Teaching Faculty
History of Agriculture at Goshen College
Instructors
Dale Hess, Director of Collegiate Programs and Professor of
Agroecology
B.A. in Biology, Millersville State Teachers College, 1976
M.S. in Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 1984
Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, Purdue University, 1989
Dale Hess, a plant pathologist and plant breeder, joined the Merry Lea
staff in 2004. His interests include integrated pest and disease management
and promoting the development of agricultural systems that function like
natural ecosystems.
Michelle Horning, Associate Professor of Accounting
B.A. Goshen College, 1991
M.S. Drexel University, 1995
CPA certification
earned, 1996
She currently teaches Managerial and Cost Accounting, Financial
Management, and Individual and Corporate Tax. Michelle also supervises
the students that manage and operate Java Junction, the on-campus coffee
shop. She has experience in public accounting and the supermarket industry.
Melissa Kinsey, Assistant Professor
B.A. in Communication, University of Kentucky, 1992
M.P.A. from the School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
2004 Melissa was the director of the Goshen College Entrepreneurship Learning
Center and Assistant Professor of Business from 2004 - 2007. She currently teaches
Nonprofit Organizational Management at Indiana University and is pursuing a Ph.D.
from the School of Public & Environmental Affairs. She is an entrepreneur
with a focus on nonprofit management and environmental sustainability.
David
J. Miller, Program Director Emeritus; Chair of Biology at Goshen
College
B.S. in Biology and Bible, Eastern Mennonite University, 1964
M.S. in Entomology, University of Delaware, 1972
Ph.D. in Entomology, Michigan State University, 1977
Dave Miller has been Program Director at Merry Lea since 1988. His scientific
interests are in natural history, specifically in biodiversity. Current
field research is the development of species lists of selected insect
orders at Merry Lea. Also of interest is the intersection of faith/spirituality
and science. Hobbies - nature photography and woodworking.
William Minter, Director of Land Management at Merry Lea and
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
B.S. in Forestry, Colorado State University, 1980
M.S.F. in Forestry, Purdue University, 1989
Bill Minter, a certified professional forester, has served at Merry Lea
for the past 15 years as Director of Land Management. As an Asst. Prof.
of Environmental Science within GC's Biology Dept, he teaches Forest
Resources and Land Management in support of its Environmental Science
Major.
Ryan Sensenig, Lindsy Fellow and Assistant Professor
of Biology
B.S. from Eastern Mennonite University
Ph.D. University of California, Davis.
Sensenig’s
doctoral research was conducted in Kenya where he studied the effects
of grassland burning on grazing animals. For the past six years he has
taught ecology at a high school and has won a number of state and national
teaching awards.
Paul Steury, K-12 Education Coordinator at Merry Lea
B.A. in Sociology, Goshen College, 1988
M.S. in Outdoor Resources Management, Indiana University, 1997
Paul Steury has been at Merry Lea for 7 years. His interests include
wild edible plants, citizenry, the definition of environmental education,
current environmental issues, politics, and ethics, and how people learn.
Larry Yoder, Associate Professor Emeritus of
Biology
B.A. Manchester College, 1964
M.A. Indiana University, 1966
M.A.T., Indiana University, 1970
Ph.D., Indiana University, 1972
An experienced botanist and a skilled educator, Larry Yoder has been
with Merry Lea since 1981, serving first as executive director and later
as assistant to the executive director until his retirement and appointment
as associate professor emeritus in 2007. In the agroecology program,
Yoder focuses on geomorphology and soils. Dr. Yoder also hosts field
trips to The Yoder Farm near Ft. Wayne where he and his extended family
focus on entrepreneurship with specialty crops such as maple syrup and
asparagus.
P.O. Box 263 Wolf Lake, IN 46796 | Phone (260) 799-5869 • Fax (260) 799-5875