Goshen College introduces new faculty for 2006-07

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College is pleased to announce and welcome new administrative and teaching faculty members for the 2006-07 academic year.

Julie White Armstrong will be a full-time assistant professor of American Sign Language. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in linguistics from Ball State University. Armstrong is a nationally certified ASL/English interpreter having worked in private practice since 1993. White Armstrong’s other work experiences include teaching in the ASL program of Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis and serving as a research assistant at Ball State.

Jeron Baker is an admission counselor. He is a 2005 graduate of Goshen College and holds a bachelor’s degree in social work. He had previously worked as a case manager at Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in Elkhart, Ind.

Jessica Schlabach Baldanzi will be assistant professor of English, during Professor of English Beth Martin Birky’s year-long sabbatical. She received a bachelor’s degree in literature and creative writing from Northwestern University in 1992, a master’s degree in 1997 from Indiana University (IU) and a doctorate in 2003 from IU in American literature and Eugenic fiction. Since completing her doctorate Baldanzi has been teaching at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Anna Bauer was named the director of the Community School of the Arts (CSA) Piano Program. She oversees instruction of the 90-plus piano students who are pre- and post-college age CSA enrollees. She will work with contracted piano teachers, plan curriculum and teach about 40 private CSA students. Bauer graduated with a master’s degree in piano pedagogy from the Nuremberg (Germany) Music Conservatory in 2000, and also completed a master’s degree in administrative leadership from Fresno (Calif.) Pacific University in 2004.

Malinda Berry, a 1996 graduate of Goshen College, is a visiting scholar in Bible and religion and women’s studies this year. She completed her master’s degree in peace studies at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). Berry is currently a doctoral student at Union Theological Seminary in New York, working with the respected Black theologian James H. Cone in constructive theologies and ethics. She has served as associate director of Mennonite Voluntary Service and a development associate at Peace Action, a Washington, D.C.-based organization. She has also previously taught courses at Goshen and AMBS.

Christine Bonfiglio has been appointed to the position of assistant professor of special education. Bonfiglio received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree and doctorate from Western Michigan University in educational psychology. Bonfiglio’s professional experience includes social work and conference facilitation with Elkhart County, as well as a practice within the Elkhart Community Schools in educational psychology. She also served as an adjunct professor at Indiana University of South Bend in the psychology department.

Kevin Gary will join the education department as assistant professor of secondary education. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master's degree in religious studies at Notre Dame University. He also completed a master’s degree and doctorate in education at Loyola University. Gary previously taught ethics and Scripture at Loyola Academy, in Wilmette, Ill.

Suzanne Hinnefeld has joined the Good Library as reference and instruction librarian. She received a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and a master's in library science from Indiana University-Indianapolis. Prior to becoming a librarian, Hinnefeld worked in research and development at Bayer Corporation (Elkhart) and Meridian Diagnostics (Cincinnati).

Dallis Miller has served as the co-controller in the accounting office since Jan. 2. She graduated from Goshen College with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1978. Miller worked for Stauffer & Company, CPAs, earning her CPA certificate in 1981 and eventually becoming a firm partner in 1988. Her areas of responsibility included oversight of the firm’s financial reporting and attestation services and personnel management.

Michelle Milne, assistant professor of theater,will be teaching and directing half time in the theater department this year. Milne received her bachelor’s degree in theater from Goshen College in 1994 and her master’s degree of fine arts in theatre from Towson University in 2005. Milne has worked in theater in Indianapolis and Portland, Ore. Milne is also an artistic director at New World Arts in Goshen and has taught voice at IU-Northwest and Columbia College.

Kyle Schlabach will be teaching part-time in the English and communication departments next year while working on his dissertation from Indiana University (IU). He is a 1996 Goshen College graduate and received his master’s degree in 2000 from IU. Schlabach is a doctoral candidate in 19^th century Irish literature at IU where he has been an instructor in the English department teaching British literature and writing.

William A. Velez is a new admission counselor. He received a bachelor’s degree in business and music from Goshen College in 2006. Velez will work with students from Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and parts of Indiana.

Several faculty have also moved to new positions within the institution. Galen Graber, formerly the director of enrollment, is now director of institutional research. Amos Kratzer has become data and mailing coordinator in the admission office after previously serving as an admission counselor. Joel Short moved from being an admission counselor to being a financial aid counselor.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.