Dr. Ruth Alminas
Chair/Associate Professor of Political Science

Interests

  • Armed Conflict and Conflict Management
  • Internal Displacement
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Organizational Theory
  • Social Network Analysis

Education

  • Ph.D., Political Science, University of Arizona, 2012
  • M.A., Political Science, University of Arizona, 2008
  • M.A., Religion, University of Chicago Divinity School, 2005
  • B.A., Religious Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2000

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Carolina Alonso
Associate Professor of Borders & Languages
Affiliated Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies

Areas of expertise

  • U.S. Latina/o Literature
  • Chicana/o Studies
  • Women's and Gender studies
  • Spanish for Second Language Learners 
  • Spanish for Heritage Speakers

Education

  • Ph.D., in Spanish, with subspecialties in US Latino/a and Latin American Literature, Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of Houston, 2016
  • Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies, University of Houston, 2014
  • M.A., Spanish Latin American Literature, University of Texas-Pan American, 2009
  • B.A., Spanish, University of Texas-Pan American, 2007

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Leonardo Alvarado
Assistant Professor of Political Science

Education:

  • L.L.M., Indigenous Peoples’ Law and Policy, University of Arizona College of Law, 2005
  • J.D., University of Arizona College of Law, 2004
  • M.A., American Indian Studies, University of Arizona, 2000
  • B.A., International Relations, Fort Lewis College, 1997

Areas of expertise: 

  • International Human Rights Law and Policy
  • Comparative Law and Policy on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
  • Legal Pluralism and Transitional Justice
  • Public Law and Public International Law

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Megan Alvarado-Saggese
Assistant Professor of Native American & Indigenous Studies

Areas of expertise:

  • Latin American Indigenous studies
  • Latinx and Indigenous intersectionality;
  • Latin American and Indigenous visual cultures
  • Film and sound studies

Education:

  • Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2022
  • M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2014
  • MTS, Harvard Divinity School, 2011
  • B.A., Brown University, 2006

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Amoneeta
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Areas of expertise:

  • Mindfulness
  • Emerging Adults
  • Peace psychology
  • Addictions psychology
  • Positive psychology
  • Augmenting BIPOC happiness
  • International perspectives
  • Pandemic’s effects on mental health
  • Multicultural counseling/psychology
  • Indigenous/Native American psychology
  • Underrepresented groups’ leadership development

Education:

  • Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University
  • B.A., Psychology (Minors: East Asian Civilization & Creative Writing), Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Heath Anderson
Visiting Assistant Instructor of Marketing

Education:

  • Graduate Certificate, Business Ethics, Belmont University, 2015
  • MBA, Management, New Mexico Highlands University, 2008
  • B.S., Environmental Economics and Management, University of Georgia, 1999

Areas of expertise:

  • Marketing
  • Digital Marketing
  • Entrepreneurship 

Contact:

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DeVan Ard
Visiting Assistant Professor of English

Expertise

  • Poetry
  • Medieval Literature
  • Renaissance Literature
  • History of Christianity
  • Literacy/Literacies

Education:

  • M.A. and Ph.D., University of Virginia
  • Master of Theological Studies, University of Notre Dame
  • B.A. (cum laude, honors), Northwestern University

Contact:

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Bernice Asante
Lecturer of Mathematics

Area of expertise

  • Application of statistics to financial industry

Education

  • M.A. Statistics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, 2019

Contact:

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Dr. Rebecca Austin
Professor of Anthropology and Environment & Sustainability

Expertise 

  • Environmental anthropology 
  • Applied anthropology 
  • Cultural ecology 
  • Community-based conservation 
  • Environmental impacts 
  • Southeast Asia 
  • Public involvement 
  • Social impact assessment 
  • Curriculum design 
  • Program evaluation 
  • Environmental justice 
  • Environmentalism  

Education 

  • Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Georgia, 2003 
  • M.A., Applied Anthropology, Northern Arizona University, 1989 
  • B.A., Fort Lewis College, 1980 

Contact:

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Aaron Ball
Operations Coordinator & Senior Lecturer of Adventure Education

Education

  • Ph.D., Education: Adult, Organizational Learning, and Leadership, University of Idaho, (in progress)
  • M.A., Adventure Education, Prescott College
  • B.S., Environmental Science, California State University

