With the 2019-20 school year now underway, Kansas Wesleyan University has announced the latest additions to its roster of faculty and staff members.
Milt Allen, D.M.A., has joined KWU as chair of the Department of Music. Dr. Allen spent five years at The Ohio State University, including two years as associate director of bands and visiting professor of Music in addition to serving at four other universities. This is a return to Salina for Dr. Allen, who was director of bands at Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High School from 1998-2003. An internationally recognized conductor and educator, he has published a book and released three commercial recordings.
Anne Gassmann, D.M.A., has been named visiting assistant professor of Music and will lead the Wesleyan Chorale and Wesleyan Choir. She comes from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she has been leading ensembles for the past three years including the University Chorale, University Singers and Chamber Singers. She has extensive musical theatre experience, has performed in numerous operas and has been a soprano soloist and member of many semi-professional and professional choral ensembles in the Midwest.
Tetyana Allston, Ph.D., is the Department of Music’s new piano accompanist and comes to KWU with an impressive resume. She was a key figure for nearly two decades in the music department at the State University at Sumy in Ukraine. Allston rose to the position of head of the music department there. She has served as a piano accompanist in numerous churches and has worked as an adjunct music professor, both in New Mexico and at Kansas State. She has published multiple articles on music education, developed numerous materials for university courses and holds her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology.
Steve Leuth, M. M. Ed., also joins the Department of Music as a lecturer. He will also oversee the jazz band. Lueth spent 15 years as the director of instrumental activities, including bands and orchestra, at Barton Community College. He was also the Chair of the school’s fine arts department for two years, and prior to that, worked in multiple school districts in the state as a Director of both Instrumental and Vocal Music.
The following faculty have recently joined KWU: Julie Conley, M.A., assistant professor of Teacher Education; Tim Frye, Ph.D., assistant professor of Mathematics; Kelly Hopkins, M.S. ’15, assistant professor of Social Work and Social Work program director; Kyrsten Rodenbeek, M.S.W. ’04, assistant professor of Social Work and field education director; Melissa Rohrer, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and Madison Presley, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor of English.
Finally, Dr. Jamie Kootz has been named director of Graduate Education and Instructional Technology. Kootz, who is an adjunct instructor in the Sport and Exercise Science Department, and is an assistant cross country/track coach, will oversee the MBA program.
Staff additions include Brad Salois, who has joined the Marketing and Communications team as assistant director. He spent more than a decade coordinating sports information and media relations, primarily at Virginia Military Institute. Jordan Matheney ’19 is the new graduate assistant marketing coordinator in that office.
Cortlyne Huppe ’16, has transitioned from her role as an admissions counselor to a new position, enrollment marketing specialist. She will direct the university’s marketing initiatives for prospective students.
Jasmin Dauner ’13 has been named registrar after serving as assistant registrar for three years. Kaitlyn Schneweis ’15, is the Financial Aid assistant, and Nissa Inzunza ’19 is the academic services coordinator.
