Teacher Education

 

The Department of Teacher Education Faculty

 

Students learn from a highly experienced and caring group of faculty members. Each instructor possesses a background which strengthens his or her academic skills. Faculty members are very active in research and writing and they participate actively in workshops and seminars to stay current in their chosen field. They are leaders in the State of North Dakota in the field of education and their experience and abilities are recognized with appointments to professional responsibilities by their peers.

Ninety percent of the faculty members in the department have earned doctorate degrees (the highest academic degree), and others have experience which equates.

Students are assigned to an adviser who works closely with the individual in the Department of Teacher Education each semester. Caring and dedicated faculty members offer individual attention and help to train the kind of teachers who reflect creditably upon American education.

Dan Conner Dr. Daniel Conner
Chair of the Department of Teacher Education
Professor of Education & Psychology
Office: Klinefelter Hall 203
Phone: 483-2178
Email: dan.conner@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., M.Ed., Education, Oregon State University 
B.S., Elementary Education, Oregon State University
  • Teaches EDUC 405 - Educational Psychology and Evaluation
  • Supervises pre-teachers
  • Experience as a teacher in grades kindergarten – graduate school, and as an administrator in elementary and middle schools in Oregon and Alaska
  •  Faculty member since 1998

 

Robert HowmanDr. Robert Howman
Assistant Professor of Education
Coordinator of Education Program in Bismarck
Office: Located at Bismarck State College, 309 Schafer St, Room 203
Phone: 701-224-2480
Email: robert.howman@dickinsonstate.edu
Ed.D., Higher Education - Policy Analysis, College of William & Mary
Ed.S., Education Administration, College of William & Mary
M.S., Special Education - Diagnostics, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
B.S., Special/Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

  • Serves as Coordinator of Education in Bismarck.
  • Teaches PSYC 353 - Adolescent Psychology; SEED 300 - Secondary Curriculum & Effective Teaching; SEED 370 - Reading in the Content Areas; supervises pre-service teachers
  • Experience in higher education, as an exceptional education instructor, an executive director of special education, and a guidance specialist as well as a principal and vice principal
  • Faculty member since 2012


LouellaDr. Louella Aronson
Associate Professor of Education
Office: Located at Bismarck State College, Horizon Building
Phone: 701-224-2480
Email: Louella.Aronson@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., Human Development and Education, North Dakota State University
M.Ed., Special Education, University of North Dakota
Vocational Resource Educator Certification, University of North Dakota
Elementary Education Endorsement, Mayville State University
B.S., Secondary Mathematics Education, University of North Dakota 

  • Teaches SEED 298 – Pre-Professional Experience, Secondary; SEED 398B - Secondary Methods Block Field Experience; SEED 398C - Secondary Field Experience: Mentoring; PSYC 280 - Education of Exceptional Learners; EDUC 300 - Teaching for Diversity; EDUC 350 - Portfolio Preparation; SEED 390X - Secondary Math Methods;  supervises Pre-Service Teachers
  • Experience as an elementary teacher, middle school and secondary mathematics teacher, learning disability consultant, and regional education technologist for K–12 school districts
  • Faculty member since 2006

 

Renae EkstrandMs. Renae Ekstrand
Assistant Professor of Education
Office: Klinefelter Hall 211
Phone: 483-2424
Email: Renae.Ekstrand@dickinsonstate.edu
M.S.Ed., K-12 Education, Winona State University 
B.S. – Elementary Education, Bemidji State University 

  • Teaches ELED 238 - Children's Literature; ELED 300 - Elementary Curriculum & Language Arts; ELED 310 - Elementary Social Studies Methods; ELED 323 - Observation & Assessment in Kindergarten; ELED 324 - Kindergarten Curriculum, Methods, & Materials; EDUC 360 - Managing the Learning Environment; EC 310 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education; EC 313 - Language & Literacy in Early Childhood; ELED 398A - Kindergarten Pre-Professional Experience; supervises pre-service teachers
  • Experience as a sign language interpreter, as an elementary and middle school teacher, and at the post-secondary level prior to coming to DSU
  • Faculty member since 2011

 
Christine McCoy  Dr. Christine McCoy
Assistant Professor of Education
Office: Klinefelter Hall 210
Phone: 483-2317
Email: Christine.Mccoy@dickinsonstate.edu
M.A., Ed.S. and Ed.D. with certification in curriculum and instruction and specialization in reading, University of South Dakota
B.A., Secondary Education with concentration in Speech and Theatre, Southwest State University, Marshall MN  