Expertise 

  • Snow and avalanche education: Instructor Trainer, Pro Instructor, and Rec Instructor at American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE)
  • Risk management: Master’s degree focus, involvement with multiple risk management committees, and several conference presentations and publications
  • Judgment and decision-making: Masters and doctoral degree focus and numerous publications, presentations, and workshops.
  • Wilderness medicine: Senior instructor for Wilderness Medicine Training Center
  • Mountain guiding: Guide and instructor with San Juan Mountain Guides, trained with American Mountain Guides Association
  • River running and rescue: Instructor trainer for Rescue 3 International, river guide and instructor for eight years

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Brendan Barker
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities

Areas of Expertise

  • Conducting
  • Choral Literature & Methods
  • Historical Performance Practice
  • Music Theory & Ear Training
  • Music History

Education

  • Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022
  • Master of Sacred Music, University of Notre Dame, 2015
  • Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Duquesne University, 2013

Contact:

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Dr. Mark Beattie
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences

Areas of expertise

  • Organizational Behavior in Sport Organizations
  • Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Current Issues & Trends in the Sports Industry

Education

  • Ph.D, Sport Management, The Ohio State University, 2019
  • M.S., Sport Management, The Ohio State University, 2010
  • B.S., Business Administration, Seton Hall University, 2008

Contact:

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Dr. Jared Beeton
Chair & Associate Professor of Environment & Sustainability

Expertise

  • Environmental geography

Education

  • PhD in Geography, University of Kansas
  • MA in Earth Sciences, University of Northern Colorado
  • BS in Park Resource Management

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Renee Beeton
Senior Lecturer of Chemistry

Areas of expertise

  • Analytical and environmental chemistry
  • Chemical education
  • Culturally responsive teaching/professional development
  • Implicit biases in STEM

Education

  • Ph.D., Chemical Education, University of Northern Colorado, 2007
  • M.S., Chemistry, University of Northern Colorado, 2004
  • B.S., Chemistry, North Dakota State University, 2002

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Esther G. Belin
Lecturer

Education:

  • MFA Creative Writing – Poetry, Antioch University, Los Angeles, 2007
  • AA Creative Writing – Poetry, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1995
  • BA Native American Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 1992

Areas of expertise:

  • Poetry
  • DinĂ© Poetics
  • Restorative Justice
  • Literary Sovereignty
  • Indigenous literatures
  • Visual Spatial Memory
  • Indigenous Intersectionality
  • Indigenous Feminisms

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Andrea Berghoff
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education

Education

  • EdD, Educational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University, 2014
  • M.A., Special Education, West Virginia University, 2010
  • B.A., Elementary Education, Fort Lewis College, 2005

Expertise

  • Identifying and Serving Gifted Students
  • Visual Spatial Engagement and Learning

Contact:

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Annie Bergman
Assistant Professor

Areas of expertise:

  • Undergraduate Mathematics Education (RUME)
  • Realistic Mathematics Education (RME)
  • Student thinking and curriculum development in abstract and linear algebra
  • Connections between advanced mathematics and K-12 mathematics
  • Teachers’ mathematical content knowledge and mathematical knowledge for teaching

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Mathematics Education, Portland State University, 2020
  • M.S.T. in Mathematics, Portland State University, 2012
  • B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Philosophy, Azusa Pacific University, 2005

Contact:

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Dr. David Blake
Professor of Biology

Expertise

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology 
  • Pulmonary toxicology 
  • Cellular and molecular biology

Education

  • Ph.D., Integrated Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Montana, 2007
  • Master of Science, Biochemistry, University of Montana, 2005
  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Pennsylvania

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Paige Blankenbuehler
Practicum Director for The Independent

Areas of expertise:

  • Journalism
  • Magazine editing
  • Long-form journalism
  • Community reporting
  • Accountability journalism

Education:

  • University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism, M.A. 2015
  • Fort Lewis College, B.A. Journalism and Media Studies, 2011

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.

Dr. Mark Boespflug
Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Expertise

  • Epistemology
  • Early Modern Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Philosophy of Religion

Education

  • Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Colorado, 2020
  • M.A., Philosophy, Biola University, 2013
  • B.A., Philosophy, Geneva College, 2005

Contact:

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Our faculty are available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, call Media Relations at 970-247-6073 or email Media Relations.