The beginning of Sterling College’s academic year is August 24, and seven individuals have joined the College’s faculty this fall. Dr. Karen Baehler, Dr. Glenn Butner, Ryan Corwin, Dawn Eliserio, Emily Grace, Dr. Rachel Griffis and Amy Kosek officially started August 10, though many have been in the area for quite some time.

“We have a wonderful group of incoming faculty that are excited to begin teaching here at Sterling. They bring a lot of experience to the College, both in professional experience and in teaching, and I look forward to working with them this year. Even in orientation, they have proven to be a fun group of individuals who have a passion for cultivating the next generation of leaders,” said Dr. Ken Brown, vice president for academic affairs.

Baehler, associate professor of education, brings a wealth of experience to the Sterling Teacher Education Program, having been an educator for 32 years within the middle school, high school, and college/university levels. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas, an M.Ed. from Wichita State University and a B.S. in Secondary Education with a major in Social Sciences from Kansas State University.

Joining the Department of Theology and Ministry is assistant professor Butner. His writing has been published in many theology journals including “Modern Theology” and “The International Journal of Systematic Theology.” He holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Marquette University, an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School and a B.A. in Economics and Religious Studies from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Corwin ’12 is the new assistant professor of communication and digital media. He comes to the College from Boys and Girls Clubs of Hutchinson where he was the director of marketing and communications. He holds an M.A. in Strategic Communications from Regent University and a B.A. in Communication and Theatre Arts: Communication from Sterling College.

Eliserio is joining the education department staff as interim pro-rata assistant professor of education. She has a diverse background in education with classroom experience in both public and private schools, having led her own classroom and worked as a paraprofessional. She holds two degrees from Dordt College: an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and a B.A. in Elementary Education with a concentration in special education, an endorsement in early childhood, and a minor in reading.

Grace is an assistant professor of physics for the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She specializes in dark matter and has completed research on the effects of popular media on students’ math and science anxiety. She is currently working on her dissertation to complete her Ph.D. in Physics from Royal Holloway University in London. At Indiana University, she earned an M.S. in Secondary Education and a B.S. in Physics. She also holds a B.A. in Psychology from Bethel College (IN).

Griffis joins the Department of Language and Literature as an assistant professor. Along with multiple publications, conference presentations, awards and fellowships, she also taught classes at Baylor University and Chapman University. Griffis holds a Ph.D. in English from Baylor University, an M.A. in English from Chapman University and a B.A. in English from Azusa Pacific University.

Kosek is an assistant professor of mathematics this year, transitioning from her roles as an adjunct lecturer in mathematics and director of academic support. She holds an M.S. in Mathematical Science from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Mathematics from The College of Brockport State University of New York.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.