vocational Education and
Educational Administration.
Find topics for this speaker under: Personal Growth and Life Skills
David Leake
Coordinator, William M. Staerkel Planetarium
Associate professor, Natural Sciences
BS, University of Illinois • MEd, University of Illinois
Dave has been sharing the night sky with school children at the Staerkel Planetarium since 1987. As coordinator, he presents programs, handles
outreach, coordinates marketing and publications, and works with the media. He also teaches physics and astronomy in the Department of Natural
Sciences. As one of the founding members of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, you can often find Dave outside with a telescope looking at
the real sky.
Find topics for this speaker under: Math, Science, Religion
Rod Lovett
Director, Athletics
Director, Sports Information
BA, University of Illinois • MS, Universtiy of Illinois
Rod has served as head coach for the Parkland baseball team and directs the Athletics program. He joined Parkland in 2000.
Find topics for this speaker under: Education, Sports and Travel
Joyce D. Meyer
Instructor, Social Sciences
MSW, University of Illinois • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Illinois
Joyce teaches a variety of social sciences classes at Parkland College including Social Problems, Juvenile Delinquency,
Sociology of Deviant Behavior, and Criminology.
Find topics for this speaker under: Education
Billie Mitchell
Director, Adult Re-entry Center
BS, Eastern Illinois University • MS, Eastern Illinois University
As director of the Adult Re-entry Center, Billie assists new adult college students as well as those who have had an interruption in their degree completion
goals. She was a first-time college student herself at age 30 and continued her education through the master’s degree—all while working full
time. This gives her firsthand experience with the challenges, demands, and sacrifices adult students make to get through college. Billie has a genuine
enthusiasm for life, people, and her work.
Find topics for this speaker under: Personal Growth and Life Skills
Marva Nelson
Instructor, English and Critical Studies
BA, Southern Illinois University • MFA, Southern Illinois University
Marva has explored the wide world of work. After working in the military, a major corporation, a nonprofit organization, and a federal prison, she
decided to shed her nomadic ways (much to her parents’ relief ), and settled down at Parkland College in 2001. Marva earned her bachelor’s degree in
English and master’s degree in creative writing.
Find topics for this speaker under: Communications, Education, History
Don Nolen
Professor emeritus, Philosophy
BA, Baylor University • MA, Baylor University
Don taught at Parkland for more than 30 years. During that time, he served terms as the chair of Parkland’s Strategic Planning Committee and president
of the Parkland College Association. He is a past president of the Champaign Unit #4 School Board. Don has authored several texts on logic and critical
thinking, as well as articles on philosophy, the humanities, liberal arts, and educational reform.
Find topics for this speaker under: Business and Agriculture, Education, Health, Math, Science, Religion, Personal Growth and Life Skills, Technology
Joe Omo-Osagie
Counselor, Counseling and Advising Center
AA, Parkland College • BA, University of Illinois • MSEd, Eastern Illinois University
Joe has taught part time at Parkland College in the Social Sciences Department and is a counselor in the Counseling and Advising Center. He has worked as a counselor and fitness trainer for many years with children and adults. He is a trained mediator. Joe is willing to talk about a variety of subjects including:
healthy eating habits, working with difficult people, Multi cultural issues in relationships and at work, parenting children, and new leadership games and activities.
Find topics for this speaker under: Health, Personal Growth and Life Skills
John Poling
Part-time instructor, History
MS, Illinois State University, American History
John’s area of specialty is 20th-century gay history. His master’s thesis was entitled “Mattachine Midwest: History of a
Chicago Gay Civil Rights Organization.” He published an article entitled “Chicago” in Scribner’s 2003 Encyclopedia of
American LGBT History and Culture. John’s writings have appeared in Chicago History magazine.
