Faculty News and Notes

REV. DR. MICHAEL BERG, assistant professor of theology, presented “Making the Case for the Truth of the New Testament” at the Apologetics and Worldview Seminar at Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minnesota) in June 2019, “An Introduction to and Defense of Apologetics” at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Symposium (Mequon, Wisconsin) in September, and “Apologetics” at Martin Luther College’s Convocation (New Ulm, Minnesota) in November.

The paintings of PAUL BURMEISTER, associate professor of art and assistant dean of advising, were shown in four galleries during 2019, including juried regional exhibitions in Beloit and Racine, as well as an invitational exhibition in Oshkosh.

In November, DR. ANGELA EBELING ’99, associate professor of biology, presented at the 2019 American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Her poster, “Biosolid Treatment Effects on P Availability in Soil from Wisconsin Biosolids as Measured by Chemical Extractions and 31P Solution NMR,” included eight current and former WLC students as authors. She also

co-chaired the SASES (Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences) undergraduate presentation contest.

DR. DANIEL EBELING ’98, professor of chemistry, received funding for work with student researchers on the development of novel sensors for gas detection and air quality monitoring. The research is supported by KWJ Engineering and SPEC Sensors in Newark, California. The research is ongoing and was incorporated into a chemistry class in spring 2019. Each student engineered a unique electrochemical sensor.

KRISTIN GJERDSET, professor of art, was the artist in residence at Caribou Ranch for Boulder County (Nederland, Colorado) last summer, where she photographed and made images of many local insects. In exchange for the inspiring opportunity and her housing expense during the residency, she will make a painting to be displayed in a public building in Boulder County.

In October, DR. STACY HOEHL ’01, professor of communication, presented “The Courage to Change: Transforming Personal Pain into Impactful Change” at the International Leadership Association conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

REV. DR. WADE JOHNSTON, assistant professor of theology, published his fourth book in October. Let the Bird Fly – Life in a World Given Back to Us is based on the podcast “Let the Bird Fly!” (letthebirdfly.com) led by Johnston, REV. DR. MICHAEL BERG, and two others. Johnston’s book is an expression of confidence in the power of absolution and God’s love for humanity in and through Christ. The foreword was written by Berg.

In October, DR. DONALD KUDEK, assistant professor of business administration and department chair for the School of Business, traveled to Canada to participate in a “Train the Trainer” session with Ira Chaleff, a pioneer in the field of followership. Kudek also presented at the 21st Annual International Leadership Association Global Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in October. His presentation was titled “Relationship Between Kelley’s Followership Styles and the Big Five Factor Model of Personality.”

REV. DR. PAUL LEHNINGER, professor of theology, published an article about the practice of open versus closed communion titled “Breaking Down the Chancel Rails: Devastating Love or Loveless Devastation?” in the 2019 Reformation issue of Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology.

REV. DR. JOEL PLESS, professor of theology, was re-elected as chairman of the WELS Historical Institute during its annual meeting last fall. He also served as guest preacher at an area-wide Reformation Festival at Lakeside Lutheran High School (Lake Mills, Wisconsin) and participated in a pedagogical workshop on science and religion at the Scripps Oceanographic Institute (San Diego, California) in November.

SIMON PROVAN, assistant professor of theatre, filmed commercials for Kwik Trip, Potawatomi Casino and Hotel, and Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells last fall. He also voiced two national radio spots for Thorne Supplements and did e-learning videos for several corporations. Provan earned “Best Actor in a Short Film” at the Salty Earth Film Festival for his role in the five-minute short “Waters of Babylon.” In early 2020, the feature film The Author, the Star, and the Keeper will be released nationwide; Provan plays the starring role of August Star.

JAY SIERSZYN, associate professor of theatre and director of WLC’s theatre program, was selected to participate in “The Moment Work Institute: Teacher Training,” an intensive, week-long program for college professors designed to train instructors in the method and pedagogy of Moment Work, Tectonic Theater Project’s groundbreaking devising method used to create classic works such as The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, and 33 Variations. In June, over the course of the five-day, 40-hour program in New York City, Sierszyn and about a dozen others from around the country used the physical elements of the stage to layer and create strong theatrical narratives, and learned from a Master Teacher of Tectonic Theater’s teaching philosophy and practice. “Moment Work” will form the basic approach for WLC Theatre’s spring 2020 presentation of Things Wild and Free, a devised production based on A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, the college’s 2019- 2020 Campus Read. DEBORRAH UECKER, professor of communication, attended the National Communication Association conference in Baltimore in November, where she presented a paper titled “Work Values 2008 and 2019: A comparison study between the United States and Russia.” This paper was recognized as the top faculty paper for the interest group. Uecker also was invited to participate on a spotlight panel, “Communicating for survival in Europe 30 years after 1989.” In recognition for her service and scholarship to the Communication Association of Eurasian Researchers, she received an award acknowledging her support of international scholars coming together for research, collaboration, and discourse in the United States, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

DR. RHODA WOLLE, dean of student success and assistant professor education, and MARTIN MILLER, assistant professor of education, served as the professional growth keynote speakers at the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers Conference in October. Their topic of “Framing Student Success!” was based on their podcast “5 to Thrive,” currently heard in 50 countries by 8,000 followers. Listen at 5tothrive.net.

DR. MARTIN MOLDENHAUER, associate professor of English, embarked on two study abroad adventures with students. During a trip to Italy in January, students learned about literature, art, and culture. He took another group on a literary tour to Scotland and England last May. Since 2006, Moldenhauer has introduced more than 200 students to the history and culture of Europe.

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