  • Teaches EDUC 300 – Teaching for Diversity; ELED 281 - Reading for the Elementary Teacher; ELED 282 - Reading Across the Curriculum and Content Area; EDUC 350 – Portfolio Preparation; ELED 383 – Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Disabilities; ELED 484 –Practicum in Reading; ELED 390S - Elementary Education Science Methods
  • Supervises students in ELED 398B – Elementary Methods Block Field Experience
  • Experience teaching at the elementary, middle school, secondary and university level. Also has extensive training and experience as a reading specialist
  • Faculty member since 2007


Andrew McGarva Dr. Andrew McGarva
Professor of Psychology
Office: Klinefelter Hall 227
Phone: 483-2519
Email: Andrew.McGarva@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., Social Psychology, University of New Hampshire
M.A., Psychology, University of New Hampshire
B.A., Psychology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh 

  • Teaches PSYC 111 – Introduction to Psychology; PSYC 240 - Human Sexuality; PSYC 260 – History and Systems; PSYC 365 – Social Psychology; PSYC 355 – Psychology of Learning; PSYC 345 - Research and Experimentation in Psychology; PSYC 491 – Seminar in Psychology; PSYC 497 – Psychology Internship
  • Faculty member since 1997

 


Kevin_Moberg. Mr. Kevin Moberg
Assistant Professor of Education
Office: Klinefelter Hall 212
Phone: 483-2048
Email: Kevin.Moberg@dickinsonstate.edu
M.A., English, University of North Dakota
B.A., English and Honors, University of North Dakota

  • Teaches ASC 100 - Freshman Seminar (for education majors); EDUC 210 -Educational Technology; SEED 300 – Secondary Curriculum & Effective Teaching; SEED 490L - Methods of Teaching Secondary Language Arts; ENGL 382 - Adolescent Literature; supervises pre-service teachers
  • Experience teaching at the high school and university level
  • Served as coordinator for the Writing Center and for Supplemental Instruction at DSU’s Academic Success Center
  • Faculty member since 2008

 
Dawn OlsonDr. Dawn Olson
Director of Pre-Service Teaching and Field Experiences
Assistant Professor of Education
Office: Klinefelter Hall 209
Phone: 483-2027
Email: Dawn.Olson@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., Teaching and Learning, University of North Dakota
M.S., Management, Minot State University
B.S., Education, Minot State University

  • Places student for field experiences in Dickinson and Bismarck
  • Supervises students in field placements
  • Experience as VPAA at Williston State College
  • Experience in higher education at Minot State University and Valley City State University
  • Experience teaching secondary business courses at Watford City High School
  • Faculty member since 2009
  • Currently serving as Interim Dean of the College of Business, Education, and Applied Sciences

 

Suzanne RussDr. Suzanne Russ
Associate Professor of Psychology
Office: Klinefelter Hall 226
Phone: 483-2518
Email: Suzanne.Russ@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., Educational Psychology and Social Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 
M.S.Ed., Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 
B.A., Humanistic Studies and Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay  

  • Teaches PSYC 250 – Developmental Psychology; PSYC 280 – Education of Exceptional Learners; PSYC 353 – Adolescent Psychology; PSYC 375 – Theories of Personality;
  • Experience in elementary education and at the university level
  • Faculty member since 2008

 

Peter WilsonDr. Peter Wilson
Assistant Professor of Education
Office: Klinefelter Hall 208
Phone: 483-2517
Email: peter.a.wilson@dickinsonstate.edu
Ed.D. Teacher Education, University of Tennessee
M.A., University of South Florida
M.Ed., Boston University
B.A., Social Psychology, Park College

Teaches EDUC 250 - Introduction to Education; SEED 370 - Reading in the Content Areas; EDUC 360 - Managing the Learning Environment; SEED 490D - Methods of Teaching Social Science; supervises pre-service teachers

  • Experience in higher education at the University of Tennessee
  • Has worked as an elementary school guidance counselor and in special education
  • Taught high school Social Studies and served as a Guidance Counselor 
  • Faculty member since 2012

 

Wendy WilsonDr. Wendy Wilson
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Office: Klinefelter Hall 225
Phone: 483-2386
Email: Wendy.L.Wilson@dickinsonstate.edu
Ph.D., M.S., B.S. - Psychology, Washington State University

Teaches PSYC 289H - Group Dynamics; PSYC 320 - Health Psychology; PSYC 335 - Biological Psychology; PSYC 370 - Abnormal Psychology; PSYC 491 - Seminar in Psychology

  • Experience as a research technician at the University of Washington and as a Veterinary Technician in the state of Washington
  • Experience at the post-secondary level at the University of South Florida, the University of British Columbia, the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Spokane Community College
  • Faculty member since 2011