Find topics for this speaker under: History
Tom Ramage
President, Parkland College
BA, Governors State University • MA, The George Washington University •
EdD, Nova Southeastern University
Tom came to Parkland College in July 1998 as chair of the Distance and Virtual Learning department. In 2001, he was named associate vice president for
Academic Services and later associate vice president for Information Services. Tom was named acting vice president for Academic and Student Services
in July 2003 and one year later became Parkland’s vice president for Academic Services. He was named interim president in 2007, and president in January
2008.
Find topics for this speaker under: Education
Jonathan Ross
Associate professor, Automotive Technology
AAS, Parkland College • BS, Southern Illinois University
JJon has been teaching automotive technology at Parkland since 1997. His industry experience includes positions as a line technician, a customer and
technical support representative for Chevrolet Motor Division, and a warranty claims representative for Cummins Engine Company. He helped develop
the only Automotive Youth Education System (AYES) training program for high schools in downstate Illinois. Jon serves on the board of directors for the
Illinois College Automotive Instructors Association.
Find topics for this speaker under: Technology
Umeeta Sadarangani
Professor, English
BA, Cedar Crest College • MA, Northeastern University • PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
Umeeta was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, and spent her childhood near the city. After spending her teenage years in Kuwait, she came to the U.S. to attend college in 1984, earning three degrees in two different states. In addition to teaching literature, writing, and humanities courses at Parkland since 1997, Umeeta is also a visual artist who has displayed her work in local galleries as well as out of state. Umeeta also writes for publication. She enjoys going abroad—especially to Europe, where she first traveled at age 14, and to India, where much of her extended family lives. Her travels have a strong influence on her creative work. Umeeta holds a doctorate in English.
Find topics for this speaker under: Personal Growth and Life Skills
Jim Trefzger
Professor, Mathematics
BS, University of Illinois • MS, University of Illinois
Jim has taught college-level mathematics for 30+ years and has coauthored three textbooks published by Prentice Hall, including Technical Mathematics
with Calculus (second ed.,) by Ewen, Gary, and Trefzger. He earned an American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges’ Teaching Excellence
Award and awards from the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges, among others.
Jim has played French horn and trumpet since age 16.
Find topics for this speaker under: Arts and Entertainment, Math, Science, Religion
Gina D. Walls
Professor, Sociology and Educational Psychology
BA, University of Illinois • MA, Illinois State University • PhD, University of Illinois
As a former student at Parkland herself, Gina enjoys teaching sociology and psychology courses at Parkland. In addition to her educator role, Gina is a
horse owner and enthusiast. She has earned degrees in sociology and a doctorate degree in educational psychology.
Find topics for this speaker under: Personal Growth/Life Skills Development
Julie Weishar
Associate professor, Fine and Applied Arts
AA, Triton College • BA, Rosary College • MA, University of Illinois
Julie has taught speech communication and theatre for more than 20 years at both the high school and college level. She has taught at Parkland since
1994 on a variety of subjects within speech communication, including business, professional, and interpersonal communication. In addition, she has
given workshops, speeches, and motivational presentations on a variety of communication topics in Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Virginia..
Find topics for this speaker under: Education, Personal Growth and Life Skills
Kris Young
Vice President for Academic Services
BS, Muhlenberg College • MS, University of North Carolina • EdD, University of Illinois
Kris came to Parkland in 1998 and became chair of the Natural Science Department in 2004. Her presentation interests include the community college mission, shared governance, and distance education. She was named vice president in 2008.
Find topics for this speaker under: Education
Paul Young
Associate professor, Fine and Applied Arts
BFA, University of Illinois
Paul has been a graphic designer for over 20 years, designing logos, websites, advertising, and more. He worked in ad agencies, design firms, publishing
firms, and in-house corporate art departments in New York City and Milwaukee. Paul taught graphic design at Parsons School of Design and Milwaukee
Institute of Art and Design before joining Parkland in 1999. He is a partner with his wife Bonnie Burgund in a design studio, Electric Pictures, in Champaign.
Find topics for this speaker under: Arts and Entertainment, Technology
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Parkland Home | Site Map | Web Administrator | Updated: Wed, 02 Jul 2003 16:05:46 GMT