Northwestern Welcomes 33 New Staff Members

September 7, 2018

Northwestern’s new staff members who attended a recent staff orientation session include (left to right, front row) Julia Lee, financial aid assistant; Erin Davis, university relations specialist; Pamela Hess, secretary for the division of nursing; Cathy Schmitz, financial aid counselor; (second row, left to right) Andrea Corr, custodian; Taylor Wilson, director of counseling and career services; Rachel Kraus, coordinator of graduate studies; and Emmy McNeal, ITV/events coordinator at the Woodward campus. 

Northwestern Oklahoma State University welcomes 33 new staff members to campus. Short biographies of each staff member are listed below:

Renae Acker, Bill Johnson Correctional Center treatment counselor, has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Northwestern. She has worked at several local Alva businesses.

Sharon Batchelder, Enid campus police officer, has a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Northwestern. She retired after a 25-year career with the Enid Police Department.

Jacob Boggess, hall supervisor at Coronado Hall, holds a bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has been a student assistant in the athletic department.

Callie Campbell, loan coordinator with financial aid services, has previous work experience at Alva State Bank and has been a student assistant in the financial aid office.

Andrea Corr, custodian, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Northwestern. She has been employed at several businesses in Cherokee.

Erin Davis, university relations specialist, has a Bachelor of Science in mass communication from Northwestern. She has assisted with the Northwest Oklahoma Concert Series and in the university’s print shop.

Zach Doyle, sports performance coach, earned a bachelor’s degree in health and sports science education from Northwestern. He previously assisted the football program with strength and conditioning.

Katie Draschner, assistant athletic trainer, has a Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from the University of Nevada and a Master of Education degree from Northwestern.  She previously served as a graduate assistant at Northwestern and as a student assistant at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Giana Evans, BJCC treatment counselor, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northwestern. She has been employed at several Alva and Cherokee businesses.

Dian Frey, printing services assistant, holds a Bachelor of Science in law enforcement from Northwestern. She has held multiple positions with the Department of Human Services and other family and youth initiatives.

Danae Hagelberg, development officer with the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association, has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Northwestern. She has worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Alva Public Schools.

Pamela Hess, secretary for the division of nursing, has served as a paraeducator for the South Barber (Kansas) Public Schools and as bookkeeper for several Kiowa, Kansas, businesses.

Jackie Kephart, payroll clerk, earned a Master of Business Administration degree from American InterContinental University (Illinois). She has worked for several oil and gas companies.

Rachel Kraus, coordinator of graduate studies, has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Northwestern. She previously has assisted in the J.R. Holder Wellness Center and worked for several local businesses.

Jill Lancaster, head coach of cross country and track and field, has served as cross country coach at Northwestern, but has added the duties of head coach of the women’s track and field program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation and a Bachelor of Arts in fashion and textile design, both from the University of Oklahoma. She was formerly head track and field coach at OU, Troy University (Alabama) and Toledo University, (Ohio).

Timothy Lavoie, project coordinator with the Upward Bound program, has a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and sports Science from Bluefield College (Virginia). He has served as an assistant soccer coach for Northwestern and Northern Oklahoma College (NOC).

Julia Lee, financial aid assistant, previously worked as a teller at Alva State Bank.

Jonathan McAlpin, custodian, has Bachelor of Arts in history from Northwestern. He has been a department manager with McDonald’s of Alva and a CMA/CNA for Share Medical Center.

Emmy McNeal, ITV/events coordinator at the Woodward campus, holds Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education degrees from Northwestern. She served as a music teacher with the Sharon-Mutual and Woodward public schools.

Candace Moore, assistant for registry/financial aid at the Enid campus, has worked for the City of Enid and the Enid Public Library.

Leslie Nation, communications and marketing manager with the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma. She was sports editor for the Alva Review-Courier.

Haylie Pegelow, admissions counselor/recruiter, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Northwestern. She has worked as a surveyor for the United States Department of Agriculture.

Jodie Randels, admissions/records assistant, started as a payroll clerk for Northwestern. She also has held several staff positions at Baker University (Kansas).

Eric Reames, assistant bursar, has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Touro University (California). He started at Northwestern as a financial aid assistant. He is retired after 22 years of service in the U.S. Army.

James Ross, head women’s soccer coach, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration management from Park University (Missouri). He has been an assistant coach at Cloud County (Kansas) and Maple Woods (Missouri) community colleges.

Huldah Sanders, custodian at the Woodward campus, has worked as a professional painter, and as a machine operator with Cain’s Coffee.

Cathy Schmitz, financial aid counselor, previously worked as the financial-insurance coordinator for Hulling Orthodontics in Wichita.

Eric Scott, assistant athletic director for communications, has a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications from Northwestern and a Master of Education degree in sports administration from East Central University. He has served as a financial aid counselor and as sports writer for Alva Review-Courier.

Marlene Swenn, administrative assistant with the BJCC Project, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice management and ethics from Mid-America Christian University. She is retired from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (BJCC).

Taylor Wilson, director of counseling and career services, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Northwestern and a Master of Human Relations degree from OU. She was employed at Northwest Center for Behavioral Health as a triage specialist.

Nicholas VanLandingham, custodian, worked as a wireless technician for BancCentral and has experience as an electrician and HVAC apprentice.

Brandon Wallis, custodian, has been a shift manager with McDonald’s of Alva.

Jennifer Wolf, administrative assistant for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, has owned and operated her own daycare, served as a paraprofessional with the South Barber (Kansas) Public Schools, and worked as an EMT with Barber County EMS.

-NW-

Contact for Release:
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, (580) 327-8480