Faculty - Department of Teacher Education

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.

	Dr. Daniel Conner Chair of the Department of Teacher Education Associate Professor of Education & Psychology Klinefelter Hall 203 Phone: 483-2178 BS - Elementary Education, Oregon State University; MEd – Education, Oregon State University; PhD – 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.
	Dr. Louella Aronson Assistant Professor of Education Coordinator of Elementary Education Program in Bismarck Office Located at Bismarck State College 309 Schafer St, Room 203 Phone: 701-224-5631 BS – Secondary Mathematics Education, University of North Dakota; Elementary Education Endorsement, Mayville State University; Vocational Resource Educator Certification, University of North Dakota; MEd – Special Education, University of North Dakota; PhD – Human Development and Education, North Dakota State University. Serves as Coordinator of Elementary Education in Bismarck Teaches ELED 383 – Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Disabilities; ELED 484 –Practicum in Reading; SEED 298 – Pre-Professional Experience, Secondary,and 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.
	Ms. Lori Gibson Associate Professor of Education Office Located at Bismarck State College 309 Schafer St. Phone: 701-224-2433 BS - Physical Education, Dickinson State University; MEd – Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University; certified K-12 Physical Education, 7-12 Mathematics in Arizona and North Dakota Teaches EDUC 300 – Teaching for Diversity; EDUC 305 – Philosophy and Curriculum of Middle School; EDUC 310 – Methods of Teaching Middle School; EDUC 405 – Educational Psychology and Evaluation; PSYC 353 – Adolescent Psychology; SEED 390X – Teaching Secondary School Mathematics; SEED 300 – Secondary Curriculum and Effective Teaching Supervises pre-service teachers Experience as Staff Developer in Bismarck and as a math consultant Experience in the public schools as a teacher in North Dakota and Arizona Faculty member since 2008
	Dr. Doug LaPlante Dean, College of Education , Business, and Applied Sciences Professor of Education May Hall 101 Phone: 483-2151 BA - Safety Education/Sociology, University of Northern Iowa; MEd - Educational Psychology, University of Northern Iowa; PhD - Higher Education, Iowa State University. Faculty member since 1991.
	Ms. Christine McCoy Assistant Professor of Education Klinefelter Hall Room 210 Phone: 483-2317 BA– Secondary Education with concentration in Speech and Theatre, Southwest State University, Marshall MN; MA, Ed. S. and Ed. D with certification in curriculum and instruction and specialization in reading, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD. Teaches EDUC 300 – Teaching for Diversity; ELED 281 - Reading for the Elementary Teacher; ELED 282 - Reading Across the Curriculum and Content Area; ; EDUC 360 – Managing the Learning Environment 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.
	Dr. Andrew McGarva Associate Professor of Psychology Klinefelter Hall 227 Phone: 483-2519 BA – Psychology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh ; MA - Psychology, University of New Hampshire ; PhD - Social Psychology; University of New Hampshire 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.
	Mr. Kevin Moberg Assistant Professor of Education Klinefelter Hall Room 212 Phone: 483-2048 BA – English and Honors, University of North Dakota; MA – English, University of North Dakota Teaches EDUC 210 -Educational Technology; SEED 298 – Pre-Professional Experience: Secondary; SEED 300 – Secondary Curriculum & Effective Teaching; SEED 498 – Teaching in the Secondary School. Supervises students in Secondary Methods Block Field Experience 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.
	Dr. Dawn Olson Director of Pre-Service Teaching and Field Experiences Assistant Professor of Education Klinefelter Hall Room 209 Phone: 483-2027 BS – Education, Minot State University; MS – Management, Minot State University; Ph.D. – Teaching and Learning, University of North Dakota 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
	Dr. Rebecca Pitkin Assistant Professor of Education Klinefelter Hall Room 208 Phone: 483-2517 BS – Elementary Education, Gordon College, Wenham MA; MEd – Curriculum and Instruction with Reading Specialist Endorsement, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; MEd – Educational Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; PhD – Educational Leadership, Iowa State University. Teaches EDUC 250 – Introduction to Education; SEED 298 – Pre-Professional Experience, Secondary; SEED 370 – Reading in the Content Areas; and supervises secondary Pre-Service Teachers. Experience as a teacher in grades two – graduate school in seven states: North Dakota, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Hawaii, Virginia, and Nevada Faculty member since 2006.
	Dr.Suzzane Russ Assistant Professor of Psychology Klinefelter Hall Room 226 Phone: 483-2518 BA – Humanistic Studies and Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; MS Ed. – Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; PhD – Educational Psychology and Social Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 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
	Dr. William Stankard, Jr. Assistant Professor of Psychology Klinefelter Hall 225 Phone: 483-2386 BA – Psychology, University of Connecticut; MA – Psychology, University of Connecticut; PhD – Psychology, University of Connecticut. Teaches PSYC 280 - Education of Exceptional Learners, PSYC 320 – Health Psychology, PSYC 332 – Psychological Assessment, PSYC 370 – Abnormal Psychology, PSYC 375 – Theories of Personality, PSYC 420 – Group Processes, and PSYC 491 – Seminar in Psychology. Faculty member since 2003.